Ever since the beginning, Christianity has been under attack by those who have wanted to infuse it with false teachings. Paul had to deal with those who wanted to turn Christianity into legalism, teaching that Christians were made perfect by obeying the law; a false teaching. At another time, he had to deal with the Gnostics, who were trying to infiltrate Gnosticism (a mix of Judaism and pagan philosophy) into the church.
It can be said that the teaching of the Roman Catholic church has been an attack on true Biblical Christianity, as they have taught doctrines not included in the Bible. The Roman Catholic church changed drastically through the Middle Ages, as they became more political than spiritual. That’s ironic for an organization that was founded on the idea of maintaining the orthodoxy of Chrisian doctrine.
Such problems exist even today, although they take different forms. Much of what we find attempting to infiltrate church doctrine today comes from what is known as the New Age Movement, a broad category of religious belief that attempts to “modernize” Christianity by combining it with occultist and metaphysical practices, many of which have their basis in Hinduism. These can take many different forms, making them hard to identify and rouse out of our churches.
Amongst the various religious or semi-religious beliefs that keeps trying to insert itself into the beliefs of Christians is astrology. There are actually several different types of astrology in the world, but the one I am referring to is what is known as “western astrology” and involves using the 12 signs of the zodiac to divine future events, specifically in individual lives.
The 12 signs which make up the zodiac are so named because they exist in a band in the night sky, called the zodiac. It is a band in the sky defined by drawing a straight line from the sun, through the Earth and out into space. The 12 constellations which lie on or near this line are some of the most well-known constellations in the sky, dividing the disk made by that imaginary line into 12 relatively equal 30-degree segments, which define the months of the year.
Mankind studied the stars long before the signs of the zodiac, seeking to understand more about their world. It was through that study that the early understanding which led to the creation of the calendar came about. Mariners, likewise, studied the stars, attempting to learn from them how to navigate the seas. The 12 constellations we know as the signs of the zodiac came out of such study and were first given names by the ancient Babylonians. Those names were remarkably similar to the ones used for them today.
Eventually there was a separation between pure astronomy, the study of the stars and heavenly bodies, and astrology, using those stars and heavenly bodies to divine events here on Earth.
Divination
Divination has probably existed almost all through human existence, if not all the way through. Mankind has always wanted to know what the future holds and there have always been those who have looked for signs in nature to show them a message from the gods. There are many such examples we could point to, such as the American Indians, who looked out into nature for a sign, so that they could name their newborn babies. Hence, a naturally occurring event in nature could be interpreted as a sign that defines that child’s entire life.
Divination can be considered to be a pagan practice, when we understand that the definition of paganism is worshiping or deifying nature. Asking nature to give a sign for the future is definitely an act of worship, regardless of the form that it takes. Astrology is a part of that divination, as it expects the stars to provide those answers. But it is no different, except in form, than looking for signs in nature or reading tea leaves.
We find divination first mentioned in the book of Genesis, taking place in Egypt. While it doesn’t mention any specific occult practices or the use of astronomy, it was an attempt to understand the future. This was when Pharaoh had a dream that he couldn’t understand.
Now it came to pass in the morning that his (Pharsoh’s) spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians (diviners, astrologers) of Egypt and its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharoah… 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is on one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it. 16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” – Genesis 41:8, 15-16
The first thing I’d like to point out in these verses is that the word translated as “magicians” in verse eight can also be translated as “diviners” or “astrologers.” While the word magician is used here, we must understand that magic is defined as having a supernatural power to influence natural things. That definition can easily include divination and therefore can include astrology as a form of divination.
I’ve skipped over a few verses, in order to save space, jumping to the part where Joseph is brought before Pharaoh. While Pharaoh had been told that Joseph could interpret dreams, Joseph quickly clarifies that, telling Pharaoh that God gives the interpretation. Had he not done that, he would have been guilty of divination himself, even while depending on God to give him the interpretation of those dreams.
In another, somewhat similar situation that occurred several centuries later, Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon also received a disturbing dream. There was just one problem, he couldn’t remember the dream, although it troubled him greatly. So, as Pharaoh had done, he called in his magicians and wise men, referred to as the Chaldeans, and asked them to not only tell him the meaning of his dream, but the dream as well. Their response was less than the king had expected.
The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” – Daniel 2:10-11
If there’s one thing the Chaldeans said that was right, it was that no man could do what the king was asking. However, they said that only the gods could do it (small g), rather than God (large G). Those false gods couldn’t tell the king his dream any better than the Chaldeans could. Only God could do that. When Daniel found out what had happened and that the king was planning on killing all the Chaldeans (which would include him) for their inability to divine his dream, he asked the king for time (Daniel 2:16) and then asked God to give him the interpretation of the dream (Daniel 2:17-18). God responded, showing him the dream and its interpretation.
Once again, we see God using this situation for His own glory and the man of God giving glory to Jehovah, separating himself from divination and giving the credit to God for the interpretation (Daniel 2:27-45). Daniel also took the time to get a little dig in at the Chaldeans, reminding the king that they had no power, but God did.
God is Clearly Against Astrology and Divination
In both of these examples, I made a point of mentioning that these two men of God gave God the glory for the interpretation of those dreams. That they did so was essential for them to remain on God’s side. Had they not, they would have been seen as diviners by God and earned his wrath.
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritualist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. – Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Why would God be against divination and astrology? Because it is up to Him to reveal that which he wishes to reveal to mankind, not for us to seek out things that He has kept hidden from us.
For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. – 2 Peter 1:21
But God doesn’t necessarily tell us things that are to come, so that we will know what is to come. Rather, He tells us what is to come, so that when those things do happen, we know it is God and don’t attribute it to something or someone else. As He showed Isaiah the Prophet:
I have declared the former things from the beginning; they went froth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass… 5 Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, lest you should say, “My idol has done them, and my carved image and my molded image have commanded them.” – Isaiah 48:3, 5
Just to put a little perspective on this, it applies equally to all the events foretold in the book of Revelations, just as it does Old Testament prophecy. In other words, the book of Revelations doesn’t exist as a road map, so that we’ll know what disasters are to come; but as a reference to those who live through those events, so that they will know that it is God who is doing them.
Back to Astrology
There has always been a deep responsibility in prophecy, the Bible’s term for telling the future. But there are huge differences between this prophecy and any form of worldly prophecy or divination, including astrology. First, the source of true prophecy is God’s Holy Spirit, not man’s reading of signs in nature. Secondly, prophets who failed to hear from God and gave false messages were stoned to death.
But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst. – Deuteronomy 13:5
I ask you, where is the responsibility in astrology today? Are astrologers ever held in account for their predictions? Does anyone ever confront them when they are wrong? Is it not that we just laugh off their errors, allowing them to continue selling their lies to those who are foolish enough to listen?
Looking at the stars to determine the future is a false hope. God also makes this clear through the Prophet Isaiah.
You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come unto you. 14 Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; it shall not be a coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit before! – Isaiah 47:13-14
Any believer who turns to the zodiac or to astrology in general to seek answers is following after a false god. They are practicing a form of idolatry. As such, they cannot expect God’s blessing upon their lives. It is not that God forsakes them; it is that they have forsaken God. Astrology isn’t something “just for fun,” it is deadly serious and just as dangerous.