The prophet's dictionary guide to the supernatural

53. Anammelech—The Babylonian sky god of the Samarian region. He became the area’s localized deity by the people transplanted there after the deportation of the Israelites to Babylon. This deity is akin to Moloch who was worshipped with child sacrifices. See Moloch. Amos 5:26; Acts 7:43. 54. Anat—A) The Phoenician Canaanite sex goddess whose identity was similar to that of the “queen of heaven.” She was worshipped with lewdness, nudity, and sexual orgies. Her image was always depicted nude to demonstrate her sexual prowess, and to inspire her worshippers to copulate and procreate in mutuality for the earth to grow abundantly. She was sometimes confused with Ishtar and other mother goddess deities. Ironically, Anat was also the Canaanite virgin goddess of fertility. Jeremiah 44:19. B) Patroness of sex and war and paramour of Baal. As the queen of heaven she corresponds with Asherah or Ashtoreth in the Old Testament. Lewdness and nudity characterized this goddess’ fertility religion. 55. Ancestral—That which pertains to a family’s lineage, genealogy. Prophetically, this word is important in explaining the supernatural resources bestowed by the Almighty but perverted by the demonic spirits that infiltrate and contaminate a family line. See Familiar Spirits, Ancestral Spirit, and Generation Spirit. Old Testament references to teraphim are revelations of ancestral spirits venerated by a family as the source of its powers, fortunes, and resources. Little figurines were crafted in the supposed image of the departed ancestor and a household altar was built to them. The surviving head of the family was then charged with teaching the rest of the family how to worship, petition, and serve the deified departed member that the ancestral image represented. A collection of traditions was developed and handed down to future generations. Ancestral spirits, the less repugnant term to demons, are summoned by families to rescue them from crises believed caused by other spirits, to teach it about its history through necromancy, or to prosper it financially. Such spirits usually gain entry and control by the family’s patriarch or matriarch who establishes covenants with them to protect and bless the household. Over time, long after their death, these spirits remain in the family line by attaching themselves to the seed and thus traveling down the family line. Often unknown to most of its captives—the family they dispense their fortunes or tragedies to at will—this spirit inspires especially susceptible family members’ worship. Imposing a series of rites normally associated with the family’s tribal religion, the patriarchs are obliged to officiate as the deity’s and the family’s high priest. Over time these forces of darkness elevated themselves to god or goddess status