Outside the gates of heaven, in addition to “dogs,” are “sorcerers.” Probably no one takes this as a serious
threat today because we don’t believe in them, or else we associate them with something magical. In the cultures of
Egypt in Moses’ time, up to Babylon (when Judah was held captive), and into the New Testament, sorcerers intended
for the general public to think they had special powers. Pharaoh had sorcerers and magicians (Ex. 7:11), as did King
Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:2). He also had astrologers—none of which did him any good in interpreting his dream (their
“powers” failed them). Jeremiah told several kings, including Judah’s, that they should not listen to their diviners,
dreamers, soothsayers, or sorcerers who advised them they would not serve Babylon; but they did (Jer. 27:9). God
would also be against the sorcerers in Jerusalem in Malachi’s day (3:5).
In the New Testament sorcerers are mentioned generally four times—in Revelation 9:21, 18:23, 21:8, and
22:15. The Greek words, from which we get “sorceries” are pharmakeia, pharmakeus, and pharmakos. Our English
word pharmacy is transliterated from them, and it refers to one who uses or administers drugs. He may also have been
familiar with poisons. The use of such drugs may have had something to do with how they succeeded in deceiving
people, although most of us are susceptible to the power of suggestion. In Galatians 5:20, the word is translated
“witchcraft” (KJV) or “sorcery” (NKJ).
Two men of note are mentioned in the book of Acts. Simon is usually called “the sorcerer,” but he and Elymas
are a magos, from which we derive the English word magician. Simon bewitched the Samaritans with his magia (Acts
8:9), and he used magic (maguo) (Acts 8:11) on them. Elymas was also a magos (Acts 13:6, 8). In the plural, the word
is magi, and we find it used of the wise men (Matt. 2:1, 7, 16). Simon and Elymas used illusions and tricks to convince
people they were someone great. As a practitioner of the magical arts, Simon knew real miracles when he saw them;
so, he obeyed the gospel because he knew he was observing the power of God (Acts 8:12-13).
Why do sorcerers merit their own listing among those who are outside the gates of heaven? The answer is
they did not just create illusions to entertain people; they acted as though they possessed genuine powers—when they
did not. They deceived people in order to enrich themselves—just as today’s trance channelers do. They have messages that
contradict the Word of God. They pretend to be an alternate source of information with secret or hidden
wisdom. They lead people’s souls astray; what they do is not authorized by God. Christians will not be fellowshipping
them when eternity begins; we should avoid them and their ilk now, also.