Why celebrate Easter/Ishtar?The Story of Easter:

“Easter" was a day that commemorated the resurrection of

one of their gods that they called "Tammuz", who was believed to be the only begotten son of the moon-

goddess and the sun-god. You certainly will be familiar with some

other names of Easter: Her original name is Semiramis, Rhea, Goddess ”Mother,

Ge, “The Gazer” (Job 28:7), Athena, Minerva, Queen of Heaven (Jer 44:19),

Ma Tsoopo, Madonna, Isis (sound familiar) Al’Lat, Mother of Harlots,

Cybele, Diana the Virgin, Artemis, Maut, Feronia, Frigga, “the Lady” the hope of the world, Alma Mater, Hestia, Aurora,

Thalatth (belonging to the rib), the mother of the husband, Libertas,

Columbia…and many more if you do further research…Ephesians 5:11

• She further claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant moon egg that fell into the Euphrates River. Most people think this same stone is the Mysterious Black Stone of Kaaba which the Muslims make a pilgrimage to once a year.

• One of her main goals is to replace the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaQodesh/used as feminine in Hebrew). Her name in an active sense means “the Gazing woman” but in passive it means “the beauty”. After her death she was deified and all of her rites were perverted and filthy.

• Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounced "Easter", and her moon egg became known as "Ishtar's" egg.“

• In Egypt one of her temples was engraved with “I am all that has been, or that is, or that shall be. No mortal has removed my veil. The fruit which I have brought forth is the Sun.” Wow talk about the selfie generation getting a good head start.

• Ishtar soon became pregnant on March 25th (now count 9 months from this date and lo and behold you have? By the way March 25th

was called Lady-day) and claimed that it was the rays of the sun-god Baal that caused her to conceive (false virgin conception of a son).

• The son that she brought forth was named Tammuz. How on earth did a Jewish month get named after that piece of scum!

• 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-god, Baal.

• The day came when Tammuz was killed by a wild pig (see pigs are good for something).

• 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 (sound familiar?).

• Ishtar, who was now worshipped as the "Mother of God and Queen of Heaven", continued to build her mystery religion. Once the worship of a dead man was established the worship of many more were to follow.

• Psalms 106: 28They joined themselves also unto Baal of Peor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead. 29Thus they provoked Him with their doings, And the plague broke in upon them. 30Then stood up Phinehas, and wrought judgment, And so the plague was stayed. 31And that was counted unto him for righteousness, Unto all generations for ever.

• 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 (Lent)of time of sorrow each year prior to the anniversary of the death of Tammuz.

• During this time, no meat was to be eaten (sound familiar?). Up to the end of the 2nd

century Tertullian makes note that Lent did NOT exist-according to Cassianus the monk of Marseills he believed that Lent was borrowed from the Babylonian goddess observed by Yezidis/devil worshipers of Koordistan also by Pagan Mexicans in honor of the sun”. In Egypt the fast was for Adonis or Osirus.

• 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 (yikes, I used to do this).

• They also ate sacred cakes with the marking of a "T" or cross on the top.

Oink, Oink!

• 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 (you must obey the Queen of Heaven right?).

• Are you convinced yet that Easter/Ishtar has NOTHING to do with Yeshua rising?

• 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 King James Bible.

• It is because Acts, chapter 12, tells us that it was the evil King Herod, who was planning to celebrate Easter. Acts 12:1-4 KJV

What is the Passover?

• The celebration of PASSOVER is a celebration designed by God! This Feast and Event was given to increase our faith and prepare us to enter in the fullness His blessing! Passover was commanded by God for the Jews in the Old Testament to teach them the importance of redemption by the blood. But it was also observed by Christians in the New Testament to remember and understand God’s redeeming work! The Bible tells us it is to be a permanent ordinance… a celebration for all time!

What makes Passover so important?

• The Feast of Passover is a faith declaration that we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! It does something in us when we celebrate Passover! When we come together to remember God’s great works of redemption, and declare the power of redemption in our lives today!

Constantine-mingle Yaweh

with Ishtar

• There’s always a battle for PASSOVER. We see it in church history!

• In the 4th century, when the emperor Constantine tried to merge Christianity and paganism, it sounded like a good deal to many! He legalized Christianity! You could go to church without having to fear being thrown to the lions!

• And Constantine didn’t mind Christians having a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection… But he did have an issue with PASSOVER! He demanded that Christians not celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at the time of Passover! At the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325), he declared, “This irregularity [observing Passover] MUST be corrected!”

• At the council of Nicea, Constantine outlawed Passover and directed that Christ’s death and resurrection be celebrated on “the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox,” …a time associated with the spring festival of the pagan fertility goddess Ishtar… also known as Eastre! Constantine’s goal was to remove Yeshua from the context of Passover!

The Battle Continues!

• Many in the church resisted Constantine’s edicts, so for many centuries after Constantine, the battle for Passover continued! In the sixth century, for example, Emperor Justinian sent the Roman armies throughout the empire to enforce the prohibition on Passover! In his attempt to wipe out the “heresy” of Passover, thousands of men, women and children were brutally murdered! Entire cities were massacred for refusing to stop celebrating Passover! Pressured by the government, the Roman church joined in the attempts to stamp out Passover! Notice some of the decrees passed against Passover by various church councils.

• A Curse Pronounced!• THE COUNCIL OF ANTIOCH (A.D. 345) – “If any

bishop, presbyter or deacon will dare, after this decree, to celebrate Passover, the council judges them to be anathema from the church. This council not only deposes them from ministry, but also any others who dare to communicate with them.” (The word anathema means “cursed.” The church actually pronounced a curse on Christians who would celebrate Passover!)

• THE COUNCIL OF LAODICEA (A.D. 365) - “It is not permitted to receive festivals which are by Jews.”

• THE COUNCIL OF AGDE, FRANCE (506) – “Christians MUST NOT take part in Jewish festivals.”

• THE COUNCIL OF TOLEDO X (7th century) – Easter must be celebrated at the time set by the decree of Nicea.

Two Biblical examples of Biblical revivals of the Passover

• “Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He repaired and cleansed the temple, tore down the false altars, restored the sacrifices, and Davidic praise. Then Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah, inviting them to come to celebrate Passover. Couriers went throughout Israel and Judah: "People of Israel, return to the Lord.” (2 Chron. 29-30)

• The same thing was happening in Josiah’s Day: “Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. In the 18th year of his reign, while repairing the temple, they found the TORAH scroll in the temple." When the king heard the words of the Torah scroll, he tore his robes. He went up to the temple with all the people. He read in their hearing all the words of the Covenant. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. The king ordered them to remove from the temple all the idols made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He tore down the quarters of the male prostitutes, which were in the temple…The king gave this order to all the people: "Celebrate Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this scroll of the Covenant." In the 18th year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem. Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah, had such a Passover been observed.” (II Kings 22-23)

The Timetable of Passover

• It’s interesting to compare the timetable of Jesus’ crucifixion with the Passover celebration. According to the Torah, at the time of Passover a number of events had to take place in a specific order, and at very specific times….

• 1. The Passover Lamb had to be selected on a specific day. Exodus 12 instructs that the Passover lamb be chosen on the 10th day of 1st month. By the time of Jesus, only lambs from Bethlehem were considered eligible to serve as Passover lambs. So the lamb born in Bethlehem was chosen and brought into Jerusalem from the east (down the Mount of Olives) and entered the city through the sheep gate. On the 10th day of 1st month Jesus, the Lamb born in Bethlehem, came down the Mount of Olives and entered Jerusalem through the sheep gate. (This is called His “triumphal entry!”) As He entered, the people waved palm branches and shouted "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD! Save us, son of David!” By mass acclamation Jesus is designated as Israel’s Messiah! The crowds had chosen their Passover Lamb!

• 2. The Lamb then had to be examined. The Torah instructed that once the lamb was chosen, it had to be carefully examined for blemishes. Only a perfect, spotless and unblemished lamb would suffice for the Passover. After arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus went to the Temple to teach. While there, He was approached by the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and the teachers of the Law. Each group posed difficult questions, trying to trap him. Essentially, they were looking for any blemish which might disqualify Him as Messiah. But no one could find fault with Him. He was without blemish.

• 3. The Leaven (impurity) must be cast out. Torah instructs that before the feast, all leaven (impurity) must be cast out of every Israelite home. Each mother took a candle and searched out impurity, removing it from her house. This regulation is still observed today. Passover is a time to cleanse every house. Every observant Jewish family carefully cleans their house before Passover. Every trace of impurity is removed. After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, He entered the Temple and cast out the moneychangers. He was following the biblical instruction to prepare for Passover by cleansing His Father's house.

• 4. The Lamb is taken to the altar for public display. On the morning of the 14th day of 1st month, when all has been set in order, the lamb was led out to the altar. At 9 AM that morning, the lamb was bound to the altar and put on public display for all to see! On the morning of the 14th day of the 1st month, when all had been fulfilled, Jesus was led out to Calvary. At 9 AM that morning, just as the lamb was being bound to the altar… Jesus was nailed to the cross and put on public display at Calvary!

• 5. The Lamb was slain at a specific time. At exactly 3 p.m. the high priest ascended the altar. As another priest blew a shofar on the temple wall, the high priest cuts the throat of the sacrificial Lamb, and declared, “IT IS FINISHED!” At 3 p.m. on that high holy day, at the moment the Passover lamb was killed, Jesus cried with a loud voice, “IT IS FINISHED,” and gave up His spirit! In Greek, “It is finished” is tetelistai! It means, “The debt has been paid in full!”

• The Celebration of YESHUA!

• Do you see how God chose to connect Jesus with Passover? It’s no wonder John introduces Jesus by saying, “Behold the Lamb!” It’s no wonder Paul writes “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been slain!” Passover is all about Jesus! Do you see that Passover is all About JESUS?

• He came as the LAMB of God!• His blood redeems US!• By His blood… judgment turned

away!• By His blood…the power of the

enemy is broken!• By His blood…we are released

from bondage and oppression.• By His blood…we are set free to

enter into God’s Promise!

Elijah Challenges Baal Worship• So now we conclude with challenging

the audience as Elijah did in his day.

• And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. IstKings 18:21

• Finally, do your own research and seek Yaweh through the study of His word.

• We have to ask ourselves if we are any different from the Pharisees that Yeshua challenged in Matthew 15:1-9 when they broke the Commands of Yaweh in favor of the Oral Torah and the Talmud.

Tools to enhance your understanding

• The Holy Bible, prayer…follow Yeshua

• Truth or Tradition by Jim Staley

• Sunburned by 119 Ministries

• http://www.yahweh.org/publications/fsdy/festivals.pdf

• http://hebrewnationonline.com/

• http://www.yrm.org/compelling-feasts.htm

• Alexander Hyslop The Two Babylons

• http://redicecreations.com/article.php?id=17158