All posts in category witchcraft

Mindbender, soul render: how Satan is blowin’ up the music charts

For a while now, I’ve avoided listening to secular top 40, R & B, & hip hop music because of its ungodliness.  It’s bad enough that there’s cursing, but I can definitely see how these people are just blatantly worshiping Satan.

This is nothing new. It really took off with the rebellion of the late 50s and 60s with Woodstock being one of Satan’s biggest accomplishments. Now decades after the whole Satanic backmasking craze started, the new generation of stars is bending the minds of the young to encourage them to serve the god of this world instead of the God of the universe. Here are some interesting lyrics I found topping the charts and what they mean.

Nicki Minaj–Starships

After the musical intro, Nicki Minaj begins her song with an opening statement, “Red One.” Who is that? The One who is always depicted in red–Satan.

(chorus) Starships were meant to fly, Hands up, and touch the sky, Let’s do this one last time, Hands up

In the secular music industry, wherever you see a reference to starships (e.g. ’80s rock group Jefferson Starship), this refers to Satan and/or his fallen angels. As John says in Revelation 12, “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.” Daniel 8:9-11 tells us that Satan (in a prophecy about the Antichrist) exalts himself to the host of heaven and casts those stars (angels) to the ground.

By telling us starships were meant to fly, hands up, and touch the sky, it is the desire for Satan and his fallen comrades to be exalted but also speaks of their flying capabilities.

Wiz Khalifa w/ Snoop Dogg featuring Bruno Mars–Young Wild and Free

(chorus) So what we get drunk?
So what we smoke weed?
We’re just having fun
We don’t care who sees
So what we go out?
That’s how it’s supposed to be
Living young and wild and free

The rest of the lyrics are explicit so I won’t put them here, but you get the picture. As I’ve said in previous posts on drugs, the abuse of alcohol and hallucinogens go hand-in-hand with witchcraft, satanism, and other pagan religions. 1 Corinthians 6 and Revelation 21 tells us drunkards and sorcerers aren’t allowed in heaven. Then there’s the fact that getting drunk and abusing drugs are harmful to one’s physical health also and they can cause a person to hurt others (e.g. if they decide to drive a vehicle).

fun. featuring Janelle Monae–We Are Young

Give me a second I,
I need to get my story straight
My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the
empire state…

(chorus) Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun

In this song we see drugs mentioned again as the singer’s friends get high in the bathroom. Then there are the phrases “set the world on fire” and “we can burn brighter than the sun.” If you do a web search, you will find several satanic metal groups using “set the world on fire,” such as KISS, Megadeth, and Black Veil Brides. It refers to pagan mythology where Phoebus, the son of Helios, who is also called the “son of light” (i.e. Lucifer, the light bearer), is given permission to drive the chariot of the sun and he has the intent to use it to set the world on fire, but is struck down with lightning from Jupiter. Jesus said in Luke 10 that he saw Satan fall down like lightning from heaven. So Satan desires to set the world on fire, but has been hindered by God from complete control.

“Burn brighter than the sun” refers to Satan’s wanting to be like God in the sense of replacing him. In Acts 26:13, Paul says when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, Jesus shined “above the brightness of the sun.” So anyone wanting to burn brighter than the sun is saying they want to replace God and this mentality is inspired by the first person to ever want this–Satan.

Linkin Park– Burn It Down

The cycle repeated,
As explosions broke in the sky,
All that I needed,
Was the one thing I couldn’t find,
And you were there at the turn,
Waiting to let me know,

(chorus) We’re building it up,
To break it back down,
We’re building it up,
To burn it down,
We can’t wait,
To burn it to the ground.

The colors conflicted,
As the flames climbed into the clouds.
I wanted to fix this,
But couldn’t stop from tearing it down.

And you were there at the turn,
Caught in the burning glow.
And I was there at the turn,
Waiting to let you go.

(chorus)

You told me yes,
You held me high,
And I believed,
When you told that lie.

I played soldier,
You played king,
Struck me down,
When I kissed that ring.

You lost that right,
To hold that crown,
I built you up,
But you let me down.

So when you fall,
I’ll take my turn,
And fan the flames,
As your blazes burn. …

These are just a few of the lyrics. Notice how they are completely shadowy in how they can be interpreted, to cause confusion. It gives plausible deniability for the writers and singers if anyone says its satanic. The desire to burn and tear down speaks of an appetite for destruction and the Bible calls Satan the destroyer. There are some witchcraft symbols in this song and it could be taken as a member of a coven being upset with the leader of the coven. In a coven, there can be a designated “witch king” while the other regular members are called “soldiers.” The soldiers in coven rituals have to kiss the ring of their king. But however the interpretation of the song goes, it’s clearly full of anti-God wickedness.

Is it any wonder why the younger generation rebels against the truth after listening to this stuff? But in Christ we can be free from these mindbenders because Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you,” Luke 10:19.

For more information, watch this YouTube video [warning: it contains some vulgar language]:

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by Harry A. Gaylord on May 1, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Christianity, entertainment, God, music, religion, Satan, witchcraft
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on May 1, 2012

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/mindbender-soul-render-how-satan-is-blowin-up-the-music-charts/

Ties that blind: Wicca’s dance with the devil

We are once again in the season of Halloween, an un-holiday I hate because of its occultic overtones. It is one of the most celebrated days for Satanists and witches. Satanists mark it with a human sacrifice while witches celebrate with a sexual sacrifice.

The most prominent form of witchcraft in the Western Hemisphere is Wicca, which is touted as being the “good” or “white” form of witchcraft, like Glenda the “good witch” in the Wizard of Oz. But Wicca is just as evil as its sister religions of black witchcraft, voodoo, Satanism, and santeria.

What do they believe? Here’s a little sample contrasted with what God’s word teaches:

■ Reincarnation: their version of reincarnation differs from Hindus in that they believe humans die and come back as another human.

▲ Hebrews 9:27 says “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Ecclesiastes 3:19 says, “that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath…”

■ Animism, pantheism, panentheism, monism: the belief that all things have intelligence and a soul is known as animism. Pantheism is believing that everything is god, god being the universal life force. Panentheism is the belief that god (the universal life force) is in everything. These are the religions behind the global warming arguments and the environmental movement. Gaiaism, or the worship of Earth as “Mother Nature” or “Mother Earth” is a spin-off of these religions. Monism is the belief that all is One and is part of the god/goddess they worship, therefore nothing is evil.

▲ Jehovah proclaims in Isaiah 44:6, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” He then points out how ridiculous such idolatry is–”He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak…He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god…and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.” [Isaiah 44:14,16,17]

■ Militant feminism, abortion, anarchy: They believe females are superior to males, killing the unborn gives them spiritual power, and resisting proper authorities brings unfettered power.

▲ Genesis 2:18-25 talks about God creating woman from man’s rib as a helper and companion that is suitable for man, not as superior to him. Luke 1:41 says John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb before he was born, testifying to the fact that life begins at conception. Romans 13 commands us to have respect for proper authority.

■ Three-fold law of return: Whatever someone does to or for them, they believe in the right to return the favor three times, whether it’s good or bad. If someone gives a gift they return it in three times the amount of the gift. If someone does them harm, they return the harm three times as much.

▲ Jesus Christ taught us to bless those who curse us in Matthew 5 and in Hebrews 10:30, Christians are taught that “Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.”

■ Drug use: According to their Book of Shadows and Eight Paths of Realization, Wiccans believe the use of mind-altering drugs like marijuana, cocaine, et al. and the abuse of alcohol for social and religious purposes can give them psychic powers.

▲ The Bible teaches “be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit,” [Ephesians 5:18]. We are also commanded in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant…” because being sober gives us an advantage against Satan devouring us, so lack of sobriety makes one an easy target for Satan’s destruction.

■ Sex magick: Wiccans believe all forms of sexual activity should be explored because all sexual activity strengthens power. To them, nothing should be off-limits, so they get involved with adultery, fornication, pedophilia, incest, homosexuality, lesbianism, and any other evil sexual practice their minds can conjure up. This is the spirit some people cling to that are behind the gay rights movement and the push for destroying age of consent laws to protect minors. Wicca also was prominent in the rebellious hippie “free sex” movement of the 1960′s.

▲ According to Genesis 2, God’s purposes for sex are stated in Genesis 1 and 2 so that a man and his wife will become united as one flesh in physical and spiritual intimacy and so they will be fruitful and multiply together. 1 Corinthians 6:9 says adulterers, effeminate, those who abuse themselves with mankind (i.e. a man who lays with other men), and all fornicators (anyone participating willingly in sex outside of real marriage) shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Even though Wiccans market themselves as harmless nature enthusiasts and swear up and down they don’t believe in Satan, he is at the heart of their religion even if they are unaware of it. Aleister Crowley, the famous Satanist of the early 20th century, was hired by Gerald Gardner, godfather of modern Wicca, to write the Wiccans’ Book of Shadows [Francis King. The Rites of Modern Occult Magic. New York: MacMillan. 1970, pp. 176, 179-80.].

How did they know each other? They were both members of the Theosophical Society, a Satanic social organization. Margot Adler, a famous Wiccan, and other Wiccans have spoken admirably of Crowley and his Satanic teachings in their books and have even recommended his writings for Wiccans to read. Lucifer is even one of the names of their horned god although they claim it was Christians who made him an evil figure.

Overall, Wicca is full of lies and deceptions to lure individuals into bondage to the Prince of Darkness and Halloween is a big recruitment tool. Although Wiccans promise power, their power, and the evil one who supplies their power, are no match for the power to be set free from our sins and to receive everlasting life that comes from confessing and believing that Jesus Christ is the only Lord. I praise the Father and his son the Lord Jesus Christ that he can even deliver Wiccans from their darkness, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil,” [1 John 3:8].

Sources:

William Schnoebelen. Wicca: Satan’s Little White Lie. Ontario, CA: Chick Publications. 1990.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on October 24, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Christianity, God, Halloween, religion, Satan, wicca, witchcraft
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on October 24, 2011

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/ties-that-blind-wiccas-dance-with-the-devil/

PET scans prove weed degrades brain chemistry

A new study released today by the National Institute of Mental Health has shown clear, inarguable proof that habitual marijuana use alters brain chemistry for the worse.  The findings were released at the Society of Nuclear Medicines 58th Annual Meeting  today.  For this study, 30 marijuana users were studied in a closed environment four weeks during which they received positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

The PET scans revealed that the pot smokers had a 20% decrease in the brain receptors known as cannabinoids.  These receptors control body functions such as pleasure, concentration, time perception, coordination, digestive functions, respiratory abilities, pain perceptions, and cardiovascular functions.  However, once the smokers quit their habit, the brain receptors were restored to normal.

A decrease in such brain receptors greatly diminishes the ability of the body to function normally.  This is additional proof that marijuana should not be legalized for medical or any other purposes.

With proof such as this, it’s no wonder God spoke out against sorcery and witchcraft (practices that are based on drug abuse) in the Bible.  Jehovah is the God who loves his creation so much that he warns us against practices like smoking pot because he wants us to be the best he knows we can be when we accept Christ.  Weakening one’s brain functions with pot use not only downgrades one’s physical functions, but it allows Satan and his angels to build up spiritual strongholds in a person’s life.  Nevertheless, God has shown over and over that his power of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ can overcome anything Satan uses to bind people, including drug addictions.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers… saith the LORD of hosts. [Malachi 3:5]

Source: Susan Martonik, Molecular imaging shows chronic marijuana smoking affects brain chemistry, Eurekalert.org, June 6, 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on June 6, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 6, 2011

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Nothing is hallowed about Halloween

Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sah-ween, meaning “summer’s end”) began as a Celtic celebration of the harvest, the end of the old year and beginning of a new one, and a celebration of death many centuries ago.  The various rituals during the celebrations were led by the Druids who were the priest class of the Celts.  During this time of the year, all livestock were brought in from the summer pastures and crops were harvested in preparation for winter’s arrival when nights became longer.  

Celts believed October 31–November 2 was the period when the world of the living and the dead were not separated.  It was believed the dead came back to walk the earth to either bless the living or wreak havoc in their lives, depending on what steps the living took to appease the dead.  Give the dead a treat and you would be blessed by them and they would return to their graves in peace, but if you provided no treats for them, they would play a mean trick on you like haunting your house indefinitely.  This is the origin of modern day trick or treating.

Displaying anything symbolizing death was encouraged this time of the year as a way of welcoming the dead.  The main god and goddess commemorated during this pagan festival were Bronach, the goddess of Samhain rituals, and Crom Cruaich, the god of harvest, death, and contact with the dead (necromancy).  When the Romans conquered the Celts, they added to some of the heathen rituals of Samhain. 

However, after the Roman Empire became the “Holy Roman Empire,” those who converted to the pagan/Christian hybrid system felt uncomfortable about being surrounded by such blatant paganism, but the pressure from pagan family and friends to join in the celebrations was often too tempting for converts.  So to ease this peer pressure, Pope Gregory IV moved the celebration of All Saints Day to November 1–right in the middle of the Samhain celebrations.  October 31 then became known as All Hallows’ Eve, later shortened to Hallowe’en (the word “hallow” means “blessed” or “sacred”) and November 2 became All Souls’ Day.  October 31–November 2 was then renamed the season of Hallowmas with a Roman Catholic mass for each day.

This pope’s move did nothing but lead to pagan symbols being mixed with “Christian” symbols, just like all the other Roman Catholic holidays.  Here are more pagan beliefs and rituals celebrated during the Halloween season contrasted to the truth of God’s word:

  • Divination.  To the Celts, time was circular, not linear.  That being the case, they considered this season the best time of the year to look into what the future held for marriage, health, and the weather.  Bobbing for apples is a marriage divination ritual to determine how blessed a couple would be.  Peeling an apple was a divination ritual for determining how long a person would live.  Other forms of divination are encouraged, like palm reading, tarot cards, crystal balls, and tea leaves.  Pagans and Satanists still participate in these rituals today and Halloween is one of their high holy days when participation is most common.  It is during Samhain that powers of divination are believed to be heightened, so pagans will seek out psychics or if they are psychic they seek to strengthen their power.
  • The Lord said to Jeremiah, The prophets prophesy lies…they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.  [Jeremiah 14:14]
  • Lighting candles, jack-o-lanterns, communicating with and leaving food for the dead (necromancy).  This is done as a way of being nice to the spirits to light their way when walking among the living so they will be nice to the living who have lit their candles.  Contacting the dead through mediums and ouija boards in seances to find out what the dead want and feeding them are also believed to appease them.
  • Jehovah said, There shall not be found among you … 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 [the heathens] out from before thee.  [Deuteronomy 18:10-12]
  • Reincarnation.  Pagans believe Samhain is the time where human souls in animals are released to appear in new bodily forms.  This is why there are witches or other pagans who support groups like PETA and are staunch environmentalists who refer to “Mother Earth” or “Mother Nature.”  In their minds, animals are equal to humans and everything is a god of some sort and a god is in everything or everyone.
  • The Bible clearly states a person has only one life to live (Hebrews 9:27).  In Paul’s explanation of Christian resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, he explains that only Christians will come back to life in a bodily form that will live forever, and that bodily form is in no way like an animal or any other form except a spiritual body which is like Christ’s resurrected body.  Unbelievers will be resurrected to be judged and then sent to the lake of fire, according to Revelation 20:13-15.
  • Human sacrifices.  Modern pagans try to sanitize what Druids did in ancient times by denying they sacrificed humans, but Julius Caesar and some historians refer to the sacrifice of humans by Celts.  Samhain was one of the main festivals where human sacrifices were made.  They lit bonfires, a word created from bones (referring to human bones) and fire.  Archaeologists have even dug up mummies in the peat bogs of Ireland that prove humans were sacrificed.  Human sacrifices have been rumored or stated to occur among modern black witches and Satanists by those who have defected from such groups.  Vampirism also falls in the category of human sacrifice.
  • Throughout the Old Testament, God expressed his anger for those who made their children “pass through the fire” to be sacrificed for false gods.  He also repeatedly told Israelites not to ingest blood (Leviticus 3:17, 7:27, Deuteronomy 12:23, Psalm 16:4).

There was a time when celebrating Halloween was considered harmless.  But with the resurgence of pagan philosophies and rituals in a postmodern world, Halloween can no longer be just dismissed as innocent fun.  Our society is being flooded with books, TV shows, and big-screen movies that portray the dark arts and vampirism as something to aspire to or that tell us such activity is normal or ordinary.  Just this week the government of the UK once again acknowledged the Druids as a valid religion.  The word hallow may be used for this season, but there is nothing hallowed about such celebrations.

Learn not the way of the heathen… For the customs of the people are vain …  Jeremiah 10:2, 3

Sources:

John MacArthur, Christians and Halloween, www.gty.org.

Bilderberg.org

The Pagan’s Path

The Watchman Expositor

Note: this post is derived from a post I did three years ago entitled “Of divinations and the damned: Halloween’s deceit.”  This is an updated and expanded version of that post.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on October 7, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, God, Halloween, idolatry, religion, wicca, witchcraft
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on October 7, 2010

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/nothing-is-hallowed-about-halloween/

conjuring up the dead aided by Toys R Us

Ouija boards manufactured by Hasbro are now being sold at your local Toys R Us stores in two editions.  A glow-in-the-dark edition is stated as being for children eight years old and up while a pink version is touted as being for girls eight and up.

A search at the Toys R Us website shows that the pink edition is rated 3 out of 5 stars by customers while the glow-in-the-dark edition is given 4 out of 5 stars in customer ratings.  One can also read reviews like “Entertaining, fun, interactive,” “I love it! It is awesome,” and “This product is amazing,” to promote its purchase.

The use of Ouija boards, which are a way to speak to the world of evil spirits who masquerade as famous people or dead relatives, is spoken against by God throughout the Bible.  We as Christians should be very concerned when such practices are being promoted to children.  This is nothing more than the practices of necromancy, witchcraft, sorcery, and other evils that God hates and it is the duty of those who love God to speak out against and resist the promotion of such evil.

Playing with ouija boards may be dismissed as harmless fun to unbelievers, but contacting spirits is no game and can lead to serious spiritual consequences including, but not limited to, the possession by an evil spirit of an individual continually involved in it.

10There 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.

11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them [pagan nations] out from before thee. [Deuteronomy 18]

——————————-

19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [Galatians 5]

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on February 3, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, children, Christianity, idolatry, life, religion, witchcraft
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on February 3, 2010

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/conjuring-up-the-dead-aided-by-toys-r-us/

Evil spirits in our midst, pt. 1

Do demons exist?

In the past, I’ve had interesting discussions with believers in Christ and unbelievers about whether or not evil spirits, or demons, are real and active in today’s world.  People have given me opinions that range from a disbelief in their existence to evil spirits being present at every turn.  Some Christians have told me that when Christ came and died for our sins he got rid of all of the evil angels that were roaming the earth.  Unbelievers have expressed that since there were unexplained occurrences that happened in biblical times and they were not advanced scientifically, the writers of the Bible labeled these weird happenings as originating with demons.  Now that humans have advanced in the sciences, their opinion is that there is no longer a need to attribute strange behavior or strange occurrences as demonic, but tap into our scientific knowledge to explain these things.

My personal opinion, which is based on what the Bible says, is that evil spirits are real and active all over the world, but I don’t believe that people should blame them for their own bad behavior or that a devil is behind every tree waiting to pounce on every potential victim that passes by.  The spirit realm–including God, Satan, and their forces of angels–interact quite often with the affairs of men and it is necessary for Christians to be aware of how both sides operate so we can make choices that promote what pleases God.  There are several scriptures that point out the fact that evil spirits are still active on Earth and here are two scriptures written after Christ’s ascension to prove that Christ didn’t rid the world of them yet:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Ephesians 6:12

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  1 Peter 5:8

The principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness that Paul speaks of, since they are not flesh and blood, are evil spirits roaming the Earth and are like their leader, Satan, who is seeking people to destroy.  Revelation 12:9 also tells us these evil angels were kicked out of heaven with Satan into the Earth.

The devil’s devices

Satan and his devils have many tools at their disposal to deceive people and in some cases to possess them (i.e. inhabit their bodies).  Devils are very crafty and have had thousands of years to work out their various strategies.  Here are a few of their devices:

1.  Questioning/twisting God’s words:  This is one of their main points of attack and it’s used most often because they know that if people have doubts about God and what he says, they will be open to almost any of the other devilish devices and sin that is thrown their way.  Questioning and twisting God’s words were used to deceive Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3 when Satan in his subtilty asked, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”  Then he went on to say, “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”  In other words, Satan was calling God a cosmic killjoy, standing in the way of what they should be allowed to do.

Satan used the tactic of twisting God’s word with Christ when he tempted him in the desert by telling him to throw himself off the temple in Matthew 4 where he misquoted Psalm 91:11 to try to make Jesus believe that God would send angels to rescue him.  This is also why the word of God fails to take effect in some people’s lives when it’s preached as portrayed in the parable of the sower since “Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” [Mark 4:15]

One way he uses this tactic in modern times is by influencing “scholars” and publishers to release a whole array of Bible versions with the often quoted statement that a certain reliable version that has stood the test of time is not translated accurately or that it can’t be understood, causing believers to question it.  Then they scramble around to buy versions that omit words and misinterpret the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek of reliable manuscripts.

2.  Appearing as an angel of light:  Satan and his angels have the power to change their appearance to transform into angels of light [2 Corinthians 11:14].  By appearing as if they are good angels, they can easily deceive people who focus on outward appearances and can easily make them believe any ungodly message they speak.  This is why we are commanded in 1 John 4:1 to try (test) the spirits that speak to us to see whether they are truly from God.  Just because someone has a vision or apparition of an angel of light does not automatically mean the vision is legitimate.  Since devils have this ability, it should be no surprise that there are ministers who appear innocent, but preach dangerous false doctrines because they are under satanic influence [2 Corinthians 11:13, 15] as is witnessed on Christian TV every day.

3.  Metaphysical practices/curious arts:  These would include all practices used to convey or contact the evil forces of the spiritual world.  As stated in Deuteronomy 18, “There shall not be found among you any one … 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 [the heathens] out from before thee.”  What do all of these terms mean?

Divination is the practice of telling the future or revealing secrets.  It’s Satan’s counterfeit gift of mimicking God’s gift of prophecy and includes the use of tarot cards, crystal balls, tea leaves, and ESP or clairvoyance.  Observing times includes astrology and numerology.  An enchanter uses charms and spells to influence people or situations.  A witch, whether using “white” or “black” witchcraft, uses magick and rituals (holidays) to manipulate people and situations for selfish purposes (usually to become more powerful) and includes practicing Wicca, voodoo, vampirism, or santeria.

Charmers use objects they dedicate with magick for good luck or to ward off spells.  To consult with familiar spirits means a person becomes a medium for certain spirits or welcomes a particular spirit they become familiar with who accompanies them.  A familiar spirit can also be a devil masquerading as a person’s dead relative or friend.  Using a ouija board and candles or some other form of seance are popular ways of conjuring up familiar spirits.  Wizards use magick in much the same way as witches.  Necromancers are those who call up dead people who are really devils pretending to be the dead person supposedly contacted in the seance.

All of these practices overlap and are intertwined.  God hates all of them because they allow open access to satanic influence.  Rituals that accompany such practices can include premarital or extramarital sex, drug abuse, and sacrificing animals or humans.  A few other satanic practices are palm reading, transcendental meditation, and tantric yoga.

4.  False religion/paganism:  As the scripture says, “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles [unbelievers] sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” [1 Corinthians 10:20]  Therefore, every false god is really a representation of an evil spirit who is hiding behind it.  A false religion is any religion that denies that there is one God who came to Earth as Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world and who rose from the dead on the third day.  Jesus Christ is the only way to God, according to the scriptures, and any religion that says otherwise is a false religion and is of the devil, according to the scriptures. 

However, this does not give anyone who may call themselves a Christian the right to hate anyone who is not a Christian.  Jesus Christ is love and anyone who would justify hatred towards another person needs to examine themselves.  We are commanded to love all people since Christ loved by dying for all of them, even if they bow down to false gods.  And those Christians who would justify their hatred should remember that all of us at one time were heathens who served Satan through our sinful nature.

5.  Music/Entertainment:  Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:12-19 tell us about the origins of Satan, or Lucifer, or the devil.  In Ezekiel 28:13 we are told Lucifer had tabrets and pipes prepared in him in the day he was created.  He was all about making music to glorify God and brightly reflected God’s glory until iniquity, or evil, was found in him.  He ended up wanting glory for himself.  In the midst of him getting kicked out of heaven, God never revoked his gift to make music.  Lucifer just converted his skills to promote his own ideas and to attack God’s principles as much as possible.  Since he was so good at music, his talents transferred over to the entertainment industry in general.

If you travel all over the world, you can hear the music of people praising their sin–from worshipping their false gods to boasting about unjustified violence to bragging about sexual escapades.  You can also see movies that promote lying, fornication of every kind, violence, false religion, and other harmful ideas.  We owe it all to man’s sinful nature in partnership with the influence of devils.

But let me also add that all entertainment is not evil.  As a matter of fact, some of it is quite good and inspirational.  I just wanted to point out the true spirit behind the stuff that tends to be trash.

6.  Laying claim to physical territory:  The devil is called the prince of this world in John 12 and the prince of the power of the air in Ephesians 2, so we can conclude that he and his angels stake claim over territories around the world.  This is also implied in several other scriptures including Daniel 10 when God personally sent an angel to Daniel to answer his prayer about a timeline on Israel’s captivity.  The angel had to fight with the prince of Persia, an evil angel, for 21 days before Michael the archangel came along to help him fight off the prince so he could give Daniel his message.  As the angel was getting ready to leave Daniel he warned that the prince of Grecia (Greece), another devil, was going to arrive after his departure.

Jesus in Revelation 2:13 tells us that Pergamos is the city where Satan had his seat (throne) and was where he dwelled, or had his headquarters.  So at the time Revelation 2 was written (95 A.D.), Satan set up his territory in and around this city.  If we apply this information to today, it’s not such a stretch to believe that evil spirits can be assigned to a nation, city, or could even haunt a house of a person who may have been dedicated to Satan’s service at one time.

Back in 1996, I had the pleasure of visiting the D.C. area.  During that visit, I went to see a memorial building dedicated to one of our Presidents.  Upon arriving at the memorial with a friend of mine, we both felt a presence over the place at the same time and looked at each other and asked, “Did you feel that?” almost simultaneously.  There was a donation box right inside the door and I had my wallet out ready to give a donation when I had a strong feeling telling me to close my wallet and not give them any money.  This was the very moment my friend and I looked at each other.  We were hesitant to enter but were curious as to what was happening.  Knowing that God would protect us, we went in and it was then that we discovered that the memorial was run by the Freemasons and was also a Masonic temple where Masonic literature was sold.  That explained everything and it was then that we knew that God was warning us about an evil spirit assigned to the place.  We both felt God’s presence surrounding us in that place until we left.

7.  Imitating God’s spiritual gifts:  This devilish device was used by the magicians Jannes and Jambres when Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh to pronounce the seven plagues.  The magicians, with their devilish powers were able to copy some of the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron, like turning their rods to serpents, using enchantments to turn the Nile water to blood, and to bring up frogs.  Revelation 13 also lets us know that both the Antichrist and his sidekick, the false prophet, will be able to work signs and wonders to deceive the people of the world by Satan’s power.  Since signs and wonders can be used by devils to deceive us, Christians should not be so caught up in them that we don’t question them.  Although I have heard many a charismatic preacher criticize people for having what they call the “paralysis of analysis” to question so-called prophetic words and miracles, we have the right to test the spirits even if we are accused of not having faith to buy what they’re selling.

In pt. 2, I’ll highlight some of the ways we can tell that a person is being influenced or even possessed by an evil spirit.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on October 18, 2008  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, God, religion, Satan, witchcraft

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on October 18, 2008

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/evil-spirits-in-our-midst-pt-1/

Of divinations and the damned: Halloween’s deceit

Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sah-ween, meaning “summer’s end”) began as a Celtic celebration centuries ago to commemorate the end of their old year and the beginning of a new one.  The various rituals on this night were led by the Druids who were the priest class of the Celts.  During this time of the year, all livestock were brought in from the summer pastures.  Celts believed October 31 (which, of course, was not called October back then) was the night when the world of the living and the dead were not separated.  It was believed the dead came back to walk the earth to either bless the living or wreak havoc in their lives, depending on what steps the living took to appease the dead.

The main god and goddess commemorated during this pagan festival were Bronach, the goddess of Samhain rituals, and Crom Cruaich, the god of harvest, death, and contact with the dead (necromancy).  When the Romans conquered the Celts, they added to some of the heathen rituals of Samhain and when the Roman Empire became Roman Catholic, the season was renamed Hallowmas to celebrate “All Hallows’/Saints’ Eve” (Oct. 31, later renamed Halloween), “All Saints’ Day” (Nov. 1) and “All Souls’ Day” (Nov. 2).  Here are some of the pagan beliefs and rituals celebrated during the Halloween season contrasted to the truth of God’s word:

  • Divination.  To the Celts, time was circular, not linear.  That being the case, they considered this season the best time of the year to look into what the future held for marriage, health, and the weather.  Bobbing for apples is a marriage divination ritual.  Peeling an apple was a divination ritual for determining how long a person would live.  Other forms of divination are encouraged, like palm reading, tarot cards, crystal balls, and tea leaves.  Pagans and Satanists still participate in these rituals today and Halloween is one of their high holy days when participation is most common.  It is during Samhain that powers of divination are believed to be heightened, so pagans will seek out psychics or if they are psychic they seek to strengthen their power.
  • The Lord said to Jeremiah, The prophets prophesy lies…they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.  Jeremiah 14:14
  • Lighting candles, jack-o-lanterns, communicating with and leaving food for the dead (necromancy).  This is done as a way of being nice to the spirits to light their way when walking among the living so they will be nice to the living who have lit their candles.  Contacting the dead through mediums and ouija boards in seances to find out what the dead want and feeding them are ways to appease, or treat, them as opposed to being tricked with an evil prank from them.
  • Jehovah said, There shall not be found among you … 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 [the heathens] out from before thee.  Deuteronomy 18:10-12
  • Reincarnation.  Pagans believe Samhain is the time where human souls in animals are released to appear in new bodily forms.  This is why there are witches or other heathens who support groups like PETA and are staunch environmentalists who refer to “Mother Earth” or “Mother Nature.”  In their minds, animals are equal to humans and everything is a god of some sort and a god is in everything or everyone.
  • The Bible clearly states a person has only one life to live (Hebrews 9:27).  In Paul’s explanation of Christian resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, he explains that only Christians will come back to life in a bodily form, and that bodily form is no way like an animal or any other form except a spiritual body which is like Christ’s resurrected body.
  • Human sacrifices.  Modern pagans try to sanitize what Druids did in ancient times by denying they sacrificed humans, but Julius Caesar and some historians refer to the sacrifice of humans by Celts.  Samhain was one of the main festivals where human sacrifices were made.  They lit bonfires, a word created from bones (referring to human bones) and fire.  Archaeologists have even dug up mummies in the peat bogs of Ireland that prove humans were sacrificed.  Human sacrifices have been rumored or stated to occur among modern black witches and Satanists by those who have defected from such groups.  Among such rituals is the act of vampirism.
  • Throughout the Old Testament, God expressed his anger for those who made their children “pass through the fire” to be sacrificed for false gods.  He also repeatedly told Israelites not to ingest blood (Leviticus 3:17, 7:27, Deuteronomy 12:23, Psalm 16:4).

Many churches have done away with celebrating Halloween, thank God.  However, some of the more liberal ones still embrace it as being harmless–to their own spiritual detriment.  

Learn not the way of the heathen… For the customs of the people are vain …  Jeremiah 10:2, 3

Sources consulted:

Bilderberg.org

Blessed Samhain

The Pagan’s Path

The Watchman Expositor

11 Comments
by Harry A. Gaylord on October 5, 2007  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, God, Halloween, idolatry, religion, wicca, witchcraft

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on October 5, 2007

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/of-divinations-and-the-damned-halloweens-deceit/

CW’s “Reaper”–serving Satan is chic and cool

This fall’s television lineup on the CW includes a new show, Reaper, that will make light of Satan and what he does.  The premise of the show is that two parents in suburbia sell the soul of their son to the devil.  When the devil comes calling to collect on what he is owed, he puts the young man to work rounding up evil souls that have escaped from hell, using special weapons and powers that are given to him from Satan.

And so the vast wasteland of television continues its downward spiral.  From the previews I’ve seen, the concept is rather unoriginal and seems to take some of its ideas from comics such as Ghost Rider or Hellboy.  It’s too bad that Hollywood continues to lack originality and it’s even worse that Satanism is made to look so inviting and hip.  According to the Bible, Satan is a spiritual robber who comes to steal, kill, and destroy anything that remotely resembles God, especially humans–all of whom are created in God’s image.  He is also called the father of lies, a deceiver, the one who seeks people to devour, the accuser of the brethren, and worse titles.  In short, he is a spiritual being that should be avoided and not one who is to be welcomed or that we should associate with.

But you wouldn’t know that from the previews of Reaper.  It does nothing but promote misconceptions about Satan, death, and hell.  For instance, no one can escape from hell according to Jesus’ parable about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).  No one in hell has any supernatural powers to fight anyone who is against them either, as portrayed in the show.   This show, just like so many movies and shows before it, is nothing more than a slick tool to recruit young or naive minds into the service of Satan.  As the coming of Antichrist approaches, Satan is inspiring those involved in the media to lay a foundation in the minds of the people that will open them up to receive and worship him and his protegé, the Antichrist.  He continues to deceive people into thinking that his works like witchcraft, ESP, psychic powers, drug and alcohol abuse, and other evils are where true power can be found.  But ultimately he and his followers will find out how powerless they truly are when they have to face the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only one with all power. 

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on August 28, 2007  •  Permalink
Posted in Antichrist, Bible, Christianity, End times, entertainment, hell, religion, Satan, witchcraft

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on August 28, 2007

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/cws-reaper-serving-satan-is-chic-and-cool/

Harry Potter & the Apostate Youth Workers

According to the Telegraph in England, the Church of England is encouraging its youth workers to use the Harry Potter books to promote the gospel.  They have published a guide giving their youth leaders ideas on how to use the underlying themes of the Potter books of good vs. evil to relate them to the Christian message.

Anglican religious leaders are now describing J. K. Rowling’s books and movies as “great fun” and the author as a “great storyteller.”  These leaders are now claiming that Rowling is no different than Jesus telling parables to get his audience to think about their choices in life.  In their opinion, the witchcraft and magic in the Harry Potter series is harmless and is no different than what we see in C. S. Lewis’ books.  Owen Smith, who wrote the guide, denies that these books and movies steer kids towards the occult.

It’s rather obvious that like so many church leaders today, the Anglican leaders have either not read the Bible or they have a blatant disregard for what it says.  How can they not see that the Potter books do, in fact, promote witchcraft by making it look innocent?  Even Wiccans think they use their powers for good.  I believe that like so many religious leaders, they are more concerned about getting a larger following at any cost.  Jesus told parables to get his followers to think about the kingdom of heaven and submitting to God’s commandments which are a result of God’s love.  The intent was to glorify God.  Rowling’s series is about using powers that originate from ungodly beings to manipulate other beings to one’s advantage, be it good or evil, to glorify people.

Many of the practices by Harry Potter and his friends or classmates, like casting spells and using chemicals to help or hurt people, are not fiction but happens everyday in the real world of those who actually practice witchcraft.  Rowling probably had to have done research on witchcraft (or practices it herself) to have gotten some of the rituals in her book so accurate.  Yes, a lot of it is fiction, but there is enough truth about witchcraft that would make a vulnerable child want to seek out more information on how to exercise the powers that Potter and his friends display.

The Bible is the most powerful book in the universe.  God’s word has been changing people’s lives for thousands of years and offers what no other religion can–eternal life in the presence of God.  But I guess that’s not good enough for religious churchgoers who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.  Witchcraft, whether it’s portrayed as good or evil, is one of the things that paves the road to hell (Galatians 5:19-21). 

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept [doctrine] of men:” Isaiah 29:13

“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.” Deuteronomy 18:10

“Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen…” Jeremiah 10:2

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

  

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by Harry A. Gaylord on July 18, 2007  •  Permalink
Posted in apostasy, Christianity, church, clergy, religion, witchcraft

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on July 18, 2007

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2007/07/18/harry-potter-the-apostate-youth-workers/

Altered minds, altered spirits: the drug trade

In the past few decades, there has been a push to legalize marijuana and to minimize the severity of using psychotropic drugs.  Of course, as with any other evil in our land, Hollywood and others with media access (including the porn industry) have been at the forefront of this movement.  Although there have been some movies about the dangers of drugs, there have also been many movies released making light of the use of illicit drugs and portraying drug users as being the life of the party.  Even with the U.S. government spending into the trillions of dollars in the war on drugs, they continue to be a persistent problem. 

Why does the use of drugs still persist?  Because the desire for drugs comes from the wickedness that is inherent in the hearts of mankind.  It is a reflection of a spiritual problem and man’s desire to resist God.  However, the demand for drugs also comes from, and is promoted by, the religion of witchcraft.  Whether we call it shamanism, sorcery, voodoo, ESP, psychic powers, astrology, wizardry, satanism, or witchcraft, it has for centuries been behind the use of mind-altering drugs.  Psychotropic drugs are used as part of their rituals so they can put themselves into altered states of consciousness (trances) to get in touch with the spirit realm.  They choose to be ignorant of the fact that the familiar spirits they are contacting for wisdom are none other than Satan and his evil angels.  But their so-called wisdom is foolishness in the eyes of the true and living God.

Satan and his angels transform themselves into angels of light.  Since practicers of witchcraft in their early stages deny his existence or God’s existence, they deceive themselves and open themselves up to be easily deceived by the devil.  And so they are willing victims, letting him lead them by the hand down the road to destruction.  Drug usage also leaves a person open for devils to possess them.  The person may be told by their familiar spirit that if they let him or her take control, they will experience more power than they ever imagined, thus the possession begins.

The New Testament reveals to us how intertwined the use of drugs are with witchcraft.  Wherever the words witchcraft or sorcery are used, it is the Greek word pharmakeia which means the use of or administering of drugs.  Shamans claim that when they administer the drugs as the spirit guide tells them,  healing results.  However, witches have also been known to poison and poisoning is also implied in the word pharmakeia.  We actually derive our English word “pharmaceutical” from this word.  Sorcerers, witches, and shamans were the original drug dealers.  They, in essence, had control of their people because they could use their drugs to alter their minds and display deceptive magical powers given to them by Satan.

So, you see, Satan is the god behind the illegal drug industry.  It has been rumored from time-to-time that those who run the drug cartels are involved in satanism and/or witchcraft.  Based on what the word of God says, it would not surprise me if this was proven to be true.  Nevertheless, for all the power these shamans may display, God’s power is much stronger.  Those who are in bondage to drugs and the spirits behind them can have their shackles of sin broken by the Lord Jesus Christ when they confess that he is Lord and believe in their hearts God raised him from the dead, accepting his death as the ultimate sacrifice for their sins.

“There shall not be found among you any one … 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 [heathen] nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times [astrologers], and unto diviners [psychics]: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-14)

“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 word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:19-20)

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers [pharmakeia], 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)

“For without [outside of God's kingdom] are dogs, and sorcerers [pharmakeia], and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:15)

“For this purpose the Son of God [Jesus Christ] was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8b)

8 Comments
by Harry A. Gaylord on April 21, 2007  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, drugs, religion, witchcraft

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on April 21, 2007

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2007/04/21/altered-minds-altered-spirits-the-drug-trade/

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