Easter Ancient man's pagan, religious urge found expression in a variety of beliefs, ideas and practices centering around a sense of a supernatural 'other world.' This 'world', though invisible, was believed by pagan, religious man to have POWER over his everyday life. Since the dawn of his religious consciousness, pagan men and women regarded this 'supernatural world' with a mixture of awe, fear, and hope. They sought to bring their lives into harmony with it. Life was a struggle for survival and a preparation for death. Pagan men and women offered up sacrifices and prayers to the 'MYSTERIOUS FORCES', of this Mystery Religion, which they believed controlled the workings of nature on their behalf. Their hope in offering these sacrifices and prayers was to ward off catastrophe . . . to ensure fine hunting . . . to obtain bountiful harvests . . . and to live again beyond the grave. Primitive man sought to understand the elements of nature as powers to be worshipped, since they effected his life so directly. The Cycle of Primitive WorshipIn the Spring of the year pagan man sought fertility for himself and for his land. Bountiful crops would assure food for himself and his household. It was during this springtime of the year, at the Vernal Eguinox, that the goddess he worshipped was fertilized by the god he worshipped. In the Summer of the year the hot, arid land he lived upon became brown and barren. At this summer-time, directly on the Summer Solstice, the goddess he worshipped caused the god he worshipped to to be killed by being hacked into pieces. At the Autumn of this yearly cycle the sun started 'dying'. At this Fall of the year, directly on the Autumn Equinox, the goddess he worshipped then began WEEPING for the murdered god. At the Winter Solstice the sun started to come back to 'life'. The days were growing longer and the nights shorter. The goddess who had been 'fertilized' at the previous Vernal Equinox gave 'BIRTH' to a son at the Winter Solstice. The god had been reborn! At the Februa, forty days after the 'birth of the son' . . . the MOTHER goddess was ritually cleansed of childbirth. The pagan, religious year had come full circle. Again . . . the Vernal Equinox . . . the goddess 'Mother of the Husband' married her god son/husband to refertilize the earth. This CYCLE OF WORSHIP would be enacted in pagan man's religious year . . . every year. By the RITUALS enacted on the exact dates of the Vernal Equinox . . . the Summer Solstice . . . the Autumn Equinox . . . and the Winter Solstice . . . pagan man was warding off catastrophe, ensuring fine hunting, obtaining bountiful harvests, and giving him 'hope' of living beyond his grave. These MYSTERY RELIGIONS dramatized the annual decay of vegetation in the AUTUMN as the death of a 'divine' youth whom a goddess mourned. Later the celebrations were with estatic joy as the 'reborn youth' returned in the Spring with the vegetation. Participation in each of these rites at the appointed time of the SUN was believed by pagan man to cleanse the devotee of his sins and MYSTICALLY unite him with the gods. These pagan ceremonies generated powerful emotions, thus this worship of the pagan gods has flourished from the beginning of time. Because of the powerful emotions these ceremonies generate, this Pagan Worship of Mystery is still flourishing today. Every year, just after the harsh winter months are over and the earth is turning green with the fresh new growth of Spring, there is a day which is celebrated even today. This DAY is THE most important day in Christian Worship. This DAY was set apart by the Ancient Pagans as the special day for the worship of The Goddess of The Dawn. This PAGAN WORSHIP, still set today according to the Vernal Equinox, is more familiarly known to this deceived world as EASTER. The Pagan Worship of EASTERCompton's Encyclopedia, 1956, Vol 4, EASTER says . . . "Many Easter customs come from the Old World . . . colored eggs and rabbits have come from PAGAN ANTIQUITY as symbols of NEW LIFE . . . our name 'EASTER comes from 'EOSTRE', an ancient Anglo-saxon goddess, ORIGINALLY OF THE DAWN. In pagan times an annual spring festival was held in her honor. Some Easter customs have come from this and other PRE-CHRISTIAN spring festivals." Funk and Wagnalls Standard Reference Encyclopedia, Vol. 8, 1962, page 2940 tells us of these 'pre-Christian' spring festivals . . .
The Two Babylons by Alexander Hislop tells us of the doctrines of 'Semiramis' . . .
'Ishtar', the original 'Semiramis' of Babylon was the goddess worshipped during this ancient spring festival. Collier's Encyclopedia, Vol. 15, page 748 tells us of 'Ishtar' . . .
Vol. 3, page 13 tells us this goddess was known as 'ASHTAROTH' to the Hebrews . . .
Watson's Biblical and Archeological Dictionary, tells us more about this MOTHER GODDESS, 'Ashtaroth' . . .
The Interpreter's Dictionary, Vol 3, page 975 tells us of Ishtar's role as 'The Queen of Heaven' . . .
The Layman's Bible Encyclopedia, page 209, EASTER tells us . . .
THE EASTER EGGEGGS have nothing to do with The Resurrection of our Savior . . . but the EGG WAS a sacred symbol to the Babylonians! An EGG of wondrous size fell from heaven into the Euphrates River. From this marvelous EGG the Goddess Astarte (EASTER) was hatched! From Babylon . . . the Mother of False Religion . . . was scattered to the various parts of the earth. With them they took the idea of the 'Mystic Sacred Egg'. Each pagan nation had its own representation of the 'Sacred Egg'. The Greeks had their Sacred Egg of Heliopolis . . . THE EASTER BUNNYThe Encyclopedia Britannica, EASTER tells us,
Easter EGGS and RABBITS are the symbols of SEXUAL FERTILITY in the ancient, pagan religions. HOT CROSS BUNSAnother custom closely associated with EASTER is the baking and eating of 'hot CROSS buns'. The CROSS is the original SIGN of the god . . . Tammuz. It is the LETTER 'T'. The Two Babylons by Alexander Hislop on pages 197-200 tells of 'The Sign of The Cross' . . .
We have already PROVEN one of the rites of the Ancient Fertility Worship of Ishtar was a period of weeping for the 'dead god', Tannuz. Through the 'weeping of his Mother', Ishtar (Easter) . . . he mystically was 'revived'. Each year men and women grieved with Ishtar over the death of Tammuz . . . at the Autumn Equinox! Even the People of Jerusalem practiced this ABOMINABLE WORSHIP! Ezekial 8:14 tells us . . .
In the Springtime of the year the 'risen god' came back to the PEOPLE! The resurrection of Tammuz because of, and through, Ishtar's grief was dramatically represented annually in order to insure the success of the crops and the FERTILITY of the people. When the new vegetation began to come forth, those ancient people saw in this symbol that their 'saviour' had come from the underworld! This 'coming forth' was supposed to be the thing that ended winter and caused spring to begin. Hot 'Cross' Buns are in reality 'TAMMUZ' Cakes! These 'Tammuz Cakes' were made and used in the worship of Ishtar . . . The Queen of Heaven . . . for it was SHE who brought the god back to ensure FERTILITY. When the 'god returned to Fertilize the Mother' . . . on the exact day of the Vernal Equinox, the people mystically held him in their hands and ate him . . . mystically uniting with him and his 'Mother' in WORSHIP! In the day of the Prophet Jeremiah, our Father Yahweh REBUKED His people for this.
When the 'god returned' . . . he RETURNED AT SUNRISE . . . on the exact day of the Vernal Equinox. Many Encyclopedias will make the statement that EASTER is 'The worship of a pagan goddess' . . . and at the same time will state this celebration is one of 'the most inportant Christian celebrations of today'. In each of these Reference Works a statement is made, in one form or another, that Easter is the day on which the Christian Church commemorates our Saviour's Resurrection. Was our Saviour Resurrected on Sunday morning? The answer is NO! Our Saviour was not Resurrected at sunrise on Sunday morning! Most people today are deceived into 'believing' our Messiah was Resurrected on 'Easter Sunday Morning'! They 'believe' they are honoring His Resurrection by celebrating an 'Easter Sunrise Service'. This 'belief' is based on the Scripture of Matthew 28:1, KJV, which says . . .
FALSE Preachers will tell YOU this 'dawning toward' the First of the week was at sunrise! This is a FALSE CONCLUSION! Scriptural days begin and end at sundown. This 'dawning toward' the first day of the week was in the end of the weekly, Saturday Sabbath which was at SUNSET. Genesis 1:5 tells us . . .
Notice . . . the evening (night) comes FIRST . . . then the morning (day) comes next. Read Matthew 28:1 again for affirmation that the two Miriams came at the end of the Sabbath. Just after sunset, while it was still twilight, the two Miriams went to the sepulchre and found it empty. Jesus had already risen and had already departed. One of the most vital pieces of information that Bible gives is the FACT our Saviour gave a SIGN to prove He was the True Messiah!
Jonah 1:17 tells us of that 'Sign of the Prophet' . . .
For our Messiah to Fulfill the Sign he gave, He would have to be in the grave THREE days and THREE nights. Yet . . . the Christian world teachs He was #1 Placed in the grave on 'good Friday' and that #2 He rose at sunrise on Sunday morning. If . . . Jesus was placed in His grave on Friday at sunset and was RESURRECTED on Sunday at sunrise . . . then He was only in the grave . . . Friday Night . . . Saturday Day . . . Saturday Night! Did our Saviour FAIL to Fulfill the ONLY SIGN HE GAVE? If HE FAILED to perform this sign, then He lied . . . and would NOT BE the True Messiah! Friday Night, Saturday Day, and Saturday Night are only two nights and one day. Was our Saviour confused? Or . . . is this whole world DECEIVED as your own Bible says in Revelation 12:9? Satan has deceived this whole world! Could this LIE of a 'Sunday Sunrise Resurrection' be one of the ways Satan has so subtly deceived the world? Which DAY was The Messiah Put IN The Grave . . . |
". . . Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall NOT ENTER into The Kingdom of Heaven." |
I can dare say most six year old children can Understand the simple fact there are not three days and three nights from Friday at Sunset to Sunday at Sunrise. I also dare say it is incredible that the 'wise and intellectual' of this world have not realized this even yet!
Yahweh first sheds light on the Burial and Resurrection in Leviticus Chapter 23. In verse 2 Yahweh tells us,
" . . . concerning the Feasts of Yahweh which ye shall proclaim to be Holy Convocation, even these are My Feasts." |
These Holy Feasts are not 'feasts of the Jews' . . . as many would say. These Feasts which are proclaimed in Leviticus Twenty-three are The Feasts of Yahweh, Creator of the worlds!
In Leviticus 23:21 Yahweh tells us His Feasts are a Statute FOREVER. Yahweh's Feasts are not 'done away' . . . as many would like to think.
Leviticus 23:7,8 tells us the First Day and the Last (Seventh) Day of this significant FEAST OF YAHWEH ARE Sabbath Days . . . Holy Convocations! These Holy Sabbath Days are days of REST just as the WEEKLY, Seventh Day Sabbath IS. No WORK is done on the Feast Day Sabbaths just as No WORK is done on the Weekly Sabbaths. The one, vital difference between the Feast Day Sabbaths and The Weekly Sabbath is . . . The Weekly Sabbaths always fall on Saturday. The Feast Day Sabbaths can fall on ANY DAY OF THE WEEK . . . and still be a SABBATH!
It is vital that you Understand this difference between the Weekly Sabbaths and the Feast Day Sabbaths.
Another vital FACT you must have in your mind are the FACTS about the Sacrifice of our Messiah.
Fact #1 . . . At the time of the Passover our Saviour was to be killed . . .
Matthew 26:2 . . . "Ye know that after two days is the PASSOVER and the Son of Man is betrayed to be sacrificed." |
Fact #2 . . . Our Messiah died as our Sacrifice. He paid The Death Penalty for us that we may live . . . Romans 6:23. As our Sacrifice, or Messiah is enabling us to Keep Yahweh's Passover according to his Ordinance.
Fact #3 . . . The Messiah is our Passover Lamb!
1 Peter 1:19 . . . "But with the precious blood of the Messiah, as of a LAMB without blemish and without spot." |
John 1:29 . . . "The next day John seeth YAHSHUA coming unto him and saith, Behold the LAMB OF YAHWEH which TAKETH AWAY THE SIN of the world." |
1 Corinthains 5:7 . . . "Get rid of the old leaven that ye may be bread of a new baking, as it were, Unleavened Passover bread. For the MESSIAH OUR PASSOVER was SACRIFICED FOR US." |
Fact #4 . . . Our Saviour was Sacrificed for us on the exact same DAY at the exact same TIME the passover lambs were being slaughtered on the Temple Mount . . . or He could not BE our 'Passover Sacrifice'!
Is this a provable FACT? Of course it is! Letting Scripture interpret Scripture we can Understand the Ordinance of the Passover Lamb . . . and the exact 'day' it was to be 'kept up' . . .
Exodus 12:6 . . . "And ye shall keep it up UNTIL the fourteenth day of the same moon: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it between the two evenings." |
This lamb was to still be alive on the fourteenth day . . . and THEN it was to be killed 'between the two evenings'.
The Pentateuch and Haftorahs, edited by J. H. Hertz, Second Edition, Soncino Press, page 254 explains the meaning of 'between the two evenings' . . .
6, at dusk. Better, towards even (M. Fried- lander); lit. 'between the two evenings'. Accord- ing to the Talmud, the 'first evening' is the time in the afternoon when the heat of the day begins to decrease, about 3 o'clock; and the 'second evening' commences with sunset. Josephus relates that the Passover sacrifice 'was offered from the ninth to the eleventh hour', i.e. between 3 and 5 p.m. |
Leviticus 23:5 . . . "in the fourteenth of the First Moon toward evening Yahweh's passover lamb is to be offered." |
The Pentateuch and Haftorahs, by Hertz, page 250 gives a clearer meaning of the 'PASSOVER' in Leviticus 23:5 . . .
at dusk is the LORD's passover. Better, towards even is a passover unto the LORD (Friedlander); i.e. a paschal offering in honor of the LORD. |
The passover lambs were slaughtered on the Temple Mount on the fourteenth day in the afternoon. The man of the household had the responsibility of killing this lamb for his household. The woman of the household then had the responsibility of roasting . . . not boiling . . . this lamb until it would be thoroughly done. This roasting process would take at least 3 to 4 MORE HOURS.
Our Messiah FULFILLED the Passover Lamb requirement. Yahshua did not abrogate Yahweh's Law in any way. Yahshua was Offered on the Fourteenth Day of The First Moon between the two evenings.
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Immediately after that sunset would begin the fifteenth day. Scriptural days begin and end . . . at sunset . . . Genesis 1:5. Sundown on the fourteenth would be the beginning of The First SABBATH of the Feast of Unleavened Bread . . . on the Fifteenth Day!
Leviticus 23:6,7 . . . "And on the Fifteenth Day of the same Moon is the Feast of Unleavened Bread unto Yahweh: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the First Day ye shall have an Holy Convocation, ye shall do no servile work (A SABBATH). |
The World does not know THE FACTS about the Feast Day Sabbaths . . . and THE FACT these Feast Day Sabbaths can fall on ANY DAY of the week. With this FACT firmly in mind we can then Understand Mark 16:1 . . .
Mark 16:1 . . . "And when THE SABBATH WAS PAST, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome had BOUGHT sweet spices that they might come and anoint him." |
This 'Sabbath' was NOT the Weekly Sabbath! This particular Sabbath was the Sabbath of the First Holy Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread!
Now compare Luke 23:56 . . .
Luke 23:56 . . . "And they returned and PREPARED spices and ointments and RESTED The Sabbath Day ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT." |
In these TWO SCRIPTURES there are TWO SABBATHS! One Sabbath was already past when they BOUGHT the spices. Then . . . they prepared the spices thay had BOUGHT AFTER the Sabbath had already past. Then . . . they RESTED on The Sabbath according to The Commandment . . . the WEEKLY SATURDAY SABBATH according to The Ten Commandments!
By Understanding these previous Scriptures we KNOW our Saviour was not put into the grave on 'Friday before the Weekly Sabbath'. We KNOW Yahshua our Messiah was placed in His grave on Wednesday just before sunset . . . BEFORE The Sabbath of The Feast of Unleavened Bread!
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The diagram above shows the Two Sabbaths that came in that one week. Now, we know and understand it was before the Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread that Joseph of Arimathea demanded the Body of Yahshua . . . And NOT before the weekly Saturday Sabbath.
Mark 15:42,43 . . . "And now when the even was come because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counsellor, which also waited for the Kingdom of Yahweh, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and DEMANDED the body of Yahshua." |
In Mark 15:46 it is stated Yahshua's body was wrapped in linen and laid in a sepulchre. A stone was then rolled in front of the door. This BURIAL was taking place on a Wednesday afternoon . . . just BEFORE SUNSET . . . as Scripture does prove!
Prove this yourself! Count forward . . . Wednesday NIGHT, Thursday DAY, Thursday NIGHT, Friday DAY, Friday NIGHT, Sabbath DAY. There are Three NIGHTS and Three DAYS in this time sequence.Our Messiah was NOT Resurrected Sunday Morning at Sunrise! Yahshua Rose Saturday SABBATH evening . . . being exactly three days and three nights in the grave . . . and fulfilling the ONLY SIGN He gave that He was the True Messiah.
Throughout this article we have found these very Modern Christian symbols of Modern Easter . . . eggs, rabbits, and SUNRISE resurrection . . . are nothing more than the very ANCIENT symbols and practices of the Ancient, Pagan Worship of Ishtar . . . the Great Virgin Mother, Queen of Heaven, and Goddess of the Dawn.
This Ancient Worship has come down to this present age . . . almost INTACT! The only thing that seems to have changed is the NAME OF THE WORSHIP!
The Layman's Bible Encyclopedia tells us a very important FACT about the Establishment of the Date of the Resurrection . . .
"The fixing of the date of the celebration of (sic) Jesus' resurrection was the occasion of much CONTROVER- SY in the early church." |
'What' was this 'CONTROVERSY?' Collier's Encyclopedia, 1980, Vol 8 page 492 tells us . . .
EASTER, the church feast which commemorates the res- urrection of Jesus Christ, is considered the most ancient and most important festival of the Christian year. In many languages, the Greco-Latin title taken over from the Hebrew word Pesach, the Passover, is retained, and appropriately so. For the Jew- ish Passover, which recalled to memory the deliverance of the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt, was, in the very eyes of the Christians, a foreshadowing of that redemption of man from sin through the death and resurrection of Christ which is commemorated at Easter. This connection may account for the movable character of the feast. Prior to the time of Pope Victor I (189-c, 198), the West- ern churches as a rule kept Easter on the first day of the week, while many of the Eastern churches, conforming to the Jewish rule, observed it on the fourteenth of the month of Nissan. Through the energetic efforts of Pope Victor, the latter practice gradually disappeared. |
The 'CONTROVERSY' was based on the question of FOLLOWING The Law of Yahweh OR The System of Pagan Mystery which Constantine the Great followed. The Council of Nicaea, convoked by this same Constantine in the year 325 c.e. settled this 'controversy'. Collier's Encyclopedia, Vol 17, page 520 tells us . . .
NICAEA, COUNCILS OF (naisa' e), were two in num- ber (1) The First (First Ecumenical), in A.D. 325, convoked by Constantine, condemned Arianism, which was essentially a denial of the divine nature of the Word, and so of the Son of God, Christ. The traditional number of bishops present was 318 (see Genesis 14:14); the real number was probably about 270. The council defined the doctrine that the Son is consubstantial with the Father. In the drawing up of the formula leading parts were taken by St. Athanasius and Hosius, bishop of Cordoba; the latter prob- ably presided. The council promulgated the famous Nicene Creed in its original form. It also decided that Easter should thenceforth be celebrated everywhere at the same time in accordance with the Alexandrine computa- tion. |
What is the 'Alexandrine Computation'? Collier's, Vol 5, page 144 tells us . . .
The Easter date is notoriously one of great oscillation; it may occur on any day between March 22 and April 25, in- clusive. The rule is that Easter must fall on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox, March 21. And according to the English Book of Common Prayer, " . . . if the full moon happens upon a Sunday, Easter-day is the Sunday after." The date has been subject to much strife and argument. It has, naturally, great historical meaning. The Gregorian correction is now followed by most churches; but since Easter is based on the moon, it is still necessarily out of adjustment with the sun. |
Funk & Wagnall's Standard Reference Encyclopedia, Vol 8, 1962 gives us this information . . .
An important historic result of the differ- ence was that the Christian churches in the East, which were closer to the birthplace of the new religion, and in which old traditions were strong, observed Easter according to the date of the Passover festival, while the churches of the West, whose communicants were descendants of Greco-Roman civiliza- tions, celebrated Easter on a Sunday. Settlement of this difference was one of the objects of the Roman emperor Constantine in convoking, in 325 A.D., the Council of Nicaea (see NICAEA, COUNCILS OF). The Council ruled unanimously that the Easter festival should be celebrated throughout the Christian world on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox; and that should the full moon occur on a Sunday and thereby coincide with the Passover festival of the Jews. Easter should be commemorated on the Sunday following. Coincidence of the feasts of Easter and Passover was thus forever to be avoided. |
The 'Nicene Creed' states in part, 'Let us have nothing to do with the wicked rabble of the Jews."
Modern Christianity . . . in following the 'Nicene Creed' now has its PART with the ancient, pagan religions that worship the GODDESS OF THE DAWN . . .
Universal World Reference Encyclopedia, 1948, Vol 5-6, EASTER says,
" . . . the name and the festival have their ORIGIN in the worship of a pagan goddess of spring; it is NOW THE MOST IMPORTANT OF CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS." |
This 'FESTIVAL' is today THE most important of Christian Festivals! Yet . . . it is The Worship of a PAGAN GODDESS!
The Last Two Million Years, The Reader's Digest Association, 1981, page 216, tells us 'how' the worship of a pagan goddess became THE most important Christian Festival,
Pagan rites absorbed. By a stroke of tactical genius the Church, while intolerant of pagan beliefs, was able to harness the powerful emotions generated by pagan worship. Often, churches were sited where temples had stood before, and many heathen festivals were added to the Christian calendar. Easter, for instance, a time of sacrifice and rebirth in the Christian year, takes its name from the Norse goddess Eostre, in whose honour rites were held every spring. She in turn was simply a Northern version of the Phoenician earth-mother Astarte, goddess of fertility. Easter eggs continue an age-old tradition in which the egg is a symbol of birth; and cakes which were eaten to mark the festivals of Astarte and Eostre were the direct ancestors of our hot-cross buns. |
WHY were the pagan rites ABSORBED rather than being ABOLISHED COMPLETELY? Many pagans have been drawn to Christianity but so strong in their mind was the adoration for the MOTHER goddess that they did not want to forsake her. Compromising church leaders saw if they could find some similarity in Christianity WITH the Mother goddess worship . . . they could increase their numbers by bringing many pagans into their fold. Who did they USE to REPLACE the GREAT MOTHER ISHTAR? Mary, the mother of Jesus was the most logical solution. The pagans could continue their prayers and devotion to the GODDESS . . . just change her name to MARY! This would give the pagan worship of the Mother the appearance of Christianity. The Christian Religion was effectually drawn into the Romish System.
The Encyclopedia Britannica states during the first centuries of the church no emphasis was placed upon Mary whatsoever.
It was Constantine the Great, the 'saviour of Christianity' . . . in the early part of the Fourth Century c.e. who encouraged the worship of Mary as a goddess! Since Rome had long been a center for the worship of the MOTHER GODDESS of paganism, we need not be surprised that ROME was one of the first places Mary Worship became established . . . as a DIRECT RESULT of PAGAN INFLUENCE!
Grolier's Encyclopedia, 1966, Vol 17 . . .
Easter: A Day of Joy Though not all Protestants observe Lent and Holy Week, all Christians celebrate Easter Day, commemorating the Resurrection. Easter Day invariably falls on a Sunday, the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox, usually late in March. The name of this holiday and the time it is celebrated have led people to believe that an earlier holiday existed on this day before the Christian observance. For many ancient nations joyously celebrated the end of winter and the "resurrection of the sun" at this sea- son of the year; and some devoted this festival to Eostre, Germanic goddess of spring. The Church Fathers turned this heathen holiday into the Christian celebration of the Resurrection. And Christians the world over observe this day with great rejoicing. Some greet each other with: "Christ is risen! Christ is risen!" And all think of Jesus, who con- quered death so that those who follow him may gain everlasting life. On Easter people go to church services and delight in the sight of great masses of Easter lilies that decorate the altars. For the Chinese the peony is the king of flowers and symbol of spring. But to the people in church on Easter day, the fragrant lily with its trumpet- shaped blossoms is the symbol of purity and the welcome harbinger of spring. The churchgoers enjoy the flowers and the music and the sermon of the day. And from time to time they look about them to observe the gay clothes that people wear, since it has long been the custom for people to put on their newest clothes on Easter Day. The Eastern Orthodox Easter Parade In countries where the Eastern Orthodox Church dominates, a quite different parade is put on during Easter. The worshippers gather early on Saturday night in an elaborate ritual. And at midnight, led by their priests in richly embriodered vestments, carrying images and lighted candles in their hands, they go out into the night in search of Jesus. It is almost dawn when the people return home to eat the Easter bread with white cheese and honey and the richly colored hard- boiled eggs. |
A STRICT WARNING issues from the Holy Scriptures against the adoption of PAGAN PRACTICES! Yahweh says in Deuteronomy 12:32 . . .
"What thing soever I command you . . . OBSERVE TO DO IT: thou shalt not add thereto, not diminish from IT." |
Yahweh then WARNS in DEUTERONOMY 8:19 . . .
"And it shall be, IF thou do at all forget Yahweh thy Father and WALK AFTER GODS and serve them and wor- ship THEM I testify against you this day that ye shall SURELY PERISH." |
Mankind's own reference books say the worship of Easter . . . A PAGAN GODDESS . . . is THE most important Christian practice today! Can our Creator be pleased with this?
As far back in time as the Scriptural Books of the Kings were being written this female goddess was being worshipped! Our Creator was very displeased and said in 1 Kings 11:33 . . .
"Because that they have forsaken ME and have worshipped ASHTORETH the female god of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon and have not walked in MY WAYS, to do that which is right in MY EYES, and to keep MY STATUTES and MY JUDGMENTS, as did David his father." |
The prophets of deceit have always outnumbered the PROPHETS OF YAHWEH. As we have seen on 1 Kings 18:19 Baal's prophets were 450; Ashtoreth's prophets were 400. Elijah proclaims in 1 Kings 18:22 that he thought he only remained a Prophet of Yahweh.
Revelation 12:9 tells us Satan has deceived this whole world! Our Saviour warned His People of deceit when He spoke of The Last Days. In Matthew 24:4,5 Yahshua tells us many would come against His Name and DECEIVE MANY.
How can this deceitful worship be practiced today? Surely the Early Believers knew the difference between Baal-Ashtoreth worship and the Worship of YAHWEH! The answer is . . . Yes, they KNEW THE DIFFERENCE! NONE of the Early Belivers directly under the care of the Apostles celebrated Easter!
After the death of our Saviour severe persecution arose at Jerusalem (Acts 8:1) and the Believers were scattered abroad. This is only the first small persecution. Ten Great Persecutions came thereafter upon The Established House of God.
The Believers were scattered abroad, forced into slavery, and even put to death in some of the most horrible ways man could imagine.
Baal and Ashtoreth worshippers had pre-eminence! From approximately the year 70 c.e. to the years 312 c.e. Baal and Ashtoreth worshippers openly practiced their RELIGIONS under the benevolent eyes of man's ruling government.
When Constantine became Emperor of Rome . . . after the Tenth, Last, Greatest Persecution under Diocletian . . . Baal and Ashtoreth worshippers THEN disguised the many, PAGAN customs then practiced into 'looking' SCRIPTURAL!
By the time Constantine came to power The House of Yahweh as an Established Organization had died out . . . just as Prophecy said it would. There is no TRUE Organization to say to the decieved world . . . 'EASTER is a Pagan Celebration!!. Thus. the PAGAN celebrations became the CHRISTIAN celebrations of today!
Shortly Easter Sunday Morning will be upon us. Almost the entire Christian World will participate in a 'Sunrise Service' they BELIEVE to be in celebration of the Resurrection of our Messiah. Factually, this is a PAGAN CUSTOM celebrated long BEFORE OUR SAVIOUR WAS EVEN BORN! Yahweh CONDEMNS this Pagan Practice through the pages of your own Bible!
Those same Christians reject a Feast of Yahweh which is Ordained FOREVER. Read of Yahweh's Feasts in Exodus Chapter 12, Leviticus Chapter 23, Ezekiel 45:21, Isaiah 66:21 and Zechariah 14:16-21. Yahweh's Feasts will be KEPT in His Soon Coming Kingdom!
When Yahweh's Kingdom is Established on Earth ALL Baal and Ashtoreth worship will STOP entirely. Only our Father, through His Son Yahshua our Messiah, will be WORSHIPPED! The Worship of the True Creator will be ALL that will be honored for the next 1000 years! Those whom Yahweh is CALLING OUT NOW will Reign in that Soon Coming Kingdom, under Yahshua, during that 1000 year period.
Revelation 20:4-6 . . . "And I saw thrones and they sat upon them and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the WITNESS of Yahshua and for THE WORD OF GOD and which HAD NOT WORSHIPPED THE BEAST, NEITHER HIS GOD, NEITHER HAD RECEIVED ITS MARK upon their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with the Messiah a thousand years . . . This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of the Messiah, and shall reign with him a thou- sand years." |
It would be much better to obey God VOLUNTARILY now, reaping those joyous REWARDS . . . than to voluntarily DISOBEY GOD and reap 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' just before being cast into the lake of fire to be burned up and gotten out of the way!
There is NO SALVATION to the worshippers of BAAL AND ASHTORETH!
Revelation 18:3,4 . . . "For ALL NATIONS have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not her plagues." |
Don't you think it is time to come out of pagan worship and start obeying God?
ONLY YAHWEH IS ABLE TO GIVE YOU ETERNAL LIFE!