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 “The
desire to penetrate the future and influence its events has
shown itself in all lands and ages. But it is clear that a
knowledge of the future does not lie within the scope of man’s
natural powers; ‘divination’ therefore has always been an
attempt to gain the help of beings possessing knowledge and
power transcending those of man. (See Dan .2:10- 11 rft)... ‘Divination,’
therefore, in all its forms is but an aspect of polytheism.”
(many-gods. rft)
The
above is the opening statement of an article in International
Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, under the heading, “Astrology.”
What the writer of this ISBE article sees so clearly, surely my
brethren should understand; — and shun the current “pagan”
fad of astrology. This ancient superstition enjoys a tremendous
revival in our day, and “silly” (2 Tim. 3:6) men and women
spend hours reading its ambiguous literature. I wonder if they
are aware that one of the chief living astrologers said, “The
TRUE astrologer believes that the sun is the body of the Logos
of this solar system, ‘in Him we live and move and have our
being.’ The planets are his angels, being modifications in the
consciousness of the Logos.” (Knowledge, XXIII, 228; from ISBE,
ibid.)
Isaiah
foretold the destruction of wicked Babylon, chiding them for
such trust in sorceries, saying, “Thou art wearied in the
multitude of thy counsels: let now the astrologers, the
star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save
thee from the things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they
shall be as stubble; the fire
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shall burn them.. .“ (Isa.
47:12f) As a footnote to the word “astrologers”
the ASV explains, “dividers of the heavens.” This is a
reference to the arrangement of the zodiac, with its stations or
“houses.”
Current
fascination with astrology does not mean that these devotees are
seriously and consciously seeking the message of other gods —
in the sense that earlier men believed in “gods” — for our
society is far too atheistic for that. The paganism of our day
is not the philosophical seeking after Deity that it was in
earlier days — although deluded members of various “orders”
pay lip service to “light” which their borrowed symbolism is
supposed to reveal. But in all of this we see evidence of a
generation which has no real chart or compass. True
objective faith in Jehovah God, as revealed in Jesus Christ and
set forth in the Spirit -inspired word, is no longer regarded as
valid or sufficient. Men grope for a firm foundation, grasping
straws. The saddest aspect of it all is that people who are
supposed to “know God” are taking part in the vain search.
William
Barclay says the “rudiments” of Col. 2:8-10 may refer to “elemental
spirits of the world, and especially the spirits of the stars
and planets.” He says that Paul’s answer is, “You need
nothing but Christ to overcome any power in the universe; for in
Him is nothing less than the fullness of God; and He is the head
of every power and authority for he created them.” I say, “Amen!”
Brethren.
quit this foolishness!!!
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