Whew, this took me all day long! What started out as a “Happy Valentine’s Day”, quickly turned into the study of pagan Babylonian holidays and their origins. Now, I had already known about Easter and Christmas (I did that study about 5/6 years or so ago) but I had never researched Valentine’s Day. My big bad!
All I can say now is I’m so sorry to burst all the bubbles! Below, I did post throughout copies and articles, writings, links, etc. from all places/websites I referenced from (but I did place the pictures/images throughout). At the bottom is a few paragraphs and commentary from me, my point of view and thoughts. Thank you!
THE TRUTH ABOUT ST. VALENTINE’S DAY
The first article below was copied and shared from BABYLON FORSAKEN WEBSITE and is being used for educational and discussion purposes only.
http://www.babylonforsaken.com/
(What’s LOVE got to do with it?)
“God is love” 1st John 4:8
To the surprise of many, Valentine’s Day isn’t an innocent secular holiday; in fact the true origins of Valentine’s day has it’s roots in the occult. Namely in the pagan worship of Baal, the sungod. The religion of Babylon (Baal worship) is the mother of most false religions and its influence is still felt world wide, including in today’s churches.
LUPERCALIA {the feast of Lupercus, the mighty wolf hunter}. The ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia was held in honor of Lupercus, the deified great hunter of Rome. This celebration also included worship of the goddess of fertility, Venus. In Roman mythology this goddess of fertility and sexual immortality, had a son called Cupid. Cupid was said to have attended to her and was given power to cause love to begin and to cease. This celebration was held from the 14th through the 15th of February. Some of the events of this pagan holiday included the choosing of partners by chance; in which teenager girls would place their names into a box. The names were then drawn out by young men. The girl whose name was drawn then became the sexual partner with the man for the upcoming year; beginning in March during the Fertility rites of the Spring Equinox.
Rome’s Lupercalia more than likely began as part of the Babylonian festival of Oimbolc. Oimbolc celebrates mid-winter (the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox) and the return of the Sun. Beginning February 2nd candles were lit to welcome the sun and the women began their purification process for the upcoming fertility rites of spring. The Catholic Church also adopted this custom from Irish pagans who served the ‘goddess’ whom they called “Brigit”. The Roman Catholic Church now calls her Saint Brigit, the patron saint of smith craft, poetry and healing. They now call Oimbolc, the “Candle Mass”; in which they celebrate the end of the Virgin Mary’s Purification. Secular society keeps the tradition of ‘Groundhog’s day’ on the 2nd of February, where the presence of the Sun represents the continuance of winter for an additional six weeks.
NIMROD (Baal) and ASHTORETH (Queen of Heaven). The Greek called Lupercus by the name of “Pan”, the Semites called Pan “Baal”. Baal which is mentioned several times in the bible, is merely another name for Nimrod “the mighty hunter” (Genesis 10:8-9). Nimrod was the original Lupercus,and we know that Nimrod was a mighty man who built great cities, including Babel (Genesis 10:10). Not only was Nimrod the ruler of Babel, but he was also the high priest of a satanic occult.When Nimrod finally died, the Babylonian mystery religion continued on through his wife, Queen Semiramis. Upon Nimrod’s death, she deified him as the Sungod. In various cultures he later became known as Baal, the Great Life Giver, the god of fire, Baalim, Bel, and Molech.
Later when Queen Semiramis gave birth to an illegitimate son, she claimed that he was Nimrod reborn, Nimrod Tammuz by name. She claimed that he was the promised seed of God (Genesis 3:15), the savior. Semiramis became the mediator between man and this “god”, you had to pray through her to reach him. So Nimrod was deified as the god of the sun, Queen Semiramis became the Queen of Heaven, the goddess of the moon and fertility; and Nimrod Tammuz became the savior in this satanic Babylonian religion.
Another name for Nimrod Tammuz was Cupid, which means Desire. Queen Semaramis lusted after her son, and soon they were married. As Nimrod Tammuz grew, the child “god”, became the hero of many women, who desired him. This cupid provoked so many women to jealousy that the idol of Tammuz was called the Idol “image” of Jealousy (Ezekiel 8:5,,8:14). In the Babylonian tongue the word heart was pronounced “Bal”, In the depictions of Tammuz the heart shaped fruit of Persea was often found in his hand. Thus Tammuz became known as the god of the heart.
How did this pagan celebration become a christian tradition? As with most non-biblical customs found in the church today, Lupercalia was simply given a christian sounding name and adopted into the “universal” Catholic Church. They done this to make it easy on the pagan converts who were coming into the new popular Christianity. These pagans were unwilling to give up their satanic rituals, so instead of putting an halt to the growing paganism of the church, the Romans took the approach of “Blend and incorporate”.
It was Pope Gelasius who in 496 A.D. changed Lupercalia to St. Valentine’s day. {The word Valentine comes from the latin word valentinus, a name derived from Valens, meaning: To be Mighty “strong”. The name Valentinus was very common in Rome.} Pope Gelasius took the stories of several catholic “Valentines” and evolved them into one “Saint Valentine”. This so called ‘Saint Valentine’ has now become the patron saint of lovers in the Catholic faith and the prayers of troubled lovers are under his jurisdiction.
LUPERCALIA PAGAN FESTIVAL (a/k/a VALENTINES DAY)
Conclusion: Lupercalia survives still today under the alias of “Valentine’s Day”; This pagan holiday is still celebrated nearly world wide by Christians and non-Christians alike, and Nimrod Tammuz is still honored as the “god of the heart”; even prayers are directed to him by unsuspecting Catholics who foolishly call upon ‘Saint Valentine’.
But GOD says: Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, “How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.” Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: For every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. (Deuteronomy 12:30-31).
You can call a dog a dove but it’s still a dog. Changing the name of a pagan ritual doesn’t change the fact that it is still a pagan ritual. 2nd Corinthians 15-16, asks us, What concord (agreement) has Christ with Belial (Baal)? or What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? NONE friends, God is a jealous God, a Holy God, and he will not mix with devils. Many would rather keep this Babylonian tradition than to keep the simple commandments of God. Jesus called the pharisees who kept the traditions over the commandments hypocrites and said they worshiped him in vain (Mark 7:6-9).
The whole world has been deceived by this false religion (Revelation 12:9); nations and churches alike are fallen captive to this Mystery Babylon (Revelation 17:5). I urge all of you to inquire about the traditions and customs that are handed down to you; discern them and see if they be of God or not. If they are not found in the bible, advoid them. God has said, “What thing I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:32). Just because the name sounds christian doesn’t mean it is; we have seen how easy it is to take something that is pure evil; and change the name and make it appear good.
2nd Corinthians 11:13-15, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2nd Corinthians 6:17-18, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
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The Pagan Origin Of EasterArticle Posted By and Copied From – Last Trumpet Ministries International
Easter is a day that is honored by nearly all of contemporary Christianity and is used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The holiday often involves a church service at sunrise, a feast which includes an “Easter Ham”, decorated eggs and stories about rabbits.
Those who love truth learn to ask questions, and many questions must be asked regarding the holiday of Easter.
Is it truly the day when Jesus arose from the dead? Where did all of the strange customs come from, which have nothing to do with the resurrection of our Savior?
The purpose of this tract is to help answer those questions, and to help those who seek truth to draw their own conclusions.
The first thing we must understand is that professing Christians were not the only ones who celebrated a festival called “Easter.”
“Ishtar”, which is pronounced “Easter” was a day that commemorated the resurrection of one of their gods that they called “Tammuz”, who was believed to be the only begotten son of the moon-goddess and the sun-god.
In those ancient times, there was a man named Nimrod, who was the grandson of one of Noah’s son named Ham.
Ham had a son named Cush who married a woman named Semiramis.Cush and Semiramis then had a son named him “Nimrod.”
After the death of his father, Nimrod married his own mother and became a powerful King.
The Bible tells of of this man, Nimrod, in Genesis 10:8-10 as follows: “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad,and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”
Nimrod became a god-man to the people and Semiramis, his wife and mother, became the powerful Queen of ancient Babylon.
Nimrod was eventually killed by an enemy, and his body was cut in pieces and sent to various parts of his kingdom.
Semiramis had all of the parts gathered, except for one part that could not be found.
That missing part was his reproductive organ. Semiramis claimed that Nimrod could not come back to life without it and told the people of Babylon that Nimrod had ascended to the sun and was now to be called “Baal”, the sun god.
Queen Semiramis also proclaimed that Baal would be present on earth in the form of a flame, whether candle or lamp, when used in worship.
Semiramis was creating a mystery religion, and with the help of Satan, she set herself up as a goddess.
Semiramis claimed that she was immaculately conceived.
She taught that the moon was a goddess that went through a 28 day cycle and ovulated when full.
She further claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant moon egg that fell into the Euphrates River.
This was to have happened at the time of the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Semiramis became known as “Ishtar” which is pronounced “Easter”, and her moon egg became known as “Ishtar’s” egg.”
Ishtar soon became pregnant and claimed that it was the rays of the sun-god Baal that caused her to conceive.
The son that she brought forth was named Tammuz.
Tammuz was noted to be especially fond of rabbits, and they became sacred in the ancient religion, because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-god, Baal. Tammuz, like his supposed father, became a hunter.
The day came when Tammuz was killed by a wild pig.
Queen Ishtar told the people that Tammuz was now ascended to his father, Baal, and that the two of them would be with the worshipers in the sacred candle or lamp flame as Father, Son and Spirit.
Ishtar, who was now worshiped as the “Mother of God and Queen of Heaven”, continued to build her mystery religion.
The queen told the worshipers that when Tammuz was killed by the wild pig, some of his blood fell on the stump of an evergreen tree, and the stump grew into a full new tree overnight. This made the evergreen tree sacred by the blood of Tammuz.
She also proclaimed a forty day period of time of sorrow each year prior to the anniversary of the death of Tammuz.
During this time, no meat was to be eaten.
Worshipers were to meditate upon the sacred mysteries of Baal and Tammuz, and to make the sign of the “T” in front of their hearts as they worshiped.
They also ate sacred cakes with the marking of a “T” or cross on the top.
Every year, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, a celebration was made.
It was Ishtar’s Sunday and was celebrated with rabbits and eggs.
Ishtar also proclaimed that because Tammuz was killed by a pig, that a pig must be eaten on that Sunday.
By now, the readers of this tract should have made the connection that paganism has infiltrated the contemporary “Christian” churches, and further study indicates that this paganism came in by way of the Roman Catholic System.
The truth is that Easter has nothing whatsoever to do with the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We also know that Easter can be as much as three weeks away from the Passover, because the pagan holiday is always set as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Some have wondered why the word “Easter” is in the the King James Bible.
It is because Acts, chapter 12, tells us that it was the evil King Herod, who was planning to celebrate Easter, and not the Christians.
The true Passover and pagan Easter sometimes coincide, but in some years, they are a great distance apart.
So much more could be said, and we have much more information for you, if you are a seeker of the truth.
We know that the Bible tells us in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
The truth is that the forty days of Lent, eggs, rabbits,hot cross buns and the Easter ham have everything to do with the ancient pagan religion of Mystery Babylon.These are all antichrist activities!
Satan is a master deceiver, and has filled the lives of well-meaning, professing Christians with idolatry.
These things bring the wrath of God upon children of disobedience, who try to make pagan customs of Baal worship Christian.
You must answer for your activities and for what you teach your children.
These customs of Easter honor Baal, who is also Satan, and is still worshipped as the “Rising Sun” and his house is the “House of the Rising Sun.”
How many churches have “sunrise services” on Ishtar’s day and face the rising sun in the East?
How many will use colored eggs and rabbit stories, as they did in ancient Babylon.
These things are no joke, any more than Judgement day is a joke.
I pray to God that this tract will cause you to search for more truth.
We will be glad to help you by providing more information and by praying for you.
These are the last days, and it is time to repent, come out and be separate.
David J. Meyer
Article Posted By and Copied From – Last Trumpet Ministries International
PO Box 806
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
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What Are the Real Origins of Easter?
Posted and copied from http://www.ucg.org/ (UNITED CHURCH OF GOD)
Millions assume that Easter, one of the world’s major religious holidays, is found in the Bible. But is it? Have you ever looked into Easter’s origins and customs and compared them with the Bible?
Source: Photos.com
Easter is one of the most popular religious celebrations in the world. But is it biblical? The word Easter appears only once in the King James Version of the Bible (and not at all in most others). In the one place it does appear, the King James translators mistranslated the Greek word for Passover as “Easter.”
Notice it in Acts 12:4
: “And when he [King Herod Agrippa I] had apprehended him [the apostle Peter], 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.”
The Greek word translated Easter here is pascha, properly translated everywhere else in the Bible as “Passover.” Referring to this mistranslation, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible says that “perhaps there never was a more unhappy, not to say absurd, translation than that in our text.”
Think about theses facts for a minute. Easter is such a major religious holiday. Yet nowhere in the Bible—not in the book of Acts, which covers several decades of the history of the early Church, nor in any of the epistles of the New Testament, written over a span of 30 to 40 years after Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection—do we find the apostles or early Christians celebrating anything like Easter.
The Gospels themselves appear to have been written from about a decade after Christ’s death and resurrection to perhaps as much as 60 years later (in the case of John’s Gospel). Yet nowhere do we find a hint of anything remotely resembling an Easter celebration.
If Easter doesn’t come from the Bible, and wasn’t practiced by the apostles and early Church, where did it come from?
Easter’s surprising origins
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, in its entry “Easter,” states:
“The term ‘Easter’ is not of Christian origin. It is another form of Astarte, one of the titles of the Chaldean goddess, the queen of heaven. The festival of Pasch [Passover] held by Christians in post-apostolic times was a continuation of the Jewish feast . . . From this Pasch the pagan festival of ‘Easter’ was quite distinct and was introduced into the apostate Western religion, as part of the attempt to adapt pagan festivals to Christianity” (W.E. Vine, 1985, emphasis added throughout).
That’s a lot of information packed into one paragraph. Notice what the author, W.E. Vine—a trained classical scholar, theologian, expert in ancient languages and author of several classic Bible helps—tells us:
Easter isn’t a Christian or directly biblical term, but comes from a form of the nameAstarte, a Chaldean (Babylonian) goddess known as “the queen of heaven.” (She is mentioned by that title in the Bible in Jeremiah 7:18 and 44:17-19, 25 and referred to in 1 Kings 11:5, 33 and 2 Kings 23:13 by the Hebrew form of her name, Ashtoreth. So “Easter”is found in the Bible—as part of the pagan religion God condemns!)
Further, early Christians, even after the times of the apostles, continued to observe a variation of the biblical Passover feast (it differed because Jesus introduced new symbolism, as the Bible notes in Matthew 26:26-28 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-28).
Moreover, Easter was very different from the Old Testament Passover or the Passover of the New Testament as understood and practiced by the early Church based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles.
And again, Easter was a pagan festival, originating in the worship of other gods, and was introduced much later into an apostate Christianity in a deliberate attempt to make such festivals acceptable.
Easter symbols predate Christ
How does The Catholic Encyclopedia define Easter? “Easter: The English term, according to the [eighth-century monk] Bede, relates to Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring, which deity, however, is otherwise unknown . . .” (1909, Vol. 5, p. 224). Eostre is the ancient European name for the same goddess worshipped by the Babylonians as Astarte or Ishtar, goddess of fertility, whose major celebration was in the spring of the year.
The subtopic “Easter Eggs” tells us that “the custom [of Easter eggs] may have its origin in paganism, for a great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring,gravitated to Easter” (ibid., p. 227).
The subtopic “Easter Rabbit” states that “the rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility” (ibid.).
Author Greg Dues, in his book Catholic Customs and Traditions, elaborates on the symbolism of eggs in ancient pre-Christian cultures: “The egg has become a popular Easter symbol. Creation myths of many ancient peoples center in a cosmogenic egg from which the universe is born.
“In ancient Egypt and Persia friends exchanged decorated eggs at the spring equinox, the beginning of their New Year. These eggs were a symbol of fertility for them because the coming forth of a live creature from an egg was so surprising to people of ancient times. Christians of the Near East adopted this tradition, and the Easter egg became a religious symbol. It represented the tomb from which Jesus came forth to new life” (1992, p. 101).
The same author also explains that, like eggs, rabbits became associated with Easter because they were powerful symbols of fertility: “Little children are usually told that the Easter eggs are brought by the Easter Bunny. Rabbits are part of pre-Christian fertility symbolism because of their reputation to reproduce rapidly” (p. 102).
What these sources tell us is that human beings replaced the symbolism of the biblical Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread with Easter eggs and Easter rabbits, pagan symbols of fertility. These symbols demean the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection.
Easter substituted for Passover season
But that’s not the entire story. In fact, many credible sources substantiate the fact that Easter became a substitute festival for the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Notice what The Encyclopaedia Britannica says about this transition: “There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers . . . The first Christians continued to observe the Jewish festivals, though in a new spirit, as commemorations of events which those festivals foreshadowed . . .
“The Gentile Christians, on the other hand, unfettered by Jewish traditions, identified the first day of the week [Sunday] with the Resurrection, and kept the preceding Friday as the commemoration of the crucifixion, irrespective of the day of the month” (11th edition, p. 828, “Easter”).
Easter, a pagan festival with its pagan fertility symbols, replaced the God-ordained festivals that Jesus Christ, the apostles and the early Church observed. But this didn’t happen immediately. Not until A.D. 325—almost three centuries after Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected—was the matter settled. Regrettably, it wasn’t settled on the basis of biblical truth, but on the basis of anti-Semitism and raw ecclesiastical and imperial power.
As The Encyclopaedia Britannica further explains: “A final settlement of the dispute [over whether and when to keep Easter or Passover] was one among the other reasons which led [the Roman emperor] Constantine to summon the council of Nicaea in 325 . . . The decision of the council was unanimous that Easter was to be kept on Sunday, and on the same Sunday throughout the world, and ‘that none should hereafter follow the blindness of the Jews'” (ibid., pp. 828-829).
Those who did choose to “follow the blindness of the Jews”—that is, who continued to keep the biblical festivals kept by Jesus Christ and the apostles rather than the newly “Christianized” pagan Easter festival—were systematically persecuted by the powerful church-state alliance of Constantine ‘s Roman Empire .
With the power of the empire behind it, Easter soon became entrenched as one of traditional Christianity’s most popular sacred celebrations. (You can read more of the details in our free booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep? )
Christianity compromised by paganism
British historian Sir James Frazer notes how Easter symbolism and rites, along with other pagan customs and celebrations, entered into the established Roman church:
“Taken altogether, the coincidences of the Christian with the heathen festivals are too close and too numerous to be accidental. They mark the compromise which the Churchin the hour of its triumph was compelled to make with its vanquished yet still dangerous rivals [the empire’s competing pagan religions].
“The inflexible Protestantism of the primitive missionaries, with their fiery denunciation of heathendom, had been exchanged for the supple policy, the easy tolerance, the comprehensive charity of shrewd ecclesiastics, who clearly perceived that if Christianity was to conquer the world it could do so only by relaxing the too rigid principles of its Founder, by widening a little the narrow gate which leads to salvation” ( The Golden Bough, 1993, p. 361).
In short, to broaden the appeal of the new religion of Christianity in those early centuries, the powerful Roman religious authorities, with the backing of the Roman Empire, simply co-opted the rites and practices of pagan religions, relabeled them as “Christian” and created a new brand of Christianity with customs and teachings far removed from the Church Jesus founded.
The authentic Christianity of the Bible largely disappeared, forced underground by persecution because its followers refused to compromise.
Easter does not accurately represent Jesus Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, though it appears to do so to those who blindly accept religious tradition. In fact, it distorts the truth of the matter. Easter correctly belongs to the Babylonian goddess it is named after—Astarte, also known as Ashtoreth or Ishtar, whose worship is directly and explicitly condemned in the Bible.
The ancient religious practices and fertility symbols associated with her cult existed long before Christ, and regrettably they have largely replaced and obscured the truth of His death and resurrection.
When confronted with these facts about Easter, many professing Christians might raise this question to justify its continuance: With hundreds of millions of well-meaning Christians observing Easter, doesn’t this please Jesus Christ?
Yet He has already answered this question in Matthew 15:9: “In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” How will you choose to worship Him—in spirit and in truth, or in fraud and in fable?
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Easter – Babylonian Connection
Copy and posted from (By http://mystery-babylon.org/index.html)
Easter is an annual celebration observed throughout the Christian world.
However, there are absolutely no verses in the Bible that authorize or
endorse the keeping of this tradition. Further – the Bible does not mention
anything about Easter eggs, Easter baskets, Easter bunnies, or even Lent!
The author includes convincing evidence to show that these very items
were parts of the pagan rituals of the Mystery Religion of ancient Babylon.
Where did the tradition of celebrating Easter originate? The author
exposes the hidden accounts of the original Easter festival which was
initiated several thousand years ago – many years before the birth, death,
and resurrection of Jesus.
Easter has its origins in the world of the occult. The Occult / Satanic
calender is comprised of four periods of 13 weeks each. Occultists believe
that numbers contain inherent power, and many base their lives on
numerology. Numerology is also a key component of astrology – another
system occultists follow closely. Thus the occult calendar is divided into 4
parts of 13 weeks each. Note that 13 x 4 = 52 weeks – our year!
In the occult system, the number 6 = man, the number 7 = divine
perfection or god, and the number 13 = rebellion against authority and
depravity. So, in the occult or satanic world, the number 13 represents the
state of man’s having reached divine perfection, self-achieved perfection,
and illumination.
According to 8th century scholar St. Bede (also known as the Venerable
Bede / Bede, the Venerable), the name Easter is derived from the
Scandinavian “Ostra” and the Teutonic “Ostern” or “Eastre” – both of
whom were goddesses of mythology and were identified with spring and
fertility. Festivals for these goddesses were celebrated on the first day of
the vernal equinox – March 21. Important parts of these pagan celebrations
included the rabbit, colored eggs, and gifts – all of which represented
fertility.
STATUE OF THE BABYLONIAN QUEEN “ISHTAR”
Easter is steeped in the Mysteries of ancient Babylon – an evil and
idolatrous system invented by and promoted by Satan – the father of lies!
(John 8:44, II Corinthians 11:14, 1 Peter 5:8) Ishtar – the Babylonian
goddess – is the one for whom Easter is named. Ishtar is but another name
for Semiramis – the wife of Nimrod. Semiramis and Nimrod instituted the
building of the tower of Babel and are the co-founders of all the counterfeit
religions that have ever existed.
This post-Flood festival was part of the false religion Mystery Babylon and
was started by Nimrod and his wife Semiramis (also known as Ishtar).
They not only instituted the building of the Tower of Babel , they also
established themselves as god and goddess to be worshipped by the people
of Babylon . They are the co-founders of all the counterfeit religions that
have ever existed.
Nimrod was worshipped as the Sun God. He was worshipped in numerous
cultures and countries under a variety of names: Samas, Attis, Uti,
Merodach/Marduk, Ninus, Bel/Baal, Moloch, Tammuz – the list is virtually
endless.
The name Easter actually comes from Ishtar / Easter who was worshipped
as the moon goddess, the goddess of spring and fertility, and the Queen of
Heaven. She is known by so many other names in other countries and
cultures that she is often referred to as the goddess of one thousand
names. Millions of people are unknowingly worshipping and praying to this
pagan goddess today. What is her present-day name?
The Babylonians celebrated the day of Ishtar / Easter as the return of the
goddess of Spring – the re-birth or reincarnation of Nature and the goddess
of Nature. Babylonian legend says that each year a huge egg would fall
from heaven and would land in the area around the Euphrates River. In
her yearly re-birth, Ishtar would break out of this egg and if any of those
celebrating this occasion happened to find her egg, Ishtar would bestow a
special blessing on that person. Does this explain the origin of our modern-
day tradition of Easter eggs and baskets and Easter egg hunts?
Other pagan rites that were connected with this celebration and which are
part of our modern Easter tradition are Easter offerings to the Queen of
Heaven (consisting of freshly cut flowers, hot buns decorated with crosses,
and star-shaped cakes); new clothes to celebrate this festival (The pagan
priests wore new clothes or robes and the Vestal Virgins wore new white
dresses or robes and bonnets on their heads.); and sunrise services (to
symbolically hasten the yearly arrival of Ishtar’s egg from heaven – the re-
incarnation of the spring goddess). Do we still worship Ishtar today? A re
we making a fatal mistake in following this tradition?
From Babylon , this diabolical mystery religion spread to Egypt, Asia,
Europe, North and South America, all over the world, and eventually was
incorporated into mainstream Christian religion.
Several reference sources tell us the word Easter was derived from Eastre –
Teutonic goddess of Spring. In reality, the origin of the name (and the
goddess) is much older and has its real roots in the story of the Tower of
Babel, built after the flood of Genesis 6. Noah and his family and the
animals on the ark were the only ones who survived the flood. Noah’s
grandson was Nimrod (the son of Cush who was the son of Ham – Noah’s
son – Gen 10:8-10). Nimrod built and organized major cities among which
were Babel, Asshur, Nineveh, and Calah. He is mentioned in Jewish
tradition as being a tyrant who made all of the people rebel against God. It
is evident that Nimrod was the lead priest of a form of occult worship.
It was at Nimrod’s city of Babel that a towering structure was built in
defiance of and in rebellion toward God – and as part of this false religion.
(www.towerofbabel.com) shows an artist’s rendition of what the tower
looked like.) Archeological evidence notes that the tower was quite
splendid and was a pyramid-shaped structure or ziggurat.
In Genesis 11 we read that “….the whole earth was of one language and of
one accent and mode of expression….” (v1 Amplified). Further, most of
the population that existed then was located in the area (the plains of Shinar
– modern day Iraq) and most people participated in this false religion. This
was the first concept of a one-world government and a one-world religion.
God confused their language and scattered the people. As many of the
people moved away from the plains of Shinar / Babylon, they took their
new languages with them – the beginning of the world’s many languages.
Many of them also carried their evil Sun-God religion with them and they
continued to worship the stars and practice the ungodly rituals of their
pagan religion. Some even continued to build pyramids reminiscent of the
tower of Babel.
What about the timing of our Easter tradition? Jesus told the scribes and
Pharisees that when He died, He would be in the “heart of the earth” for
three days and three nights (72 hours) before He arose. Our traditional
Good Friday to Sunday celebration however only accounts for Jesus’ being
in the heart of the earth for two nights and one day. Were the facts of
Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection purposely distorted? Learn who is not
telling the truth — and why!
The author has investigated credible and reliable ancient sources to uncover
the real origins not only of our Easter tradition, but also the real origins of
Christian symbols such as the cross and the church building. Was Jesus
nailed to a cross or a tree? Is the true church a physical building — or is it
something much more?
There are absolutely no verses anywhere in the Bible that authorize or
endorse the keeping of an Easter celebration. Further, the Bible says
nothing about the practice of observing Lent, dying Easter eggs, having
Easter egg hunts, baskets of candy, bonnets – and so on. Easter has long
been known to be a pagan festival. America’s founders knew this. In the
children’s book Easter Parade: Welcome Sweet Spring Time (pp 4-5) Steve
Englehaty states: “When the puritans came to North America, they
regarded the celebration of Easter – and the celebration of Christmas with
suspicion. They knew that pagans had celebrated the return of spring long
before Christians celebrated Easter. …. For the first 200 years of European
life in North America, only a few states – mostly in the South – paid much
attention to Easter. Not until after the Civil War did Americans begin
celebrating this holiday…. Easter first became an American tradition in the
1870’s…. The original 13 colonies of America began as a Christian nation,
with the cry of ‘No king but King Jesus’. The nation did not observe
Easter within an entire century of its founding.”
The central theme of the Bible is that Jesus Christ was to come (Old
Testament) and did come (New Testament) to die for mankind’s sins and
to offer redemption to a world separated (by sin) from God. However,
Satan, “the god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4) seeks to counterfeit every
aspect of God’s plan and he “deceives the whole world.” (Rev 12:9). And
as the great deceiver, Satan has always attempted to devise a counterfeit
Savior. Then, who is the real “savior” that is being celebrated in the Easter
Sunday tradition? Is it the Jesus of the Bible – or another god?
Most people accept traditions as fact because they have been part of our
culture for so long. This, however, does not mean these traditions are
based on Biblical truth. The Easter tradition has been incorporated into
Christian churches, but this does not make it Christian! If Easter is not a
true Christian celebration, what is it?
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The following article is from
AMAZING DISCOVERIES.ORG at http://amazingdiscoveries.org/
The pagan system of sun worship had three main aspects: the father, mother, and the son. In ancient Chaldean times, these were the god Bel or Merodach, Ninus the son who was also worshiped as Tammuz, and the female goddess Rhea who was also worshiped as Ishtar, Astarte, or Beltis. She was also referred to as the “queen of heaven,” and the “wrath subduer.” Mary has received these same names in Catholicism.
Mother and child worship was the basis of the ancient religions. In the various religions of the world, the same system of worship was perpetuated under different names. In Egypt , the mother and child were worshiped as Isis and Osiris or Horus, in India as Isi and Iswara, in China and Japan as the mother goddess Shing-moo with child, in Greece as Ceres or Irene and Plutus, in Rome as Fortuna and Jupitor-puer, or Venus and Adurnis, and in Scandinavia as Frigga and Balder. The mother and child were worshiped in Babylon as Ishtar and Tammuz, and in Phoenicia, as Ashtoreth and Baal. Moreover, the child was worshiped as both husband and son of the mother goddess.
ASTARTE – PAGAN GODDESS
The male component is a counterfeit of Jesus Christ. The Biblical names used for Jesus were also used for the child in ancient religions. Zoroaster was referred to as the
seed,
Mithra the Persian sun god was referred to as the
Saviour, Dionysus as the
sin-bearer, Bacchus as the
branch, Vishna as the
victim-man, and Osiris as the
king of kings.
REPRESENTATION OF MOTHER CHILD WORSHIP
The Legend of Nimrod
The system of worship has its origin in the legend of Nimrod and his wife Semiramus. Nimrod (the great-grandson of Noah) rebelled against God, like his father Cush. Eventually Nimrod was put to death for his evil deeds, and according to the ancient patriarchal system, parts of his body were sent to various cities as a warning.
His wife Semiramus fled, but spread the rumour that he had ascended to heaven, where he had become one with the sun. When Semiramus later gave birth to a son, she claimed that it was the reincarnation of her deified husband, and that he had returned to save the human race.
She was later deified as the mother of the sun god, and it was supposed she had ascended into heaven as the queen of heaven. In the various cultures throughout history and around the world, the same basic deities have been worshipped under different names.
As we have already seen, Catholic customs stem from ancient pagan practices and beliefs. Pagan priests were celibate, tonsured, and received the power of sacrificing for the living and the dead. The same power is given to Roman Catholic priests. Pagan celibate priests are dedicated to the mother goddess, and Catholic priests to Mary the mediatrix.
Elevating Mary
In 1854, the Papacy declared Mary sinless, and in 1951, they declared that she had ascended unto heaven, where she was crowned as the “Queen of heaven.” This was called the Assumption of Mary. Since then, the complete system of Babylonian worship, with Mary taking the role of the mediatrix, has thus been established within Catholicism.
The goddess in ancient religions was worshiped as the life giver and nurturer and, as such, this religion was full of sexual undertones. Phallic symbols, as well as symbols of femininity and divine intercourse, were common in ancient temples, as they are in modern temples, particularly in India. These symbols are equally common in Roman Catholic cathedrals.
The breasts of the goddess formed a prominent part of the goddess cult, goddesses often being depicted with many breasts to nurture the world. Even the sun god was depicted nurturing at the goddess’ breast.
Catholicism carries the same mythology. Take for example the Magharet Sitti Mariam, or “Milk Grotto” as it is commonly known, where Catholic tradition has it that Mary spilt milk from her breast while feeding Jesus. This milk supposedly squirted onto the walls of the cave and formed white markings. The grotto has become a shrine, revered today as a place of pilgrimage for healing and fertility.
The sinner that ventures directly to Christ may come with dread and apprehension of his wrath; but let him only employ the mediation of the Virgin with her Son and she has only to show that Son the breasts that gave him suck and his wrath will immediately be appeased.i
Pope John Paul II believed that Mary intercedes for the faithful who honor her during mass:
As they listen to the word proclaimed in the Sunday assembly, the faithful look to the Virgin Mary…From Sunday to Sunday, the pilgrim people follow in the footsteps of Mary, and her maternal intercession gives special power and fervour to the prayer which rises from the Church to the Most Holy Trinity.ii
The Catholic Church has elevated Mary to the level of mediator, advocate, and co-redeemer of humanity, in direct contradiction of the Scriptures. In 1854, Pope Pius IX declared Mary “immaculate,” or sinless, thus giving her the position of mediator.
Mary takes the place of Jesus in Catholic teaching. Instead of the faithful looking to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of their faith, they look to Mary. In Mary they find access to God. In her the Church is all holy and can learn obedience to God.
“The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blesses Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.”i
The way to salvation is open to none otherwise than through Mary. The salvation of all depends on their being favoured and protected by Mary. He who is protected by Mary will be saved: he who is not will be lost. Our salvation depends on thee. God will not save us without the intercession of Mary.ii
Mary takes the place of God and she herself is treated like a goddess, a teaching to which the Catholic Church is not averse if we study even her modern statements on this issue.
But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the faithful still strive to conquer sin and increase in holiness. And so they turn their eyes to Mary: in her, the Church is already the “all-holy.”iii
Here are some of the names Mary is given, from the book Thunder of Justice:
Prophetess Of These Last Times, The Immaculate Conception, Mother Of The Church, Mary As The New Eve, Queen Of Heaven and Earth/Queen of Peace, The Assumption, Queen of the Holy Rosary, Queen and Mother of Families, Mary as Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, Our Lady of all Nations, Ark of the New Covenant, Mother of the Second Advent.iv
The titles Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate in particular raise serious concerns, as they contradict the plainest teachings of Scripture. The Bible clearly teaches that there is but one Redeemer, Mediator, and Advocate, and that is Christ Jesus.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5)
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people (Luke 1:68).
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).
In spite of these words, the Catholic Church is willing to accept Mary in the place of Jesus Christ, depriving Him of His mediatory role. Even more surprising is the willingness of the Catholic Church to acknowledge Mary as goddess and part of the Godhead. This teaching is already covertly in place and is, in effect, nothing other than pagan goddess worship.
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EASTER’S ANCIENT ORIGINS BY THE REAL TRUTH MAGAZINE
Bible Authority for Easter?
The Bible is the source for all things Christian. Does it mention Easter? Yes.
Notice Acts 12:1. King Herod began to persecute the Church, culminating in the brutal death of the apostle James by sword. This pleased the Jews so much that the apostle Peter was also taken prisoner by Herod. The plan was to later deliver him to the Jews. Verse 3 says, “Then were thedays of unleavened bread.” The New Testament Church was observing these feast days described in Leviticus 23. Now read verse 4 of Acts 12: “And when he [Herod] had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions [sixteen] of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”
Is this Bible authority for Easter?
This passage is not talking about Easter. How do we know? The word translated Easter is the Greek word pascha (derived from the Hebrew word pesach; there is no original Greek word forPassover), and it has only one meaning. It always means Passover—it can never mean Easter! For this reason, we find a Hebrew word used in the Greek New Testament. Once again, this Hebrew word can only refer to Passover. And other translations, including the Revised Standard Version, correctly render this word Passover.
Instead of endorsing Easter, this verse really proves that the Church was still observing the supposedly Jewish Passover ten years after the death of Christ!
Now let’s go to the other scriptures authorizing Easter. This presents a problem. There are none!There are absolutely no verses, anywhere in the Bible, that authorize or endorse the keeping of Easter celebration! The Bible says nothing about Lent, eggs and egg hunts, baskets of candy, etc., although it does mention hot cross buns and sunrise services as abominations, which God condemns. We will examine them and learn why.
The mistranslation of Acts 12:4 is a not-so-subtle attempt to insert a pagan festival into Scripture for the purpose of authorizing it.
When Easter Came to America
Easter has long been known to be a pagan festival! America’s founders knew this! A children’s book about the holiday, Easter Parade: Welcome Sweet Spring Time!, by Steve Englehart, p. 4, states, “When the Puritans came to North America, they regarded the celebration of Easter—and the celebration of Christmas—with suspicion. They knew that pagans had celebrated the return of spring long before Christians celebrated Easter…for the first two hundred years of European life in North America, only a few states, mostly in the South, paid much attention to Easter.” Not until after the Civil War did Americans begin celebrating this holiday: “Easter first became an American tradition in the 1870s” (p. 5).
Remarkable! The original 13 colonies of America began as a “Christian” nation, with the cry of “No king but King Jesus!” The nation did not observe Easter within an entire century of its founding. What happened to change this?
Where Did Easter Come From?
Does the following sound familiar?—Spring is in the air! Flowers and bunnies decorate the home. Father helps the children paint beautiful designs on eggs dyed in various colors. These eggs, which will later be hidden and searched for, are placed into lovely, seasonal baskets. The wonderful aroma of the hot cross buns mother is baking in the oven waft through the house. Forty days of abstaining from special foods will finally end the next day. The whole family picks out their Sunday best to wear to the next morning’s sunrise worship service to celebrate the savior’s resurrection and the renewal of life. Everyone looks forward to a succulent ham with all the trimmings. It will be a thrilling day. After all, it is one of the most important religious holidays of the year.
Easter, right? No! This is a description of an ancient Babylonian family—2,000 years before Christ—honoring the resurrection of their god, Tammuz, who was brought back from the underworld by his mother/wife, Ishtar (after whom the festival was named). As Ishtar was actually pronounced “Easter” in most Semitic dialects, it could be said that the event portrayed here is, in a sense, Easter. Of course, the occasion could easily have been a Phrygian family honoring Attis and Cybele, or perhaps a Phoenician family worshipping Adonis and Astarte. Also fitting the description well would be a heretic Israelite family honoring the Canaanite Baal and Ashtoreth. Or this depiction could just as easily represent any number of other immoral, pagan fertility celebrations of death and resurrection—including the modern Easter celebration as it has come to us through the Anglo-Saxon fertility rites of the goddess Eostre or Ostara. These are all the same festivals, separated only by time and culture.
If Easter is not found in the Bible, then where did it come from? The vast majority of ecclesiastical and secular historians agree that the name of Easter and the traditions surrounding it are deeply rooted in pagan religion.
Now notice the following powerful quotes that demonstrate more about the true origin of how the modern Easter celebration got its name:
“Since Bede the Venerable (De ratione temporum 1:5) the origin of the term for the feast of Christ’s Resurrection has been popularly considered to be from the Anglo-Saxon Eastre, a goddess of spring…the Old High German plural for dawn, eostarun; whence has come the GermanOstern, and our English Easter” (The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967, Vol. 5, p. 6).
“The fact that vernal festivals were general among pagan peoples no doubt had much to do with the form assumed by the Eastern festival in the Christian churches. The English term Easter is ofpagan origin” (Albert Henry Newman, D.D., LL.D., A Manual of Church History, p. 299).
“On this greatest of Christian festivals, several survivals occur of ancient heathen ceremonies. To begin with, the name itself is not Christian but pagan. Ostara was the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring” (Ethel L. Urlin, Festival, Holy Days, and Saints Days, p. 73).
“Easter—the name Easter comes to us from Ostera or Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, for whom a spring festival was held annually, as it is from this pagan festival that some of our Easter customs have come” (Hazeltine, p. 53).
“In Babylonia…the goddess of spring was called Ishtar. She was identified with the planet Venus, which, because…[it] rises before the Sun…or sets after it…appears to love the light [this means Venus loves the sun-god]…In Phoenecia, she became Astarte; in Greece, Eostre [related to the Greek word Eos: “dawn”], and in Germany, Ostara [this comes from the German word Ost: “east,” which is the direction of dawn]” (Englehart, p. 4).
As we have seen, many names are interchangeable for the more well-known Easter. Pagans typically used many different names for the same god or goddess. Nimrod, the Bible figure who built the city of Babylon (Gen. 10:8), is an example. He was worshipped as Saturn, Vulcan, Kronos, Baal, Tammuz,
Molech and others, but he was always the same god—the fire or sun god universally worshipped in nearly every ancient culture. (Read our booklet The True Origin of Christmas to learn more about this holiday and Nimrod’s part in it.)
The goddess Easter was no different. She was one goddess with many names—the goddess of fertility, worshipped in spring when all life was being renewed. READ MORE ON EASTER – IT’S ANCIENT ORIGINS – CLICK HERE
The Origin of Lent
According to Johannes Cassianus, who wrote in the fifth century, “Howbeit you should know, that as long as the primitive church retained its perfection unbroken, this observance of Lent did not exist” (First Conference Abbot Theonas, chapter 30). There is neither biblical nor historical record of Christ, the apostles or the early Church participating in the Lenten season.
Since there is no instruction to observe Lent in the Bible, where did it come from? A forty-day abstinence period was anciently observed in honor of the pagan gods Osiris, Adonis and Tammuz (John Landseer, Sabaean Researches, pp. 111, 112). Alexander Hislops, The Two Babylons, pp. 104-105, says this of the origin of Lent: “The forty days abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess. Such a Lent of forty days, in the spring of the year, is still observed by the Yezidis or Pagan Devil-worshippers of Koordistan, who have inherited it from their early masters, the Babylonians. Such a Lent of forty days was held in spring by the Pagan Mexicans…Such a Lent of forty days was observed in Egypt…”
Lent came from paganism, not from the Bible! (To learn more about the Lenten season, read our article “The True Meaning of Lent.”) THE TRUE MEANING OF LENT – CLICK HERE TO READ; Below is a portion of that article:
Lent’s Ancient Roots
Coming from the Anglo-Saxon Lencten, meaning “spring,” Lent originated in the ancient Babylonian mystery religion. “The forty days abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess…Among the Pagans this Lent seems to have been an indispensable preliminary to the great annual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz…” (The Two Babylons).
Tammuz was the false Messiah of the Babylonians—a satanic counterfeit of Jesus Christ!
The Feast of Tammuz was usually celebrated in June (also called the “month of the festival of Tammuz”). Lent was held 40 days before the feast, “celebrated by alternate weeping and rejoicing” (ibid.). This is why Lent means “spring”; it took place from spring to early summer.
The Bible records ancient Judah worshipping this false Messiah: “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” (Ezek. 8:14). This was a great abomination in God’s eyes!
But why did the church at Rome institute such a pagan holiday?
“To conciliate the Pagans to nominal Christianity, Rome, pursuing its usual policy, took measures to get the Christian and Pagan festivals amalgamated, and, by a complicated but skillful adjustment of the calendar, it was found no difficult matter, in general, to get Paganism and Christianity—now far sunk in idolatry—in this as in so many other things, to shake hands” (The Two Babylons).
The Roman church replaced Passover with Easter, moving the pagan Feast of Tammuz to early spring, “Christianizing” it. Lent moved with it.
“This change of the calendar in regard to Easter was attended with momentous consequences. It brought into the Church the grossest corruption and the rankest superstition in connection with the abstinence of Lent” (ibid.).
Before giving up personal sins and vices during Lent, the pagans held a wild, “anything goes” celebration to make sure that they got in their share of debaucheries and perversities—what the world celebrates as Mardi Gras today.
Abomination Masked as Christianity
God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33). He never instituted Lent, a pagan observance connecting debauchery to the supposed resurrection of a false Messiah.
God commands His people to follow Him—not the traditions of men. God’s ways are higher—better than man’s (Isa. 55:8-9). Men cannot determine for themselves right from wrong or how to properly worship God. Why? Because “The heart [mind] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9), and “the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps” (10:23). God designed us and gave us life. He teaches how we are supposed to worship Him.
To be a Christian and properly serve God, you must live “by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4), recognizing that His Holy Scriptures “cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
God commands Christians to flee from the pagan traditions and customs of this world (Rev. 18:2-4), currently led and deceived by Satan the devil (II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 12:9).
Lent may seem like a sincere, heartfelt religious observance. But it is deeply rooted in pagan ideas that counterfeit God’s Plan. God hates all pagan observances (Jer. 10:2-5; Lev. 18:3, 30;Deut. 7:1-5, 16). They cannot be “Christianized” or made clean by men. This includes Lent.
(SO, FOR ALL OF YOU WHO THOUGHT THAT YOUR LENT SACRIFICE WAS TRULY SACRIFICIAL IN HONORING OUR SAVIOR FOR HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW? The 40 days of Lent truly allows one to show deep repenting of sins, love and obedience to a god, but is it the right god? Fasting, especially for 40-days is of course pleasing to the Lord, we are denying our flesh for our Spiritual relationship with Him, but are those sacrifices accepted because they are done not for Him, but for the enemy because His Children followed all “man-made laws” and not Kingdom Laws. MBJ)
Eggs, Egg Hunts and Easter
Eggs have always been associated with the Easter celebration. Nearly every culture in the modern world has a long tradition of coloring eggs in beautiful and different ways. I once examined a traveling display of many kinds of beautifully decorated egg designs that represented the styles and traditions of virtually every country of Modern Europe.
Notice the following: “The origin of the Easter egg is based on the fertility lore of the Indo-European races…The egg to them was a symbol of spring…In Christian times the egg had bestowed upon it a religious interpretation, becoming a symbol of the rock tomb out of which Christ emerged to the new life of His resurrection” (Francis X. Weiser, Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, p. 233). This is a direct example of exactly how pagan symbols and customs are “Christianized,” i.e., Christian-sounding names are superimposed over pagan customs. This is done to deceive—as well as make people feel better about why they are following a custom that is not in the Bible.
Notice: “Around the Christian observance of Easter…folk customs have collected, many of which have been handed down from the ancient ceremonial…symbolism of European and Middle Eastern pagan spring festivals…for example, eggs…have been very prominent as symbols of new life and resurrection” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1991 ed., Vol. 4, p. 333).
Finally, the following comes from Egyptian Belief and Modern Thought, James Bonwick, pp. 211-212: “Eggs were hung up in the Egyptian temples. Bunsen calls attention to the mundane egg, the emblem of generative life, proceeding from the mouth of the great god of Egypt. The mystic egg of Babylon, hatching the Venus Ishtar, fell from heaven to the Euphrates. Dyed eggs were sacred Easter offerings in Egypt, as they are still in China and Europe. Easter, or spring, was the season of birth, terrestrial and celestial.”
What could be more plain in showing the true origin of the “Easter egg”? An “Easter” egg is just an egg that pertains to Easter. God never authorized Passover eggs or Days of Unleavened Bread eggs, but there have been Easter eggs for thousands of years!
It naturally progressed that the egg, representing spring and fertility, would be merged into an already pagan springtime festival. Connecting this symbol to Christ’s Resurrection in the spring required much creativity and human reasoning. However, even highly creative human reasoning has never been able to successfully connect the next Easter symbol to anything Christian, because there is not a single word about it anywhere in the New Testament!
The True Origins of Christmas (Click on Link to fabulous article from The Real Truth Magazine)
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Pagan Holidays – Did the Catholic Church Know Their Origins?
(Below is a few questions I found posted on the internet on Catholic.com on their “Ask/Answer” forum. I copied 2 of the questions and answers I read – that was enough for me but I wanted to share them in full-view so you could see what you think of the responses given.)
Is Easter a pagan holiday?
Full Question
A publication I read claims Easter has its roots in a pagan holiday and rituals and as such ought not to be observed by Christians. Colored eggs were used in rituals associated with a pagan god. If this is true, shouldn’t we stop calling the day we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection Easter and stop hunting eggs on that day?
Answer
No, because whatever it meant for ancient pagans, for Christians Easter is the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. The fact that when it was first celebrated the feast of the Resurrection coincided with pagan celebrations doesn’t mean it was derived from them. The Jewish Passover (on which Christ was crucified) also coincided with such celebrations, yet this didn’t mean it was pagan.
As for Easter eggs, there’s nothing wrong with painting or hunting them on Easter–provided the real meaning of the day isn’t lost. As with the days of the week (the names of which are of pagan origin), any peculiarly pagan significance attached to Easter eggs was forgotten centuries ago.
What can I say to my husband to convince him that Christmas and Easter are not pagan celebrations?
Full Question
My husband, a non-Catholic Christian, read in an Evangelical magazine that Easter and Christmas should not be celebrated because they are based on pagan rituals and worship. He says that Easter began with worship of the goddess of spring and that we should not have a Christmas tree because the Bible prohibits the worship of trees adorned with silver and gold. How can I assure my husband that these holidays celebrate only the birth and the resurrection of Our Lord?
Answer
First of all, who do you know that worships Christmas trees? Nobody that I know; that’s for sure! Just as people can be Christianized, so can their customs and celebrations. Christianity is a powerful thing because it is the power of God on earth. Catholic Christians have always believed this. So they Christianized trees at Christmas and eggs at Easter. Who remembers the Christmas tree or Easter as pagan things? One has to dig deep to find pagan worship in them. It is better to rejoice that they have become vehicles for celebrating the love of Christ.
Let me just say – this is not a “bash” to to the Catholic Church or religion – it’s my response to “what kind of answers were those”! Really? Does anyone else see the problem with the answers that were given in response to both questions?
I will tell you this – each and every church religious “sect” or “denomination” knows very well the answers to these questions…where and how each holiday was started and by whom, whether Pagan in origins or not. There is no reason in today’s world, this kind of historical information is not known by everyone, regardless if they want to believe it or not. This information has been around since it was initiated but the majority of the public did not have access to it until now.
What I have found in my study of this subject, is the apparent nepotism showed to the writer’s or organization’s personal religious preference as their main reference material came primarily from “their own libraries” (ie. Vatican, Jewish Encyclopedia, etc.). I started this research years ago and at that time, I had found an article from the Catholic Diocese here in the United States that stated they were indeed aware of all the true pagan origins that each “holiday” originated from but that should not keep them from being celebrated and recognized as Christian Days of Celebration today. That in fact, we have shown goodness in them by turning them from paganistic rituals into honored happy, holy-type worship to our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. Again…I don’t even know what to say about that! Just a note, I can no longer find that page – nor can I find my bookmarked page I’ve had for years on this but that is what that article said.
If you haven’t found the common connection between Valentines Day, Mother/Father’s Day, Easter and Christmas yet, I will tell you – it’s Nimrod, his mother who then became his wife Semiramis, their son Tammuz and the Babylonian hedonistic false worship system. Don’t take my word for it, do your own research so you can understand and learn for yourself. Hopefully, you’ll do it soon so you won’t find yourself waking up Easter morning at the break of dawn in order for you, and your family, to make sunrise service at your local church – you know, so you can stand facing East in the non-biblical rite in order to worship our Lord Jesus on a “holiday” that has absolutely nothing to do with Him. If you want to celebrate His Death and Resurrection, start reading and learning about Passover – the true Day of Celebration and remember this, Jesus was buried Wednesday and arose Saturday, Sabbath to Sabbath.
**PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT AFFILIATED NOR AM I A MEMBER OF ANY ORGANIZATION, CHURCH OR WEBSITE THAT I SHARED ARTICLES FROM. THESE ARE FOR EDUCATIONAL AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY.
Why is this important now, after all these years? Because now we all need to truly understand Pure Truth and what it is Jesus is trying to tell us, show us all through the Bible and teachings. There is a precise reason for each and everything said and done, down to the very least of actions and/or smiles and grumbles. Since there is nothing new under-the-sun, patterns of the past are replayed and now, they are being used and shown right in plain sight but because of all the “noise/chaos” associated with these very important dates and their TRUE meaning/origins, our eyes cannot see and our ears cannot hear.
What you do with this information or any other facts you may find in your own search, it totally up to you and by no means am I saying what you should do or not do…I’m saying, don’t be lazy anymore by continuing to “go-with-the-flow” just for the sake of saving face, so-to-speak. We need to know this, right? Little children don’t understand, He knows that too so although it will be difficult to change our routine, we need to try or at least be educated in what we are honoring and why. We need to change our thought-process before walking blindly into the enemy’s playing field – allthewhile believing we are giving praise and glory to our True Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, when in fact, we would be doing quite the opposite.
Hey, I’m just like you – this is a lesson for all of us…a lesson and fight entitled “Spirit vs. Flesh”!
FriendofHeaven
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW! 