Sunday, 31 March 2013

REVEALED: WHY EASTER IS A PAGAN FESTIVAL

PASSOVER/UNLEAVENED BREAD, NOT EASTER

Jesus Christ and the pains he passed through to redeem mankind
As most Christians are celebrating Easter today (31/03/2013), all the 7th Day Sabbath Observing churches across the globe have in the last seven days been celebrating the Feast of Passover & Unleavened Bread, which God Almighty established that His covenant children must celebrate till perpetuity (Exodus 12 vs. 17).

Putting the records straight, much noise have over the years been made about Easter's celebration, but no specific reference has been culled from the Holy Scriptures to serve as a yardstick for the jamboree by most members of the Christendom. This brings to question the relevance of Easter celebration in this 21st century, considering the fact that the Bible and other technological gadgets are there for us to check and double check our facts.
The bible is inspired by God and is useful for teaching The truth, rebuking error, correcting faults and giving instructions for right living, so that the person who serves God may fully be qualified and equipped to do every kind of good dead (2 Tim 3 vs 16 – 17 ). Therefore, all the discussions here-in must be scaled using the Holy Scriptures.

The 'For' & 'Against' Motions
According to the proponents of Easter, it is celebrated in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Christ. Worried by the rising spate of calamitous sins that have engulfed the earth, God's wrath was highly kindled against the earth and mankind inhabiting it. It is against this background that God asked, “who will go and save the world?” Owing to the love which Christ had for mankind, he decided to come and redeem the world through his precious blood which he shed on the cross of Calvary- See ( Isaiah 6 vs. 8, 1 Peter 1 vs. 20.)

However, for antagonists, Christ death and resurrection is not germane a reason for Easter to be instituted as a religious festival in the Christendom. These sect argue that Easter has a pagan origin than a biblical origin, since there is no portion of the scriptures where God Almighty nor even Christ himself
commanded that Easter be celebrated to commemorate his death or resurrection. They further argue that the only statement Christ made before he gave up his last was “It's finished”- see (John 19 vs. 30).

From the foregoing arguments and having perused biblical, archeological, theological and historical findings, it's apt to say that EASTER is a PAGAN FESTIVAL. According to John 19 vs. 20, when Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
This statement signifies that Jesus Christ said that the work he came to do on earth has been accomplished (res ipsa loquitur- the fact speaks for itself). Christ never said because will die, Easter should be celebrated to commemorate his death.

Even after his resurrection, during his several encounters with his followers, he never instituted EASTER- see (Matthew 28:9, 10; Mark 16:9-11; Luke 21:13-15,25,29,31; John 20:14,17,18; Matthew 28: 16,18,20; Mark 16:12; Luke 21:33,36,37,40; John 20:19-20; Mark 16:14; John 20: 26; John 21:1,14; John 21: 11). So where camest thou EASTER from?

BRIEF HISTORY (Culled from http://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t020.html)


The name “Easter” has its roots in ancient polytheistic religions (paganism). On this, all scholars agree. This name is never used in the original Scriptures, nor is it ever associated biblically with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For these reasons, we prefer to use the term “Resurrection Sunday” rather than “Easter” when referring to the annual Christian remembrance of Christ's resurrection.
Most reference books say that the name “Easter” derived from the Eastre, the Teutonic goddess of Spring. Although this relationship exists, in reality, the origin of the name and the goddess are far more ancient - going all the way back to the Tower of Babel. The origin begins not long after the biblical Flood.
The Flood was a divine judgment sent on mankind after evil had become all pervasive and all people everywhere were totally unresponsive to God. The Bible says that "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5, NKJV). It is not difficult to imagine that life must have been almost unbearable at this time in history. God gave humankind a second chance by preserving the righteous man Noah and his family (a total of 8 people).
After the Flood, Noah had a talented, but evil, great-grandson named Nimrod (Genesis 10:6-10) who rebelled greatly against God. The Bible says that he was “a mighty one.” Jewish tradition indicates that Nimrod was a tyrant "who made all of the people rebellious against God." It is evident from history that Nimrod was not only a political leader, but also the lead priest of a form of occultic worship.

King Nimrod, Queen Semiramis (Easter), and Tammuz (the “reincarnated” Nimrod)

Nimrod built and organized major cities. The Bible notes that these included Babel, Asshur, Nineveh and Calah (Genesis 10:10-12). If you know anything about ancient history, the mention of these places may send shivers up your spine. For these were cities of great, almost unimaginable practices and perversion.
When Nimrod eventually died, the Babylonian mystery religion in which he figured prominently continued on. His wife Queen Semiramis saw to that. Once he was dead, she deified him as the Sun-god. In various cultures he later became known as Baal, the Great Life Giver, the god of fire, Baalim, Bel, Molech, etc.
Later, when this adulterous and idolatrous woman gave birth to an illegitimate son, she claimed that this son, Tammuz by name, was Nimrod reborn.” Semiramis “claimed that her son was supernaturally conceived [no human father] and that he was the promised seed, the 'savior'” - promised by God in Genesis 3:15. “However, not only was the child worshiped, but the woman, the MOTHER, was also worshiped as much (or more) than the son!” Nimrod deified as the god of the sun and father of creation. Semiramis became the goddess of the moon, fertility, etc.
"In the old fables of the Mystery cults, their 'savior' Tammuz, was worshiped with various rites at the Spring season. According to the legends, after he was slain [killed by a wild boar], he went into the underworld. But through the weeping of his mother… he mystically revived in the springing forth of the vegetation - in Spring! Each year a spring festival dramatically represented this supposed 'resurrection' from the underworld.
Thus, a terrible false religion developed with its sun and moon worship, priests, astrology, demonic worship, worship of stars associated with their gods, idolatry, mysterious rites, human sacrifice, and more. Frankly, the practices which went on were so horrible that it is not fitting for me to speak of them here.
It was at Nimrod's city of Babel that a towering structure was first built in defiance of God as part of their Satanic religion. Archaeological evidence indicates that this was a spectacular pyramid-shaped structure (ziggurat). The Bible tells us that at this time there was only one language in the world and that most of the world's population centered in this area and participated in this religion. It was evident to God that all mankind would soon degenerate into a level of evil that would parallel that of the pre-Flood world. For humanity's sake, something had to be done to slow and frustrate this organization of an evil one world, tyrannical government.
God confused their language, so that they could not understand each other (Genesis 11:7). (This is the ultimate source of the world's many languages.) As a result, many people moved away from the area in groups according to their particular new language. Most, if not all, of these people carried their evil Sun-God-based religion with them. They continued to worship the stars and practice all the other ungodly rituals of their religion. Some also continued to build pyramids reminiscent of the Tower of Babel as part of this mystery religion. Today, we can still find remnants of these throughout the world (e.g., Iraq, South America, Central America, Egypt, Burma).
Babel was the origin of an idolatrous system that swept the world. The Bible says of her, “Babylon… the nations drank her wine; Therefore the nations are deranged” (Jeremiah 51:7). The Bible often speaks of the Satanic religions which came from her. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus "witnessed the Mystery religion and its rites in numerous countries and mentions how Babylon was the primeval source from which ALL systems of idolatry flowed. Austen Layard said “that we have the united testimony of sacred and profane history that idolatry originated in the area of Babylonia - the most ancient of religious systems.”
Basically, almost every vile, profane and idolatrous practice you can think of originated at Babel with Queen Semiramis, the Mother Goddess and Nimrod. As the people scattered from Babel with their different languages, they, of course, used different names for Nimrod (Tammuz) and Semiramis. Some called the Mother Goddess “ISHTAR” (originally pronounced “Easter”). In other lands, she was called Eostre, Astarte, Ostera, and Eastre. Other names for Semiramis, the Mother Goddess include: Wife of Baal, Ashtaroth or Ashtoreth, and Queen of Heaven. The Mother goddess was frequently worshiped as the goddess of fertility - and as a sort of Mother Nature and goddess of Spring and sexual love and birth. She was also worshipped as a mediator between god and man. Sexual orgies and temple prostitutes were often used in her worship and in attempting to gain her favor.

The Easter Rabbit or Hare

The rabbit is well known as a sexual symbol of fertility. In various parts of the world, religions which developed from Babel also associate the rabbit with periodicity, both human and lunar (Egypt, China, etc.). As you may remember, the Mother Goddess Semiramis (Easter) is associated with the Moon. In other words, the Easter bunny symbolizes the Mother Goddess. Annual Spring time fertility rituals are associated worship of the Mother Goddess and Tammuz, the reincarnation of her husband Nimrod.

The Easter Egg

Most children and families who color or hide Easter eggs as part of their Resurrection Sunday tradition have no knowledge of the origin of these traditions. Easter egg activities have become a part of Western culture. Many would be surprised and even dismayed to learn where the traditions originated.
The egg was a sacred symbol among the Babylonians. They believed an old fable about an egg of wondrous size which was supposed to have fallen from heaven into the Euphrates River. From this marvelous egg - according to the ancient story - the Goddess Astarte (Easter) [Semiramis], was hatched. And so the egg came to symbolize the Goddess Easter.”
The idea of a mystic egg spread from Babylon to many parts of the world. In Rome, the mystic egg preceded processions in honor of the Mother Goddess Roman. The egg was part of the sacred ceremonies of the Mysteries of Bacchus. The Druids used the egg as their sacred emblem. In Northern Europe, China and Japan the eggs were colored for their sacred festivals.
The egg was also a symbol of fertility; Semiramis (Easter) was the goddess of Fertility. The Easter egg is a symbol of the pagan Mother Goddess, and it even bears one of her names.

Summary

Easter” is simply one of the names of a woman who mightily deceived the world and whose religion has caused untold suffering and misery. She was clearly an enemy of Christianity, and her son Tammuz was an anti-Christ, a false messiah that ultimately deceived millions.

If you are Christian, it is not difficult to discern the bizarre deception and confusion that Satan has successfully orchestrated. For example, notice the embarrassing irony in these traditions which are practiced innocently by most people. They are repeated year after year, because they have become traditional and their origin is unknown to many.
  • On the day commemorating Christ's resurrection, Americans roll decorated eggs on the White House lawn and pretend the Easter rabbit hid them. The same ritual is practiced at some Christian churches.
  • In Lancashire [England] on Easter eve boys and men have been in the habit of touring the towns and villages as 'Pace-eggers' begging for eggs before performing the 'Pace-Egging' or Pasch (i.e., Easter) play.”
  • In Greece each person in a group bangs his red EASTER EGG [not knowing that it is symbol of the Goddess] against the eggs of all the others present in turn, saying 'Christ is risen,' and receives the reply 'He is risen indeed.”
The seductive symbols of ancient ungodly religions inspired by Satan have been incorporated into people's everyday lives, even to this day - continuing to obscure the truth of God .
One might wonder if there is a better way for Christians to celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection, the most important of all Christian holy days. In retrospect, it seems obvious that it would have been a better witness to the world if Christians had not attempted to “Christianize” pagan celebrations - adopting the name “Easter” (Ishtar/Semiramis) in remembrance of Christ. Jesus has been obscured by painted eggs and bunnies. Attention has been shifted away from spiritual truth and toward materialism (clothing, products and candies with the wrong symbolism). Stores merchandise the name of Easter (not “Resurrection Sunday”) and sell goods that have nothing to do with Christ's death and resurrection. Christians naively use symbols and practices that unknowingly perpetuate ancient anti-Christ traditions - symbolic customs followed by the same religious cults that inspired the destruction of great numbers of Christians and Jews. Is the Devil laughing at us?
Many church bodies recognize the problem and make every effort to keep the focus of Resurrection Sunday totally on Jesus Christ and the Good News that He brought.
Nonetheless, from the foregoing it is apt to state that Easter is never a religious festival instituted by God Almighty. Succinctly, Christians across the world ought to be celebrating the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread and not Easter.
ABOUT PASSOVER/UNLEAVENED BREAD
The Isreali national flag
According to the scriptures, there are seven (7) important religious feasts which God has made as a covenant with man for him to observe at their appointed time. The Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread is one of them. See (Leviticus 23 vs. 5-14; Numbers 9 vs. 1-14; Numbers 28 vs. 16-25; Deuteronomy 16 vs. 1-8; 2 Chronicles 30 vs. 1-27; 2 Chronicles 35 vs. 1-19; Ezra 6 vs. 19-22; Ezekiel 45 vs. 21-24; Matthew 26 vs. 17-18; Mark 14 vs. 12-17; Luke 22 vs. 7-13; Luke 2 vs. 41-43; John 4 vs. 43-45; John 11 vs. 55; Exodus 34 vs. 18; Exodus 12 vs. 1-50; Exodus 13 vs. 3-10; Acts 20 vs. 6; John 13 vs. 1; Joshua 5 vs. 10-12; John 19 vs. 14; John 2 vs. 23).
According to the scripts above, the Feast of Passover /Unleavened Bread is a religious festival which God made as a covenant with mankind and it can never be changed because it is an everlasting covenant.
The Passover feast can be traced back to the time the children of Israel were in the land of Egypt (Exodus 12 vs 1-50). The children of Israel were enslaved and maltreated cruelly by the Egyptians. A time came when their cry for help was heard and considered by God. God sent Moses to the land of Egypt to deliver his chosen people. In spite all odds, the children of Israel were later asked to leave Egypt by the recalcitrant Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
At this point, God told Moses to instruct the people of Israel that the month they left Egypt should be considered as the first month unto them- see (Exodus 12 vs. 2). Coincidentally, this month known in the Hebrew Calendar as ABIB/NISAN runs from mid March to mid April in the Gregorian calendar.
Thus, The Lord told Moses to instruct the children of Israel to celebrate that day as a religious festival to remind them of what he had done. Hence, as shown in (Exodus 12 vs. 17), the feast of Passover is to be observed on the 14th day of every 1st month because it was on that day that the Lord God Almighty brought all the tribes of the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. For this reason, God instructed them to celebrate this day as a festival to honour him for all time to come (Exodus 12 vs. 14).
Nevertheless on that day the Lord instructed the children of Israel to kill their passover lamb (one year old lamb) on the evening of the fourteenth day and the blood of the lamb should be smeared on the door posts of their houses which the meal is to be eaten. However, he told them that the meal should be roasted and eaten with bitter herbs and none should be left until morning.
Nonetheless, the Lord told them to get ready for travel which is Passover, even as He assured them that His angel of death will go through the land of Egypt on that night, killing every first born male of the Egyptians both human and animal and also punishing all the gods of Egypt. As for the Israelites, He told ensured that when the angel of death sees the blood he passed over and didn't harm anybody in the house which he sees the blood. More so, he instructed them that no food made of yeast should be found in their homes not until after the 21st day of that month (8 days).
However, in the Christendom today, so many people believe that Passover as a religious festival is only meant for the Israelites (Jews). It is therefore apt to state that God's laws are for all mankind and not only for the Israelites (Jews) (Psalm 105 vs. 7-8).

OUR SUBMISSION
If Jesus, his disciples, Paul, and other apostles faithfully observed the feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread-See ( Luke 22 vs 7-13, Acts 20 vs 6 ), then, where are all these false doctrines about Christ establishing Easter emanating from?
Succinctly, Daniel, a renown prophet of his time had already foreseen this and prophesied that a time will come when the wicked one will oppress God's people, and will try to change God's laws and festivals (Daniel 7 vs. 24 – 25). Even prophet Isaiah once said "this people honour me with their words but their heart is really far away from me. It is no use for them to worship because they teach human rules as though they were God's laws (Isaiah 29 vs. 13). He added “these people will listen and listen but not understand, they will look and look but not see because their minds are dull and they have stopped up their ears and closed their eyes (Isaiah 6 vs. 9).
Finally, dear voracious and ardent readers let's not be only the hearers of the laws but also the doers. Anyone who obey all but fails in one is guilty of all (James 2 vs. 10).
CONCLUSION
As the feast of PASSOVER and UNLEAVENED BREAD comes to an end tomorrow (1/4/2013) with a Holy Convocation, may OUR SUPREME GOD pass over all your trials and tribulations. May HE exalt your head like the beak of unicorn, so that any Egyptian that attempts to rise against you shall be bulldozed eternally.

SHALOM!

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