Vernon Ephesian (played by Michael Massee) was a very religious leader of the apocalyptic cult at the Temple of the Seven Stars in Tennessee. A joint task force of the FBI and ATF agents raided the cult's compound in search of illegal firearms. Mulder and Scully were brought in to investigate allegations of Ephesian's supposedly supernatural abilities and child abuse. However, the agents wound up learning more about reincarnation from one of Ephesian's seven wives, Melissa Rydell Ephesian, who claimed to have known Mulder in a past life. The weapons cache was never found and Ephesian and his followers were released from custody. However, Ephesian led the cult into believing that the FBI and ATF were the armies of Satan as described in the Book of Revelation and had every member drink a poison-laced drink in a mass suicide.