The Riches OF GRACE
“hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11
Robert W. Reed
April 2002
Occultism
When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 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. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 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. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 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 18:9-14
+ Witchcraft, Astrology, Voodoo, Sorcery, New Age +
The Bible is not silent concerning the occult. In both old and new testaments it is condemned and considered as an abomination to God. Those who practiced the occult were judged severely by the Lord. The occult is simply a means of replacing God. It is an attempt to Satan to keep people from worshipping the true God revealed to us in the Holy Bible. The occult distorts and denies the Scriptures.
The Meaning of the Word Occult
The word occult means something secret or hidden, and can be defined as “beyond the bounds of ordinary knowledge.” The occult always seek “hidden meanings” below surface of beyond the obvious. The word occult is a “blanket” term covering a wide variety of divers practices such as: witchcraft, astrology, prymadology, physics, palmistry, fortune telling, divination, sorcery, crystal gazing, horoscopes, voodoo, magic, spiritism, Satanism, dreams, incantation, tarot cards, the ouija board, etc.
Please do not confuse the word “occult” with the “cult”. The word cult is a religious group or movement that deviates or departs from the recognized norm. For example, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Moonies (Unification Church) have departed from orthodox Christianity.
The Scriptures acknowledge that real supernatural power can be acknowledged through witchcraft, sorcery, magic, etc, according to the following scriptures, Exodus 7:10-12, 20-22, 8:6-7, 16-19, Daniel 2:1-2, 10, 4:4-7. Many kings and princes made use of the occult powers (Satanism) because of their rejection of the God of the Bible.
Terms Used in the Bible to Describe Occult Practices
Witchcraft (I Samuel 15:23) The use of Satanic power for information and influence. Witches were often regarded by pagans as benefactor’s of society. The New Testament Greek word pharmapeia is translated into English as witchcraft and sorcery. Our English pharmacy forms from this Greek word pharmakeia. I hope you see the connection between drugs and the occult (Galatians 5:20 and 2 Chronicles 33:6).
Witch (Exodus 22:18) A female, one who knows one who practices witchcraft, a worshipper of Satan.
Wizard (Leviticus 19:31) A male, one who practices witchcraft as a witch.
Charmer (Deuteronomy 18:10) Someone who is involved in sorcery and probably involved in casting spells.
Divination (Deuteronomy 18:10-14) Fortune Telling, Telling the future, diving into the unknown, (Numbers 27:7, 23:23, I Samuel 6:2)
Familiar Spirits (Isaiah 8:19-22) Devils, spirits, deceiving spirits.
Enchantment (Leviticus 19:26) Communicating with evil spirits, charmers, spell casting.
Necromancy (Deuteronomy 18:11) The art of communicating or pretending to communicate with the dead, channeling, (Leviticus 19:31, 1 Samuel 28, Isaiah 8:19)
Sorcery (Acts 8:9, 11) The practice of witchcraft, divination, enelarting, magic. (Revelation 9:20-21 Revelation 18:23, Acts 13:6-12).
Soothsaying (Acts 16:16) One who divines, fortune telling, (Joshua 13:22, Isaiah 2:6).
Magicians (Exodus 7:10-12) A diviner the use of magic, one who works miracles by the power of Satan, (Daniel 1:20, 2:1-2, 10, 4:4-7)
Occult Practices Forbidden in the Bible
Consider the following Scriptures that show God’s judgment upon those who practiced occultism and witchcraft.
2 Kings (King Manasseh) 2 Chronicles 33:3-7, 9-13
2 Kings (Jezebel)
2 Kings 17:16-18 (Israel)
Isaiah 47:12-13 (Babylon)
1 Samuel 28 (King Saul), 1 Chronicles 10:13-14
Nahum 3:2 (Ninevah)
Malachi 3:5 (Israel)
Micah 5:10-15 (Israel)
Amos 5:26-27 (Israel)
According to Revelation 21:8 and Revelation 22:15, those involved in sorcery will be cast into hell and the lake of fire. The Lord says in Galatians 5:20 that witchcraft is a work of the flesh and keeps a person from the Kingdom of God. As God pours out His wrath upon the wicked world in the future, many will not repent of their sorceries according to Revelation 9:21.
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth”. Romans 10:4
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31
Victory Baptist Church
Pastor Robert W. Reed
14473 Bellingrath Road
P.O. Box 257
Coden, Alabama 36523
(251) 873-4422