Preamble:
Beginning in the second half of the 20th Century, a new wave of evangelical zeal gave rise to the born again Christian movement. This enthusiasm also saw the birth of a new library; an explosion of Christian titles extolling the virtues of new evangelists and the way. Among them was the unveiling of the Mark of the Beast, the fast approaching Man of Sin and a time of great tribulation upon the Earth. Also the rise of a new world order, and the idea of a physical mark, a barcode of sorts, whereby all who did not have the mark would be unable to buy, sell or trade.
Much of this ran parallel with the growth of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and is still aired by many affiliates today. But are they right? Do these books and TV programmes correctly lay out the truth of Scripture? The Mark of the Beast, is not as many claim a thing of the future, it has been with us from the moment Satan entered Eden. The truth of the beast and his mark is another matter entirely, not found in the imaginings of writers and broadcasters of the New Age. They do err in the Word… But for now, I want to spend a little time on two aspects of our traditional worldly Christianity, where the Mark of Eden is clearly on show: Christmas and Easter.
Christ’s Mass
There was no celebration of Christ’s birth until well into the 4th Century for the simple reason that few, if any, knew when it was. But today, we can assess with a high degree of accuracy when Jesus made His entrance to our world. The primary pointers being the Feast days of Israel; the documented census and taxing by the Romans throughout Judaea, the birth of John the Baptist, the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophesy, a more reliable integration of the calendars, celestial mapping, geology and seismic mapping (Earthquakes: Matt 27:54; 28:2; Acts 16:26) among others.
After Emperor Theodosius had declared the Roman Church the official Church of the Empire, several existing Roman celebrations became interlaced with the rites of the new and growing Church. Foremost was the celebration of the Roman God, Mithras, the imported Babylonian God of the Sun. This gala of decadence for ‘sol invictus’ was celebrated on the 25th of December each year. Constantine (who convened the 325 Council which shaped the Nicaean [Trinity] Creed) held the Invincible Sun chief of all Roman gods. This festival was preceded by the revels of Saturnalia, the seven day Festival of Lights, which lead to the winter solstice. The Romans later took it to Britain where it was aptly named the Festival of Fools. But now, the 25th day of December became the day when Jesus was born in a stable.
The next early Christian-Roman celebration was the account of the Magi visiting Jesus, which became known as the Feast of the Epiphany. There is no evidence of how many wise men actually attended, only the number of gifts they brought. They did not, as depicted in popular culture appear at His birth, but arrived later, having first gone to Herod the Great asking directions to the new born king, which resulted in the slaughter of the innocents as seen in Matthew’s Gospel. The earliest reference to its observance in Rome is in 361-AD. As it coincided with sol invictus it was later moved to January.
A later addition to festivities was the 12 days of Christmas, which comes from the annual celebration of the Norse god of fertility, Jul. The 12 days refer to burning the Yule log, which called for an animal or human sacrifice to be placed in the fire along with the log. It was later softened and adopted by the Church to celebrate the Saints, culminating in Twelfth Night merriment.
The mistletoe and fir tree were regarded by the ancients of Europe and Britain as magical. Believed to ward off evil, the mistletoe kiss, a symbolic overture to new life, also became woven into the fabric of Christmas. Many other traditions became appended to this new date for the birth of Christ. The origin of Father Christmas comes from the legend of Nicholas; a Turkish Bishop who was said to have captured the Devil and put him in a sack also dates from the 4th Century. But the Christmas we know today, came by way of American settlers from Europe, a poem from the 1820’s, and a celebrated book by Charles Dickens published in 1843.
Having received glowing reviews from the press, A Christmas Carol captured the hearts and minds of America. Charles Dickens toured a country climbing out of the gloom of a bloody Civil War, giving many readings of his uplifting tale. Set as a stage play and later on film, it has been a hit ever since. Yet, the ground had been readied for Dickens by an American poem published in 1823, attributed to Clement Clarke Moore. The Night before Christmas has become a traditional favourite, and by having St. Nicholas visit the night before Christmas, it neatly removed any problematic religious subtext. The names, Father Christmas and Santa Clause came by way of the German writer, Theodor Storm. However, the early days of American settlement weren’t as we see today. When the Puritans arrived, the one thing they didn’t bring with them was Christmas. Martha Doe’s, The Puritan Ban on Christmas clearly shows why they wished to start a new life without it:
As well as disliking the waste and debauchery that went along with the celebration of Christmas, the Puritans viewed the festival as an unwanted remnant of the Roman Catholic Church and, therefore, a tool of encouragement for the dissentient community that remained in both England and Wales. They argued that nowhere in the Bible had God called upon his people to celebrate the nativity in this manner.
They proposed a stricter observance of Sundays, the Lord’s Day, along with banning the immoral celebration of Christmas – as well as Easter, Whitsun and saints’ days. Preferring to call the period Christ-tide, and thus removing the Catholic ‘mass’ element, the Puritans reasoned that it should remain only as a day of fasting and prayer.
Later immigrants brought many traditions to the New World; the decorated tree, Christmas stockings; presents, cakes, puddings and of course, mistletoe. Often seen with a frightening companion like Krampus, Pumpelklas, Knecht Ruprecht or Holland’s Black Peter, the tradition of St. Nicholas did not translate well to the New World and for the most part remained in Europe. But the most visible sign today is the Christmas tree found in almost every home and Civic Centre around the world. Originally placed in a window by the new settlers, it soon caught on and spread quickly throughout America and the world. But what does the Bible say about decorating trees?
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must of need be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do (any) good. (Jeremiah 10: 2-5)
The Imperial Romans also had a tree, along with their custom of burning the Yule Log: The Christmas tree, as has been stated, was generally at Rome a different tree, even the fir; but the very same idea as was implied in the palm-tree was implied in the Christmas fir; for that covertly symbolized the new-born God as Baal-Berith, ‘Lord of the Covenant,’ and thus shadowed forth the perpetuity and everlasting nature of his power, now that after having fallen before his enemies, he has risen triumphant over them all.
Therefore, the 25th of December, the day that was observed at Rome as the day when the victorious god appeared on earth, was held as the Natalis invicti solis, ‘The birth-day of the Unconquerable Sun.’ Now the Yule Log is the dead stock of Nimrod, deified as the sun-god, but cut down by his enemies; the Christmas tree is Nimrod redivivus – the slain god come to life again. (Hislop: The Two Babylons) This also ties into the Easter tradition we will look at next.
It was the American advertising industry and notably Coca-Cola, which cemented the jolly red symbol into the American heartland. Santa, without any religious connotations is now the singular image of the season; a commercial super-fest for the retail and service sectors. Every Christmas, parents and care-givers are pressured to provide gifts, parties and holidays causing anxiety, stress, hardship and ever increasing debt. It is worse for the poor. In truth, this festival wrongly clothed as a Christian celebration, has turned every parent into a fraudster; who falsify the Santa myth in the minds of the most vulnerable. It is at Christmas when the loss of faith by our children begins.
Today’s counterfeit birthday of Jesus, annually exhibits the same depravity routine at the festivals of its origin, where excess ran out of control. Assaults, abuse, and violence soars, as do suicides. Law enforcement, ambulance, hospitals and women’s shelters, experience their busiest times in December and January every year; each passing year seems to exceed the one before. We have no excuse; we have done this to ourselves.
In the vain hope of pushing back the commercial tide, well-meaning but naïve Christians and Pastors, are often heard declaring, Jesus is the reason for the Season and we need to put Christ back in Christmas. He was never in it! Satan must be wholly pleased with his Christmas fraud (and anagram) that had deceived so many. The real tragedy is most people actually believe December 25 is the true birth date of Jesus; such is the depth of this cruel charade. It also reinforces the humanity of the Christ as ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild,’ the defenseless human child. This is trite rubbish, get rid of it; He was God with us in the flesh. (Matthew 1:23) Satan has no pity towards men, and will mislead us at every turn.
Now, Luke gives us a good set of clues pertaining to the actual time of the birth, which according to the Babylonian-Judaic calendar was in the month of Tishri. The Holy Spirit ‘overshadowed’ Mary in the month of Tevet, when Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John the Baptist. John was born in the Spring of 4BC during the Feast of Passover. Jesus was born later the same year during the Feast of Tabernacles in late September. It was due to the seasonal cold the shepherds were out at night watching their flocks.
By all means, get together with loved ones over the holidays and benefit from their company. Enjoy your gathering and remember Jesus, but do not delude yourself you commemorate His actual day of birth. December 25th is the festival of Osiris, Adonis, Dionysus, Mithras and another you are about to meet; it is not the day of the LORD’S Salvation come to the Earth.
The paraphernalia of Christmas is pagan in origin and will forever remain so. The Church of Rome is responsible for this travesty by clothing pagan festivals in the raiment of Christ, deceiving many. A lie will always be a lie. It is not a matter of celebrating the day of His birth, but knowing who He is. Jesus is our LORD and Christ; and we can think on Him and remember what He did for us, any time of the day without it costing you one red cent!
Now, the most important celebration on the Christian Calendar is Easter, a memorial to the death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the immeasurable gift bestowed on man by God. Of all the Feasts, Easter holds pre-eminence and for this reason we need to be very clear regarding its origin and its associations. We will also look at a central player in the New Testament, Herod Antipas, plus an interesting piece of scripture surrounding him found in the Book of Acts; also a remarkable piece of timing from the LORD.
Resurrection and Rabbits
The word Easter is seen just once in present-day Bibles. There may be a valid reason for this anomaly, however in the context of the passage (Acts 12:4) the King James throws up some interesting questions about Herod Antipater and the times. And while the origin of Christmas is comparatively straight forward, the pre-Christian basis for Easter is blurred owing to many adaptations of related mythologies over time, and by some writers of the modern era. It is logical then, how confusions can and do exist regarding its beginnings. There are many noticeable variations in the retelling; as a result finding a reliable account of those times and peoples can be a challenge.
There seems to be consensus though, by the linking of more than a few deities from ancient and dissimilar cultures with two common ancestors; Tammuz and Ishtar. And while there are conflicting accounts of Tammuz and especially Ishtar, reasonably consistent threads do exist. She is seen as, Isis and Aphrodite; Astarte in Mesopotamian texts and Ashtaroth in the Old Testament. She is Inanna of Sumerian mythology, the Goddess of love, wisdom, war, fertility and lust. Tammuz is linked with Dumuzi, Osiris, and Adonis, and mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel. While plainly not part of Roman mythology, many of their attributes can be seen in several Roman Gods and those later imported from Greece, Egypt, and Babylon.
One legend holds, Tammuz was killed by a wild boar; yet Greek mythology lays claim to it being Adonis. Another, that he fell out of Inanna’s favour (Ishtar) who had him sent to the underworld and later resurrected him to life. Yet another, claiming Tammuz was the illegitimate son by an unknown father, though Ishtar declared he was conceived through an agency of heaven: that it was not Tammuz born, but Nimrod resurrected. So, he is not only a husband, but also a son. These stories have passed down through various cultures over time, but there is a recognizable theme; power over the natural world and the lives of men. Be it Ishtar, Isis, Astarte, Dumuzi, Osiris, or Ashtaroth, they ruled as gods holding sway over life and death.
Most agree Easter gets its name from Eastre, (Ester) the Teutonic goddess of spring, attested by Bede’s 8th Century work: The Reckoning of Time. Festivals celebrating autumn death and spring rebirth were established long before Bede’s writing, or for that matter, before Jesus entered our world. So, we need to ask; where did Easter come from, how did it become a Christian celebration, and why is the word, Easter found in the King James Bible? Also, when looking into Herod Antipater, (Antipas was a nick-name) we will begin to see the prevalence of pagan traditions throughout Palestine and Asia Minor at the time of Christ and the Apostles.
Eggs and hares (rabbits today) are the most familiar of icons associated with many of feminine deities of the ancient world. Brightly coloured eggs have been traditions in many cultures over time signifying the source of life; fertility, sexuality, renewal and rebirth. Originally a symbol of fertility, they later became associated with Christianity as a secret sign of the crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ.
The seasonal hot cross bun is found in the offering of bread cakes to Astarte, the Queen of Heaven as described in the Book of Jeremiah. As a pagan symbol, buns were marked with a cross to represent the four seasons: afterwards becoming symbolic within Christianity as the cross of Christ. Many traditions have grown up around Easter buns: even bylaws have been enacted, especially in England, stipulating when they could be made, sold and eaten.
Another Easter tradition is Lent. While its origin has been disputed inside and outside the Church for centuries, most agree its official adoption came out of Nicaea in 325AD. Its source is the observance of the death of Tammuz. Legend holds that after his premature and tragic death, women fasted and wept for a memorial of forty days. Lenten observance is an annual event in the Catholic Church each year.
Among the Pagans this Lent seems to have been an indispensable preliminary to the great annual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz, which was celebrated by alternate weeping and rejoicing. (Hislop: The Two Babylons)
The forty days preceded springtime fertility festivals; not only a celebration of his supposed death and restoration, but of new growth and new life. Women, weeping for Tammuz, are described in the Book of Ezekiel, which shows us the wayward hearts of Ancient Israel, and the times. “And He bringeth me in unto the opening of the gate of the house of Jehovah that is at the north, and lo, there the women are sitting weeping for Tammuz”. (YLT Eze 8:14) The story of Tammuz being restored to life has been used by some to suggest the account of the death and Resurrection of Jesus was mere fabrication, based on the Tammuz narrative. This is plainly nonsense, as any student of Scripture and Christian history, can ably show and quickly dismantle.
Now, we should have a quick look at another legendary figure often mentioned in connection with this history; Semiramis. According to Hislop she was Beltis, also known as, Ishtar and thought to be the wife of Nimrod and the mother of Tammuz. Yet, Sumerian mythology states the mother of Tammuz was the sheep goddess, Duttur. But, linking Semiramis with Ishtar is a bit of a stretch. They lived in different cultures and at different times, however in terms of this mythology Hislop’s account has as much merit as any other on the subject; Easter is nothing else than Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven… That name, as found by Layard on the Assyrian monuments, is Ishtar. (Hislop: The Two Babylons)
Many of Hislop’s statements about the correlation of the Papal Church to the Roman Empire, and the religions of Babylon not only have historical standing, but seem consistent. Accordingly, his views on Easter cannot be discounted, but like all such history must be treated with a degree of caution. It is easy to be derailed by unreliable facts as many books and current websites on the subject bear witness. This does not suggest none of this took place, as many traditions and legends have an element of some reality somewhere in their history.
Stories are often shaped according to the requirements of the times, and the needs of the teller; an example being the deaths of Tammuz and Adonis. In Greek mythology (which chronologically follows Tammuz) Adonis was killed by a wild boar. We also find mention of a wild boar killing, Tammuz when he was forty years old, hence the forty days of weeping and rejoicing in Ezekiel. So, it appears the story went forward then back again, unless it originally was, Tammuz and the story later became attached to Adonis in the re-telling. With this caution in mind we will look at some time-honoured folklore about the origins of Easter.
Ishtar Egg
It was after Nimrod’s death when the myths of heavenly conception, death and rebirth, began to be established. Through the imaginings of Ishtar, the stage was set for a grand ruse. Her first order of business was to declare Nimrod a God. Two of his given titles were the Great Life Giver and God of Fire: he later became known as Baalim, Bel, and Molech and Baal.
Ishtar claimed that she was conceived in heaven, and then gently lowered to the River Euphrates in a wondrous egg. From this heavenly egg she was born. To declare her divinity she allegedly changed a bird into an egg-laying rabbit, which became the source of the Ishtar/Eastre-egg tradition we know, and gives answer to the Easter bunny delivering eggs. The idea of an egg with mystical implications spread to various parts of the known world, and is found throughout Europe and the Far East. It became the universal sign of the Mother Goddess in numerous cultures.
Ancient Israel was not immune to this idolatry, where she was known as Ashtaroth. The prophet Samuel urged Israel to “…return unto the LORD with all your heart, then put away the strange gods and the Ashtaroth from among you…” (1 Sam 7:3)
Fertility rituals also included the restored son (part of the legend of Tammuz) where we can see the idea of death and rebirth established in many pagan rites. The crucial difference between the restoration myth of Tammuz and Resurrection of Christ is prophesying and witness. The Tammuz story is based in obscurity and legend. The death and Resurrection of Christ on the other hand, was foretold by the Prophets and by Jesus himself, prior to His crucifixion. The Resurrection of Jesus was witnessed by the temple guard who were sworn to secrecy by the Sanhedrin. (Matt 28:11-15) Jesus later appeared to Paul on his way to Damascus; the Apostles, and 500 other witnesses. (1 Corinthians 15: 3-8) As expected, here is no similar evidence about Tammuz.
Easter and Passover
And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. (Num 9:5)
The annual Passover was still common practise with the Judeans of 1st Century Palestine, mentioned 28 times in the New Testament. Yet, along with Passover the word Easter is also found, which leads us to Herod Antipas and what appears to be a mystery.
The Greek word translated Easter in Acts 12:4 is Pascha; from the Hebrew Pesach, which is rendered as Passover in all but three Bibles; the standout being the 1769 King James. Every modern version of the Bible with one exception (Dakes) interprets Pascha as Passover. The Douai-Rheims also translated Pascha as Passover, but Wycliffe used the word, Paske. The word Passover was formulated by William Tyndale to illuminate Pesach and Pascha, so the remembrance of Israel’s deliverance from the tenth plague in Egypt meant that and nothing else.
But, when we look into the use of the word Easter in the Book of Acts, it bears some remarkable fruit. It appears its use in the King James revision was not a mistake, but employed for a very good reason; to show us there was something about the events of the period, which didn’t ring true. There is no way, Thomas Paris and Benjamin Blayney who gave us the 1769 King James revision in use today, did not know the difference between Ester, and Pesach and Pascha.
In Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Corinthians and Hebrews they translated the Greek Pascha 28 times out of 29, as Passover. In the Old Testament they got the Hebrew Pesach right 48 times out of 48; so why not this one verse in Acts? If it was to show us something about Antipater and the times, then we need to look further into this chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers (a guard of 16) to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. (Acts 12: 1-4) KJVA
I have underlined, after Easter in this portion of Acts, as it is Easter, which connects us directly to pre-Christian customs that includes Lent and its ritual of weeping for Tammuz. At the time of Christ’s ministry, the calendar in use by the Sanhedrin contained the month of Tammuz, as many calendars in the Middle East still do. It was the official calendar of the Jews in Babylon, and then implemented and formalized when the remnant of Judah returned to Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah.
The names of the months of the Jewish calendar were adopted during the time of Ezra, after the return from the Babylonian exile. The names are actually Babylonian month names, brought back to Israel by the returning exiles. http://www.jewfaq.org/calendar.htm.
The Talmud (Yerushalmi, Rosh ha-Shanah i. 1) states that the Jews got the names of the months at the time of the Babylonian exile. (www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles) Note: this is the Talmud that originated in Babylon with the Babylonian Torah. It is not the same Torah of Moses.
During their exile, Judah and Benjamin were also exposed to diverse Babylonian rites, rituals and days of observance, which included the forty days of Tammuz. Could after Easter mean exactly that? At the time he put Peter in prison, was Herod Antipater actually on his way to observe an ancient tradition brought from Babylon, and not the Passover Feast as we thought?
Herod Antipater
Antipater’s ancestors had overthrown the Hasmoneans drowning the last surviving heir at his palace in Jericho. They now ruled in Jerusalem and throughout the region, albeit an indulgence by Rome. In his regular dealings with the Sanhedrin, business leaders and his Roman masters, Herod Antipater, the Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, maintained a determined if cautious peace.
The Herodians were not of the same lineage as the Pharisees; and while Antipater practised the Jews religion and was a Judean by location, he was by extraction, Idumaean. Akin to Judas Iscariot, Herod’s ancestors were from Esau and Ishmael. By contrast, Jesus was descended from Jacob, therefore an Israelite by birth as were His cousins, John and James. The Apostle John’s mother was related to Mary. John the Baptist and Jesus were related, as their mothers were cousins. Jesus was a direct descendant of David, and like David born in Bethlehem. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star. (Rev 22:16)
The scripture tells us; Antipater started vexing the Church by murdering, James after that dispatching John the Baptist. While Antipater was keen to meet and talk with Jesus; Jesus wanted nothing to do with him, which says something of Herod and his appointment with destiny. We will now look at these next verses from Mark’s Gospel as it will show a side of Antipas and the company he kept.
And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he swore unto her, whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
And she went forth, and said unto her mother, what shall I ask? And she said; the head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. (Mark 6: 21-28)
While the beheading of John gives us further insight into Herod’s character, the key questions are; who was Herodias, who was her daughter and what was their relationship to Herod?
The damsel was the daughter of Herod Philip, Antipater’s brother, therefore his niece, and now step-daughter. Herodias was previously Philip’s wife until she went with Antipas. She was a grand-daughter of Herod the Great, and believed the sister of, Aristobulus who went to Britain to preach the Gospel. It was due to the Baptists censure of Antipater and Herodias that she wanted John dead, but was initially denied when Antipater had him thrown in prison. She was soon to get her way after her daughter’s enchanting dance. While, Herodias was clearly instrumental in John’s death, her husband executed James “…and he killed, James the brother of John, with the sword…” (Acts 12:2) and ordered the death of John.
But, there is this to consider. What possessed the most powerful man in Jerusalem to say to his niece; whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom? (Mark 6: 23) Was it as some have suggested simply a case of familial lust, or was there something else at work? Antipater was the local Governor with significant power, and a small standing army at his disposal. He was skilful with a sword; controlled the lives of men and was a smart politician. So, what possessed this astute man to make such a ridiculous offer to his niece?
The Times
Witchcraft and sorcery was common throughout the land as it had been for centuries. In addition to setting up idols in the LORD’S Temple, King Manasseh “…caused his children to pass through the fire… and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards. (2Chronicles 33:6) Witchcraft is mentioned in 1 Samuel: 15:23 and 28:7 and by Paul in Galatians 5:20; so at the time of the Apostles idolatry was still a major concern. Peter, Paul and John were greatly alarmed by its standing, speaking strongly against it. Paul was shaken by its popularity in Athens “…his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry”. (Acts 17:6) (Also see; 1Cor 10:14; 1John 5:21; and Colossians 3:5, etc)
Demonic possession was also clearly in evidence. Jesus cast out evil spirits and the Apostles continued this ministry as they took the Gospel to the nations. A few demons were fairly powerful, as some in Ephesus learned to their surprise. (Acts 19:15-16) And in 1Thessilonians, Paul wrote about the Devil’s influence restricting his travels. Many false teachers like Hymenaeus, Alexander, Elymas, and Simon Magus held sway over the people. The Apostles were up against an ingrained tradition, rife throughout the land, and why John instructed the growing church to: …keep from idols… (1Jn 5:21)
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of which the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2Peter 2: 1-2)
Jude also spoke of these things. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God… (Jude 1:4)
We can feel Jude’s pain as he pleads with his audience to remember their past and recall the LORD’S vengeance; “…I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not”. (Jude 1:5) He recalls the corruption of Sodom and then draws a parallel to the times “…even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.”
Jude was not only speaking of Israel’s corruption of the LORD’S Word, but paganism, idolatry and witchcraft that ran unchecked in the 1st Century. It is in this setting, we find the infant church in its struggle with the powers of Satan and duplicity in men.
Herodias-Lilith
While the daughter of Herodias and Herod Philip was given the name Salome by the Jewish historian, Josephus (Antiquities; 18.5, 4) her actual name was the same as her mother. The name Herodias signified personal sovereignty, free from the laws of God and man. It is the legacy of Astarte and Ishtar, later Aradia and Diana of Ephesus but especially the witch, Lilith. Lilith or Lilit is a figure of Jewish mythology to come from Lilitu, found in the texts of Sumar, Assyria and Babylon at the time of Judah’s exile. Lilit is found in the Jerusalem Bible in Isaiah 34:4. The worship of Herodias-Lilith was later condemned at the Church Council Ancyra in 314-AD, but continued to figure in Jewish mystical writings over the centuries. Herodias is described in legend and witch lore texts as sexually wanton, and an enchantress.
She had lived up to her name by rejecting Herod Philip and then ensnaring his brother, Antipas. Her daughter had seduced Antipas with such intensity it drove him mad. He was plainly out of his mind when he offered her half of all he owned. He had been charmed and seduced by them both, and the source of such evil; the same that beguiled Eve, trapped Esau, corrupted Israel, entered Judas and attempted to have Jesus bow down and worship him.
The conspired goal of mother and daughter was not simply the death of John the Baptist, but to kill his testimony, the same reason Peter was in prison awaiting execution even though the Angel of the LORD had other plans. It is the misuse of the word Easter, the beheading of John and its theatre, the editors of the 1769 King James wanted us to see and understand. But the central thing is this: the destruction of Christ’s Gospel was now sought at every turn, and the power behind it, the prince of this earth and the god of this world.
The King James was the first Bible made freely available in English in quantity. Until the Reformation, the only way the people were able to learn of Christ and His Kingdom was via Rome’s priests. This was denied them. The King James fed the hungry and revealed the truth of Christ and His Kingdom to all who would hear. There is not one jot in the Authorised New Testament, or any other, calling for Easter to be celebrated, in fact all such rituals were forbidden.
Easter was formalized and encouraged by the Church from the mid 4th Century with all the trappings of ancient custom, including the 40 days of Lent, cakes, buns and eggs. By inserting the word Easter the editors of the King James have alerted us to the fact the celebration we know today has nothing to do with the Christ of scripture. It lifts the veil on a grand deception that has ensnared Christians who follow this rule laid down by the Papal Church, the Son of Wickedness and to a degree, Constantine.
On the other hand, to keep Passover on the 14th day of the first month was as much a commandment as the Ten given to Moses. That Jesus attended with His friends and family shows the importance of this annual Feast. According to the teaching of Moses, Passover should still be celebrated today. Surely, one cannot be a true follower of Christ if one tramples God’s law and denies its teaching?
Why is Passover a Jewish day and not a day Christians keep? Who decided that we no longer need to observe this Feast but something else entirely? Did Jesus have anything to do with its demise by His death and Resurrection? The answer is in two parts: one is found at the Council of Nicaea, the other in the Word of God.
The True Passover
A three part debate arose among leaders of the new and growing Church known as the Quartodeciman Controversy. The core of the argument centred on whether the new Christian spring festival should happen on a fixed day of the month (14 Nisan) or on an agreed day of the week. But an undercurrent pertaining to the trial and crucifixion of Christ was present and to a degree shaped the result; the involvement of the Jews. But it was essentially a question about the day of Christ’s death, opposed to His Resurrection and which should become the official spring observance.
The leading protagonists were Polycarp vs. Anicetus, the serving Bishop of Rome (155-AD); Polycrates against Victor, a succeeding Bishop of Rome (c.194-AD) and later Constantine. It was after the Council of 325-AD when Constantine ruled Resurrection Sunday the official day, stating there was no longer a need for the Church to continue to rely on the calendar of the Jews.
The Nicaean Council proclaimed Sunday as the official day of worship, and stated that: none should hereafter follow the blindness of the Jews, the convenient scapegoat for the new order of Rome. At Nicaea, therefore, the Roman and Alexandrian usage with respect to Easter triumphed, and the Judaizing practice of the Quartodecimans, who always celebrated Easter (Passover) on the fourteenth of Nisan, became thenceforth a heresy. (History: Schaff)
The dispute took place at the time Church fathers were attempting to stamp out Gnosticism while still coming to terms with the nature and substance of God: an outcome being the Trinity doctrine bound in the Nicaean Creed. The truth of the Kingdom and the teachings of Christ quietly put aside. But, there is something of great importance here, lost on many Christians today, the significance of the Passover Week of the crucifixion.
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. Now when the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve. (Matthew 26:17-20)
This was not the annual Passover, but the Feast of Unleavened Bread that preceded it. (Matt 26:17) Jesus used the highly symbolic breaking of bread to show His Apostles that He was soon to be broken for us. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me.
Now, after they had taken bread, Jesus picked up the cup and said; this cup is the New Testament in my blood that is poured out for you. (Luke 22:19-20) Jesus was about to make all sacrifice and ritual redundant for all that believed on His Name. From the moment Jesus surrendered His spirit, the Spotless Lamb became our Passover proxy. As our High Priest He satisfied the Law once and forever; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Heb 7:27) For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. (1 Cor 5:7)
This Passover Feast was the bitter-sweet day of Christ’s sacrifice, when He reinstated in us the rights to His Kingdom. So, the Passover we are to keep is Christ; not by way of man-made observance, but with ...all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with thy entire mind, and with all thy strength. Jesus is our Passover, our Sabbath, and our Rest. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28) Not weekly or annually; we have the peace and rest of Christ Jesus every day; the Kingdom that dwells within …the spirit of comfort and truth.
Of the Sabbath Jesus declared …the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath. Jesus is not only our Passover; He is our Holy Day. The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. When we repent; (change our thinking) when we are baptised into His Name, (Greek eis-into) and keep His Commands (Mark 12:29) we can enter our rest in Christ Jesus. When we do this, we fulfil the Sabbath and keep the Passover. It really is that simple.
The curse of sin was annulled when; Jesus freely bore transgression’s price and by this supreme act of love for us all, purchased us from its debt. He reinstated in us, the standing of Adam and Eve prior to the fall, and crossed over the line of death, Satan had drawn in Eden. By His actions, death no longer has claim over our spiritual life when we believe the Christ, and keep His Commands.
Resurrection
It is timely now to look at the days concerning the death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In John 19:31, we read: The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day … obtained permission from Pilate to hasten the deaths of the two crucified alongside Jesus, which they did by breaking their legs. But, when they came to Jesus they found He had already released His spirit needing no interference by Pilate’s soldiers. The next part of the verse tells us this particular Sabbath was a High Day.
Now, John 19:14: shows us that the crucifixion took place on a preparation day, not the preparation for the weekly Sabbath, but the Annual Passover. The lambs for Passover were always prepared the day before the Great Sabbath; it was on this very day Jesus was crucified. The Lamb of God was sacrificed at the same time Levite priests killed the lambs for the Passover Feast.
In 31-AD, the year of the crucifixion, the preparation day fell on a Wednesday: the 13th day of the first Month of Nisan. The reason for 31AD and not 33AD is due to discrepancies between the Hebrew, Julian, and our Gregorian calendar. Jesus was born, according to our calendar in 3BC. The tradition Jesus died on a Friday and was raised again the following Sunday is of course wrong. If it was true, He would not have fulfilled Scripture. He did. It had to be three complete days. Jesus cited Jonah, who was in the belly of a whale for 3 days as an illustration of what was to come. Jesus said of Himself; “…Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”. (John 2:19)
According to Genesis, a day is 12 hours of daytime and 12 hours of night. Three days then is 72 hours. Jesus was crucified and died after the ninth hour (Luke 23:44) between 3pm and sunset. The Resurrection took place late on Saturday afternoon: the day of the weekly Sabbath, which would have greatly upset the law-bound Pharisees. As recorded in Mark …the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath. Mark also tells us that soon after sunrise, the day after the Sabbath; an angel informed the women that Jesus had already been raised from the dead.
And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, (The mother of Jesus and Salome, her daughter) bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying among themselves, who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb; and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.
And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he saith unto them, be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, which hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: (Mark 16:1-6)
The Resurrection occurred immediately after the 72 hours had elapsed: on Saturday afternoon. This is why at dawn the following day Jesus was no longer in Joseph’s tomb. Sunday is also confirmed by the fact the women were able to attend; the previous day being a High Sabbath. The week, Jesus was crucified there was one Feast, and two Sabbaths; the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Annual Passover, and the weekly Sabbath commencing on Friday at sunset. Mary; Mary the Magdalene (His devoted disciple) and Salome (His sister) purchased and prepared their spices on Thursday or Friday.
And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were held that they should not know him. And he said unto them …what manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas,* answering said unto him … Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them …what things? And they said unto him … Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. (Luke 24)
* Believed the brother of Joseph, Mary’s husband: (Eusebius Hist. Eccl., 111:11 quoting Hegisippus 160AD)
Another Jesus – Another Gospel
Easter and Christmas had no standing until well into the 4th Century when they became official feasts of the Church. Easter captured the tradition of Passover, evolving into the celebration we know today. While the first Christians continued to observe the days of their ancestors, they were eventually abandoned after 325AD, due to growing pressure from Rome. By celebrating Christmas and Easter, the Church sincerely believes it honours Christ, unaware they are serving …another Jesus (2Corinthians 11:4) and …another Gospel. Good people have been deceived by Church ministers who should know better. And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:19)
If you are a Christian you may have found some of this disagreeable; although you might have found what you believed in your heart was true and hungered after. You may also have discovered something else regarding Scripture and history, as you begin to make out Satan’s mark in Church, and creeds.
Many ancient Deities; be they Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek or Roman, were celebrated and honoured on the same day: a date set in ancient calendars long before the ministry of Jesus on Earth. In the modern calendar it is December 25th. Buns, cakes and eggs were part of early fertility rituals before the modern era: lent is not a new idea, neither is the giving of gifts. They all began long ago. In the early centuries AD, the Church overlaid Christian celebrations onto existing festivals. In doing so, they diluted the Gospel of the Kingdom and obscured the path to salvation. All, Jesus asked us to do at the Feast of Unleavened Bread was to remember Him and believe.
This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29)
I pray He draws you near and clothes you in His Word.
James. A servant in Jesus’ name