Halloween - Part 3 - Bible Studies With Mark

 

 

Photo courtesy of The Christian Post 

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. [Act 1-19 ESV]

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Riaan Swiegelaar. Before coming to Jesus, Riaan was a priest in the Church of Satan. From black masses to the observance of monthly minor practices, he was very involved in commemorating Satanism and even running these rituals. Swiegelaar said, “In terms of animal sacrifices, yes, certainly that happens, I’ve been involved in that.” Swiegelaar also had much to say about babies, Satanic ritual abuse, the drinking of blood, and other disturbing occurrences — practices he had purportedly witnessed or been involved in. 

 

When asked about Halloween, Swiegelaar said, “What we are doing if we are celebrating Halloween as Christians, you are actually having a one night stand with the devil. That that's a simple way to put that.” In Swiegelaar’s experience Halloween is all about death. He says that Halloween is the day of the year when there is the most human sacrifice around the world. 

 

When asked to clarify his statement about human sacrifice, Swiegelaar responds, “So in in Satanism there is blood sacrifices. And you will notice for instance that during the month of October we see the most missing people cases or the most notices of missing people. The vulnerable parts of society like the homeless and people like that are definitely a target. And I'm talking from [the] experience of being involved in Satanism for 5 years where I facilitated certain rituals where there were sacrifices, especially animals. But I obviously know of what was going on globally during that time. And I am not the only one. When I talk to other people who come out of Satanism, they experienced these same things.”

 

When a neighborhood or community takes part in Halloween, that whole area becomes a hot spot for demonic activity. Swiegelaar says, “that whole perimeter becomes a satanic ritual by definition. Doors are opened to the dark side of the spirit world.” Swiegelaar says that people have been desensitized to the evil nature of Halloween through the media. He believes a very easy way to desensitize children to things like death and demons and gargoyles is something like Halloween. When we decorate our houses with skeletons, dress up our children in costumes and hand out candy to children, we attract the demonic. The Bible warns us of this when Peter says that the devil is like a roaring lion wandering about, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8-11). 

 

Since becoming a Christian, Swiegelaar has formed the opinion that 80 percent of Christians lack discernment. He believes you will not participate in Halloween if you listen to the Holy Spirit. Quoting Swiegelaar, “The spirit world surrounds us. We are engaged in this world whether we believe it or not. And there are only two things in this world: the kingdom of God, and everything else. There really isn’t a gray zone.” And there you have the testimony of a Satanist redeemed by the blood of Jesus. 

 

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." [Jos 24:15 ESV]

 

Choose carefully whom you will serve.