Occultism and Witchcraft in the Bible

OCCULTISM/WITCHCRAFT

"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..."
(Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

I. All forms of the occult – divination, necromancy, astrology, hypnotism,
fortune-telling, magic, etc. – are forbidden by God.

Leviticus 19:26-28, 31; 20:6, 27
Deuteronomy 18:9-14
2 Kings 23:24
Jeremiah 10:2

II. Interest in the occult is not a recent development.

A. Witchcraft was openly and widely practiced in Old Testament times.

Isaiah 8:19; 19:3; 29:4
Ezekiel 21:21
Hosea 4:12
Micah 3:6-7; 5:12

B. It was still rampant in the early church.

1. Simon the magician. Acts 8:9, 11

2. Elymas the sorcerer. Acts 13:8

3. The girl at Philippi. Acts 16:16

4. The city of Ephesus. Acts 19:19

C. The Word of God testifies that there will be an increased curiosity
in the occult in the latter days.

1 Timothy 4:1, etc.

III. What force or power is at work in the supernatural manifestations of
the occult?

A. The teachings of spiritism are doctrines of demons!

1 Timothy 4:1

B. Not all miracles are of God. Satan can also perform lying signs
and wonders.

Exodus 7:9-12; 8:7, 17-19
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
Matthew 24:24
Mark 13:22
2 Thessalonians 2:9
Revelation 13:13-14,16:14; 19:20

C. Occult involvement may lead to demon possession.

Acts 13:8, 10 (Paul called the magician a "child of the devil!")
Acts 16:16-18

D. Scripture says that they "sold their souls" to the devil by their
occult practices!

2 Kings 17:17

IV. The Bible clearly states that it is in the realm of deception that these
workers of iniquity operate.

Jeremiah 14:14; 27:9-10; 29:8-9
Zechariah 10:2
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
2 Thessalonians 2:7-12
Revelation 18:23b

A. It is true that fortune-tellers can reveal much (see Exodus 7:9-12; 8:7;
Daniel 1:20); but their power is limited (Exodus 8:17-19; Daniel 2:2,
10, 27; 4:7; 5:7-8, 15).

B. God challenged the people to see if the power of their astrologers was
greater than that of God.

Isaiah 47:12-14

V. What are the consequences for involvement in the occult?

A. Under the Law (Old Testament), the punishment was death by stoning.

Exodus 22:18
Leviticus 20:27
Deuteronomy 13:5

B. Saul died because he participated in a seance (1 Samuel chapter 28),
and the kingdom was taken from him (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).

C. Those guilty of practicing witchcraft shall have no peace (2 Kings 9:22;
Isaiah 57:20-21), and they shall not escape judgment (Malachi 3:5).

D. Their souls shall be rejected by God.

   Leviticus 20:6
   2 Kings 17:17
   Isaiah 2:6

E. They shall be refused entrance into the kingdom (Galatians 5:19-21),
and their end shall be the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8; 22:14-15).

VI. Is it really that serious an offense?

A. In scripture, witchcraft is paralleled to rebellion (disobedience)
against God.

1 Samuel 15:23

B. God says it is an abomination in His sight.

Deuteronomy 18:9-14

C. God says they "sold their souls" to the devil by their divination.

2 Kings 17:17

D. It is not only spiritually defiling (Leviticus 19:31); but it has a bad
influence on others as well (Nahum 3:4-7, 19).

E. It greatly displeases and angers God.

2 Kings 21:5-6
2 Chronicles 33:6

VII. Christians must separate themselves from black magic, and they must
destroy all evidence of their former involvement in the occult.

Acts 19:19

A. In faithfulness to God, the land was ridded of all mediums and spiritists.

1 Samuel 28:3, 9
2 Kings 23:24

B. Those who "repented not" of their sorceries will be subjected to further
torment in judgment.

Revelation 9:20; 16:9

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Complete, printed and bound copies of these studies (100 topics, 850 pages) are available by mail from:

Diane S. Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234

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