You're welcome, dadachango. Read my thread titled, "Astrology: The True Religion" for further edification and clarification. Here are the same scriptures you refer to recorded in the Contemporary English Version of the Holy Bible:dadachango: said:Brotha Aqil,
Thank you for pointing out the Bibilical references. It will serve for future study. I understand the Bible as I once was an Evangelical minister who secretly practiced astrology much to the chagrin of a few folks who found out and tried to really grill me. I used to teach Bible study and was shunned for my "blasphemous" tongue. "Blasphemous" only because I questioned the words I was reading. I am a lover of Truth, so I pursued the study of astrology anyway.
Deuteronomy 18:10-13 (Under the heading: "Don't Do Disgusting Things")
"Moses said to Israel:
Don't sacrifice your son or daughter. And don't try to use any kind of magic or witchcraft to tell fortunes or to cast spells or to talk with spirits of the dead. The LORD is disgusted with anyone who does these things, and that's why he will help you destroy the land. Never be guilty of doing any if these disgusting things!"
(Fortunetellers thought they could learn secrets or learn about the future by watching the flight of birds or looking at the livers of animals, or in many other ways.)
Isaiah 47:12-15 (Under the heading: "Babylon Will Fall")
"The LORD said: (speaking to the people of Babylon)
Keep using your magic powers and your charms as you have always done. Maybe - just maybe - you will frighten somebody! You have worn yourself out, asking for advice from those who study the stars and tell the future month after month. Go ask them how to be saved from what will happen. People who trust the stars are as helpless as straw in a flaming fire. No one can even cook food sitting by a fire that feeds only on straw. These are the fortunetellers you have done business with all of your life. But they do not know where they are going, and they can't save you."
Deuteronomy 4:19 (Under the primary heading: "Israel Must Obey God." The secondary heading reads: "Don't Worship Idols")
"Moses said to Israel:
And when you see the sun or moon or stars, don't be tempted to bow down and worship them. The LORD put them there for all other nations to worship."
Deuteronomy 17:2-5 (Under the heading: "Put To Death People Who Worship Idols")
Moses said to Israel:
The LORD your God is giving you towns to live in. But later, a man or a woman in your town may start worshiping other gods, or even the sun, moon or stars. I have warned younot to worship other gods, because whosoever worhips them is disobeying the LORD, and breaking the agreement He made with you. so when you hear that someone in your town is committing this disgusting sin, you must carefully find out if that person is really is guilty. But you need two or three witnesses - one witness isn't enough to prove a person guilty. Get rid of those who are guilty of such evil. Take them outside your town gates and have everyone stone them to death. But the witnesses must be the first to throw stones."
(Some people thought the sun, moon and stars were gods and worshiped them.)
Leviticus 20:6 (Under the heading: "Penalties for Disobeying God's Laws")
"The LORD told Moses to say to the people of Israel: 'I will be your enemy if you go to someone who claims to speak with the dead, and I will destroy you from amont my people.' "
Daniel 2:26-30 (Under the heading: "Daniel Interprets the Dream")
"The king asked Daniel, 'Can you tell me my dream and what it means?' Daniel answered: 'Your Majesty, not even the smartest person in all the world can do what you are demanding. But the God who rules from heaven can explain mysteries. And while you were sleeping, He showed you what will happen in the future. However, you must realize that these mysteries weren't expalined to me because I am smarter that everyone else. Instead, it was done so that you would understand what you have seen.' "
2 Chronicles 33:4-6 (Under the heading: "King Manasseh of Judah")
"In the temple, where only the LORD was supposed to be worshiped, Manasseh built altars for pagan gods and for the stars. He placed these altars in both courtyards of the temple, and even set up a stone image of a foreign god. Manasseh practiced magic and witchcraft; he asked fortunetellers for advice and sacrificed his own sons in Hinnom Valley. He did many other things, and made the LORD very angry."
Matthew 7:22-27 (Under the headings: "A Warning" and "Two Builders")
"On the day of judgment many will call me their LORD. They will say, 'We preached in your name and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles.' But I will tell them, 'I will have to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people.' " Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on solid rock. Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn't obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally it fell with a crash."
Luke 21:20-28 (Under the headings: "Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed" and "When the Son of Man Appears")
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by soldiers, you will know that it will soon be destroyed. If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains. If you are in the city, leave it. And if you are out in the country, dpn't go back into the city. This time of punishment is what is written about in the Scriptures. It will be an awful time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children! Everywhere in the land people will suffer horribly and be punished. Some of them will be killed by swords. Others will be carried off to foreign countries. Jerusalem will be overrun by foreign nations until their time comes to an end."
"When the Son of Man Appears"
"Strange things will happen to the sun, moon and stars. The nations on Earth will be afraid of the roaring sea and tides, and they won't know what to do. People will be so frightened that they will faint because of what is happening to the world. Every power in the sky will be shaken. Then the Son of Man will be seen, coming in a cloud with great power and glory. When all of this starts happening, stand up straight and be brave. You will soon be set free."
Acts 16:16-18 (Under the heading: "Paul and Silas Are Put in Jail")
"One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners. The girl followed Paul and the rest of us and kept yelling, 'These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved.' This went on for several days. Finally, Paul go so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone.' At once the evil spirit left her. When the girl's owners realized that they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court. They told the officials, 'These Jews are upsetting our city! They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do.' "