As Christians, we have more than one enemy, but can we recognize them? Something we have to understand is that spirits never die, they simply adjust to the culture they abide in. In part one, we discussed the ancient spirit, Mammon, the Chaldean god of money, who seems to be behind most other false gods. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to another ancient enemy the Church still has today, Molech (Moloch), in our second part of our three-part series, Recognizing The Enemy Pt. 2: Molech.
If spirits never die, then Molech (Moloch) is still present in our society. Instead of sacrificing their children on an altar, our society has made it a medical procedure and a woman’s right to choose. Abortion is nothing more than sacrificing your child on the altar to either Molech (Moloch) or Baal, the ‘fetus’ is a living, breathing baby.
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. 4 And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, 5 then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.”
As time goes on, Halloween seems to become a bigger and bigger holiday, and more and more Christians seem to participate. But is that okay? There isn’t anywhere in the Bible that says, “Thou Shall Not Celebrate Halloween.” Yet something about this holiday seems to give some Christians the heebie-jeebies. Is Halloween evil? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he searches scriptures for answers to the big question, Can Christians Celebrate Halloween?
The origins of Halloween are in the occult, specifically the pagan festival of Samhain. Therefore, why are Christians celebrating this pagan festival? Because if it is pagan, then it isn’t of God. If it isn’t of God, then it is evil. Therefore, why are Christians celebrating and participating in Halloween if it’s evil?
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Recap:
John Ramirez’ Five Reasons Christians Shouldn’t Celebrate Halloween:
1. Legal Rights 2. Eternal Mistake 3. Important Satanic Holiday 4. Grieves Holy Spirit 5. Demonic Candy and Costumes
How We Got Rid of Unwanted Spirits
How exactly did we get the demonic spirits out of our home? An entire night of prayer and worship as we walked throughout the home, anointing the different rooms and doorways with anointing oil. We also spoke scriptures of protection and peace over each room as we had our worship, such as Psalms 23, John 14:27, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:7, etc.
As time goes on, we’ve noticed a shift in our culture. Things that were once weird, taboo, odd, creepy, dangerous, scary, evil are now normal, fun, empowering, inspiring, progressive, and positive. Things of the Occult once hid in the shadows, but now they have made their way to the forefront, making their presence known to all. Casting spells on the President is applauded instead of appalled. Marching as the Whore of Babylon is empowering instead of destructive. Playing the Ouija Board is an enlightening game for young children, instead of a dangerous door opener to the demonic. Witchcraft has been brought to the forefront and normalized in our society.
The Occult and all of its practices are becoming accepted more and more throughout our society, but does it matter? Are all practices of The Occult dangerous? Aren’t some White Magic? Isn’t that okay? Can’t Christians partake in some of these practices? Join ArieRashelle as she dives into some of the practices of The Occult, searching for answers.
Revelation 9:21 Matthew 24 Acts 16:16-18 2 Kings 21:6 Matthew 7:13-14
More Information on The Occult in The Bible?
The Occult in The Old Testament
Horoscopes
10 You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’ 11 But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing. 12 Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror.
13 You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you. 14 Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before! 15 Such to you are those with whom you have labored, who have done business with you from your youth; they wander about, each in his own direction; there is no one to save you.
Isaiah 47:10-15
The LORD is speaking to Babylon in this verse, telling them that all the things they thought would protect them, give them power, and take them to the next level, would actually be their downfall. The LORD even taunts them, saying, “Stand Fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries… perhaps you may be able to succeed… let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you…” Babylon’s sin isn’t just doing witchcraft, but also dividing the heavens and gazing up at the stars for things to be revealed to them. Does that sound like anything familiar? Maybe Horoscopes? Horoscopes are read daily by many people, including Christians, yet that would be one of the main things that incur the wrath of God upon Babylon. Are we incurring the wrath of God upon ourselves when we read our horoscopes?
Child Sacrifice
27 Then he [the king of Moab] took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel. And they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.
2 Kings 3:27
“If I had not had that abortion, I’m pretty sure there would have been no Fleetwood Mac,” she said. “There’s just no way that I could have had a child then, working as hard as we worked constantly. And there were a lot of drugs, I was doing a lot of drugs … I would have had to walk away.
“And I knew that the music we were going to bring to the world was going to heal so many people’s hearts and make people so happy,” she continued. “And I thought: you know what? That’s really important. There’s not another band in the world that has two lead women singers, two lead women writers. That was my world’s mission.”
Today we don’t sacrifice our children on a direct alter outside. We don’t burn them in a fire. We murder them while they are still in our wombs. During the time of the Old Testament Prophets, they murdered their children to win a battle, gain control of other nations, world dominance, etc. Today, we murder our children for the sake of a band making music. Let me be very clear on this; there is no difference between murdering a baby outside of the womb and murdering a baby inside of the womb. The baby is a baby no matter where it is, no matter how small it is, and no matter how little anyone thinks of it. The baby is a human life, and to end that life is murder. Period.
If those of the Old Testament murdered their children and a spirit responded, when we murder our children wouldn’t those same spirits respond? If so, then wouldn’t abortion then be witchcraft? We sacrifice our children so that we can gain something that WE deem is more important. There is no reason to murder an innocent life. This is indeed witchcraft alive and well in our society. The only difference is we’ve painted it as healthcare and a civil right. Instead of throwing them in a fire, where everyone can hear their screams and their cries, we tear them limb from limb in the mother’s womb so no one can hear them cry and no one can see them try to squirm away. While the ancients were honest in their murder and called it for what it was and still is, child sacrifice, we’ve called it, Abortion.
The Occult in The New Testament
We all know the story of the Seven Sons of Sceva, they were Jewish Exorcists who heard of Paul and the miracles he was doing. So, they began invoking the name of Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” But the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man, whom the evil spirits were in, overcame them all, leaving them to run out of the home naked and wounded. But we often ignore what happened next.
17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
Acts 19:17-20
This story led to those who had recently been practicing witchcraft or magic arts to not only give up that lifestyle but burn their books in the sight of all. Keep in mind those books weren’t cheap either, to give you a little idea of what they were worth, depending on the type of piece of silver, they could be worth anywhere from $5.5 million to $1.5 billion. Either way, those books were worth a lot of money, yet they saw the difference between right and wrong, and they burned their books and repented. If they, 2,000 years ago, saw a problem with magic arts and Christianity, why don’t we in today’s world? Why don’t we see the problem with mixing The Occult and Christianity?
The Occult Conclusion
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Neither can you have The Occult and Christianity, for what does light have in common with darkness? Choose today whom you shall serve, for tomorrow, is promised to no man. Today is the day of Salvation. Those who practiced magic arts, The Occult, saw the Truth could not be paired with a lie and repented. Nothing has changed; the Truth still cannot be paired with a lie. If you would like to accept your free gift of Salvation, all you have to do is repeat this prayer,
“Dear Jesus, please forgive me of my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I accept Your free gift of Salvation and declare You as LORD of my life. Thank You for dying on the cross to save me. Thank You for Your forgiveness. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.”
Are Ghosts Real? What happens if you die and have unfinished business? Is that it? Or does your soul then roam the Earth trying to complete its life? Maybe they had a violent death and can’t go into the light. Do you haunt the place of your death? Do you haunt the people you once knew seeking help or justice? Are ghosts in the Bible? Join ArieRashelle as she strives to answer the long-old question, Are Ghosts Real?
1 Samuel 28:8-14 Isaiah 8:19 Matthew 14:16 Luke 24:37-39 Luke 16:22-23 Deuteronomy 18:10-12 1 Samuel 16:14-16 Revelation 12:7-8 1 Kings 22:19-23 Job 2:7-8
Are Ghosts Real?
Ghosts In The Bible
8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” 9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. 15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”
1 Samuel 28:8-15
25 And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Matthew 14:25-27
More Info on Hauntings
To clarify, we, the HoldToHope Family, do not believe that hauntings are done by ghosts, but instead by the Demonic/Satanic Realm. That would include Demons, Beasts of The Field, Angels, and other spirits. We do not believe that a soul or spirit roams the Earth due to unfinished business or deals with the Devil. We believe that after a person dies, their soul/spirit goes straight to either Heaven or Sheol (Hades).
During the video we asked the question can God be an accessory to sin? We believe that God cannot and is never an accessory to sin. We do believe, however, that God allows spirits as well as other people to tempt people into committing a sin. Just as it was not God who was tormenting Job, but it was Satan. Even though God allowed it to happen, He did not orchestrate it, nor was He a part of it. Same with the lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets. God allowed the spirit to lie to the prophets, deceiving Ahab, and ultimately bringing His downfall. If this was not enough explanation for this subject, let us know in the comment section below, and we will dedicate an entire video to this question. Until next time, God Bless
It seems like the older we get, the more we believe that the spiritual realm and the supernatural are just fairy tales. We become more and more skeptical of testimonies of the spiritual world, especially in terms of belief in demons, which is even taboo in the church. We’ve become desensitized to everything that we can’t see, hear, or touch. Though many don’t believe in demons, many have no other choice but to, because they actually see them. In today’s world seeing demons is seen as a mental illness, and many are actually hospitalized for being able to. Many even question if demons are even in the Bible. Many believe that demons aren’t real, they’re just misunderstood ghosts. Join ArieRashelle as she strives to answer the question, Are Demons Real?
Deuteronomy 32:17 Psalms 106:37 Matthew 7:22 Revelation 18:2 1 Corinthians 10:20-21 1 Timothy 4:1 Acts 17:8 Matthew 9:32-33 Mark 9:17-18 Mark 1:34 Luke 8:30-33 Mark 16:17 1 Timothy 4:1-3 Revelation 12:9 Genesis 3:1 Mark 5:6-13
More Verses
Demons In The Bible
Demonized/Casting Out Demons in the Bible
Matthew 4:24
Matthew 8:15-17
Matthew 8:28-32
Matthew 9:34
Luke 4:41
Luke 8:2
Luke 9:1
Characteristics of Demons in the Bible
Matthew 12:43-44
Mark 3:11
Luke 8:29
James 2:19
Demons Linked to Unclean Spirits in the Bible
Mark 6:7-9; Luke 9:1-3
Revelation 16:13-14
Fun Facts
Demons are only mentioned in the Old Testament twice. We see entities that are translated as goat demons, but that is actually the Hebrew word se’irim’. Whereas the word demon is the Hebrew word sedim. They are two completely different words, with different meanings.
1/3 of Jesus’ ministry was casting out demons. Everywhere He went He casted out demons, whether it was in the Synagogue or out in the fields.
After casting out a demon in front of the Pharisees, Jesus said, “the Kingdom of God has come.” Before then, Jesus quieted everyone and told them not to tell anyone. In fact even His first miracle, turning water into wine, Jesus said His time hadn’t yet come. Even before that miracle, Jesus (as well as John the Baptist) preached that the Kingdom of God is at hand, but when casting out the demons, Jesus said “the Kingdom of God has come.”
Matthew 3:1-2
Matthew 4:17
Matthew 12:22-32
Luke 11:20
During the End Times after the Sixth Trumpet is blown, many people are killed by plagues, but the interesting thing is what John reveals is their response, “20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Revelation 9:20-21) They refused to give up worshiping demons. The worship of demons will be one of the greatest downfalls of humanity in the Last Days.
According to Paul, teachings of demons are 1 Timothy 4:1-5, ” Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. “ The teachings of demons will be forwarded by liars who don’t have a conscience, forbid marriage, and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving. Just think about that…
Testimonials
A Woman with Epilepsy
While working with the homeless, we met a woman who suffered from epilepsy since the age of 16 (she is now in her 40s). It wasn’t even that we just heard that she suffered from epilepsy, but we witnessed it every time we saw her, which was at least once a week. She had prescription medication that she had been on for over 30 years. During one visit she just kept having seizure after seizure after seizure. Celia decided enough was enough and we needed to help her, so Celia laid hands on her and started casting out a demon. As Celia and Kenny were praying and casting out the demon out of the woman, Arie was walking around the perimeter of the camp when she felt something light on the outside of the camp, a good presence trying to get into the camp but couldn’t. As she began to feel that presence get stronger, Celia and Kenny continued to pray and cast out the demon, when they saw the woman’s facial features begin to change. She began growling and becoming more animal-like. After a few more minutes of prayer the demon left the woman, and she stopped seizing and her facial features returned to normal. It’s now been almost two years, and the woman has not had a seizure since.
Arie’s First Encounter with a Demon
Arie was born with the ability to see, hear, and feel what others may not be able to. From a young age, she was able to see the unseen spiritual realm. Once when she 4 or 5, she was lying in bed, and a spirit entered the room. Its height was about the height of an average man, it was slender, had a long round white/grey face, and had a suit on. As it walked towards her side of the bed, as her older sister Britni was asleep on the other side, it began to speak to her. “I’m your dad. It’s okay, I’m your father. I’m your dad.” Once the adrenaline from fear finally kicked in, Arie screamed for her dad, Kenny, which only made the entity try to convince her more. Once Kenny walked into the room, the entity disappeared. Arie has never seen the entity since, but to this day, she still subconsciously sleeps in the center of the bed out of a subconscious fear of it returning.
