TATTOO: The Cup
of Devils
Used with permission by Terry Watkins
www.av1611.org
TATTOO. . . YE WORSHIP YE KNOW WHAT
"Ye worship ye know not what. . ."
Jesus Christ, John 4:22
Throughout history the tattoo bears the mark of paganism, demonism, Baal
worship, shamanism, mysticism, heathenism, cannibalism and just about every
other pagan belief known. The tattoo has NEVER been associated with Bible
Believing Christians. And whenever and wherever, in history Christianity
appears – tattoos disappear. The only exception -- 20th
century, lukewarm, carnal, disobedient, Laodicean Christians.
The birth of the tattoo has always born the fruits of pagan religion and
mysticism. Without exception, research after research, study after study, book
after book, the roots of the tattoo never wavers. The following documentation is
just a small (very small) drop of the ocean of research documenting the pagan
and demonic source of the tattoo.
Please remember. . . The following documentation is from pro-tattoo books
simply documenting the obvious spiritual and religious link to the tattoo. These
are not Christian writers trying to paint a negative portrait of the tattoo. No
matter how much the carnal, rebellious, Christian desires to justify their
perverse reasoning for "marking" themselves with the forbidden demonic tattoo,
the facts are loud and clear, backed by tons of research and documentation by
the leading pro-tattoo authorities on the planet – the foundation, origin,
meaning and purposes of the tattoo is pagan demonism, shamanism, Baal worship,
and occult mysticism.
A tattooist in many cultures is also a shaman, magick-man, priest or
priestess. According to the dictionary a shaman is a "intermediary between the
natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the
future, control spiritual forces, etc." (www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0648969.html)
"Tattooing is often a magical rite in the more traditional cultures,
and the tattooist is respected as a priest or shaman."
(Michelle Delio, Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration, p. 73)
"In Fiji, Fromosa, New Zealand and in certain of the North American Indian
tribes, tattooing was regard as a religious ceremony, and performed by
priests or priestesses."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 64)
"The actual tattooing process, which involved complex ritual and taboos,
could only be done by priests and was associated with beliefs which were
secrets known only to members of the priestly caste. . . Hambly concluded
that historically tattooing had originated in connection with ancient
rites of scarification and bloodletting which were associated with religious
practices intended to put the human soul in harmony with supernatural
forces and ensure continuity between this life and the next."
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 158)
The tattooist, shaman or the occult priest many times uses the tattoo as a
point of contact, or inlets into the spiritual world. The tattoo is much more
than just a body decoration. It’s more than just a layer of ink cut into the
skin. In fact, the tattoo in every culture, in every country, up until the 20th
century, was a vehicle for pagan spiritual and religious invocations. Even
today, in many countries (including the United States), the tattoo is believed
to be a bridge into the supernatural world.
Famous witch and author Laurie Cabot writes of the tattoo:
"The origins of tattooing came from ancient magical practices. . . "
(Laurie Cabot, Power of the Witch, cited in Masonic and Occult
Symbols Illustrated by Dr. Cathy Burns, p. 301)
"According to Amy Krakow in her chronicle The Total Tattoo Book,
‘tattooing has had well-defined roles: marking a rite of passage at a stage of
life, calling the spirits, proudly, defiantly or sneaky showing who you
are via body art."
"Many native tribes practiced therapeutic tattooing. The Ojibwa, for
instance, tattooed the temples, forehead, and cheeks of those suffering from
headaches and toothaches that were believed to be caused by malevolent
spirits. Songs and dances that were supposed to exorcise the demons
accompanied the tattooing ceremony."
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 90)
"Tattooing is about personalizing the body, making it a true home and
fit temple for the spirit that dwells inside it. . . Tattooing
therefore, is a way of keeping the spiritual and material needs of my body
in balance."
(Michelle Delio, Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration, p. 8)
Among today’s latest tattoo craze is "tribal tattoos", which are pure
paganism. Tribal tattoos are designs that bear serious symbolic mystical and
occult meanings. Tribal tattoos, especially, are possible channels into
spiritual and demonic possession.
"When the designs are chosen with care, tattoos have a power and magic
all their own. They decorate the body but they also enhance the soul."
(Michelle Delio, Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration, p. 13)
"The reasons why puncturing the skin should be regarded with some degree of
awe are not far to seek, for in the first place, there is the drawing of
blood, which to the savage world over is full of significance as a
rejuvenating and immortalizing factor. There is in addition to the opening
of numerous inlets for evil to enter. . ."
(Hambly Wilfrid D. 1925. The History of Tattooing and its Significance,
p. 233, cited in Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 162)
Rolling Stone magazine describes famous tattoo artist Paul Booth
during his tattoo as, ". . . allowing his clients' demons to help guide the
needle." (Rolling Stone magazine, March 28, 2002, p. 40)
"Burmese tattooing has been associated with religion for thousands of
years. Tattooing among indigenous North American groups including the
Arapaho, Mohave, Cree, and Inuit (Eskimo) is rooted in the spiritual realm
as well."
(Laura Reybold, Everything you need to know about the dangers of tattooing
and body piercing, p. 15)
"Skulls imprinted on skin abound, and depictions of the Grim Reaper are
commonly seen. . . These images, indelibly marked on the skin, reflect
uncertainty about the future, and sublimate the pervasive fear of the unknown.
Possibly, at the same time, to wear a death’s figure on one’s body may be
an invocation of whatever undefinable forces of nature and the cosmos that
exist, in an attempt to protect the wearer from such a fate."
(Henry Ferguson and Lynn Procter, The Art of the Tattoo, p. 76)
Ronald Scutt, in his exhaustive book, Art, Sex and Symbol covers a
great deal about the history and culture of tattoos. Scutt documents that most
of the time tattoos are connected to spiritual, religious and mystical purposes.
The following documentation is from Scutt’s book:
"In fact tattooing is much more likely, in view of its subsequent
development, to have had a mystical significance, or to have been used
as a status symbol, the red ochre carrying an association with blood and
life."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 22)
[Tattooing] "In association with sun-worship, megalithic building,
ear-piercing, serpent worship, . . ."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 22)
"These marks [tatoos] are believed to be associated with the worship of
the sun-goddess Neith"
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 24)
"Be that as it may, primitive tribes were certainly convinced that the
spirit, having escaped from the body at death, retained a replica of its
earthly tenement. They therefore used tattoo marks as a means of
identification in the next world and a passport to future happiness."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 63)
"The Mohave Indians in the Lower Colorado instituted chin tattooing for
both sexes because it was believed that a kind of Judge looks over each one
who comes to Sil’aid (Land of the Dead) and if a man don’t have marks on his
face, He sends him down to where the desert rats are."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 63)
"Among other Indian tribes there was a conviction that on the journey
heavenwards to the ‘Many Lodges’ they would be stopped by an old woman and
examined for the presence of tattoo marks on the forehead, chin or wrists. I
absent, the luckless warrior would be pushed off a dizzy height to fall back
to earth with no hope of ever gaining readmittance to the spirit world."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 63)
"Hindus in Begal believed that without tattoos parents would not be able to
recognize their children in the next world."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 63)
"Then there is the ghastly fate of the untattooed Frijan women: ‘struck
down by the souls of their own sex and without further ado served up as food
for the gods."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 64)
"Yet the worship of the sun-god Baal had involved the marking of the
hands [tattoos] with the divine token in a mystic attempt to acquire
strength."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 64)
According to survey and statistics, Scutt lists the reasons why people get a
tattoo and the number two reason – "to secure a place in heaven".
"Reasons for getting a tattoo:
2. To secure a place in heaven.
5. To propitiate malignant spirits at time of death.
6. To acquire special characteristics through totemism and ancestor worship.
9. To make the body sexually interesting."
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 13)
Dr. Hambly, probably the greatest tattooist historian and researcher that
ever lived, writes over and over, that tattoos are based on pagan spiritual and
religious rituals. Any serious and honest study of the origin and foundation of
the tattoo will clearly expose a demonic and supernatural intent of tattoos.
Tattoo enthusiast and historian, Steve Gilbert, in his popular, Tattoo
History: A Source Book, cites some of the historical facts Hambly found in
his extensive research.
[Hambly] "retailed a wealth of examples which he had culled from field work
by anthropologists in many parts of the world. Tattooing was supposed to:
prevent pain; protect against gunshot wounds; cur illness; confer superhuman
strength; preserve youth; enhance the supernatural powers of a shaman;
ensure the survival of the soul after death; identify the soul in the
hereafter; attract good luck; protect against witchcraft; ensure the
protection of a deity; confer occult powers; prevent drowning; exorcise
demons; ensure the protection of a totemic animal or spiritual guardian;
record a pilgrimage to a holy place, etc. . .
Hambly reported that previous investigators had often been misled because
obtaining information as to the religious and magical uses of tattooing was
fraught with difficulties. In the myths of many cultures tattooing was of
divine origin. The actual tattooing process, which involved complex ritual
and taboos, could only be done by priests and was associated with beliefs
which were secrets known only to members of the priestly caste.
Anthropologists were often misled because their informants either did not know
or would not reveal the secret significance of the rituals and taboos.
Hambly concluded that historically tattooing had originated in connection with
ancient rites of scarification and bloodletting which were associated with
religious practices intended to put the human soul in harmony with
supernatural forces and ensure continuity between this life and the next."
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 158)
THE TATTOO’S GREATEST ENEMY. . . THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
In the pages of history, whenever and wherever "tattooing" pagan tribes were
converted to Christianity, without exception, one of their first pagan
practices to "pass away" [ 2 Corinthians 5:17] – was the tattoo. Why?
Because, unlike today’s disobedient carnal "tattooed" Christians (or
so-called?), the converted pagan KNEW the tattoo was against the Word of God.
The Holy Spirit quickly "told" the converted pagan – no tattoo.
"Just as occurred in other cultures with tattoo traditions, when
these pagan tribes were ‘converted’ to the Christian religion, their
spiritual and cultural rites (which included tattooing, piercing and
scarification) were outlawed. . ."
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to
Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p.9)
Amazing. . . When the Lord Jesus Christ enters in – the tattoo goes out.
"Whenever missionaries encountered tattooing they eradicated it."
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 101)
"While these and other body modifications continued to be practiced
underground as a way for non-Christian people to identify each other,
God forbid you got caught and your mark was revealed."
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to
Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p.11)
I have many friends before they were saved received a tattoo. And without
exception, everyone of them is ashamed, and as much as possible they cover it.
But before they got saved – like the pagan tribes – they proudly displayed their
tattoo. And let me add – most of the time, this is before they’ve read Leviticus
19:28, or before anyone even told them a tattoo is wrong. After receiving the
Lord Jesus Christ, with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, they KNEW the
tattoo was displeasing to their God. What about you?
A booming testimony to the author of the tattoo is recorded by Steve Gilbert:
"When Cortez and his conquistadors arrived on the coast of Mexico in 1519,
they were horrified to discover that natives not only worshipped devils in the
form of status and idols, but also had somehow managed to imprint indelible
images of these idols on their skin. The Spaniards, who had never heard of
tattooing, recognized it at once as the work of Satan."
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 99)
Even though, these Spaniards "had never heard of tattooing" – they
"recognized it at ONCE as the work of Satan".
And some of today’s carnal, rebellious and disobedient Christians (or
so-called Christians?) gibber-gabber nonsense about "marking themselves for
Jesus". . .
TATTOOS. . . AND TODAY’S CIVILIZED SOCIETY
Somebody says, "Sure that was back in the dark ages. That was in heathen
lands. Today that has all changed. Nobody connects any kind of ritualistic or
pagan spiritual rituals to a tattoo."
Yes. . . They do. . .
"These tattoos act as protective and empowering talismans for the wearer.
There are even some body artists who perform ritual tattoos, piercing,
brandings and cuttings. They may suggest you consult your astrological
chart to pick the right time to get your body art. They will burn incense,
light candles, . . ."
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to
Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p. 29)
"Some tattooists in the West are experimenting with ritual tattooing.
This method of working incorporates doing a ritual to create a sacred space
in the area where the tattoo is positioned. Often incense is burned and the
gods invited to bless the proceedings."
(Michelle Delio, Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration, p. 75)
TATTOOS: THE CUP OF DEVILS
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye
cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
1 Corinthians 10:21
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TATTOO: THE MARK OF DEATH