“The Devastating Consequences of Pharmakeía”

The Pharmaceutic industry is also key in the last days in affecting God’s creation physically and emotionally. Revelation 18:23 tells us,

and the light of a lamp
    will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
    will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
    and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. (ESV)

The word sorcery is the Greek word pharmakeía; meaning “A drug, which in the Gr. writers is used both for a curative or medicinal drug, and also as a poisonous one. Pharmakeía means the occult, sorcery, witchcraft, illicit pharmaceuticals, trance, magical incantation with drugs.”^[1] Now consider these facts for a minute,

The global pharmaceuticals market is expected to grow from $1228.45 billion in 2020 to $1250.24 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8%. Major companies in the pharmaceuticals market include Pfizer; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd; Sanofi; Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co. The growth is mainly due to the companies rearranging their operations and recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges. The market is expected to reach $1700.97 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 8%.^[2]

To help you further understand the magnitude of this epidemic of drugs, Americans spent $150 billion on cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine in 2016.^[3] The Bible has more to say about concerning Pharmakeía:

• Galatians 5:19-21 

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

• Revelation 9:20-21

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, ²¹ nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (ESV)

According to these two portions of Scripture, if you are hook with Pharmakeía you will not inherit the kingdom of God and, according to these two portions of Scripture, this spirit is so strong that even as God is pouring out his judgment, the ungodly will refuse to repent. That is why God’s people have no business getting involved with drugs; we should not be seeking manipulation of our emotions through drugs and alcohol. Ephesians 5:18 explains why this group of folks will not inherit God’s Kingdom and why there is a culture and a way of life attached to drunkenness and drug abuse, 

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…” (NIV)

The word Debauchery is the Greek word asōtía; meaning “Having no hope of safety; extravagant squandering (Wasteful), dissoluteness (Self-indulgence). A prodigal is one who spends too much, who gives in easily under the fatal influence of temptations with which he has surrounded himself into spending freely on his own lusts and appetites. Unmanageable caprice (Impulse).”^[4]

The devil is doing a great job in utilizing the power of drugs to create in people, even God’s people this debauchery culture. This is a powerful way of damaging our God-given genetics, contaminating our spirits, and corrupting our way of thinking, decision-making, and emotions. Why pray for the food we eat? We can’t afford not to! 

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^[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[2] https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/03/31/2202135/28124/en/Global-Pharmaceuticals-Market-Report-2021-Market-is-Expected-to-Grow-from-1228-45-Billion-in-2020-to-1250-24-Billion-in-2021-Long-term-Forecast-to-2025-2030.html

^[3] https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR3140.html

^[4] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).