WHERE DID EASTER COME FROM?
Mithra was always shown with a solar halo around his head; so portraits and statues of Christ, Mary, and the saints also had halos around their heads.
Because worshipers of Ishtar presented her with two fertility symbols -eggs and bunny rabbits- these came part of the Christian Easter service.
Because sunrise on Sunday morning, at the beginning of sprint, was next to December 25th, the holiest day in the Mithraic calendar, the practice of Easter sunrise continued on into Christianity
Because Mithra was worshiped on the first day of the week, which the Persians and Romans called the sun day. Sunday sacredness -which is nowhere to be found in the Bible-, came into the Christian church.
Because Mithra, the sun, “died and rose to life” each year on December 25 (when the sun became lowest in the sky). The birth of Christ began to be celebrated on that date (although it is clear from facts in the Bibles that He was born in the fall of that year).
Because the Ishtar (Astarte, Astoreth, etc.) celebration was held each spring on a Sunday, close to the vernal equinox, the ascension of Christ was changed from 40 days after the time of Passover (as told us in the Bible) to the annual Easter celebration.
All this began centuries before in paganism, with the Ishtar and Tammuz legend.
“Little by little, at first in stealth and silence and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, ‘the mystery of iniquity’ carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism.
“But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and his apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions.
“The nominal conversion of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror…and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ”. (Great Controversy, 49-50)
“THE RELIGION WHICH IS CURRENT IN OUR DAYS IS NOT OF THE PURE AND HOLY CHARACTER THAT MARKED THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN THE DAYS OF CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES. IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE WITH SIN, BECAUSE THE GREAT TRUTHS OF THE WORD OF GOD ARE SO INDIFFERENTLY REGARDED, BECAUSE THERE IS SO LITTLE VITAL GODLINESS IN THE CHURCH, THAT CHRISTIANITY IS APPARENTLY SO POPULAR WITH THE WORLD.” (Great Controversy, 48)