There is a renewed interest in witchcraft, demonism, fortune telling, astrology and every form of occultism. Sad to say, many people do not know what the Bible teaches on this important subject. Through this brief tract, we purpose to inform people of the great danger of the occult, in the light of God's Word.
God commanded Israel to put to death all those who practiced sorcery or witchcraft. "Thou shall not suffer a witch to live." Exodus 22:18.
The Bible teaches that those who seek to communicate with spirits or with the dead, become defiled and are unfit to appear before God to worship Him. "Regard not them that have familiar spirits (mediums), neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:31.
God cuts off from among His people all who turn to mediums for help. "And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go to whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people." Leviticus 20:6.
Death by stoning was God's sentence on any man or woman who called up spirits. "A
man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall
surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall
be upon them." Leviticus 20:27.
Witchcraft, fortune telling, crystal reading, necromancy,
and palmistry are related to spiritism and are strongly condemned
by God. "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh
his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination,
or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a
consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all
that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these
abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee ... For
these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times,
and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee
so to do." Deuteronomy 18:10-12, 14.
The above verses also show why the Canaanites and other nations were destroyed by God. They had practiced witchcraft, black magic etc.
Samuel's most effective way of impressing upon King Saul the enormity of his sin of disobedience was by likening it to witchcraft. "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft . . ." I Samuel 15:23.
When King Saul was faithful to God, he cleared out all the spiritistic mediums out of the land. ". . . And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land." I Samuel 28:3.
It was only after his sins had made communication with God impossible, that Saul consulted a medium. "And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor." I Samuel 28:6, 7.
Saul's dealing in spiritism brought God's judgment upon him, resulting in the loss of his crown and an untimely death. "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the Lord: therefore He slew him . ." Chronicles 10:13,14.
The long list of wicked King Manasseh's sins included consulting with mediums and witch craft. "And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger." 11 Chronicles 33:6.
One of the reasons that God rejected Israel was because they practiced such things. "Therefore thou has forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers." Isaiah 2:6.
It is an insult to God to consult mediums when you can inquire of Him. "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this work, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:19, 20.
Fortunetellers may be demon possessed like the girl in Philippi out of whom Paul cast an unclean spirit in the name of Jesus. "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour." Acts 16:16-18.
The above scripture shows that demon possessed people may be religious and utter some truth. However, this does not justify God's people having anything to do with them.
In Ephesus, those who become Christians gave up black magic and all related practices. "Many of them also which used curious arts (magical) brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver." Acts 19:19.
Sorcery (witchcraft) is mentioned among the works of the flesh in the Bible, and those who practice it cannot inherit the kingdom of God. See Galatians 5:17-21.
Those who practice sorcery will be shut out of heaven and will be sent to hell for eternity. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murders, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:8.
The teachings of spiritism are the doctrines of devils! "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." I Timothy 4:1.
The increase in false doctrine and spiritism is one of the signs of the last days and of the near approach of the judgment, according to the above scripture.
Demons are subject to God's power and tremble before Him. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19.
The Bible clearly declares that the occultism of the last days will be related to the use of drugs. "Pharmakeia" is a Greek word which means "enchantment with drugs". It is translated as witchcraft in Gal. 5:20 and as sorceries in Rev. 9:21 and 18:23. A slightly different form of the word is translated sorcerers in Rev. 21:8 and 22:15. These scriptures in the prophetical portion of Revelation definitely show that this will be widespread in the last days. "Pharmakeia" is the root word from which we derive our word pharmacy. This should be warning enough, to cause everyone to avoid the use of illicit drugs.
Evidence continues to mount that multitudes are falling into occultism through Satan's many traps. We strongly urge everyone to avoid the pitfalls that lead to occultism and demon possession. These include astrology, horoscopes, fortune-tellers, tarot cards, card laying, Ouija boards and hypnotism. We warn against black magic, white magic, clairvoyance, seances, mediums, palmistry, spiritism, unknown tongues, yoga, Satanism, demonism, amulets, charms, magical healing and every form of occultism. Some may smile at the mention of some of these things, but in every instance they are the devil's traps, and many weep today because they were caught. These are not innocent parlor games, They are unchristian and satanic to the core.
"The Exorcist" is a book that was made into a movie. Because of the widespread popularity of this book and movie, multitudes have been led into an unhealthy interest in demonism and exorcism. We do not recommend the book or movie. Some psychologists have said that it is doubtful if anyone could see the movie without suffering mental and emotional damage. Some people now believe that exorcism is widely taught in the Bible. This is not so. Actually the word "exorcist" is only found one time in the Bible. It is used in Acts 19:13 to describe the work of certain vagabond Jews. They were religious heretics and got into great trouble trying to cast an evil spirit out of a man. This should serve as a warning unto all those who would try to do the same thing. Some preachers are now trying to teach people how to cast out evil spirits. We think they are off base and may cause some people a great deal of harm.
We would urge everyone to approach with extreme caution any form of exorcism. It is true that Jesus and his apostles did cast out evil spirits, but remember that you are not Christ or an apostle. Jesus Christ raised the dead, but no one is doing that today. God has not given miracle working power to men today, as Jesus did to His apostles. God does hear and answer prayer. You may pray for those who are physically or mentally sick or those whom you believe to be demon possessed. But you had better pray and leave the work to God.
Every Christian becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, actually lives in the body of the believer. (Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 1:13, 14). Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would abide with the believer for ever (John 14:16). Therefore, it is unthinkable that the Holy Spirit would live in the same temple with an evil spirit. However, evil spirits can oppress and influence a believer (Mark 8:33, Luke 22:31.)
It is the unsaved people who become demon possessed. There is not one verse of Scripture that tells of one saved person who was demon possessed after salvation. If some unsaved person may be reading this tract, let me urge you to turn from the occult. You need Christ as Savior. You do not need Satan's religion which is some form of occultism.
We warn everyone to beware of any kind of experimentation with any form of occultism. There is no need for born again Christians living in fear of the devil. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil. and he will flee from you." James 4:7.
spirit in the name of Jesus. "And it came to pass, as we
went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of
divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by
soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us and cried, saying,
These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto
usthe way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul,
being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name
of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."
Acts 16:16-18.The above scripture shows that demon possessed people may
be religious and utter some truth. However, this does not justify
God's people having anything to do with them.In Ephesus, those
who become Christians gave up black magic and all related practices.
"Many of them also which used curious arts (magical) brought
their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the
price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver."
Acts 19:19.Sorcery (witchcraft) is mentioned among the works of
the flesh in the Bible, and those who practice it cannot inherit
the kingdom of God. See Galatians 5:17-21.Those who practice sorcery
will be shut out of heaven and will be sent to hell for eternity.
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murders,
and whoremongers, and sorcers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which
is the second death." Revelation 21:8.The teachings of spiritism
are the doctrines of devils! "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly,
that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." I Timothy 4:1.The increase
in false doctrine and spiritism is one of the signs of the last days
and of the near approach of the judgment, according to the above scripture.
Demons are subject to God's power and tremble before Him.
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils
also believe, and tremble." James 2:19.
The Bible clearly declares that the occultism of the last days will
be related to the use of drugs. "Pharmakeia" is a
Greek word which means "enchantment with drugs".
It is translated as witchcraft in Gal. 5:20 and as sorceries in Rev.
9:21 and 18:23. A slightly different form of the word is translated sorcerers
in Rev. 21:8 and 22:15. These scriptures in the prophetical portion of Revelation
definitely show that this will be widespread in the last days. "Pharmakeia"
is the root word from which we derive our word pharmacy. This should be
warning enough, to cause everyone to avoid the use of illicit drugs.
Evidence continues to mount that multitudes are falling into occultism
through Satan's many traps. We strongly urge everyone to avoid the pitfalls
that lead to occultism and demon possession. These include astrology, horoscopes,
fortune-tellers, tarot cards, card laying, Ouija boards and hypnotism. We
warn against black magic, white magic, clairvoyance, seances, mediums, palmistry,
spiritism, unknown tongues, yoga, Satanism, demonism, amulets, charms, magical
healing and every form of occultism. Some may smile at the mention of some
of these things, but in every instance they are the devil's traps, and many
weep today because they were caught. These are not innocent parlor games,
They are unchristian and satanic to the core.
66 The Exorcist" is a book that was made into a movie. Because
of the widespread popularity of this book and movie, multitudes have been
led into an unhealthy interest in demonism and exorcism. We do not recommend
the book or movie. Some psychologists have said that it is doubtful
if anyone could see the movie without suffering mental and emotional damage.
Some people now believe that exorcism is widely taught in the Bible. This
is not so. Actually the word "exorcist" is only found one time
in the Bible. It is used in Acts 19:13 to describe the work of certain vagabond
Jews. They were religious heretics and got into great trouble trying to
cast an evil spirit out of a man. This should serve as a warning unto all
those who would try to do the same thing. Some preachers are now trying
to teach people how to cast out evil spirits. We think they are off base
and may cause some people a great deal of harm.We would urge everyone
to approach with extreme caution any form of exorcism. It is
true that Jesus and his apostles did cast out evil spirits, but remember
that you are not Christ or an apostle. Jesus Christ raised the dead. but
no one isdoing that today. God has not given miracle working power to men
today, as Jesus did to His apostles. God does hear and answer prayer. You
may pray for those who are physically or mentally sick or those whom you
believe to be demon possessed. But you had better pray and leave the work
to God.Can a Christian be Demon Possessed?Every Christian becomes the
temple of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. The Holy
Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, actually lives in the body
of the believer. (Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 1:13, 14). Jesus taught
that the Holy Spirit would abide with the believer for ever (John 14:16).
Therefore, it is unthinkable that the Holy Spirit would live in the same
temple with an evil spirit. However, evil spirits can oppress and influence
a believer (Mark 8:33, Luke 22:31.)It is the unsaved people who become demon
possessed. There is not one verse of Scripture that tells of one saved person
who was demon possessed after salvation. If some unsaved person may be reading
this tract, let me urge you to turn from the occult. You need Christ as
Savior. You do not need Satan's religion which is some form of occultism.We
warn everyone to beware of any kind of experimentation with any form
of occultism. There is no need for born again Christians living in fear
of the devil. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil.
and he will flee from you." James 4:7.
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