Which one is Father Rabbitt?...Miles

who?

Easter is definitely a Pagan Tradition, not a Holy Day.

I encourage you to watch this video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsYF-41Pvtg

Hi LadyValkyrie

Not only is Easter Pagan, but God punished Israel by breaking the tribes into two groups for their worship of this very same goddess of fertility. Professing Christians have been tricked into breaking the first commandment by worship of a false God and calling her Christ. It is beyond comprehension, but it is true.

I am an expert of sorts on the subject of the holy days and holidays. The Doctor on this video is absolutely wrong in his analysis of the word easter in Acts 12:9. I can guarantee this. I watched the video and would like to make a few points for clarification.

1. He says that the Passover is never considered as one of the feasts. But God say:

Lev 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.

So, God says Passover is one of His feasts.

2. He says the Passover always falls on April 14th.

This is silly. It is the 14th day of the first month in the Hebrew Calendar, not our Roman calendar. Because of the rules for intercalation, Passover rotates and lands on different days on our calendar.

3. He states that Passover is alway before the days of unleavened bread. Therefore, by this fact, Passover was already over and they were into the days of unleavened bread. His view is that Luke could not have been referring to Passover, and had to mean that Herod was waiting for Easter to conclude.

This is not the case. The Jews and Romans often called the entire week of unleavened bread the Passover. Notice Luke's words in another book, the gospel he wrote:

Luk 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

Therefore, understanding this, and looking at Acts 12:4 you will see that the true word is Passover, not Easter. Notice:

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

So, they were already into the days of unleavened bread which were called the Passover.

Act 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.

Herod intended to keep him in prison until after the days of unleavened bread, called the Passover, were complete.

Herod would not celebrate Easter publicly in Judea. They would all rebel. Further, Luke would not use the term Easter. That form of the word did not exist then.

4. The good doctor states that Tyndale invented the word Passover. Of course he could not of meant that He invented the word. It had existed for thousands of years. I am not certain what he meant by this, but his point was that that Tyndale did not translate the word as Passover in this verse, but rather as Easter.

That fact actually has no meaning however. What he did does not matter. It is what the manuscripts actually say, and they all have the Greek word "Pascha" in this verse--meaning Passover.

As Thayer writes this word in Acts 12:4 is pascha. He defines it as:

1) the paschal sacrifice (which was accustomed to be offered for the people’s deliverance of old from Egypt)
4) the paschal feast, the feast of the Passover, extending from the 14th to the 20th day of the month Nisan

Further, this word is the same one used throughout the entire New Testament: Total KJV Occurrences: 29

As Passover, 28 times:

Mat_26:2, Mat_26:17-19 (3), Mar_14:1, Mar_14:12 (2), Mar_14:14, Mar_14:16, Luk_2:41, Luk_22:1, Luk_22:7-8 (2), Luk_22:11, Luk_22:13, Luk_22:15, Joh_2:13, Joh_2:23, Joh_6:4, Joh_11:55 (2), Joh_13:1 (2), Joh_18:28, Joh_18:39, Joh_19:14, 1Co_5:7, Heb_11:28

Same word as Easter, 1 time

Act_12:4

It is clear that the KJV translation mistranslated this word as Easter probably following Tyndale's error.

Thus, Luke wrote that Herod took Peter during the days of unleavened bread, and intended to bring him to trial after the days of unleavened bread, called passover were complete.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

The reason is because it shows that the church was keeping the Passover and days of unleavened bread. This the scholars and theologians do not want to admit.

That is why the brethren were all together when Peter was freed by the angel and appeared at the house. They were keeping these days and feasting on them.

For further evidence, notice that Luke later writes:
Act 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

Paul writes even later:
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Hoping that is helpful.

dreamer, i am a christian and even if easter falls on a pagan holiday, i still worship christ on that day, not any other god or goddess, so i dont break any commandments by doing that. just because it's the same day does not make it the same THING.

thank you for your hardcore and thorough defense of the scriptures though.

I know that you are not worshiping Easter in your mind. However, there are other minds besides yours. For example, I think in the devils mind, he thinks that he has got you to worship her while in your mind you are worshiping Christ.

But, lets play it your way. You are not worshiping Easter, you are worshiping Christ using her day, her name and her symbols. Does Jesus approve. Here is what He said to Israel.

Deu 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

So, Christ does not want us worshiping Him using any part of the way that the pagans used to worship their gods. Its wrong. In fact when Israel made the golden calf, they did not do it to worship the calf. They made that feast to worship God. the Almighty say it was a great sin!

This is exactly what you are doing. you are worshiping Christ using the day, the name and symbols of Easter, the goddess of fertility.

In that context, please realize that Easter does not fall on a pagan holiday. Easter is a pagan holiday.

Easter is the actual literal name of the goddess of fertility.
In other languages and cultures she was called Ishtar, Ashtoreth, and Istarte.

You do break the first commandment by observing this day. Nothing about it is Christian. Nothing. You cannot find one single thing about it that is Christian or is in the scriptures. There is actually one verse regarding Easter in which God punishes Israel for worshiping her (Ikings 11:33).

The name is pagan. The day is pagan. The symbols are pagan and the entire doctrine of it is unscriptural.

Consider that Jesus did not rise in the morning, He was already gone when it was still dark.

Paul tells us to keep the day He observe which was the Passover and not Easter. As I cor 11 shows it was an evening celebration, not morning.

1Co 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Are we keeping the Passover this way like Jesus said? Or are we keeping Easter and thinking it is ok because I love Jesus?

Jesus said he would only give one proof he was the messiah. That proof was that he was in the grave 3 days and 3 nights. Count them in the Friday crucifixion scenario. There is only 2 nights and one day. Its lies my friend. Do you want to be a part of lies?

I'll post a thread on the three days and three nights if you ask me to, but for now, I tell you that before God it is all lies, every bit. You can worship Jesus every day of the week, but when you celebrate Christ on her, Easter's holiday, when you worship Christ the way that Easter is worshiped, a morning sunrise service, and when you say happy easter, do you really think Christ thinks you are worshiping Him? Really?

Put yourself in His shoes, and consider an analogy. What if your girl friend who you intended to marry told you that she wanted to celebrate her love for you. Then she picks a day to do this, and it just so happens to be the birthday of her old boy friend. Then, she makes a special dinner for you, but it is the food he liked, and it is the dinner she always made for him on his birthday. Then when you are there eating, she calls you by his name. Ok, who does she really love?

She loves you of course, in her mind she is doing this for you.

Then, finally on another level, Jesus died a terrible death. He was beaten by a professional lictor who knew exactly how for to whip a man until he was almost dead.

His whip had pieces of iron and bone it it. The lash would break the skin, but the pieces of bone would stick in and then when he pulled it back they would rip out the flesh so that he could see his ribs.

Then he went through the agony of crucifixion. He would have to push himself up to breath putting all the pressure on that nail in his feet. Then when the burning throbbing pain was too much he would sink back down and hang on the nails in his hands. This process went on for hours,

Our response? Why we have easter egg coloring. We have easter egg hunts and easter egg rolling contests. We give our kids baskets with easter colors, easter chicks and easter chocolate bunnies and eggs.

Do yu really think any of this honors God?

Art

If Easter was a Christian Holy day, wouldn't it fall on the same day every year? Hence because it is a PAGAN HOLY DAY, it changes with the Wheel of the year and the Esbats. Let's not even start with X-mas either.

Dreamer

Just because the jews called it the feast of the Passover does not make it so. Thier is a difference. For one thier are High days. 7 of them. Passover is not a High Day but a preparation day. To get you in the right mind before the feast.Passover is a requirement from yahweh to his people. But never a High Sabbath. You could say that all sabbaths are feasts days. Which in a way they are. I to know and have kept the Feast days and Passover for 17 years now. We study during the 7 days of unleavened bread what our doctrine is and reflect on our sins and forgiveness.Yahshua was taken down as prophesied in Ps 22 as he was cursed hanging on a tree and had to be taken down before sunset as he was.They also told the govenor that they needed him down because the High Day was fast approaching. then they wrapped him in 100 pounds of spices. Again Passover is not a feast day as we our reflecting on the murder of our messiah. Feasting is Joyous. Were the disciples Joyous when Yahshua hung on a tree or the night before?

Your take about Easter and its traditions is right on the money. Shalom. May Yahweh Bless Your House.... Miles

No offence, what does this prove, but that the Bible was written by man, and man is foulable? If it were actually written by God, it would be infoulable. If I go by the Bible, eating shell fish is just as much as a sin as murder.

No lily.

They still use the biblical calender to figure when Passover is and then call it easter. You need it to count to pentecost. The high priest would wave the wave sheaf on after the 1st sabbath that follows the High day that is the next day after Passover. This is how you get your count of 50 days to pentecost and it is always on the 1st day of the week. very few question how the Assemblies figure when Pentecost is. They do it by figuring Passover. That in itself should tell you something is way wrong here... Blessings...Miles

you are absolutely right. it is. But thier are degrees of sin as Yahshua said about judas. Yahshua can not come back untill all things are restored. What needs restoring? Blessings...Miles

Very true i never thought of the intentions of the devil this way. It reminds me of the Rap artist that had cds out in which 1 song would be dedicated to God, alot of people said "see this isnt bad music". but after all we really know what is going on.

I understand that, my point however is that the holiday moves. Just as the Esbats move. When the Catholics took over they tried to keep as many of the traditions as possible to keep everyone happy. That was all I was saying, I know it is not the same, but it was similar, so less of an uproar.

I don't think anyone else will understand this but you.

Yes, I understand that Passover is not a High day. It was the preparation for the high high, and the day Christ was killed.

But, it was a meal, and God calls it one of His Feasts in Lev 23. The entire days of unleavened bread were sometimes called the Passover--apparently even by God.

For example, in Deut 16 it is not speaking of the Passover proper. The entire chapter is only speaking of the 3 pilgrimage feasts. It does not include the Passover proper, Trumpets, or Atonement.

Thus when it speaks of Passover, it begins with the first day of Unleavened Bread. For this reason, the time mentioned is evening, not ben har arbyim, between the evenings. The word Roast in the KJV is really cook, not roast as it must be for the passover. For this reason it mentions six days of unleavened bread. So, God also refers to Passover as the days of unleavened bread.

I hope I made this clear, and did not assume too much:

Did you follow the reasoning on the video?

Art

Not exactly. The Passover is figured on the Hebrew Calendar, and Easter on the Roman one.

The pagan emperor Constantine changed the Church practice from Passover to Easter about 300 years after Christ. The churches in the east--John's churches mentioned in Rev 2-3 were still keeping the Passover. The Roman churches had adopted the pagan Easter. Since Rome was the capital of the empire they taught that they were the headquarters for the Church of God. Therefore, much of the empire, unknowingly, followed them. In 325 A.D. Constantine wrote:

When the question relative to the sacred festival of Easter arose, it was universally thought that it would be convenient that all should keep the feast on one day; ...it was declared particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom of the Jews, who have soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded.... We ought not, therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews,... in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews, for it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without their direction we could not keep this feast... They do not possess the truth in this Easter question; a Divine Providence wills that this custom should be rectified and regulated in a uniform way; and everyone, I hope, will agree upon this point. As, on the one hand, it is our duty not to have anything in common with the murderers of our Lord; and as, on the other, the custom now followed by the Churches of the West, of the South and of the North, and by some of those of the East, is the most acceptable....You should consider not only that the number of churches in these provinces make a majority, but also that it is right we should have nothing in common with the Jews.

In the Nicene council, the decision was made to universally adopt the observance of Easter. This law then became binding for all who professed Christianity. From that time forward, those who were a part of the Roman Empire celebrated Easter, and those who held fast to the teaching of Christ and the apostles went underground to keep their faith.
In this context, it is very important to consider why this decision was made. Was this judgment legitimate? Did it have God's approval? The Emperor's letter outlines three main reasons for his historic decision. They are listed below:

Three Reasons Why Emperor Constantine Changed the Passover to Easter

1. It was convenient for all to keep the same day.
2. The majority were already keeping Easter
3. To have nothing in common with the Jews

When it came to the decision regarding the Passover, there was no mention of what the Holy Scriptures said about God's feast, no reference to what Christ practiced, and no allusion to what the apostle John had taught. There was no regard for what Paul taught the Gentile Churches. There was certainly no reference to the verse that states that the Jews were given the unique role in all human history to preserve the sacred scriptures (Romans 3:1-3).
The church was now made part of the Roman empire. The Roman church leaders influenced the emperor, and he, rather than God, dictated what the church was to believe and practice - all based on political reasons, not on Scripture.

Art

Something professing Christians need to Consider

Most of you think that you can worship Christ on Easter. You probably did not know that the witches often laugh at you. The reason is that you attack their beliefs, and yet you don't know that you actually worship their gods. They know this. They know who Easter is and who Samhain is, and worship these gods openly.

We who profess to reject them in favor of Jesus, actually legitimatize them. It is a great irony.

The original Church founded by Jesus Christ did not celebrate Easter! The early Christians understood that Easter was a pagan observance, and as such, condemned by God. Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia reveals the true origin of this holiday:

The name Easter comes from the ancient Anglo Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre or Ostara, in whose honor an annual spring festival was held. Some of our Easter customs have come from this and other pre-Christian spring festivals. (Vol 4 p. 140)

The goddess Eostre, or Ostara, is the Anglo Saxon equivalent of the Babylonian Ishtar and the Phoenician Astarte. The Wiccan website, Temple of the Dark Moon explains:

This festival is named after the Anglo-Saxon Goddess Eostre, also known in Old German as Ostara. Little is known about this Goddess except that Her festival was celebrated at the Spring Equinox, and became Easter. She was a Goddess of Fertility and was connected with hares and eggs. She may have been a Goddess of the Dawn. She may also be connected with the Greek Eos and the Roman Aurora, both Dawn Goddesses, and with the Babylonian Ishtar and Phoenician Astarte, both who are Love Goddesses.

They know of what they worship, and some of us do not.

Art

just because the original meaning behind easter is pagan, doesn't mean that christians worship anything besides christ on easter. i use the day to remember his sacrifice for me and his resurrection. the only thing in common with the pagan tradition is the day is happens on, and the name. other than that i am just remembering what christ did for me on that day. i don't think any practicing christians would claim they are worshipping anything else on easter, so i don't think they can be faulted for it.

Shalom Dreamer

I do not see how you can fet a 7 day feast out of this if it includes the Passover. It says that on the 15th day you shall start to eat unleavened bread. Pssaover is niether called a feast day or a Holy Day.


Lev 23:4-8
"'These are Yahweh's appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: 5 Yahweh's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6 On the fifteenth day of that month Yahweh's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. 7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 8 For seven days present an offering made to Yahweh by fire. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.'"
NIV


Then Yahshua at the Passover and Judas is going to go buy stuff.


John 13:21-30
After he had said this, Yahshua was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Yahshua loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."

25 Leaning back against Yahshua, he asked him, "Master, who is it?"

26 Yahshua answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

"What you are about to do, do quickly," Yahshua told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Yahshua said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Yahshua was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
NIV

Now this is after the Passover meal they had and the disciples thought Judas was going to go buy something. This could not of been a High Sabbath as it is unlawfull.

Now here we see what you are speaking of. The thing is again if this was a High Day thier is no work to be done. But they say in preparation.

Matt 26:17
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Yahshua, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
KJV

This is a phrase of the Jews. Just relaying the time of season it was not the scriptual ordinances for it.

Then the evening that was appoaching after Yahshua's death. They call it a High Day. Thier are not 2 high days or sabbaths together except for Pentecost. It can happen some years though.


Luke 23:52-54

52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Yahshua.

53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
KJV
This was a High sabbath as you well know

John 19:40-42

40 Then took they the body of Yahshua, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

42 There laid they Yahshua therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
KJV


Now if we go back to Lev 23 and Yahweh's feasts and read again..

Lev 23:5-8
5 The Yahweh's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6 On the fifteenth day of that month the Yahweh's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. 7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly Yahweh clearly states here that the 15th day is a High Holy Day and do no regular work. 8 For seven days present an offering made to Yahweh by fire. And on the seventh day Here again he says on the 7th day to do no work again a High Sabbath 7 days from the 15th not the 14th Passover..... hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.'"
NIV
Shalom.. May Yahweh Be With You.. Miles ps this feast and FOT are covenents made by blood. This signifying the circumsion made without hands....Halleluyah

Hi Miles, I am not making myself clear. You and I agree that the Passover is the 14, and the 15th is the first high day beginning the feast of unleavened bread. They are separate observances. The only tiny issue I have is what they are sometimes called in the Bible.

If God says that these are my feasts, and then He defines the Passover, that means the Passover is one of His feasts, not that it is a high day or holy day, or commanded assembly or anything like it. It is a feast. They eat it.

All I was saying was that the Jewish people sometimes called the Passover by the term, days of unleavened bread. The reason is because they ate unleavened bread on that day. As you quoted:

Matt 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Yahshua, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

This first day was actually the 14th day, the Passover proper, a day of preparation.

But, confusing matters, they also called the entire 7 days of unleavened bread the Passover.

Luk 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

All I meant by my other post was that while these days are entirely separate according to the scriptures, perhaps because they are so closely associated with one another, God Himself seems to call the entire period the Passover just like they do in Luke 22:1. I say this because Deuteronomy 16 is not talking about the Passover proper. It does not include the literal Passover on the 14 day. It is speaking of the three pilgrimage feasts, the first one of which is the first day of unleavened bread, the 15th day of the first monty. For that reason, God says:

Deu 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, 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.

God brought them out on the 15th not the 14th, but He calls the time they came out the Passover.

Deu 16:2 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.

Passover was a domestic sacrifice not a temple one. Thus, this is speaking of the sacrifice of the first day of ULB. We can be certain of that because it is from the flock and herd. The herd is bovine. It is oxen, not a sheep or goat. This means that God is not speaking about the Passover proper, the 14th that required only a lamb or goat.

Deu 16:3 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.

Thus, we see it is the first day of unleavened bread, and they are to eat the bread seven days. But still God called called it the passover. Continuing the example:

Deu 16:5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:

But the Passover was to be sacrificed within their gates. Thus this is referring to the offerings given on the first day of Unleavened bread, but it is called Passover.

Deu 16:6 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.

Here again, this cannot refer to the Passover proper, but is the first day of Unleavened bread. The Passover proper is sacrificed at ben ha arbyim, between the evenings. This is saying to do it at sunset. It is the 15th but is still called Passover.

Deu 16:7 And thou shalt roast (cook) 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.

Again, this can't be the Passover proper because the word roast is really cook or boil, and God says not to boil the Passover proper. So, its not Passover, but is called passover.

Deu 16:8 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.

So, the fact that they were to keep 6 more days of unleavened bread shows that God has been speaking about the 15th day, the first day of unleavened bread all this time, but calls the entire 7 day observance the Passover.

Do you see what Point I make? I am not saying that the Passover is any other day than the 14th. I am not saying that the Passover is a holy day. It is a day of preparation. I am not saying that the days of ULB are any other than the 15th through 21st.

It is absolutely clear to me that the Bible separates these two observances in terms of what is to be done on them, but some times the Bible calls the entire period of the days of unleavened bread the Passover.

All I am saying is that I cannot fault the Jewish people for calling the days of unleavened bread the Passover because the Bible actually does it too.

It is a miniscule point, but every point of truth is important.
My only reason for the post was just a clarification, and it seems I have confused you.

Art