STAND & COMFORT NEWSLETTER by Ed Tarkowski

October 16, 2001

#1 And There Shall Be . . . PESTILENCES

Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall
be famines, AND PESTILENCES, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning
of sorrows.

STRONG'S 3061. loimos, loy-mos'; of uncert. affin.; a plague (lit. the disease, or fig. a
pest):--pestilence (-t).

"and there shall be . . . pestilences." Is Matthew 24:7 being fulfilled in the world at this
very moment? No. This isn't the birthpangs that Jesus spoke of in these verses. These are not
the beginning of sorrows. They MAY be verging on the beginning of the beginning of the time of
sorrows, but what is happening is not the fulfillment of Matthew 24:7. Such things must evolve
into the birth pangs of Matthew 24.

Scripturally, the above verses describe the first half of the last seven years of this age.
They happen at a time when the future antichrist has signed a covenant of some sort with
Israel and the surrounding nations. We have not seen that happen yet, so these verses cannot
be in the process of fulfillment. When that time comes, things will be worse than this. I
write this because of the personal panic of some who, for instance, questioned whether or not
Desert Storm was Armageddon. It was not. Neither is the threat of anthrax a sign we have
entered the time of trbulation when "there shall be . . . pestilences."

On the news this morning, I counted nine nations, excluding the U.S., that have had anthrax
threats, all of them proving so far to be hoaxes. The fear bred by this event is far more
prominent than an actual breakout of anthrax. There is a legitimate caution that must be taken
by all, and there are normal fears for the well being of our families. For the Christian,
however, fear should not override the actual facts of the matter. To not be cautious or
careful would be to test God and verge on presumption. To deny any fears we may have will only
be harmful to us. Having a "devil may care" attitude because "God will take care of me" is not
befitting a Christian. But in times such as these, the Christian should have a caution and not
forsake common sense, undergirded by the self-control the Holy Spirit gives. The Christian
should not yield to the fears of the times, but persevere in the purpose God has called him:
to be conformed to the image of Christ, the Lamb of God.

Paul spoke of looking through the signs of the times when the end of the age approaches. I was
thinking lately of how the "revival" has evolved into an ecumenical, global effort in less
than ten short years. Once it started, there was no stopping it. The more time passed, the
more it snowballed and grew to the point where there is now a spiritual heirarchy governing
it. A general description of "the snowball" goes like this: the uniting of Catholic
Charismatics with the Pentecostals, the tearing down of denominational walls, large
ecumenical, charismatic stadium meetings and conferences solidifying the union, the seeds of a
global ecumenical movement suddenly springing up, followed by Promise Keepers filling
stadiums, and then the "laughing movement" in Toronto followed by Brownsville.

As I was exercising my gray matter about this, I started wondering whether today's events
regarding New York/Washington and the anthrax scare is another "snowball." I decided that it
is, no matter which direction it goes. Some have exercised their gift of speculation, saying
that the USA could fall or be greatly damaged as a world power because of all that is
happening. In this case, the new world system would benefit. Others have exercised their gift
of guessticy, prophesying that the USA will wipe out terrorism, only to become the terror of
the earth itself under the name of "good." Again, the new world system would benefit. I've
expressed these speculations in a simplistic way just to get to the heart of the matter: in
either case, the new world system is going to benefit. The point is, a snowball has been made
and it's going down hill, and the new world system in general will advance and grow an inch or
a foot or a yard.

The Christian has to weigh everything he hears and separate fact from fiction while "filing"
reasonable possibilites. The tempting "need to know" drives some over the edge to accept as
fact things that are not established facts. Even if what we hear is a reasonable speculation,
there is no need to make such speculations "facts before their time." Spiritually, just as the
Christian cannot allow himself to be cast to and fro by every wind of doctrine, he mustn't be
swayed by the unsureness of the current world crisis, flavored as it is with a mixture of
facts, rumors and suppositions. He needs to persevere in self control while weighing the
unsure things. Even TV news reporters have had to recant or make corrections to some reports,
which only increases fears and then attempts to ease them. What a rollercoaster ride the world
is on. Everyone wants to know "what's next," even when there's not enough information to know
the specific future with any certainty.

When we see these things - nations rising against nations, wars and rumors of wars, increased
pestilences - recognize it as a snowball. These things will increase - sometimes slowly,
sometimes quickly - probably with intermittent periods of calm. Some people are just waiting
for "the calm," while others earnestly work for "the peace" or "the security" the world needs.
But all, whether they admit it or not, look for these things while waiting for the other shoe
to drop - a new crisis, bigger than the last one. Because of the unsureness about where this
will lead or what will happen next, people are being torn up. Those looking for the "good"
things know at the same time that, according to Scripture, there are more "bad" things that
have to happen, probably similar to the destruction of the World Trade Center and the anthrax
crisis. In such times, it's absolutely essential for the Christian to walk in the self control
brought forth in his life by the work of the Spirit, for

Rom 8:28 . . . we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren.

I've said it many times; the purpose of God's call in the life of the Christian is to conform
him to Christ. THAT is the good to which God works all things. I've shared before how it
doesn't matter what you do for a living, whether you are a plumber, a lawyer, a housewife, a
baseball player, whatever, because God works His ONE PURPOSE in all: to conform ALL to the
image of His Son no matter who you are in the world:

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of
his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he
justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for
us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us
all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to
the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As
it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.

Notice two important words here: Nothing shall separate you from the love of God, "NEITHER
DEATH, nor life." Of course, Paul is speaking in these verses about persecution for preaching
the gospel in the face of persecutors, but Christians will die during world crises. Probably
some already have, in the recent attacks. But all of this enables me to now say this: it
doesn't matter what crisis we find ourselves in, God STILL works His ONE PURPOSE in ALL: to
conform us to the image of His Son. How can Christ be the "the firstborn among many brethren"
if there isn't anybody "conformed to the image of his Son" (v. 29)? Yet God has promised
through John:

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1
John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

I watched the news this morning and thought about how the United States government is dealing
with all of this, forcing the issue with the Taliban while encouraging people not to panic but
stay calm. In fact, it is saying SOME of the things I said in the beginning of this article.
But even if terrorism was totally wiped out and peace and security were stabilized, God's word
says it cannot last. Jesus said wars and rumors of wars will continue to the end, and I would
suppose that would include nuclear, biological and regular and new weapons of destruction. It
appears that rumors will attach themselves not only to the possibilities of wars, but to the
appearance of pestilences as well. At this point, I think of the infinite wisdom of God in
driving our first parents out of the garden, lest no flesh be saved:

Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and
evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and
live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the
ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the
garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the
tree of life.

Even at the very end, men will be expectantly SAYING "peace and safety":

1 Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as
travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in
darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

The sudden destruction stated here is the coming of Christ. Only He can bring unfluctuating
peace and security to this world. That is our hope along with the hope of glory:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon
his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there
shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish
it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts
will perform this.

What are we to do in the meantime? Be conformed to the image of Christ in our walk and share
the gospel in our talk. Every crisis is an opportunity for us to do both. We should all be
praying that God reveal to us what Paul meant when he told us to work out our salvation with
fear and trembling, "to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philip. 2:13). It is "God which
worketh in you," and when God works, He pulls no punches to get what He wants. God expects our
cooperation with His work in us because we have been purchased and paid for by the blood of
Christ, and we've said "Yes" to the commitment inherent in our believing on Him: to "be holy
as He is holy."

I guess my message for this issue is this: maintain caution and common sense, but not at the
expense of God's word and its purpose in our lives. Rumors are flying right and left, up and
down, over and under and all around us regarding the current and possible future events. Pray
that the Lord work in each of us the self control and perseverance and the other fruit of the
Spirit we will need when the snowball of crises becomes as large as the "revival." Pray, too,
that through self control, we can stand and share the good news that contains the one hope the
world does not have: the return of our Lord Jesus Christ in the power and glory of the Father.

#2 SCRIPTURAL INDEX TO OCCULT TERMS IN THE BIBLE

This will make this a long newsletter, but maybe you can read it in parts on separate days. My
apologies, but I put this together expecting to do another issue on Halloween until I started
thinking about pestilences in the Bible. I'll try to keep it shorter in the future.

Since Halloween is a time when the occult is in the public eye, it's useful to us to know
where to find the Scripture verses that indicate God's personal viewpoint concerning New Age
and occult practices which attempt to counterfeit the true gifts of God. Without exception,
these practices are seen as a complete abomination to Him and he expects those who do such
things to repent and believe on Christ. I believe that the verses listed are vital in studying
God's view of the occult.

The following index will lead you to pertinent Scriptures on various New Age and occult
practices. Some terms may be called by another name in other versions of Scripture. Remember
that each subject may contain many more occult practices than are named, but they mean
basically the same thing. For example, divination could be astrology, tarot cards, numerology,
dowsing, etc, even though those terms aren't used in a particular scripture. The names in the
headings are not exhaustive because it was difficult to list all the associated terms. The
definitions in brackets are a summary of the KJV definitions and/or their root words.

DIVINATION, SPIRITIST, MEDIUMS

Lev 19:26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment [magic
spell], nor observe times [to cloud over; practise magic, soothsayer, sorcerer]. . . . 31
Regard not them that have familiar spirits [necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar)],
neither seek after wizards [conjurer, ghost], to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

Lev 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits [necromancer
(ventriloquist, as from a jar)], and after wizards [conjurer, ghost], to go a whoring after
them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

FORETELLER OF DREAMS, MIRACULOUS SIGNS AND WONDERS

Deu 13:1 If there arise among you a [false-Ed] prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth
thee a sign or a wonder [omen, miracle], 2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof
he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us
serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of
dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all
your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and
keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

INTERPRETER OF OMENS, SPIRITIST, MEDIUMS, CONSULTING THE DEAD [necromancer], CASTER OF SPELLS,
SORCERER

Deu 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not
learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any
one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination
[(cast) a lot, oracle, divine sentence], or an observer of times [to cloud over; practise
magic, soothsayer, sorcerer], or an enchanter [whisper a (magic) spell], or a witch [to
whisper a spell, i.e. to inchant or practise magic, sorcerer], 11 Or a charmer [to
fascinate], or a consulter [inquirer (of)] with familiar spirits [necromancer (ventriloquist,
as from a jar)], or a wizard [a conjurer, a ghost], or a necromancer [ to tread or frequent;
usually to follow (for pursuit or search)]. 12 For all that do these things are an
abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them
out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations,
which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for
thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

DIVINATION, IDOL WORSHIP, OCCULT HEALING

1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft [(cast) a lot; divination (includ. its
fee), oracle; determine by lot or magical scroll, soothsayer], and stubbornness is as iniquity
and idolatry [a healer; Teraphim, a family idol]. Because thou hast rejected the word of the
LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

STARRY HOSTS, SORCERER

2 Ki 17:16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten
images [a cast image, a libation], even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the
host of heaven (Astrology), and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and their
daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination [(cast) a lot, oracle, divine
sentence] and enchantments [magic spells], and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the
LORD, to provoke him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed
them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.

DIVINATION, SORCERER

2 Ki 23:24 Moreover the workers with familiar spirits [necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a
jar)], and the wizards [conjurer, ghost], and the images [a healer; Teraphim (sing. or plur.)
a family idol], and the idols [a log (as round)], and all the abominations that were spied in
the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of
the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

DIVINATION, SPIRITIST, MEDIUMS, SORCERER, WORSHIP HOST OF HEAVEN

2 Chr 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and
he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven
(Astrology), and served them. 4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the
LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. 5 And he built altars for all the host
of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 And he caused his children to pass
through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times [to cloud over;
practise magic, soothsayer, sorcerer], and used enchantments [magic spell], and used
witchcraft [to whisper a spell, i.e. to inchant or practise magic], and dealt with a familiar
spirit [necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar)], and with wizards [a conjurer, a ghost]:
he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

DIVINATION

Isa 2:6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be
replenished from the east, and are soothsayers [to cloud over; fig. to act covertly, i.e.
practise magic; observe (-r of) times, sorcerer] like the Philistines, and they please
themselves in the children of strangers.

DIVINATION, SPIRITIST, MEDIUMS, CONSULTING THE DEAD (necromancer)

Isa 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits
[necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar)], and unto wizards [a conjurer, a ghost] that
peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 20
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there
is no light in them.

SPIRITIST, MEDIUMS, IDOL WORSHIP

Isa 19:3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the
counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols [vanity, no value, thing of nought], and to
the charmers [to move softly; (as a noun) a necromancer (from their soft incantations), (as an
adv.) gently], and to them that have familiar spirits [necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a
jar)], and to the wizards [a conjurer, a ghost]. 4 And the Egyptians will I give over into
the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of
hosts.

MAGIC, SPELLS

Isa 47:9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of
children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of
thy sorceries [magic, to whisper a spell, i.e. to inchant, witch], and for the great abundance
of thine enchantments [a society; also a spell]. . . . 12 Stand now with thine enchantments,
and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be
thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. 13 Thou art wearied in the
multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers [to be a horoscopis], the stargazers [a
beholder in vision, prophet], the monthly [new moon, to rebuild] prognosticators [to know,
ascertain by seeing; observation, care, recognition, and causat. instruction, designation,
punishment, etc.], stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

SIGNS IN THE SKY

Jer 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the
signs of heaven [omen, prodigy, evidence, mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token] for the heathen
are dismayed at them.

INTERPRETER OF DREAMS, MEDIUMS, SORCERER

Jer 27:9 Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners [determine by lot or
magical scroll, soothsayers], nor to your dreamers [to bind firmly], nor to your enchanters
[whisper a (magic) spell], nor to your sorcerers [a magician, to whisper a spell, i.e. to
inchant or practise magic, witchcraft], which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the
king of Babylon: 10 For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and
that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

DIVINATION, DREAMS

Jer 29:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your
diviners [to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll, soothsayer], that be in the
midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed [to
bind firmly]. 9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith
the LORD.

WITCHCRAFT, CASTER OF SPELLS

Micah 5:12 And I will cut off witchcrafts [magic, sorcery, to whisper a spell] out of thine
hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers [to cloud over; fig. to act covertly, i.e.
practise magic]:

DIVINATION, DREAMS

Zec 10:2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners [to distribute, i.e. determine by
lot or magical scroll, soothsayer] have seen a lie, and have told false [evil (as
destructive), lit. (ruin) or mor. (espec. guile)] dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they
went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.

MAGIC, SORCERER

Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used
sorcery [to practice magic:--use sorcery], and bewitched [amaze, be (make) astonished, be
beside self (selves), bewitch, wonder] the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some
great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is
the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had
bewitched them with sorceries.

SORCERER

Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) [a Magian, i.e.
Oriental scientist; by impl. a magician:--sorcerer, wise man] withstood them, seeking to turn
away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy
Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child
of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways
of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind,
not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and
he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was
done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

SORCERER

Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a
spirit of divination [a Python, i.e. inspiration (soothsaying)] met us, which brought her
masters much gain by soothsaying [a prophet, as supposed to rave through inspiration); to
divine, i.e. utter spells (under pretence of foretelling)]: 17 The same followed Paul and us,
and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way
of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the
spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the
same hour.

SORCERER

Acts 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear
fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed
came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts
[working all around, i.e. officious (meddlesome, neut. plur. magic)] brought their books
together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it
fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

WITCHCRAFT

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry [image-worship], witchcraft [medication
("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extens.) magic (lit. or fig.), sorcery], hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such
like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

MAGIC ARTS

Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries [medication
("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extens.) magic (lit. or fig.), witchcraft], nor of their fornication,
nor of their thefts.

MIRACULOUS SIGNS

Rev 13:13 And he doeth great [big, high, large, loud, mighty] wonders [miracle, sign, token,
wonder], so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles [sign, token,
wonder] which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the
earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did
live.

MAGIC SPELLS

Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is
fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage
of every unclean and hateful bird. . . . . 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more
at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all
in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries [medication
("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extens.) magic (lit. or fig.):--sorcery, witchcraft.] were all nations
deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were
slain upon the earth.

MIRACULOUS SIGNS

Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles [an
indication, espec. cer. or supernat.:--miracle, sign, token, wonder] before him, with which he
deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image [a
likeness, i.e. (lit.) statute, profile, or (fig.) representation, resemblance]. These both
were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

MAGIC

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers [a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extens.) a
magician], and idolaters [a servant, an image (i.e. for worship); by impl. a heathen god, or
(plur.) the worship of such], and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth
with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

A CLOSING WORD

These counterfeits of the adversary will evolve to the point where they will manifest in the
antichrist and false prophet in order to lead the world down the road to perdition. Halloween,
although considered a "fun" holiday and appealing to the young, is a strong force that could
open the door to involvement in such practices, especially those that are obviously
spiritistic in nature. Once we had only to deal with Halloween, but there is much more that
the Christian must discern nowadays. The influence of the world, television, movies,
literature (such as the Harry Potter books), computer games and multicultural education have
been major influences in normalizing such practices. Hopefully this issue of the newsletter
will help