The Nature Of Grace

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

To a young Christian who kept bemoaning his failures and lack of spiritual growth, and wondering how God could love him, a more mature believer responded substantially as follows:

“When I leave here and return to my home I will pick up my little baby girl and put her on my knee. Tired as I am, I will dandle her on my knee and, somehow, looking into that darling face and those pretty blue eyes, I will soon feel rested and refreshed.

“This is strange, in a way, for she does not love me. She doesn’t even know what love is.

“She doesn’t appreciate my problems and has no sympathy for me. My heart can be burdened with grief or filled with anxiety, and my mind vexed with difficult problems, but she doesn’t even know or care. She just keeps gurgling and giggling at the attention I lavish upon her.

“She doesn’t contribute one cent toward the needs of our family; indeed, she costs me a great deal of money and will for years to come. Yet I love that child more than I can say. There is no sacrifice I would not make for her; no good thing I would not gladly give her.”

Such is the grace of God toward us, His children. It does not depend upon our faithfulness to Him or our appreciation of His love to us. He loves us with an unspeakable love and keeps lavishing upon us “the riches of His grace” simply because we are His children in Christ, the Beloved One. And strangely, is it not precisely this fact that proves to be our greatest incentive to give ourselves to Him in loving service and sacrifice as we grow in grace?

What would Yeshua do?

Since Easter (with all the pagan symbols that have come with it) was adopted by the Catholic Church centuries after Messiah Yeshua’s ascension, should Believers observe this holiday and encourage others to do so?

Would Messiah Yeshua celebrate Easter?

He certainly could have told us to. So could His talmudim, whose teaching and doctrine are preserved for us in the book of Acts and the letters written by Saul, Peter, Jacob, Jude and John. But nowhere do we find a hint of support for Easter or anything remotely resembling it. What we do find, as pointed out earlier, is clear instruction from Yeshua and Saul to keep the Passover and other biblical festivals.

Holy Scripture does not support this pagan holiday and, in fact, condemns such celebrations. Because Scripture condemns pagan practices and the worship of false gods (Deuteronomy 12:29-32), we know that God the Father and Yeshua His Son have no interest in Easter and do not approve of it.

Yeshua, in fact, is diametrically opposed to religious rituals that supposedly honor Him but in reality are rooted in the worship of false gods. He makes clear the difference between pleasing God and pleasing men: “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men . . . All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition’” (Mark 7:6-9).

Easter is a tradition of men, not a commandment of God. But it’s more than that. It is a pagan tradition of men that, like other traditions involved in the worship of false gods, is abhorrent to the true God. Yeshua and His talmudim would never sanction its observance because it mingles paganism with supposedly Biblical symbolism and ritual. It is rooted in ancient pagan fertility rites that have nothing to do with Messiah Yeshua.

In reality, most of the trappings associated with Easter reveal that the holiday is actually a fraud pawned off on unsuspecting and well-intentioned people. God wants us to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), not to recycle ancient customs used to worship other gods.

Even the timing of the events used to justify celebrating Yeshua’s resurrection on a Sunday morning—that He was crucified on the afternoon of Good Friday and resurrected before dawn on Sunday morning—are demonstrably false, as an examination of the Scriptures shows.

For those who want concrete proof that He was indeed the Messiah and Savior of mankind, Yeshua made a promise: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39-40).

Try as some might, there is no way to calculate three days and three nights from late Friday afternoon to Sunday morning before daylight. At most, this amounts to barely more than a day and a half. Either Yeshua was mistaken, or those who say He was crucified on a Friday and resurrected on a Sunday are mistaken. You can’t have it both ways.

The truth is that Easter was a cowardly compromise by those who feared the Roman authorities more than the God of the Bible.

Pagan goddess Astarte, wife of Baal

A Return to Orthodoxy
A History of Passover vs. Easter

Written by Steve Neidermeyer

“He said to them, ‘All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.'” Mark 7:9

In the modern evangelical church, there are three days of special significance- Christmas, Easter, and the weekly Sunday “worship day”. Many Christians do not know how these days came to be of special significance -they simply assume that they have always been- and that celebrating Christmas, Easter, and Sunday “worship” are orthodox ¹. Most Christians do not know that these days were not celebrated by the early church and there is no biblical basis for them- but instead they were established later in church history by the Catholic Church. Even the Roman Catholic Church does not claim these days as biblical – but rather that the Church had the authority to establish them.²

There is nothing wrong with keeping traditions in and of themselves. The danger comes when we declare our traditions as “God-given” or even replace God-given commands with man-made traditions. So as not to be found following the “traditions of men” which oppose God’s Word, we need to reexamine what is indeed orthodox and biblical regarding what is commonly called “Easter”.

First, it should be noted that the word “Easter” is not found in the Bible ³. The origins of the word “Easter” are quite clear. This Anglo-Saxon word is derived from the ancient eastern religion of Ishtar. In ancient Babel, Nimrod ⁴ was married to Queen Semiramis. After Nimrod died, Semiramis declared Nimrod to be the Sun-god. Various cultures thereafter called him Baal, Bel, Molech etc. Semiramis named herself Ishtar (pronounced: ee- star) and claimed to be a goddess (other cultures adopted this and called her Astarte, Osaris, Wife of Baal, Ashtaroth or Ashtoreth, or Queen of Heaven ⁵). Semiramis gave birth to a son she named Tammuz ⁶, who she claimed was fatherless, and was in fact Nimrod reborn. When Tammuz was killed by a wild boar, Semiramis claimed that he was resurrected each spring in the trees and flowers on the first sun-day, after the first moon of the spring. Semiramis declared that those worshipping Tammuz should fast for 40 days prior to the celebration of the day of Tammuz’ resurrection – a day known as “Easter”. From this ancient mystery religion it is quite easy to see the pagan origins of Lent and Easter. Satan prepared a counterfeit to confuse men – but God’s calendar had Feasts called “Passover” and “Unleavened Bread” that would not be tied to the sun – and thereby remain distinct.

In the middle of the Second Century, there was a controversy raging among the followers of Yeshua. It became known as the “Quartodeciman Controversy”. There were essentially two competing times to commemorate the death and Resurrection of Yeshua. Early in the Second Century, there were a number of church leaders who began moving away from all things that appeared Jewish. In commemorating the death of Yeshua, the church in Rome had begun to distance itself from relating this event to the Jewish Passover and instead began to time the celebration of the Resurrection of Yeshua to coincide with the pagan rites of Attis (Roman variation of Tammuz). The Asian churches still were holding to the practice of commemorating the death of Yeshua (and therefore the timing of His Resurrection) on the 14th day of the month of Nisan. The word “quartodeciman” means “fourteenth”. The Asian churches were still keeping the Hebrew Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread as a part of their celebrations surrounding the Resurrection.

In an effort to resolve the differences between the churches in Asia Minor, and the churches in the West (led by Rome), Polycarp, a student of the Apostle John and a bishop in Smyrna traveled to Rome to conferwith Anicetus the bishop in Rome. The churches of Asia were following the practices of the Apostle John and the other Apostles in celebrating the Resurrection in relationship to the 14th of Nisan. Anicetus, on the other hand was beginning a movement which sought to abandon all things that appeared “Jewish”. The meeting left the issue unresolved.

At the end of the Second Century, Victor, the bishop of Rome began to threaten other Church leaders in an attempt to get them to abandon Passover in favor of the Roman Easter celebration as a means to celebrate the Resurrection of Yeshua. Polycrates, the bishop of Ephesus, wrote to Victor his response to these threats.

“We for our part keep the day [14th of Nisan = Passover] scrupulously, without addition or subtraction. For in Asia great luminaries sleep who shall rise again on the day of the Lord’s advent, when He is coming with glory from heaven and shall search out all His saints – such as Philip… there is John, who lent back on the Lord’s breast…there is Polycarp, bishop and martyr… All these kept the fourteenth day of the month as the beginning of the Paschal Festival [Passover], in accordance with the Gospel, not deviating in the least but following the rule of the Faith. Last of all, I too, Polycrates, the least of you all…and my family has always kept the day when the people put away the leaven [Feast of Unleavened Bread]. So I, my friends, after spending sixty-five years in the Lord’s service and conversing with Christians from all parts of the world, and going carefully through all Holy Scripture, and not scared of threats. Better people than I have said: ‘We must obey God rather than men’.” ⁷

The controversy worsened until the Council of Nicea in 325 CE. The Council of Nicea was ordered by Emperor Constantine to resolve various “disputes” that existed in the Church – including whether the Passover or Easter should be celebrated. Constantine was a pagan who claimed to be a “Christian” and yet introduced many pagan influences into the church. In his order from the Council of Nicea he said:

“Constantine, August, to the churches… When the question arose concerning the most holy day of Easter, it was decreed by common consent to be expedient, that this festival should be celebrated on the same day by all, in every place. …it seemed to every one a most unworthy thing that we should follow the custom of the Jews in the celebration of this most holy solemnity, who, polluted wretches having stained their hands with a nefarious crime, are justly blinded in their minds. It is fit, therefore, that, rejecting the practice of this people, we should perpetuate to all future ages the celebration of this rite, in a more legitimate order, which we have kept from the first day of our Lord’s passion even to the present times. Let us then have nothing in common with the most hostile rabble of the Jews.” ⁸

Hence, the “Christian” celebration of Easter, and the dating thereof was created out of whole cloth by order of the Roman Emperor Constantine through a ruling council of the Catholic Church. An Easter celebration of course was not new – it had been celebrated by pagans for thousands of years. Constantine claimed that this had always been the practice of the church, even though this ruling was meant to bring an end to the Quartodeciman practice of celebrating the Passover.

In the Council of Laodicea in 364 CE, the Church Council took even more strident steps. They considered all those who celebrated Passover ⁹ as well as those who rested on the Sabbath ¹⁰ to be heretics because they adhered to “Jewish” dates.

In the Church’s official actions at the Council of Nicea and the later Council of Laodicea, it is of special interest that a prime motivation for establishing “Easter” as a replacement in practice and dating from Passover was a desire to abandon all things “Jewish”. Unfortunately, they failed to remember Yeshua’s words in John 4:22, “salvation is of the Jews” – and the fact that Yeshua Himself was and is a Jew. In Church documents from early in the Second Century up until now, there has been a strong anti-Semitic bent. In their hatred of the Jews, they abandoned Scripture and established their own system.

If we are to examine and hold to orthodoxy, we need to be mindful of what Scripture says. Scripture is quite clear regarding the Resurrection, and the timing of it. It all started with a picture… the picture of deliverance from bondage, the exodus from Egypt. The Feast of Passover and the associated Feast of Unleavened Bread commemorate how God delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. God commanded that they keep these Feasts along with others in Leviticus 23. Passover was to be a calendar marker for God’s people – found in the starting month of God’s calendar. In fact, in the detailing of the seven Feasts in Leviticus, they are not called the “Feasts of Israel”- but rather the “Feasts of the LORD”.

In God’s calendar, Passover [Pesach] was celebrated first, then immediately thereafter the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Hag HaMatzot]. In the midst of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (seven days long), was found the Feast of First Fruits [Bikurim]. From that date counting fifty days (or plus 49 days) was to be Pentecost [Shavuot]. If one looks at the dating for these biblical Feasts, you can quickly see the events of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts. In fact, the Gospel of John uses the seven as its date references. The Gospels make it quite clear that the events at the end of the earthly ministry of Yeshua were not just coincidentally related to the Feasts of Leviticus 23 – but that they were by God’s design a picture of the events of the ministry of the Messiah Yeshua. It all began that year with the month of Nisan (also known as Aviv). The Feasts were all based upon the new moon – beginning the cycle with the new moon of the “first month” (Aviv). Therefore, it is always exactly 185 days from Passover to the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). The connections between the Feasts of the LORD in Leviticus 23 and the Gospel accounts are amazing:

1. On the 10th of Nisan the people were to chose a lamb that they would then use later in the week to be their Passover lamb (Exodus 12:). It must be a male lamb without blemish. It was to be examined for the nextfour days in order to be sure it was suitable and without blemish.

This most likely coincided with Yeshua’s journey from Bethany to Jerusalem (a short distance) described in John 12. By the First Century, it was common to interchange the words “Passover” and “Unleavened Bread” when describing these Feasts since they occurred at the same time. Thus what is referred to as Yeshua’s “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem was on the 10th of Nisan. Luke 19:7 records that Yeshua spent the next 4 days teaching in the Temple- to satisfy the 4 days of examination of the Passover Lamb.

2. On the 14th of Nisan the people were to kill the chosen lamb “between the evenings” – in Hebrew reckoning of days, the day begins at sunset and ends at the next sunset. The day is then divided into section. “Between the evenings” was a term to refer to the afternoon. Thus to be precise, the practice was to kill the Passover lamb between 3:00PM and 6:00PM. On that first Passover in Egypt, the blood of the lamb was then put upon the door post of each home – as a sign for the Angel of the LORD to “pass over” that home and not take the life of the first born. Then at sunset, the lamb was to be eaten by the family of each household.

John records that the day that Yeshua was crucified was the “Preparation Day of the Passover”. This coincides with the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan.

Matthew 27:46 says that Yeshua died at the “ninth hour” which would coincide with the very hour that thousands of “Passover lambs” were being slain in the Temple – around 3:00PM on the 14th of Nisan.

3. After the sunset of 14th of Nisan it became the 15th of Nisan (remember, Hebrew dates begin and end at sunset). This was the first day of Unleavened Bread. According to Leviticus 23:6-7, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15th of Nisan) was to be a “Sabbath”. This is in addition to the normal weekly Sabbath (This is why many read the Gospel accounts and automatically assume that Yeshua was crucified on Friday, because it says the next day was a Sabbath).

Yeshua was laid in a tomb before sunset on the 14th of Nisan. In Matthew 12:40 Yeshua said that He would be “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”. People approaching the question of when Yeshua was crucified from a traditional perspective argue that from Friday to Sunday is “parts of three days” – and yet cannot account for “three nights”. The predisposition to simply accept a tradition has blinded many to the fact that these important dates are not “days of the week” but “days of the month”. In fact, there is very little mention of days of the week in Scripture except references to the weekly Sabbath. However, if one insists on developing a “days of the Passion week” timeline, Friday does not work in the Leviticus 23 calendar- it would have to be either Wednesday or Thursday instead.

4. Hidden within the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread described in Leviticus 23, is the Feast of First Fruits. It was an extremely important day within the Feast week. It was the starting day for counting to when Shavuot would occur 50 days later. It was the day to give thanks for the beginning of the harvest. Leviticus 23:10-11 tells us that this Feast was to be on the day after the Sabbath of the week of Unleavened Bread. There is a question among scholars whether this meant the day after the normal weekly Sabbath (Sunday) or the day after the special “Sabbath” on the 15th of Nisan.

The Gospels record that Yeshua was raised from the dead early (before dawn) on the “first day” of the week. Romans 16:5 shows us the connection between Resurrection Day and the Leviticus 23 Feast of First Fruits.

“But now Messiah is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Romans 16:5

5. Beginning with the Feast of First Fruits, 50 days were counted out- and the 50th day was to be a Feast- the Feast of Shavuot. Shavuot was one of three Feasts that God commanded all His people to go up to “the place where His Name dwelled” (in this case the Temple in Jerusalem).

In Acts 2:1 we read that there were a huge number of Jews present in Jerusalem for the Feast of Shavuot when God sent the Holy Spirit in power upon His waiting Apostles – on the 50th day after the Feast of First Fruits – bringing in a harvest of souls.

The first four Feasts of the LORD from Leviticus 23 provides an actual timetable for the events surrounding the last week of Yeshua’s ministry and the sending of the power of the Holy Spirit – down to the events occurring on the very day. Is there any doubt then that we should be concerned to not replace those commemorative times with ones of our own choosing – or of the decree of man? We need to be most concerned about the history of the name and dating for the pagan festival called “Easter” – and not use it to replace the biblical Feasts and dating of the Resurrection of Yeshua. We should focus on all three of the Feasts during this week of commemoration – after all, Scripture gives a reason for these Feasts: they are teaching aids. Passover shows us how only the perfect Lamb of God (Yeshua) can provide the innocent blood to apply to the “posts” – in order that the wrath of God not be visited on us. The Feast of Unleavened Bread shows us that Yeshua was without sin – without pride – and calls us to live lives that are modeled upon that principle. Leaven is a biblical picture of pride and sin. First Fruits gives us the sure hope that Yeshua is the first of the harvest – and that just as He was raised from the dead – so we all will follow after Him.

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Passover [Pesach Lamb], was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:8

There is honest debate about what day it best to celebrate the Passover meal in a way consistent with Leviticus 23. Many believe that it should be done at sunset on the 14th of Nisan. Because the Gospel of John seems to indicate that Yeshua and His disciples celebrated a last meal the night before, some like to celebrate a Seder (Passover meal) at sunset on the 13th of Nisan and then again at sunset on the 14th of Nisan. Both of these positions are attempts to find precisely what Scripture says and act accordingly – instead of blindly following traditions that replace and obscure the truth.

Regardless of what we choose to do with regard to such issues that are left unresolved in Scripture, let’s leave “Easter” for those who know no better – instead, let”s keep the Feasts!

Taking It with You

February 16, 2015

The LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.” — Exodus 25:1–2

The Torah portion for this week is Terumah, which means “contributions,” from Exodus 25:1–27:19, and the Haftorah is from 1 Kings 5:26–6:13.

This week’s Torah portion begins with an unusual commandment: “The Lord said to Moses, ^‘Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering.’” At first glance, it seems straightforward enough. Moses was to ask the Israelites to give a gift to be used for God’s purposes. However, if you translate the verse literally from the original Hebrew you get this: “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and let them take for me an offering . . . ’” What makes this directive so strange is that Moses was asking the children of Israel to give offerings in order to build the Tabernacle, God’s temporary dwelling place. However, instead of using the word “give” or “bring,” Scripture uses the word “take.”

So what were the Israelites meant to do – give something or get something?

The answer is both; however, the emphasis is on the taking because in this case, even the giving was really taking. Let me explain!

There is nothing physical that we can really give to God; as the psalmist wrote, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). Everything, including all our possessions and money, belongs to God. So there is nothing that we can give to Him that isn’t His already. All we can do is return our money to its rightful owner.

However, as the choice of words in this verse indicates, when we “give” to God’s purposes, it’s not just that we aren’t truly giving Him anything, because everything already belongs to God – we are actually taking when we contribute to a godly initiative. By giving away what is in our possession, we don’t lose anything, rather we acquire something!

J.L. Kraft, head of the Kraft Foods Group, who had given approximately 25 percent of his income to Christian causes for many years, once said, “The only investment that I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord.” When we contribute to God’s purposes with physical currency, we are paid back, so to speak, with far more valuable “spiritual currency.” At the end of the day, it is only these spiritual acquisitions that will stay with us forever.

I recently heard about a woman who had passed away and had requested in her will to be buried with two things: her worn and tattered prayer book and all the receipts from the charities to which she had contributed. Now that’s taking your money with you! That’s the only way to take your money with you.

Sometimes we get so caught up in building up our earthly capital that it’s easy to forget about making the most important investments of all — our eternal future by giving to God’s purposes today!

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

The Roman pagan festival of Lupercalia

The True Origins of Valentines Day

Today, candy makers unload tons of heart-shaped red boxes for February 14, while millions of the younger set are annually exchanging valentines. Florists consider February 14 – St. Valentine’s Day – as one of their best business days. And young lovers pair off – at least for a dance or two – at St. Valentine’s balls. Why? Where did these customs originate? Where do we find any such practices in the Bible? How did we come to inherit these customs?

A Christian Custom?

Did you know that centuries before Christ, the pagan Romans celebrated February 15 and the evening of February 14 as an idolatrous and sensuous festival in honor of Lupercus, the “hunter of wolves”?

Roman pagan festival of Lupercalia

The Romans called the festival the “Lupercalia.” The custom of exchanging valentines and all the other traditions in honor of Lupercus – the deified hero-hunter of Rome- was also linked anciently with the pagan practice of teen-agers “going steady.” It usually led to fornication. Today, the custom of “going steady” is thought very modern. It isn’t. It is merely a rebirth of an old custom “handed down from the Roman festival of the Lupercalia, celebrated in the month of February, when names of young women were put into a box and drawn out by men as chance directed.” That’s the admission of the Encyclopedia Americana, article, “St. Valentine’s Day.”

When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire there was some talk in church circles of discarding this pagan free-for-all. But the Roman citizens wouldn’t hear of it! So it was agreed that the holiday would continue as it was, except for the more grossly sensual observances.

It was not until the reign of Pope Gelasius that the holiday became a “Christian” custom. ” As far back as 496, Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia on February 15 to St. Valentine’s Day on February 14.” (p. 172 of Customs and Holidays Around the World by Lavinia Dobler).

But how did this pagan festival acquire the name of “St. Valentine’s Day”? And why is the little naked Cupid of the pagan Roman so often associated today with February 14? And why do little children and young people still cut out hearts and send them on a day in honor of Lupercus the hunter of wolves? Why have we supposed these pagan customs in honor of a false god are Christians?

Who Was the Original “St. Valentine”?

Valentine was a common Roman name. Roman parents often gave the name of their children in honor of the famous man who was first called Valentine in antiquity. That famous man was Lupercus, the hunter. But who was Lupercus? – and why should he have also borne the name Valentine among the heathen Romans?

The Greeks called Lupercus by the name of “Pan“. The Semites called Pan “Baul,” according to the Classical Dictionaries. Baal – mentioned so often in the Bible – was merely another name for Nimrod, “the mighty hunter” ( Genesis 10:9) It was a common proverb of ancient time that Nimrod was “the MIGHTY hunter before the Lord.” Nimrod was their hero – their strong man – their VALENTINE!

How plain that the original Valentine was Nimrod, the mighty hunter of wolves. Yet another of Nimrod’s names was “Sanctuc” or “Santa“, meaning Saint. It was a common title of any hero-god. No wonder that the Roman Lupercalia is called “St. Valentine’s Day”!

But why do we associate HEARTS on a day in honor of Nimrod – the Baal of the Phoenicians and Semites?

The surprising answer is that the pagan Romans acquired the symbol of the heart from the Babylonians. In the Babylonian tongue the word for heart was “bal” (Strong’s Concordance Number H1168). The heart – bal – was merely a symbol of Nimrod – the Baal! or Lord of the Babylonians!

Executed at Rome

Nimrod – the original St. Valentine – was also known as Saturn, the Roman-Babylonian god who hid from his pursuers in a secret place. The Latin word Saturn is derived from the Semiticspeaking Babylonians. It means “be hid,” “hide self,” “secret,” “conceal.” The original Semitic (Hebrew) word, from which the Latin Saturn is derived, is used 83 times in the Old Testament (see Young’s Concordance under “Sathar,” also “sether”).

According to ancient tradition, Saturn (Nimrod) fled from his pursuers to Italy. The Apenine mountains of Italy were anciently named the mountains of Nembrod or Nimrod. Nimrod briefly hid out at the site where Rome was later built. The ancient name of Rome, before it was rebuilt in 753 B.C. was Saturnia – the site of Saturn’s (Nimrod’s) hiding. There he was found and slain for his crimes. Later, professing Christians in Constantine’s day made Nimrod – the St. Valentine of the heathen- a Saint of the Church and continued to honor him under the name of a Christian martyr.

Why February 14?

But why should the Romans have chosen February 15 and the evening of February 14 to honor Lupercus – the Nimrod of the Bible? (Remember that day in ancient times began at sunset the evening before.)

Nimrod – Baal or sun god of the ancient pagans – was said to have been born at the winter solstice. In ancient time the solstice occurred on January 6 and his birthday therefore was celebrated on December 25 and now called Christmas. It was the custom of antiquity for, the mother of a male child to present herself for purification on the fortieth day after January 6 – Nimrod’s original birthdate – takes us to February 15, the celebration of which began on the evening of February 14 – the Lupercalia or St. Valentine’s Day.

On this day in February, Semiramis, the mother of Nimrod, was said to have been purified and to have appeared for the first time in public with her son as the original “mother and child.”

The Roman month February, in fact, derives its name from the februa which the Roman priests used in the rites celebrated on St. Valentine’s Day. The febru were thongs from the skins of sacrificial animals used in rites of purification on the evening of February 14.

Cupid Makes His Appearance

Another name for the child Nimrod was “Cupid” – meaning “desire” (Encyclopedia Britannica, article “Cupid“). It is said that when Nimrod’s mother saw him, she lusted after him – she desired him. Nimrod became her Cupid – her desired one – and later her Valentine! So evil was Nimrod’s mother that it is said she married her own son! Inscribed on the monuments of ancient Egypt are inscriptions that Nimrod (the Egyptians called him Osiris) was “the husband of his mother.”

As Nimrod grew up, he became the child-hero of many women who desired him. He was their Cupid! In the Book of Daniel he is called the “desire of women” ( Daniel 11:37). Moffatt translates the word as Tammuz – a babylonian name of Nimrod. He provoked so many women to jealousy that an idol of him was often called the “image of jealousy” ( Ezekiel 8:5). Nimrod, the hunter, was also their Valentine – their strong or mighty her! No wonder the pagans commemorated their hero-hunter Nimrod, or Baal, by sending heartshaped love tokens to one another on the evening of February 14 as a symbol of him.

Nimrod, the son of Cush the Ethiopian, was later a source of embarrassment to the pagans of Europe. They didn’t want an African to worship. Consequently, they substituted a supposed son of Nimrod, a white child named Horus, born after the death of Nimrod. This white child then became a “fair Cupid” of European tradition.

It is about time we examined these customs of the pagans now falsely labeled Christian. It is time we quit this Roman and Babylonian foolishness – this idolatry – and get back to the faith of Christ delivered once for all time.

Let’s stop teaching our children these pagan customs in memory of Baal the sun god – the original St. Valentine – and teach them instead what the Bible really says!

Making Space for God

February 17, 2015

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” — Exodus 25:8

The Torah portion for this week is Terumah, which means “contributions,” from Exodus 25:1–27:19, and the Haftorah is from 1 Kings 5:26–6:13.

In last week’s reading, God gave the Torah to humankind. In this week’s Torah portion, the children of Israel were commanded to build God a sanctuary. The Jewish sages explain the connection between the two portions with the following analogy.

There once was a king with one beloved and beautiful daughter. The king decided it was time for his daughter to marry, so he considered many suitors until he found the perfect one. The king celebrated the marriage with great joy. However, after the wedding, when it was time for the princess and her husband to establish their home together, the king had but one request. On one hand, he knew that he had to let his daughter go – it was only right that she be married. On the other hand, he would miss his only daughter and her husband terribly. He asked his new son-in-law that wherever the couple would go and live, there would be a room where the father could stay and visit.

The sages explain that the beloved daughter is the Torah, and at Mount Sinai, she was wedded to the people of Israel. In this week’s Torah portion, after the wedding, God, the father, said, “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” God asks from us that wherever we go, we make a space for Him to come and stay with us.

Practically speaking, this directly influences Jewish law. Whenever a Jewish town is established, the first thing that must be built is a synagogue. There cannot be a God-centered community without a place to go for worship. Be it a synagogue or a church, we must make a physical structure dedicated to our God.

However, in a deeper sense, God is asking us to make space for Him in our lives, not necessarily in the physical sense, but in a spiritual sense as well. No matter how busy and complicated our lives are, we must create a sacred space for God in them. For some of us, that may mean waking up an hour earlier to have a full hour to spend with God in study or in prayer. For others, it may mean dedicating certain times of the week to in-depth Bible study. And still, I think the ideal is that in every moment of our lives, no matter what we may be doing, God is on our minds and in our lives directing our actions, our reactions, and our interactions with the people around us.

How might God dwell among you today? Find time and space for the God of the universe to spend time with you.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Don’t Be Afraid of Hard Work

February 18, 2015

“And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.” — Exodus 25:18

The Torah portion for this week is Terumah, which means “contributions,” from Exodus 25:1–27:19, and the Haftorah is from 1 Kings 5:26–6:13.

Thomas Edison once said, “The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are: hard work, stick-to-itiveness, and common sense.” I think that most people are OK with the “common sense” component, but when it comes to sticking with something when it gets tough or when the work is hard, many folks tend to run the other way. Hard work, after all, is just that — hard!

In this week’s Torah portion, we read about the instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and the ritual objects within it. One of the objects that we come across is the cover of the Ark that contained the cherubim. We read, “And make two cherubim out of hammered gold . . .”

Now, translated literally from the original Hebrew, the verse reads, “And make the two golden cherubim, hammered out you shall make them . . .” Here’s the interesting part: The word for “hammered out” in Hebrew is miksha, which is nearly identical to the Hebrew word for “difficult.” Based on this understanding, the Jewish sages provide an alternate understanding for that phrase: “even if it is difficult, you shall do it.”

By looking deeper into the multiple meanings of this phrase, the sages sought to provide us with an important life lesson: Don’t run away from hard work! When called to a task, don’t be intimidated by the hard work it may take to accomplish it. Most worthwhile things take hard work. Raising children is hard work; relationships are hard work; and making a contribution to society takes hard work.

When the early pioneers returned to the land of Israel in the early 1900s, a lot of hard work was involved. The Jewish people who believed in reclaiming the ancient homeland worked harder than almost anyone. They spent their days draining swamps, digging ditches, cutting stones, and laying the foundation for what would eventually become Israel’s renowned agricultural accomplishments. Their days were filled with hard physical labor, and at night, they retired in tents, often shared by three or more people. The work was harder than anything that these immigrants were used to. But they persevered, and because of that, Israel is what she is today.

There are other kinds of hard work, which are not necessarily hard physically, but are difficult in other ways. Saying “I’m sorry” can be hard. Starting again after multiple failures is hard. Fixing a damaged relationship is hard. Accepting criticism and taking responsibility can be some of the most difficult things that we are called to do. However, just as it is in the physical realm, hard work is worth the effort. The sages teach that “the more difficult it is to do God’s will, the greater the reward.”

So work hard . . . and with joy.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

The Biblical Place of Messianic Gentiles

Messianic Gentiles are biblically and prophetically part of Israel. The term Gentile is used here to refer to those not of Jewish descendancy, because that is what non-Jews are called in popular speech. In actuality, Messianic Believers who are not Jewish, but are part of Israel by faith, cannot also be Gentile, for one cannot historically be Gentile and a part of Israel

At the same time. In scripture, the Gentiles were pagans or heathens. Messianic Believers, in our view, should no longer think of themselves as Gentiles.

The following should be understood as theological truth, which is obtained by faith alone, and which is only useful for communication of God’s promises within the Messianic community.

Gathering of the Gentiles to Israel

Neither let the son of the foreigner, that has joined himself to YHVH (God, Adonai, Jehovah, HaShem), speak, saying, YHVH has utterly separated me from His people…

Isaiah 56:3

Also the sons of the foreigner, that join themselves to YHVH, to serve him, and to love the name of YHVH, to be his servants, every one who keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of My covenant, even those I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon My altar, for My house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Adonai YHVH who gathers the outcasts of Israel says, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered to him.

Isaiah 56:6-8

The nekar (foreigner) is used of the Gentiles throughout scripture. The Gentile who has joined himself to YHVH is not to even say that he is separated from His people Israel. Notice that these foreigners are gathered to Israel, and they are Sabbath keepers. Yeshua quotes the latter part of this scripture in His cleansing of the Temple. In context, this shows that the “house of prayer for all people” is for those who are gathered to Israel only.

Attachment of Righteous Gentiles with Righteous Jews

Yes, many people and strong nations shall come to seek YHVH of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before YHVH. Thus declares YHVH of hosts, In those days ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, they even shall take hold of the garment [talit] of the one who is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.”

Zechariah 8:22,23

No doubt that righteous Jews are to lead righteous Gentiles by example into the proper expression of worship to YHVH, “for salvation is of the Jews.” This is instead of the backwards way it has been attempted for many centuries. If righteous Jews and Gentiles may pray together before YHVH, then they have the same covenant of Israel together.

Prophecy to Israel Fulfilled by Messianic Gentiles

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, You are not my people, there it shall be said to them, You are the sons of the living Elohim. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.”

Hosea 1:10-11

Even us, whom He [Elohim] has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, You are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living Elohim.

Romans 9:24-26Messianic Gentiles are Part of the “Holy Nation.”

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a people for His possession, that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10

Here Kefa (Peter) uses the same prophecy in Hosea to show that Messianic Believers, whether Jews or no-Jews, are Israel, even giving all Believers the private and exclusive label only Israel was given by YHVH as a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation.”

Messianic Gentiles Brought into the Commonwealth of Israel

That at that time you were without the Messiah, being foreigners from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Elohim in the world. But now, by Yeshua the Messiah, you who were at one time far away have been brought back [to Israel] through the [sprinkled] blood of the Messiah. For He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us.

Ephesians 2:12-14

As Moshe (Moses) confirmed Israel into covenant by the sprinkling of blood, so all who are sprinkled by acceptance of the blood of Messiah are also confirmed into Israel. For which is greater confirmation, the blood of bulls and goats, or the blood of Messiah? What does sacrifice even mean without one being Israel? Any nation who sacrifices besides Israel is pagan and Godless in their sacrifice. For a sacrifice to be legitimate, it requires the receiver to be in covenant with Elohim through the promises made only to Israel.

Messianic Gentiles are Warned to Stay in Israel.

For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them you partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Boast not against the branches. But if you boast [remember], you do not bear the root, but the root bears you.

Romans 11:16-18

For if Elohim spared not the natural branches, be careful, in case He also does not spare you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of Elohim, on those who fell, severity, but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness, otherwise you also will be cut off. And they [natural branches] also, if they do not stay in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for Elohim is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, in case you should become wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away unrighteousness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Romans 11:16-18

The Olive Tree is Israel. The root is Elohim and Mashiach. The grafted in wild olive branches are Messianic Gentiles. As long as they remain in Israel, without being arrogant of their position, they are safe and receive nourishment from the root. It is very important for Messianic Gentiles to see themselves, humbly and thankfully, as a part of Israel. Of the natural branches, the Jewish people, some have been broken off from the nourishment of the root, but not all, and Elohim will gladly graft back again the ones broken off.

Those who say they believe in Israel’s Messiah, yet do not want to be a part of Israel (continue in His goodness), are in danger of being cast off. For this reason we are seeing the return of the Jewish people to their own Olive Tree of Israel.

Also, to be broken off requires the knowledgeable act of unbelief. The natural branches who have not known or heard of the true Messiah of Israel are not broken off. Most Jewish people today have not yet heard about their Jewish Messiah Yeshua in truth. Rejection of a Catholic or Baptist Jesus is NOT rejection of the true nature of Israel’s Messiah. Therefore, most Jewish people remain in the covenant promises, even though partially blinded. Gentile Believers who do not realize this are arrogant against them, and themselves are partially blinded. Once the fullness of the Gentiles come into Israel the blindness on all parts will lift, then all of Israel, Jews and non-Jews, will be saved together, by the Deliverer, Yeshua. He is the very one who has turned away unrighteousness from Jacob, not from the world at large. The truly righteous person must accept their covenant place in Jacob, through Messiah, which is confirmed through His removal of their sin.

Pagan goddess  of spring — Eostre

Easter – The Counterfeit Passover

by Reb Yeshayahu Heiliczer

Every year some good Believers celebrate holidays which, although they seem to glorify Elohim¹, are instead bad counterfeits originating in paganism and anti-Semitism. The purpose of this paper is to educate fellow believers about the pagan “holiday” of “Easter.”

Pagan Origins

The name “Easter” is the name of a pagan goddess variously called “Eostre”, “Eastre”, “Ishtar”, “Ostarun” or “Ostera.” Easter is the old Teutonic pagan Anglo-Saxon goddess of the spring. She is also referred to as “the goddess of fertility.” Her name is the source from which the medical term “Estrous Cycle,” which is associated with female biology, has been derived. This pagan goddess Easter then is associated with the giving of life, the regeneration of life in the spring, the giver of the fertile state to all creatures, etc.

For all these “gifts” given by this false goddess, a full month of feast and celebration was dedicated in the Spring of each year during the month of April (which was also called “Eostur-monath”). This feast and celebration was established and practiced long before the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua occurred in 33 C.E.

History

During the fourth century, after the Emperor Constantine came into power, he found himself at war with rival Roman candidates for the rank of Caesar. He thought it wise to incorporate into the Roman populous the support of the suppressed Christian church rather than to alienate it. So he had a plan. He claimed that while on a military campaign at Susa and Turin, he had seen in a vision: a cross in the sky surrounded by the words “in this sign shalt thou conquer.” As a result Emperor Constantine declared both himself and all of his armies to be Christians. This was a “conversion by imperial decree.” Another decree from Constantine was that nobody could hold a major position in the government who was not a Christian. When these jobs were threatened, suddenly many more people became “believers.”

Prior to this, saints of Elohim “became” believers by trusting the Messiah Yeshua, confessing Him with their mouth, repenting of their sins, and receiving the gift of the Ruakh HaQodesh (Holy Spirit). The “Church” was pure through persecution, as only true believers in the Messiah were willing to lay down their lives for His name. They lived in caves, were killed by the edge of the sword, crucified (upside down), fed to lions, burned alive, bludgeoned to death, drawn and quartered. Yet they held fast to the name of Yeshua of Nazareth, faithful unto death.

When HaSatan (“The Devil”) saw that he could not stop these true believers with terror and physical death, he did the most effective thing he could to slowdown the spread of the Good News of Messiah. He joined “The Church.” Now instead of having to risk one’s life to be a true believer, it was quite fashionable to be a pseudo-Christian. And with this onslaught of “in name only” believers, came a multitude of pagan practices.

The feast of “Easter” is one of these pagan practices. It had nothing to do with Messiah. In 325 C.E. the now infamous “Council of Nicea,” also referred to as the First Ecumenical Council, was called by Constantine. It was at this council over which Constantine himself presided, that it was established that the resurrection of Yeshua would be celebrated on the already established pagan feast called “Easter.” Why? Two reasons. First, because the day on which the resurrection of Yeshua was being celebrated was a “Jewish” festival (Passover). It is actually a Biblical “festival of YHVH²,” but at that time anything considered Jewish was treated as poison. Although the early gentile believers (Christians) were happy to be associated with the religion of Yeshua and His disciples because Rome allowed the Jews relative independence, by this time the Jews were being heavily persecuted, and there was a desire among “Christian” leadership to distance themselves from the root of the faith.

The second reason was that among the pagans that Constantine needed to draw into his new “state religion,” Easter was a very popular feast. Instead of trying to get an entire empire of “instant Christians” to forsake their wicked ways and repent –i.e., give up one of their favorite “holidays,” the council simply subsituted the pagan holiday of Easter for the correct celebration of the resurrection of Messiah. They substituted the pagan feast of Easter for the Biblical feast of Passover, while having the audacity to keep the same name of a pagan goddess! Under this convenient arrangement, no repentance was necessary, no one was unhappy, no waves were stirred, and YHVH was ignored.

Proof of this pagan link is that the determination of when “Easter” will occur has nothing to do with the resurrection of the Messiah! Easter is determined (per the Council of Nicea, 325 C.E.) to occur on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox. This is because “Easter” was and is directly associated with the “birth of spring,” not the resurrection of Yeshua. Further proof is the presence of the pagan rituals of “Easter eggs” and bunnies, which are both fertility symbols.

The Legacy

Why then, would a born-again believer in Yeshua, a Ruakh-filled man or woman of YHVH take part in a feast to a pagan goddess? We as believers in the one true YHVH read the account in Exodus of the Israelites who were delivered through the Passover, saw the miracles of Moses in Egypt, walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, were fed Manna from heaven, then, astoundingly enough, after a temporary separation from Moses, built a golden calf to be a “tangible” representation of their god in direct violation of YHVH‘s command. For this they met a grievous fate. But as we read this account we shake our heads and wonder, “How could this be? How could they worship a golden calf? How could they be so foolish?”

Today, 5000 years later, we ask the same question. How dare some believers lift up the name of another god(ess) above the name of YHVH? How can they post the name of “another goddess” on their congregation’s display boards, on their announcement bulletins? Why do they sing “Easter” cantatas?

It is written in 2 Kings 1:16:

He told the king, “This is what YHVH says: ‘Is it because there is no Elohim in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!” (NIV)

Is there no Elohim in Israel that we say, “Happy Easter?” Is there no Elohim in Israel that “Easter bunnies” are visited by our children? Is there no Elohim in Israel that we teach our children to hunt for “Easter eggs”, pagan symbols of fertility associated with the pagan goddess Eastre? Some say, “we’re just celebrating the resurrection of Messiah.” Shall we do that under the name of another god?

It is written in 2 Corinthians 5:10:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (NIV)

This Judgment seat of Messiah is for believers only and is not to be confused with the Great white throne Judgment of Revelation chapter 20. Every one at the judgment seat of Messiah is saved. Yet still YHVH‘s word declares in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 that:

… his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

The Real Thing

It should be obvious to any student of the Illustrative Scriptures (“New Testament”) that Yeshua‘s students never celebrated “Easter.” It was a pagan holiday! Why would they? They followed YHVH‘s word, and they followed His commands. They celebrated Passover as YHVH had commanded! The one mistranslation in the King James Version Bible which uses the word “Easter” is the Greek word paskha, which is the direct transliteration from the Hebrew word pesakh (Passover).

Yeshua’s followers celebrated YHVH‘s deliverance of the nation of Israel from slavery. It was during His last Passover Seder that Yeshua gave his students the final “piece of the puzzle.” He showed them that He is YHVH‘s eternal Passover Lamb sacrifice — that the unleavened bread represented His body, and the wine represented the blood sacrifice which ratifies the New Covenant.

It was in connection with the Passover that Yeshua experienced death and defeated it. It was in the context of the redemption of sin through the sacrifice of the paschal lamb that Yeshua defeated death and rose again to sit at the right hand of our Heavenly Father.

Conclusion

The celebration of “Easter” is an affront to YHVH as it was in the time of the Prophets. It is written in Jeremiah 7: 18:

The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the [Chaldean] Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger.(NIV)

As Messianic Believers, knowing the jealousy and anger of YHVH, should we provoke him to wrath against us for participation in a “holiday” edifying the Chaldean Queen of Heaven? Should we stand idly by as our brothers and sisters in Messiah are led down this path towards darkness?

Some might argue that they are not celebrating a holiday to a Pagan god, but rather celebrating the resurrection of Yeshua. The Lord does not accept this practice any more than He did when the people of Israel made a golden calf to be used to worship Him. They took a pagan practice and attempted to use it to glorify YHVH, and it angered Him, so that Moses had to beg the Lord not to erase his people from the face of the earth! YHVH has already ordained a festival for this purpose, whose meaning was completed in the sacrifice of Yeshua.

With this knowledge, should we today use pagan emblems of fertility to glorify the Lord? It is written in Ephesians 5:10,11

…and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the
fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (NIV)

Amen.

1. Elohim is the Hebrew word which is usually tranlasted “God” in English. Due to the connections of this word to Germanic paganism, we use the original word untranslated.

2. YHVH is the true name of the Creator as given to Moses to be used by the people.