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Introduction When you hear the word “occult” … what do you

envision? Strange people… with strange ideas… acting out

strange rituals… often masking what they may be actually doing?

If you believe the occult are identified with their religious beliefs… then you would be correct.

But many of those beliefs are obscured by other actions they do… and that what may appear to be seemingly “normal” or “mainstream” can shroud a hidden agenda… for themselves… and what they expect of others.

Cult Vs. Occult Before proceeding further, we should discuss the

difference between a cult… and the occult. Since the words “cult” and “occult” sound somewhat

similar, some may think that they carry the same meaning.

Both are usually associated with religions and religious beliefs; however, the occult carries a difference in its religious focus.

For its followers, the occult carries practices that are believed to include supernatural intervention.

Throughout the world, there are cultic groups. Within many of these groups there may include

occult-like practices. In both cases, the associated group deals with a certain

set of attitudes that characterize their life patterns.

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These lifestyles differ in some ways with the mainstream of the society they exist in.

What does Cult mean? The word “cult” can be used as a noun as well as an

adjective. In general, it refers to a group of people who has a

kind of belief system that is different from the socially accepted religious beliefs of the common community.

These “cultic” practitioners are seen as being deviants… those who go against the acceptable social beliefs and norms.

Generally, these cults are small in numbers… with respect to the communities they live in.

Many times, they are believed to be extremists in their beliefs… and that nothing will ever change them.

Often, the leadership of a cultic group is a single individual… charismatic in their approach and appeal… and who claim… and receive… near-absolute authoritative control among the followers.

Most people outside the cult see them as followers of an unreal and imaginative faith.

Furthermore, cults can be seen as agents to misguide the community… because the cult does not follow the socially established belief system.

Other Cults Some other uses for the term “cult” may… and

could… carry what some would consider non-religious. But is that really the case?

Consider the following example: The latest movie star has become the cult figure among the youth.

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Here, the word “cult” is used as an adjective… defining a relationship… and an object of near or actual worship… for one group of individuals toward an individual.

The movie star has become more popular among the youth than those generally regarded as authoritative in the community.

There are many examples in history… and even today. Historically, strong national leaders, such as Joseph

Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Saddam Hussein have had strong followings… albeit coerced.

The most-obvious example today is Kim Jung-Un… the absolute dictator of North Korea.

He is the latest in the North Korean leadership line demanding a “cult of personality” devotion from his people.

Again, it is totally forced upon the people… devotion and worship… and anyone not in compliance can expect certain death.

The latest “Kim” carried on the tradition of his grandfather, and then his father, in ever-increasing enforcement of devotion.

The people are forced to worship the individual. In this sense, it is… and has… a religious connotation. It is in fact… idolatry… which Yahweh warns us of.

Are We a Cult? What do you think? Would you say that we as a cult? By the definition mentioned previously… yes.

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We do, in fact, deviate from the religious norms of the society we live in.

Not in a “cult of personality” sense… although unfortunately sometimes that has come into play.

Our beliefs stray in many ways from the “norm”. Sabbath worship… observation of the holy days…

adherence to the dietary laws… understanding of the nature of the Eternal Family… understanding of the ultimate plan and purpose of mankind… these all differentiate us from the norm… “Churchianity”.

So, in many ways, we are… in fact… a cult. We’ve been called a cult by the mainstream

“Churchianity”. In that context, it’s always used as a derogatory

term… something to imply an error in our thinking. Both they and we consider our source of our beliefs to

be the Bible. But what does the Bible actually say? Titus 2:14: <Yahshua> gave Himself for us, that He

might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

I Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

The “special” people in the NKJV is listed as “peculiar”. To us this congers up the idea of “strange”. But to Yahweh it means “set apart”.

What does Occult mean?

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The term “occult”, as opposed to “cult”, carries a far different meaning in its basic sense.

People who consider themselves to be part of a cult generally provide a logical basis for their belief system.

For those like us… we base our beliefs and actions on the words of the Bible… the same sacred scripture that mainstream “Churchianity” uses to justify what they do and say.

In many ways, we share what they believe… yet we also differ significantly in many points.

The occult, on the other hand, rely on the supernatural… or magic powers… where known science or reason cannot explain such beliefs.

Either a group of people… or a single individual… may practice the occult… and they claim to use mysterious powers which cannot be understood by ordinary people.

The groups or individuals who practice the occult assume that they have a magical power and strength… and they use this power to do certain things.

For example, those who practice witchcraft may try to enchant, kill or harm people… or they may use that supposed power to aid others.

Fortune telling, talking with the dead, and witchcraft… are some examples of occult practices.

Crystal balls, horoscopes, star signs, and the like... are just some of the tools that many occultists use. However, the occult always deal with supernatural… and more specifically… demonic powers.

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In general, even more than those considered a cult… the occult vehemently does not adhere to the socially established religious system.

Occult Characteristics The term “occult” is from the Latin word occultus…

meaning “clandestine… hidden… or secret”. It is considered by its practitioners to be the

“knowledge of the hidden”. In common English usage, “occult” refers to

“knowledge of the paranormal” … as opposed to “knowledge of the measurable” … usually referred to as science.

The term is sometimes taken to mean knowledge that “is meant only for certain people” … or that “must be kept hidden”.

But for most practicing occultists, it is simply the study of a deeper spiritual reality that extends beyond pure reason and the physical sciences.

The terms “esoteric”, meaning intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest… and “arcane”, meaning understood by few; mysterious or secret… can also be used to describe the occult, in addition to their usual meanings… unrelated to the supernatural.

The occult is identified by a number of magical organizations or orders, the teachings and practices taught by them, and a large body of related literature and spiritual philosophy.

Some you may have heard of.

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The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, or more commonly, the Golden Dawn… was an organization devoted to the study and practice of the occult, metaphysics, and paranormal activities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This occult organization, known as a magical order, was active in Great Britain and focused its ritual practices… along with spiritual development.

Many present-day concepts of ritual and magic that are at the center of contemporary traditions, such as Wicca and Thelema, were inspired by the Golden Dawn.

The Golden Dawn system was based on hierarchy and initiation… similar to today’s Masonic Lodges… except women were admitted on an equal basis with men.

The teachings of the Golden Dawn included elements of previous occultish groups: Christian Mysticism: The development of mystical

practices and theory within Christianity. Qabalah: The Western esoteric tradition involving

mysticism, Gnosticism, and the occult. Ancient Egypt Paganism. Alchemy: a philosophical and proto-scientific

tradition aimed to purify, mature, and perfect certain objects, including the human body, with a link to chemistry.

One of Thelema’s biggest proponents was Aleister Crowley, a British man who came out of the Golden Order to develop Thelema in the early 1900s.

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Central to the beliefs of the Thelema is the so-called “Book of the Law”.

The book contains three chapters, each of which was alleged to be written down in one hour, beginning at noon, on 8 April, 9 April, and 10 April in Cairo, Egypt, in the year 1904.

Crowley says that the author was an entity named Aiwass, whom he later referred to as his personal holy guardian angel, whom Crowley considered to be the central deity within the Thelemic cosmology.

Many of the practices and symbolism in the previously mentioned groups philosophies are… in fact… not so different.

Calls for supernatural intervention in their lives is one common point.

Use of “special” acts, materials and symbols are another.

These symbols could include the 6-sided hexagram or 5-sided pentagram stars.

Occult Mindset Occultists focus on that which has no known

measurable… or even rational… explanation. But let us not label everything that is unexplainable as

occultish. Sometimes, a logical explanation can become a

reality. During the Middle Ages, for example, magnetism was

considered an occult quality. Yet today, it is a scientifically proven force of nature.

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Sir Isaac Newton’s contemporaries severely criticized his theory that gravity was affected through an “action at a distance”, as being an occult thought.

Many of the “unknown” and “unexplainable” of the past, due to our understanding today, are now no longer considered “occult”.

However, what was practiced… and is still practiced… in a religious context… is still occult.

The Lies in Eden What we can see from occultist thought… versus the

true religion of Yahweh… is what we’ve seen from the very beginning of man… perhaps a glimmer of truth… along with a whole lot of fiction… or outright lies.

Our 1st parents experienced this. Genesis 3:1-5: 1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast

of the field which Yahweh Elohim had made. And he said to the woman, “Has Elohim indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;

3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, Elohim has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

5 For Elohim knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.”

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There was some truth in there… their minds were opened.

They didn’t die… at least not immediately… but the truth is that they would eventually die… Satan lied!

And the biggest lie was based on obscuring the purpose Yahweh had for Adam and Eve… obedience!

“Modern” Lies That was then… what about now? Many of the so-called “mainstream” practices today…

while claiming to use the same inspired texts that you and I use… actually carry over traditions that… quite frankly… are occultish in nature.

For example, Sunday worship… when the Bible proclaims the Sabbath… as the true day of worship for the true Almighty One.

Christmas… the supposed birth date of Messiah. Valentine’s Day… that day of cute, innocent,

expressions of love and friendship… until you pull back the curtain of truth to discover its true origins!

And then there’s Easter… the supposed resurrection day and time of our Saviour… a “holy and pure” expression of worship… right?

Modern “Churchianity” have inherited the practice of the worship of Easter, or Ishtar.

Originally, it celebrated the reincarnated “Mother of Heaven” … returning in an egg… landing in the Euphrates river… which burst open to reveal the bare-breasted goddess of fertility… who then turned a bird into an egg-laying rabbit.

But most sinister of all is how this “holy and pure” act

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had its origins. The occultist priests of Babylon sacrificed infants on

Easter Sunday, then dyed the eggs of Easter with the blood of those sacrificed infants.

Modern day churches mimic that perverted ritual… although toned down quite a bit… with their Easter celebrations… teaching that this is how the true Elohim wants to be worshiped.

Far from it! These denominations carry forward the occultist

practices of the past!

Yahweh vs. Ba’al What does you Bible say on the subject of the occult? One powerful example is found in the story of the Mt.

Carmel showdown. Elijah vs. the priests of Ba’al… the “lord”, or “master”

to the Ba’al followers. The priests of Ba’al preached an indistinct prosperity

gospel… about an indistinct god… who had indistinct requirements to follow and worship.

The people thought they were worshiping the true Elohim… that brought their forefathers out of Egypt hundreds of years earlier.

They neither knew His name or what He required of them.

Yet Yahweh demonstrated who is in charge. I Kings 18:36-39: 36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of

the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Yahweh Elohim of Abraham, Isaac,

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and Israel, let it be known this day that You are Elohim in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.

37 Hear me, O Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that You are Yahweh Elohim, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”

38 Then the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “Yahweh, He is Elohim! Yahweh, He is Elohim!”

If an indistinct “lord” is your elohim… your mighty one… then continue to serve him any way you please.

But if Yahweh is the true Elohim, then we better start obeying His commandments and clean out all of the man-made customs which we once practiced… the abominations we’ve inherited… that we mimic… all supposedly in His name.

Saul There’s another prime example in the OT… when a

leader of Israel… who should have known better… sought the wisdom of the supernatural.

His was an experience with the occult. Saul, the 1st king of Israel, reverted to relying on the

witch at En Dor, instead of Yahweh, for his guidance. I Samuel 28:4-7:

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4 Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gilboa.

5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

6 And when Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.

7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.”

The witch brought up “Samuel”, whom Saul sought. I Samuel 28:11-19: 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up

for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with

a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”

13 And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.”

14 So he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down.

15 Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and Elohim has

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departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.”

16 Then Samuel said: “Why then do you ask me, seeing Yahweh has departed from you and has become your enemy?

17 And Yahweh has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.

18 Because you did not obey the voice of Yahweh nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this thing to you this day.

19 Moreover Yahweh will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

Who was this “Samuel” who spoke? Obviously not Samuel the Priest!

Conclusion Yahshua, in His Sermon on the Mount, warned His

followers of things to happen in the end times. Matthew 24:24: For false messiahs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

They would use the religion of the occult to deceive the people.

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Yet Yahshua also told them later that they themselves would produce signs and wonders after He had left them. Mark 16:17, 20: 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In

My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, Yahweh working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Yahweh has always used what many would consider “supernatural” to help man understand His nature and power.

Consider the creation narrative in Genesis 1 and Israel’s exodus from Egypt.

These look like supernatural acts… because they are! They are a result of actions by the true Creator and Sustainer!

As for those who seek other sources, the Bible is clear on what to do. Leviticus 20:27: A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.

The NT speaks of “mysteries” involving Yahweh’s people. Matthew 13:11: He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”

What is this “mystery”? The Greek word (Strong’s #3466) is musterion, meaning a secret or mystery (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites).

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Yet Yahweh has made this “mystery” open to you and me… opening our minds to His ultimate Plan for mankind.

But for many today, it is a “mystery”. Roman Catholicism, which I grew up in, contains

many of these “mysteries” … saying “we just can’t explain that”.

Yet all along, they practice the hand-me-down thoughts and ritual of ancient occultists.

Now… just who is the cult… or more to the point… the occult here?

In the end, all of these occultist practices will be eliminated.

But for us… today… we are admonished to not allow the signs… which Yahweh created for His purpose… to overwhelm us. Jeremiah 10:2: Thus says Yahweh: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them.”

Do not follow the ways of the occult!