Charlatans, Exorcists and Magicians in the Ancient World

Transcript

you know this is really a very interesting uh topic for really a very interesting uh topic for me anyways and kind of um you know me anyways and kind of um you know recently i've been doing some deep dives recently i've been doing some deep dives on the ancient world and what it meant on the ancient world and what it meant to live in the ancient world um the to live in the ancient world um the thought process of people living in the thought process of people living in the ancient world that type of thing and so ancient world that type of thing and so you know when we talk about charlatans you know when we talk about charlatans exorcists and magicians that isn't exorcists and magicians that isn't something that really kind of pops into something that really kind of pops into or it didn't didn't pop into my mind as or it didn't didn't pop into my mind as something that was something that was very important in the ancient world but very important in the ancient world but as uh you know as i did a little as uh you know as i did a little research here you know come to find out research here you know come to find out that in fact it was very important and that in fact it was very important and as a lot of things in the ancient world as a lot of things in the ancient world it is going to affect uh god's people it is going to affect uh god's people first the jews and then um the in the in first the jews and then um the in the in the early the early church they were the early the early church they were being bombarded by a lot of this stuff being bombarded by a lot of this stuff and we're going to be looking uh at a and we're going to be looking uh at a few few uh instances particularly in the new uh instances particularly in the new testament in acts where magic testament in acts where magic and the holy spirit kind of butt heads and the holy spirit kind of butt heads you know who was going to win this great you know who was going to win this great battle for the hearts and minds of of battle for the hearts and minds of of the ancient romans and the ancient the ancient romans and the ancient greeks and so that's that's where that's greeks and so that's that's where that's where our story will lead where our story will lead but before we kind of start our story but before we kind of start our story just kind of going to give um just kind of going to give um you know just a little background you know just a little background into magic um let me just let me just into magic um let me just let me just say this about any questions uh i'm say this about any questions uh i'm gonna try to get through all of my um gonna try to get through all of my um material material but if you do have a question just jump but if you do have a question just jump right in and ask okay i don't have any right in and ask okay i don't have any like set time for questions questions like set time for questions questions are kind of part of the learning process are kind of part of the learning process and so if you have a question about and so if you have a question about something that i i've said something on something that i i've said something on the screen please by all means the screen please by all means um um you know just ask away and i'll be happy you know just ask away and i'll be happy to uh answer it in the best way i can so to uh answer it in the best way i can so let's begin let's begin magic magic was an everyday thing in the ancient was an everyday thing in the ancient world and so when we and i'm on thinking world and so when we and i'm on thinking when we think about magic you know we when we think about magic you know we think about uh pulling the rabbit out of think about uh pulling the rabbit out of the hat right maybe some of the the hat right maybe some of the magicians that you know do it was a magicians that you know do it was a criss angel or david copperfield some of criss angel or david copperfield some of these guys that through illusion these guys that through illusion uh create uh create uh a you know elaborate scenes of of uh a you know elaborate scenes of of magic doing things that seem to magic doing things that seem to contradict reality and the laws of contradict reality and the laws of physics and stuff like that and so physics and stuff like that and so uh uh that really wasn't part of magic that really wasn't part of magic when we're talking about the ancient when we're talking about the ancient world world magic could it certainly incorporated magic could it certainly incorporated the the spiritual realm that really was the the spiritual realm that really was um um why magic was around and it really why magic was around and it really started at the very beginnings of human started at the very beginnings of human civilization there there have been a lot civilization there there have been a lot of different findings as far as of different findings as far as religious rituals spells incantations religious rituals spells incantations amulets all that kind of stuff we'll get amulets all that kind of stuff we'll get into that in a little bit but magic into that in a little bit but magic could also could also it does go hand in hand in the ancient it does go hand in hand in the ancient world brothers and sisters with um world brothers and sisters with um knowledge you know knowledge of how knowledge you know knowledge of how things work how to manipulate the things work how to manipulate the natural world and so natural world and so when you were calling somebody a when you were calling somebody a magician yes they did have kind of magician yes they did have kind of secret knowledge of the spiritual realm secret knowledge of the spiritual realm but a lot of times they were highly but a lot of times they were highly educated people educated people they could they certainly could read and they could they certainly could read and write and so they had access write and so they had access to a wealth to a wealth of information that had been written of information that had been written down and we'll get into that a little down and we'll get into that a little bit more so i don't want you to think is bit more so i don't want you to think is like a magician was just kind of like a like a magician was just kind of like a cartoon character they were very cartoon character they were very important in the ancient world important in the ancient world and the ancients believed and that's the and the ancients believed and that's the key they believed key they believed that magic was real that magic was real and that certain people whom they called and that certain people whom they called magicians magicians had power had power over the spiritual realm and could over the spiritual realm and could actually help you actually help you or hurt you or hurt you and so you know a lot of times magic was and so you know a lot of times magic was used primarily for protection used primarily for protection for health for health if you wanted to get your enemy you know if you wanted to get your enemy you know someone had done something wrong to you someone had done something wrong to you well you know you there would there well you know you there would there would be a spell for that you'd have to would be a spell for that you'd have to you'd have to have the right magic spell you'd have to have the right magic spell we'll dive deep into that a little bit we'll dive deep into that a little bit more if you wanted someone to fall in more if you wanted someone to fall in love with you oh great yes we had a we love with you oh great yes we had a we have some magic for that have some magic for that and then just and then just in general you know magic magical charms in general you know magic magical charms and magical spells and and magical spells and incantations saying the right words and incantations saying the right words and that's going to come up over and over as that's going to come up over and over as we kind of look at this saying the right we kind of look at this saying the right words words the right way they wanted the gods to support them and whatever they did but they also wanted whatever they did but they also wanted to keep the evil spirits away you know to keep the evil spirits away you know these demons that were everywhere and these demons that were everywhere and they literally believed that they were they literally believed that they were being bombarded constantly by evil being bombarded constantly by evil spirits like by evil spirits like by evil demonic supernatural powers that wanted demonic supernatural powers that wanted to hurt them in some way to hurt them in some way and the only way to prevent this was and the only way to prevent this was magic magic i have to say the right spells i have to i have to say the right spells i have to do the right ritual in order for me to do the right ritual in order for me to be protected from my home to be be protected from my home to be protected from evil okay protected from evil okay so rich can i jump in with a question so rich can i jump in with a question yes steve so when you say you don't want yes steve so when you say you don't want us to think of this as you know the us to think of this as you know the david copperfield uh magician who's david copperfield uh magician who's performing simply illusions yep are you performing simply illusions yep are you suggesting that the magicians in the suggesting that the magicians in the ancient world were actually uh ancient world were actually uh performing miracles or was it uh performing miracles or was it uh something different than that i mean it something different than that i mean it seems that's hard for me to think seems that's hard for me to think was true was true okay so when i when i say david okay so when i when i say david copperfield you know copperfield you know um i'm talking about kind of a slide of um i'm talking about kind of a slide of hand that type of thing okay um hand that type of thing okay um this was certainly uh these magicians this was certainly uh these magicians certainly had you know religious power certainly had you know religious power and the people believed that they could and the people believed that they could do these things now could they where do these things now could they where they actually performing miracles they actually performing miracles no they weren't and we'll we'll get to no they weren't and we'll we'll get to that but they had the ability that but they had the ability because of their knowledge to present because of their knowledge to present themselves as having special powers themselves as having special powers so so today we might look at a magician so so today we might look at a magician for entertainment purposes they were for entertainment purposes they were looking at a magician for something looking at a magician for something completely different absolutely without completely different absolutely without question yeah okay thanks yeah question yeah okay thanks yeah absolutely good question thank you steve absolutely good question thank you steve um so as you know as would be in the um so as you know as would be in the normal case you know ancient jews normal case you know ancient jews wouldn't you know they encountered magic wouldn't you know they encountered magic you know particularly from egypt and you know particularly from egypt and babylon and those are going to be kind babylon and those are going to be kind of the two places of the two places that we're going to look at briefly that we're going to look at briefly we're also going to look at rome as well we're also going to look at rome as well now does the law address magic in the now does the law address magic in the occult well yes of course it does occult well yes of course it does and it's negative and it's negative you weren't uh you know you weren't you weren't uh you know you weren't supposed to have anything to do with supposed to have anything to do with saucers saucers necromancers necromancers uh witches uh witches all of that stuff all of that stuff um was prohibited um was prohibited uh in under the law and there's there's uh in under the law and there's there's a few i put some you know three um three a few i put some you know three um three scriptures up there from exodus scriptures up there from exodus deuteronomy and leviticus and they all deuteronomy and leviticus and they all basically say the same thing but let's basically say the same thing but let's just take a look at leviticus 19 just take a look at leviticus 19 um quickly here yeah uh verse 26 you shall not eat anything with the blood neither shall anything with the blood neither shall you use enchantments nor observed times you use enchantments nor observed times you shall not round the corners of your you shall not round the corners of your heads neither shall you mar the corners heads neither shall you mar the corners of your beard so this was a prohibition of your beard so this was a prohibition against the enchanted enchantments and against the enchanted enchantments and observing times in both of those things observing times in both of those things um went hand in hand as we're going to um went hand in hand as we're going to see see you know a lot of you know a lot of a lot of the upper class the aristocracy a lot of the upper class the aristocracy in egypt and in babylon would have their in egypt and in babylon would have their own books of magic own books of magic the saying the right words in order to the saying the right words in order to um um to protect to to protect yourself now um to protect to to protect yourself now um you know the jews the jews you know the jews the jews even though even though there was a prohibition there was a prohibition against against practicing magic practicing the occult practicing magic practicing the occult that certainly didn't stop the ancient that certainly didn't stop the ancient jews from continuing to practice magic jews from continuing to practice magic just like the prohibition against idols just like the prohibition against idols and idolatry didn't stop a lot of the and idolatry didn't stop a lot of the ancient jews either and so king manassee ancient jews either and so king manassee is kind of the you know the big leader is kind of the you know the big leader that kind of sticks out when we talk that kind of sticks out when we talk about idolatry and wickedness but um about idolatry and wickedness but um he's mentioned specifically in second he's mentioned specifically in second kings the 21st chapter as having um kings the 21st chapter as having um embraced embraced a lot of this stuff having to do with a lot of this stuff having to do with magic magic um um you know beginning in uh verse two but you know beginning in uh verse two but verse six uh well verse five and he verse six uh well verse five and he built altars for all the hosts of heaven built altars for all the hosts of heaven and the two courts of the house of the and the two courts of the house of the lord so he's got altars everywhere to lord so he's got altars everywhere to all kinds of different gods in the all kinds of different gods in the temple uh of god temple uh of god that would be very um that would be very um you know different gentile groups would you know different gentile groups would look at that as completely normal like look at that as completely normal like that's normal like you've got a god but that's normal like you've got a god but it's perfectly fine in the ancient world it's perfectly fine in the ancient world to also worship other gods outside of to also worship other gods outside of your your region and this happened all your your region and this happened all the time the time but here verse six and he made his son but here verse six and he made his son pass through the fire and observed times pass through the fire and observed times and used enchantments and dealt with and used enchantments and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards he wrought familiar spirits and wizards he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the lord much wickedness in the sight of the lord to provoke him to anger and so you know to provoke him to anger and so you know he's dealing with different enchantments he's dealing with different enchantments and we'll we'll look at some of that and we'll we'll look at some of that that stuff what does that mean like an that stuff what does that mean like an enchantment uh familiar spirits wizards enchantment uh familiar spirits wizards people and that that term wizards there people and that that term wizards there um um also can be can be translated as a also can be can be translated as a magician so this person magician so this person uh uh you know the people thought king you know the people thought king manasseh thought he had some kind of manasseh thought he had some kind of secret knowledge um and he had the secret knowledge um and he had the ability to protect the king by using ability to protect the king by using these words by having this secret these words by having this secret knowledge knowledge okay okay now this picture right here is a it's now this picture right here is a it's from egypt and it is a wand from egypt and it is a wand so the egyptians would have uh you know so the egyptians would have uh you know wands like this kind of looks like a um wands like this kind of looks like a um what is that thing a big boomerang yeah what is that thing a big boomerang yeah boomerang and so um you know there's boomerang and so um you know there's there's some writing on there having to there's some writing on there having to do with um you know very powerful gods do with um you know very powerful gods and so this wand would be carried around and so this wand would be carried around in order for um in order for um you know this wand to protect people and you know this wand to protect people and so the egyptian thinking was hey i have so the egyptian thinking was hey i have this wand this wand you know it looks like a piece of ivory you know it looks like a piece of ivory or something like that and then drawn on or something like that and then drawn on or carved on this piece would be or carved on this piece would be different types of gods and so they felt different types of gods and so they felt if you draw the god on here the power of if you draw the god on here the power of that god is going to be transferred that god is going to be transferred to that wand and now this wand has this to that wand and now this wand has this power to protect you power to protect you but also but also uh to put curses on people right that uh to put curses on people right that was a big thing particularly in the was a big thing particularly in the roman world roman world you know people were always scared of you know people were always scared of someone putting a curse on them and then someone putting a curse on them and then what do you do when you have a curse put what do you do when you have a curse put on them it's bad news very bad news on them it's bad news very bad news okay okay so egyptian magic we know that uh so egyptian magic we know that uh ancient jews the hebrews are going to ancient jews the hebrews are going to come in contact with uh come in contact with uh the egyptians in fact they're going to the egyptians in fact they're going to live down there for 200 years or so live down there for 200 years or so they're going to be slaves they're going they're going to be slaves they're going to inhabit to inhabit uh lower egypt and they're going to you uh lower egypt and they're going to you know they're going to come in contact know they're going to come in contact with this culture which was heavy a with this culture which was heavy a heavy magical culture i can't stress heavy magical culture i can't stress that enough like the egyptians were big that enough like the egyptians were big into ancient magic into ancient magic and so they actually had a name for the and so they actually had a name for the magical force that flowed through magical force that flowed through everything and it was called the hika everything and it was called the hika and it was a very powerful and it was a very powerful force and so both humans and gods force and so both humans and gods could pred possess this power could pred possess this power god's obviously had more of it than god's obviously had more of it than humans but humans but it could only be used in certain ways by it could only be used in certain ways by certain people and so this is where certain people and so this is where slowly this idea particularly in egypt slowly this idea particularly in egypt that there is a selected group of people that there is a selected group of people who were the priests they're going to who were the priests they're going to become the priests that had this secret become the priests that had this secret knowledge that knew the incantations knowledge that knew the incantations the special words that would bring about the special words that would bring about a certain end or um you know would a certain end or um you know would protect the pharaoh would protect egypt protect the pharaoh would protect egypt and so there was a certain type of and so there was a certain type of priest that had these uh these secret priest that had these uh these secret words and they were called lecter words and they were called lecter priests um and they they had access to a priests um and they they had access to a lot of the ancient books lot of the ancient books that contained a lot of these powerful that contained a lot of these powerful chants and now remember the thing you chants and now remember the thing you hear brothers and sisters is you know hear brothers and sisters is you know just the just the everyday run-of-the-mill everyday run-of-the-mill egyptian egyptian you know you know we'll get to that a little bit in a we'll get to that a little bit in a second but these guys had the real second but these guys had the real special sauce special sauce right they had the real powerful magic right they had the real powerful magic the real powerful chance that could the real powerful chance that could really do damage in the spirit world and really do damage in the spirit world and also protect you also protect you in the um in the natural world that we in the um in the natural world that we live in and so slowly but surely this live in and so slowly but surely this this group of priests that just this group of priests that just specialized in magic specialized in magic um um they they became known as they they became known as uh magicians right and they took over uh magicians right and they took over this role and we know from scripture this role and we know from scripture that magicians are mentioned in egypt a that magicians are mentioned in egypt a few times and we'll we'll look at that few times and we'll we'll look at that this picture right here is actually that this picture right here is actually that like a pillow like a pillow a headrest of a bed a headrest of a bed you would put your head on there looks you would put your head on there looks extremely comfortable extremely comfortable and um and um and the this had chance on it as well so and the this had chance on it as well so it had it had magical incantations that were written magical incantations that were written down on it uh to protect down on it uh to protect the person as they slept because you the person as they slept because you know as you're sleeping know as you're sleeping this is a perfect time for demons or this is a perfect time for demons or evil spirits to come evil spirits to come and to do damage to your body you know and to do damage to your body you know the ancient egyptians and others in the the ancient egyptians and others in the ancient world they were really very ancient world they were really very afraid of getting sick afraid of getting sick you know we get sick now uh you know you know we get sick now uh you know think of it like covered times ten think of it like covered times ten right like they were they were scared of right like they were they were scared of like you know legitimate uh diseases like you know legitimate uh diseases that they that they could get they that they that they could get they certainly didn't attribute that to germs certainly didn't attribute that to germs or viruses or anything else these were or viruses or anything else these were evil spirits well how do you protect evil spirits well how do you protect yourself from evil spirits that you yourself from evil spirits that you can't see can't see you got to say the words you got to say the words the magic words the magic words and this is uh you know and this is uh you know really just comes out out of egypt and really just comes out out of egypt and it was prevalent in egyptian society um as far as kind of the regular run of the as far as kind of the regular run of the mill guys in egypt families would have mill guys in egypt families would have their own written spells in their homes their own written spells in their homes they would have like a book or scrolls they would have like a book or scrolls or something like that written on or something like that written on papyrus papyrus um and they would have their own kind of um and they would have their own kind of family spells that would protect their family spells that would protect their home protect the people that were in home protect the people that were in there um they would they were also you there um they would they were also you know healing spells as well that would know healing spells as well that would be written down on paper be written down on paper and then um and then um it would be put on the body of the sick it would be put on the body of the sick person and so the thinking was the person and so the thinking was the reasoning was hey you just put these reasoning was hey you just put these magic words magic words on a piece of paper on papyrus it's a on a piece of paper on papyrus it's a healing spell the power of those words healing spell the power of those words uh would heal the sick person once they uh would heal the sick person once they put it on there and so listen the fact put it on there and so listen the fact of the matter is brothers and sisters of the matter is brothers and sisters you know in a situation like that the you know in a situation like that the person doing it right the magician or person doing it right the magician or the doctor doctor doctors the doctor doctor doctors also use magic hand in hand the also use magic hand in hand the egyptians did believe in you know in um egyptians did believe in you know in um you know doctors they know that they you know doctors they know that they could do certain things as far as the could do certain things as far as the body but you couldn't just kind of deal body but you couldn't just kind of deal with the body you had to deal with other with the body you had to deal with other issues as well and that's where magic issues as well and that's where magic came in but anyways um came in but anyways um you know the doctor would put that this you know the doctor would put that this on on the body and the person would uh on on the body and the person would uh either get better or get worse it was a either get better or get worse it was a 50 50 shot 50 50 shot right okay right okay not bad not bad um they would um they would there is a um there is a um or like there's a bit of papyrus that or like there's a bit of papyrus that talks about a uh an egyptian doctor talks about a uh an egyptian doctor uh writing the name of a god on the area uh writing the name of a god on the area of the body that was um sick or hurt or of the body that was um sick or hurt or whatever whatever and then the the patient would lick it and then the the patient would lick it off off and so once you licked it off the body and so once you licked it off the body part that was injured part that was injured the healing power of the words would go the healing power of the words would go into your body and then heal you so this into your body and then heal you so this is is this is some this is some hardcore stuff you know we kind of kind hardcore stuff you know we kind of kind of laugh of it laugh about it right now of laugh of it laugh about it right now but it was you know this but it was you know this it was important to have people that it was important to have people that knew the magic words knew the magic words that knew how to say these chants to say that knew how to say these chants to say these spells these spells and so along with that the egyptians and so along with that the egyptians would wear what's called amulets and it would wear what's called amulets and it wasn't just the egyptians either you wasn't just the egyptians either you know the babylonians the mesopotamians know the babylonians the mesopotamians hittites greeks romans they all are hittites greeks romans they all are going to wear these amulets and they going to wear these amulets and they were warned for protection for long life were warned for protection for long life for wealth that type of thing for wealth that type of thing um um but in order for the amulet to work you but in order for the amulet to work you couldn't just kind of get an amulet and couldn't just kind of get an amulet and then wear it as a necklace or around then wear it as a necklace or around your wrist or something like that before your wrist or something like that before the amulet got power or before it was the amulet got power or before it was kind of uh it became active kind of uh it became active in protecting you and giving you you in protecting you and giving you you know wealth and long life know wealth and long life you had to speak the right words you had to speak the right words and so there is this connection brothers and so there is this connection brothers and sisters between the written word and sisters between the written word right writing it down and then speaking right writing it down and then speaking as well and uh you know it's interesting as well and uh you know it's interesting you know one of the questions is you you know one of the questions is you know what you know as know what you know as as civilizations kind of uh you know as civilizations kind of uh you know became more and more advanced became more and more advanced um um you know you see kind of the you know you see kind of the stratification of society and one of stratification of society and one of these groups of people these groups of people is the priest you know the religious is the priest you know the religious cast and you wonder if a lot of this cast and you wonder if a lot of this thinking thinking um um you know helped kind of push along this you know helped kind of push along this idea of organized organized religion as idea of organized organized religion as we know it in some of the these ancient we know it in some of the these ancient civilizations so hold on i got a little civilizations so hold on i got a little chat here chat here um um okay yeah it's god bless you that's a okay yeah it's god bless you that's a good that's a good one jason yeah you good that's a good one jason yeah you know people say god bless you to war you know people say god bless you to war you know like know like and this comes from the middle uh the and this comes from the middle uh the middle ages right black cats right being middle ages right black cats right being uh bad bad news that's not true by the uh bad bad news that's not true by the way black cats agree um so yes we have a way black cats agree um so yes we have a lot of that kind of stuff as well um lot of that kind of stuff as well um so amulets will be wearing there's some so amulets will be wearing there's some um um there's some examples right here of there's some examples right here of different different amulets that would different different amulets that would be worn by the egyptians be worn by the egyptians but here's the thing ancient jews are but here's the thing ancient jews are going to wear them as well and there's a going to wear them as well and there's a couple instances here um let's well couple instances here um let's well let's uh let's see is this let's uh let's see is this my hand let's see the next one all right yeah we'll we'll get to that in a second but in the isaiah the third in a second but in the isaiah the third chapter in the 18th verse chapter in the 18th verse um um let me get that real quick here in the let me get that real quick here in the 18th verse 18th verse yeah yeah in that day this is isaiah is in that day this is isaiah is prophesying about the destruction of prophesying about the destruction of jerusalem and that day the lord will jerusalem and that day the lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet in the in ornaments about their feet in the in their calls their calls in their round tires like the moon the in their round tires like the moon the chains the bracelets chains the bracelets the mufflers the bonnets the ornaments the mufflers the bonnets the ornaments of the legs the headband the tape uh the of the legs the headband the tape uh the tablets and the earrings the rings and tablets and the earrings the rings and knows you so on and so forth and so um knows you so on and so forth and so um part of the things that they were part of the things that they were wearing here was these amulets they wearing here was these amulets they would wear them around for good luck would wear them around for good luck really right really right you know the ancients really didn't have you know the ancients really didn't have the an idea of luck you know either the the an idea of luck you know either the gods helped you or they didn't so but gods helped you or they didn't so but these amulets if they had the right these amulets if they had the right words associated with them words associated with them that you you could you could be that you you could you could be protected for sure and isaiah uh sorry protected for sure and isaiah uh sorry ezekiel 13. uh in verse um okay let's hold off on ezekiel 13 because i i got it ezekiel 13 because i i got it there's a certain translation that i there's a certain translation that i want to use here and i already have it want to use here and i already have it on another slide so on another slide so um get rid of that all right so how do we know about all right so how do we know about egyptian magic am i just you know making egyptian magic am i just you know making this stuff up that would be incredible this stuff up that would be incredible but i'm not uh so we have this three but i'm not uh so we have this three different texts different texts among other things that we have from the ancient egyptians the book of the dead the pyramid texts the book of the dead the pyramid texts in the coffin text i'm gonna we'll take in the coffin text i'm gonna we'll take a look at a couple of these just kind of a look at a couple of these just kind of give you a flavor of what we're dealing give you a flavor of what we're dealing with with um um but just kind of keep that on the back but just kind of keep that on the back burner for now burner for now you do need to know however that there you do need to know however that there is going to be massive overlap with is going to be massive overlap with other civilizations and other peoples in other civilizations and other peoples in the ancient world when it comes to magic the ancient world when it comes to magic and exorcists and stuff like that you and exorcists and stuff like that you know having the ability to manipulate know having the ability to manipulate the spirit world the spirit world um mesopotamia right where babylon is um mesopotamia right where babylon is where assyria is nineveh or all of those where assyria is nineveh or all of those cities um they had magicians as well we cities um they had magicians as well we we're told that and we'll we'll take a we're told that and we'll we'll take a look at a couple of those daniel right look at a couple of those daniel right daniel uh is going to be dealing with daniel uh is going to be dealing with magicians in nebuchadnezzar's court magicians in nebuchadnezzar's court um um written spells for healing and written spells for healing and protection are taken out of mesopotamia protection are taken out of mesopotamia they've found different types of little they've found different types of little spells that are written on clay tablets spells that are written on clay tablets and one right here on uh on the right and one right here on uh on the right hand side they have that's about two hand side they have that's about two inches long and what they would do is inches long and what they would do is they would write down a spell for they would write down a spell for healing or protection and you would healing or protection and you would carry that on your person or you would carry that on your person or you would it would be put on a sick individual or it would be put on a sick individual or it would would be kind of um you know if it would would be kind of um you know if it was about protection for a house it'd it was about protection for a house it'd be written on clay and then kind of put be written on clay and then kind of put up on maybe a a post a post inside the up on maybe a a post a post inside the home um home um and so and so most of the world at that time the most of the world at that time the ancient world particularly in the near ancient world particularly in the near east the ancient near east uh they're east the ancient near east uh they're going to be very much like the egyptians going to be very much like the egyptians i think the egyptians and the and the i think the egyptians and the and the babylonians are going to kind of take it babylonians are going to kind of take it to another level to another level but but they believe that you know they believe that you know there was this whole spirit world that there was this whole spirit world that particularly evil spirits and demons and particularly evil spirits and demons and sickness and think about all kind of the sickness and think about all kind of the the hardships of life and then you add the hardships of life and then you add on to that you know now i got to deal on to that you know now i got to deal with evil spirits and there's demons with evil spirits and there's demons trying to get me that you know demons trying to get me that you know demons are trying to get my child my unborn are trying to get my child my unborn child they want they want to cause a um child they want they want to cause a um you know a miscarriage or something like you know a miscarriage or something like that you know okay i got i got to say that you know okay i got i got to say the magic words i got to say that i i the magic words i got to say that i i have to say the spells in order to have to say the spells in order to protect me protect me and so they believe that carved images and so they believe that carved images that had spells chanted over them had that had spells chanted over them had power to protect as well and we'll get power to protect as well and we'll get into that into that um um in when we when we look at some events in when we when we look at some events in scripture particularly with rachel in scripture particularly with rachel with jacob rachel and laban right with jacob rachel and laban right remember the idols it's translated idols remember the idols it's translated idols or gods in the king james we'll we'll or gods in the king james we'll we'll look at that that's there's some look at that that's there's some interesting stuff with there interesting stuff with there um okay here is an example of a pyramid text all right now so this is you know text all right now so this is you know we're talking about over 4 000 years old we're talking about over 4 000 years old so 4 000 years old and we have this very so 4 000 years old and we have this very complex uh complex uh you know you know religion that is coming out of egypt but religion that is coming out of egypt but also very complex uh chants and hymns also very complex uh chants and hymns and spells that someone wrote down again and spells that someone wrote down again you know you got to say the right words you know you got to say the right words now now the pyramid texts are found surprisingly the pyramid texts are found surprisingly enough enough in pyramids in pyramids um and and what they are is they're um and and what they are is they're really really directions for the pharaoh to get out of directions for the pharaoh to get out of the pyramid in the afterlife the pyramid in the afterlife in other words how am i get how is my in other words how am i get how is my soul getting out of this pyramid right soul getting out of this pyramid right because remember the whole thing is because remember the whole thing is locked up well don't worry about it locked up well don't worry about it pharaoh pharaoh we're going to put in hieroglyphics all we're going to put in hieroglyphics all around in your tomb around in your tomb we're going to put the magic words we're going to put the magic words but you have to say the magic words but you have to say the magic words correctly and in the right order and at correctly and in the right order and at the right time and you also the pharaoh the right time and you also the pharaoh as he's you know being resurrected as he's you know being resurrected he had to chant one set of spells facing he had to chant one set of spells facing east another facing west north south east another facing west north south that type of thing so it was it was this that type of thing so it was it was this whole rigamarole whole rigamarole that had to be done in order for the that had to be done in order for the pharaoh pharaoh to to the pharaoh soul to get up to the the pharaoh soul to get up to the afterlife and so this is one of the afterlife and so this is one of the things it's called the cannibal hymn things it's called the cannibal hymn because as we read it um you know the because as we read it um you know the pharaoh as he's being uh you know pharaoh as he's being uh you know resurrected resurrected his life for he's going to eat it says a his life for he's going to eat it says a god who lives on his father's whose flea god who lives on his father's whose flea feeds on his mother's feeds on his mother's is the bull of heaven who rages in his is the bull of heaven who rages in his heart who lives on the being of every heart who lives on the being of every god who eats their entrails god who eats their entrails when they come their bodies full of when they come their bodies full of magic from the isle of flame and so the magic from the isle of flame and so the pharaoh is rising up and he's eating uh pharaoh is rising up and he's eating uh his father and his all the essence of his father and his all the essence of his father and his mother and everything his father and his mother and everything their bodies full of magic right and so their bodies full of magic right and so now guess what he's eaten he's eating now guess what he's eaten he's eating his mother and father he's eaten the his mother and father he's eaten the bowl of heaven and now he is full with bowl of heaven and now he is full with this magic this magic nut and he's saying the right words and nut and he's saying the right words and he's he's doing the enchantments he's he's doing the enchantments he's using the magic on the walls he's using the magic on the walls his soul goes right up to the afterlife his soul goes right up to the afterlife right right and so this is the mindset this is the and so this is the mindset this is the mindset that the ancient israelites are mindset that the ancient israelites are going to be in going to be in um um yeah so i was actually thinking about yeah so i was actually thinking about this jim says makes me think of the i this jim says makes me think of the i verse we in baptism wrong word baptism verse we in baptism wrong word baptism doesn't count and that actually just doesn't count and that actually just happened in a diocese i think down in happened in a diocese i think down in arizona where this particular priest has arizona where this particular priest has been using the wrong words he's saying been using the wrong words he's saying we we instead of i you know the vatican the instead of i you know the vatican the you know the vatican council has says you know the vatican council has says that you have to say i as the priest i'm that you have to say i as the priest i'm doing this he says the we so all of doing this he says the we so all of these baptisms that he's done for the these baptisms that he's done for the last 20 years according to the church last 20 years according to the church are are invalid you use the wrong words so is invalid you use the wrong words so is there a connection well yeah sure sure there a connection well yeah sure sure you've got to use the right words even you've got to use the right words even today in certain rituals today in certain rituals um um but the words themselves and here's the but the words themselves and here's the difference the words themselves difference the words themselves uh you know had uh you know had had power in and of themselves and i had power in and of themselves and i guess that's true today right certain guess that's true today right certain words have power there's powerful words words have power there's powerful words um that that we can use um that that we can use all right okay now this is um this is uh i had this law this slide in the wrong place this law this slide in the wrong place but this is from um ezekiel the 13th but this is from um ezekiel the 13th chapter chapter and this is ezekiel kind of uh ranting and this is ezekiel kind of uh ranting against um against um you know against the jews at that time you know against the jews at that time you know you know because of the idolatry that there that because of the idolatry that there that they continue to fall follow after even they continue to fall follow after even though jerusalem is about to fall though jerusalem is about to fall um um and so and so uh let's take a look at this and this is uh let's take a look at this and this is from the esv which i think gives a kind from the esv which i think gives a kind of a better feel of what uh ezekiel is of a better feel of what uh ezekiel is talking about so let's read it and you talking about so let's read it and you son of man set your face against the son of man set your face against the daughter of my people the daughters of daughter of my people the daughters of your people okay so that's interesting your people okay so that's interesting who prophesy out of their own hearts so who prophesy out of their own hearts so we have women prophesying here we have women prophesying here prophesy against them and say thus saith prophesy against them and say thus saith the lord woe to the women the lord woe to the women who sow magic bands upon all risks and who sow magic bands upon all risks and make veals for the heads of persons of make veals for the heads of persons of every stature in the hunt for souls every stature in the hunt for souls uh so this is interesting what are they uh so this is interesting what are they doing well they're putting magic doing well they're putting magic bands upon all risks and make veals for bands upon all risks and make veals for the heads of persons of every stature the heads of persons of every stature and so they're putting on their and so they're putting on their on their hands in their wrists on their hands in their wrists magical you know bands of cloth or magical you know bands of cloth or whatever we're not really told but whatever we're not really told but they're magic well why are they magic they're magic well why are they magic well they had an incantation well they had an incantation uh uh spoken spoken before they were put on the person the before they were put on the person the words were spoken the right words the words were spoken the right words the same thing for the veil of the head same thing for the veil of the head right now there's an interesting right now there's an interesting commentary that i that i really like commentary that i that i really like when i was looking at this when i was looking at this this this goes hand in hand with the writing goes hand in hand with the writing remember they had to wear and brother remember they had to wear and brother jason i forget what the name of this is jason i forget what the name of this is but they had remember they had to wear but they had remember they had to wear it on their heads they had to keep the it on their heads they had to keep the law portion of the law in their heads law portion of the law in their heads and the black you get the and the black you get the teflon teflon the philosophers the philosophers phylacteries thank you yes the phylacteries thank you yes the phylacteries that was to remind them of phylacteries that was to remind them of the lore and to remind them of yahweh the lore and to remind them of yahweh but what are some of you know these but what are some of you know these magicians now the or you know the magicians now the or you know the daughters of your people these women daughters of your people these women kind of involved in magic what are they kind of involved in magic what are they doing well they're sewing magic bands on doing well they're sewing magic bands on your wrist now they're putting veils on your wrist now they're putting veils on the heads of persons on people the heads of persons on people so they're saying so they're saying yahweh isn't going to help you whatever yahweh isn't going to help you whatever god was associated with this magic god was associated with this magic and we're not really told and we're not really told but they're using magical but they're using magical thinking thinking in magical processes that are directly in magical processes that are directly from where well from egypt from where well from egypt and they're trying to superimpose that and they're trying to superimpose that upon the worship of god and upon the worship of god and ezekiel's saying what are you doing this ezekiel's saying what are you doing this is nonsense it's getting this is going is nonsense it's getting this is going to get you nowhere you're practicing in to get you nowhere you're practicing in verse 23 therefore you shall no more see verse 23 therefore you shall no more see false visions not practice false visions not practice divination i will deliver my people out divination i will deliver my people out of your hand and ye shall know that i am of your hand and ye shall know that i am the lord so god's looking at this is you the lord so god's looking at this is you know just complete nonsense what are you know just complete nonsense what are you doing doing he says i am against your magic bands he says i am against your magic bands he's against it right and so that it he's against it right and so that it kind of shows that again there was to be kind of shows that again there was to be this separation between the things of this separation between the things of egypt right when we think about the egypt right when we think about the things of egypt we often think about you things of egypt we often think about you know slavery and stuff like that but you know slavery and stuff like that but you know this was a big thing and they know this was a big thing and they they didn't there was no difference they didn't there was no difference between the jews and the egyptians when between the jews and the egyptians when it came to a lot of this magical it came to a lot of this magical thinking because they wore the same thinking because they wore the same ambulance uh they believed in magic on a ambulance uh they believed in magic on a certain level as well and they shouldn't certain level as well and they shouldn't have believed in magic have believed in magic magic wasn't going to give them magic wasn't going to give them salvation they were to put away those salvation they were to put away those superstitions the superstitions of the superstitions the superstitions of the gentiles of the people and follow after gentiles of the people and follow after god but you know like god but you know like like history tells us that is something like history tells us that is something that they continue to struggle with that they continue to struggle with they struggle with idolatry and guess they struggle with idolatry and guess what they're gonna struggle with magic what they're gonna struggle with magic as well as well um saw that saw that um saw that saw that okay so let's take a look at some events okay so let's take a look at some events in scripture i think we're doing all in scripture i think we're doing all right right um in genesis 31 um in genesis 31 um um rachel rachel you know jacob high teals it out of you know jacob high teals it out of there remember and laban and he takes there remember and laban and he takes all his family and laban is uh he gets all his family and laban is uh he gets up and he's he's going after him and up and he's he's going after him and rachel had taken the terror film rachel had taken the terror film right and so there's a lot of right and so there's a lot of controversy about what this these controversy about what this these terraform are there's some pictures terraform are there's some pictures right here of some of the smaller right here of some of the smaller um you know these smaller figurines now um you know these smaller figurines now some commentators and some scholars have some commentators and some scholars have said well they they were gods laban had said well they they were gods laban had some gods um some gods um you know you know and these are these are what he and these are these are what he worshipped okay worshipped okay um um you know is there any indication in you know is there any indication in scripture that laban was you know scripture that laban was you know followed after idolatry no but okay you followed after idolatry no but okay you know there's a lot you know there's a know there's a lot you know there's a lot of different stuff that kind of lot of different stuff that kind of infiltrates into the lives of the infiltrates into the lives of the patriarchs particularly in this case patriarchs particularly in this case they were important though and so they were important though and so i believe these terror femme i believe these terror femme had magical powers associated with them had magical powers associated with them particularly around particularly around protection protection um and so to have these was to protect um and so to have these was to protect the family and so rachel's like hey the family and so rachel's like hey these are very important they have these are very important they have magical powers they have magical ability magical powers they have magical ability uh i'm gonna keep them in order for uh i'm gonna keep them in order for uh the magic of these terrafim to keep uh the magic of these terrafim to keep my family safe my family safe um um it's it's certainly possible we're not it's it's certainly possible we're not really told exactly what what these are really told exactly what what these are now another commentary and a jewish now another commentary and a jewish commentary on this commentary on this he kind of goes in this is an he kind of goes in this is an interesting story but interesting story but the story is is that laban had a the story is is that laban had a firstborn son that was murdered firstborn son that was murdered okay his firstborn was murdered and so okay his firstborn was murdered and so the family now which was common in this the family now which was common in this this area right um this area right um they took the head of of this of the sun they took the head of of this of the sun and uh kept the skull and uh kept the skull and then put plaster over the skull and then put plaster over the skull um um in order to keep it as a remembrance in order to keep it as a remembrance of uh of this firstborn child that was of uh of this firstborn child that was murdered at some point now is there any murdered at some point now is there any evidence of this no there isn't evidence of this no there isn't but it does go hand in hand with the but it does go hand in hand with the story of david and michael remember story of david and michael remember michael is going to take an idol that michael is going to take an idol that went went excuse me that was in the the house of excuse me that was in the the house of david david it's called an idol but you know some it's called an idol but you know some some commentaries have said well it was some commentaries have said well it was just one of these terror femme where just one of these terror femme where they were keeping this you know for good they were keeping this you know for good luck luck um and um and you know this was a larger one and it you know this was a larger one and it may have you know it had a skull or may have you know it had a skull or something like that would plaster over something like that would plaster over and this is why saul's men were um and this is why saul's men were um you know they were tricked because you know they were tricked because remember michael put the the terra film remember michael put the the terra film or the the idol whatever it is inside or the the idol whatever it is inside the bed and it looked like a real person the bed and it looked like a real person so it was bigger right again we're not so it was bigger right again we're not really uh we're not really told really uh we're not really told um you know what they look like but they um you know what they look like but they have unearthed these little figurines have unearthed these little figurines right here you know like two three four right here you know like two three four inches long so they're not very big and inches long so they're not very big and this is one of the reasons why that i this is one of the reasons why that i think rachel could have hidden them think rachel could have hidden them right right she hit him under a whole bunch of stuff she hit him under a whole bunch of stuff and said laven look i'd love to get up and said laven look i'd love to get up but i can't right now apologize but i can't right now apologize um so boom she's got she's got these um so boom she's got she's got these things things magic was always associated with these magic was always associated with these uh figurines right here brothers and uh figurines right here brothers and sisters they all had some type of sisters they all had some type of magical power now magical power now does that mean that they you know the does that mean that they you know the the ancient jews have have magical the ancient jews have have magical incantations during this time yes they incantations during this time yes they did and we'll look at that as well um did and we'll look at that as well um and so did they and so did they did they kind of perform some type of did they kind of perform some type of ritual ritual which uh you know had the magical words which uh you know had the magical words right the incantations the special words right the incantations the special words that imparted that imparted protection protection on on these figurines don't know on on these figurines don't know don't know but these were very common don't know but these were very common they're found in other places as well they're found in other places as well outside of the holy land they're found outside of the holy land they're found in egypt they're found up in modern day in egypt they're found up in modern day turkey in greece and in mesopotamia and turkey in greece and in mesopotamia and in all cases brothers and sisters they in all cases brothers and sisters they were used were used um for protection and for there was some um for protection and for there was some authority associated with them as well authority associated with them as well so so um um just just some interesting stuff just just some interesting stuff um very quickly joseph and the magicians um very quickly joseph and the magicians right when you know he again having to right when you know he again having to do with dreams that was a big thing with do with dreams that was a big thing with magicians they could uh they knew the magicians they could uh they knew the you know the signs they knew the you know the signs they knew the divination they could divination they could they knew the numbers they knew the they knew the numbers they knew the magical uh spells they knew the secret magical uh spells they knew the secret knowledge right the magicians moses and knowledge right the magicians moses and the magicians as well he kind of you the magicians as well he kind of you know moses kind of comes head head to know moses kind of comes head head to head with the magicians and for a period head with the magicians and for a period of time of time the magicians could replicate the magicians could replicate a lot of the stuff that moses was doing a lot of the stuff that moses was doing and so this is going to cause pharaoh to and so this is going to cause pharaoh to kind of disparage moses but eventually kind of disparage moses but eventually um um you know the magicians aren't going to you know the magicians aren't going to have the ability to do some of the uh have the ability to do some of the uh some of the great miracles that moses is some of the great miracles that moses is going to do going to do uh which brings us to balaam balaam is uh which brings us to balaam balaam is an interesting character we'll take a an interesting character we'll take a look at um numbers 22 [Music] yeah bailiff the son of z4 he sees yeah bailiff the son of z4 he sees israel he's he's uh he's got he's got israel he's he's uh he's got he's got major problems on his hand major problems on his hand first five and he sent messengers first five and he sent messengers therefore unto balaam the son of beor to therefore unto balaam the son of beor to pethor which is by the river of the land pethor which is by the river of the land the children of the people to call him the children of the people to call him saying behold saying behold there is a people come out from egypt there is a people come out from egypt behold they cover the face of the earth behold they cover the face of the earth they abide over against me they abide over against me um um come therefore i pray thee curse me this come therefore i pray thee curse me this people for they are too mighty for me he people for they are too mighty for me he goes on for i want that he whom thou goes on for i want that he whom thou bless is blessed and he bless is blessed and he who thou cursed is cursed and the elders who thou cursed is cursed and the elders of moab and the elders the median of moab and the elders the median departed with the rewards departed with the rewards of divination in their hand of divination in their hand so so balaam was a magician he was a he was a balaam was a magician he was a he was a um um you know some type of sorcerer you know some type of sorcerer right he he had he could he had right he he had he could he had convinced the king that he had this convinced the king that he had this ability now ability now balaam probably was also like a you know balaam probably was also like a you know a wise a wise man in other words he knew a wise a wise man in other words he knew how the world worked he was he was in how the world worked he was he was in the palaces of the powerful and so he the palaces of the powerful and so he understood the diplomacy he was well understood the diplomacy he was well read that type of thing and he's using read that type of thing and he's using this knowledge this knowledge to enrich himself to enrich himself um um and so for whatever reason balaam is and so for whatever reason balaam is looked at as an authority he's got you looked at as an authority he's got you know the he charges a certain rate for know the he charges a certain rate for divination divination for curses you want one occurs it's for curses you want one occurs it's going to cost you a going to cost you a hundred thousand hundred thousand curse the children of israel you've got curse the children of israel you've got it it and so again this has to do with the and so again this has to do with the magic right he's gonna curse he's gonna magic right he's gonna curse he's gonna say the magic words say the magic words and the word you know just interesting and the word you know just interesting you know the word abracadabra that's you know the word abracadabra that's actually taken directly from egypt right actually taken directly from egypt right that was actually a magic word that the that was actually a magic word that the egyptians would say um and so again this egyptians would say um and so again this idea of magical speaking idea of magical speaking of an individual having the secret words of an individual having the secret words the ancient knowledge he knows how to the ancient knowledge he knows how to put the words together to bring about a put the words together to bring about a curse on a whole people to bring a curse on a whole people to bring a blessing upon a whole people right blessing upon a whole people right um um we know that the witch of endor we're we know that the witch of endor we're not going to spend too much time on not going to spend too much time on there but the witch of endure there but the witch of endure um um you know saul ghost goes to her and you you know saul ghost goes to her and you know both of them are actually in for a know both of them are actually in for a shock right because i believe that god shock right because i believe that god you know kind of uh you know either made you know kind of uh you know either made made them all see a vision of samuel but made them all see a vision of samuel but uh you remember that when when samuel uh you remember that when when samuel was made present was made present uh to uh saul and to the witch of endor uh to uh saul and to the witch of endor you know she cried out she was very you know she cried out she was very scared you know she's like oh man does scared you know she's like oh man does this finally work this finally work uh uh so anyways now this is something so anyways now this is something interesting that josephus says about interesting that josephus says about solomon and this kind of goes with what solomon and this kind of goes with what i've been talking about about knowledge i've been talking about about knowledge and ancient uh the ancient writings and and ancient uh the ancient writings and stuff like that but josephus says god stuff like that but josephus says god gave him knowledge of the art that is gave him knowledge of the art that is used against demons used against demons is that idea of evil spirits right in is that idea of evil spirits right in order to heal and benefit men order to heal and benefit men so solomon had this wisdom and he's so solomon had this wisdom and he's going to use it you know in the area of going to use it you know in the area of medicine but also to benefit men how to medicine but also to benefit men how to make civilization better and so part of make civilization better and so part of that was attributed to understanding the that was attributed to understanding the ancient the ancient writings which ancient the ancient writings which obviously solomon did we're told in obviously solomon did we're told in scripture that he wrote many books we're scripture that he wrote many books we're told in scripture that he read many told in scripture that he read many books on all kinds of different topics books on all kinds of different topics right the king say that ecclesiastes right the king say that ecclesiastes talks about that as well um so that's talks about that as well um so that's one aspect he goes on he says elsewhere one aspect he goes on he says elsewhere however there was an egyptian however there was an egyptian magician a false prophet magician a false prophet that did the jews more mischief for he that did the jews more mischief for he was a cheat was a cheat okay so okay so there was a lot of shenanigans i would there was a lot of shenanigans i would imagine in the area of magic imagine in the area of magic right scooby doo scooby d right scooby doo scooby d um but people believed it had power um but people believed it had power that's the key brothers and sisters that's the key brothers and sisters there was a belief there was a belief that these words when they're spoken the that these words when they're spoken the right way can cast out demons right way can cast out demons uh can protect you uh can protect you can heal you that type of thing can heal you that type of thing you know rich it it makes me think of you know rich it it makes me think of some of these um some of these um you know healing ministries where uh you know healing ministries where uh people will come up on stage and people will come up on stage and a minister or uh you know somebody will a minister or uh you know somebody will place their hands on them and say a place their hands on them and say a certain word and they'll you know fall certain word and they'll you know fall backwards and backwards and yes you know be healed they they want to yes you know be healed they they want to believe these things it seems to me believe these things it seems to me yeah and steve that that's a great point yeah and steve that that's a great point because you know those people they want because you know those people they want to believe that they're suffering from to believe that they're suffering from something right and so these these something right and so these these ancient people were no different from us ancient people were no different from us they were suffering right with everyday they were suffering right with everyday life a lot you know you know if you were life a lot you know you know if you were poor poor or you kind of like low middle class or you kind of like low middle class there wasn't a whole lot of middle class there wasn't a whole lot of middle class in the ancient world but anyways you in the ancient world but anyways you know he had a little money at a little know he had a little money at a little house or whatever house or whatever at any time at any time your whole house could get sick and die your whole house could get sick and die you know you know there were there were a lot of things there were there were a lot of things that could kill you you know you when that could kill you you know you when you're you're talking about you know a you're you're talking about you know a lot of um lot of um you know a lot of births you know you know a lot of births you know stillborn children children are gonna stillborn children children are gonna die under five um you know a lot of die under five um you know a lot of people dying when they're in their 30s people dying when they're in their 30s and 40s you know so you know people that and 40s you know so you know people that were living uh to 70 80 years old you were living uh to 70 80 years old you know a lot of times were few and far know a lot of times were few and far between in the ancient world they had to between in the ancient world they had to really worry about a lot of stuff and really worry about a lot of stuff and they needed the magic words you know they needed the magic words you know steve they needed them steve they needed them yeah fear is absolutely a powerful yeah fear is absolutely a powerful motivator jim without question and i motivator jim without question and i think that as the priest the priestly think that as the priest the priestly class got more and more powerful and class got more and more powerful and wealthier they're going to rely on fear wealthier they're going to rely on fear for sure without for sure without question so you had said earlier in the question so you had said earlier in the class class rich that you know these people would be rich that you know these people would be getting sick and dying and they didn't getting sick and dying and they didn't know why know why you know like we today might recognize you know like we today might recognize oh you know someone got coveted or oh you know someone got coveted or somebody has an infection or somebody somebody has an infection or somebody has has cancer cancer right and we're going to re you know we right and we're going to re you know we can can we can come up with a reason for why we can come up with a reason for why they died they had no idea and so what they died they had no idea and so what you're saying i think what you're saying you're saying i think what you're saying is they they blamed it on the spirits is they they blamed it on the spirits and therefore these magicians were were and therefore these magicians were were viewed almost like viewed almost like medical doctors medical doctors so there was yeah medical doctors of the so there was yeah medical doctors of the spirit world i guess steve there's a lot spirit world i guess steve there's a lot of particularly in egypt you know the of particularly in egypt you know the doctor would also use some of this doctor would also use some of this magician stuff as well like magic it magician stuff as well like magic it would go hand in hand no question about would go hand in hand no question about it it so how long were certain things that an so how long were certain things that an egyptian doctor could do like he could egyptian doctor could do like he could set a bone set a bone you know he could stitch up certain you know he could stitch up certain things but you know as far as um things but you know as far as um you know like bacteria and viruses you know like bacteria and viruses forget about it yeah forget about it yeah so you've looked a lot at the old so you've looked a lot at the old testament in the new testament in acts testament in the new testament in acts for example we see this uh young girl for example we see this uh young girl who was being traipsed around who was being traipsed around by her handlers right were you going to by her handlers right were you going to get into that you i will yeah a couple get into that you i will yeah a couple slides so we're at uh 8 20. let's do it slides so we're at uh 8 20. let's do it let's use jim to use jim boykos let me let's use jim to use jim boykos let me give you a time check thank you give you a time check thank you but speed it up people but speed it up people okay let's not let's not get into this okay let's not let's not get into this but um but um jezebel is called a witch by jihu jezebel is called a witch by jihu right so right so uh you know nebuchadnezzar uh you know nebuchadnezzar um now i need we need to look this up um now i need we need to look this up because this is kind of fascinating in because this is kind of fascinating in ezekiel ezekiel 21 ezekiel is actually telling is 21 ezekiel is actually telling is prophesying prophesying um about what nebuchadnezzar is doing in um about what nebuchadnezzar is doing in ezekiel 21 ezekiel 21 verse 21 verse 21 for the king of babylon stood at the for the king of babylon stood at the parting of the way at the head of two parting of the way at the head of two ways to use ways to use divination divination he made his arrows bright he consulted he made his arrows bright he consulted with images he looked in the liver so with images he looked in the liver so here's nebuchadnezzar he's using magic here's nebuchadnezzar he's using magic and divination to figure out what um and divination to figure out what um what road to take am i going to go to what road to take am i going to go to rama rama or am i going to jerusalem and he or am i going to jerusalem and he obviously picked jerusalem right obviously picked jerusalem right um um but his arrows bright now other but his arrows bright now other translations talk about uh translations talk about uh uh using the arrows uh using the arrows uh uh to uh predict the future so what they to uh predict the future so what they would do with the arrows is they would would do with the arrows is they would put a certain amount of arrows in them put a certain amount of arrows in them and they would number the arrows and and they would number the arrows and whatever arrow came out say arrow number whatever arrow came out say arrow number five with the five on it came out five with the five on it came out the magician the magician right he would have a special book right he would have a special book and he would look through it the and he would look through it the divination book and look oh it's a five divination book and look oh it's a five and there would be a whole list of and there would be a whole list of things of what that represented and so things of what that represented and so he would have to interpret that for he would have to interpret that for nebuchadnezzar now we're gonna find out nebuchadnezzar now we're gonna find out that nebuchadnezzar was on to these guys that nebuchadnezzar was on to these guys right he was on to their nonsense but right he was on to their nonsense but anyways i just thought that that was anyways i just thought that that was interesting you would look at the livers interesting you would look at the livers too that was divination you would cut too that was divination you would cut open a sheet take the liver and look at open a sheet take the liver and look at it you know if there was like a node on it you know if there was like a node on it or something like that it or something like that that could either be good or bad how the that could either be good or bad how the liver looked you know that type of thing liver looked you know that type of thing so so um yeah so that i i just thought that um yeah so that i i just thought that that was interesting that ezekiel is that was interesting that ezekiel is actually talking about what actually talking about what nebuchadnezzar did and he didn't do nebuchadnezzar did and he didn't do anything until anything until he uh he got the magic okay from the he uh he got the magic okay from the magicians magicians like reading tea leaves absolutely phil like reading tea leaves absolutely phil yep same principle yep same principle okay kabbalah is a sect of judaism that okay kabbalah is a sect of judaism that really has a lot of secret meaning a lot really has a lot of secret meaning a lot of magical mythology types of stuff as of magical mythology types of stuff as well so even sex of judaism okay let's well so even sex of judaism okay let's let's get moving let's get moving boom let's get moving okay boom let's get moving okay um we know a lot of stuff from the greek um we know a lot of stuff from the greek and roman world because we actually have and roman world because we actually have magical books that were written there's magical books that were written there's two of them called the greek magical two of them called the greek magical papyri papyri um and the egyptian magical uh para and um and the egyptian magical uh para and so it's interesting that the names of so it's interesting that the names of god god are listed on there and so the greeks are listed on there and so the greeks and the romans felt that using the and the romans felt that using the secret names of gods would bring you secret names of gods would bring you protection or power and so the name protection or power and so the name yahweh sabayoth and adonai yahweh sabayoth and adonai are all mentioned as names of god that's are all mentioned as names of god that's interesting and so remember that the interesting and so remember that the romans looked at the jews as yeah they romans looked at the jews as yeah they were a weird sect you know we had were a weird sect you know we had religious belief to believe in one god religious belief to believe in one god cuckoo for coco puffs but they respected cuckoo for coco puffs but they respected it and they actually felt that the jews it and they actually felt that the jews were very spiritual people were very spiritual people and the jews some jews are going to use and the jews some jews are going to use that too with their advantage right a that too with their advantage right a lot of recipe for spells and stuff like lot of recipe for spells and stuff like that a lot of the aristocracy in rome that a lot of the aristocracy in rome you know the educated you know the educated they thought like magic was silly they thought like magic was silly superstitions they even tried to outlaw superstitions they even tried to outlaw it in in rome but it didn't take people it in in rome but it didn't take people loved magic it was it didn't stop people loved magic it was it didn't stop people from practicing in everyday life here's from practicing in everyday life here's a quote from flinny the elder who a quote from flinny the elder who actually died at the eruption of mount actually died at the eruption of mount vesuvius vesuvius um he said there is no one who is not um he said there is no one who is not afraid of becoming the subject of lethal afraid of becoming the subject of lethal spells spells so think about that so think about that that's another thing you got to worry that's another thing you got to worry about right is someone putting a curse about right is someone putting a curse on me on me is someone putting a spell on me right is someone putting a spell on me right now right now right that was a big deal that was a big deal and so you had to protect yourself from and so you had to protect yourself from these curses these curses from these spells you had you had to do from these spells you had you had to do some stuff some stuff and a lot of that stuff had to do with and a lot of that stuff had to do with going to the right person and so there going to the right person and so there were certain men and women who were were certain men and women who were known to cast spells on people but you known to cast spells on people but you had to pay them and this is when it had to pay them and this is when it refers to when roman law is sorcery it refers to when roman law is sorcery it was punishable by death the romans was punishable by death the romans didn't play around with this kind of didn't play around with this kind of stuff because they believed it they felt stuff because they believed it they felt that we got people we got women first of that we got people we got women first of all running around knowing the magic all running around knowing the magic words putting spells on people words putting spells on people can't have it can't have it um and so they also had something like a um and so they also had something like a voodoo doll where if you wanted your voodoo doll where if you wanted your enemy enemy um you know to be harmed or something um you know to be harmed or something like that you would you would get a um like that you would you would get a um you know you would make a doll it kind you know you would make a doll it kind of looked like this person and then um of looked like this person and then um you know would would put like pins or you know would would put like pins or stuff like that or cut off its head or stuff like that or cut off its head or its arm or something like that so its arm or something like that so um you know a lot of stuff um you know a lot of stuff all right you got your same christmas on all right you got your same christmas on right now thanks jim that's right so right now thanks jim that's right so there is a connection right i think you there is a connection right i think you know the catholic church did keep a lot know the catholic church did keep a lot of uh of uh not magic like you know the catholic not magic like you know the catholic church isn't big into magic but you can church isn't big into magic but you can still see that kind of thinking still see that kind of thinking right from the ancient world saying the right from the ancient world saying the right words the ritual of everything right words the ritual of everything people love rituals people love rituals they love them it gives them a sense of they love them it gives them a sense of belonging it gives them a sense of order belonging it gives them a sense of order and the ancient world was no was no and the ancient world was no was no different okay four minutes people different okay four minutes people all right let's forget about this this all right let's forget about this this is the some characteristics of roman is the some characteristics of roman magic right complicated rituals and magic right complicated rituals and spells and recipes that's all you have spells and recipes that's all you have to know right now okay to know right now okay um um here is the example from uh the greek here is the example from uh the greek magical paparai magical paparai and where god's name is used i conjure and where god's name is used i conjure you all by the god of abraham isaac and you all by the god of abraham isaac and jacob that you obey my authority jacob that you obey my authority completely and give me favor influence completely and give me favor influence victory and strength before all small victory and strength before all small and men and great as well as gladiators and men and great as well as gladiators soldiers civilians women's girls boys soldiers civilians women's girls boys everybody quickly quickly because of the everybody quickly quickly because of the power of sebaoth the clothing of elo power of sebaoth the clothing of elo elio the might of adonai so here are elio the might of adonai so here are some of the names the clothing of el some of the names the clothing of el uh the might of adonis the power of uh the might of adonis the power of sabah these are all names of god of sabah these are all names of god of yahweh and so they have been included yahweh and so they have been included in this greek book of magic in this greek book of magic and so here you have an individual and so here you have an individual trying to manipulate god trying to manipulate god uh into doing something and that was uh into doing something and that was part of kind of the the ancients part of kind of the the ancients thinking you have these magical spells thinking you have these magical spells incredible power that i can manipulate incredible power that i can manipulate god god god is gonna do this for me because i god is gonna do this for me because i have the magic words i have the magic have the magic words i have the magic amulet right and so boom here you go amulet right and so boom here you go here's the connection between the greek here's the connection between the greek and roman world and judaism as well it's and roman world and judaism as well it's all being meld up together and this was all being meld up together and this was this was the danger this was the danger of the jews that were living abroad in of the jews that were living abroad in these greek and roman cities these greek and roman cities this was the danger of the early church this was the danger of the early church this thinking about magic and we're this thinking about magic and we're going to see as um going to see as um as brother steve pointed out that um as brother steve pointed out that um is the last slide by the way uh that is the last slide by the way uh that paul is going to directly confront this paul is going to directly confront this okay and so enemies of the early church okay and so enemies of the early church are going to say that jesus was just a are going to say that jesus was just a magician he was a sorcerer he went down magician he was a sorcerer he went down into egypt which is true right when he into egypt which is true right when he was little he but this is where he was little he but this is where he learned the craft of magic learned the craft of magic um and they also said that um um and they also said that um you know you know jesus's dad was a roman soldier right jesus's dad was a roman soldier right which kind of you know gives which kind of you know gives uh you know nefarious there's a little uh you know nefarious there's a little nefarious beginning of jesus and so this nefarious beginning of jesus and so this is what the enemies of the early church is what the enemies of the early church would say would say um about jesus just another long line of um about jesus just another long line of magicians what the school would he do magicians what the school would he do with scooby d with scooby d right right luke in the book of acts makes it very luke in the book of acts makes it very clear that there is a difference between clear that there is a difference between the holy spirit and magic not once in the holy spirit and magic not once in the acts as the holy spirit the acts as the holy spirit um is ever taken down by a magician um is ever taken down by a magician we have a lot of different instances we have a lot of different instances right and because of time we're not right and because of time we're not going to turn these up but simon magnus going to turn these up but simon magnus right he wanted he got um right he wanted he got um he wanted to buy the holy spirit from uh he wanted to buy the holy spirit from uh from peter he's like oh this is this from peter he's like oh this is this looks like he's this guy's a really good looks like he's this guy's a really good magician look at the stuff he's doing magician look at the stuff he's doing you know can i have you know what what you know can i have you know what what are the magic words are the magic words excuse me peter what are the magic words excuse me peter what are the magic words right so um right so um interesting uh this you know by jesus interesting uh this you know by jesus the sorcerer as well the sorcerer as well um um paul is going to confront him he's going paul is going to confront him he's going to blind him to blind him right here's another guy who could right here's another guy who could manipulate he had power in the eyes of manipulate he had power in the eyes of the roman officials brother steve the roman officials brother steve pointed out the slave girl in acts 16. pointed out the slave girl in acts 16. uh she had the it's called the spirit of uh she had the it's called the spirit of divination she was being used by his by divination she was being used by his by um you know the slave owners in order to um you know the slave owners in order to what get money what get money she was saying all of these things you she was saying all of these things you know divination know divination um um okay for a price we're gonna we'll we'll okay for a price we're gonna we'll we'll let her use you know use her power to let her use you know use her power to tell you the future and this really tell you the future and this really bothered paul bothered paul um now the seven sons of steve let's um now the seven sons of steve let's let's look at this i i wanna i wanna let's look at this i i wanna i wanna look at these last two just because i look at these last two just because i think it kind of puts everything in think it kind of puts everything in perspective and this is where we're perspective and this is where we're gonna kind of end our uh end our story gonna kind of end our uh end our story but in acts 19 but in acts 19 uh uh verse 11 verse 11 uh and god wrought special miracles by uh and god wrought special miracles by the hands of paul so that from his body the hands of paul so that from his body were brought onto the sick handkerchiefs were brought onto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons or aprons and the disease and the disease diseases departed from them and the evil diseases departed from them and the evil spirits went out of them spirits went out of them and so paul and so paul is using the holy spirit to heal these is using the holy spirit to heal these people didn't even have to be there people didn't even have to be there in fact they were being brought you know in fact they were being brought you know these uh different uh parts of the sick these uh different uh parts of the sick person's body or the clothing and it is person's body or the clothing and it is through that that paul is going to heal through that that paul is going to heal um these people um verse 13 um these people um verse 13 now now then certain of the vagabond jews then certain of the vagabond jews exorcists took upon them to call over exorcists took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of them which had evil spirits the name of the lord jesus saying we adjure you by the lord jesus saying we adjure you by jesus whom paul preaches jesus whom paul preaches and there were seven sons of once ever a and there were seven sons of once ever a jew and chief of the priests which did jew and chief of the priests which did so so and the evil spirit answered and said and the evil spirit answered and said jesus i know and paul i know but who are jesus i know and paul i know but who are you and the man in whom the evil spirit you and the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them and overcame them was leaped on them and overcame them revealed against them so that they fled revealed against them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded and out of that house naked and wounded and so here are some um you know the seven so here are some um you know the seven sons of st skiva they were they were sons of st skiva they were they were jews it says they were vagabond jews who jews it says they were vagabond jews who are most likely traveling from place to are most likely traveling from place to place place but they were they presented themselves but they were they presented themselves as exorcists or magicians as exorcists or magicians and this kind of plays into and this kind of plays into the roman and the greek idea that the the roman and the greek idea that the jews had some kind of special spiritual jews had some kind of special spiritual secret religious spiritual secret secret religious spiritual secret there's no i mean there's no idol of there's no i mean there's no idol of yahweh they didn't make any idols so how yahweh they didn't make any idols so how can you really understand them well the can you really understand them well the jews had special knowledge they had jews had special knowledge they had secret knowledge and so these seven sons secret knowledge and so these seven sons of steever are using this of steever are using this um you know knowledge that they have um you know knowledge that they have to make money they would go around to to make money they would go around to different cities and say hey we got the different cities and say hey we got the special knowledge we can say the magic special knowledge we can say the magic words we're magic we're exorcists we can words we're magic we're exorcists we can cast out devils and they're trying to do cast out devils and they're trying to do the same thing as paul does but what the same thing as paul does but what happens well this guy who's always got happens well this guy who's always got you know mental health issues attacks you know mental health issues attacks them and again who comes out victorious them and again who comes out victorious well it's the holy spirit and paul paul well it's the holy spirit and paul paul once again shows that he is once again shows that he is uh superior in every way to all of these uh superior in every way to all of these magicians that there is no equal when it magicians that there is no equal when it comes to the the true god of the comes to the the true god of the universe now lastly in the same chapter universe now lastly in the same chapter in acts in 17 in acts in 17 um um in many let's see in many let's see yeah in verse 17 and this was known to yeah in verse 17 and this was known to all the jews in greeks also dwelling at all the jews in greeks also dwelling at ephesus and fear fell on them all in the ephesus and fear fell on them all in the name of the lord was magnified and many name of the lord was magnified and many that believed came and confessed and that believed came and confessed and showed their deeds and many of them also showed their deeds and many of them also used curious arts brought their books used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men together and burned them before all men and they counted the price of them and and they counted the price of them and founded 50 000 pieces of silver so founded 50 000 pieces of silver so mightily grew the word of god and mightily grew the word of god and prevailed now last thing on this if you prevailed now last thing on this if you look on the right here is a picture of look on the right here is a picture of diana of ephesus right you can see that diana of ephesus right you can see that both her face and her hands are black both her face and her hands are black and that's a that's a meteorite and that's a that's a meteorite okay they believe that they that you okay they believe that they that you know part of uh diana of ephesus was know part of uh diana of ephesus was given given uh by zeus came down from zeus boom and uh by zeus came down from zeus boom and they built the temple around this but they built the temple around this but anyways anyways tremendous amounts of money is tremendous amounts of money is going to be made going to be made um by making little fig figurines um by making little fig figurines and this is um this is why uh what's his and this is um this is why uh what's his name uh name uh alexander the silversmith right he is alexander the silversmith right he is gonna kind of rally everybody and say gonna kind of rally everybody and say this guy is taking away our livelihood this guy is taking away our livelihood right here we're making millions and right here we're making millions and millions of dollars off of this thing millions of dollars off of this thing we're making you know he would make we're making you know he would make these idols are these trinkets these idols are these trinkets um that would have magical powers um that would have magical powers because they were made at ephesus they because they were made at ephesus they were made at the site of diana were made at the site of diana or artemis or artemis his greek name her greek name and so his greek name her greek name and so these figurines were the things that these figurines were the things that would give the owner protection and they would give the owner protection and they would be blessed because they had these would be blessed because they had these little silver figurines so that's one little silver figurines so that's one thing the last thing is thing the last thing is verse 18 and many that believe came and verse 18 and many that believe came and confessed and showed their deeds and confessed and showed their deeds and they also brought their curious art so they also brought their curious art so here you have ex here you have ex magicians magicians coming to uh coming to uh coming to the truth coming to the truth putting on the saving name of christ and putting on the saving name of christ and what did they do well they did two what did they do well they did two things things number number one they they confessed number number one they they confessed that they were doing all of this stuff that they were doing all of this stuff right that you know how well how are you right that you know how well how are you doing all this stuff they kind of doing all this stuff they kind of spilled the beans on all their kind of spilled the beans on all their kind of tricks that they would use number one tricks that they would use number one but also but also once you say publicly once you say publicly the magic words and again this may sound the magic words and again this may sound hilarious to us but once you say hilarious to us but once you say publicly the secret magic words to publicly the secret magic words to everybody everybody they no longer have the power they no longer have the power you've now expressed the secret ancient you've now expressed the secret ancient words now they have no power over words now they have no power over anybody so anybody so they do that and then number two all of they do that and then number two all of the books the magic that they have the the books the magic that they have the books of magic the incantations the books of magic the incantations the spells the recipes for this that and the spells the recipes for this that and the other thing they burn them and so once other thing they burn them and so once again what happens we have the holy again what happens we have the holy spirit in paul spirit in paul once again coming out victorious once again coming out victorious over over uh the gods of the greeks and the romans uh the gods of the greeks and the romans but also there is puts puts aside the but also there is puts puts aside the superstition of magic as well superstition of magic as well and so um and so um that's the story in a very quick that's the story in a very quick nutshell there was a lot of interesting nutshell there was a lot of interesting stuff that i found that helps you kind stuff that i found that helps you kind of understand of understand the old testament it also helps us uh to the old testament it also helps us uh to understand the new testament some of the understand the new testament some of the cultural things cultural things uh that these early believers uh both in uh that these early believers uh both in the old testament and the new testament the old testament and the new testament were dealing with