Skeletons, spiders, Jack O’ Lanterns, bats and many other decorations are installed. Blood dripping, dark spooky parties, strange occult chants, abnormal behavior, demons and devils throughout the cities and towns. Kids dressed in unusual costumes, like witches, zombies, vampires, etc. and go begging for treats from door to door, or cause mischief to those who refuse. Wow! Sounds like a satanic séance?Well, we are talking about Halloween. For some, just the appearance of this event tells that it is nothing good, but others, it seem like a harmless activity. After all, they are just having fun. Halloween has become an American tradition, that many participate in today, even Christians. It was first recorded in the US in 1911. Many today may argue that Hallowe’en is a contraction of ‘All hallows evening’, a holiday celebrated by the Catholics on the 31st of October, therefore, it is Christian. This was, however, a pre-Christian tradition, originally started as a Wiccan holiday. Today, they may argue it’s “innocence”, but the Christian attitude should be, Lord, teach me your word (truth) and I will obey, no matter what seems right to me.
What is the origin of Halloween?
Halloween originated more than 2000 years ago, it was originally called Samhain. It was the ancient Celtic New Year; the harvest had been gathered, the sheep and cattle brought in from the field, and the leaves fallen from the tree, it was the beginning of new things. Witches, Wiccans, druids, and other pagans, believed this day to be the Sabbat to honor dead ancestors, the day when the veil between this world and the spirit realm is thinnest. Up to this day, modern pagans participate in meditation and séances on the 31st of October, hoping to communicate with the dead beyond the veil to offer advice, protection, and guidance for the upcoming year. The Celts also would light bonfires and wear costumes made of animal heads and skin, to ward off roaming ghosts and ghouls. Druid priests will also sacrifice animals and humans in those fires (scary stuff). Some may light candles and set empty plates for the deceased. Many rituals of which are adopted in modern religions today.
What happens when someone dies?
“Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust.” (Psalm 104:29, King James Bible)
Answer: The breath is taken away, and the dust is returned to the ground.
What state are they in after death?
“So man lieth down, and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be raised out of their sleep.” Job 14:12
Answer: In a sleeplike state.
Does the dead know anything?
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Ecclesiastes 9:5
Answer: No
In the old testament, what was the penalty for those who sort to communicate with the dead?
“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones.” Leviticus 20:27.
Answer: They were be stoned to death
Who sort the dead in the old testament?
“Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.” 1 Samuel 28:7
Answer: Saul
What was he told?
“And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with ra mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and sGod is departed from me, and tanswereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.” 1 Samuel 28:12-15
This word “gods” here can also be translated as angels.
Was it the Lord who communicated with Saul?
“And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.” 1 Samuel 28:6
Answer: No, the Lord no longer communicated with him, not even by prophets which Samuel was.
Can evil angels impersonate people?
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14
Answer: yes, Satan can be transformed into an angel of light.
It is not hard to picture that demons could tell the future to a certain extent, seeing that many human beings are controlled by the devil and his angels. The rude awakening is that since the dead do not go to heaven when they die until the resurrection or hell, then this can only mean it was an evil angel who communicated with him.
How was Halloween introduced into the Christian church?
As an effort to spread their influence, the Catholic church through Pope Gregory the III (731–741) re-established the celebration of All Saints day from May 13th to the 1st of November. In the ninth century, Pope Gregory IV demanded that the observance of this festival become obligatory for all Catholics. The evening was called All Hallows eve, now better known as Halloween, which later developed into a community event. It was a day to honor martyrs and dead saints. It’s celebration is similar to Samhain, with bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. The 2nd of November, named All souls day, was also chosen to pray for individuals who died in a state of sin, and are currently in purgatory, that they may be cleansed of sin and be translated to Heaven. In the US, it was not adopted by the early puritans, because of its pagan roots, however, it was slowly brought in by the Irish immigrants in the mid-eighteenth century, due to a famine in Ireland.
Today we may argue its innocence, but we cannot remove the satanic origin of this celebration. A USA Today article on Halloween quoted a witch, Bryan Jordan, as saying, “Christians don’t realize it, but they’re celebrating our holiday with us…We like it!” Even the founder of the church of Satan, Anton Lavey, had this to say, “I’m glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year.”
Anton Lavey, founder of Church of Satan.
Let us examine some of the popular features of Halloween
Jack O’ Lanterns
There is a legend told of this man nicknamed Stingy Jack. He tricked the devil into not claiming his soul and when he died, he was not welcomed to Heaven, and was sent to Hell. When the devil heard of it, he refused to let him in and sent him into the dark night with only a burning coal. Jack put the burning coal into a carved out turnip. He has been roaming the Earth ever since. The Irish eventually called him “Jack of the lantern” or today simplified to Jack O’ Lantern. In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. Pumpkins was a perfect replacement for the Irish who migrated to the USA.
Trick or treat
During Samhain, spirits were believed to roam about freely. To appease these unwelcomed spirits, food was left out, who otherwise would play tricks on them. In later centuries, people began dressing as ghosts, demons and other malevolent creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. Which today transformed into the 2 billion dollar market.
Black cats
Animals including black cats were burned by the Druid priests to placate their gods. In medieval times, witches were thought to have transformed into black cats or were their familiars. Therefore, many cats and witches were to said to have been sacrificed. In the witches encyclopedia, it is thought that Satan himself at times transforms himself into a black cat.
Apple Bobbing
Many of these traditions is steeped in superstition. The roman goddess, Pomona, of Fruits, including apples, represented romance. when an apple is sliced in half the seeds form a pentagram, women believed that this could determine marriages. Apple bobbing was developed as a result. Apples would be placed in a tub. The bobber would then attempt to bite into the apple named for the young man she desired. If it only took her one try, they were destined for romance. If she succeeded with her second attempt, he would court her but their love would fade. If it took three tries, their relationship was doomed. Another approach to the game was a race to be the first to bite an apple; the first to emerge successful would be the first to marry.
The Lord is cautioning us today, “And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.” Leviticus 20:23. Let every man be persuaded in his own mind, the shreds of evidence have been laid out. It is not dead ancestors, but evil angels who many communicate with on this night. . This does not seem like a day to have a merry jolly good time, but a time to fast and pray that the Lord might shield you and your family on this satanic day. Let us seek to shun all that is evil and help to spread the truth by sharing this tract with friends and family.
What is the “spirit” that returns to God at death?
What happens when a person die?