By Robert Mortem
Many are wondering what devil worshippers believe about the afterlife. Often society is fixated on the supposed idea of "heaven and hell" (as is taught by the church), but what about in theistic Satanism? The fact of the matter is, Plato and Pythagoras taught a concept known as Metempsychosis (transmigration of the soul). This idea is theologically consistent. Conceptually, this teaching of reincarnation expands even to animal and celestial bodies in its cyclical process. Ever pondered the notion of deja vu? It appears we have certainly been here before.
Earth is not changed, but relented and mixed with other Elements, which do dissolve it, and that it returns back into it self again. (Of Occult Philosophy, Book I, ch. III)
Moreover, even though Christians may reject this concept, Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 nonetheless indicates it. Notice, it notes that nothing is new under the sun, everything now "has already been in ancient times before us." It then notes that the former things are not remembered. Later on in this same context, Ecclesiastes 12:5-6 explains after death, that man goes to his "long home." It immediately mentions, "the silver cord is loosed." This silver cord concept is parallel to the Sanskrit sutratma (thread-soul).
There is nothing higher than Myself, O Arjun. Everything rests in Me, as beads strung on a thread. (Bhagavad Gita 7:7, bold added).
Some may argue otherwise, but notice how the Paleo Hebrew language is very similar (not to mention contemporaneous) to the ancient Sanskrit (e.g. यह्व yahva). In other words, some may argue a different meaning behind the "silver cord" (Eccl 12:6), but the nearest theological antecedent is actually this mystical concept of a thread-soul. In this view, the higher self links to the physical body, as well as the etheric body and astral body (which is a subtle body). The apostle Paul appears to be drawing from this as well in 1 Corinthians 15:40-41.
Whether it is a higher spiritual plane (e.g. goloka), or simply the current state of this earthly existence (called gehenna), the soul may be transmigrated. Soul has to do with consciousness (nephesh), and as the Kybalion notes: "THE ALL is Mind; the Universe is Mental." The subconscious and intuition in light of this is astounding. We are basically told of these concepts in the mundane world as if they are not related to all of this ancient discussion above!
In Tibetan tradition, the intermediate state between death and rebirth is called bardo. Similarly, theosophy taught the concept of devachan (god-land). This concept is touched upon in Plato's Republic, as Er, the son of Armenius dies, only to return to life on earth after 12 days.
In light of prarabdha karma, one's lifetime and its boundaries are determined by past actions (cf. John 9:2). There is a perspective of "natural death" (distinct from premature death, cf. Ecclesiastes 7:17). Karmically, a natural death is a peaceful separation of the subtle body from the earthly body; whether it is at a young or old age, the current incarnation has completed its course (cf. ayushya karma).
Furthermore, The Devi Mahatmyam speaks of the King being known as Savarni Manu in the future after getting rebirth from Surya Bhagavan. This concept is quite expansive, and even spoken of in the context of plant life. For instance, in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Adonis dies and is transformed into a flower. Notice what Psalm 139:15 says, "I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth." The context here is "my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13).
Additionally, the Christian idea of heaven and hell is not even Biblical to say the least. In Revelation 22:5, "they will reign for ever and ever" is in the context of the new earth, and not in heaven above. Also, the Greek says: εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων (literally, "into the eons of the eons") which is not eternal (e.g. 1 Corinthians 10:11 says there is an end to the eons).
When it comes to hell, the bible says: "death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them" (Rev 20:13) and the Greek word translated hell is άδης (which means grave). As for the lake of fire, this supposed place where "their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48), the immediate context says: "every one shall be salted with fire" (Mark 9:49). Apparently whoever wrote this thought that everyone goes to the "everlasting" fire, including righteous believers (see Matthew 3:11-12). In other words, the understanding of an eternal hell hole was not the original teaching, but rather, a fire of chastening (κολασιν, Matthew 25:46 CLV) meant for everyone (Mark 9:49). In fact, one of the words repeatedly translated as hell in the KJV is γέεννα, and James 3:6 places it in the present tense (now on earth).
Finally, a theistic Satanist's objective is to live a virtuous and sanctified life, karmically guided by the higher self into a greater plane of consciousness. May we not be distracted by the Archons of corruption which currently deceive this world.