Why Easter Pagan and Not the Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

[bro.tan]

It has been taught that Jesus died on Good Friday and rose early Sunday morning. As a result of this teaching, man instituted the holiday called Easter. On Easter Sunday you have Christians, world wide paying tribute to a day, in which they believe Jesus, was resurrected. In researching the scriptures one will find that the whole concept of Jesus dying on a Friday and being resurrected on Sunday is contrary to the bible itself. In other words, this tradition directly contradicts the word of God. This lesson will examine the history of Easter, and then investigate the Bible concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Easter Created By Man

Before we get into the death and resurrection of Jesus we need to address history of Easter itself. We will also take a look at the symbols of Easter: rabbits and eggs. What does rabbits and eggs have to do with the birth of Jesus? Furthermore, when did rabbits start laying eggs? Additionally, we will look at the history of Easter sunrise service, lilies, candles, and hot crossed buns. If you research Easter in most encyclopedias, you will see that Easter has many customs and legends that are pagan in origin and have absolutely nothing to do with Christianity.

Easter was named after Eostre (sometimes spelled Eastre), the great Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, fertility, and new life. Similar Teutonic dawn goddesses of fertility were known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos. Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Thus it is easy to see how "Eastre time" became "Easter time".

Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 20th, the nominal date of the Vernal (sometimes referred to as spring) Equinox. This is the day (or period of days) in spring when the days and nights are of approximately equal length. This is a time of celebrating new life, the resurrection of nature from the dead, and it has typically featured fertility rites, merrymaking, and usually centers on orgiastic sexual activities. In ancient times there were the sacrificing of virgins, the worship of fertility gods and goddesses.

Pascha (Greek: Πάσχα), also called Easter, is the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord. Pascha is a transliteration of the Greek word, which is itself a transliteration of the Aramaic pascha, from the Hebrew pesach meaning Passover. A minority of English-speaking Orthodox prefer the English word "Pasch."

The Easter sunrise service, that is practiced in many Christian churches, can be traced back to the ancient pagan custom of welcoming the sun god at the vernal equinox - when daytime is about to exceed the length of the nighttime. It was a time to celebrate the return of life and reproduction to animal and plant life as well. Worship of the sun god at sunrise is the religious ritual condemned by the Lord as recorded in Ezekiel 8:15-18.

Ezekiel 8:14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

Ezekiel 8:15-18 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 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. 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. 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.

Other Easter Symbols

The Easter lily has long been revered by pagans of various lands as a holy symbol associated with the reproductive organs. It was considered a phallic symbol. Easter candles are sometimes lit in churches on the eve of Easter Sunday. However, this practice can be directly linked to the pagan customs of lighting bonfires at this time of year to welcome the rebirth/resurrection of the sun god. During Easter, some eat hot crossed buns during meals. At the feast of Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess, an ox was sacrificed. The ox's horns became a symbol for the feast. They were carved into the ritual bread. Thus originated hot cross buns. The word "buns" is derived from the Saxon word "boun" which means "sacred ox." Later, the symbol of a symmetrical cross was used to decorate the buns; the cross represented the moon, the heavenly body associated with the goddess, and its four quarters.

 

[bro.tan]

Is The Word Easter In The Bible?

Now that we have firmly established the pagan history of Easter, we will look at it from the perspective of the bible. The scriptures will show that Easter is a tradition implemented by man. The word Easter appears in the bible one time and one time only. The following verse is the one that makes reference to Easter.

Acts (12:4) 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.

Now an individual may see this, as the legitimizing of the holiday Easter. After all one sees it being referred to in the bible. However, if we look at the verse directly above this one, it points to the fact, that the period being referred to is actually the Passover.

Acts (12:3) And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

Verse (3) states that when Peter was taken it was the days of unleavened bread. One can determine that the time they were going to bring forth Peter was the Passover, by looking at the following verses. In them one will see that the Passover is the day preceding the Feast of Unleavened Bread not Easter. In addition the verse in John, states that it was a Jewish custom that the Romans would deliver unto them one at the time of the Passover.

Leviticus (23:5) In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover. (23:6) And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. John (18:39) But you have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

One will not find that its observance is supported by the bible. And that is because, Easter itself is supposed to be a commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus. And Jesus told us to commemorate His death, not His resurrection. Luke (22:19) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. In reading chapter 22 of the Gospel of Luke one will find that Jesus asked this of His disciples during the Passover meal. The Passover is what Jesus asked us to observe to remind ourselves that He died for us not Easter. Jesus asked us to commemorate the Passover. He was not only to die on the Passover, He became our Passover.

 

[bro.tan]

Jesus Gives A Sign


Jesus was always being inquired of by the Jews for a sign. He gave them one in reference to His death and resurrection. He told them that just like Jonas, He would be in the earth 3 days and 3 nights. In the Gospel of John Jesus again gave the Jews a sign by telling them if this temple was destroyed He would raise it up in 3 days. Jesus was referring to His body.


(Matthew 12:38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

So we are going to pretend Jonas wasn't in the belly of a whale.Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three night. (Jonas 1:17)

Let's take another look at it (John 2:18) Then answered the Jews and said unto him, “What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?” (19) Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (20) Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (21) But he spake of the temple of his body.

Jesus makes it clear the time between His death and resurrection would be 3 days and 3 nights.

Now despite the fact that Jesus Himself said that He would be in the grave 3 days and 3 nights, man has come up with the tradition of Jesus dying on Good Friday and rising early Sunday morning. In following this tradition, not only does one not observe one of God's Holy Days, which is the Passover, they directly deny the words of Jesus. It was Jesus who gave the sign of being in the grave 3 days and 3 nights. The tradition of Good Friday and Easter clearly does not line up with scripture. Because following this tradition the maximum one has Jesus in the grave is 1 day and 2 nights.

According to tradition, if Jesus had died on Friday, He would have been in the grave Friday night, Saturday day and Saturday night. One would not count Sunday because in John (20:1) it states that the 1st day of the week which is Sunday, Mary came to the grave site when it was still dark. In Luke (24:1-6) They find that the stone which was placed in front of the sepulcher had been removed and an angel tells them that Jesus had already risen.

 

[bro.tan]

Tradition Man - Good Friday to Easter Sunday Morning



SU M T W TH F S

Days 1


Nights 1 1


(John 20:1) The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. (2) Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

(Luke 24:1) Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. (3) And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

(5) And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

(6) He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

When Did Jesus Die?

The following verses will serve to show that Jesus died on the Passover. It states in Mark (15:42-45) that on the evening of the preparation day, which is the day before the Sabbath, Joseph a counseller asked for the body of Jesus. Once Pilate determined Jesus was dead, he gave him the body.

Mark (15:42) And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

(43) Joseph of Aarimathaea, an honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

The above scriptures are where the problem lied with the early church trying to interpret the events of the bible. One should take note, that what the majority of modern day Christians practice or follow come directly from the Roman Catholic Church. You had non spiritual people trying to decipher events that were spiritual. Since the scriptures stated, that the preparation day, was the day before the Sabbath, they automatically assumed this event took place on a Friday, because they knew the Lord's Sabbath was from Friday evening to Saturday evening. That is how they came up with the concept that Jesus died on Friday and He rose early Sunday morning. What they failed to take into account were the Lord's Holy Days or as they are also called High Sabbaths. There are seven yearly Sabbaths, and they, with the exception of Pentecost, can fall on any day of the week. At the beginning of this lesson, it was explained in Leviticus (23:4) that the Passover which is the 14th of the month, is the day before the feast of Unleavened Bread, which is a Holy Day or A High Sabbath. The Passover is sometimes referred as the preparation day because they used this day to prepare for the feast. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the Sabbath which was being refereed to in Mark 15:42) when it was stated that Joseph craved the body of Jesus. Jesus had been crucified on the Passover and the next day was the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus foretold when His death would occur. Also by Jesus being the Passover himself, Jesus had to come off the cross because, Sundown bring in the feast of unleavened Bread. Let’s take a look and see in John 19: 31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

(Matthew 26:1) And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, (2) Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Now remember God's days start at evening and end the next evening. Keep that in mind as you view the next set of scriptures. Jesus had been betrayed by Judas the evening of the Passover. John 13 tells how Jesus and His disciples, that evening, were sharing the Passover meal. John (18:3) shows that same evening; Jesus was betrayed and taken away. It was still nighttime when they took Jesus, because the men that came and took and bound Him had lanterns and torches.

Jesus was crucified the next day but it was still the Passover. Remember God's days run from sundown to sundown. Jesus had been taken into custody the night of the Passover and the next morning which is the day of the Passover, He was condemned and crucified.

The following verses deomonstrate how Pilate was willing to release Jesus the morning after he had been taken in to custody. It was still the Passover. We all know the Jews refused and Jesus was crucified.

(John 18:39) But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? (40) Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

 

[bro.tan]

Remember Mark (15:42) Joseph craved the body of Jesus the evening of the Passover. Now one can see that this was towards the end of the Passover.

3 Days And 3 Nights


The scriptures explain how Jesus was in the earth 3 days and 3 nights just as He had foretold.

How It Really Happened




3 Days And 3 Nights

SU M T W TH F S

Days 1 1 1

Nights 1 1 1



In looking at the previous scriptures one should now have a better understanding, as to what took place. Jesus didn't rise Sunday night nor Sunday morning. Remember Mary did not come to the Grave site until the first day of the week which is Sunday, when it was yet. (John 20:1) "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher", And it was early in the morning and it was still dark. But Jesus had already risen. That's because Jesus went into His grave right before the end of the Passover or Wed. evening. The passing of the Passover brought in the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.

So Jesus would Have been in the Grave Wednesday night, Thursday daytime and Thursday night, Friday daytime, Friday night, Saturday daytime and Jesus rose right before the sun went down on Saturday. Hence one has the 3 days and 3 nights which Jesus prophesied.

His death Wednesday night is consistent with the comment of the prophet Daniel, stating the Messiah would be cut off (killed) in the midst of the week.

Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week (Wednesday is the middle of the week) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, (Remember, Jesus is the sacrificial Passover Lamb).

Jesus gave us a sign, he didn't put in order. Stop trying to put it in order as you read Jesus saying it. The event didn't happen in the order Jesus is saying it in Matthew 12: 38-40). Now from the prophet Daniel we see Jesus died in the midst (Middle) of the week, so the night came first, then follow by the daytime.

I am sure there will remain those who feel that there is nothing wrong in observing Easter, because they believe that it is the spirit in which one does something that is important. Again my purpose is not to antagonize. It is only to cause you, to carefully examine the doctrine and practices, which you are following. By researching the scriptures one can ensure, that their doctrine lines up with the word of God. Having said that, Jesus told us to worship in spirit and the Lord gave everyone specific instructions how to do that. Those instructions are contained in the Holy Bible, for it contains the word of God. If any one follows a doctrine or operates in a spirit that is contrary to the scriptures, that doctrine and spirit they are following, are contrary to God.

In I John (4:1) it tells you to try the spirits Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. How does one try the spirits? By the word of God. By operating in the so called spirit of things, people worship God in ways that can not be supported or substantiated by the bible. They do this while still not observing God's commandments. Observing the Passover is a commandment from God Leviticus (23:5).

People world wide observe so called religious holidays in the name of Christ but none of these are supported by the bible. This lesson hopefully showed that one of them, Easter, is no more than a tradition established by man. Again try the spirits, for if one can follow practices not supported by the bible, yet not do what is written in scripture, they are operating under a strong spirit. And that spirit is contrary the word of God.

Peace to all who seek the truth in Jesus name.

 

[Grailhunter]

So many people that do not want to celebrate Christ! Easter....Christmas. We celebrate Christ and we bring families together.....Christ died on Friday and the scriptures prove it. The scriptures have a solid anchor that Christ was crucified on Friday and at dusk that day Passover and Jewish Sabbath began.

Thursday-Friday

Passover---The Feast of Unleavened Bread----Hag Ha-Matzot.
Passover is one 24 hour period in the seven day Feast of Unleavened bread. The Jewish Passover occurs each year on the evening of the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.

One thing we know for sure, Christ was not crucified on the day He ate the His Last Supper. But the Jews would have normally been eating the Passover meal on the day Christ was crucified, that would be Friday before dusk.

Over the centuries there have been some confusion on which day the Last Supper occurred, and the circumstances of its occurrence. So before we go on let me explain. Traditionally in this time period, on the eve before the Passover the sacrificial lamb was slain and butchered ritually. The blood was collected ritually and applied to the doorways. (This is the Passover part of the ritual of the plaque of the first born, but this changed…Deuteronomy 16:2-6) The change was that the sacrificial lamb was slain at the doorway of the tabernacle….and then the Temple….This means that in the biblical era the Passover was a gathering of Jews at the Temple…

Then the entire lamb was cooked over a fire and eaten entirely, with unleavened bread. (The sacrifice could be either an unblemished goat or lamb. You can read about this ritual in Exodus chapter 12.) This is not exactly what happened during the evening of the Last Supper. But the Gospels use the term Passover meal to refer to the Last Supper and also reference the Passover lamb being sacrificed on Thursday evening, from there, confusion ensued. Neither the Jews or Christian call the Jewish Passover meal the Last Supper they are two different meals.

The Jewish Passover which lasts around 7 days, that year occurred on Saturday April 8th 30 AD, and started at dusk (As the Full Moon rose) on April 7th. “The Jewish day” starts at dusk. So the Jewish Sabbath and the beginning of Passover occurring on the same day, that year, at dusk. Confusing? Our days shift at midnight…Jewish days shift at dusk…dusk begins the new day.

Computerized astronomical calculations (NASA) shows a full Moon on the evening of April 7th when the Passover began at dusk. So the Passover for that year occurred on the Jewish Sabbath...Saturday but started on Friday at dusk. Two Holy events occurring on the same day. Some refer to this as a High Holy Day, High Day, or High Sabbath for the Jews. John 19:31 The Lambs would have been killed on Friday, the afternoon of the 7th of April. But Christ would not be alive Friday evening. So in this instance there was an honorary Passover meal for Christ that we call the Last Supper because it was Christ’s last supper. As I said, we know that Christ did not eat the Last Supper on the day He was crucified. If we look at Matthew 16:21-25 and Yeshua's disagreement with Peter, we can see that He knew what was going to happen and when.

He was the symbolic and divine sacrificial lamb and He was slain around 3:00 pm on the 7th of April, around the time that the actual sacrificial lambs were being slain. The Passover dinner for Him was held on the evening of the 6th of April...Thursday and they had a sacrificial lamb. The next day, the actual Passover lambs would be slaughtered and eaten on Friday before dusk for the Passover dinners. Christ was the sacrificial lamb for the New Covenant and He was crucified during the day on Friday, about the time the sacrificial lambs for Passover were being killed. So Christ would not be observing the normal processes of the Passover and the Passover meal, and as it turned out, the same was true for the Apostles because they would be in hiding, not sacrificing lambs at the Temple. They may have arranged for food to be brought to them, but they probably were not sacrificing lambs while Christ was being crucified.

The meal that Christ attended was a meal that the Gospels refer to as the Passover meal, a Seder meal, put it was not the actual Jewish Passover meal. As I explained, the next day was the Jewish day of preparation for the Passover...Friday...and the Jewish Passover meal would occur then. This was the day that Christ was slain. Matthew 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, John 19:14, 31, and 42, all confirm that the day that Christ was crucified was on the Day of Preparation, which was Friday, April 7th 30 AD. John 18:28 also proves that early Friday morning, the day of Christ’s crucifixion, when Christ was taken to the Praetorium the Apostles had not eaten the actual Passover meal yet. The morning cock had crowed for Peter John 18:27 So when Christ was before Pilate in the Praetorium the Apostles did not enter because they did not want to be defiled because they wanted to participate in the actual Passover meal before the start of Passover. John 18:28 Another mystery solved....

Why April 7th 30 AD?
The death of Herod is well documented, so is the date of his successors. So in order to include the story of the Herod, the Magi, the Star, and death of the innocences, Christ's birth has to happen before Herod's death. March 12th 4 BC. Now if you go to add this up from Christ's birth to the day of his Crucifixion, keep in mind that you lose 2 years between 1 BC and 1 AD. No year zero, so one year passes between April 1 BC and April 1 AD. So in 30 AD Christ would have been 33 years old, give or take a few months.

We can consider April 3rd 33 AD, but Christ would be 36 years old and since it was said that Christ started His ministry when He was 30 years old, that would make His ministry 6 years long. So odds are, it is 30 AD.

Now the calculation for Passover is based on the cycle of the moon. And goes like this...Passover will occur on the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Most of the time that is in April on our calendar. Then Easter is the next Sunday after that.

So Christ is crucified on Friday April 7th 30 AD and then the Passover starts that evening at dusk along with the Jewish Sabbath. That night has a Full Moon. And this goes along with the double Sabbath tradition, ie Passover falling on the Jewish Sabbath, Saturday. Keep in mind that the Hebrew month always started on the New Moon, so the Passover would “always” occur 15 days later….that does not mean that the Passover would always occur on the Sabbath Saturday, because the new month did not reset the days of the week. (Jewish Sabbath Saturday…different than the Christian Sunday.) Hebrew days of the month vs Gregorian days of the month, there is a confusion factor there, but I will try to explain.

The Lunar Calculator below, shows the Full Moon on the evening of April 7th, 30 AD. This chart is based on our Gregorian calendar, but the first day of the Hebrew month started as usual on the preceding New Moon…which was on March 24th, then 15 days later on Friday, the evening of the 7th ….the Full Moon rises. Below is NASA’s calculation of the lunar cycle for April 7th-8th 30 AD.

 

[marks]

Easter

You really have a problem with this! It's not my problem, I have liberty to celebrate the day for the resurrection of my Savior. Those who eschew the believer's liberty, what should we say about that?

I remember Paul had some very sharp words to say about that.

Much love!

 

[Ronald Nolette]

It has been taught that Jesus died on Good Friday and rose early Sunday morning. As a result of this teaching, man instituted the holiday called Easter. On Easter Sunday you have Christians, world wide paying tribute to a day, in which they believe Jesus, was resurrected. In researching the scriptures one will find that the whole concept of Jesus dying on a Friday and being resurrected on Sunday is contrary to the bible itself. In other words, this tradition directly contradicts the word of God. This lesson will examine the history of Easter, and then investigate the Bible concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Easter Created By Man

Before we get into the death and resurrection of Jesus we need to address history of Easter itself. We will also take a look at the symbols of Easter: rabbits and eggs. What does rabbits and eggs have to do with the birth of Jesus? Furthermore, when did rabbits start laying eggs? Additionally, we will look at the history of Easter sunrise service, lilies, candles, and hot crossed buns. If you research Easter in most encyclopedias, you will see that Easter has many customs and legends that are pagan in origin and have absolutely nothing to do with Christianity.

Easter was named after Eostre (sometimes spelled Eastre), the great Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, fertility, and new life. Similar Teutonic dawn goddesses of fertility were known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos. Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Thus it is easy to see how "Eastre time" became "Easter time".

Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 20th, the nominal date of the Vernal (sometimes referred to as spring) Equinox. This is the day (or period of days) in spring when the days and nights are of approximately equal length. This is a time of celebrating new life, the resurrection of nature from the dead, and it has typically featured fertility rites, merrymaking, and usually centers on orgiastic sexual activities. In ancient times there were the sacrificing of virgins, the worship of fertility gods and goddesses.

Pascha (Greek: Πάσχα), also called Easter, is the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord. Pascha is a transliteration of the Greek word, which is itself a transliteration of the Aramaic pascha, from the Hebrew pesach meaning Passover. A minority of English-speaking Orthodox prefer the English word "Pasch."

The Easter sunrise service, that is practiced in many Christian churches, can be traced back to the ancient pagan custom of welcoming the sun god at the vernal equinox - when daytime is about to exceed the length of the nighttime. It was a time to celebrate the return of life and reproduction to animal and plant life as well. Worship of the sun god at sunrise is the religious ritual condemned by the Lord as recorded in Ezekiel 8:15-18.

Ezekiel 8:14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

Ezekiel 8:15-18 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 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. 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. 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.

Other Easter Symbols

The Easter lily has long been revered by pagans of various lands as a holy symbol associated with the reproductive organs. It was considered a phallic symbol. Easter candles are sometimes lit in churches on the eve of Easter Sunday. However, this practice can be directly linked to the pagan customs of lighting bonfires at this time of year to welcome the rebirth/resurrection of the sun god. During Easter, some eat hot crossed buns during meals. At the feast of Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess, an ox was sacrificed. The ox's horns became a symbol for the feast. They were carved into the ritual bread. Thus originated hot cross buns. The word "buns" is derived from the Saxon word "boun" which means "sacred ox." Later, the symbol of a symmetrical cross was used to decorate the buns; the cross represented the moon, the heavenly body associated with the goddess, and its four quarters.

First Jesus did die on Friday.

1. He and His Disciples celebrated Passover on thurs eve (as was custom) which was Friday according to Jewish timing!
2. Friday is the day of preparation for the feast of unleavened bread! Which is part of the eight day feast pasach! Passover and the 7 days of unleavened bread.
3. Jews considered any part of a day as a day so Jesus dying on Friday and rising Sunday would be considered 3 days and nights in common Jewish vernacular , even today!
4. YOu seem more hung up on the symbols of Easter! so do not partake of them. Yes all of them had origins in pagan festivals, but the items themselves are not sin! They are merely things. If you use them as the ancient pagans did, the it is sin, if you use them to honor the resurrected Lord, that is fine as well! Easter Eggs and Bunnies have no inherent sin in themselves nor does the Spring equinox hold inherent evil. We make them evil by our hearts.

Jesus said- nothing outside of a man can defile a man.

Paul in Romans 14 sssaid whatever we do , do to the glory of the Lord! So if you do not wish to partake of any of the trappings of Easter- DON"T! but do not judge those who do and honor the Lord by it!

 

[bro.tan]

First Jesus did die on Friday.

In the scriptures it says clearly in Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week (Wednesday is the middle of the week) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, (Remember, Jesus is the sacrificial Passover Lamb).

1. He and His Disciples celebrated Passover on thurs eve (as was custom) which was Friday according to Jewish timing!
2. Friday is the day of preparation for the feast of unleavened bread! Which is part of the eight day feast pasach! Passover and the 7 days of unleavened bread.
3. Jews considered any part of a day as a day so Jesus dying on Friday and rising Sunday would be considered 3 days and nights in common Jewish vernacular , even today!
4. YOu seem more hung up on the symbols of Easter! so do not partake of them. Yes all of them had origins in pagan festivals, but the items themselves are not sin! They are merely things. If you use them as the ancient pagans did, the it is sin, if you use them to honor the resurrected Lord, that is fine as well! Easter Eggs and Bunnies have no inherent sin in themselves nor does the Spring equinox hold inherent evil. We make them evil by our hearts.

Jesus said- nothing outside of a man can defile a man.

Paul in Romans 14 sssaid whatever we do , do to the glory of the Lord! So if you do not wish to partake of any of the trappings of Easter- DON"T! but do not judge those who do and honor the Lord by it!

 

[bro.tan]

You really have a problem with this! It's not my problem, I have liberty to celebrate the day for the resurrection of my Savior. Those who eschew the believer's liberty, what should we say about that?

I remember Paul had some very sharp words to say about that.

Much love!

I am sure you feel that there is nothing wrong in observing Easter, because you believe that it is the spirit in which one does something that is important. Again my purpose is not to antagonize. It is only to cause you, to carefully examine the doctrine and practices, which you are following. By researching the scriptures one can ensure, that their doctrine lines up with the word of God. Having said that, Jesus told us to worship in spirit and the Lord gave everyone specific instructions how to do that. Those instructions are contained in the Holy Bible, for it contains the word of God. If any one follows a doctrine or operates in a spirit that is contrary to the scriptures, that doctrine and spirit they are following, are contrary to God.

In I John (4:1) it tells you to try the spirits Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. How does one try the spirits? By the word of God. By operating in the so called spirit of things, people worship God in ways that can not be supported or substantiated by the bible. They do this while still not observing God's commandments. Observing the Passover is a commandment from God Leviticus (23:5).

People world wide observe so called religious holidays in the name of Christ but none of these are supported by the bible. This lesson hopefully showed that one of them, Easter, is no more than a tradition established by man. Again try the spirits, for if one can follow practices not supported by the bible, yet not do what is written in scripture, they are operating under a strong spirit. And that spirit is contrary the word of God.

 

[marks]

Again my purpose is not to antagonize.

I know your purpose.

You want to bring people into lawkeeping, which ruins their faith.

No "godspeed" on that one!

 

[PGS11]

They did it purposely to wipe out the pagan holiday and it did work Christmas also it wasn't a accident this is well known.The spreading of the Gospel almost wiped paganism right out the power of the word of God. - its only now people want to go back to praying to stones and wood and cast their magic spells.

It was thought all the pagan Gods were really fallen Angels each controlling a principality or area - the spreading of the Gospel wiped them out and they lost their influence over people today their power is coming back as people turn back to them..

 

[Grailhunter]

They did it purposely to wipe out the pagan holiday and it did work Christmas also it wasn't a accident this is well known.The spreading of the Gospel almost wiped paganism right out the power of the word of God. - its only now people want to go back to praying to stones and wood and cast their magic spells.

It was thought all the pagan Gods were really fallen Angels each controlling a principality or area - the spreading of the Gospel wiped them out and they lost their influence over people today their power is coming back as people turn back to them..

I think I missed the point here. Other than the date of Christmas.....most Christmas traditions are relatively modern.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

In the scriptures it says clearly in Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week (Wednesday is the middle of the week) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, (Remember, Jesus is the sacrificial Passover Lamb).

You err for you are thinking only of a seven day week. That i s not the wording of the verse! It merely says 70 7's are determined. and we now know that the 70 sevens are 490 years.

Also in the middle of that last 7 7's (years) the prince of the peoiple to come shall cause the sacriufice and oblation to cease! Israel is going to rebuild the temple, renew the sacrificial system (though it is not accepted by god) and after 3 1/2 years, the antichrist will cutr off the sacrifices and oblations when he enters the holy place and declare himself god.

 

[bro.tan]

You err for you are thinking only of a seven day week. That i s not the wording of the verse! It merely says 70 7's are determined. and we now know that the 70 sevens are 490 years.

Also in the middle of that last 7 7's (years) the prince of the peoiple to come shall cause the sacriufice and oblation to cease! Israel is going to rebuild the temple, renew the sacrificial system (though it is not accepted by god) and after 3 1/2 years, the antichrist will cutr off the sacrifices and oblations when he enters the holy place and declare himself god.

In the scriptures it says clearly in Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week (Wednesday is the middle of the week) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, (Remember, Jesus is the sacrificial Passover Lamb).

So you saying I'm in error and none of this happen in Jerusalem according to Daniel the prophet? Let's see who in error......First, Jesus tells us in Matthew that He will be crucified on the Passover. (Matthew 26:1) Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. At verse (21) Jesus while eating the passover meal, with His disciples ,told them, that one of them would betray Him. In the Gospel of John (21-29) you will find that the disciples were unaware what Judas was about to do, even though Jesus told the disciples, that He was to be betrayed, and Jesus said to Judas, to do what he had to do quickly. They thought Jesus was sending Judas to buy something, since Judas held the money bag. Now Jesus identified His betrayer by giving him sop.

Pay close attention to when the activities of the following verse took place.

John (13:30) He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
When Judas betrayed Jesus it was at night, the evening of the Passover. The following verses from John further confirm that Jesus was taken the night of the Passover.

Note in verse (3) when they came looking for Jesus, they came with lanterns and torches, letting you know that it was still nighttime. John (18:3) Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus is going to address those looking for Him and you will see that Judas is with them, letting you know that this all happens the night of the Passover.

(4) Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? (5) They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

The first verse states that while they had Jesus, the Jews did not want go into the judgment hall because its still the Passover.

John (18:28) Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. (29) Pilate then went out into them, and said, “What accusation bring ye against this man?”

In the following verses it states that Pilate was conscious of the Jews custom, and would release unto the Jews a prisoner at Passover. We know that the Jews selected Barabbas to be released. This left Jesus to be crucified and by now one should realize this is still the Passover.

John (18:38) Pilate saith unto him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. (39) But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto the King of the Jews? (40) Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas, Now Barabbas was a robber.

The following verses will still yet further confirm that Jesus was crucified on the Passover. Note verse (14) states it was the preparation of the Passover. The Passover is at times also referred to as the day of preparation, because it is the day before the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

John (19:1) Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. (2) And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. (14) And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the “Jews, Behold your King!” (16) Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

In the scriptures it says clearly in Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week (Wednesday is the middle of the week) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, (Remember, Jesus is the sacrificial Passover Lamb).

Well maybe you should look at the Hebrew:

The Word is Sabua and means:

1. seven, period of seven (days or years), heptad, week
   1. period of seven days, a week
      1. Feast of Weeks
   2. heptad, seven (of years)
2. and if you demand the 70th week be 7 days, then you must also demand that the first 69 weeks are weeks of 7 days and no tyears

That means you have jesus dying around 455 B.C. In one context you cannot have it mean years in one place and a literal week in another. It doesn't work that way.

Note in verse (3) when they came looking for Jesus, they came with lanterns and torches, letting you know that it was still nighttime. John (18:3) Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus is going to address those looking for Him and you will see that Judas is with them, letting you know that this all happens the night of the Passover.

YOu do realize Jews started a day at sundown the eve before? So sundown Thursday was Friday for Jews, thus the Passover. And Jesus was killed in the day time of Passover. Passover ran from Thurs. eve to Friday sundown. So Thurs eve to Friday sundown was the preparation for part two of Pesach- the feast of unleavened bread!

 

[bro.tan]

Well maybe you should look at the Hebrew:

The Word is Sabua and means:

1. seven, period of seven (days or years), heptad, week
   1. period of seven days, a week
      1. Feast of Weeks
   2. heptad, seven (of years)
2. and if you demand the 70th week be 7 days, then you must also demand that the first 69 weeks are weeks of 7 days and no tyears

That means you have jesus dying around 455 B.C. In one context you cannot have it mean years in one place and a literal week in another. It doesn't work that way.

Your math look to be off, but I'm not getting into the seventy weeks of Daniel to prove of point that's not the point.

YOu do realize Jews started a day at sundown the eve before? So sundown Thursday was Friday for Jews, thus the Passover. And Jesus was killed in the day time of Passover. Passover ran from Thurs. eve to Friday sundown. So Thurs eve to Friday sundown was the preparation for part two of Pesach- the feast of unleavened bread!

Remember....Mary did not come to the Grave site until the first day of the week which is Sunday, when it was yet. (John 20:1) "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher", And it was early in the morning and it was still dark. But Jesus had already risen. That's because Jesus went into His grave right before the end of the Passover or Wed. evening. The passing of the Passover brought in the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.

So Jesus would Have been in the Grave Wednesday night, Thursday daytime and Thursday night, Friday daytime, Friday night, Saturday daytime and Jesus rose right before the sun went down on Saturday. Hence one has the 3 days and 3 nights which Jesus prophesied.
Let's take a look at that in (Matthew 12:38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

His death Wednesday night is consistent with the comment of the prophet Daniel, stating the Messiah would be cut off (killed) in the midst of the week.

Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week (Wednesday is the middle of the week) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, (Remember, Jesus is the sacrificial Passover Lamb).

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Remember....Mary did not come to the Grave site until the first day of the week which is Sunday, when it was yet. (John 20:1) "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher", And it was early in the morning and it was still dark. But Jesus had already risen. That's because Jesus went into His grave right before the end of the Passover or Wed. evening. The passing of the Passover brought in the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.

Well you err because you do not realize that in Jewish reckoning any part of a day is considered the day so Jesus could die Friday afternoon, Rise early Sunday morning and it would be reckoned three days and nights

His death Wednesday night is consistent with the comment of the prophet Daniel, stating the Messiah would be cut off (killed) in the midst of the week.

Once again you cannot have the 69 sevens and count them as years, and then count the 70th week as a 7 day week. It just wasn't and isn't done.

And Daniel said that Messiah would be cut off after 69 weeks (483 years) not in the midst of the week.

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:

Then we get a new thought:

and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,

The mid week event is the antichrist causding the sacrifice and offerings in the rebuilt temple to cease.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

His death Wednesday night is consistent with the comment of the prophet Daniel, stating the Messiah would be cut off (killed) in the midst of the week.

Wrong!

John 19:31
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

th4ey were hanging Friday and the next day was Saturday.

 

[bro.tan]

Wrong!

John 19:31
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

th4ey were hanging Friday and the next day was Saturday.

The following verses will serve to show that Jesus died on the Passover. It states in Mark (15:42-45) that on the evening of the preparation day, which is the day before the Sabbath, Joseph a counseller asked for the body of Jesus. Once Pilate determined Jesus was dead, he gave him the body.

Mark (15:42) And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

(43) Joseph of Aarimathaea, an honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

The above scriptures are where the problem lied with the early church trying to interpret the events of the bible. One should take note, that what the majority of modern day Christians practice or follow come directly from the Roman Catholic Church. You had non spiritual people trying to decipher events that were spiritual. Since the scriptures stated, that the preparation day, was the day before the Sabbath, they automatically assumed this event took place on a Friday, because they knew the Lord's Sabbath was from Friday evening to Saturday evening. That is how they came up with the concept that Jesus died on Friday and He rose early Sunday morning. What they failed to take into account were the Lord's Holy Days or as they are also called High Sabbaths. There are seven yearly Sabbaths, and they, with the exception of Pentecost, can fall on any day of the week. At the beginning of this lesson, it was explained in Leviticus (23:4) that the Passover which is the 14th of the month, is the day before the feast of Unleavened Bread, which is a Holy Day or A High Sabbath. The Passover is sometimes referred as the preparation day because they used this day to prepare for the feast. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the Sabbath which was being refereed to in Mark 15:42) when it was stated that Joseph craved the body of Jesus. Jesus had been crucified on the Passover and the next day was the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus foretold when His death would occur. Also by Jesus being the Passover himself, Jesus had to come off the cross because, Sundown bring in the feast of unleavened Bread. Let’s take a look and see in John 19: 31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

(Matthew 26:1) And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, (2) Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Now remember God's days start at evening and end the next evening. Keep that in mind as you view the next set of scriptures. Jesus had been betrayed by Judas the evening of the Passover. John 13 tells how Jesus and His disciples, that evening, were sharing the Passover meal. John (18:3) shows that same evening; Jesus was betrayed and taken away. It was still nighttime when they took Jesus, because the men that came and took and bound Him had lanterns and torches.

Jesus was crucified the next day but it was still the Passover. Remember God's days run from sundown to sundown. Jesus had been taken into custody the night of the Passover and the next morning which is the day of the Passover, He was condemned and crucified.