One of the most shameful incidents I have ever witnessed at a Christian concert occurred at a Third Day concert in Birmingham, AL. During the concert, singer Mac Powell, said, “Now we’re gonna do one for mom and dad”. And what song did these Christians sing for mom and dad? Amazing Grace? Victory in Jesus? No, they did outlaw rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama”!

A tell-tale statement comes from David Carr of Third Day in CCM magazine:

“Worship has to come from the heart and be sincere, so we’ve been really wary about jumping on a ‘worship music’ bandwagon.” (CCM, Sept. 1999)

And then again, Carr admitts maybe they are "jumping on the worship bandwagon" after all?

"Some of our songs we never thought of in a worship context until we began performing them live and saw people raising their hands and worshipping. It surprises us and makes us realize that what we do is sometimes more worshipful than we know.”

And these are Christians?

THE OCCULT

The cover of Third Day's album Time displays a well known occult symbol called the lazy eight or the infinity symbol (underneath the word "time") (see on RIGHT). Dr. Cathy Burns documents the Satanic connection to this symbol, "Another Satanic symbol is the lazy eight or the infinity sign. To occultists, it represents Lucifer's eternal victory. It also symbolizes reincarnation and karma. . . It's also used in the brimstone symbol and appears at the top of the Nine Satanic Statements." (Dr. Cathy Burns, Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated, p. 254) It is also found floating above the head of the magician on the tarot card.

EXAMPLES OF THE OCCULT USE OF THE INFINITY SYMBOL
The "Nine Satanic Statements" from The Satanic Bible (p. 25). The ancient Alchemy symbol for brimstone, the place of hell.	The Satanic Tarot Card. Notice the Third Day Time symbol resting above the head of The Magician, signifying Satan's powers resting on "The Magician".	The rock group Journey with the symbol circling the earth. According to Dr. Burns, "The infinity symbol sometimes encircles a globe in which case it means that Satan has put the earth under his control." (Dr. Cathy Burns, Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated, p. 255)	An occultist / satanist wearing the Third Day Time symbol. The "eye of Lucifer" is above the Time symbol and underneath the Time symbol is three small numbers - 666!

Third Day's Time album was the 2000 Dove Awards Rock Album of the Year!

Third Day's album Come Together also advertises another occult symbol.

From Third Day's Come Together album.

The symbol is a variation of a very common occult symbol known as the "winged disk" or "winged globe". Like the infinity symbol, found on Third Day's Time album, the winged disk is also on the rock group Journey's albums. Author Eric Barger writes of Journey's winged disk:

"The Evolution album [by Journey] and at least two others by the group, depict the 'winged globe' which signifies a demon deity and the omnipresence of the sun go Ra." (Barger, Eric, From Rock to Rock, p. 117) Texe Marrs, reports in his book, New Age Cults and Religions, "The winged disk was used throughout the centuries to represent the supreme god of other pagan cults and societies. It was the symbol for the baal [devil] god during the Jezebel's reign." (Texe Marrs, Book of the New Age Cults and Religions, p.228)

Journey's Evolution album. Notice also Third Day's Time symbol plus the "winged globe", which signifies a demon deity.

According H.G. Wells, the winged globe, is 'to become the symbol of the New World Order when it [the Antichrist] overtly rules the world," (Fritz Springmeier, The Watchtower and the Masons, p. xi)

The winged globe is many times (such as with the group Journey) associated with the "dung beetle" or "scarabaus". The "scarabaus" is worshipped as a pagan god in many cultures. The Third Day symbol plainly bears a striking likeness to the scarabaus.

From "The Essential Journey" album.

Another "winged scarab".

Noted occultist Helena Blavatasky directly equates the "winged globe" with the "scarabaeus":

"The 'winged globe' is but another form of the egg, and has the same significance as the scarabeus,. . ." (Blavatasky, Helena, The Secret Doctrine, Vol I, p. 365)

"The Phoenicians worshipped a fly god, Baal, from which comes the devil, Beelzebub. Both Baal and Beelzebub are identical to the dung beetle or scarabaeus of the Egyptians. . ." (LaVey, Anton Szandor, The Satanic Bible, p. 60)

The inside of Third Day's "winged globe" is also very interesting. According to the Dictionary of Symbols it is an "ing rune" and "an ideogram for the moon god". (Carl G. Liungman, Dictionary of Symbols, p. 458)

The occult and pagan connection with the moon is widespread. Harper's Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experience, reads, "The moon is associated with witchcraft, magic and sorcery, and is considered to be the source of witches' power. . .The moon itself is believed to cast a spell;" (Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Harper's Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experience, p. 376)

There is another connection I found very interesting. According to occultists, it is the moon that gives the divine scarab beetle life! The scarab or "dung beetle" deposits her eggs in a "dung ball" where it remains for twenty-eight days under the moon. During these twenty-eight days the moon passes through all the twelve signs of the Zodiac and this mystical moon-magic gives the revered scarabaus life and deity! "By thus remaining under the moon, the race of scarabaei is endured with life." (Barbara G. Walker, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols & Sacred Objects, 418)

Without question, the mysterious symbol on Third Day's Come Together album has a bizarre history of occult and satanic influence.

It's worth mentioning the Come Together album is an anthem for an ecumenical, one world, "come together" "love everybody" utopia. The same basic new age-love-mantra put out in the 60s and 70s by The Beatles and John Lennon.

Some of the words to Third Day's "Come Together":

You can all call me crazy / For the things that I might say
You can laugh all you want to / I know there will come a day
When we all will come together / And learn to set aside our hate
And we can learn to love our neighbor / Just like we would love ourselves . . .
We've got to come together / 'Cause in the end we can make it -- alright
We've got to learn to love / We've got to learn to love

You can call me a dreamer / But these dreams will come true. . .

We are brothers and we're sisters / We are one

Sounds like Lennon's "Imagine" (which is the official anthem of the New Age Movement):

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Inside Music, (Jan/Feb 91), describes a Michael W. Smith concert, “His concerts draw hundreds of thousands of fans each year, mostly teenage girls who scream out their affection for him non-stop throughout. To his fans, Smith is the absolute greatest there is, bar none.”

The continual excuse of the Christian rockers is they're trying to reach the young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ by using rock as a tool.

Here's what a secular reporter in The Birmingham News wrote after watching a Michael W. Smith concert:

"If you weren't familiar with Michael W. Smith's standing in the world of contemporary Christian music, you might attend one of his concerts and come out none the wiser." (The Birmingham News, Feb. 12, 1993 p. 5c)

Amazing! After Michael W. Smith's concert, there was not even enough of God for the lost world to even know this "so-called CHRISTian star" was a Christian! What a pitiful testimony for a Christian!

How are you going to reach the young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ when they can not even tell you are a Christian!

A Christian is supposed to be peculiar (1 Peter 2:9), pure (1 Tim. 5:22), clean (2 Cor. 7:1), sanctified (1 Cor. 6:11), separated (2 Cor. 6:17) and holy (1 Peter 1:16). But not according to Michael:

". . .you're always going to have those very very conservative people. They say you can't do this; you can't do that, . . . you can't drink; you can't smoke; . . . It's a pretty bizarre way of thinking." Michael W. Smith (The Birmingham News, Feb. 1993, p.1B)

God help us! What a wicked, rebellious and ungodly statement!

Several years ago, Michael W. Smith attempted the Amy Grant inspired "secular rock crossover". It was a total failure. So Smith went back to $inging to the gullible Christians! The CCM hot $eller now is the rockin' "praise and worship" albums. Of course, Michael W. $mith has a "wor$hip" album. Did I hear cha-ching?

THE OCCULT

The back of Michael W. Smith's, The Big Picture, is Michael W. Smith spelled backwards (on RIGHT). One of the first signs of satanism is writing backwards. Aliester Crowley, the guru of modern satanism (and mentor of many rock groups) taught in his magick handbook, Magick in Theory and Practice, for the occultist, ". . . let him learn to write backwards. . ."

". . .train himself to think BACKWARDS by external means, as set forth here following.
(a) Let him learn to write BACKWARDS. . .
(b) Let him learn to walk BACKWARDS. . .
(c) Let him. . . listen to phonograph records REVERSED
(d) Let him practise speaking BACKWARDS. . .
(e) Let him learn to read BACKWARDS. . ."
(Crowley, Aliester. Magick:Liber ABA, book four, 1994 Ordo Templi Orientis ediiton, p. 639)

Something else very alarming is in "Michael W Smith". The "M" in Michael and the "T" in Smith is part of the Runic (runic means secret) alphabet used in witchcraft and satanism!

The Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and the Occult, says of the "rune", "From the German word raumen, meaning 'secret' or 'mystery'. . . For witchcraft a rune is a magical chant. There are various rune alphabets used by occult groups"..(Mather, George A. and Larry Nichols, The Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and the Occult, p. 235)

Author and occult symbol researcher, Dr. Cathy Burns, was so alarmed by Michael W. Smith's use of the runes on his Big Picture album, she wrote Smith requesting an explanation. Here is her reply:

"When I wrote to Smith about this, his manager responded. He denied that the record contained runic characters, but he did tell me that if I wanted to know more about runes that I should check out my library for more information! He may not be fully endorsing the runes, but he certainly didn't try to warn me that runes were occultic symbols." (Dr. Cathy Burns, Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated, p. 288)

In the book, Web of Darkness, former satanist Sean Sellers says, "Runes are the oldest form of occult knowledge and magic . . . their use sets a person against God." (Sean Sellers, Web of Darkness, p. 72)

Michael W. Smith's Christmastime album has the most bizarre album cover I have ever seen. Michael W. Smith is simply standing on a chair in some weird stance. What in the world is he doing? During a slide presentation on Christian Rock, I displayed Smith's Christmastime album cover and remarked "what a bizarre cover it was. And I had no idea what Smith was doing!" After the presentation, a man came forward and told me that Michael was "runing". He was forming the runic "T" and the bottom of the chair (we enclosed it in red) is forming the runic "M"! It is clearly taking place! Unbelievable!

Notice the runic M and T are in the "Michael W. Smith" name above.

THE ALAN PARSONS INFLUENCE

One of the most surprising "confessions" by any CCMer was made by Michael W. Smith in Inside Music magazine, (Jan/Feb 91, p.23). During the interview, Michael W. Smith was asked,"There's also the influence of such groups as Alan Parsons in your music. It's especially noticeable on the first record, the Michael W. Smith Project [even named after the Alan Parsons Project]." And Smith's reply, "DEFINITELY!" What? Alan Parsons is among the most occultic and bizarre groups in rock! Alan Parsons has songs titled: "Lucifer", the sacreligious "Genesis Ch 1 v32" (there is no Genesis Chapter 1 verse 32), their album "Eve".

The Alan Parsons Project, album, Eye In The Sky (and several other albums) displays proudly on the cover the occultic Eye of Horus (also called the "all-seeing Eye" of Lucifer). According to Harpers' Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experience, The Eye of Horus "It has become commonly associated with esoterica and the occult." (Harpers' Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experience, p. 197) Horus is known as the Sky God. Interesting. . . In Ephesians 2:2, the Bible calls Satan (aka Horus) as ". . . the prince of the power of the air. . ." According to Dictionary of Symbols the "eye" is also associated with the drug LSD, "Today it is used by subcultures using illicit drugs as a general symbol for altered or higher states of awareness, e.g., in association with the use of LSD. (Carl G. Liungman, Dictionary of Symbols, p. 502)

Get this! Like Alan Parsons, Michael W. Smith also has an album titled, I2(EYE). Of course, the name of Jesus is nowhere to be found in I2(EYE).

The Alan Parsons album Vulture Culture displays the occult symbol called the "ouroboros". It is a "serpent" (a.k.a. Satan) biting his tail. It represents Satan is Lord by surrounding the earth. The book Occult Geometry says of the ouroboros, "One form of the Circle is a serpent with a tail in its mouth. . . symbolizes evolution, the Serpent Circle involution. . ." (A.S. Raleigh, Occult Geometry, p. 10)

Alan Parson Project album Stereotomy's cover appears pure evil.

THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT
The Alan Parsons Project Eye in the Sky	The Alan Parsons Project Vulture Culture	The Alan Parsons Project Stereomy

There is no mistaking the new age-occult message of the group Earth, Wind and Fire. They openly saturate their album covers with occult symbols and imagery. A quick glance at their albums is a visual barrage of the all-seeing eye of Horus, Shiva, Jupiter, zodiac signs, pyramids, hexagrams, the Egyptian ankh, and many others.

Throughout paganism the concept of mother-earth-is-god begins with Earth, Wind and Fire. On the back of Earth, Wind and Fire’s Greatest Hits Vol. I, this pagan heresy is promoted with the words, "In The Beginning, There Was Earth, Wind and Fire." Rather than "In The Beginning, There Was God" – "God" is replaced with the pagan elemental god of "Earth, Wind and Fire."

Earth, Wind and Fire is more than an innocent music group. Founder and leader Maurice White proudly admits their music is to preach their metaphysic occult message:

"I always studied metaphysics and Egyptology. It got so interesting, what I was trying to do was share with the audience what we were learning at the time. As we learned more, we went about trying to share it with the audience, bring a message to the music."
(EW&F interview, Goldmine Magazine, January 1998)

In the same interview, Verdine of Earth, Wind and Fire, also provides insight into their new age message — acknowledging they promoted the demonic practice of occult Trancendental Meditation:

"Maurice always studied astrology, numerology, astronomy, We introduced Trancendental Meditation to a lot of the black audience. That was very new for them. Of course, the Beatles had brought TM to the people in the 1960's, but we brought it into the 70's to an audience that was looking for something alternative."
(EW&F interview, Goldmine Magazine, January 1998)

Their song "Serpentine Fire" is based on the new age teachings found in Shah Kriza Yogi Meditation Cult.

On the back of Earth, Wind and Fire’s Greatest Hits Vol. I has this enlightening statement: "Looking back to the pyramids and forward to the eternal cosmos, Earth, Wind and Fire conjured up some of the most enduring songs of our time." Incredible. The word "conjure" means, "to call upon or command a devil or spirit by invocation or spell." <www.infoplease.com> And this is from their own album – their own words!

On many of their album covers is the occult symbol for the god of Jupiter. Earth, Wind and Fire’s song Jupiter describes a "visit" from a superman-Avatar "light being" named Jupiter. Interesting, the name Lucifer means "light bearer".

Searching in the sky one night, while looking for the moon
I viewed a mighty light approaching in a zoom.
Need was there to tell someone of my discovery
Fifteen seconds later, a light appeared in front of me
To my surprise, there stood a man with age and mystery
His name was Jupiter and came to visit me

The name is Jupiter, from the galaxy
I came to meet you, to make you free
Deliver to you a flower from
A distant planet, from where I come

Keep your eye on Jupiter, such beauty in the sky
We will wait for your return in the by and by
Jupiter, Earth, Wind and Fire

Do you know who Jupiter is? Occult research author, William Hutchinson says Jupiter is "painted with horns" and "he is the same as Baal. . ." (William Hutchinson, The Spirit of Masonry, pp. 82-83) Satanist Anton LaVey, writes in The Satanic Bible, "The Phoenicians worshipped a fly god, Baal, from which comes the devil, Beelzebub. . ." (Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible, p. 60) Anyone slightly familiar with the Bible recognizes Baal as the devil worshipped in the Old Testament.

In Jeremiah 19:5, the followers of Baal burnt their sons for a human sacrifice to Baal.

They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
Jeremiah 19:5

There is no question to the motive, message, and mission of the music of Earth, Wind and Fire. None. They proudly and loudly boast of their occult message and mission.

THE OCCULT IMAGERY OF EARTH, WIND AND FIRE
Notice the Jupiter Symbol and the god Dagon in the background.

Answer this question. . .

Would a born-again Christian fill their heart and mind with Earth, Wind and Fire’s new age, metaphysical, Baal-inspired message? And even worse, would (or could. . .) a supposedly born-again Christian, that is ". . . guided in all truth" (John 16:13) by the Holy Spirit, sing and promote the metaphysical, Baal-inspired, demonic message of Earth, Wind and Fire?

Believe it or not the CCM group, Point of Grace includes on their album Life, Love and Other Mysteries the Earth, Wind and Fire song "Sing A Song"! I kid you not! It is there. Check it out. Remember the album note we previously read where Earth, Wind and Fire boasted about "conjuring up" their music? One of the devil conjured songs on that particular album is "Sing a Song". Wow!

Let me also remind the reader that for every Life, Love and Other Mysteries sold by Point of Grace a percent or royalty is paid to Earth, Wind and Fire for the use of their music. Every time a Christian buys Life, Love and Other Mysteries, they are financing the occult message of Earth, Wind and Fire. And make no mistake, Point of Grace is a merchant advocate for Earth, Wind and Fire – and their message!

Do not tell me how the Holy Spirit is using Point of Grace. The Holy Spirit is not going to "lead and guide" Christians to sing the occult songs of Earth, Wind and Fire. Ain’t gonna happen! Ain’t gonna happen! You can scream and kick about Point of Grace being a blessing, blah. . . blah. . . blah. But it ain’t gonna happen!

Someone may think, what is the big deal of singing the metaphysical, Baal-inspired songs of Earth, Wind and Fire. Tell that line to the prophet Elijah.

May I remind you of the battle between Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. Remember how God answered Elijah’s prayer and lighted the fire on the altar. And how prophets of Baal "cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them." (vs 28)

And in 1 Kings 18:40 the Bible says:

And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
1 Kings 18:40

Tad bit of difference between Point of Grace singing and paying royalties to the "prophets of Baal" and Elijah’s condemnation.

Why do these so-called Christians have known occult symbols and influences on their albums?

I do not believe these Christian artists are occultists or pagans. In fact, I believe many of them are saved.

So why the occult symbols and obvious pagan influences?

Matthew 16:13-23 has an amazing and very enlightening dialogue, between Jesus, Peter and Satan:

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of thes aring God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not REVEALED IT unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on eart youall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Matthew 16:13-23

A few interesting things about Matthew 16:

In verse 17, Peter had a direct revelation from God - " . . .for flesh and blood hath not REVEALED it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Again, notice God "REVEALED" it unto Peter.

Notice what happens in verse 23, just seven verses later. Jesus addresses Peter as Satan! Satan had completely taken over Peter. God, the Father was communicating directly to Peter in verse 17 and in verse 23, Satan had completely taken over Peter!

But what is really interesting is Peter's motive.

As Jesus began in verse 21 to tell how He would be crucified, verse 22 reads, "Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee."

Peter's motive was his LOVE FOR THE LORD JESUS! He did not want Jesus to be crucified. And even though Peter's motive was RIGHT - when he got out of the will of God - Satan COMPLETELY TOOK OVER. You can have the RIGHT motive (even love for the Lord Jesus Christ!) and be completely WRONG! Even to the point of under the control of Satan.

Sincerity, and even love, is no substitute for the WILL OF GOD.

Let me say that again. . .

Sincerity, and even love, is no substitute for the WILL OF GOD.

These CCM stars may have the right motive but anyone, with any spiritual discernment, could honestly believe rock music was the direct will of God. And most of the CCM rockers know it. They know rock music, any rock music, is contrary to the will of God. Oh, they want to believe it is the perfect will of God. . . They try to convince themselves that God is pleased with their music - but they KNOW better. . .

The CCM group Stryper was very popular in the 80s until they spirirtually "bottomed out". Read what Robert Sweet admits concerning God and Christan rock music:

"As a matter of fact, the band was one thing that was making us turn and walk the opposite direction from Christianity. . . If you're doing something you like doing, and God says not to do it then you're not going to pay attention."(RIP, April, 1987 p. 49)

Sweet knew Stryper and Christian rock was "the opposite direction from Christianity" and "God says not to do it". These CCMers KNOW God is not pleased with their rock music. But like the chief rulers in John 12:43, ". . . they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Many of these CCM groups have gone so far from the will of God, that like Peter, Satan has completely taken over. Their dress. . . Their talk. . . Their lyrics. . . Their music. . . Their symbols are the same as their secular counterparts. Why? The same source of inspiration is controlling them both. And that source of inspiration is not the Holy Spirit - it is the unholy spirit!

The secular world knows who is the "god of rock. music":

Rock star David Bowie said, "Rock has always been THE DEVILS MUSIC. . . I believe rock and roll is dangerous. . . I feel we're only heralding something even darker than ourselves." (Rolling Stone, Feb. 12, 1976, p. 83)

Secular rock bad girl Lita Ford, said, "Listen, rock'n roll AIN'T CHURCH. It's nasty business. You gotta be nasty too. If you're goody, goody, you can't sing or play it. . ." (Los Angeles Times, August 7, 1988)

Even secular Time magazine, (March 11, 1985 p.60) in an article about Contemporary Christian Music titled the article, "New Lyrics for the DEVIL'S MUSIC".

PART THREE - The Fruits of Christian Rock