The Last Hours on Earth of Voltaire 

Voltaire was a Famous Deist of the 1700's and an Outspoken Critic of Christianity Comparable to Richard Dawkins ​as an Outspoken Atheist in Modern Times 

When Voltaire felt the stroke that he realized must terminate in death, he was overpowered with remorse. He at once sent for the priest, and wanted to be "reconciled with the church." [Note: Roman Catholicism could not reconcile Voltaire to God because it was riddled with heresies that are dangerous and contrary to the Bible.] Voltaire's infidel flatterers hastened to his chamber to prevent his recantation; but it was only to witness his ignominy and their own. He cursed them to their faces; and, as his distress was increased by their presence, he repeatedly and loudly exclaimed:

"Begone! It is you that have brought me to my present condition. Leave me, I say; begone! What a wretched glory is this which you have produced to me!"

Hoping to allay his anguish by a written recantation, he had it prepared, signed it, and saw it witnessed. But it was all unavailing. For two months he was tortured with such an agony it led him at times to gnash his teeth in impotent rage against God and man. At other times, in plaintive accents, he would plead, "O Christ! O Lord Jesus!" Then, turning his face, he would cry out, "I must die -- abandoned of God and of men!"

As his end drew near, his condition became so frightful that his infidel associates were afraid to approach his bedside. Still they guarded the door, that others may not know how awfully an infidel was compelled to die. Even his nurse repeatedly said, "For all the wealth of Europe she would never see another infidel die."

It was a scene of horror that lies beyond all exaggeration. Such is the well-attested end of the one who had a natural sovereignty of intellect, excellent education, great wealth, and much earthly honor. We may all well exclaim with Balaam, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" (Num. 23:10). 

"Oh! I Have Missed It At Last!" 

​Some time ago, a physician called upon a young man who was ill. He sat for a little while by the bedside, examining his patient, and then he honestly told him the sad intelligence that he had but a very short time to live. The young man was astonished; he did not expect it would come to that so soon. He forgot that death comes "in such an hour as ye think not."

At length he looked up into the face of the doctor, and, with a most despairing countenance, repeated the expression, "I have missed it -- at last."

"What have you missed?" inquired the tenderhearted, sympathizing physician.

"I have missed it -- at last," again he repeated.

"Missed what?"

"Doctor, I have missed the salvation of my soul."

"Oh, say not so -- it is not so. Do you remember the thief on the cross?"

"Yes, I remember the thief on the cross. And I remember that he never said to the Holy Ghost, 'Go thy way.' But I did. And now He is saying to me, 'Go your way.'"

He lay gasping a while, and looking up with a vacant, starting eye, he said, "I was awakened and was anxious about my soul a little time ago. But I did not want to be saved then. Something seemed to say to me, 'Don't put it off, make sure of salvation.' I said to myself, 'I will postpone it.' I knew I ought not to do it. I knew I was a great sinner, and needed a Savior. I resolved, however, to dismiss the subject for the present. Yet I could not get my own consent to do it until I had promised to take it up again, at a time not remote and more favorable. I bargained away, resisted and insulted the Holy Spirit. I never thought of coming to this. I meant to have made my salvation sure, and now I have missed it -- at last."

"You remember," said the doctor, "that there were some who came at the eleventh hour."

"My eleventh hour," he rejoined, "was when I had that call of the Spirit. I have had none since -- shall not have. I am given over to be lost. Oh! I have missed it! I have sold my soul for nothing -- a feather -- a straw -- undone forever!" This was said with such indescribable despondency, that nothing was said in reply.
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After lying a few moments, he raised his head, and looking all around the room as if for some desired object, he buried his face in the pillow, and again exclaimed in agony and horror, "OH! I HAVE MISSED IT AT LAST!" and died.
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Reader, you need not miss your salvation, for you may have it now. What you have read is a true story. How earnestly it says to you, "Now is the accepted time!" "Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Heb. 3: 7, 8). 

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." - Isaiah 55:6-7 

Anxiety Disorders: “An intense and excessive uneasiness, worry, nervousness, fear, & dread in your everyday life.”

Death anxiety is widely regarded by mental health professionals to be the most important underlying problem which gives rise to all other mental disorders. Illustrating the point, an Australian psychologist said that death anxiety is "the Worm at the Core of Mental Health" (Rachel E. Menzies). She borrowed this statement from the famous American philosopher, William James, and adapted it to mental health. Originally, William James was emphasizing that mankind's fear of death is "the worm at the core" of the human condition. Other psychologists, like Sheldon Solomon, have agreed with this assessment, especially when it comes to anxiety disorders. 

“This idea is based on evidence that death is a significant feature across a range of anxiety-related disorders.” – Lisa Iverach PhD

​Do you agree? You don't need to go through thousands of counseling sessions of psychotherapy to realize this commonality among all mental health patients. Rather, you could just read the Bible. 

“…deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” – Hebrews 2:15

“…the spirit of bondage again to fear” – Romans 8:15

According to the Word of God, lost sinners are trapped in a spiritual "bondage" that makes them psychologically tormented by the "fear of death" (Heb. 2:15, Rom. 8:15). This is a spiritual problem with only one real solution! Consequentially, the LORD has authored a divine plan of salvation that liberates sinners from this terrible bondage. Read more scripture from Romans and Hebrews for the details.​ True Christians are no longer afraid to die because of a divinely granted assurance of eternal life ministered to the soul through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” - John 14:26-27

Suffice it to say, even the best minds of psychology cannot improve upon the message of the Bible (1 Cor. 1:21). They have a lot to learn about the worm as it pertains to the Doctrine of Mortality. No manmade coping mechanism will bring relief to this problem. Terror management tools are futile and useless when divine justice is making sinners afraid (Prov. 1:27-33, 3:25-26, 10:24-25, Ps. 9:20, Lk. 12:26, Rev. 6:15-17, 1 Thess. 5:3). The endless philosophical discussions about terror management theories are circular and self-defeating. ​One thing is certain! Death is coming for all of us. This is a judgment from God upon sinners. 

“Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.” - Psalm 9:20

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Rom. 6:23

This whole situation needs to be reevaluated in the light of Holy Scripture. A professional diagnosis of normalcy is subjective based upon the worldview of psychology (Col. 2:8). What is a diagnosis like this worth if these people refuse to read the Bible? The end goal of your Doctor is to get you feeling better based upon a worldview that needs to be informed and corrected by the Word of God.

Sin, righteousness, spirituality, and God should be a part of the diagnosis. These factors of life have a massive impact upon your environment and the stress that can be produced by any given situation. Given the unique circumstances of your environment, some fears are reasonable. Other fears are unreasonable! Some anxiety is necessary, advantageous, and realistic. Other forms of anxiety are fantastical and absurd! The interpretation of these things will determine when peace is warranted or delusional. Who is to be the judge of these things? 

“Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker?” - Job 4:17

“God forbid: Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” – Rom. 3:4

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” - Psalm 19:7-8

In reality, most people who are deemed mentally healthy are too comfortable and happy in this world (Ps. 10:6-7, 36:1, 1 Jn. 2:15-17). This is made possible through a delusional peace that suppresses the fear of death to the point where the anxieties of these people are insignificant and seemingly under control. Nevertheless, such people will quickly lose their composure when tragedy strikes. Ignorance is not bliss! 

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”  - 1 Thess. 5:3

Until tragedy strikes, it is easy for proud sinners to point the finger at others (Ps. 73:5-6). They are deluded by a false peace because they are blinded to the real danger at hand (Ps. 73:17-20). Meanwhile, others who are deemed mentally ill by the system are fearful of death for good reason. Experiencing more tragedy in life often brings a needed sobriety and wisdom (Eccl. 7:2-6). Notwithstanding, an even larger company of people are deemed mentally ill and diagnosed with an anxiety disorder because their fear of death is outrageous and unreasonable. Literally, these people are harassed by many delusional fears that don’t make any sense! This brings us to three possible categories of people in this complicated situation. 

1. Mentally healthy people who are comfortable and fearless because of a delusional peace.
2. Mentally ill people who are uncomfortable and afraid because of justifiable concerns that are supported by the Bible.
3. Mentally ill people who are uncomfortable and afraid because of unjustifiable concerns that are delusional fears. (There are demons at work in this situation.) 

Ultimately, we need grace to proceed in this matter by discerning the difference between rational and irrational fears according to the Bible. Firstly, our study will focus on the people in categories one and two. The bulk of the population in America should be able to relate. However, category three is unique and therefore unrelatable to most people. This situation is extraordinary because most of the delusional fear of anxiety disorders is demonic activity. Literally, the intrusive thoughts, graphic images, voices, and whispers are coming directly from the presence of a demon that is living inside the person. This news should come as a relief to those who are suffering this cruel bondage. Why? Because if you expel the demon, then the mental illness will be healed. 

​Health Anxiety

People struggle with anxiety out of concern for their health and physical wellbeing. Essentially, they fear becoming sick or dying. Given the frequency of random people getting horribly sick and dying through virtually inescapable diseases like the flu, this concern isn’t unfounded (Job 33:19-29). “The CDC estimates that the flu has resulted in 9.4 million – 41 million illnesses, 100,000 – 710,000 hospitalizations, and 4,900 – 52,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2022.” (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention). Likewise, if the statistics of all such diseases were reckoned up and accumulated with all the other known threats to mortal life, the numbers would communicate a message that would invoke fear in people. 

“Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.” - Psalm 90:3

Making things worse for some, science has graphically brought into view what used to be invisble. The fact that there could be a lingering presence of microscopic germs all around you is now something that can be visualized by the common people. The pathogens could be airborne! They could be creeping about your living quarters! Sometimes, albeit rarely, these little bugs can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, you could say that there are a lot of reasons to be afraid of “the pestilence that walketh in darkness” (Ps. 91:5-6).

Pestilence and disease have left an indelible mark upon human history. One way or another, people eventually come to realize how life is fragile and beauty is fading. Suddenly, people die! It all happens so quickly. Over 153,000 people die worldwide every day! Mortality is a force to be reckoned with (Job 4:17-21). 

“For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”  - James 4:14

Death is inescapable! While living, we are all in the process of dying. It is inevitable. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our heart unto wisdom.” (Ps. 90:12). Statistically, a staggering 56 million people worldwide die every year! This comes out to around 6,000 people every hour, 106 people every minute, and ≈2 people dying every second of the day. Immortals looking on at this situation are amazed to behold the destruction. 

“They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.” – Job 4:20-21

Are you ready to die? Most people are unprepared because they are deluded by a false peace (Lk. 12:16-21). Most people are far too happy and at home in this evil world (2 Cor. 4:4-7, 1 Jn. 2:15-17, James 4:4). Therefore, for many, death comes like a thief in the night! People don’t see it coming. 

Agoraphobia & Claustrophobia ​

People spend a fortune on homes and properties because they are grasping after a sense of security, identity, stability, and peace. They depend upon it. They trust in it! In reality, they trust in themselves (Jer. 17:5). Home is an environment they imagine to be completely under their control, even though nothing at all is really under their control. 

“Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.” - Psalm 49:11-12

“And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.” – Amos 3:15

Deception breeds delusion! Proud bones will be broken (Lam. 3:4). False peace is a nightmare situation (1 Thess. 5:2). When a delusional sense of security is suddenly and violently disrupted, sinners can become permanently traumatized as a result. These same people come to feel extremely vulnerable when faced with danger in other locations or places. This leads to agoraphobia and claustrophobia. Such experiences should inspire men to seek God (Ps 107:25-31)! However, only a minority of people ever come to do this (Matt. 7:13-14). Therefore, divine sovereignty arranges more bad thunderstorms, car accidents, turbulent flights, and near death experiences to get the attention of the people (Ps. 107). 

“And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” – Matt. 7:26-27

This is the robbery of the undying soul from its refuge of false security. Seeking security in earthly things is like grasping after the wind, especially if the LORD intends to disrupt the harmful fantasies of carnal security. Feeling safe, sound, secure, and at peace as a sinner isn’t a good thing! “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:7). If divine wisdom acts to break the object of our trust, it is so that we will put our faith in God. 

Social Anxiety & Separation Anxiety ​

Manifold insecurities fuel anxiety! Insecurities about your body, called health anxiety, and insecurities about your location or place, called Agoraphobia or Claustrophobia, are common because people are chiefly concerned about the protection and preservation of themselves. Coincidentally, the same could be said about the glorification of self in how it fuels social anxiety and separation anxiety.

Sinners crave attention! You can call this glorification. Everything that they do is deeply motivated by a desire to be seen and recognized by men. They are lonely and miserable without it! Therefore, they don’t ever desire to be separated from their acquaintances, friends, family, and loved ones. 

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men…” – Matt. 23:5

“This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings.” - Psalm 49:13

Furthermore, when sinners get the attention that they so earnestly desire, if it isn’t positive and reinforcing to their self-esteem where they are receiving the honor and acceptance of their peers, it will then lead to feelings of social anxiety like embarrassment, self-consciousness, and shame. People just want to be successful and live with pride. This kind of thinking resonates with people because they all lust for the honor of men. 

“How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” - John 5:44
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“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” – Prov. 16:5

“…for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” - Luke 16:15

No real happiness is achieved by godless sinners (Mal. 3:15). People are secretly plagued with a tormenting sense of loneliness and anxiety as they worry about the relationships of their social life. Don’t let the sparkle and glitter of those who appear to be happy deceive you! Living for the glorification of self is hurtful, horrendous, animalistic, and deadly. 

“Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” – Psalm 49:20

Death is inevitable. It is the ultimate deglorification of self! It is inescapable. Therefore, death anxiety fuels separation anxiety for many people. Nevertheless, there is an alternative to death and condemnation. It is the Cross of Jesus Christ!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”  - Matt. 16:24-27

The Cross is an instrument of execution! The Cross will eliminate the problem of self and bring salvation to the soul. This is good news from a perfect Creator who promises everlasting life to sinners. 

Anxiety Disorders with Delusional Fears, Panic Attacks, & Demonic Possession ​

It is foolish for mental health professionals to omit God from the national conversation about Mental Illness. Consequentially, when speaking about the stress factors of the environment, there is no discussion about sin, righteousness, condemnation, salvation, the Holy Spirit, or demons. Nevertheless, all these things will have a massive impact upon our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Think about it! What if our desires are evil? Similarly, due to ongoing sin, what if someone is experiencing a demonic attack?

Sinning will not help your sanity! Rather, sinning is a real path to insanity and demon possession. Oh, that men would taste and see that sin is bitter! Nobody gets demon possessed who doesn’t deserve it. Sin opens the door to the devil. Of course, God doesn’t want anyone to be inhabited by devils! Therefore, universally, when we sin against God, we are forced to hear about it in our conscience. This is because mankind has been endowed by God with the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17, 3:22). Therefore, when we commit sin our conscience acts as a mental reprover. The word “con-science” literally means “with-knowledge”. 

“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” – Acts 24:16
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“…their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another” – Rom. 2:15

Our conscience will make us know when we have done something good or evil. In other words, an offended conscience makes people feel guilty. Having a knowledge of the good and discovering that we have done evil brings guilt and shame. This is also called conviction in the Bible. The conscience brings conviction as an enforcer of guilt when sin is committed. This is a good thing. 

“And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” - John 8:9

Men and women have been created in the Image of God. Consequentially, we are intrinsically conscious of morality and immorality. We are not amoral creatures, like the animals, who are oblivious to morality and exempt from divine judgment. Therefore, for us, a guilty conscience is a heavy burden! This is just the tip of the iceberg. Sin is more bitter than death! The knowledge of it being committed in our lives is a mental, emotional, and spiritual affliction. In other words, it is painful to realize the wretchedness of our sinful condition before God.

This realization makes us sorrowful and afraid (Gen. 3:8-10). However, most people try to ignore this pain as they go about their life. They don’t know that this causes the problem to fester and get worse. A lifetime of sin causes these fears to grow into ferocious and uncontrollable anxiety disorders. 

“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.”  - Prov. 19:3

There are a lot of anxious people in America! “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. and affect over 40 million adults, or 19.1% of the population.” (Forbes Health). Anxious sinners pay a visit to a local Doctor and are immediately prescribed benzodiazepines. Mental health professionals will tell you that these anxiety disorders are not referring to the common experience of stress and worry in your everyday life, but something much more intense. Therefore, the people go away believing that they have a chemical problem instead of a sin problem. They continue on a path of rebellion against God without even realizing that they are suffering demonic attacks as a result of ongoing sin.

There is a cause and effect to everything. The Holy Spirit uses the conscience to bring conviction to sinners (John 16:7-11). Yielding to this work will compel people to repent of sin and seek God for salvation. Contrastingly, when sinners ignore the conscience and disregard sin, this will eventually warrant demon possession. Demons will then harass and afflict these lost souls with temptations, enticements, accusations, and threats! In other words, this is a demonic attack that makes people panic through delusional fears.

Statistically, a majority of mentally ill people who are diagnosed with anxiety disorders are uncomfortable and afraid because of unjustifiable concerns that are delusional fears. Out of the 40 million Americans who are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, a staggering 36 million of them experience panic attacks every year! These panic attacks are in fact demonic attacks. Hence, in the scientific community, it is widely recognized that delusional fears are closely associated with repeated episodes of panic attacks.

Naturally, even one panic attack can be so traumatizing that it changes the trajectory of life for people and severely inflames anxiety disorders. Literally, the fear of having another panic attack can itself provoke subsequent panic attacks. It is a downward spiral. The suffering of these people is so intense that many find themselves drifting into delusional fears without even realizing it.

Have you ever experienced a panic attack? A pounding heart, a racing pulse, chest pain, sweating, chills, trembling, hyperventilation, suffocation, stomach pain, nausea, weakness, dizziness, numbness, tingly hands, and even the inability to walk, move, or speak! All this happens because you are experiencing a feeling of unexplainable dread and terror at your own impending doom. This is the fear of death! Even though you are certain that you are going to die, so it seems, you feel completely helpless about it. You feel lost! You are unable to do anything but wait until this violent storm passes by and you return to sanity. 

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” – Mark 4:37-41

Whatever storm you encounter in life, if Jesus Christ is with you in real time, this changes everything. The storm vexed seas fall silent and still before the Lord! Do you believe this? The most important thing about you, is what you think about Jesus Christ. The Miracle Worker of Israel often said, “…as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” (Matt. 8:13). Do you believe? 

“And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.” – Luke 6:17-19

Indeed, you may be vexed by the unclean spirits of devils! Nevertheless, even though perhaps no one else can understand your situation, Jesus Christ knows exactly what you are going through. To be vexed by a demon literally means that you are teased, provoked, irritated, troubled, agitated, disquieted, and afflicted (Websters 1828). The Greek word for “vexed” (ὀχλέω) is used only two times in the New Testament, and both times it is describing how people are basically being harassed and mobbed by demons (Lk. 6:18, Acts 5:16). Sound familiar? You don’t have to keep going through this torment! You need Jesus Christ. 

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;” – Isa. 61:1-2

Every time the Son of God encountered a demon possessed person in Israel, the spiritual prisoners were immediately liberated from the power of the devil. Even so, you will be treated no differently if you come into the presence of Jesus Christ. It is time for you to come! You should not delay any longer. It is time for you to seek the Lord (Jer. 29:13)! If you believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the promise of the Gospel. Herein, you will find rest and quietness (Isa. 30:15, Php. 4:6-7). Demons cannot enter a house that is occupied by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28-29, 43-45, 1 Jn. 3:8, 5:18). 

Death anxiety is widely regarded by mental health professionals to be the most important underlying problem that gives rise to all other mental disorders. Illustrating the point, an Australian psychologist said that death anxiety is "the Worm at the Core of Mental Health" (Rachel E. Menzies). She borrowed this statement from the famous American philosopher, William James, and adapted it to mental health. Originally, William James was emphasizing that mankind's fear of death is "the worm at the core" of the human condition. Other psychologists, like Sheldon Solomon, have agreed with this assessment, especially when it comes to anxiety disorders. 

“This idea is based on evidence that death is a significant feature across a range of anxiety-related disorders.” – Lisa Iverach PhD

​Do you agree? You don't need to go through thousands of counseling sessions of psychotherapy to realize this commonality among all mental health patients. Rather, you could just read the Bible. 

“…deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” – Hebrews 2:15

“…the spirit of bondage again to fear” – Romans 8:15 

According to the Word of God, lost sinners are trapped in a spiritual "bondage" that makes them psychologically tormented by the "fear of death" (Heb. 2:15, Rom. 8:15). This is a spiritual problem with only one real solution! Consequentially, the LORD has authored a divine plan of salvation that liberates sinners from this terrible bondage. Read more scripture from Romans and Hebrews for the details. True Christians are no longer afraid to die because of a divinely granted assurance of eternal life ministered to the soul through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Suffice it to say, even the best minds of psychology cannot improve upon the message of the Bible (1 Cor. 1:21). They have a lot to learn about the worm as it pertains to the Doctrine of Mortality. No manmade coping mechanism will bring relief to this problem. Terror management tools are futile and useless when divine justice is making sinners afraid (Prov. 1:27-33, 3:25-26, 10:24-25, Lk. 12:26, Rev. 6:15-17, 1 Thess. 5:3)! The endless philosophical discussions about terror management theories are circular and self-defeating.

The Worm in the Doctrine of Mortality 

​One thing is certain! Death is coming for all of us. This is a judgment from God upon sinners. Are you prepared to face it? The worm feeds upon the dead. 

"The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree." - Job 24:20 [Job 17:14, 24:20, Ps. 49:14, Isa. 14:11, 51:8, 66:24, Mk. 9:44, 46, 48]

THE WORM. It is one of the smallest of God’s creatures. It is harmless to the living and defenseless when attacked. Nevertheless, it is a fierce consumer of the dead! The dead are violated by the worm. A corpse is defenseless before the worm. And the rotten meal is sweet to the worm! These are tokens of divine wrath: “…the worm shall feed sweetly on him” (Job 24:20).

The presence of the worm is nearly indistinguishable from death. It is a minister of corruption (Job 17:14). It is as the presence of death itself (Ps. 49:14). Unless you have beheld the worm at work you couldn’t possibly understand. When the worm meets with mortal men in the end, this can only mean one thing: humiliation. “Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.” (Isaiah 14:11). Death is the deglorification of sinners. The worm defeats them. God is demonstrating divine wrath in real time through creation. He that hath an ear, let him hear.

The Creator designed creation to preach sermons to mankind. The worm sweetly feeding on the dead carcasses of wicked sinners is a process that satisfies the wrath of God. Divine justice kills sinners and removes them from the face of the earth (Heb. 9:27, Ezek. 18:4, 20). The world is made better by one less sinner. The holy heart of God is cheered at a little less sadness (Gen. 6:7, Ps. 104:35).

“Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.” - Psalms 104:35

Nevertheless, what about the afterlife? The same dreadful marvels accompany the 2nd Death. The tokens of divine wrath that accompany the 1st Death are harnessed by God and adapted to meet with tormented souls in Hell, or what we could call the 2nd Death (Rev. 2:11, 20:6, 14, 21:8). In retrospect, we can see that the 1st Death was teaching sinners about the horrors of the 2nd Death all along! It pleases a benevolent God to force sinners to encounter the rotting corpses of dead things as they go about their business in their earthly lives. As a medicine to the soul (Eccl. 7:2-5), it would do them good to take a long hard look at the unsightly mess of rotting death: see how it looks, imagine how it feels, and be nauseated with horror at the smell!
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The worm, as an instrument of divine wrath in the 1st Death, is employed by God even after physical death – the worm will sweetly feed on the spirits and bodies of sinners in the Lake of Fire for their outrageous and unthinkable wickedness before a Holy God! Herein, God’s wrath will be forever satisfied in the destruction of transgressors (Rev. 14:10, Matt. 8:29, 2 Thess. 1:7-10). God has appointed the worm for this cause (Jonah 4:7)! Speaking of this, Jesus of Nazareth spoke about the torments of Hellfire, quoting Isaiah, saying that it is a place "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mk. 9:44, 46, 48)! This should make mortal men and devils horribly afraid (Matt. 8:29, James 2:19). 

Have you ever heard the words of this song? 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed! This is God's plan for your life. Will you let divine grace teach your heart to fear? It is my prayer that divine grace would then relieve those fears by directing your heart to repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

“Correlation does not Imply Causation”, while Psychotropic Drugs do Cause Neurochemical Imbalances and Dysfunction of Neurotransmission 

Dr. Preethi David Morris 

​Abstract: Mental health professionals often prescribe psychotropic drugs to patients diagnosed with mental health illnesses under the premise that neurochemical imbalance is a cause of mental health disorders. In this paper we discuss reasons to believe that there is no scientific research which provides evidence that neurochemical imbalances or problems with neurotransmission in the brain are causative factors in the etiology of mental health illnesses. Behavioral and neurochemical research studies in animals show an association between mental health states and alteration of neurotransmitter signaling. However, correlation does not imply causation. To the contrary, stress paradigms in rodents show a diminishing of the activity of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward pathway as a result of long-term stressful stimuli. Furthermore, studies in human cases of mental health disorders show that psychotropic drugs cause disturbances in neurotransmission or neurochemical homeostasis as seen in biochemical research studies, and this is manifest by the behavioral consequences experienced during withdrawal in humans and animals. 

Significance: This paper presents reasons to question the safety and efficacy of the common use of psychotropic drugs in the mental health industry. 

​Introduction to Psychotropic Drugs

​Mental health disorders are commonly believed to involve pathophysiological processes in the brain. Of note, many doctors and researchers have come to believe that imbalances and impairment of neurotransmitter signaling in the brain is the underlying cause of disorders such as depression, insomnia, somnolence, ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Under this premise, the use of psychotropic drugs has greatly increased in the past several decades, and it is reported recently that over 24% of Americans are taking prescription mental health medication (Vinzant, 2022). Psychotropic drugs have several mechanisms: they either mimic the effects, block the function, or in some form change the storage, release, and uptake of neurotransmitters (Vaughan, 2024). Thus neurotransmitter signaling is the target of psychotropic drugs. The following are the neurotransmitters that are commonly targeted: dopamine, GABA, Serotonin, acetylcholine, glutamate, adrenaline (epinephrine), and oxytocin.
 
As of 2017, there were 108 psychotropic drugs available according to Neuroscience-based Nomenclature (Sathyanarayana, 2016). Psychotropic drugs fall into these categories: antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, stimulants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. However, these drugs often have multiple effects on neurotransmitter signaling. For example, quetiapine, a drug taken for schizophrenia and major depressive order, is a dopamine, serotonin, as well as an alpha-2 noradrenergic receptor antagonist. The drug clozapine also has multiple targets of action. (Sathyanarayana. 2016). Furthermore, with all the psychotropic drugs, there are 1 or more of 10 modes of action: 1) receptor agonist, 2) receptor partial agonist, 3) receptor antagonist, 4) reuptake inhibitor, 5) reuptake inhibitor and releaser, 6) reuptake inhibitor and receptor antagonist, 7) an enzyme inhibitor, 8) ion channel blocker, 9) positive allosteric modulator, 10) enzyme modulator (Sathyanarayana, 2016). 

Proposed Cause of Mental Health Illnesses

Many research scientists and doctors believe that mental illnesses are a result of “problems” in communication within the brain. This is an inference based on research studies which reveal neurochemical abnormalities in individuals with mental health disorders. For example, in individuals with depression, a low level of serotonin is a common finding (NIH, 2007). This finding led to the use of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which reduce the amount of serotonin taken back into the presynaptic neuron leaving more serotonin in the synaptic space nearby the postsynaptic neuron. This in turn increases serotonin levels and signaling. However, it is important to note that mental health disorders are diagnosed based on symptoms rather than with blood tests, pathogen culture, urinalysis, x-ray, etc. Family doctors and pediatricians will often refer suspect individuals to mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists) who will closely examine the mental health symptoms in conjunction with general health status, and prescribe psychotropic drugs accordingly (NIH, 2007). Thus, this leaves the diagnosis of mental health disorders highly subjective.
 
Of interest, the neurotransmitter dopamine, and its signaling pathways are implicated in the pathophysiology of many mental health disorders. Dopamine neurotransmitter signaling occurs in three common pathways. The nigrostriatal pathway involves dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta that project to the dorsal striatum. This pathway is involved in locomotion and movement. The mesocorticolimbic pathway involves dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area that project to the nucleus accumbens and limbic systems (mesolimbic pathway), which is also called the dopaminergic reward pathway, and the prefrontal cortex (mesocortical pathway) (Luo, 2016). The tuberoinfundular pathway projects from the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus to the median eminence and regulates the secretion of prolactin in the anterior pituitary gland.

Researchers have for decades been looking at the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway as relates to the etiology of major depressive disorders and other mental health disorders. They believe that dysfunction of the dopaminergic system is “hallmark” in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease, drug addiction, depression, and schizophrenia (Baik, 2020). The dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway is also known as the dopaminergic reward system because of many behavioral studies in rodents which have examined the effects of both reward and stress on neurotransmission within this pathway which extends from the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) to the Nucleus accumbens and amygdala. Of interest, it is observed that both reward and short-term stress excite the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway (Baik, 2020). Whereas long term stressful aversive events can depress the dopaminergic reward system by decreasing sensitivity to reward while subjects are in the state of anhedonia.

​The effects of stress on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system as observed in rodents shows an increase in dopaminergic activity in the VTA following short term stressful events, such as chronic restraint for 1 hour a day for 10 consecutive days, or chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) which involves introducing a single male intruder for 5-10 minutes a day, leaving sensory exposure for the remainder of the day for 10 consecutive days. In the case of CSDS, two categories of rodents were observed to respond differently (resilent and susceptible rodents). Whereas another stress paradigm in which rodents are subjected to a variety of stressful events administered randomly over the course of 4-6 weeks called Chronic Mild Stress (CUMS) showed a decrease in activity in the dopaminergic nerurons of the VTA and in D2 receptor binding in the nucleus accumbens (Baik, 2020). Thus, researchers hypothesize that repeated exposure to stressful stimuli over the course of a prolonged period of time may lead to impairment of neurotransmission as well as behavioral phenotypes of depression and anhedonia (lack of responsiveness to reward or failure to fight to survive). However, the discrepancies of results in various studies and circumstances have left scientists uncertain how exactly this stress and reward system works and how directly applicable it is to human cases of major depressive disorder. What is important to consider in light of these studies is that regardless of the differing effects based on the time scale and the manner of experimentation, stressful stimuli were upstream to any observed changes in dopamine signaling in the dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway.

Flaws in the Theory of Neurochemical Imbalance/Problems with Neurotransmission as the Cause of Mental Health Illness​

The above research is a primary example of behavioral studies that are often performed in which abnormal neurotransmission is observed in the brain in conjunction with the behavioral phenotype of major depressive disorder or another mental health illness. In rodent studies, stress paradigms are employed. Whereas in human studies which examine neurotransmission through measuring levels of neurotransmitters and their signaling, the subjects are already indicated for mental health illness. For example, it is observed that GABA and glutamate levels as well as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine homeostasis are altered in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Teleanu, 2022). Similarly, depression in humans is associated with atrophy of neurons in the cortical and limbic brain regions and general decrease in concentration of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine (Teleanu, 2022). Furthermore, therapeutic strategies to offset these abnormalities (“finetuning brain NT homeostasis”) through administration of psychotropic drugs has proven to mitigate symptoms in affected individuals both in animal and clinical studies. Nevertheless, the entire premise that mental health illnesses are caused by or a result of problems in neurotransmission is based on flawed science.

​All young and upcoming research scientists are taught the fundamental principle of science theory and research practice: “Correlation does not imply causation!” To the contrary, as we discussed, rodent studies of the dopaminergic reward pathway from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens shows that prolonged states of “stress” resulted in perturbations in dopamine signaling, and not the other way around! Furthermore, the term “stress” is ambiguous as in some studies there were both resilient and susceptible types of rodents, all of which were subjected to stressful stimuli.  In fact, even within mental health research it is reported: "Indeed, the term stress has been used to indicate both a response (or a set of responses) and the stimuli that promote the response” (Cabib, 2012).
 
Doctors are treating the associated abnormalities in neurotransmitter signaling without ever determining the true cause of mental health disorders. The major health associations of the United States can only hypothesize what are the causes of these disorders, and often note the difficulty of biochemical assessment of diagnosed individuals due to the presence of the blood brain barrier. Genetics (due to the fact that mental health illnesses tend to run in families with similar behavioral and neurochemical manifestations), environmental factors such as traumatic events and “stress”, as well as “chemical imbalances” in the brain are proposed as likely causes of mental health illnesses. Yet there are tremendous differences among the human population observed in the coexistence of these potential causes and mental health disorders, and no clear research-based evidence that chemical imbalances in the brain (abnormalities in neurotransmission) is a causative factor. Thus, mental health professionals are subjectively diagnosing a condition with no objective means of testing by biochemical assay, and then treating these conditions which have no clear biochemical causes. They are seeking to correct a supposed perturbation of neurotransmitter homeostasis with a seemingly effective therapeutic approach, albeit, a dangerous one! What is the result? Withdrawal symptoms, dependence, and addiction! 

A Dangerous Therapeutic Approach!

Withdrawal symptoms in discontinuing, switching, or attenuating psychotropic drug medication are the most dreaded aspect of patients and mental health professionals who treat these patients. A recent review article which examined conventional and new withdrawal symptoms (related to the drug use), rebound symptoms (related to original mental health illness), and persistent withdrawal effects found that all of the following drugs may induce withdrawal symptoms, and rebound effects, even with a slow tapering off of use: benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists, antidepressants, ketamine, antipsychotics, lithium, mood stabilizers (Flammetta, 2020). The authors of the study gave warning about the introduction of new psychotropic drugs into the market, while the long-term persistent withdrawal effects have not yet been catalogued and taken into account.
 
If we are going to speak about problems in brain neurotransmission, we need to speak about problems in brain transmission that occur as a result of the introduction of new psychoactive substances into the brain. The brain is known to consistently, and often quickly and dramatically, respond to the primary effects of any psychoactive substance. This can occur through impaired neurotransmitter receptor function or sensitivity, decrease in the number of receptors, decreased neurotransmitter production, impaired neurogenesis, increased stress hormones, decreased stress response, and brain cell death (neurotoxicity) (Renoir, 2012). For example, SSRIs, which are administered in hopes of increasing the amount of serotonin available to the postsynaptic cell, cause the brain to respond with biochemical mechanisms which reduce or even completely reverse the effect of the drug (Breggin, 2012). Similarly, the potency of anti-anxiety drugs which increase GABA signaling can be weakened and reversed through compensatory mechanisms in the brain. Withdrawal and dependence in the case of psychoactive drugs are shown to occur through decrease of activity of the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system and decreased activity in the nucleus accumbens and amygdala (Lerner, 2019). Thus, when patients decrease or discontinue use of drugs, withdrawal symptoms often appear with devastating effects. A recent study of 585 users of anti-psychotic drugs who stopped taking their drugs found that 72% of users reported experiencing classic withdrawal symptoms associated with other types of psychotropic drugs (Read, 2022). Of these, 52% categorized the symptoms as severe. Psychosis was reported by 18% of the participants. While we do not have evidence to say that neurochemical imbalances cause mental health illnesses, we do have substantial evidence through behavioral and neurochemical research studies of withdrawal that psychotropic drugs themselves cause neurochemical imbalances and impairment. And when individuals have been on psychotropic drugs for months at a time, withdrawal can feature immediate as well as prolonged serious effects not only on the brain, but on body weight (promoting obesity), metabolism, cardiovascular function, sleep, menstruation, alertness, bowel health, and many others (Mazareel, 2020. Furthermore, a study found that from 1999 to 2019, 51,446 psychotropic-drug-implicated deaths occurred with a dramatic increase over time due to the rise in prevalence of these drugs among the US population (Vuolo, 2021).
 
​The real effectiveness of psychotropic drugs for improving the symptoms of psychotropic drugs also needs to be closely examined. Dr. Peter Gøtzsche explains that most studies looking at the efficacy of psychotropic drugs are looking at a short time scale, and the effectiveness often drops within days beyond the latter end of the study duration, while adverse effects increase. He also points out that many of the study participants in notable studies were originally taking a psychotropic drug and are experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms upon starting the placebo course, thus leading to an overly optimistic view of the efficacy of the drug tested. He also notes that studies looking at withdrawal effects and suicide are also flawed because of too short of a timespan of observation. For example, he reports based on his research that there were 14 suicides among 9956 patients in study trials of fluoxetine and paroxetine, whereas the FDA only reports 5 suicides among 52 960 patients. He attributes this to the 24-hr time span of observation by the FDA for suicide after discontinuing the drug (Gøtzsche, 2015). 

“Psychiatric drugs are responsible for the deaths of more than half a million people aged 65 and older each year in the Western world, as I show below.1 Their benefits would need to be colossal to justify this, but they are minimal... Given their lack of benefit, I estimate we could stop almost all psychotropic drugs without causing harm—by dropping all antidepressants, ADHD drugs, and dementia drugs (as the small effects are probably the result of unblinding bias)1 24 and using only a fraction of the antipsychotics and benzodiazepines we currently use.1 This would lead to healthier and more long lived populations…..1 22” (Dr. Peter Gøtzsche) 

Conclusion​

In summary, there is no scientific research which provides evidence that neurochemical imbalances or problems with neurotransmission in the brain are causative factors in the etiology of mental health illnesses. Behavioral and neurochemical research studies in animals show an association between mental health states and alteration of neurotransmitter signaling. However, correlation does not imply causation. To the contrary, stress paradigms in rodents show a diminishing of the activity of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward pathway as a result of long-term stressful stimuli. Furthermore, studies in human cases of mental health disorders show that psychotropic drugs cause disturbances in neurotransmission or neurochemical homeostasis as seen in biochemical research studies, and this is manifest by the behavioral consequences experienced during withdrawal in humans and animals. 

References 

• Baik, JH. Stress and the dopaminergic reward system. Exp Mol Med 52, 1879–1890 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-020-00532-4
• Breggin, Peter R. Psychiatric drug withdrawal: A guide for prescribers, therapists, patients and their families. Springer Publishing Company, 2012.
• Cabib, Simona, and Stefano Puglisi-Allegra. "The mesoaccumbens dopamine in coping with stress." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 36.1 (2012): 79-89.
• Fiammetta Cosci, Guy Chouinard; Acute and Persistent Withdrawal Syndromes Following Discontinuation of Psychotropic Medications. Psychother Psychosom 26 August 2020; 89 (5): 283–306.
• Gøtzsche, Peter C et al. “Does long term use of psychiatric drugs cause more harm than good?.” BMJ (Clinical research ed.) vol. 350 h2435. 12 May. 2015, doi:10.1136/bmj.h2435
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• Read, John. “The experiences of 585 people when they tried to withdraw from antipsychotic drugs.” Addictive behaviors reports vol. 15 100421. 17 Mar. 2022, doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100421
• Renoir, Thibault, Terence Y. Pang, and Laurence Lanfumey. "Drug withdrawal-induced depression: serotonergic and plasticity changes in animal models." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 36.1 (2012): 696-726.
• Sathyanarayana Rao, T S, and Chittaranjan Andrade. “Classification of psychotropic drugs: Problems, solutions, and more problems.” Indian journal of psychiatry vol. 58,2 (2016): 111-3. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.183771
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