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SHOULD A NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER OBSERVE Continued from PAGE 1 ISHTAR AND
TAMMUZ
Ishtar and Tammuz were very closely related in paganism. The Encyclopedia Britannica
reveals, “Aphrodite, known as the Greek goddess of love and beauty, the
counterpart of the Roman Venus. Although her myth and cult were essentially
Semitic, she soon became hellenized and was admitted to a place among the
deities of Olympus….Among the Semitic peoples (with the notable exception of
the Hebrews) a supreme female deity was worshipped under different names—the
Assyrian Ishtar, the Phoenician
Ashtoreth (Astarte), the Syrian Atargatis (Derketo), the Babylonian Belit (Mylitta),
the Arabian Ilat (Al-ilat)….She is connected with the lower world, and came to
be looked upon as one of its divinities. Thus, Ishtar descends to the kingdom of Ilat the
queen of the dead, to find the means of
restoring her favourite Tammuz (Adon, Adonis) to life. During her stay,
all animals and vegetable productivity ceases, to begin again with her return to
earth. This legend, which strikingly resembles that of Persephone, probably
refers to the decay of vegetation in winter, and the re-awakening of nature in
spring.” (14th edition, vol. 2, pp. 97-98)
The Encyclopedia
Britannica has this to say about Tammuz, “...Sumerian, Babylonian
and Assyrian god, who died and rose annually with dying and reviving vegetation,
originally Dumu-zi,
‘the son who rises, goes forth (from the nether world),’ but generally
interpreted ‘faithful son.’ Philologically both interpretations are correct,
and no Accadian commentary exists to explain which meaning was accepted by them.
The interpretation as ‘the son who rises,’ ‘the resurrected child,’
accepted in this article, is new and differs from all views held in the standard
works on this cult. It is clear, however, that the main principle of this cult
is the resurrection of the dying god and the verb zi stands for the root zig to rise up, not zid, to be faithful (See s. Langdon, Sumerian Liturgies and Psalms,
p. 287, 17, ušubba-za uziga-za,
‘In thy fall and in thy resurrection.’)
“There are many titles of the youthful god, loved by his sister, the
earth and heaven goddes, Innini (Ishtar), who descends yearly into Aralŭ
(under-world) at the time of his death to bring him back to earth in her
bosom….The liturgical wailings for Tammuz during the period of his sojourn in
Aralŭ are numerous and describe every aspect of the theological doctrines
concerning him. They are invariably composed in Sumerian, rarely with Accadian
interlinear translation….He is described as the shepherd who left his flocks,
as the shepherds sat in the fields wailing for Tammuz….There is a strange
inconsistency in the hymns of these wailings concerning the relation of the
mother goddess to her lover, Tammuz. In the early Sumerian texts she is his
sister, but soon the Semitic view that she is his mother prevails. The two
theories appear inconsistently together throughout the entire history of the
cult. He is, however, invariably the husband and lover of the otherwise
consistently described virgin goddess of love, Innini, Gestianna, Bêlit-sêri (queen of the field of the
lower world), and the cult is particularly associated with the great city Erech,
home of the cult of Anu, the heaven god, and Innini….No great temple was built
to him, and a few casual references to a temple of Tammuz at Umma, Ur, Lagash,
Agade, clearly refer to shrines in the temple of the local deity reserved for
the wailings and mystic ceremonies of the cult. Worship of Tammuz spread far
beyond the lands to which the Sumerian religion was principally confined.
Ezekiel speaks of it as firmly installed at Jerusalem in his time; it is
mentioned in the Christian era in Mandean and Syriac literature, and survived
among the Sabeans at Harran as late as the middle ages. At Byblus, in Syria, he
was identified with the West Semitic Adonis….He was held to be a god of
healing, bestower of health, and one who, like all other deities, had power over
the demons.
“It is obvious that a cult which is based upon the death and
resurrection of a propitiating god, and upon the love of a divine mother who
wails for her son, has direct connection with the facts and the theological
views based upon them, which gave birth to Christianity. But the form of the
cult which apparently most directly affected the origins of Christianity is that
in which Marduk of Babylon was identified with Tammuz. At the Nisan or new year
festival at Babylon, Bêl
(Marduk) was said to have been imprisoned in the lower world, and a priestess
weeps at his sepulchre. A malefactor was slain with Bêl and they descend together to the land of
darkness. Beltis, his wife, descends to hell to seek him, and Bêl’s garments
are given Ishtar (mother of Tammuz). Bêl
was laid in a sepulchre, from which he soon comes forth.” (14th edition, vol.
21, pp. 776-777)
Notice the wailings which took place for a period of 40 days (revealed
elsewhere). This has been passed down to Christianity as the 40 days of Lent.
This was the wailing that was going on at Jerusalem when Ezekiel was taken there
in the vision.
Ishtar (pronounced like Easter) and Tammuz were closely linked! She was
his sister, wife, mother, etc. The modern day Christian Easter observance with
its Easter eggs, bunny rabbits, etc. has been taken directly from paganism!
This is nothing more than Easter (Ishtar) sunrise services! These pagan
rites are the rites of earth and vegetation worship. Ishtar was the goddess of
spring. Spring is when the earth springs back to life after the dead of winter.
Ishtar, like Persephone, was a goddess who was in the under world for six months
and in the upper world for six months.
The dying of vegetation in the fall was a type of the death of Tammuz. He
went into the underworld for 6 months (fall and winter). Ishtar descended into
the underworld to bring him back to the upper world. On the day appointed in the
spring (usually in April), the goddess would come back bringing Tammuz with her.
This was represented by the sun rise of that particular day! There was much joy
and rejoicing exhibited in the people as they celebrated the return of spring as
well as the return of their pagan goddess Ishtar and pagan god Tammuz.
Modern day Christianity has been deceived into following the ways of the
pagans rather than the very word of Yahweh, Himself! This fact is admitted by
the Encyclopedia
Britannica’s article on Tammuz.
The question is, Is it alright to commemorate Easter sunrise services to
the true Messiah, the resurrected Yahshua? Is it possible for paganism and the
worship of the true Creator to go hand in hand? The answer is found in the book
of acts (of course it is found throughout the Scriptures).
Yahweh told Ezekiel, “Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light
thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit
here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke
Me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their (should be My) nose.
Therefore will I also deal in fury: Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I
have pity: and though they cry in Mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not
hear them,” vv. 17-18.
This has happened to the Jewish people! Actually it has happened twice
and will happen a third time according to Scripture (see our corresponding
article on Jerusalem). But it is also going to happen to the non-Jewish world!
Paul writes that Yahweh pours his wrath on the Jew first and then on the Gentile
(Ro. 2:9). Yahweh’s wrath is coming on a world that is as involved in paganism
today as ancient Israel and Judah were and even are presently!
“And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a
certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana,
brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; whom he called together with the
workmen of like occupation, and said, ‘Sirs, ye know that by this craft we
have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost
throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people,
saying that they be no elohim which are made by hands: so that not only this our
craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great
goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificense should be destroyed, whom
all Asia and the world worshippeth’,” vv. 23-27.
Who is it that delight in the continual observance of the pagan
festivals? It is the merchants, of course! The merchants of the world are
greatly enriched by the observance of all of the pagan festivals. If people
followed the truth, the observance of the pagan festivals would be overthrown
and destroyed. The merchants would have to close their doors because of lack of
sales. When great Babylon falls, the merchants of the earth are going to weep
and mourn over her because no man will buy their merchandise any more (Rev.
18:11).
The book of Revelation reveals that not only will the merchants of the
earth mourn, but so will the kings (leaders) of the earth (Rev. 18:9). It is the
leaders and merchants of this world who are continually promoting pagan Babylon.
Why? Because they are able to live deliciously through the great power and
wealth that is generated by the system.
When the New Testament Assembly was doing its great works publishing the
message of truth and Yahweh’s kingdom, the position of the leaders and
merchants of the world were threatened. So was the position of the pagan
priesthoods. Their temples and false elohim were being overthrown and destroyed.
Here is New Testament proof that the ways of paganism and the ways of Yahweh
cannot be syncretized, they cannot be blended together! The real truth will turn
one away from the paganistic observances of this world in favor of the
observance of the Scriptures.
The merchants, leaders and pagan priesthoods of this world delight in the
observance of Jan. 1st. (New Year’s Day), Valentine’s day, Easter,
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Sunday worship. These are all
non-Scriptural observances! But the observance of these days creates power and
wealth for them. Thus, they are just like Demetrius the silversmith and the
craftsmen or merchants of that day.
The interesting thing about the phrase “image which fell down from Jupiter” is that
it is translated from one Greek word diopetes
(Diopetou/j). Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
reveals that this Greek word diopetes
is translated from two other Greek words. The first word is #2203—Zeuj Zeus dzyooce; of uncertain affinity; in
the oblique cases there is used instead of it a (probably cognate) name Dij, Dis, deece, which is otherwise obsolete;
Zeus or Dis (among the Latins, Jupiter or Jove), the supreme deity of the
Greeks.
The second word is #4098 piptw pipto,
pip'-to, which is defined as: probably akin to 4072
through the idea of alighting; to fall (literally or figuratively).
The Encyclopedia
Britannica, 14th edition has this to say about Zeus, “The Greek
counterpart of the Roman god, Jupiter….To appreciate the Homeric Zeus, we must
distinguish the lower mythologic aspect of him, in which he appears as an
amorous and capricious deity lacking often in dignity and real power, and the
higher religious aspect in which he is conceived as the all-father. In fact,
later Greek religion did not advance much above the high-water mark of the
Homeric, although the poets and philosophers deepened certain of its nobler
traits. But Homer we now know to be a relatively late witness in this matter.
Yet traces of a pre-deistic and animistic period survived here and there; for
instance, in Arcadia we find the thunder itself
called Zeus (Zeuj Keraunos) in a Mantinean inscription, and the stone near Gythium in Laconia, on which Orestes sat
and was cured of his madness, evidently a thunder-stone, was named itself Zeuj kappwtaj, which must be interpreted as “Zeus that fell from
heaven” (Pausan iii. Ww. I.); we here
observe that the personal god does not yet seem to have emerged from the divine
thing or divine phenomenon….He is the
spirit of the world, the law of the universe, the universal
reason, and all other gods are only parts or manifestations of him (cf. Diog. Laert. vii. 147). Moreover, as we may
see from the ‘hymn’ of Cleanthes (frag. 48), and from St. Paul’s quotation
from it or Aratus (Acts xvii., 28—Arat., phaen. 5), he was conceived by the
Stoics as the father of the human race, who ‘alone of mortal things that live
and move upon the earth’ were created in his image.” (vol. 23, pp. 948-949)
Isn’t it interesting that Diana, Artemis, Ishtar, etc. is associated
with a god that fell from heaven!
The International Standard Bible Dictionary (fully revised) has this to
day about the Greek word diopetes: “Sacred Stone. Greek diopetēs (lit. ‘fallen from heaven’; see
Bauer, rev., p. 199) is rendered by the RSV ‘sacred stone that fell from the
sky’ (cf. AV ‘image which fell down from Jupiter’; NEB ‘symbol...which
fell from heaven’). It probably denotes a meteorite that was worshipped as an
image of Artemis. For other examples of meteorites that were worshiped as images
of gods or goddesses, see F. F. Bruce, Acts of the Apostles (2nd. ed. 1952, repr.
1970), p. 367.
Without belaboring the point any longer, who was it that had “fallen
from heaven?” Yahshua said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from
heaven,” Lk. 10:18.
Notice that this being is a cherub. Cherubim are winged angelic beings.
This being was in the garden of Eden. The only individuals spoken of as being in
the garden were Adam, Eve, Yahweh and the serpent. Yahweh is inspiring Ezekiel
to write this against the cherub so it can’t possibly be Him. Adam and Eve
were both dead by the time of Ezekiel so why write this prophecy to or about
them? There is only one other being mentioned and that is the serpent.
The serpent is shown to still be around at the end time as revealed in
the book of Revelation, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out
into the earth and his angels were cast out with him,” 12:9.
Notice that this being was perfect on the day of his creation, but
corruption set in because of his beauty. Yahweh speaks of his sanctuaries. This
word comes from the Hebrew word “vdqm / miqdash” which can be translated as
holy place (s) or even holiness (es).
It is obvious that Satan has been cast out of heaven at least once before
and maybe even more than once. It is apparent that each time he is cast down,
through his subtlety he is able to
rise up and exalt himself into heaven again. How does he do this? Through
deceiving man, angels, etc. into serving and worshipping him. How can he deceive
man so easily? Didn’t he quickly deceive Eve in the garden of Eden? Hasn’t
man been deceived through the various heathen and pagan religions of the world?
And yes, what about Diana, Artemis, Aphrodite, the Queen of Heaven, Ishtar and
Easter? What about Zeus, Jupiter, Baal, Bel, etc.? He is able to deceive man
because Man takes his eyes off of the truth and turns them to myths, fables,
lies and falsehoods. How about you? Have you fallen for his subtle deceptions?
That’s absolutely right! The apostles were commanded to observe the
Passover. Here is what Paul writes, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that
ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even the Messiah our passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth,” 1 Cor. 5:7-8.
Yahweh had originally delivered Israel out of pagan Egypt through the
sacrifice of the passover lamb. The blood of the lamb had to be on the side
posts and upper post of the door of the house or the death angel would come into
the home and destroy all of the firstborn (Ex. 12:6-13).
On the night before Yahshua's death, He
replaced the ritual of sacrificing the lamb, which has always
portrayed His death which was to come, with another ritual. This new ritual was
to be in remembrance of His death which did occur at the appointed time. He set the example for His Disciples and for
all Believers to follow in remembrance of Him being the true Passover Lamb of Yahweh. In the night that
He was betrayed, He took bread, blessed it and broke it and gave to His
disciples saying, “Take, eat; this is My body.” (Mt. 26:26). Then He took
the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink ye all of it;
for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.” (v. 27).
The Apostle Paul also writes, “For I have received of the Sovereign,
that which I also delivered unto you, that the Sovereign Yahshua the same night
in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it,
and said, ‘Take, eat, this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in
remembrance of Me.’ After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had
supped, saying, ‘This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft
as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and
drink this cup, ye do shew the Sovereign’s death till He come,” 1 Cor.
11:23-26.
Notice that carefully. We show His death till He come. Of course, we
delight in His resurrection, but we are commanded to observe the Passover in the
same manner that He observed it.
We no longer have to kill a lamb. Yahshua is the Passover Lamb of the New
Covenant. We are to continue to eat of the unleavened bread and to drink of the
cup which are symbols of His broken body and His blood that was poured out.
We must come out of this present evil world through our Passover Lamb,
Yahshua, just as Israel was delivered from the evil world of their day through
the sacrifice of their passover lamb.
The Hebrew word for memorial is “zikrown” (!ArK'zI). Zikrown is defined as; from 2142; a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing) in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
The root word #2142 is “zakar” and is defined as; a primitive root;
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized),
i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; also (as denominative from 2145) to be male (Ibid).
A memorial is the same thing as a remembrance. According to Luke (Lk.
22:19) and Paul (1 Cor. 11:24-25), when Yahshua administered the Passover to His
disciples He said to do it in “remembrance” of Him. Yahshua would have been
speaking Hebrew and would have utilized the very same Hebrew word as employed in
Exodus 12.
The original Passover Lamb was a type, a foreshadow of the true Passover
that was to come into the world. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Charity never
faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be
tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For
we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that
which is in part shall be done away,” 1 Cor. 13:8-10.
The word “perfect” is taken from the Greek word “telios” which is
#5046
in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
Its definition is given as; from 5056; complete
(in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.);
neuter (as noun, with 3588)
completeness.
The
root word (#5056)
is “telos” and is defined thusly; from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination (literally, figuratively or
indefinitely), result
(immediate, ultimate or prophetic), purpose);
specially, an impost or levy (as paid).
These definitions are extremely important to understand for elsewhere
Paul writes, “For the Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth,” Ro. 10:4.
The word “end” is translated from the very same word that
“perfect” is translated from in 1 Cor. 13:10. Yahshua didn’t come to
destroy the law or the prophets, rather He came to fulfill it (Mt. 5:17-18).
Looking at the definitions, the root word “telos” has to do with an
impost or levy (as paid). What was the impost or levy? Wasn’t it death? (Ro.
5:12-14 & 6:23, first part).
Israel had been enslaved to the Egyptians. The Passover that they
observed set them free from that slavery. But they and all mankind were still in
subjection and slavery to a much greater master, sin and death. Yahshua, the
true Passover Lamb was the goal, the point aimed at. He is the termination of
the law of sin and death to everyone who believes and follows Him. How much
greater is Yahshua’s Passover! The original Passover was only given in part
until the true Passover could be initiated. It delivered Israel from slavery to
Egypt, but it didn’t change their hearts. Witness the 40 years of wandering in
the wilderness. Witness their every attempt to return to Egypt and even when
they were delivered into the land of promise, they still turned to the deities
of the nations around them and had to be overthrown and destroyed later. The Apostle Paul warns, “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry,” 1 Cor. 10:14. A resounding YES!!!!! Let us flee from the idolatry of Easter and all of the idolatrous paganism that it portrays. Let us remember, let us memorialize the true Passover of Yahshua the Messiah. Let us do away with that which is in part and look to and remember that which is perfect and complete, to wit; Yahshua the Messiah, our Passover and Deliverer. HalleluYAH!!!!!
This phrase is used 44
times in scripture and is always followed by punishment from YHWH. What were
these sins that caused the Almighty to severely punish Israel and their kings,
which led them into such gross error? By Brick Parrish Here are some examples of why
YHWH became angry: Jdg 2:11 And the children
of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of YHWH, and served the Baalim. Jdg 2:12 And they forsook YHWH, the Elohim of their
fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round
about them, and worshipped them; and they provoked YHWH. Jdg 2:13 And they forsook YHWH, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. Jdg 2:14 And the anger of YHWH was kindled against
Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and He gave them over into the hands of their enemies round about , so that they could not any longer stand
before their enemies. And again… Jdg 3:7 And the children
of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of YHWH, and forgot YHWH their Elohim, and served the Baalim and the
Asheroth. And again… Jdg 10:6 And the children
of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of YHWH, and served the Baalim, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Aram, and the gods of Zidon,
and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the
Philistines; and they forsook YHWH, and served Him not. |
