The Empty Tomb Proves Christianity. The Empty Church Denies It.

Transcription

1 P A S S O V E R The Empty Tomb Proves Christianity. The Empty Church Denies It. Man s way leads to a hopeless end. God s way leads to an endless hope! The trouble with self-made people is they worship their creator Confessing Your Sins Is No Substitute For Forsaking Them

2 Why Do We Celebrate Passover And Not Easter? Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. (KJV) Ex 12:24-25 And you shall observe this thing (Passover) as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. 25 It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. (NKJ) 2

3 THE LORDS FEASTS PASSOVER Separation easter PENTECOST The Law Given may day TABERNACLES Kingdom halloween PASSOVER 4 days Hidden lamb Passover Story Communion 50 DAYS 10 Commandments Acts 2 outpouring In Jerusalem ROSH HASHANA Last trumpet sounds Bride caught up UNLEAVED BREAD Sinful ways forsaken DAY OF ATONEMENT Bema Seat of Christ SHEAF OF FIRSTFRUITS Resurrection TABERNACLES Dwell with Him forever 3

4 Days of Passover In The Month Of Nisan Days The 10 th Day Of Nisan Torah The Lamb is taken and set aside Jesus enters Jerusalem New Covenant Teaches on The Temple Mount for 4 days. The th Of Nisan The Lamb is hidden for 4 days and inspected for blemishes Jesus spends 4 days on the Temple Mount and is questions by the Pharisee s The Lamb Of God passes all doctrine tests. The Pharisee s find no blemishes The 15 th Day Of Nissan Passover HIGH SABBATH The night Jesus celebrated Passover with the disciples Lk. 23:54 Jesus crucified Mk. 15:42, Jn. 19:42 Jesus spends 3 days and 3 nights in the depths keys-death, hell & grave Mt. 12:40 The nd Days Of Nisan Feast of Unleavened Bread Leaven is removed from all homes and not eaten. Lk. 23:54, Mt. 27:62, Jn. 19:31 Symbolic of sin removed from our life The 16 th Day Of Nisan Secular Day Spices and tomb preparations r Lk. 23:55-56, They wait for the Sabbath to end before going to the tomb The 19 th Day Saturday Normal Weekly Sabbath No work or burial processes can be accomplished They arrive at the tomb sometime after Sunset on Saturday Lk. 23:56, Mt. 28:1 The 20 th Day The Morrow after the Sabbath Sheaf of Firstfruits Wave Offering Jesus Resurrection Mt. 28:1, Mk. 16:1-6, Jn. 20:1, Lk. 24:1 Jesus ascends into heaven and presents Himself as the Firstfruits Wave Offering for all mankind

5 P A S S O V E R 2 0 PASSOVER IS NOT EASTER Jesus Is The Passover Lamb Not The Easter Ham 0 7

6 Easter is a day that is honored by nearly all of contemporary Christianity and is used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The holiday often involves a church service at sunrise, a feast which includes an "Easter Ham", decorated eggs and stories about rabbits. Those who love truth learn to ask questions, and questions must be asked regarding the holiday of Easter. Is it truly the day when Jesus arose from the dead? Where did all of the strange customs come from that have nothing to do with the resurrection of our Messiah? 6

7 The first thing we must understand is that professing Christians were not the only ones who celebrated a festival called "Easter." "Ishtar", which is pronounced "Easter" was a day that commemorated the resurrection of one of their gods that they called "Tammuz", (Eze 9:14) who was believed to be the only begotten son of the moongoddess and the sun-god. In those ancient times, there was a man named Nimrod, (Gen. 10:8) who was the grandson of one of Noah's sons, His name was Ham. Ham had a son named Cush who married a woman named Semiramis. Cush and Semiramis then had a son and they named him "Nimrod." 7

8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. Gen 10:8 KJV

9 After the death of his father, Nimrod married his own mother and became a powerful King. The Bible tells of this man, Nimrod, in Genesis 10:8-10 as follows: And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, in the land of Shinar." Nimrod became a god-man to the people and Semiramis, his wife and mother, became the powerful Queen of ancient Babylon. 9

10 Nimrod was eventually killed by an enemy, and his body was cut in pieces and sent to various parts of his kingdom. Semiramis had all of the parts gathered, except for one part that could not be found. That missing part was his reproductive organ. Semiramis claimed that Nimrod could not come back to life without it and told the people of Babylon that Nimrod had ascended to the sun and was now to be called "Baal", the sun god. Queen Semiramis also proclaimed that Baal would be present on earth in the form of a flame, whether candle or lamp, when used in worship. 10

11 Ishtar & Baal Worship Ezek 8:13-18 AMP 13 He also said to me, Yet again you shall see greater abominations which they are committing. 14 Then He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord's house; and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz [a Babylonian god, who was supposed to die annually and subsequently be resurrected]. 15 Then said [the Spirit] to me, Have you seen this, O son of man? Yet again you shall see greater abominations that they are committing. 16 And He brought me to the inner court of the Lord's house; and behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the bronze altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were bowing themselves toward the east and worshiping the sun. 17 Then [the Spirit] said to me, Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too slight a thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here, that they must fill the land with violence and turn back afresh to provoke Me to anger? And behold, they put the branch to their nose [actually, before their mouths, in superstitious worship]! 18 Therefore I will deal in wrath; My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. 11

12 40 Days Of Lent The woman ritually wept for forty days for Tammuz beginning soon after he was torn to pieces by a wild boar. Thus, for the purpose of revenge and remembrance, we have the origins of killing and eating ham for Easter. The forty days of abstinence and sorrow know as lent are directly borrowed from worship of the Babylonian god, Tammuz, preceding the pagan holiday celebration of the birth of the pagan fertility goddess, Istar 12

13 Sunrise Services [14] there sat women weeping for Tammuz. [16] men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. [18] though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. Eze. 8:

14 Baal s In Biblical History 1. Baal-berith: "Covenant Baal," was worshipped at Shechem after the death of Gideon <Judg 8:33; 9:4>. In <Judg 9:46> the name is replaced by El-berith, "Covenant-god." The covenant was made by the god with his worshippers. 2. Baal-gad: "lord of good luck" (or "Baal is Gad") was the god of a town called after his name in the north of Pal, which has often been identified with Baalbek. Associated with Meni, the Assyrian Isa. 65:11 fortune & destiny 3. Baal-hamon: "Baal of the multitude" is known only from the fact that Solomon had a garden at a place of that name found in Palestine showing that the Egyptian god Amon was worshipped in Canaan and identified there with the native Baal.. 14

15 4. Baal-hermon: "The mountain of Baal-hermon" (<Judg 3:3>; compare <1 Chr 5:23>), which also bore the names of Hermort, Sirion and Shenir (Saniru in the Assyrian inscriptions), the second name being applied to it by the Phoenicians and the third by the Amorites <Deut 3:9>. Baalhermon will consequently be a formation similar to Baal-Lebanon in an inscription from Cyprus; according to the Phoenician writer Sanchuniathon (Philo Byblius, Fragmenta II) the third generation of men "begat sons of surprising size and stature, whose names were given to the mountains of which they had obtained possession." 5. Baal-peor: Beelphegor was god of the Moabite mountains, who took his name from Mount Peor <Num 23:28>. The sensual rites with which he was worshipped <Num 25:1-3> indicate his connection with the Phoenician Baal. 6. Baal-zebub: The Lord of Weather "Baal the fly god" was worshipped at Ekron where he had a famous oracle <2 Kin 1:2-3,16>. The name is generally translated "the Lord of flies," the Sun-god being associated with the flies which swarm in Palestine during the earlier summer months. It is met with in Assyrian inscriptions. In the New Testament the name assumes the form of Beelzebul. H. SAYCE (from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia) 15

16 Semiramis was creating a mystery religion, she set herself up as a goddess. Semiramis claimed that she was immaculately conceived (virgin birth). She taught that the moon was a goddess that went through a 28 day cycle and ovulated when full. She further claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant moon egg that fell into the Euphrates River. This was to have happened at the time of the first full moon after the spring equinox. Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounced "Easter", and her moon egg became known as "Ishtar's" egg." 16

17 Tsar Alexander III of Russia Prepared An Easter Surprise For His Wife Maria 17

18 The Difference Between The Easter Calendar and Passover In 325 A.D., the Catholic Council of Nicaea fixed the day of Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon of the Spring Equinox. This always places Easter sometime between March 22 and April 25. This was so pilgrims journeying to worship shrines (Mary immaculate conception) might have moonlight to help them find their way. 18

19 Ishtar soon became pregnant and claimed that it was the rays of the sun-god Baal that caused her to conceive. The son that she brought forth was named Tammuz. Tammuz was noted to be especially fond of rabbits, and they became sacred in the ancient religion. Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-god Baal Nimrod. Tammuz, like his father became a hunter and was killed by a wild pig. 1. Easter eggs Isthar-Semiramis, big moon egg 2. Sunrise worship Baal-Nimrod, sunday worship 3. Ham Dinners Tammuz, killed by a wild pig 19

20 Eggs & Rabbits Eggs are age-old fertility symbols. The Easter Bunny is a rabbitspirit from long ago. 20

21 Semiramis Queen Ishtar told the people that Tammuz was now ascended to his father Baal, and that the two of them would be with the worshippers in the sacred candle or lamp flame as Father, Son and Spirit. Queen Ishtar, who was now worshipped as the "Mother of God and Queen of Heaven", continued to build her mystery religion. The queen told the worshippers that when Tammuz was killed by the wild pig, some of his blood fell on the stump of an evergreen tree, and the stump grew into a full new tree overnight. This made the evergreen tree sacred by the blood of Tammuz. As a side note December 25th. is the birthday of Tammuz. 21

22 Root Source For Easter Practices And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: Gen 11:6-8 KJV 22

23 The Historical Roots All of these derive their names from of mythological Semiramis Queen Ishtar for whom festivals are held at the time of the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. 1. Aphrodite from ancient Cyprus 2. Ashtoreth from ancient Israel 3. Astarté from ancient Greece 4. Demeter from Mycenae 5. Hathor from ancient Egypt 6. Ishtar from ancient Babylon in Assyria 7. Kali, from India 8. Ostara a Norse Goddess of fertility. All of these goddesses are celebrated in the spring. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Q & A Set 15, "Why do we celebrate a festival called Easter?" at: 23

24 The Queen of heaven also proclaimed a forty day period. A time of sorrow each year prior to the anniversary of the death of Tammuz. (tradition of 40 days of Lent). During this time, no meat was to be eaten. Worshippers were to meditate upon the sacred mysteries of Baal and Tammuz, and to make the sign of the "T" in front of their hearts as they worshipped. They also ate sacred cakes with the marking of a "T" or cross on the top. 24

25 Hot Crossed Buns An Easter Tradition QUEEN OF HEAVEN Astarte, an ancient Semitic deity, identical with Babylonian Ishtar (Venus). Astarte represented the female principle of fertility. She was a "mother goddess." (from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 1988.) and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Jer 7:18 KJV 25

26 Every year, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, a celebration was made. It was Ishtar's Sun day and was celebrated with rabbits and eggs. Ishtar also proclaimed that because Tammuz was killed by a pig, that a pig must be eaten on that Sun day. 26

27 By now, you should have made the connection that paganism has infiltrated the "Christian church. Further study indicates that this paganism came in by way of the Roman Catholic System (council Nicaea 325 B.C.). The truth is that Easter has nothing whatsoever to do with the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We also know that Easter can be as much as three weeks away from the Biblical Passover, because the pagan holiday is always set as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. 27

28 You must answer for your activities and for what you teach your children. These customs of Easter honor Baal, who is also Satan. He is still worshipped as the "Rising Sun" and his house is the "House of the Rising Sun." Christians still attend "sunrise services" on Ishtar's day and face the rising sun in the East and host Most Ishtar egg hunts and tell rabbit stories, as they did in ancient Babylon. The truth is that the forty days of Lent, eggs, rabbits, hot cross buns and the Easter ham have everything to do with the ancient pagan religion of Mystery Babylon. These are all antichrist activities! 28

29 The Feast Of Consecration And Separation Unleavened Bread Ex 12:15-16 [In celebration of the Passover in future years] seven days shall you not eat unleavened bread; even the first day you shall put away leaven [symbolic of corruption] out of your houses; for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a solemn and holy assembly, and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn and holy assembly; no kind of work shall be done in them, save [preparation of] that which every person must eat that only may be done by you. AMP 29

30 What Does Leavened Do? A Little Bit Of Sour Dough Leaven puffs up, and adds no nutritional value. Leaven works silently, secretly and gradually until the whole lump is leavened. Until the whole batch becomes like itself (leavened). In the NT its symbolic meaning is also clear. It is "malice (spite, meanness, mischievousness) and wickedness" as contrasted with "sincerity and truth" It must be not added 30

31 Unleavened Is Symbolic For Separation And Consecration 1. Consecration of Priests. Lev. 8:2,26 Ex. 29:2,23 2. Nazarite vow of separation. John & Sampson Num. 6: Food of the Priests. Lev. 2:4 4. Used in the Feasts of the Lord. Ex.34:18 Lev. 23: Used in the call to service Gideon. Jud. 6:11 6. Used in separation from Egypt & slavery. Ex. 12:17 31

32 Five Leavens To Be Removed 1. The Leaven of Herod is the Spirit of Worldliness. Mark 8:15 2. The Leaven of Sadducees is Modernism. Mt. 16: The Leaven of Pharisees is Hypocrisy. Lk. 12:1 4. The Leaven of Corinth is Sensuality, malice, carnality and wickedness. 1Cor. 5: The Leaven of Galatia is backsliding from revelation. Yielding to the influences of religious dogma. Gal. 5:9 32

33 Leavens To Be Removed 1. The Leaven of Herod is the Spirit of Worldliness. And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. Mark 8:15 KJV Herod was crafty, jealous, cruel, and revengeful. Sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem" (Matt 2:2,13,16). Killed John the Baptist because he would not change his ways. Jesus had to stand before him once. He had nine or ten wives Put to death his favorite wife, Mariamne and also her two sons. On his deathbed, five days before he died, he ordered his son Antipater death, his son was named after his father. (from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 1988.) 33

34 The Spirit Of The World Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:12-14 KJV 34

35 Five Leavens To Be Removed 2. The Leaven of Sadducees is Modernism. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Matt 16:6 KJV SADDUCEES: theoretically agreed with Jewish tradition but denied obligation to it, and reserved the right of private opinion. Acted with intense insistence upon personal liberty and a decrease of religious community. They insisted that man was placed at his own disposal, and they rejected the belief that a divine cooperation takes place in human action as such. Sadducees refused to believe in a resurrection of the body, hell, and denied that there are miracles, angels or spirits. (from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 1988.) 35

36 Five Leavens To Be Removed 3. The Leaven of Pharisees is Hypocrisy. In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Luke 12:1-5 KJV 36

37 The Leaven of Pharisees is Hypocrisy When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. 27 Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]. 28 Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. Eph 4:26-28 AMP 37

38 The Leaven of Pharisees is Hypocrisy Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Eph 4:29-30 AMP 38

39 The Leaven of Pharisees is Hypocrisy Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). 32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. Eph 4:31-32 AMP 39

40 Five Leavens To Be Removed So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 AMP 4. The Leaven of Corinth is Sensuality, malice, carnality and wickedness. [About the condition of your church] your boasting is not good [indeed, it is most unseemly and entirely out of place]. Do you not know that [just] a little leaven will ferment the whole lump [of dough]? 7 Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may be fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated [as you are], for Christ, our Passover [Lamb], has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of purity (nobility, honor) and sincerity and [unadulterated] truth. 1 Cor 5:6-8 AMP Deut. 22:30 40

41 Five Leavens To Be Removed 5. The Leaven of Galatia is backsliding from revelation. Yielding to the influences of religious dogma. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal 5:7-16 KJV 41

42 Five Leavens To Be Removed 1. The Leaven of Herod is the Spirit of Worldliness. Mark 8:15 2. The Leaven of Sadducees is Modernism. Mt. 16: The Leaven of Pharisees is Hypocrisy. Lk. 12:1 4. The Leaven of Corinth is Sensuality (pleasure of the senses), malice (cruel), carnality (physical appetite) and wickedness. 1Cor. 5: The Leaven of Galatia is backsliding from revelation. Yielding to the influences of religious dogma. Gal. 5:9 42

43 The Sheaf Of First Fruits The Torah And New Covenant Lev 23:9-14 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,10 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 'He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 43

44 The Sheaf Of Firstfruits 1. The standing ripe harvest, barley and wheat would come maturity and need to be harvested. 2. A person would go to the standing harvest, take one sheaf and bring it unto the priest. The lone sheaf was called The Sheaf of the Firstfruits. 3. The Priest was then to take this one sheaf and wave it before the Lord in The Temple. 4. This was to be done on the morrow after the Sabbath. No one could eat of the bread or roasted grain until that sheaf had been presented to the Lord and accepted for Israel 44

45 The Sheaf Of First Fruits Actual - Fulfillment But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 1 Cor 15:20-23 (NKJ) It can be asked here how many Israelites or Christians really understand the symbolic truth and significance of this simple but beautiful command in Lev. 23 & 1 Cor 15? 45

46 The First Fruits Belong Exclusively To Jehovah Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Sound principle for every area of a Christians life. 1. He is the firstborn of Mary (Matt. 1:23-25). 2. He is the first-begotten of the Father (Heb.1:6). 3. He is the firstborn from the dead (Col.1:18). 4. He is the first begotten of the dead (Rev. 1:5). 5. In all things He is the pre-eminent One (Col. 1:18). 6. He is the beginning of the creation of God (Rev. 3:14). 7. He is the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:28). 8. He is the first fruits of the resurrected ones (1 Cor. 15:20,23). 46

47 The Morrow after the Sabbath. Lev 23:11 He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 1 Cor 15:20-23 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. (NKJ) Heb 8:1-4 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 47

48 PASSOVER UNLEAVED BREAD SHEAF OF FIRST FRUITS