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A Day of Lust, Not Love
Article by Martin G. CollinsThe material identifies Baal as the name given by the Phoenicians and Semites to the deity whose origin is the same as that of the Roman god Lupercus and the Greek god Pan. This figure is presented as the central character behind the celebration now known as Valentine's Day, originally Nimrod, described in Genesis 10:9 as a mighty hunter before the LORD yet rendered more accurately as a fearless hunter in defiance of the LORD. The text links Baal directly to the pagan festival of Lupercalia observed on February 15, which featured idolatrous and sensual practices that church authorities later syncretized into Saint Valentine's Day by overlaying Christian names while retaining the underlying customs. This development illustrates the broader pattern of blending pagan elements with worship of the true God, a practice the material condemns through Deuteronomy 12:29-31 and I Corinthians 10:19-21 as fellowship with demons rather than with the Father. The reference to Baal therefore underscores how the holiday's roots in pre-Christian idolatry stand in direct opposition to the requirement that true worshipers serve God in spirit and truth.
Be My Valentine?
Article by Mike FordBaal is presented as the Phoenician sun god of fertility and nature to whom Pan, the Greek deity of woods, fields, and flocks, can be traced. This identification extends further to the Roman figures Faunus and Lupercus, both linked to the ancient observance of Lupercalia on February 15. The material develops the connection by noting that Baal is none other than Nimrod, described in Genesis 10:9 as a mighty hunter whose exploits extended even to Italy, and whose name aligns with the Latin root of valens that underlies the term Valentine. The heart symbol itself originates in the Chaldean word bal or bel, which through phonetic resemblance became an emblem for Nimrod. Cupid, identified as Ninus the son of Venus or Semiramis, completes the chain that consistently returns to Baal and centers on fertility, which the account equates with the promotion of sexual license. This lineage undergirds the claim that Lupercalia, later absorbed and renamed Valentine's Day, served as a religious pretext for lowering moral inhibitions. The discussion places Baal within the larger contrast between the chaste bride prepared for Christ's return and the harlot Babylon that Satan uses to seduce individuals, cities, and nations through the misuse of sex. Participation in the resulting holiday is therefore portrayed as entanglement with Babylonian practices that God commands His people to abandon in order to escape her plagues.
Syncretismas!
Article by Martin G. CollinsAs generations passed after the deification of Nimrod, Semiramis, and their son in Babylon, the same figures received worship under different names across various lands and languages. In Canaan these included Ashtoreth or Astarte for the mother and Molech or Baal for the son, forming part of the syncretistic blend of pagan rites that later entered Christian observance through Roman festivals such as Saturnalia. This identification of Baal with the ancient Babylonian system underscores the text's larger point that Christmas customs derive from idolatrous practices God explicitly forbids, practices that distract from the true Father-Son relationship and lead worshippers into spiritual deception rather than the purity He commands.
Is Valentine's Day Really About Love?
Commentary by Martin G. CollinsSt. Valentine's Day started as a lewd, sensual, pagan festival in Rome. Lupercalia is a rite connected with fertility, honoring Venus, the goddess of sex.
Christmas and Sun Worship
Sermonette by Mike FordChristmas, Easter, and Halloween all derive from sex, fertility, and sun worship. Christmas traces to the incestuous relationship of Semiramis and Nimrod.
What's So Bad About Valentines Day?
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughValentine's Day dates back to the Roman fertility ritual honoring Lupercus, the god of the hunt and fertility. The day is not about love, but lust.
Satan's Pagan Holy Days
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim MyersNew Years, Christmas, Easter, Halloween and birthdays all originate in paganism. Satan entices many into accepting these pagan practices through emotional appeals.
What Is the Origin of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6, 15)?
Bible Questions & AnswersActs 6 mentions 'Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.' Writings of the time say he later came to follow Gnostic teachings and became an ascetic.
Passover (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughMajor reinterpretations have significantly distorted the meaning of Passover and Unleavened Bread, blurring the distinction between the two events.
To Be, or Not To Be, Like Everyone Else?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsTo keep from being swept up in the bandwagon effect of compromising with sin, we must make sure our convictions are not merely preferences.
Deuteronomy and Idolatry
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We are admonished to internalize the book of Deuteronomy in preparation for our future leadership roles.
Animal Idolatry
'Prophecy Watch' by Mike FordHave the animal rights groups gone too far? This movement borders on—if not transgresses—the line between concern and idolatry.