Easter

With all the importance traditional Christianity places on Easter one would think that it's observance was commanded by God. After all it is supposed to be the day that Christ had risen.

Doing a biblical word search on Easter only one scripture came up in the King James Version. Act 12:4 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. A closer look shows that this is a mistranslation of the word Passover. Other translations corrected this error. RVS: Act 12:4 And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.

Scripture shows that Christ's Apostles even after His death and resurrection observed Passover. In 1Corinthians we see the Apostle Paul giving instructions of how the Christians at Corinth were to observe the Passover and not Easter. 1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

So where did we get Easter come from? A quick search shows that it came to us from Pagan origins. This was a day used to honor their goddess Ishtar or Eostre.:Origin and Traditions - Long before Easter became the holiday it is today, the spring festival was celebrated by the people around the world. Although associated with the sun and the Vernal Equinox, the celebration was originally based on the lunar calendar. The name Easter is derived from the Saxon Eostre (which is synonymous with the name of the Phoenician Goddess of the Moon, Astarte), a Germanic goddess of spring and the deity who measured time.

So okay it is Pagan but we don't worship pagan gods we just use this day to worship our God. The problem is God warns us not to serve Him this way.
Deu 12:29 When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest in to possess them, and thou possessest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30 take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

Some will argue that these are Old Testiment scriptures and are only ment for the Jews. Rom 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him: Gal 3:28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female: for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.

The bottom line is: Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Now For The Good News

Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

These days of war will be stopped by the return of Jesus Christ. He will put an end to the mighty armies that come against Him. Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Satan will be taken captive and locked away. Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Christ shall rule: Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Under Christ's rule mankind will experience true peace,(not just the absence of war) prosperity, and health. It will be a joyous time.Jer 31:12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Jer 31:13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
Jer 31:14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

This is only the beginning.