For it was [so], when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) . . . Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
1 Kings 18:4, 13

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."
1 Kings 19:1-4 (NIV)

And concerning Jezebel the LORD also spoke, saying, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field." But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.

And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all [that] the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house."
1 Kings 21:23

You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab all the males in Israel, both bond and free. So I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. The dogs shall eat Jezebel on the plot [of ground] at Jezreel, and [there shall be] none to bury [her].' " And he opened the door and fled...

Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "[Is it] peace, Jehu?" So he answered, "What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft [are so] many?"...

Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard [of it]; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window. Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, "[Is it] peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?" And he looked up at the window, and said, "Who [is] on my side? Who?" So two [or] three eunuchs looked out at him. Then he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down, and [some] of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot.

And when he had gone in, he ate and drank. Then he said, "Go now, see to this accursed [woman], and bury her, for she was a king's daughter." So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of [her] hands. Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, "This [is] the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'On the plot [of ground] at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, "Here [lies] Jezebel." ' "
2 Kings 9:7-10, 22, 30-37

"Praise be to the LORD my ROCK, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. HE is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me."
Psalm 144:1-2

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which IS the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on ALL occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, BE ALERT and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Ephesians 6:10-18

"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is lunatic and sorely vexed; for ofttimes he falleth into the fire and oft into the water. And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him." Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to Me." And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he departed out of him, and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart and said, "Why could we not cast him out?" And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief; for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, `Remove hence to yonder place,' and it shall remove. And nothing shall be impossible unto you. However this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."
Matthew 17:15-21

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him and enter no more into him." And the spirit cried, and rent the boy sorely and came out of him; and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could not we cast him out?" And He said unto them, "This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting."
Luke 9:26-29

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: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Acts 8:9-11

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Galatians 3:1

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Revelation 2:20-23



Why do most religious people turn their backs on people who claim to have special psychic powers? It seems that we could profit from using psychic powers, if we'd just be more open to them.

www.billygraham.org


Recently, I read a report from one European country saying that only four percent of the predictions their so-called psychics had made at the beginning of that year had actually come true. That's not a very impressive record!

But the main reason the Bible warns us against turning to those who claim to have psychic powers is that it can easily lead us into occult practices. Occult powers are real, the Bible teaches, but they do not come from God but from spiritual forces hostile to God. That's why we are warned to avoid them at all cost. The Bible says, "Let no one be found among you ... who is a medium or spiritist" (Deuteronomy 18:10-11).

Instead, I urge you to turn to the living God and let Him be your guide. Only He can forgive all our sins, and only He can give us hope for the future. And only He loves us with a love that will never change, and only He wants to guide us into good paths.

The Psalmist said, "He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (Psalm 23:3). Isn't this what we need, to be restored in our souls and guided in our lives? Of course it is. Don't look anywhere else, but turn to Christ and ask Him to restore and guide you every day.


Is it all right for a Christian to believe in astrology and discover God's plan for his or her life through a horoscope?

www.billygraham.org

Astrology is offensive to God because it attributes to planets and stars the power that belongs to God alone and because it tries to find the will of God by other means than God has appointed.

The fascination with astrology and horoscopes undoubtedly reflects people's search for a wisdom beyond their own and direction for the future. Astrology is the ancient belief that a person's destiny can be found in the pattern of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth. The "horoscope" is the chart that attempts to describe that destiny.

The Bible mentions the astrologers in the royal court at Babylon and their inability to tell or interpret royal dreams (Daniel 2:10-11 and Daniel 4:7). Isaiah the prophet spoke of astrologers with derision: "Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you" (Isaiah 47:13).

Astrology is offensive to God because it attributes to planets and stars the power that belongs to God alone and because it tries to find the will of God by other means than God has appointed. Throughout the Bible God tells us that He will guide us; read Psalm 23:1-2, 25:9,12, 32:8; Luke 1:79; and John 7:17. The Christian has no need of astrology with its futile hints, for he turns instead to the guidance of God's Word. For more information about astrology you might consult "Handbook of Today's Religions" by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart. It would be available through a Christian bookstore.


Do you think some people have the ability to forecast the future?

www.billygraham.org


Billy Graham writes, "The Bible warns us against becoming involved in any kind of psychic phenomena (including fortune telling)."

Have you ever kept any of those psychic's predictions, then examined them after a year to see if they actually came true? If you did, I think you'd have the answer to your question, because they seldom get it right. And many of their predictions are so vague anyway that they could mean almost anything.

At the same time, the Bible warns us against becoming involved in any kind of psychic phenomena (including fortune telling). The reason? Because such things may bring us into contact with spiritual forces that are not from God, and are even opposed to God. Throughout the Bible we are told to be on guard "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

The Bible teaches that occult forces will deceive us and lead us away from God, and we must not open ourselves to their influence. The Bible says, "Diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false; they give comfort in vain" (Zechariah 10:2).

Yes, we all have a natural curiosity about the future. But listen: Only God knows the future, and the most important thing we can do is trust our lives -- including our futures -- into His hands. Don't be misled, but commit your life to Christ today. God loves you, and when you know Christ, you can face the future with peace.


Do you think some people have the ability to foretell the future?

www.billygraham.org


Billy Graham writes, "Some magazines are filled with predictions about the coming 12 months. But how many of those will actually come true? Very few."

I sincerely hope you won't be misled by your friend's ideas, or allow yourself to be led down a path that will only lead you away from the truth.

Astrology and other attempts to predict the future were very common in the ancient world (as they are today), but God's people were commanded to avoid them. Why was this? One reason is because a person can easily get involved in occult practices through them -- practices that will turn you away from God. Don't take that risk!

Another reason, however, is that such efforts are often false, only based on a person's imagination. I am writing this just as we start a new year, and some magazines are filled with predictions about the coming 12 months. But how many of those will actually come true? Very few. The prophet Isaiah said about such predictions, "Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up" (Isaiah 47: 14).

Instead, I urge you to base your life on Christ and His Word, the Bible. Only He can forgive us our sins and reconcile us to God -- which is our greatest need. And only He can guide us in the right path, by showing us how to live. Don't be misled, but give your life to Christ and trust Him for the future.