The truth about Christmas.
This season, we see a copy of the ‘Nativity Scene’ in almost all Christian households, Mary, Joseph, the Babe, the shepherds kneeling in front of them and three Magi standing behind the family in royal garments with crowns on their heads, a few sheep and three gifts brought by the Magi. A very familiar scene but with a few flaws. When the wise men came, it was almost two years after the birth of Messiah and He was not in a manger any more! The star did not appear to the shepherds, only to the wise men. The shepherd and the wise men did not meet for this ‘group photo’! The Bible also does not tell us that there were three wise men.

Millions of Christians celebrate 25th December as the birthday of Yahshua. The Bible nowhere tells us to celebrate or remember his birth. On the other hand we are instructed to remember His death at Passover, (I Cor.11:25).Christmas was not celebrated in the first centuries of Christianity. It was 300 years after Christ before the Roman church kept Christmas, and not until the fifth century that it was kept throughout the empire as an official festival honoring Christ. December is the rainy season in Palestine and the weather is cold. The shepherds do not keep their flock in the fields during December but since mid October they are kept in the fold. Jeremiah 10:2 says,’ learn not the way of the heathen…’.December 17-24 was a period of celebration by the ancient followers of Mithra, the god of light in ancient Iran.  The worship of Mithra spread throughout Asia to Europe where he was called Deus Sol Invictus Mithras. Romans adopted this festivity to celebrate the god, Saturn, and the rebirth of the sun god during the winter solstice. The winter holiday became known as Saturnalia and began the week prior to December 25th. In the fourth century, the church desired to bring the pagan Germans and Romans into its fold. So the winter festival was absorbed into the church as the birthday of Yahshua, to bring more pagans into the church without them having to make too many changes to their religion. The World Book Encyclopedia says that in 354 CE, the December date was selected by Liberius, a bishop of Rome, "because the people of Rome already observed it as the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the birthday of the Sun". Alexander Hislop’s book ‘The Two Babylons’ mentions all the pagan customs that were incorporated into Christianity.

By knowing when John the Baptist was born, we can calculate the approximately when Messiah was born. In the temple at Jerusalem, priests were required to perform duties for a week twice in the year(1 Chr.24:1-18). John's father Zacharias was from the family of Abijah, and had his turn on the eighth week of the year(1 Chr.24:10).
The fisrt month of the Jewish calendar begins in Nissan, corresponding to March/ April. The third Jewish month was Sivan. At this time the angel of Yahweh told Zacharias he would become the father of a son, (Lk 1:13). When his duties in the temple were finished he went home. At that time Elizabeth conceived. This was about the middle or end of June. Moving forward nine months, we come to March and John the Baptist is born. Luke 1:36 states that Yahshua was six months younger than John. So six months later, Messiah was born, at the end of September or begining of October.
"St. Chrysostom, in a Christmas sermon delivered at Antioch in the year 386 says, ‘It is not ten years since this day (Christmas day on December 25) was clearly known to us.’" Therefore, if Christmas was not celebrated until fewer than 10 years before 386 CE, it is plain that the first commemoration of the Messiah's birth did not take place before the year 377. For more than 300 years after His birth, nobody celebrated His birth. Once the church opened the doors to celebration of pagan customs, there has been no end to it.

Millions of Christians believe that their pastors are leading them into the truth not knowing that the pastors themselves are misled. They observe all these man made customs without stopping and thinking why they do so. ‘In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”. Our Saviour, while he lived on this earth in human form, spoke against the traditions of men. Thousands of preachers daily speak in flowery language what they believe is the truth. Yahweh condemned the Israelites for imitating the customs of the heathen around them. Whenever they forgot the Lord and worshipped idols, Yahweh punished them. The people would repent for a few years but the cycle would start again. They rejected the Almighty. So the Father sent His only Son and people rejected Him too. They adopted a heathen custom for His birth. Nowadays, even ‘Christ’ is forgotten at Christmas and a jolly, round figure, dressed in red, called Santa Claus, is given more importance. Paul warned in2 Cor.11:14-15,’ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.’
We believe that Messiah was born for us, that He was crucified and rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures. He came to save mankind and this is the true gospel that we should believe on Him, repent and receive salvation which He offers freely to us.
If we seriously study the Bible we will know for ourselves the truth and the truth will set us free from these man made traditions. May Yahweh give us all the gift of discerning of spirits (1 Cor.12:10).

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