Pope Francis's Encyclical Letter "FRATELLI TUTTI" 2020 / Enciclica Papei Francisc "Fratteli Tutti" 2020

 

The Plain Truth About Easter

The Resurrection was not on Easter Sunday! Easter is not a Christian name, but the title of the idolatrous "queen of heaven." Here's an explanation of the true origin and meaning of Lent, Easter eggs, and sunrise services!

WHY DO you believe the things you believe, do the things you do?

The chances are you never stopped to ask yourself that question. You have been taught since childhood to accept Easter as the chief of the Christian holidays.

You have supposed it is part of the true Christian religion to observe Lent, "Holy Week," "Good Friday," to buy hot cross buns at the bakery, to have colored Easter eggs, to dress up and go to church Easter Sunday—perhaps to attend an Easter sunrise service!

Because of the "sheep" instinct in humans, most of us believe a lot of things that are not true. Most of us do a lot of things that are wrong, supposing these things to be right, or even sacred!

Ishtar the Pagan Goddess

What is the meaning of the name "Easter"? You have been led to suppose the word means "resurrection of Christ." For 1600 years the Western world has been taught that Christ rose from the dead on Sunday morning. But that is merely one of the fables the Apostle Paul warned readers of the New Testament to expect. The resurrection did not occur on Sunday!

The name "Easter," which is merely the slightly changed English spelling of the name of the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian goddess Ishtar, comes to us from old Teutonic mythology where it is known as Ostern. The Phoenician name of this goddess was Astarte, consort of Baal, the sun god, whose worship is denounced by the Almighty in the Bible as the most abominable of all pagan idolatry.

Look up the word "Easter" in Webster's dictionary. You will find it clearly reveals the pagan origin of the name.

In the large five-volume Hastings Dictionary of the Bible, only six brief lines are given to the name "Easter," because it occurs only once in the Bible—and that only in the Authorized King James translation. Says Hastings: "Easter, used in Authorized Version as the translation of 'Pascha' in Acts 12:4, 'Intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.' Revised Standard Version has substituted correctly 'the Passover.'"

Apostles Observed Passover

The World Almanac, 1968 edition, page 187, says: "In the second century A.D., Easter Day was, among Christians in Asia Minor [that is, in the Churches at Ephesus, Galatia, etc.—the so called "Gentile" churches raised up by the Apostle Paul] the 14th of Nisan, the seventh month of the Jewish [civil] calendar." In other words, the 14th day of the first month of the sacred calendar, and it was not then called by the name of the pagan deity "Easter," but by the Bible name "Passover."

Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the holy days God had ordained forever were all observed by Jesus, and the early apostles, and the converted Gentile Christians (Acts 2:1; 12:3; 18:21; 20:6, 16; I Corinthians 5:7-8; 16:8). Passover is a memorial of the crucifixion of Christ (Luke 22:19). Passover, observed by the early true Church, occurred not on Sunday or any fixed day of the week, but on a calendar day of the year. The day of the week varies from year to year.

Easter is one of the pagan days Paul warned Gentile converts they must not return to observing (Galatians 4:9-10).

How, then, did this pagan festival enter into and fasten itself upon a professing Christianity? That is a surprising story—but first, notice the true origin and nature of Easter.

Its Chaldean Origin

Easter, as Alexander Hislop says (The Two Babylons, p. 103), "bears its Chaldean origin on its very forehead. Easter is nothing else than Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven. . . ."

The ancient gods of the pagans had many different names. While this goddess was called Astarte by the Phoenicians, it appears on Assyrian monuments found by Layard in excavations at Nineveh as Ishtar (Austen H. Layard, Nineveh and Babylon, Vol. II, p. 629). Both were pronounced "Easter." Likewise, Bel (referred to in the Old Testament), also was called Molech. It was for sacrificing to Molech (I Kings 11:1-11, especially verse 7, where Molech is called an abomination) and other pagan gods that the Eternal condemned Solomon, and rended away the Kingdom of Israel from his son.

In the ancient Chaldean idolatrous sun-worship, as practiced by the Phoenicians, Baal was the sun god; Astarte, his consort or wife. And Astarte is the same as Ishtar, or the English "Easter."

Says Hislop: "The festival, of which we read in Church history, under the name of Easter, in the third or fourth centuries, was quite a different festival from that now observed in the Romish [and Protestant] Church, and at that time was not known by any such name as Easter. It was called Pascha, or the Passover, and . . . was very early observed by many professing Christians. . . . That festival agreed originally with the time of the Jewish Passover, when Christ was crucified. . . . That festival was not idolatrous, and it was preceded by no Lent" (The Two Babylons, p. 104).

Where Did We Get Lent?

"Howbeit you should know," wrote Johannes Cassianus (John Cassian) in the fifth century, "that as long as the primitive church retained its perfection unbroken, this observance of Lent did not exist" (First Conference Abbot Theonas, chapter 30).

Jesus observed no Lent. The apostles and the early true Church of God observed no Lenten season. Then how did this observance originate?

"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 . . ." (The Two Babylons, pp. 104, 105). In fact this Egyptian Lent of forty days was observed expressly in honor of Osiris, also known as Adonis in Syria and Tammuz in Babylonia (Sabaean Researches, by John Landseer, pp. 111, 112).

Do you realize what has happened? God Almighty commanded His people to observe the Passover forever! (Exodus 12:24.) This command was given while the Israelites were still in Egypt, prior to the Old Covenant, or the Law of Moses! It pictured, before the crucifixion, Christ's death for the remission of our sins, as a type looking forward to it. At His last Passover, Jesus changed the emblems used from the blood of a lamb and eating its roasted body to the bread and wine.

Jesus did not abolish Passover—He merely changed the emblems, or symbols used. All the apostles of Christ and true Christians of the first century true Church observed it on the 14th day of the first month of the sacred calendar. It is now a memorial of Christ's death, reaffirming, year by year on its anniversary, the true Christian's faith in the blood of Christ for the remission of his sins, and the broken body of Christ for his physical healing.

But what has happened? Do you realize it? All Western nations have been deceived into dropping the festival God ordained forever to commemorate the death of the true Saviour for our sins, and substituting in its place the pagan festival in commemoration of the counterfeit "savior" and mediator Baal, the sun god, named after the mythical Ishtar, his wife—actually none other than the ancient Semiramis, who palmed herself off as the wife of the sun god, the idolatrous "queen of heaven."

This is not Christian! It is pagan to the core!

Yet scores of millions are deceived into observing this form of heathen idolatry, under the delusion they are honoring Jesus Christ the Son of the Creator God!

Easter does not honor Christ! And yet, have you not been like a blind sheep, following the other millions in observing this custom? "The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30).

Dyed Eggs

But did you know that dyed Easter eggs also figured in the ancient Babylonian mystery rites, just as they do in Easter observance today? Yes, these are pagan, too.

It is recorded in Edward Davies' The Mythology and Rites of the British Druids, page 210, that the ancient Druids bore an egg as the sacred emblem of their idolatrous order.

Eggs were sacred to many ancient civilizations and formed an integral part of the religious ceremonies in Egypt and in the Orient.

According to James Bonwick: "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" (Egyptian Belief and Modern Thought, pp. 211-212).

Why do people who believe themselves to be Christians dye eggs at Easter? Do they suppose the Bible ordained, or commands, this heathen custom? There is not a word of it in the New Testament. Certainly Christ did not start it, and the apostles and early Christians did none of it!

Then why should you do it today? Why follow heathenism and try to convince yourself you are a Christian? God calls such things abomination!

Easter Sunrise Services

You think Easter sunrise services are beautiful? Listen! God was showing the Prophet Ezekiel the sins of His people in a vision—a prophecy for today! "Turn thee yet again," said God, "and thou shalt see greater abominations than these [Ezekiel had just been shown, in vision, idol worship among professing people of God]. And he brought me [in vision] into the inner court of the Eternal's house, and behold . . . between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with . . . their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing . . . that they commit the abominations which they commit here? . . . Therefore will I deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them"! (Ezekiel 8:15-18.)

Do you grasp at this most abominable thing is?

It is the identical thing millions are doing every Easter Sunday morning—the sunrise service—standing with their faces toward the east, as the sun is rising, in a service of worship which honors the sun god and his mythical idolatrous consort, goddess Easter. Yes, deceived into believing this is Christian, millions practice every Easter the identical form of the ancient sun worship of the sun god Baal! Throughout the Bible this is revealed as the most abominable of all idolatry in the sight of the Eternal Creator!

How Easter Crept Into the Church

Such is the origin and early history of Easter.

How, then, was this pagan festival injected into professing Christian religion, as a substitute for an ordinance of God?

Before revealing briefly the astonishing account of this great deception, two facts must be firmly fixed in mind.

First, Jesus and the apostles foretold, not a universal, widespread popular growth of the true New Testament Church, but a falling away from the truth on the part of the great majority. Prophesying a popular, universal falling away from the faith once delivered, to the Thessalonians Paul stated, "The mystery of iniquity doth already work," only some 20 years after the Church began! He referred to the very "Chaldean Mysteries," of which Easter and Christmas were the two chief festivals!

Second, although Jesus said the gates of hell would never prevail against His church, yet it is prophesied in the New Testament to be the "little flock"—never as a great, large, popular universal church (Luke 12:32).

This is the very fact the world does not realize today!

TWO Churches—-One False, One True

In New Testament prophecy two churches are described.

One, the great and powerful and universal church, a part of the world, actually ruling in its politics over many nations, and united with the "Holy Roman Empire," is brought to a concrete focus in Revelation 17.

This church is pictured with great pomp, ritual and display, decked in purple, scarlet and gold—proud, worldly, boastful. She is pictured as a universal deceiver—all the Western nations spiritually drunk with her false doctrines, their spiritual perception so blurred by her paganized teachings and practices they are unable to clearly distinguish truth! She boasts she is the true Church, yet she is drunken with the blood of the saints she has caused to be martyred!

But how could she have deceived the whole world, as foretold in God's Word? Surely, the Protestant world isn't deceived!

Oh, but it is! Notice, verse 5, she is a mother church!. Her daughters are also churches who have come out of her, in protest, calling themselves Protestant—but they are fundamentally of her family in pagan doctrines and practices!

They, too, make themselves a part of this world, taking active part in its politics—the very act which made a "harlot" out of their mother!

The entire apostate family—mother, and more than 400 daughter denominations, all divided against each other and in confusion of doctrines, yet all united in the chief pagan doctrines and festivals—has a family name! They call themselves "Christian," but God calls them something else—"Mystery, Babylon the Great"!

"Babylon" means confusion! God always names people and things by calling them what they are! And here are the identical ancient Babylonian Mysteries now wrapped in the false cloak labeled "Christianity"—but in fact it is the same old "Babylonian Mystery System."

But where, then, was the true Church?

TRUE Church Small—Scattered

Did the true Church of God, of which Jesus Christ is the living, directing Head, become perverted—did it merely apostatize into the system described above?

No! The gates of hell have never prevailed against the true Church of God, and never will! The true Church has never fallen! It has never ceased!

But the true Church of God is pictured in prophecy as the "little flock"! The New Testament describes this Church as continually persecuted, despised by the large popular churches because it is not OF this world or its politics, but has kept itself unspotted from the world! It has always kept the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 12:17). It has kept God's Festivals, not the pagan holidays. It has been empowered with the Spirit of God!

That Church never became the great popular church, as the Protestant world supposes! That Church has always existed, and it exists today!

Then where did it go? Where was it during the Middle. Ages? Where is it today?

First, remember this Church was never large, never politically powerful, or a world-known organization of men. It is a spiritual organism, not a political organization. It is composed of all whose hearts and lives have been changed by the Spirit of God, whether visibly together, or individually scattered.

Under the lash of continual persecution and opposition from the organized forces of this world, it is difficult for such a people to remain united and organized together.

Daniel prophesied the true people of God would be scattered (Daniel 12:7). Ezekiel foretold it (Ezekiel 34:5-12). Jeremiah, too (Jeremiah 23:1-2). Jesus foretold it (Matthew 26:31). The apostolic Church was soon scattered by persecution (Acts 8:1).

Ignored by Most Histories

You don't read much of this true Body of Christ in the secular histories of this world! No, the world little notes, nor long remembers, the activities of this "little flock," hated and despised by the world, driven to the wilderness by persecution, always opposed, usually scattered! But there are enough references to it in authentic histories to show that it has continued through every century to now!

The prophecies bring this Church into concrete focus in the 12th chapter of Revelation. There she is shown spiritually, in the glory and splendor of the Spirit of God, but visibly in the world as a persecuted Commandment-keeping Church driven into the wilderness, for 1260 years, through the Middle Ages!

Even in Paul's day, many among those attending at Antioch, at Jerusalem, at Ephesus, at Corinth, and other places, began to apostatize and turn away from the truth. Divisions sprang up. Those individuals, unconverted or turned from God's truth and way of life, were no part of God's true Church, though visibly assembling with those who were. The "mystery of iniquity" was already working inside these visible churches. This apostasy increased! By the year AD 125 the majority in most churches, especially those Gentile-born, were continuing in many of their old pagan beliefs and practices, though professing to be Christian! Gradually, a smaller and smaller portion of the visible churches going by the name "Christian" remained truly yielded to God and His truth, and led of His Spirit. After Constantine took virtual control of the visible, professing Church in the early fourth century, this visible organization became almost wholly pagan, and began excommunicating and persecuting all who held to the true Word of God! Finally, it became necessary for real Christians, who, even as a scattered people, alone composed the true Christian Church, to flee from the jurisdiction of Rome in order truly to worship God! Thus, the visible, organized Church which rose to power was the FALSE Church—the fallen woman of Revelation 17.

Injected Into the Church

Nothing illustrates this very fact more vividly than the actual history of the injecting of Easter into the Western Church.

Here is the quick, brief history of it, from the Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition, Vol. VIII, pp. 828-829):

"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 [the original true Church] continued to observe the Jewish [that is, God's] festivals, though in a new spirit, as commemorations of events which those festivals had foreshadowed. Thus the Passover, with a new conception added to it, of Christ as the true Paschal Lamb and the first fruits from the dead, continued to be observed.

"Although the observance of Easter was at a very early period in the practice of the Christian Church, a serious difference as to the day for its observance soon arose between the Christians of Jewish and those of Gentile descent, which led to a long and bitter controversy. With the Jewish Christians . . . the fast ended . . . on the 14th day of the moon at evening . . . without regard to the day of the week. The Gentile Christians on the other hand [that is, the beginning of the Roman Church, now substituting pagan for true Christian doctrines] . . . identified the first day of the week with the resurrection, and kept the preceding Friday as the commemoration of the crucifixion, irrespective of the day of the month.

"Generally speaking, the Western Churches [Catholic] kept Easter on the 1st day of the week, while the Eastern Churches [containing most of those who remained as part of the true Christian Church] followed the Jewish rule. [That is, observing Passover on the 14th of the first sacred month instead of the pagan Easter.]

"Polycarp, the disciple of John the Evangelist, and bishop of Smyrna, visited Rome in 159 [sic] to confer with Anicetus, the bishop of that see, on the subject, and urged the tradition which he had received from the apostles of observing the 14th day. Anicetus, however, declined. About forty years later (197), the question was discussed in a very different spirit between Victor, bishop of Rome, and Polycrates, metropolitan of proconsular Asia [the territory of the Churches at Ephesus, Galatia, Antioch, Philadelphia, and all those mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3—the Churches established through the Apostle Paul]. That province was the only portion of Christendom which still adhered to the Jewish usage. Victor demanded that all should adopt the usage prevailing at Rome. This Polycrates firmly refused to agree to, and urged many weighty reasons to the contrary, whereupon Victor proceeded to excommunicate Polycrates and the Christians who continued the Eastern usage [that is, who continued in God's way, as Jesus, Peter, Paul, and all the early true Church had done]. He was, however, restrained [by other bishops] from actually proceeding to enforce the decree of excommunication . . . and the Asiatic churches retained their usage unmolested. We find the Jewish [true Christian Passover] usage from time to time reasserting itself after this, but it never prevailed to any large extent.

"A final settlement of the dispute was one among the other reasons which led Constantine to summon the council at Nicaea in 325. At that time the Syrians and Antiochenes were the solitary champions of the observance of the 14th day. 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 hereafter should follow the blindness of the Jews.' [That is, in plain language, the Roman Church now decreed that none should be allowed to follow the ways of Christ—of the true Christian Church!]

". . . The few who afterwards separated themselves from the unity of the church [the politically organized Church], and continued to keep the 14th day, were named 'Quartodecimani,' and the dispute itself is known as the 'Quartodeciman controversy.'"

Thus you see how the politically organized church at Rome grew to great size and power by adopting popular pagan practices and how she gradually stamped out the true teachings, doctrines, and practices of Jesus Christ and the true Church, so far as any collective practice is concerned.

True Christians Kept Passover

The New Testament reveals that Jesus, the apostles, and the New Testament Church, both Jewish- and Gentile-born, observed God's Sabbaths, and God's Festivals—weekly and annually! Take your Bible and carefully read Acts 2:1; 12:3-4 (remember the word "Easter" here is a mistranslation in the King James Version—originally inspired "Passover," and so corrected in the Revised Standard Version); Acts 18:21; 20:6, 16; I Corinthians 16:8.

Eusebius, historian of the early centuries of the Church, speaks of the true Christians observing Passover on the 14th of Nisan, first month of the Sacred Calendar.

"A question of no small importance arose at that time. For the parishes of all Asia, as from an older tradition, held that the fourteenth day of the moon, on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should be observed as the feast of the Savior's passover . . . the bishops of Asia, led by Polycrates, decided to hold to the old custom handed down to them. He himself, in a letter which he addressed to Victor and the church of Rome, set forth in the following words the tradition which had come down to him:

"'We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord's coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles . . . and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord . . . and Polycarp in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, bishop and martyr from Eumenia . . . the bishop and martyr Sagaris . . . the blessed Papirius, or Melito. . . . All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith"' (Ecclesiastical History, book V, chapters XXIII and XXIV).

But as the false, paganized church grew in size and political power, decrees were passed in the fourth century AD imposing the death sentence upon Christians found keeping God's Sabbath, or God's Festivals. Finally, in order to keep the true way of God, many Christians (composing the true Church) fled for their lives.

But another large portion of the true Church of God, failing to flee, yet remaining true to God's truth, paid with their lives in martyrdom (Revelation 2:13; 6:9; 13-15; 17:6; 18:24).

They loved obedience to God more than their lives! Do you?

But through all generations, through every century, though persecuted, scattered, unrecognized by the world, many true Christians have kept alive the true Church of God—the Church composed of those who have the Holy Spirit of God.

What God Did Command

The "communion," often called the "Lord's Supper," is actually the Passover—as the ordinance should more properly be called. On observing the Passover, as on every practice, Jude exhorts "that ye should contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints."

Now that we know the pagan origin of the Easter celebration, let's clear away the web of error that covers the truth about keeping the Passover, the memorial of Christ's death.

Let's examine the way Jesus observed this ordinance, because we can't be wrong if we follow His example. In Luke 22:14-20, we read, "And when the hour was come, he [Jesus] sat down. . . . And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

Notice, it was "when the hour was come," that Jesus introduced the unleavened bread and the wine. There was a definite time—a definite hour—when He held this ordinance as an example for us.

Notice, too, He commanded them to observe it—"This do"! And why? "In remembrance of me," said Jesus. He instituted this New Testament way of keeping the Passover, on that tragic night, the very eve of His death.

In Matthew's account, the Bible shows that this ordinance was at the very time of the Passover, "as they were eating" (Matthew 26:2, 26). Jesus knew that His time had come. He was our passover, sacrificed for us (I Corinthians 5:7).

The Passover had always been held on the eve of the 14th of God's first month, according to the Sacred or Jewish Calendar. It was the night of the final and last Passover supper that Jesus introduced these New Testament emblems—the unleavened bread and the wine—in place of the lamb that was always slain annually. (For a full explanation of the original Passover as God instituted it, see Mr. Armstrong's booklet Pagan Holidays or God's Holy Days—Which?)

Remember Jesus commanded: "This do in remembrance of me." Why? Because the Passover was commanded "forever."

The Passover was to be observed annually, along with the Days of Unleavened Bread. "Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season year to year" (Exodus 13:10). Jesus set us an example (I Peter 2:21), observing this ordinance at the same time once a year (Luke 2:42). Suppose the Israelites in Egypt had observed this ordinance at some other time than that set by God? They would not have been saved when the death angel passed by that night! God does things on time. He has given us an exact time for this ordinance. Jesus instituted the New Testament symbols "when the hour was come."

The Ordinance of Humility

In giving us their accounts, Matthew, Mark and Luke describe the taking of unleavened bread and wine. But John relates another part of this ordinance.

In the 13th chapter of John we notice that after the Passover supper was ended (verse 2), Jesus took a towel (verse 4)and began to wash His disciples' feet (verse 5).

"So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:12-15).

If any of you are wondering if this ordinance of humility is a command to you, then turn to Matthew 28:19-20. Here Jesus said to these same disciples: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them . . . teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded YOU." So they were to teach us to observe all things whatsoever Jesus commanded them!

Kept Once a Year in the Apostolic Church

In I Corinthians 5:7-8, Paul tells the Corinthians: Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven . . . but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." And in the 11th chapter he gives the directions regarding this ordinance.

Some misunderstand verse 26 which says: "As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup," by interpreting it "take it as often as you wish." But it does not say that!

It says "as often" as you observe it, "ye do show the Lord's death till he come." Even Jesus commanded, "This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (verse 25). We do it in remembrance of the Lord's death—a memorial of His death. As you know, memorials are celebrated annually, once a year, on the anniversary of the events commemorated. So we observe the memorial of Christ's death annually. And just as often as each year comes around, we are to "show the Lord's death till he come," by keeping this memorial.

Christ instituted this ordinance on the eve of His death. It was the 14th of Abib, by God's Sacred Calendar, in the very beginning of the day. God starts days at sunset, not midnight. So, later that same day, after Jesus had gone out to Gethsemane, Judas Iscariot led the crowd to seize Jesus. Then He was crucified later that same day, in the daylight part of this same 14th of the month Abib.

By following the example of Jesus in observing this sacred ordinance at the same time He did—the very same time the Passover was forever commanded to be observed—we continue to remember His death, annually, on the eve of the crucifixion.

Some always question the meaning of Paul in verses 27-29 in I Corinthians 11. The apostle is not speaking about a Christian being worthy or unworthy to take it. It is speaking of the manner in which it is done. We take it unworthily if we take it wrongly, in the wrong manner. Once we learn the truth about its observance, and yet take it at any other time than when God says, then we take it unworthily. We take it unworthily if we do not accept the body and blood of Christ. So let's not take this most sacred ordinance to our condemnation, but take it worthily instead!

"Easter" a Mistranslation

Following the example of Jesus and the apostles, the early Church observed the Passover, and the Days of Unleavened Bread which immediately followed. Notice Acts 12:3. The Holy Spirit of God inspired these words: Then were the days of unleavened bread." But in the next verse we read of "Easter."

We have already seen that "Easter" was injected into the Church years after the time of Christ. Again, this word Easter" is a mistranslation. The original Greek word is pascha, meaning Passover. In every other place, exactly the same word is used in the original and always rendered Passover. Many other translations, including the New King James Version, faithfully render this verse in Acts as "intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people."

So this verse, instead of mentioning Easter, really proves that the Church, ten years after the death of Christ, was still observing Passover.

What Does "Break Bread" Mean?

There are some denominations that read Acts 20:7 as a proof that the "Lord's Supper" should be taken each Sunday morning! First notice that this was after the Days of Unleavened Bread (verse 6). Paul was preaching a farewell meeting, not on Sunday morning, but on Saturday night. It was after midnight (verse 7), that they broke bread because they were hungry. When they "had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day," Paul departed.

So this was just an ordinary meal!

The same expression "break bread" is found in Acts 27:34-35. "Wherefore I pray you to take some meat . . . he took bread . . . and when he had broken it, he began to eat." Also Acts 2:46: "And breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness." This could not possibly have been the "Lord's Supper" or, more properly, Passover, because Paul says that if we take it to satisfy our hunger we take it to our condemnation (I Corinthians 11:34). In that day, everyone "broke bread" at ordinary meals, because they did not have the kind of bread that we slice. Jesus broke bread because it was at the Passover supper, while eating a meal.

We need to return to the faith once delivered. Let us humbly and obediently observe this sacred ordinance as we are commanded, at the scriptural time, after sunset, the 14th of Abib according to the Sacred Calendar. (If you haven't as yet read about the observance of this ordinance, see How Often Should We Partake of the Lord's Supper?)

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Christians Kept the Passover

Jesus Christ kept the Passover. So did the Apostle John. And so did some Christians in Scotland even until the 7th century AD.

This information comes from no less an ecclesiastical authority than the church historian Bede. His Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation would astound many who have assumed that Christ and the early apostles all kept Easter.

He writes that "John, following the customs of the Law, used to begin the Feast of Easter [actually the Passover] on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month, whether it fell on the Sabbath or on any other day" (III, 25).

The Apostle John was the author of five books of the New Testament and the "disciple whom Jesus loved." Yet he kept the Passover on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) just as God commanded in the time of Moses. That is the plain statement of this early Catholic theologian!

But where did John's custom come from? From the very example of Jesus Christ! "Nor did our Lord, the Author and Giver of the Gospel, eat the old Passover or institute the Sacrament of the New Testament to be celebrated by the Church in memory of His Passion on . . . [any other day], but on the fourteenth" (Eccl. History, III, 25).

Bede thus reiterates what the Bible itself plainly tells us—that Christ partook of the old Passover and then substituted the New Testament symbols of the bread and wine on the 14th of the first month.

The custom of keeping the New Testament Passover, after the example of Christ and John, persisted among isolated groups for centuries. Bede tells us that some faithful were still keeping it in Scotland in the 7th century! (II, 19.)

© 1973 Worldwide Church of God

Catholic priest killed in French church, attack claimed by Islamic State. The Vatican condemned the attack

• Prime Minister Manuel Valls branded the attack "barbaric" and said it was a blow to all Catholics and the whole of France.
• "We will stand together," Valls said on Twitter.
• "Horror. Everything is being done to trigger a war of religions," tweeted Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a former conservative prime minister who now heads the Senate's foreign affairs committee.
• The Archbishop of Rouen identified the slain priest as Father Jacques Hamel and said he was 84. The Vatican condemned what it said was a "barbarous killing".

A priest in his mid-80s was killed with a knife and another hostage seriously wounded on Tuesday in an attack on a church in northern France carried out by assailants linked to Islamic State.

Both attackers were shot dead by French police. Five people in all had been taken hostage. A police source said it appeared that the priest had his throat slit.

Speaking at the scene of the attack in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, French President Francois Hollande said France should "use all its means" in its war against the militant group, against which France has launched air strikes in Syria and Iraq.

The president called it a "dreadful terrorist attack" and told reporters the attackers had pledge allegiance to IS. The IS news agency Amaq said two of its "soldiers" had carried out the attack.

"We are put to the test yet again, Hollande said. "The threat remains very high."

The attack is the latest in a string of deadly assaults in Europe, including the mass killing in Nice, southern France, on Bastille Day and four incidents in Germany.

Many of the attacks have had links to Islamist militants and IS has called for supporters to target countries that it has been fighting, mainly in Iraq and Syria.

Tuesday's attack took place during morning mass at the Saint-Etienne parish church, south of Rouen in Normandy.

The investigation was handed to the anti-terrorist unit of the Paris prosecutor's office.

The Archbishop of Rouen identified the slain priest as Father Jacques Hamel and said he was 84, although others sources suggest he was born in 1930. The Vatican condemned what it said was a "barbarous killing".

French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told France Info radio that the perpetrators have been killed by France's BRI, an elite police anti-crime force, when they came out of the church.

Bomb squad officers aided by sniffer dogs scoured the church for any possible explosives.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls branded the attack "barbaric" and said it was a blow to all Catholics and the whole of France.

"We will stand together," Valls said on Twitter.

The attack will heap yet more pressure on Hollande to regain control of national security, with France already under a state of emergency 10 months ahead of a presidential election.

Iesiti din Babilon !

Sa nu combinam creștinismul cu paganitatea !

   Iubiti crestini haideti sa o rupem cu obiceiurile pagane si vrajitoresti mostenite din antichitate; iata ce zice Dumnezeu impotriva paganitatii in Tit2 : 11-13

11. Căci harul lui Dumnezeu, care aduce mântuire pentru toţi oamenii, a fost arătat

12. şi ne învaţă s-o rupem cu păgânătatea şi cu poftele lumeşti şi să trăim în veacul de acum cu cumpătare, dreptate şi evlavie,

13. aşteptând fericita noastră nădejde şi arătarea slavei marelui nostru Dumnezeu şi Mântuitor Isus Hristos.

Sa respectam Biblia!

              Iata o serie de obiceiuri pagane si vrajitoresti confirmate istoric si semnificatia lor reala: 

- sarbatorile de 1 martie (martisorul) si 8 martie (ziua mamei) semnifica inchinare la zeii Marte si Rhea chiar daca au radacini milenare recunoscute acestea sunt reminiscente ale unei credinte politeiste de care poporul nostru s-a dezis de aproape 2 milenii deci, a da si primi martisoare si a crede ca acestea rezolva unele probleme de protectie in fata unei divinitati, iubire, frumusete sau tinerete, e un obicei pagan provenit din politeism. 

- ziua indragostitilor (sfantul Valentin) semnifica inchinare la zeul Lupercus, iar „casatoriile” oficiate cu acest prilej sunt o hula in fata lui Dumnezeu si o blasfemie la adresa Cuvatului lui Dumnezeu privind legamantul de casnicie 

- Dragobetele e o sarbatoare pagana similara sf. Valentin dar tipica plaiurilor noastre mioritice cu care ne laudam si nu putem renunta la ea pentru ca face parte din „tezaurul” nostru folcloric atat de apreciat de turistii straini

- Obiceiurile de a manca sau a bea in cinstea unui om sau a unui eveniment, a face cinste cuiva cu bautura sau mancare, a inchina paharul urand "noroc" sau "sanatate", a ciocni paharul, a "inalta" paharul, a toasta, sunt obiceiuri oculte pagane, iata ce zice Biblia:"Dar pe voi, cari părăsiţi pe Domnul, cari uitaţi muntele Meu cel sfînt, cari puneţi o masă Norocului (Sau: Gad.), şi umpleţi un pahar în cinstea Soartei (Sau: Meni.), vă sortesc săbiei, şi toţi veţi pleca genunchiul ca să fiţi junghiaţi; căci Eu am chemat, şi n-aţi răspuns, am vorbit şi n-aţi ascultat, ci aţi făcut ce este rău înaintea Mea, şi aţi ales ce nu-Mi place."

- Obiceiul de a ura "noroc" sau "sanatate" unei persoane care stranuta e un obicei din Roma antica (in cultura Romei se credea in eliberarea sufletului prin stranut , rolul urarii fiind un ajutor in pastrarea sufletului) ; unii crestini ureaza "Domnul sa te binecuvanteze" unei persoane care stranuta dar trebuie sa stim ca nu avem voie sa "crestinam" un obicei vrajitoresc deci solutia corecta e sa renuntam la obiceiurile vrajitoresti. 

- bradul impodobit semnifica inchinare la zeul Baal 

- obiceiul de a da si primi cadouri de 24-25decembrie nu are legatura cu nasterea lui Isus ci semnifica inchinare la zeul Baal si cultul Saturnaliilor;

- nasterea lui Isus nu se numeste Craciun; Craciunul e numele unei sarbatori pagane (putem sa-L sarbatorim pe Isus si sa ne amintim de nasterea Lui dar fara sa combinam asta cu obiceiuri pagane) dar ziua de 25 Decembrie este sarbatoarea pagana a Zeului Soare (Sol Invictus la romani)

- obiceiuri de iarna precum coronita pusa pe usa sau in casa, nuielusa de Mos Nicolae si umblatul cu capra sunt obiceiuri pagane chiar cu tenta demonica (putem canta cantece despre nasterea lui Isus dar nu avem voie sa combinam aceste cantece cu obiceiul pagan al mersului cu capra, despre care si necrestin sa fii si tot sesizezi latura satanica a dansurilor si strigaturilor specifice obiceiurilor de anul nou si Boboteaza) 

- jertfirea porcului de Ignat (20 decembrie) e un ritual demonic (cei care cred ca avem voie sa mancam carne de porc pot sa o faca dar fara sa asociem asta cu ritualuri demonice de jertfire si mai ales consumul sangelui (sangerete), ca sa nu mai amintim faptul ca toate acestea au devenit ocazii de chef, betii si dezmat.

- sarbatoarea Revelionului semnifica inchinare la zeul Ianus si provine din antichitatea greco-romana; sarbatoarea Revelionului nu are legatura cu Biblia si nu are origine in sarbatorile evreilor din Biblie deoarece calendarul evreiesc e diferit de calendarul actual iar sarbatorile Biblice evreiesti nu au nici o legatura cu zeul Ianus si nici cu cultura antica greco-romana; 

- folosirea de artificii si petarde de revelion e un obicei vrajitoresc si demonic (focul, zgomotul, fumul, tipetele si sperieturile)

- in 24 iunie se “sarbatoresc” Sanzienele (sarbatoarea soarelui si a dragostei), cea mai mare sarbatoare pagana a anului si, culmea, admisa, chiar cu numele ei, in calendarul crestin-ortodox. Ea marcheaza inceputul verii, pentru ca pe 21 iunie este solstitiul de vara sau inceputul verii astronomice. Soarele se afla pe bolta in cel mai inalt punct deasupra Ecuatorului, iar pe pamant este ziua cea mai lunga si noaptea cea mai scurta.

- jocurile olimpice sunt deschise chiar si in prezent printr-un ritual demonic incluzand altarul, focul olimpic, templul zeitei Hera, rugaciune la zeul Apollo, preotese pagane

    Cele ce urmeaza sunt credinte false si sperante sau rugaminti pagane care nu au nimic in comun cu Biblia, sunt simple traditii si obiceiuri imprumutate din paganism si acceptate in ziua de azi ca fiind, vezi Doamne, atat de incetatenite, ca nu se poate renunta la ele, sunt considerate placute dar apar in momente cand trupul, sufletul si credinta trebuie sa se indrepte pe un sens unic : Dumnezeu.

- obiceiul rochiei albe de mireasa semnifica un viitor influentat numai de decizii corecte 

- voalul miresei semnifica protectia fata de rau 

- obiceiul domnisoarelor si cavalerilor de onoare semnifica ferirea de spirite rele 

- obiceiul folosirii buchetului miresei reprezinta alungarea spiritelor rele specifice magiei negre

- aruncarea buchetului miresei semnifica transmitere de noroc – norocul nu exista ci exista doar vointa sfanta a lui Dumnezeu 

- obiceiul "tortului miresei" semnifica fertilitate si era specific epocii politeiste

- obiceiul de a arunca confetti (orez, grau, bucatele de hartie colorate) semnifica fertilitate in traditia romana din peninsula Italica

- obiceiul lunii de miere semnifica dorinta de a naste un baiat 

- obiceiul de a arunca petale de trandafir semnifica credinciosie 

- ziua mortilor (1noiembrie) semnifica un festival pagan al mortilor transformat apoi in satanista sarbatoare de Halloween de care toti comerciantii profita si tinerii poarta danturi vampiriste, se drogheaza, se imbata si au comportamente diavolesti. 

- coroana pentru morti semnifica un sacrificiu iar florile pentru morti semnifica o jertfa draceasca

- haine negre de doliu semnifica ferirea de spirite rele ce bantuie in preajma mortului 

- sarbatorirea zilei de nastere semnifica apararea de spirite rele in traditia politeista a Romei antice (vezi zilele de nastere a impatatilor romani)

- tortul de zi de nastere si obiceiul lumanarilor pe tort semnifica inchinare la zeita Artemis 

- a opri ceasurile in casa unui mort e un obicei vrajitoresc 

- gestul si expresia de a bate in lemn semnifica alungarea raului si nu are nici un sens biblic crestin. Cand bati in lemn te rogi la ceva necunoscut , dar Domnul Dumnezeu unde este?

- verigheta si obiceiul de a impodobi degetul inelar de la mana stanga semnifica legarea sufletului femeii specific civilizatiilor antice politeiste

- obiceiul de a vopsi oua si obiceiul "iepurasului" semnifica inchinare la zeita Astarteea, denaturarea completa a credintei, zapacirea completa si complexa a bietilor copii in perioada sfintelor sarbatori pascale, chiar daca le denumim: Comemorarea mortii Domnului Isus sau Sarbatoarea Invierii Domnului Isus

-obiceiul de a saruta mana doamnelor precum si salutul "sarut mana" e un obicei de inchinare idolatra in fata femeii provenita din epoca antica a matriarhatului familial. Stim ca azi, conform Bibliei femeia e supusa barbatului (barbatul este protectorul femeii) si nu invers.

- obiceiul de a da jos palaria in fata unui om semnifica servitute (inchinarea nu are loc decat in fata Domnului Dumnezeu si nicidecum in fata altor oameni sau obiecte. De fapt oamenii se vor mai inchina doar la revenirea Domnului Isus, pana atunci pauza: ne rugam, credem, ne pocaim dar nu ne inchinam in fata vreunui om sau obiect

- Rusaliile (din latină rosalia) (corect Sarbatoarea Cincizecimii), cunoscute si drept Pogorârea (coborârea) Sfântului Duh (Sfântului Spirit), sunt o sărbătoare crestină importantă, prăznuită întotdeauna duminica, la 50 de zile după Pasti. De Rusalii este comemorată coborârea Sfântului Duh asupra ucenicilor lui Isus din Nazaret. Potrivit scrierilor Noului Testament (Faptele Apostolilor 2, 1-11) acest eveniment a avut loc în ziua rusaliilor evreiesti (Savuot), la 50 de zile de la învierea lui Isus din Nazaret. De aceea sărbătoarea crestină mai poartă denumirea de Cinzecime (în latină Pentecostes, în franceză Pentecôte, în germană Pfingsten, în maghiară Pünkösd etc.). La 50 de zile dupa Pasti, poporul roman serbeaza, timp de trei zile sau o saptamina (diferentieri zonale), Rusaliile.  Acestea sint personaje feminine (cvasi)malefice a caror existenta se petrece mai ales in vazduh, vara si in padure. Similar Ielelor, cu care uneori sunt confundate, una dintre calitatile lor principale este dansul deosebit de frumos. Danseaza in aer sau pe pamint, noaptea, asezate in cerc, dar, daca sint zarite de un muritor sau daca, din greseala cineva calca pe locul pe care au dansat (acolo iarba este arsa), acesta se imbolnaveste foarte grav de o boala numita, in limbaj popular, "luat de Rusalii".  Remediul magic-ritual impotriva acestor boli il ofereau, in sudul tarii si in Moldova, Calusarii.  Rusalii, latina Rosalia = sarbatoarea trandafirilor, constind in depunerea de trandafiri - rosae - pe morminte; rusaliile - femei fabuloase din categoria Ielelor, in mitologia romaneasca, fiicele lui Rusalim imparat; potrivit credintei populare, Rusaliile le iau oamenilor mintile. Acest mit - sarbatoare pagina - , a fost suprapusa ulterior peste sarbatoarea crestina postpascala (Pascha rosata sau Domenica rosarum) a Cincizecimii si devenita Duminica Rusaliilor cind casele sint imbodobite cu ramuri verzi. Sarbatoarea este legata de abundenta vegetala a verii. Caderea Rusaliilor este un dans frenetic cu prabusiri in somn hipnotic, practicat in Duminica Rusaliilor de femeile romance din zona Timoc, insa acesta este considerat mai degraba un caz izolat de datina locala. In Dobrogea romanizata, era obiceiul trandafirilor Rosalia de la sfirsitul primaverii, sarbatoare tinuta de credinciosi in relatie directa cu pomenirile din cultul mortilor.  Iele, fapturi feminine supranaturale intilnite in mitologia romaneasca, foarte raspindite in superstitii, carora nu li se poate stabili insa un profil precis, din cauza marii diversitati a variantelor folclorice. Totusi, cel mai frecvent, Ielele sint descrise ca niste fecioare zanatice, cu o mare putere de seductie si cu puteri magice  Sarbatoarea Cincizecimii (ce corespunde cu pogorarea Duhului Sfant) e Biblica si nu trebuie confundata cu sarbatoarea Rusaliilor care e o sarbatoare vrajitoreasca pagana din cultura Romei antice. Rusaliile nu sunt Biblice. Rusaliile au fost introduse in crestinism si combinate cu Cincizecimea de catre cultele greco-catolic si ortodox. Aceste 2 culte si deasemenea si cultul romano-catolic (ce au origine comuna) au introdus in crestinism multe elemente vrajitoresti pagane. Cuvantul Rusalia provine din latinescul Rosalia insemnand "ghirlanda de trandafiri" si denumeste festivalul roman al trandafirilor asociat cu cultul mortilor. Rusaliile nu apar in textele originale ale Bibliei si nici in diferite traduceri ale Bibliei in latina, engleza, germana, italiana, franceza. Cuvantul Rusalii a fost combinat fraudulos cu sarbatoarea Biblica a Cincizecimii. Deci: Cincizecimea si pogorarea Duhului Sfant sunt Biblice si sunt diferite de sarbatoarea nebiblica a Rusaliilor.

- In acelasi mod evenimentul Biblic al intrarii Domnului Isus in Ierusalim a fost combinat fraudulos cu sarbatoarea vrajitoreasca pagana a Floriilor ce provine din cultura Romei antice. Sarbatoarea Floriilor semnifica inchinare la zeita Flora si nu trebuie confundata cu evenimentul Biblic al intrarii Domnului Isus in Ierusalim. Floriile nu apar in textele originale ale Bibliei si nici in diferite traduceri ale Bibliei in latina, engleza, germana, italiana, franceza.

- Trebuie deasemenea de semnalat amploarea pe care a capatat-o in lumea moderna sarbatoarea demonica cunoscuta sub numele de Halloween (sarbatoarea tuturor sfintilor). Departe de a fi o simpla joaca asa cum unii o privesc, aceasta manifestare pagana este un pericol duhovnicesc deoarece se adreseaza in mod special copiilor, pe care-i familiarizeaza cu vrajitoria si ocultismul.

- Chiar daca ni se pare ridicol si ciudat sa renuntam la obiceiurile vrajitoresti si pagane cu care ne-am obisnuit si care fac parte din cultura contemporana, daca studiem istoria vom gasi exemplul martirilor care mai degraba s-au lasat omorati decat sa practice obiceiurile pagane; trebuie sa o rupem cu paganatatea nu sa o reciclam; noi trebuie sa biruim lumea nu sa preluam obiceiurile lumesti; crestinii moderni nu au primit aprobarea de la Dumnezeu sa practice obiceiurile pagane; conform Bibliei trebuie s-o rupem cu paganatatea; Biblia e valabila in continuare si pentru crestinii moderni; mai acceptam noi Biblia?

         Sa nu combinam Crestinismul cu paganatatea; cei ce vor sa contrazica sau sa batjocoreasca ar fi bine sa ia seama ca aceste materiale sunt fundamentate si Biblic si istoric; sa dam aceste materiale la cat mai multi credinciosi! Dumnezeu sa fie laudat! Dumnezeu sa va iubeasca pe toti!

isus-revine.blogspot.com

Sarbatoarea unui alt Isus

Isus nu este si nu poate fi motivul nici unei sarbatori puse de oameni. Pentru un crestin adevarat fiecare zi este un motiv de sarbatoare, de la Golgota incoace pana la sfarsit.
Isus nu se naste si moare in fiecare an. El a inviat acum 2000 de ani si este viu in vecii vecilor. Toti cei care sarbatoresc nasterea lui Isus, sarbatoresc de fapt un alt Isus iar acel Isus nu are nimic in comun cu Biblia.
De aceea nu vrem sa-l readucem pe Isus in Craciun pentru ca El nu a fost niciodata in acea sarbatoare. Toate sunt niste traditii si ritualuri pagane si inventate de oameni. Departati-va de ele si cautati-L pe adevaratul Isus Hristos care nu se gaseste in nici o religie, in nici o sarbatoare si in nici un ritual. Lasati cele vechi in urma, deschideti-va inima la Cuvantul lui D-zeu si lasati-L pe Isus al Scripturii sa intre.

 "Eu urasc, dispretuiesc sarbatorile voastre si nu pot sa va sufar adunarile de sarbatoare!
Cand Imi aduceti arderi de tot si daruri de mancare, n-am nicio placere de ele; si viteii ingrasati pe care-i aduceti ca jertfe de multumire, nici nu Ma uit la ei.
 Departeaza de Mine vuietul cantecelor tale; nu pot asculta sunetul lautelor tale! " Amos 5:21-24

"Ce-Mi trebuie Mie mulţimea jertfelor voastre, zice Domnul. Sînt sătul de arderile de tot ale berbecilor, şi de grăsimea viţeilor; nu-Mi place sîngele taurilor, oilor şi ţapilor.
Cînd veniţi să vă înfăţişaţi înaintea Mea, cine vă cere astfel de lucruri, ca să-Mi spurcaţi curţile?
Nu mai aduceţi daruri de mîncare nefolositoare, căci Mi -e scîrbă de tămîie! Nu vreau luni noi, Sabate şi adunări de sărbătoare, nu pot să văd nelegiuirea unită cu sărbătoarea!
Urăsc lunile voastre cele noi şi praznicele voastre; Mi-au ajuns o povară, nu le mai pot suferi." Isaia 1:11-14

Despre sarbatori
Crăciunul şi Paştele – creştine sau păgâne?

Oamenii sunt asemănaţi cu oile. Iar oile au tendinţa să urmeze mulţimea, fără să pună întrebări. Isus însă, ne-a învăţat să cercetăm totul în lumina Cuvântului Său. Fariseii au înălţat tradiţiile omeneşti. Isus a înălţat Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu. Omul trebuie să trăiască prin fiecare cuvânt care iese din gura lui Dumnezeu (Matei 4:4). Lupta în care Isus era mereu angrenat cu fariseii a fost bazată pe disputa dintre Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu şi tradiţiile oamenilor. În biserică suntem angrenaţi în aceeaşi luptă. Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu este singura lumină pe care o avem pe Pământ. Iar când Dumnezeu a creat lumina pentru prima dată, el a separat-o îndată de întuneric. Întunericul reprezintă păcatul şi tradiţiile omeneşti. Noi suntem chemaţi să separăm acestea două de Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu, ca să nu fie nici o confuzie în biserică.

Crăciunul
Crăciunul este celebrat de mulţi ca ziua de naştere a lui Isus Hristos. Comercianţii din toate religiile aşteaptă cu nerăbdare Crăciunul, pentru că este o perioadă benefică pentru afacerile lor. Crăciunul a devenit o sărbătoare comercială, nu spirituală. Se cheltuiesc o mulţime de bani pe felicitări de Crăciun şi pe cadouri. Vânzările de alcool cresc semnificativ în perioada Crăciunului. Poliţia rutieră din lumea întreagă este în alertă în această perioadă, din cauza numărului foarte ridicat de accidente. Mai mulţi oameni ajung în Iad din cauza acestor accidente, în preajma Crăciunului, decât în orice altă perioadă a anului. Este oare cu adevărat sărbătoarea naşterii Fiului lui Dumnezeu, sau a altui ”Isus”?
Să privim în Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu, mai întâi de toate. Biblia ne spune că în câmpiile din Iudea se aflau păstorii cu oile lor în noaptea în care Isus s-a născut în Betleem. Păstorii din Palestina nu îşi lăsau noaptea oile în câmp deschis din Octombrie până în Februarie – din cauza vremii reci şi ploioase. De aici deducem că adevăratul Isus s-a născut între Martie şi Septembrie. Înseamnă că ziua de 25 Decembrie trebuie să fie data de naştere a unui alt ”Isus”, care este o amăgire de la Satan!
Chiar dacă am şti cu exactitate data naşterii lui Isus, rămâne întrebarea dacă Dumnezeu a intenţionat ca Biserica să sărbătorească această zi de naştere. Maria a ştiut cu siguranţă care a fost data de naştere a lui Isus. Ea a fost împreună cu ucenicii pentru o perioadă destul de lungă, după Ziua Cinzecimii. Totuşi, nu este menţionată nicăieri data naşterii lui Isus. Ce învăţăm de aici? Că Dumnezeu a ascuns în mod deliberat data naşterii lui Isus, fiindcă nu a vrut ca Biserica să o sărbătorească.
În Biblie găsim mulţi împăraţi care şi-au sărbătorit ziua de naştere în mod public – de exemplu, Faraon (Geneza 40:20) şi Irod (Marcu 6:21). Dumnezeu nu a vrut ca Isus să fie în aceeaşi categorie.
O înţelegere corectă a diferenţei dintre Vechiul Legământ şi Noul Legământ, ne va ajuta să înţelegem mai bine de ce Dumnezeu nu doreşte ca poporul Său să sărbătorească zile sfinte speciale. Sub Vechiul Legământ, Israel primise porunca să sărbătorească anumite zile prin zile sfinte speciale. Însă, aceasta a fost numai o umbră. Acum, că avem pe Hristos, voia lui Dumnezeu este ca în vieţile noastre fiecare zi să fie la fel de sfinte. Chiar şi Sabatul săptămânal a fost scos din Noul Legământ. Din acest motiv nu vedem nici o sărbătoare sfântă menţionată în Noul Testament (Coloseni 2:16, 17)."Nimeni dar sa nu va judece cu privire la mancare sau bautura, sau cu privire la o zi de sarbatoare, cu privire la o luna noua, sau cu privire la o zi de Sabat,
cari sint umbra lucrurilor viitoare, dar trupul este al lui Hristos."
Atunci cum au intrat Crăciunul şi Paştele în creştinism? Răspunsul este: în acelaşi fel cum au intrat şi botezul pruncilor, slujbele preoţilor, şi o grămadă de astfel de tradiţii omeneşti – prin lucrarea subtilă a lui Satan.
Când împăratul Constantin a decretat creştinismul ca religie a statului Roman în secolul 4, mulţimi de oameni au devenit creştini „cu numele”, fără nici o schimbare în inimile lor. Însă ei nu au vrut să renunţe la cele două sărbători mari anuale – amândouă având legătură cu închinarea la soare. Una a fost ziua de naştere a zeului-soare pe 25 Decembrie, când soarele care coborâse în emisfera Sudică îşi începea călătoria de întoarcere (solstiţiul de iarnă). Cealaltă a fost festivalul primăverii în Martie / Aprilie, când ei sărbătoreau moartea iernii şi naşterea verii călduroase adusă de zeul-soare. Ei au schimbat numele zeului-soare în Isus, şi au continuat să sărbătorească cele două festivaluri, acuma ca sărbători creştine, şi le-au denumit Crăciun şi Paşte.
Enciclopedia Britanică (o autoritate în istoria seculară) spune următoarele lucruri despre originea Crăciunului:
„Data de 25 Decembrie era sărbătoarea Mitraică a soarelui neînvins. Obiceiurile de Crăciun sunt o evoluţie din vremuri dinainte de perioada creştină – un amalgam de practici păgâne, sezoniere, naţionale şi religioase, împreună cu legende şi tradiţii. Anul şi data exactă a naşterii lui Hristos nu a fost descoperită niciodată, dar când mai marii bisericii au ales în anul 440 A.D. o dată pentru a sărbători acest eveniment, s-a întâmplat (?) să fie aleasă data solstiţiului de iarnă care era bine cunoscut de oameni, şi în acea vreme cea mai importantă sărbătoare. Pe măsură ce creştinismul s-a răspândit în ţări păgâne, multe practici ale solstiţiului de iarnă au fost amestecate cu practicile creştine” - (ediţia 1953, Vol 5., paginile 642A, 643) – tradus din limba engleză.
Aceste obiceiuri păgâne îşi au originea în religia babiloniană începută de Nimrod (Geneza 10:8-10). După moartea lui Nimrod, soţia lui, Semiramis, a avut un copil nelegitim despre care ea a pretins că este reîncarnarea lui Nimrod. Astfel a început închinarea la mamă şi copil, pe care Romano Catolicii au preluat-o după multe secole, folosindu-i pe „Maria şi Isus”.
Ziua de naştere a acestui copil-zeu era sărbătorită de babilonieni pe data de 25 Decembrie. Semiramis era împărăteasa cerurilor (Ieremia 44:19), cunoscută sub numele de Diana sau Artemis în Efes (Faptele Apostolilor 19:28).
Semiramis a susţinut că un copac peren (evergreen) s-a înălţat într-o noapte dintr-un ciot de copac mort. Acest copac a simbolizat reîncarnarea lui Nimrod, care a adus cu el daruri din cer. Astfel a început tradiţia bradului de crăciun, şi atârnarea luminilor şi darurilor pe el.
„Aşa vorbeşte Domnul: ‘Nu vă luaţi după felul de vieţuire al neamurilor. Căci obiceiurile popoarelor sunt deşerte. Taie un lemn din pădure, mâna meşterului îl lucrează cu securea, îl împodobeşte cu argint şi aur, şi ei îl ţintuiesc cu cuie şi ciocane, ca să nu se clatine.’” (Ieremia 10:2-4).

Paştele
Cuvântul Paşte (în limba engleză Easter) provine din unul dintre titlurile reginei cerurilor, „Astartea” (vezi 1 Împăraţi 11:5) – unul dintre idolii la care se închina Solomon. Au existat diferite forme ale aceluiaşi nume în ţări diferite.
Enciclopedia Britanică spune:
„Cuvântul din limba engleză „Easter” (paşte) corespunde cuvântului german „Oster”, şi ambele au rădăcinile în triburile Teutonice din Europa Centrală. Când a ajuns la Teutoni, creştinismul a încorporat în sărbătorirea acestui mare ospăţ Creştin mai multe ritualuri păgâne, care au acompaniat observarea „festivalului primăverii”. Faptul că „festivalul” învierii se ţinea primăvara, fiindcă sărbătorea triumful vieţii peste moarte, a făcut foarte uşoară asocierea cu acest eveniment a celui mai mare festival al Teutonilor, ţinut în onoarea morţii iernii, a naşterii unui nou an şi a reapariţiei soarelui. Eostre (sau Astartea), zeiţa primăverii, a dat numele acestei sfinte sărbători creştine. Ideea oului ca un simbol al fertilităţii şi vieţii îşi are începuturile în vremea Egiptenilor şi Perşilor antici care aveau obiceiul de a colora şi mânca ouă în timpul sărbătorii festivalului primăverii. Această idee antică, a semnificaţiei oului ca simbol al vieţii, a devenit sursa ideii oului ca semn al învierii. Conform legendei bătrâneşti, soarele care răsare în dimineaţa de Paşte dansează pe cer; încă o idee care îşi are originea în festivalul păgân al primăverii, unde spectatorii dansau în onoarea soarelui... bisericile Protestante au preluat acest obicei de a ţine servicii în dimineaţa de Paşti” - (ediţia 1959, Vol 7, paginile 859, 860) – tradus din limba engleză.
Babilonienii credeau că un ou mare a căzut din cer în râul Eufrat şi din el a ieşit Astartea. Astfel a început folosirea oului în legătură cu închinarea la soare din timpul festivalului primăverii. Creştinii din secolul 4 au preluat această tradiţie, şi până în ziua de astăzi Paştele se sărbătoreşte cu ouă, despre care se spune că simbolizează ieşirea lui Isus din mormânt, asemănătoare ieşirii puiului din ou!!!
Turte de pâine erau aduse de către păgâni ca ofrande înaintea împărătesei cerurilor, cu multe secole înainte de Hristos (Ieremia 7:18). La creştini, acestea au devenit pâinea împletită care se serveşte în Vinerea Mare!
Când frângem pâinea, mărturisim nu numai moartea lui Hristos, ci şi moartea noastră împreună cu El. Sentimentalismul din Paşte distrage atenţia oamenilor de la nevoia de a-L urma pe Isus şi o îndreaptă asupra unor ritualuri goale.
Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu sau tradiţia oamenilor?
În spatele sărbătorilor de Crăciun şi de Paşte stă principiul periculos al urmării tradiţiilor omeneşti, chiar dacă nu au nici un temei în Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu. Atât de puternică este această putere a tradiţiilor încât mulţi creştini care cred Scriptura cu privire la alte domenii, găsesc foarte greu să renunţe la sărbătorirea Crăciunului şi Paştelor.
Este uimitor că mulţi creştini nu vor să accepte ceea ce şi scriitorii seculari (autorii Enciclopediei Britanice) au înţeles foarte clar – că Paştele şi Crăciunul sunt, de fapt, sărbători păgâne. Poţi să i te adresezi unui măgar cu numele de leu, însă el tot măgar rămâne. Schimbarea numelor nu a transformat aceste ritualuri în festivaluri creştine!
Din ceea ce am văzut reiese foarte clar faptul că creştinii sărbătoresc la Crăciun ziua de naştere a unui alt ‚,Isus” – Nimrod din Babilon. Iar la Paşte, ei de fapt sărbătoresc învierea unui alt „Isus” – zeul-soare care aduce vara în emisfera nordică! În spatele lui Nimrod şi a zeului soare se ascunde de fapt Satan, care primeşte toată închinarea (Exodul 32:4, 5) "El i -a luat din minile lor, a batut aurul cu dalta, si a facut un vitel turnat. Si ei au zis: ,,Israele! iata dumnezeul tau, care te -a scos din tara Egiptului. Cind a vazut Aaron lucrul acesta, a zidit un altar inaintea lui, si a strigat: ,,Mine, va fi o sarbatoare in cinstea Domnului!``". Să luăm aminte la aceste lucruri toţi cei care sărbătorim Crăciunul şi Paştele!
După cum am spus la început, Isus a fost angrenat într-o luptă continuă cu Fariseii, exact cu privire la această problemă – tradiţiile omeneşti în competiţie cu Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu. El a avut parte de mai multă împotrivire din pricina opoziţiei faţă de aceste tradiţii goale „bătrâneşti”, decât din pricina predicării împotriva păcatului. La fel se va întâmpla şi în cazul nostru, dacă vom fi la fel de credincioşi cum a fost Isus.
Chemarea Bisericii din ziua de astăzi este să demaşte orice sărbătoare babiloniană pe care a strecurat-o Satan în creştinism, şi să refuze tot (oricât de nevinovat ar părea) ce nu este întemeiat pe Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu.
Unii vor folosi Romani 14:5, 6 care pomeneşte pe cei care socotesc o zi mai presus decât alta. Aici se vorbeşte clar despre Sabat, la care unii evrei întorşi la Dumnezeu nu aveau înţelepciunea să renunţe.Pavel îi îndeamnă pe cei care aveau lumina Noului Legământ, să aibă răbdare cu acei fraţi evrei mai slabi. Dar acelaşi îndemn nu poate fi aplicat celebrării Crăciunului sau Paştelor de către creştinii din zilele noastre!
Singur, Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu ne este călăuză, nu exemplul oamenilor care, chiar dacă sunt credincioşi, ei nu urmează Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu. „Dimpotrivă, Dumnezeu să fie găsit adevărat şi toţi oamenii să fie găsiţi mincinoşi” (Romani 3:4). Credincioşii din Berea au cercetat Scripturile ca să verifice chiar şi învăţăturile lui Pavel, iar Duhul Sfânt îi lăuda pentru aceasta (Faptele Apostolilor 17:11). Exemplul lor trebuie să-l urmăm şi noi.
David a fost un om după inima lui Dumnezeu. Totuşi, timp de patruzeci de ani, el le-a dat voie israeliţilor să se închine la şarpele de aramă făcut de Moise, fără să îşi dea seama că acest lucru nu era plăcut înaintea lui Dumnezeu. El nu a avut înţelepciune nici măcar când a fost vorba de chestiuni evidente de idolatrie. Împăratul Osea, a fost cel care a primit înţelepciune de la Dumnezeu ca să scoată la lumină şi să distrugă această tradiţie idolatră (2 Împăraţi 18:1-4)"In al treilea an al lui Osea, fiul lui Ela, imparatul lui Israel, a inceput sa domneasca Ezechia, fiul lui Ahaz, imparatul lui Iuda.
Avea douazeci si cinci de ani cind a ajuns imparat, si a domnit douazeci si noua de ani la Ierusalim. Mama-sa se chema Abi, fata lui Zaharia.
El a facut ce este placut inaintea Domnului, intocmai cum facuse tatal sau David.
A indepartat inaltimile, a sfarimat stilpii idolesti, a taiat Astarteele, si a sfarimat in bucati sarpele de arama, pe care -l facuse Moise, caci copiii lui Israel arsesera pina atunci tamiie inaintea lui: il numeau Nehustan.". Trebuie să rămânem credincioşi Cuvântului, şi să împlinim fiecare învăţătură fără să adăugăm sau să tăiem nimic.
Spiritualitatea adevărată înseamnă să trăim asemenea lui Isus în toate aspectele vieţii. Aceasta înseamnă în mod principal să ne purtăm crucea şi să ne supunem Cuvântului lui Dumnezeu în viaţa de zi cu zi, prin puterea Duhului Sfânt. De asemenea, înseamnă să renunţăm la orice tradiţie omenească care nu se găseşte în Noul Testament. Dumnezeu ne cheamă să avem o mărturie pură în toate aspectele – o biserică liberă nu doar de păcat, ci şi de obiceiuri babiloniene.

http://wild-voice.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/despre-sarbatori.html