The Truth About Easter – Its Pagan Origins and Why Christians Should Not Celebrate It
Many Christians believe that Easter is a holy day celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But history and Scripture reveal a very different truth—Easter is rooted in pagan fertility rituals, Babylonian goddess worship, and Roman sun worship, all of which were later blended with Christianity.
“Learn not the way of the heathen.” – Jeremiah 10:2
The Pagan Origins of Easter – A Deception Rooted in Ancient Idolatry
Easter is widely celebrated as a Christian holiday, but its roots have nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Instead, it originates from Babylonian, Roman, and Druidic fertility worship that predates Christianity by thousands of years.
The name Easter itself is derived from Ishtar (Astarte/Ashtaroth), the Babylonian fertility goddess, and the customs associated with the holiday—eggs, rabbits, sunrise services—are all linked to ancient pagan fertility rituals that God condemns.
🔹 Easter is Named After a False Goddess
✔ The English word “Easter” comes from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility and spring.
✔ Eostre is the same as Ishtar (Babylon), Astarte (Canaan), and Ashtaroth (Phoenicia).
✔ These goddesses were worshiped with fertility symbols, temple prostitution, and spring festivals.
📖 Judges 2:13 – “And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.”
🔎 Israel repeatedly fell into worshiping Ashtaroth, the same false goddess Easter is named after.
✔ Worship of Ishtar included sexual immorality, temple prostitution, and sacrifices.
✔ The fertility rites of Ishtar worship involved eggs, rabbits, and spring feasts to celebrate new life.
✔ The early Catholic Church rebranded this pagan festival as “Christian” to convert sun worshipers.
📖 Ezekiel 8:14-16 – “Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.”
🔎 The worship of Tammuz and his mother Ishtar (Easter) was part of ancient Babylonian idolatry, yet Easter continues this tradition unknowingly.
🔹 The Worship of the Queen of Heaven
✔ Ancient civilizations worshiped a mother-goddess figure associated with fertility.
✔ Babylonians worshiped Ishtar as the Queen of Heaven, the “mother of god.”
✔ The Roman Church later applied this title to Mary, further blending paganism with Christianity.
📖 Jeremiah 7:18 – “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods.”
🔎 Easter “hot cross buns” originate from cakes made for the Queen of Heaven, a practice condemned by God.
✔ Easter celebrations mirror these ancient pagan practices—ritual feasts, mourning for the dead, and celebrating fertility.
✔ Even today, many Catholics refer to Mary as the “Queen of Heaven,” a direct borrowing from Babylonian goddess worship.
📖 Deuteronomy 12:30-31 – “Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them… Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God.”
🔎 God explicitly commands His people not to adopt pagan customs, yet Easter is filled with them.
🔹 The Use of Eggs and Rabbits in Pagan Worship
✔ Eggs were an ancient fertility symbol, used in worship of Ishtar and Astarte.
✔ Rabbits, known for their high reproductive rate, were symbols of fertility and sexual promiscuity.
✔ The painting of eggs in pagan rituals was to honor false gods and spirits of fertility.
📖 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
🔎 Even if modern Easter eggs and rabbits seem innocent, their origins are rooted in idolatry.
✔ The Catholic Church merged these customs with Christ’s resurrection to make Christianity more appealing to pagans.
✔ Nowhere in the Bible are eggs or rabbits associated with Christ’s resurrection.
✔ This is a perfect example of mixing truth with error—something God rejects.
📖 2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.”
🔎 God calls His people to separate from pagan customs, not rebrand them as Christian.
🔹 The Influence of the Roman Church in Merging Paganism with Christianity
✔ The early church observed Passover, not Easter.
✔ The Roman Church changed Passover to Easter in AD 325 at the Council of Nicaea.
✔ This was done to break ties with Jewish observances and merge Christianity with Roman traditions.
📖 Daniel 7:25 – “And he shall think to change times and laws.”
🔎 Prophecy foretold that religious authorities would alter God’s appointed times—including replacing Passover with Easter.
✔ Easter Sunday replaced the biblical Passover, despite Jesus and the apostles keeping Passover.
✔ Instead of following God’s calendar (Leviticus 23), the Roman Church established Easter based on the spring equinox.
📖 Matthew 15:9 – “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
🔎 Easter is a man-made tradition, not a biblical command.
Key Takeaways – Easter’s Pagan Roots Are Undeniable
✔ Easter is named after Ishtar, a Babylonian fertility goddess.
✔ Its customs—eggs, rabbits, sunrise services—are rooted in ancient idolatry.
✔ The Roman Church merged this pagan festival with Christianity to attract converts.
✔ The true biblical observance is Passover, not Easter.
✔ God commands His people to separate from false worship and follow His appointed times.
📖 Revelation 18:4 – “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.”
🔎 God’s people are called to leave Babylon behind, including its counterfeit religious traditions.
🚀 Will you continue in the traditions of men, or will you stand for the truth of God’s Word?
Easter’s Connection to Babylon and False Gods
Easter is not a biblical celebration but a continuation of Babylonian mystery religion and false god worship. The customs, rituals, and symbols associated with Easter all trace back to ancient fertility cults, the worship of the Queen of Heaven, and the counterfeit savior narratives of Babylon.
The Bible repeatedly warns against adopting the practices of the heathen, yet Easter follows the exact patterns of these ancient religious systems.
🔹 Ishtar – The Babylonian Queen of Heaven
✔ Easter is derived from the name Ishtar (pronounced “Easter” in some cultures).
✔ Ishtar was the Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, and war—worshiped with immoral sexual rites.
✔ She was known as the “Queen of Heaven,” a title still used in Catholicism for Mary.
📖 Jeremiah 7:18 – “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods.”
🔎 Baking cakes (hot cross buns) and offerings to the Queen of Heaven are ancient rituals condemned by God.
✔ Ishtar’s festivals included temple prostitution, animal sacrifices, and fertility rites.
✔ Her symbols were eggs and rabbits—both signs of fertility and new life.
✔ Worshipers believed Ishtar died and was resurrected annually in the spring—an obvious counterfeit to Christ’s resurrection.
📖 Judges 2:13 – “And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.”
🔎 Israel fell into judgment because they mixed the worship of God with Ashtaroth (Ishtar). Easter follows the same deception.
🔹 The False Resurrection of Tammuz
✔ Tammuz was the son of Ishtar, worshiped as a dying-and-rising fertility god.
✔ Pagans believed he was killed and resurrected every spring, symbolizing the rebirth of crops and new life.
✔ Weeping for Tammuz was a major religious practice among sun worshipers.
📖 Ezekiel 8:14 – “Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.”
🔎 God showed Ezekiel this abomination—false worship centered on a counterfeit resurrection.
✔ The 40 days of mourning for Tammuz later became “Lent” in the Catholic tradition.
✔ His resurrection celebrations became the basis for Easter Sunday services.
📖 Exodus 20:3 – “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
🔎 Celebrating Easter connects directly to the ancient false worship that led Israel into idolatry.
🔹 Easter’s Connection to Sun Worship
✔ Babylonian priests performed sunrise services in honor of the sun god.
✔ Easter sunrise services today mirror these ancient pagan ceremonies.
✔ Sun worship was one of the greatest abominations condemned by God.
📖 Ezekiel 8:16 – “And they worshiped the sun toward the east.”
🔎 Sunrise services are not biblical—they are a direct continuation of ancient sun worship.
✔ The Catholic Church merged the celebration of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) with Easter to attract pagans.
✔ Easter Sunday replaced Passover as the primary “Christian” feast day, despite having no biblical support.
✔ The worship of the sun and resurrection of false gods were merged into Easter’s timeline.
📖 Deuteronomy 4:19 – “Lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them.”
🔎 Easter’s focus on sunrise services, fertility symbols, and pagan resurrection myths shows it is not a Christian celebration.
🔹 Easter and the Counterfeit Christ
✔ Satan always creates counterfeits to deceive people away from the true Messiah.
✔ Easter’s false resurrection story existed long before Jesus, misleading many into believing they are worshiping Him when they are following a pagan tradition.
✔ The early church never celebrated Easter—it was introduced by the Roman Church centuries later.
📖 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
🔎 Satan’s greatest deceptions often appear religious or “good,” yet they lead people away from the truth.
✔ God commands His people to observe Passover, not Easter.
✔ Jesus and His disciples kept Passover (not Easter), and He fulfilled it as the true Lamb of God.
📖 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 – “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast.”
🔎 The true biblical feast is Passover, not Easter.
Key Takeaways – Easter’s Connection to Babylon is Undeniable
✔ Easter is named after Ishtar, a Babylonian fertility goddess.
✔ Its customs (eggs, rabbits, sunrise services) come directly from pagan worship.
✔ The mourning for Tammuz became Lent, and his resurrection myth was merged with Christ’s.
✔ Easter Sunday is based on sun worship, not the true biblical timeline of Jesus’ resurrection.
✔ True believers must reject Easter and follow God’s appointed feasts, such as Passover.
📖 Revelation 18:4 – “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.”
🔎 God calls His people to separate from Babylon and its customs.
🚀 Will you continue in man-made traditions, or will you stand on the truth of God’s Word?
The False Timeline of Easter and the Resurrection
One of the greatest deceptions of Easter is its false timeline regarding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The traditional Good Friday to Easter Sunday timeline does not align with Scripture, yet it has been widely accepted due to the influence of the Roman Church and pagan customs.
Jesus Himself stated that He would be in the grave three days and three nights—a statement that completely contradicts the Good Friday to Easter Sunday tradition.
🔹 Jesus’ Own Words Prove the Easter Timeline is False
✔ Jesus prophesied that He would be in the grave for exactly three days and three nights.
✔ The Good Friday to Easter Sunday tradition only accounts for one full day and two nights, making it mathematically impossible.
📖 Matthew 12:40 – “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
🔎 A Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection does not fulfill this prophecy.
✔ The belief that Jesus rose on Sunday morning comes from pagan sun worship traditions, not the Bible.
✔ Scripture shows that Jesus was already risen before dawn on the first day of the week.
📖 John 20:1 – “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”
🔎 Jesus was already resurrected while it was still dark—He did not rise at sunrise.
🔹 The Biblical Timeline of the Crucifixion and Resurrection
✔ Jesus was crucified on the preparation day for the annual Passover Sabbath, not the weekly Sabbath.
✔ The “high Sabbath” mentioned in John 19:31 refers to the first day of Unleavened Bread, not the regular weekly Sabbath.
✔ Jesus was placed in the tomb before sundown and remained there for three full days and nights.
📖 John 19:31 – “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day).”
🔎 This was not the weekly Sabbath but the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
✔ A Wednesday crucifixion fits the biblical timeline.
✔ Three days and three nights later, Jesus rose at the end of the weekly Sabbath (Saturday evening), not Sunday morning.
📖 Mark 16:9 – “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week.”
🔎 The original Greek indicates that Jesus had already risen before the first day of the week began.
🔹 The Influence of Pagan Sun Worship on the Easter Timeline
✔ The Roman Church replaced Passover with Easter to align with pagan sun worship festivals.
✔ Sunrise services, which are common in Easter traditions, mirror ancient sun-worshiping ceremonies.
✔ The term “Easter Sunday” is based on the worship of the sun god, not Christ’s resurrection.
📖 Ezekiel 8:16 – “And they worshiped the sun toward the east.”
🔎 Easter sunrise services continue the abominations that God condemned in Ezekiel’s time.
✔ The Catholic Church adopted the pagan fertility celebration of Ishtar and merged it with the resurrection of Christ.
✔ They changed the biblical timeline to match Roman traditions instead of Scripture.
📖 Daniel 7:25 – “And he shall think to change times and laws.”
🔎 Prophecy foretold that religious authorities would alter God’s appointed times—including replacing Passover with Easter.
🔹 The Biblical Holy Day That We Should Observe Instead
✔ Jesus and His disciples observed Passover, not Easter.
✔ The resurrection of Christ should be remembered in connection with the biblical feasts, not a man-made holiday.
✔ True believers should honor God’s appointed times instead of following traditions rooted in deception.
📖 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 – “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast.”
🔎 Paul confirms that Christ is our Passover, not our “Easter Lamb.”
📖 Luke 22:19 – “This do in remembrance of me.”
🔎 Jesus commanded us to observe the Lord’s Supper, not Easter.
✔ The Feast of Firstfruits, not Easter, foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection.
✔ Jesus rose as the “Firstfruits” of those who will be resurrected.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:20 – “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
🔎 Passover and Firstfruits are the true biblical observances that honor Christ.
Key Takeaways – The Easter Timeline is a Fabrication
✔ The Good Friday to Easter Sunday tradition does not match Jesus’ prophecy of three days and three nights.
✔ Jesus was already risen before sunrise on Sunday, meaning He did not rise on Easter morning.
✔ Easter Sunday’s timeline was created by the Roman Church to merge Christianity with sun worship.
✔ The true biblical observance is Passover, not Easter.
✔ God’s people are commanded to separate from man-made traditions and follow His appointed times.
📖 Revelation 18:4 – “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.”
🔎 God calls His people to leave behind Babylonian religious systems, including Easter.
🚀 Will you continue following the false timeline of Easter, or will you seek the truth in God’s Word?
Why True Believers Must Reject Easter
Many professing Christians celebrate Easter, believing it to be a holy day honoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, the origins, customs, and timeline of Easter are not biblical but rooted in paganism and deception. God commands His people to separate from idolatry and false worship, not repackage it in His name. True believers must ask: Does God accept worship that is tainted with pagan traditions?
🔹 God Commands His People to Separate from Pagan Practices
✔ God’s people are to be set apart from the customs of the world.
✔ Worship must be based on God’s Word, not man-made traditions.
✔ Pagan holidays cannot be “Christianized” or made acceptable to God.
📖 2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
🔎 Separation from false religious traditions is a requirement for being accepted by God.
📖 Leviticus 18:3 – “After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do.”
🔎 God repeatedly warns against adopting the customs of pagan nations.
✔ Many believe they are honoring Christ by celebrating Easter, but God does not accept worship based on falsehood.
✔ In Scripture, whenever God’s people mixed pagan traditions with true worship, He rebuked and judged them.
📖 Deuteronomy 12:30-31 – “How did these nations serve their gods? Even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God.”
🔎 God strictly forbids adapting pagan customs into His worship.
🔹 Mixing Paganism with Worship is Idolatry
✔ The Israelites repeatedly mixed false worship with God’s commandments—and faced severe consequences.
✔ They still claimed to serve the Lord, but He rejected their worship because it was tainted.
✔ Easter follows the same deception—attaching God’s name to a pagan festival.
📖 Exodus 32:4-5 – “These be thy gods, O Israel… And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord.”
🔎 Aaron mixed golden calf worship with honoring the Lord—just as Easter mixes Christ’s resurrection with pagan fertility rites.
📖 Ezekiel 20:39 – “Go ye, serve ye every one his idols… but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts and with your idols.”
🔎 God does not accept worship polluted by false religious customs.
✔ Easter traditions—eggs, rabbits, sunrise services—are directly linked to ancient false gods.
✔ No amount of “Christian meaning” can remove their idolatrous origins.
📖 Mark 7:7-8 – “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men… ye hold the tradition of men.”
🔎 Easter is a man-made tradition, not a commandment of God.
🔹 The True Resurrection of Christ is Not Connected to Easter
✔ The Bible never mentions Easter as a celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
✔ The early disciples kept Passover, not Easter.
✔ The resurrection of Christ should be honored according to biblical truth, not a man-made tradition.
📖 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 – “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast.”
🔎 The early church kept Passover, not Easter.
📖 Luke 22:19 – “This do in remembrance of me.”
🔎 Jesus commanded us to remember His death, not celebrate a holiday rooted in idolatry.
✔ The Catholic Church replaced Passover with Easter at the Council of Nicaea (AD 325).
✔ This change was made to distance Christianity from Jewish traditions and align with pagan festivals.
📖 Daniel 7:25 – “And he shall think to change times and laws.”
🔎 Changing biblical holy days to align with pagan customs is part of the great deception.
🔹 True Worship Must Be Based on God’s Truth
✔ God desires worship in spirit and truth—not in man-made traditions.
✔ Truth does not change—if something is rooted in falsehood, it remains false.
✔ Jesus never commanded us to observe His resurrection as a holiday—He commanded obedience to His Word.
📖 John 4:24 – “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
🔎 Worship must be based on God’s truth, not cultural or religious traditions.
📖 Colossians 2:8 – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men.”
🔎 God warns us against being deceived by human traditions.
✔ Most Christians do not question why they celebrate Easter—they simply follow tradition.
✔ True believers must ask: Does this honor God, or does it mix truth with deception?
✔ If a practice is not rooted in biblical truth, it cannot be part of genuine worship.
📖 Matthew 7:13-14 – “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”
🔎 Most of the world follows Easter traditions, but the narrow path leads to biblical truth.
Key Takeaways – Why True Believers Must Reject Easter
✔ God calls His people to separate from false religious customs.
✔ Mixing paganism with worship is idolatry, even when done in God’s name.
✔ Easter is not found in the Bible, and Jesus never commanded its observance.
✔ True believers must follow God’s appointed feasts, not the traditions of men.
✔ Worship must be based on truth, not the blending of biblical and pagan practices.
📖 Revelation 18:4 – “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.”
🔎 God calls His people to separate from Babylon and its traditions.
🚀 Will you follow God’s Word, or continue in the traditions of men? The choice is yours.
Honoring God in Spirit and Truth Instead of Easter
True worship is not about following human traditions or adopting worldly customs that mix truth with error. God calls His people to worship Him in spirit and in truth—not through traditions rooted in Babylonian idolatry but through obedience to His Word.
Easter is a man-made holiday that replaces God’s commanded observances. True believers must ask: Does God accept worship that is based on deception? Or does He call His people to return to His appointed ways?
🔹 Worship Must Be Based on Truth, Not Tradition
✔ God desires pure worship, not rituals borrowed from paganism.
✔ Easter is built on falsehood, not biblical commands.
✔ The resurrection of Christ is essential, but it must be remembered according to Scripture, not a holiday rooted in idolatry.
📖 John 4:24 – “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
🔎 Worship is not about what feels good or seems harmless—it must be based on God’s truth.
📖 Mark 7:7-8 – “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men… ye hold the tradition of men.”
🔎 Any worship that follows human traditions instead of God’s commands is in vain.
✔ Easter is based on pagan fertility worship, not the resurrection of Christ.
✔ Christ commanded us to remember His death, not celebrate a fabricated holiday.
✔ If a tradition is not found in Scripture, it should not be part of true worship.
📖 Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
🔎 Just because something is widely accepted does not make it right.
🔹 What Should True Believers Observe Instead?
✔ The Lord’s Supper (Passover) is the biblical way to honor Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.
✔ Jesus and His disciples observed Passover, not Easter.
✔ God’s appointed feasts teach His redemption plan, while Easter is a counterfeit celebration.
📖 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 – “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast.”
🔎 Paul affirmed that believers should keep Passover, not Easter.
📖 Luke 22:19 – “This do in remembrance of me.”
🔎 Jesus commanded us to remember His death, not celebrate Easter.
✔ Passover and the Feast of Firstfruits foreshadow Christ’s death and resurrection.
✔ These are God’s ordained holy days, not man-made replacements.
📖 Leviticus 23:5-6, 10-11 – The Lord’s feasts include Passover (Christ’s sacrifice) and Firstfruits (His resurrection).
🔎 Instead of Easter, believers should honor the true biblical feasts that God established.
🔹 Practical Ways to Honor God Instead of Celebrating Easter
✔ Study and Observe God’s True Holy Days – The feasts outlined in Leviticus 23 are prophetic and biblical.
✔ Make Every Day a Celebration of Christ – Our faith is not about one day a year but about living in daily obedience.
✔ Teach the Next Generation the Truth – Pass down biblical truth instead of false traditions.
✔ Give in Righteousness, Not for Show – Help others as a way of life, not as part of a commercialized holiday.
📖 Romans 12:2 – “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
🔎 Believers are called to reject the ways of the world and follow God’s commands.
📖 Colossians 2:8 – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men.”
🔎 Easter is a tradition of men, not a command from God.
Key Takeaways – Honoring God in Spirit and Truth
✔ God desires pure worship, free from pagan influence.
✔ Easter is a man-made tradition, not a biblical command.
✔ True worship is based on obedience to God’s Word, not cultural customs.
✔ Passover and Firstfruits are the biblical ways to remember Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.
✔ True believers must reject deception and follow God’s appointed ways.
📖 Joshua 24:15 – “Choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
🔎 Will you follow the truth of God, or continue in the traditions of men?
🚀 Now is the time to separate from deception and worship the Most High in spirit and truth!