Deuteronomy 18-19, Levitical Priests and Levites; Detestable Things; Yoga, Witchcraft, False prophets; A Prophet Like Me, Cities Of Refuge

Deuteronomy 18-19
The Levitical Priests and Levites;
The Detestable Things; Yoga, Witchcraft,
False prophets;
A Prophet Like Me
Cities Of Refuge
Sunrise photo by Gina Pardini.

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Valley Bible Fellowship
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Deuteronomy 18
Priests and Levites, Yoga, Witchcraft,
False prophets,

Let’s read
Deuteronomy 18:1-8
The Levitical Priests

Deuteronomy 18:1-8,
• NAU Deuteronomy 18:1 "The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of
Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat
the LORD'S offerings by fire and His portion.
• Numbers 35:1-33 gives us more info about the Levites and their
cities. They did not get a land grant (a portion), like our states,
instead they got cities including the pastures around the cities. These
cities were scattered though out all the tribes lands. Six were “cities
of refuge,” 48 total cities.
• NAU Numbers 35:2 "Command the sons of Israel that they give to
the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to live in;
and you shall give to the Levites pasture lands around the cities… 6
"The cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the six cities of
refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to; and in
addition to them you shall give forty-two cities.
5

Deuteronomy 18:1-8,
• NAU Deuteronomy 18:1 "The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of
Levi…
• Who are these “Levitical priests”?
• They are “the whole tribe of Levi”
• Joshua 21 tells us of the distribution of the cities. NAU Joshua 21:4 Then
the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And the sons of
Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, received thirteen cities by
lot from the tribe of Judah and from the tribe of the Simeonites and
from the tribe of Benjamin.
• So, the Kohathites, (sons of Aaron the priest) received cities in the
southern 2 tribes, including Jerusalem.
• The Levites serve the priests; Numbers 3:6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near
and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.
6

Deuteronomy 18:1-8,
• While it is true that the the Levitical priests, come
from and are the whole tribe of Levi, there is a
distinction made between priests and Levites;
• 1 Kings 8:4… the priests and the Levites…
• NAU 1 Chronicles 9:2…the priests, the Levites and
the temple servants…
• NAU John 1:19 This is the testimony of John,
when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites
from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
7

Deuteronomy 18:1-8,
• NAU Deuteronomy 18:5 "For the LORD your God has
chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand
and serve in the name of the LORD forever.
• How long will the priesthood last?
• Ezekiel 40-48 describes a temple which has never been
built but will be built in the future. The Levites will serve
their also.
• NAU Ezekiel 45:5…shall be for the Levites, the ministers
of the house, and for their possession cities to dwell in.
• Ezekiel 48:11-22
8

Deuteronomy 18:1-8,
The Future Priests, “the sons of Zadok"
• Ezekiel 40-48 describes a temple which has never been built
but will be built in the future. The Levites will serve their also;
• NAU Ezekiel 44:15 "But the Levitical priests, the sons of
Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of
Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to
minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me
the fat and the blood," declares the Lord GOD.
• NAU Ezekiel 45:5…shall be for the Levites, the ministers of
the house, and for their possession cities to dwell in.
• Ezekiel 48:11-22
9

Deuteronomy 18:6-8,
• Levites could choose to serve the LORD as priests;
• NAU Deuteronomy 18:6 "Now if a Levite comes from
any of your towns throughout Israel where he resides,
and comes whenever he desires to the place which the
LORD chooses,
• Judges 17:8-13 records the account of a freelance
Levitical priest hiring himself out. NAU Judges 17:10
Micah then said to him, "Dwell with me and be a father
and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver
a year, a suit of clothes, and your maintenance." So the
Levite went in.
10

Let’s read
Deuteronomy 18:9-22
Detestable Things

Deuteronomy 18:9
The Detestable Things
• NAU Deuteronomy 18:9 "When you enter the land
which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not
learn to imitate the detestable things of those
nations.
• What are these “detestable things”?
• NAS NAU …detestable things…
• YLT NKJ KJV …the abominations of those nations.
• NET …the abhorrent practices of those nations.
• NIVO … the detestable ways of the nations there.
12

Deuteronomy 18:9
The Detestable Things
• NAU Deuteronomy 18:9… the detestable things of those
nations.
• What were these “detestable things” then?
• Surely it included;
• Divination, witchcraft, omens, sorcerers, witches,
mediums, spiritists, idolatry, child sacrifice
• Now we should be concerned about; The New Age,
reincarnation and eastern religions (yoga, martial arts),
mystics, psychic hotlines, fortunetellers, tarot cards,
gurus, those that claim to be speaking to the dead, Ouija
boards, channelers, etc..
13

Deuteronomy 18:10, Witchcraft
• Deuteronomy 18:10 "There shall not be found
among you anyone who makes his son or his
daughter pass through the fire, one who uses
divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one
who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
• These are largely religious practices, but not
worshiping the God who created this world, LORD,
YHWH, but instead worshiping “the god of this
world” the Devil (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Apostasy in Merging Religions
Dr. Ron Rhodes says, “Let's talk about the apostasy of merging
other religions into Christianity.
• “Look at Christian Wicca. We are witnessing this merger
primarily among our teens today. This involves a blending
of witchcraft and Christianity. One young Christian
Wiccan teenage girl said, "I started studying the
book Earth Power which is by Witch Scott Cunningham,
and I started to dabble in some of its practices and a few
others. I purchased The Craft by Dorothy Morrison
and Wicca a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by
Cunningham. I found myself in a faith that I could truly
hold dear to my heart." How deceived!
• She did say, "I did however feel somewhat empty still.
Jesus had been a part of my life for almost three years
and has …

• …helped me become who I am today. I started looking into
Christian Wicca then." Then she says, "I followed the Wiccan
Rede." That's their ethical principle that says you shouldn't
harm anybody, "but also take the Ten Commandments to
heart greatly. 'You shall not hold any gods before me.' This is
one that people really don't get when it comes to my beliefs.
I believe that there is only one true God, and that all other
gods are part of the one. The Christian Trinity, the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, is also somewhat a reflection of this. I
view it as god, goddess (or the feminine quality of God) and
Jesus as all still being part of one being."
• Can you now see that we've got a big problem among our
teens today?...”
• The Sign of Apostasy: Merging Religions, The Christ in Prophecy Journal

False Prophets, Revival or
Apostasy? Dave Hunt
• First published in October 1997, “… To summarize, the scriptural
warnings foretell the very delusion we find in our day: 1) a
false signs and wonders movement led by many false
prophets; 2) many being deceived through these seeming
miracles; 3) the rejection of the biblical teaching
concerning apostasy, and the insistence that we are in the
midst of, or at least building up to, the "greatest revival in
the history of the church." The promise of revival will be
part of the last-days deception, Paul warns, so beware!
Instead, in the days preceding the Rapture there will be a
great apostasy, a falling away from the faith. Don't be part
of it!…”
17

Matthew 24:11,
Many False Prophets
• NAU Matthew 24:11 "Many false prophets will
arise and will mislead many.
• BGT Matthew 24:11 καὶ πολλοὶ
ψευδοπροφῆται ἐγερθήσονται [ἐγείρω egeiro, to
waken, to raise up] καὶ πλανήσουσιν [4105, πλανάω
planao] πολλούς·
• 4105, πλανάω planao, to cause to
wander…deceive… leads…astray…mislead…
18

International Yoga Day Supported
by 177 Countries
• “Prime Minister Narendra Modi might not be making history as the first Indian
premier to visit Israel until the end of the year, but one of his passions will be
saluted and highlighted in the country—yoga.
• The Indian Embassy is sponsoring a day of yoga on the first International
Yoga Day, a day Modi pushed for when he delivered his maiden speech to the
UN last September.
• “For us in India, respect for nature is an integral part of spiritualism,” he
said. “We treat nature’s bounties as sacred. “Yoga is an invaluable gift of our
ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action;
restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic
approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the
sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our
lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change.
“Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”
• Israel was one of 177 countries that supported the adoption of
International Yoga Day.” -www.jpost.com, 10 June 2015 19

International Yoga Day Supported
by 177 Countries
• Midnight Call, “The physical exercise, based on spiritualism, is
marching victoriously over planet Earth. It is not unusual to
see yoga classes advertised in church bulletins. In most cases,
it is “sold” as a helpful, physical exercise. But is it really? As a
source for additional insight on this practice, we offer Dave
Hunt’s book Yoga and the Body of Christ (Item 2224).
• What’s interesting is that the opposition to yoga does not
come from Christians, but from Muslims, “While Modi, a daily
yoga practitioner, had obviously hoped that this day would
promote harmony, there has been push-back to some of the
planned activities in India by segments of the country’s
Muslim population, which sees it as an affront to its religious
beliefs.” 20

Yoga is a sanskrit word that means yoking,
April 1, 2012, The Berean Call, thebereancall.org
Q&A, Question: “Recently I joined a yoga class for fitness and relaxation.
During the class, mantras are used. The teacher explained the meanings such
as "all is truth." Is it wrong to participate in these mantras? Can I just substitute
Christian words such as "Jesus"? Or should I not participate in the class at all?
Everyone I have asked seems to think there is no problem with this but I feel
uncomfortable and do not know why.
Response: I am glad that you feel uncomfortable about being involved in yoga. Drop
the class immediately! Yoga is the very heart of Hinduism. It is sold in the West as
science but in fact is religion. It is promoted in the West as beneficial to health, but in
the East it is a technique for dying. The goal is to reach moksha, allegedly escaping
the world of illusion (maya) of time and sense into liberation from the endless cycle of
birth and death and rebirth through reincarnation…
Yoga is a sanskrit word that means "yoking" and refers to union with Brahman, the
ultimate god in Hinduism. The goal of yoga is "self-realization," to realize that atman,
the individual soul, is identical with Brahman, the universal soul, i.e., that you and god
are one; indeed, that you are god but just don't know it and need, through yoga, to
discover this great "truth."
Your yoga teacher will probably deny all of this, but he (or she) cannot deny that this
practice comes from Hinduism. It was not invented in the West. Yoga was introduced
by …
21

Yoga is a sanskrit word that means
yoking.pages
Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita as the sure way to the Hindu heaven. Shiva, one of the most
feared Hindu deities, known as The Destroyer, is addressed as Yogeshwara, which means
"Lord of Yoga."
Hatha yoga, known as physical yoga, is alleged to be devoid of the mysticism in other forms.
Not so. One of the most authoritative hatha yoga texts, the fifteenth-century Hathayoga-
Pradipika, declares that Lord Shiva was the first hatha yoga teacher. As for the mantras, if one
of them means "all is truth," that should give you the pantheistic Hindu connection. You know
that all is not truth; indeed, this very idea is a satanic lie!
Substitute "Jesus" as your "Christian mantra"? No! Any mantra (like the Catholic rosary) violates
Christ's command to "use not vain repetitions as the heathen" (Mt 6:7). I don't know what
mantras you have been taught, but the fact is that true yoga mantras are all the names of Hindu
gods. Furthermore, the greatest yoga teachers all declare that the repetition of a mantra is a call
to that god (i.e., the demon it represents) to come and possess the meditator. I have
interviewed people who became demon possessed through yoga. The great yogis all warn of
the grave dangers involved, even though at the same time they promote the alleged benefits.
Yes, you could benefit physically from stretching your muscles, etc. However, the spiritual price
you pay is not worth it. If you are interested in physical fitness, then practice exercises designed
for that, not those designed specifically for achieving union with Brahman!… [see also Yoga and
the Body of Christ]. http://www.thebereancall.org/content/august-1998-q-and-a-2 22

Yoga, compass.org
QUESTION FOR THE DAY Today is April 5, 2012
Dear Compass, “Is it wrong for a Christian to participate in Yoga classes? I've
heard it both ways. Some say that it is participating in Eastern Mysticism.
Some say that it is as harmless as eating Italian food and not becoming an
Italian. I have never partaken, so I don't know what it is about, although I
know that visualization is part of it. Couldn't someone just visualize about
Jesus and heaven?
ANSWER:
Doing Yoga and visualizing Jesus is no different than accepting an invitation
from Satan to an art class just because you wanted to learn how to draw.
Christians shouldn't go near Yoga. Yoga is a form of meditation/prayer from
Eastern Mysticism. It is one of the six major Hindu philosophical systems to
be followed in order to obtain union (or Yoga) with the ultimate, the "Great,"
all-pervading "Soul." Practicing disciplined Yoga is believed to be the path to
the realization of the good within, the "true self."
The scriptural violations of Yoga are too…
23

Yoga, compass.org
numerous to list. In summary, Yoga is self-centered, not Christ-
centered. Satan never says "Hey, you, worship this idol." Rather, he
uses disguises, so as not to scare off those who are less mature in the
Word of God.
. . . even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is
not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of
righteousness. —2 Corinthians 11:14-15 …
Some people claim they are just "stretching" and doing "breathing
exercises." If this is what you are looking for, you should just take a
stretch class. Too many non-Christians and immature Christians are
sucked into full-blown Yoga under these same auspices. Their
compromises may eventually cause them harm, or worse, lead them
into a false faith.
Keeping faith . . . which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in
regard to their faith. —1 Timothy 1:19 …”, [Matthew 12:43]
24

Deuteronomy 18:15
A Prophet Like Me
• NAU Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a
prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall
listen to him.
• Who could that possibly be referring to?
• Not John the Baptist; NAU John 1:21 They asked him, "What then? Are
you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he
answered, “No."
• NAU John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
• NAU John 6:14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had
performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the
world.”
• NAU John 7:40 Some of the people therefore, when they heard these
words, were saying, "This certainly is the Prophet." 25

Deuteronomy 18:15
A Prophet Like Me
• Unger’s Commentary on the Old Testament, pg
257, lists seven ways that Moses was a type of
Christ as Prophet;
• (1) “His life was spared in infancy (Exodus 2:1 – 10;
Matthew 2:1 – 23, (2) He emptied himself
(Philippians 2:5 – 9), for he renounced a royal court
to identify himself with his enslaved brothers,
becoming a deliver and a savior (Ex. 2:1 – 15; 3:10
– 12). (3) He was faithful (Heb. 3:2), and full of
compassion and love (Num. 27:17; Matt. 9:36)…
26

Deuteronomy 18:15
A Prophet Like Me
• (4) he spoke with God face-to-face, reflecting
the divine glory (Exod. 34:33 – 34; Num. 12:8; 2
Cor. 3:7). (5) He was a mighty prophet in word
and deed (Cf. Luke 24:19), a revealer of God’s
will and purpose (6:1; Rev. 1:1). (6) He was a
mediator of the covenant (29:1; Heb. 8:6-7). (7)
he was the leader of the people (cf. Isa.
55:4)…”
27

Deuteronomy 18:20,
False Prophets Would Die Then
• NAU Deuteronomy 18:20 'But the prophet
who speaks a word presumptuously in My
name which I have not commanded him to
speak, or which he speaks in the name of
other gods, that prophet shall die.’
• If the theocratic Kingdom existed now, much
of the religious broadcasting would not have
speakers. Almost all of the cults and false
religions would be without leaders.
28

Deuteronomy 18:22,
Do Not Fear False Prophets
• NAU Deuteronomy 18:22 "When a prophet
speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing
does not come about or come true, that is the
thing which the LORD has not spoken. The
prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you
shall not be afraid of him.
• Turn on your TV and you can hear many false
prophets.
• The biggest lie out there is evolution…
29

Deuteronomy 18:22, Evolutionary
Prediction Fails
• http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcri
pts/evolutionary-prediction-fails-1
• You and I should be able to leap tall buildings or
lift them.
30Photo: Hero shrew. Courtesy of J.A. Allen, Herbet Lang, James Paul Chapin. (PD)

Prediction Fails
• “…If man is the result of billions of years of evolution from the simplest of
creatures, evolution predicts that man should have retained most, if not all, of the
best abilities of those other creatures in his heritage. According to evolution, our
ape-like ancestors had opposing toes, just as we have opposing thumbs. If we had
retained those opposing toes, we could pick things up without bending over. The
female chimp can pull 1,260 pounds with one arm. That would be a pretty handy
facility. And then, there is the hero shrew of Uganda, just six inches long, but it can
support the weight of a one hundred and sixty pound man on its back! Even the
lowly snail can pull up to 200 times its own weight, and lift ten times its weight.
Then what about the trilobite, right at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder and
supposedly extinct for 300 million years? This little fellow had the most
sophisticated eye lenses, actually double lenses, ever found in nature! Since all of
these abilities would be greatly beneficial for us, why didn't evolution let us keep
or develop these abilities as we evolved? The answer is simple. We have not
evolved. Rather, we have been made by a Creator Who made us for the purpose
of a relationship with Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.”
• http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/evolutionary-prediction-fails-1
31

Let’s read
Deuteronomy 19:1-13
Cities Of Refuge, God lovingly provides for six
cities of refuge.

Deuteronomy 19:1-13
Cities Of Refuge
• God is just, and so He provides for six cities of refuge where
someone who unintentionally killed another could be safe,
however they would no longer have peaceful possession of
the land of their inheritance. For the NT Jews this provided an
escape for them. Peter announced this refuge to them in
Jesus Christ; NAU Acts 3:15-17 “…put to death the Prince of
life,…And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance,
just as your rulers did also.
• For we gentiles this provides an escape for us also in God our
refuge, Jesus Christ; NAU Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying,
"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are
doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among
themselves.” [Acts 4:27]
34

Deuteronomy 19:1-13
God is our City Of Refuge
• NAU Hebrews 6:18…God…we who have taken refuge would
have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before
us… 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having
become a high priest forever according to the order of
Melchizedek.
• NAU 2 Samuel 22:3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My
shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my
refuge; My savior, You save me from violence. [Isa 43:10-11, 1Cor.
10:4…that Rock was Christ]
• NAU Psalm 18:2…My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My
shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
• NAU Zephaniah 3:12…they will take refuge in the name of the
LORD.
35

Deuteronomy 19:11, Murder
• NAU Deuteronomy 19:11 "But if there is a
man who hates his neighbor and lies in wait
for him and rises up against him and strikes
him so that he dies, and he flees to one of
these cities, 12 then the elders of his city shall
send and take him from there and deliver him
into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he
may die.
36

Deuteronomy 19:15-21
Our Judicial System And Laws
• NAU Deuteronomy 19:15 "A single witness shall not
rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or
any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of
two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.
• Much of our judicial system and laws of evidence
comes directly out of the book of Deuteronomy.
• The reason for capital punishment is given in; NAU
Deuteronomy 19:20 "The rest will hear and be
afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing
among you.
37

• “Look at Christian Wicca. We are witnessing this merger primarily among our teens today. This
involves a blending of witchcraft and Christianity. One young Christian Wiccan teenage girl said, "I
started studying the book Earth Power which is by Witch Scott Cunningham, and I started to dabble
in some of its practices and a few others. I purchased The Craft by Dorothy Morrison and Wicca a
Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Cunningham. I found myself in a faith that I could truly hold
dear to my heart." How deceived!
• She did say, "I did however feel somewhat empty still. Jesus had been a part of my life for almost
three years and has helped me become who I am today. I started looking into Christian Wicca then."
Then she says, "I followed the Wiccan Rede." That's their ethical principle that says you shouldn't
harm anybody, "but also take the Ten Commandments to heart greatly. 'You shall not hold any gods
before me.' This is one that people really don't get when it comes to my beliefs. I believe that there
is only one true God, and that all other gods are part of the one. The Christian Trinity, the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, is also somewhat a reflection of this. I view it as god, goddess (or the feminine
quality of God) and Jesus as all still being part of one being."
• Can you now see that we've got a big problem among our teens today?...”
• The Sign of Apostasy: Merging Religions, The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Prediction Fails
• “…If man is the result of billions of years of evolution from the simplest of creatures,
evolution predicts that man should have retained most, if not all, of the best abilities of
those other creatures in his heritage. According to evolution, our ape-like ancestors had
opposing toes, just as we have opposing thumbs. If we had retained those opposing toes,
we could pick things up without bending over. The female chimp can pull 1,260 pounds
with one arm. That would be a pretty handy facility. And then, there is the hero shrew of
Uganda, just six inches long, but it can support the weight of a one hundred and sixty
pound man on its back! Even the lowly snail can pull up to 200 times its own weight, and
lift ten times its weight. Then what about the trilobite, right at the bottom of the
evolutionary ladder and supposedly extinct for 300 million years? This little fellow had the
most sophisticated eye lenses, actually double lenses, ever found in nature! Since all of
these abilities would be greatly beneficial for us, why didn't evolution let us keep or
develop these abilities as we evolved? The answer is simple. We have not evolved. Rather,
we have been made by a Creator Who made us for the purpose of a relationship with
Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.
• http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/evolutionary-prediction-fails-1
41

False Prophets, Revival or
Apostasy? Dave Hunt
• Feature Article - Dave Hunt
• Revival or Apostasy?
• Knowing that we are in the last of the last days, with an imminent Rapture a very real hope, our thoughts often (and
indeed should) turn to the signs that Christ said would herald the nearness of His return. The signs that are most widely
cited include "wars and rumours of wars...[when] nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom...and...famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes...these are the beginning of sorrows" (Mt 24:6-8).
•
• Unquestionably, these specific "sorrows" have been both prominent and accelerating since Israel again became a nation
in 1948. Since that time, the intensity and frequency of these signs have increased like the birth pangs of a woman
approaching her time of delivery, exactly as Christ foretold. However, the first sign that Christ gave has been largely
overlooked and His solemn warning neglected:
•
• And Jesus answered and said...Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many....And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many....For there shall arise false Christs,
and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the
very elect. (Mt 24:4,5,11,24) [Emphasis added.]
•
• Concern for this prophesied deception has marked this ministry. Let us take a closer look at the religious deception that
Christ foretold. He issued a warning: "Take heed [beware] that no man deceive you." Its seriousness is emphasized by
being thrice stated. Its nature is specified: false Christs, false prophets, and false signs and wonders. His repetition four
times of the word "many" indicates a worldwide deception of multitudes.
•
• Paul issued a similar warning: "Let no man deceive you by any means...." He explains that the spiritual deception to
which Christ referred will infect the professing church. That is evident from his words "falling away," or apostasy: 42

Yoga
• International Yoga Day Supported by 177 Countries
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi might not be making history as the first Indian premier to visit Israel until the end of the
year, but one of his passions will be saluted and highlighted in the country—yoga.
• The Indian Embassy is sponsoring a day of yoga on the first International Yoga Day, a day Modi pushed for when he
delivered his maiden speech to the UN last September.
• “For us in India, respect for nature is an integral part of spiritualism,” he said. “We treat nature’s bounties as sacred.
• “Yoga is an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint
and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise
but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating
consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change.
• “Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”
• Israel was one of 177 countries that supported the adoption of International Yoga Day.
• -www.jpost.com, 10 June 2015
• The physical exercise, based on spiritualism, is marching victoriously over planet Earth. It is not unusual to see yoga
classes advertised in church bulletins. In most cases, it is “sold” as a helpful, physical exercise. But is it really? As a source
for additional insight on this practice, we offer Dave Hunt’s book Yoga and the Body of Christ (Item 2224).
• What’s interesting is that the opposition to yoga does not come from Christians, but from Muslims, “While Modi, a daily
yoga practitioner, had obviously hoped that this day would promote harmony, there has been push-back to some of the
planned activities in India by segments of the country’s Muslim population, which sees it as an affront to its religious
beliefs.”
• 6048
43

Yoga is a sanskrit word that means
yoking.pages
April 1, 2012, The Berean Call customerservice@thebereancall.org via thebereancall.ccsen
Q&A
Question: Recently I joined a yoga class for fitness and relaxation. During the class, mantras are used. The teacher explained the meanings such as "all is truth." Is it wrong to participate in these mantras? Can I just substitute Christian words such as "Jesus"? Or should I not
participate in the class at all? Everyone I have asked seems to think there is no problem with this but I feel uncomfortable and do not know why.
Response: I am glad that you feel uncomfortable about being involved in yoga. Drop the class immediately! Yoga is the very heart of Hinduism. It is sold in the West as science but in fact is religion. It is promoted in the West as beneficial to health, but in the East it is a technique for dying. The
goal is to reach moksha, allegedly escaping the world of illusion (maya) of time and sense into liberation from the endless cycle of birth and death and rebirth through reincarnation.
The latter is another of Satan's appealing lies that offers endless chances by denying God's declaration that it is "appointed unto man once to die" (Heb 9:27). Many Roman Catholic priests and nuns practice yoga, and some who have become deeply involved in Eastern mysticism of various
kinds, such as Thomas Merton, are highly honored among Catholics.
Yoga is a sanskrit word that means "yoking" and refers to union with Brahman, the ultimate god in Hinduism. The goal of yoga is "self-realization," to realize that atman, the individual soul, is identical with Brahman, the universal soul, i.e., that you and god are one; indeed, that you are god but just
don't know it and need, through yoga, to discover this great "truth."
Your yoga teacher will probably deny all of this, but he (or she) cannot deny that this practice comes from Hinduism. It was not invented in the West. Yoga was introduced by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita as the sure way to the Hindu heaven. Shiva, one of the most feared Hindu deities,
known as The Destroyer, is addressed as Yogeshwara, which means "Lord of Yoga."
Hatha yoga, known as physical yoga, is alleged to be devoid of the mysticism in other forms. Not so. One of the most authoritative hatha yoga texts, the fifteenth-century Hathayoga-Pradipika, declares that Lord Shiva was the first hatha yoga teacher. As for the mantras, if one of them means "all
is truth," that should give you the pantheistic Hindu connection. You know that all is not truth; indeed, this very idea is a satanic lie!
Substitute "Jesus" as your "Christian mantra"? No! Any mantra (like the Catholic rosary) violates Christ's command to "use not vain repetitions as the heathen" (Mt 6:7). I don't know what mantras you have been taught, but the fact is that true yoga mantras are all the names of Hindu gods.
Furthermore, the greatest yoga teachers all declare that the repetition of a mantra is a call to that god (i.e., the demon it represents) to come and possess the meditator. I have interviewed people who became demon possessed through yoga. The great yogis all warn of the grave dangers
involved, even though at the same time they promote the alleged benefits.
Yes, you could benefit physically from stretching your muscles, etc. However, the spiritual price you pay is not worth it. If you are interested in physical fitness, then practice exercises designed for that, not those designed specifically for achieving union with Brahman!
One of the most popular forms of yoga in the West is Transcendental Meditation (TM). Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at first introduced TM to the West as a Hindu religious practice. He openly taught that its purpose was to produce in the meditators' bodies "soma," a legendary substance that would
allegedly feed and awaken the pantheon of Hindu gods. But when TM was excluded from public schools and government funding, Maharishi quickly and dishonestly deleted all reference to religion and began presenting TM as pure science. Such deliberate deceit says much about Maharishi's
integrity. Nothing was changed except the labels.
Former TM’ers have filed lawsuits asking millions of dollars in damages because of the traumas they suffered through the practice of TM. More recently, TM has practically taken over the town of Fairfield, Iowa, where Maharishi University of Management is located.
The latest push in the promotion of TM comes from television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz. This protégé of Oprah Winfrey is a national spokesman for Transcendental Meditation, as well as being a medical advisor/teacher in Rick Warren's "Daniel Plan," an alleged biblical health and fitness
program begun at Saddleback Church. The curriculum features occult meditation advocated by Oz and two other medical consultants [see also Yoga and the Body of Christ].
QUESTION FOR THE DAY Today is April 5, 2012
Dear Compass,
Is it wrong for a Christian to participate in Yoga classes? I've heard it both ways. Some say that it is participating in Eastern Mysticism. Some say that it is as harmless as eating Italian food and not becoming an Italian. I have never partaken, so I don't know what it is about, although I know that
visualization is part of it. Couldn't someone just visualize about Jesus and heaven?
ANSWER:
Doing Yoga and visualizing Jesus is no different than accepting an invitation from Satan to an art class just because you wanted to learn how to draw. Christians shouldn't go near Yoga. Yoga is a form of meditation/prayer from Eastern Mysticism. It is one of the six major Hindu philosophical
systems to be followed in order to obtain union (or Yoga) with the ultimate, the "Great," all-pervading "Soul." Practicing disciplined Yoga is believed to be the path to the realization of the good within, the "true self."
The scriptural violations of Yoga are too numerous to list. In summary, Yoga is self-centered, not Christ-centered. Satan never says "Hey, you, worship this idol." Rather, he uses disguises, so as not to scare off those who are less mature in the Word of God.
. . . even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. —2 Corinthians 11:14-15
Why look to Satan for your answer when God has already given you the answer?
. . . whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. —Philippians 4:8
God wants you to ask Him for help in every area. You have, incredibly, direct access to the God of the universe—why go anywhere else?
. . . let your requests be made known to God. —Philippians 4:6
. . . casting all your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7
Some people claim they are just "stretching" and doing "breathing exercises." If this is what you are looking for, you should just take a stretch class. Too many non-Christians and immature Christians are sucked into full-blown Yoga under these same auspices. Their compromises may eventually
cause them harm, or worse, lead them into a false faith.
Keeping faith . . . which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. —1 Timothy 1:19
***********************
Additional thoughts on yoga: My pastor took a side-journey during his message a couple of weeks ago with a piece of commentary on yoga that I thought was worth passing on. He mentioned that one of the first things they teach you in yoga is to “empty your mind” and he tied that to the
following scripture in Matthew 12 (I bolded and underlined the key word “empty”… 43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty,
swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
44

• When the Lord your God will enlarge your borders, as He has sworn to
your forefathers, and will give you theentire land which He has promised
to give to your ancestors.
• DEUTERONOMY (19:8)
• Shabbat Inspiration
• In this week's Bible portion, Deut. 16-21, we read “Parshat Shoftim” which
discusses the restrictions placed by the Torah on a king of Israel. The
restrictions are all meant to remind the leadership of the true source of
Israel’s strength - God above. Our political leaders would do well to follow
the guidelines for the kings of Israel, to ensure their righteousness and the
absence of corruption in their kingdom.
• Today's Jerusalem Photo
• Today's photo by Yehuda Poch shows a great shot of the Israeli Knesset
taken from the Jerusalem Rose Graden. Therein many laws are decided
upon

Deuteronomy 19:21 Leviticus 24 Exodus 21
tooth for tooth
• http://www.lonang.com/curriculum/4/s42.htm
• Deuteronomy 19:21 "Thus you shall not show pity:
life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for
hand, foot for foot.
• Exodus 21:24 tooth for tooth, tooth for tooth, hand
for hand, foot for foot,
• Leviticus 24:20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye,
tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it
shall be inflicted on him.

Leviticus 2:1-8, ’Astonishing’: Oldest Biblical Text
Since Dead Sea Scrolls Discovered in Israel
• JERUSALEM — American and Israeli archaeologists and researchers have announced that they have deciphered what they
believe is the oldest biblical text discovered since the finding of the Dead Sea scrolls.
• “This is a really big discovery,” Pnina Shor, curator at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said during a press conference on
Monday.
• The charred 1,500 year-old parchment had been discovered in 1970 among the remains of the ancient Ein Gedi
synogogue, located on the shore of the Dead Sea. David had once sought refuge in the caves of Ein Gedi when he was
being hunted by King Saul.
• However, at the time, forensics could not decipher script on the scroll. But now, through the use of medical and digital
technology, it has been found that the parchment contains the first eight verses of the second chapter of the Book of
Leviticus.
• “The most advanced technologies allowed us to virtually unroll a scroll, part of a bible, from about 1,500 years ago,” Shor
said.
• According to reports, the Israeli medical company Merkel Technologies had volunteered to use its micro-CT scanner to
obtain 3D scans of the parchment. The scans were then sent to the University of Kentucky, where professor Brent Seales
assisted with providing further images using the university’s digital imaging software.
• The Israel Antiquities Authority’s Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory in Jerusalem then worked to decipher the text on the
parchment fragment, and noted that it contained biblical text.
• Connect with Christian News
• “We need to compare this material with on the one hand the Dead Sea Scrolls, which is few centuries younger … and the
Aleppo codex which is four centuries later,” Shor stated. “So in that sense, its unbelievable. And this is why I said with all
the excitement of working with these Dead Sea scrolls that was astonishing.”
• The entire Ein Gedi settlement is believed to have been destroyed by fire during the Byzantine Period, and none of those
who fled returned to salvage any items that might have been buried in the rubble. In addition to the parchment, a bronze
menorah and over 3,000 coins were found in the remains of the city 40 years ago. 47

Deuteronomy 18-19, Levitical Priests and Levites; Detestable Things; Yoga, Witchcraft, False prophets; A Prophet Like Me, Cities Of Refuge

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