Jonathan Cahn is warning that the greatest threat to Western civilization is not paganism, but post-Christian culture.
In an interview with Larry Ragland part of Media Day 2025 presented by Charisma Media, Cahn explained that: “Pre-Christian, okay, that’s pagan. That’s the guy who was possessed by one spirit. Post-Christian is the guy who’s possessed by eight spirits. Pre-Christian, you got Nero. Post-Christian, you get Hitler. You get the Antichrist.”
According to Cahn, when a nation empties itself of God, it opens the door to spiritual forces previously driven out by the gospel. “They don’t come in saying, ‘We’re going to take over,’” he explains. “They come in as tolerance. ‘Open your mind, do your own thing.’ But in the end, they don’t want tolerance.”
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Cahn connects this spiritual reality to historical patterns. Drawing from the Bible and ancient civilizations, he notes that when Israel turned from God, it repeatedly fell into the worship of specific gods—spirits that continue to operate today. He highlights the goddess Ishtar, who is associated with sexual immorality. As Western culture abandoned God, the sexual revolution emerged, sexuality was secularized, and confusion of gender roles took root—a modern reflection of ancient spiritual influence. “She had a priesthood, men in drag who danced before families,” Cahn says, “bending the sexuality between male and female. That’s exactly what we’re seeing today.”
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The concept of “avatars” is central to Cahn’s message found in his new book, “The Avatar.” In pagan cultures, gods could manifest in humans. Today, he argues, humans are once again being used as vessels for spiritual forces to manifest, shaping culture, government and current events. He points to historical examples like Cuba, where spirits behind deities—disguised as saints—exerted cultural influence, and he recounts a dramatic mountaintop encounter where God used a shofar to topple the chief god idol of Cuba, sparking revival.
Cahn also links contemporary events to this spiritual framework. He sees symbols of replacement of God with paganism in popular culture, referencing the Olympics’ controversial performances that replaced Jesus with Dionysian figures. He connects this to the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, who proclaimed “God is dead” and exalted Dionysus, ultimately influencing figures like Adolf Hitler. “This is global,” Cahn warns. “The entire world is witnessing blasphemy, God driven out, a god coming in.”
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The warning is clear: America stands at a spiritual crossroads. A culture that once knew God now risks being overtaken by forces long driven out, as tolerance and complacency allow ancient powers to infiltrate every aspect of society. From the arts to politics, from education to leadership, the seeds of post-Christian influence are spreading, reshaping morality, values and truth itself. Recognizing this reality is not about fear—it is about awareness, vigilance and reclaiming dominion through faith.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
