Lent 101

[angels4u]

Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 17"But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face… Matthew ^:16

[HAZARD]

The name "Easter" is merely the slightly changed English spelling of the name of the ancient Assyrian goddess Ishtar, pronounced by the Assyrians exactly as we pronounce "Easter." The Babylonian name of this goddess was Astarte, consort of Baal, the Sun-god, whose worship is denounced by the Almighty in the Bible as the most abominable of all pagan idolatry.

Look up the word "Easter" in Webster's dictionary. You will find: "AS. (Anglo-Saxon), from name of old Teuton goddess of spring."

Easter is nothing else than Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the 'queen of heaven,' whose name, as pronounced by the people of Nineveh, was evidently identical with that now in common use in this country."

The ancient gods of the pagans had many different names. While this goddess was called Astarte in Babylon, it appears on Assyrian monuments found by Layard in excavations at Nineveh as Ishtar (Layard's Nineveh and Babylon, page 629). Both were pronounced "Easter." Likewise, Beltis, or Bel (referred to in the Old Testament) also was called Moloch. It was for sacrificing to Moloch (I Kings 11:1-11, especially verse 7, where Moloch is called an abomination) and other pagan gods that the Eternal condemned Solomon, and rended away the Kingdom of Israel from his son.

In the ancient Chaldean idolatrous Sun-worship, Baal was the sun god, Astarte his consort, or wife. And Astarte is the same as Ishtar, or the English Easter.

 The festival, of which we read in church history, under the name of Easter, in the third or fourth centuries, was quite a different festival from that now observed in the Romish (and Protestant) church, and at that time was not known by any such name as Easter. IT WAS CALLED PASSOVER, and was very early observed by Christians . . . . That festival agreed originally with the time of the Jewish Passover, when Christ was crucified. . . . That festival was not idolatrous, and was preceded by no Lent."
 

"It ought to be known," wrote Cassianus in the fifth century, "that the observance of the forty days (Lent) had no existence, so long as the perfection of that primitive Church remained inviolate."

Jesus observed no Lent. The apostles and the early true Church of God observed no Lenten season. Then how did this observance originate?

"The forty days' abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess. Such a Lent of forty days, 'in the spring of the year,' is still observed by the Yezidis or pagan Devil-worshippers of Koordistan, who have inherited it from their early masters, the Babylonians. Such a Lent was held by the pagan Mexicans, in honor of the sun. . . . Such a Lent was observed in Egypt (Wilkinson's Egyptians). This Egyptian Lent of forty days was held expressly in commemoration of Adonis or Osiris, the great mediatorial god." (The Two Babylons, by Hislop, pages 104 and 105, and Sabean Researches, by Landseer, p. 112).

Do you realize what has happened? God Almighty commanded His people to observe the PASSOVER forever! (Ex. 12:24). This command was given while the Israelites were still in Egypt, prior to the Old Covenant, or the Law of Moses! It pictured, before the Crucifixion, Christ's death for the remission of our sins, as a type looking forward to it. At His last Passover, Jesus changed the emblems used from the blood of a lamb and eating its roasted body to the bread and wine.

Jesus did not abolish Passover — He merely CHANGED the emblems, or symbols used. All the apostles of Christ, and true Christians of the first century true Church observed it, on the 14th day of the first month of the sacred calendar. It is now a MEMORIAL of Christ's death, reaffirming, year by year on its anniversary, the true Christian's FAITH in the blood of Christ for the remission of his sins, and the broken body of Christ for his physical healing.

All western nations have been deceived into dropping the festival God ordained forever to commemorate the death of the true Saviour for our sins, and substituting in its place the PAGAN festival in commemoration of the counterfeit "saviour" and mediator of Baal, the SUN GOD, named after the mythical Ishtar, his wife — actually none other than the ancient Semiramis, who palmed herself off as the wife of the sun god, the idolatrous "QUEEN OF HEAVEN."

THIS is not Christian! IT IS PAGAN TO THE CORE!

[kwikphilly]

Blessings,,,,

    I must have missed this Thread somehow & it is an interesting Topic,,,,,

Quote

We should be practicing lent all year long.  We should be doing the things befitting repentance such as making right the wrongs we have done, repaying what we have stolen, confessing if we have lied and always making restitution.  We should be remembering our Savior's death on our behalf and His conquering death and the power of satan by arising and ascending into heaven where He prays for us.  We should not place anyone or thing, entertainment or creature comfort as more important than our God.  

If Lent helps some people get back on track then by all means do so.  If it is meaningful to you, do it.  But some treat every day as the Lord's day and make Lent a lifestyle.  We prefer to stay nestled close to God and to live a lifestyle that rids us of distractions, compromise and sin.  

Blessings,

Willa

This is all true,the only problem is with "pentinence" sometimes the "regret" can become an issue & then it becomes more of a focus on the "works" of an individual & one can easily become distracted,,,,,,,,,the focus,with a repentant heart should always be on Christs Finished Work on the Cross,,,,,,,,,the "act" of Contrition must be with full knowledge that we are FORGIVEN,past present & future sin ads we will inevitably be wresting with the flesh until we receive our New Glorified Bodies & be just as Christ IS IN HEAVEN,,,,,,,,we are not to be filled with guilt,regret,shame but rejoice that we ,by that Precious Blood of our Savior,are Worthy,Blameless,Spotless,without Stain or Blemish,,,,,,,,,,,,when we do fall into temptation we must "repent" & be thankful,grateful that we are covered by His Blood,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,                                       Praise Jesus!                                            With love-in Christ,Kwik