Why Are you (OBVES), Harold Camping, Ronald Weinland & The Watchtower Bible
And Tract Society All False Prophets? Simple.
Deut 18:22
22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place
or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has
spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
None of their teachings, prophecies, etc. should be heeded nor taken
seriously for they all speak presumptuously and falsely concerning such
things.
Your attempt to justify a form of divination such as numerology is vain,
wicked and futile for God is clearly against it.
Harold Camping is merely a false prophet who teaches quite falsely. If you
choose to follow his teachings and date-settings, then you have a much
larger problem you will have to deal with. He's already set dates that did
not come to pass and according to the Bible he therefore is a false
prophet.
He also teaches an anti-church theology that is in opposition to
scripture.
Furthermore, your use of occultic numerology also gives evidence that you
have embraced divinitation which is something God abhors. I am quite
familiar with your posts and as I conclude, you are not one keeping to
Christian essentials and have decided somewhere along the way to embrace
and
teach unGodly things. I cannot and will not accept such unGodly things and
will voice my opposition to such unGodly things. Your sup****t of the
Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, an unChristian cult, also shows that
you
have abandoned Biblical teachings since they not only have prophesied
falsely but teach unBiblical things as well.
Camping's aberrant and extra-biblical teachings and behavior (including
his
lack of accountability) place him outside the boundaries of orthodox,
evangelical Christianity. He had already completely embarrassed himself
and
destroyed any credibility in the early 1990s by predicting that Christ
would
return to earth on September 6, 1994. After that prediction failed to
materialize, Camping continued to make false prophecies, culminating in
his
absurd pronouncement that the Church age has come to an end and we are
living in the Tribulation. God is through with the church, Camping
insists-and judgment has now begun. Camping tells his listeners they need
to
leave their churches and look to Family Radio to be the main vehicle
through
which the gospel is preached to the whole world. This behavior shows quite
clearly that Camping has placed himself above God's Word and is teaching
falsely. Camping has gone as far as to claim that, since 1988, God has
installed Satan as the leader of the Church, in an effort to destroy it.
He
also claims that no one was "saved" between the years 1988 and 1994, when
he
predicted the world would end.
Ronald Weinland's false predictions are just as nonsensical as Camping's.
Weinland predicted nuclear weapons would go off over "several US cities"
by
April of 2008. Didn't happen. Weinland predicted the total collapse of the
U.S. dollar by Feb/March of 2008. Didn't happen. Weinland also claims that
God will personally kill those who point out Weinland's false teachings
and
predictions that failed to come to pass. I seem to remember Benny Hinn
making a similar claim several years ago. Frankly, OBVES, Ronald Wienland
is
another fraud and charlatan trying to make a quick buck off the gullible
and
conspiracy-minded. Rusty Shackleford must also be a big fan of Weinland's
outlandish conspiracy theories.
Weinland is the self-appointed leader of The Church of God, Preparing for
the Kingdom of God (COG-PKG) which is a small cult that claims to provide
"sup****t, [education and warning to] the scattered Church that was
formerly
united in the Worldwide Church of God". Weinland teaches apocalyptic
beliefs
of imminent end of the world but the funny thing is that he continues to
beg
for money from his victims. If the end of the world is nigh, then why
worry
about money? Further, Weinland teaches falsely about several essential
Christian doctrines. Weinland espouses a salvation by works theology.
Weinland denies that Jesus exists eternally even though Scripture clearly
teaches that God the Son always existed. Weinland denies the deity of the
Holy Spirit.
Weinland is described thusly according to Scripture:
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will
be
false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,
even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift
destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of
whom
the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit
you
with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle,
and
their destruction does not slumber (2 Peter 2:1-3).
I am truly saddened that you have been deceived by Harold Camping, Ronald
Weinland and the Watchtower Bible And Tract Society. I pray that you will
one day abandon them and embrace solid, Biblical theology rather than the
false teachings of Camping & the WTBTS.
Jesus actually identifies false prophets like Camping and the WTBTS. To be
a
true prophet of God, 100% of what that prophet predicts must come to pass.
Neither Camping's nor the WTBTS's prophecies have come true ergo both are
false prophets according to God. You have identified erroneously and
unBiblically. Your reliance of occultism in the form of numerology shows
that you have embraced a satanic system of divination. In short, nothing
you
can claim on the matter of using divination can be justified by God's Word
especially when God specifically prohibits His children from it.
Lev 19:26
Do not practice divination or sorcery.
Yet you practice numerology, a form of divination. Abandon it.
Lev 19:31
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by
them.
Yet you turned to Harold Camping, a person who uses occultic numerology, a
form of divination. Leave him.
Lev 20:6
I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists
to
prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his
people.
Yet you turned to Harold Camping, a person who uses occultic numerology, a
form of divination. Reject his false teachings.
2 Thess 2:9-10
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan
displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and
in
every sort of evil that deceives those who are peri****ng. They perish
because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
You follow Harold Camping, Ronald Weinland and the Watchtower Bible And
Tract Society whose counterfeit prophesies are indeed wicked and evil.
Abandon them.
Mic 3:7
7 The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all
cover
their faces because there is no answer from God.
This is what God says will happen to those who use divination as Harold
Camping and you have been doing.
Gal 5:19-21
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: ***ual immorality, impurity
and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy,
fits
of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live
like
this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Forms of divination are a type of witchcraft which are acts of the sinful
nature. Pray for the Holy Spirit to release you from its wicked bondage.
May God bless,
Carl
my website -- http://www.nettally.com/saints/
my blog -- http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/
----------------
Numerology-Part One
By Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon
Introduction
Numerology is another modern method of divination, one that attempts to
discern the occult significance of numbers. It too is a popular form of
entertainment. Like palmistry, numerology is thousands of years old and
strongly associated with the occult. The practice of using tarot cards and
the cabala are rooted in numerology, and astrology also bears a
relation****p. As with other forms of divination, there are two principal
aspects: 1) character *****sment and 2) divining or predicting the future.
Numerologists claim they cannot only help people to understand themselves
better, but that they must also help them to make im****tant decisions in
all
areas of life. Numerologists claim to offer the following information or
advice: choosing the correct marriage partner, vocation, city, or house in
which to live; individual "compatibility" with the products one uses;
understanding one's mate and friends better; when to buy property or
invest
in a business; the best days to take a trip, apply for a new job, start a
new venture, have surgery, and so on.1 Practitioners also allege that
numerology can advise clients about what to do or not to do in any given
year. It even claims to be able to evaluate the condition of future
nations
by their birth dates, as well as many other things. "Numerology is
applicable to the most minute personal problems of human life or to
gigantic
moves in the theatre of international politics."2 For example:
"The day you were born certain powers were bestowed upon you that will be
with you your whole life long, since this date is unalterable, its
personal
vibrations shape every event or incident in your life span.... From the
first day of your life to your last, you are governed by the destiny
bestowed upon you according to the date of your birth. The numerological
value of this birthdate will reveal to you the path of your destiny and
suggest the line of personal development to help you attain all you wish
from life."3
False Claims
Like practitioners in other divinatory fields, numerologists may claim
that
their profession does not involve the occult. Main advocates insist that
numerology is merely "a science of the numbers of life.'' One leading
practitioner states, "Numerology is not fortune-telling, it is instead, a
way to understanding through knowledge of numbers."4 Another encourages
readers "not [to] fall into the trap of looking at Numerology as a
fortune-telling device. It is not."5 And, "This is not a matter of
fortune-telling, it's plain mathematics revealed in the correlation of
human
factors to their cosmic pulse-beat as pictured in numbers."6
Despite such claims, most numerologists will admit, when pressed, they are
engaging in fortune-telling and divination. A fortune-teller is defined in
the Oxford American Dictionary as "a person who claims to foretell future
events in people's lives." Thus, as one practitioner writes, "My system of
foretelling the future is based on the esoteric meaning behind numbers,
and
not on speculation. There is no element of good or bad luck involved, for
my
calculations are derived from your entire birthpath which, like nature, is
immutable and unchangeable. The key to these predictions is found in the
ancient Tarot pack of cards."7
Another advocate states that numerology can bring clients "fame and
fortune,"8 and that numerology in general routinely attempts to determine
"the path each year will take."9 And if numerology isn't fortune-telling
and
divination, why do numerologists boast about their record of accurate
predictions? "I can honestly state that an overwhelming percentage of
forecasts I've made have come true. That applies not only to cases in
which
I have analyzed the numberscopes of individuals but also to predictions on
current events which have found their way into print."10 Or consider the
following statement by a professional numerologist who is also a member of
several occult societies and has written newspaper columns on numerology:
"I have dedicated my life via numerology to discovering the destiny of
man.
There is no great secret to this destiny. It is revealed in Astrology,
Numerology, the Palm of the Hand, the Tarot Deck.... Over the years I
personally have worked on over 10,000 charts of living people. ... In all
cases the lives of the individuals whose charts I worked on went exactly
as
plotted by the numbers."11
In essence, numerologists realize they are engaging in fortune-telling and
divination, but often they don't admit it because of the bad reputation of
such practices.
However, numerology, like other forms of divination, sometimes provides
accurate predictions, but such success does not arise from numerology
itself
but from spiritistic influences.12 Despite claims to the contrary, no
practitioner has ever demonstrated 100 percent accuracy. To be generous,
like diviners in general, numerologists usually fall into the lower
quadrant
of successes.
Nature
How does numerology claim to work? Theories differ considerably, but in
one
form or another, it claims that our nature and future can be symbolically
"reduced" to numbers, and that a proper interpretation of those numbers
will
reveal almost anything that needs to be known. Two basic principles
include
the idea that numbers are clues to the underlying structure and nature of
the universe and that the name of a thing contains the essence of its
being,
so that once a person's name is reduced to its number, the truth about
that
person can supposedly be revealed:
"At its popular level numerology is an entertaining and comparatively
simple
method of analysing character and predicting the future, in broad and
vague
terms at least. At a deeper level it is claimed to be one of the major
keys
to an understanding of the true nature of the universe and it plays an
im****tant part in magic and occultism. Like other systems of divination,
it
finds order and regularity behind the bewildering multiplicity of
phenomena
and the confusing muddle of events and influences that confront us in the
world outside us and in ourselves."13
There are two basic systems for reducing a person's name to numbers, so
that
character and destiny can be "read" and foretold. One system is where the
numbers from 1 to 9 are written down with the letters of the alphabet
written underneath in their normal order: A is 1, B is 2, C is 5, and so
on
through I is 9, and then J becomes 1, K becomes 2, L becomes 3, etc. A
different system uses only the numbers from 1 to 8 but does not list the
letters in their usual order because it uses the Hebrew alphabet. This
often
gives a different letter-number equivalent. Thus H is 5, I is 1, F is 8.
There are also lesser systems that differ from these two primary systems.
And in any system, the zero is always discarded.
Four key numbers used by numerologists are termed "heart," "personality,"
"birth," and "personal year." The "heart" number supposedly reveals the
inner self or "heart," the person as she really is. The "personality"
number
reveals a person's outer self, the self she projects. The "birth" number
supposedly indicates destiny, and the "personal year" number tells what a
specific year will be like.
In all of this, practitioners claim that numerology can be 100 percent
accurate, and that there is nothing "false or misleading" about the
practice.14 Numerology, however, is extremely complex, and since differing
systems give differing results, the problems of subjectivism found in all
forms of divination are applicable to numerology as well.
In Part 2 we will present a critique of numerology.
Notes:
1 Helyn Hitchcock, Helping Yourself with Numerology (West Nyack, NY:
Parker,
1978), pp. 183-90.
2 Vincent Lopez, Numerology (New York: Signet, 1969), p. 20.
3 Geri Tully, The Secret Powers of Numerology (New York: Pocket Books,
1977), pp. 24-25.
4 Kevin Quinn Avery, The Numbers of Life: The Hidden Power of Numerology
(Garden City, NJ: Doubleday, 1974 rev.), p. 201.
5 Roberta Lee, "Numerology: A Roadmap to Life-Part 3," Psychic Dimensions,
February 1979, p. 46.
6 Lopez, p. 21.
7 Hitchcock, p. 162.
8 Tully, p. 14.
9 Ibid., p. 52.
10 Lopez, p. 10.
11 Avery, p. 287.
12 We do***ented how this may occur in our book Astrology: Do the Heavens
Rule Our Destiny? (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1989), pp.
201-55.
13 Richard Cavendish, ed., Encyclopedia of the Unexplained: Magic,
Occultism
and Parapsychology (New York: McGraw Hill, 1976), p. 158.
14 Avery, p. XII; Tully, p. 192.
----
Numerology-Part Two
by Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon
Critique
In the material that follows, we will cite seven reasons why we think
numerology is a waste of time. First, each of the basic numbers, 1-9, has
been assigned a list of key personality characteristics, much like the
astrological houses. But do such lists, as supplied in different
numerological texts, always agree? No, they don't agree.1 This means, for
example, that the number 2 may be given different characteristics in
different texts. Thus, since the "meaning" of the numbers is not uniform,
the client may receive conflicting readings from different numerologists.
Second, critical tests of numerology have failed to confirm its predictive
ability. For example, in numerology the name a person is given at birth
and
the name by which a person may now be known, or prefers to be called, may
have different meanings. The "birth name" in numerology supposedly
describes
one's destiny, and the name one chooses to use expresses current
personality
characteristics. But one study of preferred names indicated that the
numerological description given was not equivalent to individual's
personal
self*****sment: "Overall, the results do not leave one with the impression
that numerological descriptions for preferred names compare well with the
self-perceptions we hold for our personalities."2
Third, there are a host of different interpretations and approaches,
revealing that numerology is ruled by subjectivism. As in astrology,
ancient, medieval, and modern numerology promoters do not have consistent
systems, nor do they interpret every indicator in the same manner.3 We
have
already seen that different numbers may be used for different letters, and
this gives different results. Thus the key number for a given name may be
either 1 or 4, with each carrying vastly different interpretations. People
with the number 1 are said to be powerful individuals having dominating
personalities leading to success, while people with the number of 4 are
likely to encounter "failure, poverty and general gloom"4:
One of the problems about analysing yourself numerologically is the fact
that your name and birthdate may yield so many different numbers. It is
difficult to know how to weigh and combine the varying results and how to
exclude the elements of wishful thinking or, with historical figures, of
hindsight. And the language of numerologists, like that of
astrologers...is
generally vague and woolly, so that with ingenuity almost anyone's
character
can be fitted into any given number.5
In addition, some numerologists use "master numbers" that go beyond 9,
such
as 11, 22, and 33 rather than the common practice of reducing them to
their
single digits of 2 (1+1), 4 (2+2), and 6 (3+3).6 Others reject this
approach. Because of the complexity, frank practitioners will confess the
confusion, although the particular method they choose always seems to be
claimed as the best or most accurate. Not surprisingly, matters
deteriorate
rapidly when one incor****ates additional systems of divination into
numerology practice, such as cabalism or astrology. One numerologist
refers
to:
"... the blatant discrepancies that are constantly cropping up in
astro-numerology when assigning number influences to planetary rays and
vice
versa. Disconcerting contradictions appear in textbooks which necessarily
lead the sincere student along the path of confusion.... [N]umerology
experts know their numbers but are either completely ignorant of
astrological fundamentals or know little about them.... Then, too, numbers
have many meanings. Take their symbolical interpretation when evaluating
human character and human destiny. This differs from their religious
significance or their ritualistic one as in the light of Cabalistic
teachings and the hermetic schools of transcendental magic. One cannot
expect these versions to agree with the numerical influences as expounded
in
this volume.... In order to bring system into this confused state of
learning, we have exchanged our findings with top professional
astrologers,
and have succeeded in coming up with a theory we feel is both logical and
practical."7
In other words, after agreeing that "astro-numerology" is a mess, the
author
merely adds one more contradictory system to the picture: his own personal
invention. Thus, this same author assigns the following "planets" the
following numbers:
Sun = 1 Moon = 2 Mercury = 3 Earth = 4 Mars = 5 Venus = 6 Saturn = 7
Jupiter
= 8 Vulcan = 9 Uranus = 11 Neptune = 22 Pluto =13
It does seem to bother him that no planet "Vulcan" exists. He explains
that
no one can see Vulcan because "it is invisible even through a telescope,
even when it p***** over the disk of the sun. But humans can nevertheless
feel its influence, for it races around the sun in about 6 weeks.
Therefore
if you feel out of sorts one Blue Monday, and you don't know what accounts
for it, blame it all on Vulcan."8
Another noted numerologist contradicts the preceding by giving the
following
contrary correspondences between planets and numbers:
Sun= 1 Moon = 2 Jupiter = 3 Earth = 4 Mercury = 5 Venus = 6 Neptune = 7
Saturn = 8 Mars = 9 Pluto = 11 Uranus = 22
In this second list, no less than seven of the planets have completely
different numbers assigned to them when compared to the previous list. The
author of this list confesses, "There are some professionals who will take
exception to a few of the above planetary assignments, but that is neither
here nor there. In the last several books I have read, no two have agreed.
It is my considered opinion that the above is the most correct
interpretation possible."9 Again, the individual numerologist only assumes
his particular system is the best. Like divination in general, numerology
is
filled with arbitrariness and subjectivism.10
The subjective aspects inherent in interpreting numerological charts are
little different from those found in the astrological charts that we
detailed in Astrology: Do the Heavens Rule Our Destiny? 11 In one
instance,
exhaustive instructions are given for gaining a "complete interpretation
on
any individual chart," and these details take up an entire chapter of
instructions. For example, "In the short range forecast, the letters
pertaining that period from the excursion should be used. The Personal
Year,
Universal Year, Year Pinnacles, Year Challenge, Periodicity, Monthly
Cycles,
Personal Month, Universal Month, Month Pinnacles, Month Challenges, must
all
be considered. If the forecast is to be tightened up even further, the day
vibrations must be studied."12
Leaving aside the delicate issue of studying and interpreting the "day
vibrations," would numerologists in general agree with the above citation,
let alone all the detailed instructions in the entire chapter? Not at all.
Although this author refers to taking the reader "deep into the exact
science of numerology," he also confesses that "many of these
interpretations are the author's own, developed through much hard work and
long periods of studying many charts. A few of the charts employed in this
book concerning forecasting are the author's creation."13
This numerologist of more than 25 years also confesses, "Volumes
concerning
numbers are usually full of misinformation, the majority basing their
study
upon superstition," and the "science of numerology must now be freed from
the chicanery that has surrounded it for centuries."14 Yet this same
writer
claims that without the unique knowledge he supplies in his book, "the
understanding of numerology is incomplete." Of course, with such knowledge
a
person "will have at their disposal the knowledge of all life, past,
present
and future. The knowledge of the destinies of empires, cor****ations,
individuals."15 Another numerologist says, "To my knowledge, no one has
ever
presented this scientific system of predictions to the public. It
represents
over 25 years of experience and hard work on my part, gained through
observation, trial and error, and research."16 But her "scientific system
of
predictions" not only fails, it is also contrary to other systems.
(to be continued)
Notes:
1 Richard Cavendish, ed., Encyclopedia of the Unexplained: Magic,
Occultism
and Parapsychology (New York: McGraw Hill, 1976), pp. 159-60; Geri Tully,
The Secret Powers of Numerology (New York: Pocket Books, 1977), pp. 18-23;
Helyn Hitchcock, Helping Yourself with Numerology (West Nyack, NY: Parker,
1978), pp. 27-35.
2 Joseph G. Dikopolsky, "A Test of Numerology," The Skeptical Inquirer,
Spring 1983, p. 56.
3 Richard Cavendish, ed., Man, Myth and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
of the Supernatural (New York: Marshall Cavendish Cor****ation, 1970), p.
2026.
4 Cavendish, Encyclopedia of the Unexplained, p. 159.
5 Cavendish, Man, Myth and Magic, p. 2023.
6 Tully, p. 17.
7 Vincent Lopez, Numerology (New York: Signet, 1969), pp. 131-32.
8 Ibid., p. 139, emphasis added.
9 Kevin Quinn Avery, The Numbers of Life: The Hidden Power of Numerology
(Garden City, NJ: Doubleday, 1974 rev), p. 100.
10 Hitchcock, pp. 149,163; Harry F. Darling, Essentials of Medical
Astrology
(Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers, 1981), p. 2026; W. Wynn
Westcott, Numbers: Their Occult Power and Mystic Virtues (London:
Theosophical Publi****ng House, 1974, rpt of 1890 ed), pp. 33-36.
11 John Ankerberg, John Weldon, Astrology: Do the Heavens Rule Our
Destiny?
(Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1989).
12 Avery, p. 283.
13 Ibid., p. XVII.
14 Ibid., pp. X, XVI, emphasis added.
15 Ibid., p. 246.
16 Hitchcock, p. 162.
----
Numerology-Part Three
by Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon
Critique (continued)
The fourth reason we think numerology is a waste of time is because
numerologists make the astoni****ng claim that one can actually change
one's
destiny merely by changing one's name! By doing this the person can
allegedly find a happy marriage, economic security, vocational success,
and
so on.1 But if this were true, then everyone in the world should be able
to
easily mold their destiny into the most fulfilling and positive future
imaginable.
Since all numerologists who know this secret have presumably already done
this, one need only study the lives of numerologists to see whether this
claim is true. Numerologists everywhere should live lives far different
from
the majority of the human race. But obviously there is no evidence at all
for such a conclusion.
Indeed, if numerologists can't even get their own numbers aligned or their
predictions right, how do we have any assurance they can help us get our
lives right? To illustrate only one example of a false prediction, Vincent
Lopez, the author of a 1961 text reprinted in 1969, stated, "Regarding
[the
1968] Russian aggression: Russia will not stop with the Czechoslovak
situation. Her next move will be into West Germany."2
Fifth, numerologists also have serious philosophical problems. They claim
that one's destiny is determined by numbers, but also that one's destiny
can
be altered. And numerology, like other forms of divination, does not
finally
believe in chance. Again, if it did, it could not logically claim to
predict
the future with great accuracy. Upon what basis is one's name likely to be
a
reliable index to one's character or future if it was acquired entirely by
chance? Numerologists cite various reasons alleging why one's name is not
a
"chance" event (determined solely by one's parents), but such arguments
are
not convincing. To claim the universe is intelligent and ordains one's
name
in harmony with the "cosmic plan" says nothing, since numerologists have
never told us what the cosmic plan is.
In addition, who decided that such and such a number means this or that?
Why
is the number 4 unlucky and "earthly"? What does it mean to be "earthly"?
Who assigned this meaning or the range of its implications? Why does
number
7 refer to withdrawal from the world, or why should it be considered
particularly powerful in magical practice? On what logical basis should
anyone accept the number interpretations?
Also, what does one do with the differences in one's own name? For
example,
the number of the name William F. Meredith is 3, but the number of William
Francis Meredith is 9, and the number of Bill Meredith is 4; yet all these
names refer to the same person.3 So is his name number 3, 4, or 9? Why
should it be one number rather than another when their meaning is the
same?
What about nicknames? Who infallibly determined their significance?
What about a woman's maiden name? If her maiden name shows her character
before she is married, and if her married name reveals how her marriage
has
affected her and changed her character and destiny after she is married,
what happens at divorce and how do we know? And what happened to the
cosmic
plan that infallibly assigned her birth name as a reliable interpreter?
How
does it take into account divorce or a voluntary change of name? Does a
divorce and returning to one's maiden name cause one to revert to previous
personality and destiny? The answers numerologists give to such queries
are
not convincing.
Sixth, numerological literature is replete with inaccuracies and
absurdities. For example, "Jesus Christ utilized numerology in his
teachings, even changing the original names of his disciples to match the
numerical vibrations of the mission he wished them to undertake."4 Even
the
numbers of cities and one's address may affect destiny: "Cities and states
have their own desires or demands.... Does the city or locality to which I
am moving have any of my numbers-destiny, birthpath, soul's urge, or power
number? It will be much easier to make a change if you understand it's
[the
city's] desires and needs.... New York [city] wants inspirational people
[the number 11] with ideas [11], who can face the public or limelight and
be
superior."5
Even one's home address is said to be im****tant, its numerical
significance
dictating the "kind" of home it will be.
The Occult and Other Hazards
A last objection to numerology is its strong association to other occult
practices. Indeed, most forms of divination are cross-pollinated by other
forms. In numerology we especially find astrology, the cabala, and the
tarot
to be influential. In almost every book on numerology we read, astrology,
cabalism, and the tarot were included as im****tant elements.6
The more involved one becomes in the world of the occult, the greater the
risk to one's overall health.7 Like all forms of occult divination,
numerology leads to bondage to present cir***stances and a fear of the
future. Numerologists are known to "hurl dire judgment at the 4-afflicted
person by proclaiming want, failure, death in a poor house, or a
sanitarium
for him."8 Whereas, "if your number is 6, you should try to deal with
im****tant matters or decisions only on days which add to 6. You should
also
live in a house whose number is 6 and a street whose name adds to 6."9
Here, of course, we may encounter self-fulfilling prophecies, something
found in occult divination in general. In one example, "Every single
element
on this chart called for finish, destruction, ruin."10 What then is the
hapless individual who trusts in the cosmic power and wisdom of numbers to
do? And what about the predictions of death? In numerology, "Death can be
picked out of the [cabalistic] triangles and lines. This does not
[necessarily] mean the death of the person involved but could be the death
of a person close to the subject.... There is no major occurrence that
will
happen in any life that is not shown on a Kabala."11
In fact, whether numerologists seek to reveal only the good indicators in
a
chart or to supply both good and bad indicators, practitioners fail them
regardless. Since all forms of divination, by definition, must predict
both
the good and the bad, numerologists who fail to read the negative elements
of a chart and only read the positive elements are not being true to
numerology as a whole. After all, the numbers are supposed to reveal the
clients' whole future, so he may employ all available knowledge to his
advantage. On the other hand, those who do read the negative elements in
their client's lives produce a variety of problems. These include fear and
bondage to various predictions and fate, self-fulfilling prophecies, and
unwise decisions based solely on information "forecast" by the numbers.12
In
conclusion, numerologists may claim that "all of life is controlled by
numbers,"13 but no numerologist can deny that numbers extracted from one's
name (or other sources) can produce great confusion or contradiction. Even
in the best scenario, this leaves the practitioner at the mercy of
subjectivism; in the worst scenario, at the mercy of demonic powers.
Notes:
1 Vincent Lopez, Numerology (New York: Signet, 1969), p. 114.
2 Ibid., pp. 12-13.
3 Richard Cavendish, ed., Encyclopedia of the Unexplained: Magic,
Occultism
and Parapsychology (New York: McGraw Hill, 1976), p. 159.
4 Gerie Tully, The Secret Powers of Numerology (New York: Pocket Books,
1977), p. 12.
5 Helyn Hitchcock, Helping Yourself with Numerology (West Nyack, NY:
Parker,
1978), p. 187.
6 E.g., Kevin Quinn Avery, The Numbers of Life: The Hidden Power of
Numerology (Garden City, NJ: Doubleday, 1974, rev.), pp. ix, 287; Helyn
Hitchcock, Helping Yourself, pp. 6, 153, 204; Gerie Tully, Secret Powers,
pp. 12-13, 24-25.
7 John Ankerberg, John Weldon, The Coming Darkness: Confronting Occult
Deception (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1993).
8 Lopez, Numerology, p. 118.
9 Richard Cavendish, Man, Myth and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of
the
Supernatural (New York: Marshall Cavendish Cor****ation, 1970), p. 2023.
10 Avery, Numbers of Life, p. 285; cf. pp. xvii, 201-204.
11 Ibid., p. 254.
12 John Ankerberg, John Weldon, Astrology: Do the Heavens Rule Our
Destiny?
(Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1989).
13 Gerie Tully, Secret Powers, p. 12.
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