Is astrology permitted in the Bible? What about the wise men visiting Jesus when He was born?

People in our society are fascinated by astrology and horoscopes. Man hungers to have wisdom beyond their own and will search anywhere to find direction for his future. Astrology is an ancient divination art which is still practiced today and which believes that anyone’s destiny can be found in the relative positioning in the cosmos of stars, planets and sun. Horoscopes often try to predict the future of individuals born under a certain zodiac sign.

Does God’s Word approve these? Let us find out by opening God’s Scriptures.

* Isa 47:13-15 “All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. Here are no coals to warm anyone; here is no fire to sit by. That is all they can do for you — these you have labored with and trafficked with since childhood. Each of them goes on in his error; there is not one that can save you.” NIV

The prophet Isaiah didn’t think much about astrology. It is clear that none of the astrologers were able to predict the destruction of Babylon. Doom befell Babylon in one night and the city was destroyed. None of the astrologers were able to save it, as none were even aware of it’s upcoming destruction!

* Jer 10:1-3 “Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless…” NIV

Nothing could be clearer than this text: Astrology is counted as “worthless” to God!

* King Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful Babylonian king. One night he had a very disturbing dream. Dan 2:2 “So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed.” NIV

Surely the astrologers would be able to tell his dream. Couldn’t they predict the future? What was their response?

Dan 2:10-11 “The astrologers answered the king, “There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.” NIV

They were right that no man could reveal the king’s dream, even less interpret it. However why would the king consult astrologers who couldn’t predict? What good is there to consult astrology if it can’t predict the future? The king’s response was furious!

Dan 2:12 “This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon.” NIV

No mortal man was able to reveal this dream, except one: Daniel. Notice his response to the king:

Dan 2:27-28 “Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.” NIV

Astrologers could not reveal the true future to their own king. In fact their divinations ended up by being false, as the Medians and the Persians eventually destroyed the blooming city of Babylon.

However, why consult astrologers if we have our God at our side? Isn’t He the One who knows the beginning and the end? Isn’t He the One who knows everything? Rom 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” NIV Why not consult a reliable source than being disappointed time and time over again?

In fact the Lord is opposed to any act of divination.

Deut 18:14 “The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.” NIV

Lev 19:26 “Do not practice divination or sorcery.” NIV

1 Sam 15:23 “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.” NIV

Why?

Because astrology gives the power that belongs to God to stars, planets and the sun. They try to substitute the power of God. Shouldn’t God be our guide? Shouldn’t His Word be our directive? God promises throughout His Word that He will guide us. Why should we turn to astrology for guidance, if we have the Creator as our guide?

Ps 25:9 “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” NIV

Ps 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” NIV

John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” NIV

What better promises could we have? God is true and His Word stands firm. If we need direction in our life, we don’t need to rely to astrology and it’s promises. We can rely on the sure Word of God. He will be our guide!

Now, you may ask, what about the wise men who followed a star to find their Messiah. Didn’t they rely on astrology? Let us look a little bit closer to their quest.

Matt 2:2 “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” NIV

Yes, they were genuine in their quest. They came from the east with the desire to worship the “king of the Jews”. There is no doubt about that.

However some are puzzled that the star led them first to Herod and then to Jesus. Didn’t Herod plan to kill the Messiah (see Matt 2:7-8; 16)?

Also notice that nowhere in Matthew does it say that God approved and used astrology.

Also notice that they weren’t relying on astrology to predict their future or to have personal guidance in their own affairs.

Yes, the star led them finally to the “King of the Jews” (see Matthew 2:9). Notice the transformation that happened to the wise men after they had seen their Saviour face to face:

Matt 2:12 “Having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.” NIV

They weren’t relying on astrology but on God Himself for guidance and they followed God’s warning.

The Bible doesn’t contradict itself my friend. If it says somewhere that God is against astrology, you won’t find another text somewhere else where it says God changed His mind. In fact God Heb 13:8 “is the same yesterday and today and forever.” NIV We change, but He never changes.

Relying on God is a surer way to wisdom about your situation. Trusting God for direction leads to inner peace and to the assurance that you couldn’t be in better hands. Why don’t you invite Him into your life and ask for His guidance? His Word on your behalf will come true! It always does. He has always kept His promises and He will continue to do so. He wants you to be His friend. Stars, planets and the sun cannot be your friends. They are inanimate objects in the sky. God though is alive and He cares for you. Why don’t you accept him now in your life by answering His call at http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html. You won’t regret it!

Rob Chaffart

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This is a question coming in an age when everything is being polluted. Of course it is one of the signs of the end time as prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ before He left for Heaven. The following would, however, clear some ambiguity that heresies might have brought into the world. God bless you as you read with an open mind and have great understanding in order to fulfill your destiny.

Divine Condemnation of Astrology. A great truth is simply stated: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” including the planets of our solar system and the fixed stars in their constellations. (Gen 1:1, 16; Job 9:7-10; Am 5:8) In such grand creation, however, it was not God’s will that man make gods out of these things. He, therefore, strictly forbade his people to worship “a form like anything that is in the heavens above.” (Ex 20:3, 4) Astrology in every form was outlawed. -De 18:10-12.

THE THREE WISE MEN

The name given to the wise men, probably non-Jewish religious astrologers, who brought gifts to the infant Jesus.

”Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem” Matthew 2:1.

The writer Herodotus used the term to describe a tribe of Medes who were priests in the Persian Empire. “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm Daniel” 1:20.

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king Daniel 2:27

“Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing” Daniel 5:15.

Let us appreciate the tremendous way in which the Lord used Daniel. He was used mightily in the land of Babylon because he separated himself unto the Lord – Daniel 1:8. He was not corrupted. You can also be a vessel unto God in an area where His Name would be glorified if you release yourself to Him. God decided to use Daniel in that area because He made himself available as a vessel unto honour. How are you living your life? In sin? In adultery and fornication? Repent today!. Otherwise your lot would be in the lake of fire – Revelation 21:8.

Uses the original word for a class of wise men and astrologers who interpret dreams and messages of the gods. For Mathew, the visit to Jesus represents the Messiah’s relationship tradition called them kings

The kings of Tar’shish and of the isles will bring presents; The kings of She’ba and Se’ba will offer gifts (Ps 72:10).

(Is. 49:7)”Thus says the LORD, The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, To Him whom man despises, To Him whom the nation abhors, To the Servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, Because of the Lord who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel; And He has chosen You.”. They were therefore numbered three because of the gifts.

I will like to conclude that the Lord has released a lot of gifts into the church by blessing his body with divers kinds of gifts. We have the original in Christianity. Don’t go for the counterfeit. If go to any astrologer with a problem, he might complicate your condition to be worse than before. God has set his men with divers gifts in the church. Read 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14.

Have you been converted? Do you know Jesus as your Lord and personal savior? If not you need to do so, so that no one will deceive. Until you have come to the knowledge of the truth false prophets and even astrologers who are many in the world today might deceive you!

God bless you real good!

Rev Debo Adeyemo

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As far as the wise men go. Although the word magic is derived from the same root as magi, and magi are generally associated with occult studies, even in our modern world. However, these magi seem much different. There is no indication whatsoever that they practiced sorcery or claimed magical powers. Their recorded conduct is sincere, honest and worshipful. They appear to have researched the Old Testament very well and believed all of its prophecies about the Messiah. They apparently gained nothing material at all from their long journey.

As far as astrology goes. It in no way is, or was permitted by our lord. As Isaiah explains, the astrologer will not save anyone from their troubles. Looking to the stars is not where man’s hope and faith should be placed.

The prophet Jeremiah declared, “Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them,” (10:2). The Lord makes it clear that to look to the movements of the planets rather than to look to Him, is the action of the heathen.

All through history, man has searched the stars, planets and heavenly bodies for the answers to life’s questions. Throughout history, God has condemned such practices as heathen and vain.

Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee. (Isaiah 47:13). Here God is challenging astrologers and the like to save Babylon from judgment. He is mocking them.

All astrology is simply pagan. There is no justification that it is within the law of the Lord. Look to HIM not to other things. Otherwise it’s idol worship. It’s leaning on things other than the Lord for our direction in life. Astrology is just a sugar coated word for paganism. The next time someone asks me what sign I was born under, my answer will be “The sign of the cross.”

DeeDee

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The Scriptures strictly forbids the use of astrology, divination or observer of times to predict future events or to guide one’s life and is equated to consulting demons:

Deuteronomy 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations

of those nations.

18:10 There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

18:12 For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

18:14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so [to do].

18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Here is what God says about astrologers and stargazers:

Isaiah 47:10 For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I [am], and none else beside me.

47:11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, [which] thou shalt not know.

47:12 Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

47:13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from [these things] that shall come upon thee.

Daniel showed their inutility:

2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise [men], the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

However the study of Astronomy is permissible. God revealed to Job things about the constelations: Job 28:31-33

The Magi of Matthew 2 were not astrologers, but astronomers. They studied the appearance of new stars.

Psalm 19 says: “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day to day utters speech, and night to night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has He set a tabernacle for the sun which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race (orbit). His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit (orbit) is to the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” Psalm 19:1-6

Shalom in Yeshúa,

George W. Romer

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The Bible is several things, one is a historical representation of the times. Throughout man’s existence, the stars and seasons have played a large role in man’s early behavior. The wise men (we assume plural) were astrologists, who in their wisdom found the Christ child was being born. God used them, not the stars, as his bearer of good news. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” is the answer to this question. Astrology permitted as an ancient science yes, but not as a substitute for God.

B. J. Cassady