

House Cleaning

By Tiaan Gildenhuys

Copyright 2013 Tiaan Gildenhuys

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD:

1. WHAT IS A SYMBOL?

2. HOW DO WE READ THE BIBLE?

3. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT IDOLS IN MY HOUSE?

4. THE COMMAND – CLEANSE GOD'S "TEMPLE"

5. PHYSICAL REACTION TO SPIRITUAL "CONTACT OBJECTS"

6. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

7. POSSIBLE CONTACT OBJECTS

7.1. Dragons

7.2. African art

7.3. Fairies, dwarfs, gnomes, pixies, elves and trolls

7.4. Imaginary friends

7.5. Transformers and Shape shifters

7.6. Spiderman, The Hulk, Batman, Superman and many of their other friends

7.7. Peer pressure

7.8. Videos and films

7.9. Harry Potter

7.10. "But my children MUST be exposed to the world of fantasy"

7.11. Clowns/Harlequins

7.12. Pokemon

7.13. Eastern statues, -clothes, -articles, -martial arts, yoga and acupuncture

7.14. War memorabilia

7.15. Satanic signs or symbols

7.16. Ordinary playing cards

7.17. Mementoes, love-letters and/or photos of former loves which strengthen ungodly soul-ties

7.18. Pornographic magazines or –videos or –internet usage

7.19. Objects used in rituals

7.20. Music with occult background

7.21. Computer games

7.22. Games

7.23. Dream-catchers

7.24. Egyptian and Aztec or other similar cultures' statues

7.25. Unicorn

7.26. Good luck charms

7.27. Christmas, Christmas tree and "father Christmas"

7.28. Angels/cherubs

7.29. Wind-chimes

7.30. Toe-rings, ankle-chains, tongue-studs, navel-rings and tattoos

7.31. Praying hands

7.32. The so-called "V-sign" or Victory salute

7.33. The crucifix and the ordinary cross

7.34. Easter

7.35. The spiral as sun-god symbol

7.36. The 4-pointed, 5-pointed and 6-pointed stars

7.37. Frogs as occult symbols

7.38. The dolphin as occult symbol

7.39. The owl as occult symbol

7.40. The origin of Valentine's day, Cupid and the hearts

7.41. Halloween

7.42. The so-called "BIRTH STONES"

7.43. Feng shui, Zen-gardens and Bonsai

7.44. Half-human, half-animal

7.45. Clothes and brand-names

7.46. Masks

7.47. Teletubbies

7.48. Barney the dinosaur

7.49. Shrek

7.50. Barbie, Bratz and others

7.51. "Hip Hip Hooray!"

7.52. Porcelain dolls

7.53. Lotto, lucky draws and/or lotteries

7.54. Talking to the dead, calling up of spirits, fortune-tellers

8. METHODS OF CLEANSING

9. THE CLEANSING OF FARMS

10. CONSIDER THIS VERY CAREFULLY

About the Author

FOREWORD:

With reference to the many controversies surrounding my first book about "House Cleaning" and the first DVD which we produced in 2006, as well as the eight other DVD's we since produced regarding this aspect, the necessity arose for the appearance of a Revised Edition of this book.

Before I continue, I just want to draw the reader's attention to the fact that EVERYTHING in our lives should FIRSTLY be about Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with Him.

Too many people experience certain spiritual problems in their lives after they have "cleaned house", because they did it for the wrong reason. Many people think that if they have "cleaned their houses" and removed every "contact object", that would mean the end of their problems. It is precisely for this reason (getting rid of their personal problems) that most people want to clean their homes after having watched our DVD, or having read my first book. But that is totally the wrong reason!

What happens in practice in most cases is the following:

Many people who have read my book or who watched the DVD's, have never really given their hearts to Jesus Christ or they do not live in a personal, intimate relationship with Him, or they are not filled with the Holy Spirit and do not possess any spiritual authority.

Then they read my book or watch our DVD's and suddenly identify certain problems in their personal lives which we have pointed out. They then summarily decide to "clean house" and "get rid of their problems" as quickly as possible. Wrong reason. Why? Because it's about "me" and about getting rid of "my" problems then instead of it being about Jesus Christ in the first place, about becoming obedient to His Word and moving into a closer, more intimate relationship with Him.

After those items have been removed, the devil and his evil spirits suddenly manifest in different ways in that house, for the very reason that their hiding places have now been pointed out or removed. And because those people do not possess any spiritual authority and/or are not filled with the Holy Spirit (I discuss this aspect in more detail on our DVD: "Kingdom=Authority"), and/or because they do it for the wrong reason as I explained above, they don't know how to handle these sudden demonic manifestations.

Then they become FEARFUL, while the Bible clearly states in 2 Timothy 1:7 that it is not God who has given us a spirit of fear. Thereafter their immediate reaction is anger towards me, because someone has to get the blame. And satan laughs at us Christians who do not merely apply what the Bible teaches us to do.

Please take note, right here and now:

If it is not exclusively about the fact that I want my house to be "clean" from all occult contact objects, so that I may FIRSTLY glorify God and SECONDLY move closer to Him, or come into a deeper relationship with Him, then the "cleaning" of my house of such occult objects is futile.

Later on in the book you, the reader, will see that it is actually about the fact that Our Heavenly Father, GOD, does not WANT ME to bring any idols into my home and not because of what the item in question can do to me.

How can we even think of having the following human argument with God: "Lord, here is my body as a holy, pure, living sacrifice to You. My whole life belongs to you, Lord. But this house, WHICH I RECEIVED FROM YOU, is ROTTEN with the things of the DEVIL but surely You won't mind?"

What I have endeavoured to do with my first booklet, as well as with all nine the DVD's which we now have on the market, and also with this revised edition of the book, is the following:

To explain to you, the reader, the Biblical PRINCIPLE regarding the "cleaning" of our homes from occult contact objects. And as soon as you understand the PRINCIPLE, it is time to ask the HOLY SPIRIT of God and to TRUST Him to point out to you what may be in your home which HE does not want there. It is not about us in the first place, but always about HIM and what He expects of us as His children.

Take note that it is of the utmost importance that you read this book in the normal sequence, in order that you may FIRSTLY properly understand what the message and the principle is from the Word (Bible), before paging to the chapter about wrong items which I write later on.

Once again satan will want you to just quickly page to where I write about the "contact items", in order to look for the sensation behind it, so that you will not truly receive or understand the full message from the Word regarding the reasons WHY these items are wrong in the eyes of God. YOU choose if you want to obey him (satan) or if you want to obey the Lord, or not.

May the message in this book be a blessing to you as a child of God.

tiaan gildenhuys

May 2013

1. WHAT IS A SYMBOL? (Back to top)

In order for us to be able to place what we discuss in this book in perspective, we must, in the first place, be able to understand what the problem is surrounding SYMBOLS and the meaning of symbols.

The dictionary states it as follows:

SYMBOL = "something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention...; A VISIBLE SIGN OF SOMETHING INVISIBLE." (Webster's Dictionary)

It means, therefore, that there is always something behind a symbol. That there are, or can be, one, or even more, hidden meanings behind each symbol.

Manly P. Hall who was a 33rd degree Freemason, put it as follows in one of his writings:

"SYMBOLISM is the language of the mysteries... By SYMBOLS men have ever sought to communicate to each other those thoughts which transcend the limitations of language... In a single figure a SYMBOL may both REVEAL and CONCEAL while to the IGNORANT the figure remains inscrutable." (Manly P. Hall 33rd degree Freemason – "The Secret Teaching of All Ages". P.20)

A very clear warning thus, which we receive from the kingdom of darkness itself, is that SYMBOLS are used to hide occult meanings ("...language of the mysteries...") and that SYMBOLS are used to convey certain hidden meanings to others who possess the same knowledge about those things. All this while the eyes of those who have no knowledge about those hidden things are veiled and those symbols are incomprehensible to them.

It is for this very reason that the Bible warns: "My people are DESTROYED for LACK of KNOWLEDGE..." (Hosea 4:6)

There is also no such thing that occult symbols can be "Christianized". Please remember: even if I take a satanic pentagram and write "Jesus Christ" over it, it doesn't suddenly become a Christian pentagram. Why do we Christians think that some occult symbols can, in fact, be Christianized while others cannot? And how do we decide which can, and which cannot, be Christianized? After all, satan is not light grey in one case and in another case dark grey and in still another case pitch black? The devil remains the devil, whether we suddenly call his symbols "Christian" symbols or not! And those symbols remain his satanic symbols, they do NOT become "Christian" symbols.

Dr Cathy Burns writes the following in her book:"Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated": "You CANNOT "Christianize" pagan practices".

In this book we are going to see what many of these occult "symbols" look like in the world today, in the form of idols or occult practices which we as Christians have acquired. In this book we do not show pictures of any symbols, but these symbols may be seen on any one of the five DVD's which we currently have available about these aspects, or are readily available on the internet and in a wide range of books in libraries.

On the other hand the Bible is very clear about how our Heavenly Father feels about these things.

"I am the Lord: that is My Name: and MY GLORY will I not GIVE TO ANOTHER, neither my praise to graven images." (Isaiah 42:8)

"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the NAMES OF THE IDOLS OUT OF THE LAND, AND THEY SHALL NO MORE BE REMEMBERED: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the LAND." (Zechariah 12:2)

"Thus saith the LORD, Learn NOT the way of the heathen..." (Jeremiah 10:2)

It is therefore clear that the LORD is not prepared to allow things from the kingdom of darkness to share His honour in our lives. He even wants to eradicate it from our LANDS/COUNTRIES, not only our homes. And He does not want us to learn the customs of the pagan nations. In this book I will show you how many "customs of the pagan nations" we have, in fact, acquired, and in many instances we even thought that they were "Christian" customs.

Must God also just accept the fact that it has now become acceptable to our people? Is He subject to us, or are we subject to Him and His authority as contained in His Word? Is it about us or is it about HIM and what HE expects from us? Are we going to stand before His throne one day to give an account of what we have done with His Word, or is He going to stand before our thrones? Who is it really about in our own personal lives? About GOD or about me?

2. HOW DO WE READ THE BIBLE? (Back to top)

Let's take a look at how we really read the Bible. So many people will try to tell you:

"But that isn't really what the Bible means, the Bible really means this or that..."

or

"No man, you can't take the Bible so literally!"

or

"No, that is Old Testament and is no longer applicable to us!"

What does the Bible itself have to say about these arguments?

"For we write NONE OTHER things unto you, than what ye READ or ACKNOWLEDGE; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end." (2 Corinthians 1:13)

From this scripture I read that that which I read in the Bible is exactly as I understand and believe it. Just as it is written. If the Bible therefore tells me that the earth was created in six days, it means that the earth was created in six DAYS, not in six eras of a million years each. If it says Jonah was inside the fish, it means that Jonah was inside the fish. It is not just a story, myth or legend. If it says that Jesus Christ was born from a virgin, then it means nothing other than EXACTLY that!

I just want to point out to the reader that my quotations are all taken from the Authorized King James Bible, as, to my mind, it is the only true translation containing the deeper spiritual meanings of the Lord's Word.

Satan tries in too many ways to sow doubt into the minds of Christians as to the truth and infallibility of God's Word as contained in the Bible. Why would he want to do that? Because he wants to mislead the saints! He doesn't want to mislead the world, as the world is already misled. Take a look at how clearly Jesus states it in Matthew 24:24:

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, THEY SHALL DECEIVE THE VERY ELECT."

What makes the Bible a wonderful, living Word is the fact that the Holy Spirit can sometimes during my quiet time or during Bible study open up a specific verse in a deeper way with wonderful spiritual truths. However, should He not do this on a specific day with a specific scripture, then I read the specific scripture just as it is written, I understand it just as it is written, and I DO what is written in the Word of God:

"But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest DO it." (Deuteronomy 30:14)

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to DO according to ALL that is therein..." (Joshua 1:8)

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and DO not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46)

The reason why we battle so much to DO what the Bible tells us, is because we are led astray because we do not KNOW the Scriptures OURSELVES. Jesus put it very clearly indeed:

"Jesus answered and said unto them: Ye do err, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIP-TURES, nor the power of God." (Matthew 22:29)

That is precisely the problem with most Christians. We call ourselves Christians, or disciples of Jesus or students of Jesus, but we do not know His Scriptures, His Word! And if we do not know His Word, we will also not know His power. But, once we start reading His Scriptures, we shall see that He wants to teach us knowledge and make revelations known to us. Let's take a look at whom He wants to teach and HOW he wants to do it.

"Whom shall He teach KNOWLEDGE? And whom shall he make to understand DOCTRINE? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept; LINE UPON LINE; here a little, and there a little... But the WORD OF THE LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little..." (Isaiah 28:9,10+13)

Take a good look! He wants to teach KNOWLEDGE and make REVELATION understandable to those who have been weaned from the milk and taken from the breasts. In other words, those people who are prepared to GROW in the spirit! Unfortunately today there are too many Christians who are absolutely prepared to remain spiritual babies and who do not want to be weaned from the "milk of faith" in order to learn the deeper spiritual things so that they can grow spiritually. However, just take a look at HOW He taught them: "...precept upon precept, precept upon precept, LINE UPON LINE, LINE UPON LINE, here a little, there a little..."

God's grace and love for us is so great, He knows that if he should pour out on us everything that He is and everything that He wants for us all at once, we would explode. We would never be able to handle it. That is why He teaches us "here a little and there a little". On this Sabbath day He teaches us about tithes, the next Sabbath day about the widows and orphans, then again about communion, then again about something else in His Word. Here a little and there a little. And in this way we start learning to take the "solid food" of faith and to digest it. This is how we start learning knowledge and understanding revelation.

However, let us take a further look at HOW He teaches us. It says: "... precept upon precept, precept upon precept, LINE UPON LINE, LINE UPON LINE..." He very clearly then teaches us one step at a time, precept upon precept, line upon line. Many people tell me that I must make sure that I read the Bible "in context" only. And this I do. I always read a specific book or chapter "in the context" in which it was written. But after having read it in that "context", I pray and I ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the specific scripture to me – line upon line, because, if I don't do this, I might be inclined to overlook certain precepts or lines. Especially those precepts or lines which would "slap me on the wrist", those I skim through very quickly. It is exactly those precepts about which people are very quick to tell you: "No, no, in the "context" those precepts are ONLY applicable to David/Jeremiah/Solomon (or whoever), not to me!"

If that were the case, what in the rest of the Bible is then applicable to me at all? No, what we as Christians should very quickly realize is that the WHOLE Bible is applicable to us. I read that David is rebuked, so I take out David and put my own name there and I see I am being rebuked. And I ask forgiveness for it and the Father forgives me. I read that Jeremiah is encouraged by God, so I take out Jeremiah and put my own name there and I see that I am encouraged. And I thank my Heavenly Father for it. And so the WHOLE Bible becomes a living Word which is applicable to ME personally. That is why the time has come for us to start learning to read everything in the Bible LINE UPON LINE and then to ASK the Holy Spirit to, in fact, reveal it to us as such.

If I start doing it like this, I would also start noticing the following scriptures:

"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they RECEIVED the word with all readiness of mind, and SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, WHETHER THOSE THINGS WERE SO." (Acts 17:10,11)

From these scriptures I learn that the people from Berea didn't just take everything Paul and Silas said as gospel truth just because they were "learned" men. They did indeed take their messages "with all readiness of mind", but afterwards they went home and searched the Scriptures EVERY DAY – please note: "EVERY DAY", not just every Sunday – to see whether those things which Paul and Silas told them were actually according to the Word of God or not.

What does that scripture mean in the light of what I am trying to write to you in this book? That you definitely don't have to believe me just because I am writing or saying these things. At best you can tell me that you are prepared to receive my words in this book "with readiness of mind", but then you yourself must go to your own Scriptures (Bible) and start examining them EVERY DAY to see whether these things that I'm writing about are according to God's Scriptures or not.

What does that text mean to you in the light of any other person who has ever stood before you, or will in future stand before you to preach to you or to teach you? That you may receive his or her teaching "with all readiness of mind", but then you must return home and search your Scriptures daily to see if those things are so, or not. It doesn't matter whether that person is a minister, pastor, clergyman, priest, professor or doctor. Because, if we should all start searching the Scriptures for ourselves daily, we would no longer be in ignorance or be led astray because we do not know the Scriptures.

Furthermore, I have noticed that those scriptures in Acts actually go "hand in hand" with the following scripture:

"This book of the law shall not depart out of THY MOUTH; but thou shalt MEDITATE therein DAY AND NIGHT, that THOU mayest observe to DO according to ALL that is written therein: for THEN THOU shalt make THY way prosperous, and THEN THOU shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

Many Christians will be quick to tell me: "Man, my faith is a private matter, I don't talk about it!" And they say that while this scripture tells me that the words of God's book of the law may not DEPART out of my MOUTH! In other words, I must TALK about it, I must, in fact, not stop talking about it! I also read that I must meditate upon it – DAY AND NIGHT!

If I then read this text together with Acts 17:11 above, which stipulates that we must search the Scriptures every day, I realize something. I realize that it refers to a CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE. To search the scriptures EVERY DAY, to meditate on them DAY AND NIGHT and to TALK about them, means, indeed, nothing else than that it should become part of my whole life. Dear friend, to be a Christian is a LIFESTYLE, not just an OPINION about life. Too many people are of the OPINION that they are Christians, but their Christianity is not truly part of their whole, everyday, practical lifestyle.

If we read further, we will see that, if we talk about the Word of God in this way and meditate on it day and night, so that we may CONSCIENTIOUSLY act according to EVERYTHING that is written therein, it will result in us having prosperity and we will have good success in all our dealings. Immediately the very clear implication and logical result of this is, then, that if I do NOT talk about these things, and do NOT meditate on it day and night and do NOT act according to ALL that is written therein, then my ways will NOT be prosperous and I shall NOT be successful in any of my dealings. And friend, only you and God know if you REALLY do these things. If you are unable to get a breakthrough in your finances, life, marriage or relationships, or whatever, then you should take another incisive look at the words of this scripture and ask yourself the question whether you are really DOING what it says.

And that means NOT only in respect of the subject about which I am writing in this book, but about EVERYTHING which is written in the Bible and which we have to deal with in life.

The problem with most Christians, no matter which church denomination we grew up in, is that for too long we have expected and were taught that only the minister, clergyman, priest or pastor is able to explain or reveal the Scriptures to us. We have always believed that they have all the knowledge regarding the Word of God, for the very reason that they were, in our eyes "wise and intelligent" people who had been taught to understand these things. What we have not noticed, though, precisely because most of us are led astray by this opinion and therefore do not know the Scriptures ourselves, is what Jesus Himself said in the Bible about this specific matter regarding "wise and prudent" people:

"In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast HID these things from the WISE AND PRUDENT, and has REVEALED THEM UNTO BABES: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight." (Luke 10:21)

Wow! We were actually supposed to go and learn the things about the Word and about God from little children, since it has been HIDDEN from the wise and intelligent ("wise and prudent") people! How many times has Jesus not warned us in the Bible that we must change and become as little children or that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children? But why would these things be "hidden" from "wise and intelligent people"? It is because so often those "wise and intelligent people" only received training regarding the LETTER and not always regarding the SPIRITUAL implications of and in, the Word of God. The Bible is also very clear on this:

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the LETTER, but of the SPIRIT: for THE LETTER KILLETH, but the SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE." (2 Corinthians 3:5,6)

It is also a fact that many of the "wise and prudent" people are not prepared to acknowledge that NOT ONE of us, not a single Christian church, not a single person, pastor, minister, evangelist, priest, professor or doctor in theology, nor a single Christian denomination knows the whole truth, because look how clearly it is stipulated in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13:12:

"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part... For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I also am known."

And please take note of who it was who actually spoke these words – the man who wrote two thirds of the New Testament – PAUL! And if he writes that HE knows in part, then how much more is it not applicable to other people here on earth? Even though many millions of people have much more knowledge than Paul today, I doubt whether anybody has more SPIRITUAL knowledge than he had.

Therefore it is clear that we should stop trusting in PEOPLE to reveal the Word to us, and we should start reading the Scriptures OURSELVES, through the help of the Holy Spirit, then take it in like LITTLE CHILDREN and UNDERSTAND and DO it, PRACTICE it, LIVE it. Because, if we are going to keep on trusting in people for anything in our lives, we are in danger of bringing a curse over ourselves:

"Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in MAN, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness." (Jeremiah 17:5,6)

Therefore, if my heart should "depart" from the Lord because I fail to trust HIM, to, among other things, reveal His Word to me personally, or for anything else, because I only put my trust in people to reveal it to me, then I am, in effect, cursed according to the Word. It is for this reason that many of us battle to start experiencing personal breakthrough in our spiritual lives. Because look at what the Bible says about such a person – he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness. Does your faith also seem like the heath in the desert, like a parched place in the wilderness and do you also battle to see the good come? Then ask yourself this question: Is it perhaps because you trust in PEOPLE to build up your faith for you and on your behalf, by reading the Bible on your behalf and explaining the things in the Word to you? But let's quickly look at what happens with the person who trusts in THE LORD to also, among others, reveal His Scriptures to us:

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7,8)

Isn't that wonderful? That a person who trusts in the Lord will be steadfast and yield spiritual fruit and will not be overwhelmed when he faces trouble.

Another problem is that many Christians are of the opinion that we can tear out certain parts of the Bible, because it is apparently no longer "applicable to us". They are quick to say: "We are now living in the twenty first century, those old things are no longer applicable to us!" This is how many Christians argue. The most common argument along these lines is usually aimed at the Old Testament, and that it really no longer applies to us. If that were so, why do we read the following verses in the New Testament?

"ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION in righteousness: THAT the man of God MAY BE PERFECT, THOROUGHLY furnished for all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

In the first place, and in your case and mine, "all Scripture" surely refers to nothing else but the WHOLE Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. In the second place we must observe where it comes from – it is GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, in other words it was ALL inspired by Him. Although the different Bible books were written by people, they received their inspiration from the Lord Himself.

Furthermore, these scriptures mean that I can be TAUGHT from the WHOLE Bible, can be REPROVED if I talk nonsense, can be CORRECTED if I go astray, and can be INSTRUCTED in righteousness. And then I can be PERFECT and THOROUGHLY furnished for ALL good works. Take note – not furnished HALFWAY, but furnished THOROUGHLY! For EVERYTHING in life! It also means that I cannot tear out anything from the Bible or pass it off as: "not applicable to me", just because it comes from the Old Testament.

It therefore also includes all the scriptures which are applicable to the "cleaning" of our houses and getting rid of idols.

Why do so many people in the world battle to assimilate and understand these things in the Word of God? We find that answer in the following verses:

"Now WE have received, NOT the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might KNOW the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we SPEAK, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing SPIRITUAL THINGS with SPIRITUAL. BUT the NATURAL (fleshly) man RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD: for they are foolishness unto him: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM, because they are SPIRITUALLY discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." (1 Corinthians 2:12-15)

There it is written very clearly! Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ, have received the Spirit of God and this helps us to KNOW what God has so mercifully given us. That's why we TALK about all these things, not with our human mind or wisdom, but with SPIRITUAL wisdom. And that is only because we have learnt to compare spiritual things with SPIRITUAL things. On the other side we have the "natural" person. This is the kind of person who always wants to "work things out logically", the kind of person who always wants to reason and argue about everything. Such a person refuses to accept the things of the Spirit of God, because to him it is "foolishness".

The point is that he can NOT understand it, and it is "foolishness" to him precisely because it must be SPIRITUALLY judged and the "natural" man does not know how to do this. Why not? It is just because he is not yet willing to submit himself totally and listen to the Spirit of God. In many cases this is the problem with the "wise and intelligent" people (Christians included) who only want to argue and reason about everything in the Word of God, and will not just do what it says. In some other cases, however, it refers to someone who has not yet accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Redeemer.

In this early stage of this book I already want to issue a very clear warning to each and every reader, as I come across this very often:

People tell me that they have watched our DVD, or they've read the booklet, and then asked their spiritual leader/s about what I have said or written on this subject. Then their spiritual leader/s tells them that I'm not speaking the truth. And immediately the people are confused, because WHO is now correct, am I correct or their spiritual leader/s?

My answer to these people in this case is not to listen to me nor the spiritual leader/s, but to go and PRAY and ask the Holy Spirit of God to reveal to them this specific aspect FROM THEIR OWN SCRIPTURES (Bible). How can I say this? Because people are NOT supposed to trust ME NOR THEIR SPIRITUAL LEADER/S to reveal these things to them, as I have already explained very clearly from the Bible (Jeremiah 17:5-8).

Go and READ FOR YOURSELF in your OWN Bible regarding each one of the things which I say and write, and then go and PRAY and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you WHAT is correct, not WHO is correct. Remember, neither I nor your spiritual leader has the full truth, we all know "in part" only.

May the Holy Spirit teach you to discern WHAT is right, as the Bible stipulates. It is never for a single moment about what I say, or what reverend so-and-so, or pastor so-and-so says. It is about what the Holy Spirit reveals to YOU from the WHOLE of SCRIPTURE (from Genesis to Revelation), provided that we are prepared to TRUST Him to do it for us. The Bible is very clear about the fact that the Holy Spirit is our great Teacher:

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you INTO ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:13)

For this reason we do not have to fear that the Holy Spirit will mislead us, because He will lead us into ALL TRUTH, also with regard to the aspects contained in this book.

3. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT IDOLS IN MY HOUSE? (Back to top)

Dear reader, please keep all the scriptures which I quoted in Chapter 2 in mind when we take a look in this chapter at what the Bible has to say about ANY KIND of idols in my home.

"I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have NO OTHER GODS before me." (Exodus 20:2,3 which is repeated in

Deuteronomy 5:6,7)

So many people always use this argument at the outset: "But I don't WORSHIP this thing/idol/statue which is standing in my house!" That is the wrong argument to use. The Bible clearly stipulates in these verses in Exodus and Deuteronomy that I shall not HAVE another god (idol) before God. Therefore I may not even POSSESS it.

I read a similar warning in Psalms 81:9:

"There shall no strange god BE IN (among) THEE..."

In the light of the words in 2 Corinthians 1:13 which stipulate that the authors of the Bible have not written anything else to us than what we read or understand, then I see here that there may be no strange god with me, so this means nothing else to me than that no "strange god" MAY BE WITH ME. I must thus not HAVE it with me. And HAVE means nothing other than what it says there, I may not POSSESS it! Many people try to attach all kinds of meanings to the word "have", in order to refute what I have written here.

Immediately they then ask: "But has the Lord not perhaps changed His mind? Has His view about idols not perhaps changed?" No, it has not, especially if I look at the following scriptures:

"But THOU ART THE SAME, and thy years shall have no end." (Psalms 102:27)

"For I am the LORD, I change NOT..." (Malachi 3:6)

"Jesus Christ THE SAME YESTERDAY, and TO DAY, and FOREVER" (Hebrews 13:8)

Thus it is very clear from the Word of God that God has not changed. He is still God, He is Sovereign, He is my King, He is my Father and He is my Lord. And because I know that he has never changed, it means that, in view of this, HIS view regarding idols will still be the same as it was since the beginning of time. So, if He didn't want His children to have idols all those thousands of years ago, He still does not want His children to HAVE them today! Why not? Because in the first place idols come from the kingdom of darkness, from the devil, and it can cause God's children to become entangled! Secondly, the Bible stipulates that God is a jealous God:

"For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." (Deuteronomy 4:24)

No bridegroom shares his bride with other men, because he loves his bride and is jealous of her. It is a "love-jealousy" and not an ugly jealousy. In the same way God, and Jesus our Heavenly Bridegroom, is jealous of us as His earthly bride and He will not share us with the kingdom of darkness.

And because I am His child and He is my Father, and because I have an intimate personal relationship with Him, and because I know that His view regarding idols has never changed, I WANT to please HIM, and I WANT to obey HIM and therefore I do not WANT to have any idols with me that might possibly disappoint HIM. It is, indeed, all EXCLUSIVELY just about HIM and HIS point of view and NOT about ME or MY point of view!

In Joshua 24:21-24 we read that Joshua speaks to THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD. These are the same people who for forty years physically experienced the fantastic miracles of God in the desert, who witnessed and experienced things of which you and I can only dream. It is the same people who saw all the promises of the Lord being fulfilled and who already possessed the Promised Land. Now look at what Joshua tells them:

"And the people said unto Joshua... we will serve the LORD. And Joshua said unto the people, ye are witnesses AGAINST YOURSELVES that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve Him. And they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore PUT AWAY, said he, the STRANGE GODS which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua: The Lord our GOD will we serve, and His voice will we obey." (Joshua 24:21-24)

Just look at that! After the people testified that they would serve the Lord, Joshua ordered them to remove the strange gods which were among them. That means that they, after all those years of having lived and experienced the Lord physically, still had strange gods among them. This proves very clearly to us that someone may serve the Lord for forty years or even longer, or be a member of a church for the same period of time, and STILL have strange gods (idols) with or among them. Knowingly or unknowingly. How many "strange gods" do we, who call ourselves God's people today, still have among us?

In this book, and on the DVD's which we have available on this subject, we take a more detailed look at some of the idols we are confronted with today. We can produce hundreds of DVD's or books regarding this subject, and still not cover everything, because the occult realm is simply too wide. For this reason we endeavour, through this book and also the DVD's, to just explain this Biblical principle to you as the reader. Then you must start to pray about it yourself and then learn to TRUST the Holy Spirit to point out to you any idols or other items HE doesn't want to be in your home.

But let's continue to read what Joshua says to the people of God:

"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seems evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose YOU this day whom YE will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14,15)

It means, therefore, that each person must decide for himself how he and his family will serve the Lord and what he or she will allow into their house. The fact that my sister might have the items concerned in her house, or my parents, or my pastor, or my minister, doesn't matter, because I have personally decided, in the light of the research we have done regarding these things, that: "...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" And that's why I will personally not allow any of the things about which I write here, or which I refer to on my DVD's, in my house.

HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE VERY CAREFULLY that NONE of the things which I refer to in this book or on our DVD's, can do anything to the salvation of the children of God! These things can NOT nullify your salvation!

If you have accepted the Lord, then you are a child of God. However, the things which you do allow into your house (sometimes from sheer ignorance) can well mean that in some cases you are a DISOBEDIENT child of God, but that does not make you less of a child of God. What these things can, however, cause, is that satan and his evil spirits can upset your household through marriage problems, relationship problems, financial problems or sickness coming into your house, and then everyone wonders where it came from and they are not willing to look at this aspect as well. The point is that my DISOBEDIENCE to the Word – by HAVING things in my house which God says I may NOT HAVE - may open the door to the spirit dimension and GIVE satan and his spirits the legal right to enter my home.

"Neither give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27)

People complain that their children are always sick, but when they take the children to the doctor, the doctor finds nothing medically wrong with them. However, as soon as the children are back at home, they are sick again. When the parents then remove the items concerned which I refer to in this book, the children are suddenly healed. Is it coincidence? Please remember that there is no such thing as "coincidence". We prefer to call it "God-incidence"! It just means that God's light enlightened you regarding the situation!

WHAT, then, are "strange gods" or "idols"? In the first place we must realize that there is no difference between "gods" and "idols."

"For ALL the gods of the people ARE IDOLS: but the LORD made the heavens." (1 Chronicles 16:26 & Psalms 96:5)

It is very clear from these scriptures that ALL gods which are worshiped by other nations or cultures are idols, which means that we may not have them. Please read this scripture in your own Bible. It does NOT say: "...all the gods of the nations, EXCEPT THOSE OF THE HINDUS, are idols...", or: "...all the gods of the nations, EXCEPT THOSE OF THE MUSLIMS, are idols...", or: "...all the gods of the nations, EXCEPT THOSE OF THE BUDDHISTS, are idols..." No, it says very clearly that ALL the gods of ALL the nations are idols. It therefore very clearly means that anything which is worshiped, honoured or served somewhere, is an idol which I am not allowed to have, and which I, because of my intimate personal relationship with the Lord, and in obedience to His Word, do not WANT to have.

I am also warned from the Word that my sorrows will be multiplied if I honour other gods in my house, if I "hasten after" them.

"Their SORROWS SHALL be multiplied that hasten after another god...nor take up their names into my lips." (Psalms 16:4)

Many people tell me that they don't understand what is going on in their lives, because they have problems with their finances, or their children's lives, or their health, and they don't know where it's coming from. The moment when we stand in their homes, however, we see a number of the idols which I write about in this book. What is the problem here? Well, I personally see my money also as a gift from God. What have I done with my money? I have bought "another god" with it, instead of using my money to sow into the kingdom of God so that souls may be saved therewith. I just couldn't WAIT to buy the same little statue as my mother, or my sister, or my best friend, so I "hastened after" another god! No wonder that our people's sorrows are so many...

The Lord tells us very clearly that we are not to learn any pagan nation's practices or habits. Let's take a look at only two such verses:

"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt NOT learn to do after the abominations of those nations." (Deuteronomy 18:9)

"Thus saith the LORD, learn NOT the way of the heathen..." (Jeremiah 10:2)

There is therefore no doubt that the Lord does not want us who are called His "people" to learn the practices, "the way", of any pagan nations, or do what they do, ESPECIALLY NOT where their idols are concerned. The Bible is clear that JESUS is the ONLY "way". Throughout this book we shall, however, take a look at many pagan practices and customs which we have learned and, in some cases, even started accepting as "Christian" customs.

People often ask the question as to what they must do with the idols? The answers are very clear in the following scriptures:

"(1) The graven IMAGES of THEIR GODS shall ye burn with fire;

(2) thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, NOR TAKE IT UNTO THEE,

(3) LEST thou be SNARED therein;

(4) FOR IT IS an ABOMINATION TO THE LORD THY GOD.

(5) Neither shalt thou BRING an abomination INTO THINE HOUSE,

lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it; for it is a cursed thing." (Deuteronomy 7:25-26)

In the first place I notice that those idols must be burnt with fire, and those things which cannot be burnt, must be broken, cut, sawn or DESTROYED in any other way. I'm not allowed to give it to my neighbour just because I happen not to like her. Just so that she can have the problems in her house. No! Secondly, I must not desire it or take it for myself. Why not? So that my family and I may not become ensnared by it. But where does the crux of this whole matter lie?

In the following words:

"FOR IT IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE LORD THY GOD."

This is the MAIN point of it all!

Too many people assert that the item concerned is acceptable in THEIR EYES, or in the eyes of their pastor, minister, brother, sister, mother or father or that THEY like it, or that THEY fail to see any problem with it. We are busy with the wrong argument again!

It's not about ME or how I or ANY OTHER PERSON around me view the item concerned.

It's about how GOD views it!

If I read on in this scripture, I see that I may not BRING ANY abomination INTO my house, another confirmation that I'm not allowed to possess such a thing. Why not? Because those things are cursed and can put me under the same curse. Do you remember: "For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge..." (2 Corinthians 1:13)?

The time has also come for us Christians to start realizing that it is not only my body which must be holy, pure and clean before God, but also my property.

"For the LORD your God walketh in the midst of thy camp (HOUSE, FARM, BUSINESS, CHURCH BUILDING) to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; THEREFORE shall thy CAMP be HOLY, that HE see no unclean thing in thee, AND TURN AWAY FROM THEE." (Deuteronomy 23:14)

From this scripture I see clearly that my CAMP, (in our case, our homes, farms, businesses, church buildings, etc.) must also be HOLY. Why? Because GOD walks around in our homes, farms, businesses, church buildings! God is holy and He expects us AND our property to be holy. God is a jealous God and He does not share us with the kingdom of darkness. I also see a very clear warning contained in this scripture, namely that God will turn away from me if He sees anything shameful around me. Does this then mean that I am no longer His child? No! It has nothing to do with my salvation. I still remain His child. Nothing which I write about in this book can do anything to my Christianity. However, I repeat that it can definitely turn my life and the lives of my family upside down and then we don't know where it's from.

What we don't always realize is that God is bound by His own Word. He never goes against His own Word. It means, therefore, that if His Word stipulates He will withdraw Himself if He sees anything around us which is shameful in HIS EYES, it means exactly what it says! OUR DISOBEDIENCE to His Word forces our loving Heavenly Father to be, in effect, bound by His Word and then to withdraw His hand of protection from us. And what happens then? Satan has an open gun-sight on us and our loved ones. Now all sorts of strange things start happening and immediately we are angry with God! Meanwhile it is not God, but we ourselves who are disobedient to His Word and through our disobedience have opened up doors of darkness in our own lives. It is time for us as Christians to take up our PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY in the spirit dimension and begin to OBEY our Father's Word, just as it is written.

Many people are very quick to assert that there are no scriptures in the Bible which show any connection between an idol and any evil spirits. If I look at the following scriptures, I differ from this notion.

"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood..." (Revelation 9:20,21)

From this scripture I notice that some people continued to worship evil spirits AND idols which they themselves made from gold, silver, brass, stone and wood. No heathen idol worshiper worships the evil spirits in the air at random without trying to make some kind of physical image of the spirit concerned, before which he can place food and all other kinds of sacrifices. There is a very clear connection between evil spirits and those physical images of idols. Also note the following scriptures:

""They provoked Him to jealousy with STRANGE GODS, with abominations provoked they Him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils (demons), not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to NEW gods that came newly up..." (Deuteronomy 32:16,17)

From these scriptures we see that the people provoked God's anger through "strange gods". What was it that provoked Him so? The fact that the people sacrificed to demons that were not God. How did they do this? There are many examples mentioned in the Bible. They did it by way of the PHYSICAL stone pillars, images, etc. which they erected everywhere! Once again a DIRECT connection between evil spirits and physical idols. Throughout this book I'm going to show you "gods" which were not known to you and me. NEW gods "that came newly up..." What we must start to realize is that satan ensures that there are constantly "new gods" coming up. As soon as Christians are warned that one specific item is, in actual fact, an idol, hordes of new ones have already hit the market place.

It's true that the Bible stipulates that an image cannot have a spirit IN him:

"Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath IN them." (Jeremiah 10:14 & Jeremiah 51:17)

There is, therefore, no doubt that no image can have a spirit IN it. However, what people battle to understand is the fact that, should that image or item originate from the kingdom of darkness, then satan's evil spirits hang AROUND that specific item or image, because that item gives them the "legal right" or "point of contact" in that house. The heathen who worship different idols, know this to be a fact, and that is why there are many testimonies of pagan nations who put down food in front of an image, so that the "spirit that protects the statue" can eat that food.

In Joshua 7 we briefly read the story about Achan who, in disobedience to God's commands regarding Jericho, took some of the things to hide away in his tent. This caused the people to lose thirty six lives in a war against Ai shortly after that. When Joshua fell on his face before the Lord to find out what the reason was, the Lord pointed out the following to him:

"ISRAEL have sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I com-manded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing... and they have PUT IT EVEN AMONG THEIR OWN STUFF. Therefore the children of Israel COULD NOT STAND BEFORE THEIR ENEMIES, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: NEITHER WILL I BE WITH YOU ANY MORE, EXCEPT YE DESTROY THE ACCURSED FROM AMONG YOU. Up, sanctify the people, and say, SANCTIFY YOURSELVES... for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: THOU CANST NOT STAND BEFORE THINE ENEMIES, UNTIL YE TAKE AWAY THE ACCURSED THING FROM AMONG YOU." (Joshua 7:11-13)

Although only Achan had taken something, God still says that the WHOLE ISRAEL has sinned as a result of this. Why? Because one of them had disobeyed His command and took of the accursed things and added them to their own things. How many "accursed things" have we as Christians not taken lately and "added to our things"? In how many cases do we as parents allow our children to bring things into our homes which come from the kingdom of darkness, which in effect means that my WHOLE HOUSE has already sinned because of it?

Take a look at what the result of such disobedience is – God says His children will not be able to stand before their enemies. How many Christians today are not able to stand before their "enemies" (satan and his evil spirits), because of the very fact that they have "accursed things" in their possession? Read on and see what God says will be the result of such disobedience: "NEITHER WILL I BE WITH YOU ANY MORE, EXCEPT YE DESTROY THE ACCURSED FROM AMONG YOU..." This scripture stipulates almost exactly the same as Deuteronomy 23:14 which we looked at earlier, namely that God's hand of protection will no longer be on us as long as we have in our possession things that He does not want us to have.

I found it interesting to read the following scripture in the Bible. It's about a young king in Israel, Josiah, who, on a certain day, is confronted with the Word of the Lord and God's commands therein. Please read with me what his reaction was.

"And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.

And the king went up into the house of the Lord... AND all the inhabitants... AND the priests, AND the prophets, AND ALL the people... and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant... and the king... and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with ALL their heart and ALL their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And ALL the people stood to the covenant.

AND THE KING COMMANDED... to bring forth OUT of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for BAAL, and for the GROVE, and for all the host of heaven: and he BURNED... And he put down the idolatrous priests... that burned incense unto BAAL, to the SUN, and to the MOON, and to the PLANETS, and to all the HOST OF HEAVEN. And he brought OUT the grove from the house of the Lord... and BURNED it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people ... And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun... and BURNED the chariots of the sun with fire. And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber... did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron... And the high places... builded for ASHTORETH... the Zidonians... and for Chemosh... the Moabites... and for Milcom of Ammon did the king DEFILE... And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah TOOK AWAY... Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the IMAGES, and the IDOLS, and all the ABOMINATIONS... PUT AWAY..., that he might PERFORM the words of the law... in the house of the Lord. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him." (2 Kings 23:1-25)

What does this young king do? He is confronted with the truth of the Word and what is the immediate result? He decides FIRSTLY to serve the Lord and to keep His precepts and commandments with his ALL of his heart and with ALL of his soul. See? It is therefore ALWAYS firstly about submitting yourself to GOD with your WHOLE life! And what does Josiah do then? HE CLEANS HIS HOUSE! And not only does he clean his house, he cleanses the whole LAND!

What is the result of this step of obedience? That the Lord has the following wonderful testimony about the young king written into the Bible: "And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with ALL his heart, and with ALL his soul, and with ALL his might... neither after him arose there any like him." Isn't that wonderful? This is not even said about king David! But what did this young king do which led to God forever honour his memory in this way? He firstly decided to follow God with everything that was within him, and secondly he just had his house and country cleansed of idols in obedience to his God and the Word of his God. Wouldn't it be wonderful if God could one day honour your memory in such a way because you were the only one in your whole family who did the same for Him with ALL of your heart and ALL of your soul?

However, what will the inevitable result be once you start taking these radical steps of being obedient to God and His Word to this extent?

"Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)

Note well what it says here. ALL that will live godly lives in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution. It doesn't say that you MIGHT be persecuted. You must, therefore, be prepared to be persecuted. To be persecuted by your friends, your family and even your own church people. Of course, it won't be anything strange that will be happening to you, because those very same people also persecuted Jesus Himself. It's always interesting to me to note that no Satanist, Buddhist or Hindu has ever persecuted me or other Christians who choose to walk this road of purity without idols because of the things written in my book or are said on the DVD's regarding their idols. But who are the ones who kick against the goads the most? Christians.

But because Jesus has already warned me ages ago from His Word that this would be the case, I find it easy to understand their conduct, to forgive them and to keep on loving them with the unconditional love of Jesus

"For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him. But it was thou, A MAN MINE EQUAL, MY GUIDE, AND MINE ACQUAINTANCE. We took sweet counsel together and WALKED UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD in company." (Psalms 55:12-14)

Who is it, then, who will hurt me according to this scripture? Those very people who go to church with me! And what does Jesus expect me to do to those who persecute and hurt me?

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, BLESS them that curse you, DO GOOD to them that hate you and PRAY for them which despitefully use you, and PERSECUTE YOU..." (Matthew 5:44)

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." (Luke 6:37)

So, my friend, if you also choose to walk the way of purity before God, without idols in your life, after having read this book, then be prepared for the persecution. But when the persecution comes, do what God says in these scriptures and forgive those who persecute and curse you because of this, set them free with the love of Jesus and bless them in Jesus' Name.

Another thing you must take note of is that certain things may be a problem in some Christians' homes but not necessarily in the homes of others, while other things may be a problem in the homes of all Christians. What am I saying? Let me explain it to you in this way:

Peter inherits a white tea cup from his grandmother. There are no symbols on it at all, but it was a cup used by his grandmother, who was a spiritist medium, to practice her sorcery and divination. Now we come to his house and give him the advice to rather destroy that cup, because there is a connection with the kingdom of darkness as a result of his grandmother's occult background.

However, what happens is that Peter goes to his neighbour, John, who has exactly the same type of cups in his house and Peter says to John: "Those cups of yours are of the devil, you must destroy them/throw them away!" No, that is not so, there is NOTHING wrong with the cups in John's home. There was only a problem with Peter's cup because it was used for the purposes of the kingdom of darkness in the past. Do you understand the concept?

In contrast to that, however, the fact remains that ALL images of Buddha, for instance, are a problem in the homes of ALL Christians, because it is and remains an IDOL, no matter in whose home it stands.

4. THE COMMAND - CLEANSE GOD'S "TEMPLE" (Back to top)

I read in the Bible that Jesus was very angry because people desecrated God's temple.

"And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when He had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves: "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." And his disciples remembered that it was written: The zeal of thine house has eaten me up." (John 2:13-17)

Each one of us who has read these well-known scriptures must have wondered how angry Jesus really was when He overturned those tables. Without a doubt He didn't come in walking softly and quietly and He didn't overturn those tables gently and softly. No, I can well imagine that it must have been a big noise in the temple on that day. And why was he so angry? Because the people had cheapened the temple of God and did not keep it pure and clean. Jesus also had that burning zeal for His Father's house which consumed Him, as the scripture says. If we read about Israel's history, we know that that physical temple which Jesus "purified" in this way on that day, was totally destroyed by the Roman army in approximately 70 AD and that not one stone was left on top of the other, just as Jesus had prophesied.

So that scripture today clearly no longer refers to the physical temple in Jerusalem. It now refers to the "new" temple/s of God, namely our bodies, as we read about it in 1 Corinthians 3:16,17:

"Know ye not that YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

Personally, I like to draw the "definition" of that bodily "temple" a bit further along to, in this way, include everything which God in His great mercy has given me and which belongs to me. After all, we know that the Bible says that everything which belongs to me, in fact also belongs to God if I am His child.

We have, indeed, seen earlier in Deuteronomy 23:14 that even my property should be HOLY. Therefore I cannot change my "temple", which includes my possessions, to a "house of merchandise" with all kinds of worldly wares which may influence the purity and cleanliness of that temple, or is able to bring a hindrance over it. Now, may I ask you, child of God: Do you also have that zeal which Jesus had for His Father's house in YOUR body and YOUR possessions? Are you doing your best to ensure that it is also kept pure and clean? Are you practicing stewardship regarding ALL the things which God has entrusted into your care?

We all know how granny used to say that it's time to "spring clean" her house. That only meant that she wanted to clean her house properly at the beginning of spring, so that the old dust and dead stuff of the past winter could be swept out and thrown away. Then the house was ready for the new spring and summer season which was on the way. For precisely the same reason that granny had in the past, I see the "house-cleaning" of our homes from demonic objects, or so-called contact- or cursed objects, through which demons acquire a legal, spiritual right in our homes.

Several people argue about this and say that there is no Scriptural justification for the "cleaning" of people's houses. I have prayed about this intensely and very clearly received the following answer from the Word regarding this aspect. This is the part in 2 Chronicles 29 where king Hezekiah commanded the priests to cleanse the temple of God. Please read the words with me from 2 Chronicles 29:15-17:

"And they gathered their brethren (the priests) and SANCTIFIED themselves..."

If I read the words in Exodus 29:36b, I see there that it says: "...and thou shalt ANOINT it to sanctify it..." From this I deduce that the priests were anointed with oil before they could start cleansing the temple. That is why I'm of the opinion that one can/should also "...anoint it (your house) to sanctify it". To sanctify something is to set it apart for God to use.

"...and came, according to the commandment of the king..."

Who is today the "king" of your house, friend? Is it not you? You can therefore give this commandment for YOUR house to be made holy and pure.

"...by the words of the Lord..."

It is definitely my opinion that it is God's will that you must cleanse your house spiritually and (if necessary) physically purify it, "clean it" and then keep it clean from demonic influences.

"...the house of the Lord..."

As I have already said, who is the "house of the Lord" today? Is it not you – and therefore by implication also everything which belongs to you? Remember Deuteronomy 23:14.

"...to cleanse."

In other words, to cleanse and purify it from anything which does not belong there.

"And the priests..."

Who, according to the Bible, is the priest of your home today?

"And hast made US unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:10)

Who, then, must do the "cleaning"? You must sir or you madam if you are unmarried or a widow or divorced, because you are, for all intents and purposes, the king and priest of your home.

"...In the two courts of the house of the Lord, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust from them into the brook of Kidron..."

What must therefore be done with the wrong things which are found in your house – spiritual and physical? It must be removed from your house and destroyed!

"And they began to sanctify (in other words, to ANOINT) on the first day of the first month..."

If we read this whole section in the Bible, we will notice that the king's commandment was issued on the first of the first month and from this scripture it is clear that the priests started on exactly that same day with their imposed task. Therefore, when it is laid on our hearts to cleanse our homes, we must also not delay in taking action.

Furthermore, if we look at the rest of the words in 2 Chronicles 30:14 we see that the people did the following:

"And they arose and TOOK AWAY the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense TOOK THEY AWAY, and cast them into the brook Kidron."

What, in other words, did the people of God do here? They REMOVED everything which had to do with idols and idol worship from their city and cast them into the brook Kidron, in other words, they DESTROYED them! The same was done with those things which the priests took from the house of the Lord. They were destroyed in the brook Kidron. In the Bible we read about more than one instance where one or the other king gave the commandment that images of idols were to be removed from the temple of the Lord and DESTROYED in the brook Kidron.

And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant."

Have you and your "people", your family, ever made this covenant with the Lord, dear friend? That you will follow all His commandments and his statutes with your whole heart and soul? If so, then He would also lay it on your heart to do the following:

"And the king COMMANDED Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the Lord ALL THE VESSELS that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven:"

If we take a look at the "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia" we see the following regarding Baal and Ashera (referred to as "the grove"): - "As the Sun-god, Baal was worshipped under two aspects, beneficent and destructive. Human victims were sacrificed to him in order to appease his anger in time of plague or other trouble, the victim being usually the first-born of the sacrifice and being burnt alive. Asherah was the goddess of fertility." "The whole host of heaven..." refers to the images of star-signs and astrology which were practiced by the pagans (so-called signs of the zodiac). Therefore it is clear that ANYTHING to do with idols or idol worship was thrown out and destroyed. Please also note the words: "ALL THE VESSELS..." Therefore, NOTHING should remain which does not belong in God's temple – or in our homes.

"...and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel... And he brought out the grove (Asherah – idol) from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people." (2 Kings 23:4-6)

Here is a reiteration that these things must be totally destroyed, in fact, burned and stamped to powder. Thereafter the ashes were strewn in the graveyard. In the same way we must destroy those things which might be idols in other countries and which stand in our homes. We must also burn it or otherwise destroy it and then throw the ash onto the rubbish dump. Do not even leave the ash on your property.

Let's take another quick look at the words in Deuteronomy 7:25,26 which I've already referred to in Chapter 3:

"The graven images of THEIR gods SHALL ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest THOU be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God. Neither shalt THOU bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing."

The "their" which is referred to in this scripture is, of course, anyone else who does not believe in God in the way that we believe in Him. But what's happening to all of us today? We have become a generation of "globe trotters", visiting the most wonderful places all over the world, where the "prettiest" souvenirs are sold of African witchdoctor masks or –drums, the "cutest" Buddha-statues, "beautiful" dragons or snakes on lampshades or clothing, or on night gowns, samurai swords, paintings which incorporate the yin- and yang-signs and hordes of other occult-, witchcraft- or satanic symbols, one or other "memento" from the Second World War, or any other war, the so-called dream-catcher which is supposed to capture certain dreams and let others through, etc., the list is endless and we will look at them all in more detail later. What we don't know, is that we bring all kinds of demonic spirits which have to do, among other things, with the idol worship of those different nations, into our own homes.

Many Christians are quick to point out: "Because I don't worship that thing hanging there, I anointed it with oil and broke any curses which might be on it, and now it can just stay there." Then I refer them to the very clear words in the above-mentioned scripture, namely: "The graven image of THEIR gods SHALL ye burn with fire..." It does not say:"The graven images of their gods YOU MAY ANOINT AND BREAK THE CURSES OVER THEM..." There is no reference anywhere in the Bible that we may just anoint them. This scripture is very clear about the fact that we must BURN them, in other words, destroy them! A friend of mine always puts it as follows: if a snake sails in at my front door and I anoint it with oil, has it now suddenly changed into something else? Or is it still a snake (admittedly an anointed snake) which can harm me and my family if we do not remove it?

Anything which is worshiped in another country as an idol and of which I bring an image into my house, is an idol in my house and gives one or other demon of satan a legal right in my house, as I already explained in great detail in previous chapters. Here, for instance, I'm thinking of the cows which are worshiped in Egypt and India (is my whole kitchen or house perhaps filled with cows or images of cows?) or elephants which are worshiped in certain countries in the East; an obsession with snake-symbols (here I'm not talking about children who keep snakes as pets, as live snakes are still created by God); an obsession with dragons or any images of them; and the obsessive collecting of owl-images, for instance.

When do you know that you are bound by such an obsession? When you simply "have to" have the next doll, or image, or tin, or whatever bears the specific image on it. For instance, have you ever noticed all those "cute" dragon dolls of all kinds, colours and forms which you can buy in different shops these days? This list is very long and I shall refer to some of them in the following chapters.

Let's just take a look at some more scripture verses regarding things which are idols, namely 1 Corinthians 10:19-21:

"What say I then? That the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God:

And I would NOT that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Ye CANNOT drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils.

Ye CANNOT be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?"

Friend, do you want to have fellowship with devils through the things which you keep in your home? Or do you want to provoke God's jealousy by disobeying His Word? NO argument can be put forward that "this little old image of Buddha" or "that old tapestry from the Muslim mosque" is innocent and can't have any influence on our children. It refers to an idol! If it's the image of ANYTHING from another culture and of which we do not know the true meaning, we must know that it can in all probability be one of "their" idols, which we should then, in obedience to God's commandment, remove and utterly destroy.

5. PHYSICAL REACTION TO SPIRITUAL "CONTACT OBJECTS" (Back to top)

There are sufficient testimonies of people who have even become physically ill as a result of such cursed objects in their home. One story which I shall always remember was told to a youth group at a church under my leadership as youth deacon at that time. It was related to us by a man by the name of captain Kobus Jonker who was then at the head of the task force of the South African Police which was investigating Satanism in South Africa. According to him there was a three year old girl who became very ill. Her parents had tried everything medically possible and the child was taken from one specialist to another, but without any success.

Eventually, the parents heard about captain Jonker and called in his help. He first spoke to the parents in order to get some background, and then undertook to spend the night in the child's room. The only object that was in the little girl's room was a pencil sketch/reproduction of a young girl with large eyes, which had been drawn by someone called Sarah Moon, who was a very popular artist at the time. According to captain Jonker everything was peaceful in the room, but at the stroke of twelve the two large eyes in the Sarah Moon sketch started to glow. Captain Jonker switched on the light, called the parents and pulled the picture from the wall and burned it. The child never became sick again. When captain Jonker investigated the background about the sketch, he discovered that the artist was a satanist who pronounced curses over the sketches as well as all reproductions of it. Thus the parents hung a "cute and innocent" picture on the wall of their daughter's room which eventually led to her becoming physically ill. We still receive regular testimonies from people about the fact that they themselves or their children experienced certain illnesses, until certain items in that house were removed, after which those illnesses summarily vanished. Friend, these are not just ghost stories, they are hard facts.

In any case, these things shouldn't and can't scare you, because just look at what Jesus Himself said in Luke 10:19 regarding the power we have over satan and his demons.

"Behold, I give unto you power to TREAD on serpents (symbol of satan) and scorpions (symbol of his demons), and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

As well as in James 4:7:

"SUBMIT yourselves therefore to God. RESIST the devil, and he WILL flee from you."

Please also take note that I'm not at any stage trying to say that one specific object can cause illnesses in a house, while another can cause marital problems, or parent-child problems, or financial problems, or whatever. No. What, in fact, happens, is that any one of these items can open a door in the spiritual dimension through which satan and his evil spirits can enter and attack us and our families in various ways.

The Bible is very clear that our battle is against evil spirits in the air:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Those evil spirits are very definitely also present in our homes "in high places", or in the air, and they eagerly want to stay where we GIVE them legal right, either by not living righteously, or by allowing wrong things into our homes.

"...Neither GIVE place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27)

It is therefore very clear that nobody else GIVES the devil place in our lives, except US. Neither the devil nor his spirits can MAKE us do anything, but they can place thoughts into our minds which, if we are unable to take them captive to the obedience of Christ, can lead us into doing wrong things and allowing wrong things into our homes.

6. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE (Back to top)

What most Christians also don't realize is that the Bible warns us that God's people can be "taken captive" because of lack of knowledge. Let's take a look at very explicit scriptures regarding this:

"Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have NO KNOWLEDGE..." (Isaiah 5:13)

And:

"My people are destroyed for LACK OF KNOWLEDGE: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (Hosea 4:6)

Please note very carefully! Why have God's people gone into "captivity" and are they "destroyed"? Because of LACK OF KNOWLEDGE! For too long people have put forth the argument that they don't want to know how the devil works, because then they will be "drawn into" his works. This is a blatant lie from satan himself. In the army we were taught: "Know your enemy." Now we are all engaged in spiritual warfare which determines our eternal future, and guess what they tell us? "No, you don't want to know your enemies, because if you get to know your enemies, you will be "drawn in" by them!" What an obvious lie! No soldier ever walked over to the enemy, especially not after he learned about the atrocious and cruel ways in which that enemy attacks or annihilates its opponent. No, after having learnt how the enemy goes to work, he just wants to make sure that he STAYS AWAY from the enemy, except insofar as he can withstand and/or destroy him on the battlefield. The same is applicable to us as children of God and the attacks of the enemy.

Please also take note of that verse in Hosea 4 which stipulates that I can actually choose whether I want to accept or reject the knowledge. That, of course, includes this subject about which I am writing in this book. Satan wants us to reject the knowledge regarding this subject, because then he knows that his spirits' "contact points" will stay in our homes, which gives them the legal right to be there.

The Bible is very clear about the fact that we are NOT IGNORANT regarding the works of satan:

"...lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are NOT ignorant of his devices." (2 Corinthians 2:11)

How can I NOT BE IGNORANT of satan's plans, if I don't FIND OUT what his tactics are? Only if I KNOW how he operates can I say that I am "not ignorant of his devices". And where do I find out how he goes to work? I read the Bible! His whole modus operandi is described in detail for us in the pages of this wonderful Book which we know as the Bible. Any sports teams taking part in an important tournament against other teams make sure that they get hold of videos of the other team's tactics, so that they may know exactly what to watch out for and the types of tactics the enemy will use against them. We also possess such a "video" about our enemy, satan's offensive tactics. It's called the Bible. Why do we as Christians not look at it? Because our eyes are veiled and kept tightly shut against certain spiritual truths.

Through the medium of this book I cannot CONVICT you, the reader, of ANYTHING. That is not my job nor my goal, because the Bible stipulates clearly that the Holy Spirit is the One who does the work of convicting people about wrong things in their lives:

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment:" (John 16,:7,8)

The only thing that I am endeavouring to do through this book as well as our DVD's, is to share with you the little bit of KNOWLEDGE which has been revealed to us through the research we've been doing. What you CHOOSE to DO with this knowledge, is your personal business. You can either accept and apply it, or you can summarily reject it. And whatever you decide to do has nothing to do with me. That is absolutely a matter between you and our Heavenly Father.

People are also apt to label me as coming from such or such a church denomination, or "sect" or "cult" because of the research that we've done for this book or the DVD's. And they are wrong every time. Our only aim is to compare the knowledge which we have acquired through our research with the Word of God as written in our Bibles, and not from any specific theological viewpoint. So, dear friend, instead of wondering, whilst reading this book "from which church" I am, rather pray and ask the Holy Spirit to point out to you WHAT the truth is regarding the aspects which I address in the book. It is a fact that some denominations do know the truth regarding some "parts", while other "cults" know the truth regarding other "parts". And all that I have done, is to put together some of these "parts" so that the total picture regarding the onslaught from the kingdom of darkness can become a bit clearer to anyone who is willing to set aside "his/her theology" – no matter from which Christian denomination he/she might be.

I can only pray that we Christians would stop arguing from the viewpoint of ignorance. So many people are quick to say: "Man, I don't believe in these things, therefore they don't exist!" The fact that I don't believe in a specific thing, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist! If I say I "don't believe" our country has a good judicial system, has our country's judicial system suddenly vanished, or is it still there?

Let me ask you this, dear friend – do you have knowledge of EVERYTHING that exists, whether physical or spiritual? Because if you don't have knowledge about EVERYTHING which exists, either spiritually or physically, you cannot use the argument that you don't believe in it and therefore it suddenly does not exist. Do keep this in mind while you read on...

Many people, Christians, and even spiritual leaders, unfortunately often argue from a position of ignorance regarding certain aspects with which they have never come into contact during their life-time. Remember, we ALL still only know "in part". Instead of simply arguing that I am wrong just because you perhaps don't have this knowledge yet, won't you rather ask the Holy Spirit whether you can't add the "parts" which I know, to the "parts" which are known to you, and in this way maybe get a better insight into the total picture of the spiritual dimension?

Because one thing I know personally, and that is that I have prayed and asked the Holy Spirit over and over again whether I must write or talk about these things, because of the fact that it is so controversial and can cause rebellion among some Christians, and every time I have received His confirmation to proceed, also from the Scriptures. The one very clear Scripture which the Father gave me, is the following:

"Moreover He said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, This saith the Lord GOD – WHETHER THEY WILL HEAR, OR WHETHER THEY WILL FORBEAR." (Ezekiel 3:10,11)

And also:

"And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities." (Deuteronomy 32:20,21)

This was my personal command from the Lord, because the idols in His children's lives EVEN TODAY are provoking God, and God does not like being provoked. And I must just be obedient to Him, whether His children (you included, dear reader) hearken to my warnings regarding these matters, or not. But what does satan cause? Instead of us Christians coming into unity about these matters, in order for us to get rid of it and enable us to stand before God as a pure and spotless bride, WITHOUT any idols, we argue with one another! As long as the Christians are divided against each other about this, satan has the last laugh. And while this goes on, all his symbols, idols, and items are standing or hanging around peacefully in our homes, or on our farms, places of business or even church buildings, and thus continue to give a place to him and his demons.

7. POSSIBLE CONTACT OBJECTS (Back to top)

This territory is very, very wide and I always advise families to hear from the Holy Spirit THEMSELVES and ask for guidance regarding certain articles which they have in their homes. Parents must also pay attention to their children's discernment of certain articles which they have in their homes, as I have noticed that children, in most cases, are more receptive to spiritual guidance regarding wrong things in the home. It's not in vain that the Bible tells us that we must become "as little children".

However, we as Christians should also not be insolent. Sometimes people are shown the exact problem, with the necessary substantiated proof, regarding a specific item or idol in their home, but then they still decide that they will not remove that item until "it falls from the wall by itself" or whatever other argument they might use. We must be careful of this type of argument and maybe just take to heart the following warning from the Bible:

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." (1 Corinthians 10:12-14)

We must stay away from idols, so if I get to know that something is an idol, or a possible "contact object" within the kingdom of darkness, then I do not WANT it in my home! People always ask me where I "draw the line" regarding these things? Personally, I don't draw ANY "line" where God and His wonderful Word are concerned. If you should come to my house and point out to me that ANYTHING there is a possible problem, and you can give me a specific reason for this, having done the necessary research regarding this, then the item concerned will not stay in my house, but I will summarily destroy it.

Okay, so what are the things which I am warning against? We in the ministry have noticed that, AMONG OTHERS, the following items are or CAN BE contact objects, namely:

7.1 Dragons

These days one gets the "prettiest" statuettes of dragons, images of dragons, or films about dragons throughout the world. Whom does the dragon symbolize? Let's see what the Bible says:

"And the great DRAGON was cast out, that old SERPENT, called the DEVIL, and SATAN, which deceiveth the whole world..." (Revelation 12:9)

And are dragons not everywhere to be seen these days? On our children's T-shirts, our night- gowns, on the animation films which our children watch over and over every day, or the "cutest little dragon dolls in my daughter's room", the list is very long... And I repeat, whom does this symbolize? The devil/satan himself! If you keep in mind all the scriptures which I have quoted in the previous chapters, do you think the Lord will be happy if I have a symbol of the devil in my house? I definitely don't think so. People ask me: "Why, then, is it so cute?" Because satan doesn't want to use force to come into your home. He wants you to INVITE him in and even pay a great deal of money for it! In this way he and his demons get their free accommodation in your house and, secondly, he also steals your money.

Remember, satan doesn't come to you with red horns, red tail and a red fork. Well, what does he look like then? Again, we find the answer in the Bible, as we can really measure anything against the Word:

"And no marvel; for Satan himself IS TRANSFORMED into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers (evil spirits) also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness." (2 Corinthians 11:14,15)

Can you see that satan will come to you beautiful and pleasant, as an ANGEL of light? And that is why we need to get to know the Bible, and stop being confused because we do not know the Scriptures, so that we can see when it is he (satan) who is pretending to be something which he isn't.

7.2. African art

Any article made by black artists, have the POTENTIAL to be a problem. We have already confirmed this aspect with black Christians and other non-Christian black people throughout South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Malawi, which is that, after SOME (not all) of these artists have completed their handiwork, they call in the sangomas (witchdoctors) and ask them to "bless" their work so that they might be able to sell them. Those "blessings" take the form of bones which are read or "muthi" which is sprinkled over the articles and the ancestral spirits are then invoked through "prayer" over all those articles.

Now we as Christians buy those items and hang them in our houses and, through those spirits which were invoked over those articles, satan obtains a legal right in our homes. Please note that I am saying SOME of these artists do this. The only problem is that one does not know which of them do these things, and which don't. For this reason I, personally, never take chances with items which are sold on street corners, whether they are made of wood, wire, zinc or metal. I just do not buy it.

People are quick to use the argument: "But I'm helping him to take care of his family by buying that item!" If you really want to help someone like that, then GIVE him money to take care of his family. You don't need to get anything for it, because then you may have, unwittingly, through your act of "charity", opened spiritual doors into your and your own family's life.

I have the following testimony from a personal friend who ministers with me regularly. He prayed the blood of Jesus, and God's angels, by way of regular prayer, over and around his house whenever we went to minister at a camp for men. Yet, within a period of three months and four camps, there were THREE burglaries in his house. By the third time he became very discouraged and asked:"Lord, please tell me what is going on. Were the angels perhaps sleeping?" Immediately the Lord answered him: "My son, you teach the people about contact objects in their houses, but look at what you have standing in your own home." At that moment the Lord referred him to two carved wooden giraffes and two wooden eagles which came from Zimbabwe and which were standing in his lounge. The Lord blessed my friend amazingly through visions and the gift of discerning of spirits and the Lord then showed him two demons sitting by the eagles. Those veiled spirits were thus "drawing" the evil spirits from outside and also gave them the "legal right" to come inside.

After this, the Lord revealed to him that satan accuses the saints, just as the Bible says. What happens when I have such a contact object in my house? Satan stands before God and he says something like: "God, You say that this man/woman is Your child and that Your blood is over their homes, and that Your angels are standing around that house. But God, take a look, that same man/woman him/herself is giving my evil spirits the LEGAL right to go into their house by having that contact object from my kingdom of darkness. And, God, You cannot stop us, because we have obtained that legal right from THEM, just as it happened that time with Adam and Eve."

One day I was ministering at a church where I heard the testimony of an elderly member who, earlier on in his life, had been a member of a church in a small town in Namibia where it was very dry. The church members then decided that they wanted to start actively praying for rain for their little town, but the black members in their church informed them that, first of all, they must chase the black artists who were selling their wooden articles on the street corners, out of the town. When asked why they were saying this, they were informed that the black artists in their town performed rain dances during which they asked their gods NOT to let it rain on their wooden articles, so that they could sell them. Not long ago I ministered in Namibia myself, and this testimony was confirmed by members of that exact same church.

Remember, also, that satan knows the Bible much better than you and I. He knows that Deuteronomy 7:25 stipulates that we shall burn the idols with fire. That's why he ensures these days that these things are not just made from wood, but from wire, or zinc, or other forms of metal. They don't burn that easily. What, then, does one do with them? You cut them up with pliers, saw or an electric cutter or angle grinder. It must still be destroyed.

7.3.Fairies, dwarfs, gnomes, pixies, elves and trolls

People are very quick to rebel when I discuss this aspect with them. However, if you start reading about this in the folklore of other countries, especially countries in the Northern Hemisphere, you will soon see that people in those countries believe in fairies, dwarfs, gnomes, pixies, elves and trolls, just as we believe in the Holy Spirit and certain black people believe in the "tokeloshe". Therefore they are all idols to some people in certain countries. Do take another look at the words in Deuteronomy 7:25 that we must burn "their idols" with fire. What people don't know, is that all the fairies, dwarfs, gnomes, pixies, elves and trolls in those countries are evil. Much of the folklore of different countries in the Northern Hemisphere clearly shows that "fairies, dwarfs, elves and trolls" have attacked, offended, hurt or even killed people.

Furthermore, these little creatures also practice witchcraft. Remember the "cute" Tinkerbell in Peter Pan? The Bible is very clear about ANYONE practicing witchcraft:

"There shall not be found among you ANYONE (fairies or dwarfs included)...that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch... For ALL (fairies and dwarfs included) that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord..." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

Few people are aware that the word "troll" in the old Norwegian language in actual fact means "demon". We get the "cutest" little troll dolls with their coloured hair and shiny little eyes and our children's rooms are full of them. Can you see what are, in actual fact, in our children's rooms? We've had several cases where parents phoned us and informed us that their little girls can't sleep, or don't want to go into their bedrooms, or are frightened at night. When we go into that house, we see that there are fairies painted all over that girl's room and little fairy dolls are hanging from the roof. The moment those things are removed the child's fear is gone.

Take note, if those things are painted on the walls, it's no good just painting over it, as it is then still there, it is only covered. No, the walls must be SCOURED and then re-painted.

We must also remember that the Bible warns us as follows:

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:14,15)

What satan and his demons do, is to come to our children at night, "masquerading" as some "friendly" fairy, dwarf or troll. What happens is that the child, in her ignorance, sees the "cute" fairy which looks exactly like the little doll which she plays with every day, standing by her bed, and she invites the "fairy" into her life...

We read the following confirmation regarding this in the book: "Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated" by Dr Cathy Burns:

"If you are convinced that sea spirits look like women with very pretty long hair and fishy tails, that's what you'll see. If you believe that leprechauns wear small green hats and small green suits and have pointed ears, they'll put that on. If you believe a fairy has lovely translucent wings and long flowing gowns, that is what you will see. Your expectations are creating the body..."

She also writes:

"What most people don't realize is that the word "troll" comes from the Old Norse word for demon and is defined by some sources as a 'devil': a person of great wickedness or maliciousness. So, when your child brings home a troll, he or she has in actuality brought home a representation of a demon! These demons are also disguised as gnomes, pixies, dwarves, leprechauns, and elves (as well as many other creatures). Of course, Santa has his elves too. There's also Snow White with her seven dwarves and Cinderella with her fairy godmother. ALL THESE are demonic representations but they are presented in such a "cute" way that most people have no idea of the evil character behind these objects."

How can we still allow these things in our children's rooms if we call ourselves Christians?

7.4 "Imaginary friends"

The Bible clearly states:

"And no marvel! For Satan himself is TRANSFORMED into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be TRANSFORMED as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

Parents often ask us about so-called "imaginary friends" that their children have. They are "little friends" who are invisible and can only be seen by their children. In many cases these are satan's evil spirits who TRANSFORM themselves into that child's little "friend". The test as to whether such "imaginary friends" are actually of God or the devil lies in what they do with those small children.

We have testimonies where small children had angels of God as their friends, but they taught the children more about Jesus and taught them to sing songs about Jesus etc. Those "little friends" who come from the devil, however, start isolating the children. They draw them away from their parents, brothers or sisters or other human friends. They also frighten those children or make them aggressive or rebellious.

Does your little boy or little girl perhaps have such "invisible friends" who make him/her ANGRY if you don't allow the "little friend" to ride in the car, or if you don't give the "little friend" something to drink or eat? Maybe it is time to take up your spiritual authority and cast out those evil spirits from your home. God's angels will not teach your child to be aggressive.

7.5 "Transformers" and "Shape shifters"

Let's take another look at the words in 2 Corinthians 11:14,15:

"And no marvel! For Satan himself is transformed (TRANSFORMS himself) into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed (TRANSFORM themselves) as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

The word "transform" means that they change form. In everyday language, we see that they are "shape shifters". These days they are so out in the open that there are films with the title "Transformers", while a number of toys also contain the words "shape shifters" or "transformers" on the container in which they are sold.

What is the difference between, for example, a container full of building blocks and a "shape shifter/transformer"? With those loose blocks my child can build a small house and then break it up again and then he can build a little man and break it up again, then he can build an aeroplane and break it up again... a "shape shifter/transformer", on the other hand, is one toy which can be turned or bent in certain ways and then suddenly becomes something else. What comes to mind here, for example, are the small cars which can be turned in certain ways and then suddenly become a robot. Or the robot that suddenly becomes an aeroplane. The very popular "Bionicles" is a very good example of this, or all the toys that were based on the "Transformers" movie or TV-characters.

7.6 Spiderman, The Hulk, Batman, Superman and many of their other friends

In the book: "Understanding the dreams you dream, Biblical keys for hearing God's voice in the night" by Ira Milligan we read the following regarding certain symbols such as, for instance, the symbols which the "cute" toy-men wear:

"Spider/web = evil, sin, deception, temptation, snare, lies."

"Bat = witchcraft, unstable, fear, flighty."

Can you see which symbols are lying around in your children's rooms? Is your little boy/girl battling with fear, is he perhaps "unstable", does he tell lies and you don't know where it's coming from? Is he easily misled or tempted by wrong things? We receive daily testimonies from all over the world about little boys who did not want to sleep in their rooms, who were terrified, or even wet their beds, and, after the Spiderman or Batman toys, bedding or clothes had been burnt, all those problems summarily disappeared. Coincidence or God-incidence?

I even have the testimony from a granny who told me that her grandson of approximately four, battled with acute bladder problems since being taken off his nappies. When they watched my DVD, they realized that he had been wearing only Spiderman underpants since being taken off his nappies. They decided to burn the Spiderman underpants and his bladder problems stopped immediately.

Another interesting thing to see is that Spiderman is also a "transformer" or "shape shifter", because he changes his form from an ordinary human-being to half-man half-insect, another problem I write about under point 7.44 hereafter.

We also receive many interesting testimonies from parents whose eyes were enlightened about these things by the Holy Spirit. For the first time in their lives they stop arguing that these things do not exist or can't happen and they actually start asking their children WHY they are so afraid and WHY they don't want to sleep in their rooms at night. And one after the other are told that there are "spiders in my room" at night, or that: "the bat wants to bite me at night" etc...

We have many testimonies of small boys who underwent a complete metamorphosis when they put on the Batman-clothes in that they become aggressive or jump from roofs and get hurt, etc. Batman is also known as "The DARK Knight". He only lives in the dark and can never come into the light. What is the problem with this, if we compare it with the Bible? Take a look at the following scripture:

"Ye are all the children of LIGHT, and the children of the DAY: we are NOT of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

And yet our children these days only want to play with toys of DARKNESS, such as Batman who can never come into the light, but can only perform in the dark. Then there are also toys which are sold under the name: "Darkness Warriors".

What about The Hulk? What is this story about? About a "good" man who turns into a MONSTER if certain things happen to him. Shall we read what the dictionary says a "monster" is? "Monster – "A being that is greatly MALFORMED; anything HIDEOUS or ABNORMAL." (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary). Do you think GOD creates things that are malformed, hideous or abnormal? If not, who does? Satan himself! And what does this Hulk "monster" do then? He sows death and destruction and is extremely aggressive. Is your child perhaps battling with aggression? Maybe it's time to look at all his "Hulk"-toys or –clothes or –bedding. A friend of mine was a nursery school teacher who worked with three- and four-year-olds. One of them called himself "The Hulk" and only wore green clothes, only drank green cold drink and only ate green sweets, only sat on a green chair or on a green mat, and he said to her: "Miss, the Hulk is greater than Jesus Christ!" If she then said to him no, Jesus is greater than the Hulk he kicked her shins blue! She started praying and asked the Lord what to do and He led her to persuade the little boy to start wearing a shirt of another colour every morning as soon as he got to school. And suddenly he was a totally different child at school. Coincidence?

What is the problem with Superman? In the latest Superman-film which showed in South African theatres recently, Superman, at one stage, flies directly into the sun. This is a direct reference, firstly, to sun-god-worship. Secondly there is a voice coming from "heaven" which says: "This is the reason why I sent you, my only son, to save the world." The immediate implication here, of course, is that Superman is the Messiah, Jesus Christ! And that has been satan's wish since the beginning of time – to become like God:

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!... For thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation... I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High!" (Isaiah 14:12-14)

There are also a number of testimonies of little boys putting on their Superman clothes and –capes and trying to "fly" off the roof of their homes, with devastating results. A further comparison that Superman is supposed to be an incarnation of Jesus the Messiah, is the fact that he is also, in effect, "immortal". Well, nearly, if it wasn't for Kryptonite... What are we as Christians allowing into our homes?

7.7 Peer pressure

We as Christians must really start asking God's Holy Spirit for discernment regarding the so-called "innocent" toys which we buy for our children.

However, people are quick to say: "But, Tiaan, all my child's friends are playing with it, why can't he/she?" Let's see what the Bible tells us:

"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes, And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up..." (Deuteronomy 11:18,19)

"Thou shalt NOT FOLLOW a multitude to do evil..." (Exodus 23:2)

"And be NOT conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2)

We should teach our children from a young age about the reality of the warnings in the Bible. Our children must also learn from a young age about the authority which they have in Jesus Christ and what the Bible expects from them. Our children must particularly learn that Jesus NEVER went along with the "popular flow", in actual fact He almost always went directly against it. He never submitted Himself to the "peer pressure" of His time. Why, then, do we want to teach our children to go with the flow, as it were, and to give in to "peer pressure" at a young age already? "Peer pressure" is without doubt one of the greatest weapons which satan uses against our children today.

The last two scriptures which I have just quoted very clearly prove, though, that we must never give in to "peer pressure", especially if that peer pressure has a negative or evil result, and that we must not become like the world.

Why do we not want to teach our children about what Jesus expects of us? Is it because we, as parents, are ourselves too afraid of opposition from friends, family or even church leaders and are not prepared to take a stand for our King and for what HE has done for us on the cross? Don't let your child only find out the truth regarding the subtle spiritual attacks of satan and his demons only at the age of 30 or 40. Teach him about these attacks now. Even through something as "innocent" as toys which "everyone" may be playing with.

7.8 Videos, DVD's and films

Here the list is INCREDIBLY long, as four out of every five videos, DVD's or films today are demonic by nature because they highlight aspects regarding the occult, or cause fear, or magnify aggression, or try to make sexual perversion acceptable, or make witchcraft look good. Here, for instance, I'm thinking of videos such as "Lion King" where the baboon calls on ancestral spirits and where the spirit of the dead old king "returns" to talk to his son; "Aladdin" and "The return of Jafar" where witchcraft is rife and where the demonic Jafar acquires more and more powers as he becomes demonically stronger.

There were parents who phoned me about their three-year-old little girl who was terrified at night in her room. Closer investigation revealed that there were no visible contact objects in her room. When I asked the parents what she watches on TV, I was told about a series of videos called "Liewe Heksie" ("Dear little witch") which she watched in the mornings. That was the problem! After the videos had all been destroyed, the little girl was no longer afraid. You see, dear friend, there is NO such thing as a "dear" little witch! There is also no such thing as (Casper) the "friendly ghost"!

Once again, it is important for us to be tuned in to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit and His guidance regarding these things. There is just no way that I can name all the possible "problem" videos, DVD's or films.

Child of God, you must start watching the videos and films which your children are watching, to see them through the eyes of GOD, always keeping in mind what I said in 7.1 above, namely, that the demons can masquerade as any one of these "innocent" little characters.

For instance, I also call to mind the "cute" MONSTERS in the film "Monsters Inc." Remember how the dictionary describes a "monster": \- A being that is greatly MALFORMED; anything HIDEOUS or ABNORMAL." (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary). And those are all from satan.

What other films come to mind, in which WITCHcraft, for example, is practiced? All of the following: Antbully, Eragon, Monster House, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Lion King, Brother Bear, Aladdin, Care Bears, Gummybears, Power Puff Girls, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Lord of the Rings, Charmed, Sabrina, Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, etc.etc.etc. This list is incredibly long...

And what does the Bible stipulate regarding witchcraft?

"There shall not be found among you ANYONE... that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a WITCH, or a CHARMER, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a WIZARD, or a necromancer (people speaking to the dead). For ALL that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

Please note that the Bible stipulates that ALL who do these things "are an ABOMINATION unto the LORD!" "All" includes, without a doubt also ALL of these films in which witchcraft is practiced.

But now Christians want to argue that because 'The Chronicles of Narnia" were written by a Christian, it now means there are Christian symbols in that movie. What they don't know, is that the books on Narnia are uses to teach apprentice witches with. There are no "Christian" symbols in these books at all! If there were any Christian symbols in either the books or the films, then we could at least expect unbelievers to give their lives to Jesus after seeing these films. And there are no such testimonies at all. Why? Because there are no Christian symbols in them! Compare these to movies like: "Facing the giants", "Flywheel", "Faith like potatoes" etc. that are movies with a clear Christian message and which brings in scores of testimonies on people giving their lives to Jesus after watching these films.

I find it interesting to note that Christians find "Christian" symbols in movies on witchcraft. I wonder whether witches or Wiccans find witchcraft symbols in any of the Christian movies? I doubt it. But why would this strange phenomenon be? Because satan is trying to deceive the very elect!

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:24)

Satan is not trying to deceive the world, for the world is already deceived. No, he is trying to deceive the very elect! And unfortunately in many instances I see the elect being so deceived by books or films like the Narnia Chronicles. The test is easy – do they practice witchcraft in any such movie? Yes they do! Then my Bible says it's an abomination to the Lord MY GOD! (Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - which I discussed earlier and will also discuss under the next point on Harry Potter). And if it's an abomination to my God, I don't want to watch it, read it, or have it in my home.

7.9 Harry Potter

I don't need to write much more than a few thoughts about "Harry Potter". In the first place, he has a sign in the form of a lightning-bolt on his forehead.

The meaning of this symbol is:

"This sign represents Lucifer falling from heaven like lightning. It is also a sign of (satanic) OWNERSHIP or authority and of SATANIC STRENGTH and POWER." ("Satanism in South Africa" - Kobus Jonker & Lien Els)

Many people tell me:"But there is nothing wrong with Harry Potter!" He merely wears a symbol of satanic ownership and satanic authority and power on his forehead! How can anyone say that there is nothing wrong with him?

Let's see what young children who read the Harry Potter books have to say:

"Hermione is my favorite, because she's smart and has a kitty," said 6 year old Jessica Lehman of Easley, SC. "Jesus died because He was weak and stupid."

And here is dear Ashley, a 9 year old, the typical average age reader of Harry Potter: "I used to believe in what they taught us at Sunday School," said Ashley, conjuring up an ancient spell to summon Cerebus, the three-headed hound of hell. "But the Harry Potter books showed me that MAGIC is real, something I can learn and use right now, and that the Bible is nothing but boring lies."

And 10 year old Craig Nowell of Hartland WI, a recent convert to the New Satanic Order of the Black Circle: "The Harry Potter books are cool, 'cause THEY TEACH YOU ALL ABOUT MAGIC and how you can use it to control people and get revenge on your enemies. I want to learn the Cruciatus Curse, to make my muggle science teacher suffer for giving me a D."

Note what satanists have to say about Harry Potter: "Harry is an absolute godsend to our cause" said High Priest Egan of the First Church of Satan in Salem, MA. "An organization like ours thrives on new blood and we've had more applicants than we can handle lately. And, of course, practically all of them are virgins, which is gravy." Anyone who has any knowledge of satanic rituals knows that sexual orgies are an important part of the "induction ceremonies". So, these 6, 9, 10-year olds get raped at such "induction ceremonies" where they got pulled into as a result of their interest in Harry Potter. But people still say there is nothing wrong with Harry Potter!

And then, to crown it all, look at what the writer, J.R. Rowling, has to say about the Harry Potter books: "I think it's absolute rubbish to protest children's books on the grounds that they are luring children to Satan," Rowling told a London Times reporter in a July 17 (2007) interview. "People should be praising them for that! These books guide children to an understanding that the WEAK, IDIOTIC SON OF GOD IS A LIVING HOAX who will be humiliated when the rain of fire comes,... while we, his (satan's) faithful servants, laugh and cavort in victory."

And how many Christians are enriching this woman by buying these books? She is officially the fourth-richest woman in the world! And she was made so rich by the Christians buying these books for their children. Dear friend, if you are also one who has been dragged into the Harry Potter-stream, then I can only pray that the Holy Spirit will work in your heart NOW to get rid of ALL those books or items and no longer watch satan drawing your children away from Jesus.

All children of God who are serious about their relationship with God and who take God's words to heart in their lives and the lives of their children, know immediately and without any doubt that Harry Potter is a problem when we look at the scriptures which I have quoted earlier:

"There shall not be found among you ANYONE... that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter or a witch (Harry Potter does all these things), or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits... For ALL (Harry Potter included) that do these things, are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

Note carefully, God drove the nations who did those things which were an abomination to Him, out from before Him. In the same way He will also drive us from before Him if we or our children have anything to do with these things, and yes, "use" these things.

Friend, the reason why God warns us in the Bible NOT to "use these things", is not because it will have no influence over our lives. It is EXACTLY because satan and his demons have limited demonic powers and are able to do certain things, that God warns us against this. So we see that when Moses and Aaron threw their staff onto the ground in Pharaoh's court, and it changed into a snake, the Egyptian magicians did exactly the same. But precisely as a result of the fact that it is a limited demonic power, people can become interested in it – as the quotes from the children who read the Harry Potter books, clearly show – and want to find out more about it, and so they get drawn deeper and deeper into satan's web.

Let's take a look at what the people, who became converted in Biblical times, did with their books on witchcraft:

"And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used CURIOUS ARTS brought their BOOKS together and BURNED them before all men..." (Acts 19:18,19)

Isn't that interesting? The believers of those times who had been using CURIOUS ARTS (the word in the Greek also means "witchcraft") BURNED all their books about witchcraft, according to the command in Deuteronomy 7:25. But what are today's believers who call themselves Christians doing? They BUY books, films, videos and DVD's on WITCHCRAFT and then they justify it with all their might! One day we shall stand before the throne of God and be held accountable for this... I wonder what we will tell GOD then?

7.10 "But my children MUST be exposed to the world of fantasy!"

This is the argument used by most Christians today to justify the buying of books about fairy tales, nursery tales and witchcraft. My e-mail address appears at the end of this book. I would very much like ANY CHRISTIAN parent who has this view to please write to me and show me a scripture in the Bible where it says that we must expose our children to the "world of fantasy". Because, if you can't show me the scripture in the Bible which confirms this, then it simply means that that view is a lie from satan.

AGAINST that argument from many Christians, though, there are a few very clear scriptures in our God's unfailing Word:

"But REFUSE profane and old wives' FABLES, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7)

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto FABLES." (2 Timothy 4:3,4)

"For we have not followed cunningly devised FABLES, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty..." (2 Peter 1:16)

The word "fables" in these scripture verses started to worry me, and I had a look firstly at the Greek meaning of this as it is recorded in these verses. "Fable" in Greek is "MUTHOS" – "a tale, that is: fiction (myth)" according to Strong's Concordance & Dictionary. The Bible is therefore clear that we must REJECT unholy and old wives' "tales, fiction or myths"! What are Mickey Mouse, Tom & Jerry, Winnie the Pooh and ALL the other animation pictures from Hollywood other than "tales, fiction, myths"? And the Bible stipulates that we must REJECT it!

Then I went to the dictionary to see what a worldly definition for "fables" would be:

"Fable – a foolish or improbable story; FABRICATION"

"Fabrication – A contrived or trumped-up story; FALSEHOOD"

"Falsehood – An INTENTIONAL untruth; A LIE!" (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary)

According to my Bible satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). So, where do all the "fables" come from? Directly from the "father of lies"! I also see from the above three scriptures which I quoted that we are NOT to follow "cunningly devised fables", that we must REJECT them and that we must not "be turned unto fables".

What is the problem here? Why would the Bible express itself so strongly AGAINST fables? Many people will argue that surely the Lord is not referring to the "cute" little creatures which have come out of Hollywood during the past number of years? Do you remember that 2 Timothy 3:16 stipulates that ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD? In other words, God has, by His Holy Spirit, inspired the authors of the Bible to write all the scriptures concerned. And, as God is present across the spectrum of time, He already knew since the beginning of time what kinds of "fables" we would be faced with today, and He has surely included these when He inspired Paul to write those scriptures.

The other problem is actually quite obvious, if we as Christians would just think about it without getting emotional – our children today are growing up with hundreds of different "fables" on videos, DVD's or books and these little visual characters which they watch for hours on end become, in their little minds, a reality. And of course they also have the little puppets of these fables to play with, to touch, to feel, to see. On the other hand we then try to teach those same small children about Jesus Christ, an "invisible" God, whom they can NOT SEE, touch, or visualize. What will become the most IMPORTANT in his or her small mind – all the "cute", VISIBLE and PHYSICAL "fable" friends who appear in different forms on the TV or are standing around in his room – or an INVISIBLE Jesus Christ? And, in later years, these little children battle to get assurance of their personal salvation, because for years thereafter they still have doubts as to whether Jesus is not also just a fable, or another "tale, fiction" or "myth"...

And then we as parents have, wittingly or unwittingly, contributed to the fact that our children battle to get assurance about Jesus and their salvation, and, in some cases, perhaps are forever lost, just because we keep on arguing from a position of ignorance or because we still believe the lie that our children should be exposed to the "world of fantasy". The "world of fantasy" is nothing other than satan's demons that are proffered to our children in "cute" little forms. Remember that satan TRANSFORMS HIMSELF as an angel of light! (2 Corinthians 11:14,15)

Let me quote to you what one of the "Brothers Grimm", who wrote hordes of "fairy tales", wrote regarding the origin of these tales:

"What ALL FAIRY-TALES have in common, ARE THE REMAINS OF A RELIGION which goes back to earliest times and WHICH IS EXPRESSED IN THE TAKING UP OF SUPER-NATURAL THINGS IN PICTURE FORM. This mythical element is like small pieces of a gem which have been scattered and are now lying strewn on the grass- and flower-covered ground, and which is ONLY DISCOVERED BY THE SHARPER LOOKING EYE. The meaning of it has been lost long ago, but it is still sensed and gives the fairy-tale its quality, while, at the same time it satisfies the natural desire for the miraculous; IT IS NEVER JUST A PLAY OF COLOURS OF FANTASY WITHOUT CONTENT." (WILHELM GRIMM – Brothers Grimm)

Therefore, fairy-tales have their origin in a pagan RELIGION! But only those who have this knowledge, are able to see what that "innocent" fairy-tale is actually saying. The eyes of those of us who are "ignorant" are cleverly kept shut. Interesting to note that this author says that fairy-tales are NEVER "just a play of colours of fantasy without content" ! Thus there is ALWAYS a secret, veiled meaning behind each fairy-tale. For how long are we Christians going to allow our eyes to be kept shut?

I repeat that satan doesn't want to pit his strength against yours to get into your home. He would much rather have you and your family INVITE him in and then, to top it all, spend a lot of money to get him and his demons into your house by buying all these videos, toys, films and DVD's. In this way he can, at the same time, attack and steal your finances.

7.11 Clowns/Harlequins

I have one specific testimony of parents who had a little girl who also did not want to sleep in her room. The only thing she had in her room, was one of those well-known harlequins made from ceramic and material. After several weeks and the eventual leading of the Holy Spirit, they removed the harlequin from her room and later on destroyed it. Problem solved! How is this possible?

What does a clown symbolize, dear friend? Someone who pretends to be something he is not. God tells us clearly that we do not live behind masks. We must learn to remove our own masks. So what is the connecting-line between the clown and the devil, that enables the devil to use any clown or harlequin doll or painting or toy as a point of contact in your home? The answer lies very clearly in this scripture which I have quoted repeatedly in this book:

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:14,15)

We also have many testimonies of small children telling us that the "clowns or harlequins" wake them up in the night, or scare them, or that they become scared when the clowns turn up at the children's party. Why is this so? Because, as I have already said, we are engaged in a spiritual battle with satan and his demon powers, according to Ephesians 6:12. So what happens in practice? That person who dresses himself up as a clown, in many cases is battling with spirits of aggression, or addiction, or lust, or whatever in his own personal life. Now he disguises himself as a "friendly" smiling clown who plays and laughs with the children, but the spirit which he transfers to them the moment he touches them is any of those same things that he is battling with himself. That's why the Bible warns very clearly:

"Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22)

What is the reason for this warning? Spirits are transferred by way of laying on of hands, be it the Holy Spirit, or any one of satan's evil spirits, and in this way any of the relevant spirits with which that "clown" is struggling behind his own personal "mask", is now transferred to your innocent child. And suddenly your child starts behaving strangely, or becomes aggressive or afraid, and you wonder where it's from...

7.12 Pokemon

In her book: "Guard us against the evil one" by Cindy Jacobs, she writes as follows with regard to the Pokemon problem:

"At first glance these man-made characters look quite unobtrusive, but on closer inspection, we discover disturbing similarities with certain Wiccan- (witchcraft) and other occult practices...

Even four year old children take part in Pokemon and everything that goes with it. The creators of this game call it entertainment, but in actual fact the players learn to be clairvoyant, to call up spirits, practise thought control over others and to associate with other magic powers as they capture or collect more Pokemons...

One of the most upsetting side-effects of Pokemon happened in Tokyo when close to 700 schoolchildren were reported as getting convulsions, vomiting and showed other symptoms while watching the Pokemon cartoon on TV. In some schools the game and the cards have been forbidden because it has caused so many problems.

For instance, four children were arrested at a school in Philadelphia after attacking their class mates and stealing their Pokemon-cards. In Quebec a fourteen year old student was wounded with a knife during a fight over this game."

I think this quote makes the problem clear enough. Is your child battling with aggressive behaviour and you don't know where it's coming from? Be sure to look around and see if he doesn't have a pack of Pokemon-cards or Pokemon-puppets or Pokemon-tazzo's somewhere.

Pokemon is also an abbreviation for "pocket-monsters", and we have repeatedly looked at the dictionary's definition of "monsters":

Monster – "A being that is greatly malformed; anything hideous or abnormal." (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary)

I repeat: Do you think God would create anything which is "malformed, hideous or abnormal"? If not, where are these monstrosities coming from? From no-one else than satan!

John Paul Jackson writes the following in his book: "Buying & selling the souls of our children":

"The more I investigated and explored Pokemon, the more concerned and alarmed I became.

I believe this game – and others like it – invites a demonic harasser to assault our children...

The goal of players is to become the "number one Pokemon Master in the world."

Each Pokemon has different MAGICAL POWERS and fighting abilities...

Each creature is endowed with the ability to inflict harm on its opponent. Even a tiny creature can launch a ferocious and brutal attack. Each can also evolve into a creature with more menacing powers. At the simplest level, Pokemon is about acquiring power. Children accumulate such power by dueling with other players and racking up points. In the trading card game, children are encouraged to carry their Pokemon cards with them and to use the power listed on the cards. A similar belief is held by those who carry MAGICAL CHARMS or fetishes for empowerment...

Subtly, Pokemon promotes the belief that man can become like God – a philosophy that is also promoted in Buddhism and New Age religions.

It was also the enticement that satan offered to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden."

My one friend's ten year old boy gnashed his teeth very badly in his sleep. When my friend prayed for an answer to this, the Holy Spirit led him to a big pack of Pokemon-tazzo's which the boy had in his room. After destroying the pack of tazzos, the boy's teeth-gnashing at night stopped summarily.

7.13 Eastern images, -clothing, -articles, -martial arts, yoga and acupuncture

We as Christians are often very ignorant regarding this. The East includes any other countries in that region, among others also the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Japan, China, etc. Let's take a look at what Isaiah 2:5,6 has to say in a few translations:

"For You have forsaken Your people the house of Jacob, because they have become full from the east, and are fortune-tellers like the Philistines." (Modern King James Version)

"Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they are replenished from the east, and are sooth-sayers like the Philistines..." (Webster Bible)

"For Thou hast left Thy people, the house of Jacob. For they have been filled from the east, And are sorcerers like the Philistines..." (Young's Literal Translation)

So many people refuse to believe that there is a problem with Eastern images, or –clothing or articles with Eastern symbols. Friend, do you know what the meaning of that symbol on that item is? Take a good look at the definition of a symbol according to Webster's dictionary: "a symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance; a visible sign of something invisible." If you cannot speak or read the Eastern language concerned, you definitely do not know whether that symbol might mean "dragon, snake, love, hatred, war", or whatever.

A friend of mine who is powerfully used of the Lord in a Godly healing ministry, gave me this testimony. He prayed for a woman for healing and nothing happened. At that moment the Lord told him to look behind him, where he noticed a Buddha-statue. He then asked the woman to remove and destroy it. She didn't understand what it was all about, but was willing to come to an agreement with him, namely that he can destroy the statue on condition that, if she was not healed afterwards, then he must carry the cost of replacing the statue. Without thinking twice, he threw the statue on the ground, breaking it into pieces, after which the healing came through immediately, before he could even repeat his prayer for her.

The issue with Eastern contact objects such as, for instance, samurai-swords, karate mementoes, karate certificates bearing the symbol of the dragon, etc., is an absolute reality. However, everyone should be led by the Holy Spirit. If you feel that these things don't worry you, it is still your own choice. Just ensure that those same things are not worrying your wife or children in different subtle ways.

While we are busy with the things from the East, we can also take a brief look at Eastern martial arts. The Bible stipulates as follows:

"For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes." (Luke 6:43,44)

And also:

"Either make the tree (with its roots) good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12:33)

Let's take a look at some of the "trees" (roots) from which the Eastern martial arts originate. Just look at what some of the names of the "martial arts" are:

"Karate-do": the WAY of the empty hand. Is still known to this day as "moving Zen".

"Ju-do": the soft WAY.

"Ken-do": the WAY of the sword.

"Tae kwon-do": the WAY of fist and foot fights

"Do-jo": the place of the WAY.

In the Bible I read that there is only one "way", namely Jesus Christ!

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6)

A few years ago I ministered to a former karate champion who gave me his testimony that Jesus Himself appeared to him one evening and told him to have nothing more to do with karate-do. When he asked the Lord the reason for this, He replied "Because I (Jesus) am the ONLY "do" (way)!" He thereupon immediately stopped participating in this martial art.

Kung Fu and other teachings were developed by one Bodhidharma, an Indian Zen Buddhist in approximately the sixth century AD, in the Song Shan Shaolin temple in Northern China. Bodhidharma taught the monks to defend themselves with his techniques, which included personal meditation and exercises. He also united the teachings of Zen Buddhism (idol worship) with the martial arts. "Ki"-powers are seen in Taoism as a supernatural power which flows through everyone and keeps everything and everybody alive. The "kiai" in karate is also used to activate the person's "inner power". This is nothing else but the calling up of certain of satan's evil spirits. In contrast the Bible stipulates:

"He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of LIVING WATER. (But this spake He of the (Holy) Spirit, which they that believeth on Him should receive..." (John 7:38)

So the only "inner power" I personally want or need in my life, is the Holy Spirit's rivers of LIVING water! Many people state that they only practice karate as a sport. Please take note that karate has not developed from the sport, but that the sport was developed from karate. The "root" therefore still remains the principles and teachings of Zen Buddhism, irrespective of which "changes" have been made and which arguments ignorant Christians are still using today to justify their taking part in this.

Usually when you ask Christians why they or their children take part in karate, they will tell you it is for SELF-DEFENCE. In the Bible I read that Jesus' command regarding physical attacks was as follows:

"And unto him that SMITETH thee on the one cheek offer also the other." (Luke 6:29)

If people start asking: "But who will defend my child if he cannot defend himself?" I refer them to the following scriptures:

"For He shall give his ANGELS charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalms 91:11)

"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven THEIR ANGELS always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10)

"Are they (the angels) not all MINISTERING SPIRITS, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)

From these scriptures I see clearly that God's angels will protect me and my family, I need only ask Him for this. Our problem is that we don't know the Scriptures, and that is why we don't know that the angels will take care of our protection if we ask our Father for it. We must just take note of the fact that it is the LORD who gives the angels the command, we do not speak to the angels ourselves, as I will also point out later in this book.

For most people who practice martial arts, karate is a LIFESTYLE. It takes a lot of dedication, even daily dedication, and that dedication eventually leads to a lifestyle. People practicing karate also practice the Eastern way of religion, not that which is of God. In contrast the Bible stipulates:

"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall LIVE by FAITH." (Romans 1:17)

Do you see? The just shall live by faith, not by karate or any other martial art.

"...But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate DAY AND NIGHT" (Psalms 1:2)

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein DAY AND NIGHT, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

What should be meditated DAY AND NIGHT? God's Book and His laws, not the laws of the martial arts!

What usually appears as the symbols of karate among others? The dragon- or yin yang-symbols.

"And the great DRAGON was cast out, that old serpent, called the DEVIL and SATAN..." (Revelation 12:9 and 20:2)

"Yin-Yang: Symbolizes the UNIFICATION of opposites: good and bad, male and female, Satan and God." ("Satanism in SA" – Kobus Jonker & Lien Els)

Therefore it is clear that these symbols come directly from the kingdom of darkness.

If we look at the belts that are used in martial arts, we shall see that it usually starts with a white belt and then the students "grow" to a black belt, in other words, the "growth" is from light to darkness!

The students BOW before the sensei or a statue or altar in the dojo. In contrast the Bible stipulates:

"But the LORD... Him shall ye fear, and HIM shall ye WORSHIP..." ("Worship" also means "to BOW DOWN to") (2 Kings 17:36)

"Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be NOT deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and WORSHIP THEM..." (Deuteronomy 11:16)

"And go NOT after other gods to serve them, and to WORSHIP them, and provoke Me not to anger with the works of your HANDS..." (Jeremiah 25:6)

If I use my hands for war and fighting, I am "provoking" the Lord to anger with the work of my hands.

Most Christians who try to justify karate, use the argument that there is no spiritual connection and no spiritual implication by, or through, this eastern martial art. However, take a look at the following certificate of graduation we received from a former karateka and the words on it:

"Whereas... having successfully completed the basic methods and techniques of Karate and furthermore understands the ULTIMATE TRUTH AND SPIRITUAL FORCES INVOLVED, we hereby honour him with the rank of...

Hereafter he promises to continue to improve himself physically, SPIRITUALLY and morally through the DAILY STUDY and practice of this martial art."

Note carefully how this certificate refers to the "...ultimate truth and spiritual FORCES (plural) involved..." According to the Bible there is ONLY ONE "ultimate truth" and that is Jesus Christ (John 14:6), while the "spiritual forces" refers to nothing else but satan's hordes of evil spirits (Ephesians 6:12).

The certificate also refers to the fact that this martial art should be practiced and studied DAILY. In contrast to this the Bible stipulates:

"... and SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)

"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and EXERCISE thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Timothy 4:7,8)

Also remember the verses which I quoted earlier which states that we as Christians must meditate on the Word of God DAY AND NIGHT. Yet, this grading certificate clearly stipulates that the karateka must improve himself SPIRITUALLY through the DAILY PRACTICE of this martial art. However, the moment that I start to search God's Word DAILY and begin to EXERCISE myself in godliness, the Holy Spirit will show me the truth of the root of these Eastern martial arts and I will not be able to proceed therewith any longer.

For those Christians who maintain that these Eastern martial arts are just "innocent exercises", I just want to refer to the definition of "martial art" in the dictionary:

"Martial art – "Pertaining to, connected with, or suggestive of WAR or MILITARY operations... WARLIKE, characteristic of a WARLIKE person..." (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary)

In contrast to this the Bible stipulates:

"PEACE I leave with you, MY PEACE I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

Jesus does not want us to be "warlike", except in a spiritual way to defend ourselves against satan's demon spirits.

Let us also read a few quotes which I have taken from the testimonies which former karate champions or –instructors wrote about karate:

"Stan Schmidt, head sensei JKA South Africa, also describes karate as "the SPIRIT of the empty hand". He acknowledges that there is a SPIRIT behind karate and that you CANNOT separate your movements from the spirit... KIAI – The shout which is shouted when hitting or kicking, or in certain parts at the end of a movement in katas. What does this mean? "Ki´- is the cosmic spirit of Taoism and Buddhism. It also means god or Buddha. "Ai" – means: come and take control, in other words when the exclamation is shouted, you are requesting the cosmic spirit to take control of your being, your spirit and your body in order to perform better. It is an exclamation to release supernatural energy, namely: "the power of ki", which enables you to break blocks of ice, planks, etc. Because the help of an idol (evil spirit) is called in, in this way there are supernatural manifestations such as the breaking of items without any pain. This is definitely not of the Holy Spirit." ("Spiritual Dangers of Karate and Other Eastern Martial Arts" – Past. Hennie de Jager (former SA Karate Champion)

"Many hours of repetitious kicking, punching, blocking, striking soon blends and welds the mind and body together as one. Your spirit man is pushed aside and a new egotistical soulish man (mind and body) takes over. Your reaction becomes the immediate acting out of your powerful thoughts. YOU BECOME A SWIFT, POWERFUL DEADLY KILLING MACHINE." (Doug Jarrard, former 2nd dan instructor)

"Karate is from the pit of hell! Don't fiddle with it – set your mind on Jesus." (Ed Harper, former karate instructor)

How can anyone who really desires to live in purity before our Heavenly Father, still continue with any of these things, especially after acquiring this knowledge about it? The Bible stipulates that we shall all one day stand before the throne of God ALONE, individually, and then we will have to give an account of what we have done with the knowledge which He has given us.

Let's take a brief look at the Eastern exercises called YOGA. The following are quotes from books regarding this subject:

"The Lotus" (the well-known position where the person sits up straight with his legs crossed and his hands on his knees) – "yoga position symbolizing man's "spiritual evolution". Position is to aid the flow of "vital energy" and aid the "clearing of the mind" in meditation."

"The Cobra" – (the position where the person lies on his stomach and then lifts his torso from the ground with the head bent backwards) – "a common yoga position which awakens the serpent-goddess (the Kundalini force) through the practice thereof."

"Surya Namaskar – also called the "Sun Salutation". Series of positions used as "warm-up" exercises in yoga. Each position is a posture of worship of the sun god Baal. Traditionally performed at dawn, facing the rising sun."

In yoga the students also receive a "mantra" which they must hum or speak out loud, over and over again. What is a "mantra"?

"Mantra – is a rapid repetition of a series of words or sounds. To produce a mystical state which is actually a trance IN WHICH THE MIND IS BLANKED OUT. This in turn places the person into direct contact with the spirit world." ("Prepare for War" – Rebecca Brown)

However, the Bible is very clear about the fact that we must NOT block out our minds.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

If we must block out the mind, we cannot take captive our thoughts to the obedience of Christ, and we are open to subtle influences from the evil spirits in the spiritual dimension.

I have also read the testimony of a young American lawyer who was very lonely and then joined the yoga classes where they gave him his own "mantra" to hum. After a while he noticed that he was getting involved in the filthiest, most perverse sexual relationships which started drawing him deeper into a state of depression. When he went for spiritual deliverance, he mentioned to his counselor that he had this "mantra" and he mentioned the two words of which the "mantra" consisted. The counselor then enquired from another counselor who had been a Hindu previously, what the meaning was of those two words, whereupon she was told that it is the name of one of the Hindu sex gods! In other words, while this young man was emptying and blocking out his mind, he was repeating the name of this perverse sex-god over himself over and over, which gave that evil spirit the right to come and live in his body and to draw him into perverse sexual relationships.

I read the following regarding the real purpose of yoga:

"The purpose of yoga is to "link" or "yoke" with the Hindu god Brahman. Yoga is NOT just physical exercise. It is impossible to separate yoga from the Hindu religion, because YOGA IS RELIGION." ("Prepare for War" – Rebecca Brown)

Again, in contrast to this the Bible stipulates:

"Thus saith the LORD, learn NOT the way of the heathen..." (Jeremiah 10:2)

I also read:

"Yoga means to the Hindu what prayer means to the Christian. Because the Hindu's different gods are honoured in different ways, yoga brings about contact with the Hindu god Brahman, in the same way that prayer brings about contact between the Christian and God. The different passive positions in which the person sits during a yoga session is seen as a Hindu prayer. Therefore, in spite of the fact that the Westerner is told that it is not a religion and although you might believe that it is only a form of relaxation, the truth is that even the POSITION in which you are sitting is already a FORM OF PRAYER to an idol!" ("Yoga" – Epistello)

"Yoga embraces many PHILOSOPIES, including aspects of Greek mythology, the occult, and Hinduism." ("Martial Arts & Yoga – Brenda Skyrme)

What does the Bible stipulate regarding "PHILOSOPHY"?

"BEWARE lest ANY MAN spoil you through PHILOSOPHY and vain deceit, AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

Let's see where Acupuncture comes from:

"It has its origins in Taoism, a Chinese religion. Also deeply rooted in astrology. Works through "chi"-powers, which is nothing else but evil spirits in the people. Basis comes from "I Ching" (Taoist "Bible"). This is a book about sorcery and magic. Whoever submits to this Taoist healing, gives evil spirits the right and hold on his life." ("Acupuncture" – Rev D.B. Dick)

"Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles at specific points in the body to unblock the energy channels, called meridians, SO THAT RELEASED ENERGY ("qi" or "ki") CAN HEAL THE PROBLEM." ("A-Z of Complementary Healthcare" Life Magazine, Spring 2004)

The Bible stipulates that our healing does not come from INNER powers, but from Jesus Christ.

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED." (Isaiah 53:5)

Just from these few examples it is clear that we as Christians have to be very careful about ANYTHING which hails from the East and that we must really pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit regarding any of these things in our lives.

7.14 War memorabilia

Any war memorabilia which is in my house, especially such things as weapons (guns, revolvers, pistols, swords, knives, daggers etc.) which were used to kill people, opens the door to the spirit of murder, death, and aggression which all hang around it.

In homes where such weapons are kept we usually get that heaviness of heart, depression or even suicidal tendencies start manifesting in the inhabitants and then they usually don't know the reason for this.

7.15 Satanic signs or symbols

This list is also very long, but what comes to mind here, for instance, are the hexagram, pentagram, goat's head in the five-pointed star, swastika, Egyptian ankh, yin and yang sign, "safe my mate" hand-sign, etc.etc. There are many books on the market that show these symbols and the origin thereof.

7.16 Ordinary playing cards

Once again I am quoting from the book: "Masonic and occult symbols illustrated" about the secret story of normal, generally accepted playing cards.

"The first deck of cards was made for Charles of France in 1392. King Charles was an insane man. It is not generally known by card players that cards have a secret meaning, but after the following statements were made public, the members of the gambling fraternity of professional gamblers declared that they are absolutely true... The King card represents the enemy of God, the devil. The Ten Spot represents the spirit of lawlessness and is in direct opposition to the Ten Commandments of the Bible. Closely associated with the ten spot is the Club card. When cards were invented the club was the weapon of the murderer. In those days there were no revolvers or machine guns. The club card stands for murder. The Jack represents the lustful libertine (pimp) who lives on the gains of the prostitutes. It represents the moral leper. Now we come to the part that is even more shockingly wicked. The Queen card represents the Virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord. In the secrets of cards she is called the mother of harlots. The Joker in card language represents our Lord Jesus Christ. Joker means fool! Jesus Christ is held up by the card players as a fool. And if this is not bad enough yet, the secret language of a deck of cards goes further and declares that Jesus (the Joker card) is the offspring of a lustful Jack, and the Queen mother, Mary'...And there you have the true meaning of a deck of so-called innocent playing cards."

After I got hold of this information I could no longer allow the pack of playing cards which I had in my house. How can I ever stand before the Lord and say: "But Lord, I so much enjoyed playing with the cards which actually secretly meant that satan is king and Jesus Christ is just a fool, that I didn't want to get rid of them!" The choice, as I said, is yours... And of course this also includes that game of "Solitaire" on my computer and cellphone.

7.17 Mementos, love-letters and/or photos of former lovers which strengthen ungodly soul-ties

If the soul-ties are not cut off by way of a prayer, these things cause the man or woman involved to yearn for "old" lovers and the times that they spent together, instead of concentrating on building and strengthening the relationship with your husband or wife on God's principles and on His Word.

It is especially a big problem where the previous relationship was also sexual. The Bible is very clear that one's soul "cleaves" to anyone with whom you had sex outside of marriage.

"And when Schechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. And his soul clave unto Dinah..." (Genesis 34:2,3)

I explain this aspect of soul-ties and how satan uses them to destroy relationships in much more detail in my book as well as on the DVD, both entitled:"Identify the Lie".

Previous engagement- or wedding rings which are worn in new relationships are a great source of problems in many relationships or marriages.

Any gifts, even furniture which was bought for previous loved ones, may cause problems. I have the testimony from a personal friend that he and his wife were always having arguments in the lounge. One day the Holy Spirit showed him that part of the problem was the three room dividers standing in their lounge, which had been a gift bought by him for his previous fiancée, but was never given to her because he then met and married his current wife. After they got rid of the furniture, the arguments in the lounge stopped.

I repeat that we must at all times be open to the soft voice of the Holy Spirit to lead us regarding these things.

7.18 Pornographic magazines or –videos or -internet usage

This list is very long, but should not be justified by using words such as: "Sex aids", "soft pornography" etc. Pornography in any form is still pornography and can bind us or our children through spirits of lust, adultery and perversion and this causes DIVISION in marriages. In my book and DVD, entitled: "Identify the Lie" I give a more detailed explanation as to how satan uses the spirits of lust, adultery and perversion to tear apart relationships and marriages, even in our Christian churches.

7.19 Objects used in rituals

For example objects used while the people of a specific house were addicted to drugs etc. This can be the so-called "cannabis-pipe" which is still lying around in the house, or syringes, or the rubber band which was used to bind the arm when injecting the syringe, etc. The spirit of addiction likes to hang around such objects and suddenly any one of that home's inhabitants starts having problems with smoking, or drinking, or drugs, and many times the people wonder where this comes from...

7.20 Music with occult bacground

Any form of "heavy metal" music with artists such as, for example, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, AC-DC, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, KISS, Pink Floyd, Stryken, Santana, Pearl Jam, ZZ Top, Deep Purple, Metallica, Nirvana, Marilyn Manson, Megadeath, Slayer, Danzig, Deff Leppard, Slipknot, Sepultura, Pantera, Cradle of Filth, EMINEM, Korn, System of the Down, Rob Zombie, Cypress Hill, Ministry, Rammstein, etc. is a massive problem in any home.

I can, with a clear conscience, recommend the DVD's: "They sold their souls for rock and roll" in which the covenants entered into between these groups and the devil and his spirits for their music, are clearly explained. These DVD's may be ordered at www.goodfight.org.

What should music really be about? I find the answer in the words of Johann Sebastian Bach:"The end of all music should be the glory of God and the refreshment of the human spirit."

But let's take a look at some of the quotations from some of the "rock stars" or at the words of some of the songs they sing, to see if it is really about the "glory of God" to them.

The well-known David Bowie said:

"Rock has always been the devil's music. You can't convince me that it isn't." ("Rolling Stones Magazine – 12/2/1976)

Gene Simmons of the group KISS:

"If God is such hot stuff, then why is he afraid to have other gods before him?...I always wanted to be God, there is nothing higher than God." ("Circus" September, 1976 p.42)

Gene Simmons also said:

"People are going to tell you, "You can't do this, you can't do that." They can all go f... themselves... You don't need them around, and that includes your parents... Get rid of those leeches..." ("Faces" December 1984)

KISS also has a song – "God of thunder and rock and roll" – which glorifies satan directly.

Anton la Vey, founder of "The First Church of Satan" said:

"Music can inspire people to murder or violence... can inspire them to shoot a mall full of people..." (Magazine "Rising" p.133)

Anton la Vey also said:

"Satan has always had the best music" ("The Satanic Bible")

Marilyn Manson who enjoys great popularity amongst our young people, said the following:

"Hopefully I'll be remembered as the person who brought an end to Christianity" ("Spin Magazine" August 1996 p.34)

And still there are thousands of CHRISTIAN children and young people who spend thousands of rands or dollars to buy his music!

Sarah Machlachlan sings:

"Dear God, I don't believe in no pearly gates, no thorny crown. You're always letting us humans down...The Father, Son and Holy Ghost is just someone's unholy hoax." ("Dear God")

Tori Amos has, among others, a song entitled: "Father Lucifer"
Tori Amos during an interview said:

"I wanted to marry Lucifer... I don't consider Lucifer an evil force...I feel his presence with his music. I feel like he comes and sits on my piano..." ("Spin", March 1996)

The head-singer of Metallica has a Ouija-board on one of his guitars with which he calls up evil spirits during occult rituals, and has on occasion clearly said: "I love casting spells whilst performing." Approximately two years ago they performed in South Africa during which a number of young Christians also went to watch them. I personally heard some of those Christians saying that they couldn't see or hear anything wrong during those performances. Why not? Because their eyes were veiled as a result of the "spells" which had been uttered!

U2 sing the following in one of their songs:

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow, yet I will fear no evil I have CURSED thy rod and staff, they no longer comfort me." ("Love rescue me" U2)

U2 sing the following in another song:

"Jesus sing a song you wrote, the words are sticking in my throat. Peace on earth, hear it every Christmas time. But hope and history won't rhyme, so what's it worth, this peace on earth.." ("Peace on earth" U2)

Madonna has said on occasion:

"I am a tormented person. I have a lot of demons inside of me. My pain is as big as my joy." ("LA Times" May 1991)

Madonna has said on another occasion:

"Crucifixes are sexy because there's a naked man on them." ("Spin Magazine", May 1985)

On the DVD: They sold their souls for rock and roll" from Fight the Good Fight Ministries we see: "Madonna is listed as a ROLE MODEL in the First Church of Satan." If there was nothing wrong with Madonna or her music, would the church of satan still be using her as a role model? I think not.

Freddy Mercury from QUEEN sang in one of his songs: "Bohemian Rhapsody" – "Beelzebub has a devil set aside for me..."

In another song Queen sings: "It's a kind of MAGIC..." But do you remember what the Bible stipulates regarding anyone who goes around with magic? That it is an ABOMINATION to the Lord! In yet another song QUEEN sings: "Who wants to live forever?" The point is, we shall all live forever and, depending on which choices we make for or against God this side of death, it can have an everlasting effect on the specific place where we are going to spend that "forever".

CREED (who sometimes even sing "gospel" music) have also said on occasion: "Just like Marilyn Manson, we're against following rules just for the sake of following rules. A lot of times rules are outdated and don't make sense anymore."

Mick Jagger said years ago already: "Rock is sex and you have to hit them (teenagers) in the face with it."

MEATLOAF sings in one song: "I'D DO ANTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON'T DO THAT)" –

"Some days I pray for silence

Some days I pray for soul

Some days I just pray to the God of Sex and

Drums and rock 'n Roll..."

MEATLOAF sings in: "LIFE IS A LEMON AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK"

"What about love? It's Defective...

What about your family? It's Defective...

What about your friends? They're Defective...

What about hope? It's Defective...

What about faith? It's Defective...

What about your Gods? They're Defective...

What about your town? It's Defective...

What about your school? It's Defective...

What about your childhood? It's Defective...

What about your future? It's Defective! And you can shove it up your..."

In my Bible I read that the Lord tells us the following in Jeremiah 29:11 regarding our future and that of our children:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Take note! We and our children have an expected end which was planned by God Himself, NOT a defective future! We also do not have a defective God! Our God is the Creator of heaven and earth.

Van Halen have a song in which they sing: "Running with the devil"

On MTV, one of the most popular music channels on TV, Bob Pitman said the following – "At MTV we don't shoot for the fourteen year olds, we own them." Dad, mom, do you also want your fourteen year old children to belong to those people who broadcast the type of music which is sung by all these singers which I have quoted here? Or do you want them to belong to GOD for that "expected end"? Are you ready to start taking a stand against that music in your home? Because, remember, if your children bring it into your home and you allow it, then your "whole house" has already sinned.

Rammstein sing in one of their songs: "White flesh" – "There is no God in my heaven."

Bon Jovi has said on occasion:

"I'd kill my mother for rock and roll. I would sell my soul." (Smash Hits – May '95)

Eminem who is also very popular among young people, sings in his one song: "Role Model" – "Follow me and DO EXACTLY WHAT THE SONG SAYS: smoke weed, take pills, drop outa school, kill people and drink..."

Eminem sings in another song: "Marshal Mathers" – "Little kids wanna swear just like me, running around screaming, I don't care just like me, I think I was put here to annoy the world and DESTROY your little four year old boy and girl..."

The German name of the group KMFDM means: "No pity for the masses."

They issue this warning on their own material:

"Our records have stickers with a warning... cause they're no good for kids... KMFDM forwards the ultimate sound and a message from satan if you turn it around." (KMFDM "Sucks")

If I look at all these quotations, then the exclusive aim of these people is definitely not to glorify God!

"Rock" star William S Burroughs said on occasion:

"A rock concert is in fact a RITE ("ceremony") involving the EVOCATION ("summoning up of a spirit") and transmutation of energy. Rock stars may be compared to PRIESTS... For such MAGIC to succeed, it must tap the sources of magical energy and this can be dangerous..." ("Rock Music" – June 1975)

7.21 Computer Games

Especially those where aggression and violence are dominant. There is enough documented evidence of children who have attacked other children and, in some cases, even committed murder after having played some of these games. Other computer games with demons or dragons, etc., cause fear in younger children. Christian parents should make a habit of reading what is written on the back of every computer game, because from that they can mostly deduce what the game is all about.

Even the popular "Empire" games or even "Sims" games can cause a problem, because children learn, through these, to manipulate others. They become, in effect, the "god" of the little men on the screen who give them commands and tell them when they must do things and even how they must be done. What happens is that they then want to exercise the same manipulation on their friends around them and suddenly there are relationship problems which they are not always able to handle.

Just look at the following quote from a popular magazine:

"Grand Theft Auto, Wolfenstein, Doom, God of War, Carmageddon, Postal, Duke Nukem, Night Trap, Counter Strike and Custer's Revenge... Despite being tagged as "Adults Only" by The Entertainment Software Ratings Board because of explicit violent and/or sexual content, children, some as young as six, are playing these games... The debate is whether or not playing these games can actually cause a child to become violent. Certain psychologists, professors and critics think so. "There really isn't room for doubt" says professor Craig Anderson, a psychologist and pioneer in studying how video games affect children. "Aggressive game playing leads to aggressive behaviour."...

He says violent video games cause children to become aggressive because they are highly engaging and interactive; the games reward violent behaviour; and because children repeat these behaviours over and over as they play... Video game critic and IT specialist, Chris Clooney, is passionate about the topic... "Video simulations of real world situations are used to train commercial pilots, police officers and the military. When they find themselves in the real world situation of landing with an engine out , or a suspect reaches for a gun, the "experience" from the simulator kicks in and guides their actions. They have thus been "programmed" to take specific actions in certain circumstances without even thinking...

How can one then say that the constant playing of violent video games and the constant virtual reality of killing again and again and again without even the slightest consequence, has no effect on anyone at all, has no effect on a child?"... The National Institute On Media And The Family... (says): "The latest brain research shows that violent games activate the anger centre of the teenage brain, while dampening the brain's "conscience"..." ("But it's just a game" - People Magazine – 23/2/2007 -p.48,49)

7.22 Games

For instance, the roulette-game in certain compendiums of games. The roulette table and/or roulette game is seen by gamblers as the "table of satan" for the following reason: If the numbers on the roulette-wheel, which consist of numbers 1 to 36, are added together, the total comes to 666, in other words count as follows: 1+2+3+4+5+6... up to +34+35+36 = 666.

Furthermore, any other games where dice are used, these are a symbol of the "god of luck". It has nothing to do with skill, "talent" or know-how to let the dice fall on a specific number. It's all about luck. And the Bible is clear about what will happen to me if I get mixed up with the "god of luck" or the "goddess of fate".

"But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop (Gad, the god of luck), and that furnish the drink offering unto that number (Meni, the goddess of fortune). Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not." (Isaiah 65:11,12)

7.23 "Dream catchers"

This is becoming an increasingly popular item in children's rooms. There was even a film by that name. The belief of some Red Indians in America is that this article should be placed right above a baby's bed, as it will then "catch" the so-called positive dreams and allow them to come down onto the child by way of the little feathers, while the negative dreams are allowed to escape.

This item is officially seen as a "charm" and we read in "The Dictionary of Mysticism" what a charm is: "any magic word, formula, incantation, OBJECT, sign or AMULET SUPPOSED TO POSSESS OCCULT POWER." As the Lord wants nothing to do with the occult or anything which is an idol to another nation, we, as children of God, must ask ourselves whether we really want to allow such a contact object into our homes.

"This CHARM is from the Ojibway tribe in Minnesota... the good in their dreams are captured in the web of life... but the evil in their dreams escapes through the hole in the center. They BELIEVE that the dream catcher holds the destiny of their future." ("Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated" – Dr Cathy Burns)

According to the Bible I believe God holds the destiny of our future in His hands, not any occult charms.

7.24 Egyptian and Aztec or other similar cultures' images

The images of the Egyptian culture are especially popular, as they are colourful and immediately draw the attention. The problem, however, is that most of the Egyptian images are those of their idols, for example, Thoth – (...the god of wisdom, also called Tat, Seth, Set and SAT-AN...), the winged Ra, or sun-god, which looks like a hawk with a circle above its head, Osiris ("the Lord and judge of the dead"), Atum ("the father of souls"), Anubis which looks like a human with the head of a jackal ("conductor of souls"), or Isis that looks like a woman with wings, also one of the Egyptian goddesses.

We have been in many people's homes where beautifully framed Egyptian images on papyrus, are the central point of one of the rooms in the home. What does the Bible stipulate regarding these Egyptian gods?

"And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt..." (Jeremiah 43:12)

"The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish... Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings..." (Jeremiah 46:25)

I often come across women wearing a golden necklace around their necks, which their husbands had bought for them in Egypt, on which their names have, apparently, been written in Egyptian hieroglyphics. They are always very shocked when I point out to them the Egyptian idols on the lockets which they are wearing around their necks.

As far as the Aztec culture is concerned, we find, for instance, one of their gods being depicted on plates and statuettes as a winged snake.

These are the reasons why we must decide carefully whether we want to allow any of these idols into our homes.

7.25 Unicorn

The horse with the single horn on its forehead. In astrology the unicorn represents the moon and it is also a symbol of reincarnation in different belief systems.

We read the following about the unicorn in the book by Dr. Cathy Burns, which I have referred to a number of times:

"...the unicorn is considered by New Agers as the symbol of innocence and gentleness personified in the CONQUERING child Horus. This EGYPTIAN solar hero is said to conquer through gentility. Thus we see that the unicorn is, in reality, the symbol of a future conqueror who will bring peace to the earth. Who is this but the antichrist (the little horn that rises in the midst of the ten horns in Daniel's vision (Daniel 7:8)) for whom the world waits, UNAWARE of his true nature?...How many Christians will yield to the unicorn's beauty when it rears its head to pierce the last vestiges of God's order?...In both European and Oriental traditions, the unicorn is identified with a Messiah who comes when the world is in danger, and who heralds the coming of a new and better age. As the alchemical symbol for the element Earth, he represents EARTH consciousness and a reawakening of NATURAL values."

Clearly the unicorn is no "innocent" little thing. Yet we even find it among the "My little pony" range that young girls so like to play with. The whole "My little pony" range comes from the New Age and should be summarily destroyed.

7.26 "Good luck charms"

Let's hear what some self-proclaimed witches say about this very popular type of jewellery:

Laurie Cabot, one witch, has the following to say: "Many witches wear crystals as jewellery, along with other gemstones that have magical powers. Jewellery is a way to have magic on your body without anyone knowing it but you and others who are wise in the ways of the Craft. Witch jewellery is worn because it directs energies to various parts of the body."

Another witch, Sybil Leek, says: "CHARMS, amulets and talismans have been worn throughout the ages not as a form of decoration but as a focal point that can be charged with appropriate vibrations. We are not free from the use of such things even today, for there is an increasing business in the sale of charms, even though NOW THEY BE ONLY A PART OF A DANGLING BRACELET. It seems that the amulet and talisman (charms) are gaining a new lease on life" WHETHER OR NOT THE BUYERS AND WEARERS ARE AWARE OF THEIR SIGNIFICANCE."

Another definition which I have discovered regarding a "charm" was the following: "a charm is often inscribed with a MAGIC incantation or SYMBOL to protect the wearer against evil or to aid him."

Christian man, woman, daughter, son, do you wear such "good luck charms" or do you have them in your house, even though you may not be wearing it? Just remember, God is NOT a "good luck charm", neither does He work through it. He ONLY works through His Holy Spirit. If God does not work through good luck charms, who does – other than satan? And whose symbol is then lying in your jewelry-box?

And please remember that a "charm" still remains a "charm", no matter in what form it appears, be it hearts, stones, little shoes, crosses, or whatever. The "charm" is not the chain but those little things attached to the chain. And please also remember that we cannot Christianize heathen customs. Here I'm referring to the "charms" of the so-called believer's "armour" which so many Christians wear around their arms. The origin of the root of those "charms" remains rotten, so the fruit will also remain rotten, even though I may now suddenly call them "Christian" symbols.

7.27 Christmas, Christmas tree and "father christmas"

Few people know that the Christmas tree and "father christmas" are, in actual fact, idols and that Christmas comes from a heathen festival, because of the very fact that we, in so many cases, are ignorant. In the first place we know that Jesus never hung on a tree. Let's just take a look at one or two scriptures regarding the christmas tree and "father christmas":

"Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel! 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. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good...But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities." (Jeremiah 10:1-9)

We don't need to give all kinds of interpretations to these scriptures, as I personally think that they are very clear, just as they stand, especially with reference to the Christmas tree. Without any doubt these scriptures confirm that the so-called "Christmas tree" is the symbol of an idol which has already been used for thousands of years by heathen nations in their religion. Take a good look, it is a tree which is cut down, given a base for support and is then decorated with silver and gold. Does it sound familiar? And the Bible tells us very clearly that we should not be afraid of them, but "neither is it in them to do good".

I know that "father Christmas" is an idol in other countries, as children believe in him just as much as we believe in the Holy Spirit, just as they believe in dwarfs, as I wrote earlier on in this chapter.

In the South African Children's Encyclopedia I read the following regarding the origins of the Christmas tree:

"Every year, in the middle of winter...our own HEATHEN ancestors in Europe held solemn celebrations. During their festivals, one of the symbols of "new life" which they used was a tree which kept it's green colour throughout the year. Later, when they became Christians, the old heathen SUN-FESTIVAL was, seemingly, "abolished". But when it BECAME THE CUSTOM to celebrate Christmas in the middle of winter, the old (idol) symbol, the green tree, became part of the Christian festival. The fact that we stand around a tree when we celebrate Christmas, is a remnant OF THE SUN-WORSHIP OF OUR ANCESTORS." (S.A. Children's Encyclopedia;Book 6; 5th edition; 1973)

And do you recall that the Bible stipulates over and over again that we are NOT to learn the customs or the ways of the heathen nations?

Where does "father christmas" ("Santa Claus") really come from? From the following scriptures we shall see that satan tried to carry out his plan – to be like God – in the form of "father christmas".

In the occult we get something which is called an "anagram". An "anagram" is a "rearranging of letters", in other words some letters of certain words are changed around in order to give it a hidden, or different, meaning. So we find that "santa claus" in the occult actually means "satan lucas". "Lucas" or "lucis" in its turn is a "New Age anagram" for "Lucifer", which means that "santa claus" is, in effect, an "anagram" for "satan lucifer". Where did I get this from? I just read the Bible.

In Isaiah 14:12-14 we read:

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."

Here we see clearly that satan's fall was caused by the fact that he wanted to be "like the most High". Let's see whether he succeeded in carrying out his plan in the form of "innocent" old "father christmas".

Let's start with Matthew 23:9 where the Bible stipulates: "And call NO MAN YOUR FATHER upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Yet we all call him "Father Christmas".

In Revelation 1:14 we read what JESUS' hair and beard look like: "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow..." And guess whose hair and beard are also "...white like wool, as white as snow..."? Nobody else than "santa claus"!

We also read in Isaiah 63:2 that JESUS wears red clothes: "Wherefore art thou RED in thine apparel..." Who also wears RED clothes, has white hair and a white beard? "Santa Claus"! Remember, satan's plan has always been "to be like the most High".

In Mark 6:3 we read that JESUS was a carpenter: "Is not this the carpenter..." And anyone who knows something about the background of "santa claus", will know that he is, COINCIDENTALLY, also a carpenter, because he and his elves (remember where they come from) make traditional wooden toys for small children.

In Ezekiel 8:14 we read that the Lord's temple is situated on the NORTHERN SIDE: "...the LORD'S house which was toward the north..." Everyone knows that the "house" of "santa claus" is at the NORTH pole. Why not the South Pole?

Deuteronomy 33:26 stipulates that God is the one who moves through the heavens: "There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky." Strangely enough "santa claus" also moves through the skies on his sleigh in the wink of an eye... just like God...

And then comes the scripture which is the last nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned. This scripture you will only find in the old King James Version Holy Bible as confirmation:

"Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD." (Zechariah 2:6)

Strangely enough, I have always wondered why "santa claus" uses the specific words "HO, HO, HO..." Why doesn't he say "ha, ha, ha"; "He, he, he" or "Hee, hee, hee"? The answer is clearly to be found in Zechariah 2:6 which I have just quoted. Remember, satan said he wants to be : "like the most High". He even physically uses the Lord's own words!

"I said, O my God,... THY years are throughout all generations." (Psalms 102:24). This verse of scripture refers to the fact that the Lord has no age, but has existed from generation to generation to generation. Exactly the same is applicable to "santa claus". He has no specific age either, but just goes on from generation to generation to generation.

"I will pour out my spirit unto you..." (Proverbs 1:23). This scripture refers to the Holy Spirit who was to be poured out on God's children. The interesting thing to see is that "santa claus" also has his own "spirits". If you look at the films which are shown on TV during "Christmas time" you will hear them speaking about "the spirit of Christmas past" or: "the spirit of Christmas present"...What does this refer to? To nothing else but satan's evil spirits.

"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." (Psalms 34:11). This scripture teaches us to rear our children in the fear of the Lord. But instead of this, we sing the following songs to our children:"You'd better be good, you'd better be nice, 'cause santa knows who's naughty or nice..." So, we teach our children that if they're going to be naughty, then "santa claus" won't bring them any toys, so we are, in effect, teaching them the fear of "santa claus"!

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory...then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory..." (Matthew 25:31). Here we read that Jesus shall sit on His throne. But who, "incidentally" also sits on his throne each Christmas season? Nobody else than "santa claus"! And what does he do on that throne?

"And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them:... But... Jesus... said unto them, Suffer (allow) the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:13,14)

What does "santa claus" do? He also sits on his throne and he says: "Bring the children to me!" Why? Because he only wants to touch them. Why? Because spirits are transferred through the laying on of hands as I said earlier in this chapter! That is why the Bible warns us not to lay on hands hastily and we must also keep ourselves pure from their unrighteousness, as I have said before. In most cases the "santa claus" appointed by the shop-owners to sit on a temporary "throne" outside their shops during the Christmas season is someone whom they appoint from the streets, sometimes even tramps. So many times that person sits there with one or the other spiritual problem in his life such as addiction, perversion, lust, aggression, or whatever.

Now your and my young three year old daughter comes and sits on such a person's lap so that he can touch her... and his spirits are transferred to her... And in later years we wonder what is going on with our children? Do yourself a favour during this next Christmas season. Go and stand near one of those "thrones" of "santa claus" at one of the shopping centres and watch the little children standing in those cues. Some of them scream their head off! Why? Because our young children's spirits are still unsullied and has already picked up the evil spirit in that "santa claus"! But what do mom and dad do who don't have this spiritual discernment, knowledge and insight, or who think that what we're talking about here is just a load of rubbish? They scold the child and pushes him forward to sit on the lap of "santa claus" so that they can just have a photo of their child sitting on "santa's" lap! So, we must even get rid of those photographs!

"And many believed on him..." (John 10:42). This scripture refers to many people who have believed in Jesus. In the same way, we get thousands of little children who really believe in "santa claus", because their parents have taught them to believe this. Now we get testimonies of teens who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ. And when questioned as to why they don't believe, they say the following: "I really believed in "santa claus" when I was a small boy. My dad taught me about "santa claus" and I believed my dad unconditionally. Then, one day, I found out that my dad had been lying to me and that "santa claus" doesn't really exist. I was terribly hurt by this. Afterwards my dad came to me and told me to believe in Jesus Christ. Then I said to him: "Dad, if I couldn't believe you about "santa claus", how can I believe you about Jesus Christ?" And another child is drawn away from the truth – and may be eternally lost – just because he was taught a LIE when he was small.

The Bible teaches that we must all look forward with expectancy to the return of Jesus Christ. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). However, in contrast to this we find thousands of children inside or outside their homes on "Christmas eve" waiting for "santa claus" and his sleigh which is pulled by his reindeer: "Jingle bells, jingle bells..." or "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer..."

My dear friend, ask yourself whether all the things I have written so far could just be a "coincidence"? Do take a look at the following quotation from a magazine which appeared in America:

"I love visiting each and every one of your homes, stuffing your stockings with toys, and enjoying the milk and cookies you leave for me. But mostly I love Christmas because it's the celebration of the birth of my son, Jesus the Christ. You see, I'm God... Don't I look familiar? I'm old, I have a white beard, I love everyone. I'm the same God as the one you and your mommy and daddy worship on Sundays... Okay, I admit it. I'm not God. But I'm better than God. I'm jollier, and I give you real toys, not boring old psalms and empty promises you can only collect on when you die. WORSHIP ME, NOT HIM! WORSHIP SANTA! I AM GOD!" (Santa Claus, "Ho! Ho! Ho! I Am God!" The Onion, 29 Nov. – 5 Dec., 1994, p. 7 (USA))

The moment you show this to people, they are quick to argue that this is just a satirical article, that it was written tongue-in-cheek or as a joke. Maybe you're familiar with the saying: "Many a true word is spoken in jest..."? And in any case my Bible says you don't joke about being God or with God Himself!

But let's proceed and see where "Christmas" DAY itself originated from:

In Rome, for approximately 300 years AD the Roman festival "Saturnalia" in honour of the god Saturn (god of the harvest), and also that of Mithras was celebrated from 17-24 December. The last two days (23rd-24th) gifts were exchanged from house to house. On the 25th December the new festival started with the celebration of the birth of the "invincible Sun" – MITHRAS (SUN-GOD).

In 354 AD the Roman Catholic Church decided to commemorate the "birth of the Son of God" on the same date (25 December) as decreed by Bishop Liberius. This was seen as an effort to "accommodate" the heathen who had joined their church. The Roman Catholic Church then also started the Christian "mass" – "Christ Mass" – where the bread and wine were PHYSICALLY seen as Christ's body and blood and not just as symbols of such. This is known in the Roman Catholic Church as the so-called "transubstantiation". This means, in effect, that Jesus is being crucified over and over every time, which is not according to the Bible.

In contrast to this the Bible very clearly stipulates:

"Thus saith the Lord, LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN..." (Jeremiah 10:2)

The celebration of Jesus' birth is not mentioned, taught or preached anywhere in the Bible, yet it is annually celebrated punctually on a date which has for centuries been allocated to celebrate the birth of the SUN-GOD, Mithras. In contrast to this Jesus' crucifixion (Passover) which we are clearly commanded in the Bible to commemorate, is not celebrated on the same date for two years in succession. Sometimes our so-called "Easter" which has nothing to do with Jesus' crucifixion as we will see, is celebrated in March, sometimes in April and sometimes even in May. Have you ever wondered why?

Furthermore, Jesus is NO longer a baby who must be born every year, but the KING of kings who reigns forever, and THIS we must celebrate – His resurrection and triumphant ascension to heaven! We can NOT use pagan festivals and pretend that they are Christian festivals. A satanic pentagram does not suddenly become a "Christian pentagram" if I write "Jesus" across it! The "root" remains rotten, so the fruit will remain rotten. That is why the Bible stipulates:

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12:33)

Many Christians are also apt to miss the warning in Luke 9:62:

"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Yet at so-called "Christmas" time everybody is "looking back" at a helpless little baby, instead of at the King of kings who will soon return!

There is also a hidden lie in the so-called "nativity scene" which is erected everywhere during the Christmas season, where the "baby Jesus" is lying in the stable with the animals around him and the three wise men bringing Him gifts. There were not only three wise men, as in those days they usually moved around in groups of approximately forty for protection against attacks by robbers. What is true is that they only brought three kinds of gifts for baby Jesus.

And as far as the giving of gifts is concerned, it might be a good thing to take note in the Bible that they gave the gifts TO JESUS, they did not give gifts to EACH OTHER. It was, and still is to this day, the custom in many Eastern countries to give expensive gifts to kings or idols. In the Biblotheca Sacra (Vol. 12, pp 153-155) we read:

"The interchange of presents between friends is a like characteristic of Christmas AND THE SATURNALIA, and must have been adopted by Christians FROM THE PAGANS, as the admonition of Tertullian plainly shows."

It is also falsifying the Word by portraying Him as being visited in a STABLE. Jesus was NO LONGER in the stable when the wise men eventually reached Bethlehem. Look how clearly it is stipulated in the Bible:

"And when they were come into the HOUSE, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11)

Now let's take a look at where the popular mistletoe comes from:

"The so-called mistletoe was holy to the Druid priests in the Northern Hemisphere and was used by them to cast magical spells. It was then held above the head of a woman or young girl to render her powerless and then to have sexual relations with her. The mistle with berries still on it was even stronger because it symbolized the virginity of the woman or girl which was taken away and broken." ("The Origin and Fundamental roots of Christmas" – Kim C Gossett)

And we sing all kinds of "innocent" little songs such as "Kiss the girl under the mistletoe!" It has absolutely nothing to do with kissing!

The so-called "Christmas stocking" – "According to tradition, a poor widower of Myra, Turkey, had three daughters, for whom he could not provide a dowry. On Christmas Eve, "Saint Nicholas" threw three bags of gold down the chimney, thereby saving the daughters from having to enter into prostitution. One bag rolled into a shoe, and the others fell into some stockings that had been hung to dry by the fire. Hence, the beginning of the tradition of the "Christmas stocking" or "boot".

Consider this carefully: Why would a world which absolutely HATES Jesus Christ, that bans Him from the schools, churches, governments and organizations, be so willing to celebrate HIS birthday with all of us Christians? If it had REALLY been about HIM, the world system would have chosen another day on which to celebrate the birth of their sun-god long ago. It is precisely because the deceived ones are not the world, but the Christians! The whole occult world knows that 25 December is NOT Jesus' birthday, and I think that, secretly, they have a good laugh at the Christians who have, for ages, chosen this PAGAN DAY on which to celebrate His "birth", while the "fruit" of that day is predominantly avarice, Mammon, drunkenness, orgies, parties, etc. Jesus is nowhere to be seen in the shops, and His songs are not heard in the shopping malls! To the contrary, we see and hear "santa claus" and his songs everywhere. The occult world system is having a good laugh, because their sun-god's day has gained predominance over the TRUTH down through the years. It is NOT the other way round, no matter how Christians might argue!

If it was really about JESUS during the "Christmas season", let us then take a stand and insist that wherever Christians are living and working, all the shopping malls should play only spiritual gospel songs over the loudspeakers during that time. Let's ask the world to put pictures and images of Biblical stories in their windows and not images of idols such as "santa claus", as this day is, after all, supposed to be about "THE DAY OF OUR GOD (Jesus)". Do you think they will? If not, is the "Christmas season" really about Jesus? No, it is not!

The so-called holly wreaths or Christmas wreaths which people so love to hang on their front doors or the walls of their houses, is also a heathen practice.

"The use of Christmas wreaths is believed by authorities to be traceable TO THE PAGAN CUSTOMS of decorating buildings and places of worship at the (Saturnalia) feast..." (FJ Haskins – "Answers to Questions")

"European PAGANS brought holly sprays into their homes, offering them to the fairy people of the forests as a refuge from the harsh winter weather. During the Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival, branches of holly were exchanged as tokens of friendship." (Encyclopedia Britannica" – "Celastrales")

Dear friend, please take very serious note of one thing – Jesus has NEVER been part of, or in, "Christmas". So many Christians every year are trying to teach people to "put Christ back into Christmas". How can we want to "put back" our wonderful King into something which He never was in in the first place? He is a jealous God and does not share us with the kingdom of darkness! Why are we trying to make Him part of the kingdom of darkness then? How dare we try to put Him INTO the kingdom of darkness?

People ask me whether we don't celebrate "Christmas" at all. No, we do not celebrate it at all since we have acquired this knowledge. Decide for yourself what you and your family will do and if you want to take a chance on all the persecution which will come your way from family and Christian friends if you choose no longer to celebrate this pagan festival. And when that persecution starts coming, then read Galatians 1:10 to decide whose favour you prefer.

"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

Many people are of the opinion that I "go overboard" about all these things. All I can say in answer to this, is that I just want to please my wonderful Heavenly Father and I shall not allow any idols in my home, and that one day HE will be the only judge whether I went "overboard" about Him or whether I went "overboard" because I would not allow ANYTHING in my home which was NOT of Him, according to the knowledge that I have acquired.

And if you wish to use the argument: "But all my child's friends believe in father Christmas, why can't he/she also believe in him?" then I would like to refer you, once again, to point 7.7 earlier in this chapter, where I have already referred to "peer pressure". Rather teach your child from a young age that there is NO SUCH THING as "father christmas", but that JESUS is a living reality, with whom he/she can walk every day of his/her life. In any case, JESUS is in reality the One who wants to give them only the best, everlasting gifts in the world, and He is not like "father christmas" who sometimes doesn't want to give gifts to "naughty" children.

7.28 Angels/cherubim

The Bible clearly stipulates that the angels from the spiritual dimension excel in strength and are "fiery flames" sent by God to minister for us.

"Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word." (Psalms 103:20)

"And of the angels He saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." (Hebrews 1:7)

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalms 91:11)

God's angels are therefore very clearly not small, hopeless, pot-bellied, naked little babies with tiny wings. Those "little angels" come from the Roman and Greek mythology and are a caricature, a mockery, a discrediting of the truth of God's Word. Apart from the fact that they are "icons" or idols in certain cultures – can you remember that the Bible stipulates that we must have NO other gods before God?

Furthermore, it is clear from the Word that GOD will give the angels, who are "ministering spirits" for us who are heirs of salvation, command regarding us. Therefore WE can NOT command the angels. Satan's falsification in the marketplace today regarding this aspect are the films, television series and books about angels, where people talk to angels, or give them commands and ask angels to bring them blessings. In this way the CREATION is honoured and NOT the CREATOR. That is why statues of angels are a contact object for evil spirits in the home.

Please also take note that God's angels are all males. There is no indication of female angels in the Bible at all. In contrast to this the female "angels" are a very prominent symbol in the kingdom of darkness, the occult and Freemasonry. It's no good trying to use Zechariah 5:9 as an argument that it refers to female angels:

"Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven."

In this part we see that the angel of the Lord pointed out to Zechariah certain coming judgments over the nation of Israel by way of visions. Then came the "...women; and wind was in their wings" as a symbol of coming judgment over wickedness which would have the nation taken away to the land Sinear. But also note that they "...had wings like the wings of a stork..." A stork has white wings with BLACK edges. God's angels do not have white wings with black edges. It's also interesting to note that there are approximately 397 references to angels in the Bible and in all these references they are male.

Therefore, if you have any female angels in your house, you might want to pray about it again and decide for how long they are going to stay there, no matter whether you painted or sketched them yourself, or whatever. In any case, we can't hide behind the argument that if I have made something myself, there can't be anything wrong with it. Read and see what the Bible stipulates in Isaiah 45:16:

"They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are MAKERS of idols."

"The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that MAKE them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them." (Psalms 135:15-18)

7.29 Wind-chimes

A direct quotation from some internet web pages which sell wind-chimes reads as follows:

"Metal Wind Chimes are used to attract Good Luck and Good Fortune to our Homes and offices. They help to slow down the energies in our buildings. Metal Wind Chimes are best for the West, Northwest and the North. Wood Wind Chimes are best for the East, Southeast and the South. The number of rods you have on your wind chime depends on what luck you want to attract or suppress."

Can a chime really bring good luck or ward off bad luck? Should that type of protection not come from God? The wind chimes are clearly an idol which can, according to certain religions, do something which in actual fact lies only in God's hands.

Other web pages are clear on the fact that these chimes are also used in the Eastern "Feng Shui" school of thought and customs to channel energies around and through houses or buildings and even to call up (evil) spirits. Thus the roots of these "cute wind chimes" lie in the Eastern religions, which is directly contrary to the Bible. Therefore it gives legal right to demon spirits in our homes.

7.30 Toe-rings, ankle-chains, tongue-studs, navel (belly)-rings and tattoos

Let's look at toe-rings first. These "sexy" little items which are currently experiencing such an "inexplicable" (but not by coincidence) boom in the marketplace among young and older women are also contact points for spirits, this time only on their bodies. It hails AMONG OTHERS, from Hinduism and is therefore just another form of idolatry. In Hinduism the father of the house wears a toe-ring. Upon his death, the toe-ring is removed and placed on his eldest son's toe. In this way the father's "authority", but also his personal demons in which he believed, are transferred to his son. I have personally had the privilege to minister in churches where people who were previously in Hinduism now worship as devout Christians, and they have confirmed these things to me more than once.

It's interesting to note that the Hindus officially believe in 330 000 000 (yes, you have read correctly, it is three hundred and thirty million!) different gods (demons). When the son marries, he, in his turn, places a toe-ring on the toe of his wife and in this way carries his "authority" (and demons) over to her. Now many Christian women also start wearing these idols and suddenly some women start battling with problems with their feet, or problems with their legs, or ankles, and this "innocent/sexy" little item is never even thought to be blamed for it. They wouldn't even THINK that it could possibly be part of their problems.

The meaning of the ankle-chain is: "I submit to the authority of no man." Therefore it is nothing else but a symbol of rebellion. I had the opportunity of ministering to a woman about this, whereupon she widened her eyes in surprise as she told me that her granny, in fact, wears an ankle-chain, has been married five times and has physically declared with her mouth: "I submit to the authority of no man!" That symbol of rebellion around her ankle has, over the years, become the exact words from her mouth, because that physical symbol has started to bind her, and she has picked the fruit of it. And remember what Proverbs 18:21 says:

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

The problem with tongue-studs lies in the fact that it comes from the heathen and pagan idol practices. Take another look at the above scripture. Thus if I push a symbol of idolatry through my tongue, I submit my speech to satan's powers of darkness and I will systematically start noticing that my speech is becoming increasingly negative, that I am becoming increasingly slanderous and then I shouldn't wonder where this is coming from. By piercing my tongue with a tongue-stud I have chosen to submit my speech to contact with the powers of darkness. Remember, God is clear about the fact that we may NOT learn the way of the heathen! Why not? Because we may become entangled thereby!

Dr Peter Hammond a well-known missionary writes as follows in his article about: "Body Piercing":

"From Papua New Guinea to the Amazon jungle, PAGAN tribes engage in body scarification, earrings, nose rings, tongue studs, multiple piercings and tattoos. Once converted to Christ, however, these tribes abandon all these body modification practices."

It is quite interesting to note that pagan nations who have taken part in body scarification as part of their pagan rituals, turn their backs on all of this the moment when they accept Christ. On the other hand, more and more Christians are starting to return to the heathen customs against which God has been warning them throughout the Bible and down through the years. Dr Hammond continues:

"The present obsession of many with body modification is a revival of tribalism. It involves a painful initiation rite, which produces an identification with a certain tribe, clan or sub-culture. The Kacipo people in Sudan stretch their lower lips to fit a saucer-sized pottery and they stretch their ear lobes to create huge holes and long earlobes. Amongst the Nuba tribes in Sudan, multiple earrings, nose rings, body scarification and body painting are prevalent. The Dinka and Nuer tribes in Sudan are easily identifiable by the pattern of scars across their foreheads.

Amongst the Hindus – nose studs, belly rings, toe rings, tongue studs and eyebrow rings are common.

Tattoos amongst the Amazon tribes identify the various members of a given tribe. In Papua New Guinea, all kinds of body scarification, tattoos and body mutilation distinguish the various tribes.

The interesting thing is that while so many Westerners rush into NEW AGE RELIGIONS, BODY PIERCING and OCCULTISM, many millions in the tribes mentioned in Africa, South America, Asia and the Pacific islands, are being converted to Christ and are ABANDONING the body piercing practices of their pagan past.

It is very clear who the Christians are and who the pagans are in these mission fields. The pagans wear little or no clothing and they engage in a variety of body scarification, body piercing and/or tattoos. On the other hand, the Christians are easily identifiable – they wear clothes and they DON'T engage in ANY body modification. Of course, some older people will still have the scars and the holes – testimony of the pagan past before they were converted – but all earrings, eyebrow rings, nose rings and such like have been removed. And their children are free from these pagan disfigurements. It is unheard of in these areas for Christians to voluntarily pierce or tattoo their bodies."

I don't think any Christian in his right mind, who really wants to be serious about his or her relationship with God, can find it stated any more clearly that all those things come from satan and are NOT of God.

Let's read the following very clear warning in the Bible:

"Know ye not that ye (BODIES) are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (BODIES) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple (BODIES) ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:16,17)

Let's now take a look at the belly-ring and problems surrounding this. My dear lady friend reading this book, through the belly-ring right above your womb and the tattoos on your stomach or next to your private parts, or on the small of your back, or any other place, you give a hold to an evil spirit on your body. We have more than one testimony from young women who had undergone numerous operations to their female organs, and eventually even hysterectomies at a very young age, just from the time that they started wearing belly-rings. We also have a number of testimonies of ladies not being able to fall pregnant, until they got rid of their belly-rings. We also have testimonies of women losing their babies as a result of the fact that their belly-rings just never healed completely and kept on causing all kinds of medical problems. Yet, they all wanted to be accepted by the world, or to be "in" with their friends. Am I going to stand before my friends' throne one day, or before God's throne?

Remember that the Lord said we MUST NOT learn the customs of the heathen nations (Jeremiah 10:2), and that ALL the gods of the nations are IDOLS (Psalm 96:5). By disobeying these very clear commands in the Bible, we are giving satan legal rights to attack our bodies in different ways.

And what does the Bible say about tattoos?

"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print ANY marks upon you: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:28)

What is a "print mark upon you" other than a tattoo? What is actually happening daily in practice? God's children follow after those pagan customs every day and cut and tattoo their bodies. Through this they are directly DISOBEDIENT to God's Word and therefore directly OBEDIENT TO SATAN! I cannot be obedient to God AND satan. If I am obedient to the one, I shall be disobeying the other.

Therefore, by having tattoos on my body, I am being obedient to satan and through those tattoos or other heathen practices I now give legal right to evil spirits in my body. Many girls or women at a young age start battling with certain female diseases, problems with the uterus or ovaries, but nobody realizes or is even willing to admit that the cause may be that "cute" or "sexy" little tattoo that they got on their stomachs or backs and that it might be the result of the legal right which they have given satan on their bodies when they started wearing those "innocent" tattoos or belly-ring.

Remember the following words:

"Neither GIVE place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27)

Very clearly then, we Christians are the ones GIVING place to the devil, including on our bodies.

Why would evil spirits choose to have a hold on those specific places on a woman's body, you might ask? Because they all know the Bible better than any one of us and they know that God's command to the woman is to go and bear children for the KINGDOM OF GOD! And satan and his spirits want to stop this with all their might! If, therefore, they can prevent just one young woman from having children by causing any kind of problem to her uterus, ovaries or whatever other part of her body, they will have a celebration. Would you really, of your own free will, choose to keep on disobeying God and His Word, and so give satan a hold over your body?

"But Tiaan, that quotation about tattoos comes from the Old Testament, is it still applicable today?" Most certainly, my friend, because look at what Hebrews 13:8 stipulates:

"Jesus Christ the same today, and yesterday, and forever."

If God, who has never changed, has, therefore, told us YESTERDAY that we MUST NOT wear tattoos, He still says it TODAY and He will continue to say it unto all ETERNITY! Why? Because God knows that it gives satan a hold and legal right on your body. This is precisely why He warned His people (which today includes us) NOT TO DO IT!

Furthermore, the Bible also stipulates in 2 Timothy 3:16:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine....for instruction..."

Also take a look at what Romans 15:4 says:

"For WHATSOEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN AFORETIME were written for our learning..."

Thus it is very clear from these scriptures that ALL SCRIPTURE has been given by inspiration of God and is useful for our learning, in other words, we can learn from the WHOLE of SCRIPTURE, not just certain parts, as I said in earlier chapters. Without any doubt this includes the Old Testament. That's why those scriptures regarding tattoos are still applicable to us today.

But let's say I might, through ignorance, or lack of knowledge have a tattoo mark on my body, what do I do now? Well, firstly I pray and I ask the Father to forgive me for my ignorance. Secondly, if I can afford it, I have it removed from my body, either surgically or by laser treatment.

7.31 Praying hands

This is the well-known symbol of two hands pressing against each other in so-called "prayer". I have personally initially used those "praying hands" as a symbol on my power point presentations during lectures which I have presented. One day a lady friend who is also in a deliverance ministry came to me and told me that it's a symbol of poverty and that it is also known as the "beggars' hands". I had also heard the "legend" of the two monks who were very poor and could not provide for themselves properly, whereupon they made a pact with each other, by the one pressing his hand against the hand of the other in the same form as the "praying hands", and then they apparently uttered the following words: "Poor we are and poor we shall die".

I then told this friend to bring me testimonies, because the Bible stipulates in Revelation 12:11:

"And they overcame him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..."

She then brought me the following three testimonies which had happened in her own ministry in dealing with these types of matters.

In the first place she ministered to a very rich woman who lived in a beautiful large home. However, this woman had three sets of these "praying hands" in her house in different forms. She then pointed out to the woman that the praying hands were actually a symbol of poverty, whereupon the woman laughed at her, because she had no financial needs. My friend prayed and asked the Lord what else she should say, and she clearly heard the Holy Spirit tell her to ask the woman about her "husbands and children". She then asked the woman to tell her about her husbands, whereupon the woman admitted that she had been married five times already. The only problem was that only her first husband lived for longer than six months, the other four all died within six months of marrying her, whereupon she inherited everything and that's why she was so rich.

When my friend questioned her about her children, she at first did not want to talk about them. My friend then pointed out to her that the Holy Spirit had commanded her to question her about this. She then admitted that she had three sons, of whom the first was in jail, the second was a tramp and the third had taken his things several years previously and just walked out of the house. My friend just looked at her and asked: "Poverty... even in relationships?" My friend then left.

Three years later the woman phoned again and asked her if she could still remember her. The woman then testified that, on that same evening after my friend had left, she decided to break the three sets of "praying hands" which were in her house. She testified that ALL THREE her sons were back in her home within a month after she had done this and also that she had now been married for two years and nine months to someone who had previously been in my friend's church. Remember, she did nothing else but break the three symbols of poverty in her home.

People are so inclined to see poverty only as financial poverty, while there can also be poverty in relationships or poverty in bodies which are always sick, etc.

My friend then visited another home, where the "praying hands" had been built into the wall above the door. She then also pointed out to the owner that this is a symbol of poverty, whereupon the woman told her that she also knew the "old monk story". She then asked my friend to pray and ask the Lord to make the hands drop from the wall if it was not acceptable to Him, whereupon my friend prayed. They then went inside in order to clean the rest of the house. When they came back outside, the praying hands lay on the floor in pieces! They had dropped from the wall!

At a third house there was a repetition of the situation. The owner, who also knew the story about the monks, asked her what else there was, apart from that old story? My friend called on the Lord in real desperation, whereupon she clearly heard the Holy Spirit telling her: "My child, nowhere in my Word does it say that people should put their hands together to pray. It is an Eastern custom where people put their hands together and bow before each other, also, among others, in the martial arts."

These three testimonies forced me to pray and ask the Lord for Scripture as confirmation of this, as just about all Christians have grown up with the idea that one must pray with the palms of your two hands pressed together in front of your face. The Lord was faithful, as always, and showed me the following scriptures:

"For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold... and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and SPREAD FORTH his hands toward heaven." (2 Chronicles 6:13)

Just look at that! He SPREAD FORTH his hands TOWARDS HEAVEN! That means that he stretched his hands into the air as a sign of his prayer! He didn't press his two hands together in front of his face! But is this the only scripture verse regarding this? No, take a look at the following scriptures:

"And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and SPREAD OUT MY HANDS UNTO THE LORD my God, And said..." (Ezra 9:5)

What is Ezra doing here? He is talking to God, in other words, he is PRAYING! And how does he do this? By SPREADING OUT his hands towards heaven!

In Psalms 28:2 I then read:

"Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee, when I LIFT UP MY HANDS toward thy holy oracle."

Look carefully! What does the Psalmist do? He calls to the Lord for help, in other words, He prays! Supplications are prayers. And what does he do at the same time? He LIFTS UP HIS HANDS to God's holy oracle.

The Lord also showed me Psalms 141:2:

"Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS as the evening sacrifice."

Another confirmation that my hands should be LIFTED UP during prayer!

And also Lamentations 2:19:

"Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the LORD: LIFT UP THY HANDS toward Him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street."

What do I do when I "pour out my heart" before God? I am praying! And what must I do simultaneously? LIFT UP my hands toward Him!

Could we perhaps find a scripture about this in the New Testament as well? Yes, please read 1 Timothy 2:8 with me:

"I will therefore that men PRAY every where LIFTING UP holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

Do you want it any clearer than this, my friend? I personally grew up in a church where I was never taught to bring my two hands near my ears while we were singing or praying. Why not? Because satan knows the Bible better than many Christians and he knows that, if I lift my hands higher than my ears while I am busy with God, then I'm not just busy praising or singing, but also praying! And he wants to prevent that at all costs.

I have since had several personal testimonies where people got rid of the "praying hands" and they suddenly experienced breakthrough in their lives.

A while ago I was ministering in a church in one province in South Africa regarding the "praying hands" and a man in the congregation suddenly got up to testify. He told us that their church could never experience financial breakthrough and they were always "in the red" financially. However, on the roof of their church there was a three metre high image of the "praying hands". One day the wind blew the "praying hands" off the roof. The man then said that only now does he understand what happened there, because their church at the moment even has investments in the bank, it was going so well with their finances. But the turning point came only after the "praying hands" had been blown from the roof.

The pastor of another church phoned me to explain that a well-meaning sister in the congregation had given them a large mirror for their prayer room, but the "praying hands" had been engraved into one corner. He asked me what he should do with it, whereupon I told him to break it immediately, in the Name of Jesus Christ! A few months later he invited me back to their church to minister about these things. That morning the pastor himself got up and gave testimony to having broken that mirror on the Wednesday and that very Sunday they had taken up a record collection in the congregation, something which had never happened before in that church's history. And all they did was to break a mirror that had the "praying hands" on it.

Friends of mine are involved in holding camps for men and women in a specific town. One day I lectured I about the "praying hands" at one of their camps. A few months later he told me the testimony that, up until this camp where I had lectured, he always had to ask people to sponsor the costs of the lecturers at the camp, or the food. However, during this particular camp he had realized that he had in his study an image of the "praying hands" standing on a piece of wood. He then went home and just broke those "praying hands". Since then he has never needed to ask for sponsors for his lecturers or for the food as the money he needs just comes in. Since then I have ministered there three times over a two years time-span and he has always given me precisely the same testimony. His money still keeps coming in. and all he did, was to break one wooden set of "praying hands".

Have you perhaps been wondering why you are not experiencing financial breakthrough, or why there is always "poverty" in your relationship with your children, or your marriage partner? Do you perhaps have one of these "praying hands" in your home? Maybe not in a conspicuous place, but what about all great-grandfather's, great-grandmother's, grandfather's, grandmother's, uncles', and aunts' funeral notices which you might have put away in the wardrobe or in a drawer in your study, that all display these "praying hands"?

Once again, please note that the Lord warns us over and over in the Bible that we should NOT take on the customs of the heathen nations. We have sufficient research at our disposal, information and photographs which confirm that the Hindus, Buddhists and even some Satanists pray with their two hands pressed together in front of their faces. That is why the Bible stipulates that God's children must pray DIFFERENTLY than the world, because we are a SET-APART people!

7.32 The so-called "V-sign" or Victory salute

This is the one where someone spreads wide the forefinger and second finger of the hand in the V-form, either with the right or left hand. Everyone thinks that this is a symbol of peace or of victory. On the contrary, that is anything but what it means. This symbol was made popular during the Second World War by Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister. Everyone thought that he used the symbol to signify the victory of the Allied Forces over the Germans.

What many people don't know is that Winston Churchill was a Freemason and a Druid priest and that he used this symbol from that background. Texe Marrs writes in his book: "Codex Magica": "It is NOT a sign for 'victory', or 'peace". "It is, in fact, a sign of satan, of malediction, of the horned god of witchcraft, Pan, Baphomet... and worse." Let's take a look at how the dictionary describes "malediction": "An invocation of evil; a cursing; slander..." (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary)

That symbol is therefore nothing else but a CURSE! Take a look at your family photo-album and somewhere – sometimes even on the wedding photos – you might still come across a photo where someone put his hand behind his wife's head with this symbol, just as a "joke". What has he, in actual fact, done through that "joke"? He put a curse on his wife's head! And then people often wonder why certain marriages have problems right from the start...

7.33 The crucifix and the ordinary cross

Please note that the crucifix refers to the cross with the so-called "Jesus" on it. In his book: "The Force" the ex-Roman Catholic and Jesuit priest, Dr Alberto R Rivera writes as follows: "The cross was created by Semiramis, "The Queen of Heaven", in remembrance of her son, Tammuz (the sun-god, Baal). On Tammuz' cross is an idol of a dead "Jesus". This religious object is adored and prayed to by Roman Catholics. THE CRUCIFIX IS THE REAL HEART OF THE OCCULT. In God's sight, it is a cursed thing. (Deut. 7:26). Behind the crucifix are strong demonic forces giving out tremendous power..."

And just in case you think that Tammuz is just a little idol which is written about in the history of other countries, let's take a look at our own Bibles to learn that Tammuz was an abomination even to God.

"Then said He unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. He said also unto me, turn ye yet again, and thou shalt see greater ABOMINATIONS that they do. Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, THERE SAT WOMEN WEEPING FOR TAMMUZ. Then said He unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man?" (Ezekiel 8:12-15)

Even today thousands of people are still "weeping" for Tammuz every time the Roman Catholic Church holds a procession while carrying the crucifix with Tammuz on it ahead of such a procession. And how many Christians even wear it around their own necks?

One reads: "Death by crucifixion was one of Semiramis' ideas." ("The Cross in Tradition, History and Act" – William Wood Seymour.) Take note that Semiramis was married to Nimrod, the founder of Babel. We read about him in Genesis 10:9. According to some history books Semiramis was his own mother whom he married later on and that they had a son named Tammuz. She is also generally known as the "queen of heaven" who is worshiped by many pagan nations.

Also read in Jeremiah 44:15-25 how the people complain about their lot over everything that happened to them from the time that they stopped worshiping the queen of heaven:

"Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by,... answered Jeremiah, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD – we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, TO BURN INCENSE UNTO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes,... for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine... Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying, The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into His mind? So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. Because ye have burned incense and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil has happened unto you, as at this day. Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; YE AND YOUR WIVES HAVE BOTH SPOKEN WITH YOUR MOUTHS, AND FULFILLED WITH YOUR HAND, SAYING, WE WILL SURELY PERFORM OUR VOWS THAT WE HAVE VOWED, TO BURN INCENSE TO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, AND TO POUR OUT DRINK OFFERINGS UNTO HER: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows."

And it is this same "queen of heaven", in the form of the "Great Mother" Semiramis, who started using the cross as an object on which to crucify people because the cross was a symbol which honoured her son, Tammuz.

Eddie and Alice Smith have been in ministry across the world and write the following in their book regarding the crucifix: "Spiritual House Cleaning"

"The crucifix is a "photograph" of satan's finest hour. Whether carved in wood, chiseled in stone, painted in oils or molded in bronze, the crucifix presents to the world a dead, helpless God, which provokes many to pity and few to faith... The Crucifixion is not the point of the gospel. The open tomb is the point of the gospel... Not only is the cross empty – THE TOMB IS EMPTY! He is a living Christ, not a dead Christ! The central issue of the gospel is not the cross but the (open) tomb."

Have you also seen the paintings or images in some churches or cathedrals where "Jesus" hangs on the cross, while a single droplet of blood runs down his cheek? Have you ever thought of the fact that that image or painting is a complete lie? How can I say this? I only read what the Bible stipulates:

"As many were astonished at Thee; his visage was so MARRED MORE THAN ANY MAN, and His form MORE than the sons of men..." (Isaiah 52:14)

This scripture tells me the REAL Jesus was so marred on the cross that He was no longer recognizable as a human being. Therefore, if I can still recognize that "Jesus" on any crucifix in any church, or painting, or around someone's neck, as a human being, then IT IS NOT JESUS! It is, in reality, an image of Tammuz.

Let's take a look at the origin of the "normal" Christian cross itself as symbol.

"Crosses were originally designed as OCCULT SYMBOLS TO BE WORSHIPED both in ancient Babylon and Egypt." ("The Force" – Dr Alberto R Rivera)

There is, therefore, no difference between the ordinary cross and, for example, a Buddha-statue as symbols of idols.

"That which is now called the Christian cross was ORIGINALLY NO CHRISTIAN EMBLEM AT ALL, but was the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans and Egyptians – the true original form of the letter T – the initial of the name of Tammuz... The mystic Tau was called the "sign of life", it was used as an amulet over the heart, it was marked on the official garments of the priests of Rome; it was borne by kings in their hand, as a token of their dignity or divinely-conferred authority. The Vestal virgins of PAGAN ROME wore it SUSPENDED FROM THEIR NECKLACES, as the nuns do now. The Egyptians did the same and MANY of the other barbarous nations... There is HARDLY A PAGAN TRIBE WHERE THE CROSS HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. The cross was worshipped by the Pagan Celts long before the incarnation and death of Christ... It was worshipped in Mexico for ages before the Roman Catholic missionaries set foot there, large stone crosses being erected, probably to the "god of rain" .("The Two Babylons" – Alexander Hislop)

It is also interesting to note when the first cross-symbol started in the church era.

"The FIRST depiction of the crucifixion within the church denomination was found in the middle of the FIFTH CENTURY, carved out on the wooden door of Santa Sabina in Rome. This was the BEGINNING of any art form of the crucifixion by artists." ("The Symbol of the Cross" – Epistello)

In other words, during the first five hundred years of the church's existence, no symbol was used to symbolize the crucifixion. But suddenly the cross appears as a symbol after five hundred years. And please note where it is first noticed? In ROME! Not somewhere in Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. Why, then, in Rome? There is sufficient excellent reading matter available as proof that the Roman Catholic Church, which originated from Rome, is without doubt a false religion against which the Bible warns us repeatedly and that is why THEY brought in the cross as another idol.

In "Wilkinson's Egyptians", by Sir G Wilkinson, Vol. 1, p.376 we read how the cross appeared in Egypt:

"The waistband was sometimes excessively adorned, and often they wore a small CROSS on a piece of string around the neck or on the collar. Not only did the Egyptians do the latter in this way: It is also attached to or depicted on the cloaks of the Rot-n-no, and signs of it are found in the Rebo's elegant ornaments, which proves that it (THE CROSS) has already been in use as early as the FIFTEENTH CENTURY BEFORE CHRIST."

I also read:

"This CROSS which is worshiped so far and wide or regarded as a holy symbol, was the unequivocal symbol of Bacchus, the Babylonian Messiah, because he is depicted with a headband which is adorned with CROSSES". (Alexander Hislop – "The Two Babylons")

In the Roman Catholic Church the cross is praised as follows:

"Greetings, Oh Cross, beam of victory, true salvation of the world – in leaves, flower or blossom beneath the trees, none is like You... Oh Cross, our only hope, increase righteousness for the godly and forgive the guilty ones their trespasses." (Review of Epistle by Dr Gentianus of Louvaine, p.251)

Has the physical cross really become more important than what Jesus Christ HAS DONE for us ON that cross? But from the quotation by Dr Gentianus I can clearly see where the root comes from which causes Christians to battle to differentiate between the MESSAGE OF the cross and the PHYSICAL cross as an idol. Once again we can see the false worldly religion of Roman Catholicism, trying to bind people to the CHURCH as salvation and to the CROSS as "true salvation" as we can clearly see from the quote above! And that while my Bible clearly stipulates that Jesus Christ is the ONLY TRUE SALVATION!

Compare this versification from the Roman Catholic Church about the cross, with the following from Colonel Wilford's "Asiatic Researches", Vol.10, p124, where he writes about the Buddhist religion:

"Although the cross is not an object of worship amongst the Baud'has or Buddhists, it is one of their favourite symbols and –designs.... with leaves and twigs sprouting from it. This cross from which leaves and flowers appear, is called the godly tree, the tree of the gods, the tree of life and knowledge – which brings forth every good and desirable thing."

Is it coincidence that in the Roman Catholic the"Office of the Cross" it (the cross) is also called the "Tree of life"? Or is it, in fact, because the root of the cross to which both the Buddhists and Roman Catholics refer, originates from exactly the same source, namely the "father of lies"?

And what does the Bible stipulate again regarding heathen customs?

"Thus saith the LORD, learn NOT the way of the heathen,..." (Jeremiah 10:2)

Let's ponder this a little: If Jesus had died under a guillotine, which they used to behead people during the French Revolution, would we have erected three metre high guillotines in our churches, or worn smaller ones around our necks, or have erected forty five metre high guillotines on the mountains outside our towns? Or big stones – if He had been stoned? Had He been nailed to a life-sized satanic pentagram, would we as Christians have worn those pentagrams around our necks or erected them in our churches and homes? If not, why do we do it with the cross? It is only because of lack of knowledge.

Just think about this: If we are travelling on the road, and we see a cross next to the road, what does it remind us of? Someone died there. Jesus DIED on the cross, He did not RISE from the cross. Thus it is a symbol of death. Now we go and hang a symbol of DEATH around our necks, or we put it in our homes or churches and in many cases we experience death in relationships, death in finances, spiritual death, death in marriages, etc. and then we wonder where it all came from...

Dear friend, please take note very clearly that we must at all times differentiate between THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS, - the fact that Jesus DIED on a cross to bring about forgiveness for your sins and mine – and the PHYSICAL cross as an idol.

We must all "go back to the cross" yes – to that WHICH HAPPENED ON THE CROSS and the everlasting, wonderful RESULTS which it brought about for mankind. That is why "... we glory in the cross and we preach Jesus as the crucified..." as Paul put it. It has nothing to do with a PHYSICAL cross in my house or around my neck. We don't need any PHYSICAL cross to remind us of what Jesus has done, because those events are carved into our hearts and lie ready on our lips.

For too long Christians have been busy extolling the PHYSICAL cross, instead of that which HAPPENED ON the cross. I come into churches where heavy, three metre high crosses were erected. Then there is a container full of little bits of paper next to the cross, as well as a hammer and small nails. The people are then invited to write their sins down on the bits of paper and nail them to the cross, so that the cross can take away their sins! What are we busy doing? Nothing other than practicing idolatry! The CROSS can do NOTHING for you! It is JESUS who wipes away our sins, NOT the physical cross! Or people are advised to go and kneel before the cross and ask forgiveness for their sins... Or we sing songs like: "I love that old rugged cross..." How can I love a murderous, idolatrous symbol on which my wonderful Heavenly Saviour DIED and shed His blood for me?

I can just imagine us singing: "I love that old satanic pentagram..." if they had nailed Jesus to such a pentagram!

In the Bible Jesus gives us ONLY two physical symbols regarding His crucifixion – the wine and the bread – and He says: "This is my body which is given for you: THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME." I also read it in the words of Paul:

"For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: This is my body, which is broken for you: THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: THIS do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

Can you see WHAT we must do in remembrance of Him? We must keep the covenant meal ("communion)! Nowhere does He say: "Erect or hang a cross in remembrance of Me..."

The problem, unfortunately, is that most Christians are misled into thinking that the cross is a physical symbol of their faith, or their belief in Jesus. Nowhere in the Bible do I read that we have to worship the Lord by way of PHYSICAL symbols. On the contrary:

"Our fathers worshipped on this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her: Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and NOW IS when the TRUE worshippers shall worship the Father in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: For the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH." (Not by way of all kinds of symbols). (John 4:20-24)

"Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT SEEN." (Hebrews 11:1)

Therefore my FAITH has NOTHING to do with things which I can PHYSICALLY see. And yet so many Christians argue that they need something PHYSICAL in order to "prove" that they are Christians. Where do you see that in the Bible? No, my faith and my Christianity are proven by the smile on my lips, the words out of my mouth and the FRUIT which I show, as we read in Galatians 5:22:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."

THIS proves my faith and my Christianity, NOT that physical cross around my neck.

In one specific case I went into a house where there was a cross pasted next to every window. When I asked the owner about this, she replied: "It keeps the evil spirits out of my house." As far as I'm concerned, it will definitely not keep the spirits out, but probably even invite a few new ones inside! In any case, our weapons are not carnal, physical weapons, but spiritual weapons. Just take a look at how clearly the Bible puts it:

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do NOT war after the flesh (physical); (For the weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal (physical), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds);..." (2 Corinthians 10,3,4)

What I find interesting as I drive around our country and outside our country's borders to minister on these subjects, is that everyone always knows that the cross is, in actual fact, a cursed tree. It is also clear in the Bible:

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT HANGETH ON A TREE..." (Galatians 3:13)

The fact that Jesus died on the cross, doesn't mean that the occult root of the origin of the cross is now suddenly "sanctified". Would a satanic pentagram suddenly have become a "Christian" pentagram if Jesus had been nailed to it? The Bible stipulates:

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12:33)

If the root of the symbol concerned is thus rotten, the fruit of it will also be rotten. People are quick to come up with the argument here that the fruit of the cross must then actually be good, as millions of people have been saved through it... No! I repeat their salvation did not come through the cross, but through JESUS CHRIST and that which He did for us ON THE CROSS! That is the message of the cross!

Let me ask you a question: If you remove the crucifix from your neck, or the big cross from your church or house, has JESUS then suddenly gone out of your heart or your house or church? If that is how you "feel", then surely this is a clear sign that the PHYSICAL cross has also become a symbol of idolatry to you in which you put your trust? After all, JESUS is SPIRITUALLY present in our hearts and is SPIRITUALLY present in our congregational meetings or in our homes, NOT JUST where there is a cross or where people are wearing crucifixes around their necks?

The fact that you might "be afraid" that Jesus might no longer protect you if you don't wear your crucifix, or if you no longer have a cross in the church, clearly shows where the root of the cross comes from. 2 Timothy 1:7 stipulates: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear..." therefore, if God has not given us a spirit of fear, where does ANY form of fear come from?

During counseling sessions a number of satanists have confirmed to the counselors that they target Christians who wear crosses around their necks. Satanists themselves also wear crosses, and not just "upside down" (inverted) crosses, because the cross is still a symbol from the kingdom of darkness. In one specific case I was ministering to pastors at a conference where one pastor gave testimony about their town's satanic high priest who wanted to get out of satanism and was brought to him by the police. He noticed that the high priest was wearing two earrings with crosses on them. When he questioned the man about the fact that he, a satanic high priest, was wearing Christian symbols, the man laughed in his face and informed him that they (satanists) have kept our (Christians) eyes blinded all these years, as the cross has always been one of their symbols, as our Savior DIED on their symbol!

Other testimonies which we have received, is that satanists often choose to be goldsmiths at well-known jewellery shops, because they curse every cross which they make. First of all, they make them from metal, then impress the letters 666 on them by way of metal punches, after which they are overlaid with gold or silver. Then the Christians buy them and wear them around their necks. And satan laughs at us...

No-one seems to consider the fact that the cross on which Jesus was crucified was not fashioned from gold or silver with ornaments of diamonds or jewels. No, such "pretty" crosses are, IN ANY CASE, not a representation of Jesus' cross. The cross on which He hung, was a rough piece of wood with raw blood on it. Would you be prepared to hang a rough piece of wood covered with raw blood around your neck every morning? Not? Is it then really about JESUS and what He has done for you, or is it really about YOU who wants to "look pretty" with your gold or silver "ornaments"? Are those silver and gold crosses then actually becoming idols (gods) to you? Just look at what the Bible says:

"Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold." (Exodus 20:23)

Another interesting fact to take note of, is that the Bible stipulates that the word "cross" = "stauro" in Greek. It means: "pole or stake". In other words, the view is that Jesus was, in fact, NEVER crucified on a CROSS WITH a crossbeam, but, in fact, on a "torture pole" or "tree", with His hands nailed above His head. And that has nothing to do with any specific denomination's view! It was only during later translations from the original writings, specifically with the establishment of the Latin Vulgate, where the word "crux" (cross) was used for the first time in place of the word: "stauro".

Once again the point that we shouldn't miss is the FACT THAT JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED FOR US! So many people now want to belabour the point of HOW He was actually crucified that they, once again, completely miss the MESSAGE of the FACT of His crucifixion.

The conclusion is thus: If Jesus did, in fact, hang on a CROSS WITH a crossbar, He HAD to do this in order to take upon Himself all the idolatry, curses, sins, etc. on a well-known symbol of idol worship. What am I talking about? The same God who said that we shall have no other gods before Him, had to humiliate Himself unto death in such a way that He even hung on a well-known symbol of idolatry to die, so that in this way He could also remove the idolatry of the world. But if He did, in fact, only hang on a torture pole, WITHOUT a crossbeam, then it means that our eyes have been kept shut all these years to the truth of the occult "root" of the CROSS WITH crossbeam as a physical symbol of idolatry.

Just read a last verse with me:

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

When do you "endure" something and when do you "despise" something? Definitely not when it is something "good". Let us stop idolizing the cross as a symbol and get back to the MESSAGE of what Jesus did FOR us ON THAT despicable symbol, the CROSS.

I also have a DVD available titled: "The message of the cross versus the cross" in which I discuss the problems with the cross in more detail.

7.34 Easter

We who call ourselves Christians, have been blinded all these years regarding the origin of that which we call "Easter". Who and what is "Easter"?

"Easter comes from the goddess Ishtar, or Ostara/Eastre. She was the GODDESS of Spring. Easter was celebrated by the Assyrians, Phoenicians and the Philistines LONG BEFORE the Christians. It involved the "Rites of Spring" near the Equinox of Venus, when pagans believed the Earth Mother was impregnated by the sun. They engaged in ritual sex acts and used symbols of FERTILITY like eggs, rabbits and "hot cross buns". This "cross" indicated the Equinox, when the Earth's orbit "crossed" the celestial equator. To ensure a prosperous growing season, pagans rolled eggs decorated with the bright colors of spring on their fields, hoping to transfer fertility. The eggs were then hidden from "evil spirits" in rabbit's nests, also a symbol of fertility." ("Fossilized Customs" – Lew White)

Take a good look, "Eastre" was the GODDESS of spring. Remember that the Bible teaches that we should have NO other gods before God, and that we shall also not learn the customs of the heathen nations?

"Thus saith the Lord, LEARN NOT the way of the heathen..." (Jeremiah 10:2)

But what have we Christians learnt to do over the years? We have learned the HEATHEN custom of painting "Easter eggs" and hiding them all around our houses. Then we tell our children to go and look for the "Easter eggs". In other words, we are, in effect, comparing our children with evil spirits which, according to tradition, tried to find those eggs. What we also don't know because of our lack of knowledge or ignorance of these things, is that early heathen tribes sacrificed their babies to the god Moloch (who we also read about in the Bible) who is also another incarnation of Nimrod. During Easter they then dipped these eggs (as a symbol of fertility) into the sacrificed baby's blood, and then rolled it on the ground. And that is where the colored or "painted" Easter eggs originated!

Even the so-called "hot cross buns" are a heathen symbol.

"Hot cross buns have been in existence since 1500 BC. They were known as "bouns" and were used for worship of the queen of heaven (Semiramis). Even their round form, with the cross on top, was used from of old as the symbol of the sun, namely the cross within the circle. This symbol was especially also known as the symbol of the Babylonian sun-god." ("Gaan uit haar uit my volk" – CJ Koster and ("Ancient Pagan Symbols" – E Goldsmith)

In the BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA we read the following definition: - "EASTER (es'ter). Ostara, or Eastre, was the GODDESS of Spring in the religions of the ancient Angles and Saxons. Every April a festival was celebrated in HER HONOR. With the beginning of Christianity, the old gods were put aside. From then on the festival was celebrated in honor of the resurrection of Christ, but was STILL KNOWN AS EASTER AFTER THE OLD GODDESS."

Easter is, therefore, very clearly NOT about Jesus Christ or His crucifixion every year, but still about the old GODDESS of spring! We can NOT turn heathen customs into "Christian"-customs! Dr Cathy Burns writes as follows in her book:"Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated": "You cannot "Christianize" PAGAN practices!"

Also think about this: We all celebrate our birthdays on the same DATE each year. Any specific historical event on earth is commemorated on the same DATE every year. Why would "easter" be celebrated during the month of MARCH in some years and in other years during the month of APRIL or even the month of MAY? If "easter" was about His crucifixion, was Jesus not crucified on a specific DATE?

Why is "Christmas" celebrated strictly on the SAME DATE each year, but NOT His crucifixion? The Bible gives us NO command to celebrate His birth, yet year after year it is STRICTLY celebrated on the SAME DATE, a date dedicated to the SUN-GOD, Mithras, as I stated earlier. However, the Bible DOES give us clear commands to celebrate Jesus' crucifixion, but, in opposition to "Christmas" it is celebrated on DIFFERENT dates each year. Why? We find the answer in the following quotation:

"Easter's DATE is ESTABLISHED by ASTROLOGY according to the vernal equinox. The spring festival of pagan worship of the sun and the renewed season was also set on the same date." (www.demonbuster.com.easter.html)

Thus it is clear that the date on which "Easter" is celebrated each year, has nothing to do with Jesus' crucifixion, but has everything to do with pagan SUN-GOD worship! And the date of the relevant year for this sun-god festival is established by astrology each year. For those who are wondering what astrology is all about, take a look at the following definition in the dictionary:

Astrology – "The study professing to foretell the future and interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies upon the destinies of men." (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary)

The Bible is very clear about the fact that we must stay away from fortune-telling and the worship of heavenly bodies in order to foretell the future!

"Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou has laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them..." (Isaiah 47:12-14)

"Good Friday" which we so faithfully celebrate ON DIFFERENT DATES each year, is also a lie, because Jesus was NOT crucified on the Friday. How can I say this? Take a look at the scripture in the Bible where Jesus Himself indicates how long He would stay in the grave:

"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:40)

According to the Bible Jesus had already risen by the Sunday morning.

"In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre." (Matthew 28:1)

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre." (Luke 24:1,2)

Therefore, if He had been crucified on the Friday, FriDAY and SaturDAY comprise only TWO days or, in actual fact, one and a half days, because He was only buried late in the afternoon. Friday EVENING and Saturday EVENING comprise only TWO nights! Where are the THIRD day and the THIRD night? Monday is NOT the first day of the week, but Sunday is. Therefore Jesus was not resurrected on the Monday morning of the so-called "Easter weekend". Please note, Christian, Sunday is also NOT the true Sabbath day, but Saturday is (from Friday evening 18h00 to Saturday evening 18h00), therefore Jesus was in actual fact resurrected any time near the end of the Saturday, as the Sabbath was then already past.

No, Jesus was actually crucified on a WEDNESDAY and was already in the grave by Wednesday evening. The Thursday concerned was one of the high holy Sabbath days that we also read about in the Bible. The Lord's normal Sabbath is from Friday 18h00 to Saturday 18h00 and is still to this day kept as such in Israel. Therefore Jesus was in the grave on Wednesday NIGHT, Thursday NIGHT and Friday NIGHT (that is THREE FULL NIGHTS). He was also in the grave for the whole of ThursDAY, FriDAY and SaturDAY (Sabbath) (That is THREE FULL DAYS). By the morning of the first day of the week (Sunday) He had ALREADY risen.

Let's stop celebrating the crucifixion of our wonderful King and Lord on a date which is ONCE AGAIN dedicated to the SUN-GOD! If we are prepared to do this, and to get in touch with the Jewish people, we will realize that their spiritual calendar has already been going on for 5768 years and that the correct dates for "Peschag" (the true celebration of Passover) can be acquired from their calendar.

7.35 The spiral as sun-god symbol

Few people know that the ordinary old "spiral", which we find everywhere, is actually one of the oldest known sun-god symbols in existence. Sometimes it is on its own and sometimes it has rays around it, so that it looks like the sun.

Dr Cathy Burns writes:

"It is a symbol of evolution... A spiral is an ancient GODDESS emblem symbolizing the universal pattern of growth in Nature." ("Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated")

We also read the following: "It is an ancient symbol of the goddess, the womb, fertility, feminine serpent force, continual change, and the evolution of the universe." (Berit Kjos – (Kjos Ministries Finland) – www.crossroad.to)

Have a look around your house and you will most certainly locate this symbol, on clothing, curtains, furniture, toilet paper, socks, children's pictures, advertisements, etc. Ask yourself this question: Why is it so "omnipresent" in our homes?

Is it because our eyes have been so veiled regarding the origins of symbols of idols that we have just learnt to accept all these things without questioning it?

The ancient Babylonians and Egyptians used to depict the sun as a round disc, sometimes with a snake around it, biting its own tail. At other times that snake was depicted as coiled up IN the sun disc, thus forming the spiral. A very definite sun-god symbol! And God said we may HAVE NO other gods before HIM...

7.36 The 4-pointed, 5-pointed or 6-pointed stars

Most people don't know that just about all stars which are portrayed with points, originate from somewhere out of the occult and have secret meanings. Once again we Christians just accept everything we see around us, without questioning its origin. No star in our Lord's universe has specific points, as they are all planets. Where do the points come from then? Who decided that a star should have a certain number of points?

The normal 4-pointed star, as it is portrayed, among others, as the official symbol of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) is a depiction of Baal, the sun-god, and also of the Mesopotamian pagan sun-god Shamash. And what would be the problem if God's children kept images of Baal in their homes?

"And the children of Israel did EVIL in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, AND FOLLOWED OTHER GODS, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, AND PROVOKED THE LORD TO ANGER. And they forsook the Lord, and they served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, AND HE DELIVERED THEM INTO THE HANDS of spoilers that spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies." (Judges 2:11-14)

How many Christians are not robbed (spoiled) today and fall into the hands of their "enemies round about"? Is it not perhaps because our land is also still rotten with all the Baal symbols today? But yet we stay in denial as to what these things can do to us!

As far as the 5-pointed star is concerned, the five points specifically originate from the occult practice of numerology, where they do "magic" with numbers, number values, etc. What they did was to place the 5-pointed star in a circle. Then it was calculated that a circle consists of three hundred and sixty degrees. The three hundred and sixty was then divided by the five points of the "star", whereupon the answer of seventy two was reached. Seventy two is sixty six plus 6, in other words, 66+6 = 666. The symbolism of ANY 5-pointed star, whether it is inside a circle or not, and whether it appears on your child's pajamas, toys or ordinary clothes, is 666. What is 666 again?

"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred and threescore and six. (666)" (Revelation 13:18)

We also read the following in a New Age magazine:

"The symbol of the five-pointed STAR was presented over and over. It is the symbol of the New Group of World Servers, the symbol of perfected man, the star of initiation." ("The Rainbow Bridge Newsletter" Oct/Nov 1984 Vol.1, No.4)

Really? Is man "perfect"?

We also read in Dr Cathy Burns' book:

"The pentagram is considered by occultists to be the most potent means of conjuring up (evil) spirits. The STAR symbolizes the power of witchcraft. It is an aid in the casting of spells." ("Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated")

Please note carefully that there is no problem with the STAR-fish, as that is only a little sea animal which was created by God and was only given the name "starfish" because of man's ignorance regarding the origin of the five points of the "star".

Now we take a look at the 6-pointed star, and immediately the Christians say: "But that is the star of David!" I don't agree at all. Let's look at the answers which I have discovered during my research.

According to the book written by Kobus Jonker and Lien Els the 6-pointed star is the: "Witch gram or hexagram: It is used at witch festivals where evil spirits are called up." ("Satanism in SA" – K Jonker & L Els)

I also read on an internet web page which belongs to a satanic organisation which was founded by Aleister Crowley (He was known as "The Beast" and "the father of modern satanism"):

"Each line of the hexagram indicates the number 111... There are 6 lines in all, so that 111 x 6 = 666, the Most Holy Number of the Sun." ("The Order of the Thelemic Golden Dawn" –Internet)

Here we have it straight from the horse's mouth, directly from the kingdom of darkness, that the symbolism of the 6-pointed star, just like the 5-pointed star, is the number 666! And we know very clearly from the Bible where that comes from.

For those people who think that it is the "star of David", it might be a good idea to contact Pastor David Meyer on the following web page. He was himself previously involved in the occult and is also aware of where these things come from:

"STAR OF DAVID" – "This is NOT Christian, and is NOT of God... Even many sincere rabbis are opposed to its use. It is NOT the star of David... It is the crest of Solomon and was produced when he was backslidden. One of the reasons Stephen the martyr was stoned by the Jews is because he pointed this out: Acts 7:42,43 – "Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven...Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and THE STAR OF YOUR GOD REMPHAN, figures which YOU MADE to worship them..." (Pastor David Meyer - www.lasttrumpetministries.org)

I also have in my possession the book by Dr Abram Kanof of Israel, where he states the following:

"The Magen David ("star of David") arose from a UNIVERSAL MAGICAL SIGN to a Jewish Messianic symbol... It began in ancient times among MANY PEOPLES as a decorative sign with MAGICAL protective virtues. WITHOUT ROOTS IN THE SACRED LITERATURE, and without significance in Jewish religious experience, the six-pointed star was turned to by Jews FOR ITS MAGICAL POWERS." ("Jewish Symbolic Art" – Dr Abram Kanof)

Please note that he is very clear about the fact that the "star of David" has NO ROOTS in the Holy Scriptures but originated from pagan MAGICAL customs.

Remember, the Bible stipulates:

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12:33)

Also note how clearly Texe Marrs puts it in his book:

"The supremely evil nature of the double triangle, hexagram, Solomon's Seal, the Magen David (Shield of David), is proven by the fact that the symbol contains the hidden number 666... There are six triangles incorporated on the outside of the hexagram; it has six points; and six lines are used to construct the symbol's two triangles. Thus 6-6-6. Also, the symbol incorporates six triangles of three sides each. Six times three equals eighteen (6x3 = 18 and 6+6+6=18)" ("Codex Magica" – Texe Marrs)

Earlier on we saw that the "Order of the Thelemic Golden Dawn" from the kingdom of darkness confirmed that the symbolism of the 6-pointed star is 666, and here we find the same confirmation from the books of ministers of the kingdom of light.

Many people are wondering why the "Star of David" appears on the flag of Israel. In the first place we must take into account that the present Israel is controlled by the B'nai B'rith, the Jewish Freemasons. Another fact that must be taken into consideration is that the hexagram (without a circle) appears above the doors of many Freemasonry lodges. But take a look at why that symbol appears on their flag:

"An outstanding study of the six-pointed star was accomplished by Dr OJ Graham in the book: "The Six-pointed Star". Dr Graham proves that this symbol was NEVER used by King David of Israel and so the name "Star of David" is a misnomer. The symbol was chosen in 1948 for the flag of the fledgling nation of Israel at the insistence of the Rothschilds (Illuminati; Freemasons). Its usage stems from the medieval period when corrupt rabbis into cabbalistic MAGIC began to use the six-pointed star in their rituals." ("Codex Magica" – Texe Marrs)

Dear friend, decide for yourself whether you still want to wear that pagan symbol of MAGIC around your neck.

7.37 Frogs as occult symbols

Please always remember that there is NOTHING wrong with any living creatures, because GOD created them all. In this book I continuously refer to SYMBOLS. There is no problem with a live little frog in your garden. However, there is a problem if you have a SYMBOL of a frog somewhere in your home, whether it's next to the water feature in your lounge or in your children's colouring books.

"Frogs are a symbol of fertility to many cultures. Romans linked it to Aphrodite. Egyptians linked it to shape-shifting goddess Heket who would take the form of a frog. To the Chinese, it symbolized the moon, bringing "healing and prosperity." (Berit Kjos – (Kjos MinistriesFinland) – www.crossroad.to)

In the Bible I read the following about the frog:

"And I saw THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS LIKE FROGS come out of the mouth of the dragon, (satan) and out of the mouth of the beast, (antichrist) and out of the mouth of the false prophet (false religions). For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world,..." (Revelation 16:13,14)

The frog is thus also a symbol of unclean spirits. One day a woman called me on the phone and told me that she had one hundred and eighty "cute" little plastic frogs in her home for which she had had a special cupboard built. Her testimony is that, once a week, she takes the frogs out to dust them and then puts them back into the cupboard again. Her problem, though, was that she only had peace of mind while she was busy with the frogs. As soon as she returned the frogs to the cupboard, she lost her peace. Very clear evidence that she was in bondage through the frogs in her home, as she was getting her peace from them and not from God. It is also interesting to note that the year 2008 was "the year of the frog" in the Chinese calendar.

7.38 The dolphin as an occult symbol

Dr Cathy Burns writes in her book:

"Obviously, not every animal you see has an occultic meaning connected to it. However, the occult world does make use of particular creatures and when they do so, there is a meaning behind it." ("Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated")

Unfortunately, the dolphin is one of those animals which has a specific meaning in the realm of the occult. However, it doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with the beautiful dolphins swimming around in the sea, because God created them! The problem occurs when it is used as a SYMBOL.

"This figure can be seen in many allegories and emblems, sometimes duplicated... The dolphin by itself is an allegory of salvation... Its figure is associated with that of the anchor (another symbol of salvation), with pagan, erotic deities and with other symbols." ("A Dictionary of Symbols – JE Cirlot)

The dolphin figurine which is the most popular is the one where TWO dolphins jump out of the water TOGETHER and in the same direction. That is also a symbol of reincarnation in the New Age movement. Reincarnation is where people believe that they will have more than one life and that they can take on other forms in their next life or lives. The Bible is very clear that there is no such thing as reincarnation. Everyone lives only once, after that comes the judgment.

"And as it is appointed unto men ONCE to die, but after this the judgment..." (Hebrews 9:27)

"As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave SHALL COME UP NO MORE." (Job 7:9)

7.39 The owl as an occult symbol

I repeat there is no problem with any living creature, as they were all created by God. It is when it is used as a SYMBOL that the problem in the realm of the occult starts. The same is true about the owl.

Just look at how clearly Carl Teichrib describes the problem with the owl to us:

"Owls have been embraced as a SYMBOL associated with psychic powers, the "angel of death: and the GODDESS of the night.

Greek, Roman and Celtic mythology all employ owls as representatives of SPIRITUAL influence. Hinduism also uses the owl as a symbol of COSMIC SPIRITUALITY. In Africa, the owl is associated with WITCHCRAFT and SORCERY. They know the owl as a bird of sorcerers...and it is considered a messenger of wizards and witches.

As a SPIRITUAL SYMBOL, owls can be found throughout the world. Australia, China, Greenland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia and Sweden all have cultures or mythical traditions that give SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE to the owl." ("The Wise Old Owl")

How many of us don't have figurines of owls hanging by the front door, with the words: "Welcome" underneath at that! Or the "pretty" owls made from shells which we bought at the seaside?

7.40 The origin of Valentine's day, Cupid and the heart symbol

After Christmas, Valentine's day is probably one of the biggest "money spinners" at places of business and in schools today. There are Valentine's day dances, Valentine's day dinners, etc. And huge amounts of money are spent by the parents on all this. In that way our finances are still being attacked and stolen by Mammon.

But are we Christians, who so eagerly take part in all these PAGAN practices, aware of the origin of all the "cute" symbols which are associated with Valentine's day? No, most Christians don't know and don't care or don't WANT to know, because they think if they can one day plead ignorance before God's throne about all these things, it will be acceptable to Him.

Let's look at some of the symbols and their origins, as well as where Valentine's day comes from. Cupid is surely the most well-known Valentine's day symbol and appears on just about all Valentine's day cards, -coffee mugs and other –items. He is the little naked baby "angel" with the bow and arrow who supposedly causes couples to fall in love by shooting his "arrows of love" down on them. Is he really so innocent?

"Cupid is not some adorable little, mischievous god who makes couples fall in love. He is a god (really a demon) of vulgarity and indecency. Our society is so inundated and saturated with paganism. We just accept it as part of life not realizing how we must be offending God by using and propagating pagan symbolism and idolizing perverted and evil pagan gods and goddesses." ("Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated" – Dr Cathy Burns)

I want to discuss this quotation from Dr Burns' book in a bit more detail.

"Cupid is NOT some adorable, little, mischievous god who makes couples fall in love. He is a god (really a demon) of vulgarity and indecency."

Do you remember that the Bible stipulates that we shall have NO other gods before God?

"Our society is so inundated and saturated with paganism."

This is one big problem, the fact that our society is inundated with pagan customs...

"We just accept it as part of life..."

Which we as Christians just accept, because we are so afraid of "offending" others in the world around us. But the biggest problem lies in the following words:

"...not realizing how we must be offending God..."

Christians don't even THINK of the fact that we might be OFFENDING our Creator(!), our God(!), our Father(!) and our King(!) by all the pagan practices and pagan customs which we have taken for ourselves... I repeat it is not about US and OUR view of idols, but about HIM and about HIS view of idols!

"...by using and propagating pagan symbolism and idolizing perverted and evil pagan gods and goddesses."

How many of us have not propagated "pagan symbolism" on this past Valentine's day by buying coffee mugs or Valentine cards with Cupid on them?

According to the web page of the "History Channel" the origin of Valentine's day was as follows:

"In ancient Rome February was the official beginning of spring and used as a time of purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by being swept and then were ritually sprinkled with salt and wheat.

They held a Lupercalia (fertility) festival dedicated to Faunus, Roman god of agriculture as well as Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome between 13-15 February... To begin the festival, members of the Luperci (Roman priests) gathered at a secret cave where they sacrificed a goat (for fertility) and a dog (for purification)...

The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, and dipped them in the sacrificed blood. Then they used these to slap women in the streets and crops with. Roman women welcomed this, as it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year...

Later in the day all the young women in the city placed their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman...

In 49 AD Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St Valentine's Day. (It was seen as an effort to "Christianize" celebration of the pagan Lupercalia festival)...

During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February – Valentine's Day – should be a day of romance."

And there we have the true origin of Valentine's day! Does it look as though this is about something which glorifies the Lord, or which honours Him? Or is it clearly and exclusively about pagan customs? Customs which the Lord told us NOT TO LEARN!

Where does the heart symbol come from?

"This well-known "heart shape" comes from the Babylonian religious system and was known as the "worship of the Sacred Heart". It was one of the symbols of Tammuz (Cupid). How, then, did it come about that the heart became the symbol of the "Child of the Great Mother" (Semiramis)? The Chaldean for heart is "Bel" (the other name for Nimrod). We also find in old Egyptian history that they paid homage to the "Sacred Heart". The heart was one of the holy symbols of Osiris (the Egyptian name for Nimrod), when he was born in the arms of his mother Isis (Semiramis' name in Egypt) and appeared in the form of the infant boy-god. This baby-god is also depicted in the same way in other countries. The worship of the "Sacred Heart" was therefore actually the worship of the "Sacred Bel". In order to indicate the bond with the burning sun, the "Heart" was also sometimes depicted as a "heart of flame".

For years we have been identifying the celebration of Valentine's day with the symbol of the hearts. The hearts have also for many years been accepted as the symbol of love, without anyone knowing where it all started! All the symbols which are used for Valentine's day can be attributed to the worship of the Babylonian Antichrist – Tammuz (the reincarnated Bel, Cupid, Osiris)." ("Copyright © 1998 by Epistello".)

I also came across the following definition of the "heart"-shape on the internet:

"The heart shape could also be considered to depict features of the human female body, such as the female's pubic mound or vulva. A Sumerian cuneiform symbol for "woman" closely resembles the heart shape, and is believed to directly depict the pubic mound. Others maintain that the heart resembles the shape of the female breasts or the female buttocks." ("Heart (symbol)" – wikipedia.org)

The "heart" is thus no symbol of love, but is a perverse sexual symbol which originated from pagan idol customs and pagan idol worship. Yet today it appears on everything: toys, pajamas, clothing, teddy bears, coffee mugs, you name it... And we all play along...

7.41 Halloween

This is another alarming pagan custom which comes from the pit of hell, but which Christians so readily take part in, without knowing where it came from.

Dr Kobus Jonker writes:

"It does not originate from "All Hallowed eve" as many Christians believe, its roots lie in occultism. It was a form of Druid demon worship." ("The Real History of Halloween" - Dr Kobus Jonker)

I also got the following clear confirmation on the internet:

"It was originally the "feast of the dead" – "Vigil of Samhain" (Grim Reaper) – when it was thought that time stood still and souls of the dead walked the land...

Gifts were left outside to ensure no harm comes to the household... Yellow ribbons were tied around oak trees as PRAYERS to the SUN to have their children spared...

Druids chose certain children to be offered on "bone-fires" (bonfires) as offerings to the sun...

Fat left over from the offered child was fashioned into a candle and placed into a carved-out pumpkin. The victim was called "Jack-of-the-Lantern" (Jack-o'-Lantern)...

If gifts weren't given to Druids, a "trick" followed – a hexagram (curse) was drawn on the door of the house. That night satan or his demons would kill someone in that household through fear...

All of this ultimately to pay homage to the SUN (sun-god worship)."

Do you remember that the Lord commanded that we shall NOT learn the ways of the pagan nations? Yet thousands of Christians throughout the world willfully take part yearly in office parties with a "Halloween" theme, or allow their children to wear "Halloween" masks depicting demons and play "trick or treat" at the homes of the neighbours, or attend "Halloween" dances and parties at their school. And the Christians see nothing wrong with it... What are we going to tell God one day when we stand before His throne?

7.42 The so-called "BIRTH STONES"

Many people place a lot of value on their "birth stone". Where does this custom come from?

"A birth stone is a gem which is a symbol of the month in which a person was born.

Many ancient people believed that a birth stone brought GOOD LUCK to the wearer and also INFLUENCED HIS PERSONALITY.

The wise men of the middle ages selected a gem for each month and encouraged people to believe that wearing these stones would keep them from harm." (www.demonbuster.com/misc.html)

The point, though, is that God does not work through good luck, as this comes down to the "god of luck". Please also read what the Bible stipulates will happen to those who want to spend their time around the "god of luck" in any form.

"But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that TROOP (Gad the god of luck), and furnish the drink offering unto that number (Meni the goddess of fortune). Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes..." (Isaiah 65:11,12)

7.43 Feng shui, "Zen"-gardens and Bonsai

We must at all times remember the words from Isaiah 2:5,6:

"O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east..."

And yet so many Christians try to do things the Eastern way, for example, the positioning of items, furniture or articles in their houses or office buildings according to the "Feng shui" customs.

"Feng shui – Chinese art of positioning objects in buildings and other places based in the BELIEF in positive and negative effects of the patterns of yin and yang and the flow of CHI ("ki"), the VITAL FORCE or energy inherent in all things."

As I've already written earlier regarding Eastern items and –martial arts, the so-called "chi/ki" powers are nothing else but the evil spirits of satan. The Bible wants "rivers of living water" to come from our bellies, which points to the Holy Spirit of God in our bodies, and not any "ki" forces.

"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him shall receive..." (John 7:38,39)

The "peaceful" Zen-gardens which many people are building on their properties, or which they construct in office blocks or in miniature forms in their offices, with sand in a container and small stones which you can move around, or a small rake with which you can draw patterns in the sand, are becoming more and more popular, even among Christians.

But what is the root of this custom?

ZEN GARDENS – "Some gardens have specific meanings... Like Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are ancient Chinese concepts that cause change in our environment. This can be likened to the traditional Buddhist concept of "niyamas" (natural forces that connect and change our world)...In this way it is similar to the breath counting meditation. Calming the mind, like calming water, allows the dirt to settle, and the water to clear." (http:/zen.thetao.info)

And I repeatedly point out that the Bible is very clear about the fact that we may NOT learn the ways and customs of the heathen! What are we Christians busy with?

Let's take a brief look at the bonsai trees and their origin:

"Comes from the Chinese "penjing"... and is the Chinese art of growing trees and plants, kept SMALL by skilled pruning and formed to create an aesthetic shape and the ILLUSION OF AGE." (EN.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Penjing)

The "creators" of the bonsai trees are "playing God" with their trees, because they control the lives of those trees. But instead of "controlling" the trees to their benefit, by letting the tree become BIGGER and more fruitful, they LIMIT the life of that tree. The Bible is clear that God is also the Good Gardener, who prunes us so that we can GROW, not to limit our lives.

Also take note that those poor little trees must give the "illusion of age". What is "illusion" other than a lie? What does the dictionary say?

"Illusion: any misleading appearance, a false show, the act of deceiving or misleading by a FALSE appearance." (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary)

The Bible is, after all, very clear about the origin of misleading and anything false – from the "father of lies" – satan!

7.44 Half-human, half-animal

Here I'm thinking, for example, of the half-human, half-animal or half-insect monstrosities which we see in all the modern-day science fiction- or other "para-normal" films. Did the Lord create them like that? No, he did not. If not, where does the creativity to create such monstrosities come from? From no-one else but satan himself! I'm thinking, for instance, of the mermaids which are half-human, half-fish and about which I also write in this book and even our big rugby-symbols in South Africa, such as the half-human, half-blue bull, or half-human, half-cheetah, or half-human, half-shark.

Now some people want to ask me the question: "But what about the "four living creatures" about which we read in the Bible, who are all half-human, half-angel, half-beast?" Well, let's take a look at these Biblical creatures and let's see at the same time, what they are doing.

"And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." (Revelation 4:6-8)

Can you perhaps notice what the difference is between the half-human, half-animal monstrosities in the films which I mentioned and these Biblical living creatures? The first group is out to steal, to kill, to murder and to make war, while this second group is only out to GIVE GLORY TO GOD in all eternity!

As a matter of fact, it is easy to see where satan got the original idea from to "counterfeit" these living creatures by having similar "creatures" created in all kinds of occult films, but not one of those creatures in the films, fairy-tales or other stories are glorifying our Creator.

7.45 Clothing and brand-names

Take a look at the meanings and problems around the following "well-known" clothing brand-names so popularly worn by everyone these days:

Lizzard, with his female part, Lizzy: "The Lizard – Its "sun-seeking habit symbolizes the soul's search for awareness." To the Romans, who believed it hibernated, the lizard meant death and resurrection." (Berit Kjos – (Kjos Ministries Finland) –www.crossroad.to) Also take note that this company's symbol is a manikin which is half-human, half-lizard and sometimes one sees on the front of the symbol a circle with a "pointed tail" inside. Who is usually depicted with a pointed tail?

Roxy's Symbol is the little heart and we've already seen where this originated from.

Bad Boy and Bad Girl speak for themselves. The Bible stipulates in Proverbs 18:21: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Therefore, if I wear clothes which say that I am, or my child is, a "bad boy" or a "bad girl", that is exactly what will eventually happen, because we are speaking it over ourselves!

Nike – "In Greek mythology, Nike (pronounced Nicki) was a GODDESS who personified triumph. She was a daughter of Pallas (Warrior) and Styx (Hatred), and the sister of Cratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Rivalry)." (Wikipedia.org) I always find it interesting to think of this: one can buy a very good pair of sneakers for R300 or R400, but now it just has to be a pair of NIKE sneakers which can cost us uip to R1400 or more! Who says that the NIKE sneakers are better than all the others? Could it perhaps be their advertising agency? What is happening now? Satan gets an open door into my house through the symbol of the idol that I buy to wear and then he still makes me pay A LOT of money to get inside. In that way he keeps on stealing my money as well. A friend of mine was in Greece a while ago and was taken to the GODDESS NIKE's temple, where he saw that her altar is built in the shape of the "correction mark" which appears on all the Nike-clothes and other items! And God says we shall have NO other gods before Him!

Billabong: "billa" means: "creek" and "bong" means: "dead", in other words: "dead creek or creek (river) of death" (Wikipedia.org). Thus I am trying to show the people around me that I have a dead creek inside me. Against this the Bible stipulates in John 7:38,39: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of LIVING water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive..."

Lost: My children are anything but lost, so they don't wear clothes which give the illusion that they are lost.

Gotcha: They have the dragon on some logos and also the "fish man" (half-human half-fish) in other logos.

Jeep's symbol on some clothing is the 5-pointed star, which we have already discussed.

Quicksilver: On the small flap at the back of some of the shirts have the "sign of the horns" which is used during satanic rituals by flattening the two middle fingers with the thumb and lifting the little finger and fore finger like horns, and in some other cases the figures 666 appear on the little flaps, or the words: "our roots run deeper...". Deeper than what?

Volcom stone: The two founder members decided that their motto will be:"Youth against establishment". I read on their web page: "Volcom clothing was a family of people not willing to accept the suppression of the established ways." Does that include God's established ways?

Blind: The symbols on this clothing consist mostly of skeletons and the skull and crossed bones, which are all a symbol of death.

O'Neill: Here you also find that the skull and crossed bones is a very popular symbol. Please take note that the skull is ALWAYS a symbol of the spirit of death. Then some parents wonder why their children are always getting involved in accidents and narrowly escape death, all the while they are wearing these clothes on which the spirit of death's symbol appears life size!

Osiris: This is the name of one of the chief gods (idols) of Egypt.

Zoo York: The symbol on this range of clothing is also full of skulls and crossed bones.

True Religion: This range has, among others, a fat little Buddha image playing a guitar, as a symbol.

And these are only a few of the brands we have all over the world. Only the Holy Spirit can lead you regarding any brand name you have in your house. Are you willing to be so led by the Holy Spirit?

7.46 Masks

Masks are a symbol of something which it depicts. Any mask, no matter how innocent, has the possibility of causing problems because we don't know about the following:

"Masks are used by PAGANS around the world to REPRESENT animal powers, nature spirits, or ancestral spirits. In pagan rituals, the wearer may chant, dance and enter a trance in order to contact the spirit world and be possessed by the spirit represented by the mask." (Berit Kjos – (Kjos Ministries Finland – www.crossroad.to)

Be very careful before buying any mask for your children or paint masks on their faces. Behind these "innocent" masks there might be something which can cause problems in your child's life.

7.47 Teletubbies

Many Christians are of the opinion that this television series is very "innocent" entertainment. Apart from the fact that the creatures in this series are also "fables", and we've seen what problem the Bible has about this, we would do well to take a look at the following quotations about this series:

"Some of their lessons involve self-sufficiency (separation from parents, but not from peers) within a high-tech world... No need for parents or grand-parents!" (Berit Kjos – "EDUTAINMENT – HowTeletubbies teach toddlers")

"The baby-faced sun in the program refers directly to the "sun-god"! All sun- and moon-symbols with faces symbolize the sun-god or the moon-god.

Please take a look at the meaning of the symbols on these Teletubbies' heads:

Po's CIRCLE – "ancient and universal symbol of unity, wholeness, infinity, the goddess, it also represents the feminine spirit/force, a spiritualized Mother Earth and a sacred space."

Dipsy's antenna = a ROD – "phallic symbol of male power. Called "lingam" in Hindu; "obelisk" in Egypt. Symbolizes male power and fertility."

Laa Laa's antenna = a SPIRAL and ROD – "ancient symbol of the goddess, the womb, fertility, feminine serpent force, continual change and evolution of the universe. (Thus the spiral (female) and rod (male) are combined in her antenna)."

Tinky Winky's antenna = a TRIANGLE pointing down – "represents the female womb. Some members of the homosexual community have claimed this symbol...and the color purple... as their own."

Is what you let your children watch on television, really all that "innocent" then?

7.48 Barney the dinosaur

There is no problem with the fact that Barney is a dinosaur, because God made the dinosaurs and they really existed. Of course, not 4,5 billion years ago as the evolutionists claim, but only for the past 6000 years since the existence of the world. They were wiped out by the flood in Noah's time.

The problem with Barney is that he practices MAGIC on his TV-series, and we have seen by repetition what the Bible says about anyone who associates with magic:

"There shall not be found among you ANYONE...that useth DIVINATION...or a WIZARD. For ALL that do these things are an ABOMINATION to the LORD." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

The further problem with Barney is that he speaks, and that is also a lie, because God did not create any dinosaurs that can speak.

7.49 Shrek

Most Christians think that Shrek is just the "cutest" creature which has recently seen the light. We have already confirmed that God's people perish because of lack of knowledge. Few people are prepared to read just a bit more when they see such new "animation heroes" appear. In these movies, Shrek is an ogre. What is an ogre?

Ogre: "In FAIRY TALES, a MAN-EATING giant or monster." (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary)

Remember what I wrote earlier about fairies and also about the meaning of "monsters". A while ago I received an e-mail from someone who informed me that he had seen my first DVD, on which I did not speak about Shrek. We do, however, teach on Shrek on the second series of our DVD's. After watching the DVD, he removed everything from his home which the Holy Spirit laid on his heart. After having done this, he prayed and asked the Lord to show him what else was in the house which should not be there.

Approximately half an hour later his ten year old son came running to him, telling him that his shirt was burning him. He pulled the shirt off his son's body, under the impression that they might have been playing with matches, but that was not the case. When he asked his son where the shirt had burned him, he said on his tummy, whereupon he turned the shirt around to see what was on the front. And what did he see? A picture of Shrek! Just remember, this was shortly after he had prayed and asked that it be pointed out to him what else was in the house which should not be there.

In the same way you and I must pray regularly and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and point out to us what we have in our homes which should not be there. I go to many homes where I point out to the people certain symbols or items as a possible problem and I repeatedly get the situation where either the man or the woman or the children tell me: "But that thing has been worrying me for a long time already! From the day my husband/wife/mother/father brought it into the house, it has been worrying me and I never knew why." It is only because we did not have the knowledge as to why it was worrying us, but now we do have the knowledge. Ask yourself this question: Would satan have allowed the item concerned to "worry" you? No, he wouldn't as he would much rather let it stand around or hang where it won't disturb anyone, so that his demon spirits can just hang around in that area. So it is clearly the Holy Spirit Who points that item out to you so that you can get rid of it.

7.50 Barbie, Bratz and others

I have two books in my possession entitled: "Turmoil in the Toy Box" by Phil Phillips and "Turmoil in the Toy Box II" by Joan Hake Robie, where these aspects around problems with children's toys are discussed in more detail. In these books the Barbie dolls, among others, are also discussed. According to these books it is clear that, since the company Mattell started making the Barbie dolls in 1959 until the early eighties, when the books were written, there were already two thousand cases of suicide documented amongst young girls who had been playing with Barbie dolls and were not able to have sexy figures themselves. Then they got anorexia or bulimia which eventually ended in suicide.

During May 2006, I came across the following newspaper article in the South African Beeld newspaper:

"Barbie causes women to feel bad about their weight". – London. The fashion doll Barbie is getting the blame for the low self-esteem which some women have about their bodies and the occurrence of diet sicknesses such as anorexia and bulimia, according to the findings of a British study. The study which was conducted by researchers at the Sussex University was published last year (2005) in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology. According to the findings, young children who play with Barbie are more prone to being unsure of themselves and develop diet illnesses later on. "The study shows that dolls in general don't have a negative influence on girls' body image, but specifically Barbie dolls which impress upon the children an unattainable ideal for their bodies" said dr Helga Dittmar, leader of the study-group."

What I find interesting is that this study was done twenty years after those other two books were written, and the problem clearly remains the same. Furthermore it was interesting to see that those two books were written in America, while this study was done in Britain. The same problem, on two different sides of the globe! In other words, for approximately 47 years already, there has been a problem with the Barbie dolls!

Early in 2007 I came across these quotations in a financial magazine in South Africa:

"Everyone knows something about Barbie, the most famous doll in the word. Big breasted, narrow waisted and long legged, SHE HAS HELPED SEX INTRUDE INTO CHILDHOOD (because years before little girls are supposed to think about sex, they are already playing that Ken and Barbie date, marry and have babies)...

Several decades ago, Barbie's creator, Ruth Handler, saw a Swiss doll called Lilli, voluptuous and wearing heels. She was just what Ms Handler wanted for a blockbuster new doll. Ignoring traditional marketers – shocked by Barbie's breasts – she began an uphill battle in California to manufacture this sexy creature, so unlike cuddly baby dolls.

What she did not know was that Lilli was BASED ON A PROSTITUTE IN "A GERMAN ADULT CARTOON AIMED AT MEN." (The Economist – 5/5/2007)

Can you remember that the Bible says if the tree is rotten, the fruit will also be rotten? (Matthew 12:33). From this quotation we see the true root of Barbie. She is actually based on a PROSTITUTE!

What is the other problem with Barbie? She is also depicted as Barbie in "FAIRYTOPIA". We've already said enough about the problems with fairies, but it confirms still further that the "root" is rotten. Add to this the fact that she is also depicted as a mermaid in "Barbie MERMAIDIA", and we see more confirmation as to Barbie's rotten roots. What, then, is the problem regarding mermaids? Do take a look at the following quotation from Alexander Hislop:

"In ancient times Dagon (the fish-god) was depicted, among others, as half-human, half-fish (the top part being completely human, with the bottom part ending in a fishtail)." ("The Two Babylons")

Where do we also read about Dagon? In the Bible. Also read 1 Samuel 5 about the situation where the Philistines carried off the ark of the Lord and put it in Dagon's temple:

"And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him on his place again." (1 Samuel 5:3)

You are welcome to type in the name: "Dagon" on the internet and you will find the following definition, among others, on Wikipedia, together with a depiction of Dagon with his human torso and fish tail:

"Dagon was a major northwest Semitic god, reportedly of grain and agriculture. He was worshipped by the early Amorites and by the inhabitants of the cities of Ebla and Ugarit. He was also a major member, or perhaps head, of the pantheon of the Biblical Philistines." (Wikipedia.org)

And the Bible says we may HAVE NO OTHER gods before Him! Lastly, I would just like to draw your attention to the fact that Barbie is also marketed as "Barbie and the MAGIC of Pegasus". First of all, you know very well by this time what the Bible has to say about MAGIC and, secondly, Pegasus is the winged horse, which appears, among others, on the Reader's Digest books and other items. Where does Pegasus come from?

"PEGASUS – the winged horse. A symbol of astral projection. Neopagan symbol. From Greek mythology." (Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated – Dr Cathy Burns)

If one puts all these things together, then there is no doubt about Barbie's root. Approximately two years ago I ministered to a mother with an eight year old daughter who only played with Barbie dolls. However, neither the mother nor the daughter looked like Barbie. When I pointed this out to her, she gave me her own testimony, namely that her little girl had come to her just the week before and said: "Mommy, I want to look like this doll!" And what if she doesn't succeed? What will her fate then be? Feelings of inferiority which might lead to anorexia or bulimia?... Or even suicide?

And while we're on the subject of dolls, let's take a look at the Bratz dolls. In the first place, you must decide whether you want your child to be a "brat".

According to the dictionary, a brat is

"A child, now only contemptuously" (Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary)

Secondly, you might want to take note of the fact that the Bratz dolls are also marketed under the following names: "Bratz Genie MAGIC", "Bratz Genie Magic Bedroom" or "Bratz Genie Magic Bottle", etc. The Bible is very clear regarding any form of MAGIC, not so?

Please also note the clothing which the Bratz dolls wear and that your six year old daughter will also want to wear. These dolls are depicted with the "sexiest" and most revealing clothes imaginable, clothes which no 6, 7 or 8-year old should even be thinking of wearing. The point is that that kind of clothing is not fit to be worn by six year olds, but by girls who are much older. And what happens? Parents allow their six year old daughters to dress like seventeen- or eighteen year olds and then they blame God if their six year old daughter is raped! But where did the little "seed" come from to WANT to dress like that? From the "innocent" Bratz dolls that she's been playing with.

7.51 "Hip Hip Hooray!"

Everybody shouting together so lustily at weddings or birthdays: "Hip hip hooray" might think twice the next time, once he or she knows where this expression really comes from.

Alf Hutchison of Obadiah Outreach Ministries describes it very clearly in their article: "Hip, Hip, Hooray": It originally comes from the words: "Hep hep hu-raj", which, in turn, is an acrostic from the original Latin: "Hieroslyma est perdita!" (Jerusalem is fallen).

It goes as far back as the time of the crusaders when the Turks called out "Hep hep" as a sign that the city of Jerusalem had fallen into their hands. Later on it was used together with the Slavic word: "hu-raj" which means: "to paradise". Therefore the whole expression means: "Jerusalem is fallen, Jerusalem is fallen and we are on our way to paradise!"

In contrast to this the Bible stipulates in Psalms 122:6:

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee!"

We as Christians are supposed to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, NOT to share in the excitement that the city has fallen into satan's hands. But in complete ignorance Christians shout, sometimes even three times, at weddings, and in churches and other meeting places, these ominous words about the fact that God's city, Jerusalem, has fallen into the hands of the Muslims! However, now that we know this, how can we ever again be part of this pagan custom?

7.52 Porcelain dolls

I get phone calls from many people who ask me about porcelain dolls and whether there is any problem surrounding them. I give everyone the same answer namely, that we get numerous phone calls from people and have been in several homes ourselves, where the small children testified that the porcelain dolls opened their eyes at night and looked at them.

In one specific house the woman shared with me that she regularly sees a "creature" at night standing by her bed wearing only a stole around her shoulders and this creature was about the size of a young girl, approximately 1.2m tall. What did we find in her spare bedroom? A porcelain doll about 1,2m tall and wearing a stole around her shoulders!

However, this is one of those items I have written about in Chapter 3, which are a problem in some, but not necessarily in all, homes.

Often the connection is also the fact that the particular porcelain doll was made by granny, while she was busy with wrong things in the kingdom of darkness, either through witchcraft, magic or whatever, and then there is an open door connecting the doll/s concerned in the spirit dimension.

Pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you about the porcelain dolls in your home and it won't do any harm to talk to your young children and ask them if any of those dolls worry or bother them at night in any way.

7.53 Lotto, lucky draws and/or raffles

So many Christians take part in the Lotto, lucky draws or raffles, be it at the office, at their children's schools, in shopping malls, in magazines or even at their own churches, without even wondering whether the Bible might have anything to say about this practice.

Well, let's take a look:

"But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop (Gad, the god of luck), and that furnish the drink offering unto that number (Meni the goddess of fortune). Therefore will I number you to the sword and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed..." (Isaiah 65:11-13)

It is a known fact that the biggest majority of "Lotto millionaires" have already lost all their money and some of them even died shortly after winning. The reason for this is obvious, when the words of the above scripture are read line upon line.

The fundamental reason for this is that the people rely so much on the Lotto, or on that "winning chance" to supply them with the things they want instead of trusting Yahweh Jireh (God our Provider) for these things. And as long as they keep on doing this, they will continue to "bow down to the slaughter", they will remain hungry, they will remain thirsty, because they do the things which do not please God and are wrong IN HIS EYES!

7.54 Talking to the dead, calling up spirits, fortune-tellers

Why do you think these things are a problem? Is it perhaps because the Bible is very clear about it? Let's look at it line upon line:

"There shall not be found among you ANYONE..." This means nothing else, but exactly what it says: "Not anyone" means "NOT ANYONE".

"that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch..."

This includes any fortune tellers, tarot card readers and any related practices.

"... or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer..."

This includes any witchdoctors, sangomas, witches, "wizards", satanists, vampires, Goths, or whoever talks to the spirits of the dead or even want to talk to them. Why is the Bible so clear about this? Because it is NOT those dead people you are talking to, but evil spirits from satan who PRETEND to be that particular person, according to the words of 2 Corinthians 11:15. The Bible is clear about the fact that dead people do NOT come to life again.

"As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave SHALL COME UP NO MORE." (Job 7:9)

"They are dead, they shall NOT live; they are deceased, they shall NOT rise." (Isaiah 26:14)

So, if you suddenly encounter "granny" in the passage in your home, you must realize immediately that it is NOT granny's "spirit which cannot find rest". It is an evil spirit from satan which masquerades as your granny, because he wants to scare or manipulate your family in certain ways. And what often gives such an evil spirit the legal right in the house? Probably that tapestry of the "cute little dragon" which granny embroidered "with her own little hands". Always beware of things we have in our homes because of sentimental reasons, because satan is prone to use sentiment against us too.

Let's read on and see what the Lord says about everyone who associates with fortune-telling and the "spirits of the dead".

"For ALL that do these things are an ABOMINATION unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

Unequivocally and without any doubt it says there that EVERYONE who does any of these things which I have just described, is an abomination to GOD! If you are involved in any of these things, how long are you going to continue to be an abomination to God?

Friend, I repeat – Let the Holy Spirit guide you and your family regarding ANY of these aspects. As far as I personally am concerned, I desire with everything I am and everything I have, to stand pure and blameless before the Lord. If there is even the smallest possibility that ANYTHING IN MY HOUSE could be an obstacle to that purity which I long and strive for before God, I would much rather get rid of it. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is worth contaminating that pure relationship which I strive for and long to have with my Heavenly Father.

8. METHODS OF CLEANSING (Back to top)

As far as the physical cleansing of our homes is concerned, just about everyone has his or her own opinion and there are no definite instructions regarding this in the Bible, except the scriptures which I quoted earlier from 2 Chronicles 29 and 30 and 2 Kings 23.

Personally I like to do the following in line with the above scriptures and this could serve as a basic example which can be used if one wants to do it and doesn't know how to go about it. You must, however, even where this is concerned, pray and ask to be guided by the Holy Spirit. God does not work according to "fomulas" so please don't think the following few points are the only way this can ever be done.

1. In the first place, I pray the power of His Name and blood of Jesus over myself and every person in that house.

2. Then there are five things which must be confessed on that land, be it on your own behalf or on behalf of the previous owners:

2.1 Any form of bloodshed on that land, even though it may have happened hundreds of years previously.

2.2 Any sexual immorality which took place on the land, be it premarital sex, extramarital relationships, pornography, homosexuality or other forms of perversion.

2.3 Any "contracts" or "covenants" which were entered into with the kingdom of darkness on that land, whether by witchdoctors who were brought onto the land to do so-called "cleansing", or any Satanism or Freemasonry which may have been practiced on the land.

2.4 Any curses spoken over the land, either by the current or by previous owners, for example: "No-one who lives here, will ever be happy, because this place only brings misfortune".

2.5 Any kind of idolatry which had been practiced on the land.

3. Pray that every entrance in and around that house and/or property and/or farm will be sealed in the spirit by God's angels.

4. Depending on the leading of the Holy Spirit, take anointing oil (it can be any oil, there are no hard and fast rules, although some people prefer olive oil) and seal all those entrances by pouring or smearing oil over it. Just remember that there is NO POWER in the oil, but that it is only a symbol of the Holy Spirit or can also symbolize the blood of the slaughtered Passover lamb which was painted onto the door frames of the houses of the Israelites so that the angel of death would pass them by, in other words, also symbolic of the blood of Jesus.

5. Go through the whole house and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you which are the contact objects in the house. A standard experience which might happen if all is not right with some object, is physical cold shivers which are clearly noticeable, or there have also been testimonies from some of the residents of that house that they could not enter a certain room at night, because:"...something just doesn't feel right". You may be sure that there is some object in that room which is giving a demon a legal right in your house.

In some cases it can even be something invisible which just proves, once again, that we must at all times be led by the Holy Spirit. We also have the testimony of someone who was requested to do house cleaning in a house where the daughter of the house had suddenly become sickly and no explanation could be given for this. He walked into her bedroom but could find nothing physically wrong. He then moved in and out of the room several times and instructed them to knock a hole into the wall right above her bed. What they discovered was that a hollow had been made in the wall in which some witchdoctor "medicine" had been placed, probably years previously when the house had been built and the people thought they were doing "good" by having this done. After the container had been removed and the hole closed up again, the girl became well again and was never again afflicted by the same disease. And so the Holy Spirit reveals certain objects very clearly to one, if one would only ask Him to do so.

Take all of those objects OUT of your house, just as the priests had taken the objects to the brook of Kidron in order to destroy them. Don't allow sentiment, pity or family-ties to leave behind anything which could possibly, or probably, be a contact object in the house. In this same way we have burnt metres of tapestry which were "handmade by granny" but on which occult symbols appeared, because it had been a contact object and therefore a problem in that specific home. It is ALWAYS about Jesus and not about human, material things. The fact that granny's armchair is adorned with the "prettiest" dragons, and that it is, in fact, an "heirloom", does not make any difference. Remember that there is only one dragon, and he doesn't belong in our homes, not in any form, or in any way through which he can gain entrance into our homes. Remove all those things and DESTROY them together with the other items which the Holy Spirit points out to you.

6. Now take the anointing oil and start at the back room of the house. Anoint each entrance, in other words, every door or every window, with the anointing oil. This can be done by smearing the anointing oil – which is only a symbol and refers to the purifying power of the blood of Jesus – over the tops, sides and, in some cases, even the bottoms of the entrances. This is in line with God's command to the Israelites, on the eve of their departure from Egypt, to smear blood onto the doorframes, so that the angel of death would pass by those houses. The "blood" (oil) at the entrances also tells the demons that they are no longer allowed to enter there or any other place in the house, as that house is now protected by Jesus and His angels.

7. You should pray continually and out loud, while anointing the entrances, thanking Jesus for His blood which He shed for us on the cross so that we might be cleansed. As you are moving forward, also command satan and his demons out loud to move out of every room and out of the house. As soon as each room has been anointed, the door/entrance of that particular room must also be sealed with the oil.

8. At the main entrance satan and all his demons are again commanded to leave the house in the Name of Jesus Christ. Thereafter prayer is again offered in order to entrust the house and its residents to the care of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also asked to make His permanent dwelling in that home.

9. Thereafter the one entrance to the property is opened in the spirit by way of a prayer and all demons are commanded to leave the property through that entrance in the spirit dimension and to go to the place which Jesus has prepared for them for judgment day. Thereafter that entrance to the property is once again sealed in the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. Friend, I know that you are probably by now thinking that I'm not right in the head, but there are sufficient testimonies amongst those who have to do with deliverance, to back up the reality and God's approval of these actions.

For instance, there is the testimony of a group of missionaries who started a mission school on a specific property. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit they first followed the steps as described above. After having cast everything out of the buildings of the mission school, however, they forgot to open the entrance to the property in the spirit dimension and cast out the demons. For several days after this, they found that they could not get victory in certain areas of their ministry. They prayed about this and asked for guidance as to why this was so. And because our Father is so faithful, He showed one of the girls the property of the mission school, which was surrounded by a high wire fence, in a dream. On top of the fence there were flames which moved around in circles.

The Lord revealed to her in the dream that those flames were the demons which they had cast out of the buildings, but they were unable to get off the property as the main entrance was still sealed in the spiritual dimension. She discussed this with the rest of the missionaries, whereupon the entrance was opened up in the spirit, the demons cast out and it was sealed again. The testimony of those missionaries is that they experienced peace and calm on the property immediately after this and they experienced one breakthrough after another in all those areas where they were unable previously to experience breakthrough.

10. After the cleansing of the house with the anointing oil, all "contact objects" which were removed from the house should be thrown onto a heap and burnt. Pray the blood of Jesus over everyone around that fire and ask the Lord also to give His angels charge over everyone present. Be careful of poisonous gases from some of the items being burnt. Thereafter the ash is to be removed from the property and thrown onto the local rubbish dump.

11. Then pray and ask the Father to position His angels, who, according to Hebrews 1:14 are ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation, around the property and the house and thank Him for their presence around your house.

One thing, though, remains a fact. Our Heavenly Father is not bound to any specific manner in which we do a thing. As I've already said, this is not an instruction, but only a guide-line. We have, on occasion, cleansed houses and/or properties by merely standing in the middle of the house and praying over the property and the house. Then we asked the Lord to position His angels around the property as well as diagonally across in the heavens above the house, to keep the blood of Jesus over the house and to seal every entrance with His blood so that the powers of darkness could no longer enter in. Then we have prayed and commanded the powers of darkness to vanish from every room in the house. The results were the same.

God is no respecter of persons. He has no favourites. He looks at each one of His children's hearts and He reacts accordingly. If He sees that it is truly the intention in His child's heart to call in His help, He WILL help that child. God will not sit in heaven, thinking: "No, My child is not doing this "right" in My eyes, the sequence which he is using is not acceptable, therefore I am not sending My angels to protect them or to banish the powers of darkness from that property and/or house." That is why I have absolute peace as to the Holy Spirit's leading in the different homes which I visit. Sometimes we anoint the house from back to front, as I've explained in detail above, but sometimes we just stand and pray in one place.

May the Holy Spirit teach you more about this in the unique ways He wants to use yourself.

9. THE CLEANSING OF FARMS (Back to top)

Farms and/or smallholdings can be cleansed for God in the same way as houses. At farms we usually do the following: As far as is practically possible, we go to every corner-post which we then anoint with oil to establish it in the spirit. Then we pray a prayer for the Lord to position His angels next to the boundary lines of the farm, from corner-post to corner-post and also diagonally across the heavens above the farm.

I have received the following wonderful testimonies about farms which were cleansed by the Lord:

In one case the tenant of the farm where we prayed, phoned me a few days later and told me that she could PHYSICALLY see a snow-white dome over the farm, from corner-post to corner-post over the farm. She could also see the angels flying around within the dome in the heavens above the farm.

In another case the owners phoned me and told me that they were driving on the main road which passed the farm we prayed on late one night. Her husband told her to look at the farm. Her words to me were: "Tiaan, it was the most Godly moment of my life!" Both she and her husband at the same moment saw at every corner-post where we had prayed a bright white light, but each of those lights had the colours of the rainbow. As far as I know, if one shines a white light through a prism, it divides into the seven colours of the rainbow. I have NO doubt in my mind that those were angels positioned there by God as we had requested because there are no lights on that farm as it is only used for planting purposes. God only wanted to show those people that He had heard our prayer over that farm.

We also receive testimonies of livestock becoming supernaturally fertile and increasing after those particular farms had been cleansed or record harvests that farmers started receiving on those farms, etc.

Instead of continually arguing, why don't you ask the Holy Spirit to lead you about this matter? Just maybe you may have your own personal testimony of things happening around you after having cleansed your own property. Just remember to give God the glory for that.

10. CONSIDER THIS VERY CAREFULLY (Back to top)

Friend, you are most welcome to laugh at me and shake your head over the things that I've written about in this book, but before summarily dismissing it as nonsense, first ask your wife and your children whether there isn't a painting, or a picture, or African mask, or Buddha- or other Eastern statue, or ninja sword or anything else which I referred to in Chapter 7 above, in your house, which has made them feel or is still making them feel "uncomfortable" or "frightened" when they walk past it or go into that room, especially after dark.

Also think back if the time when that illness which you, or your wife, or anyone of your children have been suffering from for so long, for which the doctors don't really have a medical explanation, doesn't perhaps coincide with the time when you bought a particular statue, picture, painting or something similar, or some other form of an idol. Also consider carefully if there isn't one specific room where you and your wife, or your children seem to be fighting more often than in any other place in the house. And, sir, if you realize that it is perhaps in your bedroom, as was the case with me personally, you must also realize that God's will is that our bedrooms should be places of love, peace and happiness, and not fights, arguments, spitefulness or anger. May there perhaps be something in your bedroom which is causing this? Then decide whether you are still going to laugh about it or whether you shouldn't rather swallow your laughter, take up your authority in Christ and cleanse and anoint your home in order to purify it for the service of God.

I repeat the cleansing and anointing of your home is no instruction, no tradition, no ritual, no law and no obligation. It depends on each person individually and in accordance with the walk that you are willing to walk with the Holy Spirit. You will soon find out, because of the things which the Spirit reveals to you in your relationship with Him, whether it might be necessary to do these seemingly "foolish" things, or not. But, if you are led to do so, please don't ignore or keep putting off the instruction just because you think you might look like an ape to your friends. That is exactly what satan wants you to think. This is why, ages ago, Paul penned all the words in 2 Corinthians 5:13, namely:

"For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us;..."

According to the Amplified Bible:

"For if we are beside ourselves [mad, as some say], it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit."

If I am perhaps "beside" myself by cleansing my own, or any other person's house, I do it for no other reason than to honour God and the purifying power of His Son's blood on the cross. I would much rather be "beside" myself for God's sake, than for the sake of people. I will not take the chance just because I am afraid of "what people will say" and, by not taking these steps, that I may give legal ground to any demon spirit to gain access to my house and to attack myself or my wife or children or anyone else in my house, as a result of my unwillingness to be "beside myself" for God.

It is because I personally am GOD-centred, CHRIST-centred, that I DESIRE, by reason of my LOVE for Him and the relationship which I have with Him, that I am so eager to be obedient to His WHOLE Word. I am eager to see Him smile at me. I am eager to see how satisfied He is because I want to obey Him and His Word completely, and I am eager to hear Him saying to me: "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Dear friend, we can and must take the Bible literally. The testimonies of people who have taken the Bible literally and also started doing these things, are more than you could ever imagine.

Just a final thought: "House cleaning" is not something which I do only once in my life, and then my house is forever clean. No, it becomes a LIFESTYLE of "house cleaning", because you will soon notice that satan makes sure that new items come into your home very quickly which will open the doors into the spiritual dimension again. You will scarcely have your house clean, when your granny comes to visit again and, because of her ignorance, she brings your children and yourself new gifts with all kinds of symbols on them. Or your children's friends come and visit and bring new gifts... or you buy new clothes bearing symbols which you did not know about... and before long your house is once again rotten with the devil's stuff!

That is why it is of the utmost importance that you learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and ASK Him to point out to you any new things which may have come into your house and which He does not want there, so that you can remove and destroy it.

And remember the WAY in which you relay this knowledge to your people is always with the love and patience of Jesus. NOT in an attacking, aggressive manner, as that will only cause division and strife and that is not God's way of doing things.

May you be very blessed by our Heavenly father for your willingness to obey His Word!

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All the italics, underlining and highlights of Bible texts and other sources quoted, are those of the author.

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All the glory, honor and worship from now until eternity is due only to God the Father, YAHWEH, my one and only true Daddy, to Jesus Christ, His only Son, YESHUA HA MASCHIACH and to the Holy Spirit, RUACH HA KODESH, who lives inside me and every CHILD of God! Hallelujah, I glorify and praise the Name of JESUS CHRIST!

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About the Author: (Back to top)

Tiaan Gildenhuys has been in full-time ministry as an evangelist across denominational borders throughout South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Malawi since 2003. He has published 12 books in English and 21 books in Afrikaans and approximately 60 DVD's with different messages from the Bible.

To view or purchase any of this author's other material, feel free to visit his official website: http://www.oicb.co.za and check out "Shop tiaan".

Should you like to correspond with this author, feel free to send an e-mail to: mailto:tg@oicb.co.za
