End Times Notes - Another False Jesus Cult Growing in a Siberian Forest

Siberian cult leader 'Vissarion' who claims to be ‘re-incarnation of Jesus Christ’

arrested over psychological violence

By Jonny Tickle

Police in Siberia have arrested three leaders of the notorious ‘Church of the Last Testament’ religious sect on suspicion of using psychological violence to extract income, resulting in “serious harm” to their followers.

Founded in 1991, the movement forbids its adherents from smoking, drinking or exchanging money, and they live as vegetarian subsistence farmers. The sect's creator, Sergey Torop, believes he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and brands himself as 'Vissarion’.

Jesus of Siberia   25:47

According to Russia's Investigative Committee, Torop, along with other leaders Vadim Redkin and Vladimir Vedernikov, will be charged with “creating a religious association whose activities involve violence against citizens.” 

The three men were arrested in the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk, about 4,500 km (2796 miles) east of Moscow. The area has several villages built by followers of Vissarion, including one called Tiberkul, commonly known as “the City of the Sun,” which was constructed in 1995.

A member of the religious organization, Alexander Staroverov, posted several videos on Facebook showing masked men walking around the village, some of whom were armed.

The sect came under legal scrutiny on two separate occasions in 2020. In February, members of the church were interrogated as part of an investigation into corruption and fraud in the Istoki School, attended by the children of Vissarion's followers. In August, a criminal case was opened after representatives of Vissarion prevented journalists from filming inside the community.

The Church of the Last Testament became well known in the West in 2012, when Vice News released a documentary on its Youtube channel called ‘Siberian Cult Leader Thinks He's Jesus’. In 2014, a similar documentary called ‘Siberian 'Messiah’ was filmed by RT.

There are many cults and non-cult people who desire to create Heaven on Earth. The Bible promises that Jesus will return to Earth and rule over it for 1000 years before creating a New Heaven and a New Earth. When He does return, everyone will know it. He will not return in the middle of a Siberian forest, or on the streets of New York City as a woman. He will return to Mount Zion.

The Bible also warns that there will be many who come in his name prior to that time. Vissarion and his followers, by their isolation, will probably not be prepared for the coming of the real Christ. They must first be tried and tested which they have little possibility of passing while believing in a false Christ.

Dan 11:35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.