FIRST WATCH: UGANDA AMERICAN HERETICS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbjuHxEMjOA
BORN IN DECEMBER ?
"In Pagan Rome, December 25th was celebrated as the birthday of Mithras, a prophet of the sun worshipers. Perhaps these Roman holidays had their influence in the selection of December 25th as Christ's birthday. Justification for the choice was given by St. Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople at the end of the fourth century. In a discourse he said, 'On this day also the Birthday of Christ was lately fixed at Rome in order that while the heathen were busy with their profane ceremonies, the Christians might perform their sacred rites undisturbed. They call this (December 25th), the Birthday of the Invincible One (Mithras); but who is so invincible as the Lord? They call it the Birthday of the Solar Disk, but Christ is the Son of Righteousness.' About 336 AD, the Church of Rome definitely fixed the 25th day of December as the birthday of the Lord. Since the fifth century most of the Christian world has celebrated that day as Christ's Birthday."
So it has nothing to do with when Christ really was born. Therefore, it's not true.
"Gradually, as certain pagan customs of holiday celebrations were assimilated into the Christmas festival, the activities took on gaiety and often frivolity.....In time there was reaction to the more frivolous until in certain countries, England for example, the observance of festivals was entirely prohibited."
When the United States was settled, the celebration of Christmas was an illegal activity. I don't believe that it was just because of the frivolity that was involved. I believe that, as a result of the reformation, many people realized that the source was pagan and Roman Catholic, and thought, "We've left Roman Catholicism in protest and we are not going to bring their practices with us, such as Christmas and Easter and things of that nature."
"CAROLS AND CAROLING. Some carols, evidently of pagan origin, were adopted by Christians and given new words. Many of the carols were danced as well as sung which kept them from being approved by the church for centuries. The word carol was associated with dancing until the 14th century. It is said that St. Francis and his brethren sang simple carols at the first presentation of a life-sized representation of the Nativity scene."
In the nativity scene, what do you find? Don't you find three wise men, and you find them in a manger with the babe and sometimes the shepherds, too, I guess. Is that true? Where do we find the accounts of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ? In what books? Luke and Matthew. Mark and John don't have any record of that part of Christ's life. Luke and Matthew. But when you compare those two accounts, it's obvious that the shepherds were told, by the angels, of the birth of Christ, when he was at Bethlehem, at the time that he was born. And they found him where? In a manger. In contrast, by the time the wise men came, some time had lapsed. And when they found the Lord Jesus Christ, they found him where? In a house.
How many wise men were there? Nobody knows. Why do people assume there were three? Because they brought three types of gifts, which in no way would indicate that there were just three men. It could have been a hundred men for that matter. It could have been 25. It could have been three. But there is no reason to believe that it was three men. I don't think that three men normally made it a practice to travel in that country, in that way together, especially carrying gold, frankincense and myrrh. They had as much trouble with robbers and that kind of people as we do, in fact, maybe more.
"THE CRECHE. To inspire greater religious feeling, and help in the interpretation of the story of the birth of Jesus, St. Francis of Assisi conceived the idea of building a life-sized representation of the Nativity scene. The Pope gave him permission to do so, and in 1223 he built a full-sized stable next to his church in Graecia, a village near Assisi, in Italy. In it he created the Nativity scene with living people and animals. The people who came were much impressed. From this beginning the idea spread all over Europe. The creche was used in homes as well as in the churches and through the ages it has been built in all forms, large and small from the crudest to the most elaborate."
"THE THREE WISE MEN. The Three Wise men (also referred to as the Three Kings and as the Magi) are always a part of the Nativity scene. The story of their visit to the Christ Child is told in St. Matthew, and they are in themselves familiar symbols of Christmas. According to medieval legend, they were Melchoir, King of Arabia, who brought a gift of gold; Gaspar, King of Tarsus, who brought myrrh; and Balthasar, King of Ethiopia, who brought frankincense."
That is according to legend, not the word of God.
"Some authorities believe that gift giving at this time of the year was a carryover from the pagans. The Romans gave presents during the celebrations of Saturnalia and of Kalends.
"CHARITY. Our present day custom of providing for the less fortunate at Christmas is undoubtedly an outgrowth of an old legend. This legend says that every Christmas Eve, the Christ Child wanders all over the world asking for food, shelter, and help."
Again, is that true?
"One of the possible origins of the idea that Santa Claus descends the chimney to bring gifts has already been given." One story was of this Roman Catholic who became St. Nicholas. The story was that Nicholas heard of a man with three daughters and the father didn't have enough money to make a dowry for them so he was going to sell them. And so Nicholas dropped three gold bags at three different times down a chimney so that they could each have a dowry. And so they thought this story may be one possible origin.
The other story (there are at least two others) associates this custom with the early German Goddess Hertha, goddess of domesticity. "She was believed to descend the chimney through the smoke and guide the tellers of fortunes. At one time the Germans baked cakes in the form of a slipper which was supposed to be that of Hertha; these were filled with gifts for the children. In later times, it was the custom to clean the chimney at the beginning of the New Year so that good luck could enter the household. It is quite likely children were told that if they were good, Santa Claus would come down the chimney and bring them gifts.
"CHRISTMAS TREE. Of all Christmas symbols none is more familiar than the Christmas tree. The decorating of the Christmas tree is one of the most beloved Christmas customs and prevails wherever trees are available in either living or artificial form. From earliest times the ancients held nature in great reverence."
What does the scripture say about that? In Romans 1 we read, that they "worshipped and served the creature more than the creator."
"All things had their gods, among them water, the meadows, and the trees. Evergreen, therefore was not only for decorative purposes but because it was possible to thus bring a part of nature indoors. For the feast of Bacchus in Roman times trees were decorated with trinkets.
Among the trinkets were masks of Bacchus. Those trees toward which the wind turned the masks were supposed to be endowed with great fertility. In the celebration of the pagan Yule season, the ancient sun-worshiping Teutons are said to have decorated fir trees, for they likened the sun to the spreading and blossoming of a great tree. Some tell us that our own Christmas tree decoration is symbolic of this celestial sun tree of the ancient pagans; the lights represent the lightning, the decorations the sun, the moon, and the stars, while the little animals hung in the branches represent the sacrifice of animals made to the sun god.
"THE MISTLETOE. Mistletoe was often hung over the entrances to homes of the pagans in Scandinavian countries to keep out evil spirits. An old Scandinavian myth tells of the seemingly invulnerable god, Balder, who was struck down by a dart made of mistletoe, and it was decreed that the plant must never again be used as a weapon. Frigga, who was the Goddess of love, henceforth, gave a kiss to anyone who passed under the mistletoe. The Druids who were members of a pagan religious order in ancient Gaul, Briton and Ireland held the mistletoe in such reverence that if enemies met under it in the forest, a truce was declared for the day. Later, among Christians, it came to symbolize the healing power of Christ.
"THE YULE LOG. The Druids' custom was to light fires during the Yule season to burn out the sins and evils of the past year.
"BELLS. For centuries bells of churches of every land have pealed forth the glad tidings of the birth of Jesus. In medieval times, the bells tolled for an hour before midnight on Christmas Eve, and then on the hour their voices changed to a joyous ringing. The tolling was to warn the powers of Darkness of the approaching of the birth of the Savior. It was believed 'the Devil died when Christ was born.'"
I wish that were true. But sad to say, it's not true. The devil is alive and well today.
"And in England, the tolling was known as 'Tolling the Devil's knell.' As a result, bells have become a part of our Christmas decorations, mostly in imitation form. They are also prominent in Christmas card designs."
, I think we need to back off and just look at it and say, "Well, is it true?" How much of the Christmas story is true? Again, just to go back and reflect a little bit on the three wise men. If you go to Matthew chapter 2 you will find that there were wise men, and you will find that they brought gifts. They didn't come to the manger. And it's interesting. Let's look at Matthew chapter 2. It's an interesting thing that while the shepherds were told of peace on earth, good will towards men, it's also true that for those mothers of Israel who had children two years old and younger—males two years old and younger— that was a sad day. Let's start with verse 1:
Matthew 2:1-7. "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea 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? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared."
What was he (Herod) trying to establish? At least he is trying to establish the age of the child.
Matthew 2:8-11 "And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed, and lo the star, which they saw in the east, went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house (not into the stable but 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."
How many of them were there? We don't know. To imply that there were three doesn't seem to be reasonable and logical.
Matthew 2:12-14. "And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child, and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt."
It's interesting how many times that the words "young child" are used here.
Matthew 2:15-16. "And was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 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 enquire of the wise men."
There is no doubt, this wasn't a happy day for them. And they would reflect back at that period of time and it wouldn't be with joy and rejoicing. I think we generally forget that. But the important thing was that it was “two years old” and under, and I am sure he spanned more time than was necessary. In other words, let's say, based on his calculations, that the child was possibly a year old. By going two years, he picked up that much extra tolerance, and going down to all of them under, he figured he could sweep it clean—two years old and under.
So again, it is not an accurate representation of the biblical account. Obviously, Santa Claus is a lie. And again, when you think of the next most prominent celebration, it's very similar because its origin is the same. That celebration, in the so-called Christian religion, is the celebration of Easter, allegedly celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What about Easter? Most of the activities that are surrounding that celebration are also from pagan origin, far predating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then we cap it by telling kids that rabbits lay eggs.
WHY? It's ridiculous! But that's what we tell them! And so we take something that did happen—the Lord Jesus Christ did suffer and did die and was raised the third day for our justification. That's true! Then we mix with it a lot of things that have their roots in paganism and idolatry that far predate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, to say nothing of his resurrection. Again, mixing a lie with truth. And then we add the little dimension of the Easter bunny and the Easter eggs laid by rabbits, and then we present that to children.
You think the god of this world is so blind, so stupid, that he didn't know what he was doing when he did that? No, I believe the opposite. He knew exactly what he was doing. And anytime you take something that is true and pure and holy and you mix that with a lie, something that is not true, you do not bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Because truth came by him. He came to bear witness to the truth. He was the truth. And therefore, to try to serve him, to please him, we must say and do what is true. Religion today (sectarian, denominational religion) takes truth and mixes it with a lie, which they say is to promote truth. All they do is discredit the truth.
And that's why we as Christians, as we come to realize what is truth, need to hate that kind of sin, that kind of mixture. One of the things that God did not want, never has wanted for his people, was mixture. When you go back into the old scriptures, as well as into the writing of the apostle Paul, separation of truth from error is what God wanted. Over and over again, and in many ways, he taught that. The nation Israel was not to sow its fields with diverse kinds of seeds. Why? God wanted distinction. They were not to wear clothes of diverse kinds of material. God wanted separation and distinction. They [Israel] weren't to inter-marry with the nations of other lands.
Why? God didn't want the descendants of Jacob to be corrupted with heathen practices. God didn't want his people Israel to take on the practices that were authored by the Devil, the worship of pagan deities.
It's exactly what God didn't want. And that is exactly what the devil has been able to do, with nominal Christianity today. To mix truth with error. And it makes both a lie. It makes it a dirty, vile thing.
Turn to Ephesians 4:25:
"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another."
Put away lying! Speak truth. Look at Colossians chapter 3. We as Christians have no basis, no rhyme nor reason, that could possibly justify participating in anything with the magnitude of dishonesty in it that the celebration of Christmas and Easter have.
Colossians 3:9-10. "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"
There is no doubt that at this time of year, there is much beautiful music written. The thought of giving to the poor certainly would appeal to anyone. The joyful times of families together, good food (too much food in many cases), times to visit and times for mothers and wives to prepare and cook and look forward to having all the family together in the family atmosphere and all that. Certainly none could speak against those things. But when they are mixed with a lie about really The most important One that ever moved on this earth, the Lord Jesus Christ, then you and I need to find another time to have those activities. Certainly times of the family being together don't have to depend on everybody in the world doing the same thing at the same time.
We can have those times among our own families—times for wives and mothers and daughters and daughters-in-law to get together and cook, to have time of fellowship and maybe even eating too much. Those times don't have to be the times that the world dictates. The god of this world, the devil, dictates, as he has created through the Roman Catholic; a mixture of paganism and idolatry and mixed it up in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ—to say nothing of mixing it with the mass, the resurrection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. There is no place for those who know Jesus Christ as their personal savior and who want to please Him to have any part in that. And yet, the vast majority of people in the world are like robots, lock- stepping down the road at this time of the year to celebrate Christ's birthday.
UNKNOWN AUTHOR
WHY TABERNACLES?
We see in Luke chapter three, that Jesus is baptized in the River Jordan, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. Luke also points out that it is ANOTHER important day in the life of Messiah--------let’s take a look.
Luke 3:22-24
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
KJV
Luke tells us that Jesus became ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OLD at his baptism in Jordan. Scholars all over the world agree that the ministry of Jesus on earth was THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS LONG, beginning at his baptism in Jordan, and concluding at his crucifixion at Passover------THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS LATER. It is a child’s effort to understand that if you count backward THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS from the crucifixion [the ministry of Christ], you come exactly to TABERNACLES ! Luke tells us that Jesus BEGAN TO BE ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OLD on that very day. Allow me to remind you that we are AGENTS OF TRUTH-------because Jesus has said “the day will come AND NOW IS, that they who worship the Father shall worship him in spirit AND IN TRUTH. What is THE TRUTH about the birth of Jesus, and why should we celebrate a lie?
Shall we participate in the abundance of lies that have crept into the Church? Luke tells us that “NO OTHER THING IS CELEBRATED IN ALL THE CHURCHES” of the first century than that which he [Luke] has reported. Does the passage of TIME transform a LIE into the TRUTH? Does century after century of the celebration of “CHRISTMAS” somehow validate this ancient farce? It does not. Shall the Lord NOT BE PLEASED if you forsake a lie? Will he be disappointed in you if you proclaim THE TRUTH about the birth of his Son? I think not regarding BOTH of these questions.
Danny McDowell
WHAT DO ABOUT EASTER?
http://propheticoutreach.blogspot.com/2008/02/what-to-do-about-easter_6222.html
Danny McDowell
Most Christians either DO NOT KNOW--------or DO NOT CARE, about the history of EASTER and the meanings of it’s varied celebrations world-wide. The history of Easter is decoded in it’s very NAME.
This yearly celebration is named for the ancient Babylonian goddess “ISHTAR” of the very same pronunciation [eester]. The celebration, like most ancient holy days, begins in Babylonian religious myth. In the days of ancient Babylonia, there was a renowned King by the name of Nimrod. You may remember Nimrod from the Old Testament.
Nimrod was married to Ishtar. After Nimrod’s death; in order to consolidate power, and to keep power in the hands of Ishtar and her son. Ishtar married her own son who’s name was Tammuz. One day as Tammuz was hunting for wild boar [for he was a great hunter as was his father Nimrod], he [Tammuz] was gored by a wild pig. He became very ill from this injury and later died of his wounds.
In torment, and grief,. Ishtar prayed to the gods of the underworld to release her son from the bondage of the underworld. In the mythology; the god’s of the underworld agreed to release Tammuz from his captivity for one day per year.
This DAY came to be known as ISHTAR , and the day of the week was that ancient, weekly pagan holy day of SUN-DAY. Each year at SUNRISE of ISHTAR SUN-DAY------all of the empire was compelled to celebrate the yearly freedom of Tammuz-------but NOT WITHOUT TRAVAIL AND WEEPING.
It was required that the WOMEN of the empire should WEEP IN TRAVAIL for FOURTY DAYS prior to Ishtar Sun-day morning. With GREIF satisfactory to the gods----Tammuz was released. This became known as the “WEEPING FOR TAMMUZ” It is recorded in Ezekiel:
Ezek 8:14-18
14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
In this same vein----it was required of the ELDERS to stand with their BACKS TO THE TEMPLE and to worship the RISING OF THE SON [Tammuz]. This abominable practice made it’s way into apostate Israel, as well as the entirety of the Mediterranean world under varied local names for this goddess to be-----ISHTAR.
Later in time, as the Bishops of Rome [popes] contrived to unify Roman religions, and give unchallenged POWER to the Pontiff; many pagan practices were introduced to the NOW APOSTATE church. EASTER was one of MANY to find it’s way into Christendom In order to “Christianize” these clearly PAGAN traditions , the church was compelled to create acceptable fable in order to placate the contemporary believer. Hence, we have the “LENTEN SEASON [fourty days of weeping for Tammuz], and EASTER SUNDAY [the resurrection of Tammuz].
Time has been the enemy of orthodoxy in many things. Given enough TIME and ANYTHING can be fostered on an already apostate church.
Tim 4:1-3
4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
KJV
So now we have, NOT ONLY THE HOAX-------but the hoax has become an an ENTRENCHED TRADITION to the very sad realization that the entire PASSION STORY is abundantly presented in the New Testament. There is no need for fable.
Cor 5:7-9
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
KJV
The New Testament is so CLEAR about this matter that the DENIAL of these Biblical witnesses borders on that very proclamation of the Apostle Paul:
2 Thess 2:10-12
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
KJV
Christ is our ETERNAL PASSOVER ! There is NO EXCUSE for this abominable exchange that has been celebrated in the church for CENTURIES-----NONE!!
In the fourteenth day of AVIV----in the year THIRTY AD------a man hung on a STAUROS, and in the NINTH HOUR of the day he cried out ----“IT IS FINISHED”. That man was the Messiah of Israel, the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD-----THE VERY SON OF GOD----------CHRIST-----------OUR PASSOVER !! He gave up the Ghost at the VERY MOMENT that the Temple HIGH PRIEST killed the yearly Passover Lamb. It was at that critical point in time that the GATES OF HELL TREMBLED. It was at that very moment that MY SINS were open to VAST ATONEMENT! It was at that very moment that the ENMITY OF THE LAW was abolished! It was at that moment that EVERY NAME WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE BECAME SEALED!
What shame-------shame, shame, shame! That we should sacrifice the TRUTH for such a lame fable as EASTER. EASTER IS NOT PASSOVER-------and PASSOVER IS NOT EASTER. Passover falls on the FULL MOON nearest the SPRING EQUINOX [March/April]. It shall NEVER CHANGE.
For two hundred years the church followed the tradition of the Apostles and celebrated the ONLY AUTHORIZED CELEBRATION of the DEATH----BURIAL----AND RESURRECTION of the Savior. Jesus said “do this in rememberance of me”. They celebrated this event ONCE PER YEAR------AT PASSOVER. It was THE LORD’S TABLE !--------THEN CAME THE BISHOPS OF ROME !
Cor 11:24-31
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Let’s get this straight-----WE WERE NEVER AUTHORIZED TO CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION, CERTAINLY NOT EASTER !! We are COMMANDED to celebrate the Savior’s DEATH------TILL HE COMES. This sacrament has been lost to PAGAN TRADITION.------IT’S NOT TOO LATE. WE CAN FIX IT. GOD IS MERCIFUL. JUST REPENT AND FOLLOW THE NEW TESTAMENT!
Just look at I Cor.11:27-----it says “whoever celebrates this sacrament UNWORTHILY is GUILTY OF CHRIST’S BLOOD. That’s how important this matter is to Y-O-U !
Each year at Passover, we at the New Testament Fellowship of Winston/Salem North Carolina, celebrate the LORD’S TABLE under a predictable FULL MOON in the evening of 14 AVIV. Why not do the same. It’s wonderful to know that you are following a GREAT CROWD of New Testament Saints as we celebrate “CHRIST----OUR PASSOVER”. Danny McDowell---------ps don’t waste your time with all that hoey about law and grace. It has NOTHING TO DO with this lesson.
