| Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are | | | | of the Crucifixion. . . ."28 Another prominent New Age |
| not ignorant of his devices" (II Cor. 2:11). | | | | teacher, Barbara Marx Hubbard, experienced the "light" |
| Scripture has made it perfectly clear that the Devil | | | | in an intense vision she said occurred while she was in |
| masquerades as "light" and/or an "angel of light." In | | | | a dreamlike state. ". . . she could see the earth and its |
| Latin, the name "Lucifer" means "light-bearer." II | | | | people were now surrounded by a radiant light. She |
| Corinthians 11:14 says, "And no marvel; for Satan | | | | watched as the whole planet was 'aligned' in 'a |
| himself is transformed into an angel of light." Therefore, | | | | magnetic field of love' and lifted up by the brilliant light. |
| any experience with spiritual "light" must be thoroughly | | | | Widespread healings took place as individuals |
| examined under the microscope of the One True Light, | | | | experienced the merging of their own 'inner light' with |
| The Word of God. | | | | the bright light that was surrounding them. A |
| "Light," it seems, has always been used as a metaphor | | | | tremendous force emanating from the light sent |
| for heightened, perhaps even spiritual, experiences and | | | | powerful currents of joyful energy 'rippling' through the |
| or understandings. Often we hear people speak of | | | | body of humanity. The world celebrated as all the |
| being "enlightened." Some believed to possess spiritual | | | | Earth was born again." And, unfortunately, Hubbard |
| empowerment have been called "illuminated." | | | | also came to believe that this "light" was Christ giving |
| Traditionally, even artists have depicted both religious | | | | her an alternative to the Armageddon scenario found |
| and secular leaders, heroes, and great thinkers shining | | | | in Biblical prophecy. ". . . in 1979, she had a revelation |
| with brilliant light, perhaps even beneath a halo. Now | | | | that the presence in her 1966 vision had been 'Christ' . . |
| the problem we encounter here is that such inspiration | | | | . Hubbard's 'Christ' teaches that the violent |
| is usually viewed in a positive manner. It is hard to call | | | | Armageddon script described in the Bible does not |
| evil what we normally associate with good. | | | | have to happen, that it is only a 'possible' future, |
| Nevertheless, the Bible bids us to "believe not every | | | | emphasizing that a more 'positive' future can and will |
| spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God" (I Jn. | | | | manifest when humanity-without exception-openly |
| 4:1). It seems that throughout history many have | | | | declares its 'oneness' with him and all creation."29 This |
| encountered spirits of "light," but failed to recognize | | | | is an outright attack on Christianity; there is no |
| their source. In fact, many who claim to have found | | | | alternative to God's Word. All of it has come to pass |
| "light," believe they started with the best of intentions. | | | | and will continue to come to pass. "Think not that I am |
| They believed their search for light was search for | | | | come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not |
| truth. For instance, Freemasons claim to be searching | | | | come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, |
| for "light," hence, the symbolic use of the blindfold in | | | | Till Heaven and Earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in |
| many of their rituals. But, Truth cannot be found outside | | | | no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled" (Mat. |
| of the Word of God. An attempt to discover "light" or | | | | 5:17-18). And furthermore, it is the antichrist who Daniel |
| "truth" apart from it actually demonstrates a lack of | | | | identifies as having a false plan of peace. ". . . he shall |
| faith in the Truth. The Lord has made it clear that | | | | magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy |
| seeking Truth means seeking Him. He alone is the | | | | many" (Dan. 8:25). |
| Light! "He reveals the deep and secret things: He | | | | NEW AGE LIGHT |
| knows what is in the darkness, and the Light dwells | | | | These occult and completely anti-Christian dealings |
| with Him" (Dan. 2:22). "But without Faith it is impossible | | | | with New Age "light" are attacking the modern Church |
| to please Him: for he who comes to God must believe | | | | from the inside as well. For instance, one particular |
| that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them who | | | | form of so-called Christian counseling developed by Dr. |
| diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). | | | | Ed Smith is termed "Theophostic" counseling and/or |
| FALSE LIGHT | | | | "Theophosic Prayer Ministry." Smith created the word, |
| Many false prophets and cult leaders claim to have | | | | "Theophostic" from two Greek words - "Theos," |
| received revelation knowledge from "angels of light," | | | | meaning "God" and "Phos" meaning "light." Similar to the |
| and usually these revelations became the foundation | | | | psychological models of "inner healing," Theophostic |
| for their perilous societies. Muhammad claimed that the | | | | Counseling claims to heal one of harmful memories by |
| Angel Gabriel came to him. He explained that, "a | | | | bringing "light" directly into the memory.30 Another |
| luminous being grasped him by the throat and | | | | "pastor" bringing New Age "light" into the church (and |
| commanded him to repeat the sacred word."20 | | | | whose writings have been endorsed by Rick Warren) |
| Another "angel of light" named "Moroni" visited the | | | | is Leonard Sweet. He has stated, "A surprisingly |
| founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, who was | | | | central feature of all the world's religions is the |
| already a "romancer and diviner" (familiar with occult | | | | language of light in communicating the divine and |
| communication). Smith said his angel led him to a set of | | | | symbolizing the union of the human with the divine: |
| golden plates which he translated from "reformed | | | | Muhammad's light-filled cave, Moses' burning bush, |
| Egyptian" into English with help of magic stones. The | | | | Paul's blinding light, Fox's 'inner light,' Krishna's Lord of |
| final product was the Book of Mormon.21 Sun Myung | | | | Light, Bohme's light-filled cobbler shop, Plotinus' fire |
| Moon, founder of the Unification Church, claims that | | | | experiences, Bodhisattvas with the flow of Kundalini's |
| Jesus appeared to him in a vision asking Moon to | | | | fire erupting from their fontanelles, and so on." He also |
| complete the work He began. Clearly this "Jesus" was | | | | acknowledges New Agers for helping him find the |
| not the Jesus of the Bible. The real Jesus "Finished" His | | | | "New Light" which he actually believes to have |
| Work! (Jn. 19:30). The Apostle Paul specifically warned | | | | enhanced his Christianity: "I have followed those 'New |
| us of such false messengers: "But though we, or an | | | | Light leaders' . . . [S]ome of those who led [me] into |
| Angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you | | | | new light are: . . . Matthew Fox, Richard Mouw, Rowan |
| than that which we have preached unto you, let him | | | | Williams. . . . "31 In The Destiny of the Nations, Alice |
| be accursed" (Gal. 1:8). Remember, though, Satan's | | | | Bailey even defined the New Age concept of |
| "light" does not necessarily have to appear in angelic | | | | Christmas: ". . . Spiritually the Christmas season is about |
| form. Even the simplest sensation of enlightenment | | | | the light, the promise of the Divine, and the birth of the |
| could have come from an ungodly source. Not | | | | Christ Consciousness in the human heart inaugurating |
| surprisingly, then, "light" is a cornerstone of New Age | | | | an era of right human relations. This energy remains |
| teaching as well. | | | | ever with us, 'The Christ in you, the hope of glory' . . . |
| NEW AGERS | | | | During the 2000 years since Pisces has seen the |
| New Agers, in fact, refer to themselves as | | | | spreading of the light. Aquarius will see the rising of the |
| "light-workers." Warren Smith, former New Ager and | | | | light with Christ as the eternal symbol of both these |
| author of Deceived on Purpose, has described one | | | | great impulses. Humanity will move from the birth |
| particular experience he had with New Age "light." In his | | | | stages of the light within to the lifting of the life light in |
| book, The Light That Was Dark, Smith explained what | | | | sacrifice, as we become the Risen Ones. . . ."32 |
| happened during one particular psychic reading: "It was | | | | A FALSE BIBLE |
| toward the end of the reading that I first noticed the | | | | The New Age Mess "Bible" has also taken every |
| whirling sensation over my head. I tried to ignore it, but it | | | | opportunity to distort any Biblical reference to light, |
| wouldn't go away. It was a strange but not unpleasant | | | | rewording it to fit New Age doctrines. We will not |
| feeling that seemed to flutter and vibrate and even | | | | attempt to print all the Scriptures from "The Mess" |
| tingle above me. I was startled when Bonnie picked up | | | | Bible pertaining to this, but here are a couple of |
| on it. 'Are you aware that there is a ball of light over | | | | examples. |
| your head?. . . You are being shown that you have a | | | | Psalms 8:5 |
| lot of help on the other side.'"22 A best-selling book of | | | | King James Version: |
| the '90s, "Embraced by the Light" by Betty J. Eadie, | | | | For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, |
| describes the good and loving feelings which often | | | | and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Message |
| accompany mystical experiences with the "light."23 It is | | | | Version: |
| also important to note that New Agers consider this | | | | Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods, bright with |
| "light" their source of life as well as their god, hence, | | | | Eden's dawn light. |
| their frequent usage of the term, "God-Light" or | | | | Psalms 27:1 |
| "Life-Light." New Age Mystic Alice Bailey describes the | | | | King James Version: |
| "light" in this manner, "To this light the mystics testify, | | | | The LORD is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I |
| and it is this light into which they enter, and which | | | | fear? the LORD is the Strength of my life; of whom |
| enters into them, revealing the light which is latent and | | | | shall I be afraid? Message Version: |
| drawing it forth to potency. . . . This is the outstanding | | | | Light, space, zest - that's God. So, with him on my side |
| fact of scientific mysticism. God is light. . . ."24 On the | | | | I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. |
| slopes of Mt. Shasta California, Guy Ballard, leader of | | | | It is important to note, as well, that many pagan |
| the "I Am" cult, encountered a spirit guide known as the | | | | religions worship a "sun-god" and believe his "rays of |
| ascended master, St.Germain. Ballard says this spirit | | | | light" to be the life-giving source for the Earth and its |
| mentor gave him a "liquid-light" to drink explaining that | | | | inhabitants. The ancient Babylonian sun-god cult has |
| the liquid was as pure as life itself, coming directly from | | | | actually infiltrated nearly all false religions to this day. |
| the "universal supply."25 | | | | Islam has an interesting twist to this story. "Allah," the |
| ANOTHER JESUS | | | | god of Islam, is said to be the moon-god who was |
| Neale Donald Walsch, New Age author of | | | | married to the sun-goddess. The symbol of the |
| Conversations with God, describes his encounter with | | | | crescent moon is prominent in Muslim culture. |
| "god" as "some invisible force" which caused his hand | | | | Acts 2:28 |
| to write on its own. This phenomenon is actually an | | | | King James Version: |
| occult channeling practice known as "automatic | | | | Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou |
| handwriting," where one yields his mind to a demonic | | | | shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance. |
| voice. Of course, Scripture completely forbids any | | | | Message Version: |
| such practice, but Walsch unfortunately did not heed | | | | You've got my feet on the life-path, with your face |
| the warning, thus believing the voice he heard was | | | | shining sun-joy all around. |
| God. "He was amazed when 'God' immediately | | | | Acts 26:23 |
| answered his letter by speaking to him through an | | | | King James Version: |
| inner voice. That night, and in subsequent | | | | That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the |
| conversations, Walsch wrote down all of the dictated | | | | first that should rise from the dead, and should shew |
| answers to his questions."26 Even more disturbing is | | | | light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. Message |
| that one year after the events of September 11th, | | | | Version: |
| 2001, Walsch published another book, The New | | | | One, the Messiah must die; two, raised from the dead, |
| Revelations, which directly attacked the Saving Power | | | | he would be the first rays of God's daylight shining on |
| of Jesus. Walsch's "god" put Salvation into the hands | | | | people far and near, people both godless and |
| of man. "Walsch explained that 'God' was proposing a | | | | God-fearing. |
| post-September 11th 'PEACE Plan' that would help to | | | | In the next few examples we see the use of the term |
| bring the world's widely varying religions and belief | | | | "golden circle." Circles have always been an integral |
| systems closer together. . . Walsch's 'god' warned: 'Yet | | | | part of paganism and witchcraft and thus, the New |
| let me make something clear. The era of the Single | | | | Age as well. The circle has been used as a symbol of |
| Savior is over. What is needed now is joint action, | | | | the universe, to enforce the appearance of demons, |
| combined effort, collective co-creation.'"27 Marianne | | | | and to symbolize phallic sun-god worship in |
| Williamson, another well-recognized New Ager largely | | | | freemasonry. Also, rather than making Christ the |
| promoted by Oprah Winfrey, wrote a book entitled | | | | "Head" as the Bible teaches, the New Age tends to |
| Reflections on Love. Williamson's book was based on | | | | refer to Him as the "center" of something, like a circle. |
| A Course In Miracles by Helen Schucman, an | | | | 33 |
| Associate professor of Medical Psychology at | | | | Revelation 2:1 |
| Columbia University. Schucman had also experienced | | | | King James Version: |
| "god" through an inner voice, and this voice actually | | | | Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These |
| claimed to be Jesus! Schucman began, "receiving | | | | things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right |
| channeled messages from a speaker who would later | | | | hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden |
| identify himself as Jesus Christ. The messages began | | | | candlesticks. Message Version: |
| with the words, 'Please take notes,' this is not optional. | | | | Write this to Ephesus, to the Angel of the church. The |
| So Helen Schucman, an atheist Jewish psychologist, | | | | One with Seven Stars in his right-fist grip, striding |
| began writing and for the next ten years the voice is | | | | through the golden seven-lights' circle, speaks. |
| said to have dictated 'in an inaudible voice' over | | | | Revelation 2:5 |
| 500,000 words contained in the three volumes." And | | | | King James Version: |
| apparently the "Jesus" of "The Course" was not | | | | Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and |
| impressed with Christianity; in fact, it was his mission to | | | | repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto |
| change it completely. "The primary reason for the | | | | thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his |
| Course is the 'Correcting of the errors of Christianity. . . | | | | place, except thou repent. Message Version: |
| . To foster spiritual development through the study and | | | | Do you have any idea how far you've fallen? A |
| practice of, A Course In Miracles, a set of three books | | | | Lucifer fall! Turn back! Recover your dear early love. |
| channeled by Jesus . . . to teach the Course's | | | | No time to waste, for I'm well on my way to removing |
| reinterpretation of traditional Christian principles such as | | | | your light from the golden circle. |
| sin, suffering, forgiveness, Atonement, and the meaning | | | | |