Was it a Cross or a Stake?
True followers of the Messiah will never stop obtaining knowledge of the Truth. We will search the Scriptures our whole lives in order to find the path towards everlasting life. We know that we are destroyed for lacking knowledge of the Truth (refer to Hosea 4:6) therefore, we will humbly acknowledge when we are wrong and never think that we possess the whole Truth. We are always learning and growing in the One true Aluahim and His son and Messiah Yahushua.
The Adversary has done the finest job at flipping the teachings of the Mashiach and taking concepts from the true religion of YAHUAH to create another pagan religion of old. The story of our King’s crucifixion is no different. It was just another opportunity for the Adversary to twist the Scriptures, rewrite history, and create the largest and strongest church of all time. So the question remains, did the Messiah die on a cross or a straight stake? While performing this study I uncovered many other interesting historical facts so please bear with me as I share my findings while uncovering the truth about the crucifixion.
The English word cross comes from the Spanish word cruz or cruce. This is the equivalent of the Irish, cruise. The surname Cruz became popular after the Alhambra decree. Let’s take a moment to think about that word. Have you seen the word Alhambra before? Yes, it’s a city in Spain but It’s also a water company and many American streets are named after this city. For example, it is the name of a street in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Santa Cruz California. And yes, America is Roman and we live in Rome as captives. The Alhambra decree was a Spanish Catholic decree that was passed in 1492. Wait a minute, does that date also ring a bell? On August 3, 1492 Christopher Columbus left Spain to sail the ocean blue. In this same year in the month of March on the 31st day, the Alhambra decree was issued.
The Alhambra decree gave Jews until July 31st 1492 (4 months) to flee the country or convert to Catholicism. Hundreds of thousands of Sephardic Jews (Spanish Yahudim) and Moors (African Spanish muslims) were forced to convert to the state religion of Catholicism and adopt surnames with unambiguous religious affiliations, such as the surname Cruz (Cross), to “fit in”. King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella issued the degree because the Jews (Yahudim) were convincing their Christian neighbors to keep the Torah. The decree gave Jews and all other non-Christians four months to either flee the country or convert to Catholicism or else face being tortured and killed in what we know as the “Spanish inquisitions”.
The Spanish inquisitions was yet again a cover up to destroy all if any of YAHUAH’S children – Messiah believing Torah keepers (Natsarim). The Adversary has and will continue to rage war on entire countries in order to seek out and destroy just one of the Natsarim – Torah keepers who also believe in Yahushua HaMashiach. For two Millenniums, the Natsarim have dwelt amongst all the supposed “Abrahamic faiths”; modern Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
By this time period (15th century) the Hebrew calendar had already been changed to the crescent moon although there would have been some Yahudim who still kept the true Chodesh – the full new moon. Some of these Hebrews were killed during the inquisitions while some fled to other countries such as, Balkans, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, and the Americas. Interestingly, Christopher Columbus set sail three days after the end of the four months given to the Jews (Yahudim) to either convert or flee. Coincidence? I think not. There is definitely a larger historical motive and prophetic reasoning that I do not currently understand but the Alhambra decree may have also helped supply Christopher Columbus with free labor. The Spanish Jews (Sephardic Yahudim) and Spanish Moors (African Spanish Muslims) may have been some of the first brown and black slaves to arrive to the Americas.
The word cruz can be translated as cross. Most often associated with the Christian cross which is very pagan and has roots back to the Egyptian ankh and eastern swastika. The word cruz also can simply mean, cross – intersecting lines. As there are always two meanings to everything, the symbol of the “+” cross can also depict the Hebrew letter Taw in which the “+” cross or two lines intersecting as either a tradition cross “+” or an “x” depending on either early or middle paleo Hebrew writing means a mark or sign. Are we not to be marked by our Abba? The letter Taw written as “+” or “x” became the Greek letter Tao “T” or “t” which became the English “T” or “t”. As the word for crucifixion slowly became attached to something pagan so did the letter Taw become a T which no longer represented a mark or sign but a pagan cross or “T” that is associated with both the pagan Christian deity Jesus Christ and the pagan Mesopotamian deity Tammuz (whom are both one and the same). The Christian cross is also associated with the Egyptian ankh – a symbol for the key of life. Since the garden of Eden, the Adversary’s children have been looking for ways to gain immortality without going through YAHUAH but the Devil does not hold the power of life.
Before moving forward, let’s go back to the story of Christopher Columbus as it is completely related to the story of the Christian cross. All history intersects (+). Interestingly, the cross is also the symbol for the Knights Templar in which Christopher Columbus supposedly used for the sign on his sails. Why did he use the Knights Templar cross when he sailed to America? Well, it is said that the Knights Templars had previously searched out the land of America and befriended the Natives (whom were of both Asian and African descent – brown and black in color). When the Natives would see the symbol (+) they would welcome Christopher Columbus not realizing that this time around was going to be very different.
Now let’s take a look at the Greek words in the Brit Chadashah that is usually rendered in English as cross.
Strong’s Concordance number 4716, stauros: an upright stake, a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion).
Strong’s Concordance number 4717, stauroo: to fence with stakes, to crucify. Usage: to fix to the cross [but the usage of the word cross is inaccurate].
Paul writes,
Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified (stauroo) with Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of YAHUAH, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The English word rendered in the above Scripture is crucified. The word crucified is a proper translation for the Greek word stauros but in the Age of Antiquity crucifixion or stauros was not performed on a cross-shaped structure.
The process of crucifixion was usually performed on a straight pole or stake. The word stauros implies a straight pole or piece of wooden plank or stake and not a “T” or Christian cross “t” or “+”. The Latin speaking Roman Christians translated the Greek word stauros and stauroo to the Latin word crux. The word crux simply referred to the word crucifixion. The definition of the word crucifixion was simply a public display of capital punishment that was done using a tree or any construction of wood in which was used to hang criminals as a form of execution. This would result in public harassment and torture, then eventually death through stauros – being tied or nailed to a stake or in other words, to be impaled unto a straight pole or plank.
The Latin word crux became popular amongst Christians and due to Roman power it was primarily associated with the ancient pagan “+” cross or “T” or “t”. The ancient pagan trinitarian religion of Christianity transformed the word crucifixion (stauroo and stauros) into the Latin word crux which in turn became the Spanish word cruz and then the English word cross. The cruce or cross had nothing to do with original execution style of crucifixion in the Age of Antiquity although it was used later as it became more popular amongst Christian countries. And this is how the crux became a cross. The Greek word stauros and stauroo should properly be rendered as straight upright pole, plank, or stake. The word crucified is not entirely wrong as long as the reader understands fully what it is and how crucifixion was performed during the time of the Messiah – he was nailed to a straight upright stake after being publicly tortured and beat.
Below are a few quotes I gathered from a Wikipedia search on the Greek word stauros.
Henry Dana Ward, a Millerite Adventist, claimed that the Epistle of Barnabas, which may have been written in the first century and was certainly earlier than 135, said that the object on which Jesus [Yahushua] died was cross-shaped, but claimed that the author of the Epistle invented this concept. He likewise defined a stauros as a plain stake. Henry Dana Ward writes,
“Stauros means “an upright pale,” a strong stake, such as farmers drive into the ground to make their fences or palisades – no more, no less. … Zulon and stauros are alike the single stick, the pale, or the stake, neither more nor less, on which Jesus [Yahushua] was impaled, or crucified. … Neither stauros nor zulon ever mean two sticks joining each other at an angle, either in the New Testament or in any other book.”
– Henry Dana Ward, History of the Cross: The Pagan Origin, and Idolatrous Adoption and Worship of the Image, 1871
I must point out that Adventism brought forth many truths such as Henry Dana Ward’s stance on the cross and flat earther Alexander Gleason. Both concepts; the flat earth and the straight upright stake was left behind as the false prophetess Ellen G. White was lifted up. Ellen G. White opposed both of these concepts along with the lunar Sabbath. To this day she has misled tens of millions of people.
A similar view to that of Ward was put forward by John Denham Parsons in 1896.
“The stauros used as an instrument of execution was (1) a small pointed pole or stake used for thrusting through the body, so as to pin the latter to the earth, or otherwise render death inevitable; (2) a similar pole or stake fixed in the ground point upwards, upon which the condemned one was forced down till incapable of escaping; (3) a much longer and stouter pole or stake fixed point upwards, upon which the victim, with his hands tied behind him, was lodged in such a way that the point should enter his breast and the weight of the body cause every movement to hasten the end; and (4) a stout unpointed pole or stake set upright in the earth, from which the victim was suspended by a rope round his wrists, which were first tied behind him so that the position might become an agonising one; or to which the doomed one was bound, or, as in the case of Jesus [Yahushua], nailed. That this last named kind of stauros, which was admittedly that to which Jesus [Yahushua] was affixed, had in every case a cross-bar attached, is untrue; that it had in most cases, is unlikely; that it had in the case of Jesus [Yahushua] is unproven. Even as late as the Middle Ages, the word stauros seems to have primarily signified a straight piece of wood without a cross-bar. For the famous Greek lexicographer, Suidas, expressly states, “Stauroi; ortha xula perpegota,” and both Eustathius and Hesychius affirm that it meant a straight stake or pole. The side light thrown upon the question by Lucian is also worth noting. This writer, referring to Jesus [Yahushua], alludes to “That sophist of theirs who was fastened to a skolops”; which word signified a single piece of wood, and not two pieces joined together.”
— John Denham Parsons, The Non-Christian Cross, 1896
In the 20th century, William Edwy Vine also reasoned that the stauros as an item for execution was different to the Christian cross. Vine’s Expository Dictionary’s definition states that stauros:
“denotes, primarily, “an upright pale or stake.” On such malefactors were nailed for execution. Both the noun and the verb stauroo, “to fasten to a stake or pale,” are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed “cross.” The shape of the latter had its origin in ancient Chaldea [Babylon], and was used as the symbol of the god Tammuz (being in the shape of the mystic Tau, the initial of his name) in that country and in adjacent lands, including Egypt. By the middle of the 3rd cent. A.D. the churches had either departed from, or had travestied, certain doctrines of the Christian faith. In order to increase the prestige of the apostate ecclesiastical system pagans were received into the churches apart from regeneration by faith, and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols. Hence the Tau or T, in its most frequent form, with the cross-piece lowered [like a “t”], was adopted to stand for the “cross” of Christ.”
— William Edwy Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, 1940
In 1877 the Hebrew and Greek scholar E. W. Bullinger writes something similar:
“The σταυρός (stauros) was simply an upright pale or stake to which Romans nailed those who were thus said to be crucified, σταυρόω, merely means to drive stakes. It never means two pieces of wood joining at any angle. Even the Latin word crux means a mere stake. The initial letter Χ, (chi) of Χριστός, (Christ) was anciently used for His name [technically a title], until it was displaced by the T, the initial letter of the pagan god Tammuz, about the end of cent. iv [4th Century].”
— A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to The English and Greek New Testament, 1877
The Greek and Hebrew scholar E. W. Bullinger plainly agrees with the theologian and scholar W. E. Vine.
Multiple Theologians and Scholars tell us that the Greek word stauros and Latin word crux both refer to an upright straight stake and not a cross. They both also reveal that the Greek letter for the title of the Messiah was changed from a chi “x” (mark or sign) to a “T” (a Christian cross “+” or “t”) to depict the pagan Mesopotamian deity Tammuz, a deity of fertility in whom YAHUAH has been warning us about for a few millennia (refer to Ezekiel 8:13-15).
This is yet more proof that the Christian deity Jesus Christ is just another ancient pagan deity revived. I must be clear that Yahushua was the name of the Mashiach and he was the true son of YAHUAH who warned us of the imposter Jesus Christ and the pagan religion of Christianity (refer to John 5:43).
Take note that the scholars are specific in calling it “the Christian cross”. In doing this they are (1) separating the facts of crucifixion from the fictitious story of the Messiah and the cross; (2) separating a pagan symbol of the cross “t” or “T” or “+” (representing both Tammuz and the ankh) from the original meaning of the Hebrew letter Taw “+” or “x” (meaning sign or mark); and (3) calling it exactly what it is, Christian paganism and not biblical nor historical.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Just as the paintings of the Messiah have been falsified to depict a white sun god, so has the paintings of his death on an actual cross-shaped piece of wood “+” or “T” or “t” indoctrinates us into thinking and believing that the true Messiah was crucified (publicly tormented and killed) on an actual cross (English) or cruce (Spanish) – two intersecting lines (+ or T or t). Take note, that the paintings of Jesus Christ derive from images of Cesare Borgia, the illegitimate son of pope Alexander the VI. Cesare Borgia had white skin, long hair, feminine qualities, and was a homosexual whom had relations with Leonardo Da Vinci.
The true Messiah did die due to crux (Latin for crucifixion), but that word has wrongfully been associated in our minds as death on a cross “+” or “T” or “t”. Crux or crucifixion is the Latin word for the Greek word stauros or stauroo in the Brit Chadashah. This is simply public punishment, torture, and death by being tied or nailed to a straight upright piece of wood or stake (i.e. hung on a tree).
The Scriptures plainly tell us that it was a straight wooden pole or stake that the Messiah was hung on. The Messiah clearly backs this up by using the analogy of the copper serpent on the straight pole. Let’s read both of these accounts.
Numbers 21:8-9: Then YAHUAH said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
John 3:14: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up.
The Tanakh will always tell us the truth and will always align with the Brit Chadashah if studied properly. If ever in doubt of doctrine then turn to the Tanakh – the Scriptures used by both the Messiah and the Apostles. After the Messiah’s death Joseph pleaded with Pilate to take down the body of Yahushua. We read,
Matthew 27: 58-59: When the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Yahushua’s disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Yahushua. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Why was it so important for Joseph to take down the body of Yahushua before the night time came? Joseph was simply obeying the law of the land which states:
Deuteronomy 21:22-23: And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and you hang him on a tree: his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall in any wise bury him that day.
Yahushua the Mashiach was crucified on a straight pole according to the copper serpent parable, a tree (straight upright piece of wood) according to the Torah, and a straight wooden plank or stake according to the definition of the Greek word stauros and Latin word crux. That is three witnesses in the Scriptures that point to a straight structure. There is not one place in Scripture that clearly suggests that it was a cross “t” or “T”.
The Christian cross has become the symbol for Babylon the Great. The cross along with the crescent moon and the sun all represent the ancient religion of Babylon the Great – Trinity worship, sun worship, and the changing of the calendar and the flat earth map.
The Christian cross (I specify the word Christian) is absolutely pagan and false. The Messiah did not die on a cross, for he was hung on a tree or stauros – straight wooden stake with his hands and feet nailed to that same single straight upright stake. The cross is just another lie produced by the Adversary in which has deceived many.
The English word cross or Iberian (Spanish Portuguese) cruce is not pagan in its own. Although it is often and wrongfully associated with the Messiah’s death it can simple imply two intersecting lines. As children of YAHUAH, we often find ourselves at the cross roads – deciding which route to take, which theology to believe, and which history is telling the truth. The ancient paleo Hebrew cross was used to depict the letter Taw – the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet (the aleph-bet). The ancient paleo Hebrew “+” (two intersecting lines) or middle paleo Hebrew “x” (two intersecting lines at an angle) was written to be known as a sign or mark. Now, check out this parable. Even though Rome has purposely mistranslated much of the Brit Chadashah, we can always gain a deeper knowledge of the teachings. When we are told to pick up our cross and follow him, we are essentially told that when we follow him we are marked “+” or “x”. We read,
Matthew 16:24: Then Yahushua said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross (stauros: stake), and follow me.
Even though the Greek word used in Matthew 16:24 is stauros which does not properly translate to cross but rather being crucified on a stake or straight plank, there is still a double meaning in the English rendering.
To sum it up, the symbol of the “Christian” cross is pagan. It is idolatry at its very finest. The Devil has refined the ancient pagan religions so very well. The more I learn about the true religion of our Creator YAHUAH Aluahim, I realize that Christianity has no resemblance at all. If you were on the fence about the object that the Messiah was crucified on then I hope this brief study helps.
While on the topic of our King’s crucifixion, I’d like to share something interesting that I learned concerning the blood and water that came out of the Mashiach’s side. John writes,
John 19:34: But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
Why and how was it blood and water? Well, there is a medical condition known as cardiac tamponade. Under severe stress, fluid builds up in the sac around a damaged heart, forming what is known as pericardial effusion. As this builds up it can exert enough pressure to stop the beating of the heart, forming cardiac tamponade. Yahushua may have literally died of a broken heart. If cardiac tamponade is what Yahushua experienced then the Roman soldier would have pierced the sac that built up around his heart resulting in both blood and water to pour out of his body.
But wait! There is a much bigger picture to this whole scenario. On Passover day the temple gates would open just a couple hours after sunrise and close in the evening (around 3pm). From the moment the gates opened, Yahudim from all across the lands would gather together in the city of Yarushalam to bring an offering for the priest to slaughter. According to Flavius Josephus and other scribes, there was an estimate of about one million animals being slaughtered on Passover day during the time of the second temple period.
As a result, thousands of gallons of blood needed to be disposed of. According to Leviticus chapter 4 (verses 7, 18, 25, and 34) this blood was poured out at the “base of the altar”, a rule that applied to both tabernacle and temple. By the time of the second temple a system had been developed where large volumes of water was pumped into the temple area and used to wash down the altar and surrounding areas. The resulting waste water was drained out of the temple into the Kidron valley – just outside the walls of Yarushalam. If you happen to be standing outside the walls of Yarushalam on Passover evening then you would have seen pouring out of the drains that emptied into the Kidron valley, both blood and water.
The very last sacrifice to YAHUAH for the sins of Yasharal was the King himself. He destroyed the temple and raised up a new one in three days. His body was the temple, and it poured out both blood and water in our behalf. The blood was for sin and the water washed it away. The water can represent both baptism and Ruach HaQodash (the Holy Spirit). The blood can represent both the sin offering for transgression of the Torah and the everlasting covenant. Don’t be fooled by other “preachers”, the Law (Torah) still stands but a new covenant will be made after our King returns.
