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“Christmas is
coming!”; Puritan
, A.W. Pink observed; “Quite so; but what is ‘Christmas’
? Does not the very term itself denote its source -
‘Christ-mass.’ Thus it is of Romish origin, brought over from
Paganism. But, says someone, Christmas is the time when we
commemorate the Saviour's birth. It is? And who authorized such
commemoration? Certainly God did not. The Redeemer bade His
disciples "remember" Him in His death, but there is not
a word in Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, which tells us to
celebrate His birth. Moreover, who knows when, in what month, He
was born? The Bible is silent thereon. Is it without reason that
the only "birthday" commemorations mentioned in God's
Word are Pharaoh's (Gen. 40:20) and Herod's (Matt. 14:6)? Is this
recorded "for our learning?" If so, have we prayerfully
taken it to heart?
And who is it that
celebrates "Christmas?" The whole "civilized
world." Millions who make no profession of faith in the blood
of the Lamb, who "despise and reject Him," and millions
more who while claiming to be His followers yet in works deny Him,
join in merrymaking under the pretence of honouring the birth of
the Lord Jesus. Putting it on its lowest ground, we would ask, Is
it fitting that His friends should unite with His enemies in a
worldly round of fleshly gratification? Does any truly born-again
soul really think that He whom the world cast out is either
pleased or glorified by such participation in the world's joys?
Verily, the customs of the people are vain; and it is written,
"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Ex.
23:2).
Some will argue for the
"keeping of Christmas" on the ground of "giving the
kiddies a good time." But why do this under cloak of
honouring the Saviour's birth? Why is it necessary to drag in His
holy name in connection with what takes place at that season of
carnal jollification? Is this taking the little ones with you out
of Egypt (Ex. 10:9,10) a type of the world, or is it not plainly a
mingling with the present-day Egyptians in their "pleasures
of sin for a season?" (Heb. 11:25). Scripture says,
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is
old, he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6). Scripture
does command God's people to bring up their children "in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4), but where
does it stipulate that it is our duty to give the little ones a
"good time?" Do we ever give the children "a good
time" when we engage in anything upon which we cannot
fittingly ask the Lord's blessing?”
Charles Spurgeon once
said: "We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons.
Certainly, we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical
arrangement called Christmas: first, because we do not believe in
the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin
or in English; and, secondly, because we find no Scriptural
warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the
Saviour; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition,
because not of divine authority. Superstition has fixed most
positively the day of our Saviour's birth, although there is no
possibility of discovering when it occured. Fabricius gives a
catalogue of 136 different learned opinions upon the matter; and
various divines invent weighty arguments for advocating a date in
every month of the year.
It was not till the middle
of the third century that any part of the church celebrated the
nativity of our Lord, and it was not till very long after the
Western church had set the example that the Eastern adopted it.
Because the day is not known, therefore superstition has fixed it;
while, since the death of our Saviour might be determined with
much certainty, therefore superstition shifts the date of its
observance every year.
Where is the method in the
madness of the superstitious? Probably the fact is that the holy
days were arranged to fit in with the heathen festivals. We
venture to assert, that if there be any day in the year, of which
we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Saviour
was born, it is the twenty-fifth of December." -- Charles
Spurgeon, from a sermon delivered on 24th December, 1871.
"Lo, this only have I
found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out
many inventions." (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
Not once does scripture
teach believers to celebrate his birthday (which those who rightly
divide the word agree never happened in December). What is
found in scripture is reference to the pagan practice of
what today is, a whitewashed disguise "christmas".
The prophet Jeremiah
(10:1-5) proclaims the word of the Lord:
"Learn not the way
of the heathen, ... for the customs of the people are vain: for
one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the
workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold ;
they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move
not."
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Sounds familiar !
The Creator wasn’t pleased
with the practice then. Why would He be now?
Yet people use the same
old reasoning.
All throughout scripture God
warns his people and chastises them over and over for
justifying and following pagan customs. Today
these same practices that were heathen then, and rationalised as
acceptable at that time, are condoned by "the church" as
"Christian" today! How can people make something right
when God says it is heathen?
What it comes down to is
"making the word of God of none effect through your
traditions." Mark7:13. What he said of old, still applies
today, because his word never changes. he scripture's tell us in
John10:22 that the MESSIAH was in the temple at the Feast
of Dedication (Hanukkah). This is the antithesis of the
pagan celebration of Christmas. In 168 BC Antiochus IV, Epiphanies
celebrated the re-birth of the sun god, by taking over and
desecrating the Jerusalem Temple Mount, erecting a statue of Zeus,
and offering a sacrifice of a pig on the altar of the temple, on
the "birthday" of Zeus; December 25th. The
Jews underwent severe persecution by this ruler. Three years later
on Kislev 25, a group of Jews broke down the statue of Zeus,
cleansed the Temple and held a ceremony of rededication, which was
the beginning of an eight day celebration of the Feast of
DEDICATION, HANUKKAH.
The oil lamps were lit;
having only one days supply of oil; yet miraculously they burned
for eight days. Since then this Feast of Dedication has
been marked with the lighting of candles and the rehearsing of the
Hallel (Psalm 113-118).
This is a Feast in which all
believers; those of the “general assembly and church of the
first born”; can personally celebrate deliverance from pagan
worship ( even of the sun god) and the re-dedication of our lives
to serve the true and living God. A time of great rejoicing; with
no fasting or public mourning.
Why not observe for the
right reasons; on the right days, the FEASTS on God’s
calendar, (the Creator does have His calendar) instead of
pagan "Christmas", on man’s Gregorian calendar
December 25?
Next: The Actual Birth
Month of
Messiah, Yahshua
Luke 2:2-8, 21-24
1 And it came to pass in those days (The Age of
Caesar Augustus), that there went out a decree from (Octavian)
Caesar
Augustus, that all the (Roman) world should
be taxed (not just the Jews).
2 (And this taxing [assessment/enrollment] was first
(originally) made when (while) Cyrenius was governor
of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed (enrolled/assessed),
every one into his own city (according to Tribe.
See Joshua chapter 15).
4 And Joseph, also, went up from Galilee (far north),
out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea (Herod's
southern jurisdiction), unto the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of
David:)(Tribe of Judah)
5 To be taxed (enrolled or assessed) with Mary (Miriam) his
espoused wife, being great with child (final stage of
pregnancy).
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the
days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped
him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because
there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in
the field (also going to their own city with their
property/flock) , keeping watch over their flock
(taxable property) by night (Not in the winter).
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_Israel
is located, between 29°-33° north of the equator.
_The rainy season extends from
October to early May, and rainfall
peaks in December through February. Humidity
is usually in the 90% range all the time. See "Song of
Solomon" (Song of Songs) 2:11.
_The average low temperature
for the whole month of December in Bethlehem is 42°F
at night, and 39°F for Nazareth at night; this
does not include a wet nighttime windchill factor.
_Shepherds do not watch or
expose their flocks or themselves to these conditions. |
| _If
Yahshua Messiah had been born on December 25th. Joseph would not
have departed for Egypt until after February 4th, forty plus
days later, after Mary's (Miriam's)
purification, and their sin and burnt offerings. The average
night time low at this time in Bethlehem would be a cold
and wet 39°F with a much lower windchill factor; Nazareth would
be even colder. These are poor travelling conditions for anyone
on foot or donkey, much less for or with a newborn baby. |
Luke 2:21-24
21 And when eight
days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child,
his name was called YAHSHUA, which was so named of the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law
of Moses were accomplished (40 days later), they brought him to
Jerusalem (north from Bethlehem), to present him to the
Lord (Yahweh);
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth
the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law
of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves,
or two young pigeons.
Leviticus 12:1-8
1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have
conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean
seven days; according to the days of the separation for her
infirmity shall she be unclean (not pure).
3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall
be circumcised.
4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying
three and thirty days (40 days total); she shall touch no hallowed
thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be
fulfilled.
5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks,
as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her
purifying threescore and six days (80 days total is twice that of a
male).
6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son,
or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a
burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for
a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation, unto the priest:
7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her;
and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the
law for her that hath born a male or a female.
8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she
shall bring two turtledoves, or two young
pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a
sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she
shall be clean.
Because this was a Roman TAXATION (Enrollment/Assessment) that was
proclaimed prior to the assessment period, ALL Jews would have already
returned to their TRIBAL city (Joshua Chapter15) in time for the TAXATION
(Assessment) on or about September 2nd. (year not important).
Therefore, Mary (Miriam), Joseph, and child would not have stayed
in Bethlehem any more than 40 days after the birth of Yahshua. That would
be seven days for her issue of blood, the eighth day for Yahshua's
circumcision, and the eight day was, also, the first day of her final
thirty-three days of purification. Thus the day after forty days from the
Messiah's birth they (now considered "Clean") departed north from
Bethlehem to Jerusalem (for sin & burnt offerings), and then
escaped to Egypt (where they remained for more than two years).
It wasn't winter yet, even after more than forty days in Bethlehem and
their short trip to Jerusalem. Travelling by night in the winter would
have been a horrible experience for anyone on foot or donkey, especially
with a baby. Additionally, ALL assessments, whether grain, fruit, sheep or
other form of property assessment (except money) would out of necessity
need to be transferred and placed into storage areas prior to the settling
in of winter, which is when they would be needed.
Matthew 2:12-23
12 And being warned by G_d in a dream that they (the Wise men)
should not return to Herod, they departed into their own
country another way.
13 And when they (the Wise men) were departed, behold, the angel
of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the
young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt (from Judea
/Jerusalem / Bethlehem), and be thou there until I bring thee
word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and
departed into Egypt:
15 And was there (Egypt) until the death of Herod: that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord (Yahweh) by the prophet,
saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men,
was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were
in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and
under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired
of the wise men (a period of two years).
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet,
saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great
mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted,
because they are not.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into
the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young
child’s life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into
the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea (beginning
1 BC) in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there:
notwithstanding, being warned by God
in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth:
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be
called a Nazarene.
_When Assyria conquered Jerusalem, the Jewish people became their property
(slaves), and as such were required to pay taxes to and/or work for their
Assyrian conquerors. Later, when the Assyrians were conquered by the
Romans, both the Assyrians and their Jewish slaves were required to pay
taxes to Rome. These tax assessments took place at least twice
during the thirty-seven year period in question on the anniversary
of the Battle of Actium; which took place ON
September 2nd. 31 BC.
_Now Herod
died
approximately 1BC (current estimate) some time after a January
lunar eclipse, but prior to the Passover (March/April). Thus The
Messiah must have been born approximately 3 to 4 BC, at least two
years prior to Herod's death, because Herod had all the children in Judea
from two years and less murdered (Matthew 2:16). However, it is not the
year that is so very important, but the anniversary date of September
2nd in which month the Roman taxing (Enrollment/Assessment)
occurred.
Note: September 2, 1 BC on the Julian Calendar is actually
August 31, 1 BC on the present day Gregorian Calendar. Thus Messiah
would have been born very early in September (1 BC). There is no
zero BC or zero AD. . My guess is that he was born on the "Day of
Atonement" (Yom Kippur), as the symbolism is so very extreme.
Three months later it would become 1 AD.
Antiquities of the
Jews - Book XVIII
CHAPTER 1. (Selections)
1. Now "CYRENIUS"
(Quirinius), a Roman senator, and one who had gone through other
magistracies, and had passed through them till he had been consul, and
one who, on other accounts, was of great dignity, came at this time into
SYRIA, with a few others, being sent by Caesar to be a judge of that
nation, and to take an account of their substance. Coponius also,
a man of the equestrian order, was sent together with him, to have the supreme
power over the Jews. Moreover, "CYRENIUS" came
himself into JUDEA, which was now added to the province of SYRIA,
to take an account of their (JEWS) substance, and to dispose of (Herod's
son) Archelaus's Money; (after Herod's death and Archelaus's
removal) but the Jews, although at the beginning they took the report of
a(nother) TAXATION (Enrollment/Assessment) heinously, yet
did they leave off any further opposition to it, by the persuasion of
Joazar, who was the son of Beethus, and high priest; so they, being
over-persuaded by Joazar's words, gave an account of their estates (tribal
property inheritances), without any dispute about it.
CHAPTER 2. (Selections)
1. When
"CYRENIUS" had now disposed of Archelaus's Money, and
when the TAXINGS (Enrollments/Assessments) were come to a
CONCLUSION, which were made in the thirty-seventh year (on the Anniversary)
of CAESAR'S VICTORY over MARK ANTHONY at ACTIUM, .
. .
Conclusions
EVIDENCE:
* Luke's TAXATION was
then an event that took place during a year on the Anniversary of
the historic "Battle of Actium", which took
place on September 2, 31 B.C. ;This completely rules out the
month of December in any year on any calendar (Julian,
Gregorian or Hebrew). It is interesting to note that Tishri 1 (Rosh
Hashanah or Trumpets) is equivalent to August 30, 1 BC (Julian),
and August 28, 1 BC (Gregorian).
* Since Taxation,
and the "Battle of Actium" both occurred
on September 2; and Since ALL Jews left for their Own
City (Tribal City) so as to be present for the TAXATION according to
The Decree Of Caesar, The Messiah's Birthday would have
had to Coincide within the same annual time frame as the Hebrew
Holy Days of The "FEAST OF TRUMPETS" (Rosh Hashanah),
the "DAY OF ATONEMENT" (Yom Kippur), the "FEAST
of BOOTHS" (Succoth), and the "LAST GREAT DAY"
(Also, Succoth). All of which occur between the
last few days of August and early October every year, depending on the
interaction between the Hebrew Calendar, and the present day Gregorian
Calendar.
* THIS IS
SIGNIFICANT, Because God's Word is symbolism rich, and these
last four Holy Periods are Spiritually symbolic of Yahshua Messiah's
future return at His Second Coming. Thus, we have the physical parallel
of the "First Coming" Old Testament Physical
"BIRTH", And The Spiritual New Testament "Second
Coming", as well as, the actual Time of the Year Yahshua Messiah
was born! EARLY SEPTEMBER!
This is much more
probable than a cold wet rainy December; no shepherds would be out all
night with their flocks under those conditions. Additionally, hundreds
of thousands of Jews (or more) would have been required to travel back
to their city of birth under cold and rainy weather conditions in order
to pay their taxes (be assessed/enrolled). This would, also, be a
great inconvenience for the Romans too! But more than that, September
2nd is the anniversary of the Battle of Actium, and
the historic time of the Roman taxation.
Additional Notes
Note: * The Sabbath
Month (7th Hebrew Month) Is Tishri., and Somehow It Just Makes Spiritual
Sense That The "Lord Of The Sabbath" Would Be Born
During The Hebrew Sabbath Month, Which Is The Parallel Of The Sabbath
Millennium When Yahshua Messiah Returns AGAIN... This is just another
one of Yahweh's many physical to Spiritual parallels.
Note: * In 46 BC, when the Roman "Julian Calendar"
was adopted, December 24th was the shortest day of the year.
Therefore, December 25th was the first annual day that daylight began
to increase. Thus, the origin of the REBIRTH or Annual Birthday of the
Invincible SUN.
In accordance with the Roman "Julian calendar," the
"Saturnalia" festival appears to have taken place on
December 17th; it was preceded by the "Consualia" near
December 15th, and followed by the "Opalia" on December
19th. These pagan celebrations typically lasted for a week, ending
just before the late Roman Imperial Festival for "Sol Invictus"
(Invincible Sun) on December 25th.
In 1582 AD. Roman Catholic Pope Gregory the XIII caused the current
"Gregorian Calendar" to be adopted, in order to eliminate
the solar time shift error that was introduced over the time period of
1,629 years by the inaccurate "Julian Calendar."
By December 1582 AD the shortest day of the year on the Roman
"Julian Calendar" had shifted 12 days from Dec. 24, 46 BC.
to Wednesday, Dec. 12, 1582 AD.
However, the Original December 25th 'Birth Date' was retained for all
pagan Sun gods by the Roman "Saturnalia," "Consualia,"
"Opalia," and "Sol Invictus" traditions;
which were now incorporated into the Catholic "Twelve Days of
Christ-mass."
On the new Roman Catholic Gregorian calendar the shortest annual day
was numerically shifted back 10 days to the 22nd of December, where it
remains to this day; while the original order of the seven days of the
week remained unchanged.
Therefore, Wednesday, December 12th, 1582 AD,
became Wednesday, December 22nd, 1582 AD, and the True Sabbath Day
(Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) remained unchanged.
Yahweh, the Only True God,
would never have allowed The True Messiah to be born on or near
the December 25th birthday period of the pagan Sun gods; during
the time in which virgins were sacrificed, murder was commonplace,
and orgies the norm. This would be an entirely unacceptable
association of Good and evil.
Please be aware that although there has been much controversy
concerning the years of births, deaths, and the reigns of various
kings, and governors, this in no way alters the months in which
the preceding events took place.
Scripture
quotes from the King James Version
,(Cambridge:Cambridge) 1769
CHECK IT OUT - IT'S
THE TRUTH !
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