09.07.2013

  • What About Astrology?

    The following consists of two articles. The first is entitled, "About Astrology", by Jack Hayford. The second is entitled, "Astrology: is it really innocent?", from The Right Branch Ministry.

    About Astrology


    Author: Jack Hayford
    Source: SermonIndex.net

    astrological_chart

    Recently a local television reporter asked me by telephone to state my position on astrology, "as a Christian and as pastor of one of Los Angeles' well-known churches."

    That conversation reminded me of the necessity for everyone to have a basic understanding of the subject, hence:

    1) The Bible not only rejects but condemns astrology. Isaiah 47:12-15 should be read carefully. The concluding words of warning regarding the person committed to astrology and related occult practices make clear that confusion is the inevitable lot of such a person and tragic, eternal loss the final price.

    2) The supposition that the wisemen (magi), who found the young Christ as the result of astrological pursuits, somehow supports the practice of astrology by reason of their inclusion in the Bible story, is a groundless one. They only evidence how God meets earnest hearts where they are, and if they honestly are searching for Him, He'll see that they get there. But please notice: the whole story in Matthew 2 notes that (a) it took the revelation of the Word of God to finalize their quest and (b) their quest wasn't final until they found the Son of God.

    3) The danger of astrology is beyond a simple, superstitious misuse of time. Plying the trade of occult practices is to traffic with the demonic. the "uncanny" concurrence of events, people contacts and trivia in a person's life, seeming to confirm the forecast of their horoscope, is the direct result of demonic manipulation of people and circumstances. It isn't the result of some cosmic influence radiating from the stars, but a hellish one emanating from satan himself, having found but one more way to seal, to kill and to destroy sheep-like humans (John 10).

    4) Presumably, everyone reading these words knows the difference between astrology and astronomy: the former is a metaphysical or occult practice; the latter an objective pursuit of physical science. There is nothing wrong with the study of astronomy: Indeed, there is great inspiration in studying any aspect of God's creation. In this realm, the acid test is the willingness of the student to acknowledge God's handiwork and to overcome the idolatrous systems of human pride which chalk galaxies off to a deity named Chance (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-32).

    5) Finally, knowledgeable Bible students are aware of the fact and the reason that the name of some star groups occur in the Bible (ex: Job 9:9; 38:31, 32; Amos 5:8). These references to constellations are not astrological, but are didactic—that is they are a means of teaching. It is a fact that before the ancient Babylonian systems of astrology came into vogue, the godly patriarchs linked the spiritual lessons of God's promised redemption in the minds of their children by using the canvas of the skies (and in a day when pen and paper were unknown).

    The way to relate to a person involved in astrology is not to preach against their practice, but to show them the love of Jesus Christ. It may be that their quest is an honest one, not an avoidance of confronting the reality of the Savior. If so, when they encounter His life in you, they'll do what wise men do every time. They will cease "following stars" and bow before Jesus.


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    Astrology
    Is it really innocent?


    Source: TheRightBranch.com

    demonic_activity

    Many people read their horoscope on a daily basis. Many a Christian does so too. Did you know that horoscopes are occult territory? Did you know that God has forbidden us to read them? Find out what astrology is and the dangers it brings along.

    Astrology is the study of the celestial bodies such as sun, moon, earth and the planets and their positions and movements around certain events in life. An astrologist draws an horoscope, which is called a natal chart, of a person from the time of their birth. This horoscope will foretell all events in a person’s life. According to an astrologist one’s life is established according to the celestial bodies and their positions at the time of our birth. They believe that one’s whole life is already defined by the position of these bodies and that every event in one’s life is already established and can thus be predicted. They define future events that will happen in one’s life according to this theory.

    In Astrology the celestial bodies are seven corresponding to the planets Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Venus and the Sun and the Moon of course. The seven days of the week were created in honor to one of these celestial bodies. Monday (Moon), Tuesday (Mars),Wednesday (Mercury),Thursday (Jupiter), Friday (Venus), Saturday (Saturn), Sunday (Sun). Each month also has a symbol of the Zodiac. These Zodiac signs are needed to draw a horoscope .These signs and their position at the time of an event in a person’s life are believed essential to know to outcome and the events of a person’s life. Furthermore you need to know that there are several kinds of astrology. We have the natal chart which is the study of a person’s birth, judicial astrology defines one’s destiny, but also the destiny of nations, medical astrology diagnoses illnesses and so on.

    Astrology was used by the Babylonians and from Babylon it spread over to Greece in the fourth century BC and from Greece it spread to the rest of the world. From there it spread to the Romans who loved everything that had to do with astrology and the occult. Later on, further down the centuries, astrology was practiced alongside alchemy. People believed that by combining these two esoteric practices, they would obtain the ultimate sublime knowledge which is also called the secret knowledge.

    Of course people who dabbed in this field gained knowledge, but they never gained the secret knowledge they were looking for. You see, this knowledge is the property of Satan and he will never give his knowledge away. Not completely that is, he gives it in parts and pieces but you will never obtain the whole knowledge that pertains to this secret knowledge. In the middle ages for example, people tried to obtain the knowledge of turning metal into gold. The search for this knowledge was performed right down the ages. Kings and other nobles were in constant need of money for they spent it lavishly, not only on their own lusts but on wars as well. They were therefore in constant need of funds. Almost every respectable house employed an Alchemist who searched for this knowledge. Needless to say, they never found it.

    The Bible strictly forbids us to participate in anything that has to do with the occult:

    “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.” (Deut.18:10-12)

    “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.” (Lev. 20:27)

    Every participation in any area of Astrology may put you under a curse of God because you are directly disobeying His commandments. You also need to be aware that if you draw a horoscope or if you read your horoscope on a daily basis, just as many self-professing Christians do, you are opening the door to allow demonic activity within your life. Let me give you an example of my own life. I grew up in South America and my mother loved to go to witches, fortunetellers and shamans. Their predictions and the knowledge these people possessed (mainly about events that happened in the past) amazed me and arose my curiosity. Thus the next time my mother visited such a person I went along and had my horoscope drawn. The events that happened in my past were almost correct but nothing they predicted for my future was or has been.

    In time, and always after visiting these people, it seemed like if I was being chased by bad luck. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Now I know that I was cursed, but at that time I had no idea. In fact I was deceived, as some Christians are, into believing that God allows the occult because He wants us to know all things. That is wrong. God will only disclose that knowledge and those future events in your life which He chooses to and in His time. To obtain knowledge outside God’s will is not only dangerous but disastrous. Thanks to my involvement with these things I became demon possessed. This demon was very strong and it controlled my entire life. Deliverance was not easy believe me. I hope I have drawn a clear picture about the dangers of the occult.

    Nowadays many people fall prey to the occult because it is being sold in a mild and attractive package. But you need to know that once you are drawn into it, there will be serious consequences, even if you are a Christian.Many Christians think that they are protected by the blood of Jesus and therefore they can participate in these things without any harm. That is most certainly not true!
    [Related Article: The Grace of God]

    One very big danger of participating in these things is that once you are involved in fortune-telling, for example, you will go further down the path of destruction. Next time you will visit a shaman who will give you all kinds of mixtures and drinks to drink and place within the house. This only opens the doors to more demonic activity in your life, and not only your life, but your family's as well.

    I remember my mother burning a green candle because a shaman told her that in doing so it would bring good luck. Well, let me tell you that after these practices all kinds of manifestations started to happen within the house. Not everyone of us saw them,my mother for example did not, but I saw them. My mother was already blinded to the truth and she was the doorway for demonic manifestation in the house and sad to say in our lives. At one point, after she had placed some mixtures in our room for peace and the like, the light switch started to turn on and off for no apparent reason. We children even felt a hand touching our faces. We often dared not sleep in our own beds and we decided to sleep all three of us in one bed. We were that scared.

    The same goes with horoscopes. Once you have drawn a horoscope you want to have another one drawn. This time maybe a medical horoscope. You see, the occult opens up a thirst that will only increase. In this way the devil draws you deeper and deeper into his territory.God did not forbid it for nothing. If you have participated in any kind of the occult, if you read your horoscope on a daily basis, repent now! Throw it away, cleanse your home and yourself. Ask God to remove the curse from your life that He has placed upon it because of your disobedience. Seek deliverance if you are in need of it and get right back into the Bible. God will foretell you things when He decides you need to know it. To know everything that will happen in your life will only keep you from living the life you are destined to live. Ask God to lead your life and to reveal things to you. He is faithful and will do so in His time. Remember, never go outside of God’s will for this opens the door to allow Satan to operate within your life and Satan is "like a roaring lion seeking someone whom he can devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). "Therefore be sober and vigilant" (1 Peter 5:8).