You're probably right, that that is a TON of info to get through. I'll admit, I mostly just skimmed, read some parts that were of specific interest.
But it seems to me that this theory is mostly endorsed by fundamentalist Christians as it seems to keep going back to the Bible and the book of revelation and the ideas that armegeddon is near and parralles can be drawn to passages in the book of revelation and that the Anti-Christ is here. (like every fear mongering preacher likes to indicate, or money making genius POSING as a fear mongering preacher. See that blasted Jack Van Impe that shows up on my TV late at night.)
Religious quack or money making genius? Either way, one evil dude!
And as we know, fundamentalist groups have been spreading around fear and misinformation since the dawn of time in a bid for money, power, control etc. Leaders are doing it in Islam now, but it wasn't long ago that Christianity was just as bad, and there are definitely small groups within that still have roots in that.
I think you it the nail on the head with the statement,
'The illuminati are a real secret society, that is a fact. Another thing is whether you believe they rule the world, hide aliens and are led by George W. Bush.'
There's no denying they are real, but methinks their motives are often highly exaggerated, twisted, or made up by other groups.
But as shown by the articles you linked too, the conspiracy theorist usually like to accuse them of being tied to 'trying to erradicate religion' or bring about conditions that would indicate the beginning of armegeddon. Meaning they are probably written and read by Christian fundamentalists. These theories have gotten read, and changed slightly by other conspiracy theorists giving them a more broad base.
In fact the 'targets' you linked to don't seem to be written by the illuminati at all, but by someone trying to create a buzz and fear about them for their own ends (or because they bought into the story by someone they believe knows what they are talking about) as they have a very Anti-Christian, Anti-'American' sentiment. Leading me to think is has been written by a gun toting bible thumping fear mongerer. Not saying being Christian or American is either of those things, just that, the person who wrote the article seems to have the RADICAL right wing ideals, or at least has hinted they may have them.
It was my understanding (and this I could be wrong on, there seems to be a lot of people on here who know more than I on this) that the Illuminati were started during the dark ages (Illuminati obviously coming from the word illuminate) to try and counter act the oppressive nature of the church at that time, or at least give it's members a place and forum to practice their beliefs and their intelligence and creativity without being condemned and persecuted. After a while it became more powerful and it tried to excercise a bit of this power (aganist the church, we are still talking a long time ago, dark ages middle ages) or at least keep the sparks of free thinking alive in society.
I think the society has stayed around since that time, but I don't think it has such far reaching or life and society changing goals as suggested by conspiracy theorists whether they be religious in nature or not.