Interesting Questions-135
On psychics, seers, fortunetellers and
astrologers
Letter to the Editor:
PASUGO, October 2001, p.2
I RECEIVED AN e-mail saying that the
recent terrorist bombings in the United States were foretold by the
French astrologer, Nostradamus. I was so intrigued
that I rented the video- tape, The Man Who Saw Tomorrow,
which featured Nostradamus' different predictions. According to the
videotape, Nostradamus had many other predictions that came true.
My questions are, what does the Bible say about
people who predict the future, specifically seers, psychics,
fortune-tellers, and astrologers like Nostradamus? Can they really
tell the future? Should we believe them? And what if their
predictions come true?
Danny Spahr
Santa Monica, California, USA
Editor's reply:
The Bible mentions of
psychics, fortune-tellers, and astrologers; however, it prohibits
the practice of such people. God Himself said: witchcraft…. Do not
rely on mediums and psychics, for you will be defiled by them. I,
the LORD, AM YOUR God.” (Lev. 19:26, 31, New Lining Translation)
Some people might have had experiences
wherein the prediction of the psychic they consulted or sought for
advice came true. So, some make the mistake of believing in such
people, and even putting their trust in them. Yet, even if the
predictions of seers, psychics, fortune-tellers, and astrologers
would come true, we should not be swayed into believing in them. The
Bible gives this warning:
“If a prophet, or one who foretells by
dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or
wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes
place, and he says, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (gods you have not
known)’ and let us worship them’, you must not listen to the words
of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find
out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your
soul.” (Dt. 13:1-3, New International Version)
We should not allow ourselves to be
deceived by the predictions of fortune-tellers and astrologers.
Should they encourage us to serve other gods, the Bible explicitly
says, “you must not listen to the words of that prophet” even “if
the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place.” We should
remember that the devil himself can perform miraculous acts that can
deceive people (II Thess. 2:9-10).
The Bible tells the catastrophic end of
astrologers and their kind:
“…Let your astrologers come forward and
save you—those people who study the stars, who map out the zone of
the heavens and tell you from month to month what is going to happen
to you. They will be like bits of straw, and a fire will burn them
up! They will not even be able to save themselves--.” (Is. 47:13-14,
Today’s English Version).
So, instead of believing in these
people, we should turn to God for guidance and answers to life’s
questions. God alone truly knows what the future holds:
“…I am God, and there is none else like
me. Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it
happens.” (Is. 46:9-10, NLT)
It is God who knows what is best for us;
instructions, and trust in Him with all our hearts (Prov. 3:1, 5-6).
___________________
Bible Study
Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free
to visit the
Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or
an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question
you have in mind.