Phrases and Traditions

Phrases and Traditions

Good or Bad?

The Scriptures warn against holding to wrong traditions.

Do not learn the way of those that do not know God.

Jeremiah 10:2-4

For the traditions of the people are futile.

Jeremiah 10:2-4

Traditions may be either good or bad. Keep in mind some traditions are offensive to the Lord when they are against the Word of God.

Most traditions in America may surprise you when you understand more about them.

The Scripture have a lot to say with many warnings given regarding traditions.

Traditions depicted in the Bible

The Bible teaches that we should only do that which is pleasing and good before the Lord

Deuteronomy 6.17

Example in Scripture

When Israel was about to enter into the promised land Moses gave them warnings about the traditions of those people

Deuteronomy 17.14

When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, don’t follow the disgusting practices of the nations that are there. Don’t do what those people do.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12

Don’t do these things

Don’t Practices witchcraftDon’t observes signsDon’t speak to the deadDon’t use charms & spellsDon’t cause your children to

be joined to evil (i.e. pass through the fire) and don’t kill them as a sacrifice.

God’s Reaction

God says don’t learn the way of these people because I’m wiping them out.

Traditions we hold–Where did they come

from?

Remember death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Lets first look at phrases that still linger.

Hocus-pocus

Hocus is thought to be the source for the word hoax. It is a part of a dark composure of words.

Hocus-pocus

Hocus pocus, tontustalontus, vade celeriterjubeo and has been used as an incantation.

Hocus-pocus

It was intended to blind the eyes of the beholder or those watching so that they would only see what the magician wanted them to see.

In all probability hocus pocus is a corruption of hoc est corpus.

In other words, its an imitation of the Church of Rome in their trick of Transubstantiation.

Mumbo-Jumbo

This is a West African god from the 18th century. Mumbo-Jumbo is a terephim god made of wood.

The African Mundingoesmade mumbo jumbo eight or nine feet high from the bark of trees and then dressed it in a long coat and crowned it with a whisp of straw.

The Bible has much to say about teriphims. For instance, Rachel stole Laban’s household god during Jacob’s flight from Laban.

Michal used a terephimto help David escape from Saul

1 Samuel 19

Nitty-gritty

It has been alleged that 'nitty-gritty' is a derogatory reference to the English slave trade of the 18th century.

Abracadabra - abraxas

This word is related to another magical word -abraxas.

abraxas

In the Greek system of alphabetic numerology this word is significant in that it contains letters that add up to 365, the number of days in the year.

Abracadabra

This is an incantation to ward off evil spirits and to invoke healing in a persons body.

Abracadabra is of Hebrew or Aramaic origin, being derived either from the Hebrew words 'ab' (father), 'ben' (son), and 'ruachhakodesh' (holy spirit), or from the Aramaic 'avrakadavra', meaning 'it will be created in my words'.

Presto

Italian for "quickly," has been used by conjurers for centuries to command the unseen demons.

Remember words have Power!

Celebrations in America

How many of our celebrations are rooted in Babylonian and Pagan Practices.

Easter

Christmas

The Christmas tree itself originated in cultic activity.

412-494-2000

Jeremiah 10:2-4

Thus says the Lord: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs (traditions) of the peoples are futile;

For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple.

Jeremiah 10:2-4

Other Traditions

Mistletoe – traced back to Druid beliefs on sexual potency. But interestingly it is a parasitic plant actually developing roots on the trees to which it grows.

Easter – East Star, Goddess of the Babylonian religion…The golden egg of a starkywas fertility symbol.

Symbol of rabbit and fertility; that’s how you get Easter bunnies. That's where you get the strange idea bunnies lay eggs.

The sending of Valentines day On February 14, the ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia in honor of Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses.

Juno - the goddess of women and marriage so honoring her was thought to be a fertility rite. At the feast held the next day, the women would write love letters and stick them in a large urn.

The men would pick a letter from the urn and for the next year, pursue the woman who wrote the chosen letter.

This custom lasted until the 1700s when people decided their beloveds should be chosen by sight, not luck.

Birthdays as a celebration

It is also said that Birthday celebrations began as a form of protection against evil spirits.

To protect them from harm, friends and family would gather around the birthday person and bring good cheers, thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits.

The birthday history custom of lighting candles originated with people believing that the gods lived in the sky and by lighting candles and torches they were sending a signal or prayer to the gods

Noisemakers are thought to be used at parties as a way of scaring away the evil spirits.

When you blow out the candles and make a wish this is another way of sending a signal and a message.

The custom of giving out cigars at the birth of a child – Ancient Mayan’s would raise sacrificial smoke toward the sun god in appreciation and thanks.

The Tooth Ferry – Goes back to the practice of hiding physical items from the practitioners of voodoo who would use the items for satanic rituals.

The wedding ceremony -wedding ceremony and reception traditions can be traced to ancient Egyptian and European customs.

These were often based on symbolism, superstition, folklore, religion, and even the belief that evil spirits could bring disease and death to newlyweds and crops, which was very important in many farm-based early cultures.

Bridesmaids - Early Brides and Bridesmaids wore similar dresses in order to confuse evil spirits.

Ring Finger - Prior to the 5th century, the ring finger was actually the index finger. Later, it was believed that the third finger contained the "vein of love" that led directly to the heart.

Once a year we a have a particular dilemma in celebrating an event called Halloween which is now a 5.8B market.

Over 50% of Americans will decorate for Halloween as compared to 80% for Christmas.

72.2% will hand out candy

46.3 percent will carve a

pumpkin

Statistics by age group

85.3% of 18-24 year olds planned to celebrate Halloween

76.5% of consumers aged 25-34 planned to celebrate Halloween

71.3% of consumers aged 35-44planned to celebrate Halloween

Other Statistics

20.8 % will visit a haunted house

31.7% will take their children trick-or-treating

50.1% of consumers celebrating will decorate their home or yard.

Halloween is now the Third most popular party activity following the super bowl and new years eve.

Halloween is steeped in the Ancient Celtic Religion which included a priestly class called Druids. This is similar to what we know as Hinduism.

Halloween is the feast of Samhain. Literally translated it means "Summer's End".

You see the Celts only recognized summer and winter seasons.

The Druid New Year began on November 1st. So its known as the "Feast of Samhain".

The Druid religion was practiced by ancient Celtic tribes that populated Ireland and parts of Europe.

The occult Celtic religion

Facts on the Celtic religion

Teaches reincarnationTransmigration of the soul

(people can be reborn as animals)Note - Reincarnation is a

very common thought in Hinduism

According to Julius Caesar and other sources the Celts believed they descended from the god of Samhain the Roman name for the “God of the dead”

One of the practices of the Druids was human sacrifice. Druids covered the altar with the blood of their victims (often criminals if they were available).

The victims were often tortured while divination occurred on how the victims convulsed and moved while being tortured.

Interestingly, (These practices are still practiced today by certain satanic cults and neo pagan groups).

The Druid religion, dating back to about 200BC, had priests and priestesses.

These magicians (or soothsayers or wizards) filled the most important roles in Celtic culture.

The Druids believed that on their New Year's Eve, all of the people who died in the past year would rise up and search for the passageway to the netherworld.

On this night the passageway or "veil" between both worlds was it's thinnest.

Oct 31 was thought to be the best day of the year for divination. It was considered the only day the help of the devil could be invoked for such purposes.

Lets look at the reality of the veil between heaven and earth

Portals between heaven and earth

Three men were going up to God at Bethel

1 Samuel 10.3

Portals between heaven and earth

A Ladder was seen where Angels were ascending and descending

Genesis 28.12

We can assume that satan has a counterfeit veil from his kingdom to this one.

Through this veil lord Samhain would roam the earth in search of these souls to capture them and take them to his world of darkness.

The Druids believed that Samhain the Lord of the dead allowed the dead to return to visit the living once a year.

There are other festivals through out the world which celebrate a time when the dead return to mingle with the living.

Hindus have their night of holyPericoh Indians - celebrated

the feast of dead every 12 yearsIn Mexico the day of the

dead begins on Nov 2

It was said that no Druid god was more powerful or more feared than lord Samhain.

The Celtic religion worshipped Samhain, the Lord of Darkness. Some writings also speak of Samhain as the "Lord of the Dead"

Samhain was known in Ireland as the “lord of Darkness"

A brief Scripture reference on the reality of the Spirit World

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron,

Exodus 7:8-10

serpent.

‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ”

Exodus 7:8-10

So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

So How did this event make it into the Church of God

Now in the mid evil era of England the Halloween festival became known as “all Hallows” eve since it was associated with the souls in purgatory.

Pope Gregory II moved the Christian holiday of "all Hollows Eve" from May 13 to November 1st to coincide with the Feast of Samhain.

This was an effort by the Catholic Church to downplay the pagan festival. Halloween evolved largely from it.

This pagan festival continued to be celebrated, and Today, the Catholic Church tolerates Halloween, recognizing it is a fun holiday.

Most people do not believe that Satan the Devil exists—and that best suits his game plan. His goal is to keep the people of this world, blinded by deception.

He even uses false ministers, who seem to be ministers of light, but are in reality Satan’s ministers of darkness.

Paul wrote, “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness”

2Cor. 11:14-15

Do you think its strange if satan himself is ministering from the pulpit? That’s why you need spiritual discernment!

Back to the Celts

The ancient practices of the Celts get commingled with the Catholic concept of purgatory.

Initially, the Catholic concept of purgatory is related to the Druid belief that the sinful souls through gift and sacrifices could be expiated and freed to claim their heavenly reward. Thus, evolved another practice the “Trick or Treat”

In Russia, all the witches are said to gather once a year. In fact this is celebrated in the musical “Night on a Bare Mountain”

In early American History Halloween was not practiced. It was introduced by Irish catholic immigrants in the 20th

Century.

In Ireland it is the only country in the world where Halloween is National Holiday.

Introduced by Irish Catholics

The Jack-O-lantern – it is interesting how many ideas emerge when you try to trace this tradition back.

Introduced by Irish Catholics

It seems the carved pumpkin originated as a result of the witches use of a skull with a candle inside which was aluminate their coven meetings.

Halloween is a night of commitment and celebration of the Occult.

Thus says the Lord: Do not learn the way of the Gentiles

You are to be the Salt of the You are to be the Salt of the Earth

Heaven

Let your light so shine that they (the world ) may see your good works and glorify the Father in Heaven

You are to be the Redeemed of the Lord!

You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Satan wants us to be so wrapped up in the customs and practices of this world—his world—that when presented with the plain truth about Halloween, we will shrug our shoulders and say, “I’m just celebrating it to have fun—what’s the big deal?”

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Colossians 2.8

Be on your guard so that no one tricks you the deception of human wisdom and traditions.

Colossians 2.8

Closing Comments and Questions