Halloween, Day of the Dead, and Princess Diana |
From The eJournal
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An End time word by Terrence ClarkThe Mexican holiday, The Day of the Dead intersects with Halloween or All Hallows Evening on the calendar as well as in observation. Halloween is set annually October 31. The Day of Dead is a collection of days spanning October 31 through November 2. Both events identify with some aspect of the dead, the hear-after, or the supernatural.
Halloween, however, identifies more with the scary side of the supernatural. The dead celebrated and portrayed on the last day of the tenth month are the kind more likely seeking to haunt, terrorize, possess or even eat you. Diversely, the creatures portrayed on that night are not only zombies, ghost, and demons but the cast can range from witches, trolls, and dragons to friendlier characters such as comic book heroes or rock stars. Even with the sometimes positive spin, the abiding shadow of Halloween still belongs to the things associated with the macabre. Most decorations, in commercial venues and on residential front lawns, concur with the darker world. |
It’s not every house, but the elaborate decorations seem to really expose its resident’s fascinations with the metaphysical and the occult. Halloween seems to allow repressed (or stored in the attic) evil passions to be released for a season. Perhaps, it’s worth investigating to see if the wearing of Halloween costumes is an excuse to release latent evil secrets lurking in the participant’s hearts.
Like several American holidays, Halloween is an amalgam of past cultures, beliefs, and celebrations both pagan and Christian. Traditions like Christmas, and Easter have been converted, although not perfect, to shine the Christian perspective. Still, to note, the Christian influence has brought some light to the October event. Many churches and ministries engaging the Halloween celebrations as Harvest Night or Hallelujah Night, replace its dark evil dark emblems with biblical and seasonal ones. The traditional Trick or Treat --- bargain for your soul --- symbolism, door knocking is replaced with Christ-centered activities and fun based evangelism.
The Latino observation may not have an evil intent, but from a Christian perspective, it’s still centered on the disturbed dead---although not zombies. According to tradition, on The Day of the Dead, All Hallows Eve, October 31, on an altar they make, children invite the spirits of the dead---the Angelitos---to come back for a visit. On Nov 1, All Saints Day, an invitation is given for adult spirits to return for a visit. The following day--- All Souls’ Days the entire (living) families visit the graveyard to visit and decorate the tombs of lost loved ones. The graves are decorated with flowers, cardboard and sugar skulls, and relative food items.
In Contrast, Halloween is fear-based, while the Mexican observation is more aligned with culture and tradition, but both have at heart the supernatural and ties to the dead.
Like several American holidays, Halloween is an amalgam of past cultures, beliefs, and celebrations both pagan and Christian. Traditions like Christmas, and Easter have been converted, although not perfect, to shine the Christian perspective. Still, to note, the Christian influence has brought some light to the October event. Many churches and ministries engaging the Halloween celebrations as Harvest Night or Hallelujah Night, replace its dark evil dark emblems with biblical and seasonal ones. The traditional Trick or Treat --- bargain for your soul --- symbolism, door knocking is replaced with Christ-centered activities and fun based evangelism.
The Latino observation may not have an evil intent, but from a Christian perspective, it’s still centered on the disturbed dead---although not zombies. According to tradition, on The Day of the Dead, All Hallows Eve, October 31, on an altar they make, children invite the spirits of the dead---the Angelitos---to come back for a visit. On Nov 1, All Saints Day, an invitation is given for adult spirits to return for a visit. The following day--- All Souls’ Days the entire (living) families visit the graveyard to visit and decorate the tombs of lost loved ones. The graves are decorated with flowers, cardboard and sugar skulls, and relative food items.
In Contrast, Halloween is fear-based, while the Mexican observation is more aligned with culture and tradition, but both have at heart the supernatural and ties to the dead.
The Diana Tie
It was August 31, not October 31, with night in the sky, although it was morning, the reflection begins.
Diana Frances Spencer married Charles, Prince of Wales on July 29, 1981, and became Princess Diana, Princess of Wales. A beautiful and stately young woman, barely in her twenties when her storybook life began. It wasn’t just her connection to the royal throne that made Diana loved by most around the world, it was her heart. Known as “the people princess” Diana identified with and visited the common folk, the sick and the hurting. She often broke royal protocol physically and emblematically removing the royal gloves to connect with those she brought hope to.
Her glorious marriage was saturated with controversy and infidelity and concluded in divorce in August 1996. Removed from the royal lineage, she was still the mother of two princes. Diana continued in her missionary like role.
It was then shortly after midnight, on a Sunday morning in August 1997 that the Princess-----was in a car crash and departed this life.
I was a newspaper courier for several years. I was delivering papers in the dark, wee hours of the morning. Along with other deliverers, I was accustomed to seeing the papers and headiness before most of the world. It was 3:30 AM, the same Sunday morning, last day in August 1997. I was not in Paris, France but somewhere around Avalon NJ. Connecting us was the front page, lead story, hot off the press---
It was August 31, not October 31, with night in the sky, although it was morning, the reflection begins.
Diana Frances Spencer married Charles, Prince of Wales on July 29, 1981, and became Princess Diana, Princess of Wales. A beautiful and stately young woman, barely in her twenties when her storybook life began. It wasn’t just her connection to the royal throne that made Diana loved by most around the world, it was her heart. Known as “the people princess” Diana identified with and visited the common folk, the sick and the hurting. She often broke royal protocol physically and emblematically removing the royal gloves to connect with those she brought hope to.
Her glorious marriage was saturated with controversy and infidelity and concluded in divorce in August 1996. Removed from the royal lineage, she was still the mother of two princes. Diana continued in her missionary like role.
It was then shortly after midnight, on a Sunday morning in August 1997 that the Princess-----was in a car crash and departed this life.
I was a newspaper courier for several years. I was delivering papers in the dark, wee hours of the morning. Along with other deliverers, I was accustomed to seeing the papers and headiness before most of the world. It was 3:30 AM, the same Sunday morning, last day in August 1997. I was not in Paris, France but somewhere around Avalon NJ. Connecting us was the front page, lead story, hot off the press---
Princess Diana Died
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Why her death hit me so hard, at first, I wasn’t sure.
I’d been running this early morning route for several years. Stopping first at the pick-up location, I grabbed my bundles, dropped them on the front seat of my car, not even noticing the print until my first stop. Again I had seen many headlines, but somehow this one affected me. I sank in my seats. Sadness and horror tried to engulf me. It wasn’t as if I was a Princess Di groupie. Everybody knew her---Her fame, her heart, and the stories. And now suddenly, in the prime of life, a fairy tale, tabloid life, she was gone---dead.
Several seconds passed. The Holy Spirit was trying to get a message to me. Surfacing was Revelations 20:12----
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelations 20:12
I got it. In a moment. It didn’t make a difference who it was. It didn’t matter what their social status was---Royalty or renegade, Princess or pauper, Good or bad, educated or ignorant, honorable or despised. All the dead (in this account the unrepentant sinners) stood before the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Unfortunately, these were those unable to satisfied heavens requirement for salvation. They were judged to be lost and cast into Hell forever. The futility of life became a little clearer. I understood a little more what God sees. He looks at no man’s person. All are judged in the light of the Son. Justification rest only in the acceptance of Jesus’s sacrifice alone.
I’d been running this early morning route for several years. Stopping first at the pick-up location, I grabbed my bundles, dropped them on the front seat of my car, not even noticing the print until my first stop. Again I had seen many headlines, but somehow this one affected me. I sank in my seats. Sadness and horror tried to engulf me. It wasn’t as if I was a Princess Di groupie. Everybody knew her---Her fame, her heart, and the stories. And now suddenly, in the prime of life, a fairy tale, tabloid life, she was gone---dead.
Several seconds passed. The Holy Spirit was trying to get a message to me. Surfacing was Revelations 20:12----
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelations 20:12
I got it. In a moment. It didn’t make a difference who it was. It didn’t matter what their social status was---Royalty or renegade, Princess or pauper, Good or bad, educated or ignorant, honorable or despised. All the dead (in this account the unrepentant sinners) stood before the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Unfortunately, these were those unable to satisfied heavens requirement for salvation. They were judged to be lost and cast into Hell forever. The futility of life became a little clearer. I understood a little more what God sees. He looks at no man’s person. All are judged in the light of the Son. Justification rest only in the acceptance of Jesus’s sacrifice alone.
The Connection
My revelation was not a vision decreeing Diana former Princess of Wales eternally is damned. It was declaring that only through the blood of the cross could any Diana---- be saved. What was evident is that one’s social status has no relevance to God. He has concluded all men together in sin to have mercy upon all. But that mercy, whereas eternity is concerned, is only crowned when a person in life receives what God has done. Biblically, the dead can’t come back until Jesus returns at the beginning of his second coming---the Rapture and that’s only those who are born-again. |
Chronologically, next is the Great Tribulation---a time immense trouble for the inhabitants of the earth, followed by The Millennium---a thousand year earthly reign of Jesus Chris from His throne in Jerusalem. After this time period, Satan who has been bound and incarcerated in The Bottomless Pit will be released. He will incite a rebellion through some and will be quickly put down by Jesus himself. Next to follow is Judgment Day---this one is for all who never accepted God’s salvation plan through Christ. The souls at this judgment hail from the days of Cain until the end of days. All these dead shall be resurrected to stand before only Omniscience Judge---King Jesus.
The Day of the Dead is best observed at the time when a person hears the gospel.
The Day of the Dead is best observed at the time when a person hears the gospel.
Jesus’s friends, Mary and Martha’s brother had died. Four days have passed before Jesus showed up. By her statement, the sister knew Jesus had the power to heal. Now it was too late. Lazarus was not only entombed in a sealed grave but decay and maggots had undoubtedly, already began.
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:21-26
Jesus isn’t concerned about the physical condition of the dead. Jesus isn’t shaken by the dead, the supernatural, demons, or Satan himself.
Jesus isn’t fascinated by darkness, evil, the dead, ghost, goblins, witches, mummies, vampires, zombies, werewolves or whatever goes bump in the night. He cast out demons, put Satan in his place, and raises the dead back to life. As Savior and Lord, He has commanded all people to repent and receive His sacrifice.
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:21-26
Jesus isn’t concerned about the physical condition of the dead. Jesus isn’t shaken by the dead, the supernatural, demons, or Satan himself.
Jesus isn’t fascinated by darkness, evil, the dead, ghost, goblins, witches, mummies, vampires, zombies, werewolves or whatever goes bump in the night. He cast out demons, put Satan in his place, and raises the dead back to life. As Savior and Lord, He has commanded all people to repent and receive His sacrifice.
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In the Gospel of John 11
No matter who a person is or where they reside, salvation is only in the blood of the King of kings. In Him, no Tricks or Treats or bargaining for the soul. There are no gifts to offer, but only receiving his. It’s an uneven exchange, but it’s a glorious one. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 says---
50 I need to emphasize, friends, that our natural, earthy lives don’t in themselves lead us by their very nature into the kingdom of God. Their very “nature” is to die, so how could they “naturally” end up in the Life kingdom?
51-57 But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true:
Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (Message Bible)
Celebrating the dead and supernatural through an unholy or an amusing observation of Halloween or through the somewhat religious tradition of All Saint Day is lost. The real day of the dead is that submission to Christ and dying to self, no what status in life we are. In this revelation is where we find true eternal, living solace in him.
No matter who a person is or where they reside, salvation is only in the blood of the King of kings. In Him, no Tricks or Treats or bargaining for the soul. There are no gifts to offer, but only receiving his. It’s an uneven exchange, but it’s a glorious one. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 says---
50 I need to emphasize, friends, that our natural, earthy lives don’t in themselves lead us by their very nature into the kingdom of God. Their very “nature” is to die, so how could they “naturally” end up in the Life kingdom?
51-57 But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true:
Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (Message Bible)
Celebrating the dead and supernatural through an unholy or an amusing observation of Halloween or through the somewhat religious tradition of All Saint Day is lost. The real day of the dead is that submission to Christ and dying to self, no what status in life we are. In this revelation is where we find true eternal, living solace in him.