Halloween - Samhain

Halloween is the witches' new year, originated among the ancient Druid priests from Britain (Celts) and France. It commemorated the end of summer and the beginning of the Celtic year. The celebration was considered the highest festival of the year called Samhain (sah-ween).

The Druids not only believed that the dead came back to mingle among the living on this night, but that demons, witches and hobgoblins were also released in droves to harass and oppress the living. The Celts also believed that the sinful souls of those who had died during the year had been transferred to the bodies of animals. Through gifts and sacrifices their sins were atoned for and their souls were set free. Samon judged the souls and decreed whether they would be a human or an animal.

Bonfires, animal and human sacrifices and ritualistic offerings to the dead were common during this Feast of Samhain. It was believed that human blood opened up the gates of the dead and released the spirits for the night. To protect themselves, many Druids would dress up as devils, witches and ghouls and would even involve themselves in demonic activities to ward off an attack.

In a misguided evangelistic move designed to demonstrate that only the power of Jesus Christ could protect men and women from the fiery darts of Satan, the early RCC moved a festive celebration of their own called "All Saints Day" from the month of May to November 1st. They renamed it "All Hallows' Eve", from which we get the name Halloween. The evening before November 1 (October 31) was set aside as a HOLY EVENING in remembrance of those who had suffered martyrdom for their belief and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, this Holy Evening has become anything but holy. There has been little or no effort on the part of the "church" (us) to renew the original purpose for which this day was intended. On the contrary, many churches and Christians today are compromising their faith on Halloween just so their children don't feel left out of the ghoulish festivities. I believe we have allowed things in our homes and churches that are an abomination to God.

TRICK OR TREAT - This modern custom of going door to door begging for candy while masked and dressed in costumes goes back to the pagan New Year's Feast. It was thought as long as the living set out bowls of fruit and other treats for the demons, witches and ghosts to partake of, then they might leave that home untouched. When your child goes door to door yelling "trick or treat" he is re-enacting that ancient superstition.

JACK-O-LANTERN - in America it's a pumpkin, but in Europe it was usually a turnip that had the face of a demonic spirit (Teraphim) carved in it. Pumpkins came from America not Europe. The smiling face was symbolic of the mocking spirit that laughed at the fate of its victims. Candle-lit Jack-O-Lantern or skull's heads also symbolized that the occupants of that house were sympathetic to the evil spirits and would hope to receive mercy and favor. It is a form of a pagan prayer engine.

Galatians 5:18 "But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law."

Heb 8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." We are not to be the people of the devil.

Definition: To me the definition of Halloween is evil wickedness evalgelism-trolling for children.Unlike Christmas, which I do not endorse, but tolerate, Halloween is simply evil. I recommend that you do not participate and that you do not teach your children to participate.

Deuteronomy 18: 10--13 explicitly forbids Christians to have anything to do with witchcraft, spiritism or the demonic.

1 Thesalonians 5:22 tells us to abstain from all appearance of evil.

Deu 18:9-14 KJV 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.
{10} There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
{11} Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
{12} 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.
{13} Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
{14} For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

Recommendation: I suggest that you pray that the Lord will bind, rebuke, and cast down the power of witchcraft in our country and over yourlocal County. Pray for the protection of children all over the world during those hours of evil and mischief. Ask the Lord of Hosts to forgive us and re-channel this energy to feeding the starving children of the world.