The Signs of Babylon

 

The beginnings of paganism

 “The trinity got its start in Ancient Babylon with Nimrod – Tammuz – and Semiramis. Semiramis demanded worship for both her husband and her son as well as herself. She claimed that her son, was both the father and the son. Yes, he was “god the father” and “god the son” – The first divine incomprehensible trinity.”   The Two Babylons p. 51

There is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness

The apostles encountered those in the church who professed godliness while they were secretly cherishing iniquity. Ananias and Sapphira acted the part of deceivers, pretending to make an entire sacrifice for God, when they were covetously withholding a portion for themselves. The Spirit of truth revealed to the apostles the real character of these pretenders, and the judgments of God rid the church of this foul blot upon its purity. This signal evidence of the discerning Spirit of Christ in the church was a terror to hypocrites and evildoers. They could not long remain in connection with those who were, in habit and disposition, constant representatives of Christ; and as trials and persecution came upon His followers, those only who were willing to forsake all for the truth's sake desired to become His disciples. Thus, as long as persecution continued, the church remained comparatively pure. But as it ceased, converts were added who were less sincere and devoted, and the way was open for Satan to obtain a foothold.  

But there is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and there can be no union between their followers. When Christians consented to unite with those who were but half converted from paganism, they entered upon a path which led further and further from the truth. Satan exulted that he had succeeded in deceiving so large a number of the followers of Christ. He then brought his power to bear more fully upon these, and inspired them to persecute those who remained true to God. None understood so well how to oppose the true Christian faith as did those who had once been its defenders; and these apostate Christians, uniting with their half-pagan companions, directed their warfare against the most essential features of the doctrines of Christ.  

It required a desperate struggle for those who would be faithful to stand firm against the deceptions and abominations which were disguised in sacerdotal garments and introduced into the church. The Bible was not accepted as the standard of faith. The doctrine of religious freedom was termed heresy, and its upholders were hated and proscribed.  

After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children's children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war.  

Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God's professed people.     Great Controversy pp. 44,45

The representative of Satan

The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the great apostasy which would result in the establishment of the papal power. He declared that the day of Christ should not come, “except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” [2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7.] And furthermore, the apostle warns his brethren that “the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” [2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7.] Even at that early date he saw, creeping into the church, errors that would prepare the way for the development of the papacy. 

Little by little, at first in stealth and silence, and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, the mystery of iniquity carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism. But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and his apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions. The nominal conversion of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.  

This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of the “man of sin” foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan's power,—a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will.  

Satan once endeavored to form a compromise with Christ. He came to the Son of God in the wilderness of temptation, and, showing him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, offered to give all into his hands if he would but acknowledge the supremacy of the prince of darkness. Christ rebuked the presumptuous tempter, and forced him to depart. But Satan meets with greater success in presenting the same temptations to man. To secure worldly gains and honors, the church was led to seek the favor and support of the great men of earth, and having thus rejected Christ, she was induced to yield allegiance to the representative of Satan,—the bishop of Rome.  

It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the visible head of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme authority over bishops and pastors in all parts of the world. More than this, the pope has arrogated the very titles of Deity. He styles himself “Lord God the Pope,” assumes infallibility, and demands that all men pay him homage. Thus the same claim urged by Satan in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through the Church of Rome, and vast numbers are ready to yield him homage.  

But those who fear and reverence God meet this Heaven-daring assumption as Christ met the solicitations of the wily foe: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” [Luke 4:8.] God has never given a hint in his Word that he has appointed any man to be the head of the church. The doctrine of papal supremacy is directly opposed to the teachings of the Scriptures. The pope can have no power over Christ's church except by usurpation.  

Romanists have persisted in bringing against Protestants the charge of heresy, and willful separation from the true church. But these accusations apply rather to themselves. They are the ones who laid down the banner of Christ, and departed from “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” [Jude 3.]                GC88 50,51.

Why millennials are ditching religion for witchcraft and astrology

Marketwatch  Oct 22, 2017

When Coco Layne, a Brooklyn-based producer, meets someone new these days, the first question that comes up in conversation isn’t “Where do you live?” or “What do you do?” but “What’s your sign?”

“So many millennials read their horoscopes every day and believe them,” Layne, who is involved in a number of nonreligious spiritual practices, said. “It is a good reference point to identify and place people in the world.”

Interest in spirituality has been booming in recent years while interest in religion plummets, especially among millennials. The majority of Americans now believe it is not necessary to believe in God to have good morals, a study from Pew Research Center released Wednesday found. The percentage of people between the ages of 18 and 29 who “never doubt existence of God” fell from 81% in 2007 to 67% in 2012.

 

Meanwhile, more than half of young adults in the U.S. believe astrology is a science. compared to less than 8% of the Chinese public. The psychic services industry — which includes astrology, aura reading, mediumship, tarot-card reading and palmistry, among other metaphysical services — grew 2% between 2011 and 2016. It is now worth $2 billion annually, according to industry analysis firm IBIS World.

Melissa Jayne, owner of Brooklyn-based “metaphysical boutique” Catland, said she has seen a major uptick in interest in the occult in the past five years, especially among New Yorkers in their 20s. The store offers workshops like “Witchcraft 101,” “Astrology 101,” and a “Spirit Seance.”

“Whether it be spell-casting, tarot, astrology, meditation and trance, or herbalism, these traditions offer tangible ways for people to enact change in their lives,” she said. “For a generation that grew up in a world of big industry, environmental destruction, large and oppressive governments, and toxic social structures, all of which seem too big to change, this can be incredibly attractive.”
 

Is there a hell?

Very few people discuss the topic of hell, because very few understand it. Is there a hellfire that people go to at death or is that a pagan teaching that has been incorporated into the dogma of the Church? It is very important that we separate long held man-made traditions from Biblical truths. It takes a lot of hard work and humility, but this intense study will go into what is false and what is true.

Christmas and Its Pagan Roots

Today Christians debate over nearly EVERYTHING rather than going directly to the word of God. What is the pre-Christian celebration called the 'Natalie Invitus Solis', that was kept in the occult world, which Christians have stolen and have called Christmas about? Can we really distinguish between what is Christianity and what is paganism? This in-depth study will settle this issue once and for all. It will upset and agitate but the truth is meant to set us free.

Origin of Christmas

The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. The New Testament provides no clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date. One widespread explanation of the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and the heralding of the rebirth of spring and summer. Indeed, after December 25 had become widely accepted as the date of Jesus’ birth, Christian writers frequently made the connection between the rebirth of the sun and the birth of the Son. One of the difficulties with this view is that it suggests a nonchalant willingness on the part of the Christian church to appropriate a pagan festival when the early church was so intent on distinguishing itself categorically from pagan beliefs and practices.

A second view suggests that December 25 became the date of Jesus’ birth by a priori reasoning that identified the spring equinox as the date of the creation of the world and the fourth day of creation, when the light was created, as the day of Jesus’ conception (i.e., March 25). December 25, nine months later, then became the date of Jesus’ birth. For a long time the celebration of Jesus’ birth was observed in conjunction with his baptism, celebrated January 6.

Christmas began to be widely celebrated with a specific liturgy in the 9th century but did not attain the liturgical importance of either Good Friday or Easter, the other two major Christian holidays. Roman Catholic churches celebrate the first Christmas mass at midnight, and Protestant churches have increasingly held Christmas candlelight services late on the evening of December 24. A special service of “lessons and carols” intertwines Christmas carols with Scripture readings narrating salvation history from the Fall in the Garden of Eden to the coming of Christ. The service, inaugurated by E.W. Benson and adopted at the University of Cambridge, has become widely popular.       Brittanica

The Origins of Halloween. What is the origin behind this popular festival celebrated every October 31?

October 31 is approaching fast—a night of ghoulish costumes, haunted houses, trick-or-treating, witches, jack-o’-lanterns, parties and superstitions that we call Halloween. What is this festival really about?

Celtic Origins

While the exact origin of our Halloween celebrations remains disputed by scholars, most point back to the ancient Celtic festival Samhain (pronounced sah-wen) as the precursor. The Celtic people of pre-medieval Europe lived in an area encompassing Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France.

Halloween greeting card from 1904, divination is depicted: the young woman looking into...

They divided their year into two halves or seasons – the “light half” (summer) and the “dark half” (winter). October 31 was the transitional time between the end of summer and the beginning of winter with its darker and shorter days that was often associated with death. Since the Celtic worldview relies on a strong sense of place and the natural world for its harvest and livelihood, there was much superstition surrounding this liminal or “in-between” night. The Celts believed the boundaries between the land of the living and the land of the dead became blurred on October 31, and the dead could cross over into this world to visit souls.

As a result, to avoid being recognized and sought by ghosts when they left their house, the Celts would wear masks or other disguises to trick the ghosts so they wouldn’t think they were a fellow spirit. This is likely the origin of modern-day dressing up in costume for Halloween. Vance Ferrell states that Celtic priests (Druids) told people to go with one another to gather food from each other’s houses to placate the ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, elves, and otherworldly creatures believed to come out on that night and harm people.ⁱ This food often included dainty sweets and is one theory as to the origin of trick-or-treating or ‘guising’ as it is called in Scotland and Ireland. If the evil spirit didn’t get properly “treated” or sent off, they would play a “trick” on people instead.ⁱⁱ A symbolic, communal bonfire was held on this night to mark the end of the “light” half of the year and protect the people from the coming winter.

Many divination and occult practices took place on this night. People sought out spirits of their ancestors and other beings to tell the future about weather and crop expectations, or even romantic interests. One tradition for women included standing in front of a mirror with a candle in a darkened room, where it was said that the face of their future husband would pass before them.

God makes it clear where He stands on these sorts of practices:

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, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 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. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

 

Jack-O'-Lantern

The legend of the jack-o’-lantern has a few different meanings. Some sources say the Celtic people used hollowed-out turnips to carve frightening faces and put a candle in to keep harmful spirits away from their homes.ⁱⁱⁱ Other tales say it was meant to act like a lamp to guide their dead ancestors to the meal left out for them.^iv The legend of “Jack of the Lantern” has it that a man named Jack tried to outsmart the devil through practical jokes. The devil punished him for it by making him carry around a lit lantern the rest of his life, meant as a warning for others not to offend the devil.^v

 

Roman Influence

When Rome conquered Celtic territory and ruled for four centuries (43-410 AD), aspects of Roman paganism became fused with the Celtic tradition of Samhain. For example, the Romans had two similar festivals themselves—Feralia, a day in late October where Romans commemorated the passing of the dead, and Pomona, a Roman goddess of fruit and trees, from which the Halloween tradition of bobbing for apples likely derives.ⁱⁱ

 

Etymology

So if the Celtic festival of Samhain foreshadows Halloween, how did we come to call Halloween “Halloween”? Halloween literally means “the eve of All Hallows’ or All Saints’, which had to do with the Christian Church. On May 13, 609 A.D., Pope Boniface IV re-consecrated the Pantheon in Rome and renamed it “Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs.” This day established the anniversary of remembering the Church’s martyrs. In the 9th century, Pope Gregory III dedicated this day to all the saints (hence the name All-hallows or “All Saints Day”) and moved it from May to November 1—directly after the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain. The night before (October 31) became “All Hallow’s Eve” and eventually “Halloween” – a contraction of the phrase.

 

Christian Influence

The fusing of religious celebrations that occurred between the Celtic and Roman peoples similarly occurred between the Celts and Christians when Christianity began spreading into Celtic lands. Travis Allen describes why this intermixing of holidays occurred and its aftermath:

As Christianity moved through Europe it collided with indigenous pagan cultures and confronted established customs. Pagan holidays and festivals were so entrenched that new converts found them to be a stumbling block to their faith. To deal with the problem, the organized church would commonly move a Christian holiday to a spot on the calendar that would directly challenge a pagan holiday. The intent was to counter pagan influences and provide a Christian alternative. But most often the church only succeeded in ‘Christianizing’ a pagan ritual—the ritual was still pagan, but mixed with Christian symbolism. That’s what happened to All Saints Eve—it was the original Halloween alternative!^vi

In this sense, Samhain was absorbed into Halloween. The same is true of other “Christian” holidays like Christmas and Easter, which all had pagan origins. Halloween eventually made its way to North America around the second half of the 19th century when a flood of Irish immigrants came to the New World after the potato famine in 1846 and brought their traditions with them. Certain Samhain festivities prevailed like costumes, trick-or-treating, candy, and bobbing for apples. Hollywood has added its own imagery to further enhance the scare-factor and spiritual darkness of this night.

 

Wiccans and Halloween

Samhain is also connected to modern-day Wicca – an old English word for witch. This religion is an offshoot of the ancient Celtic witchcraft of Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Samhain was one of the more important sabbats or seasonal holidays of the year that witches held sacred. Celtic priests believed that witches ride on broomsticks this night and can change themselves into black cats—hence two popular symbols of Halloween that continue today.

According to one article, “Canadian Wiccans would like to see Halloween recognized as a day of special pagan religious significance.”^vii Many Wiccans claim this holiday as their day, taking part in activities such as ritual purification, divination, and contact with dead ancestors. Vampires, witches, ghosts, goblins, and other such morbid costumes fill the streets on Halloween night. Haunted houses are decorated with violent imagery showing blood-stained hands, faces, and decapitated bodies. This holiday that has been around since ancient times increasingly focuses on the perverse, the gothic, and the occult.

 

Reformation Day

The hype around Halloween has further clouded people’s eyes from another celebration on this day that is truly honouring to God—Reformation Day. October 31, 1517 is the day Martin Luther, who instigated the Protestant Reformation, nailed his 95 Theses on the door of a Wittenberg church. This momentous day changed the whole of Christendom as Luther advocated for an individual’s relationship with Christ based on faith, grace, and Scripture alone (sola fide, sola gratia, and sola scriptura) and not the authority of the Catholic Church.

Instead of celebrating a pagan festival shrouded in superstitions, darkness, and occult imagery, let’s focus on the light that this day represents—the light of God’s Word revealed to each and every person directly through the Scriptures and not through an institution, and let’s look for opportunities to spread this message to others on October 31 in keeping with the legacy of the Reformers.

i. Vance Ferrell, The Real Story Behind Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. (Altamont, TN: Harvestime Books, 2003): 66.
ii. Travis Allen, "Christians and Halloween.”
iii. Ellen Feldman, "Halloween." American Heritage (52.7: 2001).
iv. "The History of Halloween." Sceptic (7.3: 1999).
v. Vance Ferrell, op. cit., p. 66.
vi. Travis Allen, op. cit.
vii. Terry O'Neill, "Pagans and Pumpkins: Christians recoil at the ghoulisness of Halloween, while Wiccans work to clean it up." Report News Magazine (Oct 25, 1999): 62-63. 
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