According to the July, 1997 issue of Life magazine, the number of "professional" astrologers has grown 500% in the last 20 years. The article also said that nearly 8 out of 10 Americans believe there is validity in astronomical signs. Similar polls have shown about the same number Americans profess to be Bible-believing Christians. Thus most Americans look to both the stars and the Bible for guidance.
But is astrology compatible with the Bible? God said through the prophet Jeremiah, "learn not the way of the heathen; and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven" (Jeremiah 10:2). The prophet Daniel sought the wisdom of God which confounded Nebuchadnezzar's astrologers (Daniel 2). The prophet Isaiah ridiculed the zodiac- trusting Babylonians: "Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you" (Isaiah 47:13).
When the nation of Israel was entering the Promised Land, God commanded them to not associate with the heathens there. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 describes some of the practices of the heathen that God condemned including listening to soothsayers and diviners (verse 14). Divination is associated with such abominations as witchcraft, sorcery, and those who commune with the spirit world.
Divination is the art of foretelling the future using occult knowledge or supernatural power. It is the pagan counterpart to prophecy. Astrologers believe a permanent heavenly imprint corresponding to the eventual experiences of one's life is made on each person at the moment of birth. It is on this basis that astrologers attempt to predict the events of people's lives.
People say that astrology is valid because it works at least some of the time. But why does it work? Part of the reason astrology sometimes works is the power of suggestion. If a person expects some event to take place in their life, they will make decisions that put them in a position for it to take place. Even worse, if demons think they can lead a person away from the God of the Bible by influencing events, they will do so (Ephesians 6:11-12).
When God sent Moses to command Pharaoh to release Israel, He performed ten miracles authenticating that Moses did indeed speak for God. However, Pharaoh's sorcerers duplicated the first three miracles attempting to resist the truth (Exodus 7-8). The result was the hardening of Pharaoh's heart toward God. Likewise, astrology provides an alternative to the truth God has given us in the Bible. Pursuing such an alternative to God's Word is incompatible with true Christianity and is practiced by those with corrupt minds (2 Timothy 3:8).
Modern mediums and psychics who are into "channeling" such as Edgar Cayce and Alice Bailey all speak highly of astrology and promote it as the gateway to the spirit world. But how can they know they are communing with an angel of God or a fallen angel (demon)? God makes this choice easy for us by condemning any contact with the spirit world outside of Himself. Leviticus 20:27 says that seeking contact with the spirit world is worthy of death. The Bible is clear that we are only to seek communion with God Himself through Jesus Christ, not angels or any other spirits (Colossians 2:18, Revelation 19:10, 22:8-9).
There may be occasions when we are not even attempting to contact spirits but they communicate with us. So how do we discern the truth? The Apostle John said we should test the spirits: only those who confess that God Himself became a man to save all who would believe Him are of God (1 John 4:1-3). The Apostle Paul said that any angel preaching a doctrine contrary to the gospel is accursed (Galatians 1:8).
I would go so far as to say that in this church age, any contact with the spirit world outside of the Lord Himself is likely to be demonic. We have no need for extra-Biblical revelation: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus Christ Himself is God's Word (John 1:1, 14; Revelation 19:13). With the completed cannon of Scripture, there is no need for further prophecies, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. Indeed, we are commanded not to add to the Bible, Revelation 22:18.
Astrology is only one gateway into the occult. The use of Ouija boards, tarot cards, or any other non-Biblical means to get a personal revelation of the future is divination and condemned by God. The use of new age paraphernalia such as amulets, crystals, Indian dream catchers and the like mark the user as someone susceptible to demonic attack by the spirit world. "The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). New Age trinkets are worse than worthless in protecting yourself from "the wiles of the devil". Instead, "put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11-18).
If you want to protect yourself from the ultimate impact of evil, make sure your sign is the Bright and Morning Star who is Jesus Christ (Revelation 22:16). Jesus is the Creator-God (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16) who by His Word holds the universe together (Hebrews 1:3) and will ultimately destroy it (2 Peter 3:10). Seek the Creator's guidance, not that which is created and soon to be destroyed.