The Great Apostasy

How Satan Spoke Blasphemy Against God, His Church, and Heaven

John Cassinat
January 29, 2026

The Three Blasphemies of Satan

John the Revelator gave the prophetic timeframe for the Great Apostasy in Revelation 13:5–6, describing a period when Satan was given a mouth to speak three blasphemies for 42 months, or 1,260 days of years.

“Blasphemy is of two types: (1) speaking or acting offensively to or about the divine, and (2) claiming the attributes or prerogatives of Deity.”
(Dennis L. Largey, Book of Mormon Reference Companion, 96)

The three blasphemies are summarized in Revelation 13:6:

“[Satan] opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”

The First Blasphemy: Blaspheming God’s Name

The first blasphemy in Revelation 13:6 occurred anciently as Satan—acting through the First Beast of the Roman Empire—opened his mouth to blaspheme God and His name.

This occurred when emperors in the Imperial Roman Empire and popes in the Holy Roman Empire claimed divine powers and deified themselves.

Roman emperors claimed they were gods, and popes were venerated in a ceremony known as “the Adoration of the Pope.”

In this rite, cardinals kissed the feet and hands of a new pope while these words were spoken:

“Most holy and blessed father, head of the Church, ruler of the world … whom angels in heaven revere, whom the gates of hell fear, and all the world adores, thee we solely venerate, worship, and adore.”
(Daniel Whedon, Whedon’s Commentary on the Bible, Rev 13:6)

The Second Blasphemy: Blaspheming God’s Tabernacle

The second blasphemy in Revelation 13:6 was against God’s tabernacle.

This alludes to the tabernacle in the days of Moses as the place where God met His people. In this context, the tabernacle symbolizes Christ’s ancient church.

This blasphemy occurred when Constantine adopted an apostate form of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire in 325 AD.

The Constantinian church was Christian in name, but it adopted many false doctrines, including:

the Trinity,
baptism by sprinkling,
infant baptism,
forgiveness of sins through indulgences,
transubstantiation,
supererogation,
forbidding marriage,
predestination,
creation ex nihilo, and more.

Joseph Fielding Smith described these changes:

“Heathen rites were adopted, a pompous and splendid ritual, gorgeous robes, mitres, tiaras, wax-tapers, processional services, lustrations, gold and silver vases, were introduced.”
(Man, His Origin and Destiny, 45)

The Third Blasphemy: Blaspheming Them That Dwell in Heaven

The third blasphemy in Revelation 13:6 concerns “them that dwell in heaven.”

This refers to the worship and veneration of deceased saints, including the Virgin Mary.

This veneration extended to clothing, relics, and even the earth of their graves.

Joseph Fielding Smith explained:

“Even the worn-out clothing of the saints and the earth of their graves were venerated. From Palestine were brought what were affirmed to be the skeletons of St. Mark and St. James, and other ancient worthies…. [T]he very same temples, the very same images, which were once consecrated to Jupiter and the other demons, are now consecrated to the Virgin Mary, and the other saints.”
(Man, His Origin and Destiny, 46, 49)

Satan Had Worldwide Power to Make War

The three blasphemies in Revelation 13:6 were the tools used by Satan and the First Beast of the Roman Empire “to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.” (Rev 13:7)

Satan overcame the saints in three separate localities, at different times:

saints in the Roman Empire,
the Nephites in the Western Hemisphere, and
the Lost Ten Tribes.

When priesthood administration ceased among all three groups, John’s prophecy in Revelation 13:7 was fulfilled:

“Power was given [Satan] over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”

This universal dominion is a defining characteristic of the Great Apostasy.

Learn More

For more on the three blasphemies and the worldwide scope of Satan’s power during the Great Apostasy, check out my podcasts from:

🎧 January 25, 2026 – Listen here

🎧 January 27, 2026 – Listen here

(Also available wherever you get your podcasts)

🎥 From Last Week’s Vlog

John Cassinat
Unveiling Jesus Christ