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Easter or Passover – which do we celebrate?

By Stella Paterson

April 2, 2007 (4:45 PM CDT)

This will be brief. I want to draw your attention to something I believe we need to consider. This coming weekend millions will be celebrating what is commonly known as “Easter”; starting with “Good Friday” and ending with “Easter” Sunday. Where did this originate and why do we call it “Easter?”

According to Webster’s dictionary, “easter” was originally the name of a pagan vernal (spring) festival which is almost coincident in date with the “paschal” (Passover) festival of the Church. “Eastre” was a dawn goddess (a female god). Why would Christians adopt such a name and use it for so many years?

The revised version of the King James Bible uses the word “Easter” in Acts 12:4. The revisers changed it from “Passover” which was the word used in the 1611 version. Even the more recent versions use “Passover” in that verse. Something so very unbiblical has become a “Christian” tradition, unquestioned by millions who name the Name of Christ.

May I suggest we use the terms “Crucifixion Friday” and “Resurrection Sunday” instead? Do you think we can break mainstream tradition and simplycelebrate the death and resurrection of our Savior? Can we cease to call it by a pagan name and forget all the little fertile bunnies who are symbols of none other than sexual orgies and worship of idols? Try a search on the Internet and read some of the articles about this pagan festival called “Easter.”

Let’s celebrate Jesus. He is the risen Christ. He is worthy!

For more on the pagan origin of easter, click here. (January 15, 2009)

Comments from readers:

~~~April 2, 2007 (9:31 PM CDT)

Since the Nuggets of Truth went out earlier today, I have received some feedback which would suggest I sent out some "Nuggets of error."  I trust you will forgive my rush to get something out before stopping to think of the number of days between Jesus' crucifixion and His resurrection. 

This came from a brother in New Zealand:

"What's this "Crucifixion Friday" stuff Stella?  How could Jesus spend three days and three nights in the belly of the earth if He was crucified on the Roman Catholics Friday?  That's only two nights if my math is correct!  Moreover, if Jesus rose early on the Jewish 1st day of the week (again, as the scriptures point out), then this is Saturday evening (after 6.00pm), not Sunday morning according to the Catholics Gregorian calendar.  This would mean that Jesus only spent one night, if Catholic Friday was the day!  Plus there would be no Day of the Sun "resurrection Sun Day" which suits the pagans and religionists together.  Yes, it's about time we let go of Christendom completely!"
(Thanks for the correction, Tom.)

More than one person has written to say that the word "Easter was correctly used in the revised KJV."  Here is a quote from one email I received:

"Passover only comes once a year on one day, the 14th of Abib ( Num 28:16).  After the Passover comes the days of unleavened bread (Numbers 28:17) for the fifteenth through the twentieth day of Abib. So when Peter was arrested during the days of unleavened bread (Acts 12:3) Passover had come and gone! The Bible says that Herod was going to bring him forth AFTER Easter which had not come yet."

Before I sent out the Nuggets earlier today, I checked the Greek word translated "Easter."  It is the same word translated "Passover," which is "pascha."  How can one word mean two different things? is my question. From within the ranks of the King James Only adherents will come defensive arguments as to why that version has things "correct."  Most of you know where I stand on Bible versions.  If you do not, check out my web site under "Bible Study."  Also, my article "Bible Versions and Apostasy - The Connection."  You will know how completely disgusted I am with the modern versions as well.


~~~April 2, 2007 (5:12 PM CDT)

Easter is like Christmas.  I am so thankful that the Lord looks at our hearts and not at our theology. I am thankful that His mercy overshadows His judgment.  My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will be able to reveal Jesus to lost people this week, in spite of the rabbits and other things that are not right.  God is so good.

- Homer

~~~April 3, 2007 (8:45 AM CDT)

Stella, the main point you were making remains.....let us who claim the name of Christ let go of all things pagan!  Easter was a pagan holiday long before Christ came and it was "christianized" afterwards.  It has been in the church for so long that we've forgotten what it was, but God hasn't!  He told us to learn not the way of the heathen, and not to serve Him in imitation of the way they serve their gods [my paraphrase], which is exactly what we do every Easter and every Christmas.

I wish that all Christians would remember that God doesn't change instead of continuing to believe we do Him honor when we celebrate pagan holidays with the name of Jesus stamped on it.  Why would a couple thousand years of doing wrong make it not wrong anymore?!

Lets keep moving forward in Christ!
- Gina
South Carolina, USA

~~~April 4, 2007 (1:18 PM CDT)

The thing about Christmas and Easter that is most frightening or worth concern is both are celebrated by Christians in a big way.  Think about the days when Jesus walked the earth.  His ideas about the Kingdom of Heaven were contrary to what the Religious people felt.  He was very radical in his teachings, yet he done so with much authority.  He was right and they were wrong; we Christians would agree.

Now today the religious people all love celebrating these two holidays.  And the truth is being opened up in our eyes but we pretend, because it has always been like this.
 
- Rose
Indiana, USA

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Stella Paterson | Box 22003  BDPO | Brandon, MB  R7A 6Y9 | Canada