Many people celebrate Halloween on October 31, because Halloween is part of their culture. They participate in Halloween activities and decorate their homes with Halloween decorations. The children put on costumes and go trick-and-treating. But what is Halloween? Because although many people, including Christians celebrate Halloween, many don’t know the history of Halloween and the spiritual significance of Halloween. They don’t know what happens in the spiritual realm during Halloween. Therefore, they are not aware of the danger of Halloween, but they consider Halloween an innocent feast. Should Christians celebrate Halloween and participate in Halloween activities? What does the Bible say about Halloween? What is the danger of Halloween that many people are not aware of?
What’s the history of Halloween?
The roots of Halloween are found in the ancient Celtic harvest feast ’Samhain’. Samhain marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter. The Celtic calendar marks this day as the beginning of the New Year. Samhain starts from sunset on October 31 until sunset on November 1. In Ireland, Scotland, and the Isles of Man, the people celebrated this ancient pagan harvest feast. During Samhain many pagan rituals took place.
Samhain was also a feast of the dead. The Celts thought, that on that day, the boundary between the visible realm and the spirit realm was so thin, that supernatural beings, spirits, fairies, and the souls of the dead, would visit the earth.
To ease these spirits and the souls of the dead and to ensure that they would leave the people alone, families would place food and drinks for them outside their doors.
What are Jack-O-Lanterns?
They made Jack-O’-Lanterns. A Jack-O’-Lantern is a monstrous carved pumpkins or turnip that function as a lantern. Although the sculpting and carving of vegetables was an ancient custom done by many people groups all over the world, the Jack-O’-Lanterns derive from the Celtic culture and go back to the 19th Century.
The Jack-O’-Lanterns represented the spirits of supernatural beings. They used Jack-O’-Lanterns to ward off evil powers.
On October 31, the people dressed themselves in costumes. They went from door to door, to recite verses and sing songs in exchange for food.
Their costumes were related to death. So that the people disguised and united themselves with the spirits of the dead and the souls of the dead. They became their representatives. When they went from door to door, they collected the offerings (food) on behalf of the spirits and souls of the dead.
By taking on the form of spirits and the souls of the dead, they represented the death. This way, they thought they would be protected against the spirits and souls of the dead. There was no difference anymore between those, who were alive and those, who were dead.
They became unrecognizable and equal to the dead. Therefore, they didn’t have to be afraid, that the spirits and the souls of the dead would recognize them, nor that they would possess them.
What is the meaning of the religious feast Allhallowtide?
Allhallowtide is a three days religious festival, that derives from Samhain (Celtic harvest feast). During the 8 Century, Allhallowtide became an official festival. During Allhallowtide, the people remembered the dead. The dead became the essence of this festival.
Several Christian denominations: the Roman Catholic church, the Anglican church, the Lutheran Church, and the Methodist church, still celebrate this religious festival.
The church in Rome adopted many pagan habits and rituals and applied them to the church. One of the reasons is, that they thought, it was a way to convert pagans to Christendom.
The other reason why there are many Celtic influences in the church is, that during the Roman occupation of Ireland, many Celts converted and became Catholics. However, they didn’t remove their pagan habits and rituals.
They became Catholics but kept their Celtic feasts, habits, and rituals and so the church became occult.
Unfortunately, this still happens in our age, when people repent and accept Jesus Christ as Saviour. People repent, but they don’t remove their old practices, habits, behaviors, and rituals. They hold on to their culture (Read also: Every culture disappears in Jesus Christ)
Allhallowtide consists of:
- All Saints Eve (Halloween) – October 31
- All Saints Day (All Hallows) – November 1
- All Souls Day – November 2
What is All Saints Eve; Halloween?
On All Saints Eve; Halloween, the dead, mainly the martyrs, are remembered. They also believed, that on All Saints Eve (Halloween), the veil between the visible realm and the hereafter, was so thin, that the deceased souls came to the earth to visit and possess people, just like the Celts believed.
The church in Rome also had Jack-O’-Lanterns, which represented the deceased souls of those who were in an intermediate state or place; purgatory. Those who died in the state of grace were on their way to heaven but had to undergo purification for their unpunished sin. So that, they would become holy and could enter heaven.
On‘ All Saints Eve’ they held church services, where they remembered the dead through prayer, incense, and burning candles. After service, they visited cemeteries and placed flowers and burning candles on the graves, in preparation for ‘All Saints Day’
What is All Saints Day or All-Hallows?
On All Saints Day, which is also called All Hallows, the deceased saints and martyrs are remembered and prayed for. They believed, that there was a strong spiritual connection, between those, who were dead and in heaven and those, who lived on earth.
These days, many protestant churches also participate and remember the dead and the deceased members of the church. After church service, they visit cemeteries, where their loved ones are buried.
What is All Souls Day?
On All Souls Day, the people remember all the dead. In many English towns, the practice of ‘souling’ took place. Souling was an event, whereby children and the poor went from door to door, to sing a song or to say a prayer for the residents in exchange for money, apples, soul cake, etc. The soul cakes represented the souls of the dead.
How did Halloween start in America?
Now you might wonder how Halloween started in America. Due to the large Irish and Scottish immigrant stream during the 19th century and their strong cultural influence, Halloween became part of American culture.
Nowadays, Halloween is the largest commercialized feast in the United States.
What are Halloween events?
On Halloween, many schools, societies, organizations, companies, amusement parks, clubs, etc. participate in Halloween and organize Halloween events. Halloween is not only a feast for children but also for adults. Many adults dress up in scary horrifying Halloween costumes and go to (lounge)bars, clubs, Halloween parties, etc., or they organize themed Halloween parties themselves for friends and/or family.
A few Halloween activities are ‘trick or treat’, visiting haunted houses, ghost walking tours, watching horror movies, playing divination games (i.e. ouija board game, Charlie Charlie (pencil game), tarot cards) consulting spirits, Wicca rituals, bonfires, etc.
What are traditional Halloween decorations?
Many people are not aware of the danger of Halloween. They decorate their homes and gardens with traditional Halloween decorations and symbols, which represent the dead. Some examples of traditional Halloween decorations are evil pumpkins; ‘Jack-O’-Lanterns, spiderwebs, scarecrows, skeletons, ghosts, bats, vampires, witches, or other zombie-like creatures in gardens and windows. There are even houses that turn their gardens into cemeteries with traces of (fake) blood.
Many companies, stores, and shopping malls, including Christian companies and stores, take advantage of Halloween. They make effective use of Halloween by turning their merchandise into Halloween-themed merchandise. Because that will increase their revenue. Stores and shopping malls are transformed into scary Halloween-themed stores and malls to attract as many people as possible.
Instead of Christians seeing the spiritual danger of Halloween and withdrawing themselves from this pagan holiday, many so-called Christian stores and suppliers participate in Halloween and open their doors for the death and darkness to enter.
Many are not willing or are afraid to rise and take a stand for Jesus Christ, by abstaining from Halloween and therefore they join the world.
What is trick or treat?
On October 31 after sunset, children get dressed in Halloween costumes. They disguise themselves as pirates, zombies, witches, magicians, skeletons, goblins, vampires, Dracula, superheroes (that have occult powers), cats, etc. They go In their disguise, representing the dead, from door to door with their lanterns to ‘trick or treat’. In some places, when people don’t participate in Halloween and don’t open the door for the children, they curse their houses.
In the northwestern and middle part of Mexico, they call ‘trick or treat’ ‘calaverita’ which means little skull. The children go from door to door and ask for a little skull (made of sugar or chocolate).
Halloween and ‘trick or treat’ gained popularity through the influence of the American social media and entertainment industry. Many countries worldwide adopted Halloween and trick-or-treat.
What is the spiritual danger of Halloween?
There are many more things to say about Halloween, but one thing is for sure. Halloween is the feast of the dead. Why is Halloween the festival of the dead? Everything revolves around one thing: the death. Death is the center of attention and honored and exalted during Halloween.
By decorating homes with evil scary Halloween decorations, people open the doors of their homes for the death and evil spirits to enter.
Children, teenagers, and (young) adults unite themselves with the death. How? By disguising themselves in characters, who are related to death and the occult dark world. By participating in the works of darkness, a spiritual transmission takes place.
And that’s not all! Think about all those Halloween activities, like horror movies, horror hikes, playing occult games, visiting haunted houses, performing rituals whereby they consult spirits, bonfires, etc.
The spiritual danger of Halloween is, that when you participate in Halloween you open the door for the death and evil spirits to enter your life.
It doesn’t matter if you say that you are a Christian. When you participate in Halloween, you enter the territory of the devil. The devil shall enter your life and eventually destroy your life.
born-again Christians see the spiritual danger of Halloween and don’t participate in Halloween
Born-again Christians, who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh, shall never participate in Halloween. Why not? Because born-again Christians are born of God. They discern the spirits and the spiritual realm and see the spiritual danger of Halloween.
Because they see the spiritual danger of Halloween, they’ll never open the door for the death and evil spirits to enter their lives, homes, and the lives of their children. They shall never try to Christianize Halloween in order to participate in the trends and customs of this world. Because they know that you can’t remove the spiritual origin and danger of Halloween.
Born-again Christians stay faithful to Jesus Christ. They stay in Him and represent Life.
They walk in the Light and abstain from the works of darkness; the world, where the death is king and reigns.
Born-again believers shall never become partakers of demonic powers and play with the death. Because they have been delivered from the power of darkness and death.
The death doesn’t reign in their lives anymore. Unless they return to their old kingdom; the darkness.
Born-again Christians walk in the Kingdom of God and represent life instead of death. They obey the Word and the Holy Spirit instead of the world. Even if this means, that they will experience resistance and persecution by their families, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and/or colleagues.
As soon as you compromise and participate in the customs of this world, that oppose the Word of God, you’re lost.
There is no grey area. It is either black or white. As soon as you enter the grey area, you’ve already compromised and engaged with the power and works of darkness.
Teaching your children good and evil
If you have children, you should teach your children the difference between good and evil; between the Kingdom of God (Light) and the kingdom of the devil (darkness). A child should be informed about the danger of Halloween and taught that ‘trick or treat’ is the work of the devil and not of God.
Remember, a child is never too young to understand. If you do not claim your child(ren) for the Kingdom of God and don’t guide and teach them correctly in the Bible, then the devil will claim your child and teach and guide them by children’s books, television, (social) media, gaming, etc.
If a child doesn’t learn from a young age to discern the works of God and the works of the devil, there’s a big chance, that when the child gets older, the child still won’t be able to discern the differences.
The child shall rebel against the Word of God and engage himself or herself with the world; the kingdom of darkness.
As a born-again Christian, you don’t celebrate Halloween. Nor should you replace Halloween with something else or Christianise Halloween. Y
ou shall abstain from Halloween because you see the spiritual danger of Halloween. The only thing you have to do is to take a stand for Jesus Christ and stay faithful to Him. (Read also: ‘The Christian sauce‘).
Although you live in the world, you don’t belong to the world anymore. You belong to Jesus Christ. Through regeneration in Christ, you have become an enemy to the kingdom of darkness. Therefore, you can’t walk in darkness and be a partaker of the works of the darkness. Your task is to expose the works of darkness and bring them into the light. (Read also: Destroying the works of God instead of the works of darkness).
Should Christians celebrate the Reformation during Halloween?
There are people, who say they are Christians, telling believers they should celebrate the reformation during Halloween. But this is nonsense!
Why do Christians have to celebrate ‘something’ on Halloween? We shouldn’t remember nor honor dead people. There’s only one Person we should remember and honor. There should only be one Person, Who should be constantly in our minds and that is Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, and no one else.
What does the Bible say about Halloween and the danger of Halloween?
What does the Bible say about Halloween and the danger of Halloween? Although the feast of Halloween and the danger of Halloween are not specifically mentioned in the Bible, the Bible is very clear about the Gentiles and pagan customs and rituals.
The Bible says that we shouldn’t be joined together with unbelievers. We should separate ourselves from the practices, customs, and rituals of unbelievers.
What does the Bible say about pagan customs and rituals?
When you turn to Christ and repent, you should renounce all pagan customs and rituals, that connect you with the devil and his kingdom (darkness).
When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeed them, and dwell in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hates, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it (Deuteronomy 12:29-32)
“They followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them”
They rejected His statutes, and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them. And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger (2 Kings 17:15-17)
Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver (Acts 19:19)
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand (1 Corinthians 10:7-8)
What does the Bible say about honoring and remembering the dead?
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
Paul wrote to the church of the Thessalonians, commanding them, that they shouldn’t mourn about those who were asleep in Christ.
He told them, that the unbelievers, who didn’t know Jesus Christ, were mourning and full of sorrow because they didn’t have hope. But just like Jesus died and rose from the dead, so shall God connect those, who fell asleep in Jesus Christ, with Him. (Read also: ‘Can you pray for the dead?‘).
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that died, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye (Ezekiel 18:32)
Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country. (Jeremiah 22:10)
God is the God of the living and not of the dead
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Matthew 22:31-32, Mark 12:26:27, Luke 20:38)
Jesus is the resurrection and the Life
Everyone, who accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, and repents of his old lifestyle, and walks according to the Word, shall enter Life. The person shall not see death, because Jesus; the Word says:
For as the Father raised up the dead, and quickened them; even so the Son quickens whom He will (John 5:21)
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die (John 11:25-26)
Verily verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death (John 8:51)
Let the dead bury the dead
And He said unto another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:59-60)
When Jesus commanded a person to follow Him, he asked Him, if he could first bury his father. But Jesus commanded him to preach the gospel of the Kingdom and not be occupied with the dead. Jesus told him: “Let the dead bury the dead”
The only Person we should remember is Jesus Christ
That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Jesus is alive! He rose from the dead! We should honor Him and remember His death, His redemptive work, and His resurrection until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We shouldn’t honor, exalt, and remember people, including saints. If you do so, then you will honor and exalt the death.
Jesus has defeated His enemy the death
Jesus has defeated death. He took the keys of death and Hades, which the devil stole from Adam. But the devil and death still reign on this earth. They have the ability to possess and captivate the lives of people. Because they are not cast into the lake of fire yet.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:26)
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15)
The devil, death, and Hades know that their final destination is the pool of fire. But until that time, they try to destroy as many people, by keeping them in the bondage of sin, which leads to eternal death (a.o. Romans 6:16).
The mission of the devil and his demons is to take as many people with them to their final destination; the eternal lake of fire.
They will try everything they can, to seduce believers and tempt them to sin. So that they will enter the way of unrighteousness, the way of destruction, which leads to eternal death.
On Halloween people honor and exalt the death
On Halloween, the people honor and exalt the devil and death. Death is the essence of Halloween. If you ignore the warnings of the Bible and the danger of Halloween and decide to partake in Halloween, you become a partaker of death. Death will become the essence of your life.
You’ll walk in (spiritual) darkness and be tormented by fear(s), anxiety, destructive thoughts, melancholy, heaviness, voices in your head, depression, suicidal thoughts, worry, unhappy feelings, (deathly) diseases, insomnia, uncontrollable anger, aggressiveness, violent behavior, etc.
You will be tormented in your soul and your body, by demonic powers. You’ll live under a spiritual heaviness, and be controlled by the evil forces of the kingdom of darkness. That’s the result of the choice you’ve made and ignoring the warnings of the danger of Halloween.
The only Person, Who can help you and deliver you from all demonic powers and the kingdom of darkness, is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ alone has defeated death and has the keys of death and Hades (hell). Jesus has the highest authority in the heavens and on earth.
The Name of Jesus Christ is above all other names. Therefore call upon the Name of the Lord and be saved. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and repent and let Jesus become your Saviour and your Lord.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
source: Wikipedia
