| |
'Easter' |
 |
"Lo this only have I found, that God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions."
(Ecclesiastes 7:29)
INVENTION:
The pagan festival of Easter originated as the worship of the Babylonian Queen of Heaven, "mother of Another Jesus", - The goddess 'Ishtar' (demon), for whom the celebration of 'Easter' is named. The name Easter is also related to: Astarte, Astoreth, and Eostre (other demon names of the same).
Easter incorporates ceremonies of the ancient Spring Equinox ceremonies of SUN WORSHIP in which were found phallic rites, spring fires, and deity offerings. The festival is symbolized by an ascension LILY, a chick breaking its shell, the colors white and green, spring flowers, the RABBIT, and the EGG:
The resurrection of our Lord had nothing to do with eggs...even if they are made to look "Christian". The demon Ishtar was said to have come from a giant egg rolled out of the Euphrates River -- remember THAT the next time you pop an "Easter egg" into your mouth!
Easter is NOT another name for Passover, as all "New Age" per-versions of the Bible state. (NIV, NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NAB, REB, RSV, CEV, TEV, GNB, Living, Phillips, New Jerusalem, New Century, and The Word, et al.). Our Holy Bible, The King James 1611, clearly makes the distinction, in the book of Acts and is the only one in the world that does so:
"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. [2] And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. [3] And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
[4]And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. [5] Peter therefore was kept in prison:"
(Acts 12:1-5a)
NOTE:
- "Easter" was always held late in the month of April -- Herod worshipped Ishtar.
- "Days of unleavened bread" are the 15th - 21st
Easter is the correct translation of the Greek word "pascha" in this instance. Verse 3 shows Peter was arrested during the days of unleavened bread (15th - 21st April). Our Holy Bible says: "Then were the days of unleavened bread". The passover (14 April) had already come and gone. Herod could not have possibly been referring to the passover in this statement concerning Easter. All Biblical references to the passover is always speaking of the meal that is eaten on the night of the 14th of April, NOT the entire week. The days of unleavened bread are never referred to as the passover. The angel of the Lord passed over Egypt on one night, not seven nights in a row. The next passover in this case was a year away! But, the pagan holiday of Easter was just a few days away. And keep in mind, Herod was a pagan Roman who worshipped the "queen of heaven". He was NOT a Jew and had no reason to keep the Jewish passover!
Again, Easter is NOT another name for the Feast of Passover when Christ was crucified, and, is NOT celebrated at the Biblically prescribed time for passover. The pagan festival of Easter, which included pagan SUN-rise worship services, was "Christianized" several hundred years after Christ.
Should those who profess Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour participate in the ways that are opposed to God? No, absolutely not! The answer is unavoidable; so, many try to justify and make excuses. The most common excuse is: "Although this holiday is pagan in origin, that is not what it means to me and now it is 'Christian'."
"I am the LORD, I change not..."
If we want to worship God, "in spirit and in truth", what it means to us makes no difference. What it means to Him should be our concern. He does not change and He does not accept pagan tradition by whatever name YOU choose to give it. Remember, He said that all such activity, is VAIN!
"Learn not the way of the heathen, . . ."
(Jeremiah 10:2a)
"For the customs of the people are vain:"
(Jeremiah 10:3a)
In accordance with Biblical instructions we must hold fast
to the faithful word of sound doctrine.
Although salvation is by grace through faith alone,
"sin is the transgression of the law".
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin,
that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we,
that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
(Romans 6:1-2)
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
(1 Thessalonians 5:21)
PRACTICES IN OPPOSITION TO THE ACCEPTED WAYS OF THE LORD
CAN ONLY BE IN HONOUR OF: "ANOTHER JESUS".
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lust...they willingly are ignorant..."
(2 Peter 3:3-5)