Gun Church That Worships With AR-15s Bought a 40-Acre Compound in Texas for Its 'Patriots'

[Nevilledog]

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A MAGA-obsessed, AR-15-centric religious sect has bought a sprawling compound in Texas, which it hopes will be a safe haven to "patriots" from what they believe is an imminent "deep state" war. The property was listed at just under $1 million.

Gun Church That Worships With AR-15s Bought a 40-Acre Compound in Texas for Its ‘Patriots’
The Rod of Iron Ministries has become more militant since leader Hyung Jin “Sean” Moon attended the riot at the US Capitol on January 6.
vice.com
9:21 AM · May 27, 2021

https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3dp8j/gun-church-that-worships-with-ar-15s-bought-a-40-acre-compound-in-texas-for-its-patriots

A religious sect known for worshipping with AR-15s and its MAGA politics has purchased a sprawling 40-acre compound in central Texas, which it hopes will offer a safe-haven for “patriots” from what they believe is an imminent war brought by the “deep state,” VICE News has learned.

The property, located in the small community of Thornton, 40 miles from Waco, was listed at just under $1 million. It’s been dubbed “Liberty Rock'' by its new owners, the Sanctuary Church aka Rod of Iron Ministries, led by Pastor Hyung Jin “Sean” Moon. Members of the congregation often refer to him as “King.”

While Moon’s congregation, estimated to number in the hundreds, is relatively fringe, it’s a direct descendant of the much larger Unification Church, founded by his father, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, a self-proclaimed messiah and accused cult leader whose adoring followers became known to outsiders as “Moonies.”

The younger Moon, who set up shop in 2017 in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, follows the doctrine of his late father—with a twist. Moon says he was inspired by a biblical passage in the Book of Revelation that talked about Jesus using a “rod of iron” to protect himself and others. He concluded this was a reference to AR-15s, and integrated high-powered firearms into regular church services, including wedding ceremonies. He founded the church with the support of his brother, Kook-jin “Justin” Moon, the CEO of Kahr Arms, a gun manufacturing company headquartered nearby.

*snip*

[Faux pas]

1. ...

Crazy is getting a whole new definition

[Tommy Carcetti]

2. A heavily armed cult near Waco?

What could ever possibly go wrong?

[Liberal In Texas]

16. David Koresh is in Hell laughing his ass off .

[Shell_Seas]

3. g-dammit, Texas.

[PortTack]

4. News flash..compound or no.. you break the law, they will come for you

[Probatim]

5. How many Daisy Cutters are needed to level 40 acres?

Asking for a friend.

[IowaGuy]

6. Dudes in pink dresses, wearing princess crowns ...

and brandishing AR-15's. It's not my grandpa's Republican party any longer....

[oasis]

7. Know what their kids are thinking? "Why can't we have a normal life".

[dalton99a]

8. They are crazy AND dangerous

Nicholas Skulstad, 33, was also raised in the Unification Church, and after Rev. Moon's death, he joined the gun-centric spinoff, according to Martinez, who grew up a few houses away from him. Skulstad describes himself as a “follower of Hyung Jin Moon” and a “warrior for christ” in his Instagram bio. His Instagram is littered with hashtags referencing the QAnon conspiracy theory.

He was arrested last month after he allegedly repeatedly rammed his car into a New York Department of Transport vehicle in Westchester, New York, smashed its window, and attacked officers who arrived at the scene, screaming, “I’m Jesus Christ! You are going to die today! Are you ready to die?” according to federal charging documents. When police searched his vehicle, they discovered a shell casing and a notebook. Inside the notebook, there was a page titled “List-To Kill” that consisted of names of current and former public officials and other public figures, according to prosecutors. (Skulstad has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyer did not respond to VICE News’ request for comment.)

Days before his arrest, Skulstad had contacted Martinez.

“He started saying some really crazy shit,” Martinez said. “He said everyone was going to die. He told me to start praying… I asked him what he meant. I thought he was going to shoot everyone.”

He began talking about how the vaccine was going to kill everyone, and that it was the “mark of the beast.” He also spouted conspiracies about the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds being part of “satanic lineages” who “run the banks and governments” around the world. He talked of a coming “purge” that would eradicate everyone who “commits evil, like pedophiles.”

[MarcA]

13. "I'm Jesus Christ". So?

[cojoel]

14. Heavily armed moonies

What could possibly go wrong?

[rockfordfile]

9. They're basically terrorist

[dalton99a]

10. Their "King" - Pastor Hyung Jin "Sean" Moon

Their new digs:

[Solly Mack]

11. I can smell the smoke and see the headlines now.

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Religion, money, guns, and tax exemptions

There's something seriously wrong with our tax laws.

[Aristus]

15. And a co-founder named "Kook".

Why am I not surprised?

[pecosbob]

17. Moonies with guns? What's next Hare Krishnas with suicide belts?

I used to fish in that river as a boy. The whole state went mental a couple of decades ago. I left. Not going back.

[lindysalsagal]

18. The cross is a murder weapon, too.

Why the hell, not!

[hatrack]

19. I think I saw this movie a few years ago . . . .

&t=5s

[Vinca]

20. My first thought when seeing that photo is where's child protective services?