End of World and Astrology

FaithT

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I heard on the radio tonight that the world is supposed to end Sunday. I made the mistake of reading up on this, to disprove the prediction which led me to something about a famous late astrologer, Jeane Dixon, who predicted that Armageddon is supposed to be this year. I read that while she was often wrong, many of her predictions came true.

I know this sounds stupid but, the world won’t really end this weekend, will it?
What is the LCMS opinion on astrology and astrologers?
 

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Well NASA released voyaer tapes of a wall of plasma or fire at the outter edge of our galaxy. So I would say anything is possible at this point. Praise God, He might be closer than you know.
 
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klutedavid

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I heard on the radio tonight that the world is supposed to end Sunday. I made the mistake of reading up on this, to disprove the prediction which led me to something about a famous late astrologer, Jeane Dixon, who predicted that Armageddon is supposed to be this year. I read that while she was often wrong, many of her predictions came true.

I know this sounds stupid but, the world won’t really end this weekend, will it?
What is the LCMS opinion on astrology and astrologers?
Pisces is in the the third house. We are finished.
 
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Daniel9v9

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From the LCMS questions and answers, which I think gives an answer for what you're asking:

QUESTION: Could you please send me the Synod's official statement regarding horoscopes?

ANSWER: Luther explained the Second Commandment ("You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God") in this way:

"We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks."

The explanation in the official catechism of the Synod further states that using "satanic arts by God's name" includes "depending on horoscopes or similar ways to foretell the future." Thus, using horoscopes is included among sins against the Second Commandment.

We may add that the Commission on Theology and Church Relations has in its files writings on the topic by theologians in the Synod. These writers have placed the practice of astrology into the category of the occult. They have pointed out that since astrology is a form of divination it comes under the condemnation of such passages as Deut. 18:9-14 and Is. 47:14-15.

These writers also point out that Christians are urged to entrust themselves and their lives to their all-powerful and gracious God, in whom the Psalmist places his heartfelt trust by declaring, "My times are in thy hand" (Ps. 31:15; see Eccl. 7:14).

Christians remember that neither the daily course of their lives nor their future lies in the hands of unseen forces or movements of heavenly bodies.

Rather, they are urged to believe that everything in their life is directed according to His gracious purpose: "In everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28; RSV).

In light of these considerations, Christians who consult horoscopes "just for the fun of it" need to be aware of the spiritual dangers involved in such a practice.
 
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Job3315

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I heard on the radio tonight that the world is supposed to end Sunday. I made the mistake of reading up on this, to disprove the prediction which led me to something about a famous late astrologer, Jeane Dixon, who predicted that Armageddon is supposed to be this year. I read that while she was often wrong, many of her predictions came true.

I know this sounds stupid but, the world won’t really end this weekend, will it?
What is the LCMS opinion on astrology and astrologers?
I am not getting that the world will end, but that a big change is coming. The other day I had a dream that a river was coming. It was going to start flowing again through a highway. Its been a very long time since the river ran through it and many people were waiting for it. When the river came, many people jumped in.

Christians shouldn't worry about the end of times, we know where we are going, I do, however, constantly mourn those who are lost. I don't know how to help them see.
 
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Going_Nowhere

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I know this sounds stupid but, the world won’t really end this weekend, will it?
doubt-it-400x400.jpg
 
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Daniel9v9

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Even Jeane Dixon’s prediction? She predicted JFKs death.

I don't know much about Jeane Dixon, so I can't answer specifically about her, but I can talk about fortune-telling in general.

Fortune-telling and prophecy outside of what God has revealed - first of all, is it possible? In a word, no. Now, to clarify, fortune-telling is common to many ancient religions and spiritism, but there are two kinds:

The more common one is essentially guesswork, either based on trickery (often employed by modern psychics), vague predictions that can easily mean different things (sadly many charismatics are guilty of this), or generic predictions that are fueled by the law of averages (eg. to say that there will war next year. There's always war). I think often, fortune tellers will employ all methods and so are able to give an appearance of being able to predict the future. But it's essentially deception and guesswork, and we know, statistically, if you make enough claims, something is likely to seem to appear true.

Then there's the second type of fortune-telling, which is full-on divination and the occult, where they do communicate with the demonic. Demon possession and the influence of evil is real. Demons do have insight into things that we do not, and so, revelation of some kind through the demonic is possible. But! Although demons are powerful, they are not omniscient. They cannot know or reveal the future through their own power or means. Only God knows the future. They can, however, deceive people, which is in accordance with their nature.

I think the line between guesswork and divination is blurred and it comes in different degrees, but we can and should consider it all evil. It's all divination, strictly forbidden by Scriptures. It's inherently evil and false, and so we can readily disregard and reject all kinds of fortune-telling.

Specifically, about the end of the world, this is what Jesus plainly says: "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
 
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klutedavid

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From the LCMS questions and answers, which I think gives an answer for what you're asking:

QUESTION: Could you please send me the Synod's official statement regarding horoscopes?

ANSWER: Luther explained the Second Commandment ("You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God") in this way:

"We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks."

The explanation in the official catechism of the Synod further states that using "satanic arts by God's name" includes "depending on horoscopes or similar ways to foretell the future." Thus, using horoscopes is included among sins against the Second Commandment.

We may add that the Commission on Theology and Church Relations has in its files writings on the topic by theologians in the Synod. These writers have placed the practice of astrology into the category of the occult. They have pointed out that since astrology is a form of divination it comes under the condemnation of such passages as Deut. 18:9-14 and Is. 47:14-15.

These writers also point out that Christians are urged to entrust themselves and their lives to their all-powerful and gracious God, in whom the Psalmist places his heartfelt trust by declaring, "My times are in thy hand" (Ps. 31:15; see Eccl. 7:14).

Christians remember that neither the daily course of their lives nor their future lies in the hands of unseen forces or movements of heavenly bodies.

Rather, they are urged to believe that everything in their life is directed according to His gracious purpose: "In everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28; RSV).

In light of these considerations, Christians who consult horoscopes "just for the fun of it" need to be aware of the spiritual dangers involved in such a practice.
So I take it, that you don't want me to do a horoscope for you?
 
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klutedavid

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I don't know much about Jeane Dixon, so I can't answer specifically about her, but I can talk about fortune-telling in general.

Fortune-telling and prophecy outside of what God has revealed - first of all, is it possible? In a word, no. Now, to clarify, fortune-telling is common to many ancient religions and spiritism, but there are two kinds:

The more common one is essentially guesswork, either based on trickery (often employed by modern psychics), vague predictions that can easily mean different things (sadly many charismatics are guilty of this), or generic predictions that are fueled by the law of averages (eg. to say that there will war next year. There's always war). I think often, fortune tellers will employ all methods and so are able to give an appearance of being able to predict the future. But it's essentially deception and guesswork, and we know, statistically, if you make enough claims, something is likely to seem to appear true.

Then there's the second type of fortune-telling, which is full-on divination and the occult, where they do communicate with the demonic. Demon possession and the influence of evil is real. Demons do have insight into things that we do not, and so, revelation of some kind through the demonic is possible. But! Although demons are powerful, they are not omniscient. They cannot know or reveal the future through their own power or means. Only God knows the future. They can, however, deceive people, which is in accordance with their nature.

I think the line between guesswork and divination is blurred and it comes in different degrees, but we can and should consider it all evil. It's all divination, strictly forbidden by Scriptures. It's inherently evil and false, and so we can readily disregard and reject all kinds of fortune-telling.

Specifically, about the end of the world, this is what Jesus plainly says: "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Divination via the demonic realm does happen but not often. Here is an example.

Acts 16:16-18
It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.
 
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Daniel9v9

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Divination via the demonic realm does happen but not often. Here is an example.

Acts 16:16-18
It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.

Yes. As I already said in the previous post, revelation through the demonic is possible, but that does not extend to knowledge of the future that is not revealed by God. That is, no one can know the time of the end of the world. Not even demons.
 
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Sparagmos

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I heard on the radio tonight that the world is supposed to end Sunday. I made the mistake of reading up on this, to disprove the prediction which led me to something about a famous late astrologer, Jeane Dixon, who predicted that Armageddon is supposed to be this year. I read that while she was often wrong, many of her predictions came true.

I know this sounds stupid but, the world won’t really end this weekend, will it?
What is the LCMS opinion on astrology and astrologers?
Many people into astrology and new age spirituality (not Christians, to be clear!) say that we have started the “ascension” and are moving from a 3rd dimension to a 5th dimension. The “old world” is essentially dying, and with it the hate, separation, and fear.
 
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klutedavid

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Many people into astrology and new age spirituality (not Christians, to be clear!) say that we have started the “ascension” and are moving from a 3rd dimension to a 5th dimension. The “old world” is essentially dying, and with it the hate, separation, and fear.
Yes, yes, your on a winner there.
 
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Carl Emerson

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Divination is a sin that opens you up to demonic oppression.

The prediction is made and the demonic goes to work to make it happen if they can.

This applies to palm reading, I Ching, astrology, tarot cards etc.

Stay well away if you value your freedom in Christ.
 
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