EASTER
13/04/18 10:58
Amos 5:26-27
But you have borne the tabernacle of your moloch and chiun your images, the star of your god, which you made to yourselves. Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the YHWH, whose name is The God of hosts.
Acts 7:43 Yea, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
From the beginning, those who have proclaimed a following of Adonai have had large numbers compromise paganism with the Creator. Israel took the star of saturn as their own, the pharisees compromised God’s Law with theirs; from Cain to the whore church, and her harlots, of Revelations 17, we are warned of the compromise of the things of God... and of the destruction it will cause.
When we are faithful, not compromising any point of what Adonai give us, it is then that the blessing rain in a manner that is unimaginable by our minds. Daniel did not compromise and Adonai made him healthy, victorious in the eyes of a pagan king, and closed the mouth of a lion. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not compromise and Yeshua walked side by side with them in a fire. David did not compromise and Adonai made him victor over wild beast’s, a giant of a soldier, and a kingdom. Yet, when David compromised God’s Law, David’s house suffered for the rest of his life.
Many who know me know I don’t celebrate christmas or easter. I know, “Another video condemning me because I like christmas and easter”. That’s not what this is about. The schools, colleges, and churches have moved to a platform of telling you what they want you to believe, and giving you only the resources to follow their belief. I have a belief, it’s impossible not to, and because I have a belief, I’m going to tell you what I believe; and I’m going to show you why I believe it. Then, it’s up to you to decide on what you will do. I am not being judged for you; it's you that answers to God, not me.
Paskha appears 29 times in the New Testament writings but there is just one text in the King James Bible that makes specific use of the word “easter”. Because of this, many Bible scholars assume that the word “easter” is derived from the Greek word paskha, which is Passover; but this is not the case. This is actually an error made by the reformers who translated the King James Bible, but they were trained in catholicism.
Acts 12:4 (KJV) 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.
ORIGINS
We know easter as an early spring festivity, and easter IS described, in considerable detail, within scripture. Because of the history of easter, it would not have been foreign to the people in the land of Israel during the first century. The time is filled with imagery relating to life, death, and resurrection. Let’s look at two of the top Christian Bible dictionaries and see how they define easter:
Easter: Originally a Saxon word (Eostre), denoting a goddess of the Saxons, in honor of whom sacrifices were offered about the time of the Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection of Christ, which occurred at the time of the Passover. In the early English versions, this word was frequently used as the translation of the Greek paskha (the Passover). When the authorized version (1611) was formed, the word “Passover” was used in all passages in which this word paskha occurred, except in Acts 12:4. In the Revised Version the proper word, “Passover” is always used. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary).
... intending after Easter - rather, ‘after the Passover’; that is after the whole festival was over. (The word in our King James Version is an ecclesiastical term of later date, and ought not to have been employed here). (Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown), Acts 12:4)
So we see that the word “easter” should not have been used. Why would that be? Today most everyone thinks that easter has something to do with the death of Christ. Atheist even fight against days like this.
The Easton’s Bible Dictionary states that easter was the name of a Saxon goddess, named ester, and this name was APPLIED to the resurrection of Yeshua.
It was the catholic church that changed the name and the date, and we will look at this more in a future video in this series. But I would like to see what they say on this matter:
The English term, according to the Venn. Bead (De tempo rum rationed, I, v), relates to Ester, a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of the day and spring, which deity, however, is otherwise unknown, even in the Eddo (Smock, Mythoi., 362); Anglo-Saxon, Easter, Easton; Old High German, rostra, strata, stratum; German, Astern. April was called easter-monadh...”
“Because the use of eggs was forbidden during Lent, they were brought to the table on Easter Day, colored red to symbolize the Easter joy. This custom is found not only in the Latin but also in the Oriental Churches. “The symbolic meaning of a new creation of mankind by Jesus rose from the dead was probably an invention of later times. The custom may have its origin in paganism, for a great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring. Easter eggs, the children are told, come from Rome with the bells which on Thursday go to Rome and return Saturday morning.” (Catholic Encyclopedia)
So, the catholic encyclopedia clearly states that many facets of its easter celebrations were derived from paganism; yet, most “christian” movements still follow their “mother church” by using the detestable name of easter and practicing fertility rites.
EASTER CELEBRATIONS IN THE BIBLE
The name Eostre / Ester transliterated into Hebrew is Astarte / Ishtar, a pagan fertility goddess who is also known as Asherah and Ashtoreth in the Bible. Ashtoreth is a moon goddess. The moon was linked with fertility; Ashtoreth was Baal / Molech’s partner.
Ashtoreth: The moon goddess of the Phoenicians, representing the passive principle in nature, their principal female deity; frequently associated with the name of Baal, the sun-god, their chief male deity (Judges 10:6; 1 Samuel 7:4: 12:10). These names often occur in the plural (Ashtaroth, Baalim), probably as indicating either different statues or different modifications of the deities. The deity is spoken of as Ashtoreth of the Zidonians. She was the Ishtar of the Accadians and the Astarte of the Greeks (Jeremiah 44:17; 1 Kings 11:5, 33; 2 Kings 23:13). Under the name of Ishtar, she was one of the great deities of the Assyrians. The Phoenicians called her Astarte. Solomon introduced the worship of this idol (1 Kings 11:33). Jezebel’s 400 priests were probably employed in its service (1 Kings 18:19). It was called the “queen of heaven” (Jeremiah 44:25). (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
As the variances in the use and pronunciation of words from one area of the U.S. to the other, the variances between the names of this goddess were related to the region and dialect of Israel, Canaan, and Babylon.
Asherah, and pl. Asherim in Revised Versions, instead of “grove” and “groves” of the Authorized Version. This was the name of the sensual Canaanitish goddess Astarte, the feminine of the Assyrian Ishtar. Its symbol was the stem of a tree deprived of its boughs, and rudely shaped into an image, and planted in the ground. Such religious symbols (“groves”) are frequently alluded to in Scripture (Exodus 34:13; Judges 6:25; 2 Kings 23:6; 1 Kings 16:33; etc). These images were also sometimes made of silver or of carved stone (2 Kings 21:7; “the graven image of Asherah,” RSV). (See GROVE [1]).(Easton’s Dictionary)
Ashera(h): “groves (for idol worship)” a Babylonian (Astarte) - Canaanite goddess (of fortune and happiness), the supposed consort of Baal... sacred trees or poles set up near an altar. (Brown, Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
The Bible makes reference to these pagan goddesses in several places:
1 Kings 14:15 (KJV) 15 For the YHWH shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the YHWH to anger.
1 Kings 14:23 (KJV) 23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.
1 Kings 18:19 (KJV) 19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
2 Chronicles 31:1 (KJV) 1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
Isaiah 27:9 (KJV) 9 By this, therefore, shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he makes all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
Micah 5:14 (KJV) 14 And I will pluck up your groves out of the midst of you: so will I destroy your cities.
There are many more passages which I’ve included in the notes under this video.
Exodus 34:13; Deut 7:5; 12:3; 16;21; Judges 6:25, 26, 28, 30; 1 Kings 15:13; 16:33; 2 Kings 17:10, 16; 18:4; 21:3, 7; 23:4, 6, 7, 14, 15; 2 Chronicles 14:3; 15:16; 17:6; 9:3; 24:18; 33:3, 19; Isaiah 17:8
It is clear, there is an easter festival talked about in the scriptures, and it’s clearly an abomination unto Adonai and the Messiah. Seeing these poles, we then understand what another popular passage is saying. This passage is usually related to the christmas pagan holiday but we see clearly that it’s referring to easter.
Jeremiah 10:1-11 (KJV) 1 Hear you the word which the YHWH speaks unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the YHWH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. 6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto you, O YHWH; you are great, and your name is great in might. 7 Who would not fear you, O King of nations? for to you does it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto you. 8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. 10 But YHWH is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall you say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
This pagan goddess got her power from her male counterpart, Baal has a festival of his own under his other title Molech:
1 Kings 11:4-8 (KJV) 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the YHWH his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom (Molech or Baal) the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the YHWH, and went not fully after the YHWH, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
What did Adonai do to those who followed these practices?
2 Kings 23:7-10 (KJV) 7 And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the YHWH, where the women wove hangings for the grove. 8 And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city. 9 Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the YHWH in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren. 10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.
When we look at this passage, we see the pagan priest associating their festivals with the unleavened bread of the Passover season, just as they did with the European version of the same fertility goddess who gives easter her name; just as most professing christians do today.
CHRISTIAN CARRYOVER
Like the times talking about in the books of the Kings, christianity has transferred pagan rites, including the very name, of the pagan celebration into the resurrection of the Messiah. To top that off, the christians dishonor the Jewish Messiah by putting a “traditional” ham on their tables. With the Bible clearly calling for a separation of God’s people from the pagans, their worship from pagan worship, and shows the destruction of those who do not separate and even commingle the two; this is a clear and defiant demonstration of disrespect towards Yeshua. While christians talk about the defiance of Israel in those times, they paint a picture of these actions being acceptable behavior for Christians. Christ-ian means to be Christ-like but easter and its pagan trappings are entirely against the Messiah.
This is not just Old Testament teachings. First, the Old Testament was not done away with, but rather is a physical example of the spiritual kingdom we live in today. Everything from the Old Testament was of the physical being: physical law, physical temple, physical lamb, physical jew, physical high priest, physical death, and etc. Today it is spiritual: Law in our heart, the temple in Heaven, Christ the Lamb, Christ the High Priest, spiritual jew, and a spiritual death. The example and shadow of the Old Testament show us what happens at the end of this New Testament age. Still, the New Testament talks of these things:
Acts 7:42-43 (KJV) 42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yea, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Romans 11:1-5 (KJV) 1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot you not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed your prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
And in the last book of the Bible, the one talking about the end yet to come:
Revelation 2:14-16 (KJV) 14 But I have a few things against you, because you hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Notice that this is a church who is compromising paganism with christianity, and Yeshua does not like it. We also read about another church:
Revelation 2:20-23 (KJV) 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
If any professing christian, watching this video, still believe it to be acceptable to intertwine pagan practices to honor Yeshua the Messiah, then take a look at what Paul had to say about this:
1 Corinthians 10:19-22 (KJV) 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that you should have fellowship with devils. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: you cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
The earliest record of christians celebrating easter is in connection with the visit of Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna) to Anicetus (the bishop of Rome) in 154-155 AD, for the purposes of maintaining Passover observance. Polycarp was a disciple of John. He was known to have discourse with the original disciples of Yeshua and was a faithful follower of Christ for 86 years. Polycarp represented the ancient observance of Passover through the night of the fourteenth of Nisan, which is both the Old and New Testament Passover, regardless of what day of the week it might fall on our calendar. Anicetus argued for a new calendar that would cause easter to always fall on a sunday. By changing the original date for Passover, which Christ and all the disciples followed, the post-apostolic founders of the church used a syncretistic effort to bring paganism into the pews, which is clearly the work of antichrist.
In 1582 AD the catholic church changed to the Gregorian calendar, in which most of the world has followed. There had to be a 10-day removal in order to line up the proper date to the pagan holiday of Esther and move that pagan day closer to the Jewish day of Passover; the day Jesus actually died, so that people would keep the pagan holidays. To do this, in the year 1582, Thursday, October 4th was followed by Friday, October 15th.
CONCLUSION TO THE MATTER
"O YHWH, my strength, and my fortress. My refuge in the day of affliction, The Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, 'Surely our fathers have inherited lies, Worthlessness, and unprofitable things.'" Jeremiah 16:19
Deception is a mixture of lie and truth. It's what makes deception as profitable as this day coming up: whether it be called "easter" or "resurrection sunday". We were passed many lies from the mother church, and the harlot continues in them (Rev 17)
On the wall, of the home I was raised in, hung a plaque with the saying, "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD"; a wonderful saying, but in context says even more. Look this up, read it for yourself, in context; for I'm putting this in context by modern terms:
If it seems evil to you, to serve the LORD, then choose who else you will serve; whether the pagan gods of the past or the pagan gods of today. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15
While we had this plaque hanging on our wall, we kept pagan holidays of easter, christmas, and the likes. Were my parents in error? Nope. They did not know these were pagan holidays. When they found out the dangers of halloween, we stopped celebrating that day.
In the past, our fathers did not know these truths, information was not as abundant as now. But, in these end days, many are running to and fro and knowledge has increased (Dan 12:4): they have put on a form of godliness, but are lacking in the power (2 Tim 3:5), because they love the pleasures of the things of this world more than God (2 Tim 3:4). While our knowledge of things, like these mixings of paganism with the things of God, has increased, the refusal to come out of her (Rev 18:4) has also increased; making this day, a day of rebellion, thus apostasy grows (as prophesied). The remnant of the Gentile is understanding and crying out the statement of Jeremiah 16:19.
In 2 Kings 23:7-10, we see the priest co-mingling Passover with the pagan rituals of "groves" (KJV). "Groves" were idols set up in worship of ashtoreth or asherah. These pagan goddess' were also known as eostre, asterte, ester, and ishtar; who we know as easter. Thus then, we know they were mixing the spring festivals of easter with Passover: God despised the practice.
This year, it's become a big question, do we call it "easter" or do we call it "resurrection sunday"? This debate is kind of like a "Hobson's choice", a take it or leave it choice. We are given a false illusion of choice: coke or pepsi, mac or pc, etc. We are given a choice as if there is none better: take this or leave it.
We are confident that Passover was the day Y'shua died, as The Lamb of God, in the renewed covenant of today, for the Tabernacle which is in Heaven: the sacrifice for sins. Unlike His birthday, which is sometime in Sept-Oct, we have not lost this day. This year (2013), it was Tuesday (Nisan 14). He laid in the heart of the earth three days and three nights (Matt 12:40) thus then, The anniversary of His resurrection, and defeat of death, was Friday (3/29/13). We are given a choice as if sunday is the only day to worship; which is like saying, "because the Declaration of Independence was signed on Thurs, you can only celebrate this day on Thursday" even though it was July 4th. Sunday is not the focus of this day, it's the resurrection and WHO it was that died and was raised. The 'sunday resurrection' is a mere tactic to keep people hooked on the pagan day of the sun and the co-mingling of the things of Y'shua with paganism.
Marcion was instrumental in separating the "God of the jew's" with the "god of the gentile"; even though, this is against Biblical teaching. Because of this separation, many gentiles see it too Jewish to keep the holiday of Passover, which YHWH established as a symbol of the sacrifice of Christ, and to keep a pagan holiday given to them by their father tradition (Mark 6:6-9). There is not a law set up for the jew and a separate for the gentile: there is one law for both he that is of Israel and the gentile (Exodus 12:49).
There is a third choice for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ, one God established in the past, one Y'shua kept in His day, and more-so one in which Christ fulfilled: it's called Passover; the day Christ actually died for our sins, and is in no way associated with paganism.
As followers of Yeshua the Messiah, we have full assurance that Christ was crucified on Passover; as our Passover Lamb for forgiveness of sins. If this feast seems “too Jewish”, christians would be well advised to consider whether they prefer to follow the Messiah who came through the tribe of Judah; to which the name Jewish is derived from, or follow dates and feasts that accommodate pagan culture. True Christians are so called because they imitate the Messiah who gave His life to raise up a Set-Apart people.
Easter is clearly the, so-called sacred, female partner of two deities that are associated with murdering children; therefore, at a minimum, the name should die from the lips of every true Christian. And, on another level that takes the occasion of the death and resurrection to a much purer place: That is celebrating the Passover as Yeshua and His followers did, and done for decades after. Not as the shadow of what was in Egypt and the exodus, but what was with Christ, and what is of our exodus from death.
1 Kings 18:21 (KJV) 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt you between two opinions? if the YHWH be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follows him. And the people answered him not a word.
Joshua 24:14-15 (KJV) 14 Now, therefore, fear the YHWH, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve you the YHWH. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the YHWH, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the YHWH.
Acts 7:43 Yea, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
From the beginning, those who have proclaimed a following of Adonai have had large numbers compromise paganism with the Creator. Israel took the star of saturn as their own, the pharisees compromised God’s Law with theirs; from Cain to the whore church, and her harlots, of Revelations 17, we are warned of the compromise of the things of God... and of the destruction it will cause.
When we are faithful, not compromising any point of what Adonai give us, it is then that the blessing rain in a manner that is unimaginable by our minds. Daniel did not compromise and Adonai made him healthy, victorious in the eyes of a pagan king, and closed the mouth of a lion. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not compromise and Yeshua walked side by side with them in a fire. David did not compromise and Adonai made him victor over wild beast’s, a giant of a soldier, and a kingdom. Yet, when David compromised God’s Law, David’s house suffered for the rest of his life.
Many who know me know I don’t celebrate christmas or easter. I know, “Another video condemning me because I like christmas and easter”. That’s not what this is about. The schools, colleges, and churches have moved to a platform of telling you what they want you to believe, and giving you only the resources to follow their belief. I have a belief, it’s impossible not to, and because I have a belief, I’m going to tell you what I believe; and I’m going to show you why I believe it. Then, it’s up to you to decide on what you will do. I am not being judged for you; it's you that answers to God, not me.
Paskha appears 29 times in the New Testament writings but there is just one text in the King James Bible that makes specific use of the word “easter”. Because of this, many Bible scholars assume that the word “easter” is derived from the Greek word paskha, which is Passover; but this is not the case. This is actually an error made by the reformers who translated the King James Bible, but they were trained in catholicism.
Acts 12:4 (KJV) 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.
ORIGINS
We know easter as an early spring festivity, and easter IS described, in considerable detail, within scripture. Because of the history of easter, it would not have been foreign to the people in the land of Israel during the first century. The time is filled with imagery relating to life, death, and resurrection. Let’s look at two of the top Christian Bible dictionaries and see how they define easter:
Easter: Originally a Saxon word (Eostre), denoting a goddess of the Saxons, in honor of whom sacrifices were offered about the time of the Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection of Christ, which occurred at the time of the Passover. In the early English versions, this word was frequently used as the translation of the Greek paskha (the Passover). When the authorized version (1611) was formed, the word “Passover” was used in all passages in which this word paskha occurred, except in Acts 12:4. In the Revised Version the proper word, “Passover” is always used. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary).
... intending after Easter - rather, ‘after the Passover’; that is after the whole festival was over. (The word in our King James Version is an ecclesiastical term of later date, and ought not to have been employed here). (Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown), Acts 12:4)
So we see that the word “easter” should not have been used. Why would that be? Today most everyone thinks that easter has something to do with the death of Christ. Atheist even fight against days like this.
The Easton’s Bible Dictionary states that easter was the name of a Saxon goddess, named ester, and this name was APPLIED to the resurrection of Yeshua.
It was the catholic church that changed the name and the date, and we will look at this more in a future video in this series. But I would like to see what they say on this matter:
The English term, according to the Venn. Bead (De tempo rum rationed, I, v), relates to Ester, a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of the day and spring, which deity, however, is otherwise unknown, even in the Eddo (Smock, Mythoi., 362); Anglo-Saxon, Easter, Easton; Old High German, rostra, strata, stratum; German, Astern. April was called easter-monadh...”
“Because the use of eggs was forbidden during Lent, they were brought to the table on Easter Day, colored red to symbolize the Easter joy. This custom is found not only in the Latin but also in the Oriental Churches. “The symbolic meaning of a new creation of mankind by Jesus rose from the dead was probably an invention of later times. The custom may have its origin in paganism, for a great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring. Easter eggs, the children are told, come from Rome with the bells which on Thursday go to Rome and return Saturday morning.” (Catholic Encyclopedia)
So, the catholic encyclopedia clearly states that many facets of its easter celebrations were derived from paganism; yet, most “christian” movements still follow their “mother church” by using the detestable name of easter and practicing fertility rites.
EASTER CELEBRATIONS IN THE BIBLE
The name Eostre / Ester transliterated into Hebrew is Astarte / Ishtar, a pagan fertility goddess who is also known as Asherah and Ashtoreth in the Bible. Ashtoreth is a moon goddess. The moon was linked with fertility; Ashtoreth was Baal / Molech’s partner.
Ashtoreth: The moon goddess of the Phoenicians, representing the passive principle in nature, their principal female deity; frequently associated with the name of Baal, the sun-god, their chief male deity (Judges 10:6; 1 Samuel 7:4: 12:10). These names often occur in the plural (Ashtaroth, Baalim), probably as indicating either different statues or different modifications of the deities. The deity is spoken of as Ashtoreth of the Zidonians. She was the Ishtar of the Accadians and the Astarte of the Greeks (Jeremiah 44:17; 1 Kings 11:5, 33; 2 Kings 23:13). Under the name of Ishtar, she was one of the great deities of the Assyrians. The Phoenicians called her Astarte. Solomon introduced the worship of this idol (1 Kings 11:33). Jezebel’s 400 priests were probably employed in its service (1 Kings 18:19). It was called the “queen of heaven” (Jeremiah 44:25). (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
As the variances in the use and pronunciation of words from one area of the U.S. to the other, the variances between the names of this goddess were related to the region and dialect of Israel, Canaan, and Babylon.
Asherah, and pl. Asherim in Revised Versions, instead of “grove” and “groves” of the Authorized Version. This was the name of the sensual Canaanitish goddess Astarte, the feminine of the Assyrian Ishtar. Its symbol was the stem of a tree deprived of its boughs, and rudely shaped into an image, and planted in the ground. Such religious symbols (“groves”) are frequently alluded to in Scripture (Exodus 34:13; Judges 6:25; 2 Kings 23:6; 1 Kings 16:33; etc). These images were also sometimes made of silver or of carved stone (2 Kings 21:7; “the graven image of Asherah,” RSV). (See GROVE [1]).(Easton’s Dictionary)
Ashera(h): “groves (for idol worship)” a Babylonian (Astarte) - Canaanite goddess (of fortune and happiness), the supposed consort of Baal... sacred trees or poles set up near an altar. (Brown, Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
The Bible makes reference to these pagan goddesses in several places:
1 Kings 14:15 (KJV) 15 For the YHWH shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the YHWH to anger.
1 Kings 14:23 (KJV) 23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.
1 Kings 18:19 (KJV) 19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
2 Chronicles 31:1 (KJV) 1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
Isaiah 27:9 (KJV) 9 By this, therefore, shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he makes all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
Micah 5:14 (KJV) 14 And I will pluck up your groves out of the midst of you: so will I destroy your cities.
There are many more passages which I’ve included in the notes under this video.
Exodus 34:13; Deut 7:5; 12:3; 16;21; Judges 6:25, 26, 28, 30; 1 Kings 15:13; 16:33; 2 Kings 17:10, 16; 18:4; 21:3, 7; 23:4, 6, 7, 14, 15; 2 Chronicles 14:3; 15:16; 17:6; 9:3; 24:18; 33:3, 19; Isaiah 17:8
It is clear, there is an easter festival talked about in the scriptures, and it’s clearly an abomination unto Adonai and the Messiah. Seeing these poles, we then understand what another popular passage is saying. This passage is usually related to the christmas pagan holiday but we see clearly that it’s referring to easter.
Jeremiah 10:1-11 (KJV) 1 Hear you the word which the YHWH speaks unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the YHWH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. 6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto you, O YHWH; you are great, and your name is great in might. 7 Who would not fear you, O King of nations? for to you does it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto you. 8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. 10 But YHWH is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall you say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
This pagan goddess got her power from her male counterpart, Baal has a festival of his own under his other title Molech:
1 Kings 11:4-8 (KJV) 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the YHWH his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom (Molech or Baal) the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the YHWH, and went not fully after the YHWH, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
What did Adonai do to those who followed these practices?
2 Kings 23:7-10 (KJV) 7 And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the YHWH, where the women wove hangings for the grove. 8 And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city. 9 Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the YHWH in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren. 10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.
When we look at this passage, we see the pagan priest associating their festivals with the unleavened bread of the Passover season, just as they did with the European version of the same fertility goddess who gives easter her name; just as most professing christians do today.
CHRISTIAN CARRYOVER
Like the times talking about in the books of the Kings, christianity has transferred pagan rites, including the very name, of the pagan celebration into the resurrection of the Messiah. To top that off, the christians dishonor the Jewish Messiah by putting a “traditional” ham on their tables. With the Bible clearly calling for a separation of God’s people from the pagans, their worship from pagan worship, and shows the destruction of those who do not separate and even commingle the two; this is a clear and defiant demonstration of disrespect towards Yeshua. While christians talk about the defiance of Israel in those times, they paint a picture of these actions being acceptable behavior for Christians. Christ-ian means to be Christ-like but easter and its pagan trappings are entirely against the Messiah.
This is not just Old Testament teachings. First, the Old Testament was not done away with, but rather is a physical example of the spiritual kingdom we live in today. Everything from the Old Testament was of the physical being: physical law, physical temple, physical lamb, physical jew, physical high priest, physical death, and etc. Today it is spiritual: Law in our heart, the temple in Heaven, Christ the Lamb, Christ the High Priest, spiritual jew, and a spiritual death. The example and shadow of the Old Testament show us what happens at the end of this New Testament age. Still, the New Testament talks of these things:
Acts 7:42-43 (KJV) 42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yea, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Romans 11:1-5 (KJV) 1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot you not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed your prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
And in the last book of the Bible, the one talking about the end yet to come:
Revelation 2:14-16 (KJV) 14 But I have a few things against you, because you hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Notice that this is a church who is compromising paganism with christianity, and Yeshua does not like it. We also read about another church:
Revelation 2:20-23 (KJV) 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
If any professing christian, watching this video, still believe it to be acceptable to intertwine pagan practices to honor Yeshua the Messiah, then take a look at what Paul had to say about this:
1 Corinthians 10:19-22 (KJV) 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that you should have fellowship with devils. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: you cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
The earliest record of christians celebrating easter is in connection with the visit of Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna) to Anicetus (the bishop of Rome) in 154-155 AD, for the purposes of maintaining Passover observance. Polycarp was a disciple of John. He was known to have discourse with the original disciples of Yeshua and was a faithful follower of Christ for 86 years. Polycarp represented the ancient observance of Passover through the night of the fourteenth of Nisan, which is both the Old and New Testament Passover, regardless of what day of the week it might fall on our calendar. Anicetus argued for a new calendar that would cause easter to always fall on a sunday. By changing the original date for Passover, which Christ and all the disciples followed, the post-apostolic founders of the church used a syncretistic effort to bring paganism into the pews, which is clearly the work of antichrist.
In 1582 AD the catholic church changed to the Gregorian calendar, in which most of the world has followed. There had to be a 10-day removal in order to line up the proper date to the pagan holiday of Esther and move that pagan day closer to the Jewish day of Passover; the day Jesus actually died, so that people would keep the pagan holidays. To do this, in the year 1582, Thursday, October 4th was followed by Friday, October 15th.
CONCLUSION TO THE MATTER
"O YHWH, my strength, and my fortress. My refuge in the day of affliction, The Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, 'Surely our fathers have inherited lies, Worthlessness, and unprofitable things.'" Jeremiah 16:19
Deception is a mixture of lie and truth. It's what makes deception as profitable as this day coming up: whether it be called "easter" or "resurrection sunday". We were passed many lies from the mother church, and the harlot continues in them (Rev 17)
On the wall, of the home I was raised in, hung a plaque with the saying, "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD"; a wonderful saying, but in context says even more. Look this up, read it for yourself, in context; for I'm putting this in context by modern terms:
If it seems evil to you, to serve the LORD, then choose who else you will serve; whether the pagan gods of the past or the pagan gods of today. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15
While we had this plaque hanging on our wall, we kept pagan holidays of easter, christmas, and the likes. Were my parents in error? Nope. They did not know these were pagan holidays. When they found out the dangers of halloween, we stopped celebrating that day.
In the past, our fathers did not know these truths, information was not as abundant as now. But, in these end days, many are running to and fro and knowledge has increased (Dan 12:4): they have put on a form of godliness, but are lacking in the power (2 Tim 3:5), because they love the pleasures of the things of this world more than God (2 Tim 3:4). While our knowledge of things, like these mixings of paganism with the things of God, has increased, the refusal to come out of her (Rev 18:4) has also increased; making this day, a day of rebellion, thus apostasy grows (as prophesied). The remnant of the Gentile is understanding and crying out the statement of Jeremiah 16:19.
In 2 Kings 23:7-10, we see the priest co-mingling Passover with the pagan rituals of "groves" (KJV). "Groves" were idols set up in worship of ashtoreth or asherah. These pagan goddess' were also known as eostre, asterte, ester, and ishtar; who we know as easter. Thus then, we know they were mixing the spring festivals of easter with Passover: God despised the practice.
This year, it's become a big question, do we call it "easter" or do we call it "resurrection sunday"? This debate is kind of like a "Hobson's choice", a take it or leave it choice. We are given a false illusion of choice: coke or pepsi, mac or pc, etc. We are given a choice as if there is none better: take this or leave it.
We are confident that Passover was the day Y'shua died, as The Lamb of God, in the renewed covenant of today, for the Tabernacle which is in Heaven: the sacrifice for sins. Unlike His birthday, which is sometime in Sept-Oct, we have not lost this day. This year (2013), it was Tuesday (Nisan 14). He laid in the heart of the earth three days and three nights (Matt 12:40) thus then, The anniversary of His resurrection, and defeat of death, was Friday (3/29/13). We are given a choice as if sunday is the only day to worship; which is like saying, "because the Declaration of Independence was signed on Thurs, you can only celebrate this day on Thursday" even though it was July 4th. Sunday is not the focus of this day, it's the resurrection and WHO it was that died and was raised. The 'sunday resurrection' is a mere tactic to keep people hooked on the pagan day of the sun and the co-mingling of the things of Y'shua with paganism.
Marcion was instrumental in separating the "God of the jew's" with the "god of the gentile"; even though, this is against Biblical teaching. Because of this separation, many gentiles see it too Jewish to keep the holiday of Passover, which YHWH established as a symbol of the sacrifice of Christ, and to keep a pagan holiday given to them by their father tradition (Mark 6:6-9). There is not a law set up for the jew and a separate for the gentile: there is one law for both he that is of Israel and the gentile (Exodus 12:49).
There is a third choice for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ, one God established in the past, one Y'shua kept in His day, and more-so one in which Christ fulfilled: it's called Passover; the day Christ actually died for our sins, and is in no way associated with paganism.
As followers of Yeshua the Messiah, we have full assurance that Christ was crucified on Passover; as our Passover Lamb for forgiveness of sins. If this feast seems “too Jewish”, christians would be well advised to consider whether they prefer to follow the Messiah who came through the tribe of Judah; to which the name Jewish is derived from, or follow dates and feasts that accommodate pagan culture. True Christians are so called because they imitate the Messiah who gave His life to raise up a Set-Apart people.
Easter is clearly the, so-called sacred, female partner of two deities that are associated with murdering children; therefore, at a minimum, the name should die from the lips of every true Christian. And, on another level that takes the occasion of the death and resurrection to a much purer place: That is celebrating the Passover as Yeshua and His followers did, and done for decades after. Not as the shadow of what was in Egypt and the exodus, but what was with Christ, and what is of our exodus from death.
1 Kings 18:21 (KJV) 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt you between two opinions? if the YHWH be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follows him. And the people answered him not a word.
Joshua 24:14-15 (KJV) 14 Now, therefore, fear the YHWH, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve you the YHWH. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the YHWH, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the YHWH.