The egg and the goddess Easter

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t020.html

Where did “Easter” get its name?
Where did the concept of an Easteregg and bunny originate?

The name “Easter” has its roots in ancient polytheistic religions

(paganism). On this, all scholars agree. This name is never used in

the original Scriptures, nor is it ever associated biblically with the

death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For these reasons, we prefer

to use the term “Resurrection Sunday” rather than “Easter” when

referring to the annual Christian remembrance of Christ's

resurrection.

Ancient origin

Most reference books say that the name “Easter” derived from the

Eastre, the Teutonic goddess of Spring. Although this relationship

exists, in reality, the origin of the name and the goddess are far

more ancient - going all the way back to the Tower of Babel. The

origin begins not long after the biblical Flood.

Paul S. Taylor. The Flood was a divine judgment sent on mankind after

evil had become all pervasive and all people everywhere were totally

unresponsive to God. The Bible says that "the wickedness of man was

great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart

was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5, NKJV). It is not difficult to

imagine that life must have been almost unbearable at this time in

history. God gave humankind a second chance by preserving the

righteous man Noah and his family (a total of 8 people).

After the Flood, Noah had a talented, but evil, great-grandson named

Nimrod (Genesis 10:6-10) who rebelled greatly against God. The Bible

says that he was “a mighty one”[1] Jewish tradition indicates that

Nimrod was a tyrant "who made all of the people rebellious against

God."[2] It is evident from history that Nimrod was not only a

political leader, but also the lead priest of a form of occultic

worship.[3]

King Nimrod, Queen Semiramis (Easter), and Tammuz (the “reincarnated” Nimrod)

Nimrod built and organized major cities. The Bible notes that these

included Babel, Asshur, Nineveh and Calah (Genesis 10:10-12). If you

know anything about ancient history, the mention of these places may

send shivers up your spine. For these were cities of great, almost

unimaginable practices and perversion.

When Nimrod eventually died, the Babylonian mystery religion in which

he figured prominently continued on. His wife Queen Semiramis saw to

that. Once he was dead, she deified him as the Sun-god. In various

cultures he later became known as Baal, the Great Life Giver, the god

of fire, Baalim, Bel, Molech, etc.

“Later, when this adulterous and idolatrous woman gave birth to an

illegitimate son, she claimed that this son, Tammuz by name, was

Nimrod reborn.”[4] Semiramis “claimed that her son was supernaturally

conceived [no human father] and that he was the promised seed, the

'savior'” - promised by God in Genesis 3:15. “However, not only was

the child worshipped, but the woman, the MOTHER, was also worshipped

as much (or more) than the son!”[5] Nimrod deified as the god of the

sun and father of creation. Semiramis became the goddess of the moon,

fertility, etc.

"In the old fables of the Mystery cults, their 'savior' Tammuz, was

worshipped with various rites at the Spring season. According to the

legends, after he was slain [killed by a wild boar], he went into the

underworld. But through the weeping of his mother… he mystically

revived in the springing forth of the vegetation - in Spring! Each

year a spring festival dramatically represented this supposed

'resurrection' from the underworld.[6]

Thus, a terrible false religion developed with its sun and moon

worship, priests, astrology, demonic worship, worship of stars

associated with their gods, idolatry, mysterious rites, human

sacrifice, and more. Frankly, the practices which went on were so

horrible that it is not fitting for me to speak of them here.

Taylor. It was at Nimrod's city of Babel that a towering structure was

first built in defiance of God as part of their Satanic religion.

Archaeological evidence indicates that this was a spectacular

pyramid-shaped structure (ziggurat). The Bible tells us that at this

time there was only one language in the world and that most of the

world's population centered in this area and participated in this

religion. It was evident to God that all mankind would soon degenerate

into a level of evil that would parallel that of the pre-Flood world.

For humanity's sake, something had to be done to slow and frustrate

this organization of an evil one world, tyrannical government.

God confused their language, so that they could not understand each

other (Genesis 11:7). (This is the ultimate source of the world's many

languages.) As a result, many people moved away from the area in

groups according to their particular new language. Most, if not all,

of these people carried their evil Sun-God-based religion with them.

They continued to worship the stars and practice all the other ungodly

rituals of their religion. Some also continued to build pyramids

reminiscent of the Tower of Babel as part of this mystery religion.

Today, we can still find remnants of these throughout the world (e.g.,

Iraq, South America, Central America, Egypt, Burma).

Babel was the origin of an idolatrous system that swept the world. The

Bible says of her, “Babylon… the nations drank her wine; Therefore the

nations are deranged” (Jeremiah 51:7). The Bible often speaks of the

Satanic religions which came from her. The ancient Greek historian

Herodotus "witnessed the Mystery religion and its rites in numerous

countries and mentions how Babylon was the primeval source from which

ALL systems of idolatry flowed.[7] Austen Layard said “that we have

the united testimony of sacred and profane history that idolatry

originated in the area of Babylonia - the most ancient of religious

systems.”[8]

Basically, almost every vile, profane and idolatrous practice you can

think of originated at Babel with Queen Semiramis, the Mother Goddess

and Nimrod. As the people scattered from Babel with their different

languages, they, of course, used different names for Nimrod (Tammuz)

and Semiramis. Some called the Mother Goddess “ISHTAR” (originally

pronounced “Easter”).[9] In other lands, she was called Eostre,

Astarte, Ostera, and Eastre. Other names for Semiramis, the Mother

Goddess include: Wife of Baal, Ashtaroth or Ashtoreth, and Queen of

Heaven.[10] The Mother goddess was frequently worshipped as the

goddess of fertility - and as a sort of Mother Nature and goddess of

Spring and sexual love and birth. She was also worshipped as a

mediator between god and man. Sexual orgies and temple prostitutes

were often used in her worship and in attempting to gain her favor.

The Easter Rabbit or Hare

Easter Bunny and EggsThe rabbit is well known as a sexual symbol of

fertility. In various parts of the world, religions which developed

from Babel also associate the rabbit with periodicity, both human and

lunar (Egypt, China, etc.). As you may remember, the Mother Goddess

Semiramis (Easter) is associated with the Moon. In other words, the

Easter bunny symbolizes the Mother Goddess. Annual Spring time

fertility rituals are associated worship of the Mother Goddess and

Tammuz, the reincarnation of her husband Nimrod.

The Easter Egg

Most children and families who color or hide Easter eggs as part of

their Resurrection Sunday tradition have no knowledge of the origin of

these traditions. Easter egg activities have become a part of Western

culture. Many would be surprised and even dismayed to learn where the

traditions originated.

“The egg was a sacred symbol among the Babylonians. They believed an

old fable about an egg of wondrous size which was supposed to have

fallen from heaven into the Euphrates River. From this marvelous egg -

according to the ancient story - the Goddess Astarte (Easter)

[Semiramis], was hatched. And so the egg came to symbolize the Goddess

Easter.”[11]

The idea of a mystic egg spread from Babylon to many parts of the

world.[12] In Rome, the mystic egg preceded processions in honor of

the Mother Goddess Roman. The egg was part of the sacred ceremonies of

the Mysteries of Bacchus. The Druids used the egg as their sacred

emblem. In Northern Europe, China and Japan the eggs were colored for

their sacred festivals.[13]

The egg was also a symbol of fertility; Semiramis (Easter) was the

goddess of Fertility. The Easter egg is a symbol of the pagan Mother

Goddess, and it even bears one of her names.

Summary and Conclusion

“Easter” is simply one of the names of a woman who mightily deceived

the world and whose religion has caused untold suffering and

misery.[14] She was clearly an enemy of Christianity, and her son

Tammuz was an anti-Christ, a false messiah that ultimately deceived

millions.

If you are Christian, it is not difficult to discern the bizarre

deception and confusion that Satan has successfully orchestrated. For

example, notice the embarrassing irony in these traditions which are

practiced innocently by most people. They are repeated year after

year, because they have become traditional and their origin is unknown

to many.

* On the day commemorating Christ's resurrection, Americans roll

decorated eggs on the White House lawn and pretend the Easter rabbit

hid them. The same ritual is practiced at some Christian churches.

* “In Lancashire [England] on Easter eve boys and men have been in

the habit of touring the towns and villages as 'Pace-eggers' begging

for eggs before performing the 'Pace-Egging' or Pasch (i.e., Easter)

play.”[15]

* In Greece each person in a group bangs his red EASTER EGG [not

knowing that it is symbol of the Goddess] against the eggs of all the

others present in turn, saying 'Christ is risen,' and receives the

reply 'He is risen indeed.'"[16]

The seductive symbols of ancient ungodly religions inspired by Satan

have been incorporated into people's everyday lives, even to this day

- continuing to obscure the truth of God .

One might wonder if there is a better way for Christians to celebrate

Jesus Christ's resurrection, the most important of all Christian holy

days. In retrospect, it seems obvious that it would have been a better

witness to the world if Christians had not attempted to “Christianize”

pagan celebrations - adopting the name “Easter” (Ishtar/Semiramis) in

remembrance of Christ. Jesus has been obscured by painted eggs and

bunnies. Attention has been shifted away from spiritual truth and

toward materialism (clothing, products and candies with the wrong

symbolism). Stores merchandise the name of Easter (not “Resurrection

Sunday”) and sell goods that have nothing to do with Christ's death

and resurrection. Christians naively use symbols and practices that

unknowingly perpetuate ancient anti-Christ traditions - symbolic

customs followed by the same religious cults that inspired the

destruction of great numbers of Christians and Jews. Is the Devil

laughing at us?

Many church bodies recognize the problem and make every effort to keep

the focus of Resurrection Sunday totally on Jesus Christ and the Good

News that He brought.

Further information…

* Is Easter mentioned in the Bible?

* How is the date for Easter (Resurrection Sunday) determined?

* FAQs about The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

* Passover

* On-line word search activity / Printable version

* What is the significance of Easter for Mormons?