Thank you for downloading this text file. It has been saved in a generic text format so all Word Processors should be able to read it. I stumbled across this file on Halloween while I was attending an old church of mine, Calvary Church of Santa Ana, in California. When I first saw the information on the original document I thought that it was truly worth holding on to. Unfortunately, as many documents are after they have been copied so many times, the quality of the text was very poor. Since I believed this piece something worth holding on to, I redesigned it, put it in my computer and added some fancy headlines and graphics. Now that I have joined American Online, I believe that this is a file that every Christian should at least read, and then they can make up their own mind. Obviously, it includes Biblical references and historical facts about Halloween. If anyone is interested in the Microsoft Word or PageMaker version of this file complete with graphics, please get in touch with me. I will even send a printed original to anyone who asks via U.S. Mail. This document can and should be distributed freely, all over the world. If this file is uploaded to any other BBS╒s, I would appreciate knowing about it. I am sorry, but I do not know who the original author is, but I╒m sure he or she would advocate the spread of this literature as much as I do. God Bless you.
Love In Christ,
Christian Schulz
1314 East Cherry Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701-1604
AOL: Printer7
Halloween
Did you ever wonder how Halloween began, or what it is really all about? Here are some interesting facts to consider concerning the history of Halloween.
The name ╥Halloween╙ means the evening before All Hallows. All Hallows means ╥All Saints Day.╙ Many people think Halloween, then, is an outgrowth of a Christian tradition honoring the saints of the church. Actually the day itself began hundreds of years before Christ with the ancient Druids who lived in Britain, France, and the German Celtic countries.
These people worshipped many false gods, one of whom they called Samhain, the lord of the dead. They believed that once a year he called together all the wicked souls who had died during the past 12 months. He called them together on the last day of October, which was the Celtic New Year╒s Eve. They felt that since this was the time when the leaves were falling from the trees and dying, it was an appropriate time to celebrate death. So╔what they did was honor the god of the dead, and the wicked spirits of the dead who they believed inhabited the bodies of animals. On this special night╤Halloween Night╤the Druids believed the souls of the dead returned to their former homes to be entertained by the living.
Now, if acceptable food, shelter, and gifts were provided for their evil spirits, they would not cause trouble, but if you didn╒t provide it, they would cast spells, cause all kinds of terror and haunt, and torment the living. As you can guess, this was the beginning of the trick or treat idea. The evil spirits demanded a treat; if they didn╒t get one, you got a trick! The people dressed up in masks and costumes pretending to be the souls of the dead and paraded through the town. This wicked Halloween celebration to the false god of the dead, with many added events and superstitions, went on for hundreds of years. When the Romans conquered the Druids, it became a combined celebration to the god of the dead and their Roman gods.
Many years later, about 834 A.D., this wicked celebration was combined with a Christian celebration called ╥All Saints Day╙ to honor the saints of the church. Most of the customs of the wicked Druid celebration to honor the god of the dead continued, though. Other customs were also added from black magic and the occult. The Christians copied this holiday. They tried to adapt this wicked pagan holiday called Halloween for Christian usage.
Today, isn╒t it incredible that we Christians still honor and still give support to that which comes out of this pagan background? We need to consider whether or not we as Christians should be a part of the festivities connected with Halloween.
What does God╒s Word have to say to us as Christians about this subject?
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 ╥When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so.╙ (NAS)
God told his people to be blameless, or perfect. You and I are to be perfect; perfect in the sense that we should have nothing to do with the occult and idolatry.
Very often, you and I read something in the Bible. We agree with it in our minds, but we refuse to apply it to the issues that are definitely in our life. It is very clear in God╒s Word that we are not to have anything to do with the occult, witchcraft, and idolatry. He doesn╒t even want us to imitate any of these things. God says it╒s an abomination╤it is detestable in His sight. God wants us to be blameless in this matter.
Jack O╒ Lanterns
The jack o╒ lantern was believed to be a wandering soul which could not find refuge in either Heaven or Hell because of a great sin committed in his lifetime. He would trick people into following him into the forest until they were lost or died. The spirit would then laugh and mock the person who was lost and confused. A small candle with a flame was believed to lead the person. It was called a ╥foolish fire╙ because only a fool would follow it. The pumpkin is symbolic of that evil spirit.
Black Cats
Witches have living symbols through which they derive their power, that are indwelt by evil spirits. The most common are cats. The witches command the evil spirits to enter the bodies of the cats and then keep them around for the exercising of dark powers. The black cat has come to symbolize these evil spirits because black represents evil, death, and darkness.
Halloween has always been the night when Satan╒s worshippers have enjoyed their greatest times, indulging in all sorts of perverse and demonic activity. These symbols and festivities are definitely demonic inspired.
╥Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed
at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.╙
Jeremiah 10:2 (KJ)
II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 ╥Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having their promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.╙ (NAS)
I Chronicles 10:13-14 ╥So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the Word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.╙ (NAS)
Isaiah 8:19-20 ╥And when they say to you, consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.╙ (NAS)
Ephesians 5:8 ╥For you who were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.╙ (NAS)
Leviticus 19:31 ╥Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.╙ (NAS)
Leviticus 20:27 ╥Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones, their blood guiltiness is upon them.╙ (NAS)
