The Christmas Story You Probably Will Not Read to Your Children . ©
Therefore
the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and
bear a son, and you shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 [KJV])
Growing up, in the middle of the last century,
my childhood was probably very similar to many other kids growing up in modern
times. I looked forward to the Christmas season with great joy and
anticipation. There always seemed to be an air of excitement surrounding this
season. So, let me assure everyone, this is not the easiest expose' to write.
However, in ones
search for the truth, there are often choices we have to make. We can either
face the truth and make the change, we know we need to make, or we can close
our eyes to it altogether. By doing this however we will face the consequences.
As a believer, in Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus the Messiah), I want to live my life
in a manner that is pleasing to Him. That means turning away from those things
which He abhors.
Many try to use the excuse that we are under grace and
arrogantly say, "I have Jesus and that's all I need." Really? I declare
that if we claim to have Yeshua, but have no conviction, doing the things God condemns,
we do not have the Yeshua (Jesus) of the Bible. Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy
Spirit) was given to lead us into all truth. The truth always points us to
Yeshua and God's intention for mankind. He never leads us into paganism, or
idol worship, which is contrary to God's will for His people. The Ruach
(Spirit) never leads us into deception. We go there by seeking after the
pleasures of our natural human desires. In doing so, we rob ourselves of God's
blessings. We also place ourselves in danger of losing all the benefits He has
in store for us.
Please understand this. The purpose of this writing is not to judge anyone in their understanding. It is meant in a spirit of love with the sole purpose of awakening God's people to the truth. Satan is the most subtle of all creatures. His goal is to make you believe you are serving God but through his cunning and deceptions you are actually serving him. Satan has used these tricks, to rob God's children of their blessings, from the beginning of time.
There is a saying that says, "Ignorance is
bliss." That bliss will only last for a short time because there are
always consequences to ignorance. There are blessings in keeping God's
appointed feasts. Although it may feel good for a time, celebrating Satan's
feasts, there is always a curse attached to it.
Sometimes it may
be necessary for someone to jump out into the middle of the road. By doing so
they could be placing themselves in danger in order to warn the oncoming
traffic that the bridge is out up ahead. There are those of us who are called
to blow the shofar and sound the alarm. It is not in our power to turn anyone's
life around. Truth is either accepted or rejected. It is ultimately your
decision as to what you will do with the information provided here. I pray you
will be wise. It is not God's will that any should perish but that all would
come to repentance (2nd Peter 3:9).
The fact of the matter is this. Just about every Christmas
tradition, practiced today, has its origin in the exact same pagan traditions
that caused Israel to be scattered among all the nations of the world. Do we
really think that suddenly our holy God puts His stamp of approval upon the exact
same wickedness He has already cursed and called abominations? Has God changed?
Malachi 3:6 says, "I am the LORD. I change not; therefore ye sons of
Jacob are not consumed." God was very specific. He told the
Israelites what they were not to do when they entered
into the land He promised their fathers. In Deuteronomy 12:29-31, God says
this:
"The LORD
your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and
dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and
after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by
inquiring about their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods? We
will do the same.' You must not worship the LORD your God in their way,
because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the
LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices
to their gods." (NIV)
Also In Leviticus, 18:2-5, God gives His people Israel
this warning:
"Speak to
the people of Isra'el; tell them, 'I am ADONAI your God. You are not to
engage in the activities found in the land of Egypt, where you used to live;
and you are not to engage in the activities found in the land of Kena'an, where
I am bringing you; nor are you to live by their laws. You are to obey my
rulings and laws and live accordingly; I am ADONAI your God. You are to observe
my laws and rulings; if a person does them, he will have life through
them; I am ADONAI.'" (CJB)
Most professing Christians are not even aware of the fact
that many of the customs and traditions they are practicing, during the
Christmas season, predate the birth of Yeshua by hundreds and even thousands of
years. Many of these traditions are thought of as harmless fun. However, we must
understand that even if they are not the actual practice of pagan rituals, they
are a direct imitation of them. These customs and traditions, which were an
abomination to God in the past, are still an abomination to God today.
Remember? I am the LORD. I change not. 3rd John verse 11 says:
"Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God,, but he who does evil has not seen God."
Let's begin with the date of Yeshua's birth. Was it
really December 25th? It is a well known and documented fact that the day
we now call December 25th was celebrated as the birth date of several gods and
false messiahs, for thousands of years, before the birth of Yeshua.
This date was chosen for the birth date of the "sun
god" in ancient Egypt, named Osiris. The reason for the date December 25
was, because in ancient times, it was the first day they could detect the days
were growing longer after the winter solstice. December 25th was observed by
many cultures during ancient times and is said to be traced, all the way back,
to the time of Nimrod in ancient Babylon. Others, said to be born on this date,
are Tammuz (the son of Nimrod); Horus, Shamash, Hercules, Bacchus, Adonis,
Jupiter, and several others.
In later times, during the height the Greco/Roman period,
the sun- god Mithras was said to be born on this date. Throughout Europe and
Asia he was called, Deus Sol Invictus Mithras. They called December
25th, "The Nativity of the Sun." This period of
time, around the winter solstice, known in Rome as Saturnalia, became known for
its great festivities which included drunkenness; gluttony, orgies, gift giving,
and all types of revelry. The festival of Saturnalia lasted about a week
leading up to December 25th.
The date December 25th is first referred to as Christmas Day in documents, dating to 354 C.E., compiled by a group of Roman Bishops. The document makes this statement. These words appear for A.D. 336: "25 Dec.: natus Christus in Betleem Judeae." December 25th Christ born in Bethlehem, Judea. This day, December 25, 336 C.E., is the first recorded celebration of Christmas. This date may have been chosen to counter the pagan feast of Natalis Solis Invicti, or "Birth of the unconquered sun." [40]
Between the third and fourth centuries, the Roman
Church, in order to add to the numbers of adherents of Christianity, adopted
this pagan date. This date made it easier for the pagans to be assimilated,
into the Church, while still holding on to many of their cursed cultic beliefs.
In other words, the Church did not stand against
the pagan beliefs of the time. They adopted them.
It did not take long before the Church was immersed into pagan superstition and
the traditions of men. In 350 C.E., Pope Julius 1 declared December 25th the
official date of Christ's birth, and in 529 C.E., Emperor Justinian
declared Christmas a civil holiday.
We also know, from Scripture, that Yeshua could not have been born anywhere
near late December for meteorological reasons. The Bible clearly records in
Luke 2:8 that the shepherds were out in the fields, watching over their sheep
by night, around the time of Yeshua's birth. The meteorological patterns today,
for this area of Judea, are known to be exactly the same as they were around the
time of Yeshua's birth. The lambs would be at risk, in the freezing weather,
and would have been in shelter, during the cold Judean nights of late December.
This fact makes it certain that Yeshua could not have been born in late December
according to Scripture.
So, if Yeshua was not born in December, does Scripture
give us a clear indication as to when he actually was born? Since God does not
change, and always works within the parameters of His appointed times, if man
knew the day and hour of His birth, he would also know the day and hour of His
return. God intentionally keeps these times a mystery. However, God has given
clear indications, in His Scriptures, as to the times and the seasons. We can
know according to God's appointed times the approximate period in which Yeshua
was born.
We know, for a fact, from the Scriptures, in Luke chapter
one that the father of John the Baptist was a priest named Z'kharyah
(Zacharias). He served in the temple burning incense during the course of
Aviyah (1st Chronicles 24:10). He was chosen by the drawing of lots (Luke 1:9)
as was the custom of the priests (See 1st Chronicles 24:5). The names of the
different courses of priests, who served in the temple, are mentioned in 1st
Chronicles 24: 1-19. Aviyah was the 8th course. Each course served in the
temple for one week with the 1st course starting, in the 1st week, in month of
Nisan, in the Spring (See 1st Chronicles 27:1 & 2). All priests served
during God's appointed feasts of Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), and
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). After six months the cycle would repeat so each
course would serve two weeks during the year.
With the above rotation sequence we can look at the information
and have a pretty good idea as to when Messiah Yeshua was born. We know from
Luke 1:11-20 that the angel Gabriel visited Zacharias while he was serving in
the temple. We know from this information that Aviyah served in the 8th course.
This would have put Zacharias serving in the temple from the month of Iyar 7 to
Sivan 5. This brings us right up to the start of Shavuot (Pentecost) on Sivan
6. Since this is one of the three feasts, in which Jewish men are required to
make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, we can be sure that Zacharias would have
remained in Jerusalem for another week. Upon returning home his wife Elizabeth
soon conceived. If we add 40 weeks, or 280 days, to this time (the normal
gestation period for humans), it would put the birth of John The Baptist
right at Passover. (Remember: God always works within the parameters of
His appointed times. God never works according to manmade times and seasons.)
When Elizabeth became pregnant Luke 1:24 tells us that
she remained in seclusion for five months. In verse 26 Gabriel appears to Miriam
(Mary) in the sixth month and tells her she is going to conceive by the Holy
Spirit, and give birth to a son. He will be called the Son of God. The dialog
continues through verse 37, and then in verse 38, Gabriel leaves her.
Then in verse 39 it says, Miriam hurried to the hill country to visit
Elizabeth. John leaped in Elizabeth's womb upon hearing Miriam's voice.
From these passages we can determine that John would be born at least six
months before Yeshua. That would put Yeshua's birth right at the first
day of Sukkot (probably September, or early October, according to our
calendar). Now remember this. God always works within the parameter of His
appointed times. (I know I am being redundant about this but please bear with
me. It is very important that this fact is embedded in your mind).
Let's examine Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles,
as it is more commonly known among Gentiles. I will only highlight (for the
sake of brevity) those verses, or portions of verses, from Leviticus 23:33-43,
which are most important to understanding, but I suggest you read it for
yourself from your own Bible.
vs. 33-36: "ADONAI
said to Moshe, 'Tell the people of Isra'el, On the fifteenth day of this
seventh month is the feast of Sukkot for seven days to ADONAI.
On the first day, there is to be a holy convocation; do not do any kind of
ordinary work.---on the eighth day you are to have a holy
convocation;--- it is a day of public assembly; do not do any kind of
work.'"
vs. 39: "But
on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered the produce
of the land, you are to observe the festival of ADONAI seven days;
the first day is to be a complete rest and the eighth
day is to be a complete rest."
vs. 41-42: "You
are to observe it as a feast to ADONAI seven days in the year; it is a permanent
regulation, generation after generation; keep it in the seventh month.
You are to live in sukkot for seven days; every citizen of Isra'el is to live
in a sukkah."
(All above verses from the Complete Jewish Bible)
Notice, God says, it is a feast for seven days but then
He adds an eighth day to the end of this seven day feast. Why? Again we
turn to the Scriptures for the answer. In Genesis 17:10-12a, God says
this to Avraham (Abraham);
"Here is
my covenant which you are to keep, between me and you, along with your
descendants after you: every male among you is to be circumcised. You are to be
circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; this will be the sign of the
covenant between me and you. Generation after generation, every male among you
who is eight days old is to be circumcised,..."
From the above passages, it should be quite evident why
God, in His infinite wisdom, added an eighth day at the end of the seven day
feast of Sukkot. Since Messiah was to be born on the first day of Sukkot (a
high holy day). Does it not make perfect sense that the eighth day, or the day
of Messiah's circumcision, would also be a high holy day? Sukkot is an obvious
prophetic feast pointing to the birth of Messiah Yeshua.
Many people today recognize
that Yeshua was born in a manger. There was no room at the inn, because it was
during Sukkot, and the roads were crowded with pilgrims heading to Jerusalem to
celebrate the feast. Look at any Nativity scene, or picture of a manger, and it
should become obvious to you what you are seeing. It's a sukkah, or temporary
dwelling place, in accordance with God's commandment that the children of
Israel were to dwell in booths for the duration of the Feast of Sukkot.
Why do you think
God placed these passages in Scripture? Are they only there for the purpose of
great reading? He has a purpose for everything He commanded to be written down.
It is so sad that most Christians do not know the Tanakh. If they did they
would have so much greater understanding of the Apostolic Writings.
It is my prayer that all, who call themselves by the name
of Messiah, would take the time to do your own homework. God is revealing
Himself, in these last days, like He has not done since the days Yeshua made
His sukkah among us in human flesh. Please, children of God, do your own
searches on the pagan origins of Christmas. I implore you. Come out of the
confusion of Babylon. God hates paganism and idolatry, as much today, as He did
in ancient times. The time is short. Repent!
"And the
Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We looked upon His glory, the glory
of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John:1:14a [TLV])
Shalom Chavarim,
Barry W. Gaugler
