Werewolves, Vampires And Other Abominations

In November, 2009 New Moon, the next film in the Twilight series appeared in theaters. In the film Edward leaves Bella after an attack that nearly claimed her life, and in her depression she falls into yet another paranormal relationship—this time with werewolf Jacob Black.

Werewolves? Moons? Paranormal? What is all this? Here are some notes from Wikipedia:

Clinical lycanthropy is defined as a rare psychiatric syndrome that involves a delusion that the affected person can transform into, has transformed into, or is a non-human animal.[1] Its name is connected to the mythical condition of lycanthropy, asupernatural affliction in which humans are said to physically shapeshift into wolves. The terms zoanthropy and therianthropy are also sometimes used for the delusion that one has turned into another animal in general and not specifically a wolf.[2]

The legend of the werewolf is very ancient. We all know the story of Liitle Red Riding Hood.  This innocent child becomes the victim of a werewolf who dresses in Grandma's clothing with the intent of eating her. Many such stories exist. And often the mystical power of the moon is involved.

Some claim the Bible has a story of a king who was changed into a wild beast, perhaps even a werewolf. The king was Nebuchadnezzar II.

And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it. So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. - 2Ki 25:1-2 ESV

In the book of Daniel, one of the Jews carried to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem, King Nebuchadnezzar turns to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) for an interpretation of a strange dream he had. Daniel tells him that his kingdom would eventually fall and that he would be turned into a wild beast for seven years because of his immense pride.

Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. 

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?" At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. - Dan 4:33-37 ESV

So what lessons are there for us in all of this? Obviously it is clear that we are to have no other gods before the LORD. This is the first of all the commandments. Anything or anyone who is worshipped and placed above and before the LORD God is an idol. Babylon's king made himself a god, an idol to be worshipped. He was therefore justly condemned. This is also why the Bible strictly forbids believers to turn to the occult, magic and other related dark powers.

"When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, - Deu 18:9-13 ESV

From a Biblical viewpoint the whole vampires and werewolves phenomena surfacing in these days must be seen and evaluated as an abomination. We are warned to avoid such things in the same way we detest and condemn the sacrifice of our children to some god or goddess, the worship of an idol, homosexuality, adultery and the murder of unborn infants.