Bible and Occult Witchcraft Wicca Spiritualism Psychics
B. Bible Teaching about These Supernatural Powers
Witchcraft, sorcery, etc., are condemned without qualification in both the Old and New Testaments.
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 — Every aspect of the occult is here itemized and forbidden as an “abomination.” Specifically forbidden are: one who practices “
witchcraft” (NKJV; “divination” — ASV; KJV) or a “
sorcerer” (NKJV and ASV; “witch” — KJV), or a “
spiritist” (NKJV; “wizard” — ASV, KJV).
Leviticus 19:31 — Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits (“
wizards” — ASV, KJV); do not seek after them, to be defiled by them (NKJV).
Leviticus 20:6 — And the person who turns after mediums and familiar spirits (“
wizards” — ASV, KJV), to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. (NKJV)
Leviticus 20:27 — A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has a familiar spirit (“
wizard” — ASV, KJV), shall surely be put to death (NKJV).
Revelation 21:8 — But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Revelation 22:15 — But outside [heaven] are dogs and
sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Acts 13:8-10 — Elymas the
sorcerer tried to keep Sergius Paulus from accepting the gospel. Paul rebuked him saying: “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?”
Note that the Bible does not distinguish whether the witchcraft is intended to achieve a beneficial goal or a harmful one. It is all inherently wrong because it is an appeal to a forbidden source of power.
[2 Chron. 33:6; 2 Kings 9:22; Ex. 22:18; 1 Sam. 15:23; Mic. 5:12; Nahum 3:4; Jer. 27:9; Mal. 3:5; Isa. 2:6; 2 Kings. 21:6; 23:24; Isa. 19:3]
Specific powers of witchcraft and sorcery are named and condemned.
Exodus 7:11,22; 8:7 — Using their “
enchantments,” Pharaoh’s magicians tried to duplicate the miracles done by Moses and Aaron. “Enchantments” refer to the ceremonies or rituals sorcerers and magicians use to accomplish their ends: incantations, spells, magic words (“hocus-pocus”), wearing of charms (amulets), etc.
As the witchcraft website says: “Spells are used by Wiccans, and are a series of rituals and prayers that are conducted in witchcraft to ask for divine help in a certain aspect of life.” But God forbids them all.
Deuteronomy 18:10 also mentions these “enchantments” as part of that which is forbidden (“enchanters” — ASV, KJV).
Isaiah 8:19,20 - When they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and
wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? ... To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
“Whisper and mutter” refers to the incantations and spells of magicians. These words are supposed to give the user power to induce the spirit beings to accomplish the desired result. If you know the words, you can lead the spirit to do your bidding.
Note that God’s objection is that such practices are a failure to seek after the true God.
Galatians 5:20,21 — Those who will not inherit the kingdom of God include those who practice “
sorcery” (“witchcraft” — KJV). This includes the occult in general, but refers especially to the use of drugs and potions brewed by witches in their cauldrons, etc. (Movies and books often refer to the witches’ books of spells and recipes for potions, etc. “Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble...”)
God condemns, not only the whole practice of the occult, but also the specific methods, rituals, and mumbo-jumbo words used.
[Lev. 19:26; 2 Kings 17:17; Isa. 47:9,12; Jer. 27:9; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chron. 33:6; Isa. 3:20; Rev. 9:21]
Witches and sorcerers cannot duplicate the powers and miracles God did through inspired men.
The Bible often warns us to avoid being deceived by lying wonders [2 Thess. 2:9; Matt. 24:24; Deut. 13:1-5]. Many Bible events involved confrontations between those who did true miracles from God and those who practiced forms of sorcery or magic.
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No one involved in the occult can enter the kingdom of heaven.
