TRUTH ABOUT EASTER
What is Easter all about anyway?
Below is the truth about Easter from a bible study I attended.
Get
your Big Boy Paints on
Matt 12:40--For as
Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son
of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
jn20. 42 There
laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the
sepulchre was nigh at hand
Jesus dies on Wednesday.after dust(1night), thurs day(1), thurs night (2), fri day(2) fri
(night 3)_, sat day (1) night(1), Sunday day(3)….. Since the new day started at
dust, Jesus died at dust on Wednesday and three nights from that would be
Friday at dust so sometime between fri at dust and the Sabbath (Saturday)
morning he rose…
Mary
went to the tomb while it was still dark that sababth morning and saw him…(matt
28: 1-10 28 In the end of
the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold,
there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance
was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of
him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel
answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus,
which was crucified. 6 He is not here:
for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly,
and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth
before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they
departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to
bring his disciples word. 9 And as they
went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they
came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus
unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and
there shall they see me.
On the first day of the week which was Sunday he
The Truth
about “Easter”
Most
people want the TRUTH if it is convenient and follows tradition.
Do
YOU want the TRUTH? It will take study (2Tim. 2:15)
and faith in The WORD of GOD (Romans 10:17).
Webster’s
definition, exactly as found in his original volume one in 1828. Of course
modern tradition has eroded the definition as it has society.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
EASTER,
n. (Sax. easter; G. ostern; supposed to be from Eostre, the goddess of love or
Venus of the north, in honor of whom a festival was celebrated by our pagan
ancestors, in April; whence this month was called Eostermonath. Eoster is
supposed by Beda and others to be the Astarte of the Sidonians. See Beda,
Cluver, and the authorities cited by Cluver by Jamieson, under Paysyad. But
query.)
A festival of the christian church observed
in commemoration of our Savior's resurrection. It answers to the pascha or
passover of the Hebrews, and most nations still give it this name, pascha,
pask, poque.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The
word Easter is “only” found in one place in the Bible and in “only” one
version of the Bible, the King James Bible. All other translations chose
Passover instead of the correct word EASTER.
Which is correct?
First of all I love the so-called Easter season. This is the
season Jesus did die for our sins, and was buried, and was raised from the
dead, the spring. This is the time to
celebrate the resurrection of our Savior the LORD Jesus Christ but know the
truth about how Satan has the world worshiping the pagan demonic goddess
Easter. Most people don’t care; they say,
“God knows what I mean” or “it’s no big deal.” If that is your attitude
then you can stop here and read no further. But, do YOU want the TRUTH? ? ?
Most people do not even know the word
Easter is found in the Bible. The word "Easter” was placed in Acts 12:4.
It is not a mistranslation of the word "pascha" and should not
be translated as "passover", as is found in ALL 100 plus English
translations.
"Pascha" is properly translated "Easter" in Acts
12:4 as the following explanation will show.
EXPLANATION: The Greek word which is translated "Easter" in
Acts 12:4 is the word "pascha". This word appears 29 times in the New
Testament. 28 of those times the word is rendered "passover" in
reference to the night when the Lord passed over Egypt and killed all the
firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 12:12), thus setting Israel free from four hundred
years of bondage.
The many opponents to the concept of having
a “perfect Bible” have made much of this translation of "pascha",
instead of the correct King James rendering Easter.
Coming to the word "Easter" in God's Authorized Bible, (The
King James Version) they seize upon it imagining that they have found proof
that the Bible is not perfect. Fortunately for lovers of the Word of God, they
are wrong. Easter, as we know it, comes from the ancient pagan festival of
Astarte. Also known as Ishtar (pronounced "Easter"). This festival
has always been held late in the month of April, 1000 plus years before the
birth of Jesus Christ. It was, in its
original form, a celebration of the earth "regenerating" itself after
the winter season. The festival involved a celebration of reproduction. For
this reason the common symbols of Easter festivities were the rabbit (the same
symbol as "Playboy" magazine), and the egg. Both are known for their
reproductive abilities. At the center of attention was Astarte, the female
deity. She is known in the Bible as the "queen of heaven" (Jeremiah
7: 18 & 44:17- 25). She is the mother of Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14) who was also
her husband! These perverted rituals would take place at sunrise on Easter
morning (Ezekiel 8:13-16). From the references in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, we can
see that the true Easter has never had any association with Jesus Christ.
Problem: Even though the
Jewish passover was held in mid April (the fourteenth) and the pagan festival
Easter was held later the same month, how do we know that Herod was referring
to Easter in Acts 12:4 and not the Jewish passover? If he was referring to the
Passover, the translation of "pascha" as "Easter" is
incorrect. If he was indeed referring to the pagan holyday (holiday) Easter,
then the King James Bible (1611) must truly be the very word and words of God
for it is the only Bible in print today which has the correct reading.
To unravel the confusion
concerning "Easter" in verse 4, we must consult out FINAL authority,
THE BIBLE. The key which unlocks the puzzle is found not in verse 4, but in
verse 3. (Then were the days of unleavened bread...") To secure the answer
that we seek, we must find the relationship of the Passover to the days of
unleavened bread. We must keep in mind that Peter was arrested during the
"days of unleavened bread" (Acts 12:3).
Our investigation will
need to start at the first Passover. This was the night in which the LORD smote
all the firstborn in Egypt. The Israelites were instructed to kill a lamb and
strike its blood on the two side posts and the upper door post (Exodus 12:4,5).
Let us now see what the Bible says concerning the first Passover, and the days
of unleavened bread.
Exodus 12:13-18:
"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are:
and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be
upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14 And this day shall be
unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout
your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
15 Seven days shall ye
eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your
houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the
seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
16 And in the first day
there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in
them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
17 And ye shall observe
the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your
armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your
generations by an ordinance forever.
18 In the first month,
on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread,
until the one and twentieth day of the month at even."
Here in Exodus 12:13 we see how the Passover got its name. The
LORD said that He would "pass over" all of the houses, which had the
blood of the lamb marking the door.
After the passover
(Exodus 12:13,14), we find that seven days shall be fulfilled in which the Jews
were to eat unleavened bread. These are the days of unleavened bread!
In verse 18 we see that
dates for the observance were April 14th through the 21st.
This religious
observance is stated more clearly in
Numbers 28:16 -18: "And in the fourteenth day of the first
month is the Passover of the LORD.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast seven days
shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no
manner of servile work therein:
In verse 16 we see that
the Passover is only considered to be the 14th of the month. On the next
morning, the 15th begins the "days of unleavened bread." (In other
words passover is first, 1 day, then the days of unleavened bread, 7 days.)
Deuteronomy 16:1-8:
"Observe the month of Abib (April), and keep the Passover unto the LORD
thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of
Egypt by night.
2 Thou shalt therefore
sacrifice the Passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the
place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.
3 Thou shalt eat no
leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith,
even the bread of affliction: for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in
haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land
of Egypt all the days of thy life.
4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen
with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the
flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until
the morning.
5 Thou mayest not
sacrifice the Passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth
thee:
6 But at the place which
the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice
the Passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou
camest forth out of Egypt.
7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the
place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning,
and go unto thy tents.
8 Six days thou shalt
eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the
LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein."
Here in Deuteronomy we
see again that the Passover is sacrificed on the first night (Deuteronomy 16: 1).
It is worth noting that the Passover was to be celebrated in the evening (vs.6)
not at sunrise (Ezekiel 8:13-16).
In 2 Chronicles 8:13 we
see that the feast of unleavened bread was one of the three Jewish feasts to be
kept during the year.
2 Chronicles 8:13:
"Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the
commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn
feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in
the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles."
Whenever the Passover was kept, it always preceded the feast of
unleavened bread. In 2 Chronicles 30 some Jews who were unable to keep the
Passover in the first month were allowed to keep it in the second. But the dates
remained the same.
2 Chronicles 30:15,21:
"Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month:
and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and
brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. And the children of
Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven
days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day
by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD."
Ezra 6:19,22: "And
the children of the captivity kept the Passover upon the fourteenth day of the
first month. And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for
the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto
them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of
Israel."
We see then, from
studying what the BIBLE has to say concerning the subject that the order of
events went as follows:
(1) On the 14th of April
the lamb was killed. This is the Passover. No event following the 14th is ever
referred to as the Passover.
(2) On the morning of
the 15th begins the days of unleavened bread, also known as the feast of
unleavened bread.
It must also be noted
that whenever the Passover is mentioned in the New Testament, the reference is
always to the meal, to be eaten on the night of April 14th not the entire week.
The days of unleavened bread are NEVER referred to as the Passover. (It must be
remembered that the angel of the Lord passed over Egypt on one night, not seven
nights in a row.
Now let us look at Acts
12:3,4: "And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to
take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 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."
Verse 3 shows that Peter
was arrested during the days of unleavened bread (April 15 - 21). The Bible
says: "Then were the days of unleavened bread. " The passover (April
14th) had already come and gone. Herod could not possibly have been referring
to the Passover in his statement concerning Easter. The next Passover was a
year away! But the pagan holiday of Easter was just a few days away. Remember!
Herod was a pagan Roman who worshipped the "queen of heaven". He was
NOT a Jew. He had no reason to keep the Jewish Passover. Some might argue that
he wanted to wait until after the Passover for fear of upsetting the Jews.
There are two grievous faults in this line of thinking.
First, Peter was
no longer considered a Jew. He had repudiated Judaism. Peter now considered him
self a Christian. The Jews would have no reason to be upset by Herod's actions.
Second, he could
not have been waiting until after the Passover because he thought the Jews
would not kill a man during a religious holiday. They had killed Jesus during
Passover (Matthew 26:17-19,47). They were also excited about Herod's murder of
James. Anyone knows that a mob possesses the courage to do violent acts during
religious festivities, not after.
In further considering
Herod's position as Roman, we must remember that the Herod's were well known
for celebrating (Matthew 14:6-11). In fact, in Matthew chapter 14 we see that a
Herod was even willing to kill a man of God during one of his celebrations.
It is elementary to see
that Herod, in Acts 12, had arrested Peter during the days of unleavened bread,
after the Passover. The days of unleavened bread would end on the 21st of
April. Shortly after that would come Herod's celebration of pagan Easter. Herod
had not killed Peter during the days of unleavened bread simply because he
wanted to wait until Easter. Since it is plain that both the Jews (Matthew
26:17-47) and the Romans (Matthew 14:6-11) would kill during a religious
celebration, Herod's opinion seemed that he was not going to let the Jews
"have all the fun". He would wait until his own pagan festival and
see to it that Peter died in the excitement.
Thus we see that it was
God's providence which had the Spirit-filled translators of our Bible (King
James) to CORRECTLY translate "pascha" as "Easter". It most
certainly did not refer to the Jewish Passover. In fact, to change it to
"Passover" would confuse the reader and make the truth of the
situation unclear.
THE END
Don’t feel bad if you have to re-read this subject as written, this
is not an easy truth. Ask God to open your eyes to the truth. You must study
along with a King James Bible, any other Bible will incorrectly say Passover
instead of Easter. No errors in a King
James Bible, none, zero but that’s another study. There are many errors in
other translations.
NOW WHAT ! You have 3
choices.
1.)
Get
mad at me or your Bible
2.)
Shrug
your shoulders and say “so what”
3.)
Or
“Praise GOD” for another truth He has shown you
By the way this is also true about “Christmas” (Gal. 4:16)
Michael Fillers, CPIA, NFIP
Morris Insurance Agency, LLC
Morris Insurance Agency, LLC
3032 Dauphin Square
Connector
Mobile, AL 36607
D.251-473-5119/F.251-473-6301/C.251-753-8011
How I met JESUS in the flesh
and HE saved me:
AUDIO - https://soundcloud.com/michael-fillers/michael-fillers-testimony-hot-dogs-at-the-hank-05-14-2015
Matt 24:46-47-"Blessed is he whom his
master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that
one in charge of all his possessions."
