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The World to Come. The Restored Church of God presents David C. Pack. Answering life’s
greatest questions straight from the Bible, and announcing the wonderful good news of
the World to Come.
Where did today's popular religious holidays come from? What are their roots? Most people
never reflect on---or investigate---why they believe and practice what they do. In a world
filled with customs and traditions, few research and seek to understand the origin of things.
Almost everyone accepts common practices without question, choosing to do what everyone else
does because it is easy---and fashionable. Most follow along as they have been taught,
assuming what they believe and do is right. They take their beliefs for granted and never
take time to prove them. Nowhere is this more true than in the observance
of Easter, Christmas, New Year's, Halloween and Valentine's Day, among other supposed
Christian holidays. Billions keep these days without knowing why---or where they originated.
Most suppose they are "found in the Bible"---that God backs them---because they see so many
professing Christians observing them. Surely billions cannot be wrong!
Or can they? What do the Bible---and history---really teach? You will be shocked!
To find the truth of a biblical matter---any biblical matter---you must be willing to open
your Bible and honestly accept what it says. The majority of people stoutly defend what
they have merely assumed is right or biblical. They read with prejudice anything that contradicts
cherished beliefs. If you are going to take the time to view
this broadcast, should you not at least watch it with an open mind---without bias? The Bible
is "profitable for correction" for those willing to accept it---for all who truly want to serve
and please God. It also states, "Prove all things." Ask God to guide you---to help you
prove what He says in His Word. No matter how comfortable a lifelong practice
may be, should you not base it on proof---hard evidence---and on what God says---instead
of assumptions? In this broadcast, we will examine certain
of men's holidays, and their origins. What follows is but the barest beginning of all
that could be shown. First is Easter.
What does history record about the origin of Easter? The vast majority of ecclesiastical
and secular historians agree that the name of Easter---and the traditions surrounding
it---are deeply rooted in pagan religion. Powerful quotes demonstrate the true origin
of how the modern Easter celebration got its name. First is this admission: "Since Beed
the Venerable...the origin of the term for the feast of Christ's Resurrection has been
popularly considered to be from the Anglo-Saxon Eastre, a goddess of spring...[Also, the name
comes from] the Old High German plural for dawn, eostarun; whence has come the German
Ostern, and our English Easter." Now a second quote: "The fact that vernal
festivals were general among pagan peoples no doubt had much to do with the form assumed
by the Easter festival in the Christian churches. The English term 'Easter' is of pagan origin."
Now a third: "On this greatest of Christian festivals, several survivals occur of ancient
heathen ceremonies. To begin with, the name itself is not Christian but pagan. 'Ostara'
was the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring." And a fourth source: "The name Easter comes
to us from Ostera or Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, for whom a spring festival
was held annually, and it is from this pagan festival that some of our Easter customs have
come." What about eggs? These have always been linked
to the Easter celebration. Nearly every culture in today's world has a long tradition of coloring
eggs. I have seen unique decorated egg designs with the style and tradition of virtually
every country of modern Europe. Notice this: "The origin of the Easter egg
is based on the fertility lore of the Indo-European races...The egg to them was a symbol of spring...In
Christian times the egg had bestowed upon it a religious interpretation, becoming a
symbol of the rock tomb out of which Christ emerged to the new life of His resurrection."
Think! The all-powerful Jesus Christ is reduced to being an egg so people can hold to a pagan
custom. Incredible! Let's see where the "Easter bunny" came from:
"In Germany and Austria little nests containing eggs, pastry and candy are placed in hidden
spots, and the children believe that the Easter bunny, so popular in this country, too, laid
the eggs and brought the candy." Now a second source, "The Easter bunny had
its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore...[It] has never had religious symbolism bestowed
on its festive usage...However, the bunny has acquired a cherished role in the celebration
of Easter as the legendary producer of Easter eggs for children in many countries."
There is nothing Christian about either of these symbols. The true history of what are
fertility symbols---rabbits and eggs---are unknown to children who will believe whatever
someone tells them. These are outright lies foisted on innocent little victims who have
no means of resisting such indoctrination. Now sunrise services are mentioned in the
Bible---but not in a way you expect. The context is the prophet Ezekiel being shown, in vision,
an important prophecy concerning the sins of God's people in our time. These astonishing
verses reveal God's plain condemnation of sunrise services, and what will happen to
those who dismiss or minimize His command: "Turn you yet again, and you shall see greater
abominations that they do...and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz...And He brought
me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of
the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about 25 men, with their backs toward
the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward
the east. Then [God] said to me, Have you seen this...Is it a light thing [or no big
deal?]...that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they...have returned
to provoke Me to anger...Therefore will I also deal in fury: My eye shall not spare,
neither will I have pity..." Observing sunrise services is serious to God!
He so hates this vile practice that He will ultimately destroy all who persist in what
He calls "abomination!" What about hot cross buns? The prophet Jeremiah
wrote this: "The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women
knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings
to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger." These cakes were the same hot cross
buns that millions of children sing about today. Read pages 107 and 8 of The Two Babylons
by Alexander Hislop. The famous historian, Will Durant, wrote,
"Ishtar (Astarte to the Greeks, Ashtoreth to the Jews), interests us not only as analogue
of the Egyptian Isis and prototype of the Grecian Aphrodite and the Roman Venus, but
as the formal beneficiary of one of the strangest of Babylonian customs...known to us chiefly
from a famous page in Herodotus [which is]: 'Every native woman is obliged, once in her
life, to sit in the temple of Venus [Easter], and have intercourse with some stranger'."
We now know Easter is the goddess Ashtaroth. Now we need to examine the Bible for what
God thinks of her. Notice this: "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord...And
they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth [again, Easter]."
The prophet Samuel warned Israel in the book of Judges, "put away the strange gods and
Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him only...Then
the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only."
Later, Samuel reminded Israel of her history---that they would return to obey God, only to fall
back into idolatry time and again! We have seen that God never instructed---but
rather actually commanded against---Easter observance. What seems so innocent is not
innocent at all. Much additional proof---biblical and historical---exists proving Easter is
not permitted by God. These publications---The True Origin of Easter---Christ's Resurrection
Was Not on Sunday---Christ's Crucifixion Was Not on Friday---and The True Meaning of Lent---are
must-reads for those who really want to understand the evil of Easter from God's view.
Next is Christmas. This worldwide tradition is thought to be
a wonderful time, focused on giving, family, beautiful music and decorations, special foods
and singing traditional carols. All this is supposedly centered around the worship of
Jesus Christ, and His birth on December 25th. But where did Christmas come from? What is
the origin of Santa Claus?---mistletoe?---Christmas trees?---holly wreaths?---Yule logs?---and
exchanging gifts? There is no mistaking the source of the modern
Christmas celebration. Nearly all aspects of it have their roots in Roman custom and
religion. The Encyclopedia Americana reveals, "Christmas...was not observed in the first
centuries of the Christian church, since the Christian usage in general was to celebrate
the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth...a feast was established in memory
of this event [Christ's birth] in the fourth century. In the fifth century the Western
church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth
of the sun and at the close of the SATURNALIA, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ's
birth existed." Now the Encyclopedia Britannica, under "Christmas":
"In the Roman world the SATURNALIA (December 17) was a time of merrymaking and exchanging
of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god
Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated
with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances
were added the German and Celtic Yule rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul,
Britain, and central Europe. Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery
and fir trees, gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season.
Fires and lights, symbols of warmth and lasting life, have always been associated with the
winter festival, both pagan and Christian." These statements are plain!
Most aspects of Christmas are not mentioned in the Bible. The reason is that they are
not from God---they are not part of the way He wants people to worship Him. The Christmas
tree, however, IS mentioned in God's Word! We know what men think about it. Here is what
GOD says, "Thus says the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at
the signs of heaven [the stars]; for the heathen are dismayed at them [why do millions ignore
this plain statement of God and read their horoscopes daily? Continuing,] For the customs
of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of
the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with
nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree."
This description is obvious. God directly refers to the Christmas tree as "the way of
the heathen." Just as directly, He commands, "Learn NOT the way of the heathen," calling
these customs "vain." Many additional sources and scriptures could
be cited. Our thorough booklet, The True Origin of Christmas, brings facts from history and
Scripture that, when placed together, paint a powerful picture!
Next, let's examine Valentine's Day, known as the world's "holiday of love."
Surely, celebrating a festive holiday like Valentine's Day is harmless. Surely the God
who gives us life, food, drink and the ability to think for ourselves, approves of the holiday
for lovers to exchange gifts. Let's see.
Innocent and harmless as Valentine's may appear, its traditions and customs originate from
two of the most sexually perverted pagan festivals of ancient history: the Lupercalia, and the
feast day of Juno Februata. To the Romans, February was sacred to Juno Februata, the
goddess of febris (or "fever") of love---and of women and marriage. On February 14, billets---small
pieces of paper with the name of a teen-aged girl written on it---were put into a container.
Boys would then choose one billet at random. The boy---and the girl whose name was drawn---would
become a "couple," joining in *** games at feasts and parties celebrated throughout
Rome. After the festival, they would remain *** partners throughout that year. This
custom was observed in the Roman Empire for centuries.
Valentine's Day is designed to appeal to carnal desires---or, as the Bible calls them, the
works of the flesh. (Read Gal. 5:19-21.) Christmas, Easter and Valentine's are all
attempts to "whitewash" customs and observances of pagan gods and idols by "Christianizing"
them. For more, read our article, The Truth Behind St. Valentine's Day.
What about New Year's? What could be wrong with celebrating the start of the upcoming
year? What's wrong with "ringing out the old and ringing in the new"?
The truth is surprising! The Bible reveals, "God is not the author
of confusion but of peace." The Greek word for "confusion" also means instability, disorder,
commotion and tumult---words that perfectly describe New Year's history, which is as confusing
and chaotic as the holiday itself. For thousands of years, men kept changing the beginning
of their New Year from spring to fall---from March 1 to January 1---and in some cases,
December 25---back to March 25---then to January 1 again! Notice: "January 1 was restored as
New Year's Day by the Gregorian calendar (AD 1582), immediately adopted by Roman Catholic
countries. Other countries slowly followed suit: Scotland, 1660; Germany and Denmark,
about 1700; England, 1752; Sweden, 1753; and Russia, 1918."
Even today, nations cannot agree on this date. The "Chinese New Year is celebrated officially
for a month beginning in late January or early February" and "The Muslim New Year falls on
the first day of the month of Muharram and commemorates the date of the Hegira (July
16, 622, on the Gregorian calendar)...Since the Muslim year is a lunar one consisting
of only 354 days, the commencement of the new year fluctuates widely by the Western
calendar." The God of the Bible said this to ancient
Israel about the false gods they would encounter in the land He gave them: "You shall not bow
down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works...lest they make you SIN
against Me...their gods...will surely be a snare unto you." This certainly pictures New
Year's and other holidays we have seen. Nowhere does God in His Word command New Year's
celebration. To learn why true Christians do not get caught up in this day, read our
eye-opening article, Why Christians Don't Celebrate New Year's.
Then there is Halloween. Americans spend $4 to $5 billion every year on this second largest
holiday, besides Christmas. Is this just a harmless, happy childhood activity---or something
very different? Its traditions, customs and practices are rooted in a past much darker,
more sinister and more demonic than you know. On the night of October 31, the ancient Celts,
after harvesting and storing their crops for the winter, began their annual fall festival.
The Encyclopedia Britannica reveals, "Samhain (Celtic [for]: 'End of Summer'---[often pronounced
"Samhain"]), one of the most important and sinister calendar festivals of the Celtic
year. At Samhain, held on November 1, the world of the gods was believed to be made
visible to mankind, and the gods played many tricks on their mortal worshipers; it was
a time fraught with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural episodes. Sacrifices
and propitiations of every kind were thought to be vital, for without them the Celts believed
they could not prevail over the perils of the season or counteract the activities of
the deities. Sa-hwin was an important precursor to Halloween."
The Celts observed the festival of Samhain in various forms. The Catholic Church took
note. Throughout that church's early history, worshippers observed special anniversaries
for martyrs who had been executed for their beliefs. Soon there were not enough days in
the calendar year to dedicate a specific day for each martyr. So the Roman Catholic Church
chose one feast day---"All Saints' Day!"---for its martyrs. In the early 9th century, Pope
Gregory IV sought to paste over this pagan practice by moving so-called All Saints' Day
from May 13 to November 1---the same day as Sa-hwin! This officially extended the festival
to that entire church. Later, All Saints' Day became known as All Hallows Day, while
October 31 became All Hallows Eve. YOU know this carefully chosen heathen practice as
Halloween! Our article "Trick? or Treat?" - Unmasking
Halloween reveals much more of the TRUTH about this rotten holiday.
Now for birthday celebrations. In every culture and nation on Earth, nothing is as universally
celebrated. But is this practice biblical? Does God agree with it? Solomon wrote, "...Better
[is] the day of death than the day of one's birth." We would all agree that the day of
one's death is not exactly his best day. Yet, God says it is better than the day of his
birth. Here is the briefest look at the history of
birthday celebrations: "The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon
who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation
with the god on whose birthday the individual was born."
This source continues: "The Romans also subscribed to this idea...This notion was carried down
in human belief and is reflected in the guardian angel, the fairy godmother and the patron
saint...The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks...honey cakes
round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars [of the god Artemis]...Birthday
candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes...Lighted
tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set
up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday
child and bring good fortune." Birthday celebrations are mentioned in the
Bible on 3 separate occasions and in each, terrible things occurred. Our article, Are
Birthday Celebrations Christian?, presents more of the truth about birthday-keeping.
What about April Fools' Day, also known as All Fools' Day? Every April 1st, millions
participate in pranks, practical jokes and even outright lies---in the name of "innocent
fun." Our article, A Foolish Holiday, reveals the origin of this day, and whether one should
observe it. Finally, you may now be wondering about Thanksgiving
Day. In fact, this is one of the few holidays not steeped in pagan tradition. Thanksgiving
is set aside to show appreciation to Almighty God for the many blessings America has received---but
has today so tragically forgotten. Here is another article, Should You Celebrate Thanksgiving
Day? Men want to observe their own holidays in
place of God's 7 annual Holy Days---outlined and commanded in His Word---and then tell
themselves they are pleasing and worshipping the true God.
Jesus warned: "In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men," and added, "Full well [or knowing full well] you reject the commandment of God, that
you may keep your own tradition." Every year, around the world, 2 billion professing Christians
do reject God's Word and keep men's holidays! No wonder Jesus asked, "Why call you Me, 'Lord,
Lord' and do not the things which I say." God told Israel: "You shall not walk in the
manners of the nations, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things,
and therefore I abhorred them...and you shall be holy unto Me: for I the Lord am holy, and
have severed you from other people, that you should be Mine." God commands His followers
to come out of the world and its Babylonish ways. Notice: "Come out of her, My people,
that you be not partakers of her sins, and…receive not of her plagues."
Worldwide disobedience comes with a terrible price. National punishment now lies just ahead
for the greatest nations---the ones who have been custodians of the Bible and who should---and
could---have known the truth you now know. In the Second Commandment---forbidding all
forms of idolatry---and in other passages, God declares He is a jealous God. He wants
His people doing what HE commands, not the practices of false gods!
We saw God plainly instructs, "Learn not the way of the heathen." But most people do not
fear God---they do not care what He says---and He allows them to make their own decisions.
Human beings are free moral agents---free to learn or not learn what God commands---free
to obey or disobey Him! But woe to those who ignore the plain Word
of the Bible, believing MEN can overrule God! People can worship in ways that represent
things far different from what they sincerely believe or intend. When they have observed
a custom for a long time they come to identify with it, as though it were their own. They
vest in it. When one tries to tell them the truth---presenting FACTS, EVIDENCE and PROOF---many
become hostile---angry!---that one would dare violate sacred personal beliefs.
The proof is overwhelming that men's holidays are human "traditions"---"commandments of
men"---condemned by God! Yet, the masses keep them anyway!
God makes absolutely clear He does not want us to mix His ways with any false ways. He
says, "What thing soever I command you, observe to do IT: you shall not add thereto, nor diminish
from it." In other words, do exactly what I say---nothing more, nothing less!
Be careful of being angry that I am "taking away your holidays." Your anger is in fact
directed at God. I merely told you what He says. Direct your anger at ministers you trusted,
but who knew better and deceived you. So then, am I bad-mouthing cherished holidays---or
reporting the truth? Don't shoot the messenger! The message comes from God.
The literature offered thruout this broadcast are all must-reads for those who care what
God thinks about days that men think so special. God declares in multiple places---and in words
impossible to misunderstand for those seeking His correction---that He hates the customs
associated with pagan celebrations. And we saw His plain words to all who say they can
mix the horrible customs of outright paganism with a supposed "focus on Jesus."
To learn about God's Holy Days, read this booklet God's Holy Days or Pagan Holidays?
You will be glad you did. You face a choice: listen to confused, deceived
ministers, and follow the masses and their traditions. Or, open your mind---and your
Bible---listen to God, and seek the TRUTH. Until next time, this is David C. Pack, saying,
"Goodbye, friends."
This program was made available by Restored Church of God members and donors from around
the globe. Explore our vast library of literature and other World to Come programs which are
all made available free of charge. To learn more, or to find a local congregation, contact
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