- INTRODUCTION
- THE ORIGIN OF THE EVIL SPIRITS
- THE AGENTS OF DARKNESS
- WITCH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
- FORTUNE TELLER
- IDOLATRY
- DEMON POSSESSION
- DANGERS OF FORTUNE TELLING
INTRODUCTION
Different categories of fortune tellers are known as “psychics”, “astrologers”, “mediums”, “channelers” or “tarot card readers”. They can be found locally, or on the Internet. Some people will make an appointment and ask questions, hoping for answers about relationships, love, romance, healing, conflict resolution, investments, major life decisions, etc., looking for guidance to make their life better. Some hope to contact departed loved ones.
Though little concern is felt about using these resources today, in biblical times, God’s warnings against use and association with these practices is severe. For example, in Leviticus 20:6 (NASB) God states, “As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”
Why does the Bible convey a very critical, and negative, view of fortune tellers and spirit guides? This book aims to help the reader to understand the reasons for God’s warnings and to make them aware of the hidden dangers.
THE ORIGIN OF THE EVIL SPIRITS
The Bible tells us that before God began preparing the earth for human habitation, He created invisible spirit beings (Colossians 1:16; 2 Corinthians 4:18). God had in mind that these “invisible to the human eyes” entities, called angels, would serve a purpose in assisting Him in carrying out His plans for mankind (Psalm 34:7; Hebrews 1:14; Luke 1:26-28; 2 Kings 6:17). These angels witnessed God’s creation of the earth (Job 38:4-7).The word “angel” itself is defined in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #32 (Greek) as, “a messenger; especially an ‘angel’; by implication, a pastor.” Hence, the word “angel” is simply a job description meaning a “messenger” who may provide pastoral guidance. Many of these invisible spirit beings serve God in the role of a “messenger,” hence the Bible calls them angels. We find these spirits in the Bible performing various duties assigned to them by God.
Although we think of angels as always being good, God gave them free choice, hence the ability to choose to be good or evil. Evil spirits once were angels or messengers performing job duties for God. However, without permission from God, they appeared on earth in human form and illicitly procreated with women, choosing to follow Satan rather than to follow God (Genesis 6:1-4). Many refer to these evil spirits as “fallen angels” and today these invisible entities are often called “spirit guides”.
The Deceptive Nature of Spirit Guides
For those who view these spirit guides (invisible fallen angels) as kind and caring friends, it will be hard to grasp that, actually, the opposite is true. They are evil spirits — the demons or fallen angels warned about in the Bible. Satan and his spirit guide servants deceive people with false offers of help, advice, wealth, power, and life direction. However, their true nature is deceptive, prideful, selfish and evil as revealed in the following Bible verses:Genesis 3:13 (NKJV) “And the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” (See also 1 Timothy 2:14.)
2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV) warns, “. . . Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
1 Timothy 4:1, 2 (ESV) “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.”
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) warns, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
The Ruler of the Spirit World
The true king and ruler of these evil spirits is Satan himself, who goes by many names, including Lucifer, Baal, Moloch, Beelzebub, and others.
In Ephesians 2:2 (NKJV), Satan is described as, “the prince of the power of the air.”
Matthew 12:24 (Amplified Version) reads, “Beelzebul (Satan) the prince of the demons.”
In John 8:44 (NKJV), Jesus describes the devil by saying, “. . . He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
Jesus promises in John 12:31 (NKJV), “the ruler of this world will be cast out.”
Symbolically describing Satan as the King of Tyre, the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 28:13-15 (Amplified Version) explains, “You were in Eden, the garden of God . . . You were the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing wings, and I set you so . . . You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until iniquity {and} guilt were found in you.” Verse 16 (ESV) “In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so, I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub. . .”
Yes, Satan was in the Garden of Eden as a guardian and protector, but betrayed God, Adam, and Eve. By his deception, he consigned our first parents and all mankind to the death penalty from which relief would only begin to come thousands of years later through Jesus, mankind’s Savior and Redeemer.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) warns, “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
The Bible aptly describes Satan as a liar, deceiver and murderer. What led Satan to such a path of evil? Why did this high-ranking angel lead a rebellion against God?
Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV) explains, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’”
Pride and the lust for power drove Satan to insane heights of war, defiance and rebellion against God.
An interesting episode is found in the book of Job
Job 2:1 (Amplified Version), “There was a day when the sons of God — the angels — came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and the accuser) came also among them to present himself before the Lord.”
Here Satan cleverly sought an audience with God in order to outwit God and ridicule Job, God’s greatest servant on earth at that time. Though Satan was permitted to take everything away from Job, the plot backfired because Job never cursed God as Satan had claimed he would do (Job 1:11). Rather, in the end, though humbled, Job praised and exalted God (Job 42:1-6). The opposite is true of the fear-based devotion to Satan which can only be sustained by gifts of supposed insight, success, wealth and power. Through fortune tellers, Satan entices eager customers in similar ways. Satan ultimately controls many of his followers by fear of consequences and punishment (2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18).
The Origin and Evil Influence of Spirit Guides
Spirits or angels are described as the “sons of God” in Job 38:7 when “all the sons of God shouted for joy” during the creation of the earth. Bible references to angels include holy angels, as well as those formerly holy spirit beings who would later defect and follow Satan’s rebellion. Variously described as evil spirits, demons or fallen angels, in today’s world, they are often called spirit guides by fortune tellers and channelers. “Spirit guides” is a deceptively friendly way to describe demons. We find these spirit guides appearing in mankind’s early history. Prior to Noah’s flood, these demons had the ability to appear in human-like bodies.Genesis 6:2, 4, 5 (Amplified Version) explains, “The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair, and they took wives of all they desired {and} chose. . . vss. 4, 5 There were giants on the earth in those days — and also afterward — when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, and they bore children to them . . . The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination {and} intention of all human thinking was only evil continually.”
With the aid of their giant hybrid sons (born from human women with demon fathers), these fallen angels so contaminated mankind with evil that recovery to goodness eventually became impossible. Genesis 6:9 (NKJV) states, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations.”
The Hebrew word “perfect” here is tamim: — which can mean to be
physically pure without defect or blemish. It is the same word used of the
Passover lamb in the Torah, which had to be pure and spotless physically —
without flaw or defect (Exodus 12:5). Hence, perhaps better understood, Noah and
his family were not genetically contaminated by the fallen angel interbreeding
with mankind. To end the evil, God sent the great flood and thereafter continued
the human race only through Noah’s untainted family.
To prevent Satan and these fallen angels from so thoroughly contaminating the
world again, God placed them in a prison called Tartarus, which restrained their
ability to influence mankind. This was NOT complete restraint. These demons can
still deceive the willing minds of curious people who are enticed and then
controlled by misleading promises to gain insights, learn secrets, attain power
and achieve success.
2 Peter 2:4 (HCSB) explains, “For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned, but
threw them down into Tartarus and delivered them to be kept in chains of
darkness until judgment;” Jude 1:6 (ESV) “And the angels who did not stay within
their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in
eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.”
These fallen angels’ abilities have been greatly restrained in these “chains of
darkness.” Some students of Scripture have taken these verses to imply that in
these last days, in which we are now living, the evil spirits can again appear
in human form, no longer restrained in these chains of darkness. In any case,
their behavior since Noah’s flood reveals to God in each situation whether their
heart has repented or whether they are still enemies of God. Two thousand years
ago, Jesus by his teaching and example as a perfect man on earth — and perhaps
also by preaching to them after his resurrection — may have led some fallen
angels to repentance.
1 Peter 3:18-20 (Montgomery NT) explains, “. . . Christ . . . was put to death
in the flesh . . . It was in spirit that he went and preached the Word to the
spirits who were in prison, who in old times had been disobedient, when God’s
longsuffering was waiting in the days of Noah, while an ark was building . . .”
Though unseen, these wicked demons are enemies of Christians and will endeavor
to tempt, ensnare, and mislead those who follow Jesus Christ. As previously
quoted, Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified Version) warns, “For we are not wrestling with
flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the
despotisms, against the powers, against the [master spirits who are] the world
rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the
heavenly (supernatural) sphere.”
These fallen angels or demons often work through human agents to spread their
influence and deceit.
THE AGENTS OF DARKNESS
Isaiah 8:19, 20 (The Message Bible) warns, “When people tell you, ‘Try out the fortune tellers. Consult the spiritualists. Why not tap into the spirit-world, get in touch with the dead?’ Tell them, ‘No, we’re going to study the Scriptures.’ People who try other ways and attempt to find answers in life by accepting direction from unknown spirit beings place themselves in a very dangerous position and get nowhere — a dead end!”While evil spirits might tell of things past and present, these evil intelligences are unable to do more than guess at the future. Yet these guesses are often so skillfully stated as to appear to be true even if the result is opposite of the expectation. We find a famous example in history.
The historian Herodotus makes several references to Croesus, King of Lydia in Asia Minor, who sought guidance from the Oracle at Delphi. Croesus asks Apollo’s priestess a key question: should he launch a pre-emptive strike against the Persians (who, under Cyrus, were just emerging as a rival power)? The oracle’s response is rightly famous: Herodotus reports that the priestess replied, should Croesus attack the Persians, a mighty empire would fall. Gleefully, Croesus launched his attack. Sadly, he didn’t realize that it would be his own empire that fell. Trusting the vague predictions of demons is dangerous and unreliable.
Scriptural Warnings against Fortune Tellers
“Fortune tellers” is a broad category that includes mediums, psychics,
astrologers, channelers and tarot card readers. Speaking to Israel through
Moses, God instructed the people in the following verses.
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 (ESV) warns, “When you come into the land that the LORD your
God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of
those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or
his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination [witchcraft] or
tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a
necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an
abomination to the LORD. ”
A medium communicates with demons or fallen angels (also called spirit guides).
Necromancy is the practice of communicating with the supposed dead, especially
in order to discover what will happen in the future. Modern day channeling is
the practice of entering a meditative or trancelike state in order to receive
and convey messages from a spirit. Divination is the use of an object or objects
to ascertain answers to questions or to see an event or events, which are not
otherwise perceptible to the average person. A modern example of divination is
tarot cards which are associated with unlocking the secrets of the future by
supernatural means. As per Cognitive Market Research’s latest published report
for May 17, 2023, the Global Tarot Cards market size will be $93.80 Million by
2027.
Astrology is another danger God’s people are warned against in Isaiah 47:13-15
(NIV), “. Let your astrologers come forward, those
stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is
coming upon you They cannot even save themselves
. . . Each of them goes on in his error; there is not one that can save you.”
Deuteronomy 18:12-14 (ESV) instructs, “. And because of these
abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. You shall be
blameless before the LORD your God, for these nations, which you are about to
dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners (witches). But as for you,
the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.”
After all God’s warnings, Israel succumbed to fortune tellers, witchcraft and
demons, masquerading as gods. 2 Kings 17:13-17 (KJV) records, “the LORD
testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets . . .
Notwithstanding they would not hear…And they left all the commandments of the
LORD their God . . . and made a grove, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and
served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the
fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in
the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”
WITCH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
In the Old Testament, we find the story of King Saul and the Witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28:4-25. Many people have misunderstood this story by falsely concluding that mediums can actually communicate with the dead. Let’s read this story and find out.1 Samuel 28 (ESV) “vs. 1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel . . . vss. 3-8 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. . . Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.’ And his servants said to him, ‘Behold, there is a medium at Endor.’ So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, ‘Divine for me by a spirit’. . . vs. 11 ‘Bring up Samuel for me.’ vss. 13-17. . . And the woman said to Saul, ‘I see a god coming up out of the earth.’ He said to her, ‘What is his appearance?’ And she said, ‘An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.’ And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’ Saul answered, ‘I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore,
I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.’ And Samuel said, ‘Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. vss. 19-20 Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.’ Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel.”
There are some strange happenings in this story that at face value do not make sense. For example, recall verse 15, “Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’”
Unconscious in the Sleep of Death
This answer contradicts the idea that Samuel was up in heaven, but corresponds better to the Jewish belief that when a person died he became unconscious in sheol, waiting for a resurrection (sheol is the Hebrew word for grave). Job speaks of this . . .Job 14:12-15 (NKJV), “So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep. ‘Oh, that You would hide me in the grave [sheol], that You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, that You would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer You. . .’”
Job believed that in death he would sleep, awaiting a future awakening, a
“change” back to a living and conscious condition. David also believed in a
future conscious awakening from death:
Psalm 90:3 (Rotherham), “Thou causest man to return unto dust, and hast said —
Return, ye sons of Adam!”
David also said in Psalm 71 (NKJV) “vss. 17, 18 O God, You have taught me from
my youth . . . Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me.
. . vs. 20 You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me
again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth.”
Keeping in line with this Old Testament understanding, which was how King Saul
viewed the matter, the demonic spirit speaking through the witch portrayed
Samuel as if she had brought him up from the grave, and not down from heaven,
and that his rest or peaceful “sleep” was disturbed (vs 15). However, the voice
that will call those asleep to be raised is the voice of Jesus, not the voice of
a medium (John 5:28, 29).
Other Bible verses support this view of sleep and unconsciousness in death
awaiting the resurrection. For example, King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6
(NET), “For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know
anything; they have no further reward – and even the memory of them disappears.
What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and
they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.” The “dead do not
know anything” because they are unconscious in the sleep of death. Jesus said to
his disciples in John 11:11-14 (NKJV) “. . . ‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I
go that I may wake him up.’ Then his disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will
get well.’ However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that he was
speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus
is dead.’”
So, Jesus described the death state as a sleep. In the story of Lazarus, after
he is raised from the dead, Lazarus provides no account of any conscious visit
to heaven (John 11:44). He was asleep and unconscious in death until Jesus
raised him from the dead.
Did Dead Samuel Really Speak to King Saul?
Now back to the story of Saul and the Witch of Endor. Since Samuel was asleep in
death, he could not have communicated with Saul through a medium. Even before he
died, Samuel had stopped speaking to King Saul, and God would not answer Saul
either.
1 Samuel 15:35 (NKJV) “And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his
death.”
1 Samuel 28:6 (ESV) “And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer
him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.”
Notice God’s clear command. Leviticus 19:31 (ESV) “Do not turn to mediums or
necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am
the LORD your God.”
God commanded the people NOT to turn to mediums. Thus, we cannot believe the
faithful prophet Samuel would go against God’s wishes and speak to Saul even if
he could. Hence, an evil spirit impersonated the dead as they often do; in this
case, the dead Samuel.
Mediums speak for the fallen angel spirit who is impersonating the dead person,
simply repeating what the demon says. Saul never actually saw Samuel. Nor did
Saul speak directly to Samuel. He asked the witch to describe what she saw. When
she answered “an old man.
. . . wrapped in a robe,” Saul’s confirmation bias decided that she was in
contact with Samuel as he had hoped. Demons are deceivers.
Demonic Spirits are Deceitful
Describing the devil, Jesus says in John 8:44 (ESV), “he is a liar and the
father of lies.” Satan’s first recorded evil act was to deceive Eve in the
Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:13). He also attempted to deceive Jesus in the
wilderness (Matthew 4:1). Demonic influence is deceitful. A major strategy Satan
and his hosts employ is to deceive people into trusting these supposed insights
rather than for them to rely on God, the Bible and the holy spirit, God’s power
and influence.
1 1 Timothy 4:1 (ESV) warns, “. . . some will depart from the faith by devoting
themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” Sometimes those
bringing a lying message might seem at first to be in line with God. God spoke
this warning through the prophet Ezekiel: Ezekiel 13:6-8 (ESV) “They have seen
false visions and lying divinations.
They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the LORD,’ although I have not spoken? Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.’”
Messages coming from seemingly friendly and concerned mediums, astrologers,
psychics or tarot card readers who are in contact with the spirit world are in
opposition to God, whether by intent or whether they are simply misled. Of
course, many are frauds just after your money. Fallen angels are in rebellion
against God, communicating their supposed revelations through fortune tellers
against God’s clear prohibitions in Scripture.r> Message to Saul from Spirit
World Not Accurate
1 1 Samuel 28:19, 20 (ESV) states, “’Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also
with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall
be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the
Philistines.’ Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear
because of the words of Samuel. . .”
The demon impersonating Samuel indicated that Israel would fall to the
Philistines in battle. The well-informed demons knew of the Philistines military
strength, that Saul was panic-stricken, that God was against Saul, and that God
would soon make David Saul’s successor. It wasn’t difficult to predict Israel’s
army would be defeated.r> The statement recited by the witch, “tomorrow you and
your sons shall be with me” was NOT correct. It was a false statement. Saul died
three days later in battle, not “tomorrow” as the witch reported; and not all
Saul’s sons died. The real Samuel would not have spoken falsely. Let’s verify
this error.
The day after Saul met the Witch of Endor, we read in 1 Samuel 29:1 (NKJV),
“Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the
Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel.”
This is the first day AFTER the witch reported that TOMORROW Israel will be
defeated in battle and Saul and his sons would die. David and his men were with
the Philistine army pretending to be prepared to fight with them against Saul’s
army. However, the Philistine rulers were rightly afraid David would turn on
them, so they sent David and his men away. Hence we read in 1 Samuel 29:11
(NKJV), “So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning. . .” This
would be the second day after Saul’s encounter with the Witch of Endor.
Now notice that 1 Samuel 30:1 (NKJV) says, “Now it happened, when David and his
men came to Ziklag, on the third day . . .” This was three days after Saul’s
visit to the Witch at Endor. Continuing, we read in 1 Samuel 31:1, 8 (NKJV) “Now
the Philistines fought against Israel
. . . vs. 8 So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the
slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.”
Saul and three of his sons died on the third day and were discovered on the next
day or fourth day after. The witch was wrong in reporting that “tomorrow” Saul
and his sons would die — it was three days later. Another error occurs when the
medium said Saul’s sons would die.
She never revealed that some sons would survive, yet we find two of them still
alive in a later account. Years later, we discover in 2 Samuel 21:8 (NKJV) “So
the king [David] took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of . . . Saul . . .”
So, these are two surviving sons of Saul still alive years after the battle with
the Philistines.
The important lesson is that even if a spirit was trying to convey the truth
through the Witch of Endor, he could only give his best guess. More importantly,
these demons are in rebellion against God, since the Bible forbids contact with
them. If they wanted to obey God, they would have no contact with people. God
wants us to be dependent on Him, His providences and His Word. Relying on
insights from spirit guides is placing our faith not in God, but in the
influence of rebellious fallen angels.
FORTUNE TELLER
We find a New Testament story of a fortune telling business profiting greatly from predicting the future through a slave girl helped by a demon.Acts 16:16-19 (ESV) “As we [Paul and Silas] were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination [predicting the future] and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.’ And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.”
What is interesting here is that she lost her ability to tell fortunes after
Paul cast out of her the evil spirit. Therefore, her ability to tell fortunes
came from a demon. This ability did NOT come from some internal, independent and
personal psychic ability.
Notice that the owners were angry because “their hope of gain was gone.” The
demon-possessed fortune teller was a cash cow for the owners, bringing in money
to them daily (vs 19). Their motive was profit — not to help people.
Today, many people seek the guidance of psychics and astrologers, not only for
life decisions, but also for advice on investments and insight into future
events that may impact their lives. According to an IBISWorld industry report
updated in May of 2023, the U.S. psychic industry has grown 52% since 2005 to
reach $2.2 billion in revenue in 2018 and the number of psychic services
professions rose from 78,874 in 2005 to 89,394 in 2018.
These services are for-profit businesses, not benevolent efforts to help people
at no cost. How many people do you know who have gotten rich by following the
guidance of a psychic or astrologer? Even if and when this were possible through
the knowledge of the demon or spirit guide, God does not want our success in
life to be with the aid of these forbidden agents of Satan.
Remember in verse 17, the slave girl cried out, “These men are servants of the
Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” The fortune teller had
a good message. She was letting the people know that Paul and Silas were
servants of God. So, why would Paul stop her? In this case, the demon acting
against God’s permission knew he could NOT overcome Paul’s influence in
preaching the gospel. By pretending to be in favor of Paul the demon could
retain his influence and deceive the people in other ways.
The Apostle Paul Condemns Sorcerers
2 Timothy 3:8 (NKJV) “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also
resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith.”
These two whom Paul describes as “men of corrupt mind” who “resist the truth”
were magicians who opposed Moses in Egypt. We find this story in Exodus 7:8-12
(NKJV) where we read, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘When
Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, “Show a miracle for yourselves,” then you shall
say to Aaron, “Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a
serpent.”’ So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the
LORD commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his
servants, and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the
sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their
enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But
Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed God’s
servant Moses, so do sorcerers and witches, aided by demons, in modern times
oppose the plans and purposes of God.
When the Apostle Paul and Barnabas were preaching the gospel in Cyprus, the
governor, Sergius Paulus, called for them to explain to him the word of God.
However, Elymas, a sorcerer or magician sought to turn the governor away from
the faith (Acts 13:5-8). The Apostle Paul’s response was harsh: Acts 13:10-12
(NKJV) Paul said, “’O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil,
you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways
of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be
blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ And immediately a dark mist fell on him,
and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul
[governor] believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the
teaching of the Lord.”
The First Christian Sorcerer — Really?!
The church has experienced witchcraft attempting to enter it since its early
roots. In Acts 8:9-24, we find Simon the Sorcerer, also known as Simon Magus, a
male version of a witch and baptized as a Christian.
Acts 8:9 (Rotherham Emphasized Bible) “But, a certain man named Simon, was
already in the city, practicing magical arts, and astonishing the nation of
Samaria — saying that himself was someone great.”
“Magical arts” is from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3096 and is often
translated “sorcery.”
Acts 8:10-24 (NKJV) “to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest,
saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’ And they heeded him because he had
astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed
Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of
Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also
believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed,
seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles who were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and
John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might
receive the holy spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had
only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid hands on them, and they received the holy spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the holy spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the holy spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.’ Then Simon answered and said, ‘Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.’”
The Apostle Peter condemns Simon’s character using a well- known Jewish idiom —
“gall of bitterness” or “bitter poison” — derived from Deuteronomy 29:18
(Septuagint ???? ?a? p????a).
Deuteronomy 29:18 (Amplified Version): “Beware lest there should be among you a
man or woman, or family or tribe, whose [mind and heart] turns away this day
from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there
should be among you a [poisonous] root that bears gall and wormwood.”
The “poisonous root that bears gall and wormwood” is referring to idolatry among
God’s people. Of the sin of someone corrupting the church, the Apostle Paul
warns in 1 Corinthians 5:6 (Weymouth) “. . . Do you not know that a little yeast
corrupts the whole of the dough?”
In Acts 8:24, an American Standard Version footnote says, “or, wilt become
gall.” Peter foresaw the future onslaught of a ravaging legacy of poisonous
doctrine which would carry through this sorcerer of Samaria desiring the power
of the apostolic office. Simon in response asks Peter to pray that none of these
evils would come upon him
— even though Peter had demanded of Simon that he should both repent and pray
for forgiveness. Rather than feeling guilt and shame, Simon was alarmed solely
by the consequences of sin, not feeling a sense of his own moral guilt and
baseness. He asks Peter to pray for him, betraying that his heart was not truly
contrite and that he still entertained superstitious views, since he expected
miraculous results from the intercessory prayer of another.
It is noted in several historical writings that Simon Magus moved to Rome to
create a universal church religion. Early Christian writers have documented much
about this man who has been called ‘the
Great Heretic’ and ‘Father of Gnosticism’ with the adverse effects of his hybrid
religion of the Babylonian Mysteries blended with elements of the Christian
faith. Second century writers like Ireneaus, Tertullian, and Clement of
Alexandria indicate that the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6,15) were of the Gnostic
movement, which connects them to Simon Magus. The Bible compares the Nicolaitans
to Balaam. Below are references to some scriptures and other ancient writings
that provide this testimony.
Revelation 2:14, 15 (NET) “But I have a few things against you: you have some
people there who follow the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a
stumbling block before the people of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to
idols and commit sexual immorality. In the same way, there are also some among
you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (see also Numbers 31:16).
Nicolaitans can mean “conquerors of the people” (Lange’s Commentary) or
“destruction of people” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). Hence, the legacy of
Balaam is continued by the Nicolaitans and Simon Magus, but with an updated
Christian twist.
Balaam (Numbers 22 and 24:1) lived long before the New Testament era, but we see
his legacy of seducing God’s people into idolatry and sexual immorality
continuing on to serve as a “gall of bitterness” within Christianity. The
Gnostic movement was just that. It is well documented how this movement spread
like wildfire, originating with Simon Magus, who made his headquarters at Rome
and was revered as a god, and thus elevated his teachings above those of Christ
and the apostles.
Justin Martyr mentions Simon Magus twice in his writings. In his First Apology
we read, “There was a Samaritan, Simon . . . who in the reign of Claudius
Caesar, and in your royal city of Rome, did mighty acts of magic, by virtue of
the art of the devils operating in him. He was considered a god, and as a god
was honored by you with a statue, which statue was erected on the river Tiber,
between the two bridges, and bore this inscription, in the language of Rome: —
‘Simoni Deo Sancto,’ meaning ‘To Simon the holy God.’” Tertullian, a late second
century/early third century apologist wrote, “you install in your Pantheon Simon
Magus, giving him a statue and the title of Holy God.” Hippolytus wrote, “they
have an image of Simon (fashioned) into the figure of Jupiter, and (an image) of
Helen in the form of Minerva; and they pay adoration to these.”
In the fourth century, Marcellus of Ancyra wrote, “Again those of Simon’s
school, called ‘gnostics,’. . . invented newer ideas . . .
Now all of these derived the starting points of their impiety from the
philosophers Hermes, Plato and Aristotle . . . with the heresy of the
Ariomaniacs, which has corrupted the Church of God. . . These then teach three
hypostases, just as Valentinus the heresiarch first invented in the book
entitled by him ‘On the Three Natures’. For he was the first to invent three
hypostases and three persons of the Father, Son and holy spirit, and he is
discovered to have filched this from Hermes and Plato.” (Logan A. Marcellus of
Ancyra (Pseudo-Anthimus), ‘On the Holy Church’: Text, Translation and
Commentary. Verses 8-9. Journal of Theological Studies, NS, Volume 51, Pt. 1,
April 2000, pp.94-95).
Early church writers have chronicled much more regarding the influence and
damage Simon Magus caused in the churches. This introduction is sufficient to
demonstrate the dangers of witchcraft and magic corrupting Christians and
churches through infiltration. Many writers assert that in later centuries,
Simon Magus’ identity was falsely claimed to be the Apostle Peter who is
purported to be the first Bishop of Rome. There is no reliable historical
evidence that the Apostle Peter himself ever traveled to Rome.
Regarding infiltration of the church, the Apostle Paul warns in Acts 20:28-30
(RSV) “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the holy spirit
has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the
blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in
among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men
speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
IDOLATRY
While most witches do not worship Satan, they do revere the earth and the elements — all created by God — rather than reverencing God himself. Witchcraft is founded in idolatry, proclaiming, “I am the god/goddess.” From the website, witchesofthecraft.com, we find what is called “A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality.” It states, “May I always be mindful that the Goddess and God in all their forms dwell within me and that this divinity is reflected through my own Inner Self, my Pagan Spirit.” As Romans 1:25 (ESV) so perceptively says, “. . . they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. . .”When God gave Israel the Ten Commandments, the first four were all about honoring Him. The next six Commandments – how we treat each other – were built upon the foundation of the first four. When we take the Creator out of the picture, we are left with human reasoning in place of God’s guidance. Our worship needs to be where it belongs — above the “created” to the Creator! Deuteronomy 4:19
Casting Spells versus Christian Prayer
Part of witchcraft is casting spells. How does this contrast with what the Bible teaches?Casting spells presses your will forward – Jesus pressed God’s will forward. Casting spells presumes you know – Christian prayer recognizes that God knows. Casting spells tells the universe what to do – Christian prayer asks God what to do. Prayer is when you make a request and ask God for something, whereas performing “magick” is a demand for something. The word “magick” means actual magic or sorcery as opposed to illusion or stage magic. In contrast to demanding of God, Proverbs 3:5 (ESV) admonishes us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” As Christians, we are willing to accept a “no” answer from God because we want things done in accordance with His will. Sadly, we find a Pagan ritualistic approach in some Christian circles, “I declare and decree. . .” that this and this will happen. True Christianity is not controlling and forcing the issue, but rather submitting to God’s will as in the Lord’s prayer, “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10).
Our society now accepts another subtle form of witchcraft called
“manifestation,” which refers to directing energy through thought or magic to
achieve specific outcomes. We’re told that if we “manifest” what we desire, it
will come to us. It’s related to spellcraft, meaning casting a spell with the
intent to manifest a desire so it will become tangible reality. From the website
refinery29.com in an August 27, 2020 article, I Asked a Witch about Manifesting
. . . we read that Sarah Potter, a tarot reader and professional witch said, “I
think we have to be very clear with our intention. The more specific we can be,
the easier it is to make something happen.” In the same article, Lisa Stardust,
an astrologer, said, “Manifesting does work. If you keep your intention, or your
goal, in mind, you’ll find that you’re able to envision what you truly want to
call in. This will enable you to bring your dreams into reality.”
Is it proper to ask God to improve our health or provide us with a car so we can
get to work? If you are doing your best to take care of your body and maintain
your health, living in a financially responsible manner, yet do not have
transportation to work, it is okay to pour these burdens before the Lord,
requesting His aid, always with the submissive spirit acknowledging “Your will
be done” (Matthew 6:10; Philippians 4:19; 1 John 5:14). Whether the Lord
provides a health solution or a car, or simply helps us to grow closer to Him
through the ordeal, we can trust that “God causes all things to work together
for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His
purpose” (Romans 8:28 NASB). It is always appropriate to make spiritual requests
for wisdom (James 1:5), the holy spirit (Luke 11:13), and spiritual health for
ourselves and others (Colossians 1:9, 10; James 5:14-18). “If we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14 NKJV). The key is that we
should be asking God for what He wants for us. We learn what God wants for us
from His Word — which is primarily spiritual things.
Practicing Magic
Wicca is called “white” (meaning benevolent) witchcraft, with the practice of
“white” magic. Magic is drawing energy from different natural sources or
elements, combined with your own personal energy to create some kind of change.
You decide what that change will be. Is there anything wrong with earth, air,
fire and water? No, they are the basic building blocks of our world. God made it
that way. Yet here we have something good and observable being made into
something they are not meant to be. Every great lie has some truth behind it to
make it appealing. Practitioners normally utilize prayers and rituals. They also
utilize objects like talismans, wands and crystals. They use spells to provide
luck to the people around them. They believe tools in physical form are
basically an extension of our own energy. When you take a wand and draw a circle
with it, they would say that wand is directing your own energy. Again, Wicca is
called “white” witchcraft, with the practice of “white” magic. Because Wicca is
actually a modern-day religion with ancient roots, it is easy to see how the
distinction between white versus black magic is modern day as well, in order to
make white magic appear acceptable. The Bible never distinguishes between
“white” and “black” magic. That black magic is evil and often intends to do harm
to others is not in question. However, some might be open to the concept of
white magic as being acceptable to Christians. Some who practice white
witchcraft may be trying to do something good. The problem is the tools and
methods they have chosen are inherently dark. Satan appears as an angel of light
so he can deceive. (2 Corinthians 11:14; Ephesians 6:12) Unfortunately, it is
important to look at some of the underlying principles of magic in order not to
normalize or trivialize it. We especially want to protect our children. This is
not something to be trifled with. The energy and powers being called upon are
satanic. Instead, we should call upon the power of the Almighty God for His
protection, care and mercy, and stay far away from the practices of any kind of
magic or magick, including Wicca. In the days of the apostles, early Christians
repented from their past practices and rejected magic. We read in Acts 19:18, 19
(ESV), “Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging
their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought
their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the
value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
The Wiccan Rede versus the Golden Rule
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “Wicca is the largest of the modern
Pagan, or Neo-Pagan, religions. Its followers, who are called Wiccans, typically
identify as witches and draw inspiration largely from the pre-Christian
religions of Europe.” According to the American Religious Identification Survey,
between 2001 and 2008, the number of Wiccans increased from 134,000 to 340,000.
The number of Pagans followed a similar trend, increasing from 140,000 to
340,000. More recently, the Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study,
conducted in 2014, estimated that 0.3% of the U.S. population, close to 1
million people, identified as Wiccan or Pagan. Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:12
(Amplified Version) have often been called the “Golden Rule.” “So then, in
everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is
[the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets” (see also Luke
6:31). On the other hand, the modern witch’s code of ethics, referred to as the
Wiccan Rede, states in part, If you harm none, do what you will. About Wiccan
ethics, religoustolerance.org writes, “Finding out your Will is difficult
sometimes, and figuring out what is harmful, rather than just painful or
unpleasant, is not much easier.” To “do what you will” places the focus on what
will benefit YOU, rather than sacrificing self-interest for the benefit of
others, as the Bible teaches.
Philippians 2:3, 4 (ESV) “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in
humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not
only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” 1 John 3:16
(ESV) “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to
lay down our lives for the brothers.” The whole concept of Jesus dying to save
mankind is personal sacrifice in order to benefit others. In Mark 10:45 (ESV)
Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for many.”
How to Decide What is Good
From paganlibrary.com, A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality, we quote the opening and
closing statements: “I am a Pagan and I dedicate Myself to channeling the
Spiritual Energy of my Inner Self to help and to heal myself and others. May I
always be mindful that the
Goddess and God in all their forms dwell within me and that this divinity is
reflected through my own Inner Self, my Pagan Spirit. May I always channel Love
and Light from my being. May my Inner Spirit, rather than my ego self, guide all
my thoughts, feelings, and actions.” Wiccan behavior is focused from the INSIDE
OUT for their purpose of doing good (as they see it) and being in harmony with
nature. Christian actions are focused from the OUTSIDE IN for the purpose of
trusting in and being faithful to God’s guidance from the Bible. Hence in John
14:15 (NKJV), Jesus said to his disciples “If you love me, keep my commands.” In
Luke 9:23 (NIV) Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Finally, Psalms 128:1
(NIV) states, “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him”
and Psalms 1:1, 2 (ESV) adds, “Blessed is the man his delight is in the law of
the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
Reverence for Nature or God?
Again, quoting from A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality, we read, “May I always be
mindful of the diversity of Nature as well as its Unity May my Inner Light shine
so strongly that malevolent forces cannot even approach my sphere of existence.
May I always act out of Love to all other beings on this Planet – to other
humans, to plants, to animals, to minerals, to elementals, to spirits, and to
other entities.” Wiccan focus is based in reverence for nature in all its
diversity, as well as on the personal application of spiritual power for good.
Christian focus is based in reverence for the CREATOR and only doing that which
He in His righteous plan would consent to and direct. Christians worship the
source, not what the source produces. Let’s read 1 John 4:1-6: (NASB) with an
explanation inserted, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit (every influence and
teaching), but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many
false prophets have gone out into the world. (We must be on guard, even if
others misconstrue us to be narrow and close minded.) By this you know the
Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God;
this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming,
and now it is already in the world. (The spirit of antichrist is any influence
that puts itself in the place of Christ. Christ IS the sole conduit of God’s
eternal plan, so replacing Christ with other influences is yet another form of
idolatry. That is what witchcraft does.) You are from God, little children, and
have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the
world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the
world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who
is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and
the spirit of error.” Even when not popular, we as Christians can be secure in
our “narrow” focus of reverence for the Creator and only doing that which He in
His righteous plan would consent to and direct. Is a Medium Who Helps to Solve
Crimes a Good Thing?
Taken from a Forbes Magazine article dated June 13, 2019, titled, Meet the
Medium Who Helps Law Enforcement Solve the Unsolvable, we read, “Johannson has
worked heavily with local, state and federal law enforcement to help solve
mysterious disappearances, gruesome crimes, and cold cases. Due to law
enforcement publicly using psychics to solve cases, the CIA conducted a study to
legitimize how viable and valuable using mediums could be. Out of eleven
officers . . . Three . . . found missing bodies through the use of a psychic.”
Should Christians be against law enforcement using mediums and psychics to solve
crimes? Recall how the Apostle Paul simply ignored the fortune teller as long as
he could until she became a nuisance, distracting people from his own ministry.
As the Bible calls Christians “ambassadors for Christ” and “citizens of heaven,”
it is not our business to take a stand on how secular authorities of this world
conduct their business. However, we suggest that if society were to take a
strong stand for biblical morals, including solid families with loving parents
and committed spouses, crime would diminish so much as to be enormously more
beneficial than using mediums and psychics to solve crimes.
Working with these spirit guides is dangerous for a Christian desiring to grow
in their faith and reliance on God. We read again the Apostle Paul’s warning: 1
Timothy 4:1 (ESV) “Now the spirit expressly says that in later times some will
depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings
of demons.” Demons may pretend to help, but they are deceivers. Their teachings
may seem to agree with God, but this is yet another deception. 2 Timothy 2:26
(The Message Bible) directs us to help others “…to escape the Devil’s trap,
where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.”
Is a Christian Witch Really a Christian? Can there even be such a thing as a
“Christian witch?” This is at best a delusion. Similar to Christian atheism,
so-called “Christian witches” cherry-pick verses from the Bible.They believe one
can simultaneously have a personal relationship with Jesus and practice
witchcraft. In essence, they remove any passages from the Bible that deal with
how God condemns witchcraft. Christian witches do not accept the authority of
the Bible which condemns the practice of witchcraft, and thus, a true Christian
would never become a witch. We quote the following excerpts from an article,
“What Does the Word ‘Christian’ in Christian Witch Mean?” on
christianwitches.com: “There is debate over whether there was a literal person
named Jesus or if the Jesus we know of today is more of a mashup of different
persuasive characters of the time. . . For me, whether there was a literal or
historical figure named Jesus Christ is a subject of fascinating debate, yet not
pivotal to this discussion. I don’t base my life on a man who lived 2,000 years
ago. I base my life on LOVE and universal LAW, which are the nature, expression
and operation of God. . . I don’t know if Jesus Christ is a historical figure,
and to be honest with you, I don’t care . . . The Christ we’re taught about in
the Bible is the original Christian Witch, able to commune with nature spirits
(trees, wind, storm), walk on water, miraculously manifest vast amounts of food
from next to nothing, command spirits and demons with a word, and practiced more
magick than we can shake a broomstick at.” This quote is targeting an ignorant
audience. The fact that Jesus was a literal single historical figure is beyond
dispute. Virtually all scholars of antiquity agree that a historical human Jesus
existed, including the Jewish historian Josephus and the Roman historian
Tacitus. The absurd claim that Jesus is the “original Christian Witch” who
“practiced more magick than we can shake a broomstick at” is an equally ignorant
statement, demonstrating to every devoted Christian of conscience a lack of
basic understanding of what the gospels teach. A witch’s magick cannot compare
to Jesus’ supernatural ability to perform miracles such as calming the sea,
walking on water, healing the blind and deaf and even raising the dead back to
life, which were examples of God’s great power and future blessings of His
Kingdom. Given the above stark differences in principles, motivation and
knowledge, do not accept a so-called Christian witch into your Christian
fellowship. This is Satan’s effort to destroy Bible-based growth through
infiltration.
DEMON POSSESSION
The most dangerous trap of all is demon possession. Jesus speaks of the condition of a demon possessed person:Matthew 12:43, 45 (NKJV) “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. . .” In this story, Jesus speaks of an unclean spirit (a demon) seeking rest, a new home in another victim. Finding no other empty house (a mind open to a demon’s enticements), he returns to his last home and finds that while the man is getting his life back in order, his mind is empty of the spiritual convictions and defenses needed to resist being demon possessed again. The unclean spirit invites other demons to join him, and the man is in a worse state than before. An important lesson is that once the door to demon possession is opened, the victim is weakened against resisting any future incursions from demonic spirits. The danger is in not being able to escape this self-inflicted prison of permitting the demonic possession by not filling their empty mind with Bible study and worshiping God. In Mark 9:28, 29 (NASB) we read, “When he came into the house, his disciples began questioning him privately, ‘Why could we not drive it out?’ And he [Jesus] said to them, ‘This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.’” By prayer, Christians can ask God to expel a demon, but he cannot declare that the demon be cast out. If and how God answers that prayer is His decision and under His control. Romans 10:9-11 (NASB) promises that “. . . if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the scripture says,
WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED
Beyond confession and prayer, it would be dangerous to attempt to cast out demons yourself, as some men learned in Acts 19:13-16 (NASB) “But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, ‘I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, ‘I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’ And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
In the New Testament, the apostles never give any advice or instructions to the
Christian churches about casting out demons. Rather, Ephesians 6:10-18 instructs
that the Christian defense against demonic power is by putting on the armor of
God — faith, righteousness, truth, salvation, the Word of God — and spreading
the Gospel of peace.
I/3another episode we read in Matthew 17:14, 15, 18 (NASB) “. . . a man came up
to Jesus, falling on his knees before him and saying, ‘Lord, have mercy on my
son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and
often into the water. . .’ vs. 18 And Jesus rebuked him [the demon], and the
demon came out of him [the boy], and the boy was cured at once.”
Here we have a case of demon possession turning a boy into a lunatic. Today this
might easily be mistaken for mental illness. In counseling troubled patients, a
Christian psychologist might want to understand whether a patient is mentally
disturbed or demon possessed. Anyone subject to the torment of demon possession
might as a result be struggling with mental illness.
Demonic Influence Begins in Small Steps
Subtle and incremental steps lead to demon possession. Today the entertainment
industry is permeated with magic, witchcraft, demons and violence — a first step
for some to desire to connect with the spirit world. From its beginnings,
Hollywood has gradually caused the public to accept witches, magic and demons
and even the idea of good witches. All this is in place of teaching our children
Bible stories and good morals.
Starting decades ago, cartoons desensitized children with “friendly” ghosts and
witches, and to this Disney movies have added all kinds of magic. Baby Boomers
grew up with Casper the Friendly Ghost and progressed to TV shows like Bewitched
and I Dream of Jeannie. Even before this we find Glenda, the good witch of the
north in The Wizard of Oz.
Desensitized children became adults and watched with their children more witches
and more magic, and finally today the result is a desensitized public,
entertained by all sorts of magic, evil and violence daily, including vampires
and werewolves. Hollywood adds romance to make it all very seductive and wrapped
up in a shiny package. Today, we find the occult everywhere: on our screens, in
bookstores, games and literature. The success of the Harry Potter books and
movies has enticed generations of children to pursue magic and witchcraft and
most disturbingly, to consider these things normal and commonplace. Even our
education systems promote exploring this entertainment.
Tapping into Spirit Entities
Wiccans believe that when using psychic or spiritual powers they are tapping
either into entities (i.e. gods, goddesses and spirit guides) or else into the
universal power or force of all creation which they call “Universe.” The
Christian’s primary responsibility is looking outside of our self to find the
will of God. One does not find the will of God by asking the universe something.
It is found through the lessons and principles He has provided for us in
Scripture, which always give us powerful answers for both goodness and true
spirituality.
“If the Lord wills” (James 4:15) is not directing the power of God in our lives;
it is asking for the direction of the power of God in our lives. This is a big
difference between the Wiccan approach and the Christian approach. Isn’t it
presumptuous to take for granted that we can access spiritual power for good
just because we want to do good? Satan is much smarter than us. His bottom line
is to REPLACE the majesty of God and the sacrifice of Jesus with whatever form
of antichrist (in the place of Christ) he can create for the purpose of
spiritual confusion and misdirection (1 John 2:18, 22, 4:3; 2 John 1:7)
Ouija Boards – a Dangerous Game
Ouija boards, the popular Halloween board game patented in 1890 by the Kennard
Novelty Company, can open spiritual doors that invite demonic spirits into the
room. It became popular in the United States in the mid-19th century after so
many people lost loved ones in the Civil War. Within a year of its patent, the
company grew from one factory in Baltimore to two in Baltimore, two in New York,
two in Chicago and one in London. By 1967, the patent was in the hands of toy
company Parker Brothers and annual sales reached 2 million — more than Monopoly.
The premise of the Ouija board is that a living person can communicate with a
dead person whose spirit will communicate back by spelling out answers on the
board. Packaged as a spooky and fun board game, like a mouse trap, many children
and adults have taken the bait and unwittingly become entrapped in demonic
enticement leading to demonic possession. Adults, broken hearted with the loss
of a loved one, use the game in hopes of communicating with a deceased relative.
While someone using the board may not have the intention of calling a demonic
spirit, the act of using the Ouija board is a form of divination and is hence
forbidden by the Bible.
Shamanism
A practice related to witchcraft is Shamanism, another diversion away from
worship of and obedience to God. Wikipedia states it is, “a practice that
involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to
encounter and interact with the spirit world and channel these transcendental
energies into this world. A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and
influence in, the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, who typically
enters into a trance state during a ritual, and practices divination and
healing.”
In such a trance state, who is in control of the mind of the shaman? It is very
dangerous to put oneself under the control of a spirit entity. Turning over the
control of mind and will to an outside energy opens the door to demon
possession.
Reiki Healing
Popular now among some in the alternative health community is Reiki Healing.
According to the website reiki.org, “Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress
reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by
‘laying on hands’ and is based on the idea that an unseen life force energy
flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s life force energy
is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high,
we are more capable of being happy and healthy.”
In a book entitled, Basic Questions on Alternative Medicine, a corporate project
by members of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1988), there is a short chapter on Reiki (pp.
61-63). Drawing information from that chapter we find that although Reiki claims
to be an “ancient healing practice that Buddha (and Jesus) used,” all records of
it were lost. It was supposedly rediscovered by Mikao Usui, a Zen Buddhist monk,
in the mid-1800s “during a psychic experience.” Purportedly, details about lost
aspects of the practice have “been revealed through channeling.” The authors say
that a second-degree Reiki practitioner “learns about spirit guides and how to
contact and use them in healing sessions” and that third degree Reiki masters
give “complete control of healing sessions to their spirit guides.” Healing
sessions seem to be based on the use of “life-energy” (i.e. ki, chi, or prana),
which is directed from the practitioner into the patient’s body.
The authors of this chapter conclude by stating: “Reiki is antithetical to
biblical Christianity. Channeling is a way of communicating with spirits to
obtain information not otherwise accessible. It is denounced in the Bible as
sorcery, mediumship, and Spiritism. . . (Leviticus 19:26, 31; 20:6; Deuteronomy
18:9-14).”
DANGERS OF FORTUNE TELLING
Many people desire to learn the future through fortune tellers or horoscopes. Let’s see what the Bible says about seeing the future. Luke 10:23, 24: (NKJV) “Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.’” Even though the disciples saw, they did not yet understand. The meaning of Old Testament prophecies describing the future of the coming Messiah were never fully understood until after the Messiah came, died, and was resurrected from the dead (Luke 18:31-34; John 12:16). Prophecy fulfilled confirms God’s foreknowledge and increases our faith in Him. Bible prophecy is not for giving day-to-day guidance and timing of events in our lives because “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV). We can only develop faith in God when our future is uncertain and maybe even seems fearful, and hence then we look to Him for help through life’s adversities.Yes, God did provide insight into the future through prophecies written in the Bible. Yet, often these prophecies were not meant to be fully understood until after they were fulfilled, again as faith-building evidence of God’s foreknowledge. If we desire to “see” the future, it may not be appropriate. Daniel, for example, was given incredible prophecies of the future and was told they would not be understood until a future appointed time for understanding (Daniel 12:8, 9).
Again, not knowing the future helps us to develop faith and dependence on our Heavenly Father, just as a child trusts that his or her parents will feed and clothe them. Sincere Christians walk by faith trusting that God knows what is best for us and do not rely on fortune tellers or horoscopes to know the future.
In Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV) Jesus promised, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
We can trust that God has a plan and purpose in our experiences for our personal growth in the fruit of the holy spirit – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23).
2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 (ESV) comforts us with the promise that “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Pagan or Christian Holidays?
Long ago, Paganism infiltrated Christianity. Although Jesus was actually born
about October 3, the date when most Christians celebrate his birth is December
25, the Pagan date of the birthday of the Roman sun god, Saturn. This was the
last day of more than a week of celebrations in Rome known as “Saturnalia.”
Starting on December 17th, Saturnalia involved banquets and parties with family
and friends. During this time, all social rules were reversed, but the most
significant aspect of the Saturnalia was a traditional exchange of gifts.
According to the website statista.com, consumers in the United States spent 10.6
billion U.S. dollars in 2022 for the Halloween season as compared to 3.3 billion
in 2005. The origin of Halloween can be traced back to the Celtic festival of
Samhain at the end of summer when the druids believed that Samhain, the god of
death, scattered evil spirits during this time throughout the world to attack
humans. To escape the attack, humans would assume disguises and make themselves
look like evil spirits, too. Ephesians 5:11 (ESV), “Take no part in the
unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday. The
word “Easter” comes from the name of Eostre, the Germanic goddess of spring.
Easter eggs and the Easter bunny were Pagan symbols of rebirth and fertility.
Christians are not celebrating this pagan aspect. We find more background on the
Pagan influence of the Easter celebration in the Bible.
2 Chronicles 33:1-3, 6 (NASB) reads, “Manasseh was twelve years old when he
became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the
sight of the LORD according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD
dispossessed before the sons of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places which
Hezekiah his father had broken down; he also erected altars for the Baals and
made Asherim, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. vs. 6 He
made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he
practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery and dealt with mediums
and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to
anger.”
Our text quoted above speaks of King Manasseh “erecting altars for the Baals and
making Asherim.” Known as Ashtaroth or Ashtoreth, she was the Pagan goddess of
fertility and sexual lust from which the festival of Easter is derived. Each
spring, the Pagans would set up phallic poles called Asherahs under trees on
high hills and celebrate their fertility festival with unbridled sexual
perversion.
Many Christians rightly enjoy and honor Christmas and Easter embracing the
Biblical importance of Jesus’ birth and resurrections, while discarding pagan
connections. Rejoicing in and celebrating these wonderful events each year are
important parts of the Christian hope and experience.
Dangers in Dreams
The danger in relying on dreams is not only in being misled, but in misdirecting
our faith away from God as is taught by the following scriptures:
Deuteronomy 13:3 (ESV) “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or
that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether
you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Jeremiah 23:25,27 (ESV) “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy l
ies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ who think to make my
people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their
fathers forgot my name for Baal?” (See also Jude 1:8.)
In the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, had a very
disturbing dream, and he wanted to understand its meaning.
Daniel 2:2 (NIV) “So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and
astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed . . .”
None of them could describe the dream, let alone explain its meaning. However,
with God’s help, Daniel described and explained the dream. Dreams from God are
rare and should not be trusted to guide our life in place of guidance from the
Bible, especially since dreams can come from fallen angels or spirit guides. A
dream from God will NEVER contradict His Word, the Bible. If a dream is contrary
to God’s Word, it is a sure sign the dream is not from God.
FBI Archives on Interdimensional Beings from another World
Government involvement with the demonic spirit world is concerning. Memorandum
6751 is a United States document dated July 8, 1947, that was declassified in
the year 2010, and disclosed to the public from the FBI archives. It includes a
letter addressed to the Director of Intelligence at the Pentagon from J. Edgar
Hoover, Director of the FBI, referencing a document with the numbered points.
Memorandum 6751 discloses the presence of supernormal beings from another world
“which interpenetrates with our own and is not perceptible to us.” Weaponized
with “radiant energy,” they enter the “etheric” (or cross dimensions) at will.
Lokas or Talas, mentioned in the document, is a concept in Hindu mythology that
refers to alternate worlds or realities, and in the simplest context, multiple
dimensions.
We need not fear what devious plots and influence these fallen angels have with
earth’s leaders. Take for example Adolf Hitler, who was known to get guidance
from the occult, yet even with their aid his plans for conquest ultimately
failed. Even so, we are told in the Bible that ultimately Jesus will bind and
destroy Satan.
Satan and His Kingdom to Be Destroyed
For thousands of years, Satan has been the god and ruler of this world.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NASB) “. . . the god of this world has blinded the minds of
the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel. . .” John
12: 31 (NKJV) “. . . the ruler of this world will be cast out.” As ruler, Satan
has done all in his power to blind the masses through earth’s governments,
leaders, institutions and religions. With his authority as ruler, Satan even
tempted Jesus by offering him the world — if Jesus would only worship him.
Matthew 4:8, 9 (NKJV) “. . . the devil took him up on an exceedingly high
mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he
said to him, ‘All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship
me.’” Satan could only have offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world if he were
in control of them. Jesus resisted the temptation to establish himself as king
over the earth at that time. He had a different mission of sacrifice and knew he
must wait for a future time to establish God’s kingdom on earth, in accordance
with his Father’s time frame and methods.
Revelation 20:2, 3 (NKJV) “He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who
is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into
the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should
deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. . .” vs. 10
“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire. . .”
Romans 16:20 (NKJV) “. . . the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet. .
.” Hebrews 2:14 (ESV) “. . . through death he [Jesus] might destroy . . . the
devil.”
Yes, the ultimate destruction of Satan is assured in the Bible, and God never
lies. Before Jesus can establish his kingdom on earth, the present governments
and social order under Satan’s control must be destroyed and replaced, that
destruction here being symbolized by a consuming fire:Zephaniah 3:8 (ESV)
“’Therefore . . .’ declares the LORD, ‘. . . my decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning
anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.’” This is
not a literal fire. The very next verse says . . . Zephaniah 3:9 (ESV) “For at
that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of
them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.”
The earth will not be literally burned up because after destroying Satan’s
control over earth’s governments, institutions and social order, the people are
taught the pure language of the gospel and they all serve the LORD. The time of
Jesus’ reign and judgment over the earth is not a time of fear and dread, but
rather, a time of joy and happiness for those who are willing to follow God’s
laws and come into harmony with Him. At that time, evil and wickedness will not
be tolerated.
Isaiah 28:17 (ESV) “And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the
plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies. . .”
Future Righteous Kingdom of God on Earth
With Satan and his works of evil destroyed, God will establish a righteous and
peaceable kingdom on earth.
1 Chronicles 16:31-34 (NKJV) “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be
glad; and let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns.’ Let the sea roar,
and all its fullness; let the field rejoice, and all that is in it. Then the
trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the
earth. Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures
forever.”
In harmony with this glad view, Isaiah says:
Isaiah 40:5 (NKJV) “The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall
see it together. . .”
Isaiah 11:9 (NKJV) “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For
the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the
sea.” Isaiah 26:9 (NKJV) . . . For when Your judgments are in the earth, The
inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” Haggai 2:7 (KJV) “And I will
shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come….”
In God’s future peaceable kingdom on earth, the knowledge of the Lord will fill
the earth and mankind will learn righteousness as taught in the Bible and will
worship and serve their Creator. In that kingdom age, everyone that has ever
lived will be raised from the dead and, as expressed in Jesus’ prayer, will have
the opportunity to learn about “the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he has
sent . . .” (John 17:3). John 5:28, 29 (NKJV) Jesus said, “the hour is coming in
which all who are in the graves will . . . come forth.” Acts 24:15 (NKJV) Paul
said, “. . . there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the
unjust.”
Daniel 7:14,27 (NKJV) “Then to him [Jesus] was given dominion and glory and a
kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion
is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom the one
which shall not be destroyed . . . vs. 27. . . His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
Working through Jesus, God promises a beautiful tomorrow of world peace and true
justice for everyone. At that time, all peoples and nations will worship and
learn from God. Micah 4:1-4 (NKJV) “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the
mountains and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it.
Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the
LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall
walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the
LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong
nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears
into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig
tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has
spoken.”
Yet, because God gives His creation free choice, not all people will agree to
come under God’s guidance and authority.
Revelation 22:14, 15 (NKJV) “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that
they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates
into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and
murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”
Even God’s mercy and patience has limits. In this future righteous kingdom of God on earth, if the wicked refuse to repent and worship God, they will be eternally destroyed. Revelation 21:8 (NKJV) “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Fire is here used as a symbol of eternal destruction and is here called “second death,” since, after people are raised from the dead, if God judges them as irredeemably wicked, they are judged to die a second time. They will never again be raised from the dead, as Jesus died ONCE for ALL, not twice for all (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 9:25, 26; 10:12). Everyone of mankind gets ONE full opportunity for eternal life free from Satan’s dominion and deceptions. Under these ideal conditions, God will not violate free will for those who love wickedness. He will not turn wicked people into good robots. Yet for the vast majority of mankind, there will be a happy ending. Revelation 21:1-4 (NKJV) “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . and I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’”
Touch Not the Unclean Thing
Spirit guides (demons) are in rebellion against the true God. Their god, Satan,
is a deceiver who appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:3, 14), but he
is in reality the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24; Ephesians 2:2). Some fortune
tellers might be deceived into believing spirit guides are good. However,
regardless of their intentions, these practices are so abhorrent to God that He
describes this evil as an abomination (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) punishable by death
(Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27) under the Law of Moses.
Demonic influence is a trap that replaces an uplifting spiritual connection with
God (Proverbs 3:5, 6; Romans 8:28), with deceitful enticements of promised
insight, answers, influence and power (Genesis 3:5; Matthew 4:1-11; 1 John 2:15,
16). Demon possession is the greatest danger from the spirit world and the
Christian defense is prayer, confessing Jesus is Lord and putting on the whole
armor of God. (See 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 and the section, “The Danger of Demon
Possession,” on page 35.)
We trust this investigation has been helpful and insightful for those interested
in what the Bible teaches about fortune tellers and the spirit world. Certainly,
those who love God and His Word will take every precaution to be totally
disconnected from the occult, knowing its dangers and God’s warnings against it.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (ESV) “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For
what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has
light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial [Satan]? Or what portion
does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God
with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make
my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people. Therefore, go out from their midst, and be separate from
them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I
will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the
Lord Almighty.’”