Waning Light Ministries Sermon

On the Brink of Hell

Horoscopes

The word "horoscope"¹ originates from the Greek, even though the idea of the horoscope predates the Greek Empire. The earliest recorded, though with scant evidence of a "celestial system", is in the third millennium BC by the Sumerian ruler Gudea of Lagash. He claimed that the gods gave him visions of how the constellations would affect his temple building. Of slightly greater evidence is the astrology of Sargon of Akkad. The "horoscope" created from these celestial readings would supposedly tell these kings when to build temples when to worship when to plant, or when to go to war.

The belief in celestial readings carried over into society after society, becoming refined through the generations. Much of what we have today in Astrology is based on ancient Greek formulas, with the second most popular Astrology system in the United States being the "Chinese" zodiac. In fact, the news here lately (February 2024) has had many stories about this being "the year of the dragon" in Chinese astrology.

The traditional zodiac in the Western world consists of a goat, a water bearer, a fish, a ram, a bull, twins, a crab, a lion, a virgin, scales, a scorpion, and an archer. These were all very important animals or humans at the time this was invented. Each of these relates to a pattern in the stars, though, to be honest, the stars used are minimal, and you could draw many items around that set of celestial bodies; it is not exactly "connect-a-dot" material.

The "Chinese" zodiac consists of a rat, an ox, a tiger, a rabbit, a monkey, a rooster, a dog, a pig, a dragon, a snake, a horse, and a goat.
In both of these instances, the depictions are all about humans or animals; there is nothing higher than a human represented here, nor do the horoscopes drawn from these symbols and star patterns point to God; they do, however, associate with the Greek pantheon. So, what does the Bible say about the zodiac and horoscopes?

Deuteronomy 4:19 tells us not to be drawn away from God to serve the sun, moon, and stars. Remember what we said about the Old Testament: We are not under the Mosaic Law, but those things that God stated He hated, He still hates! In Daniel 4:7 the astrologers were lumped in with the magicians and enchanters that could not interpret the king's dream. Jerimiah 10:2 tells us that God told His people that just because the other nations are upset over what the stars forecast, His people should not be. Leviticus 19:26 says that God's people should not interpret omens or tell fortunes. All of these scriptures and more point to God's hatred of astrology.

God created the heavens and all that is in them. The stars reflect His glory and the glory of His kingdom. The stars are to be used in any way that He desires, as both the stars and us are His creations. He also gets to say how they will not be used.

Along with God condemning astrology in the scriptures, there is the consideration of what Paul says in his Epistle to Romans 1:18-25 where Paul states that people exchanged the glory of an incorruptible God for the images of corruptible man, birds, animals, and crawling creatures. If this is not a description of the zodiac, I don't know what is! The zodiac and its associated horoscopes were one of the first tools that Satan used to undermine the Church. Before the Church of Satan, New Age Beliefs, and all the other unrighteousness in our societies, the Greek zodiac was there, handed down from generation to generation.

If you are reading and following your horoscope, you are on the brink of hell! Through the Holy Spirit, God is calling you to accept the atonement that only comes through Jesus Christ (John 14:6), but Romans 1:24 says that God "gave them over" to their lusts and fleshly desires. Why? Because they began to worship the created rather than the Creator. One need look no further than this passage to know that the zodiac and the horoscopes drawn from it will lead a person deeper and deeper into sin until they may no longer be able to hear God calling them. Can they still be saved? Assuredly, but their hearts are hardened, and their ears are stopped from the sin in their lives.

And what about you, Christian? Do you think there is no punishment for you if you place those things created above the Creator? Do you read your horoscope every day and consider it along with your prayers that God will keep you? Do you go so far as to ask God to provide what your horoscope says is coming? Many Christians do; they have mixed astrology with Christianity in the same way some cultures have mixed voodoo with Christianity! Go and confess this sin of astrology to your pastor or your Christian friends so that you may be healed! (James 5:16)

I have had many people tell me how accurate astrology is for them. While the horoscopes may not be accurate, the personality traits each sign should indicate are often accurate. There are two reasons for this.
First, when someone reads the traits of people born under their sign, they look at those traits in themselves. Without knowing and looking for these traits, they might see some other side of themselves. But this just can't explain how a lot of people conform to their astrological sign, even if they have never read it, and others are viewing it.

The second reason these traits are so accurate is that Satan is using astrology to fool people. Remember that he is a liar and murderer and has been from the beginning (John 8:44). Astrology has become so widely accepted throughout the Western World, even by Christians, that Satan is able to gain spiritual control of others through this. The entire astrological belief is a lie from Satan that he has used for centuries to take people to hell.

Remember, the spiritual world is the real world, while the physical world is a shadow of the spiritual. That "middle world" that I discussed last time is where Satan works to fool us by making people believe that false spiritual signs and wonders are real in the physical world.

Stay as far away from astrology as you can get! It is a dangerous belief that will keep you out of heaven or, for the Christian, ruin your walk with God and your testimony!