WHAT IS A CHRISTMAS TREE?
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE, BUT IT WON'T BE POPULAR
The fact that we need to ask this question indicates the object is not self-explanatory. Like Halloween, we are looking at symbols which are aspects of the architecture of the BEAST SYSTEM, but are not equipped to properly interpret the meanings known to the initiated.
THE OCCULT
The meaning, and source, is hidden from view (occult), and these objects
are now widely accepted by nearly all secular and religious people
alike.
Some people dismiss it and say, “It originated in Germany”. That’s not
quite far enough back . . . . . it’s involved in the ancient worship
that involved
TREES.
People set their hearts on what is “under
the tree”,
and in at least 10 places of Scripture we read about something happening
“under
the tree”;
here’s an example:
Jer 2:20:
“For of old you have broken your yoke and tore of your bonds. And you
said, ‘I am not serving You,’ when on every high hill and
under every green tree
you lay down, a whore.”
Hiding the origin of something, or to block the
meaning of it, both raise suspicion in us.
If we are walking in Truth, we must search-out everything we practice
and teach our children. Here is a definition of the word “occult”:
occult:
"secret, not divulged," from L. occultus "hidden, concealed, secret,"
pp. of occulere "cover over, conceal," from ob "over" + a verb related
to celare "to hide" symbolic meaning "not apprehended by the mind,
beyond the range of understanding"
In the ancient world, Pagans went to their temples to “worship” their
false deities of fertility, and had SEX with the “temple prostitutes”,
both male and female. The Pagan temples had an “image”, usually an
obelisk, standing near the entrance as we see in this photo of a
temple in Luxor, Egypt:
The obelisk and wreath are esoteric symbols of fertility.
What do you imagine will happen to them all when
Yahusha returns to reign here on Earth?
http://www.fossilizedcustoms.com/christmastree.html
THE
UPRIGHT POLE
SYMBOLIZED THE MALE: REGENERATIVE POWER
Stop reading, and go look up the definition of the word BAAL in a
dictionary.
Did the Messiah Yahusha
have a Christmas tree, or wreath, or did these practices originate from
a dark place and get “adopted”?
The expression of our devotion to our Creator, Yahuah, must never
include behavior detestable to Him, as He advised us at Dt. 12:28-32.
The practices we have inherited from our fathers (Jer 16:19) are
indeed lies, and of no profit. There are two “levels” of interpretation
in witchcraft; one for those “initiated”, and the other for the
“masses”. Yahusha said His Spirit would guide us into all Truth. Sharing
the Truth in love is an important aspect of restoring the scattered
tribes of Yisrael, to open blind eyes, and release the captives from the
prison of their learned customs and practices.
Can we adopt a detestable thing, and believe it is now “cleansed”
because we don’t think about the true origin of it?
The tree, ornaments, tinsel, and wreath have disgusting meanings
to which your eyes will soon be opened to.
Read about these trees (ASHERIM) in Yahuah’s Word: (ASHERIM
is a word often translated “groves”, meaning “trees”).
Jer 10:2-4:
“Thus said Yahuah, ‘Do not learn the way of the gentiles, and do
not be awed by the signs of the heavens, for the gentiles are awed by
them. For the prescribed customs of these peoples are worthless, for one
cuts
a tree
from the forest, work for the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.
They adorn it with silver and gold, they fasten it with nails and
hammers so that it does not topple.’”
Deu 7:26
“And do not bring an abomination
into your house,
lest you be accursed like it. Utterly loathe it and utterly hate it, for
it is accursed.”
(SEE ALSO EZEK. 6:13)
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS:
The Christmas tree is an
ASHERAH,
a
sexual object, learned from the witch Jezebel (Isabel), the
wife of Ahab (1 Kings 16). It was a pattern from Babel. This witch,
Isabel, supported 450 prophets of BAAL (the
LORD),
and 400 prophets of ASHERAH, the consort of BAAL.
The Hebrew word
BAAL
means
LORD,
and is the device of Shatan whereby he deceives the nations. The
translators removed the
true Name,
YAHUAH
from the Scriptures
and replaced it with
LORD,
(see the Preface in your translation), thus causing the
identity
of Yahuah to be
stolen.
BAAL
(the
LORD),
and ASHERAH, are crawling all over Christians’
minds,
and the MIND is
the true battleground of the war in Heaven.
1Jn 1:6-8: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk
in darkness, we lie and are not doing the Truth. But if we walk in the
Light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and
the blood of Yahusha Messiah His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say
that we have no sin, we are misleading ourselves, and the Truth is not
in us.”
What Is A "Christmas Tree?"
People have trouble recognizing the Nimrod Culture all around them. The
Santa character, as well as every Sun deity worshipped everywhere at all
times is Nimrod. Upon his death and dismemberment at the hands of Shem
(most likely), Nimrod became the first human being to be worshipped as a
"mighty-one" (GOD). All the cultures worship Nimrod as the Sun deity in
diverse babbled names. The cut-down TREE is the occult fertility symbol
often illustrated with an egg and a serpent, and from the root a sprig
of new growth is Tammuz, Nimrod reincarnated. In this way, Nimrod was
both husband and son of his wife/mother, Shamiramis (highest heavens,
aka "queen of heavens").
December 25 was observed as the birth of the Sun. The Tree, the date,
the yule (meaning "feast"), and the horned-hunter are all pagan
associations to Nimrod the rebel.
This is brought out by many researchers, including Alexander Hislop.
Christmas is Nimrod's birthday (as a solar deity), adopted into the
traditions of the Alexandrian Culture. Do you think Yahuah will allow
these practices to continue much longer?
Nimrod’s name became babbled into every language as their Sun deities:
Ra, Zeus, Apollo, Krishna, Odin, Molok, and dozens more. When parents lie about
Santa coming to bring them gifts, they have no idea they are telling their
children about Nimrod, the first Sun King.
Yahusha is calling us out of the practices of Sun worship, as false teachers act
as if dragging
Asherah trees into their homes isn’t idolatry.
They make up stories about how the tree is a symbol of Jesus, when all the time
it’s really a fertility symbol of Nimrod.
Yahusha is not the reason for the season, and will pour out His wrath on all who
fail to
accept the Truth when they are presented with it.
He will send them a strong delusion to believe the LIE.
When that happens to them,
they will tell you
“it doesn’t mean that to me.”
https://www.torahzone.net/Christmas-Myth-pdf-download-article.html
VIDEO SEMINAR / PRESENTATION CONTENT:
CHRISTMAS MYTH
AN ESOTERIC VIEW OF THE MYTHOLOGICAL IDEA KNOWN AS CHRISTMAS – EXPLAINING WHAT
AND WHO IT IS REALLY ABOUT
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO:
THE TRUTH
CHRISTMAS - The Truth is what matters (Gal 4:16), and while the first
settlers of this nation were believers and followers of the Messiah,
they
did not observe "christmas."
It was outlawed in all 13 colonies, because it was based on Paganism.
The tree is interpreted originally by the occult as a phallus, the
ornaments as testicles, and the tinsel as semen; the wreath is a vagina,
and together they are fertility symbols. The Messiah never had a tree,
since Israel fell for this same behavior (Jer 10). The idea of Christmas
was adopted, and it is the birth of the SUN deity; Yahusha (Jesus) was
born during the feast of Sukkoth, called "Booths", "Tabernacles" or
Tents. That's the "booth" He was born in, during the 7th moon of the
Hebrew calendar. The early settlers of North America knew these things.
GIVING BIRTH IS A VERY BLOODY EVENT
For more information visit youtube, and learn a better perspective of
many things.
Here are some links:
TORAH INSTITUTE’S CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TorahInstitute#g/p
THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTMAS
by Herbert W. Armstrong 1892 - 1986 (founder of WWCG):
"Where did the world get Christmas?...from the Bible, or paganism.
Here are astonishing facts which may shock you.
Test yourself. How much do you know of the origin of the Christmas
tree - of "Santa Claus" - of the mistletoe - of the holly wreath - of
the custom of exchanging gifts?
When I was a little boy, I was taught to hang up my stockings on
Christmas eve. When I awakened the next morning, they were filled with
small toys and sacks or little boxes of candy and nuts. And beside the
mantle, from which my stockings hung, a Christmas tree had suddenly
appeared, decorated with shiny tinsel. And on it hung presents. Other
presents for us children were piled on the floor underneath. I was told
Santa Claus had come down the chimney during the night and left all
these things.
But did I question what my parents had told me? Of course not. I
accepted it - took it all for granted. Didn't you?
Stop and think a moment. Very few have ever reflected on WHY they
believe what they do - WHY they follow the customs they do, or from
WHERE those customs came. We were born into a world filled with customs.
We grew up accepting them without question. Why? Sheep instinct? Well,
not exactly. But by nature we do tend to follow the crowd, whether right
or wrong. Sheep follow others to the slaughter. Humans ought to check up
where they are going. How - WHEN did Christmas originate? Does Christmas
REALLY celebrate the birthday of Christ? Was Jesus born on December
25th? Did the original apostles, who knew Jesus personally and were
taught by Him, celebrate His birthday on December 25th? Did they
celebrate it AT ALL?
If Christmas is the chief of the Christian holidays, WHY do so many
non-Christians observe it? Do you know? Why do people exchange presents
with family members, friends, relatives, at Christmas time? Was it
because the wise men presented gifts to the Christ-child? The answer may
surprise you.
Most people have "supposed" a lot of things about Christmas that are not
true. But let's quit "supposing" and get the facts!
WHAT ENCYCLOPEDIAS SAY
The word "Christmas" means "Mass of Christ," or, as it came to be
shortened, "Christ-Mass." It came to non-Christians and Protestants from
the Roman Catholic Church. And where did they get it? NOT from the New
Testament - NOT from the Bible - NOT from the original apostles who were
personally instructed by Christ - but it gravitated in the fourth
century into the Roman Church from paganism.
Since the celebration of Christmas has come to the world from the Roman
Catholic Church, and has no authority but that of the Roman Catholic
Church, let us examine the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 edition,
published by that church. Under the heading "Christmas," you will find:
"Christmas was NOT among the earliest festivals on the Church...the
first evidence of the feast is FROM EGYPT."
"PAGAN CUSTOMS centering around the January calends gravitated to
Christmas."
And in the same encyclopedia, under the heading "Natal Day" we find that
the early Catholic father, Origen, acknowledged this truth: "...In the
Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great
banquet on his birthday. It is ONLY SINNERS (like Pharaoh and Herod) who
make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into THIS
world".
Encyclopedia Britannica, 1946 edition, has this: "Christmas (i.e., the
Mass of Christ) ... Christmas was not among the earliest festivals
of the church..." It was not instituted by Christ or the apostles,
or by Bible authority. It was picked up afterward from paganism. The
Encyclopedia Americana, 1944 edition, says: "Christmas... It
was, according to many authorities, not celebrated in the first
centuries of the Christian church, as the Christian usage in general was
to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth..."
(The "Communion," which is instituted by New Testament Bible authority,
is a memorial of the death of Christ.) "...A feast was established in
memory of this event [Christ's birth] in the FOURTH CENTURY. In
the fifth century the Western Church ordered it to be celebrated forever
ON THE DAY OF THE OLD ROMAN FEAST OF THE BIRTH OF SOL, as no certain
knowledge of the day of Christ's birth existed."
Now notice! These recognized historical authorities show Christmas was
not observed by Christians for the first two or three hundred years - a
period longer than the entire history of the United States as a nation!
It got into the Western, or Roman, Church, by the fourth century A.D. It
was not until the fifth century that the Roman Church ordered it to be
celebrated as an official Christian festival!
JESUS
(YAHUSHA) NOT BORN DECEMBER 25th
[excerpt from encyclopedia]
Jesus was not even born in the winter season! When the Christ-child was
born "there were in the same country shepherds ABIDING in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:8). This never could
have occurred in Judaea in the month of December. The shepherds always
brought their flocks from the mountainsides and fields and corralled
them not later than October 15, to protect them from the cold, rainy
season that followed that date. Notice that the Bible itself proves, in
Song of Solomon 2:11 and Ezra 10:9, 13, that winter was a rainy season
not permitting shepherds to abide in open fields at night.
"It was an ancient custom among Jews of those days to send out their
sheep to the fields and deserts about the Passover (early spring), and
bring them home at commencement of the FIRST RAIN," says the Adam Clarke
Commentary (Vol. 5, page 370, New York ed.)
Continuing, this authority states: "During the time they were out, the
shepherds watched them night and day. As...the first rain began early in
the month of Marchesvan, which answers to part of our October and
November (begins sometime in OCTOBER), we find that the sheep were kept
out in the open country during the whole SUMMER. And, as these shepherds
had not YET brought home their flocks, it is a presumptive argument that
October had not yet commenced, and that, consequently, our Lord was not
born on the 25th of December, when no flocks were out in the fields; nor
could He have been born later than September, as the flocks were still
in the fields BY NIGHT. On this very ground, the nativity in December
should be given up. The feeding of the flocks by night in the fields is
a CHRONOLOGICAL FACT...See the quotations from the Talmudists in
Lightfoot."
Any encyclopedia, or any other authority, will tell you that Christ was
not born on December 25.
The Catholic Encyclopedia frankly states this fact.
The exact date of Jesus' (YAHUSHA) birth is
entirely unknown, as all authorities acknowledge - though if I had space
in this booklet I could show you scriptures which at least strongly
indicate it was in the early fall - probably September - approximately
six months after Passover.
If God had wished us to observe and celebrate Christ's birthday, He
would not have so completely hidden the exact date.
HOW THIS PAGAN CUSTOM GOT INTO THE CHURCH
Then how did this pagan custom creep into the Western Christian world?
The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religous Knowledge explains it
clearly, in its article on "Christmas": "How much the date of the
festival depended upon the pagan Brumalia (Dec. 25) following the
Saturnalia (Dec. 17-24), and celebrating the shortest day of the year
and the 'new sun'...cannot be accurately determined. The pagan
Saturnalia and Brumalia WERE TOO DEEPLY ENTRENCHED IN POPULAR CUSTOM TO
BE SET ASIDE BY CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE...The pagan festival with its riot
and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to
continue its celebration with little change in spirit and manner.
Christian preachers of the West and the Near East protested against the
unseemly frivolity with which Christ's birthday was celebrated, while
Christians of Mesopotamia ACCUSED THEIR WESTERN BRETHREN OF IDOLATRY AND
SUN WORSHIP FOR ADOPTING AS CHRISTIAN THIS PAGAN FESTIVAL."
Remember, the Roman world had been pagan. Prior to the fourth century,
Christians were few in number, though increasing, and were persecuted by
the government and by pagans. But, with the advent of Constantine as
emperor, who made his profession of Christianity in the fourth century,
placing Christianity on an equal footing with paganism, people of the
Roman world began to accept this now-popular Christianity by the
hundreds of thousands.
But remember, these people had grown up in pagan customs, chief of which
was this idolatrous festival of December 25th. It was a festival of
merrymaking, with its special spirit. They enjoyed it! They didn't want
to give it up. Now this same article in the New Schaff-Herzog
Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge explains how the recognition by
Constantine of Sunday, which had been the day of pagan sun worship, and
how the influence of the pagan Manichaeism, which identified the SON OF
GOD with the physical SUN, gave these pagans of the fourth century, now
turning over wholesale to "Christianity," their excuse for calling their
pagan-festival date of December 25th (birthday of the SUN-god), the
birthday of the SON OF GOD.
And THAT is how "Christmas" became fastened on our Western world. We may
call it by another name, but it's the same old pagan sun-worshipping
festival still. The only change is in what we call it. You can CALL a
rabbit a "lion," but it's still a rabbit, just the same.
Again from the Encyclopaedia Britannica: "Certain Latins, as early as
354, may have transferred the birthday from January 6th to December 25,
WHICH WAS THEN A MITHRAIC FEAST...OR BIRTHDAY OF THE UNCONQUERED
SUN...The Syrians and Armenians, who clung to January 6th, accused the
Romans of sun worship and idolatry, contending...that the feast of
December 25, had been invented by disciples of Cerinthus..."
THE REAL ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS
But if we got Christmas from the Roman Catholics, and they got it from
paganism, where did the pagans get it? Where, when, and what was its
real origin?
It is a chief custom of the corrupt system denounced all through Bible
prophecies and teachings under the name of Babylon. And it started and
originated in the original Babylon of ancient Nimrod! Yes, it stems from
roots whose beginning was shortly this side of the Flood!
Nimrod, grandson of Ham, son of Noah, was the real founder of the
Babylonish system that has gripped the world ever since - this system of
organized competition - of man-ruled governments and empires, based upon
the competitive and profit-making economic system. Nimrod built the
tower of Babel, the original Babylon, ancient Nineveh, and many other
cities. He organized the world's first kingdom. The name "Nimrod," in
Hebrew is derived from "Marad," meaning "he rebelled."
From many ancient writings, considerable is learned of this man, who
started the great organized worldly apostasy from God that has dominated
this world until now. Nimrod was so evil, it is said he married his own
mother, whose name was Semiramis. After Nimrod's untimely death, his
so-called mother-wife, Semiramis, propagated the evil doctrine of the
survival of Nimrod as a spirit being. She claimed a full-grown evergreen
tree sprang overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the
springing forth unto new life of the dead Nimrod. On each anniversary of
his birth, she claimed Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave
gifts upon it. December 25th was the birthday of Nimrod. This is the
real origin of the Christmas tree.
Through her scheming and designing, Semiramis became the Babylonian
"Queen of Heaven," and Nimrod, under various names, became the "divine
son of heaven." Through the generations, in this idolatrous worship,
Nimrod also became the false Messiah, son of Baal the Sun-god. In this
false Babylonish system, the "Mother and Child" (Semiramis and Nimrod
reborn) became chief objects of worship. This worship of "Mother and
Child" spread over the world. The names varied in different countries
and languages. In Egypt it was Isis and Osiris. In Asia, Cybele and
Deoius. In pagan Rome, Fortuna and Jupiterpuer. Even in Greece, China,
Japan, Tibet is to be found the counterpart of the Madonna, LONG BEFORE
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST!
Thus, during the fourth and fifth centuries, when the pagans of the
Roman world were "accepting" the new popular "Christianity" by the
hundreds of thousands, carrying their old pagan customs and beliefs
along with them, merely cloaking them with Christian-sounding names, the
Madonna and "Mother and Child" idea also became popularized, especially
at Christmas time. Every Christmas season you'll hear sung and chanted
dozens of times the hymn "Silent Night, Holy Night," with its familiar
"Mother and Child" theme. We, who have been born in such a babylonish
world, reared and steeped in these things all our lives, have been
taught to revere these things as holy and sacred. We never questioned to
see where they came from - whether they came from the Bible, or from
pagan idolatry!
We are shocked to learn the truth - some, unfortunately, take offense at
the plain truth! But God commands His faithful ministers, "Cry aloud,
spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their
transgression!" Shocking as these facts are, they are the plain facts of
history and the Bible. The real origin of Christmas goes back to ancient
Babylon. It is bound up in the organized apostasy which has gripped a
deceived world these many centuries. In Egypt, it was always believed
that the son of Isis (Egyptian name for "Queen of Heaven") was born
December 25th. Paganism celebrated this famous birthday over most of the
known world for centuries before the birth of Christ.
December 25th is NOT the birthday of Jesus, the true Christ! The
apostles and early true Church never celebrated Christ's birthday at ANY
time. There is no command or instruction to celebrate it in the Bible -
rather, the celebrating of birthdays is a pagan, not a Christian custom,
believe it or not.
Thus the ancient idolatrous "Chaldean Mysteries," founded by this wife
of Nimrod, have been handed down through the pagan religions under new
Christian-sounding names.
ORIGIN OF HOLLY WREATH, MISTLETOE, YULE LOG
Now where did we get this mistletoe custom? Among the ancient pagans the
mistletoe was used at this festival of the winter solstice because it
was considered sacred to the sun, because of its supposed miraculous
healing power. The pagan custom of kissing under the mistletoe was an
early step in the night of revelry and drunken debauchery - celebrating
the death of the "old sun" and the birth of the new at the winter
solstice. Mistletoe, sacred in pagan festivals, is a parasite!
Holly berries were also considered sacred to the sun-god. The yule log
is in reality the "sun log." "Yule" means "Wheel," a pagan symbol of the
sun. Yet today professing Christians speak of the "sacred yule-tide
season"!
Even the lighting of fires and candles as a Christian ceremony is merely
a continuation of the pagan custom, encouraging the waning sun-god as he
reached the lowest place in the southern skies.
The Encyclopedia Americana says: "The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule
log...are relics of pre-Christian times." Of paganism!
The book Answers to Questions, compiled by Frederick J. Haskins, found
in public libraries, says: The use of Christmas wreaths is believed by
authorities to be TRACEABLE TO THE PAGAN CUSTOMS of decorating building
and places of worship at the feast which took place at the same time as
Christmas. The CHRISTMAS TREE IS FROM EGYPT, and its origin dates from a
period long anterior to the Christian Era."
YES, AND EVEN SANTA CLAUSE
But surely dear old Santa Claus is not a creature of pagan birth? But he
is, and his real character is not so benevolent and holy as many
suppose.
The name "Santa Claus" is a corruption of the name "St. Nicholas," a
Roman Catholic bishop who lived in the 5th century. Look in the
Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 19, pages 648-649, 11th edition, where
you'll read: "St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, a saint honored by the
Greeks and Latins on the 6th of December... A legend of his
surreptitious bestowal of dowries on the three daughters of an
impoverished citizen...is said to have originated the old custom of
giving presents in secret on the Eve of St. Nicholas [Dec. 6],
subsequently transferred to Christmas day. Hence the association of
Christmas with Santa Claus..." (PRONOUNCED "SANT-NI-KO-LAS")
Through the years, parents punish their children for telling falsehoods.
Then, at Christmas time, they themselves tell their little children this
"Santa Claus" lie! Is it any wonder many of them, when they grow up and
learn the truth, begin to believe God is a myth, too?
One little fellow, sadly disillusioned about "Santa Claus," said to a
playmate, "Yes, and I'm going to look into this 'Jesus Christ' business,
too!" Is it Christian to teach children myths and falsehoods? God says,
"Thou shalt not bear false witness." It may seem right, and be justified
by human reason, but God says, "There is a way that SEEMETH right to a
man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." "Old Nick" also is a
term for the devil! Is there a connection? Satan appears as an "angel of
light," to deceive (II Cor 11:14; Rev 12:9).
And so when we examine the facts, we are astonished to learn that the
practices of observing Christmas is not, after all, a true Christian
practice, but a pagan custom - one of the ways of Babylon our people
have fallen into.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS
TREE
But if the Bible is silent about telling us to observe Christmas, or
recording any such observance by the apostles or early true Church, it
DOES have something to say about the Christmas tree.
This will come as a real surprise to many. But here it is: Jeremiah
10:2-6: "Thus saith 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."
There is a perfect description of the Christmas tree, termed by the
Eternal as "the way of the heathen - the customs of the people." We are
commanded not to learn that way or follow it. It is also viewed in this
passage as idolatry. The fifth verse shows that these trees cannot speak
- cannot walk - must be carried. "Be not afraid of them; for THEY (the
trees) cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good." They are
not gods to be feared. Some people MISread this to make it say there is
no harm in having a Christmas tree, but that is not what it says.
ISN'T EXCHANGING GIFTS SCRIPTURAL?
But when it comes to the most important part of all in this Christmas
observance - the Christmas shopping season - the buying and exchanging
of gifts - many will exclaim triumphantly, "Well, at least the Bible
tells us to do that. Didn't the wise men give gifts when Christ was
born?"
Again, we are due for some surprises, when we learn the plain truth.
First, let's look at the historic origin of trading gifts back and
forth, then see exactly what the Bible DOES say about it.
From the Bibliotheca Sacra, volume 12, pages 153-155, we quote: "The
interchange of presents between friends is alike characteristic of
Christmas and the Saturnalia, and MUST HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE
CHRISTIANS FROM THE PAGANS, as the admonition of Tertullian plainly
shows."
The fact is, this custom fastened upon people of exchanging gifts with
friends and relatives at the Christmas season HAS NOT A SINGLE TRACE OF
CHRISTIANITY ABOUT IT, strange though that may seem. This does not
celebrate Christ's birthday nor honor it or Him! Suppose someone you
love has a birthday. You want to honor that person on his or her
birthday. Would you lavishly buy gifts for EVERYONE ELSE, trading gifts
back and forth with all your OTHER friends and loved ones, but ignore
completely any gift for the one whose birthday you are honoring? Rather
absurd, when viewed in that light, isn't it?
Yet this is exactly what people the world over are doing. They honor a
day that is not Christ's birthday by spending every dime they can scrape
together in buying presents to trade back and forth among friends and
relatives. But I can say by years of experience, as I believe most
pastors and ministers can say, that when the month of December rolls
around, nearly all professing Christians forget to give gifts to Christ
and His cause almost altogether. December often is the most difficult
month to keep Christ's work from dying. People are too busy trading
gifts back and forth among themselves to think of Him and His Work, it
seems. Then, in January and even into February it seems they have to
catch up from what they spent for Christmas, so they seldom get back to
normal in supporting Christ and His Work before March.
Now consider what the Bible says about the wise men giving gifts when
Christ was born. It is in Matthew 2:1-11. "Now when Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came
wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born
KING OF THE JEWS? ...And when they were come into the house, they saw
the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him:
AND WHEN THEY HAD OPENED THEIR TREASURES, they presented unto HIM gifts;
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
WHY GIFTS PRESENTED TO CHRIST
Notice, they inquired for the child Jesus, who was born KING of the
Jews. Now why did they present gifts to Him? Because it was His
birthday? Not at all, because they came several days or weeks after the
date of His birth. Was it to set an example for us, today, to trade
gifts back and forth among ourselves? No, notice carefully. They did not
exchange gifts among themselves, but "they presented unto HIM gifts."
(NOTE: IT MAY HAVE BEEN UP TO TWO YEARS AFTER YAHUSHA'S BIRTH BEFORE THE MAGI ARRIVED)
They gave their gifts to Christ, not to their friends, relatives, or
one another.
Why? Let me quote from the Adam Clarke Commentary, volume 5, page 46:
"Verse 11. (They presented unto him gifts.) The people of the east never
approach the presence of kings and great personages, without a present
in their hands. The custom is often noticed in the Old Testament, and
still prevails in the east, and in some of the newly discovered South
Sea Islands."
There it is. They were not instituting a new Christian custom of
exchanging gifts with friends to honor Christ's birthday. They were
following an old and ancient eastern custom of presenting gifts to a
king when they came into his presence. They were approaching Him, born
King of the Jews, in person. Therefore custom required they present
gifts - even as the Queen of Sheba brought gifts to Solomon - even as
many people today take a gift along when they visit the White House for
an appointment with the President.
No, the custom of trading gifts back and forth does not stem from this
scriptural incident at all, but rather, as quoted from history above, it
is the continuance of an ancient pagan custom. Instead of honoring
Christ, it invariably retards His Work, often sets it back, at the
Christmas season every year.
DOES IT REALLY HONOR CHRIST?
Now come two arguments often used to justify Christmas observance.
1) Many will reason this way: "But, even though the exact date of Jesus'
birth is unknown, should we not select SOME date to celebrate as His
birthday?" The answer is positively no. Did you not notice the statement
quoted from the Catholic Encyclopedia: "Sinners alone, not saints,
celebrate their birthdays." The custom of birthdays is not a Christian,
but a pagan custom, observed by sinners!
2) But, many still reason, "Even so - even though Christmas was a pagan
custom, honoring the false sun-god, we don't observe it to honor the
false god, we observe it to honor Christ."
But how does God answer in His Word? "Take heed to thyself that thou be
not snared by following them [the pagans in their customs]... that thou
enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their
gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord
they God: for every abomination to the Eternal, which he hateth, have
they done unto their gods" (Deut 12:30-31).
God says plainly in His Instruction Book to us, that He will not accept
that kind of worship, even though intended in His honor. To Him, He
says, it is offering what is ABOMINABLE to Him, and therefore it honors,
not Him, but false pagan gods. God says we must not worship Him
according to the "dictates of our own conscience" - a term we often
hear. But Jesus says plainly, "God is a spirit: and they that worship
Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). And what is
truth? God's Word - the Holy Bible - said Jesus, is truth (John 17:17);
and the Bible says God will not accept worship when people take a pagan
custom or manner of worship and try to honor Christ with it.
Again, Jesus said: "In VAIN they do worship me, teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men" (Matt 15:9). Christmas observance is a
TRADITION OF MEN, and the commandments of God, as quoted, forbid it.
Jesus said, further, "full well ye reject the commandment of God, that
ye may keep your own tradition."
That is precisely what the millions are doing today. They ignore the
commandment of God. He commands, regarding taking the customs of the
pagans and using them to honor or worship God: "Thou shalt not do so
unto the Lord thy God." Still, most people today take that command of
God lightly, or as having no validity whatsoever, and follow the
tradition of men in observing Christmas.
Make no mistake. God will ALLOW you to defy and disobey Him. He will
ALLOW you to follow the crowd and the traditions of men. He will ALLOW
you to sin. But He also says there is a day of reckoning coming. As you
sow, so shall you reap. Jesus was the LIVING Word of God in Person, and
the Bible is the WRITTEN Word of God. And we shall be judged, for
eternity, by these words. They should not be taken lightly or ignored.
Additional commentary by Dr. James Trimm:
WE'RE IN BABYLON, AND HAVEN'T KNOWN IT
Christmas has become a commercial season. It's sponsored, kept alive, by
the heaviest retail advertising campaigns of the year. You see a
masqueraded "Santa Claus" in many stores. Ads keep us deluded and
deceived about the "beautify Christmas spirit." The newspaper, who sell
the ads, print flowery editorials exalting and eulogizing the pagan
season, and its "spirit." A gullible people has become so inoculated,
many take offense when told the truth. But the "Christmas spirit" is
created each year, not to honor Christ, but to sell merchandise. Like
all Satan's delusions, it appears as an "angel of light," is made to
appear good. Billions of dollars are spent in this merchandising spree
every year, while the cause of Christ must suffer. It's part of the
economic system of Babylon.
We have professed to be Christian nations, but we're in Babylon, as
Bible prophecy foretold, and we don't know it. "Come out of her, my
people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of
her plagues" - now soon to fall - is the warning of Revelation 18:4.
This year, instead of gift trading, why not put that money into God's
Work?
From time to time I have been asked my opinion of Herbert W. Armstrong
and the Worldwide Church of God.
Let me begin by saying that I do not agree with everything Armstrong
taught. However Armstrong taught many truths that were definitely on the
cutting edge for his time.
The very name “Church of God” though still using gentilized terminology
was a Scriptural name, as the Body of Messiah is generally referred to
in the Ketuvim Netzarim (the so-called “New Testament”) as the “Assembly
of Elohim” (for which reason WNAE takes the name “Worldwide Nazarene
Assembly of Elohim”).
Armstrong taught seventh day, evening to evening Sabbath observance,
while exposing the pagan origins and nature of Sunday Worship.
Armstrong taught the Scriptural feasts (which also happen to be the
Jewish Holidays) while exposing the pagan origins and nature of the
Pagan holidays like Halloween, Christmas and Easter.
Armstrong also criticized pagan customs in general, not just Pagan
holidays and Sunday worship.
And long before the so-called “Two House” movement, Armstrong was
teaching:
“The peoples of the United States, the British Commonwealth nations, and
the nations of northwestern Europe are, in fact, the peoples of the Ten
Tribes of the House of Israel. The Jewish
People are the House of Judah.”
-The United States and Britain in Prophecy, ninth ed. P. 144; Herbert W.
Armstrong
Not long before his death in 1986, Armstrong finally came to the
following far reaching conclusion:
"Satan has deceived this world's churches into the
belief that God's law was done away-that Jesus, rather than paying the
price in human stead for transgressing the law, did away with
it-"nailing it to his cross." The expression used by Protestants
"nailing the law to his cross" can mean only one thing.
This is Satan's teaching that by being nailed to the cross, Christ
abolished the law, making it possible for humans to sin with impunity.
What actually was nailed to the cross was Christ our sin bearer, who
took on himself our sins, paying the death penalty in our stead, so
that we are freed from the ultimate penalty of sinning, not made free
to sin with impunity. The very basic teaching, belief AND DOCTRINE OF
God's true Church therefore is based on the righteousness of and
obedience to the law of God." -Mystery of the Ages; Herbert W.
Armstrong p. 274
(END OF DR. JAMES TRIMM'S COMMENTS)
