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Australia is at a spiritual crossroads. The same demonic forces that seduced ancient Israel — Baal, Molech, and Ashtoreth — appear to be rising again. How should we respond?

We like to believe we’ve outgrown ancient myths. But what if those myths have simply changed their names — and their methods?

Throughout Scripture, Israel was repeatedly warned not to follow the gods of the nations around them (Deuteronomy 12:30–31). Yet again and again, the people fell into the seductive grip of Baal, Ashtoreth, and Molech — what we might call the “unholy trinity” of Canaanite religion.

These deities were more than carved idols. They represented demonic principalities (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:20) — spiritual forces that enslaved hearts, corrupted nations, and defiled God’s covenant people.

Today, these same ancient forces appear to be making a powerful return, not under the same names, but through various ideologies and cultural movements. What Scripture exposes about these gods remains deeply relevant in our time.

Jonathan Cahn is a respected Messianic Christian leader, a man of deep prayer, and the bestselling author of numerous prophetic books. In the video below, he explores the rise of this unholy trinity, which he explores in his recent book, Return of the Gods.

Sadly, these same dark forces are at work here in Australia. As believers, it’s time for us to rise, pray, and take a bold stand. Our nation has a window of grace to repent and turn back to God. My prayer is that, as you read on, you will gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual battle we are facing.

So let’s take a closer look at these ancient gods and their modern manifestations.

1. Baal: The Spirit of Idolatry and Apostasy

Baal, meaning “lord” or “master,” was the chief male deity of the Canaanites. Worship of Baal often involved weather manipulation rituals, fertility practices, and sexual immorality. In the Old Testament, Baal worship is directly tied to idolatry, syncretism, and spiritual adultery.

In Judges 2:11–13, we read: “Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals… they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.”

Baal was the first step in Israel’s descent. He represented the replacement of God with a counterfeit, a false god who promised prosperity in exchange for loyalty. Baal’s appeal was that you could worship him and still pursue sensual indulgence and earthly gain. He was a god of “pragmatism” and prosperity, as opposed to the holiness and exclusivity that was demanded by Yahweh.

Spiritually, Baal signifies any movement or ideology that calls for the abandonment of biblical truth in exchange for cultural relevance, self-idolatry, or state-sponsored religion. In today’s world, Baal manifests in the exaltation of secularism, materialism, and “progressive” spirituality that dethrones Christ.

2. Molech: The Spirit of Death and Blood Sacrifice

Molech (also spelled Moloch) was worshipped through child sacrifice. The horrific image of infants being burned alive in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) is one of the most gruesome indictments against Israel in the Old Testament.

The prophet Jeremiah recounts these dark deeds: “They built the high places of Baal… to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind…” (Jeremiah 32:35).

Molech represents systematised bloodshed — in particular, the sacrifice of the most vulnerable. While ancient people placed infants on the searing arms of an idol, modern societies perform similar rituals in abortion clinics under the guise of “freedom” and “autonomy”.

From a biblical standpoint, life is sacred because man is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Molech worship is a demonic inversion, destroying God’s image-bearers to appease their selfish desires. The resurgence of Molech’s spirit is seen in the devaluation of life, the exaltation of “choice” over the sanctity of the unborn, and a culture that celebrates death.

3. Ashtoreth: The Spirit of Sexual Perversion, Gender Confusion, and Spiritual Seduction

Ashtoreth (also called Ishtar in Mesopotamia) was the goddess of fertility, love, war, and sexual expression. She is the most complex and perverse figure of the unholy trinity. Often depicted as both male and female, Ashtoreth was a deity of gender-blurring, androgyny, and unbridled lust.

The worship of Ashtoreth included:

• Temple prostitution
• Cross-dressing priests and priestesses
• Sexual rites and orgies
• Gender transformation rituals

Deuteronomy 23:17–18 speaks to this perversion: “There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel.”

The term “perverted one” (Hebrew qadesh) literally refers to male temple prostitutes — those who served at pagan shrines under gods like Ashtoreth. These were often biological males acting as females, blurring the boundaries of male and female in service to a fertility goddess.

Worship of Ashtoreth was rooted in the destruction of God’s created order. Genesis 1:27 makes it clear that God “created them male and female”. The binary nature of human identity reflects the wisdom and glory of the Creator.

Ashtoreth seeks to invert that divine design:

• Championing androgyny instead of sex distinctions
• Promoting autonomy over divine design
• Erasing boundaries between sacred and profane, male and female, Creator and creature

This is not just a form of social rebellion — it is a spiritual war against God’s image. When men reject their masculinity or women turn away from their femininity, the work of creation is being undone in the heart. Ashtoreth’s influence aims to confuse people’s identity, corrupt their sexuality, and claim the next generation through lies and confusion.

In modern times, Ashtoreth’s influence is evident in things such as:

• Radical gender theory
• Drag culture and public cross-dressing events
• Transgender activism, especially targeting children
• The sexualisation of the public square and media
• The normalisation of polyamory, pornography, and LGBT ideologies as “human rights”

Like the ancient temples of Ashtoreth, today’s cultural institutions have become platforms for the worship of this god — not with statues, but with ideologies, entertainment, and perverse legal decrees.

The Call to Holiness and Spiritual Warfare

These three demonic entities — Baal, Molech, and Ashtoreth — worked together in ancient Israel to enslave the heart, body, and soul:

• Baal corrupted the mind and spirit through idolatry
• Molech demanded blood through child sacrifice
• Ashtoreth perverted the body through sexual confusion

This triad disfigures the image of God in man:

• Baal replaces who we worship
• Molech destroys what we value
• Ashtoreth assaults who we are

Together, they form a satanic counterfeit of the Holy Trinity. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bring life, order, and truth, the unholy trinity brings death, disorder, and deception.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness…”

The battle against these forces is not political or social — it is spiritual. Christians must stand firm by affirming:

• Biblical truth in the face of Baal’s relativism
• The sanctity of life over and against Molech’s slaughter
• God’s design for gender and sexuality as opposed to Ashtoreth’s lies

Victory comes not when we compromise with the culture, but by remaining faithful to the Word of God, proclaim the gospel boldly, and are empowered by the Spirit to resist evil.

Take a Stand and Avoid the Empty House

Jesus warned that when an unclean spirit departs, it may return to find its former dwelling “swept and in order” — but empty (Matthew 12:44). In many ways, our culture is just such a house. It has been swept clean of God’s presence — through secularism, entertainment, education, and ungodly legislation — but left vacant of His Spirit.

It’s not enough that we oppose evil; we must be filled with righteousness. We don’t just need reformation — we need revival. A church burning with truth and love is the only force strong enough to stand against the returning gods. Only in Jesus Christ can our identity be restored, our worship be made pure, and our nation returned to wholeness.

At the heart of it all, we must turn back to God as a nation. The promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 still stands: if God’s people will humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways — then He will hear from heaven and heal our land.

I witnessed the power of this promise firsthand in Washington DC in October 2024 at the ‘A Million Women’ repentance gathering. It was an honour to lead a team of seven Australian women to intercede for America. That day, history shifted — heaven heard, and hearts were changed.

You can watch my personal video report below, sharing the story of our delegation’s journey. The video concludes with a powerful message from Jonathan Cahn.

One of the clearest commands in the Old Testament is Exodus 20:3 — “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

That commandment from the Lord is not just a law — it is a warning, and an invitation. The gods of old may return, but Jesus Christ reigns forever. And in Him, every idol falls.