Idolatry & it’s consequences

Title Modern Medicine or Ancient Sorcery? | The True Healer in Scripture

Have we turned the healthcare system into an idol? Scripture warns against trusting in man over God (Isaiah 31:1; Jeremiah 17:5–7) and points us to Jesus, the Great Physician (Psalm 103:3; Luke 5:31–32).

• The serpent symbol (Numbers 21; John 3:14–15; 2 Kings 18:4)
• Pharmakeia in Revelation 18:23 — sorcery and deception
• Idolatry of priests and physicians (Luke 17:14; 2 Kings 1:2–6; Matthew 23:33)
• The oath of Hippocrates and links to Apollo/Apollyon (Revelation 9:11)
• False prophets, Chemarim, and the cult of Baal

Deep Dive Study Notes (for readers who expand):

📖 Deep Dive — Modern Medicine or Ancient Sorcery?

1. Fear vs. Faith
• The system is built on fear, but God commands “fear not” repeatedly throughout Scripture.
• Isaiah 31:1 — Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help.
• Jeremiah 17:5–7 — Cursed is the man that trusts in man… Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD.

2. Priests as Physicians
• Luke 17:14 — “Go shew yourselves to the priests” (they functioned as health wardens under the Law: Lev 12–15).
• Many became corrupt: Matthew 23:33 — “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers.”
• 2 Chronicles 18:21–22 — False prophets deceived Ahab.
• 2 Kings 1:2–6 — Ahaziah sought Baal-zebub instead of God — condemned.

3. Serpent Symbolism
• Numbers 21:8–9 — Bronze serpent lifted up, later destroyed as Nehushtan (2 Kings 18:4).
• Jesus fulfills it: John 3:14–15.
• The caduceus / Asclepius staff → inherited from pagan serpent cults.

Word studies (nachash/seraph):
• H5172 nachash — to practice divination.
• H5175 nachash — a serpent.
• H8314 saraph — fiery serpent / seraphim.
• Isa 6:2–6 — Seraphim as angelic beings.

4. Fallen Angels Connection
• Genesis 6, Book of Enoch, Jude — “Watchers” corrupt mankind.
• Enoch mentions Tabââ’ët: serpent-related smiting “at noontide heat.”
• Possible link: serpents as fallen beings bringing destruction.

5. Chemarim & False Prophets
• Chemarim = idolatrous priests (Zephaniah 1:4).
• “Healthcare priests” as false prophets of Baal?

6. Oath of Hippocrates
• Invokes Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, Panacea.
• Apollo = Abaddon/Apollyon (Revelation 9:11).
• Roots in idolatry: an oath before pagan gods, not the God of Israel.

7. Pharmakeia — Sorcery
• Revelation 18:23 — By thy sorceries (G5331 pharmakeia) were all nations deceived.
• Linked to enchantments, drugs, and magic.
• Galatians 5:20 — works of the flesh include witchcraft (pharmakeia).

8. Sacrificial System of Diagnosis
• Sacrificing blood and body parts for “diagnosis” = asking the system to decide life or death.
• 2 Kings 1:2–6 — Ahaziah’s inquiry condemned as idolatry.

9. Healthcare Cult of Baal
• Hospitals tied to church names (Methodist, Catholic, Mt Carmel, etc.).
• Parallels with Baal worship and Jezebel’s influence (2 Kings 1:3; Revelation 2:20).
• Revelation 18 shows the system as part of Babylon’s global deception.