[Greek] φαρμακεία (pharmakeia), [Latin] pharmacia

[Greek] φαρμακεία (pharmakeia), [Latin] pharmacia: use of medicine or drugs, spells, sorcery, magic, witchcraft, occult; Gal.5:20, Rev.18:23, Rev.9:21

A sorceress is one who dabbles in pharmakeia (spells, magic, potions, and elixirs). This figure becomes an early precursor to the modern witch.

Background Information:

6^th century B.C.:  Sushruta Samhita, a compilation of medicinal substances

6^th century to 2^nd century B.C.:  recorded prescriptions on cuneiform clay tablets

1550 B.C.:  recorded ancient Egyptian pharmacological knowledge

4^th century B.C.:  study of the medicinal properties of plants

168 B.C.:   lists of prescriptions for specific ailments

538-710 A.D.:  pharmacists highly respected

754 A.D.:  the first drug stores were established

1241 A.D.:  the first pharmacy in Europe opened and is still in operation

Greco Roman Culture: This term means magic potion, medicine, and poison.

1. Temple priestesses (oracles) often used potions to attain a physical state in order to reach the gods.
2. Many pagan practices required the use drugs and potions to communicate with the gods.
3. Such drugs and poisons were commonly used for aborting babies and infants.
4. Since infants had not legal standing until claimed by a family leader, abortion and infanticide were commonly practiced.
5. Yet, sorcery became a serious offence in Roman law.

Old Testament: This refers to medicine, drugs, and spells.

1. Medicine, drugs, and spells were used for good and evil ends.
2. Sorcerers produced potions and elixirs to treat illnesses.
3. Sorcerers also produced potions (drugs) to poison others.
4. The casting of spells were used to connect the realm of demons and the occult.
5. Sorcery and witchcraft both became associated with talking to demons and evil spirits.

Spiritual harlotry: This is an intercourse of the mixing of Old Testament values with worldly values, idolatry, paganism, and sin. Abandoning the Lord for a foreign god was called prostitution or adultery. Against God, the harlot prostitutes oneself with idolatry, paganism, and sin. Interestingly, the related Greek word is porneia ===> pornography, porn!  Not a good look!

New Testament: This term means sorcery, witchcraft, and black magic.

Scripture:

Gal.5:19-20: “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, and factions.”

1. Paul states that one must live by the Spirit rather than by gratifying the desire of the flesh. The Spirit and the flesh are opposed to each other.
2. The works of the flesh are immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, fury, selfishness, dissension, factions, and envy.
3. Paul warns those who does such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
4. Sorcery was a grave problem when Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians.
5. Sorcery involved the administration of drugs, poisons, potions, and spells.
6. The immorality, impurity and licentiousness (around the pagan grounds) would have contributed the many potential unintended pregnancies.
7. Although not explicitly stated, potions would have been used for contraceptives (abortifacients) to “treat” unwanted pregnancies.
8. Paul was speaking of the evils of this drug use. Soranus of Ephesus, a 2nd century physician, is called the father of gynecology. Pharmakeia refers to abortion drugs.

Rev.18:23: “No light from a lamp will ever be seen in you again. No voices of bride and groom will ever be heard in you again. Because your merchants were the great ones of the world, all nations were led astray by your magic potion.” (Babylon [Rome] is condemned for her immorality, idolatry, and spiritual harlotry [whoredom])

The Harlot of Rome (Babylon):

1. The greatest seducer of nations and kings.
2. The kings of the earth have syncretic “intercourse” (exchanging worldly values and sin) with this harlot.
3. This harlot is the center of paganism and apostasy from God.
4. This harlot mixed idolatry, lusts, religion, sin, worldly ways, and philosophies.
5. Babylon is filled with fornication and pleasures.
6. Babylon is contrasted with the pure community of God.

Reformation: In the 16th and 17th centuries, sorcerers and midwives were often viewed as witches. These persons often used elixirs, tonics, and potions to communicate with the occult. It was believed that accusing, denouncing, and burning witches and midwives were part of God’s command.

The pharmacy of the Lion, established in 1241, is still in operation in Trier, Germany. Trier is the oldest town in Germany

Conclusion:

Pharmacy, pharmaceutical

Drugs, abortifacients, potions, sorcerers, and the occult are tied together.

New Testament: Paul did not specifically mention abortion in the scripture. As a Roman citizen in Tarsus, Paul would have already been aware of the secular attitudes and practices towards abortion. It is significant to note that Paul includes sorcery (potions) as one of the deadly sins of the flesh. Paul’s speaking against this practice provides the basis for the early Church’s already established teachings against the use of contraceptives (abortifacients). The early Church condemned anything which violated the integrity of marital love.

“America, your very survival as a nation depends upon how you treat the weakest among you, especially the babies in their mother’s womb.” (Pope John Paul II, while visiting the United States in 1987) (John Paul II’s statement was a very prophetic indictment in commenting on this widespread (evil/”right”) in the United States.)

Update: The Vatican’s Synodal path continues to remake Jesus’ Church into a Church made in the image of man (and his lived experiences).

This synodal Church continues to walk with the world in spiritual harlotry [syncretic intercourse]: exchanging worldly values, secularism, relativism, human traditions (philosophies), situational morality, sin, and evil into the Church. 

Pope Pius X prophetically warned that the Modernists would introduce philosophies of this age in undermining Jesus’ Church: lived experiences, human traditions, novelties, agnosticism, practical atheism, and other heresies.

“For the spirit of prostitution has led them astray; they prostitute themselves, forsaking their god.” Hos.4:121

Oh by the way…..Happy Halloween!

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