Is Halloween Harmless?

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/


Is Halloween Harmless?

Every year at Halloween, well-meaning parents dress their children in grotesque and ghoulish costumes. Is Halloween really harmless? Who and what's behind this bizarre holiday?

by Jerold Aust

It all looks like so much fun and seems so harmless: jack-o'-lanterns, grotesque grinning masks, long black witch attire with pointed black hats, costumes painted like skeletons, outfits that represent demons and goblins, and children going door to door, soliciting treats from compliant neighbors.

But when Halloween comes around, do you find yourself yearning for the hours to pass until the whole trick-or-treat farce is over? If you don't, you should!

Halloween's not-so-fun side

Since when is it acceptable for little children to threaten to commit vandalism?

What happens if the homeowner doesn't come to the door or doesn't have the treats the kids might expect? Is it permissible for children to then soap his windows, toilet paper his trees, chalk mark his sidewalk or turn over plants as they leave? When is it okay for children to commit vandalism while on another person's property?

Isn't it about time for all well-meaning citizens to just say NO to Halloween?

The clergy, in general, hasn't stood against it. Some churches even have Halloween parties. Some citizens do speak up against it, as the letters to the editor in your newspaper occasionally show.

Is Halloween simply good, clean fun, or is it something else entirely? You need to know!

God is giving a wake-up call to professing Christians. As it was with those the prophet Elijah addressed in his day, so it is with us: "'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people answered him not a word" (1 Kings 18:21). What will it take for Christians to accept and stand for God's truth rather than harmful traditions that originated in paganism?

Where did Halloween originate?

Just where did Halloween come from, and why is it so widely celebrated?

The Encyclopedia of Religion explains: "Halloween is the name for the eve of Samhain, a celebration marking the beginning of winter as well as the first day of the New Year within the ancient Celtic culture of the British Isles. The time of Samhain consisted of the eve of the feast and the day itself (31 October and 1 November).

"On this occasion, it was believed that a gathering of supernatural forces occurred as during no other period of the year. The eve and day of Samhain were characterized as a time when the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds were broken. Otherworldly entities, such as the souls of the dead, were able to visit earthly inhabitants, and humans could take the opportunity to penetrate the domains of the gods and supernatural creatures.

"Fiery tributes and sacrifices of animals, crops, and possibly human beings were made to appease supernatural powers who controlled the fertility of the land . . . Samhain acknowledged the entire spectrum of nonhuman forces that roamed the earth during the period" (1987, pp. 176-177, "Halloween").

On this holiday "huge bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits . . . The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature" (The Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, Micropaedia, Vol. 4, p. 862, "Halloween").

It was, bluntly put, a day devoted to appeasing demonic spirits and the dark side of the spirit world—something no Christian should have any part in (Ephesians 5:11).

So how did this dark celebration continue into modern times? Sadly, Halloween came down to us from the Roman Catholic Church, which assigned a day of each year to each of their saints. When it reached the point that they had more than 365, they then combined them together on Nov. 1 and called it "All Saints Day" or "All Hallows Day"—the night before being "All Hallows Eve" or "Hallow Even" (holy evening), contracted to the name Hallowe'en or Halloween.

Why did they choose this particular day? Again The Encyclopedia of Religion explains: "Samhain remained a popular festival among the Celtic people throughout the christianization of Great Britain . The British church attempted to divert this interest in pagan customs by adding a Christian celebration to the calendar on the same date as Samhain. The Christian festival, the Feast of All Saints, commemorates the known and unknown saints of the Christian religion just as Samhain had acknowledged and paid tribute to the Celtic deities" (p. 177).

Thus a pagan celebration was relabeled as Christian.

The Bible versus Halloween

You cannot find any support for Halloween in your Bible, because God is adamantly opposed to it and the pagan, occult practices it revels in. He warns His people to have nothing to do with these (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10-12). They blind us from the truth of God.

God does not take Halloween lightly. As He says, "Learn not the way of the heathen" (Jeremiah 10:2, King James Version). And, "Take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise'" (Deuteronomy 12:30).

God will not always remain tirelessly patient with those who insist on celebrating harmful and superstitious customs such as Halloween. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance . . . What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God" (2 Peter 3:9-12, New International Version).

The author of Halloween

The author of sin and death, Satan the devil, is also the behind-the-scenes author of pagan customs like Halloween. Jesus said that Satan is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). God is the God of the living, not the dead (Matthew 22:31-32). He is the God of not only true Christians alive today but, because of the certainty of the coming resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15), of those who will yet live when raised from death. So certain is this resurrection that to God it is looked on as an accomplished fact (see Romans 4:17).

Conversely, Satan is the "lord of the dead." Hebrews 2:14 says of Jesus Christ that "only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death" (New Living Translation).

Satan is the lord of the dead in that he leads people by his lies and influence into the way of death and, as the next verse shows, puts them in bondage to the fear of death.

He has foisted Halloween on ignorant people and even well-meaning Christians in a subtle and deceitful way, perpetuating it through the Catholic Church with a "Christian" mask that hides its demonic origins.

Can people make Halloween harmless?

When it comes to Halloween—or any other holiday for that matter—you should ask yourself, "Did God make man in His image, or did God intend man to remake God in man's image?" Now that's a sobering thought.

The religious excuse for perpetuating Halloween might be that, as we've seen, church leaders long ago called it a "holy evening" for all the Catholic saints who had no day assigned to them. But face it: People who celebrate this evening today couldn't care less about such religious notions. All they think about is instant gratification, to follow the pack with everyone else and to have some fun.

The Encyclopedia of Religion goes on to say: "Modern Halloween activities have centered on mischief making and masquerading in costumes, often resembling otherworldly characters. Folk customs, now treated as games [such as bobbing for apples], have continued from the various divination practices of the ancient celebrants of this occasion. Supernatural figures [such as the ghost, the witch, the vampire, the devil] play a key role in supplying an aura of the mysterious to the evening, whether or not they originally had an association with the festival.

"Children are particularly susceptible to the imagery of Halloween, as can be seen in their fascination with the demonic likeness of a carved and illuminated pumpkin, known as the jack-o'-lantern. In recent times, children have taken up the practice of dressing in Halloween costumes and visiting homes in search of edible and monetary treats, lightly threatening to play a trick on the owner if a treat is not produced" (p. 177).

Halloween is one of many human traditions that cloud biblical teachings and keep people in the dark from God's truth that can set us free (John 8:32). It is not a harmless holiday for you or for your children. God warns us to avoid it and to follow His ways, because He hates for us to dabble in the spirit world of Satan and his demons! Instead, as God tells us in Isaiah 66:2, "On this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." GN

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Related Resources

Halloween: Behind the Mask

Every year, on the evening of Oct. 31, millions of families celebrate a distinctly odd holiday known as Halloween. For your own good, you need to know what lurks behind the mask of Halloween.

Halloween's Dark Roots

In recent years eye-opening materials have been published about the questionable background of Halloween

Ghouls, Ghosts and Goblins

It seems like such harmless fun—children dressed as witches, skeletons or Darth Vader ringing the doorbell, enthusiastically announcing, "Trick or treat!" But is this preoccupation with the dead, witches and demons really harmless? And do you realize that Halloween was originally an important religious holiday—and still is in many parts of the world?

Can Halloween Be Christianized?

What should you do in deciding how you will approach this hotly debated issue?

Who's Getting Tricked by Halloween?

Why do witches, goblins, jack-o'-lanterns, cobwebs, graveyards and symbols of the occult surround this holiday? You need to know the real story.

Halloween: A Celebration of Evil

Modern celebrations of Halloween may appear on the surface to be quite harmless, but the spiritual implications of dabbling with the spirit world are extremely serious.

Holidays or Holy Days: Does it Matter Which Days We Celebrate?

It's ironic that so many of today's popular holidays—including major religious celebrations like Christmas and Easter—originated in ancient pagan festivals and customs, while God's Holy Days revealed in the Bible are almost universally ignored. Which should you celebrate and why?

God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind

Is it possible to know what the future holds for us? The Creator of mankind does have a plan for us, and He reveals it to us through an annual cycle of festivals described in the Scriptures. It is an astounding plan offering an incredible future to every man, woman, and child who has ever lived.

Where Vampires & Werewolves Don't Exist

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/

Where Vampires & Werewolves Don't Exist


Witchcraft in all its forms is part of the devil's marketing efforts.

By Randy Stiver

Throughout the human experience people and tribes have admired various animal abilities—strength, speed, stealth.



In the Bible God actually gave the tribe of Benjamin (one of the 12 tribes of Israel) the symbol of the wolf. "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil" (Genesis 49:27).



Ancient Egyptian mythology included a god called Anubis who was depicted with the body of a man and the head of a jackal—a type of African coyote. Centuries later, the mythology of the Greeks listed Lycaon as a king who displeased their chief god Zeus and was changed into a wolf.



By the Middle Ages numerous regions of Europe held superstitions that some men or women could, through witchcraft, be changed or change at will into wolves with a perverse hunger for human flesh.



Verifying the vampire

Blood-sucking vampire creatures also appeared in various pagan traditions that considered them to be witches. During the late Middle Ages in Serbia and other southern and eastern European areas, vampire superstitions grew stronger—always connected with the occult. Some thought vampires were ghosts, while others still considered them witches. Whatever.



The growth of the Wiccan or witchcraft movement has gained considerable momentum since the late 20th century. With that comes renewed interest in vampires and werewolves—especially among younger generations.



Where does that leave you? Have you wondered about such superstitions—especially with the popularity of vampire and witchcraft-based story lines in films and the Twilight novel series? Should people—young or old—mentally feed on such entertainments? What's the harm of playacting the role of a vampire in computer games or taking on a werewolf avatar?



Is there really some evil power behind were-wolfism, vampire mania and witchcraft? And what's the problem with mentally absorbing through movies, books or games these or other types of witchcraft? They're just stories, right?



A devilish story

So let me tell you a story—a true story.



In the beginning there was just God. But God is good, the epitome of love—outgoing concern for others. In fact, God desired to share life with others. First God made immortal beings called angels.



We can't see angels unless supernaturally revealed to us because they're spirit and we're physical. But rest assured, they do exist.



God made the angels with intelligence. He wanted them to be good and loving like He is. But good is a choice. So God created them with free will. That means they each had to personally choose good and reject its opposite—evil.



First, the good news: Perhaps two thirds chose goodness. The bad news: Led by the original evil rebel, one third of the angels chose evil (see Revelation 12:4). They refused to follow God and His way of good. This angry, hate-filled third remained immortal angels—fallen angels, better known as demons.



Evil names

We know their leader's name, or names. According to Isaiah 14, God originally dubbed him Helel, a name rendered in Latin as Lucifer—the light bringer, signifying the morning star. His name was one of honor and beauty. But when this great archangel sinned by choosing the way of evil and led the angelic revolt against God, he became known as Satan, meaning adversary. There's no honor in that name.



He has another despicable name too: Devil, which means slanderer, malicious accuser or false witness—someone who spreads lies and rumors about others.



Jesus Christ knows this story and the devil himself all too well: "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44).



Mankind deceived

Continuing the story, God eventually made mankind starting with Adam and Eve. The devil in the form of a talking serpent deceived Eve, who then tempted Adam. Satan incited them to reject God's leadership and adopt his own self-absorbed, angry, vicious, evil ways. Their decision set in motion the world as we know it today.



But this truly evil being was not content to simply lead humanity down a general path of misery. He and his wicked cohorts sought to plague weak-minded and spiritually gullible human beings with their terrifying demonic influence and even possession.



When Jesus left His divine position in the third heaven to live a perfect human life to be the sacrifice for human sin, He faced down and vanquished mankind's twisted nemesis. After rejecting the devil's temptations, Christ summarily dismissed him: "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve'" (Matthew 4:10).



Throughout His human ministry, Jesus routinely cast demons out of people whose agonizing mental illnesses were partly or wholly caused by demonic possession. To His apostles through whom He would launch the true Christian Church, Jesus delegated the divine authority and power to also cast out demons. The apostles required that authority because demonic spirits have considerable power. That demonic power is the force behind the occult and all the wicked ways of this world.



Forces of darkness

The forces of spiritual darkness are nothing to trifle with! They do exist—no matter what so-called scientific modern minds say—and they are dangerous.



The Bible describes a spiritual battle of epic proportions: "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, King James Version).



Satan has in many ways masterminded humanity's systems of government, commerce, education and religion—including the bulk of Christianity. They are riddled with false values and ­spiritual lawlessness.



Witchcraft in all its forms is part of the devil's marketing efforts. On his shelves beckon tempting products of all descriptions—from his apparently "innocuous" entertainments to his hard-core line of direct witchcraft and black magic. The wild popularity of enticing vampire, werewolf and wizard shows and books plus the rapid growth of the Wiccan movement demonstrate the devil's dark influence over gullible humanity.



What you can do

Reject involvement in vampire, werewolf and witchcraft fads and instead:



• Read and watch other stuff—where good triumphs over evil.

• Develop a healthy self-respect based on true values.

• Find friends who stand for truth.

• Get to know and love your family more.

• Read about the great fighters against spiritual wickedness in the Bible.

• Get better acquainted with your Creator—think vertically.



Your mind

Our world is speeding toward a devastating crash—soon! There never were any literal werewolves and vampires, but the dark power behind the concepts is growing virulently stronger and angrier.



Satan knows his time is short. The destruction of the devil's demonic domination will happen at the return of Jesus Christ. He will put Satan away then.



The vertical thinker's challenge is now. You have to make your mind up today. Will yours be a playground for enticements of the evil one—or will your mind be where vampires and werewolves don't exist? VT









About the Author

Randy Stiver is the pastor of United Church of God congregations in Columbus and Cambridge, Ohio, and is a regular guest on the Beyond Today television program.





Comments or Questions

If you have any comments about this article or vertical-thinking questions we can help you answer please send them to info@verticalthought.org.

Can Halloween Be Christianized?

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/

Can Halloween Be Christianized?


Finding the shadows of the evil customs of Halloween abhorrent, many Christians have sought to sanitize the holiday by integrating religious symbols with which they are more familiar and comfortable (this process is called syncretism). Some, for example, carve the name Jesus onto pumpkins and add religious phrases in the hopes of evangelizing those who go trick-or-treating.



Others have undertaken a more elaborate revision of the holiday, attempting to turn it into a harvest festival interwoven with Christian themes and devoid of its more obvious pagan overtones. Church basements are turned into carnivals featuring games, contests and, of course, candy.



What should you do in deciding how you will approach this hotly debated issue?



The fundamental argument in favor of mixing ancient pagan customs and practices with the worship of God is that some believe it is an effective way to gradually win people over to Christian understanding. (Of course, in the present world we should ask ourselves why people who already see themselves as Christian would find any need to continue associations with pagan religious customs.)



This is sometimes a hotly disputed subject, and sincere people have concluded it indeed is useful to integrate the practices of ancient religious customs with the worship of God.



But perhaps we should address a fundamental question: What does God advise?



There is a scriptural precedent that offers guidance and direction for those who accept the Bible's instruction. The Israelites were confronted with these issues as they settled and built a new nation in the Promised Land. They encountered many worshipers of pagan deities as they entered the land and for centuries faced the problem as they dealt with neighboring peoples.



Even before they entered the land, God revealed His thinking and told them how to handle this challenge. His directions were explicit: "When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed that you are not ensnared to follow them ... Do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods ... Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:29-32).



God's instructions are crystal clear. He refuses to accept worship that is compromised and tainted by customs used in the worship of fraudulent religion. He expects His worshipers to revere Him in accordance with His commands, not their own imaginings.



Many centuries later the apostle Paul expressed a similar thought when correcting some in the church in Corinth for their poor judgment. "What partnership can righteousness have with wickedness?" he asked. "Can light associate with darkness? Can Christ agree with [the devil] ...? Can there be a compact between the temple of God and idols? And the temple of the living God is what we are" (2 Corinthians 6:14-16, Revised English Bible).



The modern debate over Christianizing pagan worship customs could be resolved simply by reading and heeding God's plainly expressed will. GN









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Related Resources

Is Halloween Harmless?

Every year at Halloween, well-meaning parents dress their children in grotesque and ghoulish costumes. Is Halloween really harmless? Who and what's behind this bizarre holiday?



Halloween's Dark Roots

In recent years eye-opening materials have been published about the questionable background of Halloween



Ghouls, Ghosts and Goblins

It seems like such harmless fun—children dressed as witches, skeletons or Darth Vader ringing the doorbell, enthusiastically announcing, "Trick or treat!" But is this preoccupation with the dead, witches and demons really harmless? And do you realize that Halloween was originally an important religious holiday—and still is in many parts of the world?



Can Halloween Be Christianized?

What should you do in deciding how you will approach this hotly debated issue?



Who's Getting Tricked by Halloween?

Why do witches, goblins, jack-o'-lanterns, cobwebs, graveyards and symbols of the occult surround this holiday? You need to know the real story.



Halloween: A Celebration of Evil

Modern celebrations of Halloween may appear on the surface to be quite harmless, but the spiritual implications of dabbling with the spirit world are extremely serious.



Holidays or Holy Days: Does it Matter Which Days We Celebrate?

It's ironic that so many of today's popular holidays—including major religious celebrations like Christmas and Easter—originated in ancient pagan festivals and customs, while God's Holy Days revealed in the Bible are almost universally ignored. Which should you celebrate and why?

Twilight on the Land

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/

Twilight on the Land


I was 17 when I saw my first vampire film. I laughed till I cried. Today I am 57 and I do not laugh at images and stories of vampires. Today I shudder.

by Darris McNeely

It was 1968 when the original Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi in the title role, came to my hometown movie theater in a rerelease. I had read about this famous movie, and some friends and I decided to go and see what it was all about.



When the count made his first appearance in the movie, it was one of those dramatic shots where he was looking up a staircase at a woman who would become the object of his twisted affection. Lugosi was dressed in that famous black outfit with the cape and had a leering look in his eye. The scene was intended to frighten moviegoers, and maybe it did in 1931 when it was originally released. But by 1968 we were a jaded lot. The entire theater audience howled with laughter at the sight of the "sinister Count Dracula"!



A different story today

Vampire stories are no laughing matter today.



Lately, I have been reading about the latest twist on the vampire story. Twilight, the first of a series of novels by Stephenie Meyer, has recently been made into a movie and is seeing commercial success just as her books have.



Twilight begins a four-novel saga about a teenage girl named Bella who moves to Washington state to live with her father after the remarriage of her mother. She begins life in a new high school and meets a "young" man named Edward who, as the story progresses, she discovers is a vampire and lives with a "family" of vampires.



The relationship builds through four novels with the story of adolescent love building between Bella and Edward. Bella's attraction for Edward moves her to desire to become a vampire and join their relationship for "eternity." Edward resists, and it takes four books until a resolution is reached where Bella sacrifices her human life for the desire of her heart.



This series has the familiar elements of the vampire story with a few twists. Instead of living off human blood, Edward subsists on animal blood. But Twilight does continue the idea of the "undead" vampire, living between the two opposites of life and death forever. It focuses on the tension between good and evil, light and darkness.



In fact, on the cover of the novel, one finds a bright red apple, symbolizing the so-called "forbidden fruit" of the Garden of Eden, and inside is a quote from Genesis 2:17 with the reference to the knowledge of good and evil. Perhaps this is a reference to the forbidden love between the human Bella and the vampire Edward.



Let me say something at this point. I have not read the books. Nor do I intend to. I have not seen the movie and don't intend to. I'll get into why later.



I have read about the movie and the book and, as I have already stated, I have seen other vampire movies over my life, so I think I know the genre pretty well. Beyond that I know what the Bible teaches about good and evil, life and death, and good and evil spirits. I also know where the Bible warns us against the deceptions of the end of the age.



Subtle deception

It is the subtlety of deception that surrounds this latest tale that has me worried. Twilight has cast the story of vampires within the explosive emotional web of adolescent sexuality. Everyone who has lived through that period of life personally understands the powerful attractions of sex, desire and forbidden love at that stage of life. Adolescence is when so many futures are molded and shaped, fashioned and formed and, sadly for many, destroyed or forever altered.



Physical attraction, love, sex and commitment to another are powerful emotions that by themselves are not bad. They are part of human life designed by God to be developed, controlled and enjoyed within the boundaries set by His law.



Visualizing these powerful feelings within the sordid, twisted and blatantly evil world of demons and vampires is a monstrous and blasphemous heresy. The popularity and commercial success testifies to the truth that people today cannot discern between good and evil. "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).



When I hear the story of a young girl who is willing to leave her family and give up being a human to join herself with a vampire, I see a demonic subtlety. Here is another way to teach that death is preferable to life. The culture of death has another arrow to shoot at young, moldable minds.



I see also the idea promoted that one can leave righteous faith and embrace evil, feeling good about it because it is done in the name of "love." These are powerful stories hitting the culture at a time when there is a growing void of values. The religious faith of the land is not strong enough to push back against this growing tide of interest and fascination with the occult.



Confusion of a people

What happens when a nation allows the occult to make inroads into its culture? An example from ancient Israel is instructive.



In 1 Kings 22 we are told of a council of war between the kings of Israel and Judah. Ahab and Jehoshaphat were planning war against Syria to regain land that Israel had lost. Ahab had allowed the worst of the cult of Baal to come into the nation through his wife, Jezebel. The remaining vestiges of the true worship of God had been driven underground. This was the time of Elijah's great witness against the land for its abandonment of the God of Abraham.



At the council Jeshoshaphat asked whether there was "a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?" (verse 7). When finally the prophet Micaiah was brought before the two kings, he revealed an amazing vision from the throne of God that showed the depth of confusion within the nation.



Micaiah saw God sitting on His throne and the spiritual host of heaven around Him. The extent to which God had given King Ahab and his people over to deception is shown in this dialogue. "Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.' The LORD said to him, 'In what way?' So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets'" (verses 21-22). God was allowing Ahab to be persuaded into a battle he could not win.



The depth of spiritual confusion was so great in Israel that it impacted the decisions made at the highest level. A lying spirit could work through false prophets to persuade the king to an action that resulted in his death and defeat in battle. There was a twilight upon the land. This "spiritual twilight"—where the people wavered between opposing ideas of right and wrong, righteousness and unrighteousness, and good and evil—mirrors our land today.



When the influence of evil spirits is pervasive in the ideas and imagination of a culture, you see a nation in serious decline. I currently see America in a time of transition and crisis. The continuing economic problems defy the traditional solutions typically used by government. A new president with a team of brilliant advisers will work very hard at correcting the economic slide.



Is there a connection between spiritual deception—a fascination with the occult and other ideas of the spirit world and what lies behind the world we see—and political confusion that leads to decline? I look at the land and read the Bible and hold deep concern for the future.



Spiritual warfare

The Bible tells us we are in a spiritual war with dark forces who seek to confuse, disorient and destroy. We can live a comfortable life and not fully appreciate the battle that rages around us in the spiritual dimension. The passage from 1 Kings quoted above is a glimpse into a part of that dimension we do not see with our mortal eyes.



But the Bible is very plain in teaching us the reality of this spiritual battle, and it gives us the knowledge and tools to do combat. In Ephesians 6 it says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (verses 10-12).



This is why I don't want to view or read any stories about vampires and the occult. I don't need to put those thoughts and images into my mind. When I saw the pictures and movie trailer to Twilight, I saw the new age of subtlety that Satan the devil is employing to tune in a generation of people to his wavelength. The images of vampires in this telling are not something to laugh at. They are something to avoid.



The apostle Paul warned us to give no "place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). All of us struggle enough with temptation in our daily lives. Why add to that problem by dwelling for any period on twisted love stories of humans and vampires? It is not godly nor does it give us focus and direction toward the Kingdom of God. WNP









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Related Resources

Is There Really a Devil?

The Bible reveals much about an unseen power that works behind the scenes, shaping our world to its will and agenda. Are you being taken in? Discover the real source behind so many of the world's problems. Learn about the being who is determined to bend your thinking to his own.



Good News Commentary: November 27, 2008 - Twilight

It seems we human beings have always yearned to be something more than what we are.



The Spirit World's Dangerous Dark Side

Strange practices and religions such as Wicca, Santeria, voodoo and channeling are growing in popularity. What's behind them? Are such things harmless, or is there more to them than meets the eye?



Is There Really a Spirit World?

Both popular culture and religion bombard us with references to the spirit world. But is it real? What’s it all about? Where can you turn to sort out fact from fable?

What if You Are Confronted by the Dark Side of the Spirit World?

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/

What if You Are Confronted by the Dark Side of the Spirit World?


The Bible provides a guide to successfully countering any of Satan's deceptions. Below are several principles you should follow.



For one, avoid participating in anything to do with the evil side of the spirit world (see Ephesians 5:11). Instead of harboring dark thoughts that can lead to being influenced by dark forces, the Bible clearly tells us to focus on the positive: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).



Respect the power of the dark world and don't play around with it. Avoid any type of séances, gothic rituals or such devices as Ouija boards, all of which can open portals to the evil world (see "The Spirit World's Dangerous Dark Side"). At the same time, don't be afraid of the dark forces. Remember, God is still in charge and is far more powerful than any of these evil agents. The Bible tells us, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).



Make sure to draw close to God. By doing so, you'll move farther away from the world's evil sources. Through prayer, Bible study, meditation and occasional fasting, you will be greatly strengthened and will successfully resist Satan's temptations. "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:7-8).



If you ever feel there is a strange and evil presence around you, the Bible gives advice based on the confrontation between the archangel Michael and Satan. "Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'" (Jude 9).



So, if you do rebuke a spirit, don't do it in your name, but always in God's name, providing you have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That is the only authority evil spirits respect. Realize also that the spirit world is nothing to be trifled with (Acts 19:13-17). If you feel troubled by a spirit, you should seek counsel and advice from one of God's true ministers.



Another great source of spiritual strength is simply reading and studying the Bible. Jesus Christ quoted Scripture numerous times to successfully counter the wiles of the devil (Matthew 4:3-10). Many scriptural passages—especially in the book of Psalms —provide comfort and courage when one is facing dark spiritual forces. Take particular note of Psalms 23, 27, 34, 37 and 91.

'Dust to Dust'

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/

'Dust to Dust'


The truth about life after death is out there, but not in our stars or ourselves. Our revealed future is far greater than the stuff of dreams.

by Les McCullough

The late Carl Sagan, astronomer and author, used to wonder why smart people would believe in God. True, he spent most of the last decade of his life saying he wanted to discover whether God exists, but up until he died earlier this year he never believed in God or that he would ever again see his wife of 20 years.

Is there life after death? Is there an answer that makes sense?

As he saw his death approaching, Sagan himself said: "I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But, much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking" ("In the Valley of the Shadow," Parade, March 10, 1996).

Many other people have also decided that this life is all there is and they try to make the most of it. If Carl Sagan and these others are right, then the rest of us, particularly those who believe the Bible's explanation, have been seriously deluded.

Skepticism about an afterlife, or of that afterlife being one of happiness forever, has long existed even among Christians. In the first century of the Christian era, the apostle Paul encountered this mind-set in Corinth. Apparently the Christians God had called in this cosmopolitan city carried some of the philosophical baggage of their times along with them. Some questioned even the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul pointedly asked: "Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:12).

He continued: "For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep [are dead] in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (verses 16-19).

To Paul, the issue was not one of whether there is a resurrection. That was an accomplished fact; eyewitnesses had seen Jesus Christ brutally executed, then had seen Him alive again. These men and women had walked with Him, talked with Him, touched Him, shared meals with Him. They knew the resurrection was real. The issue, then, was how and when will the dead be resurrected. Where are they while awaiting their resurrection?

What happens to the dead?

Humans are a physical creation. God created Adam from the dust of the earth and informed him, after he had taken of the forbidden fruit, that "in the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust [clay] you are, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19, emphasis added throughout). It isn't flattering to think of returning to dust, but that is what happens to the physical body after death.

What does it mean to die? The biblical book of Ecclesiastes was written by someone said to be the wisest man who ever lived. Solomon wrote: "For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust" (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20).

Solomon understood that the dead do not continue alive in some other place or state of existence. He knew that "the dead know nothing" and "there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going" (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10).

Do the dead, then, live again? Yes, most definitely.

Resurrection at Christ's return

Paul, once again allaying fears, explained this to the church in Thessalonica. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

It is perfectly clear that Paul is equating death with the state of being asleep: "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep" (verse 15).

Those who have died "sleep" in their graves until the time Jesus Christ calls for them at His return. At that time the dead in Christ will rise.

The dead in Christ are those who in life responded to the gospel message by repenting of their sins, accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior, being baptized for the remittance of sin and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit to help them to obey God (Acts 2:37-38).

This resurrection from the dead is clear from both the Old and New Testaments. Isaiah 26:19 says, "Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise."

What a wonderful promise! The dead shall rise and live again. At the time of the return of Christ, those who have believed in Him and repented and lived their lives accordingly, will stand with Him at His return as immortal children of God.

Transformation to spirit

What happens then? "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
What happens at this time? Job asks and answers the question: "If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands" (Job 14:14-15). He is saying that at the return of Jesus the dead will be changed.

Paul adds another important dimension to how the process works. "And so it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being.' The last Adam [Jesus Christ] became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly [those who have God's Spirit in them]" (1 Corinthians 15:45-48).

Raised to immortality

Now notice the outcome: "And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed" (verses 49-51).

Besides those resurrected from the dead at Christ's return, others who are still alive at that time will also be transformed into spirit to become a part of the ultimate Kingdom of God. Notice how and when this occurs:

It takes place "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory' " (verses 52-54).

From that time on, death can no longer threaten those individuals. They will be eternal, ever-living spirit sons of God.

Death will be swallowed up by eternal life to exist no more. You and I and all humanity-even though we came from the dust-will be so much more than dust. We shall be "like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3).

For a man who knew the earth as "a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena," and who became universally known for his saying that "we are all made of star stuff," Carl Sagan, when his time to rise comes, will be happy with his newfound knowledge. GN

God's Festivals in the New Testament

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/

God's Festivals in the New Testament
1. Passover
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:5

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Matthew 26:2, 17-19
Mark 14:12-16
Luke 2:41-42; 22:1, 7-20
John 2:13, 23; 6:4; 13:1-30
1 Corinthians 11:23-29

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:6-8

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Matthew 26:17
Mark 14:12
Luke 2:41-42, 22:1,7
Acts 20:6
1 Corinthians 5:6-8

3. Feast of Pentecost
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:15-22

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Acts 2:1-21; 20:16
1 Corinthians 16:8

4. Feast of Trumpets*
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:23-25

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Matthew 24:30-31
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Revelation 11:15

5. Day of Atonement
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:26-32

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Acts 27:9

6. Feast of Tabernacles
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:33-43

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
John 7:1-2, 8, 10, 14

7. The Eighth Day (sometimes called the Last Great Day)
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:36

Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
John chapters 7-9



*Although the Feast of Trumpets is not mentioned by name in the New Testament, the theme of the day—the sounding of trumpets announcing Jesus Christ's return—is mentioned by several New Testament authors as noted in the references.