Harry Potter in the Bible

Colin Melbourne

© 03-08 Born-Again-Christian.info

Seven Deadly Warnings from God on the Dangers of Harry Potter Stories & the Occult

Are you aware that Harry Potter's favourite pursuits are emphatically condemned in the Holy Bible? All occult activities including Witchcraft, Divination, Sorcery, Fortune-telling, Tarot cards, and Astrology are forbidden. Read these Seven Warnings from God on the Dangers of Harry Potter Stories

Occult: Secret, hidden, supernatural, mysterious

The danger of occult practices is, by definition, hidden. It is a real and present danger deliberately concealed from participants. If people knew what it leads to they would not get involved, that is why Satan tries to hide its consequences. All forms of occultism are harmful. We know, because Almighty God warns us repeatedly to stay away from any occult involvement. Those who choose to ignore God's commands inevitably suffer because of their rebellion. Often, only realising they have been deceived when it is too late.

There's nothing new about the occult, the demonic spirits promoting the recent Harry Potter craze, are the same ones that Satan used to hoodwink your ancestors into sin, and death. He employs the same strategy on a different vehicle, but with the same result for the unwary.

It begins with charm and fascination; the victim is beguiled by mystery, seduced by charm, captivated, deceived, progressing to bondage, leading ultimately to death; physical and eternal spiritual death.

This is true of all forms of occultism ever since the Serpent originally deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden, through to the occult religions of Baal worship, manifested today in Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam for example. There are many more of course, but let us focus on what the Holy Bible specifically says about Harry Potter.

Satan's Role Model

The Harry Potter books are children's novels written by English author J.K. Rowling. They have titles such as, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. They have been selling in millions worldwide, and are popular with people of all ages. Children in particular become quickly fascinated, and re-read them numerous times. Naturally there are the inevitable lucrative spin-offs; Harry Potter films, toys, computer games, clothes, and confectionary, that have made multi-millionaires from the phenomenon.

Rowling's appealing hero is a ten-year-old English orphan whose parents were killed by a wizard. Young Harry is engrossed by the occult, and attends Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where his demonic adventures begin, and his skills in magic, sorcery and wizardry develop.

The Harry Potter stories differ from other children's novels such as the Wizard of Oz, Enid Blyton stories, and fairy tales, in that the main character is himself a wizard, indulging in sorcery. Readers are invited to identify with him. This is the key; the readers are seduced into the occult themselves. It begins as 'fun entertainment', but the results are anything but fun, as we shall see.

Branded and Damned

Incidentally, this is also a regular strategy; the occult introduction of something dangerous by means of humour or entertainment. Satan knows that if you are confronted with a clearly dangerous choice or dubious concept, you will think long and hard about it. So instead he masks it with comedy, and 'fun', and urges you to 'just do it'.

For example: Since the 1980's he's been gradually introducing the Mark of the Beast written of in Revelation. It will be a silicon micro-chip implanted under the skin on the hand or forehead of every person who is not genuinely born of God. It will identify the person in the AntiChrist's empire, and they will be permitted to buy and sell using it. The Holy Bible clearly states that all who receive the Beast's mark will be thrown into Hell.

To soften people up ready to accept such a shocking and eternally damning procedure, he's using entertainment, fun and humour. Have you noticed the repeated reference to hands and heads in relation to personal identification in cartoons and advertisements? Especially in regard to money, and banking. The very mention of the Mark of the Beast already sets people giggling. Their guard is down. Combine this trend with the craze for wearing computer technology, 'body art', body-piercing, and tattooing. Can you see where it's leading? From a socially accepted pinpricked tattoo, to an invisible, injected subcutaneous microchip for personal identification, is a small step.

The majority of people are completely unaware of what is really behind the process, and who's in charge. It's occult, just like the dangers of Harry Potter stories. Children are the primary target since they will form the next generation who will worship the AntiChrist. It'll certainly happen, because God's Word declares it will. The question is; are you and your children going to be numbered amongst the blessed, or amongst the damned?

Encouraging and allowing children to get into Harry Potter is simply preparing them to serve the AntiChrist. If you think that is a good idea, I suggest you read the Book of Revelation and see what their end will be.

All Creatures Great and Small (& Demonic)

My first encounter with the occult as a Christian came when the Lord sent me as a missionary to Asia in 1990 eighteen months after I was saved. I love the way the Lord trains His kids don't you? Religious people send their children to some 'Christian' Bible school, where they learn corkscrewed doctrines, and the traditions of men. God doesn't, He enrolls them in His Bible School, drops His kids into the deep-end, and encourages them to depend totally upon Him for everything. It's the very best way to learn. When God drops you in the deep-end you'll learn to deep-end upon Christ!

Jesus did that with His first disciples; He set the example, showed them what to do, gave them authority, then simply sent them to do it in His Name, 'Go and do this stuff'; no compromise, sink or swim. They swam!

Has He changed? Not one bit.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb. 13:8 Holy Bible NIV

Everything around you is changing by the day, but thank God, the LORD Jesus Christ is the same forever. You can count on Him, and He's counting on you to obey Him.

So He took this newly saved English farm vet who'd spent eight years at university studying Godless sciences; trained in objective clinical assessment of disease and its treatment, then dropped him smack in the middle of demon-worshipping animist Hill Tribes on the Burmese border.

'OK Col, you're ready to tackle this lot. If you need anything just ask me.'

'Right Lord. Ta!'

These Hill Tribe people didn't dabble in the occult, like 'West coast witches, week-end Wiccans, and pretend pagans'; their entire existence was steeped in it from birth to the grave. They had demonic procedures for everything. Baby's sick; sacrifice a chicken to the spirits. Building a new encampment; swing virgins over the ground to 'bless' it. A person dies; get the shaman stoned, bang drums, and burn lots of incense.

It all went completely over my head, as you can imagine. Then I spotted their rice crop. Ah farming, familiar ground, I understand that. They planted mountain rice and stuck flags on bamboo poles around the slope; I presumed to frighten birds away from stealing the grain. Incredulous, and wide eyed at my pitiful ignorance, they replied,

'No, no, to pacify the spirits so we get a good crop.'

'Err right.'

Everyone from newborn babes to grannies wore what I thought was jewellery and decorations. Stones with holes hung on a thong around their necks were popular, and strings encircling their wrists, sometimes coloured prettily. Then I learned that each of these was worn to protect them from evil spirits, and involved long demonic ceremonies with lots of chanting, incense and spooky 'blessings'. Usually officiated by the village shaman high on a mixture of homegrown drugs. You'll have nightmares if I tell you what they get up to, but mutilations, blood, and even human sacrifices are involved.

Just days earlier I'd been a vet in general practice in the north of England. Now I was in deep waters, so the Lord taught me quickly what to do with people in bondage to the occult, and how to set them free.

'Spiritual Warfare' or Christ's Victory?

Let me tell you; I'd lapped up 'Spiritual Warfare' conferences, been 'Wimberized' and Spirit-filled from the time I got saved, so I began passing on that kind of thing. But even as I spoke the Lord was 'tugging at my elbow'.

'Col, Col - The Gospel; give them the Gospel. Tell them about redemption, my Sacrifice, and the power in my Blood.'

Come on SHOUT you Saints! Oh how we need His Blood.

So I did, and immediately demons started manifesting themselves whenever I opened my mouth. Possessed people crashed into meetings or began their demonic antics whilst I was preaching the Gospel. I was right out of my depth, and just had to listen to the Lord carefully. Remember, I'm a Christian standing in front of a crowd of demon worshippers, God's honour is at stake.

I was a baby Christian, like the first lot sent out by Christ. He endorsed them, and Halleluia, He didn't desert me, He dealt with all of the demons. He sets the captives free, and destroys the devil's work today just as in Bible days. He'll back you too if you will follow Him wholeheartedly and proclaim His Message.

One of my interpreters was a local man in his 40's who grew up in the Hill Tribes, subsequently graduating from Fuller Seminary in America with a Theology degree. He was a full-time evangelist and pastor amongst the Hill Tribes. He was bewildered, and said to me after a day or two of these demons showing up, 'What's happening? I've never seen anything like it!' (• See end note)

Neither had I, but the Lord said to me, 'The same thing happened to me Col, just cast them out in my Name.'

Now that got the job done. It still does you know? The Gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Name above all names. Don't try to give me cock-eyed doctrines, or tell me stories of Satan's power. I've got what I need to defeat any evil thing and set captives free. Have you?

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Lk. 10:19

If you are Spirit-filled and following the Living God, strike that mantle down and you will discover like Elisha, that God never fails to keep His Word to those who believe.

Back to Harry Potter

Satan's role model for children today is a wizard learning to use sorcery and magic to control his life and situations around him. The stories lead readers to identify with a character captivated by the occult, and portray him as cool, successful, and powerful.

Readers assume it's harmless fun, but many of the techniques described are just the sort of tricks wizards, magicians, and shamans use in their occult practices.

What does God say about such things in His Word? Has He got an opinion on people like Harry? Does He approve or disapprove of what HP is doing?

God Detests Harry's Practices

Harry's passion is listed amongst the detestable practices explicitly forbidden by the LORD Almighty in Deuteronomy

Let no-one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist (wizard, KJV) or who consults the dead. De.18:10-11 Holy Bible NIV

I think that covers HP doesn't it?

Harry is Detestable to God

What does God say about those who do these things? The next verses (12-13) tell us clearly :

Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

Harry Potter and all who copy him are detestable to the LORD.

If this was all God says about the occult, that would be sufficient for any sensible person, but He gives continuous warnings throughout the Old Covenant, repeated in the New Covenant so that everyone is without excuse.

Witchcraft & Sorcery are Sinful

The Holy Spirit lists witchcraft (pharmakios or sorcery in the Greek) as one of the obvious acts of the sinful nature alongside idolatry, sexual immorality, drunkenness, orgies and the like; listen to God;

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:19-21

Nothing fuzzy about that is there? I love it, you know where you are with God. Men will mess you about, but God tells you the truth; straight out.

Banned from Heaven

If you indulge in witchcraft and sorcery you will not get to Heaven.

Jesus Himself said so through His angel to John in the final two chapters of the Bible; Remember, this is the LORD Jesus Christ speaking to you,

The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practise magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death. Rev. 21:8

He continues describing those who are excluded from Heaven;

Outside are the dogs, those who practise magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practises falsehood. Rev. 22:15

Christ lists those who practise magic, like Harry Potter, amongst the damned, along with murderers, and the sexually immoral. Hell is real, it's final, listen to a man who visited Hell.

You can see it is a serious matter to God, can't you?

'It's Only Pretend'

'Oh I'm not serious about it, I just pretend, for fun.'

You may not be serious, but Satan is. You are being deceived and sucked down a slippery slope. I know people who pretended they were demonised or possessed, for fun. Pretended to be hypnotised, as a lark. You guessed, they became demonised and possessed for real, their lives in ruins, marriages shattered, children abandoned, minds destroyed. Many suicides are a direct result of this kind of 'innocent playful' beginning.

Wizards Wasted: Mediums Maxed-Out

What about mediums, wizards, spiritists, astrologers and fortunetellers?

Under the Old Covenant God commands:

A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist (wizard KJV) among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads. Do not practise divination or sorcery. Lev. 20:27; 19:26b

I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists (wizards KJV) to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people. Lev. 20:6

Why? Because they lead souls away from God, away from the truth, to destruction. They incite people to sin in all sorts of ways. They are unholy, and God calls His people to be holy.

Get the Matches Ready

There are many more warnings against occult involvement in God's Word.

But the Scriptures you've just read should be more than sufficient to cause any sincere believer to get rid of all the occult things in their homes and lives. And tell their children why they will not allow them to read Harry Potter like sinner's kids do. Ignore these warnings and you will lose your children to Satan. Instead, set an example of sincere love for Christ, walk in the Holy Spirit, and they will see Christ in you and want what you've got.

Now, ask God to show you if you have any evil thing in your life or home that He wants you to repent of or destroy. Then do as He says, and you'll be blessed and victorious.

Many of those who believed now came and confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practised sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. ... In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. Acts 19:19-20

• He wasn't Spirit-filled, and in retrospect I'm sure the Lord had made sure it never happened to him because he just couldn't have dealt with it. He had Christ, he had Bible knowledge, but he didn't have the Holy Spirit power. His sponsors were denominational people who didn't understand Acts 1 and 2. Demons will take all the doctrine and religion you give them. They love it. But when the Holy Spirit comes, it's then they start screaming, 'Leave us alone!'.

Two girls get demonized by reading Harry Potter, then a Christian visits and drives the thing out. (Tract image © Chick Pubns. Used by permission)

Harry Potter E-Pistle Question

'Is it alright to read Harry Potter and play Dungeons and Dragons just for fun?'

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