Idols and Images

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

Chapter 1: General Information

Of all the Ten Commandments, perhaps the one most neglected and ignored is the second one. This is very strange. All ten are vital and binding. However, if listed in the order of importance, number two might rank ahead of those which have to do with relationships with other human beings.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord they God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (Exodus 20:4-5)

Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord they God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. (Deuteronomy 5:8-9)

It is significant that this is the only one of the Ten Commandments which specifically mentions that the sins of the fathers produce such serious consequences to children in succeeding generations. All sin carries curses from the sins of the fathers to be visited on the generations which follow. However, God calls special attention to this in connection with idolatry. (Remember that a generation is 40 years.)

The key words in the passage (all reference numbers are from Strong’s Concordance):

Graven: (#6459 Hebrew) carved
Image: (#6754 Hebrew) resemblance, representative figure
Visiting: (#6485 Hebrew) oversee, charge, bestow, avenge, commit, deliver, keep, lay up, have the oversight, punish, reckon

Shortly before Moses delivered the commandments to the people for the second time (Deuteronomy 5), he reminded them about the first time they were given. However, this time only the second commandment was emphasized.

And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto Him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day. (Deuteronomy 4:13-20)

Clearly, the images referred to will include: (a) male or female human figures; (b) animals of any kind; and the (c) sun, moon, and stars.

Note the key word here is divided: (#2505 Hebrew) meaning to apportion, deal, distribute, give.

The Lord gave the sun, moon and stars to all the nations. However, while other “nations” have made images and worship them, His own people are strictly ordered to abstain from having any such things.

The commandment begins by stating they are not even to make them because of the temptation to worship such creations. There is recognition also of the very real danger that, with the passage of time after making or acquiring images, it is only too easy to slip into the worship or veneration of them. At first, it is only an image, but later it may well become an idol. This is the reason for the strict prohibition against having them at all.

Moses continues to sound the warning about this before he delivered the law to the children of God:

Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. (Deuteronomy 4:23-26)

Chapter 2: Image and Idols

An “image” is a representative figure, a resemblance. An “idol” is something which is worshipped. Note that the commandment specifically uses the word “image”. The scriptures use both words.

Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, either rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 26:1)

According to this passage therefore, God allows for neither idols nor carved images. This verse definitely ratifies the commandment, making a distinction between an idol and an image. Even images which are not idolized are forbidden.

The key word is translated a standing image: (#4676 Hebrew) a memorial, column, stone, standing image or pillar. Standing images, as referred to here, are phallic symbols, representing the male sex organ. Phallic worship was common and still persists today in many parts of the world.

In the beginning these were merely stones or upright posts, but as time went by, they were shaped and carved. Eventually, they were fashioned into obelisks, pillars whose tops are shaped like a pyramid.

There is a much-celebrated obelisk in Washington, D.C. and another very famous one in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, along with many more. These obelisks also eventually evolved into towers.

Today, several pagan religions use towers in the form of minarets and pagodas. These are prominently featured in their architecture and religious symbolism. Standing images were usually located at the entry to a temple.

They found their way into the Christian churches in the form steeples. There is no real reason for the existence of these towers on churches. (Cf. The Two Babylons by Rev. Alexander Hislop; Babylon Mystery Religion by Ralph Woodrow.)

Two methods of producing images were identified in the scriptures; graven, which were carved or sculpted figures or stone or wood; and molten or cast images made of metal. The metal was melted and poured into a mold to cool and solidify. This method was used when Aaron made the golden calf. (Exodus 32)

Thou shalt make thee no molten gods. (Exodus 34:17)

Later, when Moses continued to give out the Law, he again emphasized the second commandment on idolatry:

Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the alter of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the Lord thy God hateth. (Deuteronomy 16:21-22)

The key word is grove: (#842 Hebrew) Ashera, Astarte, a grove, a Phoenician goddess.

Astarte (Diana, Aphrodite, Venus) was a pagan goddess of fertility, the moon and sexual love. It is said that “she makes towers in cities.” Her name, “Ash-tart” means exactly that. She was worshipped in groves and temple prostitutes served the worshippers there. These groves were groups of trees closely planted together or sometimes tree trunks or wooden poles erected in place of trees.

Chapter 3: Disposing of Images and Idols

In the following scriptures, the Lord tells His people what they must do concerning the idols belonging to the pagan nations they would encounter when conquering the Promised Land:

The shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. (Exodus 23:24)

But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves. (Exodus 34:13)

Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: (Numbers 33:52)

The key words are pictures: (#4906 Hebrew) a figure carved on stone, the wall or any object; conceit; imagery; picture; high places: (#1116 Hebrew) an elevation; height; high place (an elevated altar).

But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. (Deuteronomy 7:5)

The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. (Deuteronomy 7:25-26)

It is very clear that selling or giving away any images as gifts are also forbidden. Whatever value they may have should not be desired, and the only way to dispose of them is to destroy them. We should have the same hatred for them that God has.

These things are also cursed by God Himself. To bring such a thing into our house brings the curse down upon us. Our hedge of protection from God becomes damaged, leaving a breach through which Satan can come in to attack. Truly, “to obey is better than sacrifice.” (I Samuel 15:22)

And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and he shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. (Deuteronomy 12:3)

And in all things that I have said unto you to be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. (Exodus 23:13)

Chapter 4: Good and Evil Kings

The history of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel are recorded in I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles. The ruling kings are judged to be “good” or “evil” based solely on their adherence and obedience to, or their breaking of, the second commandment concerning images.

Solomon, son of David
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. (I Kings 11:6-7)

Jeroboam, King of Judah, son of Solomon
And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. (I Kings 14:22-23)

Hosea, King of Israel
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. (II Kings 17:2, 10, 33)

Under Hosea, the people feared God, yet still clung to the pagan images. It is quite possible that we are doing a similar thing today. We must forsake our shallow obedience and move into a heartfelt and joyful observance of that which gladdens the heart of the Lord.

Hezekiah, King of Judah
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan (which means a piece of brass). (II Kings 18:3-4)

Here is the case of something which had spiritual significance in the history of Israel. The brazen serpent should have reminded them of the peril of murmuring and complaining. It also spoke of judgment which God visited upon the disobedient.

However, as so often happens, a perversion developed and they began to worship the object rather than to remember the Lord. Remember this when people tell you that religious objects and mementos are only to remind them of spiritual truth or are “conversation pieces”. We are to worship the Lord “in spirit and in truth”. (John 4:24)

Remember that the Word of God judges the kings based solely on their obedience to the second commandment. Scripture describes the judgments of many kings. Read the accounts in the books of Kings and Chronicles. Also consider the following scriptures:

Isaiah chapters 10, 17, 21, 27, 30, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 48
Jeremiah: 8:19; 10:14; 50:2, 38; 51:47, 52, 17
Ezekiel: 6:4, 6; 8:3, 5; 7:20; 16:17; 21:21; 23:14; 30:13

Chapter 5: The Curse of Idols

The word pronounces a curse upon all who possess or have traffic with images and/or idols. Although God loves us, He will not abrogate His own Word just to accommodate our ignorance or disobedience.

This emphasizes the importance of careful study of the Bible. We need more than a superficial acquaintance with the facts. We need to know what the scriptures teach.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6)

Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:15)

And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. (Leviticus 26:30)

As mentioned earlier, a curse such as this implies that our disobedience can break God’s protective hedge around us, leaving us open and vulnerable to demonic attack.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. (Ecclesiastes 10:8)

A Word About Dolls

For a real surprise, read what any good encyclopedia has to say about dolls and their origins. Our root word for doll is idol. These originated in witchcraft and to this day, dolls are still used in it.

Do you suppose that the little ones who crowded around Jesus were clutching cute little dolls? Absolutely not! The children of Judah and Israel did not possess any likenesses of humans or animals. No teddy bears, cabbage patch dolls or Mickey Mouse!

Notice that the encyclopedia records that all dolls found at archeological digs were from Egyptian, Greek and other pagan cultures. Never did Israel or Judah permit the possession of such things except in times of apostasy.

Chapter 6: Images or Idols?

There is no doubt some figures are idols. Everyone can recognize a Buddha and know that it is an idol. In museums there are figures of clay, wood, or metal on display. Signs inform you that these are gods of certain countries or some remove civilization.

“Idols are the inevitable symptom of incipient decay. Go at autumn into the woods, and see how the members of the fungus tribes are scattered plentifully throughout the unfrequented glades. Where the shade is deepest, and the soil most impregnated with the products of corruption, they love to pitch their tents. Similarly, whenever there has set in upon the spiritual life the autumn of decay, you will be sure to find a fungus growth of idols.” (From Great Men of the Bible, Vol. I, by F. B. Meyer, Zondervan Corp., Grand Rapids, MI and Marshall Morgan & Scott, 1 Bath St., London ECIV 9LB England, copyright 1981, p. 94.)

Ladies, beware! It may be that you are especially susceptible to becoming ensnared in this sort of thing. It was beloved Rachel who could not bear to leave the little household gods of her father behind and put them in the baggage. They had to be surrendered before there could be any victory or peace in the camp.

Because of the extremely strong conscience placed in the male by God, the man is held responsible for ferreting out and destroying idols. And woe to the females who oppose this when it is scripturally right! She may indeed prevail by anger, weeping and nagging and hang on to the idols, but the consequences to her and the children will be terrible indeed.

Jacob was forced to flee before the alien tribes because of the terrible action of his sons. However, another reason was that very likely he had given in to the pleadings of Rachel to take the gods with her. Knowing what was right, he did not insist on it and deferred to his wife. Thus, by pacifying his spouse, he antagonized God by the presence of idols.

When there is failure and defeat, look for some hidden idols! Men must take the lead in this and search them out. No matter how Rachel may object and protest, bring out the accursed things and destroy them.

Jacob buried those idols right away! Had he kept or carried them with him, there would always be the temptation to bring them forth again. There was a mighty work of God among the Ephesians following the destruction of their demonic garbage in the marketplace (Acts 19:19).

The question arises, “How about other images? Are they harmless or harmful?” Some, especially the ladies, may protest loudly. After all, they are so attractive! There are little geese with ribbons around their necks, adorable ceramic kittens, and expensive porcelain birds, owls, frogs, dolls, etc.

Surely, these could not possibly be classed as idols! After all, we have no altars for them. We neither pray to them nor make offerings to them. All we do is dust them once in a while. They are merely conversation pieces!

Today, all over this planet, there are countries and cultures which worship animals and other creatures of all kinds. They have images of animals which are regarded as sacred gods. For example, the Hindus worship bulls, cows, monkeys, snakes, and many other animals.

American Indians worship eagles, bears, wolves, deer, turtles, pelicans and more. Various tribes in Africa, Asia and Australia are also heavily committed to idolatry and the witchcraft peculiar to their particular demonic religion.

Man’s history through the centuries has been one of complete identification with idolatry. Since God has so very vehemently forbidden it, we should expect that Satan has made it a special object of his cunning to entrap mankind.

Idolatry always involves the worship and veneration of images. In Egypt, cats were gods. There were sacred animals such as baboons, bulls, crocodiles and jackals. This is typical of other civilizations which have existed through history. The first chapter of Romans traces the downward march of humanity into the deception and the depravity which idolatry inevitably fosters and produces.

It is entirely possible that just about every animal under the sun has been worshipped as a god or considered sacred at one time or another through history. And it may be, that if you have images of animals, you could be harboring pagan gods and idols in your home.

You would do well to read the old classic, The Two Babylons by Hislop. On page 102 is a picture of a saucy little goose. There is an ornament around his neck and a little cupid is riding it. Hislop identifies it not only as a Babylonian god, but also as the Egyptian Seb and the Indian brahmany goose. Today, those attractive little ceramic geese are sold for home decorations. They are everywhere, on cookie jars, kitchen towels, etc.

These and other similar images have been distributed by the hundreds of thousands across the country. Perhaps some of these objects have found their way into your home. Of course, this is blatant disregard of the scriptural injunction and prohibition against bringing cursed objects into your dwelling place.

The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therin: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. (Deuteronomy 7:5-26)

If you want to have an animal, you might be better off with a real live one. There is no commandment against this unless you slide into inordinate affections and treat the creature as if it were a human being!

Chapter 7: My Personal Testimony

In July 1980, although I had been born again for three years, I knew I was not moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Something kept telling me that although He was using others, God had nothing for me. Even as I flew to a deliverance workshop in Chicago, these thoughts kept nagging at me. Others would receive deliverance, but not me, I thought.

A few months before, I felt in my spirit that I had demons and needed to seek for deliverance. The church I attended did not teach deliverance, so there was no help there. I asked my more mature Christian friends about deliverance, and where I could go to receive it.

“You, have demons?” followed by laughter, was the answer every time. “Why would you think you have demons?” they would inquire. “What makes you think I don’t?” was my retort. Next, they would relate a series of reasons: “You go to church all the time…you are such a good Christian…you read your Bible and even have a prayer meeting at your house every Friday…people like you don’t have demons!”

A friend called me about a book she found written by Pastor Win Worley of Hegewisch Baptist Church. I ordered the book and with it came an invitation to a deliverance worship, which I decided to attend.

It is hard to describe the services of the meetings since they were unlike anything I had ever seen. Then, although it was hard to believe, it happened! Demons came pouring out of me, talking and loudly speaking their names. I was receiving deliverance, and the Lord was setting me free!

Satan had told me that I would not receive deliverance, but it was a lie. Demons manifested and left screaming, terrified of the anointing in that church. All over the sanctuary this was happening. It was fascinating to see the entire Hegewisch membership ministering deliverance to the visitors.

One of the young women of the church approached me and took authority over the evil spirits, commanding them to leave me. I heard myself speaking in what sounded like an Asian language. It was certainly not my prayer language. The worker said, “You have a Buddha in your house!”

Of course, she had to be wrong, I thought. I said, “No, I don’t have a Buddha in my house. I would never have bought a Buddha!” She looked at me solemnly and said, “The Lord is showing me a Buddha this big,” signaling with her hands, “ and it is made of white ceramic.”

I was astounded! I actually did have such a thing, but I had never noticed that it was a Buddha! Now, the demon which spoke in an Asian language balked and refused to come out because of a stupid statue!

As she continued ministering, she asked, “Do you have any American Indian blood?” I told her that of course I did not, for I only had French and Spanish heritage.

“Well,” she said, “then you must have something Indian in your house.” This time I really put my foot down. I was sure that I knew what was in my house. Never had I felt an impulse to buy Indian blankets or artifacts. I did come into contact with them quite frequently as an interior decorator, but I had never purchased any of these items.

When I told her this, the worker refused to argue but pursued ministry for about two hours. So many spirits were flooding out of me that I lost count of them. She did tell me that as soon as I got home I must smash the Buddha and rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ before throwing it away.

In one thing I was right: I had not purchased this Buddha. It was given to me at a famous Japanese restaurant several years before. We had dinner there and I ordered a drink, which was served in a ceramic figure cup in the shape of a geisha. At the close of the meal, the waitress washed and packaged the souvenir cup for me to take home.

At home, I noticed that they had switched my bag with someone else’s, and I had this ugly old fat man. However, because it was a nice white ceramic, I decided to keep it as a vase for a flower arrangement.

The evening of the next day when I arrived home, I destroyed the image of the Buddha. I then remembered that as I would sit reading my Bible, often my eyes would be drawn to that image. Deep inside, something like a voice would say that this was an idol! However, when this happened, I would rationalize, “This is not an idol. I never saw this listed in any book as an idol…it’s probably just a figure of Japanese folklore…and that would make it an idol…but I was not worshipping it…I pray to God in that other room facing a blank wall…so everything is alright.”

I assumed these were my own thoughts, not realizing that the Holy Spirit was giving me a word of knowledge. It was a warning about having an idol in my house. My husband said that I went on a rampage because I did not stop with breaking the image of the Buddha.

I took down a Star Wars Darth Vader (Dark Invader) poster my son had on the door of his bedroom. Although I always hated it, I had ignored it for the sake of family peace. I had heard at the workshop that some demons manifested giving the name of Darth Vader!

There was no stopping me now. I took the poster to the backyard, placed it on the grass and it refused to ignite! I had to soak it in charcoal lighter fluid to make it burn.

I finished breaking, burning and rebuking everything I could locate which might have some occult or other demonic root. Late that night I sat with my daughter in the kitchen, explaining everything in detail. Starting at the beginning, I told her about the Buddha.

As I came to the question of the Indian blood, it hit me! I did have something Indian in the house after all, a contemporary full-length print of an American Indian. It was personally autographed serigraph by a very well-known native Indian artist.

After framing it, I had no place to hang it and had leaned it against the living room wall until I could find just the right spot for it. Sure enough, as I sat in my living room to read my Bible, my eyes would be drawn to gaze at the Indian. The thought would come to me, “Why do you have this Indian here?” I would think that it was because I could find no other spot for it. But the picture had remained there against the wall. Once again, it dawned on me that God had been trying to warn me about it.

I dashed from the kitchen table and took the picture from the frame. Now I knew that I had just the right spot for it. I tossed in the middle of my backyard lawn where the grass was about four inches high. The body of the Indian I soaked with charcoal lighter fluid.

He had a smiling profile and was wearing a feather headdress to his feet and was on a plain yellow background. After soaking the center part of the picture, I added more fluid. Pitching a lighted match on it caused flames to leap up.

After flaring up briefly, the fire died out. I approached again, armed with charcoal lighter fluid and matches. I look at the picture with amazement. It had not burned and was not even smoked. Even the match was just lying there with only the head burned and blackened.

Determined to burn the thing, I thought, half to myself and half to God, “Well, I guess I will have to try again!” But God flashed the answer to me: “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds!” (II Corinthians 10:4) Quickly, I responded, “Ok, Lord! I won’t use the matches or the lighter!” This popped out before I could think.

I found myself wondering what to do next. Then I remembered the anointing and the power of God I had seen repeatedly demonstrated at the workshop. I simply commanded it to burn in the name of Jesus Christ. I waited, wondering anxiously when it would begin, for it was late. My daughter was in the house and watched from a window, but my husband had retired for the night.

The Indian lay there in the grass, still not burning. I decided I had waited a reasonable time and again I commanded it to burn. Still nothing happened. I tried to figure out why it was not burning.

I decided I had not used enough “authority”. I took a deep breath and tried to come up with all the authority I had. “I command you to burn, Indian, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!”

Surely, now I had it right, and again I waited. I could not believe it. Nothing was happening and I was frustrated. I prayed urgently. “Heavenly Father, You’re going to have to send your fire from Heaven. This stupid Indian just does not want to burn.”

I was standing several feet from the picture. Suddenly, the tiniest of flames started on the ground, right off the soil, under the upper left corner of the picture. I was excited as the flame got stronger and taller. The corner of the picture began to burn and fire spread along the upper edge, blackening the paper and turning it to ashes.

Next, it started to burn evenly down both sides of the head of the figure. As it continued its downward path, something strange was happening: the big feather headdress was turning to ashes, but the Indian’s head was being spared. I was amazed. The burning continued down the body of the Indian and included all the yellow background, the feathers and the hatchet in his hand, but still did not touch the Indian’s body.

When the fire finally reached the feet, it turned up on the inside of the figure’s legs and met at the point where the legs separated. When the fire died out, the Indian had been spared as if someone had cut him out with scissors.

It is hard to describe my feelings at this point. I knew I was witnessing something absolutely supernatural. There I was, in the middle of the night, alone with that weird Indian figure that would not burn.

If I had been operating in the flesh, I would have run to the house. Instead, I was angry with this Indian. Wondering if Satan was making fun of God’s fire, I became furious. Hatred and indignation toward Satan and that stupid Indian boiled up inside of me.

At that moment I could have faced any materialized principality and would have charged recklessly against it. I practically shouted at the piece of paper lying at my feet, “Indian, you are going to burn in the lake of fire that God has prepared for you, but you are going burn right now, too!”

At that very moment all the edges of the figure burst into smoldering flames which moved rapidly toward the center, turning it to ashes. I remained there for a while, deeply moved by what had happened. After fervently thanking God, I went inside to sleep.

Chapter 8: The Consequences

At least two main demons gained entrance into me because of the images (the Buddha and the Indian) I had in my home. There may have been others also who were cast out in the deliverances I had following my image housecleaning. These two demons manifested but refused to come out in my first deliverance session because I had not yet done the necessary housecleaning. What you do not know can and does hurt you.

Frankly, I still do not know what the Buddha was doing to me as a demonic entity. Certainly he did nothing to help me. Recently, I again submitted to deliverance (nine years later) and I asked the worker to check on the Buddha spirit just in case he was still there. He was there and had to be cast out.

The evil spirit that came with the Indian is another story. During my subsequent deliverances, this demon had not left me, although he no longer had any legal right to remain in me.

He had not been thrown out because it did not occur to me to tell the worker to check on him. We were fully occupied dealing with the other one. It was truly a painful experience when this latter spirit began to act up.

About four or five years after the burning of the picture, I developed a dull chronic pain in my right arm. It was concentrated in an area about the size of a quarter. Day by day this pain escalated until finally I had to avoid moving the arm backwards. Any attempt to reach my back to close zippers or button dresses produced severe pain.

I fought it in the Spirit, praying and laying hands on myself. Nothing brought relief. In a woman’s prayer meeting, a sister told me that she had a word that a pain was afflicting me. Several ladies laid hands on me. As they prayed, I had to bite my lip to avoid screaming. The pain intensified and I felt as if something was tearing my flesh.

Tears streamed down my face and I understood the pain was wholly demonic. I was so relieved when they finally stopped praying. They thought my tears were from joy. I did not have the heart to tell them what really happened, for they would not have understood. I knew deliverance was the only way I would ever obtain relief.

The following week, Pastor Worley came to minister at a church in Beaumont, Texas. After the service that evening, I was the first to run up to the front for deliverance. Pastor Worley sat facing me and took my hands in his. He said, “Let’s ask the Lord what demon this is,” and prayed briefly in tongues. He looked at me and said, “The Lord tells me you have a werewolf demon.” I urged him to get it out fast. In Jesus’ name He commanded the demon to manifest and go. The spirit’s reaction was immediate and violent.

The thing was terrified of the pastor and caused my body to jerk. He pulled back as far as possible from the Pastor. At the same time, I felt my lips pull back, baring my teeth, and fierce growls from deep inside me snarled out of my mouth.

I was behaving like a cornered wolf, but managed to keep my eyes looking into Worley’s eyes, since I knew how demons hate to look into a deliverance worker’s eyes. As I glanced around, I remember seeing amazement written on the faces of some of the group gathered there.

It was not long before the werewolf spirit left. He threw my head back and came out in a long, loud screeching howl. Several days later, the Lord showed me that the evil spirit came in through the picture of the American Indian.

The wolf is an Indian god and an idol. When holding their ceremonies in the Kiva, the high point comes when they slowly change and transform into the expression of the animal idol of their choice. The same demon which enters them had come into me; in my case it was the spirit of the wolf. (For more information about American Indian witchcraft, read The Witch That Switched by Irene A. Park.)

It is interesting to note that the Indian ceremony and what occurs is so very similar to the Cuban Santeria’s “Bembe” ceremony. In this ceremony there is the drum-based music, eating, drinking and dancing with the images (santos). The Santeria is based on African voodoo. (See The Caribbean Santeria, Demolishing the Hosts of Hell, by Win Worley.)

Dancing around the table, the participant eats of the food offered to the particular santo (saint) by which he/she desires to be possessed. When it happens, the person falls into a trance with convulsions. To be chosen as the “horse” and to be entered and possessed by the demon is considered to be a great honor.

In similar fashion, New Age persons involved in channeling are also receiving a demon and feel privileged to be a vehicle for the dark powers. Whether you call them “ascended masters” or demons, they are the same thing. To invite them in is to invite darkness and disaster!

Chapter 9: The New Testament on Idols

Although we live under a New Covenant today, by no means has all of the Old Covenant been bypassed. From what has happened to me and others there is abundant proof that the Second Commandment is alive and well and definitely for today. It was never abolished or abrogated. Jesus said:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20)

They key word here is fulfill: (#4137 Greek) to replete or fill up (as a fishing net); to level up (as a hollow); to finish or complete (as a task); to be full or make full; to perfect; to supply (what is lacking).

Old and New Testaments heartily agree:

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. (II Corinthians 6:16-17)

Little children, keep yourselves from idols, Amen. (I John 5:21)

Note: This article only addresses the idolatry which is evidenced by actual physical idols and images. Other kinds of idolatry exists: money, success, fame, beauty, recreation, various possessions and many intangible things. These are equally obnoxious to God and open the doors for much demonic assault and invasion. Nevertheless, the message of God’s broken Second Commandment is very needful in our day of disobedience and powerlessness. Deliverance will help one to become free of all idolatry to follow the Lord.