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]

Didn't you get the word? The "Mods" only allow Catholic bashing.

Didn't you mean catholics can bash others, kuz they are special.

[Diego1618]

Didn't you mean catholics can bash others, kuz they are special.

Ordinarily...I would agree with you Chuck....but look at this: Catholic Bashing

[Campion]

As a result of the Council of Nicea, and amended by numerous subsequent meetings, the formal church deliberately attempted to design a formula for Easter which would avoid any possibility of it falling on the Jewish Passover, even accidentally!

Which rule is not in force anymore in the West, so (western Christian) Easter can and sometimes does coincide with Passover.

[Campion]

He became the Passover Lamb on Passover (I suppose that was an accidental occurance) so now we can honor the Holiest Day of Christianity by observing it on Ishtar, complete with her fertility bunnies and colored eggs.

The word "Easter" comes from a Germanic goddess of the dawn, Eostre, not from the Babylonian Ishtar. A linguist will tell you that, for one thing.

And Easter is called by that pagan-derived name in English, German, Dutch, and I believe Norwegian.

In languages derived from Greek and Latin, it's called by a name which comes from the Hebrew pesach.

Slavs call it by a name which translates to "bright night".

And no, bunnies don't have anything to do with it.

[Campion]

instead of just casting aspersions ... Defend your pagan traditions!

Get the plank out of your eye.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Josephus may not have actually been a Pharisee in fact, or a truly committed one, but only wanted to portray himself as one

Wow. Sounds just like what I believe of the Apostle Paul.

[Uri’el-2012]

Which rule is not in force anymore in the West, so (western Christian) Easter can and sometimes does coincide with Passover.

83 posted on 04/01/2007 7:45:17 PM MDT by Campion

Because the solar-lunar nineteen year cycle,
Pesach and Easter would only coincide about four
times during a nineteen year cycle prior to the year 2000.

However since the year 2000 Easter and Pesach have each year coincided.

coincidence ?

I don't think coincidence is kosher.

[Uri’el-2012]

Wow. Sounds just like what I believe of the Apostle Paul

But we know that Rav Shaul was a student of Gamiliel.

[Uri’el-2012]

Steven:

Since I've moved to Chaffee County,
there is not a shul or Messianic congregation in a hundred miles.
There may not even be a minion
I'm in a town of 2,500 people, 20 churches in town,
4 Baptist, 1 catholic, 6 community, 1 UCC, 1 Mormon,
1 Greek Orthodox, 1 new age, 2 Lutheran,
1 Episcopal/Methodist, 1 ashram
I'm not sure of the other

I think we'll put an ad in the paper and start our own Messianic shul.

[Titanites]

Defend your pagan traditions!

What was that you were saying about casting aspersions? At least take a breath between accusing others and casting your own.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

"You folks need to come up with some scripture supporting your position, instead of just casting aspersions."

Facts, not aspersions.

"That is, if you expect anyone to take anything you ever say... seriously! And I'm no supporter of Chuck Missler."

Apparently you are.

"Come on! Defend your pagan traditions!"

The Resurrection of Christ is a pagan tradition?

"Show me from scripture where Our Lord was crucified on a Friday."

Was He not crucified only hours before the Sabbath preparation? Last time I checked, Jews celebrate the Sabbath on Saturdays (really beginning at dusk on Friday). That means He was crucified on a Friday afternoon. The Bible tells us exactly that Jesus died on that preparation day.

"I know you cannot....you know you cannot....everyone knows you cannot!"

Apparently I just did. So apparently you know nothing. This article by Protestants conclusively proves Jesus died on a Friday: http://biblelight.net/pasover.htm

[Ping-Pong]

The word "Easter" comes from a Germanic goddess of the dawn, Eostre, not from the Babylonian Ishtar. A linguist will tell you that, for one thing.

I disagree. Many traditions now associated with easter are from Babylonian worship of Ishtar. Perhaps the Germanic goddess of dawn was taken from Ishtar as she was first in line for pagan worship.

In languages derived from Greek and Latin, it's called by a name which comes from the Hebrew pesach

The Hebrew Pasach is not easter - it is Passover. They are not the same.

And no, bunnies don't have anything to do with it.

You are correct - bunnies have nothing to do with Passover but they certainly have something to do with easter.

[Titanites]

And Easter is called by that pagan-derived name in English, German, Dutch, and I believe Norwegian.

In Norwegian it is Påske and in Dutch it is Pasen.

[Titanites]

This article by Protestants conclusively proves Jesus died on a Friday: http://biblelight.net/pasover.htm

Thanks for the great link. I've saved it.

[Titanites]

They are correct that LBU does not look to the World for certification.

But Mr. Missler does. I guess using the bogus "Dr." in front of his name must help him sell books.

By the way, I see you advertise Missler's publications on your home page. Did you know you can get 3 hours of credit at LBU if you go through his Learn the Bible in 24 Hours? Just send LBU an e-mail on how great you thought it was.

[Uncle Chip]

Apparently I just did. So apparently you know nothing. This article by Protestants conclusively proves Jesus died on a Friday: http://biblelight.net/pasover.htm

Thanks for this link. This is the strongest argument that I have read for a Friday Crucifixion ---- but it has some problems that it seems to "pass-over" [excuse the pun]:

1] Nissan 14th in 30 AD fell on a Wednesday not a Friday.

2] The terms "third day" and "three days and three nights" clearly have to be reconciled. This period could mean anywhere from 48+ hours to a full 72 hours [part of a day + full night + full day + full night + full day + part of a night]. There is no way to squeeze 48+ hours into a period from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. You might get 40 hours but that's it.

However the period between a late Wednesday death/early Thursday burial to a late Saturday/early Sunday Resurrection fits both the "third day" and the "three days and three nights" requirement of Scripture.

3] And though the Jews were referring to the day after Passover [the 15th] as a Sabbath, it was not. The Sabbath was the 7th day of the week --- period. Leviticus 23:7 calls the 15th of Nissan a day of "holy convocation" not a "sabbath". The distinction was that the Sabbath fell on the 7th day, no matter what. But the "holy convocation" fell on the specified date, the 15th and then again on the 21st. It was celebrated like the Sabbath with no servile work being done on that day, but it was also more than just a Sabbath. It was a day of gathering together as the word "miqra" means. Thus John refers to this day after Passover in John 19:31 as a "high or mega" Sabbath, meaning that it was an extra Sabbath for that week, aka by Leviticus 23 as a day of "holy convocation". These days of "holy convocation" were "higher" than regular sabbaths because they occurred only during the feasts. They were special.

4] The Feast of First Fruits is specified per Leviticus 23:11 on the "next day after the sabbath" [not the next day after the holy convocation on the 15th] but the day after the next Sabbath after Passover. And that Sabbath was the 17th or Saturday making Sunday the Feast of First Fruits.

[RobbyS]

Nissan 14th in 30 AD fell on a Wednesday not a Friday. You are assuming that that was the date of the crucifixion.

[Uncle Chip]

Nissan 14th in 30 AD fell on a Wednesday not a Friday. You are assuming that that was the date of the crucifixion.

So is the link. And if the Cricifixion was not on Passover, then your faith the Passover Lamb is in vain.

[Uri’el-2012]

XS>They are correct that LBU does not look to the World for certification.

But Mr. Missler does. I guess using the bogus "Dr." in front of his name must help him sell books.

By the way, I see you advertise Missler's publications on your home page.
Did you know you can get 3 hours of credit at LBU if you go through
his Learn the Bible in 24 Hours? Just send LBU an e-mail on how great you thought it was.

96 posted on 04/02/2007 7:05:06 AM MDT by Titanites

Those who look to the world for their rewards
will get just that:
the world and the prince of the world: s.a.tan.

Those who look to Yah'shua and study His Word
will come to have an intimate relationship
with Him and receive Eternal Salvation.

I will celebrate His commanded feast of Pesach
as Yah'shua did and became the Lamb for
the sacrifice for my sins and yours if you
choose to accept Yah'shua.

As for me and my family we will serve the L-rd.

We will not will not serve the Evil One and his feast of Easter.

If you were to attend a Messianiac Seder,
you would come to understand the salvation
that has been offered to you since the
foundation of the universe by the creator at the Last Seder

I was once a member of your church,
then I was called by Yah'shua
not unlike Rav Shaul on the road to Damascus.

I pray that you seek Yah'shua and reject the prince of the air.

b'shem Yah'shua