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Subject:       The Desert Trumpet, The Pagan Roots of the Olympic Games
From:          Phyllis Petty <phyllis.anne@verizon.net>
To:            heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org

  THE PAGAN ROOTS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES  
     

 This is an important item in view of the Feb. Olympics in
Salt Lake and the millions who will watch the Opening and Closing 
Ceremonies and the Games themselves. 

THE DESERT TRUMPET
December 2001

By Phyllis Petty
phyllis.anne@verizon.net

The Pagan Roots of
THE OLYMPIC GAMES

    In just a few weeks worldwide attention will be drawn to the 2002 
Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games.  They will dominate television, 
and millions of people will spend countless hours watching and 
cheering for their favorite athlete and country.  What patriotic fun 
and rivalry! But, wait a minute!

Have you noticed the recent occult nature of the opening and closing
ceremonies? Have you ever taken notice of the different rituals--the flame,
the torch and its relay, the flag, the motto, the oath, the medals, the new
mascot, Izzy--and wondered what they all mean?  Believe me, it is not all
innocent entertainment. Can you remember how Mohammed Ali ascended 
the stage (see Zeus  sanctuary altar below) with the torch in his 
hand and finally was able to light the flame?  Read on, and I think 
you will agree that we have been unknowingly deceived into 
celebrating and worshipping a Greek god. And
since 1960 television has made it available to the whole world.

THE HISTORY

The ancient Olympic Games were primarily a part of a religious festival in
honor of Zeus, the chief deity of the Greek gods and goddesses. The 
festival and the games were held in Olympia, Greece, located near the sanctuary of
Zeus. The sanctuary was named after Mt. Olympus, the highest mountain in
mainland Greece. This sanctuary was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient
world and housed a 45-foot high ivory and gold statute of Zeus. It was
elliptical in shape and consisted of an elevated base approached by steps
(Deut. 7:5). From the base rose a large mound made of the ashes of the
thighs of victims (usually bulls or oxen) sacrificed to Zeus. The whole
height of the altar was 22 feet. The idea was that the gods were present at
the festival and took delight in the various contests and exercises.

The objective of the games is to unite the world in a common sporting 
event, all ignorantly paying homage to the unknown "spirit" with offerings and
worship. All the nations and athletes are unknowingly participating 
in pagan rituals that have been used to worship Zeus.  Paganism and pagan gods are
receiving credibility especially through the opening and closing 
ceremonies.

From a very young age, children all over the world devote their lives to
their respective sport so that they can compete. In China, potential young
children are actually taken from their parents and trained by the
government. The parents are allowed to see them only two times a 
year. These games have become the "god"  of all these athletes.  Little do they know
that this god is Zeus.

THE ANCIENT GAMES

The first recorded ancient Olympic Games began in the year 776 BC and were
held in Olympia every four years for almost twelve centuries. The first
thirteen Olympic festivals hosted only one 600-foot race. Additional events
were gradually added and by the fifth century the religious festival
consisted of five days. The first day was devoted to religious sacrifices
and rituals to Zeus, taking the oath, and the registration of athletes. On
the fifth day prizes were awarded and thanksgiving sacrifices were offered
to Zeus.

The only award in the ancient games was an olive wreath. The olive branch
was cut with a gold knife. The Greeks believed that the vitality of the
sacred tree was transmitted to the recipient through the branch. There were
also other unofficial prizes awarded by city/state (i.e. tax-exempt 
status).

As was their custom, the Spartans introduced nudity to the Olympic Games in
720 AD. Nudity was common for male contestants to show off their "perfect"
bodies.

Women were not allowed to attend because the games were dedicated to Zeus,
and the sanctuary of Zeus was a sacred area for men only. Women were 
allowed to participate in an alternative sport festival that honored the goddess
Hera, the wife and sister of Zeus.  This separate festival in honor 
of Hera, included fast races for unmarried girls. Every four years the victors could
dedicate images (probably paintings) in groves to commemorate their
victories, thus enabling them to take part in the sacrifice of cows 
in honor of Hera.

After the 293rd Olympics in 393 AD in a single edict, Holy Roman Emperor
Theodosius, fearful of the continuing popularity of these pagan festivals,
abolished the games.  They were banned because of their pagan rituals held
in the honor of the supreme Greek god Zeus. Paganism ultimately destroyed
the moral fabric of ancient Greece.

MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES

In 1894 a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin promoted the reborn
Olympics as "a new civil religion, replete with symbols, traditions, rites
and ceremonies." It was in the same year that the International Athletic
Congress was formed in Paris and later became known as the International
Olympic Committee. This Congress gave tribute to the Greek god Apollo (god
of purification) by singing the "Hymn to Apollo."  As a result, after 1503
years of absence, the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece in
1896.

Women were first allowed to participate in the 1900 Paris games. Even 
today, the equestrian events are the only ones where men and women compete as
equals.

In order to accommodate TV networks and audiences, starting with the 1994
Lillehammer games, it was decided that every other year would be an Olympic
year, alternating with summer and winter games.

Flag/Logo/Rings: Introduced in 1908, the modern Olympic flag consists of
five linked colored rings on a white background. According to Lew White
(Fossilized Customs, p. 47), these rings represent the five original
planetary deities worshipped in Babylon. They also represent the five
participating continents: Red: America; Green, Australia; Black, Africa;
Yellow, Asia; Blue, Europe. Every nation of the world has one of these
colors in its flag. The rings are joined together as a sign of unity in
nationhood. These occult rings are flashed across the television screen
during all events.

Olympic Oath: Introduced in 1920, it says:

In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these
Olympic games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the
true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor our
teams." Officials also have to take an oath while holding a corner of the
Olympic flag; one official from the host country repeats a similar oath on
behalf of all officials. However, this oath, no matter how good it 
may seem, is not to Yahweh, the Elohim of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, but to the Greek
God, Zeus (Deut. 6:13).

Medals:  Starting in 1896 silver was awarded the first place winner, and
from 1904 gold draws the first prize. Since 1928 gold medals have had the
same design: Greek goddess, Olympic rings, coliseum of ancient Athens, a
Greek vase, a horse drawn chariot, the year, number of the Olympiad and the
host city. Each host city can then add to the front and also design 
the back of the medal. (Deut.7:25).

Eternal Flame: The original flame burned continually on the altar of 
goddess Hera (Zeus wife). Introduced in the 1928 Amsterdam games, it represents
purity, endeavor for perfection, struggle for victory, and "peace and
friendship."  It also symbolizes "the light of spirit, knowledge, and 
life."

The lighting of the flame parallels the ritual performed by vestal virgins
in the ancient altar to Hera in Olympia, Greece.

Torch:  The torch was first introduced in the 1932 Los Angeles games.  It
was lit from the sun=B9s rays at Olympia, Greece, and stayed lit until the
games were completed. (There was no torch or relay in the ancient games.)

Torch Relay:  The torch relay was first instituted at the 1936 Berlin 
games
.
The original torch is lit at Olympia, Greece, and then carried by rely to
the host city. At the host city an altar dedicated to Zeus is lit with this
torch. The last runner carries the torch into the Olympic stadium 
during the opening ceremony. The flame is then lit from the torch and will remain lit
until it is extinguished during closing ceremony. The torch relay 
symbolizes the passing of Olympic traditions from ancient games to modern games, from
one generation to another (thereby carrying with it all its pagan customs
and curses).

The flame ignited in Olympia is kept in a lantern that travels with the
relay. The lantern is closely guarded to ensure the flame is never
extinguished. A single torch is lit from the flame every morning for that
days relay.

Mascot:  For the 1996 Atlanta games Izzy, the blue mascot was introduced.
Izzy is a magical teenage character who lives in the World of the Olympic
Torch. To some he is seen as an inflated worm with the extremities of a
lizard. To others he is seen as a goodwill ambassador for the world or as a
keeper of the flame.  A mystical elder appeared to tell Izzy about a long
forgotten magical power. "If you can find five rings hidden in the torch,
you will gain this power and the knowledge to leave. It will be a dangerous
quest, but you will have a special spirit to guide you. Even so you must
hurry. You can only leave the torch in the magical year, the 100th year of
the Olympic Games, and only in the city whose greatness arose from the
flames, the city of the mystical Phoenix, the city of Atlanta." Izzy
appeared in the souvenir program wearing five different colored magic 
rings, the same colors of the Olympic flag circles. When studying symbology, the
symbol for fire is a circle. The circle also has great significance in
Masonic and other cults.

While todays contestants may be running for their country, they are
unknowingly honoring Zeus, represented by quasi-religious elements in
today=B9s Olympics: the lighting of the Olympic flame, the torch relay, the
Olympic oath that all athletes and officials take in unison, the procession
of countries that opens and closes the games. These were all part of the
pagan rituals of the ancient games, which were banned because of their
paganism and threat to society.

RECENT OCCULT PRACTICE
IN RECENT GAMES

Anti-Semitism has touched the modern Olympics. During the 1936 Berlin 
games, Hitler barred Jewish athletes from competing for Germany. During the 1972
Munich games, eleven Israeli athletes were shot and killed.

1964 Innsbruck, Austria: Young Greek maidens lit the Olympic flame at the
sacred altar of Hera in Athens, Greece. Olympic rings were engraved at the
Greek altar site just below the sacred flame.  A pagan fire ritual was
performed as a flame was kindled from the sun=B9s rays. A torch lit from the
flame was carried by a series of runners to the winter games at Innsbruck.

1994 Norway, winter games: Trolls, which are nature demons, were 
spotlighted in opening and closing ceremonies accompanied with strange-sounding music.

1996 Atlanta: Giving historical homage to Zeus, a portable silhouette 
temple with 50-foot pillars was erected for the opening ceremonies (Deut.7:5). A
high priestess was also there to cast her silhouette in front of the
ceremonial lights. Five majestically dressed individuals were slowly
elevated in the stands wearing pagan-looking gold sun disc masks. They
introduced the five Olympic colors representing the five continents. NBC
announced, "And now the five Olympic spirits awaken calling forth the
rebirth of the modern games."  The background music was an eerie sounding
guttural chant, and with this hypnotic music the needed magical atmosphere
was set in place for the revival of the old pagan Olympic gods. The 
majestic music reinforced the pagan element. During the closing ceremony, the pagan
Aborigines were also given center stage in the stadium. The Aborigines are
well known for primitive occult magic, nature worship and polytheism.
Aborigines have a strong magical tradition, believing they can communicate
with the sacred being, the sky gods, and the spirits of the dead. The
Aboriginal sorcerer is called a "kaditcha man."

1998 Nagano, Japan: A Buddhist temple formed the backdrop for the games.

2002 Salt Lake City, Utah winter games: From the ancient Mount 
Olympus, home of the Greek gods, to Salt Lake City's Mt. Olympus, the Olympic Games may
have come full circle. The ancient games began as part of a religious
festival, and in 2002 they will play out in Utah, a land founded as a
religious sanctuary.

2006 Torino, Italy: Its logo will include the illustration of a church that
houses the famous Shroud of Turin, believed to bear the imprint of the face
of Jesus.

CONCLUSION

It is ironic that the site of Olympia, Greece, which was chosen for its
strategic position, should be destroyed by natural forces peculiar to its
locality. In the fourth century two massive earthquakes tore the sanctuary
apart, toppling the columns and shattering walls. A river burst its banks,
destroying almost half the gymnasium, and never returned to its former
course. Eventually the entire site was covered with silt to a depth of
thirteen feet. Quite a fitting ending to what honored Zeus, the pagan
weather god.

Will someone like the Holy Roman Emperor Theodosius rise to the 
occasion and ban these pagan/occult games, or do we have to wait 
until Yahweh destroys us through acts of nature or through our enemies?

We may not realize it, but in todays games we recreate, with surprising
accuracy, the climate and circumstances surrounding the ancient 
games. Human traditions may appear innocent, but if their origins can be traced to
ancient paganism, and their present-day practices continue in that 
paganism, then they are abominations to Yahweh and strictly forbidden.

Worshipping idols and foreign gods is in direct disobedience to the First
and Second Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-6). Willful disobedience to 
Yahweh and any of His commandments is obedience to Satan and will 
bring curses upon the offender. Attendance at these games dishonors Yahweh, the one true Elohim.

Viewing them on television, with all their occult trappings, could bring an
abomination into your house, along with curses (Deut. 7:26; 12:2).

After learning about the occult roots and the current occult practices in
todays games, I pray that every reader will agree that the Olympic Games
should no longer be attended or viewed on television by any observant
believer. We are held responsible for what we know, and now we know that
they are an abomination to Yahweh, the Elohim of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Yahweh is in the process of purifying His Bride and taking out all 
the spots and wrinkles known as "paganism." (See book, "Who Is the 
Bride of Christ" by Eddie Chumney). May we be worthy of being counted 
as part of His remnant by walking in His truth, righteousness, and holiness.  Shalom.

References:
Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Britannica

Rives, Richard, Too Long in the Sun

Stack, Peggy Fletcher, Holy Games: the
Olympics are Rooted in Religion, HOLY GAMES, , Salt Lake City Tribune,
Saturday, February 3, 2001

University of Pennsylvania Museum of
  Archeology and Anthropology,

The Real Story of the ancient Olympic Games
White, Lew, Fossilized Customs, 2000

Subscriptions:  $10 annually,

Other donations needed and welcome.

Phyllis Petty, 50-855 Washington Ave., C-130,
  La Quinta, CA 92253

Email: phyllis.anne@verizon.net

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