The Notch Has Been Kicked Up

So when Wiley appears to Linda, he tells her that he used to be a Colonel, a weird detail to mention.

General McNamara tells the President that he had a mentor who went into the Black and White, went insane, pledged his allegiance to the forces in the Black and White and disappeared.

His mentors name was Wilber Cross.

I firmly believe that Cross met Wiggly, and became his right hand man. He created the dolls and manipulated Linda to be the prophet.

He changed his name (or maybe was knighted with the name) Wiley.

edit: as @musicalsandfluff pointed out, when John enters the Black and White, Wiley shouts, “YOU!”, insinuating they know each other.

“What do you want Paul?”