Only 203 Days Until Christ’s Mass

There is a purpose for my writing this article out of season. And my first remarks are, that I am not trying to tell anyone what to do or not to do. It is your choice and it is as yet, a free country. But I feel an obligation to inform all who have an interest one way or another, where and how this day so cherished by millions had it's beginning, what it represents and offers so that you may make an informed decision on your own. First, let us look at what this day is not.

It is almost an absolute certainty that it is not the true birth date of Jesus. When I say almost, it is because you cannot be100% certain when you have no definite statement saying so. However, there is much evidence that proves the extreme unlikelihood of it being His birthday. Secular writings and historical evidence shows that shepherds did not keep their sheep in the fields at this time of year. The winters were cold and the shepherds kept them in the fold during that period and cared for them. There was nothing for them to graze on in the fields. During the grazing season, they actually lived with the sheep in fields. Also, scholars have made studies and calculations based upon Zacharias' term of ministering in the temple and have determined that Jesus' birth date would have occurred in the middle of spring around May. But even without those evidences, it would be only 1 chance in 365 that December 25 would have been His date of birth. Because nothing whatsoever is mentioned to indicate when, even what month, it happened other than the evidence against it. Even those who started and named the celebration had no clue as to when he was born, nor did they care. They started it for another purpose which we will clarify as we move on.

The celebration began in ancient Egypt and many have taught that it was simply a celebration of the winter solstice as the beginning of a new cycle of the sun, and that was part of the story but there was much more involved. It also was in celebration of the birth of the great Sun God Osiris. The mythical story is that Osiris and his mistress (or wife) Isis and the Father of The Gods, Re-Atum, were the supreme rulers for the ancient Egyptians of a golden age of plenty called "Zep Tepi" (First Time). But this rule was interrupted by the slaying of Osiris by his evil brother Typhon. Isis had no children, so she gathered the dismembered parts of Osiris together and revived them long enough to conceive a son by him. The son, Horus, was regarded as the reincarnation of Osiris who was also the new husband of Isis and who was to recapture the kingdom from Typhon.

One would think that such myths would simply disappear in an educated society, but far from it. The fable of Horus is reported by some scholars to have been the basis for the creation of several occults and even of Freemasonry. That is not this author's assertion but only repeating what is already written.

"Today, the theme of Horus may be found as the basis of the popular Hollywood production, Lion King. Through many points of entry, the pagan alternative to Jesus Christ is subtly being introduced to the world, and also to the Church, as mankind is subconsciously undergoing preparation for a universal return to the ancient practice of Sun worship." (Tim Aho, the XMASS Story, December 1998)

"...within the Christian Church no such festival as Christmas was ever heard of till the third century, and...not till the fourth century was far advanced did it gain much observance. How, then, did the Romish Church fix on December 25th as Christmas-day? Why, thus: Long before the fourth century, and long before the Christian era itself, a festival was celebrated among the heathen, at that precise time of the year, in honour of the birth of the son of the Babylonian queen of heaven; and it may fairly be presumed that, in order to conciliate the heathen, and to swell the number of nominal adherents of Christianity, the same festival was adopted by the Roman Church, giving it the name of Christ." (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, Loizeaux Brothers, 1916, pp. 93)

There are many things which prove that the current Christmas celebration is a conversion (or perversion) of the mythical celebration of the birth of the Sun God. For instance, the word "Yule" is Chaldee for "Infant" or "little child". It is presently used as Yule tide, Yule season and Yule day, Yule Log, etc. and was used in their celebrations for the birth of the child. (child's day).

In fact, almost every feature of today's celebration can be traced back to the pagan worship celebration other than the the term Christmas (from Christ's Mass--a bloodless sacrifice). The day was simply a continuation of of the then practiced one…under a new name.

In the fourth century, the Emperor Constantine assigned December 25, the birthday of the Roman Sun-God Mithra, to Jesus Christ, thereby placing the true Savior among the pantheon of Roman gods. Drawing Christians into the pagan celebrations of Rome procured the religious unity needed for the success of the Holy Roman Empire, which dominated the world for 1200 years. In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformers discontinued the celebration of Christmas by reason of its pagan character. The Puritans who controlled the English Parliament in 1644 declared that no observation of Christmas was permitted, calling it "The Profane Man's Ranting Day." C. H. Spurgeon proclaimed as late as 1871: "We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly, we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas." (Tim Aho, the XMASS Story, December 1998)

The majority of Christians today have come to believe that anything goes in living and serving God. The Bible is replete with instances of people who thought that and were wrong. Beginning with Eve, then Adam who were convinced that it would be alright if they ate of the fruit which God had expressly forbidden, they were wrong. (Genesis 3) Cain, even though he had been instructed by God to offer animal sacrifices, thought that his fruit of the ground offerings would be satisfactory. He was wrong (Genesis 4) When Moses was called up onto Mount Sinai, the children of Israel became restless, for he was there for 40 days, and asked Aaron to make them a golden calf through which they should worship Jehovah God. They honestly felt they were doing acceptable worship to God through the calf, yet God became so angered that he was about to destroy the entire Israelite nation. (Exodus 32). Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, priests, thought that using fire taken from a place not authorized by God for their ceremony, would be satisfactory. Keep in mind that God had not instructed them not to use this fire, but had instructed them where to get the fire he wanted used. They died from the fire. (Leviticus 10, Numbers 3, Numbers 26). And there are many more.

Yet, rather than worship God as he instructs us in His pages, we are swift to embrace the ancient modes of worship of pagans and pretend it is to our Almighty God who has neither authorized such nor inferred that it would be satisfactory. Instead of giving Jesus Christ the glory for our salvation, we deify an imaginary fat fellow in a red suit and teach our children that he knows everything you do. God and Jesus have made it very clear over and over, that which glorifies them is obedience. Strict obedience.