|
Also See The Message of the Bible and The Warning of The Bible
Far from being outdated, out of touch, and largely irrelevant to modern society, the Kingdom of God Jesus was sent to earth to proclaim (No, His main message wasn’t about ‘love’) is exactly the utopian world most men and women can only dream of. However, there is also a warning. The Bible very clearly tells us that we all have a choice to make in this life - the most important decision we will ever make. And, if the Bible is indeed the word of God, as it claims to be, and Jesus is the Son of God as He said He was, the consequences for the individual who chooses to ignore, or counter the evidence with clever arguments, will be fatal.
ON THIS PAGE
Emphasis Mine In Bible Verses
Definition
The word 'occult' is directly derived from the Latin occultus - "hidden, concealed, secret". The word is generally used of secret (available only to the initiate) or mysterious supernatural powers, magical religious rituals and magical influences - all beyond the realm of human comprehension.
Occult is also used to describe any attempt to gain supernatural power or knowledge as in channeling, astrology, séances, palm reading, tarot cards, etc.
The three primary categories of the occult world are Divination, Magick, and Spiritism.
Divination. is the attempt to to foretell the future. The divination arts include astrology, crystal balls, I Ching, psychometry, runes, tarot cards, palm reading, psychics, numerology, and horoscopes.
Magick or Paganism. Those in magick attempt to control the present by ceremonies, charms, and spells. The magick arts include Wicca, witchcraft, white and black magic, sorcery, psychic healing etc.
Spiritism. Many occultists believe that certain secret, mysterious, or supernatural agencies exist and that human beings may communicate with or be assisted by them. Those involved in spiritism attempt to communicate with the dead via ouija boards, channeling, séances etc. and receive information or help from them.
It would be safe to say that the entire New Age - a multicultural, multi-religious spiritual and consciousness-raising movement has its roots in communication with unholy forces in the occult that oppose both God and man - and is anything but new.
Some religions, alternative medicine therapies, and martial arts practices can also involve occult elements.
See Section on Alternative Medicine
And
The New Age
Tragically, the church that should have been a bulwark against evil has, thanks to apostate leadership and a Biblically illiterate population, latched on to the coat tails of the world and come up with ‘Christianized’ versions of Eastern religious concepts or devilish occult practices strictly forbidden in Scripture - contemplative prayer, labyrinths, slain in the spirit all prime examples. See Section Doctrines of Demons. In other words, we have endorsed the invitations and are along for the ride - and what a ride it’s going to be.
As Einstein once said
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
The Rise in Popularity
The centuries past have all had their share of Oracles, Seers and Shamans that others consulted, shunned, feared, respected or burned at the stake.
In fact, during the 16th and 17th centuries English law prescribed serious penalties for witchcraft. Henry VIII's Act of 1542 was the first to define witchcraft as a felony, a crime punishable by death and the forfeiture of the convicted felon's goods and chattels.
We have come a long way since.
In today’s world Western interest in the paranormal has risen to a phenomenal level. Bearing witness to this is the enormous volume of literature - both online and print - available on the subject.
Perhaps it is an overwhelming temptation to reach out beyond human ability to the unknown 'something' or 'someone' out there that can offer hope, comfort, answers and assurances in a world that offers little. Perhaps, just perhaps questions such as where we are going? What will happen tomorrow, next week? How do we know we are making the right decision? etc. can be answered.
This never ending quest to have something to hold on to has spawned thousands of psychics, spiritual leaders. Although we may not consult the gypsy at the local fair, our interest in powers and forces beyond ourselves has risen to a phenomenal degree. Visualization, channeling, spirit guides, goddess worship, New Age teachings and practices etc. have only succeeded in throwing the doors wide open thus inviting evil to cross the threshold.
And one of these days the doors will be wide enough for them to make their move. You can take it to the bank that they on their way back.
See Days of Noah
when the abominable union of the supernatural with the natural moved God to judge the world...
Sources of Power
The question is where the power or ability comes from. It is naive to claim that there is no paranormal ability involved - that Jeanne Dixon's predictions which actually came true were 'lucky guesses'. (In any case I have seen psychic feats by Indian so-called 'holy men' that would make Ms. Dixon and James Van Praagh look like rank amateurs).
Perhaps at this point it would be well to remember that there are ONLY two sources of supernatural powers in this universe.- God and Satan thus all paranormal ability has to originate with one or the other.
Acts 16 irrefutably ties the power of divination to demons. In this chapter a slave-girl was described as "having a spirit of divination ... who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune telling." In other words she was possessed by a spirit until Paul cast it out of her. This made her 'masters' very angry as their source of income had dried up. (Acts 16:16-18).
Tragically, the church that should have been a bulwark against evil has, thanks to apostate leadership and a Biblically illiterate population, has latched on to the coat tails of the world and come up with 'Christianized' versions of practices strictly forbidden in Scripture. The number of Christians involved in paranormal practices such as contemplative prayer, labyrinths, yoga grows by the hour. We have endorsed the invitations and are along for the ride - and what a ride it's going to be. See Section Doctrines of Demons
The Bible’s Strict Prohibitions Against Any Occult Practice
‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood. You shall not practice divination nor soothsaying... ‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:26, 31 NASB)
When you enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who consults the dead.
For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord and because of these detestable things the Lord your God is going to drive them out before you. “You are to be blameless before the Lord your God. “For these nations, which you are going to dispossess, listen to soothsayers and diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14 NASB)
Definitions of Terms used in Leviticus 19:26, 31 and Deuteronomy 18:9-14
1. Cast a spell: The act of bewitching a person through magic; To induce the effects of a magic spell on someone or something .
2. Divination: The act of foretelling future events or revealing occult knowledge by means of a supernatural agency.
3. Interpret omens: Seeking insight or knowledge through signs or events.
4. Mediums or psychics: People thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension.
5. Necromancy: The practice of supposedly communicating with the spirits of the dead in order to predict the future
6. Spiritism: The belief that the dead communicate with the living;
7. Soothsaying: The art or practice of foretelling events.
8. Sorcerer: One who practices sorcery and black magic, by which it is sought to harness occult forces or evil spirits in order to produce preternatural effects in the world
9. Witchcraft: The belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world
Ignoring the Prohibitions Carried Very Serious Consequences
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. (Leviticus 20:6 NASB)
So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, (1 Chronicles 10:13 NASB)
Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. (Revelation 22:15 NASB)
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8 NASB)
|
Index To 
