From the perspective of an objective observer, the world of sects is endlessly entertaining and fascinating. But for the members of these sects, the world is dark, bleak, and often teetering on the brink of its end...Jerusalem is in the news these days, thanks to the moronic political machinations of the President of the Empire—some wealthy clown with a stuffed, dead ginger cat on his head.
Yet, Jerusalem was also in the spotlight in the recent past, though in an unexpected way—far removed from narratives involving Palestinian "martyrs" or Jewish "defenders." The turn of the millennium was, on more than one occasion, equated with the end of Time itself. For an objective observer with an interest in sects, the late nineties might be considered the "golden age" of sectarianism—much like the sixties were for the Hippies, or the fifties for Rock 'n' Roll.
One such apocalyptic sect emerged from the Empire—specifically from the city of Denver—where a group of troubled Christians of a Protestant background rallied around a certain Monty Miller. Ironically, Miller himself had been a relatively objective observer of sects, having been involved with various organizations across the U.S. dedicated to preventing the spread of cults. But Monty lacked the necessary strength; he succumbed to temptation, using his knowledge of how a cult functions to... create a cult. From a crusader against cults, through an unexpected turn of events, Miller transformed into the leader of a cult!
The cult itself had a name—"Concerned Christians"—and numbered around three hundred people of various ages across Colorado.
What were these Christians so concerned about? Why, the Second Coming, of course. This event was supposedly heralded by the collapse of the USSR around Christmas 1991—a fitting date for the onset of the "Last Days," symbolized by the fall of the Antichrist’s atheistic empire. Buoyed by the defeat of the accursed, godless Communists and the general tension surrounding the approach of the year 2000, Miller and his followers engaged in bizarre behavior; most notably, Miller declared himself to be the Second Coming of Jesus, while designating his followers as the new Apostles.
Around 1996, Monty began communicating with God, relaying cataclysmic prophecies—such as the imminent descent of Denver into Hell, triggered by tectonic plate shifts on October 10, 1998. For the following year, the plan called for a journey to Jerusalem, where they would promptly die, only for the cult leader—Monty Miller, also known as "Kim" (?!), to be resurrected three days later. Just as it was written in the Book of Revelation, after all. Or at least, the way the sect members believed it was written there.
But the predictions failed to come true.
Many members left the sect.
In search of another leader.
In search of another goal.
And so, the remaining hundred or so "Concerned Christians" set out to accelerate the "Events." They sold off their material possessions, renounced worldly pleasures, and gathered funds for their final journey. The journey to Jerusalem. They began learning how to handle weapons and explosives, and how to carry out operations in line with their objectives. The plan involved a simultaneous, coordinated attack on the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Temple Mount—the three holiest sites of the three Abrahamic religions. It would entail bursts of gunfire and the detonation of homemade bombs amidst the crowds.
This would trigger chaos and fire—
From which a new age would be born.
With a new Jesus.
Formerly known as Monte Miller.
In Denver.
Colorado.
However, Israeli security forces and intelligence agencies were already anticipating an influx of various millenarian cultists and other madmen as the turn of the century approached. Had the Mossad planted a mole among the "Concerned Christians," or was their behavior simply suspicious? Naturally, a group of about 20 American cultists would stand out in Jerusalem, even though they lived in a rented house and tried to blend into their surroundings.
In any case, on January 3, 1999, the police raided the cultists' house, leading to their arrest. Various materials were discovered, but no weapons—which had evidently been stashed at another location. Four cultists were detained for trial, while the remaining 15 or 16 were immediately deported from Israel and returned to the U.S. under the escort of Mossad agents. After a brief stint in custody, the cultists—led by Miller—traveled to Greece to spread their ideology, but they were expelled from there as well; eventually, in 2002, they returned home. Since then, the group has seen a further decline in popularity. Today, they languish on the fringes of the American cult scene, numbering barely fifty members, with Kim Miller still at the helm.
A legal professional.
A messiah.
A would-be urban guerrilla.
And, once upon a time, a major adversary of cults.
(Roger Mortis, 163)
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