Dark forces

Before I became a Christian I was into the occult rather heavily. I was involved with witchcraft and actually saw it work first-hand on more than one occasion. I had several really scary experiences with it. Throughout the Bible there are accounts of power attributed to those engaging in the occult. According to the Bible, satan and his fallen angel legions have retained strong powers and I believe that those who delve into this world can attain demonic powers in exchange for allegiance to the underworld. I wonder about many rock groups and their relationship with the dark forces, and if indeed demonic power might be what propelled them to fame and worldly glory and better explain their hold on the young people who so idolize them.

The Bible tells us to steer clear of astrologers, witchcraft, and the occult. I once went to a psychic and she told me my lucky number was three. Later that day I went to a horse race. It was the third horse listed on the racing form, it was the third race of the day, and there were three to one odds on the third horse. I bet all I had and the horse won. Was it coincidence or evil forces affecting the race? Most would say coincidence but I disagree. I believe satan would like nothing better than to have me visiting psychics and astrologers and engaging in witchcraft. What better way to sway me in that direction than to let me see it work.

Don’t believe in the occult? When Moses was trying to convince pharaoh to allow his people to leave Egypt, pharaoh’s occult advisors astrologers and magicians performed all kind of miraculous events. When Moses was given power by God to turn his staff into a serpent, pharaoh’s gang utilizing power given to them by the dark forces of the world were able to replicate it; however the serpent derived from the rod of Moses devoured all of the others demonstrating the power of God was greater than that of pharaoh and the underworld. The Bible tells us of many such occurrences that occurred in the past and others that are yet to occur, most notably that the antichrist will convince much of the world of his divinity when he sustains “a grievous wound” to the head and will appear to die and then come back to life.

Satan and the fallen angels have powers that we do not possess and we should steer clear of them. Yes that even means reading your daily horoscope. Don’t play with fire lest you get burned. We are warned in the Bible to steer clear from it because it is dangerous. Jesus exorcised demons from more than one poor soul while He walked on this earth. Don’t think for a minute that He got them all and there are not those today suffering from the same fate. In this modern era it has become fashionable to delve into the occult. Steer far from it and especially keep an eye on your kids. Teach them the truth of God whereby they will be protected from the deception of evil. Satan is more powerful than many give him credit, but just like in the days of Moses, almighty God is more powerful and will protect those who follow Him.

2 Thess. 2:9
The coming of the lawless one is
according to the work of satan,
with all power, signs, and lying
wonders,
and with all unrighteous deception
among those who perish, because
they did not receive the love
of the truth, that they might be
saved.