Where did Easter come from?

 The origins of Easter are unclear but have been connected to legend and paganism. The day most call Easter Christians refer to as Resurrection Day – the day Jesus rose from the dead. The word Easter has been associated with two pagan goddesses, Eostre the eighth century goddess of spring and fertility, and Ishtar the Babylonian goddess of fertility, war, and sex. There is no concrete proof this is where the word Easter comes from. 

Other theories (I believe to be more reliable) say the word Easter in Latin is the phrase In Albis. In Old German, the phrase In Albis (means dawn or daybreak) was changed to eostarum. In more modern German, the word is Ostern from which we get the English Easter. The French word for Easter is Pâcques, based on the Latin and Greek Pascha, meaning “Passover.” This appears to be another case where the pagan Easter celebration is celebrated the same time as the Biblical festival of Passover. Both are in the spring. Spring is the season of change and new life. 

It has been said that the egg represents new life and that is why it is linked to the Resurrection of Christ. There are also reports that eggs were dyed red to represent the blood of Christ. The idea is mere speculation and conjecture. 

The Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs 

The idea of the Easter Bunny and eggs are stuff of legend and have nothing to with Christianity. These ideas are from European folklore. It goes like this: little nests with eggs, pastry and candy were hidden. The children would find these “Easter baskets” left by the “Easter Bunny” who laid the eggs and left the candy. This is most likely where the Easter Egg Hunt comes from and Easter Baskets full of candy and other treats originate. The Easter Bunny tale was extremely popular in Europe. For the record, rabbits do not lay eggs. Neither the egg nor rabbits are Christian symbols.  

The word Easter is rooted in paganism in Egypt, Babylon, China, and Europe. The tradition of Easter made its way to America supposedly after the Civil War (1861-1865) and has been celebrated ever since. When a tradition is practiced so long, few will ever question its origins. Why? Because it is what we have done all our lives. Most will never take the time to investigate whether the practice is good or evil. Most do not care. They see no harm in what they are doing. But what if the practice is unbiblical? As Christians, we must stop it immediately. We should also teach our children the truth about popular traditions and where they come from and what they mean.  

I Thessalonians 5:21 says, “Test or prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good.”  

 

Is there anything wrong with Easter egg hunts and Easter Baskets as a game for children? No. If you inform your kids the origins of the tradition. Many would complain that to tell their children the truth about Easter would destroy their innocence and take the fun out of the tradition. Is it okay to withhold the truth from your children when it is available? No. One thing that Christians must do is educate themselves and their children on the origins of Passover which is a real Biblical tradition and one that Christ Himself attended and practiced. Jesus never celebrated Easter. Passover on the other hand has been celebrated for 3500 years, since the time of Moses and the Hebrews deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12). 

We also must focus on the Resurrection of Jesus and not Easter. Easter never appears in the Bible. The Resurrection is what our faith is based on. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then Christianity is a waste of time and we are still dead in our trespasses and sins (1 Corinthians 15:17-18). 

But the apostle Paul made it clear that Jesus did rise from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Concluding, Easter is pagan not Christian. That is why we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.  Our eternal life hinges upon our Lord raising from the dead. 

 

 

Will everyone that has ever lived be Resurrected?

In Daniel 12:1-2 we read this, “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

So, what does all of this mean? Daniel receives visions and records what is going to happen to his people in the future, the nation Israel. Michael is the archangel who watches over the nation. In the latter days, Israel will experience the worst time in its history. As a matter of fact, it will be the worst time in human history because the Lord will unleash His wrath upon mankind for their rebellion. Sin has a payday - death (Romans 6:23).  In verse two Daniel says that many of those who are in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Jesus mentions this same reality in John 5:28-29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth - those that do good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

What Jesus and Daniel have declared is that there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust; a raising of the righteous and the wicked. What are they being raised for? For reward and judgment respectively.

During the end times, when the seven year tribulation period has ended, there will be two resurrections; one at the Millennium, and one after the Millennium. The Millennium occurs after the second coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21).  Revelation chapter 20 talks about a thousand years of global peace where the devil will be chained and thrown into the abyss or bottomless pit (Revelation 20:3).  Also in the same chapter, it talks about those who remained faithful to death in that they did not accept the mark of the beast and were beheaded.  These were resurrected and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection (vs 4b). 

Let’s review: During the end times, there is great tribulation on the earth. As I mentioned earlier it will be the worst time the world will ever know. The devil, the antichrist (also known as the Beast, the man of sin and the lawless one) and lastly the false prophet will form an alliance, an unholy trinity. The world will worship them. The beast will have a mark that he will force all those on the earth to receive either on the right hand or on their foreheads. Those who do not will be put to death by beheading. These are the faithful that we call tribulation saints. Many Christians believe the church has been raptured to heaven during this time (pre-tribulationists). 

What I wrote in the last paragraph can be found in Revelation 13.

Now after the thousand years are completed, the devil is released from his imprisonment. In one last-ditch effort, he deceives and gathers all the enemies of God (called Gog and Magog) to converge and destroy Israel. Scripture says fire will come down from heaven and destroy them. The devil will be cast into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet are. This act will end the reign of global terror by the devil forever (Revelation 20: 7-10).

The Great White Throne Judgment

All those who were not resurrected during the Millennium will be raised during this time. All the wicked dead from all time will be raised from the dead to face judgment for everything they have ever done while they were on the earth. This group includes all the OT enemies of God like Pharoah of Egypt during the time of Moses, and Adolph Hitler of Nazi Germany and even those who live and die during the Tribulation and Millennium period. The Bible tells us the books will be opened. These books are records of the deeds of those who have rebelled against the Lord their whole life long. In other words, they will be facing Jesus Christ as their judge, not their Savior for their wretched life. They will know why they are guilty. Understand, prior to these countless lives facing eternal judgment, they were in hell when they died physically. Their ultimate destination is the lake of fire that death and hell will be thrown into (Revelation 20:14).  Just as the redeemed will live eternally with the Lord, the holy angels, and all the saints, the unredeemed will live eternally without the Lord, with the devil, his angels, the beast and the false prophet. The saints are given new resurrection immortal bodies fit for heaven and eternity whereas non-believers are given bodies fit for eternal hell. No one ever goes out of existence. Believers receive everlasting rest. Non-believers receive everlasting torment because their names are not found in the book of life (Revelation 20:11-15).

The Bible refers to this as the second death. You can also call it eternal death.

So, all who die will be resurrected; either to be rewarded or be punished. Keep in mind that many will never die but will be changed and given immortal bodies when Christ comes for His church but that is for perhaps another article (1 Thess 4:13-18; 1 Cor 15:51-58).