Astrology and the Bible

by Warren E. Berkley

Introduction:

I.    One of the biggest businesses in America is astrology. 
    A. There are over 175,000 part-time astrologers, and 10,000 full-time. 
    B. And over 2,000 newspapers carry daily horoscopes. 
    C. We see astrology almost everywhere - with astrological signs on T-shirts, coffee cups and jewelry.
    D. We see television commercials offering 1-800 and 1-900 numbers with quick astrological counsel.
Body
I. Why should the current revival of interest in the occult and astrology cause us concern?
    The respectability and credibility so many people are giving to the occult and to astrology should 
    alarm us for at least two reasons: 
    A.  Because of what the Bible says about sorcery (Gal. 5:20 and Rev. 21:8), and 
    B.  It is a troubling fact of history that outbreaks of occultism frequently accompany the collapse of 
         a civilization; one example is the Roman Empire. [From the Seattle Daily Times, Sept. 8, 1975 -> 
         "History has shown that astrology thrives best in times of religious decline and of social unrest."]

II. What is astrology?

    A. It operates on the premise that the destinies of nations and individuals are determined by the 
        relative positions of the stars and planets. 

    B. This information and the guidance one seeks is allegedly available through the charts drawn 
         up by professional astrologers.

        [Astronomy is not the same as astrology. Astronomy is the objective, scientific study of the 
        stars and planets, with a view toward understanding their motion and relation; NOT with a 
        view toward their alleged influence on human conduct!]

III. Is astrology upheld by scientists?

    A. No! In 1975, a statement endorsed by 186 prominent scientists challenged "the pretentious 
        claims of astrological charlatans." 

    B. The Associated Press report of this went on to say: "There is simply no scientific basis for 
         astrology, which deals with the presumed influences of stars, planets and other heavenly 
         bodies on human affairs..," (Wichita Eagle, Sept. 3, 1975).

IV. But isn't it true that astrologers have made some amazing predictions that turned out 
     to be true?

    A. No! In May of 1974, the Reader's Digest reported on a survey of the predictions made by 
         the three most popular British astrologers in one year. 

    B. Of these three popular astrologers, the "TOP ACHIEVER" was right only 12 times out of 30. 
        1. The third "seer" had only 4 correct guesses out of 30 tries. 
        2. Further, some of their "visions" are only educated predictions, based on currently available data. 

    C. Thus, they do not have an impressive record of accomplishment.

V. Where did astrology come from?

    A. According to the Bible, it came from the eastern, idolatrous nations. 
        God warned His people about this influence:
        Deut. 4:19; 17:2,3,5; 18:9-12; Isa. 2:6; 47:13,14.

VI. Are the concepts and messages of astrology unified?

Check what your astrological message is for today as it reads in four or five different charts; see 
if you can discern a unified message?

VII. What has God said about all this?
"And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the 
stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the Lord your 
God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage ... For the Lord your
God is a consuming fire, a jealous God ... To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord 
Himself is God; there is none other besides Him," (Deut. 4:19,24,35)
"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 these things that shall come upon you. 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," (Isa. 47:13,14)
VIII. Are there New Testament passages that relate to this interest in the occult and sorcery?

Gal. 5:20 affirms that "sorcery" is a work of the flesh. 
The King James has the word "witchcraft," which is from the Greek, PHARMAKEIA. 

The word means: charms, remedies, or guidance sought in drugs, incantations, star gazing and sorcery. 
Vines says, of PHARMAKEIA: "...primarily signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then, poisoning; 
then, sorcery ... In sorcery, the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by 
incantations and appeals to occult powers ..."
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and 
all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second 
death," (Rev. 21:8)
The Ephesians had been involved in things in the category of sorcery, but when they obeyed the 
gospel they burned their incantation books (Acts 19:18-20).

IX. Is astrology a type of revelation from God?

No! "God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 
has in these last days spoken to us BY HIS SON...," (Heb. 1:1,2; see also, Eph. 3:1-5; Jude 3).

X. Who must we turn to for the guidance we need?

THE LORD, who is "wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance,"  (Isa. 28:29). To those involved 
in astrology, my admonition would be: "Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail," (Jer. 7:8).