A radical pro-gun church recently purchased 40 acres of land to create a refuge from what its followers believe is an imminent war with the "Deep State," Tess Owen of Vice News reports.
The Sanctuary Church—more prominently known as Rod of Iron Ministries was founded in 2017 by Pastor Hyung Jin "Sean" Moon, the son of the late cult leader Reverend Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church. Pastor Moon frequently wears a crown made of bullets in his public appearances.
Members of the church have incorporated AR-15s into their worship services and embraced the rise of former President Donald Trump. The church's website currently advertises a giveaway contest for a specialized "Trump: Commander in Chief" AR-15.
Earlier this year, Rod of Iron purchased a $1 million patch of land in the small town of Thornton, Texas, not far from the infamous Waco, Texas.
The Texas property, known to followers as "Liberty Rock," came with fishing equipment, cabins, and more, though the church is still seeking thousands of dollars for "renovations." Once these renovations are complete, it hopes to become a so-called refuge from the "destroyers of freedom" it cites on its website.
Vice further reports that Moon said in a recent sermon:
"The internationalist Marxist globalists are trying to start a civil war here, so that they can bring in the U.N. troops and Chi-Com Chinese military to come in and destroy and kill all gun owners, Christians, and any opposition, i.e., Trump supporters. We are in the death of America right now, and that's why, of course, God is allowing for our expansion."
The purchase, for many, represented the growing threat of far-right militias.
Oh great a gun cult has purchased a gigantic compound for new recruits, this is finehttps://twitter.com/misstessowen/status/1397951169406849025\u00a0\u2026— Andy Campbell (@Andy Campbell) 1622133608
These radical nutjobs are scary as hell.https://twitter.com/misstessowen/status/1397951169406849025\u00a0\u2026— Susan Pulice \ud83d\udc81\u200d\u2640\ufe0f (@Susan Pulice \ud83d\udc81\u200d\u2640\ufe0f) 1622139902
a far right religious cult with a heavy emphasis on firearms purchasing a compound near waco. what could possibly go wrong?https://twitter.com/misstessowen/status/1397951169406849025\u00a0\u2026— Saijax (@Saijax) 1622133405
Like so much of the far right extremist sphere, Rod of Iron Ministries is a grab bag of conspiracy theories - encompassing gun worship, stolen election tropes, QAnon, deep state paranoia, and featuring appearances from MAGA heroes like Steve Bannon.https://twitter.com/misstessowen/status/1397951169406849025\u00a0\u2026— Mike Rothschild (@Mike Rothschild) 1622133173
What happens when the government tacitly endorses conspiracy theories & the Big Lie. Without an investigation into 1/6 attack on the Capitol, the GOP is giving a green light to future attacks ...https://twitter.com/misstessowen/status/1397951169406849025\u00a0\u2026— \ud83c\udf0aGet Involved 2022 VOTE! \u2728Get Vaxxed!\ud83d\udc75 Love \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f (@\ud83c\udf0aGet Involved 2022 VOTE! \u2728Get Vaxxed!\ud83d\udc75 Love \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f) 1622134696
Many likened it to the deadly 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound in nearby Waco, Texas.
Waco incominghttps://twitter.com/misstessowen/status/1397951169406849025\u00a0\u2026— gut bayud, doomsayer, 66 IQ (@gut bayud, doomsayer, 66 IQ) 1622137448
Hasn't been quite enough white supremacist terror lately, gotta stage another waco to get em fired uphttps://twitter.com/misstessowen/status/1397951169406849025\u00a0\u2026— 1\u0336\u0305\u033b2\u0336\u0342\u035a-\u0338\u0352\u0329b\u0338\u0346\u0353a\u0334\u0300\u0356l\u0337\u030f\u0323l\u0335\u0343\u0353 (@1\u0336\u0305\u033b2\u0336\u0342\u035a-\u0338\u0352\u0329b\u0338\u0346\u0353a\u0334\u0300\u0356l\u0337\u030f\u0323l\u0335\u0343\u0353) 1622139160
Great. Shades of Waco and Branch Davidians.https://twitter.com/misstessowen/status/1397951169406849025\u00a0\u2026— Jennifer Henry-I'm here live, not a cat (@Jennifer Henry-I'm here live, not a cat) 1622137917
Stares at them in Waco.https://twitter.com/misstessowen/status/1397951169406849025\u00a0\u2026— This machine hurts fascists' feelings. (@This machine hurts fascists' feelings.) 1622139850
Pro-Trump personalities like white nationalist Steve Bannon have previously appeared at events linked to the Rod of Iron.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram