All Believers, This Is For

You!

Easter, such a religious event. How could anyone possibly believe Easter is not a religious holy day, ordained by God and put into effect by His true church? As you follow the information contained in this booklet, you will not only be surprised concerning the origins of Easter but you will also learn about God's true Holy days.

How often people take for granted the traditions passed onto them by preceding generations. If they would only investigate just a little, they would find that a good portion of what they have been taught is false. Look in almost any encyclopedia, and you will discover that the festival of Easter originated from an ancient fertility goddess of the Angles and Saxons named Ostara, or Eastre. Hence the word Easter. She was the goddess of spring. In the spring nature begins its fertile cycle, therefore Eastre was viewed also as a goddess of fertility. The pagan culture worshiped her and gave her homage. Many customs surrounding modern day Easter began with this worship. Easter eggs, the bunny rabbit, they all were signs of fertility. Why would God, who created all things, want and need any association with a goddess of fertility? Some would say God did so to teach believers about His Son's resurrection. That is false reasoning! The true God who gave His commands to the children of Israel was very adamant about incorporating pagan gods into His religious practices. He said not to do IT! Look carefully at His words that He gave to Moses in Deu 12:28-32 (KJV) Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God. 29 When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; 30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. God gave physical Israel this command to teach His true church (spiritual Israel) what they were to do as they spiritually conquered false religions. Paul taught the Corinthians to defeat every false concept as they waged war with the world. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NIV) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. The church was not to incorporate pagan practices and beliefs into the pure and holy doctrines of Christ.

The early church observed the Feast of the Passover (not Easter), along with God's other commanded holy days. They are listed in God's law. Beginning with the Feast of Unleavened Bread (which includes the Passover), Pentecost (the Feast of Weeks), the Day of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Eighth Great Day. All these days were commanded by God to observe and keep. The apostle Paul tells us that only the body of Christ could judge how these days should be observed in a physical sense. Look at Col 2:16-17 (KJV) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (is) of Christ. [The (is) was added by translators because they did not understand what Paul was saying.] Apparently, some individuals were making requirements concerning the keeping of God's commands. Paul tells the Colossians only the body of Christ (the Church) could determine these matters. No individual man could establish how the members of the Church were to keep the Holy days and food laws in a physical sense. That determination was reserved for the Church, using the same process as outlined in Acts 15. Which was, the elders of the church assembled and agreed as to what should be done. It wasn't just one man's opinion, it was the whole body in agreement. Another interesting tidbit to glean from Paul is that the food laws, holydays, New Moon, and the Sabbath are all shadows. What is a shadow? Isn't it a copy or replica of something that is real? All these physical commands shadow realities of Spiritual counterparts in God's realm. Normally, the brighter the light cast or shone upon an object, the crisper the shadow will be. If God has opened your mind with the light of his word, you will be able clearly glean the reality of what these commands shadow. That will become evident to you as you search God's word with your eyes focused on the Spiritual fulfillment of it.

Let's now examine the traditional manner in which the resurrection of Jesus is explained. The same false church that established the keeping of Easter and it's customs, as opposed to the keeping the Passover Festival, also ordained the keeping of Sunday as the Sabbath, maintaining that Sunday was the day of our Lord's resurrection. These decisions were made after the death of the Apostles. The writers of the New Testament warned of a coming apostasy. They warned that the truth would be distorted and the flock would not be spared. This happened shortly after the departure of the Apostles. When you read carefully what follows, we will demonstrate to you that the traditional account of Jesus' resurrection is wrong. Jesus did not die Friday and He was not resurrected Sunday at sunrise. He died Wednesday and He rose from the dead Saturday at sunset, exactly three days and three nights after His burial. The New Testament scriptural proof that follows is irrefutable. It is not an issue on which you can ride the fence. Examining the scriptures you will be forced to admit that Jesus was placed in the grave Wednesday at sunset and rose Saturday at sunset.

Jesus' own words concerning the length of time He would be in the heart of the earth (grave) is of paramount importance. The Scribes and Pharisees demanded a sign or proof from Him that He was the Messiah. Jesus gave them an answer that was not understood by those who heard it. He gave specific information that would prove He was the Messiah. Did He fulfill His own sign? If you believe the traditional account of "Christianity," Jesus' prediction did not come true. There is absolutely no way three days and three nights can be calculated from Friday at sunset to Sunday at sunrise. Let's look at Jesus' words in Matthew 12:38-41 (KJV) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Obviously, Jesus was referring to the amount of time He would be in the grave, three days and three nights. Deceived "Christian" theologians and bible students have feebly tried to explain how three days and three nights fit from Friday at sunset to Sunday morning at sunrise. They reason that any part of a day or night could be considered as a whole day or night. Hence, they count the final moments of Friday afternoon as the first day, Friday night as the first night, Saturday day as the second day, Saturday night as the second night and early Sunday morning before sunrise as the 3^rd day and night. No matter how you want to reason though it, even if it were allowed that a day or night could be shorter than 12 hours, three days and three nights will not fit into a Friday sunset to Sunday sunrise time frame. Jesus made it very clear as to what He considered the amount of time there was in a day. Look at John 11:9-10 (KJV) Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. Now if Jesus considered a day as having twelve hours, isn't only logical to assume He considered the night as having twelve hours also. Jesus knew that there were 24 hours in a day-night cycle. When He said He would be in the grave three days and three nights, He knew that He would be in the grave for three 24 hour day-night cycles, a total of exactly 72 hours.

How is it that such confusion could arise concerning the very sign our Messiah gave us? A false assumption allowed many to conclude that Jesus died on Friday. The scriptures do refer to a Sabbath day immediately following the day of Jesus' crucifixion. The unlearned assumed this Sabbath was the weekly Sabbath. They are unaware that the day which follows the Passover Day is always a special or High Sabbath. This High Sabbath is commanded in Lev. 23:6&7. This High Day Sabbath could fall on any day of the week. Jesus was sacrificed as our Passover Lamb on the 14^th day of the month, as the Law required. That day was considered the Preparation Day, the day in which the lambs were prepared and slaughtered. The next day was a special day, the 15th day of the first month, a Sabbath day. Let's look at what the Law of God say's about this day, Num 28:16-18 (KJV) And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. 17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein. This fifteenth day is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, it is a special Sabbath. All are to assemble (have a holy convocation), and all are to rest (not do any servile work). This special Sabbath can fall on any day of the week, depending upon which day of the month, that 15th day falls. As with all Jewish days, this day begins at sunset and ends the following evening at sunset.

During the crucifixion of Jesus the Jews went to Pilate, as the High Sabbath was approaching, in order to speed up the executions, and not profane the Sabbath. Obviously, they did not want the crucifixions to continue into the Sabbath. Now let's look at a scripture that confirms that this approaching Sabbath was a High Day Sabbath, John 19:31 (KJV) The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. It is overwhelming. The evidence clearly shows the day following the crucifixion of Jesus was a High Sabbath, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. At this point some may still insist that this High Day Sabbath fell on the weekly Sabbath. What follows will disprove that scenario.

Looking carefully in both Mark and Luke's gospel accounts, we observe two women making preparations to anoint Jesus' dead body. The activities of these women prove that it was impossible for the High Sabbath and weekly Sabbath to have been on the same day. Mark's gospel informs us that as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, went to Pilate to ask for Jesus' dead body. The sun was setting, the Sabbath was about to begin. These two women saw Joseph place Jesus' dead body in the tomb, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses. The tomb was outside the city of Jerusalem near the place of crucifixion. Joseph had to hurry to place Jesus' body into the tomb before the Sabbath began. Picture in your mind the events taking place, Mark 15:42-47 (KJV) And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. 45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. As you have seen, evening was approaching, the Sabbath was about to begin. The next event Mark relates to us in chapter 16:1 is that the women go out and buy spices - after the Sabbath is past. It's obvious they would not have had time to walk back to Jerusalem and buy spices before the Sabbath began. It was against the Law to buy and sell on the Sabbath (whether it was a High Sabbath or weekly Sabbath). So in Mark's account we can see that the women had to wait for the Sabbath to end before they could buy the spices.

Now let's look at Luke's account. Luke is writing from his perspective, from what stood out in his memory. What he writes is correct, but if you believe the High Sabbath day and the weekly Sabbath day both fell on the same day(Saturday), then you have a contradiction between Mark and Luke. Luke also tells us the women watch as Joseph of Arimathea places Jesus' body in the tomb. The next event Luke records, is that the women prepared spices and perfumes and THEN rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment. Look at what Luke writes, Luke 23:50-56 (KJV) And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

Do you see the contradiction? Mark's account tells us that after the Sabbath the women went out to buy spices, Luke's account tells us that the women prepared the spices and then rested on the Sabbath. My question is this: How could the women buy spices after the Sabbath (Mark's account) and then prepare those spices before the Sabbath (Luke's account)? If you believe both writers were referring to the weekly Sabbath, there is a noticeable contradiction. Again, try to picture this whole chain of events in your mind. The sun is setting, the Sabbath is about to begin. There is no opportunity to buy or prepare anything. Joseph works in haste to complete the burial before the Sabbath begins. The two women witness Jesus' body placed in the tomb and watched the stone rolled over the entrance to the grave as the Sabbath began. They then returned and observed the High Day Sabbath. When that Sabbath was past, the women went out and bought the necessary ingredients to prepare the burial ointments, just as Mark recalls. This day was the day between the High Day Sabbath and the weekly Sabbath, Friday. Accordingly, as Luke recalls, the women rested AFTER they had prepared the spices and that rest is the weekly Sabbath as commanded (Ex 20:8).

Jesus was crucified on Wednesday afternoon. With sunset Wednesday evening, the High Sabbath began. This Sabbath lasted until Thursday evening sunset. The two women bought and prepared their spices sometime between Thursday evening sunset and Friday evening sunset. The weekly Sabbath began at Friday evening sunset. When this Sabbath was past, early Sunday morning before daylight, the women went to the tomb and found it empty. Jesus had already risen from the grave. The tomb was empty. Jesus arose Saturday evening at sunset exactly 72 hours after being placed in the grave. A Wednesday burial through Saturday resurrection makes possible the fulfillment of the sign of Jonah. Wednesday night, Thursday night, and Friday night, three nights, Thursday day, Friday day, and Saturday day, three days, thus you have three days and three nights. Our Lord Jesus is not a liar or false prophet, what He said would happen, did. There is absolutely no justification for teaching any other timetable.

Last Modified: 2/20/2002