Witchcraft and Sorcery in the Church
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Revelation 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
The Greek word used in all 3 of the above Scriptures for witchcraft and sorceries is pharmakeia...Let's look at the meaning of this Greek word.....
pharmakeia, far-mak-i'-ah from 5332, it means; medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively):--sorcery, witchcraft.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
sorcerers = pharmakeus, far-mak-yoos'
from pharmakon (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician:--sorcerer.
See Greek 5332 (pharmakeus)
Pharmakós in Ancient Greek religion was the ritualistic sacrifice or exile by the sorcerers of a human scapegoat or victim. The victims themselves were referred to as pharmakoi and the sorcerer was referred to as a pharmakon. The pharmakon or sorcerer who was a practictoner of pharmakeia or pharmaceutics (doctors, pharmacist, & nurses). It was and is still today believed that pharmakeia or pharmaceutics, will bring about purification and healing.
The term "pharmakos" later became the term "pharmakeus" which refers to "a drug, spell-giving potion, druggist, poisoner, by extension a magician or a sorcerer." A variation of this term is "pharmakon" a complex term meaning sacrament, remedy, poison, talisman, cosmetic, perfume or intoxicant. From this, the modern term "pharmacology" emerged.
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Acts 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
So it is that the ancient form of sorcerey and witchcraft has even crept into the modern day church and the church does not even put up a wall against it or cast it out, but yet welcomes it with open arms because modern day church congregations and church goers are to weak in their faith to trust God for their healing. So we turn to the socerers and witches for healing and health through their pharmakeia, pharmaceutics, poisons and "potions".
This is serious stuff people, we have got to realize just how far we are away from God.
How many practicing socerers and witches are in your church building...even in your family...maybe you have even been deceived and are one.?? There is hope in repentance... otherwise... Revelation 21:8 is your portion.