Halloween is a time for celebrating all things scary, morbid and even dangerous. It’s a short period where people call on all things spiritistic and demonic and it’s all promoted as harmless fun. But is it? The demons that dwell in the spirit realm would most certainly have you believe that. Have you ever considered the hidden dangers of Halloween and how they can affect you personally?
Halloween’s Origins
The origin of Halloween can be traced to an “ancient pagan festival celebrated by Celtic people over 2,000 years ago,” states The World Book Encyclopedia. “The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time. During Samhain, the living could visit with the dead.” The festival marked the start of the dark winter season celebrated around November 1.
On this date in the A.D. 700’s to 800’s, the Christian church established a new holiday, All Saints’ Day. All Saints’ Day was also called All Hallows’ (Hallow means saint, or one who is holy). The evening before All Hallows’ was known as All Hallows’ Eve, or as it came to be abbreviated, All Hallow e’en. This name was eventually shortened to Halloween.
Why The Pagan Origins of Halloween Matter
Simply put, the ancient origins and traditions of Halloween conflict with Bible teachings. Although viewed as harmless fun, the practices associated with it are based on false beliefs about the dead and invisible spirits, or demons. Notice some of the following verses found in the Bible that show how God views the beliefs associated with Halloween:
- “There must never be anyone among you who . . . consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead.”—Deuteronomy 18:10-12 Meaning: God does not approve of efforts to contact the dead or even of giving the appearance of trying to have contact with those who have died.
- “The dead know nothing at all.”—Ecclesiastes 9:5 Meaning: Because the dead are unconscious, they cannot contact the living.
- “[Do not] be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too.”—1 Corinthians 10:20, 21 Meaning: Those who want God’s favor must avoid any connection with demons.
- “Stand firm against the crafty acts of the Devil; because we have a struggle . . . against the wicked spirit forces.”—Ephesians 6:11, 12 Meaning: Christians should oppose wicked spirit forces, not pretend to celebrate with them.
What Are The Hidden Dangers Of Halloween
Since the origins and practices of Halloween are in direct conflict with Bible teachings, there must be a mastermind behind these ideas. It’s none other than Satan the Devil, who also became the ruler of the demons. With the help of these demons, Satan “is misleading the entire inhabited earth.” (Revelation 12:9; 1 John 5:19) Satan has deceived many people by teaching that the dead become spirits that can communicate with them. Demons often deceive people by imitating the voice of dead loved ones. They mislead others through spirit mediums, fortune-tellers, and practicers of divination and astrology. All of these practices are part of the Halloween celebrations.
What Can You Do
Wicked spirits are dangerous, but we need not live in fear of them if we oppose the Devil and draw close to God by doing His will. (Read James 4:7, 8) When we study God’s Word and do as it says, we oppose the Devil. Jehovah is more powerful than the demons. His faithful angels can strengthen us in time of need. (Read Psalm 34:7) May we avoid every kind of spiritism and always apply the counsel of God’s Word. (1 Peter 5:6, 7; 2 Peter 2:9) Only then can we be sure of victory in our fight against the wicked spirit creatures and their crafty machinations.
This is a brief discussion on the topic of Halloween and its many occult influences that most people are unaware of. For more visit JW.ORG.
