During Easter, the holiest of days for mainstream Christianity; people gather for sunrise services, buy new clothing, and church pews are more crowded than any other time of the year.  Children paint eggs and parents hide them.  A traditional ham dinner will be prepared.  Are these traditions based on a biblical account, or do they have other origins?

A simple Google or Bing search of the origins of Easter will reveal how these traditions became involved in what is called a Christian holiday.  For this article I would like to focus upon the timeline of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So many celebrate and decree that Christ died on a Friday and rose on Sunday morning.  Will this tradition hold up against the biblical account?  We must turn to the scriptures and read Jesus Christ's own words on the subject.

  
Matthew 12:38  Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 
Matthew 12:39  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 
Matthew 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

Only the sign of Jonah would be given revealing the true resurrection.  Remember Jonah?  He was in the belly of the large fish for 3 days and 3 nights before being expelled upon the shore of Nineveh.  Why would Christ give this sign?  He gave it because it was the sign that he was indeed the Messiah.  He was the King of Kings and the Eternal God that lives for all eternity.  Through his resurrection we have that same hope of eternal life.  

Now, let's compare tradition with the biblical account.  Friday day and Friday night equals one day and one night.  Saturday day and Saturday night equals day two and night two.  Sunday morning equals day 3, but something is missing; there is no third night.  Jesus plainly said he would be in the grave for three days and three nights.  Several occasions he stated he would rise on the third day.  

This chart explains the actual timeline of Christ's death, burial and resurrection.  It aligns with the scriptures.  

My friends, if you are observing Easter and its traditions, I would ask; are you observing a biblical holy day or something else?  That's for you to decide.  

Chris Anderson

For even more information I would suggest reading Garner Ted Armstrong's booklet titled "Believe it or not; the resurrection was not on a Sunday".  Click the provided link to access this information.

Believe it or not the resurrection was not on a Sunday.

We have often witnessed the spectacle of hundreds leaving their seats during an evangelistic campaign.  We are familiar hearing the old traditional hymn “Just as I Am” being played and people approach the designated area. They repeat a few words uttered by the evangelist and are “saved”.  Many believe this is indeed the method taught by Christ.  Is this your belief?  Did Jesus Christ come to the earth to save the entire world during his time and the present?  Most will say yes.  Does the Bible agree?

I have often heard the question asked; why did Jesus teach in parables?  I have received many answers to this question.  Some respond in this manner.  While Jesus was teaching the multitudes, he would look over and see a common activity, such as a sower planting his field.  They would continue to explain that he would utilize every day activities to better enlighten the public, afterwards they would understand and become converted.  Does the Bible state such a definition?   Let us turn to its pages and seek the answers.

 Luke 8:10  And he said, Unto you (the disciples)  it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Did you catch that? At this point in time Jesus is speaking to his disciples, not the crowd.  He clearly explains that he speaks in parables so the multitude will not understand and will not see the truth.  Now this explanation is in opposition of main stream Christianity.   Yet, that is exactly what Jesus Christ said.  Let’s compare this subject with the other gospel accounts.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you (the disciples) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Mark really brings the topic home.

Mark 4:10  And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

Mark 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you (the disciples)   it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Mark 4:12  That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven; this isn’t the way it has been taught is it?  Yet my friends, this is exactly how Jesus taught.  So if he isn’t trying to save the entire world now, then when?  That is for another article.  Remember, if it’s in your Bible; it’s truth! 

Feel free to listen to a sermon I gave titled “Why are Parables Misunderstood” by clicking the following link. http://youtu.be/FVRKkVvsj3c

By: Chris Anderson

It is often portrayed in a way that drives one's imagination to a higher level.  People are suddenly vanishing into thin air with nothing left behind but clothing.  Planes are crashing out of the sky; people are running to and fro searching for the answer to what is happening.  All of a sudden there is an anti-Christ on the scene and the world is plummeted into tribulation.  Many thousands have read and believe in the Left Behind saga.  Many professing Christians are waiting for a rapture to avoid all of this calamity.  Is it possible?  Does such a event exist?  Will Jesus Christ return in secret? Is the theory of the rapture a true doctrine or a false doctrine?  The only reliable source one can turn to is the pages of God's Holy Word; the Bible.  This book will either prove the rapture true, or it will prove it false.  

1st Thessalonians 4:16-18 are often quoted as support for the rapture theory.  Let's dig in and study these verses in detail and develop an understanding for what Paul is teaching.

1 Thessalonians 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God" and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 


Many declare that Christ's return will be in secret and no one but church members will be able to see and hear it.  As we view this verse Paul declares that Christ will descend with a shout.  There will be the voice of the archangel.  The trumpet of God will should.  The dead will rise.  There is a lot going on.  For this to be secret, it would appear that the language does not support this.  We have a shout.  Normally when a person shouts they want to be heard.  There is a voice of an archangel. See Revelation 1:15 - sound of many waters. As a human being I have no idea of what this sound would be, however; I cannot imagine that it will be puny.  The trump of God shall sound.  I can remember at my high school football games during halftime; the band would play and no one could escape the sound of the trumpets and other instruments.  The dead in Christ will rise.  I can't fathom a way that those who have been dead rising from their graves could happen in secret.  Let's continue with the next verse.


1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


After the previous events occur, those who are Christ's and are alive will be changed to spirit beings and will meet him in the air.  How is all of the happening yet no one is noticing any of it?


So many say "Only the church will witness this".  Once again, let's turn to the pages of the Bible and see how it answers this proclamation.


Revelation 1:7  Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him:  and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.  Even s, Amen.


John leaves absolutely no doubt that the entire planet will behold Jesus Christ as he returns to establish the Kingdom of God.  All of the earth beholds him, not just a select few as many declare.  People will even be in turmoil when they see his return, and we will discuss that in a later article.  


Another aspect of the Left Behind saga is the introduction of the tribulation.  According to this set of beliefs the tribulation occurs after the rapture.  My question to the reader is this; Does the tribulation occur before or after the return of Jesus Christ?


Matthew 24:21-31

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.  then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Behold I have told you before.  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, behold he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  For as the Lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all of the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.


We can see clearly from the words of Jesus Christ that his return will follow the tribulation, not precede it.  We see that once again all of the earth will look upon him as he returns; some to gladness and others to sorrow.  We are also told not to let anyone deceive us.  I can tell you from the word of God that the rapture is a deception.  It is a false hope and a lie.  There is no doubt that all will see the King of Kings return.  It is true that God's Church will  be protected during the tribulation, that for now is for a different article.  If you would like more information click this link: 


http://youtu.be/utW_Vr_mIw4


This link will take you to a sermon I did a while back about the rapture.  I give more detail and several more scriptures.  Remember, if it's in the Bible it is truth, if not; it's a fable of man.  Who do you want to follow?  
 By: Chris Anderson