This seamed to arouse some comments on my Facebook page.
Steve Yoak
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1335534911
responded:
" I must respectfully disagree. The ole' King Jimmy has it right here. According to Acts 12:3, "(Then were the days of unleavened bread.)"
"Cross reference that with Lev 23:5-6 "In the fourteenth [day] of the first month at even [is] the LORD'S passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month [is] the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."
"Of all the things that it COULD be, it COULD NOT be Passover it it were the days of unleavened bread. Herod was a pagan puppet king of the pagan Roman empire and would be expected to celebrate pagan holidays. The KJV translators NEVER claimed to be doing a translation of the Textus Receptus. They claimed to be taking the former translationS and dilligently comparing and revising them. They found EASTER in Martin Luthers' German Bible.
"P.S. Thank you for pointing out the pagan foolishness that is practiced in churches all over America...."eggs, Ostara, Ishtar, rabbits, Innana, cults, pagans, devils, or Satan."
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Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Easter, Really?!
I remember a few years ago getting some harsh words from an esteemed individual because I used the word "Easter".
What's wrong with "Easter"? It's in the Bible, isn't it?
Isn't it?
Thus began my adventure.
As I searched through the King James Version of the Bible, I found that the word "Easter" is used one time in Acts 12:4
That's it?!
Just ONE time?!
I searched ALL the different Bibles available to me and I could not find "easter" at all, except for a wind current/storm mentioned in Acts 27:14
It was time to dig deeper.
The "textus receptus" is the greek text that the King James New Testament was translated from. The word that they translated to "Easter" is "pascha".
Utilizing a Strong's Concordance I found "pascha" (this is "G3957").
"Pascha" is in the textus receptus 29 times according to the King James Concordance.
Yes, it is used 29 times.
One time it is translated "Easter", the other twenty-eight times it is translated "Passover".
Huh?!
Same greek word, 29 times, but translated differently 1 time?!
So, what's up with that?
The original King James Version has it's origin in 1611. The King James Version we use today dates back to 1769. Granted, those are British. The U.S. of A. wasn't even around back then.
So why was the word "Easter" used that ONE time?
My ancestors, at least a lot of them were British. They are all dead now so I can't ask them. Even if they were alive, I'm sure their minds would be thoroughly thrashed from the mercury fumes (Hatter = hat maker) so it wouldn't do any good anyway.
So I turned to the internet to see what I could find.
A disclaimer is in order here:
If you have just eaten, are easily made nausious, or have a sensitive stomach, go get a barf bag or bucket. On the other hand, if you are like me and hate the "dry heaves" then eat something if you are between meals.
I studied several websites, but this one had the most concise information.
Bag ready or bucket in your lap-
This lady (IIRC) thinks she is a "goddess" and wants you to find your inner goddess.
Glad you got that bucket, aren't you?
She says,
"The history of Easter reveals rich associations between the Christian faith and the seemingly unrelated practices of the early pagan religions."
So, exactly how do you associate the Christian faith and pagan religions?
Worshippers of God associating with worshippers of Satan?
Oh, come on! You can't even have a friendly "discussion" amongst people of different denominations so how can you culminate devil worshippers with the things of God?
Oil and water do not mix. These don't either.
If you read that whole page I linked to, fertility goddesses, eggs, bunnies... then the summation at the end -
"...Christian and pagan traditions are gracefully interwoven."
Um, that just doesn't work. It never has and it never will.
Glad you got that bucket, aren't you?
So, I went back to the Bible. If we just stick with the majority rule (28 out of 29) we will call this "Passover", right?
Passover, a time when the Jews remember. No pagan blends here, just remembering when God warned them of a coming death of all the first born. The blood of a lamb was put on the door posts of their home to mark and separate them from the coming judgement. The lamb was eaten in haste and the rest of it burned. They ate it, fully clothed with their shoes on; they were ready to flee.
Read Exodus chapters 12 & 13.
The blood marked the house so God would "pass over" and not harm anyone living there.
This was right before the Jews were freed from slavery.
Make note of how the "pagans" were judged and killed.
This marked a new beginning.
This was a starting point for them walking and following God.
Passover; I like it.
The timing of Jesus' crucifiction coinciding with the Passover is just God's amazing perfection in all He does.
What the Passover represents and what the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ accomplished is a perfect union. Jesus was our paschal (Passover) Lamb. When that Blood is applied, God's judgement will pass over us. That Lamb was completely consumed. We meet Him today with our clothes and shoes on (just like the old Passover), ready to leave our captors and slavemasters behind us. We partake of this and have a new start, following God all the days of the rest of our life.
Passover? Yes, I think that is a better word. (28 out of 29...)
No eggs, Ostara, Ishtar, rabbits, Innana, cults, pagans, devils, or Satan.
Easter?
"Passover" admittedly is "old covenant", right?
We are under a "new covenant" because of Jesus perfect sacrifice, and He rose again.
So maybe we should call it "Resurrection Day".
After all, Jesus was the first to rise again, the First of many.
Resurrection Day.
Check it out for yourself.
Just thinking out loud...
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Thursday, April 14, 2011
Back Up One Verse, Hebrews 10:24
I'm still hung up on this verse -
-And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (Hebrews 10:24 KJV)
-And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, (Hebrews 10:24 AMP)
-and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (Hebrews 10:24 NASB)
-And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (Hebrews 10:24 ESV)
-Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24 NLT)
-And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (Hebrews 10:24 ESV)
-Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24 NLT)
Is this happening in the church?
Am I doing it?
Is it happening outside of the church?
Am I doing it?
Our Pastor brought a great message last night. His text was John 12:19-28.
From vs 28 he said,
"I want to glorify the Father"
"Are you willing?"
"Are you willing?"
Yah, that's what I'm talking about.
Then he went on to say, "When was the last time you saw somebody saved IN church?
How about outside ?"
How about outside ?"
Has he been reading my notes?!
It's doubtful... but that's the mindset. It's good when brothers agree...
Souls won for the Kingdom, then discipleship so they will not only stay the course, but start winning souls themselves...
Today is April 14. No souls saved this year. No one baptized in the Holy Spirit.
I have witnessed some devils being cast out, but...
I just can't help but go to the Book of Revelation [the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John]. I'm trying to find that "model" church, but is/was there one? I mean, seriously now, look what Jesus said about these and pay attention to the bold text-
(8) "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the One who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive: (9) "I know about your suffering and your poverty--but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. (10) Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. (11) "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
(12) "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the One with the sharp two-edged sword: (13) "I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to Me. You refused to deny Me even when Antipas, My faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan's city. (14) "But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. (15) In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. (16) Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth. (17) "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.
(18) "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze: (19) "I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. (20) "But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead My servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. (21) I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality. (22) "Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. (23) I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. (24) "But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching ('deeper truths,' as they call them--depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you (25) except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. (26) To all who are victorious, who obey Me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. (27) They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. (28) They will have the same authority I received from My Father, and I will also give them the morning star! (29) "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.
Revelation 3:1-22 NLT "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: "I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive--but you are dead. (2) Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of My God. (3) Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to Me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. (4) "Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. (5) All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine. (6) "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.
(7) "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David. What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open: (8) "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me. (9) Look, I will force those who belong to Satan's synagogue--those liars who say they are Jews but are not--to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. (10) "Because you have obeyed My command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. (11) I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. (12) All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of My God, and they will be citizens in the city of My God--the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And I will also write on them My new name. (13) "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.
(14) "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the One who is the Amen--the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's new creation: (15) "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! (16) But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth! (17) You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. (18) So I advise you to buy gold from Me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from Me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. (19) I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. (20) "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. (21) Those who are victorious will sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat with My Father on His throne. (22) "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches."
2:8 Smyrna? Is that the "model" church? Poverty stricken, imprisoned, persecuted, and the assault was from the local first satanic church?
I think we are more like Sardis; WAKE UP! (3:2)
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Hebrews 10:25 Continued
I know in my previous post some are going to say, "Duane said I don't have to go to church."
That's not what I'm saying.
If we say we are a Christian BECAUSE we go to church, that is wrong.
Taking it a step further, SITTING in church does not make you a Christian.
How so?
Back up one verse in chapter 10 of Hebrews,
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,"
Stimulate one another to good deeds.
Stimulate? http://bible.us/Rev2.13.NLT
Build up? http://bible.us/1Thess5.11.NLT
To urge? http://bible.us/Jude1.3.NLT
Keep reading - http://bible.us/Jude1.4.NLT
See, we are supposed TO DO SOMETHING, not just sit there.
Back to Hebrews 10. This is why this is so important -
I think Tony Nolan said on Twitter one day, "Not on my watch!"
The very person you sit beside in church is hearing the same thing you are. If they continue in their sins, they have NO EXCUSE in God's eyes!!!
Does that bother you?
I'm tired of church as usual!
I want people saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost!
Christ came to give me life ABUNDANTLY! He didn't pour it on the pew cushions so I could sit in it.
Weren't we saved to a "lively" hope?
Stir up that Gift that is in you.
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