Shalom Brethren, for those of you who are actually considering the keeping of Halloween I have two other articles for you to also read in: “Holidays or Holy Days” and the other is in: “Halloween – A Celebration of Evil”

Please know and understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. Then once you have done this you will be ready to receive the Blessings or the Curses of your actions.

Eight Pagan Sabbaths, Sun God Worship & Halloween

By Maria Merola

Most of us have been taught in the Christian Church to believe that the “holidays” which we celebrate today are “Christian” simply because the Church of Rome has declared it to be so. While most people know that the origins of these holidays are pagan, we rationalize them away, and we convince ourselves that celebrating this will not hurt our conscience. You may be one of those people who does not want your child to feel isolated from his peers and so you may be saying to yourself:

“Well everybody is doing it, so it can’t be that bad…it’s just harmless fun for children.”

What I am about to share with you will illustrate that if we allow our children to participate in these pagan customs, we are directly violating the commandment of our Creator, and we are opening up our children to come under the curses that are listed in Deuteronomy 28 and in Exodus 20 when we worship other gods (whether out of ignorance) or willfully, we open up our children to witchcraft and demons when we allow them to participate in these activities.

In Mark 7:13, Yeshua tells us that the traditions of men make the word of God ineffective in our lives. If abandoning these traditions of men will cause the word of God to become more effective in our lives, then we must abandon Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and every other vestige of sun god worship that has been “dressed up” to appear “Christian.” We must go back to the Feasts ordained by the Lord which commemorate our Messiah, and renounce the pagan holidays that we celebrate in the church today. All of these pagan practices are actually for the “beast” of Rome (Antichrist) and not for Jesus Christ our Messiah, as illustrated in this chart:

The Eight Pagan Sabbaths:

Imbolc Saint Valentine’s Day February 2nd-February 15th

Ostara (Easter) Rome changed it to Passover week to identify her with Christ’s Resurrection. March 21st-March 25th (Pope changed to Passover week to confuse with Christ)

Beltane (Mayfest) (goddess of fertility/Mary) May 1st

Midsummer Solstice (First Day of Summer) June 21st (Catholics call it St. John’s Day)

Lugnasad (Catholic Mary’s Ascension) August 1st-August 15th

Mabon (First Day of Autumn) September 21st

Samhain (Halloween) Catholic “All-Saints Day” and “All-Souls Day” October 31st

Yule (Christmas) birthday of false Christ December 21st-December 25th

The “Yule” Wheel is a pagan representation of all the annual celebrations offered up to the pagan sun god and moon goddess in their many different “reincarnated” forms. The wheel has eight segments signifying “eight pagan Sabbaths” each year. Notice the five pointed star of witchcraft also called the “Eastern Star.” The star is within a circle representing the sun god, Baal.

This is the Pagan Yule Wheel used by witches and Wiccans. You will notice that all of these pagan feasts are on important “Christian” holidays. Yule is Christmas; Ostara is Easter; Beltane is Mayfest; Imbolic is Saint Valentine’s Day; Lughnasadh is the “Assumption of Mary” in the Catholic Church; Samhain is “All-Saints” Day or Halloween.

This image is from ancient Babylon representing the “sun god” Baal or “Shamesh.” Notice the “eight” sections symbolizing the “eight pagan Sabbaths.”

To the left are two examples of the difference

Notice the “four point” cross symbol for Baal/ Shamesh on the Pope’s mitre and in the background on the altar.

Halloween or Samhain

While the origins of Halloween are obvious to most Christians, so many do not realize that the Catholic Church has tried to disguise this holiday by celebrating “All Saints Day.” But does God tell us in his word to “honor” saints?

John 5:41 I receive not honor from men.

John 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?

“All Saints Day” or Halloween is yet another “tradition of men” designed to nullify the word of God in the life of the believer. At this website, some historical background is revealed about the satanic holiday called “Halloween” and it’s so-called “Christian” counterpart called “All-Saint’s Day”:

http://www.jeremiahproject.com/culture/halloween.html This is a must read page. If you are thinking of keeping this pagan Feast, then please go to read this article in its entirety. Excerpt are copied below.

History traces Halloween back to the ancient religion of the Celtics. The Celtic people were very conscious of the spiritual world and had their own ideas of how they could gain access to it – such as by helping their over 300 gods to defeat their enemies in battle, or by imitating the gods in showing cleverness and cunning. Their two main feasts were Beltane at the beginning of summer (May 1), and Samhain at the end of summer (Nov. 1). They believed Samhain was a time when the division between the two worlds became very thin, when hostile supernatural forces were active and ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished.

The Celtic priests who carried out the rituals in the open air were called Druids, members of pagan orders in Britain, Ireland and Gaul, who generally performed their rituals by offering sacrifices, usually of animals, but sometimes of humans, in order to placate the gods; ensuring that the sun would return after the winter; and frightening away evil spirits. To the Celtics, the bonfire represented the sun and was used to aid the Druid in his fight with dark powers. The term bonfire comes from the words “bone fire,” literally meaning the bones of sacrificed animals, sometimes human, were piled in a field with timber and set ablaze. All fires except those of the Druids were extinguished on Samhain and householders were levied a fee to relight their holy fire which burned at their altars. During the Festival of Samhain, fires would be lit which would burn all through the winter and sacrifices would be offered to the gods on the fires. This practice of burning humans was stopped around 1600, and an effigy was sometimes burned instead.

Samhain was the supreme night of demonic jubilation. Spirits of the dead would rise out of their graves and wander the countryside, trying to return to the homes where they formerly lived. Frightened villagers tried to appease these wandering spirits by offering them gifts of fruit and nuts. This is the origin of our present day “trick-or-treat.” They began the tradition of placing plates of the finest food and bits of treats that the household had to offer on their doorsteps, as gifts, to appease the hunger of the ghostly wanderers (demons). If not placated, villagers feared that the spirits would kill their flocks or destroy their property. Druids would demand that the villagers would give their virgin daughters for a human sacrifice by threatening to place a “hex” or a spell on the family if they did not comply. This is where the term “Trick or Treat” came from. It means “give me a human sacrifice or I’ll cast a spell on you.”

The problem was, if the souls of dead loved ones (actually demons) could return that night, so could anything else, human or not, nice or not-so-nice. The only thing the superstitious people knew to do to protect themselves on such an occasion was to masquerade as one of the demonic hoard, and hopefully blend in unnoticed among them. Wearing masks and other disguises and blackening the face with soot were originally ways of hiding oneself from the spirits of the dead who might be roaming around. This is the origin of Halloween masquerading as devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures.

Trick or Treat also became attached to a European custom called “souling.” Beggars would go from village to village begging for “soul cakes” made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers could guarantee a soul’s passage to heaven. This idea of being able to pray for the souls of the dead is of course false and unbiblical. This pagan practice of offering prayers or doing any kind of ritual for the souls of the dead is condemned by God:

Isaiah 8:19 “And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?

Deuteronomy 18:11 “There shall not be found among you….. anyone who calls up the dead…”

Deuteronomy 14:1 “….. you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead.”

In many parts of Britain and Ireland this night used to be known as “Mischief Night”, which meant that people were free to go around the village playing pranks and getting up to any kind of mischief without fear of being punished. Many of the different customs were taken to the United States by Irish and Scottish immigrants in the nineteenth century, and they developed into “’trick or treat.”

When Christianity spread to parts of Europe, instead of trying to abolish these pagan customs, they tried to introduce ideas which reflected a more “Christian” world-view. Halloween has since become a confusing mixture of traditions and practices from pagan cultures and Catholic tradition. The Romans observed the 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. In 834, Gregory III moved All Saint’s Day from May 13 to Nov. 1 and for Christians, this became an opportunity for remembering before God all the saints who had died and all the dead in the Christian community. Oct. 31 thus became All Hallows’ Eve (‘hallow’ means ‘saint’). Sadly, though, many of the customs survived and were blended in with Christianity.

The Jack-o-lantern is the festival light for Halloween and is the ancient symbol of a damned soul. Originally the Irish would carve out turnips or beets as lanterns as representations of the souls of the dead or goblins freed from the dead. When the Irish immigrated to America they could not find many turnips to carve into Jack O’Lanterns but they did find an abundance of pumpkins. Pumpkins seemed to be a suitable substitute for the turnips and pumpkins have been an essential part of Halloween celebrations ever since. Pumpkins were cut with faces representing demons and was originally intended to frighten away evil spirits. It was said that if a demon or such were to encounter something as fiendish looking as themselves that they’d run away in terror, thus sparing the houses dwellers from the ravages of dark entities. They would have been carried around the village boundaries or left outside the home to burn through the night. Bats, owls and other nocturnal animals, also popular symbols of Halloween, were originally feared because people believed that these creatures could communicate with the spirits of the dead. Black cats had religious origins as well. During the Middle Ages it was believed that witches could turn themselves into black cats. Thus when such a cat was seen, it was considered to be a witch in disguise.

Witches and witchcraft are dominant themes of the holiday. Witches generally believe themselves to be followers of an ancient religion, which goes back far beyond Christianity, and which is properly called “Wicca.” Witches are really just one side of a modern revival of paganism – the following of pre-Christian nature religions, the attempt to return to worshipping ancient Norse, Greek or Celtic gods and goddesses. The apostle Paul said witchcraft is one of the acts of the sinful nature and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:16-21; see also Revelation 22:15).

Deuteronomy 18:11-14 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, (sorcery) or an observer of times (astrology), or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits (psychic or medium), or a wizard, or a necromancer (one who calls up the dead). For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD.

Should followers of Messiah adopt such practices? Can we borrow the pagan customs and superstitions of ancient peoples and “Christianize” them?

Who can deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Witches, monsters, ogres, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils and demons all portray evil.

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

The sort of practices celebrated on Halloween are what defiled the ancient nations (Leviticus 18:24-30). The Israelites were warned against such practices when they entered the Promised Land, “When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.” (Deuteronomy 18:9)

Is Halloween just another innocent holiday that doesn’t harm anyone? Is it really just childish fun? Should the church be compromised by accommodating itself to the culture? Vandalism and wanton disregard for the property of others is common on Halloween night. Even normally well-behaved children are driven by unseen forces to destructive behavior. Police officials everywhere report a great increase in such activities on Halloween. Worse yet are the horrifying accounts of poisoned candy and fruits booby-trapped with razor blades and needles. Such threats are so real that many hospitals offer free X-rays of Halloween treats in order to prevent children from being harmed. Who but Satan could inspire such monstrous actions?

Instead of believers trying to have fun on that night, we should pray for all those children who are victims of satanic worship, sexual rituals and human sacrifices to Satan!

When America and the world celebrates the Festival of Samhain and the powers of darkness by masquerading as evil creatures or decorating our homes, schools, businesses and churches with occult symbols, Satanic power is glorified. While you may have participated “all in fun,” be assured, Halloween is serious business for Satanists and witches. Those who oppose Christ are known to organize on Halloween to observe satanic rituals, to cast spells, to oppose churches and families, to perform sacrilegious acts, and to even offer blood sacrifices to Satan. As evil prevails, Americans have embraced an evil day of Satan, with the pranks of ‘would be’ hoodlums, combined with “demon faces” on pumpkins, clothing of ‘death’ being worn, and calling it fun. When Christians participate in Halloween, it sends a message to children that witchcraft, demonism, Satanism, and the occult are something fun, entertaining and harmless.

What’s wrong with Halloween? It does not have even one single redeeming virtue. It is a custom born out of pagan superstition. It is a demon-inspired, devil-glorifying, occult festival. It is a “holy” day unto Satan himself. The scriptures tell us to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1st Thessalonians 5:22) Wake up Christians! This is a high holiday for Satan and those who love the Yeshua Messiah should have nothing to do with it.

In these last days, the Holy Spirit is calling his bride, the remnant in the church to “come out of Mystery Babylon” and return to the roots of the Olive Tree, the riches of our heritage in Yeshua Messiah by partaking of the “olive tree” Israel.

It is time for us to abandon these pagan traditions of men which have been allowed into the church. Our Messianic roots have been obscured for centuries by the beast of Rome, and we need to return to the God of Israel Yeshua by following the pattern of faith he has given us through Israel, and the Tabernacle as a pattern or template of worship.

“Euro centric” Protestantism has its roots in Catholicism and borrows much of the pagan rituals of ancient Babylon. Before we can experience revival in the church and have the “Latter Day” outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we must abandon such man-made pagan traditions and repent as a church. Yeshua taught us that the traditions of men cause the word of God to be ineffective in our lives. If we want to see the “word of God” become effective in our lives, then we must abandon the “traditions of men.”

2nd Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.