the truth for today

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Popular since the time they were written, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have drawn millions of fans across the globe. They tell the story of Bilbo and Frodo, two hobbits that both set out on magical adventures in the world of Middle Earth. Both had at one time carried a magic ring of power. Both used it to disappear, and hide from danger.

A wizard named Gandalf helped and befriended them. His friendship and influence make these stories what they are. They would not exist without this character. Parents, I write to you, since you have the responsibility to teach your children what is right and true. Children for several decades have been taught ideas and concepts through The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

We need to address these ideas and concepts, removing personal bias and beliefs to see them from the standpoint of truth vs. opinion. We will ask and try to answer the questions: ‘Are The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit occultic? If so, how?’

In 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings and its companion The Hobbit, introduced us to a wizard character named Gandalf in his first book featuring Gandalf — The Hobbit. Tolkien introduces us to this benevolent wizard in this way:

“All that the unsuspecting Bilbo saw that morning was an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf over which his long white beard hung down below his waist, and immense black

Boots.” [1]

When Galdalf meets Bilbo Baggins, we read:

“Yes, yes, my dear sir—and I do know your name, Mr. Bilbo Baggins. And you do know my name, .... I am Gandalf, …. ”

“Gandalf, Gandalf! … Not the wandering wizard that gave Old Took a pair of magic diamond studs that fastened themselves and never came undone till ordered? Not the fellow who used to tell such

wonderful tales at parties, about dragons and goblins ...?” [1]

We to look at something deeper. In this short portion of the book, we learn that magic was used to fasten diamond studs. They were only unfastened by speaking a word, a command. That spoken word is a magic spell. This story was originally written for children. What kind of messages does J.R.R. Tolkien’s books bring to children? Are Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit innocent fantasy, or do they teach harmful ideas? We will address these questions in this article.

In The Hobbit (according to a word search box), the word “wizard” appears 69 times. The word “magic” appears 34 times. “Wand” or “staff” (i.e. magic wand / staff) together appear 10 times. “Spell” (as in a magic spell) can be found in 6 different places. The phrases “magic ring,” “the ring,” “a ring of power,” “his ring,” and “a ring” (i.e. in the context of the magic ring) together appear about 37 times (in the text of Tolkien’s book).

Bilbo Baggins, the main character, finds a magic ring that has the power to make the wearer invisible. He uses this magic ring to hide from his enemies, and for other purposes. The magic ring is one of the driving factors to move the plot forward. It is main the reason The Lord of the Rings was written. We will now look at how Bilbo finds this magic ring.

Bilbo was in a system of tunnels inhabited by goblins. Some of the goblins captured him and some dwarves that were on Galdalf’s team. But, magically, the goblins’ torchlight was snuffed out, making the tunnel dark. In the darkness, a glowing blade suddenly appeared. Galdalf’s magic sword “Glamdring” was glowing in its own light. With it, the wizard slew a goblin leader (“Great Goblin”), and he magically cut through metal chains that bound the dwarves and Bilbo. After being freed, the team heads off through the goblin’s lair. Then, before long, more goblins are heard running in the tunnels, heading toward Gandalf’s team.

Gandalf’s friends begin running, and some dwarfs pick up the hobbit because Bilbo is too slow for them. Then, when Gandalf (with his glowing, magic wand) is some distance from Bilbo and Dori (the dwarf that is carrying Bilbo), a goblin sneaks up behind and grabs Dori. Bilbo goes flying. He bumps his head on a rock, and goes unconscious. When he comes to, Bilbo begins crawling in the darkness. Tolkien writes:

“He guessed as well as he could, and crawled along for a good way, till suddenly his hand met what felt like a tiny ring of cold metal lying on the floor of the tunnel. It was a turning point in his career, but he did not know it. He put the ring in his pocket almost without thinking; ...” [A.]

That ring will change Bilbo’s life forever afterwards. Likewise, that magic ring, through the books, has affected the lives of millions of Tolkien fans. It has encouraged many people to visit occult bookstores and learn more about real magic.

Today, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are read and recommended by witches. A Catholic website mentioned that pagans (or Wiccans) read Narnia and Lord of the Rings, and enjoy them:

"Many pagans say that their favorite book in childhood was J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. .... Pagans also read the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, ...." [B.]

This should be concerning to Christian parents who have Lord of the Rings, Narnia, or other magical fantasy books. Why would pagans (or Wiccans / witches) read and enjoy Lord of the Rings and Narnia? We will answer that question in this and other articles about J.R.R. Tolkien’s books.

Now, let’s return back to the scene from The Hobbit where Bilbo Baggins finds the magic ring. Using magic powers to assist his friends, the wizard, Gandalf, kills his enemies and lights the way in the dark, goblin tunnels. Though we don’t read that Gandalf spoke a spell to turn on his magic staff, it is likely that he did.

Earlier in The Hobbit, the dwarves sang a song that included the mention of spell-casting. A portion of it is:

“The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,

While hammers fell like ringing bells” [A.]

After Gandalf used some magic to rescue Bilbo and the dwarves from some Trolls, the group headed toward the Trolls’ cave, and found a stash of food, gold, swords, and other items. Some of the dwarves carried gold away to a place where it could be hidden. Tolkien writes:

“Then they brought up their ponies,

and carried away the pots of gold, and buried

them very secretly not far from the track by the

river, putting a great many spells over them, just

in case they ever had the chance to come back

and recover them.” [A.]

The dwarves casting spells over their loot sounds like a piece of fantasy, but spell-casting is real. It is practiced by real witches today.

During their journey through goblin tunnels, Gandalf magically lights up his sword to kill at least one goblin. Again, the wizard probably spoke a spell to activate his sword. Pay attention when you see any reference in a book (or movie) to supernatural events because the devil has the power to do false signs and wonders, such as levitation and moving objects without human hands. Demons are responsible for these actions.

Earlier in the story, Gandalf and his team had entered a cave, in the side of a mountain, that some dwarfs had found for them. It appeared to be safe, and free of goblins — ugly creatures that inhabit dark tunnels and caverns (in occult lore). But, the cave wasn’t safe. A crack had opened up in the side of the cave, and goblins emerged. Tolkien writes:

“Out jumped the goblins, … ugly-looking goblins, lots of goblins, .... There were six to each dwarf, at least, and two even for Bilbo; and they were all grabbed and carried through the crack .... But not Gandalf. Bilbo’s yell ... It had wakened him … and when goblins came to grab him, there was a terrific flash like lightning in the cave, a smell like gunpowder, and several of them fell dead.” [A.]

When droves of goblins came for the wizard, he used some magic to kill them. This is nothing less than a (witchcraft) curse. In “dark” witchcraft, spells to harm or kill are cast on people who the wizard doesn’t like. These ‘harmful’ spells are called “curses.” Whether J.R.R. Tolkien knows it or not, he is wetting a child’s appetite for the occult. Is he not?

You can go to occult bookstores, or even online stores, and purchase grimoires (spellbooks). These contain invocations for summoning supernatural powers or spirits to aid the sorcerer. In actual witchcraft, the spells can be cast to turn lights off or on. People have actually observed lights turning on and off in haunted houses. The occult is real. It is not something that is pretend. Real witches spend hours of time practicing witchcraft in close-knit groups called covens. Likely knowing about these things, Tolkien was not too shy to include magic spells and curses in his fantasy books.

An article on ThoughtCo.com (“16 Signs That Your House Is Haunted”) describes some of the paranormal phenomena that can be experienced in “haunted houses.” The article says this:

“... Hearing a door open or close is one thing. Actually seeing it happen is quite another. Similarly, actually seeing a light go on or off by itself is greater proof that something unexplained is happening. Do you see the TV or radio turn on? Perhaps you're present when a child's powered toy begins to operate on its own. Doors and windows are locked or unlocked. Some people report that when they are in bed they can feel and/or hear something sitting on the bed.” [C.]

It gets even more disturbing:

“Moving or levitating objects ... - Dinner plates sliding across the table; pictures flying off walls; … furniture sliding across the floor.

Physical assault - Scratches, slaps, and hard shoves. This kind of personal assault is extremely rare, but obviously highly disturbing.

...

Apparitions - Physical manifestation of a spirit or entity. …” [C.]

These phenomena are real, and people actually experience them. The truth is that witches have the power to cause objects to “magically” levitate and lights to “magically” turn on. A witchcraft website instructs people how to cast a spell to turn lights on and off. The website says:

“This spell can make your light turn on and off, the spell is written in old English (but the pronunciation is shown).” [End quote]

As we mentioned earlier, Gandalf has the power to magically turn a light on his staff / wand on and off. An example from The Hobbit:

“But the wizard was taking no risks. He lit up his wand … and by its light they explored the cave ....” [A.]

This is actual magic that witches practice. It is an abomination to God. In Deuteronomy 18, God warns (by way of Moses) His people about the occult.

Deuteronomy 18:9-11 (underlining added)

"[9] When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. [10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, [11] Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.”

The ring of power (Bilbo’s magic ring) is also an object very similar to magic rings sold to witches (or those dabbling in magic). Magic rings of theurgy (or simply magic rings) are not just found in fantasy. They are sold to people practicing real magic.

An occult website that sells magic rings describes some of their occult uses:

“Magic rings are powerful rings that have been cast with a spell. A magic ring contains the spiritual energy of the spell that has been cast on it. … A magic ring for a mooney [sic] is a money spell attached to a ring. A magic ring for protection is a protection spell attached … [to] a ring[.]

Shield your aura from any spiritual harm with magic rings. …. Magic rings have different spiritual properties depending on the type of spell cast on it.

Bring the ancestral magical powers of the spiritual forces to intervene in any situation in your life. …” [End quote]

God forbids charms, talismans, magic rings, wands, spells, or any kind of magic or sorcery. In Acts 19, new believers in Jesus that had magic books from when they were into the occult, burned them, regardless of how expensive they were.

Acts 19:19

“[19] Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

We Christians are to come out of the world, and be separate from its ungodly ways (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 — "[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Getting to know God as our best Friend is the answer to all of life's problems and is what living is truly all about. Jesus said in John 17:3: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

If you are coming here as a non-Christian, I encourage you to read this. God desires to have fellowship with you, as you make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior.

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References:

[A.] Tolkien, J.R.R. “The Hobbit.” Lake.k12.fl.us. <http://www.lake.k12.fl.us/cms/lib05/FL01000799/Centricity/Domain/4432/The%20Hobbit%20byJ%20%20RR%20Tolkien%20EBOOK.pdf>

[B.] Miesel, Sandra. "The Witches Next Door." crisismagazine.com.

[C.] Wagner, Stephen. “16 Signs That Your House Is Haunted.” thoughtco.com.