BPR Mailing List Digest: 03/19/01

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
March 19, 2001

Digest Home | 2001 | March, 2001

To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) A word study on prince as used by Daniel and brief study
From: <owner-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:07:38 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "David
Subject: A word study on prince as used by Daniel and brief study on Chapt
ers 11 and 12
Date sent: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 11:58:25 +1030

Hello,

This word study and subsequent very brief evaluation of Daniel's 11th
chapter and on the abomination that desolates is provocative but I
think sound.

If you think it appropriate to put on the list after having read it,
please do so.

Cheers,
David

PS Matthew's going well. He's 11 pounds and gaining 380grams (sorry
about the mix of weights) a week on average.

[ This is great to hear David!]

--- Begin Study---

A word study on 'prince' and 'princes' as used in the book of Daniel
and a subsequent short evaluation of Daniel chapters 11 and 12 based
upon the impact of the word 'prince'.

In the following I have replaced the word 'prince' with the Chaldean
or Hebrew word used in the Masoretic text as per 'Strong's
Comprehensive Concordance of the Bible'. I have done this in order to
clearly show the intention of the author and the scribe when choosing
the term they have used.

0324 achashdarpan (Chald), akh-ash-dar-pan
corresponding to 0323
AV-princes 9; 9
1) satrap, a governor of a Persian province
verses 3:2, 3:3, 3:27, 6:1, 6:2, 6:3, 6:4, 6:6, 6:7

3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the
*achashdarpans*, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the
treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the
provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar
the king had set up. 3 Then the *achashdarpans*, the governors, and
captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs,
and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the
dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and
they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

3:27 And the *achashdarpans*, governors, and captains, and the king's
counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies
the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither
were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty
*achashdarpans*, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over
these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the
*achashdarpans* might give accounts unto them, and the king should
have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents
and *achashdarpans*, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the
king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents
and *achashdarpans* sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning
the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as
he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this
Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6
Then these presidents and *achashdarpans* assembled together to the
king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7 All the
presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the *achashdarpans*, the
counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a
royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a
petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he
shall be cast into the den of lions.

05057 naw-gheed
from 05046
AV-ruler 20, prince 9, captain 6, leader 4, governor 3, nobles 1,
excellent things 1; 44 1) leader, ruler, captain, prince 1a) ruler,
prince 1b) prince-overseer 1c) ruler (in other capacities) 1d)
princely things verses 9:25, 9:26, 11:8, 11:22

Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth
of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah
the *Naw-gheed* shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:
the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous
times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut
off, but not for himself: and the people of the *naw-gheed* that shall
come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof
shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined.

Daniel 11:8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with
their *naw-gheeds*, and with their precious vessels of silver and of
gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they
shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in
peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 And with the arms
of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be
broken; yea, also the *naw-gheed* of the covenant.

06579 partam
of Persian origin
AV-noble 2, prince 1; 3
1) noble, nobleman
verse 1:3

1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that
he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's
seed, and of the *partams*; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but
well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge,
and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in
the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the
tongue of the Chaldeans.

07101 qatsiyn (kaw-tseen)
from 07096 in the sense of determining
AV-ruler 4, prince 4, captain 3, guide 1; 12
1) chief, ruler, commander
1a) chief, commander (in war)
1b) dictator
1c) ruler (of one in authority)
verse 11:18

11:17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his
whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he
shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall
not stand on his side, neither be for him. 18 After this shall he
turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a *qatsiyn* for
his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease;
without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. 19 Then
he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall
stumble and fall, and not be found.

07261 rabr(e)ban (Chald) rab-reb-awn
from 07260
AV-lord 6, prince 2; 8
1) lord, noble
verses 5:2, 5:3

5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his
lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, while he
tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels
which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was
in Jerusalem; that the king, and his *rabr(e)bans*, his wives, and his
concubines, might drink therein. 3 Then they brought the golden
vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which
was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his *rabr(e)bans*, his wives, and
his concubines, drank in them.

08269 sar
from 08323
AV-prince 208, captain 130, chief 33, ruler 33, governor 6, keeper 3,
principal 2, general 1, lords 1, misc 4; 421 1) prince, ruler, leader,
chief, chieftain, official, captain 1a) chieftain, leader 1b) vassal,
noble, official (under king) 1c) captain, general, commander
(military) 1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes) 1e)
heads, princes (of religious office) 1f) elders (of representative
leaders of people) 1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity) 1h)
patron-angel 1i) Ruler of rulers (of God) 1j) warden verse 1:7, 1:8,
1:9, 1:10, 1:11, 1:18, 8:11, 8:25 (x2), 9:6, 9:8, 10:13 (x2), 10:20
(x2), 10:21, 11:5, 12:1

1:7 Unto whom the *sar* of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto
Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to
Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. 8 But Daniel
purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the
portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank:
therefore he requested of the *sar* of the eunuchs that he might not
defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender
love with the *sar* of the eunuchs. 10 And the *sar* of the eunuchs
said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your
meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking
than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me
endanger my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the
*sar* of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let
them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

1:17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his
whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he
shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall
not stand on his side, neither be for him. 18 After this shall he
turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a *sar* for his
own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without
his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. 19 Then he shall
turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble
and fall, and not be found.

8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed
exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the
pleasant land. 10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and
it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and
stamped upon them. 11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the *sar* of
the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place
of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And an host was given him against
the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the
truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. 13 Then I heard
one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint
which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily
sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the
sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14 And he said unto
me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary
be cleansed.

8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he
shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall
destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And through his policy
also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify
himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also
stand up against the *Sar* of *sars*; but he shall be broken without
hand. 26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told
is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many
days.

9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which
spake in thy name to our kings, our *sars*, and our fathers, and to
all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto
thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of
Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that
are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou
hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed
against thee. 8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our
kings, to our *sars*, and to our fathers, because we have sinned
against thee.

10:13 But the *sar* of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and
twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief *sars*, came to help
me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now
will I return to fight with the *sar* of Persia: and when I am gone
forth, lo, the sar of Grecia shall come. 21 But I will shew thee that
which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that
holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your sar.

11:5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his
*sars*; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his
dominion shall be a great dominion.

12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great *sar* which
standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same
time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that
shall be found written in the book.

Note that where the prince is not of God, as in Daniel 11:18, but is
still of a god, the word 'qatsiyn' is used. If Daniel 9:26's reference
to a prince or ruler was different to that used in 9:25, then I would
expect qatsiyn to be used.

It is also somewhat curious that the term 'but not for himself' in
reference to Jesus' crucifixion being redemption for our (those who
believe) sins, is given as 'and will have nothing' in the NIV, the
NASB, the RSV, the Darby, the NRSV. Only the KJV and the NKJV retain
the clear intention of this phrase: that of redemption for our sins.
The YLT uses 'and the city and the holy place are not his'. I can but
wonder as to why these translations use such an obscure and even
antonym-ic term. Jesus was 'cut-off' for us and in doing so he gained
his rightful place at the right hand of God the Father. His being
'cut-off' was far from causing him to 'have nothing'. I can't even
wonder at the YLT's effort.

Interestingly the reference to the 'prince of the covenant' in Daniel
11:22 (see below for text) uses the same word that is translated as
prince as in Daniel 9:25 and 26. Verse 26a of chapter 11 says: 'Yea,
they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him', which
suggests to me: Acts 12:23 'And immediately the angel of the Lord
smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of
worms, and gave up the ghost.'

It is therefore apparent that Daniel 11:22 is referring to Herod
Agrippa I, who reigned as ruler (titled King) for four years as
tetrarch and three as king over the whole of Palestine, including the
time of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Verse 21 describes the man as
'a vile person', who comes into the kingdom by flatteries. This is an
apt description for the man.

The remainder of 11:26 'and his army shall overflow [be swept away]:
and many shall fall down slain.' describes the terrible blood-bath
that befell Jerusalem courtesy of God's use of the Romans as
punishment for their sin, some years after his death.

This prophecy is lost in translations that have used the word 'king'
instead of 'his', and 'dainties' or 'delicacies' instead of 'meat' and
have reduced 'shall destroy him' to 'try to kill him'. Were it not
that the KJV translation allows for the inspired reader to see the
reference to Herod, this prophecy and indicator of the true meaning of
Daniel's chapter 11, would be lost.

Bible commentaries suggest that the 'prince of the covenant' is the
orthodox High Priest Onias III, but the concordance shows that 03548,
which is not used, is a more appropriate word for such a person's
title. The english meanings given for 03548 are: (1a) priest-king
(Melchizedek, Messiah) 1b) pagan priests 1c) priests of Jehovah 1d)
Levitical priests 1e) Zadokite priests 1f) Aaronic priests 1g) the
high priest

This little side-study (of the study on the word 'prince') indicates
that Daniel 11 needs to be reviewed in terms of its prophetic meaning.
The indications are strong that the Kings of the South and North are
not human (Gog and Magog?) but that they are spirits (or perhaps
something more bizarre to the human mind and which I shall not suggest
for that exact reason) who occupy or control or coerce or advise
certain well-placed humans, such as Herod Agrippa I. The suggestion
that Antiochus Ephiphanes fulfills Daniel 11 to verse 30 or even 45 in
some commentaries, is clearly wrong. Daniel 11:28 is prophetic of a
time future to 2001AD. There is a break thus far of 1957 years between
Herod's death and now (give or take some months depending on the month
Herod Agrippa I died).

There is something else that is apparent:

In Daniel's 70 weeks prophecy, the abomination is destroyed. In
Chapter 11, the abomination is set-up. 11:31 And arms shall stand on
his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall
take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place [set-up] the
abomination that maketh desolate.

It is referred to again 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of
his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he
shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Daniel 12 then goes on to describe that, following the end of this
final incarnation of Herod Agrippa (to use a name), that there is to
be a time of tribulation followed by the resurrection of the dead and
that the end will come 1200 days after the setting up of the
abomination that maketh desolate. Daniel 12:11 And from the time that
the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that
maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and
ninety days.

I believe I know what that abomination is, but if I suggest it many
will become upset, as it flies in the face of much that people think.
If the Lord wants you to know, you will see it in the above three
paragraphs.

------- End of forwarded message -------

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/l3joGB/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Zenit items (3/18/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:48:37 -0500

EUROPEAN BISHOPS HOPE TO SET UP A TV ENTERPRISE
Delegation Visits Italian Catholic Media Headquarters

ROME, MAR. 18, 2001 (Zenit.org).- A delegation of European bishops visited=

the
Italian Catholic radio and television headquarters over the weekend, anothe=
r
step toward the establishment of a TV production enterprise inspired by
Christian humanism.

On Saturday, members of the Media Commission of the European Episcopal
Conferences Council visited the Roman headquarters of Sat 2000 television
and
Blu Sat 2000 radio, which are supported by the Italian bishops=B4 conferenc=
e.

The occasion was propitious for Emmanuele Milano, director general of the
two
channels, to propose a Continental "dream" of a European organization for
the
production of programs for Catholic television channels in different
countries.

The European delegation, headed by Bishop Crispin Hollis of Portsmouth,
England,
learned what the Italian Catholic radio and TV broadcasting company has
done
during its three years of existence: 15,000 hours of television transmissio=
n,
5,000 of which were produced locally, in addition to Blu Sat radio programs=
,
transmitted 24 hours a day.

Sat 2000 has established contacts for co-production with France, Poland
and, in
the near future, Spain.

According to Milano, there are two possibilities for the creation of a
production society: "The creation of a television of the Churches of Europe=
via
satellite, with programs shared in common and others reserved for different
communities and linguistic areas; or the establishment of a production
company."
What is obvious is that "the television transmissions are increasingly more
expensive and only by joining forces can high levels of quality be guarante=
ed,"
Milano explained.

During the 1999 Synod of Bishops for Europe, many bishops spoke of the
need for
the local Churches to engage in a joint television enterprise.

ZE01031802

--------------------------------------

ANGLICANS TO URGE CATHOLICS TO END COMMUNION BAN

LONDON, MAR. 18, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Anglican bishops are expected to call
on the
Catholic Church to relax rules that prevent Anglicans from taking
Communion, the
Sunday Times reported.

Church of England officials say a document, to be issued this week, "The
Eucharist: Sacrament of Unity," will offer "a courteous but robust response=
"
to
"One Bread, One Body," which was issued jointly by Catholic bishops in
Britain
and Ireland in 1998.

A committee of Catholic bishops chaired by Cormac Murphy-O=B4Connor, now
the
cardinal archbishop of Westminster, drew up the document, which decreed
that
other denominations could receive the sacrament from Catholic priests only=

"if
there is a danger of death or if there is some other great and pressing nee=
d."

It said that the Eucharist, as the central act of Christian worship, "is
properly the sacrament of those who are in full communion with the Church."=

The
Church of England=B4s policy of "eucharistic hospitality," by contrast, all=
ows
non-Anglicans to take communion in its churches.

Catholic Bishop Peter Smith of East Anglia said: "The way the Anglicans res=
pond
is important because the Eucharist is at the heart of what we believe. Only
those who are at one with us in the teaching and discipline of the Church s=
hould
receive holy Communion, otherwise we are fudging the issue."

See http://www.tasc.ac.uk/cc/cn/98/980930a.htm for the Catholic document
on the
Eucharist.

ZE01031822

--------------------------------------

PERUVIANS TO MARK "DAY OF THE UNBORN"

LIMA, Peru, MAR. 18, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Peru=B4s bishops have announced tha=
t
the
"Day of the Unborn" will be celebrated March 25, feast of the Annunciation.

The initiative invites Peruvians to be grateful for the gift of life and to
respect the right to life of every human being from the moment of conceptio=
n.

In some Latin American countries, Day of the Unborn has been recognized
even at
the civil level. The first to take this step was Argentina.

ZE01031810

--------------------------------------

PORTUGAL GRANTS RIGHTS TO HOMOSEXUAL COUPLES

LISBON, Portugal, MAR. 18, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Lawmakers have granted legal
rights and tax benefits to homosexual couples who have lived together for
more
than two years, the Ananova agency reported.

Homosexual couples will be allowed the same rights as heterosexual
couples in
common law marriages.

The bill has passed on the votes of a majority of left-of-center politician=
s in
the 230-seat National Assembly, Portugal=B4s parliament, while right-of-cen=
ter
parties opposed the bill.

In 1999 a majority of politicians, including some from the governing
left-of-center Socialist Party, balked at a proposal to incorporate same-se=
x
relationships in new legislation on common law marriages.

Changes to the bill, including a deal on taxes, persuaded more Socialists t=
o
approve it.

ZE01031821

http://www.zenit.org/

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: PM Sharon ready to move Gaza settlers
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:51:50 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 01:54:23 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: PM Sharon ready
to move Gaza settlers in interim deal

Ha'aretz: PM Sharon ready to move Gaza settlers in interim deal

In return, Arafat must agree to accept a series of interim deals

By Ze'ev Schiff Ha'aretz Correspondent Ha'aretz 19 March 2001

[IMRA: Israel Radio reported this morning that Sharon's office denied
this.]

If Yasser Arafat is ready to accept Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's proposed
plan for "ongoing interim agreements," Sharon is ready to evacuate a number
of Gaza Strip settlements to give the Palestinian Authority more territorial
contiguity in the densely populated area. But Sharon's offer does not
include a similar arrangement in the West Bank.

The proposal is one of the cornerstones of what Sharon is prepared to offer
when the negotiations with the Palestinians resume. He plans to detail the
approach in his conversations with U.S. administration leaders tomorrow,
when he meets with President George W. Bush.

The underlying assumption in Sharon's plan is that there is currently no
chance for a comprehensive agreement with the Palestinians that would settle
all the outstanding differences between the two peoples and reach an end to
the conflict. Therefore, his proposal to the Palestinians is based on
partial agreements.

To ease Palestinian concerns that his offer is a trick meant to leave most
of the territory in Israeli hands for a long period of time, Sharon will
emphasize that this first interim agreement would be followed by others, in
which the Palestinians would make gains.

Sharon aims to grant the Palestinians extensive economic benefits and to be
very flexible on the issue of water allocations. His aides have told Sharon
that such benefits are not enough to bring Arafat to accept an interim
agreement.

A key element in the Sharon plan is to give the Palestinians in Gaza as much
territorial contiguity as possible. To do so would mean more than bypass
roads and tunnels near Israeli settlements. It is clear that some
settlements would have to be evacuated if the intentions are sincere to
provide territorial contiguity.

There is readiness to make territorial concessions, if Arafat is ready to
move to a series of interim agreements over the coming years. First and
foremost, Sharon will tell the administration, the intention is to make a
deal concerning Gaza, and not the West Bank.

Gaza's settlements disrupt the territorial contiguity of the Strip for the
Palestinians. Gush Katif is in the south, while in the north, not far from
the Israeli border are the settlements of Dugit, Nisanit and El Sinai. In
the center of the strip is Nitzanim and Kfar Darom, two isolated
settlements. And south of Khan Yunis, opposite Gush Katif, is another
isolated settlement, Morag.

The Israel Defense Forces has successfully protected these settlements, but
at a very high cost. Sharon's readiness to give up some of the settlements
will depend on the precondition that the violence stops and that it does not
appear as if Israel's departure was a result of pressure.

Daliah Shehori adds

During the cabinet meeting yesterday, Sharon said that from what he had
heard so far from American sources, the U.S. agrees with Israel that there
cannot be any negotiations until the PA takes steps to end the violence.

He told the ministers that in his absence, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres
would be acting prime minister, with the authority to call cabinet sessions.

Sharon said he was worried that while he was gone from Israel, a terrorist
organization would try to attack inside Israel.

Peres was praised highly by Sharon for the foreign minister's appearance at
the UN Security Council, which discussed sending observer troops to the
Palestinian territories. Peres reported that he made clear to the council
that the Sharon government had made peace its central mission, and that the
main obstacle to accomplishing that goal was "more emotional than
territorial."

He said that Israel was astonished when the Palestinians rejected former
prime minister Ehud Barak's unprecedented offers to them, and were baffled
by the "inexplicable" Palestinian violence that broke out after the Camp
David summit.

Sharon told the ministers that he had no objection to them meeting with
their Palestinian counterparts, but warned against conducting any
negotiations with them. He said they could meet socially, but not on matters
regarding their ministries.

Later, Industry and Trade Minister Dalia Itzik told Sharon's bureau chief,
Uri Shani, that she would be meeting with her Palestinian counterpart, "and
not for social reasons, but for work-related ones.

--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

For free regular subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For free daily digest subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-digest-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-digest-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For a copy of all reports distributed for a given day please send a
message to:

monday@imra.org.il tuesday@imra.org.il wednesday@imra.org.il
thursday@imra.org.il friday@imra.org.il
saturday@imra.org.il sunday@imra.org.il

------- End of forwarded message -------

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: 14 Arab intellectuals oppose Holocaust denial
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:52:25 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 02:06:39 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: 14 Arab intellectuals
oppose Holocaust denial conference

Ha'aretz: 14 Arab intellectuals oppose Holocaust denial conference

By Joseph Algazy Ha'aretz 19 March 2001

Fourteen prominent Arab intellectuals issued a call last week for the
cancellation of a Holocaust denial conference sponsored by two neo-Nazi
groups, scheduled to be held at the end of the month in Beirut. Participants
from countries in the Middle East, North America and Europe are set to take
part in the conference, entitled Revisionism and Zionism. The nature of
official Lebanese sponsorship of the event remains unclear; it is known that
Lebanons government is under heavy international pressure not to allow the
event to be held in the country. Demanding that a ban be imposed to block
the event, the intellectuals wrote that they are stunned and appalled by
this anti-Semitic initiative. Petition signers included Mahmoud Darwish,
Edward Said, Elias Sanbar, Elias Khoury and Gerard Khoury.

--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

For free regular subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For free daily digest subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-digest-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-digest-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For a copy of all reports distributed for a given day please send a
message to:

monday@imra.org.il tuesday@imra.org.il wednesday@imra.org.il
thursday@imra.org.il friday@imra.org.il
saturday@imra.org.il sunday@imra.org.il

------- End of forwarded message -------

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: PM Sharon prefers caution on Hatzbani pump
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:52:45 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 02:07:14 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: PM Sharon
prefers caution on Hatzbani pump

Ha'aretz: PM Sharon prefers caution on Hatzbani pump

By Aluf Benn, with the Prime Ministers entourage Ha'aretz 19 March 2001

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to hold meetings next week about Lebanese
work on a project to pump water from the Hatzbani River. Sharon stated that
Israel must uphold its water rights, while also working to prevent an
escalation of tensions in the re gion. He wants to clarify whether the
Lebanese will be content to install a small pipeline to convey water to one
local village for humanitarian reasons, or whether the pumping station work
is the start of a major water diversion effort. Sharon criticize d a
statement made by Mekorot Water chair Uri Sagi, who claimed the Hatzbani
pumping is a cause for war. Sharon said: Theres nothing useful in incendiary
declarations. We should take necessary steps. Declarations dont solve
problems

--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

For free regular subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For free daily digest subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-digest-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-digest-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For a copy of all reports distributed for a given day please send a
message to:

monday@imra.org.il tuesday@imra.org.il wednesday@imra.org.il
thursday@imra.org.il friday@imra.org.il
saturday@imra.org.il sunday@imra.org.il

------- End of forwarded message -------

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Ha'aretz: Jerusalem moves ahead with Jewish neighborhood in Abu Dis
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:53:42 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 02:09:27 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Ha'aretz: Jerusalem moves ahead with
Jewish neighborhood in Abu Dis

Ha'aretz: Jerusalem moves ahead with Jewish neighborhood in Abu Dis

By Nadav Shragai Ha'aretz Correspondent Ha'aretz 19 March 2001

The Jerusalem city council last week rejected an appeal against the
establishment of a Jewish neighborhood in the Arab village of Abu Dis. The
appeal was submitted by Meretz council member Yosef (Pepe) Allu, protesting
approval granted by the municipality's Planning and Construction Committee
for the new development. Council discussion of Allu's appeal was postponed
several times prior to last week's discussion.

The Abu Dis building plan calls for the establishment of the Jewish
neighborhood abutting the eastern ridge of the city's border. The
neighborhood will be located close to the site designated in Abu Dis for the
Palestinian parliament building.

The plan stipulates that the Jewish neighborhood will contain 200 housing
units and will be established on private land owned by Jews and by the
Jewish National Fund. A small portion of the site belongs to American Jewish
millionaire Irving Moskovitz, whose name has been linked to other
controversial projects in the east of the city.

Meanwhile, on a separate matter, Attorney Danny Seidemann, representing the
nonprofit organization "For Jerusalem," wrote to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
yesterday, asking him to order Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert to remove from
the agenda of the city's Planning and Construction Committee a plan for the
building of another 2,830 housing units in the Har Homa neighborhood.
Representing the nonprofit association, which upholds the objective of
"creating a governmental framework anchored in the existence of two national
collectives in a Jewish-Palestinian city," Seidemann pointed to the acutely
sensitive nature of the Har Homa project. Both the Netanyahu and Barak
governments refrained from promoting the plan due to its potentially
explosive nature, he wrote.

"The fact that the Jerusalem Municipality chose to bring up the [Har Homa]
plan during the first day of your diplomatic visit to Washington," Seidemann
wrote to Sharon, "raises suspicions about the calculations and motives of
decision makers on this matter."

In response, the Jerusalem Municipality spokesman stated that the city's
Planning and Construction Committee does not intend to erase the Har Homa
plan from its agenda. According to the spokesman, building for Jews in the
Har Homa area is supported by a national "consensus," and the construction
of thousands of housing units in the neighborhood will supply a solution to
the housing crunch faced by "many young couples.

--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

For free regular subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For free daily digest subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-digest-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-digest-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For a copy of all reports distributed for a given day please send a
message to:

monday@imra.org.il tuesday@imra.org.il wednesday@imra.org.il
thursday@imra.org.il friday@imra.org.il
saturday@imra.org.il sunday@imra.org.il

------- End of forwarded message -------

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) DM BEN-ELIEZER MEETS FAMILIES OF ABDUCTED SOLDIERS
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:54:26 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 03:34:06 -0500
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: DM BEN-ELIEZER MEETS
FAMILIES OF ABDUCTED SOLDIERS

DM BEN-ELIEZER MEETS FAMILIES OF ABDUCTED SOLDIERS

(Communicated by the Defense Minister's Media Adviser)
Monday, March 19, 2001

Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer met yesterday (Sunday), 18.3.2001,
at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, with the families of Sgt. Adi
Avitan, Staff Sgt. Benyamin Avraham and Staff Sgt. Omar Sawaid who were
abducted by Hizballah on 7.10.2000 (see
<http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0jd50>). The Defense
Minister said that strenuously objects to the release of Mustafa Dirani
and Sheikh Obeid and added that he would, therefore, instruct the
appropriate officials to respond to the court accordingly.

Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer told the families that he views working
towards bringing the soldiers back home as one of his main missions; he
appealed to them and asked them to have confidence in the defense
establishment which is ceaselessly working towards this important goal.

--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

For free regular subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For free daily digest subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-digest-subscribe@imra.org.il
Unsubscribe: imra-digest-unsubscribe@imra.org.il

For a copy of all reports distributed for a given day please send a
message to:

monday@imra.org.il tuesday@imra.org.il wednesday@imra.org.il
thursday@imra.org.il friday@imra.org.il
saturday@imra.org.il sunday@imra.org.il

------- End of forwarded message -------

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist bprlist <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 19 Mar 2001 11:16:40 EST

How the egg came to symbolize Easter
Another Easter stroller.

http://www.detnews.com/history/easter/easter.htm

Eastertime
By Anne Campbell / The Detroit News
March 26, 1948

The world is ready for the Spring,
The winter has been long and cold.
The birds will soon fly home to sing
Of April glories they behold.

The world has need of Eastertide.
It has been plunged in Lenten gloom.
But now upon the countryside,
The bashful crocuses will bloom.

****************************
By Patricia Zacharias
The joy and hope of Easter Resurrection has been symbolized for
centuries by lambs, rabbits, lilies and crosses. The simple egg, however is
perhaps the oldest and most universal symbol of rebirth and new life. The
custom of offering Easter eggs, either chocolate or hard boiled and colored,
dates back well beyond the early years of Christianity to the most ancient
pagan traditions.

Egyptians and Persians used to dye eggs in spring colors and give them
to friends as a symbol of renewed life long before Christ was born. The
myths of several Eastern and middle Eastern cultures maintain that the earth
itself was hatched from a giant egg.

Scholars believe the name Easter is derived from Oestar, a goddess of
Spring and renewal. The rabbit or hare was the symbol of fertility, new life
and of the moon in ancient Egypt. It may have become an Easter symbol
because the date for Easter is determined by the moon. Also the ancient
Egyptians called the hare Wenu, an insignia of the rising of the sun, Ra,
and of the resurrective powers of Osiris. The rabbit or hare was the symbol of
fertility, new life and of the moon in ancient Egypt.

Detroit's celebration of Easter is steeped in traditions of its diverse
ethnic groups. Polish legend has it that on the first Good Friday a man was
taking a basket of eggs to market to sell. On the way he put the basket down
and ran to help Christ carry the cross. When he returned, the eggs were
supposedly decorated in beautiful colors and designs. Local Polish immigrants
continued the tradition of 'Pisnaki' decorated eggs.

Other Eastern Europeans, Czechs, Romanians and Ukrainians followed the
tradition. Some of the designs have significant meanings and are handed down
in a family from generation to generation. Others are characteristic of
different regions. The eggs are always included in the food basket when it
is taken to the church for the traditional Easter Saturday blessing.

Paska, the traditional Ukranian Easter bread, was as intricately
decorated as wedding cakes. The decorations of tiny lambs, doves, flowers
and other symbolic figures were made of dough rather than frosting. The
bread itself is symbolic of the bread used at the Last Supper. In a
centuries-old Polish tradition, peasant boys celebrating the end of Lent and a
lull in their farm work, would swat their sweethearts with red willow
switches. On Easter Tuesday the girls would get even by switching the boys.
The tradition was carried on by Polish immigrants who settled in Detroit

Switching Day, another Polish tradition practiced locally, grew up in
Poland over 800 years ago. Peasant boys celebrating the end of Lent and a
lull in their farm work, would swat their sweethearts with red willow
switches. On Easter Tuesday the girls would get even by switching the boys.

Easter's place on the calendar was not actually fixed to the Sunday
after the first full moon of Spring until 325 AD by the Roman Emperor
Constantine. The emperor may also be responsible for starting the
traditional Easter Parade when he ordered every citizen to wear his or her
best clothing to observe the Holy Day.

Early Christians believed the week before Easter was a good time to be
baptized, calling it 'White Week.' They wore new white clothes as a sign of
their new life. Europeans came to believe that a new piece of clothing worn on
Easter Sunday would bring good luck. Old or used garments would usher in a
year of misfortune.

The grandfather of Easter parades in the United States is the Atlantic
City parade, started in 1860, when the strollers in their new Spring finery
took walks on the Boardwalk. The promenade on New York's Fifth Avenue was
immortalized in Irving Berlin's song, 'Easter Parade.' Easter strollers head
for the traditional march up Piety Hill to church.

Locally, at the turn of the century, Piety Hill was the place to strut
on Easter morning. It never was a hill, but a stretch of Woodward between
Grand Circus Park and Warren. That part of Woodward was remembered for its
wide lawns, spacious homes and magnificent elms. But mostly the street was
noted for the churches, which explains why it was called Piety Hill.

The tradition on Easter was to walk to Church. So beginning at 10 a.m.,
Piety Hill sparkled with slow moving throngs of well-dressed Detroiters.

In later years, as Detroiters moved to the suburbs, shopping for that
special outfit or mother's new hat moved from the downtown J.L. Hudson's to
the branch stores at the malls. Eastland Center's annual fashion parade
attracted thousands of spectators. Starting in 1959, grand prizes were
awarded for 'best of show' in six divisions. Hundreds of participants
displayed their Easter finery before a fashion jury. Not only did mother get a
new hat but the children surprised her with a corsage.

Outdoor Sunrise Services, once popular around Detroit, can be traced
back to the ancient spring rituals of building bonfires at dawn to symbolize
the triumph of light and life over death and darkness. Thousands of worshipers
attended the annual Belle Isle services at the Remick Band Shell during the
1940s and 1950s. Dawn services also were observed at Memorial Cemetery. The
Belle Isle Conservatory was the spot to view the array of fragrant and
pristine Easter lilies, long considered the flower of the season.

The Belle Isle Conservatory, built by the daughter of The Detroit News'
founder James E. Scripps, Anna Scripps Whitcomb, was the spot to view the
array of fragrant and pristine Easter lilies. The lily has long been
considered the flower of the season, commemorating the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. Medieval artists, because of its whiteness,
depicted the lily as symbolic of the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Edward Cardinal Mooney celebrated the Pontifical Easter Mass at Blessed
Sacrament Cathedral in the '50s, which was televised by The News' WWJ-TV.
Hundreds of other denominations celebrated the resurrection, some with six
or seven services to accommodate the crowds. On Good Friday, all businesses
and retail shops closed from noon til three to commemorate Christ's three
hours on the cross before he died. The practice continued until the 1970s.

The traditional White House Easter Monday egg roll, always the day after
Easter, dates back to 1878 with President Rutherford B. Hayes. Children were
given the run of the rolling green lawns and brought their own Easter
baskets and eggs.

Detroit children collected their booty at local parks like Patton, Rouge
and Belle Isle, while the Easter Bunny supplied the eggs. In recent years
the Easter Bunny has arrived by helicopter to municipal parks and
marshmallows have rained on the children from bunny copters. Brunches with
bunny (and the photographer) have replaced the hard boiled egg hunts of
yesterday. The decorations and celebrations of the holiday may change with
new generations, but the story of the Resurrection, Christianity's assurance
of life everlasting endures.

____________________________________________________________________
Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=1

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: Syksteven
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 13:07:11 EST

In a message dated 3/19/01 11:30:35 AM, shophar_sho_good@usa.net writes:

<< How the egg came to symbolize Easter
Another Easter stroller.

http://www.detnews.com/history/easter/easter.htm

Eastertime
By Anne Campbell / The Detroit News
March 26, 1948 >>

<< By Patricia Zacharias
The joy and hope of Easter Resurrection has been symbolized for
centuries by lambs, rabbits, lilies and crosses. The simple egg, however is
perhaps the oldest and most universal symbol of rebirth and new life. The
custom of offering Easter eggs, either chocolate or hard boiled and colored,
dates back well beyond the early years of Christianity to the most ancient
pagan traditions. >>

I am curious as to how others on the list feel about Duet. 12: 30-32. Does
it have any meaning for Christians today? Does it have any bearing on the
above article?

I have brought this subject up before on this forum, and in live
conversations with other good Christian folks. I am astounded in both cases
at the lack of response. Why does everyone shrink from this?

Trying to understand,
Steven Sykes

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
We give away $70,000 a month! Come to iWin.com for
your chance to win!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/r_1oCB/BJVCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: "Susan
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 11:05:23 -0900

Also RE: [bprlist] Easter / Lent Articles--Another explanation

Dear Steven,

I agree that we are not to do as the pagans do as you referred to in Deut.
12:30-32. I also realized that even in the pagan traditions, God is
receiving recognition from unbelievers without their understanding of the
reality of Resurrection of His Son. They 'bow the knee' and celebrate an
event they don't even believe in with silliness such as eggs and rabbits.
Yet the reality of what is being celebrated is of God's direction. At Easter
we celebrate a type of 'birth' much like the Christmas event (see previous
posting) which fertility rites are but a perverted copy. The Scriptures
place Passover at the spring of the year-the time of new birth of life
around us. Christ fulfilled the Feasts of the Year. The date of the
Crucifixion is marked with an eclipse of the sun so today we can even know
to a certainty the exact day/ or time of the year without depending on
fallible calendars. What the pagans do should not deaden the joy and
celebration we feel in our hearts; neither should we condemn one another how
this joy is expressed. My prayer is that more might come to true knowledge
of the Savior no matter their traditions.

We are all guided by

Romans 14:5-8
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day
alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. [6] He that
regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the
day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord,
for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not,
and giveth God thanks. [7] For none of us liveth to himself, and no man
dieth to himself. [8] For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and
whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we
are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived,
that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. [10] But why dost thou
judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall
all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, As I
live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall
confess to God. [12] So then every one of us shall give account of himself
to God.

If we want to return strictly to celebrating the feasts and requirements of
the Old Testament, how do we know what to pick and choose-- what to keep and
what not to keep? You wrote that you no longer sacrifice as required since
Christ fulfilled it. Perhaps the Last Supper fulfilled the Passover dinner
too. Should all males travel to the Temple three times a year? I don't want
to spell out to you how to celebrate as you should be fully persuaded in
your own mind. I rejoice with you and all that seek to worship in spirit and
truth.

John 4:20-24
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is
the place where men ought to worship. [21] Jesus saith unto her, Woman,
believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet
at Jerusalem, worship the Father. [22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know
what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. [23] But the hour cometh,
and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and
in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit:
and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

In Christ, Susan Kanen

-----Original Message-----
From: Syksteven
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 9:07 AM
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter

In a message dated 3/19/01 11:30:35 AM, shophar_sho_good@usa.net writes:

<< How the egg came to symbolize Easter
Another Easter stroller.

I am curious as to how others on the list feel about Duet. 12: 30-32. Does
it have any meaning for Christians today? Does it have any bearing on the
above article?

Trying to understand,
Steven Sykes

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: "Sunday"
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 15:14:50 -0500

Hello Syksteven,

You wrote -

I am curious as to how others on the list feel about Duet. 12: 30-32. Does
it have any meaning for Christians today? Does it have any bearing on the
above article?
Why does everyone shrink from this?

I grew up in a non-Christian home and we observed 'Easter'
with chocolate bunnies, coloured eggs, new clothes and the
annual trip to Church. Many years later I became a Christian
and at every Church I went to the same things were being done by families with the inclusion of remembering that Christ had arisen. About 4 years ago I began searching for the Truth about some of the celebration days we observe as
Christians. What a shock! We no longer observe Xmas or
Easter, which in actuality are Ishtar traditions. If anyone is
interested in finding out the truth, search for it. It's there.
Most Christians do not want to be bothered looking for that
Truth because once you find it, you must now take action to
eliminate some celebrations from your life as you cannot in
good faith continue to do them. There's the rub: folks don't
want the hassle, folks don't want others making fun of them or calling them weird or saying 'your'e no fun anymore, you've become a religious nut!' I cannot fathom the Apostles decorating Xmas trees, shopping til they drop or
colouring eggs at 'easter'. This was all brought to the Church by Rome and I didn't find out about it until 2000 years later. No-one wants to talk about it, they like their happy traditions and never even take into account that the
Most High would not have them mix paganism with the One
True Faith. We make them 'uncomfortable' when we bring up such controversial subjects as this and they move away
from us. Unfortunately, most Pastors will walk away from you when you ask them for the truth too. I'm glad you brought this up to the List. May God Bless You - Sunday

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: Agape
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 13:51:33 -0800 (PST)

Greetings Everyone,

I feel that there are a lot traditions and holidays practiced by Christians that are not according
to God's plan in our lives. As we all know God does not contradict Himself nor does He change.
For years Christians have participated in pagan traditions such as Halloween, Christmas, Easter,
Thanksgiving etc. Let's start with Halloween, this day is celebrated by satan worshipers with
sacrifice of children, animals, orgies etc. The Romans observed this holiday of Feralia, intended
to give rest and peace to the departed. Participants made sacrifices in honor of the dead, offered
up prayers for them, and made oblations to them. The festival was celebrated on February 21, the
end of the Roman year. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saints' Day to replace
the pagan festival of the dead. It was observed on May 13. Later, Gregory III changed the date to
November 1. The Greek Orthodox Church observes it on the first Sunday after Pentecost

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/9316/origins.html
http://www.openhere.com/holidays/halloween/history.htm).

Christmas

Christmas is from Christes Maesse, which means Christ Mass (Ency. Brit. Micro, vol. 2 pg. 903).
This reference work states: "...during the 4th century the celebration of Christ�s birth on
December 25 was gradually adopted by most Eastern churches. In Jerusalem, opposition to Christmas
lasted longer..." December 17-24th was the period of Saturnalia, a well-known festival in pagan
Rome. December 25th was the birthday of Mithra, the Iranian god of light. The most reliable
history tells us regarding this day: "...was adopted by the church as Christmas to counteract the
effects of these festivals" (Vol. 7, pg. 202).

The Tree

The first Christmas tree is said to have originated in 8th century Germany when a British
missionary, St. Boniface, cut down a giant oak that crushed every tree in its path except a small
fir sapling. Considering this a miracle, St. Boniface called it "the tree of the Christ child."

What exactly does Jeremiah 10 say? Below is Jeremiah 10:1-10:

This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the
sky, though the nations are terrified by them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. 4 They adorn it with
silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. 5 Like a scarecrow in
a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not
fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good." 6 No one is like you, O LORD; you are
great, and your name is mighty in power. 7 Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This
is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like
you. 8 They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols. 9 Hammered
silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made is
then dressed in blue and purple-- all made by skilled workers. 10 But the LORD is the true God; he
is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot
endure his wrath.

http://www.ultranet.com/~tlclcms/chrtree.htm

Santa Claus

Santa Claus originated with a man known as St. Nicholas. He was a bishop in Asia Minor during the
fourth century who did many charitable deeds in his time

http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/pagan.htm
http://www.gilead.net/bible/toc.htm

Thanksgiving

This national holiday commemorates the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony in 1621, after a
winter of great starvation and privation. In that year Gov. William Bradford proclaimed a day of
thanksgiving, and the feast was shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native Americans.
Although similar observances were held locally, they were sporadic and at no set time. After the
American Revolution the first national Thanksgiving Day, proclaimed by George Washington, was Nov.
26, 1789. Abraham Lincoln, urged by Sarah J. Hale, revived the custom in 1863, appointing as the
date the last Thursday of November. In 1939, 1940, and 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed
Thanksgiving the third Thursday in November. When a contradiction arose between Roosevelt�s
proclamation and some of those of state governors, Congress passed a joint resolution in 1941
decreeing that Thanksgiving should fall on the fourth Thursday of November. The day is observed by
church services and family reunions; the customary turkey dinner is a reminder of the four wild
turkeys served at the Pilgrims� first thanksgiving feast. ( In reality we should thank God every
second of our lives for everything He has giving us. Rather than conveniently choose this
proclaimed day by our society, to give thanks to the Almighty.)

As we all know these pagan practices and many others were never stipulated by the ALL KNOWING
CREATOR of every living thing. If this were otherwise, why didn't Jesus practice them?

God Bless

Agape

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: "Norm"
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 19:23:23 -0500

<<I have brought this subject up before on this forum, and in live
conversations with other good Christian folks. I am astounded in both cases
at the lack of response. Why does everyone shrink from this?>>

I wouldn't say it's so much shrinking as it's only a big deal to the folks that feel the way that others celebrate Christ's resurrection is evil. I believe most Christians feel it's a heartfelt time of worship. If anyone feels that to celebrate Easter is pagan, then they by all means shouldn't.

The way I see it is that if I celebrate Easter, the way my family has for generations, I'm honoring and giving glory to Jesus Christ. As far as Deuteronomy 12:30-32, neither I nor my family had any foreknowledge of the "pagan" aspects. We never saw the pagan rituals and we didn't adapt them to Christian traditions. The "fact" that they may have originated from pagan rituals was not known to me or anyone in my family until I read about it on this list. I'm not worshipping some pagan deity nor do I have any intention to start. Again, if celebrating Easter is a stumbling block for anyone on this list or the congregations they are members of, then they shouldn't (1 Corinthians 8:9). My family and I see no reason to impose these same restrictions because the intent of our heart is to honor God. This intent is what I feel is the most important in any tradition. The trappings of Easter have no pagan meaning to me at all.

May you celebrate Christ's resurrection in a manner acceptable to you.

Norm

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: barb
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 20:00:32 -0600

Steven,

Yes, I think those scriptures apply today . . . We've stopped celebrating Easter
with bunnies, eggs, candies, new clothes. We still go to church that Sunday
morning, but it's hard to sit through the Easter musical, acting as if Jesus
were crucified on Friday and rose on Sunday. And, even though our church doesn't
do anything with rabbits and eggs, the attitude is still present that this is
what everybody does -- hunt eggs and gorge on chocolate. We quietly go about our
business and don't try to change any minds -- that's probably wrong too, but we
haven't found too much interest in even discussing it. (This crowd insists their
children still believe in Santa Claus or they're not celebrating Christmas! So I
don't hold out a lot of hope of waking up anybody where Easter is concerned.)

A couple years ago our Sunday school teacher had asked "what's bunnies and
chocolate crosses have to do with Jesus' death and resurrection?" I'm ashamed to
admit that I was right in there with the rest of the group, talking about
symbolism and how there's nothing wrong with that. Since then, we've done a lot
more study, and God has gotten ahold of us about following the traditions of men
. . . I went back to this woman last Sunday and asked her whether she'd done any
research into the subject? She said no, so I offered to send her some links that
would explain where the Easter name and traditions came from, and I did. She
e-mailed me a thank-you and said she'd read them. I'm looking forward to seeing
whether she has any comments on them!

Don't give up . . .
- barb

Syksteven@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 3/19/01 11:30:35 AM, shophar_sho_good@usa.net writes:
>
> << How the egg came to symbolize Easter
> Another Easter stroller.
>
> http://www.detnews.com/history/easter/easter.htm
>
> Eastertime
> By Anne Campbell / The Detroit News
> March 26, 1948 >>
>
> << By Patricia Zacharias
> The joy and hope of Easter Resurrection has been symbolized for
> centuries by lambs, rabbits, lilies and crosses. The simple egg, however is
> perhaps the oldest and most universal symbol of rebirth and new life. The
> custom of offering Easter eggs, either chocolate or hard boiled and colored,
> dates back well beyond the early years of Christianity to the most ancient
> pagan traditions. >>
>
> I am curious as to how others on the list feel about Duet. 12: 30-32. Does
> it have any meaning for Christians today? Does it have any bearing on the
> above article?
>
> I have brought this subject up before on this forum, and in live
> conversations with other good Christian folks. I am astounded in both cases
> at the lack of response. Why does everyone shrink from this?
>
> Trying to understand,
> Steven Sykes
>
>
> ************************
>
> SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
>
> To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
> bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
> bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Bible Prophecy Research
> URL: http://philologos.org/bpr
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: Sam O
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 20:52:34 -0500

Steven wrote and posted a very tenuous and valid question, worthy of
thought and reply. He wrote:

"...I am curious as to how others on the list feel about Duet. 12: 30-32.
Does
it have any meaning for Christians today? Does it have any bearing on
the
above article?

I have brought this subject up before on this forum, and in live
conversations with other good Christian folks. I am astounded in both
cases
at the lack of response. Why does everyone shrink from this?"

Trying to understand,
Steven Sykes

As I am sure Steven is aware of, the scripture he quotes, De.12:30-32,
does indeed apply for Christians today because it is clearly reinforced
in the New Testament.

Cross references on this passage:
Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and
be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at
them.
Ezekiel 20:32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all,
that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries,
to serve wood and stone.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Ephesians 4:17 =B6 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye
henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought
the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess
of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1 Peter 4:4 =B6 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to
the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

In these few verses it is plainly seen that we are not to walk as other
Gentiles do. Did not Jesus teach that though his disciples are in this
world, they are not of this world and He as the Father to keep them from
the world. (John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of
the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.) Further we
are told by James, "James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye
not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." That is
not hard to understand, yet neither is it embraced by the majority of
churchgoers.

No, Steven, do not be dismayed, for the lack of response indicates that
to respond by some would be a defense of their life. To others it was
dangerous to reply for they knew there argument would not withstand
scrutiny.

Spread the Word Ministry
Evan. Sam O. Pickering, Jr.
P. O. Box 1197
Johnson City, TN 37605-1197
423-928-5326

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: PearlSnapp
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 22:32:37 EST

In a message dated 3/19/01 7:37:38 PM Mountain Standard Time,
spick4me@juno.com writes:

I agree with you Steven, but I don't have time right now to spend defending
the position I would have to take. There is lots of paganism in Churchianity
today. Yes, it is important to the Lord, and the Bride of Christ, the wise
virgins, will not participate in the harlotry of paganism. Sorry I don't
have time to give all the scriptures to support this or answer any mad
Laodicean comments. The Lord is casting up a Highway of Holiness, He is
coming back for a Bride without spot or wrinkle and not for those in bed with
the Harlot system of Rev. 18. The sound of the trumpet is being heard in the
earth today for the wise virgins to make themselves ready. To "come out from
among them" that they not be made partakers of the things which are coming.
ps
>
> No, Steven, do not be dismayed, for the lack of response indicates that
> to respond by some would be a defense of their life. To others it was
> dangerous to reply for they knew there argument would not withstand
> scrutiny.
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: <owner-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:57:20 -0500

Hi gang,

A quick couple of comments or questions if I may...

The issue, to me, that Deut 12:30-32 brings out is not WHO is being
worshipped but HOW. Note what it says in verse 31: "Thou shalt not do so
unto the LORD thy God." God is instructing the Israelites to NOT worship
Him in the same way that the pagans worshipped their gods.

Another translation makes it clearer: "After they've been destroyed, be careful
you aren't tempted to follow their customs. Don't even ask about their gods
and say, 'How did these people worship their gods? We want to do what they
did.' Never worship the LORD your God in the way they worship their gods,
because everything they do for their gods is disgusting to the LORD. He
hates it! They even burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods."
(Deut 12:30-32 GWT)

This verse seems to imply that God doesn't like to be worshipped in certain
ways. This brings me to the question: Does it matter HOW we worship God
or is simply worshipping Him enough?

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [bprlist] How the egg came to symbolize Easter
From: "Norm"
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:39:23 -0500

<<Does it matter HOW we worship God
or is simply worshipping Him enough?>>
-------------------------------------------
My two cents worth:

LK 4:8 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' "

So obviously our focus should be on God and Him only when we worship.

MT 15:8 " `These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.

MT 15:9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.' "

From one of my commentaries, "The Jews of Jesus' day thought of themselves as preserving ancient traditions; but Jesus said that what they were actually preserving was the spirit of those whom Isaiah criticized long before. They had displaced the true religion of the heart with a religion of form. Therefore their worship was vain and their teachings their own, with nothing of God's authority behind them."

JN 4:21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

From the same commentary concerning the above reference,"To Jesus, true worship is that of the spirit, which means that the worshiper must deal honestly and openly with God. She, on the contrary, had been furtive and unwilling to open her heart to God."

AM 5:21 "I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies.

  AM 5:22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them.
  Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
    I will have no regard for them.

AM 5:23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.

AM 5:24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!

AM 5:25 "Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?

  AM 5:26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king,
    the pedestal of your idols,
    the star of your god--
    which you made for yourselves.

AM 5:27 Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,"
says the LORD, whose name is God Almighty.

The same commentary states concerning the above, "The shock felt by the people when Amos attacked their comforting eschatology was followed by another shock. He turns to their worship and proclaims the Lord's hatred of their religious observances because they lacked the love, concern, and humble obedience to God that marks sincere profession of faith. Every aspect of their ritual was an act of disobedience because it ignored the heart of the law--love for God and concern for others."

So, since we aren't worshipping pagan deities, Easter eggs, Lilies, the Cross, sacrificing children, or having ritualistic orgies but God and Him only, I think we're ok.

I feel to believe the traditional religious form of Easter has some "power" to keep me from God is a form of idolatry. The form and trappings are object lessons of what we are celebrating. They have no "power" to or over me. But to get rid of them because some pagans used similar objects in their worship is giving them more authority than they deserve. As a side point, I'm amazed by the Christians that believe the cross around their neck has some power to "do" something other than remind them of Christ.

I can't see trading in one religious form that has served me well for another. Especially when the form I have expresses a "love for God and concern for others" and that is what God finds acceptable. So if I do trade in one tradition for another, would that make me more righteous? I don't think so. Any righteousness I have comes from Christ and He is worthy of worship and praise.

If your form of worship differs from mine and you are expressing a love for God and others, that's good for you. God is accepting your worship. Keep in mind though that the person next to you can be going through the same motions, but if their heart is far from God, God rejects it. As I said in my earlier note, I believe it is the intent of the heart that matters.

Norm

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~>
Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep
in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered
high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/JJRVlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

************************

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

To SUBSCRIBE to BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To UNSUBSCRIBE from BPR, send a blank message to:
bprlist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bible Prophecy Research
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Philologos | Bible Prophecy Research | Online Books | Reference Guide

Please be advised that this domain (Philologos.org) does not endorse 100 per cent any link contained herein. This forum is for the dissemination of pertinent information on an end-times biblical theme which includes many disturbing, unethical, immoral, etc. topics and should be viewed with a mature, discerning eye.