When we last left off, the Old Testament had come to a close, and the Kingdom of Israel had risen, fallen, and eventually been conquered by Rome. It was during this time of Roman occupation that Christ decided to put an end to Yaldabaoth and his evil plans once and for all. However, Yaldabaoth was not about to let Christ's arrival go unchallenged. He devised a plan to deceive Christ, making him believe he was just another prophet in Yaldabaoth’s service.
Yaldabaoth’s strategy began with a familiar story. He inspired King Herod to kill all the male infants in Bethlehem, mirroring the Pharaoh's actions in Egypt during the time of Moses. This massacre forced Mary and her family to flee to Egypt, where Jesus spent his early childhood before returning to Nazareth to work as a carpenter. Meanwhile, John the Baptist began his ministry, calling people to repent and return to God through baptism in the Jordan River.
Jesus eventually joined John, and it was during his baptism that some Gnostic sects believe the spirit of Christ entered Jesus, making him truly divine. Following this event, Jesus wandered the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, while Yaldabaoth summoned his most loyal Archons to devise a plan to stop him. They knew they couldn’t simply kill Jesus, as this might lead to another global catastrophe like the one described in the Book of Enoch. Instead, they sought to corrupt him by tempting him to worship Yaldabaoth.
Satan’s Temptation and the Corruption of Christ’s Message
Satan, Yaldabaoth’s right-hand Archon, was tasked with tempting Jesus. He offered Jesus dominion over the physical world if he would only worship Yaldabaoth. However, Jesus rebuked Satan at every turn, rejecting the offer and remaining steadfast in his mission. After 40 days of temptation, Satan returned to Yaldabaoth in defeat, only to be scorned for his failure.
But Satan wasn’t done yet. If he couldn’t corrupt Jesus, he would corrupt his message. As Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, performing miracles and gathering followers, Satan and Yaldabaoth set about twisting his teachings. Even Jesus’ closest disciples struggled to understand his message, with Peter, known as “the Rock” (for being as dumb as one), often failing to grasp the deeper truths Jesus was trying to convey.
The Betrayal and Crucifixion
Despite his frustrations, Jesus found a true follower in Mary Magdalene, who became one of his closest companions after he raised her brother from the dead. Unfortunately, Jesus knew his time was running out. He had a vision of his impending crucifixion and tried to warn his brother James about the Archons and Yaldabaoth, but James couldn’t comprehend the gravity of the situation. In a final act of despair, Jesus told James to listen to the women after his death.
At the Last Supper, Jesus revealed his true identity to his disciples and explained the cosmic battle with Yaldabaoth. Judas, possessed by Yaldabaoth, was chosen to betray Jesus, setting the stage for his crucifixion. As Jesus hung on the cross, enduring unimaginable pain, Yaldabaoth and his Archons celebrated their apparent victory, leaving Judas to take his own life in despair.
The Resurrection and the Final Teachings
Three days after his death, Jesus’ tomb was found empty, and he appeared to Mary Magdalene, giving her one final lesson. He explained that to ascend through the layers of heaven and return to the Pleroma, one must shed their earthly desires, such as lust and greed. This, Jesus taught, was the true path to salvation—not the worship of Yaldabaoth.
Mary tried to share this message with the other disciples, but they were still under the influence of the Archons, and Peter dismissed her words as mere hysteria. This led to a schism among Jesus’ followers, and with Mary Magdalene mysteriously disappearing from the story, Peter and James took charge, only to lead their followers back into the worship of Yaldabaoth.
Paul’s Mission and the Final Showdown
Meanwhile, Simon (later known as Paul), a former disciple of John the Baptist, had a vision of Jesus urging him to set the apostles straight. Paul traveled to Jerusalem, where he found Peter leading a proto-communist community under Yaldabaoth’s influence. Paul confronted Peter, but their confrontations only deepened the divide between them.
In a final attempt to assert his authority, Peter challenged Paul to a showdown in the Roman Colosseum. Both performed miracles, but when Paul’s final act was to fly into the air, Peter had Yaldabaoth strike him down. Paul died, his soul ascending to the Pleroma, while Peter awaited resurrection by Yaldabaoth, only to have his soul ripped apart by the Archons.
The Legacy of Deception
With both Peter and Paul gone, Yaldabaoth and Satan were free to corrupt Jesus’ message, convincing the world that Jesus was part of a nonsensical triune Godhead with Yaldabaoth at its center. This false church continues to thrive to this day, still guided by Satan, spreading a twisted version of the true teachings that Jesus once tried to impart.
And so, the story ends—not with a triumphant victory, but with the dark realization that the forces of deception still hold sway over much of the world. What were you expecting? A happy ending?