Sorcery (10/5/2025)

“And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or of their sexual

immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:21).

While people in our world like to think that such things as “sorceries” no longer

exists, an attentive listen to news and commentary outlets will reveal otherwise.

Human tendency is to categorize sins, especially if it is something with which we are

not familiar. Sorcery is one such sin. But we need to realize God places all sin in the

same category.

Sorcery is described as “the use of magic,” and it appears to have been prominent in

New Testament as well as in Old Testament times. It is evidently different from

“witchcraft” and “black magic.”

“Witchcraft” is “the practice of magic, especially for evil purposes; the use of spells.”

“Black magic” is the supposed invocation of evil spirits for evil purposes. The most

well-known reference is in Acts 8:11 where Simon the Sorcerer is converted to

Jesus.

Obviously, according to our text, “sorceries” is on the same level with murders,

sexual immorality, and thefts. They are all equally sinful. As such, Christians should

be careful to avoid becoming involved with any of them.