What Does God Say About Witches and the Occult? Do the Souls of the Dead Live Forever? Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”.

What Does God Say About Witches and the Occult?

Deuteronomy 18:10-12

““There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”

God outlawed witchcraft and other pagan practices that appealed to the evil spirit realm for their power. To God, it was an abomination for His people to seek help from Satan and his demons. Still, the Israelites were enticed by these practices again and again.

This was not just an Old Testament concern. The new converts to Christianity also took the subject of magic seriously ( Acts 19:19 ). The apostle John also warns that those who practice witchcraft must repent or they will end up in the lake of fire—the second death ( Revelation 9:21 ;21:8 ).

How did Western, so-called Christian nations get caught up in a holiday like Halloween that dabbles in the darkness of evil spirits, witchcraft and the occult? See our article “Halloween: Should Christians Celebrate It?””  From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/what-does-god-say-about-witches-and-the-occult/?

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Considering Halloween: The Unfruitful Works of Darkness

Ephesians 5:11

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

God’s way is symbolized in the Bible as light, and darkness symbolizes sin and evil. Many times the apostle Paul encouraged faithful Christians to avoid the darkness of Satan’s lawless thinking and evil influences. For example, he wrote, “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” (Ephesians 6:12).

He also wrote to the Corinthians: “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15).

The custom of Halloween, derived from popular pagan festivities to appease evil spirits, is definitely a time of darkness.

Paul continues by quoting from Isaiah 52:11 , “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

God’s people are to live no longer as the ungodly do in lewdness and greed ( Ephesians 4:17-19 ). How better to describe the risqué adult costume parties and the demands for treats of the younger crowd but as lewdness and greed?

God calls on us to draw near to Him and to resist the devil ( James 4:7-8 ). Should we not resist a holiday of darkness that celebrates evil?” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/considering-halloween-the-unfruitful-works-of-darkness/?

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Do the Souls of the Dead Live Forever?

Ezekiel 18:4

““Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.”

The word translated soul is the Hebrew nephesh, which can even refer to animals ( Genesis 1:21 ) and corpses ( Leviticus 22:4 ). The Bible does not describe humans as having an immortal soul, but as being a living soul—a living creature. As God says in Ezekiel 18:4 and 20 , human souls can die. In fact, death—eternal death—is the punishment for sin ( Romans 6:23 ).

Only God has immortality ( 1 Timothy 6:16 ), and He offers it as a gift to those who believe and obey Jesus Christ ( John 3:16 ; Romans 6:23 ).

For a study of the subjects of the mortality of the soul and hell, see our article “What Is Hell?” Understanding what the Bible teaches about the mortality of the soul provides further reason for Christians not to celebrate All Saints’ Day and Halloween.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/do-the-souls-of-the-dead-live-forever/?

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Update.

It has been a very busy two weeks.  Including slow driving through pouring rain twice, once to Bryan to the Social Security Office, and once to Willis.  It was so cold in Bryan waiting for the Soc. Sec. office to open with the wind chilling us to the bone, that I think that is where I caught a cold.  

With the aid of my helper, Joseph, we have moved all the items from the storage in Willis to a storage here in Navasota. One day it was raining so hard you couldn’t see, then the next day the trip to Willis was in blazing sunshine.  With the sun being low in the sky this time of year, the visors wouldn’t keep it out of my eyes. They seem a lot more sensitive to bright light since I had the cataract surgery.  But at least that is all done.  Now I can start selling a lot of the stuff and empty that storage soon, I hope.

As I have so many lentils I have been trying to get them used up.  For one Sabbath potluck I made Chili Cheese Lentils, then this week I made a Lentil Loaf with shredded carrots, celery, onions and black olives in it . No meat is served at this congregation, and they seem to live a long time.  Our lady pianist is 89 years old and going strong.

The last Sabbath the theme was “His Mercy Endures Forever”  Psa. 136:1, and the Sermon was about Submission.  This Sabbath is was “This Is the Day The Lord has Made, Let us Rejoice and Be Glad In It”  Psa. 118:24, and the Sermon was about Detachment.  Phil. 3:78.  How we should be detached from earthy things.

It is so great to be in this senior apartment, they are sturdily made of brick and well insulated.  I am usually cold and my electric heating bills used to be 50% higher than my summer AC bills.  Now I am happy that I can economically run the gas furnace as much as I want night and day.