What is Easter?

(This is a revised print of an article posted 4/19/11) Easter is the reference to a pagan goddess, Oestre or Astarte or Ishtar, worshipped around the same time as Passover. King Herod was celebrating this holiday so the word Easter is not a misprint, it is correct in the KJV since this is the holiday of the pagans in Jerusalem at the time. This goddess worship is mentioned in the bible as "the Queen of Heaven" (Jeremiah 7 and 44) which Ashoreth poles (Judges 2 and 10) were erected in honor of her. The pagans celebrate their Spring Equinox holiday time to their goddess of fertility with hares images and eggs. I encourage you to google for more information. Unfortunately as you can see the Christian holiday of the time of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is mixed in the pagan holiday of Easter. Ressurection Day is the Christian holiday we celebrate to remember the time that Jesus rose from the dead, achieving victory of sin. From the time of Jesus entering the gates of Jerusalem, to the crucifixion, to the ressurection and to the time Jesus went up into the heavens at the Mount of Olives 40 days after the ressurection at the time of Pentecost when the Spirit of God was able to dwell in mankind. This is the gospel, the Good News, Jesus saves because of what He did on the cross. Like the blood of the Passover Lamb in Egypt during the time of Moses that saved the Israelites, the blood of Jesus covers us that we may be saved by faith. Now that you know this and are no longer ignorant, please stop using the word Easter as if it is Christian and tell your pastor and friends so they will not continue on in ignorance as well. Remove the leaven (the symbol of something that corrupts even though seemingly small) in your home of the pastel eggs and chocolate bunnies this year. "Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Cor 5:6-8) Tonight is the Passover for the Jews. They still keep the feasts of the Law and of the Jewish culture. It is the year 5772 on the Jewish calendar. I am not saying that the Passover as the Jewish celebrate it is best but its not good to be adding pagan features into the holiday. It would be worth looking into how the Messianic Jews or the Christians celebrate it who have eliminated the commercialized bunnies and eggs. If you read about the Last Supper you will see the holiday they were celebrating was Passover and nothing with pastel eggs or chocolate bunnies in plastic grass is mentioned. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” ....And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:12-14, 22-26) "Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:37-40) It is not God who gives us the Easter holiday as celebrated today but the Catholic Church by man who made it official and the profit making commercialism of stores making money off ignorant Christians. We are not bound by the Catholic Church's dogma and man-made rules. Today I witnessed someone say "Hallelujah!" and a Catholic man to tell him that he is to refrain from saying Alleluia at this time. I said there are no rules defending the action and that is when he explained that it is Catholic liturgy that prevents them. Hallelujah means "Praise the Lord." I think what Peter said in response to a high priest telling him he could not teach in the name of Jesus is the best response to pressures of the commercial Easter baskets and those telling us no to church rules of man: And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:27-32) God bless you my beloved brothers and sisters, have a wonderful Resurrection day! Thank you for your time and a big hug for allowing me to bring something up that might be controversial but I tell you in love and for His glory and not my own benefit. We are free in Christ but we are to not live as those who deny our Lord and Savior and deceive the body of Christ. Many blessings. Halleluyah!!!