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NOTE: This article or series has not been updated recently. As such, it may possibly contain some outdated information, and/or ideas and beliefs which I no longer embrace, or which have changed to some degree.



Another common argument which certain Christians will use in their endeavors to justify celebrating Easter is to say that what really matters is that we are worshipping and honoring the Lord in our hearts. Even though the Easter observance is of pagan origin, and even though young children may become distracted by the Easter Bunny, the Easter egg hunt and the chocolate candy, nevertheless, Easter can still be used to remember Jesus's Sufferings and His Resurrection; at least so they argue.

While on the surface this kind of logical human reasoning may satisfy one's personal conscience -- that is to say, excusing oneself as Paul referred to it in Romans 2:15 -- the fact of the matter remains that the Scriptures make it rather clear that our God is a very jealous God, and He refuses to take second place, or to share His Glory with a false goddess such as Ishtar, or with a silly Easter Bunny which symbolically is representative of human sexuality and fertility. The Lord did not tolerate it thousands of years ago, and He won't tolerate it today either. Please consider the following verses:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me . . . For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"


"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."


"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,"


Considering all of the historical and Biblical material that we have now examined, I hope that you can now see -- unless, of course, you simply prefer to continue living under strong delusion -- how Easter, or more appropriately, the Feast of Ishtar, is based upon ancient pagan rites, which among other things, celebrated human sexuality and fertility.

While the Feast of Ishtar does celebrate new life, it is by no means the New Life -- or Eternal Life -- which has been promised to us by our Heavenly Father, through our faith in the Sacrifice of His dear Son, Jesus Christ. In a historical sense, the Festival of Easter -- or Ishtar -- celebrates the rebirth or return of the Sun from the South -- not the actual Resurrection of the true Son -- each year, and was symbolized by the alleged resurrection of Tammuz, or Baal or Osiris in the various cultures of the Middle East, and nothing more. This festival was to thank the gods for the growth of crops, and for the fertility of women and beasts, which occurred during the warm Spring season.

As we have also seen, the practice of associating rabbits and colored eggs with this heathen festival -- both of which are symbols of fertility -- can be traced back to the Germans and their version of Ishtar, who they referred to as Ostara. If we consider that the Anglo-Saxons appear to have adopted some of their gods from the Romans -- don't forget that they were an important part of the Holy Roman Empire -- then I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to discover that somewhere in the past, rabbits and eggs could be tied into the Roman celebrations as well. Please note, however, that I have not taken the time to verify this point yet. I do recall, however, that the Romans used the entrails of animals to predict the future.

This brings us to another important point I wish to discuss in this series. You will recall that in part two, I stated that the Roman version of Ishtar/Ostara was known as Aurora. While her name is spelled quite differently from the others, nevertheless, her function in Roman mythology was the same as that found in the other pagan belief systems. Aurora was a companion of the Sun god, and was likewise associated with the dawn. The online Encyclopedia Mythica states in part:

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Aurora is the Roman personification of the dawn. She is also the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Eos. Aurora is seen as a lovely woman who flies across the sky announcing the arrival of the sun.

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The Perseus search engine also states the following under the Greek name "Eos", who, as I have stated earlier, was the equivalent of the Roman Aurora:

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The Greek name of Aurora (q.v.), the goddess of morning, whence the epithet Eous is applied to all the eastern parts of the world (Ovid, Fast.iii. 406). She was the daughter of Hyperion and Thia or Euryphassa. At the close of each night she arose from the couch of her consort Tithonus and, drawn on a chariot by the steeds Lampus and Phaeton, ascended to heaven from the river Oceanus to announce the coming of the sun to gods and mortals. In Homer she accompanies the sun on his course, and in the tragic poets is identified with Hemera or the Day.

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As an interesting side note, the Encyclopedia Mythica also states that one of Aurora's sons was Lucifer. However, many Christians know from the Scriptures that the Romans were by no means the very first culture to honour this fiend. This demon of darkness is first mentioned in the Bible way back during the time of the Babylonian Empire. Ironically, he is referred to as the Light-Bearer, which is a term that finds its origin in the Hebrew words "heylel" and "halal", which mean to shine, to boast, or to be praised, Thus, he is also known as the "shining one" or the "morning star". In fact, as I mention in the article "Satan: Origin, Purpose And Future", in Isaiah chapter fourteen, the king of Babylon is compared to Lucifer; who, because of his pride, fell from Grace, as we see by the following verses:

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."


"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."


"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."


"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."


"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished . . . Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."


One thing which becomes rather obvious, is the fact that some of these ancient myths contain a number of elements which are also common to our Christian faith. However, the problem is that in these heathen myths, the truth is totally distorted, perverted, and in fact oft times reversed from reality. This is in fact what makes them so dangerously deceptive. Allow me to give you a clear-cut example. According to the Roman myth, Lucifer, who was supposedly the son of Aurora, is represented by the planet Venus. As some of you astronomy buffs will no doubt already know, the planet Venus is often referred to as the "Morning Star", due to the fact that this is the time of day when it is quite often seen in all its splendor in the sky. As I said, this exposes the terrible deception which not only permeates the ancient myths, but which is also a core belief of modern Luciferian doctrine.

In other words, for those of you who may not be aware of it, according to modern Luciferians and Satanists, Lucifer is actually the true "Light-Bearer", as well as the "Morning Star", while they claim that Jesus Christ is the impostor. These devil worshippers are so deceived, that they believe that Jesus has usurped the position and power which truly belongs to Lucifer. However, allow me to remind you of what the Scriptures really have to say concerning this terrible deception:

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"


"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."


"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."


". . . He [Satan] 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."


So just like all of the other false gods and goddesses we have discussed in this series, Satan, or Lucifer, is a liar and a deceiver. As Jesus says in the above verse, there is absolutely no truth in Satan's claims. He is not the true "Light-Bearer", and is not the true "Morning Star"; Jesus Christ is; as we can plainly determine by the following verses:

"Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:"


"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."


"And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;"


"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."


"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."


"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."


"Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth . . . I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."


"The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."


"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there."


"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."


It stands to reason then, that if Satan is a liar and a deceiver, then his mythological mother, Aurora, must be one as well, when she claims that she heralded the return of the Sun god each morning. The same thing can be said of Eos who was associated with the dawn by the Greeks, of Ostara who was associated with the dawn by the Germans, of Ashtoreth who was the wife and companion of the Sun god Baal, of Ishtar who was the wife and companion of the Sun god Tammuz, and of Isis who was the sky goddess who supposedly brought Osiris, the god of the dead, back to life. All of these ancient myths are based upon nothing but lies, and are oft times twisted versions of Scriptural truth. We have already seen that Jesus is the true Light of the world, and the Morning Star. What you may not know, is that the Bible also compares God the Father to the Sun, as we see by the following verse:

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."


So if anyone has a right to be symbolically compared to the physical Sun, it is our Heavenly Father; because as I point out in such articles as "The Children Of Light: Are You One Of Us?", He is in fact referred to by the Apostle James as the "Father of Lights". He is the brightest that there is. He is the most glorious of them all, as we see here:

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."


At this point, you may possibly be wondering to yourself, "Well, if God the Father is compared to the Sun, and is also called the 'Father of Lights' by the Apostle James, how then can Jesus be the Light of the world?" Don't worry. There is actually a very straightforward and Scripture-based answer to this seeming dilemma. Just as the Moon reflects the light of the Sun due to its highly-reflective surface, in the Bible, Jesus also informs us that He reflects the Light and Glory of His Father as well. Consider the following verses closely:

"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, . For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel . . . : as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."


"For the Son of man shall come with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."


"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh with the holy angels."


"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, , and of the holy angels."


"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."


"And now, O Father, glorify thou me before the world was . . . Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."


It may also surprise you to know that in the same manner that these pagan Moon goddesses received their glory from a more powerful Sun god, and just as Jesus Christ reflects the Glory of His Father, God's Word also informs us that in a prophetic sense, Israel -- or perhaps the Endtime Church, if you happen to embrace that interpretation -- likewise receives her glory from the Sun -- meaning God the Father -- and has the Moon positioned beneath her feet. Similarly, just as these pagan deities were "star goddesses", who were represented by actual heavenly bodies in the sky, the symbolic woman of Revelation chapter twelve is likewise crowned with twelve stars, as we see by the following verse:

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:"


For an in-depth look at this intriguing subject, please refer to the three-part series titled "The Woman In The Wilderness And The 144,000". To reiterate, in all of these pagan myths, we see that whether we are discussing Isis, Ishtar, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Eos, Easter, Ostara or Aurora, all of them are in some way associated with a companion male god -- and usually a Sun god -- either through bringing him back to life, or by announcing his arrival, or in some other way. Similar to the Bible, we find the elements of the Sun, the Moon, and stars mentioned. We find a mention of Satan the "Light-Bearer". We even find a "resurrection story" dealing with the Sun, but not the true Son of God. Can you see the terrible deception which is at work here, and the satanic twisting of Biblical truth? In actuality, it appears that we may be dealing with just one central myth here, which has been quite consistent throughout thousands of years of world history, with merely some minor variations occurring between the various cultures.

While we can find reasons to easily explain why the ancient cultures believed in so many different gods and goddesses, the question that I would like to ask you is this: Why is it that the Easter myth has persisted even to our modern day? Is it possible that there is some kind of driving force which has purposely kept it alive in spite of the modernization of our society? Obviously, there are demonic spiritual forces at work here; but is it also possible that there exists some human-driven mechanism which has likewise been helping it along over the centuries? I believe that there is. Not only that, but there appear to be several factors in our story which all seem to point to the same source. We have already discussed most of them previously, but allow me to list them for you again.

1. As we saw earlier in our series, both William Tyndale, and his fellow Reformer, Martin Luther, were greatly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church. William Tyndale was a Roman Catholic priest, while Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic monk, before they chose to rebel against the so-called "holy mother church" after failing to reform it.

2. As we also discussed previously, historically-speaking, the Roman Catholic Church has had negative feelings towards the Jews. It was only in recent years that Pope John Paul II offered apologies to the Jews for the church's treatment of the same.

3. Furthermore, a large part of Tyndale's work was achieved while he was in Germany, in the company of Martin Luther. This very area was the stronghold of the Germanic goddess Ostara, to whom sacrifices were made around the time of the Passover.

4. We know for a fact that William Tyndale repeatedly used "Easter" -- and derivatives thereof -- in his translation of the New Testament. It seems quite plausible that, given his negative sentiments towards the Jews, Luther may have done the very same thing. As we saw in part one, the English word "Easter" is derived from the Saxon word "Eostre", so this adds weight to the possibility that Martin Luther may have replaced "Passover" with "Eostre", just as Tyndale replaced it with "Easter" and "Ester".

5. The ancient Germans -- who were a part of the Holy Roman Empire -- appear to have adopted some of their gods from the Romans, and simply renamed them. Thus, the goddess Aurora of the Romans became the German goddess Ostara/Eostre, who then became the "Easter" of the Anglo-Saxons of Great Britain. Furthermore, as we've already seen, the goddess Ostara/Eostre can actually be traced all the way back to the Isis, Ishtar and Ashtoreth of the Middle East.

Taking all of these points into consideration, the evidence strongly suggests to me that the idea of integrating the name of this heathen Easter goddess -- and the rituals associated with her -- into our Christian faith, and then popularizing and perpetuating it, was formulated by none other than the Roman Catholic Church. If this is indeed the case, it is not the only time that the RCC has resorted to these kinds of tactics. No doubt you are wondering why the Roman Catholic Church would do this.

As I explain in a number of other articles which discuss the Roman Catholic Church, during the first half of the Fourth Century, it seems that the founding fathers of the Catholic Church seriously compromised our Christian faith, in order to consolidate their power base and wealth, and to expand their sphere of influence over the heathen masses throughout the Roman Empire. In short, they were enticed by the dreams of building a secular empire.

This treachery began in earnest during the reign of Emperor Constantine, due to the fact that it was at that time -- in the year 313 A.D. -- that Constantine issued the historic Edict of Milan, by the which, after many years of being a persecuted faith, Christianity was formally established and adopted throughout the Roman Empire as a "religio licita"; that is to say, a legal religion. In other words, whereas Christianity had been an ostracized minority religion with its adherents being victims in the coliseums of Rome, with the issuance of the Edict of Milan, Christians became quite prominent, respectable citizens in the empire, even owning wealth and property. Sadly, as you will know, this attitude was contrary to the original teachings of Jesus Christ, and His first Apostles, as we can determine by verses such as the following:

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also . . . No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."


"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."


"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."


"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."


"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."


"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world . . . They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."


Sadly, going by the historical record, we are given a clear impression that the leaders of the nascent Roman Catholic Church wanted to do the exact opposite. Rather than remain an ostracized society, the RCC bishops wanted to be embraced by Rome. They were no longer willing to pay the price of being social outcasts in the world because of their unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, like Peter, James, John and the other Apostles and Disciples had been. Instead, they desired to be a part of the world, and they foolishly lusted after power and wealth. In short, it is safe to say that those Fourth Century leaders chose to accept the satanic offer which even Jesus had wisely refused in Luke chapter four, as we see here:

"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."


Why did Jesus do this? Because as He would later say to Pilate just prior to His Crucifixion:

". . . My Kingdom is not of this world . . ."


What about yours?

Please go to part seven for the conclusion of this series.

⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .

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