What Really Happened at ''Easter''?

KOINONIA HOUSE ^ | March 2007 | Chuck Missler Ph.D.

[Uri’el-2012]

What Really Happened at ''Easter''?

Most reasonably informed Christians are well aware that many of the traditions
that surround the Christmas holidays have pagan origins and very little correlation
with the actual events as recorded in the Bible. However, most of us are surprised
when we discover that some of what we have been taught about “Easter”
is not only in error, but deliberately so!

Many, of course, are aware that the name “Easter” actually originates with the
pagan worship of Ishtar (or Astarte) that was traditionally observed at the time
of the vernal equinox, nominally about March 21 or 22. Traditional pagan fertility
symbols of both rabbits and eggs continue to be associated with this holiday.

However, the name as commonly used is also currently associated with the events
surrounding the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which actually
occurred on the Jewish Passover and is clearly defined in the Scriptures as the 14th of Nisan.

Read more here

[Uri’el-2012]

And Easter Sunday of that week [Nissan 18th] was the Jewish Feast of First Fruits --- coinciding with the Resurrection. So no matter how hard theologians try to avoid it, the Jewish roots are the determining factor of Holy Week and cannot be avoided.

34 posted on 03/31/2007 9:47:08 AM MDT by Uncle Chip

Many believe Easter sunday happened on the 17th of Nissan
on the Feast of First Fruits as you say,
but they look back to Genesis 8:4

Genesis 8:4 and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month
the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

The seventh month from Rosh Hananah
would be the month of Nissan. The seventeenth
of Nissan would be the New Beginnings for mankind.

Again !

b'shem Yah'shua

[Uri’el-2012]

Well, it appears in "Numbers." The fact remains that it is tied to the natural rhythms of the seasons, just like the two other major feasts for which the people were commanded to make pilgrimage. God is also the god of the seasons.

32 posted on 03/31/2007 9:12:03 AM MDT by RobbyS

More information on the Feast's commanded by Elohim can be found here:

b'shem Yah'shua

[Uncle Chip]

Genesis 8:4 and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

The seventeenth would make sense for the following Saturday [the Sabbath] as it was a day of rest.

Thus Sunday the eighteenth would be the day of arising from that rest ---- per Leviticus 23:11: "the next day after the sabbath" aka the feast of first fruits.

[Uri’el-2012]

OK; that works.

[Diego1618]

Actually the Lord's Passover is what happened on Nissan 14th 30 AD on a Wednesday --- not Thursday or Friday. Otherwise there would not have been three days and three nights between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

This is true and much to the consternation of the Romans is absolutely identified as such by [Matthew 12:40] for, as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. And this is backed up by [Mark 8:31] and began to teach them, that it behoveth the Son of Man to suffer many things, and to be rejected by the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and to be killed, and after three days to rise again; After Three days indicates at least 72 Hours.

[Matthew 27:63] saying, 'Sir, we have remembered that that deceiver said while yet living, After three days I do rise. Here again scripture verifies that it would be at least 72 Hours.

Now, [Mark 9:31] tells us something else....that it would not be more that 72 hours: for he was teaching his disciples, and he said to them, 'The Son of Man is being delivered to the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and having been killed the third day he shall rise. Being killed the third day says, at least 48 hours....but no more than 72.

And finally we are told in [John 2:19] that is is again something between 48 and 72 hours: Jesus answered and said to them, 'Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up."

So.....as usual, when the word of God says something.... it means just that! Three days and three nights and anything else is conjecture.

Passover 30 A.D.

The Sabbath spoken of in [Leviticus 23:7] is the Sabbath beginning the count of the Omer....(verse 15), not the weekly Sabbath. The First Sabbath of Unleavened Bread fell on Thursday that year so Pentecost would have been fifty days later....on a Friday.

The body was entombed right before sunset [Luke 23:50-54] And lo, a man, by name Joseph, being a counsellor, a man good and righteous, he was not consenting to their counsel and deed -- from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who also himself was expecting the reign of God, he, having gone near to Pilate, asked the body of Jesus, And having taken it down, he wrapped it in fine linen, and placed it in a tomb hewn out, where no one was yet laid. And the day was a preparation, and sabbath was approaching. The preparation day was the 14th and the Sabbath approaching was the First Sabbath of Unleavened Bread....a Thursday! Note the calendar.

This Sabbath is the same Sabbath spoken of in [Mark 16:1] I'm going to include the entire phrase from [Mark 15:42-47] so you can see how the narrative flows. And now evening having come, seeing it was the preparation, that is, the fore-sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, who also himself was waiting for the reign of God, came, boldly entered in unto Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead, and having called near the centurion, did question him if he were long deadand having known [it] from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. And he, having brought fine linen, and having taken him down, wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre that had been hewn out of a rock, and he rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre,and Mary the Magdalene, and Mary of Joses, were beholding where he is laid. And the sabbath having past, Mary the Magdalene, and Mary of James, and Salome, bought spices, that having come, they may anoint him. The last sentence, of course is [Mark 16:1] and because of traditional chapter and verse (not divinely inspired) many folks have had a misunderstanding that this Sabbath being mentioned here was the Saturday Sabbath. Not True! It is the same Sabbath spoken of in the earlier referenced passage of Luke.

It is also the same Sabbath mentioned by the Apostle John when he says in [John 19:31] The Jews, therefore, that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, since it was the preparation, (for that sabbath day was a great one,) asked of Pilate that their legs may be broken, and they taken away. A great Sabbath means an annual Sabbath (Thursday)....not the weekly Saturday Sabbath.

The body, being placed in the tomb right before sunset on a Wednesday would be resurrected right before sunset on Saturday....72 hours later as we have shown from scripture. Matthew confirms this in [Matthew 28:1] And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. On the eve of the Sabbaths (weekly Sabbath and first Sabbath in the count of the Omer to Pentecost....thus the plural) would be shortly before sundown on the Sabbath. Verse 6 says: [Matthew 28:6] He is not here, for He rose, as He said; come, see the place where the Lord was lying. The angel is telling the women this late on the Sabbath afternoon....72 hours after Our Lord had been entombed on the previous day of preparation, Wednesday.

All scriptures quoted have been from "Young's Literal Translation".

[Diego1618]

You can't tell me that St. Polycarp, who was raised Christan and knew St. John was busy celebrating a pagan holiday as the resurrection of Jesus.

You're right....he wasn't. Polycrates of Ephesus....disciple of Polycarp

He celebrated the Passover, as did most everyone one else in the early Church.....and he celebrated it on the 14th of Nisan. Christians should all continue celebrating this Holy Feast Day of The Lord.

[Uncle Chip]

Well Said. That's a great link. Too bad it doesn't go back to the BC years. There are a couple dates there I would like to check.

One thing though: the Jews in Jesus' day referred to the day after Passover as a "Sabbath" or a "mega Sabbath", also known as an "extra Sabbath" for that week. However, in truth, according to Leviticus 23, that day was really called a "holy convocation", to distinguish it from the Sabbath or seventh day of the week that came afterward.

Thus the 15th was the "holy convocation" that began the feast of unleavened bread [Thursday]. The 17th was the Sabbath of that week [Saturday]. The feast of first fruits per Leviticus 23:11 was the next day after the Sabbath of that week [Sunday]. And Pentecost was seven sabbaths later ---- on a Sunday not a Friday.

[Diego1618]

That's a great link. Too bad it doesn't go back to the BC years. There are a couple dates there I would like to check.

Yeah....you and me both! I understand that the earlier years are in the works....just don't know when they'll be out.

Josephus

Josephus was a Pharisee...as Paul, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.... and it was their position that the count of the "Omer" began the day after the first Sabbath of Unleavened. If you refer back to my calendar in post #45 you will see that this Sabbath fell on a Thursday. The second Sabbath of Unleavened fell seven days later on a Wednesday. The Sadducees held that the Sabbath in question was Saturday but as you can see by reading Josephus , Book III, Chapter X, Paragraph 5....that is incorrect: In the month of Xanthicus, which is by us called Nisan, and is the beginning of our year, on the fourteenth day of the lunar month, when the sun is in Aries, (for in this month it was that we were delivered from bondage under the Egyptians,) the law ordained that we should every year slay that sacrifice which I before told you we slew when we came out of Egypt, and which was called the Passover; and so we do celebrate this passover in companies, leaving nothing of what we sacrifice till the day following. The feast of unleavened bread succeeds that of the passover, and falls on the fifteenth day of the month, and continues seven days, wherein they feed on unleavened bread; on every one of which days two bulls are killed, and one ram, and seven lambs. Now these lambs are entirely burnt, besides the kid of the goats which is added to all the rest, for sins; for it is intended as a feast for the priest on every one of those days. But on the second day of unleavened bread, which is the sixteenth day of the month, they first partake of the fruits of the earth, for before that day they do not touch them. And while they suppose it proper to honor God, from whom they obtain this plentiful provision, in the first place, they offer the first-fruits of their barley, and that in the manner following: They take a handful of the ears, and dry them, then beat them small, and purge the barley from the bran; they then bring one tenth deal to the altar, to God; and, casting one handful of it upon the fire, they leave the rest for the use of the priest. And after this it is that they may publicly or privately reap their harvest. They also at this participation of the first-fruits of the earth, sacrifice a lamb, as a burnt-offering to God

By reading [Leviticus 23:4-11] you will see that the Sabbath on which the sheaf is waved is the sixteenth as confirmed by Josephus. Verse 16, in the Hebrew, reads "Weeks" but is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Sabbaths. That is why "Shavuot" (Pentecost) is called the Feast of Weeks. It occurs seven weeks (fifty days) after the first Sabbath of Unleavened. All Hebrew Feast Days were regulated by the Lunar phases and fell on different days of the weekly cycle from year to year.

Another confusing issue in some peoples minds is that "Passover" (the 14th) is itself....not a Sabbath. It is called the day of Preparation. The Sabbaths the year Our Lord died were on the 15th and the 21st, as they fall every year. It later became generally common to call the entire eight day affair....simply....Passover.

[Matthew 23:1-3] Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples. Saying The scribes and the Pharisees, sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

In other words.....they were hypocrites!

[Diego1618]

By reading [Leviticus 23:4-11] you will see that the Sabbath on which the sheaf is waved is the sixteenth as confirmed by Josephus.

This should say...."The day on which the sheaf is waved"...

[Uncle Chip]

I would love to ask Josephus to read Leviticus 23 and explain why the Jews were not keeping the feasts according to the Leviticus 23 Law of Moses.

For one thing they began the feast of unleavened bread before the Passover which was incorrect [Mark 14;12, Mt 26:17, Luke 22;7]. The day of Preparation was supposed to be the 13th not the 14th. And the Passover lamb was to be killed and eaten on the beginning of the 14th day [at evening] but they were eating theirs at the end of the day of the 14th and beginning of the 15th.

And the first day of unleavened bread was a "miqra" [convocation] not a "sabbath" and the feast of first fruits was supposed to be celebrated the next day after the first sabbath [Saturday] after Passover --- not after the next day after the miqra.

Clearly by their traditions they had made the word of God of no effect as related even to the Passover.

[Diego1618]

And the Passover lamb was to be killed and eaten on the beginning of the 14th day [at evening] but they were eating theirs at the end of the day of the 14th and beginning of the 15th.

[Exodus 12:6] And it hath become a charge to you, until the fourteenth day of this month, and the whole assembly of the company of Israel have slaughtered it between the evenings.

Another confusing Hebrew term. They had "Two" evenings each day....one at high noon and the other at sunset. Between the evenings would be about 3:00 P.M. in the afternoon....the same time Our Saviour was slaughtered.

Between the Evenings

This is a good study which clears up most of these questions.

[narses]

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[red irish]

When I read all of this I can only think of one thing,does all of this serve Jesus and bring us together,or divide us more? I have a problem with memory sometimes and I have a limited education and yet I try to love our Lord the best I can. And yes I can fail miserably. Everyone has the answers and there are so many answers. In todays world I can now see why there are so many religions and so many different versions of religions,because not everyone has great intellect or great education and yes some are not guided by the holy spirit. But I can find peace in the knowledge that God is great in Mercy,and that he will understand the different limitations on people.But take the Muslims they REALLY believe in their faith and and yet to us it looks like they are more full of hate and violence.But no news service or artists will portray Islam or their prophet in a negative way.Besides the crazies, do those people have more faith and so other people respect them,or are they just afraid of them? The reason why I ask, is why are Christians such a easy target? Maybe they too understand the division among Christians and want to further exploit it.I have to admit crazy or not the Muslims have unity! By the way can someone give me the translation of VITA MUNDI? I have a metal photo of the Christ child with this on it.

[maryz]

Perhaps the return will come on the 30th.

Does Nissan have a 30th? Months in lunar calendars generally have 28 days. ;-)

[Diego1618]

When I read all of this I can only think of one thing, does all of this serve Jesus and bring us together, or divide us more?

If it is scripture....and not the traditions of men....why would it not bring us all closer together? Would not The Lord be pleased we are following his Holy Word?

[Uri’el-2012]

Josephus was a Pharisee...as Paul, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea...

Not everyone agreees with that position.

See

Flavius Josephus and the Pharisees

[Diego1618]

Not everyone agrees with that position.

Very good article....thanks for posting. I've heard Josephus referred to by almost every name anyone could imagine, but most appropriately....this is probably the truth: First, Josephus may not have actually been a Pharisee in fact, or a truly committed one, but only wanted to portray himself as one (this from a line in his autobiography, on which more below) because after the war of 66-73 CE the Pharisees were the dominant group in the rebuilding of (“early rabbinic”) Judaism at Yavneh/Jamnia. So he wrote more about the Pharisees in his works of the 90s and allegedly declared his affiliation with them in the Life (§ 12) in order to repair his relations with the new Jewish leadership....from your article.

[Uncle Chip]

Very interesting and informative link. But it raises this question: Who kept the Passover at its proper time on Nissan 14th, 30 AD: Jesus and his Apostles at the beginning of that 14th day or the Jews and their leaders at the end of that 14th day?

[Diego1618]

The day matters to Father.

This is....and will continue to be, one of mankind's most misunderstood concepts of the Creator God. He set his Holy Days and Feasts as a lasting ordinance to be observed in all our generations....forever. [Leviticus 23]

[Diego1618]

Who kept the Passover at its proper time on Nissan 14th, 30 AD: Jesus and his Apostles at the beginning of that 14th day or the Jews and their leaders at the end of that 14th day?

The Last Supper was not a Passover Seder...it was evidently a meatless "Essene" Seder eaten on Monday night as Tuesday was the Preparation and Our Saviour's sacrifice.....between the evenings.

[Matthew 27:62] And on the morrow that is after the preparation, were gathered together the chief priests, and the Pharisees, unto Pilate. This is Thursday, the First Sabbath of Unleavened.....the 15th.

[Mark 15:42] And now evening having come, seeing it was the preparation, that is, the fore-sabbath. This is late Wednesday afternoon....the 14th.

[Luke 23:54] And the day was a preparation, and sabbath was approaching. This is late Wednesday afternoon...right before entombment.

[John 19:31] The Jews, therefore, that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, since it was the preparation, (for that sabbath day was a great one,) asked of Pilate that their legs may be broken, and they taken away. This is also late on the 14th, Wednesday afternoon.

As Our Saviour was being slaughtered at 3:00 P.M. on Golgotha, the lambs were being slaughtered in the temple for the upcoming Passover meal to begin at sundown.

[Exodus 12:6-10] And it hath become a charge to you, until the fourteenth day of this month, and the whole assembly of the company of Israel have slaughtered it between the evenings, and they have taken of the blood, and have put on the two side-posts, and on the lintel over the houses in which they eat it. And they have eaten the flesh in this night, roast with fire; with unleavened things and bitters they do eat it, ye do not eat of it raw, or boiled at all in water, but roast with fire, its head with its legs, and with its inwards; and ye do not leave of it till morning, and that which is remaining of it till morning with fire ye do burn.

While Joseph and Nicodemus were preparing the body for entombment the Jews were preparing to eat their Passover meal.