Easter: To participate or not to participate? 4-07 Bruce Klein, ThD
Jesus has risen from the grave, but not as part of this pagan celebration!
Many cultures and nations had different names for the goddess of love and fertility, some making her the goddess of light.
Ishtar is the Babylonian goddess of love and fertility.
She is the daughter of the god of the air.
She is evil, heartless woman who destroys her lovers.
She killed her lover, the farm god.
Because of her deadliness other gods would not be her lover.
She would have them killed
Her dad is Anu.
Easter Sunday falls on a different date each year, which means it’s date changes. In the year 2000, Easter fell on April 30th. In 1999 Easter fell on April 4th. The date for Easter is decided by astrology according to the vernal equinox. God has Passover falling on Abib 14th every year! So according to the Georgian calendar, Passover in 1999 fell on a Thursday.
Where does the name ‘Easter’ come from? The word ‘Easter’ comes from the pagan goddess Eastre, Ishtar, Astarte, Ostera or Diana. Eastre/Easter for some cultures is the goddess of rising light of day and spring with the fertility symbols - rabbits & eggs. Easter was hatched from an egg that fell from the gods. Easter is a festival that was celebrated long before Jesus rose from the dead.
What about rabbits and eggs? In ancient Egypt rabbits and eggs were a fertility symbol. The Druids have their sacred egg. Easter was to have turned a bird into a rabbit.
Jeremiah 7:18, Joshua 23:7 Don’t even mention the name of these gods!
Then the big change took place:
The early Christian church never celebrated Easter; they celebrated Passover.
After the Nicaean Council closed, Emperor Constantine sent the following letter to all the churches:
"At this meeting the question concerning ... Easter was discussed ... First of all, it appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this ... feast we should follow the practice of the Jews ... Let us then have nothing in common with the Jews ... It has been determined by the common judgment of all, that the ... feast of Easter should be kept on one and the same day." The Council of Nicea decided, under Emperor Constantine’s authority, that Easter MUST be celebrated on Sunday and that the Passover must be forbidden!
Reasons why a Christian should not participate in Easter:
1. Jesus didn’t rise from the grave at sunrise.
2 Those who teach that Jesus was crucified on Friday and rose at sunrise, teach a different Jesus.
3. Easter is the name of a false god, so Easter should not be spoken. Jeremiah 7:18, Joshua 23:7
4. Using Easter eggs (chicken eggs) as part of a hide and seek game and chocolate rabbits, chickens, etc. are all symbols of the festival for goddess Easter.
These items show the fertility that she promises to give those who worship her. Those who participate in pagan rites are an abomination before the Holy God of this universe.
5. The original purpose of the sunrise service Easter morning is to worship the sun.
The Bible says to not worship the sun!
“And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. 17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.” Ezekiel 8:16-18
6. The Bible does not tell Christians to keep Easter.
7. ‘Easter’ is in the King James Version.
The word translated ‘Easter’ is translated ‘Passover’ more than 25 times everywhere else in the KJV. This is the only time it is translated ‘Easter’. It is an obvious deception.
“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(deception by the KJV translators! Should be Passover) to bring him forth to the people.” Acts 12:4
8. Christians are told to keep the Passover.
“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
The Holy Bible has warnings for YOU:
“Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.” Deuteronomy 12:30
“For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. 11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. 12 Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. 13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. 14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. 15 Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.” Isaiah 47:10-15
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Bruce Klein, ThD
Bibleteach@hotmail.com
www.freewebs.com/bibleteach
