An opinion piece by Femi Aribisala asserts that Easter is not a holy day recognized by God and that the word itself is absent from authentic biblical translations. Aribisala claims the term 'Easter' was mistakenly inserted into the King James Bible in Acts 12:4, replacing the original word 'Passover.' He further argues that this version is unique, as other English translations do not use the word 'Easter,' and even the New King James Version omitted it.
The author contends that Easter is fundamentally a pagan festival that has been integrated into Christianity. According to the piece, the origins of Easter can be traced back to Noah's grandson, Cush, who married Ashtoreth, also known as Semiramis and Ishtar. This figure, whom Aribisala identifies as 'the Queen of Heaven,' was worshipped as a fertility goddess. The article states that this idol worship, later disguised as Easter, is explicitly forbidden in the scriptures, citing passages from Jeremiah and Judges that condemn the worship of Ashtoreth and its consequences for Israel.
The article further links Easter to sun worship through the figure of Nimrod, Cush's son and husband to Ashtoreth. After Nimrod's death, he was deified as a sun god, and 'Easter' is interpreted as meaning 'movement towards the rising sun,' reflecting the religious practices of sun worshippers. This connection is drawn to the practice of 'Sunrise Services' held on Easter Sunday mornings in many Christian denominations, which the author views as a continuation of pagan traditions.
Traditions such as hot cross buns are also attributed to pagan roots. The article suggests these buns were historically consecrated to the goddess of the sunrise in ancient Greece and were offered to the 'Queen of Heaven' in ancient Babylon. These buns are described as typically bearing solar crosses, symbolizing their connection to sun worship.
The 40-day mourning period for Tammuz, a son of Ashtoreth claimed to be Nimrod reborn, is presented as the origin of Lent. The article states that Ashtoreth instituted this period after Tammuz was killed by a wild boar, during which meat consumption was forbidden. This practice, termed 'weeping for Tammuz,' is cited from Ezekiel and is presented as an antecedent to the Christian observance of Lent, which the author argues is also not scriptural.
Furthermore, the article links the Easter bunny and Easter eggs to pagan fertility symbols. Rabbits, due to their reproductive capacity, are associated with Ishtar, the fertility goddess. The Easter egg tradition is explained by an ancient Babylonian belief that an egg fell from the moon into the Euphrates River, from which Queen Ishtar was 'hatched,' leading to the custom of Ishtar's egg, later transformed into the Easter egg in Christendom.
The author also disputes the timing of Easter, noting its fluctuating date is tied to lunar cycles rather than the death and resurrection of Jesus. The piece claims Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first Vernal Equinox full moon, a date pagans consecrated as 'Ishtar's Sunday,' signifying spring's astronomical arrival. This is contrasted with the belief that the sun is 'reborn' in spring after dying in winter.
Additionally, the article challenges the traditional accounts of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. It asserts that Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday, not a Friday, and that the period of three days and three nights in the tomb does not align with a Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection. The author posits that Jesus resurrected on a Saturday, with the empty tomb discovered on Sunday morning. The shift to Sunday as the resurrection day is attributed to Babylonian tradition and Constantine's establishment of Sunday as the state religion in AD 321, thereby changing the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.
The piece concludes by urging Christians to cease celebrating Easter, quoting Jeremiah 10:2-3, which advises against adopting the customs and ways of nations and being dismayed by celestial signs, as these customs are described as vanity.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!