Part One:  The Mixture Without
(The link between Christmas, Jubilee 2,000, Sun Worship and how it affects us all)

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years

The sun-god connection:

From chapters 1 & 2 in the book of Genesis we read how God created the earth before He created the sun and the stars, with the sole purpose of being a pleasant habitat for man.  There is no doubt God's plan for pre-fallen man was for him to be central in everything ...  at the centre-stage of God's universe, at the centre of God's plan and will, and as a unique and special creation.  In fact all creation was made for man under His Maker.  Which means ... you, I, and every person ever born, is special, precious and unique in the sight of God, beloved, and the apple of His eye. This is why scripture says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Satan, our adversary, was jealous for this position he was originally created for.  In his trickery and deceit he devised a substitutionary plan convincing man that he is not a special creation at the centre of his Makers heart, but just an insignificant event evolved out of physical material, without hope, apart from the lie he can improve himself by his own intelligence.  And because he could become "a god" within his own "right", man would have no need for his Divine Creator, let alone a redeemer.  This way man could be fooled to believe his home, the earth, is not at the centre of creation at all, but a very minuet speck of dust hidden by its sun's radiance, on the edge of a little insignificant galaxy called the Milky Way, lost in a vast, unfathomable, infinite, cosmos of happenstance.  "The 3rd rock" from the sun in other words.  On a level with other evolved intelligence out there, on more advanced or important "solar systems" than ours.

Even though the Sun was created for the earth, with man at the centre under His Maker, the Devil (the fallen light bearer - Lucifer) has planted in the heart of man the sun as the centre of mans world, as a deity above all, and used this tangible object to hide behind as the so-called "true" god of light and life.

This lie commenced after the flood at Babel, as Baal/Sun worship, and spread into the nations.  The Sun was the entity, and Baal was the human identity; as Horus, Tammuz, Eros, Zeus, Maitreya, and so on; depending on the nation and language it would be transposed to.  The idea was to get man's attention and memory away from the great catastrophic event called the Global Flood, and henceforth forgetting creation.  Which meant ...  no creation then there was no Creator to be accountable to!  Leaving a great spiritual vacuum to exploit by introducing his sun-god ideal, expressed through the multi-conglomerate of peoples and cultures in the form of other gods and goddesses.  Even to the time of the end: (when) many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.  When there would be a rebirth of globalization, uniting collectively once again, with its mystic god and goddesses as one Babel religion, paying universal homage to the sun-god Lucifer.

The goal of the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago U.S.A., August 1993, confirms this with its goal to synchronize the various religious philosophies around the globe.  The Vatican along with World Council of Churches has much the same agenda playing into the hands of the Plan (the Global Conspiracy) along with the U.N., the Illuminati/Cabbablists International Network, the New Age Movement, the World Financiers linked to the multi-national corporations and so forth, for a combined one world political, economical and religious force, free of biblical Christianity beyond A.D. 2,000.

True Christians who resist this global plan of a New World Order will be charged with "hate crimes" and harshly persecuted.  The catch phrase for the "non-compliants" will be Zero Tolerance!

The greatest 'pump-up' of all time:

On visiting the City of Rome while on a privileged tour of Europe with my family in 1994, the knowledge of this capital in conjunction with Vatican City spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a PR campaign for the Year 2000 celebrations was confirmed.  Much was starting to happen in Rome at this time, with the presence of American servicemen (although low keyed - things were hotting up next door in the Balkans), helicopters hovering around, and swarms of armed Carabinieri posted at various places.  The TV channels (one after another) were playing right through the day and evening American W.W.II movies, usually liberating Italy from the German occupiers.  This was the United States backed coalition, in one accord, ridding the world of an evil force.  The ground work for the propaganda mechanisms set up today, to launch attacks against any nation not falling into line with Big Brother.

It was D Day celebration time.  The lead up to the 50th anniversary of V E Day (Victory in Europe) when all Western Europe would be united busy celebrating the Allies victory in '45, along with their new twelve starred circled flag.  The TV news giving an up-to-date running commentary on Bill Clinton's visit to the Eternal City, visiting the places, just before or after the places we had visited the same particular day.  The climax of his visit no doubt ...  a private audience with Pope John Paul ll at the Vatican.  It was then I was convinced the hunch I had within was really going to happen ...   a major social change install for the world as we have known it, coinciding with the year 2000.

This event was going to happen on such grandeur scale, bearing a greater global impact on society than World War ll.  As a part of Jubilee 2000 it would officially commence on the 24th of December, with the Pope giving "Jesus" a special global 2000th Birthday Party, including a live speech to the world during the last Christmas before the Third Millennium.  Followed by a possible visit to the Holy Land with other world dignitaries, boosting a world-wide celebration spilling over into the New Year Millennium, lasting all year.  With both Rome and Jerusalem (both named the Eternal City) chosen by the Vatican to share centre-stage in the world during Jubilee 2000.

Would this be preparation for the "Chair of Saint Peter" to be relocated back to it's "Hebraic roots" ...   the City of King David?

'Uttermost part of the earth' on the map:

It is inherent in us Kiwis' (New Zealanders) to really prove ourselves and be first in everything (if we can).  Is it an inferiority complex or national pride that drives us?  We beat the Wright Brothers in the air with the motor plane (unofficially); are ingenious with our 'kiwi-ingenuity' in new ideas through our do-it-yourself up bringing.  If there is hot spot somewhere in the world, we'll be there, with full allegiance to the UN, or whoever our allies are at the time.  We may only be the size of a large city population wise, but we are up with the world in sport competing with our big brother, the 'Aussies', across the 'Tassie', who are now champs in just about everything.

Also, we are up with the play when it comes to taking on new things ...  like going cashless, accepting new "morals", bettering others in how liberal and open minded we can be.  Even if it means at the expense of virtue and respect for others.  But very indifferent when our governments and bureaucrats impose strange new controlling policies on its people, without any basic logic, and with only token opposition.

With our small population, social and economical flexibility, and our "she'll be right" attitude, sounds like we are the ideal 'test case' for how far one can change a nation from the inside (even if it's to it's detriment), and skip to the International Communities tune.  A candidate guinea pig for draconian measures.

Millennium mania:

Since this year began we have been verbally and visually plastered with a continuous barrage of psyched up advertisement and marketing strategies for Year 2000.   Whether it has been used as a sales pitch for marketing commercialism (a great money spinner) or an excuse for both social and civil change, one thing I am sure ...  it has been well planned and engineered for years, even decades, as well as being used as a great conditioning ploy.

Then on the opposite side of the spectrum we have all the hype of the Y2K bug bringing down the whole system, creating uncertainty and even panic, causing people to be ready for whatever solutions may be available.

What a strategy!!  Over excitement coupled with over uncertainty.  Sounds like another ripe situation for the old proverbial 'divide and conquer' syndrome to me.  The excitement of the occasion to be diversionary, and the uncertainty of the situation to bring desperation?  A very volatile scenario to exploit, would you say?

Sun Worship?:

One of the chief 'psyche ups' for assignment Year 2000 is giving homage to the Sun under the guise of "being first to see it" therefore the privilege of being first to celebrate it.

New Zealand is the closest nation east to the international dateline, the first to see the sun rise any given day.  Over the last couple of years we have witnessed no end of publicity and hype for this grand occasion ...  to be first in the world to see the sun as we enter the New Millennium.  (Actually, the year 2000 will be the end of this millennium, if you really think about it, as the New Millennium in reality commences on the 1st of January 2001.  Why the hurry?)

The friendly wind swept Chatham Islands belonging to, and to the east of our nation, will be the first place (although still debated) to witness the rising sun.  However, Gisborne appears to be "the place to be", as it claims to be the first city in the world to witness this event.

With international celebrities being invited to host this event, major sporting events postponed to coincide with this event, and airfares to New Zealand tripling in value over the December period at the end of this year, accommodation in Gisborne will be charging nearly ten times the nightly rate (although since first writing this, some events have been falling over).  All for the purpose of having the privilege to be first to view the sunrise on the horizon.  Right on the dawn of the New Millennium, which is not really the dawn of the New Millennium at all.

But is there a more sinister agenda?  Have we been programmed over a period of time to be caught up in something unawares?  And what sway has it had on Christendom, and on the individual Believer?

Part Two:  The Mixture Within
 (How the enemy has infiltrated Christianity both in individuals & collectively) .Deception comes before a mixture:

Col. 2:8.  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

If  the salt of the earth (that's the so-called bible believers) are not prepared to lift up a standard to the world (that's our Jesus - not "our" morality by the way), like a flood the world's standard will come and permeate us.

There is a pattern in the Bible where people who continue to refuse the truth for the sake of  self-determination or self-preservation, are given over by the Lord to an even greater depth of spiritual deception.  This digression begins when pride is not dealt with in someone's life (that's the attitude of someone knowing "what is best" for them), which in turn begets rebellion.  Then rebellion begets deception, and deception gives way to a mixture ...  corruption or perversion!:

Ob. 1:3.  The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee ...

Jesus warned the greatest enemy in the last days would be deception, with the need to be on guard against this constantly, as even the very elect could be deceived (that may mean you - never "me"!).  In other words, the onus would be on the individual Bible Believer as God would desire us to choose Him out of our own will (Is. 1:19), and not be compelled to follow Him as an automatism (whose Calvin - whose Arminius anyway?).

Joshua 24:15 ...  choose you this day whom ye will serve ...

The issue would be relationship (our personal response to the Lord in truth):

Jos. 24:14. Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood (long before Babel), and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

The safe guard from being deceived would be a love for the truth:

2 Thes.  2:9-11.  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

The scary thing, or should I say 'the secure thing' about serving God our Maker is the question of whether we are a lover of the truth or not.  That is ... our attitude and response towards His holy scriptures, the written word.  Because if we are itchy for other things, like doctrines of convenience and "well meaning" fables, the scripture is very precise about the Lord not being sqeamish about handing us over to spiritual delusion that we should give into a lie and be deceived.  Therefore, there is no place in our Christian walk for passivity or neutralism.  The criterion necessary ...  being a lover of the truth.

God hates a mixture:

Ezra 9:2.  For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

Over the years many elderly Brethren have allowed their godly standard to lower into liberalism and a tolerance for sin.  Many a young person in Christendom would rather believe a hedonistic pop singer has become a Christian because they make mention of God in a song, than heed the warnings of maturity and experience from the scriptures.  However, today, as always, God does not tolerate a spirit of indifference towards the truth or a neutral passive attitude which is pervading throughout the Body of Christ replacing discernment and scriptural application. Where the world gets more attention than the word of God, as evangelical circles are now invaded with it's values which are no more than glib methods of "spiritual" sanitation and 'window dressed' vanity, birthed in New Ageism, replacing the Divine standard ...  the Bible.

A warning:  From 1st Kings chapter 22 we can see Satan is always ready to deceive and God will hand His people over to lying spirits if they choose to be indifferent towards the truth of His word.  This is why a devilish mixture is so prevalent in Christendom today.  A mixture of truth and of error, of sound doctrine and false doctrine.  And God hates a mixture.  He makes no provision for a mixture.  His commandment ...  you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of devils.  We are either for Him or against Him!  The temple of God or the temple of idols!  A neutral passive non-confrontational spirit will not survive in a fanatically crazed brainwashed New Millennium environment.

Lev. 19:19.  Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.

"Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind":

Purity of spirit in other words!

"thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed":

A mixed bag or the incorruptible word of God?

"neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee":

There's only one anointing in other words!  On Spirit of truth!

Some might say:

"How can a person be endued with such a mixture when both are so incompatible?  How can what is holy be with that which is unholy?"

Answer:  From scripture Satan appears to have access to the presence of God along side God's servants:

Job 1:6.  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Think of King Saul.  Sometimes he prophesied in the Holy Ghost and other times he prophesied under the mantle of a deceiving spirit.  So much so, it was to his detriment when he finally consulted a witch then committed suicide.  Also, Peter and the other apostles were compromising with a dual Judaized gospel until Paul challenged them face to face and was able to correct them.  Fortunately, they were wiser than King Saul and did something about it.

Today, we have anointed ministers of the gospel who operate under dual spirits.  They have the ability to bring inspired word based truths, yet at another moment ...  conflicting doctrine.  These people either discredit the true workings of the Holy Spirit through their contradictory applications of scripture, or conjure up confusion by conveying variances of doctrine.

In this Laodicean type environment of lukewarmness we have the Ecumenical Movement justifying fellowship with nominal Christians, Roman Catholics and even followers of other religions.
The Charismatic Movement, where the counterfeit "Holy Spirit" has been invited into the circle of  Believers.  The Neo-Evangelical Movement, where the word of God has been so watered down to make Christianity attractive, the sheep can no longer can be distinguished from the goats.  The Hebrew Roots Movement, where modern Judaism has infiltrated or attached itself onto Christian ministries largely unopposed.  And the New Wave Movement, where the bizarre and outrageous has been welcomed by the gullible, as God moving in the midst of those who are "open" or "sensitive".

No lasting fruit through a mixture:

The problem with a mixture is it produces a sterile hybrid.  Something that cannot reproduce itself.  Mix a horse and a donkey for instance, and you get a mule.  And mules cannot reproduce mules.  Just as a hybrid Christians cannot reproduce a true seed born again believer.  In other words, a mixture brings false conversion.  No wonder the Lord detests it!

What a mixture does produce however, is confusion.  And confusion brings division.  And division leads to a factional spirit where we end up devouring one another.  Little wonder the Body of Christ today is full of schisms and cliques.  This is why the enemy sowing so much false seed into the Body has been so effective.

As we have disclosed, it is possible for a servant of God to be operating sometimes in the Spirit of God and some other times in another spirit, ministering a dual effect.  Following is a couple of instances:

A zealous Brother brings an anointed word in a meeting.  He is received by some because they were blessed by his message (For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance).  Others reject it because they have discerned his life doesn't add up in other areas (no sign of fruits meet for repentance).  Although this particular message was 'on the button', both parties fall out through their differences.

• A sincere Sister "doing great exploits for God" is received by many as she appears to be living such a godly life ...  always has a word for people, full of positive exaltations; always praying for and helping people.  At the same time she is treated with caution from others, as they are fully aware (although she is not) she is not in subjection to her husband, or anyone else for that matter, and is running their household, and the Pastor.  Therefore, scriptural correction is directed towards her at the disapproval of others, and there is unresolved conflict.
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In examples like this you always have those who have been genuinely blessed by a spiritual Dualist, while others, who by discerning through the word have given warning in regards to the area under suspect in the dualist's life.  This can bring misunderstanding between both parties concerned, resulting in confusion, and often disputation.

Let me say it again:  A mixture brings confusion.  Then in turn confusion brings division.  And division brings about a factional spirit, which in turn turns people against each other destroying their testimony.   This is why it is imperative mixture needs to be dealt with within the Body.  For we are clearly told to purge out the leaven.


A mixture of the weird and wonderful:

In Paul's day he was dealing with mixing Judaism with the true faith.  In the third century when the Church and State mixed, it resulted in paganized Christianity.  During the Reformation when Protestantism became just another monopoly set up in opposition to Roman papal dominance, we had a mixture of choice and nominalism.  Last century when the bible was mixed with Darwinism we had agnosticism.   This century, through counterfeit signs of the Holy Spirit being promoted, we have a mixture of bible quotations and the gross bizarre.  And now during the 90's, due to Toronto and Pensacola type phenomenon's, we have been told not to examine or question anything new, as we can't question God.  Here I'm reminded of the following warning:

Pr. 24:21 ...  meddle not with them that are given to change.

Quite incredible when God has endorsed us through His word to use it as His final measuring stick in everything, to prove all things, and to judge with righteous judgement.

But we are continually reminded by apparent men and women of God not to question any spiritual manifestation as we could be blaspheming the Holy Spirit:

"Just accept it, and go with the flow," we are told. "Don't resist the Holy Spirit!!"

Yeah, right!!  This reasoning has prepared the gullible so-called believers in Christ for the biggest con to date, leading them right into the bait of the New Age Millennium set-net:

 Luke 21:35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

They have not learned that iron and clay do not mix, but weakens.  Neither does old and new cloth, as the material is rendered useless.  And what does old wine and new wine mixed together create?  More fermentation (blurrpp - really!!!)!  Spiritual drunkenness and the Holy Ghost are incompatible.  So is disarray, disorder, bedlam, commotion, exhibition, showmanship, clamour, attention seeking, and animalism activity.  However, many will continue to follow and chase after the "spectacular" as signs and confirmation from God.  Jesus said:

This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.  For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.  Luke 11: 29- 30.

He was speaking purely about His death and resurrection.  To some, God's true remnant, this is all they would know.  Because you can't compartmentalize the truth.  Nor can you institutionalize it.
Nor can you incorporate it into any human belief system or set of values.  The truth stands alone.

Jesus said,  If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed ... not in the spectacular or in outward performances!


Christmas - The rallying observance:

Ps. 106:35. But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

When Christians try to appease the world yet cling to Christ at the same time, something has to give.  And as it is impossible for God to lie or deny Himself, guess who moves?  It's certainly not God our Rock, as His truth safeguards us from mingling with the world and accepting its mixed values:

Jer. 10:2- 4. Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.  For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

This scripture is referring to the tree of the sun-god (today's Xmas Tree) learnt and adopted from the heathen as a custom for the people, and is based upon a mixture of sentiment, sloop, atmosphere, a festive spirit, a community mood, celebration, jubilation ...  and an occasion for all!  Introduced, imported, from the heathen.  And God said, "Learn not their way ... for the customs of the people are vain."

"Christmas, a "Pagan" feast."

"The reasons for celebrating our major feasts when we do are many and varied. In general, however, it is true that many of them have at least an indirect connection with the pre-Christian feasts celebrated about the same time of year — feasts centring around the harvest, the rebirth of the sun at the winter solstice (now Dec. 21, but Dec. 25 in the old Julian calendar), the renewal of nature in spring, and so on."

Today, we have Xmas in commemoration of the birth of the sun-god, dressed-up to look "Western".  Likewise, we have Easter, as a celebration of new life from the sun-god masquerading as the fulfilment of Passover.  Along with a few other add-ons.  All attached to Christianity as "adornments" to the faith, as the great pagan concepts have been biblified and christened.  Xmas being the biggie of course.

But does the true faith need adornments?  For the Kingdom of God is only found within, is only spiritually discerned, doesn't need advertising, and doesn't come with outward observance.

As many Christians have accepted this festival spirit as valid to their faith, it will be interesting to see what stand they will take at the end of this year, when the Feast Day's true colours will be made manifest, and a line will be drawn revealing whether they have crossed over to the New Year as Good Millennium Planetary Citizens ...  Inducted!  Initiated!  Inoculated!  Millennium proofed! Millennium compliant!  Millennium friendly!  Y2K okay!  And "ready for the twenty first century" as the pop song goes!  Or whether they will be labelled "dangerous"!  "Hate" filled!  Non compliant! "Enemies" of humanity!  "Enemies" of the new order!  Dinosaurs!  Old fossils!  Leftovers from the "old guard"!  Relics from the Dark Ages!  "Not up with the play"!  The "loony" fringe! (dum de dum dum!!)


The Last Christmas - the New Age connection:

"The hidden message of 'Cosmic Christmas' is closely related to that of New Age 'Messiah & The Second Coming': According to Gnostic theurgy, the angels are stars or the planetary spirits which will guide a willing humanity to receive the Luciferic initiation."

Up until the end of Puritanism, over a century ago, Christians would not accept the Winter Solstice observance as part of their faith as they were aware of God both hating a mixture, and His warning in scripture about embracing another Jesus and another spirit.  It has only been in recent times have Christians found justification to celebrate this pagan festival as a legitimate christianized event. Unfortunately at the expense of truth:

2 Cor. 13:8.  For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Meaning, the truth of God's word stands alone, and will not compromise itself with any foreign ideology, imported philosophy and practice, "pretty" fable, or heathen belief system.

Pr. 23:23.  Buy the truth, and sell it not.

Which means the truth can't be exploited, glossed up, marketed, exported, or sold.

Also, the Christ of Christ-mas (the Mass of Christ) has nothing to do with the Christ of the Bible; and the Spirit of Xmas has nothing to do with the Spirit of the living God.

This year is going to be a real test for believers of whether we are prepared to forsake this present mixture of our faith and stand for the scriptural Jesus only.  As at the end of this year everything is going to climax into the event of the century, the pinnacle of the millennium, and the crescendo of the last two thousand years.  For this Christmas is going to be the icing on the cake to usher the world into the so-called 'Golden Age', where the so-called Prince of Peace will be revealed, to march 'humankind' forward into bliss and utopia.

Things are going to change dramatically next year and onwards.  It could be gradual of course.  We are being programmed for this right now.  It will either be a 'Luciferic initiation', or individuals standing on the rock solid word of God, proving it to be the only beacon of hope and deliverance for mankind.

Here's a promise:  For the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

The choice:  The Spirit of Christmas, or the Spirit of truth?  Put in different words ...  the spirit of the world, or the Spirit of God.


Easter - the pagan connection:

Is. 2:6.  Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

Just as it was with the children of Israel who borrowed pagan ideas from the east, so it is with the children of God today, who have borrowed pagan ideas from the east, namely eastern mysticism and new age ideologies.

The sun rising in the east stole the hearts of the children of Israel as they adopted the worship of Tammuz the sun-god.  Babylon was to the east of Israel and everything 'eastern' (spiritually speaking) has connotations of introducing mixtures to the pure faith.  Much in Christendom today has not been replenished from above, but by importing christianized pagan content to avoid embarrassment and repercussions from the world.  Especially if we have the responsibility of raising our own children or are still tied spiritually to our families of birth.  Hence, Christmas -  the Roman Catholic "Christ" of the mass, and Easter -  the Roman Catholic perversion of Passover.

However, Easter (as well as Christmas - Child's Day) goes back a lot further than the Roman Church:

Acts 12:4 ...  intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

This passage in the KJV, which critics love to use, is the only verse referring to Easter, and the Authorized Version is the only bible where you find the word Easter used just once.  The argument the critics love to use is Easter should have been translated Passover in Acts 12:4, as it has been in other modern bibles.  This remark has thrown heaps of doubt on the sincere overly clever, and the wishy washy, who choose not to check out what man has to say along side the word of God:

Again let's repeat the argument ..."Easter is translated wrong because the Greek is translated Passover!"

My reply ...  fiddle-de-dee!!

Fact:  Over a year ago we had a teacher stay with us from Athens who taught languages.  One evening I just had to ask our non-Christian friend what the word pascha (the original Greek) meant. Without hesitation she said straight out ... "Easter!!"  Just recently when I was in hospital a Greek man shared the same room as me as his bed was opposite mine.  The day he was discharged I just had to ask him the same question what the Greek word pascha meant in English.  Again, one word was his reply ...  "Easter!"

Irrefutable really!!  Don't believe me then check out some Greek Orthodox Church sites on google also keying in pascha?

Fact:  You don't have to be a well groomed Bible Scholar to know by simply checking out the Greek word pascha used in this passage (and used 28 other times in the New Testament) can mean either Passover or Easter where the Authorized has correctly translated the other verses as passover.  King James critics love words (whether they be English or Greek) with dual meanings, to dazzle the unsuspecting.  This way they can use the ignorance of the undiscerning masses (who choose not to check things out and follow things through) by only emphasizing one meaning of the word and not mentioning the other.  This is called a half truth, or partial truth, and can be used to divide and conquer the naive.  Here's just one example of undermining the Authorized Bible found in Gen. 2:24:

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall become one flesh.

Mundanely, some King James critics point out how the Authorized Bible is once again wrong because the word cleave means "to split apart".  So the King James is wrong they say, as it indirectly encourages divorce.

Now aint that cleaver!  Another play on words.  As a lost and rebellious college pupil I walked out of High School not long after turning 16, with no credentials for a career, and could not even quote the alphabet from a to z until two years after I joined the work force.   But now, as a born again 'uneducated nincompoop' I can go to my dictionary and quote two meanings of the word cleave,  just as I can rattle of the top of my head two or more meanings to the words knot, key, jam, yoke, tip, pound, page, and of course radical.

The other meaning for de word cleave in de English is "clinging to something".  Good thing for hubbies and wives don't you think!  Just like Acts 11:23:

 ...  with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

(Must I also add; when this Book use to be honoured marriages stayed intact, unlike today!)

Therefore argument one is dismantled as pascha means either Passover or Easter!

Argument two: "This still does not prove Easter is the correct rendering in Acts 12:4, does it?"

Acts 12:1- 4.  Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.  (2) And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. (3) And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)  (4) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. (5)  Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Let's look at the whole picture:  The Serpent used partial truth in the Garden to deceive Eve, did he not?  Whereas God always deals with the whole truth and nothing but the truth ...  If it was not so I would have told you.

Verse three:  Herod looks to arrest Peter because he wants to try him, prove him guilty, and put him to death, as he did with James (v. 1- 2), satisfying the Jews.

Now Herod being a man pleaser was a pawn set up by Rome to rule over the Jews.  You see his job was to keep law and order in the land, all in Rome's favour.  This meant pleasing both the Jews (v.3), by letting them keep their religion with its ceremonies and Passover observance, at the same time accommodating Rome's pagan practices; a biggie being Easter observance, the worship of the fertility goddess Ishtar.

So during the days (present tense) of unleavened bread (now this is the key, V. 3- 4) he arrested Peter.  This was a time beyond half way through April (Abid) the fourteenth day.  Therefore, Passover had already come and gone as it was now during the seven day period which followed Passover ...  "then were the days of unleavened bread."  Simple eh!

In verse four, after being arrested, he is then imprisoned waiting for Easter to come and go (future tense) so that he could then be tried. Peter therefore was kept in prison (v. 5) as Herod did not want to interfere with the Roman holiday and jeopardize his love affair with the pagan occupiers.

Therefore, the facts are plain to see:


• The Passover is .(the fourteenth day) ...
• followed by the days of unleavened bread (the fifteenth day and onwards) during a time when Peter is arrested ...
• waiting for Easter to arrive and pass so that Peter could be put on trial (bearing in mind both are celebrated in the same month,  Easter floating on various dates whereas Passover is always fixed to the 14th).
• Therefore, the Passover cannot apply to verse four as it has already come and gone.
• Lastly, the word Easter is the only word left to use in verse four, as it is the only other English word that can be translated from the Greek pascha.
  

Clear and straight to the point!  Nothing to do with feeding an audience half truths, opinion, misquotes, clerical theology, church dogma, misinterpretations, misrepresentation, waffle, mumbo jumbo, or religious hotchpotch!  After all the facts, some still argue, insisting Passover was and still is both the name and the evening meal commemorating the deliverance from Egypt, and the entire eight day period.

In the end I don't really care what this or that commentary says, nor the most Reverend Credentialed.  Again, let's prove scripture by using scripture to prove itself:

Num. 33:3.  And they departed from Rameses in the first month on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.

In God's calendar the beginning of the forth month (now April) was the first month (Abid), the beginning of the year.  Today, it is still recognized by the business world, however, outside of being branded an April Fool.  Therefore, the days after the 15th of the first month are not referred to in God's word as the Passover.

Lev. 23:5-6.  In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover (first occasion).  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast *of unleavened bread unto the LORD (second distinct occasion) ...

No argument really!  Acts 12:3 ...  then were the days *of unleavened bread is bang on!!  Passover (the 14th day according to scripture) had come and gone!

Conclusion:  The argument Easter is not found in the Book of Life is cut to pieces bearing no substance.  Therefore, if you still want to argue please take it up with the Author of the Book.

May I add:  If you remove Easter from the Bible you camouflage the Devil's plan of paganizing Christianity.  This way the "christianized" Easter can fit the same slot, and be observed today as Jesus' death and resurrection dates (supposedly coinciding with Passover and contrary to the three days and three nights in the belly of the earth sign), with all it's pagan trappings (Babylonian/Egyptian bunnies, hot cross buns, and decorated eggs) by both Heathen and Christians alike as one happy universal family, removing any definition between the two, therefore rendering the offence of the cross to no effect.

By marrying the two (paganism and Christianity) you destroy two vitally important truths:

One:  You neutralize the gospel by taking away its saving power.  Ever heard of any one being saved by Easter, or Christmas for that matter? Or Lent?  Or Lady Day?  Or Palm Sunday?  Whether we're singing "Rudolph the red nose Reindeer" or "Jingle Bells" or "Batman Smells", it will never convict or reprove anyone of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

And two:  You remove the vital spiritual link between Christianity and its Jewish Messianic link (Jesus the rock of offence and block of stumbling), breaking the seed line back to Abraham.  This allows Rome to sneak into Israel's place carrying out the Devil's agenda replacing Jesus with a convenient substitute.  Because everything scriptural in Christianity is from the Jewish link ...  Jesus the Messiah. Whereas everything Roman in Christianity is imported paganism ... derived from its Babylonian link.

Satan has an agenda; a new age "initiated" people, who will be conditioned by their relative new age bible/s redefining Christianity in the New Millennium to fit in with the New World Order, seating himself on the throne through an impostor called anti-christ.

Revelation and acting on it, will never come about by celebrating any pagan feast masquerading as Christian.  Only by making the word of God our source and base in all things pertaining to faith and life we can see this and avoid bondage to the world, and being snared by the religious hype of Beyond Year 2000.

Soon, and very soon our King is coming, and his name is called The Word of God.

The sword is about to fall.  Why settle for a mixture?


Persecution and hardship:

Rom. 8:35.   Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

With martial law on its way, and a crack down on dissidents not skipping to the NWO's tune, persecution is inevitable for bible believing fundies.  Following are the three New Testament witnesses true believers will be harassed for, which cannot be compromised in any way:


• Mark 13:21 ...  because of the word.

As Believers we will see no alternative in making the Holy Bible our total source, substance, and guide in all matters of life.  This will not fit in with the politically and socially correct  who say, "by laying down all our differences (minus truth), will there be peace".  Whereas true Christians will witness to the fact true peace only comes by laying down our lives through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This will be both an offence and a stumbling block to the world, as it will not accommodate a religious mixture in any way:
 
• Gal. 5:11; 6:12 ...  because of the cross.

There will be no substitute in social or spiritual survival.  To the genuine bible believer everything earthly will be vanity compared with the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus (our) Lord. Our customs and culture will fade into the background and be considered worthless in comparison to attaining our heavenly goal and pearl of great price.  The only answer, the only alternative, will be knowing the cross of our Saviour.  This will create misunderstanding and ostracism within society, as spiritual things are only spiritually discerned, with the 'spiritually discerning' only focusing on the things which are not seen (but) eternal, which will not be understood or interpreted rightly by the world's masses as well as Christendom in general.
 
• 2 Tim. 3:12 ...  because of living godly in Christ Jesus.

Because true Christians will be different (not going with the flow or being men pleasers), and fearing God above all things; enduring to the end with a harmless, blameless, non-retributive attitude.  This will expose religion for what it is, creating envy and a backlash of scorn and derision.  Christians will be hated and persecuted without a cause, especially from the religious establishment, who will instigate most opposition against the elect:

Gal. 4:29.  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

As it was at the beginning of the Church age, so shall it be at its conclusion when Christ returns for His Bride without spot nor blemish.  The early Believers rejoiced when they were taken captive or beaten, Acts 5: 40- 42.  They rejoiced in captivity, Acts 16:25.  They looked beyond their homes when they were taken away from them, Heb. 11: 33- 40.  Beyond to Jesus, when they were being martyred for their faith, Acts 7: 55- 60.

This is the hardest part of this article for me to write as I feel I'm not really qualified, having never suffered physical persecution myself.  For in one sense are we all spiritual Dualists, as we are always struggling with the two natures within.  The old nature in conflict with the spirit which is willing to serve God.  And vice versa.  The key to overcoming ...  being focused on Him, the Victor, who is above all:

2 Corinthians 2:14.  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

At the beginning of my spiritual pilgrimage when I was threatened with a bit of mild violence by the odd irate worker on the building site, who didn't like what I said in regards to the truth; I never understood why I could look them in the face, eye ball to eye ball, with a grin from check to check, despite the obscenities and the profanities that poured out of their mouths towards me and His Gospel.  Until I read 1 Peter  4:14:

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you ...

In other words, when we would be faced with dilemma beyond our control, where the Lords name was at stake, and when we would be prepared to stand for Him irrespective of the consequences, there would be a special anointing reserved for those who would be faithful to the end ...  the spirit of glory, strength, power, and blessing.  A divine gift, direct from the Throne Room of Heaven. Remember Stephen making his last stand as Jesus stood up for him in honour.  Jesus also said in Acts 1:8:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me.

Along with spiritual blessing and power the Lord has also promised us physical provision:

Mark 10:30.  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Be encouraged!  The Lord has promised not to put us through any ordeal we cannot handle in Him.  The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.  For He has promised to endue us with His resources and power from on high, even with all heaven at our disposal if necessary:

2 Kings  6:16.  Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

1 John 4:4.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

We are on the winning side and the victory has already been wrought.
 

  1999.  Updated last 22/5/06 NZ.