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Dark Arts Rising: The Occult Invasion of the Last Days

  • Writer: Joe Hawkins
    Joe Hawkins
  • May 28
  • 11 min read

The Rise in Occultism in the Last Days

In recent years, occult practices that were once on the fringe have pushed into the mainstream. From classrooms to government offices and pop culture, interest in the occult is surging as a sign of the times. Tarot cards and crystals are sold at major retailers; meditation rituals with pagan roots appear in public schools; and witchcraft-themed content racks up billions of views on social media. I view this normalization of occultism as an alarming indicator that we are living in the last days. Scripture warns of a great spiritual deception in the end times – a deception facilitated by society’s growing acceptance of the very practices God calls detestable (Deuteronomy 18:10–12, Leviticus 19:31).


From Fringe to Mainstream: Occultism Invades Culture

Not long ago, activities like casting spells or consulting psychics were largely confined to the shadows. Today they are openly woven into entertainment and media. Supernatural themes saturate popular culture, from blockbuster movies and TV series glamorizing witchcraft and demon possession to viral social media trends like “WitchTok,” a TikTok community centered on witchcraft and occult practices. Even celebrities now openly dabble in occultic rituals, tarot readings and astrology, signaling how acceptable these practices have become. According to one report on a 1989 message by the late Derek Prince, “one of the major features of this [end-times] period is an explosion of the occult,” accompanied by a permissive moral decline. Prince’s words ring true as we witness a “widespread fascination with the supernatural” in our day.


This fascination is evident in the booming popularity of astrology and witchcraft in new media. Occult and astrology podcasts are experiencing a surge in global popularity, offering “accessible explorations of ancient wisdom” to millions of listeners. What was once a counterculture interest has become a trendy source of guidance and entertainment. “Once seen as fringe interests, astrology and occultism are finding a global audience through podcasts,” notes one Times of India piece. These shows present horoscope readings, tarot, numerology and “manifestation” magic as tools for self-discovery and comfort in uncertain times. By breaking past taboos, such podcasts have normalized topics like tarot and horoscopes, shedding the “outdated stigmas” around mysticism. In other words, the occult is being rebranded as harmless spirituality – just another lifestyle choice.


Underlying this trend is a spiritual hunger in society. Many people, especially youth, feel disillusioned with traditional religion and are seeking meaning through personalized spirituality. Social media has enabled young seekers to form communities swapping spells and psychic advice with ease. Witchcraft content is in high demand both online and offline as a new generation explores “looser,” self-styled belief systems in place of organized faith. One Washington Times report observed that young women in particular are gravitating toward modern witchcraft. Many are turning to “WitchTok” videos, Instagram tarot readers and psychic services to address emotional pain that they feel standard solutions haven’t healed. “Women are especially eager to be treated as if their depression and malaise aren’t simply conditions in need of medical treatment but real hurts,” said one practitioner, explaining why some prefer spiritual remedies to clinical ones. In other words, they crave a sense of deeper significance and empowerment that the mystical promises to provide.

Yet this embrace of the occult comes at a spiritual cost. The Bible is unequivocal that these practices are dangerous deceptions. God warned the Israelites not to participate in the occultic rites of the surrounding nations: “Let no one be found among you who… practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells… Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). Leviticus 19:31 similarly commands, “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.” Such verses reveal that what society calls “spiritual exploration,” God calls evil. Indeed, Scripture forbids consulting mediums and sorcerers under penalty of judgment – “I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums,” God says, as He did when warning Israel before they entered a land steeped in witchcraft. The spirit realm is very real, but apart from God’s truth it is inhabited by impostors. As the prophet Jeremiah admonished, “do not listen to your… diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers” (Jeremiah 27:9), for their counsel is a lie leading people astray.


Occult Indoctrination in Schools and Institutions

Alarmingly, occult and pagan practices aren’t just in entertainment – they are finding their way into public institutions. In recent years, a number of public schools have come under fire for introducing students to mystical or pagan rituals under the guise of “mindfulness” or cultural education. For example, a class-action lawsuit in 2023 exposed how a Chicago-area public school program forced students to participate in a “Quiet Time” meditation that was essentially a Hindu religious ritual. Teenagers were led one by one into a dim room for a private “puja” worship ceremony, made to chant secret mantras that were actually the names of Hindu deities – entities which are demonic. Some students, pressured to take part despite objections, later received legal settlements for this coerced pagan indoctrination. The case underscored that even American public schools have crossed a line by enacting religious ceremonies to false gods. Astonishingly, teachers instructed children not to tell their parents about these activities, even having them sign “non-disclosure agreements” to hide the occult-based program from “religious” family members.


This is not an isolated incident. As investigative journalist Alex Newman has documented, pagan and anti-Christian religious indoctrination have become a staple of government education across the nation. Under the banner of “mindfulness” or diversity, schools are introducing elements of Eastern mysticism, witchcraft and even outright satanic imagery. A few years ago in California, the state Board of Education unanimously approved an ethnic studies curriculum that shockingly had elementary school students chant prayers to the Aztec gods of war and human sacrifice. These demonic deities – once worshipped with ritual cannibalism – were invoked in the name of “multicultural learning.” In other districts, middle schoolers were assigned to write out or recite the Islamic shahada (profession of faith) as an exercise, essentially guiding children to speak the creed of another religion. While marketed as educational, such practices amount to spiritual conditioning that blurs the line between instruction and religious initiation.


Even federal and state governments have lent support to this trend. The U.S. Department of Education funded materials advising schools to “excise” so-called “Christian privilege” from classrooms and instead “infuse… traditions from the Muslim world” into curricula. And just recently, a U.S. state governor granted $5 million to expand an Islamic school, reflecting how eager officials are to accommodate non-Christian spirituality while biblical Christianity remains unwelcome in public institutions. On an international level, the United Nations’ World Core Curriculum for global education has openly New Age roots. Its chief architect, former U.N. official Robert Muller, admitted the program is based on the teachings of Alice Bailey – founder of the Lucifer Publishing Company – and on lessons from “Ascended Master” spirit guides she channeled. In other words, a key framework for worldwide schooling was inspired by occultic, Luciferian doctrine at the highest levels.


Taken together, these developments paint a troubling picture. Government institutions that once promoted moral instruction and objective truth are now tolerating or even endorsing occult ideologies. As Newman bluntly concludes, “Government schools are blatantly indoctrinating American children into false and demonic ‘religions’… This is one of the most urgent crises facing the nation”. Behavior and beliefs that the Bible calls evil are being normalized in the halls of education and power. What was forbidden is now celebrated. The prophet Isaiah’s warning seems apt: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). This inversion of values in society did not happen by accident; it reflects a deeper spiritual shift underway.


Prophetic Warnings of Widespread Deception

The rise of occultism is not a surprise so much as a confirmation of what Scripture said would happen in the last days. The Apostle Paul, writing under the Spirit’s inspiration, warned explicitly: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). This startling verse foretells a great apostasy and embrace of demonic doctrines as the age draws to a close. We see this unfolding now – people rejecting biblical truth in favor of spiritual lies packaged in appealing forms. Whether it’s a “spirit guide” gained through meditation, a “witchy” spell for self-help, or an “angel number” from a New Age podcast, these are “doctrines of demons” drawing the unsuspecting away from the Gospel of Christ.


The Bible also portrays a moral and spiritual polarization occurring as history nears its climax. “Evil men will grow more evil… while the righteous grow more holy” (cf. Revelation 22:11) – a parting of ways between light and darkness. We see that polarization now: many people are growing bolder in their rejection of God’s ways, even celebrating witchcraft and rebellion against biblical values. On the flip side, a remnant of faithful believers is pressing closer to God, yearning for holiness amid the darkness. Society’s norms, which once provided a veneer of Judeo-Christian morality, no longer restrain behavior. On social media, both extremes are amplified – with influencers openly embracing witchcraft, spell-casting and occult teachings on one hand, and others boldly proclaiming righteousness on the other. The gray area is disappearing. This stark divide itself fulfills biblical prophecy and sets the stage for final events.


Preconditioning for the Ultimate Deception

Why does the rise of occultism matter in a prophetic sense? Because it is conditioning the world to accept the ultimate spiritual deception that will come under the reign of the Antichrist. The Bible warns that a charismatic world leader empowered by Satan will one day deceive humanity with false signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, Revelation 13:13-14). For such deception to succeed, people’s hearts must be primed to welcome darkness disguised as light. What better preparation than a culture that already glamorizes magic, venerates “spirit guides,” and dismisses the idea of absolute truth? By normalizing occult practices, society is effectively lowering its defenses against “the lawless one” who will use occult power to ensnare the world.


Daniel 8:23 states that “a king shall arise… who understands sinister schemes” when “the transgressors have reached their fullness.” This is as a prophetic marker—that widespread rebellion against God will reach its peak before the Antichrist is unveiled. “The corruption that’s been at work in society… is increasing, and there’s no way to reverse it.” Today’s cultural fascination with the occult, alongside accelerating moral decay and defiance of God’s truth, echoes this warning with sobering clarity. We are witnessing the final pieces fall into place: as witchcraft and dark spiritual practices become mainstream, humanity’s collective rebellion is nearing its tipping point. And with that, the restraining force that has long held back the tide of evil is steadily being withdrawn.


The Bible speaks of a “restrainer” that currently holds back the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). I contend this restraining force to be the Holy Spirit working through the presence of the church. In God’s timing, that restraint will be removed –to coincide with the Rapture, when Christ calls His church out of the world. Once the Holy Spirit-indwelt church is taken out, the floodgates of evil will burst open. What we see now is a foreshadow: as society progressively pushes God out and welcomes occult influences in, we get a preview of how dark things can become when the Spirit’s restraint is wholly lifted. It is as if the world is warming up to embrace whatever spiritual power comes next, setting itself up to be deceived by the Antichrist’s occult prowess. Jesus warned that false prophets and false messiahs will perform great signs to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24). The current climate of occult fascination primes people to be mesmerized by such false miracles. After all, if one already believes that tarot cards can guide your destiny, or that chanting a spell can bend reality, how much more readily will they believe the Antichrist’s lying wonders?


Tragically, the end of this road is divine judgment. The Bible is clear that those who persist in occult practices without repentance will face God’s wrath. “Those who practice magic arts… their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 21:8) – a sobering reminder that sorcery is not a harmless pastime but a soul-condemning sin. No matter how mainstream or chic occultism becomes, “detestable” is still God’s verdict on it (Deuteronomy 18:12). The rapid normalization of these dark arts is a harbinger that we are nearing the time of accountability. Yet in God’s mercy, He is also warning and calling people out of these deceptions before it’s too late.


A Call to Discernment and Hope

In light of these sobering trends, how should believers respond? First, we must not panic or lose hope. Jesus foretold that darkness would increase as the end approaches, but He also promised to be with us always. The current rise of occultism, as alarming as it is, actually reaffirms the Bible’s prophetic accuracy. It tells us that God’s Word is coming to pass – and that the return of Christ draws nearer. This should strengthen our faith, not shatter it. Knowing that God foresaw these days, we can trust Him to also deliver on the promise of His coming kingdom when evil will be vanquished.


Secondly, Christians are called to stay alert and grounded in Scripture like never before. The Apostle Paul exhorted believers to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” and to “put on the full armor of God” so we can stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10–11). We must remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against… the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). In practical terms, this means recognizing that the cultural battles around us – whether in schools, media or government – are fundamentally spiritual battles. Arguments alone won’t suffice; we combat deception through prayer, the truth of Scripture, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Rather than flirt with trendy occult practices, we should heed the Bible’s command to “have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11). Reject the Ouija board, the horoscope, the crystal healing – no matter how fashionable – and choose the light of God’s Word instead (Psalm 119:105).


Crucially, we must also remember that God’s power far exceeds the power of the occult. As Dean Dwyer writes, “Although many people are drawn to it, these [occult] powers are impotent before God… The spirit world is real, but not all of it is innocent. Dark, demonic and destructive forces inhabit it, ready to deceive the unsuspecting.” What an important reminder that we do not need to fear the darkness if we are walking in the light of Christ. The same Jesus who cast out demons with a word and who triumphed over Satan at the cross lives in us by His Spirit. “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Armed with this confidence, we can lovingly warn others who are dabbling in occultism. Many involved in New Age or witchcraft genuinely seek help or meaning; we can point them to the all-sufficient hope in Jesus that no crystal or tarot deck can provide.

Finally, as the world grows darker, the Church must shine brighter. We have the privilege and responsibility to demonstrate a greater power than that of the enemy – the power of the Holy Spirit working through us in love, holiness, and truth. This is not the time for a complacent or compromised faith. It’s the time to “contend for the faith” (Jude 1:3), intercede for our communities, and uphold the Gospel with boldness and grace. Each of us should examine our heart and “throw off” any occult influence or fascination that may have crept in (Acts 19:18-19). We cannot effectively resist the darkness if we entertain it in secret. But as we consecrate ourselves to God, we become part of that restraining force of righteousness in the world.


In conclusion, the rise of occultism in our day is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and a flashing warning light on the prophetic timeline. It signals that the hour is late, but it also reminds us that God’s redemptive plan is right on schedule. Rather than be overcome with fear, let’s take it as a call to draw nearer to Christ and rely on the Holy Spirit’s power. We are urged to “be sober-minded; be watchful,” knowing our adversary the devil prowls (1 Peter 5:8), yet we do so with the unshakable hope that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20). The normalization of occultism may precondition society for great deception, but it also motivates true believers to cling all the more to our great Savior. In these last days, may we be found alert and faithful, lovingly pointing people to the Light of the world. The darkness will not prevail; Jesus is coming soon, and “greater is He” than all the powers of hell combined.



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