also includes "Queen of Heaven", necromancy, sorcery, channeling, spiritism, the occult.
In this new millennium, everyone on planet earth wants to peer into the future seeking, fortune, fame, love and success.
Add to that the uncertain conditions in nature and society, and most everyone wants to know, "What's next?"
But actually our generation is no different from other generations, for as far back as the Bible records, man has always searched the zodiac for answers.
God forbade the arts of the evil one behind astrology, and clearly stated so in His word.
Even though the Bible does not use the modern term"astrology", it does use the word "sorcery" to pertain to the crafts of star-gazing, horoscope reading, and even calling psychics on hot-lines.
All of those things meant that one was seeking unto creatures for answers rather than the Creator Romans 1:25.
"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator."
God told us in His Commandments that He is a jealous God, sharing His Glory with no one. No image is to come before Him.Exodus 20:1--6.
"Thou shalt have no gods before Me.
In Deuteronomy 17:2--5, God calls any worship of the host of Heaven an abomination---something so offensive that it is spewable and nauseating, causing great separation from God.
"If there be found among you, within any of the gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing His covenant, and hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have commanded".....that person would be cut-off from the community. In Moses' day, that meant a death-sentence. In our New Testament era it means we are to have nothing to do with those who are into astrology etc. We are to cut them off from our society, our relating with them.
In short, astrology etc. is sin. It hurts the heart of God to see His creation trusting vanities rather than trusting in Him alone.
We are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and being.
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
Now comes the rationalizing.."but I don't WORSHIP astrology etc...I just read it".
Well, the word "worship" comes from the phrase "worth-ship".
Why would anyone give worth or attention to something God calls an abomination? Worship also means 'the desire of our eyes' Ezek.24:16 and 21 and John 9:38.
What is always before us in importance and priority--something we cannot go a day without?
Pope Benedict 16 to declare Mary : CO-REDEMPTRIX ; spiritual mother of the human race; mediatrix and advocate.
"The text, released last week, includes the petition that asks the Pope to proclaim Mary as "the Spiritual Mother of All Humanity, the co-redemptrix with Jesus the redeemer, mediatrix of all graces with Jesus the one mediator, and advocate with Jesus Christ on behalf of the human race."
"that the Catholic Church essentially distinguishes between the sole role of Jesus Christ, divine and human Redeemer of the world, and the unique though secondary and dependent human participation of the Mother of Christ in the great work of Redemption."
In Deuteronomy 18:9--14, God itemizes for us the sorcery-sins: divination, observing of times, an enchanter (mesmerizing repetitions, like the rosary), a witch (Wiccan), a charmer (good luck pieces, crystals, energy-enhancers).
Then God says,"or a consulter with familiar spirits", such as channelers of the New Age, seances (necromancer), calling on spirit-guides, wizards, gurus and the like.
"At the same time there is a growing realization in the churches of the United States of the important role played by Our Lady of Guadalupe as the patroness of the whole hemisphere of America. The extended reflections of Pope John Paul II at the close of the Synod for America is the most recent reminder of this important pastoral consideration."
We might add here that the general tendency is to go into denial when God catalogs a list of sins for us to consider.
For instance, God lists "necromancy" as a sorcery-sin in this passage. Now everyone says, 'but I don't worship the dead'. Oh really? Then why are you praying to dead Saints and Mary?
We should honor Mary ( Luke 1:48,49 ) but not worship her. There's only One Who hears in heaven, and that's God.
The next book in the Bible to deal with wrongful worship is in Jeremiah 44:15-30, where the women justify paying homage to the "Queen of Heaven".
Well, read the passage yourself and you'll see that "Regina Chaelee" began long ago in Chaldea.
Like Solomon said,"there's nothing new under the Sun" Ecclesiastes 1:9.
In Jeremiah 44, the prophet Jeremiah tells the people that because of their worship of the Queen of Heaven, their land is in desolation "because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD".
(His voice is the Holy Spirit, our conscience).
"Behold, I will watch over them for evil and not for good. And all...shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them."
It is unfortunate that the Roman hierarchy insists upon 'elevating ' Mary to a pagan goddess.
Pope John Paul II proclaimed Mary : "Co-Redeemer, co-Mediator and Advocate of humanity."
This is blasphemy and idolatry. It is wrong to flatter with politically expedient dogmas. It troddens underfoot the singular-redemptive Blood of Jesus Christ upon the Cross [ Hebrews 10:29], and makes null and void the uniqueness of Jesus ALONE as Savior.
True worshippers honor Mary, not idolize her. God is a jealous (paramount) God ---Exodus 34:14--- and He shares His glory with no one Isaiah 42:8. Let's all be like the WISE men who came from afar and "fell down and worshipped Him"( Jesus, not His mother; though most assuredly we give her great respect) Matthew 2:11.
The most insightful passage into astrology though, is in Ezekiel Ch. 8 where we are given a 'hidden camera-view" of the religious leaders worshipping the zodiac in the secret chamber of the temple (which is also the heart).
which results in a high crime-rate:"for they have filled the land with violence."
Why would the exemplars of the spiritual community seek unto creeping things and beasts for counseling when they already had the "Wonderful Counselor".? (Isaiah 9:6)?
Could it be He wasn't good enough for them? He didn't require some charming voodoo-homage in the temple?
He didn't give them an insiders-mentality? Who knows? Yet they foolishly turned their backs upon Him and worshipped the Sun...the most base and primordial form of worship.
It's amazing how we have an A.B.G. attitude...'Anything But God'. Or we have an A.A.G. attitude 'Anything Alongwith God.'.
But God says to have an N.B.G. attitude.... 'Nothing But God'. "Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with thy WHOLE heart, mind, soul, spirit, might and strength". That's 100%.
The Book of ACTS contains many references to spiritism, the occult and astrology. When Stephen was before the religious elders giving his testimony, he brought up the fact that Abraham had to leave the Chaldean culture [Acts 7:4 ].
Stephen was stepping on toes.
But when he came out and actually named some of the host of heaven [Acts7:41-43], and idol-statue worship, they knew he was pointing the finger of God at them, and their rage exploded into murder of the martyr. Because they didn't like the message, they killed the messenger.
"LeRoy Hoffert emptied a safe in his home and several bank accounts before his wife noticed the money was missing. When she asked him where it went, he said, "If I tell you, I'm a dead man."
Linda Marks, 54, had convinced LeRoy Hoffert that she could cure his disease only if he remained silent about their deal, the complaint said. She said she would return his money to him as soon as she cured his illness, the complaint said.
But the message was picked up by Paul in [Acts 13:8-12], where he condemned the sorcerer as one "full of subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness". Well that certainly covers it.
Disobeying God is evil. It is wickedness.
And finally in the Book of Revelation, Sorcery is condemned in Rev. 21:8.
Those practicing the arts of sorcery are confined to the burning Lake of Fire, which is the Second Death. They are ostracized from Heaven forever, far beyond her gates [Rev.22:15].
"For without are dogs (unbelievers), and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."
"Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."
God Himself will judge them Malachi 3:5 .
and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn away the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, saith the LORD of hosts."
No---astrology, horoscopes, calling psychics, playing with ouija boards and tarot cards and the like, are not just "little sins". They are nauseating abominations.
They are hated by God.
Unfortunately these are practiced by our government leaders, our religious leaders and our community leaders...the so called 'pillars of society'. No wonder our society is crumbling. It's leaning on a reed of Egypt.
let it go. "Go, and sin no more"
Press on. Philippians 3: 13 & 14 ..."this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."]. Why not search out the prophecies of God to satisfy that craving to know more?
Let the Redemptive Plan found in the Heavenly Mazzaroth speak to you.
The Mazzaroth are the 12 signs in the Heavens declaring the Redemptive-Plan of God [JOB 38:32]. We learn this from the Book of Job--the oldest book in the Bible.
Instead, Job looked past the stars in the sky to perceive the One who made the stars. Psalm 33: 6+9 , Ps. 19: 1--6 and Psalm 8.
He acknowledged God's wonderful story of Redemption, set in the heavens before man was created.
Mazzaroth is the TRUE story behind the stars...astrology is Satan's corruption of that which was ordained good.
Mazzaroth looks to Jesus... astrology looks to self and self's friends. Job was wise.
How did Job know that One would come to redeem him from guilt and sins?
How did Job know there would be a resurrection of the body, not just the spirit?
How did Job know there would be a 'latter days'...an appointed time afar off ?
Job continues, "Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold [worship], and not another; though my reins [heart] be consumed within me".
This IS The Messianic Hope!
Job's heart would die yearning to see Jesus face to face, and not another. He certainly wouldn't yearn after the stars of false religion.
and Redeemer? He read it in God's stary-book.
You too can have that same personal relationship with Jesus.
You can change your star-gazing (horoscope reading and psychic calling) to trusting in the Bright and Morning Star. [Rev. 22: 16 ] He's the only Guide you can trust!
The Book of Hebrews :Mary is not a co-redeemer: Neither is she our advocate or intercessor.
Lev. 20:27...Mosaic law applied; Today "Go and sin no more"
Micah 5:12.."I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand;and thou shalt have no more soothsayers"
Zechariah 10:2 "For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain."