HALLOWEEN – ALL SAINTS DAY – ALL SOULS DAY

 By R. H. Parry, Michigan

Halloween? (The eve of the day of the dead – ‘Hallows Eve,’ October 31). All Saints Day? (November 1). All Souls Day? (November 2). Are these fun filled, festive, holy days found in the Bible? If you are a Christian you should weigh your beliefs and practices by some standard. If they are not found in the Bible, then what tradition or ancient belief are you honoring? If you take for granted what man says, when there are reasonable grounds for doubt and you feel uncertain deliberately suspending your judgment, you know without a doubt your footing is unsure and you will sooner or later find yourself in a plight. The Bible requires us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling and not lean on men for our understanding (Philippians 2:12). In that day when we appear for judgment, we will stand only on our own two feet. We will not be able to blame anyone else for our lack of knowledge. We are told to prove all things and hold fast to that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). There is a way that seems all right unto men, but Yahweh says that the end thereof is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12). Do you really believe that you can continue to cover fables with doctrines of men, and deceive yourselves that this is righteousness, when the Scriptures condemn it?

THE GOLDEN CUP OF ABOMINATIONS

Christianity today is drinking from the golden cup that is full of abominations and filthiness. No wonder Revelation 17:4-6 calls this deceitful power a “Mystery, the Mother of Harlots and the abominations of the earth.” History records what Revelation 18:3-5 informs us: – that all nations and kings have drunk of this doctrine and we of our day witness the merchants of the earth waxing rich through the abundance of ‘Her’ delicacies. The day of our ignorance is past, knowledge is increased, and education is at an all time high. “The times of this ignorance Yahweh winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained: whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that Yahweh raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30, 31).

SHOULD WE ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO ENJOY

THESE PLEASURES FOR A SEASON?

We are warned in 2 Timothy 4:3, 4 of THIS VERY DAY when sound doctrine would not be endured. Christianity today is heaping to themselves teachers having itching ears, and they are turning their ears from the warnings laid down by the Apostles and Prophets and are turned to fables. The Apostle Paul warns us in Colossians 2:8 “to beware least any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men after the elements of the world and not after Yahshua. I admit these statements are strong accusations, can these be proven? Does it really matter if we let our children enjoy these pleasures of sin for a season? Yes, it does make a difference in Isaiah 5:20, 21 reads “Woe to them that call evil good and good evil; that put

darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes . . .” (See verses 22-25). The prophet Ezekiel warns us of the false priests in chapter 22:25-28, “who violate Yahweh’s law and profane the holy things and put no difference between the holy and the profane, … seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them saying, Thus Saith the Mighty One Yahweh, when Yahweh hath not spoken.”

THESE HOLY DAYS ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE

Seeing these Holy Days are not to be found in the Bible where do they have their origin? “From deep in the Celtic and Roman past from ancient PAGAN and CHRISTIAN practices have come to us the customs and practices of a MODERN HALLOWEEN. It was the Druids who marked the evening of Oct. 31 as special worshipers of Many Gods; they especially revered the sun and held a great festival in its honor at the end of summer. Holding a superstitious fear of the unknown, they believed the spirits of the dead rose the night of October 31, to visit their homes and friends. Halloween actually means “holy or hallowed evening.” It can also be called All Hallows Eve because it’s the day before All Hallows or All Saints Day, a holy day in the Roman Catholic Church, Episcopal Church, the Church of England, and the Greek Orthodox Church. The Festival honors all martyrs, known and unknown, who have died for the church.”1

“The celebration of this holy day (All Saints Day – Nov. 1). Traces of festival activities are found in the Frankish kingdom at the time of the Carolignians. Yet it wasn’t until the 9th century that it became a general feast day. The celebration of this holy day started on May 13, when Pope Boniface IV fitted the Pantheon at Rome for Christian worship and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary and the saints. The date for the celebration was changed however, when Pope Gregory III dedicated a church to the honor of the saints on Nov. 1, and it has been traditionally celebrated on this day for 1,200 years. This day received the name All Hallows Day, and thereafter it became the custom to call the evening before all-hallowe’en.”2

THE RITES OF BAAL-PEOR

Now the things that happened unto Israel were for types, and are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (1 Corinthians 10:11). One example is shown in Numbers 25:1-3 when Israel was invited to join in the worship and sacrifice to other gods. It is written that there were those who joined themselves with these other gods and Yahweh’s anger was kindled against Israel. They were entices and it seemed right, but the end thereof was the way of death. These three feasts days are dedicated to the dead. David in Psalm 106:28 makes mention of how they joined themselves unto Baal-peor and ate the sacrifices of the DEAD.

Is Satan using you to continue the lie told to Eve in the Garden of Eden? When Satan promised Eve if she would disobey Yahweh she would become as a mighty one, never dying (Genesis 3:4, 5). All the prophets and great men of old recognized that this body would die and the worms would destroy it, yet in the latter day, that great Resurrection Day this corruptible body would put on flesh that would be uncorruptible (Job 19:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:52-54). David testifies the same when his first born lay dying, he prayed Yahweh’s mercy for his healing, but when the child died he offered no prayers for the dead (2 Samuel 12:15-23). When Lazarus was dead and in the grave four days, his body had begun to decay the Saviour asked Martha if she believed that her brother

would rise from the grave. Martha’s testimony was that her brother, Lazarus, would rise in the LAST DAY (John 11:24). When Yahshua went to the grave of Lazarus; Lazarus came forth from the grave. No! Lazarus had not ascended into the heavens to become greater after his death as Satan had promised. Why do you think that on the Day of the Firstfruits, after Yahshua’s ascension into heaven, on this great Feast Day that David’s grave was mentioned? (Acts 2:25-32). It was because David is both dead and buried and his grave is with us unto this day. David was told that he would sleep with his fathers (2 Samuel 7:12). In Psalms 16:8-11 David states that his flesh would rest in hope. As you will notice in Hebrews 11:1-40 it begins with a brief summary of the patriarchs of old telling us that these all died in faith, they obtained a good report but as yet have not received the promise of the resurrection, that they without us cannot be made perfect. Yahshua is the Firstfruits of those that slept, but every man in his own order: Yahshua the firstfruits; afterward they that are Yahshua’s at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). When Yahshua rose from the grave He had flesh and bones. He was able to eat. He was not a Ghost or Spirit (Luke 24:39, 41-43).

CHOOSE NOW WHOM YOU WILL SERVE

We are choosing today whom we shall serve, we cannot be partakers of Yahweh’s table and the table of devils (1 Corinthians 10:20, 21). “The Ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” (Isaiah 9:15, 16). No, “the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living he shall praise thee …” (Isaiah 38:18, 19). “For in death there is no remembrance of Yahweh; in the grave who shall give Yahweh thanks?” (Psalms 6:5).

What about All Souls Day – Nov. 2? “All Souls Day is a festival of the Catholic Church instituted in 998 and observed on Nov. 2. Its object is the relief by prayers and acts of charity of the souls in purgatory.” Yet the scriptures plainly state that the dead have no thought or knowledge in the grave and there is no more that they can do under the sun (Ecclesiastes 9:10; Job 14:12-15). Christians who partake of this doctrine are being told the same lie that Satan has continued to promise through all nations, kindred tongues and people. “We can make a covenant with death, and with hell we are in agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through it shall not come unto us, for we have made lies our refuge and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.” (Isaiah 28:15). Yahweh plainly declares “None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to Yahweh a ransom for him: . . . For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. . . . He shall go to the generations of his fathers; they shall never see light.” (Psalms 49:7-19).

“. . . Yahweh’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither is His ear heavy that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1). Listen to that still small voice telling you to, “Come out of her my people, that you be not partakers of her sins and that you receive not of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4). May we be among those of whom it is written, “. . . they shall build the old waste places: they shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and shall be called, the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.” (Isaiah 58:8-12).

1 Halloween Links Eras by Helen Clegg, State Journal, October 31, 1968.

2 Holyday to honor all Saints, State News, Michigan State University, November 1, 1968.