a prophecy still threatens the emipre.
The Bloody Roman Whore (BRW) came out with a movie on the nativity, timed with Christmas (read that Christ MASS), that pagan holiday which born-again believers cannot let go because it has the word "Christ" in it.
The Cardinal (dressed as a BLOODY BIRD, birds representing evil spirits in the Bible) who presented the movie to a crowd of politico-religious pomp never once called Jesus "Lord". He would say "Jesus Christ" but not "Lord".
Now watch thousands of believers swallow that movie down hook, line and sinker. I can already write up their excuses. Satan must be glad that today's believers are so easy to dupe, even as the BRW spreads her skirts wider and wider to regain lost ground in the reformation and usher in the reign of antichrist. Antichrist, incidently, literally means "INSTEAD OF CHRIST".
The trailer to the movie has a spoken line which says "a prophecy that would threaten an empire". I'm sure the higher powers of the BRW enjoy the irony. They still ARE the Roman Empire. Do the words "Holy Roman Empire" mean anything to you?
There's another prophecy. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back to destroy that same empire which crucified Him.
Amen Lord. Marana atha.
I know that you guys don’t read my long posts. I know that George and Auntie definitely do not read them (at least most of the time). I understand that you have much to do. However, please read it—for my sake (consider this a birthday present or something). I spent a lot of time and thought into this and I really wish that you would look into all that I have written. I also know that you guys (especially one of you) are really persistent in what you believe. I ask that you just try to see the truth behind what I am trying to say.
Thank you.
Most humbly and sincerely,
Joseph Antonios
As Christians, we are at war with the world and Satan. Satan loves to take that which God has set forth as good and pure and desecrate it. Take the devil's number (yes--the one that starts with 6). It was the number of gold bricks used to build the temple. Take creation--it is ruined. Take mankind--it is ruined. Everything that God gives, Satan tries to ruin it. We all agree on that.
The world is on the same page with Satan. They do the same thing. They have now taken a time to reflect on Christ's birth, a time set by Christians (it does not have to be called Christmas), and made it a disgusting commercial enterprise with Santa Claus, super-presents, and greed.
Concerning Christmas not being in the Bible, that is true as far as the name "Christmas" which means "Christ-Mass". The name is not in the Scriptures but the event that the name represents is definitely in the Scriptures. The story of the birth of Christ and the circumstances surrounding it is very much emphasized in the Bible. Mathew and Luke both go into detail describing Christ birth, including the shepherds and eventually the wise men giving gifts to Christ. That is all in the Bible. Without His birth, there is no salvation.
Someone might argue that since we are not commanded to celebrate Christmas we should ignore it. Well, we are not commanded to celebrate the resurrection as a holiday either, so does your brother want to give up that holiday simply because the name "Easter" is of pagan origin? He needs to forget the name or the source of the name. Many names and words have pagan origins (Sunday, etc…) but we do not give up using those words or names. We would not have a language without the use of pagan words and names.
So what do we as Christians do? We have two choices: to reclaim it or utterly reject it. Which do you choose? I choose to “out-Christmas” all those fools in this world. I will never ever say that celebrating Christ’s birth is wrong and pagan. I will defend the Bible and what it holds true. If people want to put lights on their houses and buy gifts, then I will make my soul shine brighter and show them the gift of Christ. What a wonderful opportunity God has given us to preach Christ! All these people put up signs saying “Merry Christmas.” Instead of sitting in our homes grumbling about it, we can go around the neighborhood and tell them what they should be celebrating—that the gift of grace is better than any gift here on earth. How could you not? God gave us a talent to use and multiply for his glory. What do we do? We hide it. We say, “We can’t use this talent because the world is using it too—and they are using it for the wrong reasons.” (No—I am not referring directly to the parable.)
What is wrong with Christmas? Christmas at its pure Christian form is merely a time to sit as a family and remember Christ’s birth—the fulfillment of the Messiah that was to come to earth. It is a time that Christians have accorded to sit, pray, and fellowship together. Just like evening Sunday service, there is evening Christ-birth service. So what is wrong? The presents? The gifts? Or is it the tree that irks us? I know that it is originally pagan. But can’t we be like Christ? How did Christ present the gospel? Did he give the people tablets of heavenly gold with His words encrypted on them? No. He gave them parables. He utilized the works of mankind—the sins, the pleasures, and the earthly needs to demonstrate His message. Do I need to list them? The parable of the sower, the vineyard, the figs, reaping, marriage, etc…
What about Elijah? When challenged to demonstrate God’s power, he took the opportunity—he built an altar just as the worshippers of Baal had theirs built—wood, the bull, etc… Then, he added extra water. With this, He demonstrated God’s power. He took something pagan, the worship of Baal through the altar, extended it by adding water (a feat that the imaginary Baal would not even be able to quench), and used it to demonstrate God’s power. He did not turn his back on those pagans. Was using an altar to sacrifice to God wrong? (Was celebrating Christ’s birth wrong?)---I think that you understand my direction.
Now—I repeat this—Is Christmas a pagan holiday? No! It has been cluttered with pagan elements. But that does not mean we reject it. Rather, it is our job to clean it up. We do not walk away and reject the world. We come towards it, tell it that its wrong, and then tell it what’s right.
Someone may argue against Christmas that it is a non-biblical holiday and since Christmas in not celebrated in the Bible, we should not celebrate it, either. First of all, the birth of Christ is biblical, so you cannot make a case by calling Christmas non-biblical, but I suppose you can say that Christmas is extra-biblical. That is, there is nothing in the Bible against it, and there are things in the holiday that is based on the Bible, but there is no command to celebrate the birth of Christ, so it is an extra-biblical holiday.
Here is how I approach this argument: Jesus Himself celebrated an extra-biblical holiday that corresponds to Christmas. People are usually surprised to find this out. Yes, Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, and Hanukkah is not in the Old Testament.
Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. (John 10:22-23)
There is no Old Testament Feast of Dedication. There are several feasts mentioned in the Bible, but not Dedication. What feast is Dedication? That is Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of oil that burned for 8 days. This event took place after the last Old Testament prophet had written the scriptures. The scriptures were closed before this event, and thus, this Feast is extra-biblical. And Jesus was in the temple area where the feast was celebrated. He participated in Hanukkah.
Today, Christmas is celebrated next to Hanukkah. If Jesus celebrated a holiday that was not in the Bible, why can’t you enjoy Christmas as well and give gifts just as the Jews today give many gifts during Hanukkah?
You may mention that giving gifts was based on giving to the "Sun-God". Whether or not that is true can be debated, but I have always felt that giving gifts was based on the wise men giving gifts to Christ. Even if it were true that Christmas came out of the pagan practices of giving to the "Sun-God", the truth is the "Son-of-God" is worthy of greater gifts, and giving gifts is simply a loving way of showing your appreciation to others you love. Sure, many people get in the commercial spirit than the true spirit, but that is no reason to get rid of Christmas or to avoid the holiday.
Many have complained that Christmas is really pagan because the Christmas tree is pagan. I’ve heard people say that Jeremiah 10:3-5 is a reference to the Christmas tree:
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."
These people argue that the tree is adorned with silver and gold, a supposed reference to tinsel around a tree. But look carefully at the passage and it will be clear that Jeremiah referred to an idol made out of the tree. A craftsman shaped the tree out of the forest with a chisel. Who has ever seen a craftsman use a chisel to shape a tree into a Christmas tree? Of course not. This is a reference to craftsmen making idols that resembled man and animals, like a scarecrow. Yet Jeremiah says, "They cannot speak and walk." So obviously this is not a Christmas tree, for Christmas trees do not have mouths and legs.
I am guilty of believing the Biblical truth.
As for you, I advise you to please read church history books and see for yourself.
It is futile to argue if you refuse the truth. The Lord Jesus Christ could not convince the religious pundits of his days.
...truth is fallen in the street... (said the Holy Spirit in Isaiah 59:14)
God Bless
Matthew
You know what--I DO NOT CARE FOR CHURCH HISTORY! I DO NOT CARE WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, THE YEAR BEFORE, OR A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. What I KNOW, is the BIBLE. I DO not Care whether some idiots decided to sing to the sun. I will still praise God for the sun. I do not care whether the Church messed up the sacraments! I will still marry in the church! IS THAT PAGAN TOO!!!!!!????? Is church marriage pagan! The Catholics started it you know---there is no mention in the BIble of standing in front of a preacher and saying "I do" five million times. Is that evil!? Is "Truth fallen in the streets because of it!?"
You are like the disciples in Luke 9:49--"Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy namel and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus saidf to him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."
You want Biblical truth?!!! Well why don't you check out the Bible for that instead of church history?
Is it a Biblical truth that you shouldn't do something because some evil person used it for the wrong purposes? What's next?! I probably shouldn't eat meat anymore because, guess what, the Muslims cook it facing towards Mecca. Carl's Jr. cooks it facing towards Mecca. And what else? I probably shouldn't go to church--because church has now become a social gathering. And I shouldn't celebrate Christ's birth correctly, because as the "Bible says," we SHOULDN’T DO SOMETHING RIGHT BECAUSE THE WORLD IS DOING IT WRONG.
Matthew is RIGHT. What is the one time that many people go to church? Christmas. Yes—a lot of them go to Mass. But think of those souls that go to a Protestant church. Would you send those souls to hell too?
Joe, read your comments and we’ve been down this road before (i.e. last year), and don’t need to “argue” about this matter any further. All I will say is that you really SHOULD care for CHURCH HISTORY. Your Bible is an historical book to begin with.
On an unrelated matter, am praying for your studies and college applications. Let us of any developments.
God bless you cous,
Sarah
I did read both your posts. Aren't you glad i'm back to posting ;)
I haven't spoken to Consecrated but I think the suggestion to read church history was presented because you mentioned some history yourself, and she intended it to show you that Christmas was originally a pagan holiday that got christianized, rather than a christian holiday that got paganized; so that there is nothing to reclaim, it was never ours.
Have you ever read a history of the holiday? Christian or secular source?
Incidently, you are right about the danger of self-righteousness. But you should know that our church actually goes out and street-preaches in Montreal's freezing cold around Christmas time and even sings some selected carols. Your aunt and cousin haven taken part in this.
You are right, I do not celebrate Easter. Jesus' crucifixion does however coincide with the passover feast and we in fact "celebrate" the crucifixion every sunday for we read that the disciples met on the first day of the week. So we do have some biblical basis for this. The Lord's supper is said to be instituted to remind us of the crucifixion and the second advent.
I avoid the eggs, the bunnies, the word "easter" but otherwise enjoy revisiting the crucifixion and resurrection of my Lord.
However, we read of no such thing concerning the date of Jesus' birth. He certainly wasn't born in December. The argument that Jesus celebrated Hannukah is a real stretch; especially given that even biblically sanctioned holidays, the New Testament calls " the feast of the jews", so much so they were removed from their original substance and format.
There are three birthdays celebrated in the Bible
Pharaoh: the office is a type of antichrist.
Belshazzar: son of a type of the antichrist.
Herod: type of antichrist.
Bad connotations.
Now the bible is a spiritual book and it is a Bible-believer's final authority in matters of faith and practice. That's why we study the connotations of every subject in the Bible.
The word "merry" shows up once in the Bible and it is connected with gifts.
Revelation 11:10 "And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make MERRY, and shall SEND GIFTS ONE TO ANOTHER; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth."
Not a good connotation i'd say. In fact, they might well be killed around Christmas time during the tribulation.
In any event, I didn't mean this to be about christmas. We can discuss it face to face someday just you and I. Hopefully we can see you and yours soon.
Really, the crux of the pro-christmas position boils down to this.
Yes christmas may originally be pagan and no we have no commandment to mark it out for special remembrance (as opposed to the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord) but it does purport to celebrate the birth of Christ which event is singled out for special significance in the gospels and so let's christianize christmas which should've been ours to begin with.
I am thankful at least that we all get a period of rest durings these days. So it's not all bad ;)
Thank you for your reply. It is what I was trying to say:
"christmas may originally be pagan and no we have no commandment to mark it out for special remembrance (as opposed to the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord) but it does purport to celebrate the birth of Christ which event is singled out for special significance in the gospels and so let's christianize christmas which should've been ours to begin with."
I know CHrist wasn't born in December-- however, that doesn't really matter. It is just a nice opportunity for everyone to get together and praise the Lord for everything. It is like a super-Thanksgiving-type holiday. It being in December does not in any way invalidate its real purpose (not the purpose that it is given by non-CHristians today).
Hasta Luego
joe
Joe,
You need not answer me back however I could not help but ask this question.
Who dictates what SHOULD and what should NOT have been ours to BEGIN with?
I am reminded of Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning GOD..."
...
joe
joe
"Let no communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is edifying..."
2: You've obviously never read Matthew 23.