magic

Bible Study Guides – Spiritualism Influences the World

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August 4–August 10, 2002

MEMORY VERSE: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:14, 15.

STUDY HELPS: The Great Controversy, 511–562; 582–592.

INTRODUCTION: “The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.” The Great Controversy, 593.

1 How were our first parents deceived into sin? Genesis 3:1–6.

NOTE: “The tempter often whispers that the Christian life is one of exaction, of rigorous duties; that it is hard to be on the watch continually, and there is no need of being so particular. It was thus that he deceived and overthrew Eve in Eden, telling her that God’s commands were arbitrary and unjust, given to prevent men from becoming free and exalted, like himself. Satan’s object is the same now as then. He desires to deceive and ruin us.” Youth’s Instructor, November 21, 1883.

2 How closely did the Egyptian magicians’ counterfeit resemble the real? Exodus 7:11, 12.

NOTE: “The magicians seemed to perform several things with their enchantments similar to those things which God wrought by the hand of Moses and Aaron. They did not really cause their rods to become serpents, but by magic, aided by the great deceiver, made them to appear like serpents, to counterfeit the work of God. Satan assisted his servants to resist the work of the Most High, in order to deceive the people, and encourage them in their rebellion. Pharaoh would grasp at the least evidence he could obtain to justify himself in resisting the work of God performed by Moses and Aaron. He told these servants of God that his magicians could do all these wonders. The difference between the work of God and that of the magicians was, one was of God, the other of Satan. One was true, the other false.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 184.

3 When God would not communicate with Saul, to whom did he turn? 1 Samuel 28:7, 13, 14.

NOTE: “When Saul inquired for Samuel, the Lord did not cause Samuel to appear to Saul. He saw nothing. Satan was not allowed to disturb the rest of Samuel in the grave, and bring him up in reality to the witch of Endor. God does not give Satan power to resurrect the dead. But Satan’s angels assume the form of dead friends, and speak and act like them, that through professed dead friends he can the better carry on his work of deception. Satan knew Samuel well, and he knew how to represent him before the witch of Endor, and to utter correctly the fate of Saul and his sons.” Conflict and Courage, 172.

“[In 1 Chronicles 10:13, 14] it is distinctly stated that Saul inquired of the familiar spirit, not of the Lord. He did not communicate with Samuel, the prophet of God; but through the sorceress he held intercourse with Satan.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 683.

4 How do Satan and his evil angels deceive people? 2 Corinthians 11:14, 15.

NOTE: “God revealed to His servant the perils of the church in the last days. He writes, ‘Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.’ [1 Timothy 4:2.]” Confrontation, 92.

“In the future, Satan’s superstitions will assume new forms. Errors will be presented in a pleasing and flattering manner. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God’s people. Thus Satan will try to deceive, if possible, the very elect.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 293.

5 In what likeness did the prophet describe the spirits that are to be in our day? Revelation 16:13.

NOTE: “We need to be anchored in Christ, rooted and grounded in the faith. Satan works through agents. He selects those who have not been drinking of the living waters, whose souls are athirst for something new and strange, and who are ever ready to drink at any fountain that may present itself. . . .” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1099.

“There will be seducing spirits and doctrines of devils in the midst of the church, and these evil influences will increase; but hold fast the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end.” Review and Herald, August 9, 1906.

6 How do these spirits deceive the whole world? Revelation 16:14.

NOTE: “Satan has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. The foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden: [Genesis 3:4, 5 quoted]. Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs; but it will be reached in the last remnant of time. . . . [Revelation 16:13, 14 quoted.] Except those who are kept by the power of God, through faith in His word, the whole world will be swept into the ranks of this delusion. The people are fast being lulled to a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God.” The Great Controversy, 561.

7 What deceptive miracles will be used by evil spirits? 2 Thessalonians 2:8–12. Compare Matthew 24:24.

NOTE: “It is fondly supposed that heathen superstitions have disappeared before the civilization of the twentieth century. But the word of God and the stern testimony of facts declare that sorcery is practiced in this age as verily as in the days of the old-time magicians. The ancient system of magic is, in reality, the same as what is now known as modern spiritualism. Satan is finding access to thousands of minds by presenting himself under the guise of departed friends. . . .

“The magicians of heathen times have their counterpart in the spiritualistic mediums, the clairvoyants, and the fortune-tellers of today. . . . Could the veil be lifted from before our eyes, we should see evil angels employing all their arts to deceive and to destroy. Wherever an influence is exerted to cause men to forget God, there Satan is exercising his bewitching power. . . . The apostle’s admonition to the Ephesian church should be heeded by the people of God today: ‘Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.’ Ephesians 5:11.” The Acts of the Apostles, 289, 290.

8 Why do Satan and his angels perform miracles? Revelation 13:13–15.

NOTE: “The time is at hand when Satan will work miracles to confirm minds in the belief that he is God. All the people of God are now to stand on the platform of truth as it has been given in the third angel’s message. All the pleasant pictures, all the miracles wrought, will be presented in order that, if possible, the very elect shall be deceived. The only hope for any one is to hold fast the evidences that have confirmed the truth in righteousness. Let these be proclaimed over and over again, until the close of this earth’s history.” Review and Herald, August 9, 1906.

9 For what purpose has Satan designed the last day miracles? Matthew 24:24, last part.

NOTE: “The time is coming when Satan will work miracles right in your sight, claiming that he is Christ; and if your feet are not firmly established upon the truth of God, then you will be led away from your foundation. The only safety for you is to search for the truth as for hid treasures. Dig for the truth as you would for treasures in the earth, and present the word of God, the Bible, before your Heavenly Father, and say, Enlighten me; teach me what is truth. . . . It is important that you continually search the Scriptures. You should store the mind with the word of God . . . .” Review and Herald, April 3, 1888.

10 How will the Christian respond to Satan’s deceptions? Isaiah 8:19, 20.

NOTE: “For thousands of years Satan has been gaining an experience in learning how to deceive; and to those who live in this age he comes with almost overwhelming power. Our only safety is found in obedience to God’s word, which has been given us as a sure guide and counselor. God’s people today are to keep themselves distinct and separate from the world, its spirit, and its influences.” Fundamentals of Education, 501.

“So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.” The Great Controversy, 593.

11 To meet these deceptions, how are we to prepare? 2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 6:11–18.

NOTE: “Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?” The Great Controversy, 593, 594.

Who is Harry Potter?

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What is the big deal with a young man who is a hero to millions of young readers around the world, enrapturing children as they embrace the reading experience?” The children are reading! These are the cries and shouts of praise that are being heaped upon J. K. Rowling, the author of the wildly popular four books that have been published in a series of seven (three have yet to be released). Harry Potter promoters, supporters and fans range from children, not even old enough to read, to the elderly. Never in the history of book writing has there been such an enthusiastic response to a series of books; never has a single author ever been able to bridge all age, gender and societal gaps! Religious, racial, social, and economic barriers have all seemed to disappear. The world has gone Potter crazy!

“It’s Just Magic”

When the people involved with Harry Potter and the world-wide empire it has become are questioned as to the secret of Harry’s success, they all too often have responded with: “It’s just magic! We can’t explain it . . . it is just magical!” The publisher, Scholastic Books, and the proponents of Harry Potter contend that the subjects of witchcraft, wizardry, and sorcery do not pose a threat to children because these books are “just fantasy.” They espouse that the children of today are sophisticated enough to discern fiction from reality. J. K. Rowling herself has said in numerous interviews, “Not even one time has a child come up to me and said, ‘Ms. Rowling, I’m so glad I’ve read these books because now I want to be a witch.’” Then Ms. Rowling needs to read one of the many books that have been published as a tribute to Harry Potter. One such book is entitled Harry Potter, You’re the Best! A Tribute from Fans the World Over by Sharon Moore. (Griffin Trade Paperback, N.Y., 2001.) Here is what young Ewan of Surrey, Eng-land writes: “I myself am a Christian, and I do not understand why a Christian school banned the Harry Potter books; even my minister reads them! The school says they are unchristian. Harry Potter books are like the Bible though—good against evil—and to all the tiniest details. If I were in that school, I personally would disobey that rule to the full extent.” Ibid., 11, 12. Melissa, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 9 years old, writes: “I wish I was a witch, and I wish I could go to Hogwart’s. Oh well, I do play witches with a friend, though. I’d love to know when Harry Potter’s birthday is and if he reads his own books.” Ibid., 15. (Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the make-believe school that Harry and his friends attend.) Here is another from Alicja, Ontario, Canada, 8 years old: “I think Harry Potter books are good for children of all ages. I’m trying to learn to be a wizard! It’s hard work.” Ibid., 23. Kelsey, 11 years old: “I am involved in an unofficial Harry Potter club supervised by our librarian, Mrs. Dryer. We are doing things such as making wands, creating artwork, exploring the Internet, and best of all playing quidditch.” Ibid., 136. (Quidditch is a soccer-like game that is played while flying around on broomsticks.)

Innocent Fun?

Friends, it may seem like innocent fun (or not) right now. But God has told us to have nothing to do with witchcraft or sorcery. He says: “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death . . . .” Leviticus 20:27.

I have three different books that are tributes to Harry Potter. Each is largely built on children’s letters, however, each book also has an adult section. One parent and literary agent wrote: “From my perspective as a parent, I have a great appreciation for these books. . . . The recent negative press about the books is hard for me to understand. In today’s world, where people are sophisticated, educated, and exposed to new ideas, such an attitude seems very old-fashioned. It’s like something from the days of the Salem witchcraft trials.” Sharon Moore, We Love Harry Potter, St. Martin’s Griffin, N.Y., 1999, 96–98.

Finally, this from a parent in South Carolina: “I think it is wonderful the books let children see magic in a positive way. . . . The potential that children have when they open their minds is tremendous, and that’s what I see Harry Potter doing. He lets people into his world and shows them how wonderful life can be; indeed, how magical it can be. I am appalled to see some educational and religious institutions trying to take these books off the shelves. These books encourage kids to read! . . . I intend to start my child’s reading experience with them.” Ibid., 141.

The lack of spiritual discernment of these parents just amazes me. One of the great dangers in these books (that children and most parents do not understand) is that it is acquainting readers, especially young readers, with occultic themes, spells, charms, curses and satanic magic in such a way that the reader’s guard is lowered to the actual occult activity in the world around us. The books have sanitized the occult and have presented it as the way to life and happiness. But the truth is, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13.

Who is Harry Potter?

Harry Potter is a likable, young wizard who is orphaned in infancy, raised by “muggles” (his non-magical relatives who are depicted as stupid and ignorant because they do not approve of magic and wizardry). He is later informed of his magical abilities and invited to study at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry Potter is espoused to be a standard tale of good versus evil. “By following Harry and his best friend Ron, the reader gets a glimpse of true loyalty and friendship, as well as self-sacrifice,” different reviewers proclaim.

On the other hand, one does not have to look very far to see that witches, wizards, and other magical characters play lead roles. And, of course Harry and his friends are the focus—they are wizards (in training). Harry and his friends practice spells, create potions (drugs) and use them, and use hexes and magic on others. And the face-offs with “evil” are predictably intense. Each of the seven books chronicle a year of Harry’s education at Hogwart’s.

Just “Fantasy”

Many supporters of Harry Potter claim that the stories are just fantasy and that they are no different than classics like Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz and others. Yes, it is true that these stories have magic and sorcery in them, which is forbidden by God. They are not good reading for Christian children either, even though in these stories the character that the reader is asked to identify with is not the wizard! Also, the reader is not introduced to the intricacies of magic and wizardry. The Harry Potter books are written as never before; the children are identifying with the wizard, with the witch, with the sorcerer.

Keep in mind that the proponents of Harry Potter justify the means because of the end. They say, “Harry wins over the evil . . . in the end. So, good triumphs over evil, and that is a good message for kids.” Never mind that witchcraft, wizardry, sorcery, divination, and evil occultic components are littered throughout the stories. Occult experts, ex-occultists, and ex-wizards all confirm that in order to do the things that Harry and his friends do in these books, the forces of evil must play their part for the wizards to have success! The source of the power for the “good” wizard and the “evil” wizard is the same, according to God. It is demonic! There is no such thing as a “good” wizard.

World-wide Deception

A U.S. consumer survey reported that over half of all children in the United States between the ages of 6 and 17 have read at least one Harry Potter book. In fact, “there are 116 million books in print in 200 countries. They have been translated into 47 languages.” Claudia Puig, “Harry Potter Could Conjure Record,” USA Today, October 22, 2001.

The first three Harry Potter books have grossed a conservatively estimated $480 million in three years. Those figures do not include the most recent released book four!

At 12:01 a.m., July 8, 2000, bookstore doors opened and kids pressed in. They ran; they pushed and shoved, and began shelling out $25.95 for book four. This was the publisher’s dream come true! Scholastic, the largest publisher and distributor of children’s books in the world had advanced orders topping 1.8 million and a first printing of 5.3 million copies. Newsweek Magazine said “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth installment of the series, promises to break every book-selling record in the book.” Malcomb Jones, “Why Harry Potter’s Hot,” Newsweek, July 17, 2000, 53.

Satanic Messages

But there is more to come. Ms. Rowling plans seven books in all, and she admits that each book will grow darker and darker and deal with death and loss and evil.

In just the first three books Rowling depicts many satanic themes, symbols, names, stories, and creatures—all vividly and correctly described. The fundamental occult philosophy that “the end justifies the means” permeates all of the books. To achieve a goal that is deemed good, Harry and his friends consistently break the rules, steal, defy authority figures and use witchcraft on others.

Friends, it is so amazing to me that some dare to fight for these Harry Potter books, praising them for bringing the children back to the bookstores and to the libraries. Never mind that they could lead unsuspecting children to Satan’s world of darkness. The argument that the books are fantasy just does not hold up. A recent trip to a local bookstore revealed an entire display of occult and satanic books right next to the Harry Potter display! These books are being used as a springboard into real-world witchcraft and wizardry.

There is an official web site on the Internet where children can enroll at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A list of supplies and books is given for first year students. A search on any Internet search engine will find the needed items. When children begin searching for the supplies, however, just think what will open up to them. For instance, a search on “casting spells” will give 45,400 hits; enter “witchcraft” for 341,000 hits or “black magic” for 58,000 hits. It is not a very large step from the occultic themes in the “fantasy” books to the real occultic activity in the world.

The world has been bewitched by Harry Potter. No one seems able to explain the massive success of the books. But their success should come as no surprise. Surely Satan himself is behind Rowling’s writing! Through these books the world of Satanism has been repackaged in a powerfully fun, well-written story that is stealing the hearts, and possibly the souls, of millions of children.

Reprinted from The Shepherd’s Call, Special Issue January/February 2002, P. O. Box 1119, West Point, CA 95255.

Editor’s Note: “Says the prophet Isaiah: ‘When they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.’ Isaiah 8:19, 20. If men had been willing to receive the truth so plainly stated in the Scriptures concerning the nature of man and the state of the dead, they would see in the claims and manifestations of spiritualism the working of Satan with power and signs and lying wonders. But rather than yield the liberty so agreeable to the carnal heart, and renounce the sins which they love, multitudes close their eyes to the light and walk straight on, regardless of warnings, while Satan weaves his snares about them, and they become his prey. ‘Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,’ therefore ‘God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.’ 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11.” The Great Controversy, 559.

“Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen, restlessly waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are watching and waiting and working for our Lord’s appearing; while the other party are rapidly falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. They look for a god in humanity, and Satan personifies the one they seek. Multitudes will be so deluded through their rejection of truth that they will accept the counterfeit. Humanity is hailed as God.

“There are but two parties. Satan works with his crooked, deceiving power, and through strong delusions he catches all who do not abide in the truth, who have turned away their ears from the truth and have turned unto fables. Satan himself abode not in the truth; he is the mystery of iniquity. Through his subtlety he gives to his soul-destroying errors the appearance of truth. Herein is their power to deceive. It is because they are a counterfeit of the truth that spiritualism, theosophy, and the like deceptions gain such power over the minds of men. Herein is the masterly working of Satan. He pretends to be the savior of man, the benefactor of the human race, and thus he more readily lures his victims to destruction.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 364, 365.