Origin of Easter - Its Pagan Roots

American history teaches us that Easter was dismissed as a pagan holiday by the nation's founding Puritans and did not begin to be widely observed until just after the Civil War. Those interested in a Christian view of American history and the gradual compromise of America's Biblical foundations may wish to read books such as "The Light and the Glory" by Peter Marshall and David Manuel.

The origin of Easter dates back to ancient times, not long after the global flood recorded in Gen.6-9. Nimrod, a grandson of Noah, had turned from following his grandfather's God and had become a tyrannical ruler. According to the biblical record, as king, Nimrod created Babel, Ninevah, Asshur, Calla and other cities, all known for lifestyles that promoted unspeakable evil and perversion.

When Nimrod died, his wife, Queen Semiramis, deified him as the Sun-god, or Life Giver. Later he would become known as Baal, and those who followed the religion Queen Semiramis created in Nimrod's name would be called Baal worshippers. They became associated with idolatry, demon worship, human sacrifice and other practices regarded as evil.

The origin of Easter involves the birth of Queen Semiramis' illegitimate son, Tammuz. Somehow, Queen Semiramis convinced the people that Tammuz was actually Nimrod reborn. Since people had been looking for the promised savior since the beginning of mankind, they were persuaded by Queen Semiramis to believe that her illegitimate son, Tammuz was that savior. She convinced  them that he had been supernaturally conceived.

Before long, in addition to worshiping Tammuz (or Nimrod reborn), the people also worshiped Queen Semiramis herself as the goddess of fertility. In other cultures, she has been called Ishtar, Ashtur and yes, Easter.

The origin of Easter goes back to the springtime ritual instituted by Queen Semiramis following the death of Tammuz, who, according to tradition, was killed by a wild boar. Legend has it that through the power of his mother's tears, Tammuz was "resurrected" in the form of the new vegetation that appeared on the earth.

According to the Bible, it was in the city of Babel that the people created a tower in order to defy God. Up until that time, all the people on the earth spoke one language. The building of the tower led God, as recorded in Gen.11:7, to confuse their tongues to keep them from being further unified in their false beliefs. As the people moved into other lands, many of them took their pagan practices with them.

Contemporary traditions such as the Easter Bunny and the Easter egg can also be traced back to the practices established by Queen Semiramis. Because of their prolific nature, rabbits have long been associated with fertility and its goddess, Ishtar. Ancient Babylonians believed in a fable about an egg that fell into the Euphrates River from heaven and from which Queen Astarte (another name for Ishtar, Easter or Semiramis) was "hatched."

Gut Check: The time for an opportunity to be offended.

It is these types of teaching that reveal if we want truth of status quo. Don't rock the boat Pastor, everything is going fine.

God the Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob established seven feasts for His people. Each of these feasts carry a great significance and are God's calendar and timetable for history and end times events.

However, most within the church are unaware of these seven feasts because they have elected to celebrate the man-made substitutes. Easter is not Passover. It never was nor can it ever be. Easter has nothing to do with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, soon many well meaning Christians will be running around with "happy Easter" and doing all the things that are associated with this man-made celebration.

With just a little bit of study and investigation one will find that our Lord was telling the truth when He said that He needed to be in the grave THREE days and THREE nights. Imagine that, our Lord speaking the truth about His life and death. (Num.23:19 God cannot lie). If I cannot believe the Lord Jesus in His statement of 3 days and 3 nights in the grave, can I believe anything He says? But if I can change the Word of God to fit what I want to do in the 3 days and 3 nights, what keeps me from changing anything in the Word to fit whatever I deem right in my own eyes.

In our worldly wisdom we try to fit three days and three nights from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning as though what our Lord spoke does not matter. In fact, with a little research one would find that our Lord died at 3pm on a Wednesday and raised on a Saturday. I will prove this, not only from the Word of God but by theologians from major respected colleges verifying what I am about to teach.

One would find with a little investigation that the Friday to Sunday celebration was given to us, complete with all the other religious junk of Easter by the Catholic church. Oh, we can explain worshipping Easter as being a great evangelistic day as though the end justifies the means.

Restoration and the Futility of Empty Religious Rituals and Holidays:
Mankind has consistently thought of ways to earn God’s acceptance by his own performance. Men came to think of their spiritual relationship with God only in terms of externals. They thought that just by observing certain rules and regulations, performing certain rituals, keeping certain holidays, and speaking certain words, they could stay in favor with God. 

One of the ongoing problems with many Pastors each year is their willingness to bow to the pressures of the congregations and teach what is expected of them about these pagan holidays. Of course the Pastors are pleased with the large number of people who attend church at Christmas and Easter. 

The Lord set people straight concerning this misconception in the words of the Prophets. He let them know that He despised their ritualistic worship and empty sacrifices.

Amos 5:21-23 ESV  “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.  (22)  Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them.  (23)  Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

He let them know that He despised their mock solemnity. Solemnity is the state or quality of being serious and dignified. A Solemnity of the Church is a principal holy day in the liturgical calendar, usually commemorating an event in the life of Jesus.

I will be posting more giving a time-line of events and Biblical proof that our Lord died on a Wednesday and raised on a Saturday and is connection of the Feast of Passover. What believer, after seriously researching Easter, would ever believe that God would be pleased of us accepting and celebrating our Lord's death and resurrection on a pagan holiday of a false goddess? Look up "the origin of Easter on search engine. I will give history on next study.