At the turn of the 20th century, the infamous, Aleister Crowley, popularized the occult philosophy known as Thelema. Thelema, which is the english transliteration of the Greek word for “will,” was an appropriate name given to an ideology whose fundamental doctrine says, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law”. In other words, do what’s best for you, and you will be fulfilled. This core Thelemite belief suggests that harmony and peace can be achieved through the pursuit of individual will, and it is the essential directive of Satan’s kingdom.
The philosophy of Thelema also teaches that “every man and woman is a star,” a metaphor positing that everyone’s perfect will exists in their own space and time without overlapping the wills of others. It then postulates that as the stars are abundant and separate in the cosmos, everyone can pursue and obtain their own power in the universe and somehow avoid collision. Despite the impossibility of such a scenario among humans who are always moving, changing and interacting, this idea remains abundantly popular, today.
You won’t hear many people specifically proclaiming their allegiance to Thelema, but you will find those who speak, believe and act according to its basic ideology. Many are engrossed in selfish—and often reckless—pursuits of their own success, looking to become “stars” in their own right even though the past has taught us that these paths to stardom are not collision-free. No matter how dreamy or ideal the mantra may sound, it’s rooted in selfishness and idolatry, and these carry significant costs.
Take Hollywood, for instance. It’s a city known for its stars, and it even has its very own “Walk of Fame.” The pavement is lined in stars engraved with the names of thousands of individuals who did what they wanted to get where they wanted but often at the expense of far too much. Several of their lives were lost to various forms of abuse, and many suffered as a result of their lifestyles. Yet, they are idolized for their accomplishments with barely any consideration for the terrible prices they paid.
Individuals in a multitude of industries garner the worship of others because of their successful achievements. They are idolized as stars, and their lifestyles are mimicked to achieve similar prosperity. You see it in Hollywood; You see it in music; You see it in sports; It is apparent in all forms of industry and entertainment; You even see it in religion. While success is not scripturally forbidden, the quest for exaltation above all else is a dangerous philosophy that violates the heart of God’s word. The idea that we all deserve to be stars is a perilous path to pursue. Today, the heart of Crowley’s teachings are propagated across the breadth of culture and entertainment, but they actually didn’t begin with him.
Coincidentally—or not so much—Satan also bears the label, Lucifer, which means, “star of the morning.” Originally an “anointed cherub” (Ezekiel 28:14), Lucifer was the first to seek exaltation through and for himself, and his fateful end was determined along with all others who seek self-exaltation.
Isaiah 14:12-15 AMPC
“112 How have you fallen from heaven, O [b]light-bringer and daystar, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who weakened and laid low the nations [O blasphemous, satanic king of Babylon!] 13 And you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost north. 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (Hades), to the innermost recesses of the pit (the region of the dead)..”
Therefore, in appropriate alignment with Lucifer, its true leader, the kingdom of unrighteousness operates in the same self-serving, egocentric way of thinking. It is also suspicious that “stars” is the metaphor of choice to describe humans exalted and idolized above others. At the very least, we are wise to ask whether this symbolic moniker was originally inspired by Satan himself.
Lucifer’s leading requirement is simply this: Everyone do what you want to do, and that is all you ever need to do.
In the Garden of Eden, Satan established his inferior kingdom on this very message, enticing us to suppose that we are all gods with sovereignty over our own futures and realities. He convinced Adam and Eve that they wouldn’t die against God’s word, even though he knew it was lie.
Genesis 3:4-5
“4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
Satan is so brazen in this belief that he even attempted to convince Jesus to forsake God’s will and betray His kingdom after He had fasted in the wilderness. The message was the same. Don’t wait on God’s timing or obey His kingdom plan. Build your own kingdom and climb to the heights of influence in the current, physical world. Satan even proposed earthly rewards to Jesus if He bowed down and worshiped him.
Matthew 4:8-9
“8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”
Satan’s method of operation has not changed. If he offered the kingdoms of the current, physical world to Adam and Eve and Jesus, he is doing the same to us. As the god of this world, he offers its temporal pleasures to anyone who would choose them above the promises of God which are only discovered through patience. While the Lord’s righteous nation of believers works towards His will according to His way, citizens of sinful societies seek self-motivation, self-satisfaction and self-sufficiency on their own time. “Do what you want” is the ideal phrase constituting the entire law of Satan’s kingdom, and it is also the fundamental principle of Babylon.
