israel today > Debate & Prophecy > Is the Star of David an occult Symbol?

Debate & Prophecy

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Is the Star of David an occult Symbol?
If the Star of David is an occult symbol, then so is every snowflake—those lacey, delicate six-pointed stars that glorify the Creator in a myriad of ways. In Hebrew, the Star of David is called Magen David, the Shield of David because it’s made up of two triangular shields lying on top of one another.

In the time of David, around 1000 BC, this was a common shape for military shields. The oldest representation of a Star of David still in existence appears on a 7th century BC seal. The Star of David on the synagogue in Capernaum dates to 350 AD. There are many theories about the meaning of the Star of David. For example, because one triangle points down and the other up, some see it as linking the visible and invisible world, i.e., God drawing near to men, and men to God.

Others see the six outer triangular shapes as representative of the six working days, with Shabbat (the Sabbath)—the day of rest—in the center. The Star of David is also known as the “Star of the Messiah” because the Bible says that a star will rise out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17). Over the centuries, Jews have kept watch for the Star of the Messiah from the house of David, which is where the name Star of David came from.

Because Yeshua (Jesus) was from the House of David, the Star of David served as a symbol to the early Christians of the link with their Jewish brothers (represented by a menorah [candelabrum]), and Gentile Christians (represented by the Ichthys [fish]). They cited Revelation 22:16:
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.”

In the cultic religion of the Egyptians, the Star of David was completely unknown. It wasn’t until 2,500 years after its inception that it began to be misused for other purposes. In 1600 AD, the Star of David became associated with occult groups. The Rosicrucians and the Kabbalists (Jewish mystics) first adopted the symbol, and they were followed by the Freemasons (1717) and the Illuminati (1776).

Since then, the cross, the name of God (YHWH), the Catholic mass and the Lord’s Prayer have also been usurped for cultic practices. During the reign of the Third Reich in Germany, the Star of David was labeled an occult symbol. This caused many Christians to refrain from trying to save Jews because they didn’t want to come under occult influences from the Jewish Star they wore.

The Star of David is neither an occult symbol, nor a redeeming one, with “magical” powers to save. It is simply a symbol representing the rebirth of the nation of Israel in accordance with the promises of God. When the wise men “saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10); it alerted them to the coming of the Messiah. In the same way, the star in Israel’s flag announces the (second) coming of the Messiah.

Ancient Symbol: This ancient Star of David were found in Biblical Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee and Symbol in Snow: The snowflake is a six-pointed star

* PDF file of this page available by e-mail info@israeltoday.co.il

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