What the Bible Says About Drugs

What the Bible Says About Drugs

Drugs are one of the warning signs of the Last Days. Most individuals, when asked to state one of the warning signs in the Bible signaling the beginning of the Last Days will say Israel's rebuilding of the temple, or possibly the Global Economy (one world government, one world church, and economy). Others will mention the earthquakes, famines and diseases, wars and rumors of wars that presently cover the Earth. However, almost no one will mention drugs, religious deception, or sorcery (drug dealing) that are spreading uncontrolled over the world as signs of the end times.

The world wide spread of drugs into society fulfills the prophetic scriptures as one of the two forms of sorcery that would lead the nations into rejection of Christ and bring them into final destruction as slaves of the Antichrist under a New World Order at the end of the age. Drug addicts and drug dealers are nothing new in the world. In the Bible there are two words that specifically relate to drug users and drug dealers, the words 'sorceries and sorcerers'. They are found 4 times in the New Testament, all 4 times in the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation deals with future events and it's significant that all 4 times drugs are mentioned in the new testament, they are in the book dealing with future events. The book that deals with the End Times, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the rule of the Antichrist (the Beast), and the return of Jesus Christ to cast down and defeat the Devil.

For example, in Rev. 9:21 most translations have translated the Greek pharmakeion/pharmakeia as 'sorceries'. The New King James Version has a marginal reference which says that in the Alexandrian and Majority Texts the Greek word in Rev. 9:21 is pharmakon, which literally refers to "drugs." However, the Greek word in the Textus Receptus (from which the King James Version was translated) in the KJV at Rev. 9:21 is pharmakeia, which can literally refer to either the 'use of drugs', or to 'poisoning', or to 'druggery (drug dealing)'. One must understand that the reference in Rev. 9:21 is not to a helpful or medicinal use of drugs such as in Paul's instruction to Timothy to use a little wine for its medicinal properties (1 Tim. 5:23). The pharmakeia of Rev. 9:21 is an end-time druggery which must be repented of. Druggery in this context is clearly a reference to the practice of giving (or supplying/selling) drugs, and quite literally in today’s language, to illegal drug trafficking.

Other New Testament scriptures support this conclusion. In Gal. 5:20 pharmakeia, or the use of drugs, is listed as one of the works of the flesh. In Rev. 18:23 points out a connection between illegal drug dealing and the traveling merchant princes of end time Babylon; NAFTA, GATT, and the WTO have greatly facilitated such international drug trafficking. Rev. 21:8 says that the portion of end time drug dealers is the lake of fire. Rev. 22:15 says that drug dealers will be excluded from the new Jerusalem.

Before covering the Old Testament scriptures referring to End Time illegal drug trafficking, the basic meaning underlying the Hebrew root 'ksp' needs to be understood. In Hebrew, most words develop from a vowel less, unpronounceable triconsonantal structure called the 'root'. This vowel less three-letter 'root' structure contains the basic idea underlying the verbal and noun 'stem' words which develop from it by the addition of vowels, prefixes, infixes, and suffixes. For example, kesep is the noun 'stem' developed from the 'ksp' 'root' by the addition of two 'e' vowels.

To shed light on the Old Testament passages relating to drugs and End Time prophecy in reference to them, the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures completed no later than 117 B.C., is most helpful.
The Hebrew word kesep is the Old Testament equivalent of the New Testament Greek word pharmakon, drugs. In the following two passages, ksp is the root underlying the two Hebrew words which have been translated respectively in the KJV as "witchcrafts" (keshaphim) and "sorcerers" (makashaphiym) in Micah 5:12 and Malachi 3:5. The root 'ksp' means 'to cut,' referring to herbs cut (herbs properly shredded) for charms and spells and literally means 'to use magical appliances, or drugs'.
In Nahum 3:4, the translators had to find a Greek word that was equivalent in meaning to the two noun stems of the Hebrew root 'ksp'. They translated the two Hebrew words keshaphim and keshapheyha respectively into the Greek as pharmakon and pharmakois. In addition to the two' ksp' passages at Nahum 3:4, there are 11 other Old Testament passages where some form of the' ksp' root is found; and in every case the Septuagint translators used some form of the Greek word pharmakon, which denotes a drug. The verbal form of pharmakon is "pharmakeia" is the ordinary Greek word for 'sorcery,' ... though it means literally the act of administering drugs.

The other Old Testament 'ksp' passages referring to drugs are: Ex. 7:11 (Heb. makashaphiym/ Gr. pharmakous); Ex. 22:18 (Heb. mekassephah/ Gr. pharmakous); Deut. 18:10 (Heb. mekasseph/ Gr. pharmakos); 2 Kings 9:22 (Heb. keshapheyha/ Gr. pharmaka); 2 Chronicles 33:6 (Heb. kisheph/ Gr. epharmakeueto); Isaiah 47:9 (Heb. keshaphayik/ Gr. pharmakeia); Isaiah 47:12 (Heb. keshaphayik/ Gr. pharmakeia); Jeremiah 27:9 (Heb. kashshapheykem/ Gr. pharmakon); Dan. 2:2 (Heb. makashaphiym/ Gr. pharmakous); Micah. 5:11 (Heb. kashaphiym/ Gr. pharmaka); Mal. 3:5 (Heb. makashaphiym/ Gr. pharmakous).

Basically the 13 Old Testament 'ksp' scriptures all point to three meanings: (1) drugs per se--cut up, shredded, or otherwise rendered usable; (2) the actual illegal use of drugs; (3) all of those individuals involved in any way in the illegal manufacture, distribution, or selling of drugs.

Revelation 18:23 has already been cited to establish a connection between illegal druggery and the traveling merchant princes of end-time Babylon. Free trade and illegal drug trafficking are extremely complementary because the less restrictions on trade and the more open the national boundaries, the greater the opportunities.

The greatest single examples of illegal drug trafficking brought about through free trade can be found in the historical record of the two birthright nations descended from the ancient biblical patriarch Joseph, the two birthright nations of Ephraim and Manasseh. In Genesis 48:16, they were collectively given the prophetic name of Israel. Their collective power is described in the tremendous prophecy of Micah 5:7-15. They are described collectively and symbolically as a lion capable of destroying all of their enemies (verse 9). Also described, however, is their internal moral decay; and a major part of this decay is their illegal involvement with drugs.

Speaking of End Time Israel, God says, 'and I will cut off sorceries from your hand' (Micah 5:12). The word 'sorceries' (NKJV) is a translation of kashaphiym, which the Septuagint translates as pharmaka, lit. drugs. Micah 5:12 alone indicates that the two birthright nations comprising End Time Israel would be deeply involved in illegal drug trafficking. Drugs being 'in their hand' denotes direct action, or involvement in illegal drug trafficking.

Another major prophecy revealing Israel's End Time involvement in illegal drug trafficking is found in Malachi 3:2-6. This prophecy concerns the return of Christ (verses 2-4). As in Rev. 18:23, it also describes the results of Anglo-American free trade imperialism. It does so by making a connection between "sorcerers" and "those that oppress the hireling in his wages" (verse 5). Britain's Opium Wars against China, and the ongoing use of Chinese slave labor by major western corporations easily fulfill Mal. 3:5. The United States and Great Britain lead the world in illegal drug trafficking and in oppression of the hireling in his wages. If you are historically ignorant of these facts, then consider that the New Testament epistle of James is addressed specifically to rich men dwelling among the 12 tribes of Israel in the last days (compare James 1:1; 5:1-4). Ephraim, the United States, or the 'company of nations' of Gen. 35:11, has served as an End Time regathering place for the 12 tribes of Israel. So the prophecies of James 1:1 and 5:1-4 fit perfectly.

In Malachi 3:5, the word "sorcerers" is a translation of the Hebrew word makashaphiym. Usage wise this is important because it denotes the sense of an occupation. The exact same usage is found in Exodus 7:11 and Daniel 2:2 where it is speaking of individuals whose livelihood was also somehow involved with drugs.

The importance of recovery from drug addiction not only involves the saving of our physical lives from death but also saving our lives from the second death (eternal damnation) mentioned in the Bible. According to the scriptures End Time drug dealers will experience eternal damnation.

The effect of drugs use on the individual is a produced altered state of consciousness that leaves the user open to demonic influence, suggestion, and possession. Of course today the average Christian does not pay much heed to possession, in presumption that it was something present in the 1st century but not something that really happens in today's times. One only has to walk the streets of any large city to witness the growing extent of Satanic influence on the lives of the addict. They are seen as homeless people living on the street. Many of them appear to the occasional passer by as mentally ill individuals, talking to invisible presences, abruptly running blindly away from invisible threats, physically abusing themselves (all these things indicators of demonic possession and influence).

When using drugs, the addict looses all desire to maintain their spiritual connection with God and begins to loose the little knowledge they have of God and His Word. To all extent their new god is the drug they are addicted to, their ears have become deaf to hearing and their minds have become incapable of understanding. what the occasional person who might half-heartedly attempt to witness to them might say. They are part of a growing section of today's society that society in general tends to ignore and pretend does not exist.

In the daily newspaper reports, the ravages of drugs are continually linked with the headlines of Death, Robbery and Destruction. According to the Bible, these happen to be the identical characteristics of Satan. John 10:10 'The thief (the Devil) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.'

Satan is the evil inspiration behind the destructive nature of drugs. Drugs are the Devil's tools and when persons are under their influence, they accomplish his goals and fulfil his wicked desires. Understanding the satanic relationship with drugs, people should find it easy to understand why drug use doesn't mix with a Christian life-style. 1 Corinthians 10:21 'You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons'.

If you are addicted to drugs, ask God to give you power to overcome them in the name of Jesus Christ and God will. Don't seek to justify your addiction, but keep reaching toward full and complete freedom. John 1:12 'But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.' Be encouraged. God will never condemn the person who keeps reaching out to Him -- who keeps trying to grow and make progress in Him. If you sin, ask Him to forgive you (1 John 1:9), then get up and keep moving on and growing closer to Him. And be assured, the closer you draw to Him, the further He will withdraw you from the old life of sin and bondage to drugs! Of most importance, find a Bible believing / teaching church and seek the anointed prayers of other Christians -- God promises to honor their prayer of faith to help you (James 5:15).

The previous section on Alcohol Addiction and gaining release from this prison also works for release from the prison of drug addiction. The steps and scriptures there will give you the same degree of release. God bless you all.