The Truth Behind St. Valentine’s Day

St. Valentine’s Day is the world’s “holiday of .” Since the Bible states that God is love (I John 4:8, 16), does He approve of the celebration of this day? Does He want His people—true Christians—partaking of the candy and cards, or any customs associated with this day?

hen God says He wants truth behind St. Valentine’s Day. And Assisted by Vestal Virgins, the you to live life abundantly you will know what God expects you Luperci (male priests) conducted puri- (John 10:10), does that in- to do about it! fication rites by sacrificing goats and W a dog in the Lupercal cave on Palatine clude celebrating a festive, seem- Valentine’s Past Hill, where the Romans believed the ingly harmless holiday like Valen- Like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, New twins had been tine’s Day? The God who gives us Year’s and other holidays of this world, sheltered and nursed by a she-wolf everything—life, food, drink, the St. Valentine’s Day is another attempt before they eventually founded Rome. ability to think for ourselves, etc.— to “whitewash” perverted customs and Clothed in loincloths made from sacri- surely approves of St. Valentine’s observances of pagan gods and idols by ficed goats and smeared in their blood, the Luperci would run about Rome, Day, the holiday for lovers to ex- “Christianizing” them. As innocent and harmless as St. striking women with februa, thongs change gifts—right? Valentine’s Day may appear, its tradi- made from skins of the sacrificed goats. Do not be so certain. Do not tions and customs originate from two The Luperci believed that the floggings assume anything. Do not even take of the most sexually perverted pagan purified women and guaranteed their this article’s word for it. Go to history festivals of ancient history: fertility and ease of childbirth. February books and encyclopedias. Go to the and the feast day of Februata. derives from februa or “means of puri- Bible. Then Celebrated on February 15, Lupercalia fication.” you will (known as the “festival of sexual license”) To the Romans, February was also sacred to Juno Februata, the goddess of k n o w was held by the ancient Romans in honor febris (“fever”) of love, and of women t h e of Lupercus, god of fertility and hus- bandry, protector of herds and crops, and and marriage. On February 14, billets r e a l a mighty hunter—especially of wolves. (small pieces of paper, each of which The Romans believed that Lupercus had the name of a teen-aged girl writ- would protect Rome from rov- ten on it) were put into a container. ing bands of wolves, Teen-aged boys would then choose one which devoured billet at random. The boy and the girl livestock whose name was drawn would become and peo- a “couple,” joining in erotic games at ple. feasts and parties celebrated throughout Rome. After the festival, they would remain sexual partners for the rest of the year. This custom was observed in the Roman Empire for centuries. Whitewashing Perversion In A.D. 494, Pope Gelasius renamed the festival of Juno Februata as the “Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary.” The date of its observance was later changed from February 14 to February 2, then

1 changed back to the 14. It is also known teenth centuries. These cards were paint- for impregnating numerous goddesses as Candlemas, the Presentation of the ed with pictures of and , and mortals. Cupid was a child-like Lord, the Purification of the Blessed and meticulously decorated with lace, archer (remember, Nimrod was a skilled Virgin and the Feast of the Presentation silk or flowers. archer). Mythology describes Cupid as of Christ in the Temple. having both a cruel and happy personal- After Constantine had made the First Man Called Valentine ity. He would use his invisible arrows, Roman church’s brand of Christianity But who was the original Valentine? tipped with gold, to strike unsuspecting the official religion of the Roman Empire What does the name Valentine mean? men and women, causing them to fall (A.D. 325), church leaders wanted to do Valentine comes from the Latin madly in love. He did not do this for away with the pagan festivals of the Valentinus, which derives from valens— their benefit, but to drive them crazy people. Lupercalia was high on their “to be strong, powerful, mighty.” The with intense passion, to make their lives list. But the Roman citizens thought Bible describes a man with a simi- miserable, and to laugh at the results. otherwise. lar title: “And Cush begat Nimrod: he Many of the gods of the Egyptians, It was not until A.D. 496 that the began to be a mighty one in the earth. He Greeks, Romans, Assyrians and others church at Rome was able to do anything was a mighty hunter before the Lord: were modeled after one man—Nimrod. about Lupercalia. Powerless to get rid wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the But what does this have to do with of it, Pope Gelasius instead changed it mighty hunter before the Lord” (Gen. us today? Why should we be concerned from February 15 to the 14th and called 10:8-9). He was said to have hunted with what happened in the past? it St. Valentine’s Day. It was named after with bow and arrow. one of that church’s saints, who, in A.D. As mentioned, the Romans celebrat- What God Thinks 270, was executed by the emperor for ed Lupercalia to honor the hunter god Read what God commands His people his beliefs. Lupercus. To the Greeks, from whom concerning pagan customs and tradi- According to the Catholic the Romans had copied most of their tions: “Learn not the way of the hea- Encyclopedia, “At least three different mythology, Lupercus was known as then…For the customs of the people are Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, Pan, the god of light. The Phoenicians vain” (Jer. 10:2-3). Also notice Christ’s are mentioned in early martyrologies worshipped the same deity as Baal, words in Matthew 15:9: “…in vain they under the date of 14 February. One is the sun god. Baal was one of many do worship Me, teaching for doctrines described as a priest at Rome, another as names or titles for Nimrod, a mighty the commandments of men.” bishop of Interamna (modern Terni), and hunter, especially of wolves. He was Throughout the Bible, God describes these two seem both to have suffered in also the founder and first lord of Babel “heathens” as those who worship things the second half of the third century and (Gen. 10:10-12). Defying God, Nimrod that He had created (animals, the sun, to have been buried on the Flaminian was the originator of the Babylonian the moon, stars, trees, etc.), or man- Way, but at different distances from Mystery Religion, whose mythologies made idols, or anything but the one the city…Of the third Saint Valentine, have been copied by the Egyptians, the true God. He calls such people and who suffered in Africa with a number of Greeks, the Romans and a multitude of their practices pagan. True Christians companions, nothing is further known.” other ancient peoples. Under different understand that God hates any customs, Several biographies of different men names or titles—Pan, Lupercus, Saturn, practices and traditions that are rooted named Valentine were merged into one Osiris—Nimrod is the strong man and in paganism. “official” St. Valentine. hunter-warrior god of the ancients. But just how serious is God about The church whitewashed Lupercalia But what does the symbol have paganism? even further. Instead of putting the to do with a day honoring Nimrod/ When He rescued the twelve tribes names of girls into a box, the names of Valentine? of Israel from brutal slavery and led “saints” were drawn by both boys and The title Baal means “lord” or “mas- them out of Egypt, He commanded girls. It was then each person’s duty ter,” and is mentioned throughout the them, “After the doings of the land of to emulate the life of the saint whose Bible as the god of pagans. God warned Egypt, wherein you dwelt, shall you not name he or she had drawn. This was His people not to worship or even tol- do: and after the doings of the land of Rome’s vain attempt to “whitewash” a erate the ways of Baal (Nimrod). In Canaan, where I bring you, shall you not pagan observance by “Christianizing” it, ancient Chaldean (the language of the do: neither shall you walk in their ordi- which God has not given man the power Babylonians), bal, which is similar to nances” (Lev. 18:3). God demanded the or authority to do. Though the church Baal, meant, “heart.” This is where the Israelites not to defile themselves with at Rome had banned the sexual lottery, Valentine heart symbol originated. the pagan practices and customs of sur- young men still practiced a much toned- Now notice the name Cupid. It rounding nations (vs. 24-29). “Therefore down version, sending women whom comes from the Latin verb cupere, shall you keep Mine ordinance, that you they desired handwritten romantic mes- meaning “to desire.” Cupid was the son commit not any one of these abominable sages containing St. Valentine’s name. of , Roman goddess of beauty and customs, which were committed before Over the centuries, St. Valentine’s love. Also known as Eros in ancient you, and that you defile not yourselves Day cards became popular, especially Greece, he was the son of Aphrodite. therein: I am the Lord your God” (vs. by the late eighteenth and early nine- According to myth, he was responsible 30).

2 God cursed Egypt—a nation of defiled with their own works, and went In verses 7-20, He condemns all kinds nature-worshippers—with ten plagues a whoring with their own inventions” of heterosexual sex relations that fall and freed Israel from slavery. He res- (Psa. 106:34-39). outside the holy boundaries of mar- cued Israel from Pharaoh’s army by To wake them up and get them back riage—incest, fornication, adultery, etc. parting the Red Sea and leading His on track as the model nation He had In verses 22-23, God condemns homo- people to safety. He fed the Israelites originally intended, God gave Israel sexuality and bestiality. Together, these manna—special bread made by God— over to their enemies. Israel repented sins break down and destroy the family from heaven. He protected them from and cried out to God. God rescued them. unit that God had so lovingly created battle-tested Gentile armies, delivered With their bellies full and lives protect- and instituted. them into the Promised Land and drove ed, the Israelites went back to pursuing Notice what God links to these per- out their enemies. other gods. God punished Israel again. versions: “And you shall not let any of How did Israel treat God in return? Israel repented and cried out to God. your seed [children] pass through the “Our fathers understood not Your won- And so went the deliverance-idol- fire to Molech, neither shall you pro- ders in Egypt; they remembered not atry-punishment-repentance cycle (vs. fane the name of your God: I am the the multitude of Your mercies; but pro- 40-46), until finally, God had no other Lord” (vs. 21). God ties in the perverse voked Him at the sea, even at the Red choice but to divorce unfaithful Israel sexual practices of ungodly, pagan Sea…They soon forgot His works; they (Jer. 3:6-11). nations with human sacrifices—parents waited not for His counsel: But lust- He used the Assyrians, one of the offering the lives of their children to ed exceedingly in the wilderness, and most brutal warrior nations in history, pagan gods! tempted God in the desert…They made to invade, conquer, enslave and relocate The Bible shows that Israel not only a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the the entire northern kingdom of Israel (II disobeyed God and wholeheartedly molten image. Thus they changed their Kings 17). Having “disappeared” from embraced the sexual immorality of the glory into the similitude of an ox that history, the modern-day descendants of Gentiles, they even went a step further. eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, those ten “lost” tribes are unaware of “And they have turned unto Me the which had done great things in Egypt; their true identity even to this day. back, and not the face: though I taught wondrous works in the land of Ham, Later, God sent the southern kingdom them, rising up early and teaching and terrible things by the Red Sea…they of Judah (mainly the tribes of Judah, them, yet they have not hearkened to despised the pleasant land, they believed Benjamin and Levi) into Babylonian receive instruction. But they set their not His word: But murmured in their exile (II Kings 24 and 25). Because abominations in the house [the temple tents, and hearkened not unto the voice they kept (at least physically) the true at Jerusalem], which is called by My of the Lord …They joined themselves Sabbath, which is a special sign that name, to defile it. And they built the also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacri- identifies the one true God and His high places of Baal, which are in the fices of the dead. Thus they provoked people (Ex. 31:12-18), the Jews were valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause Him to anger with their intentions” (Psa. able to retain their true identity. their sons and their daughters to pass 106:7, 13-14, 19-22, 24-25, 28-29). The Israelites were severely pun- through the fire unto Molech; which God explicitly commanded Israel to ished because they lusted after pagan I commanded them not, neither came cast out and utterly destroy all nations customs, rituals, traditions and prac- it into My mind, that they should do that occupied the Promised Land tices. As you can see, God does not take this abomination, to cause Judah to (Canaan). Above all, His people were paganism lightly. sin” (Jer. 32:33-35). (To learn more not to make political alliances with them about these child sacrifices to Molech, or marry into their families (Deut. 7:1-3, Why Paganism Is Wrong read our booklets The True Origin 5, 16). “For they will turn away your Just why does God hate anything that of Christmas and The True Origin of sons from following Me, that they may resembles pagan customs? Is it possible Easter.) serve other gods” (vs. 4). to “whitewash” or “Christianize” pagan Imagine. Israel committed a sin so But the Israelites thought they knew practices and make them clean? Is it vile, so disgusting, that it even shocked better than God. They decided to do okay to practice pagan customs as long God! things their own way. “They did not as you “worship God”? But that was then. What about today? destroy the nations, concerning whom Notice what God says in Leviticus Surely, parents do not sacrifice their the Lord commanded them: But were chapter 18. After rescuing Israel from children to pagan gods today—or do mingled among the heathen, and learned slavery, God warned them not to prac- they? their works. And they served their idols: tice the customs they had picked up in Do not be so certain. Perhaps their which were a snare unto them. Yes, they Egypt, or learn the ways, customs and lives are not being sacrificed—but what sacrificed their sons and their daughters traditions of the Gentile nations that about their innocence? unto devils [demons], and shed innocent they would encounter in the Promised Parents today expect their little ones blood, even the blood of their sons and Land (vs. 1-3). Instead, God command- to “fall in love” and have boyfriends and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed ed Israel to follow His ways (vs. 4-5). girlfriends. They think it is “cute” when unto the idols of Canaan: and the land God then describes the pagan ways little boys and girls hold hands and act was polluted with blood. Thus were they of these ungodly nations in great detail. like a couple, sneaking a kiss or two

3 when no one is watching. Some parents This is why we live in a world where earth are waxed [increased] rich through get worried when their kids do not show a teen-aged virgin is a rare find. Where the abundance of her delicacies” (Rev. romantic interest in the opposite sex. what used to be called “shacking up” 18:2-3). They constantly ask them, “Do you and “living in sin” is now simply “living Concerning this pagan, satan- have a boyfriend yet?” or “Who’s your together.” Where sex is nothing more ic system, God commands true girlfriend?” than meaningless physical recreation— Christians, “Come out of her, My peo- Yet these same parents are surprised no emotional attachments, no cares, ple, that you be not partakers of her sins, when their teen-aged “little girl” gets no concerns. Where people change sex and that you receive not of her plagues” pregnant. Or catches a sexually trans- partners as conveniently as they change (vs. 4). mitted disease. Or gets an abortion clothes. Where unmarried twenty- or St. Valentine’s Day originates from behind their back. thirty-somethings have had at least five the ancient paganism of this Satan- St. Valentine’s Day is just one of sexual partners—and that is considered influenced world. It is designed to many tools the “god of this world” (II a low number, especially in the United deceive mankind by appealing to flesh- Cor. 4:4) uses to get parents to sacrifice States. Where men are not referred to as ly, carnal desires—or, as the Bible calls the innocence of their children. “my husband,” or “my fiancé,” but as them, the works of the flesh. “Now the When little boys and girls draw each “my second baby’s father.” works of the flesh are manifest [made other’s names in a lottery and send How pathetic! obvious], which are these; Adultery, Valentine cards and gifts to each other, Satan has deceived the whole world fornication, uncleanness, lascivious- declaring their “love,” they are learning (Rev. 12:9) in multiple ways—espe- ness, idolatry…drunkenness, revel- the first stages of intimate relations that cially when it comes to intimate rela- lings, and such like” (Gal. 5:19-21). the Creator God designed specifically tionships. St. Valentine’s Day is just Do any of these sound like Lupercalia for emotionally mature adults. Instead one of his tools for deception. (To learn to you? of embracing the carefree innocence of more about this great deceiver, read our Ultimately, “they which do such youth, growing up without the headaches booklet Who Is the Devil?) things shall not inherit the kingdom and heartaches of adulthood (finding a of God.” A true Christian is focused job, paying bills, marriage, raising a fam- “Come Out of Her, My People” on God’s soon-coming kingdom (Matt. ily, etc.), children today are taught to Concerning the near future, when man’s 6:33) and the world to come—not on lust after each other. They are caught up Satan-influenced world is about to col- the fleshly cravings of this world. A true in a daily drama of “If-you-loved-me- lapse, God declares, “Babylon the great Christian must strive to “put off the old you’d-sleep-with-me; I’m-pregnant; It’s- is fallen, is fallen, and is become the man” and actively imitate the perfect, not-mine, she-had-an-abortion.” By the habitation of devils [demons], and the righteous example of Christ. A time they reach adulthood, virtually every hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of Christian knows that he must actively shred of innocence, sincerity and moral every unclean and hateful bird. For all come out of this world, out of its pagan- decency has been stripped from them. nations have drunk of the wine of the infested customs, practices and tradi- Emotionally drained, they have world- wrath of her fornication, and the kings tions. weary, “been there, done that” attitudes. of the earth have committed fornica- Christians do not celebrate St. And their lives are just beginning. tion with her, and the merchants of the Valentine’s Day! c R011 120216 Copyright © 2008 The Restored Church of God All Rights Reserved Printed in the USA

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