In biblical terms, prognosticators are individuals who claim the ability to predict future events or discern hidden knowledge through various means, often associated with divination, astrology, or other occult practices. The Bible addresses the role and influence of prognosticators, consistently warning against their practices and the spiritual dangers they pose.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides several references to prognosticators, often in the context of pagan practices that were prevalent among Israel's neighboring nations. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , God explicitly forbids the Israelites from engaging in such practices: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

The prophet Isaiah also speaks against prognosticators, particularly those who rely on astrology. In Isaiah 47:13-14 , the prophet mocks the futility of such practices: "You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame."

New Testament Context

The New Testament continues to warn against the influence of prognosticators and similar practices. In Acts 16:16-18 , the Apostle Paul encounters a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination: "One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.' She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!' And the spirit left her at that very moment."

This passage highlights the spiritual bondage associated with prognostication and the power of Christ to deliver individuals from such influences.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, prognosticators are often seen as operating outside the will and revelation of God. The Bible emphasizes that true knowledge and wisdom come from God alone. In James 1:5 , believers are encouraged to seek wisdom from God: "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

The reliance on prognosticators is viewed as a form of idolatry, as it places trust in human or demonic sources rather than in God. This is further underscored in Jeremiah 10:2 , where the Lord instructs, "Do not learn the way of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them."

Practical Considerations

For Christians, the biblical stance on prognosticators serves as a caution against engaging in or endorsing practices that seek to predict the future or gain hidden knowledge through means contrary to God's Word. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty and His revealed Word for guidance and understanding. The Bible calls for discernment and a commitment to spiritual purity, avoiding any practices that could lead to spiritual deception or bondage.Prognosticators

Isaiah 47:13, Chaldeans, who pretended to foretell future events by the varying aspects of the moon, or month by month.

MONTHLY; PROGNOSTICATORS

munth'-li, prog-nos'-ti-ka-terz.

See ASTROLOGY, sec. I, 6.

PROGNOSTICATORS, MONTHLY

prog-nos'-ti-ka-terz.

See ASTROLOGY, 6.

Accurate Information of the Christians.
... Moreover, it is said that among your writers there were prophets and prognosticators,
and that those wrote accurately who were informed by them. ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xvii accurate information of the.htm

Witnessing Better than Knowing the Future
... You do not come here to be prognosticators of the events of tomorrow about yourself,
or about your children, or about your friends, or about the nations of the ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 39 1893/witnessing better than knowing the.htm

Of Lying Defamation.
... way, than (like the Astrologer, who made his Almanac give a tolerable account of
the weather by a direct inversion of the common prognosticators,) to let his ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section v of lying defamation.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... Elijah and Elisha were great prophets, but they were not prognosticators; they were
preachers of righteousness to kings and people, and they delivered their ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

The Unseen Watcher
... If so be thou mayest prevail. "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels.
Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators,. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 43 the unseen watcher.htm

The Unclean Spirits.
... Let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up,
and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee," Isa.47:12, 13. ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the unclean spirits.htm

Prognosticators (1 Occurrence)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia MONTHLY; PROGNOSTICATORS. munth'-li, prog-nos'-ti-ka-
terz. See ASTROLOGY, sec. I, 6. PROGNOSTICATORS, MONTHLY. prog-nos'-ti-ka-terz. ...
/p/prognosticators.htm - 7k

Astrology
... Looking in the Liver 4. The Astrologers, or Dividers of the Heavens 5. The Stargazers,
or See rs of the Constellations 6. The Monthly Prognosticators, or Men ...
/a/astrology.htm - 38k

Progress (9 Occurrences)

/p/progress.htm - 10k

Progeny (1 Occurrence)

/p/progeny.htm - 6k

Counsels (22 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 47:13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels: let now the astrologers,
the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you ...
/c/counsels.htm - 12k

Astrologers (9 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 47:13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels: let now the astrologers,
the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you ...
/a/astrologers.htm - 9k

Stargazers (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 47:13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels: let now the astrologers,
the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you ...
/s/stargazers.htm - 7k

Star-gazers (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 47:13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the astrologers,
the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee ...
/s/star-gazers.htm - 6k

Wearied (36 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 47:13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels: let now the astrologers,
the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you ...
/w/wearied.htm - 17k

Gaze (46 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 47:13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels: let now the astrologers,
the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you ...
/g/gaze.htm - 19k

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