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So I have one more example of paganism in modernity that I want to address before we get to the most important part – the point.
In my last article on the matter, I likely offended many people by launching an all-out assault on one of modern culture’s most beloved traditions and I feel the need to let you know that these were not conclusions I came to easily or lightly myself. In fact, as with many of the theological views I now hold, I fought this when it was first presented to me – so if you’re miffed or angry, I get it. So much so that I have refrained from sharing this information with others for a long, long time.
This week, I intend to finish the job and potentially upset some folks once more – but seriously, they didn’t even change the name of this one… have you ever wondered to yourself, exactly what does an egg-laying rabbit have to do with the Resurrection of Jesus?
Honestly, that’s a very important question every believer needs to ask at some point – in so doing you’ll discover that Jesus didn’t rise on “Easter”, He rose on First Fruits. The astute will note that this particular appointed time occurs during the Passover week (which is actually the Festival of Unleavened Bread).
So how exactly does all this other garbage wind up in our celebration of the Ressurection?
Did you guess Paganism?
Good answer.
I’m going to tell you a little story, but before I do, I have to let you know that there is a debate to be had (isn’t there always) with what I’m about to share. In the end, it really comes down to how you view the “gods” of antiquity and whether or not you recognize that they all represent the same beings; Zeus, Jupiter, Ra, Odin… same guy really. The same goes for just about every other ‘god’ or ‘goddess’ from ages past as well – different interpretations of the same beings.
Now, let’s get down to brass tacks and discuss the controversial origins of it all – why it matters and how it correlates to everything we’ve discussed in this series thus far…
Nimrod
Cush was the father of Nimrod; he began to be a valiant warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. (That is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.”) The primary regions of his kingdom were Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar. From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and Resen, which is between Nineveh and the great city Calah.
Genesis 10:8 – 12
I’m not going to go through an exhaustive citation of every relevant passage, but know that you can and should have a thorough look into Genesis 10 and 11. You’ll see that some of the suppositions put forth here are directly or indirectly corroborated in scripture.
First, let’s have a look into what it means to become a “mighty hunter before the Lord”. You do realize that this is a turn of phrase used for no other individual throughout the whole of scripture, right? The question is, what the heck does that mean and was that good thing or a bad thing?
Now, it’s admittedly pure conjecture here, but I am a proponent of the idea that “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” and honestly, the fact that Nimrod hails from Ham doesn’t bode well at all. We do know that Nimrod was a “king” as we’re given the region of his territory, which was considerable in size. We also know that among these territories, he’s attributed the region of Babel, which is very significant considering the events which play out there.
The whole earth had a common language and a common vocabulary. When the people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. Then they said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” (They had brick instead of stone and tar instead of mortar.) Then they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens so that we may make a name for ourselves. Otherwise we will be scattered across the face of the entire earth.”
Genesis 11:1 – 4
Now, we all know the story ~ how God confused the languages and so forth, but did you realize that throughout this debacle, Nimrod was the guy running the show? In fact, there’s an entire line of study that centers around Nimrod, his role in antiquity and a possible role to be played in the future as well. Douglas Hamp has devoted a significant amount of research and study into this subject and I am providing you with but one of his articles to wet your proverbial appetite.
We could, in fact spend quite a bit of time on this singular figure, but that isn’t my point here. Allow me to give you the “Cliff’s Notes” version of the story as it has been told:
- Ham had a son named Cush who married a woman named Semiramis. Cush and Semiramis then had a son named him “Nimrod.” After the death of his father, Nimrod married his own mother and became a powerful King.
- Nimrod was eventually killed by an enemy, and his body was cut in pieces and sent to various parts of his kingdom. Semiramis had all of the parts gathered, except that one part that could not be found; that missing part was his reproductive organ and Semiramis claimed that Nimrod could not come back to life without it and told the people of Babylon that Nimrod had ascended to the sun and was now to be called “Baal”, the sun god.
- Semiramis also proclaimed that Baal would be present on earth in the form of a flame, whether candle or lamp, when used in worship. She claimed that she was immaculately conceived and taught that the moon was a goddess that went through a 28 day cycle and ovulated when full.
- She further claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant moon egg that fell into the Euphrates River. This was to have happened at the time of the first full moon after the spring equinox. She became known as “Ishtar” which is pronounced “Easter”, and her moon egg became known as “Ishtar’s” egg.”
- She became pregnant and claimed that it was the rays of the sun-god Baal that caused her to conceive. The son that she brought forth was named Tammuz. Tammuz was noted to be especially fond of rabbits, and they became sacred in the ancient religion, because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-god, Baal. Tammuz, like his supposed father, became a hunter.
- The day came when Tammuz was killed by a wild pig. Ishtar told the people that Tammuz was now ascended to his father, Baal, and that the two of them would be with the worshipers in the sacred candle or lamp flame as Father, Son and Spirit.
We could go on, but honestly, should I need to? We have more than enough here to make some startling discoveries; like where that stupid egg-laying rabbit comes from, why we eat pork on Easter and on and on. Moreover, you can see clearly the origins of Osiris and Isis, and in fact, the bedrock of many myths throughout history. They all point back here.
Now, regardless of where you land on the issue, there is one name presented in the above that should have sent huge alarm-bells off for you – especially if you are familiar with the text of Ezekiel.
Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s house. I noticed women sitting there weeping for Tammuz. He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see even greater abominations than these!”
Ezekiel 8:14 – 15
I personally find it to be no small matter when God pronounces something to be an abomination – and neither should you. Moreover, these abominations have been interwoven into our societies so tightly that, at this point, we identify many of these traditions as a significant part of our culture. The result is that the amount of influence they continue to maintain is far beyond what we might immediately recognize.
Just as we see the hallmarks of paganism running through the celebrations of Summer and Winter Solstice, so does the person of Tammuz figure prominently into the equation still. If the “weeping for Tammuz” passage above didn’t conjure up images of Lent, then allow me to introduce you to the origin of the tradition. Further still, the character of Cupid is also a derivative view of Tammuz.
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So how and why does any of this matter?
You should know that there are those out there who hold the view that this very same Nimrod, the one spoken of in Genesis, is in-fact, the Beast spoken of in the Revelation. Some hold this to be a literal thing, and others as a type and shadow. Personally, I’m not so certain, though I know this; Nimrod was the original Babylonian king – it seems only fitting that either physically, or in spirit, that he be ruling at the end in order to watch his own wicked creation fall.
Folks, I have seen “the matrix” as it really is and I have to tell you, none of the systems we’ve built are “good”. Not one. Each and every attempt we’ve made has really only established a new pyramid system and employed a re-branded form of slavery – just more palatable to the slaves. If you doubt me, just stop paying property-tax on items you’ve already payed for and “own” and see how that goes…
My point is this; the Babylonian system isn’t “going to return”, it’s already here. The spirit of Nimrod, anti-Christ and lawlessness aren’t coming – they’re HERE and have been in operation for quite some time. Likewise, the “old gods” aren’t due to return at some nebulous point in the future (although they will physically manifest at some point); they are here right now and have been helping to prop up the broken, pagan system we now find ourselves being oppressed by.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
Ephesians 6:12
Until next time,
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You