Do Not be Deceived!

On October 31, many individuals will give homage to the pagan holiday of Halloween. If you were thinking that Halloween originated as a holiday full of fun, to celebrate the gothic lifestyle, dress up in costumes, and take your children to collect candy from the neighbors, then you will be disappointed when you become aware of the history and the reason for the “All Hallowed” day of homage to Satan. 

As you read this, you may think, “this writer is fanatical and that is the issue with religion,” “those Believers don’t know how to have fun,” and that is why I will never be one of them. While many unbelievers may acknowledge that God exists, they fail to accept the prevailing darkness of evil in this world, nor will they admit to serving Satan, the originator of sin. Lucifer, the fallen angel who felt that he was equal to God, was cast down to the earth, and from that point, his name was changed to Satan. 

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

1. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. Ezekiel 28:17
2. Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:7-9
3. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Disclaimer: Within this article are many false concepts that I do not accept, condone, or practice. The article is for informational purposes that describe:

The origin of Halloween: Halloween falls on October 31 because the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, considered the earliest known root of Halloween, occurred on this day. It marked a pivotal time of year when seasons changed. More importantly, observers also believed the boundary between this world and the next became especially thin at this time, enabling them to connect with the dead. https://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/a40250/heres-why-we-really-celebrate-halloween/

Following the crowd, cultural beliefs, or enjoying a partying lifestyle are some of the reasons that individuals embrace and celebrate pagan rituals and holidays. Even so, there is a deeper reason for being led astray by seemingly innocent but ungodly beliefs and celebrations: Lack of knowledge, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” Hosea 4:6

Lack of knowledge and willful disobedience leads us to sin against God, who is our only Creator and Heavenly Father. Satan has the advantage over us when he observes that we do not take the time to study and pray. It is a freewill choice to ignore God’s Word. Whatever the reason is, when we acknowledge that we are not studying the Bible, and praying for guidance, we set ourselves up to be easily deceived. Remember that humanity was created a little lower than the angels, Psalm 8:5, which means without spiritual reinforcement we are no match against Satan.

Reflecting on the picture with the skeleton walking the spiders in a dreary, melancholy setting is the exact opposite of the beautiful world that God created for humanity. Do not be deceived! Ghosts, and other depictions of the dead roaming the earth are not biblically based. Guard your five senses against the worldly pleasures of sin. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:7

The following text tells us how God feels about the worship of human-made images, contrived deities, and pagan rituals: You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…Exodus 20:4-5

One of the significant issues that Satan has presented to cause conflict is the State of the Dead. The great deceiver preys on humanity because of our natural emotions and desires to maintain communication with our deceased loved ones. Perhaps your cultural and religious beliefs have formed your knowledge and views of reincarnation, or a separate soul caught in-between heaven and earth, or that the dead in heaven rejoicing while looking down on their loved ones who are suffering. Even so, God says, It is not true.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward because the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.…Ecclesiastes 9:5-6

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Did you notice that the phrase “fallen asleep” is used for those who have died? What happens when we fall asleep at night or even during the day? We awaken because sleep is temporary. Believers of the Most High God, I encourage you to cast aside all cultural and prior religious or pagan beliefs. We know that God is absolute! We can trust and faithfully believe that if “He said it, then it is truth.” Believers will be awakened and restored to the original image, along with receiving immortality when Jesus Christ comes again. 

Paganism has existed since Lucifer became Satan. He is angry and presents God as unloving and unfair. But Satan is the Master Deceiver (remember the Fall of Adam and Eve, Genesis 3). 

What has been will be again; what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

When the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, they were exposed to idol worship. The Egyptians worshipped many gods, animals and were fascinated by death. Their pagan rituals excited all of the five senses, idol worship was mesmerizing to the beholder’s eyes. Alcoholic beverages and sexual immorality set the stage to entice many of the Israelites to denounce God and to participate wholeheartedly, even in animal and human sacrifice. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. Deuteronomy 18:10-12

Can you imagine a people that God had lovingly blessed and taken care of would fall so deep into sin that they would burn their children on a pagan altar? What are we burning on the pagan altar from giving in to our desires for worldly pleasures? Remember, Satan always presents sin carefully and beautifully gift wrapped to conceal his ultimate deceptions, leading us to embrace temptation as if it were the truth.

Bible Readings: In preparation for part 2 of Do Not be Deceived, please read Exodus chapters 31 and 32.  

God, we thank you for giving us the Holy Bible, the only Book that begins with the Creation of our world, the history of humanity’s weaknesses, and battles against Satan’s deceptive tactics. We praise you for letting us know how the story of sin and death will end. Please impart your wisdom to us as we gain the strength that we need from you to overcome. We pray for spiritual discernment that we do not fall when false concepts are presented as the truth. Please protect us from Satan, the evil one. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2020, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the written permission of the author.