CHAPTER FOUR

YAHshua instituted the sacrament of eating the bread and drinking the fruit of the vine, also called call the "Lord's Supper" or the "Eucharist." Below is Luke's account of YAHshua instituting the sacrament of the partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine. This sacrament was instituted while YAHshua was with His Apostles on the day the sacrifice was prepared for the Passover. 

Luke 22 (7) Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the passover [lamb] must be killed. (8) And He sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. (9) And they said unto Him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare? (10) And He said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. (11) And ye shall say unto the Goodman of the house, The Instructor saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with My disciples? (12) And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. (13) And they went, and found as He had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. (14) And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. (15) And He said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (16) For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it [the true purpose of the Passover sacrifice] be fulfilled in the Kingdom of YAHWEH. (17) And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: (18) For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of YAHWEH shall come. (19) And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is [symbolic of] My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. (20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is [symbolic of] the New Testament [Covenant] in My blood, which is shed for you.

Compare Luke's account with Matthew's and Mark's. They also mention the bread, the fruit of the vine, and the betrayal.

Mat. 26 (20) Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve. (21) And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me. (22) And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Him, Sovereign, is it I? (23) And He answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me. (24) The Son of Man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born. (25) Then Judas, which betrayed Him, answered and said, Rabbi, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. (26) And as they were eating, YAHshua took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is [symbolic of]  My body. (27) And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; (28) For this is [symbolic of]  My blood of the New Testament, [Covenant] which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (29) But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My FATHER'S Kingdom.

Mark 14 (16) And His disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as He had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. (17) And in the evening He cometh with the twelve. (18) And as they sat and did eat, YAHshua said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with Me shall betray Me. (19) And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto Him one by one, Is it I? And another said, Is it I? (20) And He answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with Me in the dish. (21) The Son of Man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Good were it for that man if he had never been born. (22) And as they did eat, YAHshua took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is [symbolic of]  My body. (23) And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it. (24) And He said unto them, This is [symbolic of]  My blood of the New Testament [Covenant], which is shed for many. (25) Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the Kingdom of YAHWEH.

John 13 (1) Now before the feast of the passover, when YAHshua knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the FATHER, having loved His Own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. (2) And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him; (3) YAHshua knowing that the FATHER had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from YAHWEH, and went to YAHWEH; (4) He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. (5) After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. (6) Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto Him, Sovereign, dost Thou wash my feet? (7) YAHshua answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. (8) Peter saith unto Him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. YAHshua answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me. (9) Simon Peter saith unto Him, Sovereign, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. (10) YAHshua saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (11) For He knew who should betray Him; therefore said He, Ye are not all clean. (12) So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? (13) Ye call Me Instructor and Sovereign: and ye say well; for so I am. (14) If I then, your Sovereign and Instructor, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. (15) For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (16) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his sovereign; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. (17) If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (18) I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me. (19) Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He. (20) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth Me; and he that receiveth Me receiveth HIM that sent Me.

John does not mention the bread and the fruit of the vine representing YAHshua’s body and blood, but he does mention YAHshua’s betrayal after YAHshua washed His Apostles' feet. Was washing one another's feet part of what YAHshua told them to do in remembrance of His death? In chapter 22:24, Luke said that the Apostles were arguing over who was the greatest. In verses 25-27, YAHshua, by washing the Apostles' feet was demonstrating by acting out a parable to teach them a lesson on being humble. It seems that foot washing was not an example to be used for the commemorative service, but just an example of humbleness by serving one another, instead of being served.

Luke 22 (24) And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. (25) And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise rule over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. (26) But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. (27) For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as He that serveth.

The Apostles were the visible foundation of the New Covenant Congregation which YAHshua was building. YAHshua gave them the sacrament of eating the bread and drinking the fruit of the vine to do in remembrance of His death.

Luke 22 (19) And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is [symbolic of]  My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. (20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is [symbolic of]  the new testament [Covenant] in My blood, which is shed for you. What did he mean when He said, "in remembrance of Me"? Paul clarified this when he scolded the congregation at Corinth for partaking of it in an unworthy manner.

I Cor. 11 (20) When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Sovereign's supper. (21) For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. (22) What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the Assembly of YAHWEH, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. (23) For I have received of the Sovereign that which also I delivered unto you, That the Sovereign YAHshua the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: (24) And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is [symbolic of] My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. (25) After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is [symbolic of] the New Testament [Covenant] in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. (26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Sovereign’s death till He come. (27) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Sovereign, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Sovereign. (28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily [irreverently or in an unworthy manner], eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Sovereign’s body

In verse 26, Paul states, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, YE DO SHEW THE SOVEREIGN'S DEATH TILL HE COME." Important events are to be commemorated on the day of the year they take place. His death was on the day the lamb was prepared for the Passover. Therefore, in remembrance of His death, partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine should be done on the day the sacrifice was prepared for the Passover. The institution of partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine replaced the slaying of a Lamb that Israel was required to do under the first covenant. The slaying of the lamb portrayed the death of YAHshua (the Lamb of YAHWEH) before it happened.

It is recorded in the pages of history that the Passover was still being observed by many members of the New Covenant Congregation for several centuries. Around the close of the second century, the dioceses of all Asia were still keeping the Passover at the appropriate time. This is found in Eusebius Pamphili Ecclesiastical History (book 5, chapter 23 and 24). (Eusebius was a fourth century historian. Also, he was the bishop of the Church of Caesarea for over a quarter of a century beginning around 313-315. It should also be added here that he was very much under the influence of the Church of Rome and that he was a very close friend of Constantine, the emperor of Rome.)

{Now, at this time [190-200 A.D.], no small controversy was stirred up because the dioceses of all Asia, as according to an older tradition, thought that they should observe the fourteenth day of the moon, on which the Jews had been ordered to sacrifice the lamb, as the feast of the Saviour's Passover [the commemoration of His death by partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine on the 14th of Nisan], so that it became absolutely necessary to bring the days of fasting to an end on whatever day of the week this fell. But it was not the custom for the churches throughout all the rest of the world to end it in this way, since they preserved a custom which from apostolic tradition has prevailed to our own day according to which it is not right to end the fasting on any other day than that of the Resurrection of our Saviour.}

A paschal fast was never a custom instituted by YAHshua or His Apostles! The fast was one of many of the pagan customs from the ancient Babylonian Mystery Religion adopted into Christianity after the Catholic Church first began to turn away from anything that looked "Jewish." The Church of Rome, eventually incorporated into Christianity hundreds of such pagan customs by mixing them with the laws, commandments and customs that were ordained by YAHWEH. They even used some of their pagan customs and doctrines to replace the laws, commandments and customs that were ordained by YAHWEH! The churches under the influence of Rome wanted the so-called Paschal fast to end on the day of the Sovereign's resurrection. If a so-called Paschal fast ended on the day of YAHshua’s resurrection (the close of the 17th day of Nisan) which occurred three days and three nights after the crucifixion (14th day of Nisan), that would eliminate the members of the New Covenant Congregation from observing the memorial of YAHshua’s death on the day that He died, the 14th day of Nisan. It would also eliminate them from observing the 1st day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is on the 15th day of Nisan. What a clever way for the paganized Church of Rome to successfully stop many people from obeying YAHWEH; the Church of Rome wanted the people to practice its abominable Babylonian Mysteries instead of obeying YAHWEH!

Continuing:

{Then, synods and conferences of bishops [of Rome and the Churches under the influence of Rome] on the same question took place, and they unanimously formulated in their letters a doctrine of the Church for people everywhere, that the mystery of the Lord's Resurrection from the dead be celebrated on no other day than the Lord's Day, and that on this day alone we should observe the close of the Paschal fast.}

YAHWEH’S congregation's doctrine was supposed to have already been formulated by YAHshua, His Apostles, and the Prophets which are the foundation of the New Covenant Congregation! It is obvious that the Church of Rome with the Churches that are under its influence had skillfully combined the commemoration (the partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine) of YAHshua’s death with many of their Babylonian Mysteries and called it the "mysteries of the Lord's Resurrection." (this will be explained later in more detail).

Polycrates, who led the bishops of all Asia, wrote a letter to Victor and the Church of Rome concerning this newly formulated doctrine. Below is an excerpt from that letter (Eusebius Pamphili Ecclesiastical History, Chapter 24).

{"We, therefore, keep the precise day, neither adding nor taking away, for even in Asia great luminaries have fallen asleep, which shall rise on the day of the coming of the Lord, when he comes with glory from heaven and shall seek out all the saints, Philip of the twelve Apostles, who have been sleeping in Hieropolis, and two of his daughters who had grown old as virgins, and another daughter of his who lived in the Holy Spirit and rests at Ephesus. Furthermore, there is also John, who leaned on the breast of the Lord, and was a priest wearing the breastplate, and a martyr and teacher. This one rests at Ephesus. Then there is also Polycarp in Smyrna, both bishop and martyr; and there is Thraseas, both bishop and martyr, from Eumanaea, who rests at Smyrna. And why need I mention Sagaris, bishop and martyr, who rests in Smyrna, and also Papirius the blessed and Melito the eunuch who lived entirely in the Holy Spirit and lies in Sardis awaiting the visitation from heaven when he will rise from the dead? All these observed the fourteenth day of the Passover [14th day of the Passover month Nisan] according to the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, do so, the least of you all, according to the tradition of my kinsmen, some of whom I have followed. Seven of my kinsmen were bishops, and I am the eighth. And my kinsmen always observed the day [the Preparation day on the 14th day of Nisan before the 1st day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which occurs on the 15th day of Nisan.] when the people put away the leaven. So, my brethren, having lived sixty-five years in the Lord and having associated with the brethren from the entire world and having read all holy Scripture, I am not frightened at what is threatened us, for those greater than I have said, "We ought to obey YAHWEH rather than men."}

In response, Victor, the bishop of Rome, attempted to cut off all the congregations in Asia by totally excommunicating them! Irenaeus, the bishop of Gaul, wrote Victor a letter rebuking him for this action of excommunication. In that letter, he relates that the Passover controversy had arisen previously. Polycarp had gone to see Anicetus, then bishop of Rome, over the passover question between 154 and 165 AD. Below is a portion of the contents of that letter that has been preserved for many years.

{Among those, too, were the presbyters before Soter, who presided over the Church which you (Victor) now rule: we mean Anicetus and Pius and Telesphorus and Xystus. Neither did they themselves observe, nor did they enjoin it upon their followers; nevertheless, although not observing it themselves, they were at peace with those who came to them from dioceses in which it was observed* (I.e., the fourteenth), although to observe it was more objectionable to those who did not do so. Yet, never were any cast out because of this form, and the presbyters themselves before you sent the Eucharist (bread and fruit of the vine) to those from other dioceses who did; and when the blessed Polycarp sojourned in Rome in the time of Anicetus, although they had small difficulties about certain other matters, they immediately made peace, having no desire for strife among themselves on this outstanding question. Neither was Anicetus able to persuade Polycarp not to observe it, inasmuch as Polycarp had always observed it [on the 14th day of Nisan], together with John the disciple of our Lord and the other Apostles with whom he had lived; nor, on the other hand, did Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it."}

From the above quotes, it is evident that the Passover question arose between 154-165 and again between 190-200. The Passover question arose again in 325. In 325, the Catholic Church outright outlawed the keeping of the Passover at the time that YAHWEH appointed it! This took place at the first council of Nicaea, convened by Constantine in the year of 325 A.D. This is found on page 269 of Solomon Grayzel's book (The History of the Jews). It should be mentioned here that Eusebius was one of those "churchmen" that was part of this council.

{The council of churchmen which met at Nicaea in 325 undertook to separate the Jews from the Christians. [Why? The Jews and the Christians are both the people of YAHWEH!] It [the so-called "Christian council"] forbade Christians to eat matzah [unleavened bread] on Passover, or to celebrate this holiday at the same time as the Jews. [The Jews began the Passover celebration on the preparation day, the 14th day of Nisan.] It prohibited Christians from visiting synagogues and listening to Jewish preachers. It also urged them not to observe the day of rest on Saturday [YAHWEH'S blessed Sabbath], and instituted Sunday [the substitute sabbath blessed only by Constantine and that fourth century "Christian clergy"] as the only Christian Sabbath...}

It is very obvious that Constantine and the so-called "Christian clergy," of which Eusebius was a part, and their councils of men who were not inspired by YAHWEH have forbidden people to follow in the footsteps of YAHshua!

The passover controversy still surfaced again around 350. At that time, the "Christian clergy" objected to the fact that a great many of the believers in YAHshua still continued to observe YAHWEH’S ordained Sabbath and HIS annual Feast Days according to the calendar that YAHWEH provided HIS people Israel. The Jewish people had this calendrical information. This really irked the "Christian clergy." The "Christian clergy" prevailed upon the Roman government to forbid the Patriachate (the highest office in the Jewish government) from giving the believers in YAHshua access to their calendrical information. (this is found on pages 203 and 204 of Solomon Grayzel's book.)

{There were, however, a considerable number of Christians who also waited for the Patriarch's calendrical information. For a great many Christians still observed the holidays (weekly Sabbaths and annual Feast Days) common to Judaism and Christianity, especially Passover (Easter) [The Passover was not referred to as "Easter" at that time], at the same time as the Jews, just as many of them observed the Jewish Sabbath rather than the Christian Sunday. This dependence on Judaism irked the Christian clergy, and about the middle of the fourth century they prevailed upon the Roman government to forbid the Patriarch to send Apostles with such information.}

The truth is: the "Christian clergy" did not want all the New Covenant Congregations to observe YAHWEH’S blessed Sabbath, HIS annual Feast Days, HIS laws, HIS commandments, and many other of HIS ordained customs. They wanted the New Covenant Congregations to observe the abominable "christianized" pagan customs and holidays from ancient Babylonian Mystery Religion that had already been adopted by the Church of Rome. (The main two of those abominable pagan holidays, with their original rites and customs that were "christianized," were centered around the spring equinox and the winter solstice.)

The Catholic Church, composed mostly of Gentiles (pagans), succeeded in influencing and coercing most of those professing Christianity to ignore the observance of the commemoration of YAHshua’s death on the proper day (the 14th day of Nisan).

They influenced and coerced them into ignoring the Days of Unleavened Bread. (The Days of Unleavened Bread is the memorial of the sinless Mashiach, YAHshua, being the very first of the firstfruits harvested when He arose from the dead at the end of three days and three nights in the tomb.)

The Catholic Church also influenced and coerced them into ignoring the Day of Pentecost {the day that YAHshua sent the Holy Spirit (YAHWEH’S seven basic attributes or characteristics) to those who were to be the firstfruits in YAHWEH’S Kingdom}.

The Catholic Church influenced them by cleverly combining those three themes with pagan customs and celebrating them as "Easter." That pagan oriented celebration came to begin 40 days before "their" holiday "Easter" (not YAHWEH’S holiday) Thus, a few of the names by which the goddess EASTER (the modern name for eastre, Astarte and Ishtar) was known are: eastre, goddess of Spring and Fertility; Ashtoreth, goddess of love and fruitfulness; BELTIS, the queen of Heaven; SELENE, the goddess of the moon; ARTEMIS, the goddess of nature; APHRODITE, the goddess of love and beauty; and PERSEPHONE, the goddess of the earth from the underworld to the light of day. PERSEPHONE'S return symbolized to the ancient Greeks the resurrection of life in the spring after the desolation of winter.

Hislop relates the fable how the asseryian goddess Astarte supposedly came into existence (page 109). 

{The classic poets are full of the fable of the mystic egg of the Babylonians; and thus its tale is told by Hyginus, the Egyptian, the learned keeper of the Palatine library at Rome, in the time of Augustus, who was skilled in all the wisdom of his native country: "An egg of wondrous size is said to have fallen from heaven into the river Euphrates. The fishes rolled it to the bank, where the doves having settled upon it, and hatched it, out came Venus, who afterwards was called the Syrian goddess" -that is, Astarte. Hence the egg became one of the symbols of Astarte or Easter; and accordingly, in Cyprus, one of the chosen seats of the worship of Venus, or Astarte, the egg of wondrous size was represented on a grand scale.}

Funk and Wagonalls New Encyclopedia ties the pagan spring festivals with their traditions to the so-called Christian Easter festival (page 268-269).

{Pre-Christian Tradition. Easter, a Christian festival embodies many pre-Christian traditions. The origin of its name is unknown. Scholars, however, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar Saint Bede (q.v.), believe it probably comes from EASTRE, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom was dedicated a month corresponding to April. Her festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox; traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored Easter eggs, originally painted with gay hues to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts.

Such festivals, and the myths and legends that explain their origin, were common in ancient religions. A Greek myth tells of the return of Persephone, daughter of Demeter (qq.v.), goddess of the earth, from the underworld to the light of day; her return symbolized to the ancient Greeks the resurrection of life in the spring after the desolation of winter. Many ancient peoples shared similar legends. The Phyrgians (see Phrygia) believed that their omnipotent deity went to sleep at the time of the winter solstice, and they performed ceremonies with music and dancing at the spring equinox to awaken him.}

Concerning Easter and the spring season, Ralph Woodrow writes the following (Babylon Mystery Religion Ancient and Modern, pages 147-148):

{The Goddess of spring, from whose name our word "Easter" comes, was associated with the sun rising in the east even as the very word "East-er" would seem to imply. Thus the dawn of the sun in the east, the name Easter, and the spring season are all connected.

According to the old legends, after Tammuz was slain, he descended into the underworld. But through the weeping of his "mother," Ishtar (Easter), he was mystically revived in spring. "The resurrection of Tammuz through Ishtar's grief was dramatically represented annually in order to insure the success of the crops and the fertility of the people. Each year men and women had to grieve with Ishtar over the death of Tammuz and celebrate the god's return in order to win anew her favor and her benefits!"* (*Smith, Man and His God, p. 86.) When the new vegetation began to come forth, those ancient people believed their "savior" had come from the underworld, had ended winter, and caused spring to begin.* (*Urlin, Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints' Days, p. 86) Even the Israelites adopted the doctrines and rites of the annual pagan spring festival, for Ezekiel speaks of "women weeping for Tammuz" (Ezekiel 8:14). ...}

Woodrow relates here the fable concerning Tammuz's death. He also mentions the rites in connection with the annual spring festival in commemoration of Tammuz's resurrection.

{Legend has it that Tammuz was killed by a wild boar when he was forty years old. Hislop points out that forty days, a day for each year Tammuz had lived on earth, were set aside to "weep for Tammuz." In olden times these forty days were observed with weeping, fasting, and self-chastisement to gain anew his favor so he would come forth from the underworld and cause spring to begin. This observance was not only known at Babylon, but also among the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Mexicans, and, for a time, even among the Israelites. "Among the pagans," says Hislop, "this Lent seems to have been an indispensable preliminary to the great annual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz."}

Now, one can see where the forty days of Lent came from that was added to the changed "Pasch" and who's death and resurrection the pagans were celebrating! Woodrow Continues:

{As Christians we believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead in reality-not merely in nature or the new vegetation of spring. Because his resurrection was in the spring of the year, it was not too difficult for the church [the Church of Rome with the congregations in the west that were under its influence] of the fourth century (now having departed from the original faith in a number of ways) to merge the pagan spring festival into Christianity. In speaking of this merger, the Encyclopedia Britannica (vol. 7. p. 859, art. "Easter") says, "Christianity... incorporated in its celebration of the great Christian feast day many of the heathen rites and customs of the spring festival"!}  

That pagan spring festival was preceded by the women weeping 40 days in ISHTAR'S (Nimrod's mother-wife) place for TAMMUZ (ISHTAR'S illegitimate son). One of the main parts of the festival was to celebrate TAMMUZ'S death and resurrection! So it is very easy to see how the Gentile (pagan) filled Church of Rome, strengthened by the Gentile congregations in the west that were under its influence, could make Christianity more attractive to other pagans by combining their pagan worship with the worship of YAHWEH. How did they do this? They mixed the dates and customs that were ordained by YAHWEH with the dates and customs of the sun-worshipping Pagans! They deceitfully misrepresented the time of the resurrection of YAHshua as being at the rising of the sun on the first day of the week instead of in the end of the Sabbath. Next, they changed YAHWEH’S Holy seventh day of the week Sabbath by setting aside the first day of the week ("Sun-day or literally, day of the sun," the day the Pagans worshipped the sun) to celebrate YAHshua’s resurrection and called it the "Christian" sabbath. Then they changed the date of the annual commemoration of YAHshua's death from the fourteenth day of Nisan to the first "Sunday" after the Spring Equinox. The Spring Equinox was the time the Pagans reserved to commemorate the death and resurrection of Tammuz and to honor the Pagan goddess "Easter" (the modern name for Astarte, Easrte and ISHTAR)! The Church of Rome, strengthened by the many Gentile congregations in the west, "christianized" it by replacing Tammuz's name with YAHshua’s name and by replacing the names of their gods and goddesses with the name of the one true YAHWEH! By "christianizing" the pagan spring festival they greatly increased the flow of pagans that were already coming into the congregations by the thousands. Likewise, the pagans that came into the congregations by the thousands continued to bring in more of their pagan customs and holidays with them.

Not only did the Church of Rome "christianize" the pagan spring festival, but they "christianized" the equally abominable pagan winter solstice festival and called it "Christmas"! It is found in many reliable sources approximately when this took place. Those sources also reveal the origin of the customs associated with it. For briefness, only three of those sources will be quoted.

The Americana (volume 6, page 623), as copyrighted by the Americana Corporation in 1937, reveals the following: 

{CHRISTMAS: It was, according to many authorities, not celebrated in the first centuries of the Christian Church, as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth.}

The above quotation is true. While they were under the supervision of the Apostles, they did not observe any day in commemoration of YAHshua’s birthday. Instead, they obediently observed the commemoration of His death (the 14th day of Nisan). Continuing:

{... In the 5th century the Western Church ordered it to be celebrated forever on the day of the old Roman feast of the birth of Sol, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ's birth existed. Among the German and Celtic tribes the winter solstice was considered an important point of the year, and they held their chief festival of Yule to commemorate the return of the burning-wheel [symbol for the sun].}

The World Book Encyclopedia, as copyrighted in 1948 by Field enterprises (vol. 3, page 1425), states the following:

{No one knows definitely when the Christmas festival was first celebrated. It is spoken of in the 400's by Clement of Alexandria. Chrysostom speaks of it in the 380's as a custom of long standing. Other dates were often celebrated as the day of the Nativity, but in the year 354, by order of Bishop Liberius of Rome, December 25 was adopted.

The early Church Fathers probably chose December 25 because the feast of the sun, or winter solstice, was a familiar Roman feast celebrating the victory of the light over darkness. This idea was easily turned from a pagan to a Christian one, since Christians consider Christ as the light of life.}

The Compton's Encyclopedia and Fact-Index (Volume 5, page 332 & 333), as copyrighted in 1970 by F. E. Compton Co., Division of Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., reveals the following:

{The Origin of December 25 as Christmas: The exact date of Christ's birth is not known. For the first two centuries, while Christians were being persecuted for their new faith, the Christian church did not celebrate Christmas. Soon after A.D. 200, however, Christmas was being observed, but on various dates-especially January 6, March 25, and December 25. By the middle of the 4th century the church in the West (the Roman Catholic church) was celebrating Christmas on December 25. Later various branches of the Orthodox Eastern church also accepted December 25 for observing Christ's birthday.}  

The clause in the second sentence "while Christians were being persecuted for their new faith" could be very misleading. Concerning whether or not the Congregation of YAHshua observed a day in commemoration of His birthday, persecution was not an issue. As seen in the quotation from the Americana, the true reason was that they commemorated the deaths of remarkable persons instead of their births. Continuing: 

{In England the festival came to be called Christes Masse (Christ's Mass) because a special Mass was said that day. The French name Noel, the Spanish Natividad, and the Italian Natale mean "birthday." Germans call the season Weihnachten, "holy nights."}  

Many of the customs associated with Christmas came from elements of ancient pagan worship. Continuing Compton's Encyclopedia and Fact-Index: 

{Many of the customs now associated with Christmas go back thousands of years when the people of Europe worshipped pagan gods. They celebrated the winter solstice, December 21 or 22, as the birthday of the sun-heralding the beginning of longer days. The early Christian church [not the original Assembly that was under the supervision of YAHshua's Apostles!] took the ancient festival time and gave new meaning to it -the religious meaning of Christianity- and made it a holy season.}  

The "church" made the pagan customs and season that are in honor of the sun and other false gods holy by honoring YAHshua (the Son of YAHWEH) and YAHWEH and made it a holy season? Ridiculous! Only YAHWEH, not humans, can make a season holy. One can not keep a season holy that YAHWEH did not make holy. By not polluting them, one can only keep the seasons holy that YAHWEH made holy

Continuing from Compton's Encyclopedia and Fact-Index: 

{Many of the customs can be traced back to the pagan midwinter festival of the Teutonic people of northern Europe. It was their gayest time of the year. They called the month Yule, or Jol, from which comes the word "jolly." Closed in by winters of bitter cold and long nights, they rejoiced when the year's shortest day passed, for they knew the sun would then grow stronger and the days longer.} 

One should also consider very carefully the origin of the "Yule log" and the traditional "Christmas ham."

Continuing:

{The Yule Log and Boar's Head Two of their great festival customs were bringing in the yule log and the procession of the boar's head. The great yule log was brought in on Christmas Eve and was lighted with a brand kept from the log of the year before. Its ashes, saved through the year, were supposed to guard the house from fire and lightning. They were also thought to have power to heal wounds and to make animals and fields fertile. The boar's head procession goes back to when the Teutons believed the hog harbored the spirit which made corn grow. At yule time they sacrificed a boar to the "corn spirit" to bring good crops, then ate the meat. In Scandinavia today the boar is represented by little cakes or bread loaves baked in the shape of a pig. In medieval England a boar's head was brought into every Christmas banquet.}

The World Book Encyclopedia, as copyrighted in 1948 by Field enterprises (vol. 3, page 1425) states the following: 

{The giving of presents and the use of holly, mistletoe, Yule logs (see Yule), and wassail bowl have all come to us from the days before Christianity...When the pagans of Northern Europe became Christians, they made their sacred evergreen trees part of the Christian festival, and decorated the trees with gilded nuts, candles (a carry-over from sun worship), and apples to stand for the stars, moon, and sun.}

From The World Book Encyclopedia (volume 18 page 8992) we find the following:

{YULE, yool, is an old name for the Christmas season. The term comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for the months of December and January. The Anglo-Saxons called December "the former Yule," and January "the after Yule." The early pagans of Scandinavian countries held Yule festivals near the end of each year. After Christianity was introduced into Europe, these festivals became Christmas celebrations. The custom of burning a yule log started in pagan times. The early Norsemen honored Thor, their god of war, by burning a yule log with great ceremony during the yule season.}

The Americana (vol. 6, page 623), as copyrighted by the Americana Corporation in 1937, reveals the following:

{...The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log and the wassail bowl are relics of pre-Christian times...The custom of making presents at Christmas is derived from ancient usage; but it has become consecrated by ages, and contributes greatly to make this festival an interesting event to families. }

"Consecrated by ages"? Since when is anything consecrated by ages? Everything to be consecrated to YAHWEH can only be consecrated by the authority of YAHWEH, not by ages nor tradition!)

If one seriously wishes to trace to their Babylonian roots the origin of a great many of the traditions that have been adopted by professing "Christianity," there are many books written on this subject. Two books that are worthy to be mentioned for tracing the history of the so-called "Christian" holidays and customs are: Babylon Mystery Religion-Ancient and Modern by Ralph Woodrow, and The Two Babylons by Alexander Hislop. In both books, there are much deeper discussions on the pagan traditions and customs that have been adapted to Easter and Christmas. These books also reveal many other pagan traditions and customs that have been adapted into "Christianity's" common rituals and acts of public and private worship.

It may seem to be a good idea to see how the pagans worshipped their gods and recruit them by "Christianizing" (changing the names and meanings to things concerning YAHWEH and YAHshua) their pagan customs and festivals. Many people think that it is all right to worship with the pagan customs and festivals as long as they worship YAHWEH instead of the pagan gods, BUT---YAHWEH SAYS:

Deu. 12 (29) When YAHWEH thy Elohim shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; (30) Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that THOU INQUIRE NOT AFTER THEIR ELOHIM, SAYING, HOW DID THESE NATIONS SERVE THEIR ELOHIM? EVEN SO WILL I DO LIKEWISE. (31) THOU SHALT NOT DO SO UNTO YAHWEH THY Elohim: for every abomination to YAHWEH, which HE hateth, have they done unto their elohim; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their elohim. (32) What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: THOU SHALT NOT ADD THERETO, NOR DIMINISH FROM IT.

Jer. 10 (1) Hear ye the word which YAHWEH speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: (2) Thus saith YAHWEH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. (3) 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 ax. (4) They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. (5) They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

The last sentence in the above quotation does not mean that there is neither harm or nor good in having them. It means that the pagan's wooden idols have no life, and they have no physical power of their own to do good or to do physical harm to anyone. The description of the wooden idol that Jeremiah was describing is also a perfect description of modern day "Christianity's" Christmas tree. The "christianized" Christmas tree that has been adopted from the pagan custom of using evergreens in their idolatrous winter solstice season is just as lifeless and it is just as abominable to YAHWEH as the pagan's wooden idol! Therefore before one chooses to use elements of pagan worship in the worship of YAHWEH, one would be wise to carefully consider the following quotation.

Deu. 4 (1) Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which YAHWEH, Elohim of your fathers giveth you. (2) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of YAHWEH your Elohim which I command you.

If one wisely chooses to completely replace those pagan customs and practices that have been added to the gospel and build upon the foundation of YAHshua with only the TRADITIONS that YAHWEH ordained for HIS people, the RUDIMENTS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN, the COMMANDMENTS of YAHWEH, and the CUSTOMS that HE instituted one may find oneself in a very common dilemma. Consider the following:

YAHshua Ha Mashiach taught that there were four general classifications in which people who hear the word of the Kingdom of Heaven may find themselves. These classifications are found in the following parable.

Mat. 13 (3) And He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; (4) And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: (5) Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: (6) And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. (7) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: (8) But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

YAHshua explains the parable in these next five verses (Mat. 13 (19)-(23).

(classification # one): (19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

(classification # two): (20) But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (21) yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

(classification # three): (22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

(classification # four): (23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

The common dilemma is that one eagerly hears and accepts the word of the Kingdom of Heaven; then, some time later one realizes that the cares of this world with its pagan customs and traditions and commandments of men have slowly began to choke the true word. This was illustrated in classification # 3 (like unto the one who received the seed among thorns). When one realizes that the word has been being choked out of his life and that the doing of good deeds has been diminishing, one may consider to correct the problem. When one does consider to correct the problem, another problem usually appears. One's family has also heard the word of the Kingdom of Heaven and unknowingly fell into classification # 3 {like unto the one who received the seed among thorns (the cares of this world with its pagan customs and traditions and commandments of men)}. One becomes fully aware of this situation and is afraid to correct one's own personal situation because of the objection of one's family who does not realize that they have also fallen into classification # 3. One is commonly afraid that one's family may defect from the family relationship. If one does not correct one's own situation because of this, one then finds oneself in the classification # 2 (like unto the one who received the seed in stony places). One loves one's family and family relationship more than YAHWEH, if in order to keep from offending them, one refuses to build upon the foundation of YAHshua with the TRADITIONS that YAHWEH ordained for HIS people, the RUDIMENTS of the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, the COMMANDMENTS of YAHWEH, and the CUSTOMS that HE instituted. This is a very dangerous situation. The following scripture should be considered.

Mat. 10 (37) He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me [YAHshua] and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.

In this very common situation one should boldly correct one's own situation and be reclassified into classification # 4 (like unto the one who received the seed in good ground). The first step to be taken is to imitate YAHshua Ha Mashiach. Imitate Him by doing the will of YAHWEH regardless of whom it offends! Set an example for the whole family. Maybe YAHWEH will then use one's example to correct the thinking of the rest of the family who are in classification # 3 (like unto the one who received the seed among thorns). This advice is similar to the following advice also given by Paul, the Emissary to the Gentiles.

I Cor. 7 (12) But to the rest speak I, not the Sovereign: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. (13) And the woman which hath a husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. (14) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. (15) But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but YAHWEH hath called us to peace. (16) For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?  

The following scriptures may offer some wisdom and encouragement to all who may be in a similar situation. 

Rom. 8 (12): And we know that all things work together for good to them that love YAHWEH, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose. 

Mat. 19 (26) But YAHshua beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with YAHWEH all things are possible.

Mark 9:23: YAHshua said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Deu. 6 (4) Hear, O Israel: YAHWEH our Elohim is one YAHWEH: (5) And thou shalt love YAHWEH thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

The following prayer is again prayed for all the saints of YAHWEH.

Col. 1 (9) For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of HIS will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) That ye might walk worthy of the Sovereign unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of YAHWEH; (11) Strengthened with all might, according to HIS glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (12) Giving thanks unto the FATHER, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) WHO hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of HIS dear Son: (14) In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (15) Who is the image of the invisible YAHWEH, the Firstborn of every creature: (16) For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: (17) And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. (18) And He is the head of the body, the Assembly: Who is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. Amen

May YAHWEH richly bless all those who have read this book and were not offended by it. 

T.A.H.

CHAPTER ONE  CHAPTER TWO  CHAPTER THREE  CHAPTER FOUR