The Worship of Ishtar and the Threat of Destruction

The Worship of Ishtar and the Threat of Destruction
By: Thomas Lee Abshier, ND
7/7/2023

Jonathan Kahn has written the book, “Return of the Gods.” The spirit of homosexuality is the primary threat to our nation because we have invited the enemy into our hearts and homes. We have embraced and adopted the practices and worship of the ancient gods of sexuality and transition: Ishtar, Venus, Aphrodite, and Astarte. For the worship of other gods, God commanded the Israelites to destroy every man, woman, child, and animal of the nations that worshipped those gods (Baal, Ashtoreth, and Moloch). We can expect the same curse from the God of Heaven if we commit adultery with other gods.

As a nation, we have embraced the spirit of homosexuality. If we exalt the doctrines of Ishtar and have pride in our sinful sexuality, we will be subject to the whims of her rule and the curse of God. We have replaced our worship of the God of Abraham with the spirit of homosexuality/adultery/fornication. The spirits are incompatible. We serve one and love the other. We cannot accept/honor/deify/celebrate the spirit and practice of sin and retain the blessings of the Father, the God of Heaven.

We cannot exalt homosexuality, affirm gender transition, or accept fornication as normal and good and expect the blessings of God for our nation. The joy of sex is God’s gift to humanity as a reward for the service of procreation. God’s first command to man was, “Be fruitful and multiply.” We live inside of God, “In Him, we live and move and have our being,” and He feels our every motion and emotion. He experiences joy with our choice of Godly action and separates us from His fellowship and blessing when we choose sin, rebellion, and worship of other gods.

The Bible is explicit in its condemnation of all unGodly sexual practices – adultery (the dilution or mixing of attention, affection, or allegiance. In a scriptural sense, as in the seventh commandment, all manner of lewdness or unchastity. In scripture, idolatry, or apostasy from the true God. Jeremiah 3:8.). If we choose to honor an act condemned by God, we have implicitly engaged in the dilution and mixing of our allegiance by our adultery with another god. In so doing, we reject the God of the Bible as our source. If we indulge in Ishtar’s feasts/rituals/worship, we will reap the minor thrills of sacrificing on her altar but suffer the curse of the God of heaven.

History of the ancient god Ishtar:

Ishtar is an ancient Near Eastern goddess who was worshiped by the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians, among others. Her worship dates back to at least the third millennium BCE, and she was considered to be the goddess of love, fertility, war, and sexuality.

Ishtar was known by many names, including Inanna (Sumerian), Astarte (Phoenician), and Aphrodite (Greek). She was often depicted as a beautiful woman with wings and horns and was associated with the planet Venus.

In Sumerian mythology, Ishtar was the daughter of the moon god Sin and the sister of the sun god Shamash. She was also the consort of the god Dumuzid (also known as Tammuz), who was associated with the cycle of life and death.

One of the most famous stories involving Ishtar is The Descent of Inanna, which describes her journey to the underworld. In the story, Ishtar descends to the underworld to visit her sister Ereshkigal but is stripped of her clothing and jewelry at each of the seven gates on the way down. When she reaches the underworld, she is killed by Ereshkigal but is eventually resurrected and returns to the world above.

Ishtar was also associated with the planet Venus and was believed to be responsible for its movements in the sky. Her worship was widespread throughout the ancient Near East, and her influence can be seen in worshiping other goddesses, such as the Greek Aphrodite and the Roman Venus.

The practices of the culture and worship of Ishtar:

The practices of the worship of Ishtar varied depending on the time and place of her worship, as well as the specific culture and region involved. However, some common practices associated with the worship of Ishtar include:

1. Temple Worship: Ishtar was typically worshiped in temples dedicated to her, which priests and priestesses usually staffed. These temples were often centers of religious, social, and economic life and may have served as places of healing and divination.
2. Offerings and Sacrifices: Worshipers would often bring offerings to the temples of Ishtar, including food, drink, and other goods. Animals and other items may also have been sacrificed to honor the goddess.
3. Festivals and Celebrations: Ishtar was associated with numerous festivals and celebrations throughout the ancient Near East, many of which were focused on fertility, love, and sexuality. These festivals often involved music, dance, and other forms of revelry.
4. Sexual Practices: Ishtar was associated with sexuality and fertility, and some forms of her worship involved sexual practices, such as temple prostitution. However, the extent and nature of these practices is debated among scholars.
5. Magic and Divination: Ishtar was also associated with magic and divination, and her priests and priestesses may have practiced various forms of divination, such as reading omens or casting spells.

The worship of Ishtar was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that varied widely depending on the time and place of her worship. However, her worship was a central part of many ancient Near Eastern cultures, and her influence can still be seen in the worship of later goddesses, such as the Greek Aphrodite and the Roman Venus.

The blessings and curses of the worship of Ishtar:

The worship of Ishtar was believed to bestow various blessings and curses, depending on the nature of the worship and the specific context involved. Here are some examples:

Blessings:

1. Fertility: Ishtar was associated with fertility and was believed to be able to bestow blessings of abundance and fertility upon her worshipers. This could include blessings for crops, livestock, and human fertility.
2. Love and Beauty: Ishtar was associated with love, beauty, and sexuality. Her worshipers may have sought her blessing for romantic relationships, physical beauty, and attractiveness.
3. Power and Protection: Ishtar was a powerful goddess who was often associated with war and protection. Her worshipers may have sought her blessing for military success or protection from harm.

Curses:

1. Infertility and Death: Ishtar was believed to have the power to curse her worshipers with infertility or even death if they angered or displeased her. This could include failing to honor her properly or committing other offenses.
2. Disease and Misfortune: Ishtar was also associated with disease and misfortune, and her worshipers may have believed that she could inflict curses on those who angered her or failed to honor her properly.
3. Divine Wrath: Ishtar was a powerful and sometimes capricious goddess, and her worshipers may have feared the consequences of incurring her divine wrath. This could include natural disasters, war, or other forms of punishment.

It’s important to note that the specific blessings and curses associated with the worship of Ishtar varied widely depending on the time and place of her worship, as well as the specific beliefs and practices of individual worshipers. Additionally, the nature of these blessings and curses should be understood in the context of the beliefs and practices of the ancient Near Eastern cultures that worshiped her rather than being interpreted through modern lenses.