4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Acts 12:4
Every time the word “pascha’ is present the KJV translators translated it “passover,” except in Acts 12:4. Some say the translators made a mistake but this is a shallow and ignorant response. We can go to the Oxford English dictionary and see that you can call the Jewish Passover “Easter.” But it’s obvious that the translators used this in one place, and used it in a context that is indicating that something more is going on in apostate Israel than had been going on before, meaning that’s there another reason why they used the word “Easter.”
The context of Acts 12 indicates that there’s an infinity in existence at that time between the heathenism of Herod and Israel’s vain religious system.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) Acts 12:2-3
“…he saw it pleased the Jews…” Not until after Herod saw killing James pleased the Jews, did he proceed to take Peter. Herod did something with James to test the waters, and when it pleased the Jews , this is actually ‘part B ‘of what began back when they rejected Christ. It was part of the action that produced what Paul said,
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. I Thessalonians 2:16
When you see how God responded to Herod once he’s in Caesarea, and those of Tyre and Sidon that he was highly displease with; listen to the terminology. He’s not highly displeased with the Jews, rather highly displeased with Tyre and Sidon,
20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. Acts 12:20
Then note what God does to Herod and the people’s regard for Herod,
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
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. Acts 12-21-23
It’s the whole environment that going on at this time that Christians aren’t appreciating. It’s because of this environment that God had the word “pascha” translated “Easter.” There’s a blending that was taking place in Israel’s apostate religious system and they were permitting it to take place. They condoned it. They were permitting the heathen holiday of Easter (Ishtar) to be blended with the Passover. When you realize the origin of Ishtar, your eyes open up to a ray of truth. Ishtar comes from Assyria.
This is the next step. They rejected the real Christ at the real Passover and they’re in preparation for accepting the anti-Christ from Assyria by blending Ishtar (Easter) with the Passover. Herod, in what he did, was the bridge between this. So when the program resumes with Israel, the bridge will be in place. Israel will say exactly the same thing the people from Tyre and Sidon said in Acts 12:22 when they accept the anti-Christ when he makes an oration to them “…It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.”
This is why God records this event in Acts. You have to stop and ask why is it so important at that particular time for God to tell you what the people of Tyre and Sidon thought about Herod? Why should he have given God the glory? Herod should have! God smote him because he didn’t! There’s a lot more going on than most realize.
When you go back and study out the anti-Christ and see what he is going to do, one of things God told Daniel he was going to is:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: Daniel 2:21
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Daniel 7:25
The anti-Christ will change the holydays on Israel and the bridge for doing it is in Acts 12, when Israel accepts the blending of the holiday of Ishtar (Easter) with the Passover in preparation for accepting the Assyrian anti-Christ. The Jews were willing to go along with Herod.
The two holydays had already been blended together. The Jews were already observing Easter; the Ishtar concept. Herod wasn’t going to bring Peter forth until both were over. He was acknowledging both holydays, Passover and Easter. He wanted them in turn to acknowledge them both also. And note that the Jews weren’t rebelling’ against the idea. They may not have been observing but they didn’t rebel. When you study out Israel’s apostate religious system, that God created Israel to be a godly nation; first component of godliness is to think like God does. As Israel’s history proceeds on to the 5th course of punishment, 5th installment, they have gone from the potential godly to so far being removed from that, that they are one step away from being in complete agreement with Satan’s thinking; satanly. When they sign on with the man of sin, they have completed that act. And the vain religious system is now entirely ungodly and completely satanly.
Part of the spirit of the anti-Christ movement is the issue of getting Israel to accept him when he arrives on the scene. It comes down to Israel’s willingness to accept the man of sin’s estate. This is why the word “estate” is used so often in Daniel; where he comes from, what he belongs to, what he’s part and parcel of etc. It’s a highly deceptive, beguiling movement. He’s going to be doing certain things that are designed to convince them that he is the genuine Messiah. He will do things according Daniel chapter 8 that his fathers never did! And his fathers are Assyrians. He’s going to attack Israel’s enemies (the 3 kings he subdues) and give Israel the spoils of victory. This is part of his deceitful tactics to convince Israel that he’s the Christ. Part of this is going to be the fact that his holydays are their holydays. When you study out the Ishtar holyday it has always been in existence during Spring (vernal equinox), and the Jewish Passover exactly coincides with the vernal equinox on a periodic basis.
Acts chapter 12 could very well be part of this blending work. All of this takes place before the time schedule clicks in. When the man of sin makes the covenant for the seven years, he does this with the spirit of anti-Christ already accomplished its work. So this is why this sort of stuff can take place in Acts chapter 12 and not have any problem with Israel’s program being suspended because it’s not on the time schedule. It’s similar to the issues that take place in the first seven chapters of the book of Acts that are part of the extension and mercy and forbearance. This isn’t part of the time schedule either.
Keith Blades
Enjoy The Bible Ministries