What is the appeal of Marvel superheroes?

God is supreme in all His ways. His creation is extremely vast and beyond all imagination. It not only includes a visible universe comprising billions of galaxies, it also includes invisible heavens and countless angelic beings. Mankind has always been fascinated with life beyond our planet, because God has put a sense of eternity into the heart of every human being. We instinctively ask, “Is there more to life on earth as we know it?” This is a question that is meant to draw us back to our Creator. For believers, there is only one answer and that is Saviour, Jesus Christ. The rest of the world, however, has been deceived into creating many alternative saviours and idols. The more fantastical their characters and storylines, the more alluring and ‘entertaining’ we find them – much like Marvel characters. The idea of supernatural saviours or superheroes, however, did not begin with Marvel movies or comics. They began thousands of years ago in pagan religions. 

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Colossians 1:16 NKJV  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV  He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

John 4:42 NKJV  Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

The universal appeal of ‘superheroes’ across all forms of idol worship

Deep in every human soul is an understanding that righteousness will eventually triumph over evil and that the world, as we know it, is coming to a close in a dramatic way. We can’t explain why we sense this but we all just know this intuitively. 

Even the world’s religions speak of an End Times cosmic showdown and a global saviour / superhero:

• In Islam, the end of the world is referred to as the Hour. The Muslims believe that Jesus, known as Isa in Islam, will return to kill an evil deceiver called the al-Masih al-Dajjal who tries to destroy the planet. (The al-Masih al-Dajjal is similar in nature to the antichrist described in the Bible.) A period of peace then follows where this “Jesus” will die a natural death, leading to a time of destruction followed by the Hour.
• In Hinduism, the Hindus are told that one of their deities, Vishnu, will come to earth as a savior figure called Kulki. This Kulki will ride a white horse, carrying a sword that looks like a comet in his hand, and destroy the forces of evil. (This imagery is strikingly similar to how Jesus will look like when He returns in Revelation 19:11-16.)
• In Buddhism, the Buddhist sermon of the “Seven Suns” teaches that the world will meet its end through the appearance of seven suns in the sky. Each sun will cause greater and greater destruction until the earth is destroyed. (This bears some resemblance to the seven angels that will bring seven plagues to destroy the earth, mentioned in Revelation 15-16.) A future buddha called Maitreya will come and teach the “pure dharma” about right behaviour and social order.

Take a close look at these storylines and we can see how any one of them could be the plot of the next Marvel movie! 

Made in the image of the God of righteousness and war

What is the appeal of the cosmic clashes that we see in Marvel storylines or pagan religions? 

One reason is that we are all made in the image of our Creator. Amongst many things, God is:

• Yahweh-Tsidkenu (The Lord our righteousness)
• Jehovah-tseboath (The God of war)
• Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of hosts/angel armies)

Exodus 15:3,11-13 NKJV  The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name. “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.

Deep inside us is a desire to see justice, good triumph over evil, and the bad guys taken down. 

But as believers, we know what the true story plot is. Bible prophecies show that Jesus will return to earth as supreme Warrior and Judge. The next time we see Him on earth, He will not be that quiet Lamb who was led to His slaughter (Isaiah 53:7). A portal will open up in heaven, and we will all see His enormous armies (Revelation 19:11-16) and hear a multitude of voices and great thunderings. Jesus will appear with His eyes like a flame of fire. He will wear many crowns as well as a robe that has been dipped in blood. Out of His mouth will come a sharp sword that He will use to strike the nations. Jesus’ supernatural appearance will fill all mankind with terror and awe! Our true and most awesome ‘superhero’ is God Himself.

Revelation 19:11-16 NKJV  Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Satan knows his days are short before Jesus returns to judge all peoples, and the devil is doing everything he can to turn our attention and hearts towards man-made idols and superheroes. In the past, idols were made of wood or stone, but our contemporary idols are given personalities and perform, talk and act out fantastical storylines. Satan doesn’t tempt us to worship an image labelled ‘the devil’, he can use any other figure that is an abomination to God. (See table below)

Revelation 12:12 NKJV  Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

We see that most of Marvel’s cosmic heroes and gods corrupt God’s image in human beings and glorify murderers, false gods, witches, and even demonic figures as ‘heroes’. Revelation 21 reminds us that the “abominable, murderers, sorcerers, idolaters” are condemned to the “lake which burns with fire and brimstone”. Moreover, Deuteronomy 7 tells us to not bring abominable things into our homes. Let us therefore carefully consider what we are really celebrating or yoking ourselves to when we watch or read such storylines and bring Marvel posters, clothing, or figurines into our homes? What are we glorifying?

Marvel characters that glorify:
1. Angels (fallen)	Angel (Archangel)
2. Assassins/murderers	Black Widow, Electra, Ghost, Hawkeye, Mystique, Vision, Winter Soldier
3. Deformed humans	Deadpool, Hulk
4. Demons	Nightcrawler, Chthon, Ghost Rider
5. Half-human, half-animal figures	Ant-Man, Wasp
6. Gods and lords	Black Panther, Namor
7. Greek gods	Hercules, Zeus
8. Norse gods and spirits	Thor, Loki, Odin, Valkyrie, Frigga, Hela, Surtur
9. Sorcerers	Dormammu, Wong
10. Superhero ‘saviours’	Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Storm
11. Witches	Scarlet Witch, Agatha Harkness, Magik, Satana Hellstorm

Revelation 21:8 NKJV  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” 

Deuteronomy 7:26 NKJV  Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.

The cosmic nature of God’s Kingdom

Another reason we find cosmic clashes fascinating is because we do exist within a cosmic universe, except that the Bible uses different terms for the same things. God’s Kingdom comprises of:

1. Cosmic battles between kingdoms and realms
2. People with superhuman abilities
3. Semi-human mutants
4. Gods and lords
5. Celestial beings
6. Teleporting
7. Portals

God’s Word is not literary fiction. Whatever the Lord has recorded as His Word are eternal truths. God is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and He does not lie. One simply needs to read the Bible with childlike eyes in order to receive the kingdom of God as it truly is.

John 14:6 NKJV  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Mark 10:15 NKJV  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

We will now go through a few examples, albeit very briefly. The Bible makes for eye-opening encounters with the supernatural when one slows down to pay attention to its details.

1. Cosmic battles between kingdoms and realms in the Bible

The first cosmic battle was in heaven when the archangel Michael and his angels fought with Satan and cast him out along with his fallen angels. Scuffles in the heavens continue today. An example can be found in Daniel 10.

Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV  And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Daniel 10:12-14 NKJV  Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”  

2. People with superhuman abilities in the Bible

King David and his mighty men were known for their amazing victories in war, with David killing ten thousands on his own. This of course, would not be humanly possible, if not for divine intervention. God’s angels often fought alongside King David and his men. Jehovah-tseboath (the God of war) sent his unseen armies ahead of David as seen by the “sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees” in 2 Samuel 5:24. The assistance of angels is also described in Psalm 91:7-12.

1 Samuel 29:5 NKJV  Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”

2 Samuel 5:24 NKJV  And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

Psalm 91:7-12 NKJV  A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up,

3. Semi-human mutants in the Bible

The Bible describes a time when a certain group of angels known as the “sons of god” came down from the heavens to take human women as wives and had children with them – these were the “heroes of old, men of renown”. These ungodly unions produced mutants and giants. This is not Greek mythology, this is found in the Bible. One of King David’s men, Benaiah, is said to have struck down two of Moab’s two mightiest warriors who looked like lions. David’s warriors also killed numerous giants, one of whom had a spear that was at least five feet long (like a weaver’s beam) and another had six fingers and toes on his hands and feet.

Genesis 6:4 NIV  The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

2 Samuel 23:20 NKJV  Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

2 Samuel 21:15-22 NKJV  When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

4. Gods and lords in the Bible

What the Bible calls gods and lords of this world, the entertainment industry calls superheroes. 

We see that the many pagan gods mentioned in the Bible have ‘superpowers’ that are uncannily similar to some of Marvel’s characters. God will not share His own beloved people’s devotion with idols because behind every idol is a demon (Revelation 9:20). As a result of willfully seeking the pagan god, Baal-Zebub, for example, the king of Samaria came under God’s judgement and died (2 Kings 1:2-4). Today, we don’t see people dying but we do see people come under demonic oppression, as the testimony below shows.

1 Corinthians 8:5-6 NKJV  For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

Revelation 9:20 NKJV  But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.

2 Kings 1:2-4 NKJV  Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.” But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed.

Pagan god and lords	Features	Powers over
Ashtoreth “Queen of Heaven” (Judges 2:13, Judges 10:6, 1 Samuel 7:3, 1 Samuel 7:4,1 Samuel 12:10, 1 Samuel 31:10, 1 Kings 11:5,1 Kings 11:33, 2 Kings 23:13)	Goddess of love, fertility, and war	Creation
Baal-Zebub “Lord of the flies” (2 Kings 1:2)	Another name for Satan, worship involved child sacrifice and public ritual prostitution	Wind, rain, thunder, fire
Dagon “father of other gods” (1 Samuel 5:2-7)	Half-man, half-fish	Water, mind control
Moloch/Molech (Acts 7:43,Leviticus 18:21, 1 Kings 11:7, 2 Kings 23:10)	Man with the head of a bull with arms outstretched, worship involved child sacrifice	Supernatural strength, speed, fire
Nisroc (2 Kings 19:36-37, Isaiah 37:38)	Man with the head and wings of an eagle	Poisons
Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14)	Would have sex with temple “priestesses”	Time, nature
Zeus (Acts 14:12-13, Acts 19:35)	Ruler of heaven and all other gods	Lightning bolts, weather, shapeshifting

Testimony 

“In high school, I participated in a play about a Greek goddess, Persephone. Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and later became the Queen of the Underworld. I played the role of Persephone. Now that I had become a Christian, I was led in prayer to repent of the worship of all idols in my past, including Greek gods. As we cast out any spirits related to Greek idols, I was surprised that tears started pouring out my eyes (this is one way demonic spirits manifest during deliverance as they leave someone’s body). I knew that something must have happened in the spiritual realm because there was no way that memory could have caused me any sorrow, and least of all, for tears to flow. I didn’t feel anything else but shock at that time — that demons could have come into my body, even through something as innocent as a school play!”

5. Celestial beings in the Bible

The Bible describes fantastical celestial beings that we cannot imagine with our human minds. One example are the four living creatures before God’s throne that are full of eyes in front and in back (Revelation 4:6-8). Some of God’s angels are so large that they can set one foot in the sea and another on the land (Revelation 10:1-3). One angel is so powerful that he killed 185,000 persons from Israel’s enemy in one go (2 Kings 19:35).

Jude 1:8 NIV  In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.

Revelation 4:6-8 NKJV  Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:  “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

Revelation 10:1-3 NKJV  I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 

2 Kings 19:35 NKJV  And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead.

6. Teleporting in the Bible 

The apostle Philip was supernaturally transported 50 km away to the city of Azotus after he baptised the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39-40). In another instance, we see an entire boat of people being miraculously transported from water to land in an instant (John 6:19-21).

Acts 8:39-40 NKJV  Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

John 6:19-21 NKJV  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

7. Portals in the Bible 

Portals are essentially gateways between two dimensions. The Bible shows us that there are portals or gates between heaven and earth as well as between hell and earth. 

Matthew 16:18 NKJV  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 3:16 NKJV  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

Acts 7:55-58  NKJV   But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”  Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Each believer in Jesus is called to walk with supernatural ability

Jesus has promised every believer that we will be given supernatural ability to bring His kingdom on to the earth. Not only will we speak in new tongues but we will cast out demons, heal the sick, and not be harmed by serpents or anything deadly in Jesus’ name. We all tend to read the Word of God with a veil over our minds and lack the confidence to see that we are the ones who are meant to carry God’s power on earth – not some man made idol. All it takes is for us to stir up our faith to walk in the authority that Jesus has given us and with the angels that accompany us everywhere we go.

Mark 16:15-20 NKJV  And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Testimony

“The first time I read about the armour of God in Ephesians 6, I did not take it too seriously. I only read it like an illustration. It wasn’t until the day that the Lord showed me in a vision that He had given me a sword in the spirit. It was shiny and about one and a half metres in length. This was later confirmed by a brother-in-Christ who prayed that “God would anoint my sword with power”. I hadn’t told this brother about my vision so there was no way he could have known about the sword I had seen in my vision. Since then, whenever I pray for someone, I feel that my words have more impact than before and have more confidence to cast out unclean spirits from people who ask for prayer support. Praise God!”

Ephesians 6:10-11,17-18 NKJV  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Put manmade works aside and glorify God

Instead of being entertained by or admiring idolatrous superheroes who use violence and schemes to execute man’s justice, let us instead praise God for His cosmic wonders, and testify of the glory of His kingdom and His power. God alone is our Avenger and He is our righteousness.

Psalm 145:10-13 NKJV  All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Psalm 11:5 NKJV  The Lord tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

1 Thessalonians 4:6-7 NKJV  that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 

Luke 18:7-8 NKJV  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Romans 12:19 NKJV  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

We all need to be careful about how we steward our thoughts and hearts and not allow our souls to be lured away to idols. God’s Word warns us that we become fools when we exchange “the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” Isn’t that a fitting description of Marvel ‘heroes’?

Romans 1:20-23 NKJV  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

1 Corinthians 12:2 NKJV  You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

Some of us may even have cupboards filled with Marvel superhero paraphernalia. Take the time to ask the Holy Spirit to show us how He feels about this. Have we set up an altar for things that God considers abominations in our homes? How will this affect the spiritual climate in our households? Or should we remove and destroy whatever Marvel posters, figurines, clothing and other paraphernalia we may have? If God is to be Lord of our homes, let us be careful not to host other “gods or lords” under our roofs. Plus, there are much better ways to spend the money the Lord has placed into our hands.

The wisest king that lived, king Solomon, began to lose his massive kingdom after he began to produce statues or figurines of different gods and install them in temples around the nation. The Word of God tells us that “Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord.” Let us not fall into the same deception.

1 Kings 11:5-11 NKJV  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.  So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

May this sharing be a blessing to you as you seek to love the Lord with all your heart and put away all our idols.