Thoughts About Stars, Moons and Rainbows

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years,  and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.  God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.  God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth,  to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

Genesis 1: 14-19

As Christians, we must always remember that God created all that is in the heavens and earth for a purpose, and pronounced it as “good.”

As Christians, we must recognize that Satan is described by Jesus as a “liar” and as a “thief.”

About a month ago I was in line at a convenience store and took note that the young man running the register was dressed all in black from head to toe, basically. It was quite striking–he had on a black tuxedo jacket with tails, jet black hair, black pants, and had decorated the lapel to the “topcoat” with various occult symbols (namely that of moon/stars configured in a way that identifies it with black magic). In fact, his entire belt had the same symbols repeated all over it.

For the eye trained to recognize certain symbols and understand their connection, and as one who feels increasing discernment of what some might call “spiritual vibes” (anything from eye contact, to demeanor to something exuding from a person that is hard to put into words and is, in a sense, deeply subjective) I stood there and thought to myself: this person practices (intentionally) witchcraft.

And not just a more low-level dabbling in the dark spiritual realm that is based on ignorance or a gravitation toward certain “nature images” (namely, God’s beautiful moon and stars given to us for a number of reasons including the “marking of sacred times” such as the Passover and other Old Testament feasts and festivals) but rather, I discerned I was in the presence of a “higher up” warlock/sorcerer in the “church of Satan.”

It was disturbing to my spirit.

And now, I move on to rainbows…

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

Genesis 9:13-16

For centuries, pagan worship has attempted to counterfeit and utilize the heavenly signs that appear in the nighttime darkness (stars and moon). And I suppose to some degree, “sun worship” has been a thing, too. But lately I have been thinking conceptually how this is progressing–the concept of demonic entities hi-jacking material-world elements/symbols God established for His purpose–now taking over even the “rainbow” which is a sign that appears only in the daytime.

Today is June 3, and already since Saturday I have personalized experienced a heightened sense of various demonic assaults coming at me (manifested in the natural realm in various ways). I realize that we who follow Christ and His teachings might expect/need to be on higher alert and be sure to put on the “full armor of God” to stand firm against these “schemes of the devil” during this particularly “dark month.”

There are a number of reasons that June has been selected as so-called “Pride” month that are actually connected to ancient pagan practices/sexuality worship. It is beyond the scope here for me to describe various things I have read and heard; here is just one quick search result that on first glance seems to hold some good reminders to Christians.

In his book Return of the Gods, Jonathan Cahn lays out some pretty compelling information/history that is food for thought…

Like anything I read, I may find parts of someone’s views/thinking requiring some qualifications in my mind and processing, meaning, I am not subscribing to the nth degree to everything Cahn has linked together. However, I do think it is worth the read/listen for our consideration, as Christians, as we navigate an increasingly demon-driven world.

And no, I do not believe there are demons under every rock, but, I do acknowledge that I am seeing/discerning in real time (through current events and many other relational experiences) many things that keep leading me back to this text:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,  always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.  But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

II Timothy 3:1-9

When I read this passage, a number of things stand out to me. And in the context of the theme of this piece, I point out that Paul somehow knew the names (Jannes and Jambres) of the “magicians” who opposed Moses and performed counterfeit miracles. I find this significant, since there has been a huge increase in the past 20-30 years of people (many young, but older folks too) that decide it is spiritually OK to pursue/practice things that the bible clearly forbids.

There are a number of “portal practices” (just one example) that are being taught/promoted these days and even accepted/practiced by those who are also naming themselves as Christ-followers in some ways. Perhaps an amount of this is simply out of ignorance. I feel that God has opened/deepened my understandings of some things in this “realm” that I must be on guard against in my thinking, in my art, and in my faith practices. I believe there is a fine line between creative, culturally-based ideas, stories, fantasy and otherwise and actual entry into spiritually, biblically “forbidden” territories.

And now, I turn my attention specifically toward rainbows. As I mentioned above, the rainbow is one of the most beautiful and magical (in the best sense of the descriptive word) things that humans can behold with awe, wonder, mystery and a sense/sign of personal hope and comfort. According to the above scripture, God’s rainbow is intended to point us toward Him and remind us of His lovingkindness and His covenant with humankind.

But rather, these days, it grieves me to see those who are walking in forms of darkness and not abiding in the truth of God’s covenant through Jesus Christ utilizing the rainbow to somehow rubber stamp/counterfeit God’s truth. In a sense, it is akin to the actions of Jannes and Jambres, although the context and details are quite different.

I awoke this morning to browse my email, and was quite surprised (but shouldn’t be) that the art store Michael’s sent a message filled with so much RELIGIOUS allegiance. Yes, observation of “Pride Month” is truly a religious–even pagan/occult–activity. We would never see similar overload of images/products/propaganda relating to Christmas, Easter, Passover, Ramadan or other clearly religious-based observances from a secular business.

I write this in hopes of communicating that “Pride Month” is a kind of religious observance. When Michael’s states “everyone belongs at this ‘craft table‘” it is a pretty clear allusion to the biblical concept of “God’ Table.” (as in the table of the Lord’s supper, and the guidelines for partaking of this ‘table.’)

If you celebrate Pride Month and also name yourself as belonging to Christ, I challenge you to consider upon what basis you have been persuaded that this is OK. Surely, there is no scriptural basis for such an allegiance; in fact, I would assert numerous theological/textual/conceptual frameworks/admonitions that would forbid this observance by the Christian.

Some final, sobering thoughts for consideration:

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Stand Firm
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

II Thessalonians 2:9-17