RUSSELL SANDERS
4-3-2021
DANIEL THE PROPHET – LESSON 11
SATAN’S DECEPTION PART 2
Ephesians 6:12 describes the ongoing warfare waged by Satan and his demon rulers in the heavenlies as was seen in Daniel 10:13.
Yesterday we spoke of deception as his key strategy against God’s people. We looked at the deception of the Spring “Christian Holiday Celebration” (Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter) perpetrated against the church at Rome in the 4th century. We spoke in particular about the myth of “good Friday” which completely ignores scripture and gives a false narrative of the death and resurrection timeline.
When the Protestant Reformation came in the 16th century, nearly all Protestant Churches simply kept the same traditions of the deceived Roman Church without questioning and without aligning with scripture. The present-day churches remain under Satan’s deception about it still today as we look at “Easter,” which this ministry correctly calls “Resurrection Day.”
Here is how Satan deceived the Christian church about Resurrection Day. The resurrection of Jesus gave him new life in a glorified (heavenly) body. It also brought new life through Him to those who believed upon him, new life instantly in spirit and new life eternally in the hereafter.
What logic would they follow in celebration that could symbolize “new life”? Natural birth in the physical brings “new life” into this present world, the imminent domain of Satan, the “Prince of this world.” New physical life comes about as a result of sexual activity, so how does one name such a holiday? That is how the name “Easter” was chosen.
They chose to name the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection after Ishtar (ēēsh-tar). She was the ancient Sumerian goddess of sex and fertility. She also was the protectoress of prostitutes and the patroness of alehouses (alcohol). “Easter” is the direct translation of “Ishtar.”
Later she was considered part of the triad (trinity) of our planetary system. Ishtar was the goddess of the planet Venus. The other two gods of this trinity were the moon god Sin, and the sun god, Shamash.
Satan’s deception on the Christian church did not end with the name. Over a period of centuries additional non-Christian practices and stories were added. One such symbol is the “Easter Bunny” (Ishtar bunny) as rabbits are known to be very prolific and sex driven. The “bunny” brings “new life.”
Another tradition is that of making and hunting “Easter eggs” since the “egg” is the beginning of life. None of this calls attention to or reverence for the resurrection of Christ.
Satan has truly “stolen” Resurrection Day to make it into some other kind of celebration or commemoration.
I am not saying that you cannot hunt eggs or tell of an Easter Bunny. That is between you and God with Holy Spirit as your guide. But, if you do, please make sure that you make a point to tie it into Jesus’ resurrection and the “new life” it brings. That will be the focus of tomorrow’s Resurrection Day” message.