Easter Celebrations are Worship of the Sun

[hobie]

Now many Adventist participate in Easter celebrations or go to sun rise services, or even go to Sunday worship with other denominations that have full fledge easter celebrations or more. But we have to understand what the origins of Easter are, it is worship of the Sun and pagan symbols to say nothing of the rites and rituals. If one looks, they will see the origins of Easter are found in a pagan festival celebration of seasonal renewal that has taken place around the time of the Spring Equinox. The date upon which Easter is held varies from year to year, and corresponds with the first Sunday following the full moon after the March equinox.

Here is a good explanation.. "Easter is one of Christianity’s highest and holiest days, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. But the origins of today’s very Christian holiday are firmly rooted in the ancient traditions of pagan religions from many parts of the world. With its blend of solemn religious symbolism and the fun of Easter eggs and bunny rabbits, Easter as we know it is a patchwork of beliefs and practices related to the themes of springtime, rebirth, and renewal....

Easter doesn’t fall on the same date every year. Thus, even this aspect of the holiday is connected with pagan celebrations of the cycles of nature. The vernal equinox marks the time when night and day are of equal length. It’s also a celebration by pagan cultures to welcome the arrival of the long days of spring and summer."

And more..."Easter is a pagan festival. If Easter isn't really about Jesus, then what is it about? Today, we see a secular culture celebrating the spring equinox, whilst religious culture celebrates the resurrection. However, early Christianity made a pragmatic acceptance of ancient pagan practises, most of which we enjoy today at Easter. The general symbolic story of the death of the son (sun) on a cross (the constellation of the Southern Cross) and his rebirth, overcoming the powers of darkness, was a well worn story in the ancient world. There were plenty of parallel, rival resurrected saviours too.

The Sumerian goddess Inanna, or Ishtar, was hung naked on a stake, and was subsequently resurrected and ascended from the underworld. One of the oldest resurrection myths is Egyptian Horus. Born on 25 December, Horus and his damaged eye became symbols of life and rebirth. Mithras was born on what we now call Christmas day, and his followers celebrated the spring equinox. Even as late as the 4th century AD, the sol invictus, associated with Mithras, was the last great pagan cult the church had to overcome. Dionysus was a divine child, resurrected by his grandmother. Dionysus also brought his mum, Semele, back to life.

In an ironic twist, the Cybele cult flourished on today's Vatican Hill. Cybele's lover Attis, was born of a virgin, died and was reborn annually. This spring festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday, rising to a crescendo after three days, in rejoicing over the resurrection. ....."http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism

[Gregory Matthews]

Seventh-day Adventists worship on a day dedicated to a pagan god.  But, our worship is not dedicated to that pagan god.  By the way, it is not a sin to worship on Sunday.  It is not a sin to worship with other Christians on Sonday.  The Biblical Sabbath, is much more than a day of worship.  The Bible, as I understand it, established a Sabbath on the 7th day of the week.   It does not forbid worship on any day of the week.  I have worshiped with fellow Christians on Sunday many times.  Sometimes I have even preached to congregations of other denominations   on Sunday.

 

 

[Kevin H]

2 Samuel 6:12-15. 17-19 is a description of how Easter was celebrated in the ancient world. As for 2 Samuel 6:16 and vss. 20-23, had Michal become pregnant that night, the child would be seen as the chosen king and we would not have had the conflicts between David's other sons over who would be the next king. Besides the cultural indications, this child would have been a decandant of both David and Saul, giving the child extra right to the throne. Michal loved David, but even love can be tried as she saw all David did in his gaining of the throne. David probably tried to make things up with her, but she clearly refused and did not have children. Even if she did not get pregnant on Easter Sunday night, she could have still provided a child of both the house of Saul and house of David. Since David is our hero, often we read into the text that Michal was punished by no children, but when you look at the story, and the cultural implications from the ancient world, we have a very, very hurt Michal who punished David by not giving him a child.

Also, the night before Easter Sunday, the King would sleep in the temple expecting a dream about the future, as we find in Daniel 2 and 4. 

[Kevin H]

Ellen White went from a "shut door" Adventist into becoming a very popular preacher on non-Adventist churches including giving the Sunday morning sermons. 

[hobie]

8 hours ago, Gregory Matthews said:

Seventh-day Adventists worship on a day dedicated to a pagan god.  But, our worship is not dedicated to that pagan god.  By the way, it is not a sin to worship on Sunday.  It is not a sin to worship with other Christians on Sonday.  The Biblical Sabbath, is much more than a day of worship.  The Bible, as I understand it, established a Sabbath on the 7th day of the week.   It does not forbid worship on any day of the week.  I have worshiped with fellow Christians on Sunday many times.  Sometimes I have even preached to congregations of other denominations   on Sunday.

 

 

So getting up for 'sunrise' and facing the sun is just 'sunday worship'? It has nothing to do with the Sunday service that denominations have, it is distinct and its worship is not Christian, but from another origin which is very clear...

[hobie]

8 hours ago, Kevin H said:

Ellen White went from a "shut door" Adventist into becoming a very popular preacher on non-Adventist churches including giving the Sunday morning sermons. 

There is nothing wrong with helping others with the truth, some of our members come on Sabbath for worship, then on Sunday go and help other Christians, and nothing wrong with that. In fact we see much that Ellen White herself wrote on that...

"Show No Defiance

Those who compose our churches have traits of character that will lead them, if they are not very careful, to feel indignant, because on account of misrepresentation their liberty in regard to working on Sunday is taken away. Do not fly into a passion over this matter but take everything in prayer to God. He alone can restrain the power of rulers. Walk not rashly. Let none boast unwisely of their liberty, using it for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God, "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king" [1 Pet. 2:17].

This advice is to be of real value to all who are to be brought into strait places. Nothing that shows defiance or that could be interpreted as maliciousness must be shown.--2MR 193, 194 (1898).

Refrain From Work on Sunday

In regard to the Southern field,[2. SUNDAY-LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS ESPECIALLY SEVERE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1880S AND 1890S. SEE AMERICAN STATE PAPERS (REVIEW AND HERALD, 1943), PP. 517-562.] the work there must be done as wisely and carefully as possible, and it must be

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done in the manner in which Christ would work. The people will soon find out what you believe about Sunday and the Sabbath for they will ask questions. Then you can tell them, but not in such a manner as to attract attention to your work. You need not cut short your work by yourself labouring on Sunday. . . .

Refraining from work on Sunday is not receiving the mark of the beast. . . . In places where the opposition is so strong as to arouse persecution, if work is done on Sunday, let our brethren make that day an occasion to do genuine missionary work.--SW 69, 70 (1895).

If they should come here and say "You must close up your work and your presses on Sunday," I would not say to you, . . . "Keep your presses going," because the conflict does not come between you and your God.--Ms 163, 1898.

We should not feel it enjoined upon us to irritate our neighbours who idolise Sunday by making determined efforts to bring labour on that day before them purposely to exhibit an independence. Our sisters need not select Sunday as the day to exhibit their washing.--3SM 399 (1889).

Engage in Spiritual Activities on Sunday

I will try to answer your question as to what you should do in the case of Sunday laws being enforced.   The light given me by the Lord at a time when we were expecting just such a crisis as you seem to be

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approaching, was that when people were moved by a power from beneath to enforce Sunday observance, Seventh-day Adventists were to show their wisdom by refraining from their ordinary work on that day, devoting it to missionary effort.

To defy the Sunday laws will but strengthen in their persecution the religious zealots who are seeking to enforce them. Give them no occasion to call you lawbreakers. . . . One does not receive the mark of the beast because he shows that he realises the wisdom of keeping the peace by refraining from work that gives offence. . . .

Sunday can be used for carrying forward various lines of work that will accomplish much for the Lord. On this day open-air meetings and cottage meetings can be held. House-to-house work can be done. Those who write can devote this day to writing their articles. Whenever it is possible, let religious services be held on Sunday. Make these meetings intensely interesting. Sing genuine revival hymns, and speak with power and assurance of the Saviour's love.--9T 232, 233 (1909).

Take the students out to hold meetings in different places, and to do medical missionary work. They will find the people at home and will have a splendid opportunity to present the truth. This way of spending Sunday is always acceptable to the Lord.--9T 238 (1909)......Last Day Events - Sunday Laws

[hobie]

8 hours ago, Kevin H said:

2 Samuel 6:12-15. 17-19 is a description of how Easter was celebrated in the ancient world. As for 2 Samuel 6:16 and vss. 20-23, had Michal become pregnant that night, the child would be seen as the chosen king and we would not have had the conflicts between David's other sons over who would be the next king. Besides the cultural indications, this child would have been a decandant of both David and Saul, giving the child extra right to the throne. Michal loved David, but even love can be tried as she saw all David did in his gaining of the throne. David probably tried to make things up with her, but she clearly refused and did not have children. Even if she did not get pregnant on Easter Sunday night, she could have still provided a child of both the house of Saul and house of David. Since David is our hero, often we read into the text that Michal was punished by no children, but when you look at the story, and the cultural implications from the ancient world, we have a very, very hurt Michal who punished David by not giving him a child.

Also, the night before Easter Sunday, the King would sleep in the temple expecting a dream about the future, as we find in Daniel 2 and 4. 

My brother, we cannot twist Gods Word to fit what God strictly forbids.

Ezekiel 8:16

And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

In Ezekiel 8:16, the prophet Ezekiel describes a vision where he is taken to the inner court of the Lord's house,where about twentyfive men were worshiping the sun. They were facing east and prostrating themselves toward the sun, which symbolizes idolatry and a rejection of the Lord. This act of worship is a clear example of the abominations committed by the people of Judah, as they turned away from God and worshipped other gods, including Baal and the sun. 

[hobie]

Adventist know what this is, as the name "Easter" never appears in the Greek New Testament. Easter is not a Christian name. It is Chaldean/Babylonian) in origin, the name Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven. By the 8th century this name had come to be applied to the anniversary of Christ's resurrection. With the passage of time the connection with the goddess was lost, the only remaining meaning being associated with Christ's resurrection. Unquestionably the resurrection was of enormous importance to the apostolic church, for it figures prominently in the evangelistic messages from the apostles as recorded in the book of Acts. No issue is made about the date when it occurred, however, other than to note in a factual manner that the resurrection occurred on the first day of the week.

It is to be noted that the apostolic church never gave attention to either the date of Christ's birth or the date of His resurrection, other than to note that the latter occurred on a Sunday. Neither of these days was observed by early Christians but as the pagan influence came into the church so did its festivals. In the third and fourth centuries a tremendous debate arose among Christian churches as to when Easter was to be observed. For the Roman Catholic branch it was largely settled at the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) with a formula still followed to this day, which cannot possibly be commemoration of the actual resurrection. In current practice Easter always falls on a Sunday and the Sunday chosen wanders over a period of four weeks ranging from March 22-April 25. The eastern branch of Christendom selected a different system, so that in the Eastern Orthodox tradition both Christmas and Easter fall on different dates from those in the Western Catholic and Protestant tradition.

The point is that the early Christians gave no attention to commemorating the resurrection day of Christ. If they had been serious they would be observing the 17th day of the Jewish month, Nisan, which begins with the first new moon following the spring solstice. Passover among the Jews begins with the 14th day of Nisan. It would not be possible to commemorate the actual day of the month and have it always on Sunday, so the choice was made to have it on Sunday, adjusting the day of the month for convenience.

The Easter bunny and all the pagan trappings have absolutely nothing to do with the birth of Christ.
Easter is essentially a pagan festival which was has been "Christianized" by the Church of Rome like the idols that adorn the Vatican and spread to continue the ancient pagan sun worship from the Pagan Empire.

[Kevin H]

On 3/31/2026 at 7:09 AM, hobie said:

My brother, we cannot twist Gods Word to fit what God strictly forbids.

Ezekiel 8:16

And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

In Ezekiel 8:16, the prophet Ezekiel describes a vision where he is taken to the inner court of the Lord's house,where about twentyfive men were worshiping the sun. They were facing east and prostrating themselves toward the sun, which symbolizes idolatry and a rejection of the Lord. This act of worship is a clear example of the abominations committed by the people of Judah, as they turned away from God and worshipped other gods, including Baal and the sun. 

David was NOT worshiping the sun. He was worshiping the Lord. However, you cannot try to explain away what the text says because you don't like it. David, in his worship of the Lord, brought the ark into Jerusalem in the same ritual that  the Pagans used to bring their gods into the temples on Easter Sunday morning. 

[hobie]

On 4/4/2026 at 3:16 PM, Kevin H said:

David was NOT worshiping the sun. He was worshiping the Lord. However, you cannot try to explain away what the text says because you don't like it. David, in his worship of the Lord, brought the ark into Jerusalem in the same ritual that  the Pagans used to bring their gods into the temples on Easter Sunday morning. 

Didnt say he was, you made the subtle connection..."2 Samuel 6:12-15. 17-19 is a description of how Easter was celebrated in the ancient world. As for 2 Samuel 6:16 and vss. 20-23, had Michal become pregnant that night, the child would be seen as the chosen king"