The TRUTH about EASTER your church doesn't want you to know:
What do pagan fertility customs have to do with the ressurection of the messiah?
The answer can be found by looking at the history of the holiday and how it was celebrated prior to the resurection of the messiah.
the following exerpt is written by
David J. Meyer and can be found at http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/tracts/tract1.html but I have reposted it here for your convience:
Easter is a day that is honered by nearly all of contemporary Christianity and is used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The holiday often involves a church service at sunrise, a feast which includes an "Easter Ham", decorated eggs and stories about rabbits.
Those who love truth learn to ask questions, and many questions must be asked regarding the holiday of Easter.
Is it truly the day when Jesus arose from the dead? Where did all of the strange customs come from, which have nothing to do with the resurrection of our Saviour?
The purpose of this tract is to help answer those questions, and to help those who seek truth to draw their own conclusions.
The first thing we must understand is that professing Christians were not the only ones who celebrated a festival called "Easter."
"Ishtar", which is pronounced "Easter" was a day that commemorated the resurrection of one of their ELOHIMs that they called "Tammuz", who was believed to be the only begotten son of the moon-ELOHIMdess and the sun-ELOHIM.
In those ancient times, there was a man named Nimrod, who was the grandson of one of Noah's son named Ham.
Ham had a son named Cush who married a woman named Semiramis.Cush and Semiramis then had a son named him "Nimrod."
After the death of his father, Nimrod married his own mother and became a powerful King.
The Bible tells of of this man, Nimrod, in Genesis 10:8-10 as follows: "And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before YAHWEH: wherefore it is said, even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before YAHWEH. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad,and Calneh, in the land of Shinar."
Nimrod became a ELOHIM-man to the people and Semiramis, his wife and mother, became the powerful Queen of ancient Babylon.
Nimrod was eventually killed by an enemy, and his body was cut in pieces and sent to various parts of his kingdom.
Semiramis had all of the parts gathered, except for one part that could not be found.
That missing part was his reproductive organ. Semiramis claimed that Nimrod could not come back to life without it and told the people of Babylon that Nimrod had ascended to the sun and was now to be called "Baal", the sun ELOHIM.
Queen Semiramis also proclaimed that Baal would be present on earth in the form of a flame, whether candle or lamp, when used in worship.
Semiramis was creating a mystery religion, and with the help of Satan, she set herself up as a ELOHIMdess.
Semiramis claimed that she was immaculately conceived.
She taught that the moon was a ELOHIMdess that went through a 28 day cycle and ovulated when full.
She further claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant moon egg that fell into the Euphrates River.
This was to have happened at the time of the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounced "Easter", and her moon egg became known as "Ishtar's" egg."
Ishtar soon became pregnant and claimed that it was the rays of the sun-ELOHIM Baal that caused her to conceive.
The son that she brought forth was named Tammuz.
Tammuz was noted to be especially fond of rabbits, and they became sacred in the ancient religion, because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-ELOHIM, Baal. Tammuz, like his supposed father, became a hunter.
The day came when Tammuz was killed by a wild pig.
Queen Ishtar told the people that Tammuz was now ascended to his father, Baal, and that the two of them would be with the worshippers in the sacred candle or lamp flame as Father, Son and Spirit.
Ishtar, who was now worshipped as the "Mother of ELOHIM and Queen of Heaven", continued to build her mystery religion.
The queen told the worshippers that when Tammuz was killed by the wild pig, some of his blood fell on the stump of an evergreen tree, and the stump grew into a full new tree overnight. This made the evergreen tree sacred by the blood of Tammuz.
She also proclaimed a forty day period of time of sorrow each year prior to the anniversary of the death of Tammuz.
During this time, no meat was to be eaten.
Worshippers were to meditate upon the sacred mysteries of Baal and Tammuz, and to make the sign of the "T" in front of their hearts as they worshipped.
They also ate sacred cakes with the marking of a "T" or cross on the top.
Every year, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, a celebration was made.
It was Ishtar's Sunday and was celebrated with rabbits and eggs.
Ishtar also proclaimed that because Tammuz was killed by a pig, that a pig must be eaten on that Sunday.
By now, the readers of this tract should have made the connection that paganism has infiltrated the contemporary "Christian" churches, and further study indicates that this paganism came in by way of the Roman Catholic System.
The truth is that Easter has nothing whatsoever to do with the resurrection of our YAHWEH Jesus Christ.
We also know that Easter can be as much as three weeks away from the Passover, because the pagan holiday is always set as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Some have wondered why the word "Easter" is in the the King James Bible.
It is because Acts, chapter 12, tells us that it was the evil King Herod, who was planning to celebrate Easter, and not the Christians.
The true Passover and pagan Easter sometimes coincide, but in some years, they are a great distance apart.
So much more could be said, and we have much more information for you, if you are a seeker of the truth.
We know that the Bible tells us in John 4:24, "ELOHIM is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
The truth is that the forty days of Lent, eggs, rabbits,hot cross buns and the Easter ham have everything to do with the ancient pagan religion of Mystery Babylon.These are all antichrist activities!
Satan is a master deceiver, and has filled the lives of well-meaning, professing Christians with idolatry.
These things bring the wrath of ELOHIM upon children of disobedience, who try to make pagan customs of Baal worship Christian.
You must answer for your activities and for what you teach your children.
These customs of Easter honor Baal, who is also Satan, and is still worshipped as the "Rising Sun" and his house is the "House of the Rising Sun."
How many churches have "sunrise services" on Ishtar's day and face the rising sun in the East?
How many will use colored eggs and rabbit stories, as they did in ancient Babylon.
These things are no joke, any more than Judgement day is a joke.
I pray to ELOHIM that this tract will cause you to search for more truth.
We will be glad to help you by providing more information and by praying for you.
These are the last days, and it is time to repent, come out and be separate.
Last Trumpet Ministries International
PO Box 806
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Another source of the true history of easter can be found in an essay posted on http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm and reposted here also for your convience:
Origins of the name "Easter":
The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient ELOHIMdess and ELOHIM. The Venerable Bede, (672-735
CE), a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother ELOHIMdess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the "Teutonic dawn ELOHIMdess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." 1 Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Similar ELOHIMdesses were known by other names in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime. Some were:
Aphrodite, named Cytherea (Lady of Cythera) and Cypris (Lady of Cyprus) after the two places which claimed her birth; 8
Ashtoreth from ancient Israel;
Astarte from ancient Greece;
Demeter from Mycenae;
Hathor from ancient Egypt;
Ishtar from Assyria;
Kali, from India; and
Ostara a Norse ELOHIMdess of fertility.
An alternative explanation has been suggested. The name given by the Frankish church to Jesus' resurrection festival included the Latin word "alba" which means "white." (This was a reference to the white robes that were worn during the festival.) "Alba" also has a second meaning: "sunrise." When the name of the festival was translated into German, the "sunrise" meaning was selected in error. This became "ostern" in German. Ostern has been proposed as the origin of the word "Easter". 2
There are two popular beliefs about the origin of the English word "Sunday."
It is derived from the name of the Scandinavian sun ELOHIMdess Sunna (a.k.a. Sunne, Frau Sonne). 5,6
It is derived from "Sol," the Roman ELOHIM of the Sun." Their phrase "Dies Solis" means "day of the Sun." The Christian saint Jerome (d. 420 CE) commented:
"If it is called the day of the sun by the pagans, we willingly accept this name, for on this day the Light of the world arose, on this day the Sun of Justice shone forth." 7
Pagan origins of Easter:
Many, perhaps most, Pagan religions in the Mediterranean area had a major seasonal day of religious celebration at or following the Spring Equinox. Cybele, the Phrygian fertility ELOHIMdess, had a consort, Attis, who was believed to have been born via a virgin birth. Attis was believed to have died and been resurrected each year during the period MAR-22 to MAR-25.
Gerald L. Berry, author of "Religions of the World," wrote:
"About 200 B.C. mystery cults began to appear in Rome just as they had earlier in Greece. Most notable was the Cybele cult centered on Vatican hill ...Associated with the Cybele cult was that of her lover, Attis (the older Tammuz, Osiris, Dionysus, or Orpheus under a new name). He was a ELOHIM of ever-reviving vegetation. Born of a virgin, he died and was reborn annually. The festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday and culminated after three days in a day of rejoicing over the resurrection." 3
Wherever Christian worship of Jesus and Pagan worship of Attis were active in the same geographical area in ancient times, Christians:
"... used to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus on the same date; and pagans and Christians used to quarrel bitterly about which of their ELOHIMs was the true prototype and which the imitation."
Many religious historians and liberal theologians believe that the death and resurrection legends were first associated with Attis, many centuries before the birth of Jesus. They were simply
grafted onto stories of Jesus' life in order to make Christian theology more acceptable to Pagans. Others suggest that many of the events in Jesus' life that were recorded in the gospels were lifted from the life of Krishna, the second person of the Hindu Trinity, or were taken from the life of Horus, an Egyptian ELOHIM. Ancient Christians had an alternative explanation; they claimed that Satan had created counterfeit deities in advance of the coming of Christ in order to confuse humanity. 4 Modern-day Christians generally regard the Attis and Horus legends as being a Pagan myths of little value with no connection to Jesus. They regard Jesus' death and resurrection account as being true, and unrelated to the earlier tradition.
Wiccans and other modern-day Neopagans continue to celebrate the Spring Equinox as one of their 8 yearly Sabbats (holy days of celebration). Near the Mediterranean, this is a time of sprouting of the summer's crop; farther north, it is the time for seeding. Their rituals at the Spring Equinox are related primarily to the fertility of the crops and to the balance of the day and night times. In those places where Wiccans can safely celebrate the Sabbat out of doors without threat of religious persecution, they often incorporate a bonfire into their rituals, jumping over the dying embers is believed to assure fertility of people and crops.
References used in the above essay:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
Larry Boemler "Asherah and Easter," Biblical Archaeology Review, Vol. 18, Number 3, 1992-May/June reprinted at:
http://www.worldmissions.org/
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Q & A Set 15, "Why do we celebrate a festival called Easter?" at:
http://www.wels.net/
Gerald L. Berry, "Religions of the World," Barns & Noble, (1956).
J Farrar & S. Farrar, "Eight Sabbats for Witches," Phoenix, Custer, WA, (1988).
"Sunna," TeenWitch at:
http://www.teenwitch.com
"Dies Solis and other Latin Names for the Days of the Week," Logo Files, at:
http://www.logofiles.com/
"Sunday Observance," Latin Mass News, at:
http://www.unavoceca.org/
"Aphrodite," Wikipedia, as on 2012-MAR-26, at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
Author: B.A. Robinson
Are you convicted yet? Read on:
Oestre/Easter
Although the Christian festival of
Easter celebrates the torture and death of Jesus on a cross and, especially, his alleged resurrection, and has links to the Jewish Passover, most people, including Christians, unknowingly celebrate its pagan influences, including the bunny, a symbol of fertility, and colored eggs, representing the sunlight of spring.
It took over 300 years before Christians established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon following the March Equinox at the
First Council of Nicaea in 325 C.E. The pagan Easter, however, was celebrated long before Christianity (although the festival went by many names).
In the 8th century, Christian scholar Bede claimed in his book, De temporum ratione, (
The Reckoning of Time) that Easter derived from the Saxon Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). The ancient Saxons in Northern Europe worshiped the ELOHIMdess Oestre at the time of the Spring Equinox. The ELOHIMdess Easter represents the sunrise, spring-time and fertility, the renewal of life.
Pagan Anglo-Saxons made offerings of colored eggs to her at the Vernal Equinox. They placed them at graves especially, probably as a charm of rebirth. (Egyptians and Greeks were also known to place eggs at gravesites).
Only later did the Christians pilfer the name for themselves and graft their religion onto a pagan celebration
Vernal Spring Equinox
The early Romans used a lunar calendar in which months alternated between 29 and 30 days. The calender produced inaccuracies because it gradually fell out of step with the seasons. Julius Caesar reformed the calendar by switching its base from lunar to solar. The Romans established the day on which the vernal equinox occurred as March 25th.
The length of the year got fixed at 365 days, with an additional leap-year day added every fourth year. This made the average length of a year equal to 365.25 days, which came fairly close to the actual value of 365.2422 days.
The astronomical vernal equinox occurs when night and day appear nearly the same length at around March 21 and establishes the first day of spring (in the northern hemisphere). The moment the Sun crosses directly over the Earth's equator marks the vernal equinox (in the southern hemisphere, the moment equals the autumnal equinox).
Translated literally, vernal means "spring" and equinox means "equal night" because the sun sits above the equator and day & night appears equal in length.
taken from http://www.nobeliefs.com/easter.htm
Easter is a pagan festival. If Easter isn't really about Jesus, then what is it about? Today, we see a secular culture celebrating the
spring equinox, whilst religious culture celebrates the resurrection. However, early Christianity made a pragmatic acceptance of ancient pagan practises, most of which we enjoy today at Easter. The general symbolic story of the death of the son (sun) on a cross (the constellation of the Southern Cross) and his rebirth, overcoming the powers of darkness, was a well worn story in the ancient world. There were plenty of parallel, rival resurrected saviours too.
The Sumerian ELOHIMdess
Inanna, or Ishtar, was hung naked on a stake, and was subsequently resurrected and ascended from the underworld. One of the oldest resurrection myths is Egyptian ELOHIMHorus. Born on 25 December, Horus and his damaged eye became symbols of life and rebirth. Mithras was born on what we now call Christmas day, and his followers celebrated the spring equinox. Even as late as the 4th century AD, the sol invictus, associated with Mithras, was the last great pagan cult the church had to overcome. Dionysus was a divine child, resurrected by his grandmother. Dionysus also brought his mum, Semele, back to life.
In an ironic twist, the
Cybele cult flourished on today's Vatican Hill. Cybele's lover Attis, was born of a virgin, died and was reborn annually. This spring festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday, rising to a crescendo after three days, in rejoicing over the resurrection. There was violent conflict on Vatican Hill in the early days of Christianity between the Jesus worshippers and pagans who quarrelled over whose ELOHIM was the true, and whose the imitation. What is interesting to note here is that in the ancient world, wherever you had popular resurrected ELOHIM myths, Christianity found lots of converts. So, eventually Christianity came to an accommodation with the pagan Spring festival. Although we see no celebration of Easter in the New Testament, early church fathers celebrated it, and today many churches are offering "sunrise services" at Easter – an obvious pagan solar celebration. The date of Easter is not fixed, but instead is governed by the phases of the moon – how pagan is that?
All the fun things about Easter are pagan. Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of
Eostre, a great northern ELOHIMdess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. Exchange of eggs is an ancient custom, celebrated by many cultures. Hot cross buns are very ancient too. In the Old Testament we see the Israelites baking sweet buns for an idol, and religious leaders trying to put a stop to it. The early church clergy also tried to put a stop to sacred cakes being baked at Easter. In the end, in the face of defiant cake-baking pagan women, they gave up and blessed the cake instead.
Easter is essentially a pagan festival which is celebrated with cards, gifts and novelty
Easter products, because it's fun and the ancient symbolism still works. It's always struck me that the power of nature and the longer days are often most felt in modern towns and cities, where we set off to work without putting on our car headlights and when our alarm clock goes off in the mornings, the streetlights outside are not still on because of the darkness.
What better way to celebrate, than to bite the head off the bunny ELOHIMdess, go to a "sunrise service", get yourself a sticky-footed fluffy chick and stick it on your TV, whilst helping yourself to a hefty slice of pagan
simnel cake? Happy Easter everyone!
from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism
How the Christians stole the Easter holiday
Christians celebrate the annual festival commemorating the alleged resurrection of Jesus between March 22 and April 25. For centuries, Christian "scholars" have debated the date of Jesus' crucifixion (cruci-fiction?). Not even Christians know when he died. There occurs not a fragment of evidence about a Jesus crucified on Mt. Calvary or anywhere else (much less have evidence for his existence).
The Jews celebrate "Passover" at around this time, from an Exodus story where ELOHIM passes over the "chosen ones" on his way to kill the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 11, 12).
However, people had celebrated Easter during the vernal equinox long before Judaism, Christianity and their superstitious myths.
Nothing about the Easter bunny or colored eggs derives from Christianity, nor will you find them mentioned in the Bible.
No one knows the origin of the name Easter but some suspect that it derived from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic ELOHIMdess of spring and fertility, to whom people dedicated a month corresponding to April. People celebrated her festival on the day of the vernal equinox. The tradition of Eastre survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. Even the early Egyptians and Persians dyed eggs in spring colors and gave them to friends.
Ancient religions commonly held such festivals including the Greek legend of the return of Persephone, daughter of Demeter, ELOHIMdess of the earth, from the underworld to the light of day. Her return symbolized to the Greeks the resurrection of life in the spring after the desolation of winter.
By contrast, the Christians celebrate a tortured man dying on a piece of lumber and Jews celebrate the passover of a ELOHIM on his way toward killing infants. What morbidity! Instead of celebrating death, why not opt for the original Easter and admire the coming of spring, and the renewal of life?
From http://www.nobeliefs.com/facts.htm#anchor191933
Are you convicted now? Easter is not originally about the death and resurrection of our messiah. Originally, it was about idol worship and celebrating spring fertility in hopes that it would bring a good year of livestock production, good crops, and child bearing. We as believers know that children, good crops, and increase of livestock come only from our creator in HIS time as a result of our obediance to scripture. We also know that to worship any other ELOHIM but YAHWEH is sin of breaking the ten commandments that will cause us to become cursed as per the following scripture:
Deuteronomy 28:1-68 KJV
(1)
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of YAHWEH thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that YAHWEH thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
(2)
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of YAHWEH thy God.
(3)
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
(4)
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
(5)
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
(6)
Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
(7)
YAHWEH shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
(8)
YAHWEH shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which YAHWEH thy God giveth thee.
(9)
YAHWEH shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of YAHWEH thy God, and walk in his ways.
(10)
And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of YAHWEH; and they shall be afraid of thee.
(11)
And YAHWEH shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which YAHWEH sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
(12)
YAHWEH shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
(13)
And YAHWEH shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of YAHWEH thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
(14)
And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
(15)
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of YAHWEH thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
(16)
Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
(17)
Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
(18)
Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
(19)
Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
(20)
YAHWEH shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
(21)
YAHWEH shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
(22)
YAHWEH shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
(23)
And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
(24)
YAHWEH shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
(25)
YAHWEH shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
(26)
And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.
(27)
YAHWEH will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.
(28)
YAHWEH shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:
(29)
And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.
(30)
Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.
(31)
Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.
(32)
Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand.
(33)
The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:
(34)
So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
(35)
YAHWEH shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.
(36)
YAHWEH shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.
(37)
And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither YAHWEH shall lead thee.
(38)
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
(39)
Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
(40)
Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
(41)
Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.
(42)
All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.
(43)
The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.
(44)
He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.
(45)
Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of YAHWEH thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
(46)
And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
(47)
Because thou servedst not YAHWEH thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
(48)
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which YAHWEH shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
(49)
YAHWEH shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
(50)
A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
(51)
And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.
(52)
And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which YAHWEH thy God hath given thee.
(53)
And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which YAHWEH thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:
(54)
So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:
(55)
So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.
(56)
The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
(57)
And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
(58)
If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, YAHWEH THY GOD;
(59)
Then YAHWEH will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.
(60)
Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.
(61)
Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will YAHWEH bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
(62)
And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of YAHWEH thy God.
(63)
And it shall come to pass, that as YAHWEH rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so YAHWEH will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.
(64)
And YAHWEH shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.
(65)
And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but YAHWEH shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
(66)
And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
(67)
In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
(68)
And YAHWEH shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
One thing that is not taught in church, is how YAHWEH repeatedly told us in the bible how much he HATES pagan celebrations, and wishes we would not use them in our worship of HIM. Allow me to enlighten you about how much the ELOHIM of the bible hates pagan practices:
(Leviticus 19:4 KJV)
Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten ELOHIMs: I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(Leviticus 26:1 KJV)
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(Leviticus 26:30 KJV)
And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
(Deuteronomy 29:17 KJV)
And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)
(1 Samuel 31:9 KJV)
And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
(1 Kings 15:12 KJV)
And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
(1 Kings 21:26 KJV)
And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom YAHWEH cast out before the children of Israel.
(2 Kings 17:12 KJV)
For they served idols, whereof YAHWEH had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
(2 Kings 21:11 KJV)
Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:
(2 Kings 21:21 KJV)
And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:
(2 Kings 23:24 KJV)
Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of YAHWEH.
(1 Chronicles 10:9 KJV)
And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.
(1 Chronicles 16:26 KJV)
For all the ELOHIMs of the people are idols: but YAHWEH made the heavens.
(2 Chronicles 15:8 KJV)
And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of YAHWEH, that was before the porch of YAHWEH.
(2 Chronicles 24:18 KJV)
And they left the house of YAHWEH ELOHIM of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
(2 Chronicles 34:7 KJV)
And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
(Psalms 96:5 KJV)
For all the ELOHIMs of the nations are idols: but YAHWEH made the heavens.
(Psalms 97:7 KJV)
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye ELOHIMs.
(Psalms 106:36 KJV)
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
(Psalms 106:38 KJV)
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
(Psalms 115:4 KJV)
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
(Psalms 135:15 KJV)
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
(Isaiah 2:8 KJV)
Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
(Isaiah 2:18 KJV)
And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
(Isaiah 2:20 KJV)
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
(Isaiah 10:10 KJV)
As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
(Isaiah 10:11 KJV)
Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
(Isaiah 19:1 KJV)
The burden of Egypt. Behold, YAHWEH rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
(Isaiah 19:3 KJV)
And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
(Isaiah 31:7 KJV)
For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
(Isaiah 45:16 KJV)
They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
(Isaiah 46:1 KJV)
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
(Isaiah 57:5 KJV)
Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
(Jeremiah 50:2 KJV)
Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
(Jeremiah 50:38 KJV)
A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.
(Ezekiel 6:4 KJV)
And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
(Ezekiel 6:5 KJV)
And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.
(Ezekiel 6:6 KJV)
In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
(Ezekiel 6:9 KJV)
And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
(Ezekiel 6:13 KJV)
Then shall ye know that I am YAHWEH, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.
(Ezekiel 8:10 KJV)
So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
(Ezekiel 14:3 KJV)
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
(Ezekiel 14:4 KJV)
Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I YAHWEH will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
(Ezekiel 14:5 KJV)
That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
(Ezekiel 14:6 KJV)
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
(Ezekiel 14:7 KJV)
For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I YAHWEH will answer him by myself:
(Ezekiel 16:36 KJV)
Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;
(Ezekiel 18:6 KJV)
And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
(Ezekiel 18:12 KJV)
Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
(Ezekiel 18:15 KJV)
That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
(Ezekiel 20:7 KJV)
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(Ezekiel 20:8 KJV)
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
(Ezekiel 20:16 KJV)
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
(Ezekiel 20:18 KJV)
But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
(Ezekiel 20:24 KJV)
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
(Ezekiel 20:31 KJV)
For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, I will not be enquired of by you.
(Ezekiel 20:39 KJV)
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
(Ezekiel 22:3 KJV)
Then say thou, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.
(Ezekiel 22:4 KJV)
Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
(Ezekiel 23:7 KJV)
Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.
(Ezekiel 23:30 KJV)
I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.
(Ezekiel 23:37 KJV)
That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.
(Ezekiel 23:39 KJV)
For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.
(Ezekiel 23:49 KJV)
And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am YAHWEH ELOHIM.
(Ezekiel 30:13 KJV)
Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.
(Ezekiel 33:25 KJV)
Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
(Ezekiel 36:18 KJV)
Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
(Ezekiel 36:25 KJV)
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
(Ezekiel 37:23 KJV)
Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their ELOHIM.
(Ezekiel 44:10 KJV)
And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.
(Ezekiel 44:12 KJV)
Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, and they shall bear their iniquity.
(Hosea 4:17 KJV)
Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
(Hosea 8:4 KJV)
They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
(Hosea 13:2 KJV)
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
(Hosea 14:8 KJV)
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
(Micah 1:7 KJV)
And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.
(Habakkuk 2:18 KJV)
What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
(Zechariah 10:2 KJV)
For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
(Zechariah 13:2 KJV)
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith YAHWEH of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
(Acts 15:20 KJV)
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
(Acts 15:29 KJV)
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
(Acts 21:25 KJV)
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
(Romans 2:22 KJV)
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
(1 Corinthians 8:1 KJV)
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
(1 Corinthians 8:4 KJV)
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other ELOHIM but one.
(1 Corinthians 8:10 KJV)
For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
(1 Corinthians 10:19 KJV)
What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
(1 Corinthians 10:28 KJV)
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is YAHWEH's, and the fulness thereof:
(1 Corinthians 12:2 KJV)
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
(2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV)
And what agreement hath the temple of ELOHIM with idols? for ye are the temple of the living ELOHIM; as ELOHIM hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their ELOHIM, and they shall be my people.
(1 Thessalonians 1:9 KJV)
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to ELOHIM from idols to serve the living and true ELOHIM;
(1 John 5:21 KJV)
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
(Revelation 2:14 KJV)
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
(Revelation 2:20 KJV)
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
(Revelation 9:20 KJV)
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Furthermore:
Deu 12:2
Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their ELOHIMs, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:
Deu 12:3
And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their ELOHIMs, and destroy the names of them out of that place.
Deu 12:4
Ye shall not do so unto YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
Deu 12:29
When YAHWEH thy ELOHIM shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30
Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their ELOHIMs, saying, How did these nations serve their ELOHIMs? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31
Thou shalt not do so unto YAHWEH thy ELOHIM: for every abomination to YAHWEH, which he hateth, have they done unto their ELOHIMs; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their ELOHIMs.
Deu 18:9
When thou art come into the land which YAHWEH thy ELOHIM giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
Deu 18:10
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Deu 18:11
Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Deu 18:12
For all that do these things are an abomination unto YAHWEH: and because of these abominations YAHWEH thy ELOHIM doth drive them out from before thee.
Deu 18:13
Thou shalt be perfect with YAHWEH thy ELOHIM.
Deu 18:14
For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, YAHWEH thy ELOHIM hath not suffered thee so to do.
Deu 20:17
But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as YAHWEH thy ELOHIM hath commanded thee:
Deu 20:18
That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their ELOHIMs; so should ye sin against YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
2Ki 17:32
So they feared YAHWEH, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
2Ki 17:33
They feared YAHWEH, and served their own ELOHIMs, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
2Ki 17:34
Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not YAHWEH, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which YAHWEH commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
2Ki 17:35
With whom YAHWEH had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other ELOHIMs, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
2Ki 17:36
But YAHWEH, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
2Ki 17:37
And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other ELOHIMs.
2Ki 17:38
And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other ELOHIMs.
2Ki 17:39
But YAHWEH your ELOHIM ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
2Ki 17:40
Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
2Ki 17:41
So these nations feared YAHWEH, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
Jeremiah 10:1-25 KJV
(1)
Hear ye the word which YAHWEH speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
(2)
Thus saith YAHWEH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
(3)
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.
(4)
They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
(5)
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
(6)
Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O YAHWEH; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
(7)
Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
(8)
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
(9)
Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
(10)
But YAHWEH is the true ELOHIM, he is the living ELOHIM, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
(11)
Thus shall ye say unto them, The ELOHIMs that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
(12)
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
(13)
When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
(14)
Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
(15)
They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
(16)
The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: YAHWEH of hosts is his name.
(17)
Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
(18)
For thus saith YAHWEH, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
(19)
Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
(20)
My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
(21)
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought YAHWEH: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
(22)
Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.
(23)
O YAHWEH, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
(24)
O YAHWEH, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
(25)
Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.
Jeremiah 25:1-38 KJV
(1)
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;
(2)
The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,
(3)
From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of YAHWEH hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.
(4)
And YAHWEH hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
(5)
They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that YAHWEH hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
(6)
And go not after other ELOHIMs to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
(7)
Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith YAHWEH; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
(8)
Therefore thus saith YAHWEH of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,
(9)
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith YAHWEH, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
(10)
Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
(11)
And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
(12)
And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith YAHWEH, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.
(13)
And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.
(14)
For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.
(15)
For thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
(16)
And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
(17)
Then took I the cup at YAHWEH'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom YAHWEH had sent me:
(18)
To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;
(19)
Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;
(20)
And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,
(21)
Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,
(22)
And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,
(23)
Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,
(24)
And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,
(25)
And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,
(26)
And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.
(27)
Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH of hosts, the ELOHIM of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.
(28)
And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.
(29)
For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith YAHWEH of hosts.
(30)
Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, YAHWEH shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
(31)
A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for YAHWEH hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith YAHWEH.
(32)
Thus saith YAHWEH of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
(33)
And the slain of YAHWEH shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
(34)
Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
(35)
And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
(36)
A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for YAHWEH hath spoiled their pasture.
(37)
And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of YAHWEH.
(38)
He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.
Jeremiah 32:26-44 KJV
(26)
Then came the word of YAHWEH unto Jeremiah, saying,
(27)
Behold, I am YAHWEH, the ELOHIM of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
(28)
Therefore thus saith YAHWEH; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:
(29)
And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other ELOHIMs, to provoke me to anger.
(30)
For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith YAHWEH.
(31)
For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
(32)
Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(33)
And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
(34)
But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.
(35)
And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
(36)
And now therefore thus saith YAHWEH, the ELOHIM of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
(37)
Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
(38)
And they shall be my people, and I will be their ELOHIM:
(39)
And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
(40)
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
(41)
Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
(42)
For thus saith YAHWEH; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.
(43)
And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
(44)
Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith YAHWEH.
Ezekiel 20:2-49 KJV
(2)
Then came the word of YAHWEH unto me, saying,
(3)
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, I will not be enquired of by you.
(4)
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
(5)
And say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM;
(6)
In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
(7)
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(8)
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
(9)
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
(10)
Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
(11)
And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
(12)
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am YAHWEH that sanctify them.
(13)
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
(14)
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
(15)
Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
(16)
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
(17)
Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
(18)
But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
(19)
I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
(20)
And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(21)
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
(22)
Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
(23)
I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
(24)
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
(25)
Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
(26)
And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am YAHWEH.
(27)
Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
(28)
For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
(29)
Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
(30)
Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
(31)
For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, I will not be enquired of by you.
(32)
And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
(33)
As I live, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
(34)
And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
(35)
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
(36)
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM.
(37)
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
(38)
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am YAHWEH.
(39)
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
(40)
For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
(41)
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
(42)
And ye shall know that I am YAHWEH, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
(43)
And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
(44)
And ye shall know that I am YAHWEH, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM.
(45)
Moreover the word of YAHWEH came unto me, saying,
(46)
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
(47)
And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of YAHWEH; Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
(48)
And all flesh shall see that I YAHWEH have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
Eze 23:43
Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?
Eze 23:44
Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
Eze 23:45
And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.
Eze 23:46
For thus saith YAHWEH; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.
Eze 23:47
And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
Eze 23:48
Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.
Eze 23:49
And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am YAHWEH.
Eze 24:6
Wherefore thus saith the YAHWEH; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.
Eze 24:7
For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
Eze 24:8
That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
Eze 24:9
Therefore thus saith the YAHWEH; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
Eze 24:10
Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.
Eze 24:11
Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.
Eze 24:12
She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.
Eze 24:13
In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
Eze 24:14
I YAHWEH have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith YAHWEH.
Ezekiel 33:1-33 KJV
(1)
Again the word of the YAHWEH came unto me, saying,
(2)
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
(3)
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
(4)
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
(5)
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
(6)
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
(7)
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
(8)
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
(9)
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
(10)
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
(11)
Say unto them, As I live, saith the YAHWEH ELOHIM, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
(12)
Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
(13)
When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
(14)
Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
(15)
If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
(16)
None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
(17)
Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the YAHWEH is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
(18)
When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
(19)
But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
(20)
Yet ye say, The way of the YAHWEH is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
(21)
And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
(22)
Now the hand of the YAHWEH was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
(23)
Then the word of the YAHWEH came unto me, saying,
(24)
Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
(25)
Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the YAHWEH ELOHIM; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
(26)
Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?
(27)
Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the YAHWEH ELOHIM; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
(28)
For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
(29)
Then shall they know that I am the YAHWEH, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
(30)
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the YAHWEH.
(31)
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
(32)
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
(33)
And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
Mat 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 15:1
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Mat 15:2
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Mat 15:3
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Mat 15:4
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Mat 15:5
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Mat 15:6
And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Mat 15:7
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mat 19:16
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:29
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Mat 23:2
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
Mat 23:3
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Mat 23:4
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Mat 23:5
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Mat 23:8
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Mat 23:11
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Mat 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Mat 23:14
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Mat 23:15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Mat 23:16
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Mat 23:17
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
Mat 23:18
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Mat 23:19
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Mat 23:20
Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
Mat 23:21
And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
Mat 23:22
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Mat 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Mat 23:24
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Mat 23:25
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mat 23:26
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Mat 23:27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mat 23:29
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Mat 23:30
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Mat 23:31
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Mat 23:32
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Mat 23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Mat 23:34
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Mat 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Mat 23:38
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Mat 23:39
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of YAHWEH.
Luk 6:39
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Luk 6:40
The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
Luk 6:41
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Luk 6:42
Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
Luk 6:43
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44
For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luk 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Joh 8:42
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45
And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Joh 8:46
Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Joh 8:47
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 2:1-24 KJV
(1)
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
(2)
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
(3)
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
(4)
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
(5)
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
(6)
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
(7)
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
(8)
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
(9)
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
(10)
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
(11)
For there is no respect of persons with God.
(12)
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
(13)
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
(14)
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
(15)
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
(16)
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
(17)
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
(18)
And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
(19)
And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
(20)
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
(21)
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
(22)
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
(23)
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
(24)
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Gal 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Jas 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
1 John 5:16-21 KJV
(16)
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
(17)
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
(18)
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
(19)
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
(20)
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
(21)
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Also, keep in mind it is customary to eat ham on Easter sunday. This is what the bible says about pork:
(Leviticus 11:7 KJV)
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
(Deuteronomy 14:8 KJV)
And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.
(Proverbs 11:22 KJV)
As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
(Isaiah 65:4 KJV)
Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
(Isaiah 66:3 KJV)
He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
(Isaiah 66:17 KJV)
They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith YAHWEH.
(Matthew 7:6 KJV)
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
(Matthew 8:30 KJV)
And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
(Matthew 8:31 KJV)
So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
(Matthew 8:32 KJV)
And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
(Mark 5:11 KJV)
Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
(Mark 5:12 KJV)
And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
(Mark 5:13 KJV)
And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
(Mark 5:14 KJV)
And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
(Mark 5:16 KJV)
And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
(Luke 8:32 KJV)
And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
(Luke 8:33 KJV)
Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
(Luke 15:15 KJV)
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
(Luke 15:16 KJV)
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
And this is how it and other traditions became associated with what most christians now celebrate as Easter. The following article is copied from the website http://www.goddessgift.com/pandora's_box/easter-history.html for your convience:
Easter History : Christian and Pagan Traditions Interwoven
The history of Easter reveals rich associations between the Christian faith and the seemingly unrelated practices of the early pagan religions. Easter history and traditions that we practice today evolved from pagan symbols, from the ancient goddess Ishtar to Easter eggs and the Easter bunny.
Easter, perhaps the most important of the Christian holidays, celebrates the Christ's resurrection from the dead following his death on Good Friday. . . a rebirth that is commemorated around the vernal equinox, historically a time of pagan celebration that coincides with the arrival of spring and symbolizes the arrival of light and the awakening of life around us.
Ostara, Goddess of Spring and the Dawn (Oestre / Eastre)
Easter is named for a Saxon goddess who was known by the names of Oestre or Eastre, and in Germany by the name of Ostara. She is a goddess of the dawn and the spring, and her name derives from words for dawn, the shining light arising from the east. Our words for the "female hormone" estrogen derives from her name.
Ostara was, of course, a fertility goddess. Bringing in the end of winter, with the days brighter and growing longer after the vernal equinox, Ostara had a passion for new life. Her presence was felt in the flowering of plants and the birth of babies, both animal and human. The rabbit (well known for its propensity for rapid reproduction) was her sacred animal.
Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny both featured in the spring festivals of Ostara, which were initially held during the feasts of the goddess Ishtar | Inanna. Eggs are an obvious symbol of fertility, and the newborn chicks an adorable representation of new growth. Brightly colored eggs, chicks, and bunnies were all used at festival time to express appreciation for Ostara's gift of abundance.
History of Easter Eggs and Easter Candy
The history of Easter Eggs as a symbol of new life should come as no surprise. The notion that the Earth itself was hatched from an egg was once widespread and appears in creation stories ranging from Asian to Ireland.
Eggs, in ancient times in Northern Europe, were a potent symbol of fertility and often used in rituals to guarantee a woman's ability to bear children. To this day rural "grannywomen" (lay midwives/healers in the Appalachian mountains) still use eggs to predict, with uncanny accuracy, the sex of an unborn child by watching the rotation of an egg as it is suspended by a string over the abdomen of a pregnant woman.
Dyed eggs are given as gifts in many cultures. Decorated eggs bring with them a wish for the prosperity of the abundance during the coming year.
Folklore suggests that Easter egg hunts arose in Europe during "the Burning Times", when the rise of Christianity led to the shunning (and persecution) of the followers of the "Old Religion". Instead of giving the eggs as gifts the adults made a game of hiding them, gathering the children together and encouraging them to find the eggs. Some believe that the authorities seeking to find the "heathens" would follow or bribe the children to reveal where they found the eggs so that the property owner could be brought to justice.
Green Eggs . . .
. . . and Ham???
The meat that is traditionally associated with Easter is ham. Though some might argue that ham is served at Easter since it is a "Christian" meat, (prohibited for others by the religious laws of Judaism and Islam) the origin probably lies in the early practices of the pagans of Northern Europe.
Having slaughtered and preserved the meat of their agricultural animals during the Blood Moon celebrations the previous autumn so they would have food throughout the winter months, they would celebrate the occasion by using up the last of the remaining cured meats.
In anticipation that the arrival of spring with its emerging plants and wildlife would provide them with fresh food in abundance, it was customary for many pagans to begin fasting at the time of the vernal equinox, clearing the "poisons" (and excess weight) produced by the heavier winter meals that had been stored in their bodies over the winter. Some have suggested that the purpose of this fasting may have been to create a sought-after state of "altered consciousness" in time for the spring festivals. One cannot but wonder if this practice of fasting might have been a forerunner of "giving up" foods during the Lenten season.
Chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs, marshmallow chicks in pastel colors, and candy of all sorts, most of which are given out as personalized gifts during Easter . . . these have pagan origins as well! To understand their association with religion we need to examine the meaning of food as a symbol.
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The ancient belief that, by eating something we take on its characteristics formed the basis for the earliest "blessings" before meals (a way to honor the life that had been sacrificed so that we as humans could enjoy life) and, presumably, for the more recent Christian sacrament of communion as well.
Shaping candy Easter eggs and bunnies to celebrate the spring festival was, simply put, a way to celebrate the symbols of the goddess and the season, while laying claim to their strengths (vitality, growth, and fertility) for ourselves.
The Goddess Ostara and the Easter Bunny
Feeling guilty about arriving late one spring, the Goddess Ostara saved the life of a poor bird whose wings had been frozen by the snow. She made him her pet or, as some versions have it, her lover. Filled with compassion for him since he could no longer fly (in some versions, it was because she wished to amuse a group of young children), Ostara turned him into a snow hare and gave him the gift of being able to run with incredible speed so he could protect himself from hunters.
In remembrance of his earlier form as a bird, she also gave him the ability to lay eggs (in all the colors of the rainbow, no less), but only on one day out of each year.
Eventually the hare managed to anger the goddess Ostara, and she cast him into the skies where he would remain as the constellation Lepus (The Hare) forever positioned under the feet of the constellation Orion (the Hunter). He was allowed to return to earth once each year, but only to give away his eggs to the children attending the Ostara festivals that were held each spring. The tradition of the
Easter Bunny had begun.
The Hare was sacred in many ancient traditions and was associated with the moon goddesses and the various deities of the hunt. In ancient times eating the Hare was prohibited except at Beltane (Celts) and the festival of Ostara (Anglo-Saxons), when a ritual hare-hunt would take place.
In many cultures rabbits, like eggs, were considered to be potent remedies for fertility problems. The ancient philosopher-physician Pliny the Elder prescribed rabbit meat as a cure for female sterility, and in some cultures the genitals of a hare were carried to avert barrenness.
Medieval Christians considered the hare to bring bad fortune, saying witches changed into rabbits in order to suck the cows dry. It was claimed that a witch could only be killed by a silver crucifix or a bullet when she appeared as a hare.
Given their "mad" leaping and boxing displays during mating season as well as their ability to produce up to 42 offspring each spring, it is understandable that they came to represent lust, sexuality, and excess in general. Medieval Christians considered the hare to be an evil omen, believing that witches changed into rabbits in order to suck the cows dry. It was claimed that a witch could only be killed by a silver crucifix or a bullet when she appeared as a hare.
In later Christian tradition the white Hare, when depicted at the Virgin Mary's feet, represents triumph over lust or the flesh. The rabbit's vigilance and speed came to represent the need to flee from sin and temptation and a reminder of the swift passage of life.
And, finally, there is a sweet Christian legend about a young rabbit who, for three days, waited anxiously for his friend, Jesus, to return to the Garden of Gethsemane, not knowing what had become of him. Early on Easter morning, Jesus returned to His favorite garden and was welcomed the little rabbit. That evening when the disciples came into the garden to pray, still unaware of the resurrection, they found a clump of beautiful larkspurs, each blossom bearing the image of a rabbit in its center as a remembrance of the little creature's hope and faith.
Ishtar, Goddess of Love, and the First Resurrection (also known as Inanna)
Ishtar, goddess of romance, procreation, and war in ancient Babylon, was also worshipped as the Sumerian
goddess Inanna. One of the great goddesses, or "mother goddesses", the stories of her descent to the Underworld and the resurrection that follows are contained in the oldest writings that have ever been discovered. . . the Babylonian creation myth Enuma Elish and the story of Gilgamesh. Scholars believed that they were based on the oral mythology of the region and were recorded about 2,100 B.C.E.
The most famous of the myths of Ishtar tell of her descent into the realm of the dead to rescue her young lover, Tammuz, a Vegetation god forced to live half the year in the Underworld. Ishtar approached the gates of the Underworld, which was ruled by her twin sister Eresh-kigel, the goddess of death and infertility. She was refused admission.
Similar to the Greek myths of Demeter and Persephone that came later, during Ishtar's absence the earth grew barren since all acts of procreation ceased while she was away. Ishtar screamed and ranted that she would break down the gates and release all of the dead to overwhelm the world and compete with the living for the remaining food unless she was allowed to enter and plead her case with her twin.
Needless to say, she won admission. But the guard, following standard protocol, refused to let her pass through the first gate unless she removed her crown. At the next gate, she had to remove her earrings, then her necklace at the next, removing her garments and proud finery until she stood humbled and naked after passing through the seventh (and last) gate.
In one version, she was held captive and died but was brought back to life when her servant sprinkled her with the "water of life". In the more widely known version of the myth, Ishtar's request was granted and she regained all of her attire and possessions as she slowly re-emerged through the gates of darkness.
Upon her return, Tammuz and the earth returned to life. Annual celebrations of this "Day of Joy", were held each year around the time of the vernal equinox. These celebrations became the forerunners of the Ostara festivals that welcomed Oestre and the arrival of spring.
A section on the Goddess Inanna (the Sumerian version of the Goddess Ishtar), her myths and symbols, is included with the myths of the goddesses at this website.
Easter eggs, the Easter Bunny, the dawn that arrives with resurrection of life, and the celebration of spring all serve to remind us of the cycle of rebirth and the need for renewal in our lives. In the history of Easter, Christian and pagan traditions are gracefully interwoven
So... now that you know the truth... what is your decision? I will tell you my decision. I choose to celebrate the biblical feast of passover, unleavened bread, and first fruits instead of the man-made idol inspired holiday of easter sunday. I do so, because the feast of passover is what our savior was celebrating during the last supper, when he commanded "Do this in rememberance of me:"
Luke 22:8-38 KJV
(8)
And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
(9)
And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
(10)
And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.
(11)
And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
(12)
And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
(13)
And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
(14)
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
(15)
And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
(16)
For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
(17)
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
(18)
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
(19)
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
(20)
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
(21)
But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
(22)
And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
(23)
And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
(24)
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
(25)
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
(26)
But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
(27)
For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
(28)
Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
(29)
And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
(30)
That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(31)
And YAHWEH said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
(32)
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
(33)
And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
(34)
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
(35)
And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
(36)
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
(37)
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
(38)
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
1Co 11:20
When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat YAHWEH's supper.
1Co 11:21
For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1Co 11:22
What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
1Co 11:23
For I have received of YAHWEH that which also I delivered unto you, That YAHWEH Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1Co 11:24
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew YAHWEH's death till he come.
1Co 11:27
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of YAHWEH, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of YAHWEH.
1Co 11:28
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning YAHWEH's body.
1Co 11:30
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
1Co 11:31
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32
But when we are judged, we are chastened of YAHWEH, that we should not be condemned with the world.
1Co 11:33
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
1Co 11:34
And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
The following is copied from the website http://bible-truth.org/Feasts-Passover.html
Passover and the Feast of Unleaven Bread [ Hebrew: Pesah, or Pesach pronunced "p-sah"or "PAY-sahch"] always begins after sundown on Nisan 14 of the Jewish calendar around March or April is a reminder of God's protection during plagues in Egypt and their deliverance from Egypt. It is a eight day feast beginning on the 14th day of Nisan, [pronouned nes-san] the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, about the time of the vernal equinox and ends on the Nisan 21st. The Passover meal is eaten on the first day. God commanded that Israel keep this feast perpetually. It is still celebrated by the Jews today, however in a modified form.
Exodus 12:14-20, "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to YAHWEH throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread."
Leviticus 23:4-6, "These are the feasts of YAHWEH, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is YAHWEH’S passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto YAHWEH: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."
Passover Dinner, commemorates the protection of God as the Angel of Death passed over every Jewish family there in Egypt and protected them by the Blood of the Paschal Lamb. That Lamb was YAHWEH Jesus Christ. The symbolism is unmistakenable. Israel, God’s chosen people were in slavery in the foreign land of Egypt. Egypt, in the Bible, symbolically always stands for the lost world ruled by Satan. Egypt was under the judgment of death of its first born and only those who believed in God’s promise of salvation and obeyed Him by sprinkling the blood of the sacrificial lamb would be spared. In judgment God offered redemption. Like wise in this age man is under the curse of sin and death. God offers us redemption through the atoning action of Jesus Christ, God’s son who came to the earth, and suffered and died for the sins of the world. He became the Paschal lamb. Under this judgment of sin and ultimate eternal death, God freely offers to all who will believe and accept His provision for us, forgiveness of our sins and life eternal.
YAHWEH did not give us the Passover celebration, but YAHWEH’s Supper, as a memorial of His death, burial and resurrection. There are parallels between the two memorials and they both point to the same event. That event was the day that Jesus Christ paid our sin debt and in Him is salvation to for all would will believe and receive it.
The Passover Meal Nisan 14 The eight days begins with the Passover meal on Nisan 14 and is referred to as the Cedar or Seder) [say-dor] continues on the 15th-21st of Nisan which is the Feast of the Unleaven bread.
Before the Passover: A young male lamb is selected which is without blemish four days before the Passover. They examine it carefully to make sure it is perfect. The Jewish day begins at sundown one day and ends the twenty four hours later at sunset. The Passover therefore begins at sundown or the begin of the 14th day of Nisan. On the Passover night the blood of the lamb is sprinkled on the door posts of the house.
1. Before the Passover all leaven is removed from the house. Leaven is a symbol of sin and therefore before the Passover is a time of confession of sin and purification. (See 1 Cor. 5:6) Like wise YAHWEH’s suffer is also a time of purification and confession of sin. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 instructs those who take YAHWEH’s Supper to examine their lives, judge themselves and confess their sins to YAHWEH. To not to do so show a serious spiritual failure in not respecting (showing discernment) YAHWEH’s suffering for our sins.
Today before the Seder the father plays a game with the children by hiding pieces of leaven bread around the house. The children then come in and hunt for it. When a piece is found the father comes with a wooden spoon and feather. He carefully uses the feather to brush the crumbs into the spoon and carries them the fire and burns them.
2. The mother is busy setting the table with their special Passover tableware and white linen. The white linen is representative of the righteousness of the saints. A special white linen covers the table. At the Seder tThe father is dressed in a white robe, call a kittlel [pronounced: kit-tell] and the table is lit with white candles.
A proper kosher housewife keeps four sets of dishes. Two sets for meat and milk keep meat and milk separated during the year at regular meals. Two other sets keep milk and meat separated at Passover.
3. The Passover meal begins and two candles are lit by the mother of the house. (A woman brought Christ into the world)
4. The First Cup. Four cups of wine (grape juice) is drank during the Passover.
a. First is the Cup of the Sanctification. (Sanctifies the table and all preparations) b. The service has not begun yet... this is the preparation.
c. When the father pours the first cup he is accepting that all has been done properly and everything is ready.
5. After the First Cup the father and all participants wash their hands. Afterwards the father takes three loaves or pieces of unleavened bread and places then in a white linen envelope which has three compartments. This bread with looks like a cracker is called matzo. [also spelled, matzot, matzoh, matza, or matza] The father then takes out the middle piece of matzo from the compartment, wraps it in a separate piece of white linen and hides it. . . generally under the table or in a drawer. Everyone is at the table and sitting on pillows or cushions.
6. The Four Questions are asked. The order of service for the Seder Dinner is contained in a book call the Haggadah. (Hag-ga-dah). The word means "telling." A copy is used by each participant and is essential for understanding and participation.
Children are an important part of the Seder. God commanded Israel to instruct their children in remembering Him and their history.
The youngest child answers the four questions:
1. Why do we eat matzo on Pesach? The answer: Matzoh reminds us that when the Jews left the slavery of Egypt they had no time to bake their bread. They took the raw dough on their journey and baked it in the hot desert sun into hard crackers called matzoh.
2. Why do we eat bitter herbs, maror, at our Seder? The answer: Maror reminds us of the bitter and cruel way the Pharaoh treated the Jewish people when they were slaves in Egypt.
3. Why do we dip our foods twice tonight? They answer: We dip bitter herbs into Charoset to remind us how hard the Jewish slaves worked in Egypt. The chopped apples and nuts look like the clay used to make the bricks used in building the Pharaoh's buildings. We dip parsley into salt water. The parsley reminds us that spring is here and new life will grow. The salt water reminds us of the tears of the Jewish slaves.
4. Why do we lean on a pillow tonight? The answer: We lean on a pillow to be comfortable and to remind us that once we were slaves, but now we are free. The Haggadah itself stresses the importance of the Seder as "a spectacle meant to excite the interest and the curiosity of the children."
Everything in the Seder is meant to make the children curious and to ask questions.
7. The father tells or reads the story of the Exodus and begins "When our people were enslaved in Egypt..." The family listens spell bound by the story.
a. As the story is told the ceremonial foods are eaten.
b. While the father is telling the story of the slavery...the bitter herbs are eaten. It is kosher horseradish (no sugar added) and parsley. He serves it to each person from the center
Seder
plate on the table. The parsley is dipped into a bowl of salty water. [The bitterness is like a person before they are saved. Salty water for dipping represents one's tears of repentance.]
c. . As he talks about sacrificing the lamb..he gestures to a plate which has the unbroken shank bone of the lamb. (No bones are broken or cut)
d. A roasted egg is also on the plate. [Pharaoh's heart? Most have no idea what it means. They do not eat it..it is just there. Some suggest that the egg is a traditional symbol of mourning, and has been interpreted by some as a symbolic mourning for the loss of the Temple. Since the destruction of the Temple in the year 70 AD, neither the festival sacrifice nor the special Passover sacrifice could be offered. It is also a symbol of spring - the season in which Passover is always celebrated.
8. The Second Cup. This cup is spilled one drop at a time for ten drops on each person's plate. They stand for the ten plagues. Blood, frogs, vermin, beasts...etc. The people stare into the dripping "blood" and remembers what they were delivered from.
9. The Meal. This somber moment of the Second Cup is quickly ended by the meal. It is quite a feast. A whole lamb is called for by the scriptures, but the Jews think it not appropriate because they have no Temple...so beef, chicken, etc are prepared.. The lamb in the Old Testament was the main meal, but it is not now. It is like Christmas or Thanksgiving. The entire family with uncles, cousins and in-laws are present and the meal lasts from sun down to mid-night.
10. The Third Cup. The Cup of Redemption.
a. The father uncovers the three matzot [pronouned "mat -sah] which have been place in a three pocketed linen napkin. These lie in front of him in the napkin. He takes out the middle matzot, breaks it in half, takes the larger half and wraps it in a napkin and hides it somewhere under his cushion, in a drawer or under the table. One of the children will try to steal it away and claim a price if successful. Otherwise it will lie there "buried" until the service is over. Then, it will suddenly appears, it will be taken out and broken into small pieces and distributed to the members of the family. This, too, is a symbol of the Passover of which everyone was to participate. This matzot, since it had been broken, has become the afikomen, [pronounced: af-o- ko- man] a word apparently derived from the Greek, meaning, "I arrive," or "I come to." The hidden piece of unleaven bread is not brought out and eaten with the desert.
Note: The following was a warning to Jews about following "Christian" Haggadahs.
"Watch out for Christianized versions of the haggadah. The Christian "last supper" is generally believed to have been a Pesach seder, so many Christians recreate the ritual of the seder, and the haggadahs that they use for this purpose tend to reinterpret the significance of the holiday and its symbols to fit into their Christian theology. For example, they say that the three matzahs represent the Trinity, with the broken one representing Jesus on the cross (in Judaism, the three matzahs represent the three Temples, two of which have been destroyed, and the third of which will be built when the moshiach comes). They speak of the paschal lamb as a prophecy of Jesus, rather than a remembrance of the lamb's blood on the doorposts in Egypt. If you want to learn what Pesach means to Jews, then these "messianic" haggadahs aren't for you.
b. Next there is a procession called "afikomen" meaning festival procession. This is made up of children who seek to "find" the hidden bread and the father has hidden to redeem it or buy it for some piece of silver. (75 cents)
c. This is the middle piece of bread that was earlier placed in the linen and put in a draw or under the table. It is eaten with the Third Cup. The father brakes the bread and gives it to each one present. The person eats the bread and then drinks from the cup. This is what Jesus did in Matthew 26:26-27.
11. Jesus was taking the last part of the Passover when He gave us YAHWEH's Supper. Matthew 26:26-27. Jesus took the bread and blessed it. His exact words were: "Blessed art Thou, 0 Lord out God, King of the universe, Who bringest forth bread from the heaven." Jesus then said, "This is my body, which is broken for you, eat this in remembrance of me.
It is a paradox that the Jews cerebrate the Passover and do not know fully what it all means and Christians take YAHWEH's Supper and they too do not understand what it really is. It is actually the last part of the Passover when the third cup was taken. Jesus explained it meaning and purpose saying:
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:27-28)
The usual explanation for the three pieces of matzot is that they represent the threefold division in Israel: Priests, Levites and Israelites. A better explanation is that it represents the triune nature of God, the most Holy Trinity. The first piece represents God the Father. The middle matzot, (afikomen), represents the One whose body was broken and given for us in the Eucharist. It was hidden and buried, and then resurrected with the promise of afikomen: I have come already and am coming again'... yes, Jesus Christ. The third piece represents the Holy Spirit. Haggadah is the book read during the seder. The Haggadah [ Ha-got-ta] is a book containing the Passover service and includes the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
Jesus was buried on the Feast of the Unleaven Bread. He was brought forth from the grave which stands for the Third cup and desert! (Matt 26:27-28).
Matthew 26:27-28 says, "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."
How did Jesus give thanks? What did he say? The answer is found in a Jewish marriage ceremony when the groom would pay a price for the bride to her father. When the groom leaves after giving the dowry to the bride's father he would say, "I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-4.) The bride then waited at home, separated and consecrated, set apart, being brought for a price, until the bridegroom would return for her.
She remained faithful, loyal and eager to be married. She was separated.. wearing a veil so that no other man would see her face and try to make contact with her and she would be a perfect example of purity and modesty. At home she would keep an oil lamp and plenty of oil standing by if the bride groom come at night and they have to travel in the dark. Unexpected..the bride groom arrives and abducts . the bride! At the bride groom's house everything is made ready as quick as possible. He must get his father's approval for his new room. Even the time of getting the bride is left up to the father. Someone asks, "When is the big day?" The answer, "Only my father knows."
The big day arrives and all is ready. Some in the bride grooms party shouts. "Behold, he bride groom cometh." When the bride hears this, she, her sisters and brides maids, trim the lights get ready. The bride groom the spirits his bride away to the honey moon clamber he was prepared and the couple go in and shut the door. The bride grooms best man would stand near the door and listen for the voice of the bride groom. When the marriage is consummated in the chamber, the bride groom tells his best man and the marriage is now official. The guests for the wedding feast are not assembled and would begin a seven day celebration! The guests could not leave till it was over. The bride and groom come out and the feast begins.
The blessing over the Third cup is "Blessed art thou, 0 Lord God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine." This is what Jesus literally said and Jesus said I am the vine and here He blesses the fruit of the vine. It was like a toast to the His bride and to the fruit of the marriage. Biblically the disciples are the branches and we are the fruit of the Vine, the Bride of Christ.
12. Passover is a celebration, YAHWEH's Supper is a more solemn event.
Note Jesus ended the supper saying "Do this in remember of me." We celebrate the Savior, crucified, buried and rise, the Redeemer.
13. The Fourth Cup. Jesus did not drink the fourth cup of Passover. It is sometimes called Elijah's cup. Malachi 4:5. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of YAHWEH: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
An empty chair is left at the table during these proceedings and a wine goblet. It is for Elijah who is expected to enter some Passover night and take his seat. He will take the cup and drink it and say,...the waiting is over, the Messiah is come! Some families place a whole setting for Elijah. The youngest child of the family goes to the door and looks out to see if Elijah is coming down the street. The family waits the child's answer..... the news comes from the door..."I don't see him." Zola Leavett said when he looked outside and down the street he truly expected to see Elijah coming...and he would even walk out into the street to see if he was there while the family was left waiting the answer.
Jesus and His disciple did not take the Fourth cup.... the Messiah was already there!
The celebration is ended as the father in a melancholy way says...."L' shanah haba'ah b'yrushalayim." Meaning "Next year in Jerusalem."
He the Messiah is come. We should say, "Next year in the New Jerusalem."
After YAHWEH's took the Passover, they sang a hymn and went out to the Mt. of Olives.
I choose to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread because on it my savior was crucified and rose again on the feast of first fruits.
http://bible-truth.org/Feasts-UnleavenBread.html
First Fruits is held on the Sunday following Unleaven Beard. 21st of Nisan. (Lev. 23:10-11) Passover begins in 14th, Feast of the Unleaven Bread on 15th, and the Feast of the First Fruits on 21st. They are referred to as one feast. There are remaining the feasts are Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles, Lights and Purim for a total of seven feasts.
First Fruits is celebrated in Spring to acknowledge the early crops. It was a wave offering. "This rite, together with that of "heaving" or "raising" the offering was an inseparable accompaniment of peace offerings. In such the right shoulder, considered the choicest part of the victim, was to be ("heaved," and viewed as holy to YAHWEH, only eaten therefore by the priest: the breast was to be "waved," and eaten by the worshiper. The scriptural notices of these rites are to be found in Ex 29:24,28; Le 7:30,34; 8:27; 9:21; 10:14,15; 23:10,15,20; Nu 6:20; 18:11,18,26-29 etc. In conjecturing the meaning of this rite, regard must be had that it was the accompaniment of peace offerings, which were witnesses to a ratified covenant --an established communion between God and man."
Since the feast of the Unleaven beard was seven days long, it would have one Sunday and that Sunday would be First Fruits each year.
The Feast was a thanksgiving offering to God for His goodness in providing food from the land for the Israelites. There was a national offering (Lev. 23:10-17) and individual offerings (Exod. 23:19, Deut. 26:1-11). The First Fruit offerings went to support the priests.
Wave Offering: It was initiated at the consecration of Aaron and the beginning of the Aaronic priesthood (Exod. 29:24-28). It was associated with the peace offering that symbolized a right spiritual relationship with God. In the peace offering a worshiper would bring a bullock, a lamb or a goat, male of female and the this offering followed the Sin Offering.
The wave and heave offering were a part of the peace offering. This offering came from the animal offered as the peace offering. When Aaron was consecrated, Moses placed the animal on Aaron’s hands and waved the offering before YAHWEH. Jewish interpreters say the offering was placed on the hands of the worshiper and then the priest would place his hands under it and move it back and forth and up and down. If this was true it was a sign of the cross.
The portions offered in the wave offering were holy and only the priests ate this portion (Lev. 10:14f). The heave offering was the choicest part of the animal the right thigh.
Lev. 23:10-15, records that a wave offering was part of the Feast of First Fruits.
Today the First Fruits is celebrated by Christians and called Easter. Easter is named after the Babylonian goddess, Ishtra, a pagan goddess of fertility, and even today these symbols of fertility are used in celebrating Easter with rabbits, eggs, new costumes, etc which symbolize Spring in the beginning of the growing season.
Note Christians do not celebrate or worship the pagan goddess of Ishtra. Both celebrations fell at the same time and became referred to as Easter. Christians are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and not some pagan deity.
Instead of Easter, it should be called First Fruits. Jesus arose on Feast of the First Fruits. Many believe that Christians too will be resurrected as the First Fruits and possibly on the Feast of the First Fruits. We should not be dogmatic about this because Jesus said only God the Father knew the day of the Rapture. (Matt. 24:23)
1 Cor. 15:23. "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming."
1 Thess. 4:16-17. " For YAHWEH himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet YAHWEH in the air: and so shall we ever be with YAHWEH."
This was the last feast YAHWEH fulfilled.
In 1 Cor. 15:23, Paul refers to Christ as the First Fruits. The real point of the feast was looking to the resurrection of the Messiah. Jesus, the Messiah was our provision for spiritual welfare. Jesus was raised on the first day of the Feast of the First Fruits. Jesus said he was the Bread of Life. This was the last feast YAHWEH took part in while on earth.
The Feast of the First Fruits began the harvest. The offering to YAHWEH was the first of the grain that was harvested, and afterwards the harvest would continue. This is the symbolism of the First Fruit. Christ was the First at 1 Corinthians 15:20,23 states. Those who have and will believe in Jesus Christ for salvation since that time are the harvest.
Note how Jesus illustrated this in John 12:23-26 "And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."
Note what Jesus said the reapers (Christians) would experience:
1. A repudiation of a self orientated life. (John 12:25)
2. The establishment of a commitment to Jesus Christ as a disciple. (John 12:26a)
3. The promise of fellowship. (John 12:26b)
4. The promise of being honor. ( John 12:26c)
Fifty days later began the Feast of Pentecost.
http://bible-truth.org/Feasts-Firstfruit.html
The Feast of the Unleaven Bread begins the next night after the Passover and celebrates Israel being delivered from bondage in Egypt. Lev. 23:6
A morning and evening sacrifice was offered. Only unleaven bread is eaten and meat of the sacrifices. Exodus 12:19 states the seriousness of the commandment from God. "Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land." Leaven is symbolic of sin and the Passover was a memorial to God’s delivering them from slavery in Egypt, but also a time of repentance and the putting away of sin. Galatians 5:9 says, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Leaven when placed in a lump of four with begin to grow and spread until it permeates the whole lump. The picture is that of one diligently searching for and getting rid of sin even the smallest sin in one’s life. Even as a little leaven (sin) will spoils the whole of the lump, therefore any and all sin is to be confessed and put out of one’s life.
In YAHWEH’s supper the believer is to examine (1 Cor. 11:28) and to judge ( 1 Cor. 11:31) himself in regard to having unconfessed or remaining sin in his life
The regular daily sacrifice was offered after the special offering. The 1st and 7th day like a Sabbath everyone rested with the exception of those preparing the food.
The 2nd day a barley sheaf of the new harvest was symbolically offered to YAHWEH, by waving it before YAHWEH (not burned). Those attending offer a freewill burnt offering of not less than sixteen grains of corn, a festive offering of not less that 32 grains, and a peace or joy offering (Deut. 27:7) determined by the giver. (Deut. 16:16-17)
1 Corinthians 5:7-8. Paul referred to the Passover and Unleaven Bread.
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
The History of the Passover.
The Bible records that the Passover was kept three times until they entered the Promised Land.
Leaving Egypt (Exodus 12:28)
The Second year after the Exodus (Numbers 9:1-5).
When they entered Canaan (Exodus 13:5).
It is recorded as being observed only three times between entering the Promised Land and the Babylonian captivity.
Under Solomon. (2 Chron. 8:13)
Hezekiah and Josiah (2 Kings 23:21, 2 Chron. 35:1-9)
After the postexilic period (after the Babylonian captivity) it became more regular.
Jesus was born in the city, whose name means: "House of Bread" Bethlehem.
John 12:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
God fed the Israelites in the wilderness with manna and He feds Christians "the bread of life." John 6:48
Unleaven bread pictures the suffering of the Messiah. Isaiah 53 prophesied of the suffering of the Messiah. The unleaven bread used in the Passover and during the feast of the Unleaven Bread is called "Matzo or Matsoh".
Matzoh has stripes
Isaiah 53:5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Matzoh has holes:
Zech. 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Matzoh has no leaven:
Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
The bread is placed in the middle section of the linen cloth with three pockets.
Most Jews have no idea why the Matzoh Tosh (Tash) has three pockets. Some rabbis teach that these represent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; others say they portray the unity of worship -- priests, Levites and congregation; still others say they stand for the crowns of learning, priesthood and kingship. But there's no explanation for breaking and hiding the middle one. Christians have a better explanation; it involves the "bread of heaven," spoken of in John 6:32-59.He was beaten, crucified, buried and then raised.
A verse that is very holy to the Jews is the shemah of Deuteronomy 6:4-9,
"Hear, O Israel: YAHWEH thy God is one LORD. And thou shalt love YAHWEH thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children ... and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."
That word "one" in the Hebrew is echad, meaning a composite oneness, not just the number one. It's the same word used in Genesis 2:24, where Adam and Eve are said to be "one flesh," and in Ezekiel 37 to describe the two sticks becoming one. Here it is describing the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit -- the three persons of the Godhead, acting as one. It represents the Trinity. Jesus is the Second person of the Trinity and He was "broken" for our transgressions.
This is the true meaning of the unity of the three matzohs in the matzoh tash. And which of these is the middle one? That is obviously God the Son -- Jesus the Messiah, our Lord. Let's see how He could be represented by a piece of unleavened bread. Read John 6:32-59. Verse 35 says,
"And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
God subtly emphasized this truth in choosing the spot where His Son would be born. The meaning of the name "Bethlehem" is "house of bread." (By the way, the name "Nazareth" means "branch." That meaning clarifies the prophecy in Isaiah 11:1.)
But why isn't the sacrificed lamb still used? And how did matzohs come to prominence? Deuteronomy 12:11-14 says that people were not to offer sacrifices except at the location that God chose. Other scriptures make it clear that He chose the Temple site on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. When the Roman army, under Titus, destroyed the Temple in A.D.70, there was no more acceptable place for sacrifice of the lamb. That's why today's Passover meals don't include the meat of a lamb, merely a symbolic shank bone. The rabbis, in the second century A.D., instituted the use of matzohs to represent the sacrificed lamb. That practice still holds.
Now we can see why the middle matzoh is broken during the Passover, then hidden or buried. Jesus's body was broken for us, He died, and was buried. But He didn't stay dead -- He came back to life, came out of the tomb! That is represented by bringing out that matzoh later in the ceremony. It is then broken into pieces, and passed out to each person. And this is the exact spot during the Last Supper, when Jesus said, "This is my body which is given for you."
Jesus was buried at sundown of the Passover Day.
1. Why Christ died so quickly. Normally took three days. Person died
slowly, little by little.
2. The Centurion did not think Christ was dead, in six hours, he pieced
His side.
3. YAHWEH died in time to be buried at sundown that day. He was placed o
cross at 9 AM and taken down at 3 PM. There was time enough to prepare
the body and place it in the grave.
John 2:19 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
The feast lasts seven days. It was one of the three feast to be physically attended by all male Jews physically able to do so. (Ex. 23:17, Deut. 16:16) Feasts of pilgrimage upon which the Jews were to return to Jerusalem was Unleaven Bread, Tabernacles and Pentecost.
Special sacrifices were offered. Numbers 28-29.
The third feast is the Feast of the First Fruits and is held on the Sunday following the Feast of the Unleaven Bread. It is a special feast to acknowledge the fertility of the land God gave them.
Now that I have taken the time to share with you the truth, I would recommend watching a video made by a dear brother in messiah, Jim Staley. The video is entitled "TRUTH OR TRADITION" and goes into more detail of the easter holiday as well as the christmas holiday, their history, and how it relates to the church of today. You can find it on YOUTUBE at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGgt_dsdLWs
Then, after reviewing all the facts, and the bible for yourself... you must decide for yourself what you will do. Will you continue celebrating Easter on easter sunday with dyed eggs, and easter ham, or will you replace it as I have done with biblically commanded feast days, that honor our savior and His word?
The choice is yours.
Joshua 24:14-15 KJV
(14)
Now therefore fear YAHWEH, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye YAHWEH.
(15)
And if it seem evil unto you to serve YAHWEH, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve YAHWEH.
Shalom.
Written in part and compiled by Rachael Siebert
Copywrite Grafted Into Truth Ministries
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http://graftedintotruth.weebly.com/easter-or-ishtar.html
The answer can be found by looking at the history of the holiday and how it was celebrated prior to the resurection of the messiah.
the following exerpt is written by
David J. Meyer and can be found at http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/tracts/tract1.html but I have reposted it here for your convience:
Easter is a day that is honered by nearly all of contemporary Christianity and is used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The holiday often involves a church service at sunrise, a feast which includes an "Easter Ham", decorated eggs and stories about rabbits.
Those who love truth learn to ask questions, and many questions must be asked regarding the holiday of Easter.
Is it truly the day when Jesus arose from the dead? Where did all of the strange customs come from, which have nothing to do with the resurrection of our Saviour?
The purpose of this tract is to help answer those questions, and to help those who seek truth to draw their own conclusions.
The first thing we must understand is that professing Christians were not the only ones who celebrated a festival called "Easter."
"Ishtar", which is pronounced "Easter" was a day that commemorated the resurrection of one of their ELOHIMs that they called "Tammuz", who was believed to be the only begotten son of the moon-ELOHIMdess and the sun-ELOHIM.
In those ancient times, there was a man named Nimrod, who was the grandson of one of Noah's son named Ham.
Ham had a son named Cush who married a woman named Semiramis.Cush and Semiramis then had a son named him "Nimrod."
After the death of his father, Nimrod married his own mother and became a powerful King.
The Bible tells of of this man, Nimrod, in Genesis 10:8-10 as follows: "And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before YAHWEH: wherefore it is said, even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before YAHWEH. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad,and Calneh, in the land of Shinar."
Nimrod became a ELOHIM-man to the people and Semiramis, his wife and mother, became the powerful Queen of ancient Babylon.
Nimrod was eventually killed by an enemy, and his body was cut in pieces and sent to various parts of his kingdom.
Semiramis had all of the parts gathered, except for one part that could not be found.
That missing part was his reproductive organ. Semiramis claimed that Nimrod could not come back to life without it and told the people of Babylon that Nimrod had ascended to the sun and was now to be called "Baal", the sun ELOHIM.
Queen Semiramis also proclaimed that Baal would be present on earth in the form of a flame, whether candle or lamp, when used in worship.
Semiramis was creating a mystery religion, and with the help of Satan, she set herself up as a ELOHIMdess.
Semiramis claimed that she was immaculately conceived.
She taught that the moon was a ELOHIMdess that went through a 28 day cycle and ovulated when full.
She further claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant moon egg that fell into the Euphrates River.
This was to have happened at the time of the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounced "Easter", and her moon egg became known as "Ishtar's" egg."
Ishtar soon became pregnant and claimed that it was the rays of the sun-ELOHIM Baal that caused her to conceive.
The son that she brought forth was named Tammuz.
Tammuz was noted to be especially fond of rabbits, and they became sacred in the ancient religion, because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-ELOHIM, Baal. Tammuz, like his supposed father, became a hunter.
The day came when Tammuz was killed by a wild pig.
Queen Ishtar told the people that Tammuz was now ascended to his father, Baal, and that the two of them would be with the worshippers in the sacred candle or lamp flame as Father, Son and Spirit.
Ishtar, who was now worshipped as the "Mother of ELOHIM and Queen of Heaven", continued to build her mystery religion.
The queen told the worshippers that when Tammuz was killed by the wild pig, some of his blood fell on the stump of an evergreen tree, and the stump grew into a full new tree overnight. This made the evergreen tree sacred by the blood of Tammuz.
She also proclaimed a forty day period of time of sorrow each year prior to the anniversary of the death of Tammuz.
During this time, no meat was to be eaten.
Worshippers were to meditate upon the sacred mysteries of Baal and Tammuz, and to make the sign of the "T" in front of their hearts as they worshipped.
They also ate sacred cakes with the marking of a "T" or cross on the top.
Every year, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, a celebration was made.
It was Ishtar's Sunday and was celebrated with rabbits and eggs.
Ishtar also proclaimed that because Tammuz was killed by a pig, that a pig must be eaten on that Sunday.
By now, the readers of this tract should have made the connection that paganism has infiltrated the contemporary "Christian" churches, and further study indicates that this paganism came in by way of the Roman Catholic System.
The truth is that Easter has nothing whatsoever to do with the resurrection of our YAHWEH Jesus Christ.
We also know that Easter can be as much as three weeks away from the Passover, because the pagan holiday is always set as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Some have wondered why the word "Easter" is in the the King James Bible.
It is because Acts, chapter 12, tells us that it was the evil King Herod, who was planning to celebrate Easter, and not the Christians.
The true Passover and pagan Easter sometimes coincide, but in some years, they are a great distance apart.
So much more could be said, and we have much more information for you, if you are a seeker of the truth.
We know that the Bible tells us in John 4:24, "ELOHIM is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
The truth is that the forty days of Lent, eggs, rabbits,hot cross buns and the Easter ham have everything to do with the ancient pagan religion of Mystery Babylon.These are all antichrist activities!
Satan is a master deceiver, and has filled the lives of well-meaning, professing Christians with idolatry.
These things bring the wrath of ELOHIM upon children of disobedience, who try to make pagan customs of Baal worship Christian.
You must answer for your activities and for what you teach your children.
These customs of Easter honor Baal, who is also Satan, and is still worshipped as the "Rising Sun" and his house is the "House of the Rising Sun."
How many churches have "sunrise services" on Ishtar's day and face the rising sun in the East?
How many will use colored eggs and rabbit stories, as they did in ancient Babylon.
These things are no joke, any more than Judgement day is a joke.
I pray to ELOHIM that this tract will cause you to search for more truth.
We will be glad to help you by providing more information and by praying for you.
These are the last days, and it is time to repent, come out and be separate.
Last Trumpet Ministries International
PO Box 806
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Another source of the true history of easter can be found in an essay posted on http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm and reposted here also for your convience:
Origins of the name "Easter":
The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient ELOHIMdess and ELOHIM. The Venerable Bede, (672-735
CE), a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother ELOHIMdess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the "Teutonic dawn ELOHIMdess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." 1 Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Similar ELOHIMdesses were known by other names in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime. Some were:
Aphrodite, named Cytherea (Lady of Cythera) and Cypris (Lady of Cyprus) after the two places which claimed her birth; 8
Ashtoreth from ancient Israel;
Astarte from ancient Greece;
Demeter from Mycenae;
Hathor from ancient Egypt;
Ishtar from Assyria;
Kali, from India; and
Ostara a Norse ELOHIMdess of fertility.
An alternative explanation has been suggested. The name given by the Frankish church to Jesus' resurrection festival included the Latin word "alba" which means "white." (This was a reference to the white robes that were worn during the festival.) "Alba" also has a second meaning: "sunrise." When the name of the festival was translated into German, the "sunrise" meaning was selected in error. This became "ostern" in German. Ostern has been proposed as the origin of the word "Easter". 2
There are two popular beliefs about the origin of the English word "Sunday."
It is derived from the name of the Scandinavian sun ELOHIMdess Sunna (a.k.a. Sunne, Frau Sonne). 5,6
It is derived from "Sol," the Roman ELOHIM of the Sun." Their phrase "Dies Solis" means "day of the Sun." The Christian saint Jerome (d. 420 CE) commented:
"If it is called the day of the sun by the pagans, we willingly accept this name, for on this day the Light of the world arose, on this day the Sun of Justice shone forth." 7
Pagan origins of Easter:
Many, perhaps most, Pagan religions in the Mediterranean area had a major seasonal day of religious celebration at or following the Spring Equinox. Cybele, the Phrygian fertility ELOHIMdess, had a consort, Attis, who was believed to have been born via a virgin birth. Attis was believed to have died and been resurrected each year during the period MAR-22 to MAR-25.
Gerald L. Berry, author of "Religions of the World," wrote:
"About 200 B.C. mystery cults began to appear in Rome just as they had earlier in Greece. Most notable was the Cybele cult centered on Vatican hill ...Associated with the Cybele cult was that of her lover, Attis (the older Tammuz, Osiris, Dionysus, or Orpheus under a new name). He was a ELOHIM of ever-reviving vegetation. Born of a virgin, he died and was reborn annually. The festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday and culminated after three days in a day of rejoicing over the resurrection." 3
Wherever Christian worship of Jesus and Pagan worship of Attis were active in the same geographical area in ancient times, Christians:
"... used to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus on the same date; and pagans and Christians used to quarrel bitterly about which of their ELOHIMs was the true prototype and which the imitation."
Many religious historians and liberal theologians believe that the death and resurrection legends were first associated with Attis, many centuries before the birth of Jesus. They were simply
grafted onto stories of Jesus' life in order to make Christian theology more acceptable to Pagans. Others suggest that many of the events in Jesus' life that were recorded in the gospels were lifted from the life of Krishna, the second person of the Hindu Trinity, or were taken from the life of Horus, an Egyptian ELOHIM. Ancient Christians had an alternative explanation; they claimed that Satan had created counterfeit deities in advance of the coming of Christ in order to confuse humanity. 4 Modern-day Christians generally regard the Attis and Horus legends as being a Pagan myths of little value with no connection to Jesus. They regard Jesus' death and resurrection account as being true, and unrelated to the earlier tradition.
Wiccans and other modern-day Neopagans continue to celebrate the Spring Equinox as one of their 8 yearly Sabbats (holy days of celebration). Near the Mediterranean, this is a time of sprouting of the summer's crop; farther north, it is the time for seeding. Their rituals at the Spring Equinox are related primarily to the fertility of the crops and to the balance of the day and night times. In those places where Wiccans can safely celebrate the Sabbat out of doors without threat of religious persecution, they often incorporate a bonfire into their rituals, jumping over the dying embers is believed to assure fertility of people and crops.
References used in the above essay:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
Larry Boemler "Asherah and Easter," Biblical Archaeology Review, Vol. 18, Number 3, 1992-May/June reprinted at:
http://www.worldmissions.org/
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Q & A Set 15, "Why do we celebrate a festival called Easter?" at:
http://www.wels.net/
Gerald L. Berry, "Religions of the World," Barns & Noble, (1956).
J Farrar & S. Farrar, "Eight Sabbats for Witches," Phoenix, Custer, WA, (1988).
"Sunna," TeenWitch at:
http://www.teenwitch.com
"Dies Solis and other Latin Names for the Days of the Week," Logo Files, at:
http://www.logofiles.com/
"Sunday Observance," Latin Mass News, at:
http://www.unavoceca.org/
"Aphrodite," Wikipedia, as on 2012-MAR-26, at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
Author: B.A. Robinson
Are you convicted yet? Read on:
Oestre/Easter
Although the Christian festival of
Easter celebrates the torture and death of Jesus on a cross and, especially, his alleged resurrection, and has links to the Jewish Passover, most people, including Christians, unknowingly celebrate its pagan influences, including the bunny, a symbol of fertility, and colored eggs, representing the sunlight of spring.
It took over 300 years before Christians established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon following the March Equinox at the
First Council of Nicaea in 325 C.E. The pagan Easter, however, was celebrated long before Christianity (although the festival went by many names).
In the 8th century, Christian scholar Bede claimed in his book, De temporum ratione, (
The Reckoning of Time) that Easter derived from the Saxon Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). The ancient Saxons in Northern Europe worshiped the ELOHIMdess Oestre at the time of the Spring Equinox. The ELOHIMdess Easter represents the sunrise, spring-time and fertility, the renewal of life.
Pagan Anglo-Saxons made offerings of colored eggs to her at the Vernal Equinox. They placed them at graves especially, probably as a charm of rebirth. (Egyptians and Greeks were also known to place eggs at gravesites).
Only later did the Christians pilfer the name for themselves and graft their religion onto a pagan celebration
Vernal Spring Equinox
The early Romans used a lunar calendar in which months alternated between 29 and 30 days. The calender produced inaccuracies because it gradually fell out of step with the seasons. Julius Caesar reformed the calendar by switching its base from lunar to solar. The Romans established the day on which the vernal equinox occurred as March 25th.
The length of the year got fixed at 365 days, with an additional leap-year day added every fourth year. This made the average length of a year equal to 365.25 days, which came fairly close to the actual value of 365.2422 days.
The astronomical vernal equinox occurs when night and day appear nearly the same length at around March 21 and establishes the first day of spring (in the northern hemisphere). The moment the Sun crosses directly over the Earth's equator marks the vernal equinox (in the southern hemisphere, the moment equals the autumnal equinox).
Translated literally, vernal means "spring" and equinox means "equal night" because the sun sits above the equator and day & night appears equal in length.
taken from http://www.nobeliefs.com/easter.htm
Easter is a pagan festival. If Easter isn't really about Jesus, then what is it about? Today, we see a secular culture celebrating the
spring equinox, whilst religious culture celebrates the resurrection. However, early Christianity made a pragmatic acceptance of ancient pagan practises, most of which we enjoy today at Easter. The general symbolic story of the death of the son (sun) on a cross (the constellation of the Southern Cross) and his rebirth, overcoming the powers of darkness, was a well worn story in the ancient world. There were plenty of parallel, rival resurrected saviours too.
The Sumerian ELOHIMdess
Inanna, or Ishtar, was hung naked on a stake, and was subsequently resurrected and ascended from the underworld. One of the oldest resurrection myths is Egyptian ELOHIMHorus. Born on 25 December, Horus and his damaged eye became symbols of life and rebirth. Mithras was born on what we now call Christmas day, and his followers celebrated the spring equinox. Even as late as the 4th century AD, the sol invictus, associated with Mithras, was the last great pagan cult the church had to overcome. Dionysus was a divine child, resurrected by his grandmother. Dionysus also brought his mum, Semele, back to life.
In an ironic twist, the
Cybele cult flourished on today's Vatican Hill. Cybele's lover Attis, was born of a virgin, died and was reborn annually. This spring festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday, rising to a crescendo after three days, in rejoicing over the resurrection. There was violent conflict on Vatican Hill in the early days of Christianity between the Jesus worshippers and pagans who quarrelled over whose ELOHIM was the true, and whose the imitation. What is interesting to note here is that in the ancient world, wherever you had popular resurrected ELOHIM myths, Christianity found lots of converts. So, eventually Christianity came to an accommodation with the pagan Spring festival. Although we see no celebration of Easter in the New Testament, early church fathers celebrated it, and today many churches are offering "sunrise services" at Easter – an obvious pagan solar celebration. The date of Easter is not fixed, but instead is governed by the phases of the moon – how pagan is that?
All the fun things about Easter are pagan. Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of
Eostre, a great northern ELOHIMdess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. Exchange of eggs is an ancient custom, celebrated by many cultures. Hot cross buns are very ancient too. In the Old Testament we see the Israelites baking sweet buns for an idol, and religious leaders trying to put a stop to it. The early church clergy also tried to put a stop to sacred cakes being baked at Easter. In the end, in the face of defiant cake-baking pagan women, they gave up and blessed the cake instead.
Easter is essentially a pagan festival which is celebrated with cards, gifts and novelty
Easter products, because it's fun and the ancient symbolism still works. It's always struck me that the power of nature and the longer days are often most felt in modern towns and cities, where we set off to work without putting on our car headlights and when our alarm clock goes off in the mornings, the streetlights outside are not still on because of the darkness.
What better way to celebrate, than to bite the head off the bunny ELOHIMdess, go to a "sunrise service", get yourself a sticky-footed fluffy chick and stick it on your TV, whilst helping yourself to a hefty slice of pagan
simnel cake? Happy Easter everyone!
from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism
How the Christians stole the Easter holiday
Christians celebrate the annual festival commemorating the alleged resurrection of Jesus between March 22 and April 25. For centuries, Christian "scholars" have debated the date of Jesus' crucifixion (cruci-fiction?). Not even Christians know when he died. There occurs not a fragment of evidence about a Jesus crucified on Mt. Calvary or anywhere else (much less have evidence for his existence).
The Jews celebrate "Passover" at around this time, from an Exodus story where ELOHIM passes over the "chosen ones" on his way to kill the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 11, 12).
However, people had celebrated Easter during the vernal equinox long before Judaism, Christianity and their superstitious myths.
Nothing about the Easter bunny or colored eggs derives from Christianity, nor will you find them mentioned in the Bible.
No one knows the origin of the name Easter but some suspect that it derived from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic ELOHIMdess of spring and fertility, to whom people dedicated a month corresponding to April. People celebrated her festival on the day of the vernal equinox. The tradition of Eastre survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. Even the early Egyptians and Persians dyed eggs in spring colors and gave them to friends.
Ancient religions commonly held such festivals including the Greek legend of the return of Persephone, daughter of Demeter, ELOHIMdess of the earth, from the underworld to the light of day. Her return symbolized to the Greeks the resurrection of life in the spring after the desolation of winter.
By contrast, the Christians celebrate a tortured man dying on a piece of lumber and Jews celebrate the passover of a ELOHIM on his way toward killing infants. What morbidity! Instead of celebrating death, why not opt for the original Easter and admire the coming of spring, and the renewal of life?
From http://www.nobeliefs.com/facts.htm#anchor191933
Are you convicted now? Easter is not originally about the death and resurrection of our messiah. Originally, it was about idol worship and celebrating spring fertility in hopes that it would bring a good year of livestock production, good crops, and child bearing. We as believers know that children, good crops, and increase of livestock come only from our creator in HIS time as a result of our obediance to scripture. We also know that to worship any other ELOHIM but YAHWEH is sin of breaking the ten commandments that will cause us to become cursed as per the following scripture:
Deuteronomy 28:1-68 KJV
(1)
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of YAHWEH thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that YAHWEH thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
(2)
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of YAHWEH thy God.
(3)
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
(4)
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
(5)
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
(6)
Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
(7)
YAHWEH shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
(8)
YAHWEH shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which YAHWEH thy God giveth thee.
(9)
YAHWEH shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of YAHWEH thy God, and walk in his ways.
(10)
And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of YAHWEH; and they shall be afraid of thee.
(11)
And YAHWEH shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which YAHWEH sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
(12)
YAHWEH shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
(13)
And YAHWEH shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of YAHWEH thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
(14)
And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
(15)
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of YAHWEH thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
(16)
Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
(17)
Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
(18)
Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
(19)
Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
(20)
YAHWEH shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
(21)
YAHWEH shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
(22)
YAHWEH shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
(23)
And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
(24)
YAHWEH shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
(25)
YAHWEH shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
(26)
And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.
(27)
YAHWEH will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.
(28)
YAHWEH shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:
(29)
And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.
(30)
Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.
(31)
Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.
(32)
Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand.
(33)
The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:
(34)
So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
(35)
YAHWEH shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.
(36)
YAHWEH shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.
(37)
And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither YAHWEH shall lead thee.
(38)
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
(39)
Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
(40)
Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
(41)
Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.
(42)
All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.
(43)
The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.
(44)
He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.
(45)
Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of YAHWEH thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
(46)
And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
(47)
Because thou servedst not YAHWEH thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
(48)
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which YAHWEH shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
(49)
YAHWEH shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
(50)
A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
(51)
And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.
(52)
And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which YAHWEH thy God hath given thee.
(53)
And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which YAHWEH thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:
(54)
So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:
(55)
So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.
(56)
The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
(57)
And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
(58)
If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, YAHWEH THY GOD;
(59)
Then YAHWEH will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.
(60)
Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.
(61)
Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will YAHWEH bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
(62)
And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of YAHWEH thy God.
(63)
And it shall come to pass, that as YAHWEH rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so YAHWEH will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.
(64)
And YAHWEH shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.
(65)
And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but YAHWEH shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
(66)
And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
(67)
In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
(68)
And YAHWEH shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
One thing that is not taught in church, is how YAHWEH repeatedly told us in the bible how much he HATES pagan celebrations, and wishes we would not use them in our worship of HIM. Allow me to enlighten you about how much the ELOHIM of the bible hates pagan practices:
(Leviticus 19:4 KJV)
Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten ELOHIMs: I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(Leviticus 26:1 KJV)
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(Leviticus 26:30 KJV)
And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
(Deuteronomy 29:17 KJV)
And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)
(1 Samuel 31:9 KJV)
And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
(1 Kings 15:12 KJV)
And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
(1 Kings 21:26 KJV)
And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom YAHWEH cast out before the children of Israel.
(2 Kings 17:12 KJV)
For they served idols, whereof YAHWEH had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
(2 Kings 21:11 KJV)
Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:
(2 Kings 21:21 KJV)
And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:
(2 Kings 23:24 KJV)
Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of YAHWEH.
(1 Chronicles 10:9 KJV)
And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.
(1 Chronicles 16:26 KJV)
For all the ELOHIMs of the people are idols: but YAHWEH made the heavens.
(2 Chronicles 15:8 KJV)
And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of YAHWEH, that was before the porch of YAHWEH.
(2 Chronicles 24:18 KJV)
And they left the house of YAHWEH ELOHIM of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
(2 Chronicles 34:7 KJV)
And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
(Psalms 96:5 KJV)
For all the ELOHIMs of the nations are idols: but YAHWEH made the heavens.
(Psalms 97:7 KJV)
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye ELOHIMs.
(Psalms 106:36 KJV)
And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
(Psalms 106:38 KJV)
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
(Psalms 115:4 KJV)
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
(Psalms 135:15 KJV)
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
(Isaiah 2:8 KJV)
Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
(Isaiah 2:18 KJV)
And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
(Isaiah 2:20 KJV)
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
(Isaiah 10:10 KJV)
As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
(Isaiah 10:11 KJV)
Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
(Isaiah 19:1 KJV)
The burden of Egypt. Behold, YAHWEH rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
(Isaiah 19:3 KJV)
And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
(Isaiah 31:7 KJV)
For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
(Isaiah 45:16 KJV)
They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
(Isaiah 46:1 KJV)
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
(Isaiah 57:5 KJV)
Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
(Jeremiah 50:2 KJV)
Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
(Jeremiah 50:38 KJV)
A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.
(Ezekiel 6:4 KJV)
And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
(Ezekiel 6:5 KJV)
And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.
(Ezekiel 6:6 KJV)
In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
(Ezekiel 6:9 KJV)
And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
(Ezekiel 6:13 KJV)
Then shall ye know that I am YAHWEH, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.
(Ezekiel 8:10 KJV)
So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
(Ezekiel 14:3 KJV)
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
(Ezekiel 14:4 KJV)
Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I YAHWEH will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
(Ezekiel 14:5 KJV)
That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
(Ezekiel 14:6 KJV)
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
(Ezekiel 14:7 KJV)
For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I YAHWEH will answer him by myself:
(Ezekiel 16:36 KJV)
Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;
(Ezekiel 18:6 KJV)
And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
(Ezekiel 18:12 KJV)
Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
(Ezekiel 18:15 KJV)
That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
(Ezekiel 20:7 KJV)
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(Ezekiel 20:8 KJV)
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
(Ezekiel 20:16 KJV)
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
(Ezekiel 20:18 KJV)
But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
(Ezekiel 20:24 KJV)
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
(Ezekiel 20:31 KJV)
For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, I will not be enquired of by you.
(Ezekiel 20:39 KJV)
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
(Ezekiel 22:3 KJV)
Then say thou, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.
(Ezekiel 22:4 KJV)
Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
(Ezekiel 23:7 KJV)
Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.
(Ezekiel 23:30 KJV)
I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.
(Ezekiel 23:37 KJV)
That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.
(Ezekiel 23:39 KJV)
For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.
(Ezekiel 23:49 KJV)
And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am YAHWEH ELOHIM.
(Ezekiel 30:13 KJV)
Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.
(Ezekiel 33:25 KJV)
Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
(Ezekiel 36:18 KJV)
Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
(Ezekiel 36:25 KJV)
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
(Ezekiel 37:23 KJV)
Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their ELOHIM.
(Ezekiel 44:10 KJV)
And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.
(Ezekiel 44:12 KJV)
Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, and they shall bear their iniquity.
(Hosea 4:17 KJV)
Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
(Hosea 8:4 KJV)
They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
(Hosea 13:2 KJV)
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
(Hosea 14:8 KJV)
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
(Micah 1:7 KJV)
And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.
(Habakkuk 2:18 KJV)
What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
(Zechariah 10:2 KJV)
For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
(Zechariah 13:2 KJV)
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith YAHWEH of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
(Acts 15:20 KJV)
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
(Acts 15:29 KJV)
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
(Acts 21:25 KJV)
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
(Romans 2:22 KJV)
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
(1 Corinthians 8:1 KJV)
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
(1 Corinthians 8:4 KJV)
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other ELOHIM but one.
(1 Corinthians 8:10 KJV)
For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
(1 Corinthians 10:19 KJV)
What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
(1 Corinthians 10:28 KJV)
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is YAHWEH's, and the fulness thereof:
(1 Corinthians 12:2 KJV)
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
(2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV)
And what agreement hath the temple of ELOHIM with idols? for ye are the temple of the living ELOHIM; as ELOHIM hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their ELOHIM, and they shall be my people.
(1 Thessalonians 1:9 KJV)
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to ELOHIM from idols to serve the living and true ELOHIM;
(1 John 5:21 KJV)
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
(Revelation 2:14 KJV)
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
(Revelation 2:20 KJV)
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
(Revelation 9:20 KJV)
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Furthermore:
Deu 12:2
Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their ELOHIMs, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:
Deu 12:3
And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their ELOHIMs, and destroy the names of them out of that place.
Deu 12:4
Ye shall not do so unto YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
Deu 12:29
When YAHWEH thy ELOHIM shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30
Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their ELOHIMs, saying, How did these nations serve their ELOHIMs? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31
Thou shalt not do so unto YAHWEH thy ELOHIM: for every abomination to YAHWEH, which he hateth, have they done unto their ELOHIMs; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their ELOHIMs.
Deu 18:9
When thou art come into the land which YAHWEH thy ELOHIM giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
Deu 18:10
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Deu 18:11
Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Deu 18:12
For all that do these things are an abomination unto YAHWEH: and because of these abominations YAHWEH thy ELOHIM doth drive them out from before thee.
Deu 18:13
Thou shalt be perfect with YAHWEH thy ELOHIM.
Deu 18:14
For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, YAHWEH thy ELOHIM hath not suffered thee so to do.
Deu 20:17
But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as YAHWEH thy ELOHIM hath commanded thee:
Deu 20:18
That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their ELOHIMs; so should ye sin against YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
2Ki 17:32
So they feared YAHWEH, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
2Ki 17:33
They feared YAHWEH, and served their own ELOHIMs, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
2Ki 17:34
Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not YAHWEH, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which YAHWEH commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
2Ki 17:35
With whom YAHWEH had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other ELOHIMs, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
2Ki 17:36
But YAHWEH, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
2Ki 17:37
And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other ELOHIMs.
2Ki 17:38
And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other ELOHIMs.
2Ki 17:39
But YAHWEH your ELOHIM ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
2Ki 17:40
Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.
2Ki 17:41
So these nations feared YAHWEH, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
Jeremiah 10:1-25 KJV
(1)
Hear ye the word which YAHWEH speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
(2)
Thus saith YAHWEH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
(3)
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.
(4)
They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
(5)
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
(6)
Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O YAHWEH; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
(7)
Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
(8)
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
(9)
Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
(10)
But YAHWEH is the true ELOHIM, he is the living ELOHIM, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
(11)
Thus shall ye say unto them, The ELOHIMs that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
(12)
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
(13)
When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
(14)
Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
(15)
They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
(16)
The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: YAHWEH of hosts is his name.
(17)
Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
(18)
For thus saith YAHWEH, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
(19)
Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
(20)
My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
(21)
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought YAHWEH: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
(22)
Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.
(23)
O YAHWEH, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
(24)
O YAHWEH, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
(25)
Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.
Jeremiah 25:1-38 KJV
(1)
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;
(2)
The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,
(3)
From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of YAHWEH hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.
(4)
And YAHWEH hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
(5)
They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that YAHWEH hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
(6)
And go not after other ELOHIMs to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
(7)
Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith YAHWEH; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
(8)
Therefore thus saith YAHWEH of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,
(9)
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith YAHWEH, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
(10)
Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
(11)
And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
(12)
And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith YAHWEH, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.
(13)
And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.
(14)
For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.
(15)
For thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
(16)
And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
(17)
Then took I the cup at YAHWEH'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom YAHWEH had sent me:
(18)
To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;
(19)
Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;
(20)
And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,
(21)
Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,
(22)
And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,
(23)
Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,
(24)
And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,
(25)
And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,
(26)
And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.
(27)
Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH of hosts, the ELOHIM of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.
(28)
And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.
(29)
For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith YAHWEH of hosts.
(30)
Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, YAHWEH shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
(31)
A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for YAHWEH hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith YAHWEH.
(32)
Thus saith YAHWEH of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
(33)
And the slain of YAHWEH shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
(34)
Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
(35)
And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
(36)
A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for YAHWEH hath spoiled their pasture.
(37)
And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of YAHWEH.
(38)
He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.
Jeremiah 32:26-44 KJV
(26)
Then came the word of YAHWEH unto Jeremiah, saying,
(27)
Behold, I am YAHWEH, the ELOHIM of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
(28)
Therefore thus saith YAHWEH; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:
(29)
And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other ELOHIMs, to provoke me to anger.
(30)
For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith YAHWEH.
(31)
For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
(32)
Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
(33)
And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
(34)
But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.
(35)
And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
(36)
And now therefore thus saith YAHWEH, the ELOHIM of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
(37)
Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
(38)
And they shall be my people, and I will be their ELOHIM:
(39)
And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
(40)
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
(41)
Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
(42)
For thus saith YAHWEH; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.
(43)
And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
(44)
Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith YAHWEH.
Ezekiel 20:2-49 KJV
(2)
Then came the word of YAHWEH unto me, saying,
(3)
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, I will not be enquired of by you.
(4)
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
(5)
And say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM;
(6)
In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
(7)
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(8)
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
(9)
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
(10)
Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
(11)
And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
(12)
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am YAHWEH that sanctify them.
(13)
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
(14)
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
(15)
Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
(16)
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
(17)
Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
(18)
But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
(19)
I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
(20)
And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.
(21)
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
(22)
Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
(23)
I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
(24)
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
(25)
Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
(26)
And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am YAHWEH.
(27)
Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
(28)
For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
(29)
Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
(30)
Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
(31)
For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, I will not be enquired of by you.
(32)
And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
(33)
As I live, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
(34)
And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
(35)
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
(36)
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM.
(37)
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
(38)
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am YAHWEH.
(39)
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
(40)
For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
(41)
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
(42)
And ye shall know that I am YAHWEH, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
(43)
And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
(44)
And ye shall know that I am YAHWEH, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith YAHWEH ELOHIM.
(45)
Moreover the word of YAHWEH came unto me, saying,
(46)
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
(47)
And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of YAHWEH; Thus saith YAHWEH ELOHIM; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
(48)
And all flesh shall see that I YAHWEH have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
Eze 23:43
Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?
Eze 23:44
Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
Eze 23:45
And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.
Eze 23:46
For thus saith YAHWEH; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.
Eze 23:47
And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
Eze 23:48
Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.
Eze 23:49
And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am YAHWEH.
Eze 24:6
Wherefore thus saith the YAHWEH; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.
Eze 24:7
For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
Eze 24:8
That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
Eze 24:9
Therefore thus saith the YAHWEH; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
Eze 24:10
Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.
Eze 24:11
Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.
Eze 24:12
She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.
Eze 24:13
In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
Eze 24:14
I YAHWEH have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith YAHWEH.
Ezekiel 33:1-33 KJV
(1)
Again the word of the YAHWEH came unto me, saying,
(2)
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
(3)
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
(4)
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
(5)
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
(6)
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
(7)
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
(8)
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
(9)
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
(10)
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
(11)
Say unto them, As I live, saith the YAHWEH ELOHIM, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
(12)
Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
(13)
When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
(14)
Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
(15)
If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
(16)
None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
(17)
Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the YAHWEH is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
(18)
When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
(19)
But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
(20)
Yet ye say, The way of the YAHWEH is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
(21)
And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
(22)
Now the hand of the YAHWEH was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
(23)
Then the word of the YAHWEH came unto me, saying,
(24)
Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
(25)
Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the YAHWEH ELOHIM; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
(26)
Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?
(27)
Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the YAHWEH ELOHIM; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
(28)
For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
(29)
Then shall they know that I am the YAHWEH, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
(30)
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the YAHWEH.
(31)
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
(32)
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
(33)
And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
Mat 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 15:1
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Mat 15:2
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Mat 15:3
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Mat 15:4
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Mat 15:5
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Mat 15:6
And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Mat 15:7
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mat 19:16
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:29
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Mat 23:2
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
Mat 23:3
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Mat 23:4
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Mat 23:5
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7
And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Mat 23:8
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Mat 23:11
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Mat 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Mat 23:14
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Mat 23:15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Mat 23:16
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Mat 23:17
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
Mat 23:18
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Mat 23:19
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Mat 23:20
Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
Mat 23:21
And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
Mat 23:22
And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Mat 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Mat 23:24
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Mat 23:25
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mat 23:26
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Mat 23:27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mat 23:29
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Mat 23:30
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Mat 23:31
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Mat 23:32
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Mat 23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Mat 23:34
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Mat 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Mat 23:38
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Mat 23:39
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of YAHWEH.
Luk 6:39
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Luk 6:40
The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
Luk 6:41
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Luk 6:42
Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
Luk 6:43
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44
For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luk 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Joh 8:42
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45
And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Joh 8:46
Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Joh 8:47
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 2:1-24 KJV
(1)
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
(2)
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
(3)
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
(4)
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
(5)
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
(6)
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
(7)
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
(8)
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
(9)
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
(10)
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
(11)
For there is no respect of persons with God.
(12)
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
(13)
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
(14)
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
(15)
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
(16)
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
(17)
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
(18)
And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
(19)
And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
(20)
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
(21)
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
(22)
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
(23)
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
(24)
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Gal 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Jas 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
1 John 5:16-21 KJV
(16)
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
(17)
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
(18)
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
(19)
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
(20)
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
(21)
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Also, keep in mind it is customary to eat ham on Easter sunday. This is what the bible says about pork:
(Leviticus 11:7 KJV)
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
(Deuteronomy 14:8 KJV)
And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.
(Proverbs 11:22 KJV)
As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
(Isaiah 65:4 KJV)
Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
(Isaiah 66:3 KJV)
He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
(Isaiah 66:17 KJV)
They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith YAHWEH.
(Matthew 7:6 KJV)
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
(Matthew 8:30 KJV)
And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
(Matthew 8:31 KJV)
So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
(Matthew 8:32 KJV)
And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
(Mark 5:11 KJV)
Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
(Mark 5:12 KJV)
And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
(Mark 5:13 KJV)
And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
(Mark 5:14 KJV)
And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
(Mark 5:16 KJV)
And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
(Luke 8:32 KJV)
And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
(Luke 8:33 KJV)
Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
(Luke 15:15 KJV)
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
(Luke 15:16 KJV)
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
And this is how it and other traditions became associated with what most christians now celebrate as Easter. The following article is copied from the website http://www.goddessgift.com/pandora's_box/easter-history.html for your convience:
Easter History : Christian and Pagan Traditions Interwoven
The history of Easter reveals rich associations between the Christian faith and the seemingly unrelated practices of the early pagan religions. Easter history and traditions that we practice today evolved from pagan symbols, from the ancient goddess Ishtar to Easter eggs and the Easter bunny.
Easter, perhaps the most important of the Christian holidays, celebrates the Christ's resurrection from the dead following his death on Good Friday. . . a rebirth that is commemorated around the vernal equinox, historically a time of pagan celebration that coincides with the arrival of spring and symbolizes the arrival of light and the awakening of life around us.
Ostara, Goddess of Spring and the Dawn (Oestre / Eastre)
Easter is named for a Saxon goddess who was known by the names of Oestre or Eastre, and in Germany by the name of Ostara. She is a goddess of the dawn and the spring, and her name derives from words for dawn, the shining light arising from the east. Our words for the "female hormone" estrogen derives from her name.
Ostara was, of course, a fertility goddess. Bringing in the end of winter, with the days brighter and growing longer after the vernal equinox, Ostara had a passion for new life. Her presence was felt in the flowering of plants and the birth of babies, both animal and human. The rabbit (well known for its propensity for rapid reproduction) was her sacred animal.
Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny both featured in the spring festivals of Ostara, which were initially held during the feasts of the goddess Ishtar | Inanna. Eggs are an obvious symbol of fertility, and the newborn chicks an adorable representation of new growth. Brightly colored eggs, chicks, and bunnies were all used at festival time to express appreciation for Ostara's gift of abundance.
History of Easter Eggs and Easter Candy
The history of Easter Eggs as a symbol of new life should come as no surprise. The notion that the Earth itself was hatched from an egg was once widespread and appears in creation stories ranging from Asian to Ireland.
Eggs, in ancient times in Northern Europe, were a potent symbol of fertility and often used in rituals to guarantee a woman's ability to bear children. To this day rural "grannywomen" (lay midwives/healers in the Appalachian mountains) still use eggs to predict, with uncanny accuracy, the sex of an unborn child by watching the rotation of an egg as it is suspended by a string over the abdomen of a pregnant woman.
Dyed eggs are given as gifts in many cultures. Decorated eggs bring with them a wish for the prosperity of the abundance during the coming year.
Folklore suggests that Easter egg hunts arose in Europe during "the Burning Times", when the rise of Christianity led to the shunning (and persecution) of the followers of the "Old Religion". Instead of giving the eggs as gifts the adults made a game of hiding them, gathering the children together and encouraging them to find the eggs. Some believe that the authorities seeking to find the "heathens" would follow or bribe the children to reveal where they found the eggs so that the property owner could be brought to justice.
Green Eggs . . .
. . . and Ham???
The meat that is traditionally associated with Easter is ham. Though some might argue that ham is served at Easter since it is a "Christian" meat, (prohibited for others by the religious laws of Judaism and Islam) the origin probably lies in the early practices of the pagans of Northern Europe.
Having slaughtered and preserved the meat of their agricultural animals during the Blood Moon celebrations the previous autumn so they would have food throughout the winter months, they would celebrate the occasion by using up the last of the remaining cured meats.
In anticipation that the arrival of spring with its emerging plants and wildlife would provide them with fresh food in abundance, it was customary for many pagans to begin fasting at the time of the vernal equinox, clearing the "poisons" (and excess weight) produced by the heavier winter meals that had been stored in their bodies over the winter. Some have suggested that the purpose of this fasting may have been to create a sought-after state of "altered consciousness" in time for the spring festivals. One cannot but wonder if this practice of fasting might have been a forerunner of "giving up" foods during the Lenten season.
Chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs, marshmallow chicks in pastel colors, and candy of all sorts, most of which are given out as personalized gifts during Easter . . . these have pagan origins as well! To understand their association with religion we need to examine the meaning of food as a symbol.
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The ancient belief that, by eating something we take on its characteristics formed the basis for the earliest "blessings" before meals (a way to honor the life that had been sacrificed so that we as humans could enjoy life) and, presumably, for the more recent Christian sacrament of communion as well.
Shaping candy Easter eggs and bunnies to celebrate the spring festival was, simply put, a way to celebrate the symbols of the goddess and the season, while laying claim to their strengths (vitality, growth, and fertility) for ourselves.
The Goddess Ostara and the Easter Bunny
Feeling guilty about arriving late one spring, the Goddess Ostara saved the life of a poor bird whose wings had been frozen by the snow. She made him her pet or, as some versions have it, her lover. Filled with compassion for him since he could no longer fly (in some versions, it was because she wished to amuse a group of young children), Ostara turned him into a snow hare and gave him the gift of being able to run with incredible speed so he could protect himself from hunters.
In remembrance of his earlier form as a bird, she also gave him the ability to lay eggs (in all the colors of the rainbow, no less), but only on one day out of each year.
Eventually the hare managed to anger the goddess Ostara, and she cast him into the skies where he would remain as the constellation Lepus (The Hare) forever positioned under the feet of the constellation Orion (the Hunter). He was allowed to return to earth once each year, but only to give away his eggs to the children attending the Ostara festivals that were held each spring. The tradition of the
Easter Bunny had begun.
The Hare was sacred in many ancient traditions and was associated with the moon goddesses and the various deities of the hunt. In ancient times eating the Hare was prohibited except at Beltane (Celts) and the festival of Ostara (Anglo-Saxons), when a ritual hare-hunt would take place.
In many cultures rabbits, like eggs, were considered to be potent remedies for fertility problems. The ancient philosopher-physician Pliny the Elder prescribed rabbit meat as a cure for female sterility, and in some cultures the genitals of a hare were carried to avert barrenness.
Medieval Christians considered the hare to bring bad fortune, saying witches changed into rabbits in order to suck the cows dry. It was claimed that a witch could only be killed by a silver crucifix or a bullet when she appeared as a hare.
Given their "mad" leaping and boxing displays during mating season as well as their ability to produce up to 42 offspring each spring, it is understandable that they came to represent lust, sexuality, and excess in general. Medieval Christians considered the hare to be an evil omen, believing that witches changed into rabbits in order to suck the cows dry. It was claimed that a witch could only be killed by a silver crucifix or a bullet when she appeared as a hare.
In later Christian tradition the white Hare, when depicted at the Virgin Mary's feet, represents triumph over lust or the flesh. The rabbit's vigilance and speed came to represent the need to flee from sin and temptation and a reminder of the swift passage of life.
And, finally, there is a sweet Christian legend about a young rabbit who, for three days, waited anxiously for his friend, Jesus, to return to the Garden of Gethsemane, not knowing what had become of him. Early on Easter morning, Jesus returned to His favorite garden and was welcomed the little rabbit. That evening when the disciples came into the garden to pray, still unaware of the resurrection, they found a clump of beautiful larkspurs, each blossom bearing the image of a rabbit in its center as a remembrance of the little creature's hope and faith.
Ishtar, Goddess of Love, and the First Resurrection (also known as Inanna)
Ishtar, goddess of romance, procreation, and war in ancient Babylon, was also worshipped as the Sumerian
goddess Inanna. One of the great goddesses, or "mother goddesses", the stories of her descent to the Underworld and the resurrection that follows are contained in the oldest writings that have ever been discovered. . . the Babylonian creation myth Enuma Elish and the story of Gilgamesh. Scholars believed that they were based on the oral mythology of the region and were recorded about 2,100 B.C.E.
The most famous of the myths of Ishtar tell of her descent into the realm of the dead to rescue her young lover, Tammuz, a Vegetation god forced to live half the year in the Underworld. Ishtar approached the gates of the Underworld, which was ruled by her twin sister Eresh-kigel, the goddess of death and infertility. She was refused admission.
Similar to the Greek myths of Demeter and Persephone that came later, during Ishtar's absence the earth grew barren since all acts of procreation ceased while she was away. Ishtar screamed and ranted that she would break down the gates and release all of the dead to overwhelm the world and compete with the living for the remaining food unless she was allowed to enter and plead her case with her twin.
Needless to say, she won admission. But the guard, following standard protocol, refused to let her pass through the first gate unless she removed her crown. At the next gate, she had to remove her earrings, then her necklace at the next, removing her garments and proud finery until she stood humbled and naked after passing through the seventh (and last) gate.
In one version, she was held captive and died but was brought back to life when her servant sprinkled her with the "water of life". In the more widely known version of the myth, Ishtar's request was granted and she regained all of her attire and possessions as she slowly re-emerged through the gates of darkness.
Upon her return, Tammuz and the earth returned to life. Annual celebrations of this "Day of Joy", were held each year around the time of the vernal equinox. These celebrations became the forerunners of the Ostara festivals that welcomed Oestre and the arrival of spring.
A section on the Goddess Inanna (the Sumerian version of the Goddess Ishtar), her myths and symbols, is included with the myths of the goddesses at this website.
Easter eggs, the Easter Bunny, the dawn that arrives with resurrection of life, and the celebration of spring all serve to remind us of the cycle of rebirth and the need for renewal in our lives. In the history of Easter, Christian and pagan traditions are gracefully interwoven
So... now that you know the truth... what is your decision? I will tell you my decision. I choose to celebrate the biblical feast of passover, unleavened bread, and first fruits instead of the man-made idol inspired holiday of easter sunday. I do so, because the feast of passover is what our savior was celebrating during the last supper, when he commanded "Do this in rememberance of me:"
Luke 22:8-38 KJV
(8)
And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
(9)
And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
(10)
And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.
(11)
And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
(12)
And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
(13)
And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
(14)
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
(15)
And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
(16)
For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
(17)
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
(18)
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
(19)
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
(20)
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
(21)
But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
(22)
And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
(23)
And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
(24)
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
(25)
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
(26)
But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
(27)
For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
(28)
Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
(29)
And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
(30)
That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(31)
And YAHWEH said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
(32)
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
(33)
And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
(34)
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
(35)
And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
(36)
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
(37)
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
(38)
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
1Co 11:20
When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat YAHWEH's supper.
1Co 11:21
For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1Co 11:22
What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
1Co 11:23
For I have received of YAHWEH that which also I delivered unto you, That YAHWEH Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1Co 11:24
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew YAHWEH's death till he come.
1Co 11:27
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of YAHWEH, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of YAHWEH.
1Co 11:28
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning YAHWEH's body.
1Co 11:30
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
1Co 11:31
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32
But when we are judged, we are chastened of YAHWEH, that we should not be condemned with the world.
1Co 11:33
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
1Co 11:34
And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
The following is copied from the website http://bible-truth.org/Feasts-Passover.html
Passover and the Feast of Unleaven Bread [ Hebrew: Pesah, or Pesach pronunced "p-sah"or "PAY-sahch"] always begins after sundown on Nisan 14 of the Jewish calendar around March or April is a reminder of God's protection during plagues in Egypt and their deliverance from Egypt. It is a eight day feast beginning on the 14th day of Nisan, [pronouned nes-san] the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, about the time of the vernal equinox and ends on the Nisan 21st. The Passover meal is eaten on the first day. God commanded that Israel keep this feast perpetually. It is still celebrated by the Jews today, however in a modified form.
Exodus 12:14-20, "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to YAHWEH throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread."
Leviticus 23:4-6, "These are the feasts of YAHWEH, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is YAHWEH’S passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto YAHWEH: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."
Passover Dinner, commemorates the protection of God as the Angel of Death passed over every Jewish family there in Egypt and protected them by the Blood of the Paschal Lamb. That Lamb was YAHWEH Jesus Christ. The symbolism is unmistakenable. Israel, God’s chosen people were in slavery in the foreign land of Egypt. Egypt, in the Bible, symbolically always stands for the lost world ruled by Satan. Egypt was under the judgment of death of its first born and only those who believed in God’s promise of salvation and obeyed Him by sprinkling the blood of the sacrificial lamb would be spared. In judgment God offered redemption. Like wise in this age man is under the curse of sin and death. God offers us redemption through the atoning action of Jesus Christ, God’s son who came to the earth, and suffered and died for the sins of the world. He became the Paschal lamb. Under this judgment of sin and ultimate eternal death, God freely offers to all who will believe and accept His provision for us, forgiveness of our sins and life eternal.
YAHWEH did not give us the Passover celebration, but YAHWEH’s Supper, as a memorial of His death, burial and resurrection. There are parallels between the two memorials and they both point to the same event. That event was the day that Jesus Christ paid our sin debt and in Him is salvation to for all would will believe and receive it.
The Passover Meal Nisan 14 The eight days begins with the Passover meal on Nisan 14 and is referred to as the Cedar or Seder) [say-dor] continues on the 15th-21st of Nisan which is the Feast of the Unleaven bread.
Before the Passover: A young male lamb is selected which is without blemish four days before the Passover. They examine it carefully to make sure it is perfect. The Jewish day begins at sundown one day and ends the twenty four hours later at sunset. The Passover therefore begins at sundown or the begin of the 14th day of Nisan. On the Passover night the blood of the lamb is sprinkled on the door posts of the house.
1. Before the Passover all leaven is removed from the house. Leaven is a symbol of sin and therefore before the Passover is a time of confession of sin and purification. (See 1 Cor. 5:6) Like wise YAHWEH’s suffer is also a time of purification and confession of sin. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 instructs those who take YAHWEH’s Supper to examine their lives, judge themselves and confess their sins to YAHWEH. To not to do so show a serious spiritual failure in not respecting (showing discernment) YAHWEH’s suffering for our sins.
Today before the Seder the father plays a game with the children by hiding pieces of leaven bread around the house. The children then come in and hunt for it. When a piece is found the father comes with a wooden spoon and feather. He carefully uses the feather to brush the crumbs into the spoon and carries them the fire and burns them.
2. The mother is busy setting the table with their special Passover tableware and white linen. The white linen is representative of the righteousness of the saints. A special white linen covers the table. At the Seder tThe father is dressed in a white robe, call a kittlel [pronounced: kit-tell] and the table is lit with white candles.
A proper kosher housewife keeps four sets of dishes. Two sets for meat and milk keep meat and milk separated during the year at regular meals. Two other sets keep milk and meat separated at Passover.
3. The Passover meal begins and two candles are lit by the mother of the house. (A woman brought Christ into the world)
4. The First Cup. Four cups of wine (grape juice) is drank during the Passover.
a. First is the Cup of the Sanctification. (Sanctifies the table and all preparations) b. The service has not begun yet... this is the preparation.
c. When the father pours the first cup he is accepting that all has been done properly and everything is ready.
5. After the First Cup the father and all participants wash their hands. Afterwards the father takes three loaves or pieces of unleavened bread and places then in a white linen envelope which has three compartments. This bread with looks like a cracker is called matzo. [also spelled, matzot, matzoh, matza, or matza] The father then takes out the middle piece of matzo from the compartment, wraps it in a separate piece of white linen and hides it. . . generally under the table or in a drawer. Everyone is at the table and sitting on pillows or cushions.
6. The Four Questions are asked. The order of service for the Seder Dinner is contained in a book call the Haggadah. (Hag-ga-dah). The word means "telling." A copy is used by each participant and is essential for understanding and participation.
Children are an important part of the Seder. God commanded Israel to instruct their children in remembering Him and their history.
The youngest child answers the four questions:
1. Why do we eat matzo on Pesach? The answer: Matzoh reminds us that when the Jews left the slavery of Egypt they had no time to bake their bread. They took the raw dough on their journey and baked it in the hot desert sun into hard crackers called matzoh.
2. Why do we eat bitter herbs, maror, at our Seder? The answer: Maror reminds us of the bitter and cruel way the Pharaoh treated the Jewish people when they were slaves in Egypt.
3. Why do we dip our foods twice tonight? They answer: We dip bitter herbs into Charoset to remind us how hard the Jewish slaves worked in Egypt. The chopped apples and nuts look like the clay used to make the bricks used in building the Pharaoh's buildings. We dip parsley into salt water. The parsley reminds us that spring is here and new life will grow. The salt water reminds us of the tears of the Jewish slaves.
4. Why do we lean on a pillow tonight? The answer: We lean on a pillow to be comfortable and to remind us that once we were slaves, but now we are free. The Haggadah itself stresses the importance of the Seder as "a spectacle meant to excite the interest and the curiosity of the children."
Everything in the Seder is meant to make the children curious and to ask questions.
7. The father tells or reads the story of the Exodus and begins "When our people were enslaved in Egypt..." The family listens spell bound by the story.
a. As the story is told the ceremonial foods are eaten.
b. While the father is telling the story of the slavery...the bitter herbs are eaten. It is kosher horseradish (no sugar added) and parsley. He serves it to each person from the center
Seder
plate on the table. The parsley is dipped into a bowl of salty water. [The bitterness is like a person before they are saved. Salty water for dipping represents one's tears of repentance.]
c. . As he talks about sacrificing the lamb..he gestures to a plate which has the unbroken shank bone of the lamb. (No bones are broken or cut)
d. A roasted egg is also on the plate. [Pharaoh's heart? Most have no idea what it means. They do not eat it..it is just there. Some suggest that the egg is a traditional symbol of mourning, and has been interpreted by some as a symbolic mourning for the loss of the Temple. Since the destruction of the Temple in the year 70 AD, neither the festival sacrifice nor the special Passover sacrifice could be offered. It is also a symbol of spring - the season in which Passover is always celebrated.
8. The Second Cup. This cup is spilled one drop at a time for ten drops on each person's plate. They stand for the ten plagues. Blood, frogs, vermin, beasts...etc. The people stare into the dripping "blood" and remembers what they were delivered from.
9. The Meal. This somber moment of the Second Cup is quickly ended by the meal. It is quite a feast. A whole lamb is called for by the scriptures, but the Jews think it not appropriate because they have no Temple...so beef, chicken, etc are prepared.. The lamb in the Old Testament was the main meal, but it is not now. It is like Christmas or Thanksgiving. The entire family with uncles, cousins and in-laws are present and the meal lasts from sun down to mid-night.
10. The Third Cup. The Cup of Redemption.
a. The father uncovers the three matzot [pronouned "mat -sah] which have been place in a three pocketed linen napkin. These lie in front of him in the napkin. He takes out the middle matzot, breaks it in half, takes the larger half and wraps it in a napkin and hides it somewhere under his cushion, in a drawer or under the table. One of the children will try to steal it away and claim a price if successful. Otherwise it will lie there "buried" until the service is over. Then, it will suddenly appears, it will be taken out and broken into small pieces and distributed to the members of the family. This, too, is a symbol of the Passover of which everyone was to participate. This matzot, since it had been broken, has become the afikomen, [pronounced: af-o- ko- man] a word apparently derived from the Greek, meaning, "I arrive," or "I come to." The hidden piece of unleaven bread is not brought out and eaten with the desert.
Note: The following was a warning to Jews about following "Christian" Haggadahs.
"Watch out for Christianized versions of the haggadah. The Christian "last supper" is generally believed to have been a Pesach seder, so many Christians recreate the ritual of the seder, and the haggadahs that they use for this purpose tend to reinterpret the significance of the holiday and its symbols to fit into their Christian theology. For example, they say that the three matzahs represent the Trinity, with the broken one representing Jesus on the cross (in Judaism, the three matzahs represent the three Temples, two of which have been destroyed, and the third of which will be built when the moshiach comes). They speak of the paschal lamb as a prophecy of Jesus, rather than a remembrance of the lamb's blood on the doorposts in Egypt. If you want to learn what Pesach means to Jews, then these "messianic" haggadahs aren't for you.
b. Next there is a procession called "afikomen" meaning festival procession. This is made up of children who seek to "find" the hidden bread and the father has hidden to redeem it or buy it for some piece of silver. (75 cents)
c. This is the middle piece of bread that was earlier placed in the linen and put in a draw or under the table. It is eaten with the Third Cup. The father brakes the bread and gives it to each one present. The person eats the bread and then drinks from the cup. This is what Jesus did in Matthew 26:26-27.
11. Jesus was taking the last part of the Passover when He gave us YAHWEH's Supper. Matthew 26:26-27. Jesus took the bread and blessed it. His exact words were: "Blessed art Thou, 0 Lord out God, King of the universe, Who bringest forth bread from the heaven." Jesus then said, "This is my body, which is broken for you, eat this in remembrance of me.
It is a paradox that the Jews cerebrate the Passover and do not know fully what it all means and Christians take YAHWEH's Supper and they too do not understand what it really is. It is actually the last part of the Passover when the third cup was taken. Jesus explained it meaning and purpose saying:
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:27-28)
The usual explanation for the three pieces of matzot is that they represent the threefold division in Israel: Priests, Levites and Israelites. A better explanation is that it represents the triune nature of God, the most Holy Trinity. The first piece represents God the Father. The middle matzot, (afikomen), represents the One whose body was broken and given for us in the Eucharist. It was hidden and buried, and then resurrected with the promise of afikomen: I have come already and am coming again'... yes, Jesus Christ. The third piece represents the Holy Spirit. Haggadah is the book read during the seder. The Haggadah [ Ha-got-ta] is a book containing the Passover service and includes the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
Jesus was buried on the Feast of the Unleaven Bread. He was brought forth from the grave which stands for the Third cup and desert! (Matt 26:27-28).
Matthew 26:27-28 says, "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."
How did Jesus give thanks? What did he say? The answer is found in a Jewish marriage ceremony when the groom would pay a price for the bride to her father. When the groom leaves after giving the dowry to the bride's father he would say, "I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-4.) The bride then waited at home, separated and consecrated, set apart, being brought for a price, until the bridegroom would return for her.
She remained faithful, loyal and eager to be married. She was separated.. wearing a veil so that no other man would see her face and try to make contact with her and she would be a perfect example of purity and modesty. At home she would keep an oil lamp and plenty of oil standing by if the bride groom come at night and they have to travel in the dark. Unexpected..the bride groom arrives and abducts . the bride! At the bride groom's house everything is made ready as quick as possible. He must get his father's approval for his new room. Even the time of getting the bride is left up to the father. Someone asks, "When is the big day?" The answer, "Only my father knows."
The big day arrives and all is ready. Some in the bride grooms party shouts. "Behold, he bride groom cometh." When the bride hears this, she, her sisters and brides maids, trim the lights get ready. The bride groom the spirits his bride away to the honey moon clamber he was prepared and the couple go in and shut the door. The bride grooms best man would stand near the door and listen for the voice of the bride groom. When the marriage is consummated in the chamber, the bride groom tells his best man and the marriage is now official. The guests for the wedding feast are not assembled and would begin a seven day celebration! The guests could not leave till it was over. The bride and groom come out and the feast begins.
The blessing over the Third cup is "Blessed art thou, 0 Lord God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine." This is what Jesus literally said and Jesus said I am the vine and here He blesses the fruit of the vine. It was like a toast to the His bride and to the fruit of the marriage. Biblically the disciples are the branches and we are the fruit of the Vine, the Bride of Christ.
12. Passover is a celebration, YAHWEH's Supper is a more solemn event.
Note Jesus ended the supper saying "Do this in remember of me." We celebrate the Savior, crucified, buried and rise, the Redeemer.
13. The Fourth Cup. Jesus did not drink the fourth cup of Passover. It is sometimes called Elijah's cup. Malachi 4:5. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of YAHWEH: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
An empty chair is left at the table during these proceedings and a wine goblet. It is for Elijah who is expected to enter some Passover night and take his seat. He will take the cup and drink it and say,...the waiting is over, the Messiah is come! Some families place a whole setting for Elijah. The youngest child of the family goes to the door and looks out to see if Elijah is coming down the street. The family waits the child's answer..... the news comes from the door..."I don't see him." Zola Leavett said when he looked outside and down the street he truly expected to see Elijah coming...and he would even walk out into the street to see if he was there while the family was left waiting the answer.
Jesus and His disciple did not take the Fourth cup.... the Messiah was already there!
The celebration is ended as the father in a melancholy way says...."L' shanah haba'ah b'yrushalayim." Meaning "Next year in Jerusalem."
He the Messiah is come. We should say, "Next year in the New Jerusalem."
After YAHWEH's took the Passover, they sang a hymn and went out to the Mt. of Olives.
I choose to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread because on it my savior was crucified and rose again on the feast of first fruits.
http://bible-truth.org/Feasts-UnleavenBread.html
First Fruits is held on the Sunday following Unleaven Beard. 21st of Nisan. (Lev. 23:10-11) Passover begins in 14th, Feast of the Unleaven Bread on 15th, and the Feast of the First Fruits on 21st. They are referred to as one feast. There are remaining the feasts are Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles, Lights and Purim for a total of seven feasts.
First Fruits is celebrated in Spring to acknowledge the early crops. It was a wave offering. "This rite, together with that of "heaving" or "raising" the offering was an inseparable accompaniment of peace offerings. In such the right shoulder, considered the choicest part of the victim, was to be ("heaved," and viewed as holy to YAHWEH, only eaten therefore by the priest: the breast was to be "waved," and eaten by the worshiper. The scriptural notices of these rites are to be found in Ex 29:24,28; Le 7:30,34; 8:27; 9:21; 10:14,15; 23:10,15,20; Nu 6:20; 18:11,18,26-29 etc. In conjecturing the meaning of this rite, regard must be had that it was the accompaniment of peace offerings, which were witnesses to a ratified covenant --an established communion between God and man."
Since the feast of the Unleaven beard was seven days long, it would have one Sunday and that Sunday would be First Fruits each year.
The Feast was a thanksgiving offering to God for His goodness in providing food from the land for the Israelites. There was a national offering (Lev. 23:10-17) and individual offerings (Exod. 23:19, Deut. 26:1-11). The First Fruit offerings went to support the priests.
Wave Offering: It was initiated at the consecration of Aaron and the beginning of the Aaronic priesthood (Exod. 29:24-28). It was associated with the peace offering that symbolized a right spiritual relationship with God. In the peace offering a worshiper would bring a bullock, a lamb or a goat, male of female and the this offering followed the Sin Offering.
The wave and heave offering were a part of the peace offering. This offering came from the animal offered as the peace offering. When Aaron was consecrated, Moses placed the animal on Aaron’s hands and waved the offering before YAHWEH. Jewish interpreters say the offering was placed on the hands of the worshiper and then the priest would place his hands under it and move it back and forth and up and down. If this was true it was a sign of the cross.
The portions offered in the wave offering were holy and only the priests ate this portion (Lev. 10:14f). The heave offering was the choicest part of the animal the right thigh.
Lev. 23:10-15, records that a wave offering was part of the Feast of First Fruits.
Today the First Fruits is celebrated by Christians and called Easter. Easter is named after the Babylonian goddess, Ishtra, a pagan goddess of fertility, and even today these symbols of fertility are used in celebrating Easter with rabbits, eggs, new costumes, etc which symbolize Spring in the beginning of the growing season.
Note Christians do not celebrate or worship the pagan goddess of Ishtra. Both celebrations fell at the same time and became referred to as Easter. Christians are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and not some pagan deity.
Instead of Easter, it should be called First Fruits. Jesus arose on Feast of the First Fruits. Many believe that Christians too will be resurrected as the First Fruits and possibly on the Feast of the First Fruits. We should not be dogmatic about this because Jesus said only God the Father knew the day of the Rapture. (Matt. 24:23)
1 Cor. 15:23. "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming."
1 Thess. 4:16-17. " For YAHWEH himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet YAHWEH in the air: and so shall we ever be with YAHWEH."
This was the last feast YAHWEH fulfilled.
In 1 Cor. 15:23, Paul refers to Christ as the First Fruits. The real point of the feast was looking to the resurrection of the Messiah. Jesus, the Messiah was our provision for spiritual welfare. Jesus was raised on the first day of the Feast of the First Fruits. Jesus said he was the Bread of Life. This was the last feast YAHWEH took part in while on earth.
The Feast of the First Fruits began the harvest. The offering to YAHWEH was the first of the grain that was harvested, and afterwards the harvest would continue. This is the symbolism of the First Fruit. Christ was the First at 1 Corinthians 15:20,23 states. Those who have and will believe in Jesus Christ for salvation since that time are the harvest.
Note how Jesus illustrated this in John 12:23-26 "And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."
Note what Jesus said the reapers (Christians) would experience:
1. A repudiation of a self orientated life. (John 12:25)
2. The establishment of a commitment to Jesus Christ as a disciple. (John 12:26a)
3. The promise of fellowship. (John 12:26b)
4. The promise of being honor. ( John 12:26c)
Fifty days later began the Feast of Pentecost.
http://bible-truth.org/Feasts-Firstfruit.html
The Feast of the Unleaven Bread begins the next night after the Passover and celebrates Israel being delivered from bondage in Egypt. Lev. 23:6
A morning and evening sacrifice was offered. Only unleaven bread is eaten and meat of the sacrifices. Exodus 12:19 states the seriousness of the commandment from God. "Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land." Leaven is symbolic of sin and the Passover was a memorial to God’s delivering them from slavery in Egypt, but also a time of repentance and the putting away of sin. Galatians 5:9 says, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Leaven when placed in a lump of four with begin to grow and spread until it permeates the whole lump. The picture is that of one diligently searching for and getting rid of sin even the smallest sin in one’s life. Even as a little leaven (sin) will spoils the whole of the lump, therefore any and all sin is to be confessed and put out of one’s life.
In YAHWEH’s supper the believer is to examine (1 Cor. 11:28) and to judge ( 1 Cor. 11:31) himself in regard to having unconfessed or remaining sin in his life
The regular daily sacrifice was offered after the special offering. The 1st and 7th day like a Sabbath everyone rested with the exception of those preparing the food.
The 2nd day a barley sheaf of the new harvest was symbolically offered to YAHWEH, by waving it before YAHWEH (not burned). Those attending offer a freewill burnt offering of not less than sixteen grains of corn, a festive offering of not less that 32 grains, and a peace or joy offering (Deut. 27:7) determined by the giver. (Deut. 16:16-17)
1 Corinthians 5:7-8. Paul referred to the Passover and Unleaven Bread.
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
The History of the Passover.
The Bible records that the Passover was kept three times until they entered the Promised Land.
Leaving Egypt (Exodus 12:28)
The Second year after the Exodus (Numbers 9:1-5).
When they entered Canaan (Exodus 13:5).
It is recorded as being observed only three times between entering the Promised Land and the Babylonian captivity.
Under Solomon. (2 Chron. 8:13)
Hezekiah and Josiah (2 Kings 23:21, 2 Chron. 35:1-9)
After the postexilic period (after the Babylonian captivity) it became more regular.
Jesus was born in the city, whose name means: "House of Bread" Bethlehem.
John 12:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
God fed the Israelites in the wilderness with manna and He feds Christians "the bread of life." John 6:48
Unleaven bread pictures the suffering of the Messiah. Isaiah 53 prophesied of the suffering of the Messiah. The unleaven bread used in the Passover and during the feast of the Unleaven Bread is called "Matzo or Matsoh".
Matzoh has stripes
Isaiah 53:5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Matzoh has holes:
Zech. 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Matzoh has no leaven:
Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
The bread is placed in the middle section of the linen cloth with three pockets.
Most Jews have no idea why the Matzoh Tosh (Tash) has three pockets. Some rabbis teach that these represent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; others say they portray the unity of worship -- priests, Levites and congregation; still others say they stand for the crowns of learning, priesthood and kingship. But there's no explanation for breaking and hiding the middle one. Christians have a better explanation; it involves the "bread of heaven," spoken of in John 6:32-59.He was beaten, crucified, buried and then raised.
A verse that is very holy to the Jews is the shemah of Deuteronomy 6:4-9,
"Hear, O Israel: YAHWEH thy God is one LORD. And thou shalt love YAHWEH thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children ... and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."
That word "one" in the Hebrew is echad, meaning a composite oneness, not just the number one. It's the same word used in Genesis 2:24, where Adam and Eve are said to be "one flesh," and in Ezekiel 37 to describe the two sticks becoming one. Here it is describing the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit -- the three persons of the Godhead, acting as one. It represents the Trinity. Jesus is the Second person of the Trinity and He was "broken" for our transgressions.
This is the true meaning of the unity of the three matzohs in the matzoh tash. And which of these is the middle one? That is obviously God the Son -- Jesus the Messiah, our Lord. Let's see how He could be represented by a piece of unleavened bread. Read John 6:32-59. Verse 35 says,
"And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
God subtly emphasized this truth in choosing the spot where His Son would be born. The meaning of the name "Bethlehem" is "house of bread." (By the way, the name "Nazareth" means "branch." That meaning clarifies the prophecy in Isaiah 11:1.)
But why isn't the sacrificed lamb still used? And how did matzohs come to prominence? Deuteronomy 12:11-14 says that people were not to offer sacrifices except at the location that God chose. Other scriptures make it clear that He chose the Temple site on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. When the Roman army, under Titus, destroyed the Temple in A.D.70, there was no more acceptable place for sacrifice of the lamb. That's why today's Passover meals don't include the meat of a lamb, merely a symbolic shank bone. The rabbis, in the second century A.D., instituted the use of matzohs to represent the sacrificed lamb. That practice still holds.
Now we can see why the middle matzoh is broken during the Passover, then hidden or buried. Jesus's body was broken for us, He died, and was buried. But He didn't stay dead -- He came back to life, came out of the tomb! That is represented by bringing out that matzoh later in the ceremony. It is then broken into pieces, and passed out to each person. And this is the exact spot during the Last Supper, when Jesus said, "This is my body which is given for you."
Jesus was buried at sundown of the Passover Day.
1. Why Christ died so quickly. Normally took three days. Person died
slowly, little by little.
2. The Centurion did not think Christ was dead, in six hours, he pieced
His side.
3. YAHWEH died in time to be buried at sundown that day. He was placed o
cross at 9 AM and taken down at 3 PM. There was time enough to prepare
the body and place it in the grave.
John 2:19 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
The feast lasts seven days. It was one of the three feast to be physically attended by all male Jews physically able to do so. (Ex. 23:17, Deut. 16:16) Feasts of pilgrimage upon which the Jews were to return to Jerusalem was Unleaven Bread, Tabernacles and Pentecost.
Special sacrifices were offered. Numbers 28-29.
The third feast is the Feast of the First Fruits and is held on the Sunday following the Feast of the Unleaven Bread. It is a special feast to acknowledge the fertility of the land God gave them.
Now that I have taken the time to share with you the truth, I would recommend watching a video made by a dear brother in messiah, Jim Staley. The video is entitled "TRUTH OR TRADITION" and goes into more detail of the easter holiday as well as the christmas holiday, their history, and how it relates to the church of today. You can find it on YOUTUBE at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGgt_dsdLWs
Then, after reviewing all the facts, and the bible for yourself... you must decide for yourself what you will do. Will you continue celebrating Easter on easter sunday with dyed eggs, and easter ham, or will you replace it as I have done with biblically commanded feast days, that honor our savior and His word?
The choice is yours.
Joshua 24:14-15 KJV
(14)
Now therefore fear YAHWEH, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye YAHWEH.
(15)
And if it seem evil unto you to serve YAHWEH, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve YAHWEH.
Shalom.
Written in part and compiled by Rachael Siebert
Copywrite Grafted Into Truth Ministries
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Scriptures on Pesah (Passover)
Exo 12:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon in the land of Mitsrayim, saying,
Exo 12:2 “This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you.
Exo 12:3 “Speak to all the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month each one of them is to take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.
Exo 12:4 ‘And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next to his house take it according to the number of the beings, according to each man’s need you make your count for the lamb.
Exo 12:5 ‘Let the lamb be a perfect one, a year old male. Take it from the sheep or from the goats.
Exo 12:6 ‘And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then all the assembly of the congregation of Yisra’ĕl shall kill it between the evenings.
Exo 12:7 ‘And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.
Exo 12:8 ‘And they shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire – with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Exo 12:9 ‘Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire, its head with its legs and its inward parts.
Exo 12:10 ‘And do not leave of it until morning, and what remains of it until morning you are to burn with fire.
Exo 12:11 ‘And this is how you eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Passover of יהוה.
Exo 12:12 ‘And I shall pass through the land of Mitsrayim on that night, and shall smite all the first-born in the land of Mitsrayim, both man and beast. And on all the mighty ones of Mitsrayim I shall execute judgment. I am יהוה.
Exo 12:13 ‘And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I shall pass over you, and let the plague not come on you to destroy you when I smite the land of Mitsrayim.
Exo 12:14 ‘And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall observe it as a festival to יהוה throughout your generations – observe it as a festival, an everlasting law.
Exo 12:15 ‘Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. Indeed on the first day you cause leaven to cease from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that being shall be cut off from Yisra’ĕl.
Exo 12:16 ‘And on the first day is a set-apart gathering, and on the seventh day you have a set-apart gathering. No work at all is done on them, only that which is eaten by every being, that alone is prepared by you.
Exo 12:17 ‘And you shall guard the Festival of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I brought your divisions out of the land of Mitsrayim. And you shall guard this day throughout your generations, an everlasting law.
Exo 12:18 ‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month in the evening.
Exo 12:19 ‘For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, that same being shall be cut off from the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, whether sojourner or native of the land.
Exo 12:20 ‘Do not eat that which is leavened – in all your dwellings you are to eat unleavened bread.’ ”
Exo 12:21 And Mosheh called for all the elders of Yisra’ĕl and said to them, “Go out and take lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and slaughter the Passover lamb.
Exo 12:22 “And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin, and you, none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.
Exo 12:23 “And יהוה shall pass on to smite the Mitsrites, and shall see the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, and יהוה shall pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you.
Exo 12:24 “And you shall guard this word as a law for you and your sons, forever.
Exo 12:25 “And it shall be, when you come to the land which יהוה gives you, as He promised, that you shall guard this service.
Exo 12:26 “And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’
Exo 12:27 then you shall say, ‘It is the Passover slaughtering of יהוה, who passed over the houses of the children of Yisra’ĕl in Mitsrayim when He smote the Mitsrites and delivered our households.’ ” And the people bowed their heads and did obeisance.
Exo 12:43 And יהוה said to Mosheh and Aharon, “This is the law of the Passover: No son of a stranger is to eat of it,
Exo 12:44 but any servant a man has bought for silver, when you have circumcised him, then let him eat of it.
Exo 12:45 “A sojourner and a hired servant does not eat of it.
Exo 12:46 “It is eaten in one house, you are not to take any of the flesh outside the house, nor are you to break any bone of it.
Exo 12:47 “All the congregation of Yisra’ĕl are to perform it.
Exo 12:48 “And when a stranger sojourns with you and shall perform the Passover to יהוה, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and perform it, and he shall be as a native of the land. But let no uncircumcised eat of it.
Exo 12:49 “There is one Torah for the native-born and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”
Lev 23:5 ‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, is the Passover to יהוה.
Lev 23:6 ‘And on the fifteenth day of this month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to יהוה – seven days you eat unleavened bread.
Lev 23:7 ‘On the first day you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work.
Lev 23:8 ‘And you shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה for seven days. On the seventh day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work.’ ”
Lev 23:9 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Lev 23:10 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest.
Lev 23:11 ‘And he shall wave the sheaf before יהוה, for your acceptance. On the morrow after the Sabbath the priest waves it.
Lev 23:12 ‘And on that day when you wave the sheaf, you shall prepare a male lamb a year old, a perfect one, as a burnt offering to יהוה,
Lev 23:13 and its grain offering: two-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to יהוה, a sweet fragrance, and its drink offering: one-fourth of a hin of wine.
Lev 23:14 ‘And you do not eat bread or roasted grain or fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your Elohim – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Deu 16:1 - "Guard the new moon of Abib, and perform the Pesah to Yahuah your Elohim, for in the new moon of Abib Yahuah your Elohim brought you out of Mitsrayim by night."
Deu 16:2 - "And you shall slaughter the Pesah to Yahuah your Elohim, from the flock and the herd, in the place which Yahuah chooses to put His Name."
Deu 16:5 - "You are not allowed to slaughter the Pesah within any of your gates which Yahuah your Elohim gives you..."
Deu 16:6 - ...but at the place where Yahuah your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell, there you slaughter the Pesah in the evening, at the going down of the sun, at the appointed time you came out of Mitsrayim.
Num 9:2 “Now, let the children of Yisra’ĕl perform the Passover at its appointed time.
Num 9:3 “On the fourteenth day of this month, between the evenings, perform it at its appointed time. According to all its laws and right-rulings you perform it.”
Num 9:4 And Mosheh spoke to the children of Yisra’ĕl to perform the Passover.
Num 9:5 So they performed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, between the evenings, in the Wilderness of Sinai. According to all that יהוה commanded Mosheh, so the children of Yisra’ĕl did.
Num 9:6 But there were men who were defiled for a being of a man, so that they were not able to perform the Passover on that day. So they came before Mosheh and Aharon that day,
Num 9:7 and those men said to him, “We are defiled for the being of a man. Why are we withheld from bringing near the offering of יהוה at its appointed time among the children of Yisra’ĕl?”
Num 9:8 And Mosheh said to them, “Wait, let me hear what יהוה commands concerning you.”
Num 9:9 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 9:10 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘When any male of you or your generations is unclean1 for a being, or is far away on a journey, he shall still perform the Passover of יהוה. Footnote: 1Defilement can be imparted from one to another.
Num 9:11 ‘On the fourteenth day of the second month, between the evenings, they perform it – with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they eat it.
Num 9:12 ‘They do not leave of it until morning, and they do not break a bone of it. According to all the laws of the Passover they perform it.
Num 9:13 ‘But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and has failed to perform the Passover, that same being shall be cut off from among his people, because he did not bring the offering of יהוה at its appointed time – that man bears his sin.
Num 9:14 ‘And when a stranger sojourns among you, then he shall perform the Passover of יהוה. He shall do so according to the law of the Passover and according to its right-ruling. You have one law, both for the stranger and the native of the land.’ ”
Num 28:16 - And in the first new moon, on the fourteenth day, is the Pesah of Yahuah...
Num 33:3 - So they departed from Rameses in the first new moon, on the fifteenth day of the first new moon, on the morrow of the Pesah the children of Yisrael went out with boldness before the eyes of all the Mitsrites...
Yos 5:10 - And the children of Yisrael camped in Gilgal, and performed the Pesah on the fourteenth day of the new moon at evening on the desert plains of Yeriho.
Yos 5:11 - And they ate of the stored grain of the land on the morrow after the Pesha, unleavened bread and roasted grain on this same day.
2Ki 23:21 - And the sovereign commanded all the people, saying, "Prepare the Pesah to Yahuah your Elohim, as it is written in this Book of this Covenant."
2Ki 23:22 - For such a Pesah had not been prepared since the days of the rulers who ruled Yisrael, nor in all the days of the sovereigns of Yirael and the sovereigns of Yehudah...
2Ki 23:23 - ...but in the eighteenth year of sovereign Yoshiyahu this Pesah was prepared before Yahuah in Yerushaylayim.
Eze 45:21 - "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the new moon, you have the Pesah, a festival of seven days, unleavened bread is eaten."
Ezra 6:19 - And the sons of the exile performed the Pesah on the fourteenth day of the first new moon...
Ezra 6:20 - ...for the priests and the Lewites had cleansed themselves - all of them were clean. And they slew the Pesah for all the sons of the exile, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
2Ch 30:1- And Hizqiyahu sent to all Yirael and Yahudah, and he also wrote letters to Ephrayim and Menashsheh, to come to the House of Yahuah at Yerushalayim, to perform the Pesah to Yahuah Elohim of Yisrael.
2Ch 30:2 - But the sovereign his leaders and all the assembly in Yerushalayim had taken counsel to perform the Pesah in the second new moon.
2Ch 30:5 - So they sttled the matter, to send a call to all Yisrael, from Beersheba to Dan, to come to perform a Pesah to Yahauh Elohim of Yisrael at Yerushalayim, since they had not done it for a long time, as it is written.
2Ch 30:15 - Then they slew the Pesah on the fourteenth day of the second new moon. And the priests and the Lewites were ashamed, and set themselves apart, and brought the ascending offerings to the house of Yahuah.
2Ch 30:18 - For many of the people, many of Ephrayim and Menashsheh, Yissakar and Zebulun, had not been cleansed, yet they ate the Pesah contrary to what was written. But Hiqiyahu prayed for them, saying, "Yahuah who is good, provide atonenment for everyone..."
2Ch 35:1 - And Yoshiyahu performed a Pesah to Yahuah in Yerushalayim, and they slew the Pesah on the fourteenth day of the first new moon.
2Ch 35:6 - "And slay the Pesah, and set yourselves apart, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to the word of Yahuah by the hand of Mosheh.".
2Ch 35:7 - And Yoshiyahu gave to the lay people lambs and young goats from the flock, all for Pesahim for everyone present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand cattle - these were the sovereign's possesions.
2Ch 35:8 - And his leaders contributed a voluntary offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Lewites. Hilqiyah, and Zekaryahu, and Yehiel, leadrers of the House of Elohim, gave to the priests for the Pesahim two thousand six hundred, and three hundred cattle...
2Ch 35:9 - ...and Konanyahu, his brothers Shemayahu and Nethanel, and Hashabyahu and Yeiel and Yozabad, chiefs of the Lewites, gave to the Lewites for Pesahim five thousand, and five hundred cattle.
2Ch 35:11- ...and they slew the Pesah. And the priests sprinkled out of their hands, while the Lewites were skinning.
2Ch 35:13 - So they roasted the Pesah with fire according to the right-ruling, and they boiled the set-apart offerings in pots, and in cauldrons, and in bowls, and brought them speedily to all the lay people.
2Ch 35:16 - And all the service of Yahuah was prepared that day, to perform the Pesah and to offer ascending offerings on the slaughtplace of Yahuah, according to the command of Sovereign Yoshiyahu.
2Ch 35:17 - And the children of Yisrael who were present performed the Pesah at that time, and the festival of Matzot for seven days.
2Ch 35:18 - There had not been a Pesah performed in Yisrael like it since the days of Shemuel the prophet. And none of the sovereigns of Yisrael had performed such a Pesah as Yoshiyahu had performed, with the priests and the Lewites, and all Yehudah and Yisrael who were present, and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim.
2Ch 35:19 - In the eighteenth year of the reign of Yoshiyahu this Pesah was performed.
Matt 26:2 - "You know that after two days the Pesah takes place, and the Son of Adam is to be delivered up to be impaled."
Matt 26:17 - And on the first day of Unleavened Bread the taught ones came to Yahushuah, saying to Him, "Where do you wish us to prepare for You to eat the Pesah?"
Matt 26:18 - And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say unto him, The Teacher says My time is near. I am to perform the Pesah at your house with My taught ones."
Matt 26:19 - And the taught ones did as Yahushuah had oerdered them, and prepared the Pesah.
Mark 14:1 - Now the Pesah and the Festival of Matzot was after two days. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to take Him through treachery and put him to death.
Mark 14:12 - And the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they were slaughtering the Pesah lamb, His taught ones said to Him, "Where do you wish us to go and prepare for You to eat the Pesah?"
Mark 14:14 - "And wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, The Teacher says, Where is the guest room in which I am to eat the Pesah with My taught ones?"
Mark 14:16 - And His taught ones went out and came into the city, and found it as He said to them, and they prepared the Pesah.
Luke 2:41- And His parents went to Yerushalayim every year at the Festival of the Pesah.
Luke 22:1 - And the Festival of Matzot drew near, which is called Pesah.
Luke 22:7 - And the Day of Unleavened Bread, came when the Pesah had to be slaughtered.
Luke 22:8 - And He sent Kepha and Yohanan, saying, "Go and prepare the Pesah for us to eat."
Luke 22:11 - "And you shall say to the master of the house, The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room where I might eat the Pesah with My taught ones?"
Luke 22:13 - And going they found it as He had said to them, and they prepared the Pesah.
Luke 22:15 - And He said to them, "With desire I have desired to eat this Pesah with you before My suffering..."
Yohn 2:13 - And the Pesah of the Yehudim was near, and Yahushuah went up to Yerushalayim.
Yohn 2:23 - And when He was in Yerushalayim at the Pesah, at the festival, many believed in His Name when they saw the signs which He was doing.
Yohn 6:4 - And the Peasah was near, the festival of the Yehudim.
Yohn 11:55 - Now the Pesah of the Yehudim was near, and many went from the country up to Yerushalayim before the Pesah, to set themselves apart.
Yohn 12:1 - Accordingly Yahushuah, six days before the Pesah, came to Beyth Anyah, where Elazar was, who had died, whom He raised from the dead.
Yohn 13:1 - And before the Festival of the Pesah, Yahushuah knowing that His hour had come that He should move out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
Yohn 18:28 - Then they led Yahushuah from Qayapha to the palace, and it was early. And they themselves did not go into the palace, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Pesah.
Yohn 18:39 - "But you have a habit that I shall release someone to you at the Pesah. Do you wish, then, that I release to you the Soveriegn of the Yehudim?"
Yohn 19:14 - And it was the Preparation Day of the Pesah week, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Yehudim, "See your Soveriegn!"
1Co 5:7 - Therefore cleanse out the old leaven, so that you are a new lump, as you are unleavened. For also Messiah our Pesah was slaughtered for us.
Heb 11:28 - By belief, he performed the Pesah and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the first-born should touch them.