The most compelling way to describe the external state of the people before the time of Jesus is to compare it to what happens in cults. In a cult, for the most part, the member who comes under the spell does not see or feel them self being manipulated and compelled. Even if they do it is smothered under compounded levels of deception. If a person clearly saw the deception, they would fight it, either internally or outwardly. Mind control comes upon a person very gradually, step by step, until ones values and priorities are turned to the cult’s intentions. A good member follows the cult values with enthusiasm, and ends up fighting for them with all their will and energy. At some point the cults always decline, because evil by nature eventually begins to destroy itself, and the cult begins to implode. Evil by nature wants to remain hidden, but it eventually becomes exposed. The odd thing about cults is that while a person is in it, they do not experience the full pain of it. Underneath, or below consciousness, the experience is causing latent rage and trauma, because mind control is abuse and unjust. The member believes the goals of the cult have an elite status; they believe its way is better than all others; and this gives them reason to justify their actions no matter how bad. To the degree a person has been compelled and manipulated to act in conformity against their internal will, spiritually they are not yet fully responsibility for it, but if they secretly or openly become complicit with it, they take on the burden of committing evil. For the most part, only God can measure this balance. When they begin to wake up to the reality of their situation, they have the enormous psychological task of facing their rage and dealing with the trauma. The cult member has to face the compounded levels of pain and deception, and this is a difficult traumatic process. The situation was similar for the New Testament person; because of the oppressive cosmic darkness they lived in, and the character of the agnostic society that they lived in, they were compelled to be in an external state. To the degree they inheretid or were compelled into an external state they would not be fully held responsible, and therefore judged negatively for it; judgement would depend on their personal internal will toward others and God. We will talk more of this in what comes. The overabundance of evil had trapped their mind to its design, and once it gained momentum there was little the people could do about it. When Jesus came His mission was to help the people emerge from this darkness, and to introduce the people to genuine love, compassion, and wisdom.