Some people use a pendulum (one would hold the pendulum by a string or chain) that would move by asking of questions. Some think it works by unknown scientific means. Others ask a spirit question using the pendulum for the answer. How the pendulum works are not by some unknown scientific means, some spirit guide or godly angel, but by evil spirits! This is a form of divination that the Bible condemns (Deut. 18:10-14; 2 Kings 17:17; Acts 16:16)

One occult expert, the late Kurt Koch, related his experiences who were demonically affected by getting involved with the pendulum:

Ex. 26. A woman who had an organic disease went to be examined by a pendulum practitioner. A diagnosis was made and the medical treatment was prescribed through the use of a pendulum. The woman, who had a Christian outlook and attitude, afterwards felt as though she was being approached by unearthly forces. These strange assaults lasted for a few months. During this time she sought the help of a Christian minister because of the strange inner fear that gripped her.

Ex. 27. Since childhood a girl had had the gift of second sight. She often saw apparitions. She was also antagonistic towards religious matters. However, during a mission she accepted Christ as her Saviour. From that time on her resistance to the things of God was gone. But one day she fell ill and unknowingly went to a pendulum practitioner. Immediately her psychic disturbances and her resistance to the Bible and prayer returned.

This example underlines the following facts. It has been said earlier that the gift of second sight is one of the subsequent effects of the occult activities of one’s ancestors. Another common symptom of this is a resistance to things concerning religion. The girl in Ex. 27 had both these symptoms. When she turned to Christ the mediumistic subjection departed. After the pendulum treatment they both reappeared. Here the mediumistic character of the pendulum practice becomes apparent. This characteristic resistance which accompanies other symptoms will be seen more clearly through some further examples.

Ex. 28. During an illness a woman sought the help of a well-known pendulum practitioner. She thought nothing of doing this, as she had previously heard nothing against such a practice. However, she became restless in the waiting room of the practitioner and this unrest increased during the treatment itself. She took the medicines which had been prescribed by the pendulum but the degree of her psychic disturbances only intensified. She found it impossible to pray and developed an aversion to the Bible and to the things of her faith. It was then on her own initiative that she threw away the medicines. Only after this did she come to seek my advice as a minister, and to ask me what I thought about the use of a pendulum in diagnosing diseases and in prescribing medicines.

Ex. 29. A pendulum practitioner came to me. He admitted quite openly that his practice was a strain on him and consumed his nervous energy. He specialized in determining the constituency of foods by means of a pendulum. White sugar he said would affect him negatively, while brown sugar would do so positively. Over the years, however, he had observed psychic changes in himself. He had suffered a loss of energy and a loss in his ability to make decisions. Added to this he had become hypersensitive, and had developed a nervous twitching and a sensitivity to southerly winds and to water. When he tried to read the Bible, he had a feeling of disgust and a great aversion towards it. Crucifixes were also violently repugnant to him. All this he observed in himself, and realizing that these psycho-religious disturbances were connected with his pendulum practice, he sought pastoral help and found himself ready to surrender his life to Christ. These two examples show that both the woman and the pendulum practitioner became aware of the derogatory effects through their own sound judgement and insight. In both cases they came to reject the use of a pendulum before ever receiving any such advice from a Christian minister. The antagonism that exists between mediumistic pendulum practices and the spiritual power of prayer is revealed in the next three examples.

(Between Christ and Satan, 26-38)

Ex. 32. One pendulum practitioner casts spells over warts, corns, goitres, aid eczemas etc. Added to this he experiments in the field of death magic. He also asserts that he can either make people sick or heal them. A Christian woman, who knew nothing of his magical powers, thinking that he was only a nature healer, went to him for treatment. In the waiting room she prayed silently. Suddenly he addressed her and said, „You can go home. I can’t help you.“ In spite of this, the woman began to have attacks of depression and thoughts of suicide. Her husband, who had no clear relationship with Christ, was treated magically by this same pendulum practitioner. The children born of their marriage since this treatment have all been affected and burdened. It is also worth noting that a doctor nearby sends some of his patients to this pendulum practitioner. These three examples indicate that dowsing can paralyse a man’s desire to pray, while on the other hand the prayer of a believing Christian can paralyse dowsing. The woman praying in the waiting room prevented the magic pendulum practitioner from working. The power of the Holy Spirit and mediumistic abilities are mutually exclusive. Finally we will mention the definite effects of using a pendulum. We will be dealing not so much with the effects on one’s Christian life but rather with authentic medical disturbances.

Ex. 35. A Protestant minister used a pendulum to find water and ore. He could also diagnose diseases and establish the character of medicines with the pendulum. A Swiss university professor tested his ability. With his medical assistants and students present, he introduced twenty patients to the pendulum practitioner. With the help of the pendulum the man made a correct diagnosis on all 20 patients. This minister was also not immune to the effects of his practice. His wife had a fatal accident. All his children died unnatural deaths. He himself has now been in an asylum for a number of years.

Ex. 36. A minister in Germany used a pendulum in dealing with diseases and medicines. He also practised healing at a distance. Sick people would send him their photographs and he would hold the pendulum over them to End out the medicine that should be prescribed. A believing Christian woman sent him her photograph for the same purpose. Her illness was diagnosed and the necessary medicine determined. However, later on she became insane and was taken to an asylum. Members of her family reported this to the church authorities and the minister was later brought to court. These four examples reveal a fact that can be verified by hundreds of similar cases. Pendulum therapy can indeed accomplish a certain relief and healing in the organic field. This organic relief, however, must be paid for by disturbances appearing in the psychic field. Even the minister who was an active pendulum practitioner was not immune. The degree of psychic disorder differs only in this, that the active pendulum practitioner experiences more complicated sicknesses as a result of his mediumistic activity, than the people who are treated. In many cases the occult character of the pendulum practice is revealed by the fact that the pendulum practitioner often indulges in other occult activities. This may include for example magic charming, spiritism, clairvoyance, or mesmerism etc. The company is worthy of note. Birds of a feather flock together!

(Between Christ and Satan, 39, 41-30)

A young man came to me for counseling, complaining of depression, suicidal thoughts, and inability to make decisions. Often he felt unable to cope with his work. He felt as if he were paralyzed. His family history presented a dismal picture. His great-aunt, who lived with the family, practiced pendulum dowsing. She used the pendulum for all the members of the family. She swung her pendulum over their daily food. She used it to solve everyday problems and to discover the future. She used it whenever decisions were to be made. The result was that the whole of their family life was disturbed. Both children and parents suffered from depression, and all sorts of other troubles afflicted them.

I have several hundred examples concerning pendulum and rod dowsers, and all are negative in character. I cannot understand those theologians and Christian workers who regard dowsing as harmless.

(Occult ABC, 273)

An expectant mother allowed a pendulum practitioner to use a pendulum over her unborn child to determine whether it was a boy or girl. Both of the woman’s children were treated in this way and today they are both oppressed and burdened as a result of it.

(The Devil’s Alphabet, 97)

During a series of talks I was giving in a certain town, I became ill and asked for the name of a Christian doctor. One was recommended with whom I made an appointment. When I entered his consulting room, I saw a pendulum in his work, he replied that he used it to give an additional diagnosis. I ought to mention that this was not a mere healer, but a properly qualified doctor. After he had said this, I told him that I could not use his services as a doctor, since I would have nothing to do with pendulum practice. He was astonished. I explained why I felt this way. At the same time, I prayed inwardly that God would open his eyes. Then I had the idea of seeking God’s judgment on the matter. I must emphasize that this is the only occasion in my life that I have done this. I said to him: You may use your pendulum on me.” He took the instrument in his hand, but it would not work. He looked at me in amazement and said: “You are the first person with whom the pendulum has not worked.” I prayed on, rejoicing that God was at work already. He made me stand in two other parts of his consulting room. The pendulum did not move. The doctor asked me: “What have you done? What sort of a person are you?” “I believe in Jesus Christ,” I replied, “and I am convinced that psychic powers come from below, and that we should not make use of them. That included the use of the pendulum.” I admitted that I had prayed for God to make His will known and for God to open his eyes. The doctor replied that he accepted this. “If you can stop the pendulum by prayer, then it is not natural power that lies behind the pendulum; it must be a power opposed to God.” The doctor kept his promise. He has never since used the pendulum.

I advise no one to do as I did. I have only done it once in my life, and then because the Lord gave me an inner peace about it, in order to open the eyes of this doctor.

Powers that can be disturbed by prayer are not physical powers. Perhaps that may be underlined by reference to another example.

(Occult ABC, 189-190)

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you can receive Him into your heart, and He can deliver you from darkness and sin and have your name written in His Book of Life.

If you are sincere, you can say this simple prayer to the Father (it doesn’t have to be word for word):

“God, I recognize that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. Please forgive me of all of my sins just as I forgive others. I need You in my life; I want You in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ in giving His life for me on the cross, I believe in my heart Jesus is Lord and was raised from the dead and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my Savior. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow You all the days of my life. Those days are in Your hands. I ask this in the Lord and GOD Jesus’ precious and holy name. Amen.”