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====What Your Minister Won't Tell You About Easter====
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====Don't Give Up On God====
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&quot;Now  the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no  pleasure in him&quot;<br>
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(Hebrews  10:38).<br>
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<br>
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by Tom Stewart<br>
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<br>
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<strong>Preface</strong><br>
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<br>
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In truth,  only two kinds of people inhabit this planet-- those who are&nbsp;<em>for</em>&nbsp;Christ and  those who are&nbsp;<em>against</em>&nbsp;Christ. Jesus said,&nbsp;&quot;He that is not  against us is on our part&quot;&nbsp;(Mark 9:40). The Apostle Peter wisely  observed,&nbsp;&quot;Of a truth I  perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that  feareth Him, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with Him&quot;&nbsp;(Acts 10:34, 35). On one hand, Christ's  adversaries are commanded,&nbsp;&quot;Repent ye, and  believe the Gospel&quot;&nbsp;(Mark 1:15); but, on the  other, to the Saints, who may be presently undergoing difficult times and  circumstances, the Apostle Paul  said,&nbsp;&quot;Stand fast in the  faith, quit you like men, be strong&quot;&nbsp;(1Corinthians 16:13). Strength comes in the believing of  those words from God.&nbsp;&quot;In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth  rise up and walk&quot;&nbsp;(Acts 3:6). The Epistle  of James promised,&nbsp;&quot;Draw nigh to God,  and He will draw nigh to you&quot;&nbsp;(James  4:8). And, to that testimony, the Apostle Paul added,&nbsp;&quot;If God be for us, who can be against  us?&quot;&nbsp;(Romans 8:31).&nbsp;<em>If  we are doing right, then we should never quit.</em>&quot;Now the just  shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure  in him&quot;&nbsp;(Hebrews 10:38).<br>
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<br>
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<strong>Right Doing is Righteousness</strong><br>
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<br>
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Right action  flows from right willing or the willingness to do right. That is Righteousness.&nbsp;&quot;Little children, let no man deceive you:  he that doeth Righteousness is righteous, even as He is Righteous&quot;&nbsp;(1John 3:7). When we are actively trusting&nbsp;&quot;Jesus Christ  the Righteous&quot;&nbsp;(2:1), then we are&nbsp;&quot;clothed with Righteousness&quot;&nbsp;(Psalm 132:9), and we may rely that His promised Spirit is  working in us&nbsp;&quot;to will and to do  of His good pleasure&quot;&nbsp;(Philippians 2:13). In  fact, we may fortify ourselves that so long as we still have the slightest  willingness to do right, the Almighty will breathe strength into us by His  Spirit.&nbsp;&quot;And I will put My  Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My  Judgments, and do them&quot;&nbsp;(Ezekiel 36:27). What an  amazing amalgamation of the Sovereignty of God with the Free Will of man!&nbsp;&quot;My Father worketh hitherto, and I  work&quot;&nbsp;(John  5:17)! When you feel yourself ready to give up, pray for the mercy of God--&nbsp;&quot;uphold me with Thy Free Spirit&quot;&nbsp;(Psalm 51:12). Since God&nbsp;&quot;cannot deny Himself&quot;&nbsp;(2Timothy 2:13), in that He faithfully chooses the right, He  will always choose those who choose the right, as well, i.e.,&nbsp;&quot;Blessed are they that keep judgment, and  he that doeth Righteousness at all times&quot;(Psalm 106:3). Even when He will soon  judge the Earth, He chooses the right in that He seeks His own highest good and  the highest good of His moral creatures.&nbsp;&quot;Thus will I magnify  Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations,  and they shall know that I am the LORD&quot;&nbsp;(Ezekiel 38:23).&nbsp;&quot;The LORD is known  by the Judgment which He executeth&quot;&nbsp;(Psalm 9:16).&nbsp;&quot;When Thy  Judgments are in the Earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn  Righteousness&quot;&nbsp;(Isaiah 26:9).<br>
  
<p>Have you heard this Easter story? In the spring of the year, King Herod began persecuting the early New Testament Church. The apostle John's brother James was martyred with a sword—soon after Peter was imprisoned. </p>
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<strong>Giving Up on God is Not Our Right</strong><br>
  
<p>Acts 12:4&nbsp;continues the story stating that when Herod (grandson of Herod the Great) had apprehended Peter, “he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after&nbsp; Easter &nbsp;to bring him forth to the people.</p>
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When we are  tempted to cease from doing right, we are tempted to give up on God, e.g.,&nbsp;&quot;he that believeth not God hath made Him a  liar&quot;&nbsp;(1John 5:10). We have no more right to give up on  God than an employee has to disobey a lawful order from his employer.&nbsp;&quot;Servants, obey in all things your masters  according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness  of heart, fearing God&quot;&nbsp;(Colossians 3:22).  Neither should we feel that children obeying their parents is anything but what  is expected by God and ourselves.&nbsp;&quot;Children, obey  your parents in the LORD: for this is right&quot;&nbsp;(Ephesians 6:1). In fact, we have no right to feel that we  have done anything but our duty, when we did not give up on God.&nbsp;&quot;So likewise ye, when ye shall have done  all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we  have done that which was our duty to do&quot;&nbsp;(Luke 17:10). That  God is pleased with our faith and right doing is evident by His Word, i.e.,&nbsp;&quot;without faith it is impossible to please  Him&quot;&nbsp;(Hebrews 11:6), and by His rewards, e.g.,&nbsp;&quot;Blessed is the man that endureth  temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him&quot;&nbsp;(James 1:12).<strong>But</strong>, His punishment for unbelief,  disobedience, and wickedness demonstrates His displeasure for our not doing or  ceasing to do what we know is right, i.e.,&nbsp;&quot;Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin&quot;&nbsp;(James 4:17).&nbsp;&quot;8&nbsp;But unto them that are contentious, and do not  obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,&nbsp;9&nbsp;tribulation and  anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of  the Gentile&quot;&nbsp;(Romans 2:8-9).<br>
  
<p>God intervened and Peter was rescued before Herod could hatch his plan. The angel of the Lord visited the apostle, his shackles fell off, and he walked out. A miraculous escape! </p>
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<strong>God's Spirit and Promises Keep Us From Giving Up on Him</strong><br>
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<br>
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Has the dinner bell rung yet? Is it time to  quit? Has God officially authorized us to stop doing our duty? Was it not our  understanding to keep our&nbsp;&quot;hand to the plough&quot;&nbsp;(Luke 9:62)&nbsp;until the LORD takes us Home, as He  did Enoch?&nbsp;&quot;And Enoch walked  with God: and he was not; for God took him&quot;&nbsp;(Genesis 5:24). When we are tempted to give up on God, then  we need to immediately avail ourselves of the Exceeding Great and Precious  Promises of God, that have been specifically designed for just such  temptations.&nbsp;&quot;Whereby are given  unto us Exceeding Great and Precious Promises: that by these ye might be  partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the  world through lust&quot;(2Peter 1:4).&nbsp;, to see how God has  magnificently designed His Promises to fit our every conceivable circumstance  and thereby sanctify and further prepare us for our future Heavenly vocations.]<br>
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Spiritual first aid begins by pouring in as many Promises of the Word of God as  we can reasonably find.&nbsp;&quot;As thy days, so  shall thy strength be&quot;&nbsp;(Deuteronomy 33:25).&nbsp;&nbsp;of our website would be a good place to start. Couple a good  Promise with a computerized cross reference search, such as the Treasury of  Scripture Knowledge used by the Online Bible &nbsp;and&nbsp;, and you will be able  to find even more Promises.]&nbsp;Especially  find one Promise that the Holy Spirit can recall to your mind. For example, the  need for the&nbsp;&quot;meekness and gentleness  of Christ&quot;&nbsp;(2Corinthians 10:1), especially when you are provoked by  those that despise your testimony, may call forth the Promise that preeminence  with God goes to those who primarily defend Him and not self:&nbsp;&quot;the last shall be first, and the first last&quot;&nbsp;(Matthew 20:16). The&nbsp;&quot;meek and lowly in heart&quot;&nbsp;Christ&nbsp;(Matthew 11:29)&nbsp;is<em>always</em>&nbsp;the Promise, the Pattern. and the  Example that&nbsp;&quot;ye should follow  His steps&quot;&nbsp;(1Peter 2:21).&nbsp;&quot;He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,  yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a  sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth&quot;&nbsp;(Isaiah 53:7).&nbsp;[More  about meekness may be found in the&nbsp;<br>
  
<p>…a miraculous&nbsp; Easter &nbsp;escape? </p>
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Again, you may not think of your bouts with impatience, haughtiness,  fearfulness, etc. as anything more than something that you have under control;  but, why do you keep repeating the same pattern of failure?&nbsp;&quot;Are ye so foolish? having begun in the  Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?&quot;&nbsp;(Galatians 3:3). Isn't that the same as giving up on God by  fits and starts?&nbsp;&quot;He that trusteth  in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be  delivered&quot;&nbsp;(Proverbs 28:26). It is  not enough to know that you should not do something&nbsp;<em>or</em>&nbsp;that you should do something,&nbsp;<em>but</em>&nbsp;you need the assistance of the Holy  Spirit to help you do what God says you are able to do but won't succeed in  doing until He intervenes.&nbsp;&quot;And I will put My  Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My  Judgments, and do them&quot;&nbsp;(Ezekiel 36:27).&nbsp;[See our editorial, &quot;, to see how Divine  Sovereignty providentially needs not overpower our Free Will to insure our  obedience.]<br>
  
<p>Realize this is the&nbsp; only &nbsp;place in the King James Bible the word Easter occurs. The original Greek word, however, is&nbsp; pascha —meaning Passover. In truth,&nbsp;Acts 12&nbsp;is talking about the Days of Unleavened Bread mentioned in&nbsp;Exodus 12&nbsp;and&nbsp;Leviticus 23. </p>
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<strong>Conclusion</strong><br>
 
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<br>
<p>Every other Bible translation does not say Easter in this account. Even the New King James version says Passover. The fact is, Easter's tie to Christ's death and resurrection&nbsp; cannot &nbsp;be found in the Bible! </p>
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Though giving up on God is an option, why entertain it?&nbsp;&quot;He which hath  begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus  Christ&quot;&nbsp;(Philippians 1:6). What  is the value of a Promise for your perseverance, unless you believe it?&nbsp;&quot;6&nbsp;But Christ as a Son  over His Own House; whose House are we,&nbsp;<strong>if</strong>&nbsp;we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end...&nbsp;14&nbsp;For we are made partakers of Christ,&nbsp;<strong>if</strong>&nbsp;we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end&quot;&nbsp;(Hebrews 3:6, 14). May  the God&quot;Who  worketh all things after the Counsel of His Own Will&quot;&nbsp;(Ephesians 1:11)&nbsp;magnify  Himself in keeping us from giving up on Him, in that&nbsp;&quot;He is able even to subdue all things unto  Himself&quot;&nbsp;(Philippians 3:21).<br>
 
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<br>
<p>Holy Week, as it is called—the period between Palm Sunday and Easter—is the busiest time of year for faithful Protestants and Catholics. The other observances during this period are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. </p>
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Maranatha!<br>
 
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<br>
<p>Have you ever heard your minister say why you keep these days? Sure, there are stated reasons they are observed. For one, they point to some of the most monumental events in human history. </p>
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He.Will.Subdue.Our.Iniquit.html">He Will Subdue Our Iniquities, for encouragement for  the fulfillment of this Promise from Micah 7:19.]
 
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<p>Yet has your minister given you Bible proof why you should be keeping these days? Have you seen—in God's own Word—why you should attend church services four times in the spring? </p>
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<p>Just like the word Easter, many other long-held traditions have no biblical backing. Yet you will never hear your minister utter one word about this—let alone what God's Word&nbsp; really &nbsp;says. </p>
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<p>All in a Name </p>
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<p>With Easter absent from the Bible text, where it does come from is profound. The answer is found in the name of the holiday itself. </p>
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<p>The&nbsp; New Catholic Encyclopedia &nbsp;states that “the origin of the term for the feast of Christ's Resurrection has been popularly considered to be from the Anglo-Saxon Eastre, a goddess of spring…the Old High German plural for dawn, eostarun; whence has come the German Ostern, and our English Easter.” </p>
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<p>Catholics admit Easter comes from a&nbsp; pagan &nbsp;goddess of spring! </p>
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<p>A Manual of Church History &nbsp;adds to this: “The fact that vernal festivals were general among pagan peoples no doubt had much to do with the form assumed by the Eastern festival in the Christian churches. The English term Easter is of pagan origin.” </p>
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<p>The book&nbsp; Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints' Days &nbsp;states this also: “On this greatest of Christian festivals, several survivals occur of&nbsp; ancient heathen ceremonies . To begin with, the name itself is not Christian but pagan. Ostara was the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring” (emphasis added). </p>
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<p>Do not miss the words “ancient heathen ceremonies.” The practice of Easter predates the birth of Christ! </p>
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<p>Should you be celebrating Easter? The name&nbsp; itself &nbsp;is that of a false goddess. </p>
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<p>This is no different from saying, “I am celebrating Baal.” Or, “I observe a day called Moloch.” Any Bible student knows what God says about those false deities. </p>
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<p>If you ask your minister about this, you will likely get a stock answer. Perhaps you have even heard it before. </p>
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<p>“We changed the meaning of the day. Now it relates to Christ's resurrection,” goes the common thinking. “Even though there are different historical origins, it is now an important Church holiday.” </p>
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<p>Easter is loaded with symbols and practices from paganism and fertility rites. Our booklet&nbsp; <a href="https://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=SoNDh5&mc=9O&s=VxSRn&u=7ow&z=EMtRJbG&"> The True Origin of Easter &nbsp;has the full story. </p>
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<p>It does not matter what you think or what you are told by others regarding Easter. What matters is what God thinks. How&nbsp; He &nbsp;feels about adopting heathen practices. </p>
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<p>Jeremiah 10:2&nbsp;reveals the plain answer: “Thus says the Lord,&nbsp; Learn not the way of the heathen , and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” </p>
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<p>Heathen practices should not be followed, adopted or adapted to serve God. How plain! </p>
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<p>Matthew 15:9&nbsp;adds to this: “But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” </p>
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<p>Easter as a doctrine is a commandment of men. You have seen the proof. It is simply not found in God's Word. </p>
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<p>Yet there&nbsp; are &nbsp;clear days in the Bible you should keep, and many of them fall right around Easter. More on that later. </p>
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<p>How Long in the Tomb? </p>
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<p>According to traditional teaching, Jesus was crucified on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday morning. </p>
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<p>The Catholic catechism puts it this way: “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because the Sabbath began on the evening of Good Friday, were the first to encounter the Risen One…Everything that happened during those Paschal days involves each of the apostles—and Peter in particular—in the building of the new era begun on Easter morning.” </p>
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<p>Do the math. Friday evening until Sunday morning is 36 hours. Is this how much time Jesus said He would be in the grave? Does it really matter? </p>
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<p>Matthew 12:39-40&nbsp;reveals the answer is significant. Jesus said this to scribes and Pharisees who were seeking a sign: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall&nbsp; the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth .” </p>
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<p>How long Jesus would be dead is of crucial importance! He declared He would show&nbsp; one &nbsp;sign. He said He would be dead and buried for three whole days&nbsp; and &nbsp;three whole nights—72 hours. </p>
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<p>So which day is off: Good Friday or Easter Sunday? The answer is both! </p>
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<p>John 19:14&nbsp;explains that Jesus' crucifixion landed on “the preparation of the Passover.”&nbsp;Verse 31&nbsp;further states “for that sabbath day was a high day.” </p>
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<p>What does this mean? </p>
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<p>An extended quote from our booklet&nbsp; <a href="https://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=SoNDG9&mc=9O&s=VxSRn&u=7ow&z=E9ZKhuv&">Christ's Resurrection Was Not on Sunday reveals the answer in detail. </p>
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<p>“Any Jew will tell you that a ‘high day' is a feast day or an annual holy day!&nbsp;Leviticus 23&nbsp;describes seven of these days that the nation of ancient Israel was commanded to keep year by year. A simple review of this chapter (verses 24,&nbsp;26-32&nbsp;and&nbsp;39) reveals that God considered these days to be Sabbaths. Notice that&nbsp;Leviticus 23:2&nbsp;refers to all of these Sabbaths as ‘the feasts of the Lord' and ‘even these are My feasts.' This same verse also calls them ‘holy convocations'—meaning commanded assemblies. These days do not fall on the same day, year after year, any more than do the common pagan holidays that most people observe today. </p>
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<p>“Matthew 26:2&nbsp;states, ‘You know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.' (Leviticus 23&nbsp;shows that the Passover was the one feast that was not also a Sabbath, wherein work was prohibited.) There is no doubt that Christ was crucified on the Passover.” </p>
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<p>The quote continues: “The Old Testament Passover always preceded the annual Sabbath called the first Day of Unleavened Bread. This day was a high day or a feast day to be celebrated each year, again, on the day immediately following the Passover. Notice&nbsp;Numbers 28:16-17: ‘And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the Lord. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast.' This feast was the first Day of Unleavened Bread. </p>
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<p>“Jesus Christ was slain by crucifixion on the exact same day that the Passover lamb had been slain every year…Christ was crucified on the Passover and this day then would automatically be a preparation day for the feast day, or annual high day Sabbath—which was to begin almost immediately after His burial. </p>
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<p>“As mentioned, annual Sabbaths could occur on any day of the week. Tuesday and Thursday are more common than any other day for the first Day of Unleavened Bread, following the Passover. Thursday is probably the most common of all. For instance, in the thirty-six years (counting inclusively) between 1998 and 2033, the first Day of Unleavened Bread occurs on a Thursday 12 times, and on a Tuesday 10 times. All other days are less often during this period. In the year of Christ's crucifixion, according to the Hebrew calendar, the Passover occurred on a Wednesday! This means that the annual Sabbath had to be one day later—or Thursday! It was, in fact, this sabbath that was approaching, thus requiring the swift burial of Jesus' body prior to its arrival. The weekly Sabbath, or Saturday, was to occur two days after that.” </p>
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<p>Re-read this last paragraph until it becomes crystal clear. When all the facts are in, the day of Christ's resurrection is simple. Three days&nbsp; and &nbsp;three nights from Wednesday evening is Saturday evening. This is when Jesus came out of the tomb. </p>
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<p>Realize what this means: Jesus Christ was not resurrected on Sunday. You have seen the proof in your Bible! With this information comes an all-important decision you must make… </p>
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<p>Decision Point </p>
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<p>Back up and look at Christendom as a whole. Almost every denomination uses Christ's&nbsp; Sunday &nbsp;resurrection as proof that you should keep Sunday. You have seen this is utterly false thinking. Coming off this, what day should you keep? </p>
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<p>The Bible answer is again plain. In fact, you likely have already memorized the answer, which is found in&nbsp;Exodus 20: “Remember&nbsp; the sabbath day , to keep it holy” (vs. 8). Any Sunday school student knows this as one of the Ten Commandments! </p>
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<p>If pressed, many ministers will state it is good to set aside a day or parts of a few days to rest and recuperate. However, almost none will state definitively that the Sabbath is a specific day. </p>
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<p>But God states it&nbsp; is &nbsp;one day. Keep reading in Exodus: “Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord your God: in it you shall not do any work…For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (vs. 9-11). </p>
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<p>Count the days of the week. The seventh is Saturday. God leaves no wiggle room here, and He wants that specific day kept! (Note that this should be set aside from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.) </p>
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<p>Begin to ask yourself, “Am I ready to keep the seventh-day Sabbath as God commands?” </p>
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<p>What about yearly observances such as Easter, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday—all of which commemorate biblical events? These are based on ancient heathen customs, but there&nbsp; are &nbsp;annual Holy Days God commands to keep. </p>
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<p>God is clear what days He wants you to keep in the spring. These are the very same days Jesus Himself kept. Yet, again, your minister will never tell you to keep them. Recall that Christ's crucifixion happened on the Passover leading into the Days of Unleavened Bread. </p>
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<p>Ministers will tell you “this was done away” or “those days were kept for you by Christ.” </p>
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<p>Exodus 12:17&nbsp;contains a command of God: “And you shall observe the feast of unleavened bread…by an ordinance forever.” </p>
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<p>This command was not “done away.” It is “by an ordinance forever.” </p>
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<p>Will you believe your Bible? Forever means forever! </p>
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<p>The New Testament Church knew this. It continued to keep God's Holy Days after Christ ascended into heaven. Paul told the Corinthians to keep the Days of Unleavened Bread: “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us&nbsp; keep the feast , not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (I Cor. 5:7-8). </p>
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<p>The&nbsp; only &nbsp;thing Paul could be talking about here is keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread! </p>
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<p>All of God's Holy Days—seven altogether—have specific instructions tied to them. They can be found throughout Scripture and are intended to demonstrate God's incredible plan of salvation for all mankind. </p>
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<p>Most people never question their beliefs. This is especially true of cherished religious traditions. Do not believe what your minister tells you about Easter or any other manmade holiday. Do not go off what you were taught in Sunday school or by your parents. Instead,&nbsp; investigate &nbsp;God's Word. He is clear what weekly day you should keep holy. He is clear what annual Holy Days you should keep—with detailed instructions on how to observe them properly. </p>
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<p> While reading, open up your Bible and&nbsp;prove&nbsp;for yourself what God wants! </p>
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<p> <a href="https://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=SoNng4&mc=9O&s=VxSRn&u=7ow&z=E9vhCZW&">
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rcg.org </p>
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Revision as of 23:26, 2 July 2021

Jerusalem LIVE view
https://www.tv7israelnews.com/jerusalem-live-feed/


When Demons Are Real!

https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-television-program/when-demons-are-real


Page.png July's featured article


Don't Give Up On God

"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him"
(Hebrews 10:38).

by Tom Stewart

Preface

In truth, only two kinds of people inhabit this planet-- those who are for Christ and those who are against Christ. Jesus said, "He that is not against us is on our part" (Mark 9:40). The Apostle Peter wisely observed, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with Him" (Acts 10:34, 35). On one hand, Christ's adversaries are commanded, "Repent ye, and believe the Gospel" (Mark 1:15); but, on the other, to the Saints, who may be presently undergoing difficult times and circumstances, the Apostle Paul said, "Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1Corinthians 16:13). Strength comes in the believing of those words from God. "In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). The Epistle of James promised, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8). And, to that testimony, the Apostle Paul added, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). If we are doing right, then we should never quit."Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).

Right Doing is Righteousness

Right action flows from right willing or the willingness to do right. That is Righteousness. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth Righteousness is righteous, even as He is Righteous" (1John 3:7). When we are actively trusting "Jesus Christ the Righteous" (2:1), then we are "clothed with Righteousness" (Psalm 132:9), and we may rely that His promised Spirit is working in us "to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). In fact, we may fortify ourselves that so long as we still have the slightest willingness to do right, the Almighty will breathe strength into us by His Spirit. "And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27). What an amazing amalgamation of the Sovereignty of God with the Free Will of man! "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17)! When you feel yourself ready to give up, pray for the mercy of God-- "uphold me with Thy Free Spirit" (Psalm 51:12). Since God "cannot deny Himself" (2Timothy 2:13), in that He faithfully chooses the right, He will always choose those who choose the right, as well, i.e., "Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth Righteousness at all times"(Psalm 106:3). Even when He will soon judge the Earth, He chooses the right in that He seeks His own highest good and the highest good of His moral creatures. "Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD" (Ezekiel 38:23). "The LORD is known by the Judgment which He executeth" (Psalm 9:16). "When Thy Judgments are in the Earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn Righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9).

Giving Up on God is Not Our Right

When we are tempted to cease from doing right, we are tempted to give up on God, e.g., "he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar" (1John 5:10). We have no more right to give up on God than an employee has to disobey a lawful order from his employer. "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God" (Colossians 3:22). Neither should we feel that children obeying their parents is anything but what is expected by God and ourselves. "Children, obey your parents in the LORD: for this is right" (Ephesians 6:1). In fact, we have no right to feel that we have done anything but our duty, when we did not give up on God. "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10). That God is pleased with our faith and right doing is evident by His Word, i.e., "without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6), and by His rewards, e.g., "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love Him" (James 1:12).But, His punishment for unbelief, disobedience, and wickedness demonstrates His displeasure for our not doing or ceasing to do what we know is right, i.e., "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). "8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile" (Romans 2:8-9).

God's Spirit and Promises Keep Us From Giving Up on Him

Has the dinner bell rung yet? Is it time to quit? Has God officially authorized us to stop doing our duty? Was it not our understanding to keep our "hand to the plough" (Luke 9:62) until the LORD takes us Home, as He did Enoch? "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). When we are tempted to give up on God, then we need to immediately avail ourselves of the Exceeding Great and Precious Promises of God, that have been specifically designed for just such temptations. "Whereby are given unto us Exceeding Great and Precious Promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust"(2Peter 1:4). , to see how God has magnificently designed His Promises to fit our every conceivable circumstance and thereby sanctify and further prepare us for our future Heavenly vocations.]
Spiritual first aid begins by pouring in as many Promises of the Word of God as we can reasonably find. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be" (Deuteronomy 33:25).  of our website would be a good place to start. Couple a good Promise with a computerized cross reference search, such as the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge used by the Online Bible  and , and you will be able to find even more Promises.] Especially find one Promise that the Holy Spirit can recall to your mind. For example, the need for the "meekness and gentleness of Christ" (2Corinthians 10:1), especially when you are provoked by those that despise your testimony, may call forth the Promise that preeminence with God goes to those who primarily defend Him and not self: "the last shall be first, and the first last" (Matthew 20:16). The "meek and lowly in heart" Christ (Matthew 11:29) isalways the Promise, the Pattern. and the Example that "ye should follow His steps" (1Peter 2:21). "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). [More about meekness may be found in the 

Again, you may not think of your bouts with impatience, haughtiness, fearfulness, etc. as anything more than something that you have under control; but, why do you keep repeating the same pattern of failure? "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3). Isn't that the same as giving up on God by fits and starts? "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26). It is not enough to know that you should not do something or that you should do something, but you need the assistance of the Holy Spirit to help you do what God says you are able to do but won't succeed in doing until He intervenes. "And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27). [See our editorial, ", to see how Divine Sovereignty providentially needs not overpower our Free Will to insure our obedience.]

Conclusion

Though giving up on God is an option, why entertain it? "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). What is the value of a Promise for your perseverance, unless you believe it? "6 But Christ as a Son over His Own House; whose House are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end... 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6, 14). May the God"Who worketh all things after the Counsel of His Own Will" (Ephesians 1:11) magnify Himself in keeping us from giving up on Him, in that "He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Philippians 3:21).

Maranatha!

He.Will.Subdue.Our.Iniquit.html">He Will Subdue Our Iniquities, for encouragement for the fulfillment of this Promise from Micah 7:19.]