Showing posts with label New Testament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Testament. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

America' s Love Affair with the Occult


The word “occult” comes from the Latin word “occultus,” which means “clandestine”, “hidden” and/or “secret.”  It refers to hidden knowledge.  It is said in Jewish writings in the pre-Noah flood days that fallen angels taught man how to formulate incantations, spells and the forbidden knowl­edge of the “dark arts.”  In fact, the occult is one of the many reason God sent the flood to destroy the wicked inhabitants.  And as in the days of old, the practice of the occult is still alive and well today. America has an en­during love affair with the occult.  Its influence weaves its way through entertainment, education, law enforcement, government, and society in general. The occult encompasses witchcraft, psychics, tarot card readers, new-age teachings, parapsychology, Satanism, and spiritualism.


What the Bible Says About the Occult

The Old Testament says in Deuteronomy 18:10-14:

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or 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 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.'

Revelation 21: 8 says that sorcerers will have their place in the “lake of fire.”  A sorcerer is one that practices the use of super­natural power over others through the assistance of evil spirits, otherwise known as sorcery. When Paul was at Ephesus he preached the truth to the people.  When they repented of their sins they brought their occult books and burned them (Acts 19:19).


Televangelism for the Occult 

In the entertainment industry, television, movies, music, books, and games are evangelistic tools for the occult.  Some of the most popular television shows today promote the occult.  For example, “Medium” on NBC (consulter of familiar spirits), “Ghost Whispers” on CBS (consulter with familiar spirits, necromancy), and “Supernatural” on the CW.   Popular psy­chic/medium John Edward had a show called “Crossing Over” from 2000-2006.  Sylvia Browne is a weekly guest on the Montel Williams Show, and James Van Praagh is the co-executive producer of Ghost Whis­pers on CBS.  Let's also consider the list of television programs in recent years with occult themes: The Secret Circle, CharmedEastwick, True Blood, Vampires DiariesWizards of Waverly, Ghost Hunters, My Babysitter is Vampire, Being Human , and Supernatural.

   Ironically Kim Kardashian, on her reality tv show,"Kourtney and Kim Take New York," had a meeting with psychic medium John Edward.  She wanted to communicate with her deceased father Robert Kardashian Sr.  Kardashian stated that Edward was accurate in his reading.  Unfortunately, this reading eventually led to her divorce after 72 days of being married to NBA basketball player Kris Humphries (source).

Occult and Child's Play

The revenue generated by the movies and books of Harry Potter totaled millions of dollars around the world.  Fans flocked to the cinema and bookstores to watch the movies and read the books.   In the music industry hard-rock groups and heavy metal bands heavily promote Satanism and the occult to our kids.   It has even reached video games!  One of the most popular role-playing games, “Dungeons and Dragons” is heavily influence by the occult.


Spying, Spy Games/Law Enforcement and Occult



Government agencies such as the CIA and FBI have used and continue to solicit the help of psychics for intelligence and spying purposes. The CIA is most famous for using psychics during the Cold War to spy on the for­mer Soviet Union to learn about Russians military activities.  In the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, psychics were used to know how the hostages were doing.  In most police departments across the country psychics are used to help solve crimes.  Donald Frew, a highly notable witch/wicca of the Covenant of the Goddess in Berkeley, California, is an occult consultant to the San Francisco police Inspector Sandi Gallant as well as other law enforcement agencies around the country (source).
Even the television show Medium is loosely based on the real life medium and profiler Allison DuBois.  She has worked with the Texas Rangers, and the Glendale, Arizona police department by using her pyschic abilities.  She also uses her abilities to communicate with the dead to solve criminal cases.


Post Modern America: Occult Love Affair

A survey in 2005 by the Gallup Organization found that 41% of those polled believed in extrasensory perception.  Twenty six percent believed in clairvoyance, and 31% believed telepathy or psychic communication.  Thirty one percent of the American general public believes in astrology and 39% believes it is scientific (wikipedia.org).  In the Harris poll taken in 2003, 27% of the people surveyed believed in reincarnation, and 58% believed in ghosts.

The evidence is even in our cities!  For almost every store-front church it seems as if there is a tarot card reader establishment to match it.   On La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles, California there are tarot card and palm reader places  not to far from Jewish synagoges.

Many neighborhoods have Botanica stores in whih shoppers can purchase candles, potions, spiritual sundries to summon gods and goddesses (demons), and statues of saints and demons.  These stores primarily cater to occult religions.  They used to be exclusively in Latino neighbor­hoods, but have expanded out to other communities simply because the public has developed an in­terest in spiritualism and voodoo.  Botanica stores, along with other types of  new age stores, help market the occult to the public and give people access to its world.

On September 3rd, 2007 in the state Maryland, Wiccan high priest Ellwood “Bunky” Bartlett was the mega winner in the Maryland Mega Million lottery.  His winnings totaled $33 million.  He stated that the reason for his winning came from a tarot card prediction of his future in which he won the lottery. Since winning, Bartlett, a former accountant, plans to use some of the money to open a witch school to educate people in the craft. Not only does he plan to educate people in witchcraft, but he also plans to fur­ther the belief system to more people. His desire is to evangelize people into becoming wiccan’s (witches).  The occult is gaining momentum in America.  Ellwood “Bunky” Bartlett states that many people started to become curious about witchcraft because of the Harry Potter books.

As the body of Christ we need a wake-up call to move in the power of the Spirit . We are currently living in a post-Christian/post Modern age in America.  People are drawn to the occult because of the power they see in it.  The early Church was successful not just in the word of God.  When pagans saw the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit over the power of darkness they destroyed their occult books.  Many other people repented of their sins and came out of paganism.  Deliverance ministries need to be fully developed and func­tional because people these days are involved in more demonic things.

Is America on it's way to becoming like ancient nation of Assyria? Has America become the modern day mistress of witchcraft?

Nahum 3:4 says, " Because of the multitude of whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcraft, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcraft."


Saturday, October 8, 2011

Jesus in Other Feast Days & Prophetic Signs


In honor of Yom Kippur, and the other Jewish Feast Days, let's look at the prophetic signs of the Jewish Feast Days. We can see Christ in other feast and sacred days, as type and shad­ows, plus the prophetic significance.  Here are the following feasts after Passover:
Unleavened Bread  Jesus is the Bread of Life, we come into a Christian life and we eat of His Word  no longer walking in a sinful lifestyle (Exodus 12:7-20, 13:6;Leviticus 23:4-8; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
First Fruits, Jesus fulfilled First Fruits for His resurrection was the first day of the week and on First Fruits. He is first fruit of the res­urrection (Leviticus 23:9-14; Matthew 28:1; 1 Corinthians 15:20,23; Romans 8:29;  Revelation 1:5).
Feast of Pentecost or Weeks is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Leviticus 23:15-21; Acts 2:1-13).
Feast of Trumpets( Rosh Hashanah) is the trumpet blast of Mes­siah return in the last days (Leviticus 23:23-25; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is the atoning work of Jesus the Messiah, and final judgment (Leviticus 23:26-32; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 20:11-15).
Feast of Tabernacle (Booths/ Ingathering) is 1000 year reign of Jesus who will tabernacle among us, which would cause Sabbath rest for creation, and the final redemption (Leviticus 23:33-44; Zechariah 14:16; Revelation 20:4-6).

If you include Feast of Passover, their seven significant feast days among the Jews. We see prophetically past, present, and future of these feast days. The feast that commemorate the closing of the cycle of feast is the eighth feast which is Sacred Assembly or Holy Convocation is the last feast. This feast the offering is made by fire and no regular work is done (Leviticus 23:36), eight is the number of new beginnings, new era, resurrection, regeneration, or new order. The old heaven and old earth shall pass away by fire, and new heaven and new earth arise from regeneration, where the new order is without the existence of sin anymore, only one will be  in existence which is the will of G-d( Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:7,12-13; Revelation 20:11,21:1). Therefore the fulfillment of Sacred Assembly, everyone that is holy and sanctified will live with Jesus throughout eternity, sickness and death is no more, Jesus wipes away all of our tears, and the unholy sinners will spend eternity in damnation in the Lake of Fire.
These entire feasts are prophetic examples as believers we see the Word of G-d at work and His Word confirmed. Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:11 things that occur in the Old Testament were examples for the New Testament saints to admonish us.     

Passover & Jesus the Messiah as the Passover Lamb


We as Christians celebrate Resurrection Sun­day, in remembrance of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. On the Jewish Calendar, however Passover falls on that month.


The Passover is a type and shadow of Christ Jesus being our Pass­over Lamb, and Jesus prophetically fulfilling the Feast of Passover, the blood of Jesus is applied upon our life, and the blood of Jesus is for remission of sins( Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, 1 John 5:8). Passover means the Lord would “pass over,” the destroyers bypass the Israel­ites homes in Egypt, because the blood was applied to the door post of their homes. As for today the blood of Jesus is a hedge of protection also from seen and unseen danger.
Here is several key factors of Jesus being our Passover Lamb:
He is the unblemished lamb (Exodus 12:5 ; John 1:29 ; Hebrews 4:14-15). John the Baptist called him the Lamb of God, which take away sin of the world.
Jesus is the lamb selected in advanced (Exodus 12:3; 1 Peter 1:19-20).
Jesus is the Lamb slain (Exodus 12:6, 21 ; Revelation 5:6, 13:8).
He is the Lamb with no broken bones (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalms 34:20; John 19:33,36).
The blood applied to door of our hearts (Exodus 12:7, 22 ; Hebrews 10:22).
Leaven removed and sin removed from our life through Christ ( Exodus 12:15, 19:20; 1 Corinthians 5:8).
Jesus was the Lamb hidden for four days; a day with the Lord is as a thousand years. From Adam to Jesus was four thousand years, which is four days in the eyes of the Lord (Exodus 12:3, 6; Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8).
Jesus was killed exactly at 3:00 p.m. the same time the Passover Lamb was annually killed.
Other types and shadows of Passover:
Egypt as the World System.
Israel as the Children of G-d.
Pharaoh as Satan, and symbol of Egypt was a serpent (Revelation 12:9).
Passover is deliverance from Egypt( the world and sin), and the blood is for protection.
So Jesus is our Passover Lamb, and in Him is life, because life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11), His blood cleanses and delivers us from sin, and we now walk in the newness of life. 


You can view two part video on this subject below.