After unbelievable judgement has befallen the world with so many killed, the unbelievers are tormented by the demons they follow and yet they won’t abandon their disloyal gods or turn from their sin. But perhaps there is an incredible clue below.
Revelation 9:20–21
[20] The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, [21] nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (ESV)
Strong drink was often used in the ancient world for pagan worship of demons, and it was thought this enabled you to fellowship with the deity which was in a sense accurate. Dulled and In tune with their demon gods they would do all sorts of debauchery and even sacrifice their children. But of interest is the Greek word for sorcery.
†φαρμακεία pharmakeía, far-mak-i’-ah; from G5332; medication (“pharmacy“), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively):—sorcery, witchcraft.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5331/kjv/tr/0-1/
From John MacArthur’s ESV Study Bible we have the following note.
REVELATION–NOTE ON 9:21 nor did they repent. Cf. 16:9, 11,21. sorceries. This Greek word is the root of the english word “pharmacy.” Drugs in the ancient world were used to dull the senses and induce a state suitable for religious experiences such as seances, witchcraft, incantations, and cavorting with mediums (21:8, 22:15). See note on Eph. 5:18
Today drugs is a term that encapsulates all kinds of substances from alcohol to illegal and legal drugs, all of which are mind altering. And pharmaceuticals today dominate our world and it’s been well proven how they have captured regulators, advertise directly to consumers, and push through drugs that are harmful. And in their insatiable appetite for profit they’ve created more and more drugs and are even cutting out the middle man of visiting doctors to let you order them through an app after a brief “consultation.” And our government refuses to look at antidepressants and how they’re involved in mass murder events, nor the long term damage done to people that take them with a common side effect being “suicidal thoughts or actions.” So is it any surprise that those under the influence of drugs who having had their senses dulled refuse to turn from their sin and be saved?
And to state it clearly, drugs open up an individual to demonic influence and possibly demonic possession, so is it any wonder that we’re seeing evil unleashed so profusely in this modern shameless era leading up to the end of the age and the appearance of the final Antichrist?