Why don’t I celebrate Christmas?
I don’t celebrate Christmas because I personally believe it is specifically taught against in the Bible. This is my personal conviction. This is not a teaching of the Apostolic church that I attend. This is not taught by my pastor or any other preacher that I have listened to. God gave this to me, as a revelation for me.
I am writing this blog post as an explanation of what God showed me. I am not trying to convince anyone to do as I do or see it as I do. However, if the scriptures convict you then God is dealing with you on the topic, and I would suggest that you listen to God. Not to me, but to what God is showing you from the scriptures.
The Bible tells us to study to show ourselves approved. There are many traditions that we take at face value that are not in the Bible at all. We just do it because we have always done it this way. Some of these things are not wrong but the tradition of doing them doesn’t make them right either.
I challenge you to test the things you do every Sunday or Wednesday or whatever day you attend church services. Look in the Bible to see if God really ordained these things or did man decide 100 years ago this was a good idea. How many people sit on pews completely lost in sin, a sinner but they think they are going to heaven because they attend church every Sunday? Somewhere someone told them that all they have to do is go to church and they will be saved. I am talking about Apostolic Pentecostals born and raised in this who have been fooled into believing church attendance is enough.
What is a revelation from God?
A personal revelation from God is necessary to understand the Bible. Many millions of people read the Bible and never understand it. Those who believe in one God, Jesus’ Name baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost see that truth as a personal revelation from God. Someone who believes in a Trinity of gods can read the same Jesus Name scripture a hundred times and never see the truth because God has not opened their understanding.
If you are determined to hold on to the man-made tradition of Christmas there is nothing God can do to show you the truth, and certainly nothing I can say to enlighten you. However, I ask you to remember why God turned away from the Jews time and time again until He finally disbursed them and opened the way for the Gentiles to be saved. Most of those times He turned away for doing as the heathen do, whoring with false gods, worshiping any god, idol, or thing that is not Yehovah God. Don’t get so set in your ways and determined to hold on to your traditions that God can’t lead you out of what HE CONSIDERS idolatry.
What you think won’t be one bit important on the day of judgment. In the scripture where Jesus says, “Depart from me”, the people He is talking to have to be Jesus’ Name baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost to prophesy and cast out devils in His name. What would take them from the point of Holy Ghost filled saved people, to the point of Jesus calling them workers of iniquity? Iniquity is what took them there. Doing your own thing your own way and ignoring what God thinks about it. So, God is challenging you to ask Him what He thinks about Christmas and if you should be taking part in it. Ask Him. He will answer you. Will you hear Him?
Matthew 7:20-23 (KJV) 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2 Timothy 2:19,22,25-26 (KJV) 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
How do you define rebellious?
I am not rebellious. I am submitted to my Pastor and Bishop without question. If they tell me “this” must be done then I am going to do it out of respect and because I understand what walking under authority means. When I was young, I had things I didn’t understand and didn’t want to do, until I saw them in the Word for myself. Such as not cutting my hair or wearing pants.
To me, it is not rebellious to question these things. It is rebellious not to do the things you can’t see as wrong. For example, a man flags you down on the road and tells you the bridge is out ahead. I can’t see the bridge is out. It is up a bit of hill, and it looks just fine to me, so I punch the gas and head up the hill. What happens? I plow into the river. The fact I couldn’t see the bridge was out didn’t diminish the danger one bit. Therefore, if you don’t agree with the person God has placed in authority over you, and it is backed up by the Word, do what they say anyway, or you stand in rebellion. Rebellion is the same as witchcraft.
When I questioned these things, I still did them, but I questioned them. The fact that I was doing something I didn’t really believe was true, bothered me. So, I went to the church and started a lock-in fast. Meaning, I stayed at the church to pray and fast until I got an answer. It took about 2 and a half days for God to explain to me, through scripture, why He required these things of me. It made a very strong impression, and it is something I never forgot. If you want TRUTH God will show you the truth.
Now am I trying to convince you I have always been perfect? Absolutely not and I have many witnesses ready to testify. I fell away from attending church and picked up smoking. I loved smoking and it took several years after I came back to attending church to let God take that addiction away from me. However, never again did I lack an understanding of scripture. I learned to seek to know the truth and ask God. He will show you.
Why would you question celebrating holidays?
I tend to question everything. Is what I am doing right? Why is it right? Why is it wrong? Is my good being evil spoken of? Is what I see as good really evil? Personally, I think this is something we should each ask ourselves every day. Just because it has always been done this way doesn’t make it right.
I honestly can’t say where the thought started. I remember thinking saying “x” mas was wrong because they are taking Christ out of Christmas. Then the term “Jesus is the reason for the season” began to bother me. Is Jesus the reason for the season? Does Jesus really approve of what Christmas is about? With all these questions in my head, I set out to learn about the holidays and the different reasons we should celebrate them or not. Some of what I found is listed in the blog but nowhere close to all of it. What I found is there isn’t one single verse that suggests we celebrate God in any way than what is specifically described in the Bible as His feast days or by the example of the Tabernacle and the book of Acts. There are verses that say to worship God in any way other than the way He described is idolatry to Him, therefore an abomination. Then any two-hour search on the Internet will give you thousands of reasons why Halloween, Christmas, and Easter are pagan holidays and therefore based in idol worship.
I want to make a note here that when a topic keeps coming at you from different directions you need to pay attention to that. God will lead you to the truth, but you can only find it if you listen.
I will tell you that stopping the practice of Christmas and Easter was not easy to do. My family took it very hard, and my Pastor still doesn’t like that I miss church on those days. He never asked me not to, he just lets me know he doesn’t like it. The hardest part was not buying gifts for my children, grandson, and niece. The first year I gave them one large gift at New Year and thereafter I give them one large gift at Thanksgiving. It is my compromise, so they don’t feel that I am just being cheap or left out because I refuse to take part in anything that makes any mention of Christmas or Easter.
What did Jesus say to celebrate?
Jesus never told us to celebrate His birth. He tells us to remember His death. How did He tell us to do this? With communion. Not with gifts and trees and decorations. With a solemn thoughtful remembrance of His beaten and broken body, the blood He shed for us, and His death. There is nothing about having a holly jolly Christmas. Nothing God ever did matches what is done at Christmas. Never once did He say to give someone a gift in remembrance of Me. He did say He was a jealous God and said all we own is His.
1 Corinthians 11:24-26 (KJV) 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.
Jesus was born a Jew and He was taught all the commandments and the traditions of His Jewish heritage. This included the observance of each of the God-ordained holidays. Since we as Christians were not raised understanding these Jewish holidays, I believe we missed several great points in the prophecy they teach. God never does anything without a reason. Even though we don’t keep it, it is not hard for us to understand the importance or the significance of the Passover. Meaning those who applied the blood of the Lamb would live. All other souls would die.
We understand the day of Pentecost as our most important day because the Holy Ghost was poured out on this day. We can also understand the Day of Trumpets and Atonement. These important Jewish holidays have been blended in with our Christianity because we were made to understand how they pertain to us.
I wish to submit to you that all of them pertain to us and the only reason we don’t know it is because we have not looked. We are known for saying all the Bible is important. All the scripture matters. Then I submit that these scriptures matter and are very important to us in understanding the times and seasons of what God is saying to the churches today. He that has an ear let him hear.
Why were these holidays created in the first place?
Holidays like Halloween, All Saints Day, Christmas, and Easter were added by the Roman Catholic church. Over and over the Roman Catholic church compromised the Word of God, or outright changed what the Word of God said in order to include pagan and idol-worshipping cultures into their offering plates. Remember these are the same people who started killing anyone who dared disagree with them. They would tell these pagan cultures they can still worship their gods and have their celebrations, but they must do it our way or we kill them. What did the pagans care? They were just adding a new god to a long list they already served.
People will argue the validity of these beginnings, just as they will argue this scripture doesn’t say that. On the other hand, just as many people will stand with valid examples they did, and it does mean that. Sometimes I think Google has made things worse. So many have put out false information that you can’t tell what to believe anymore. So, putting aside all he said, she said, they said, we know from history that the Roman Catholic church laid out the rules of how the church was to be “done”, what would be celebrated when services would be, and so forth.
In the 1500’s the Protestant Reformation occurred, and all the other churches started splitting off to start their own religions. I know the UPC specifically has a very detailed history list to show they started in the book of Acts and remained outside of the Roman Catholic church the whole time. I am not disputing that point, but I will ask you besides the fact of one God doctrine what part of what Apostolic Pentecostals do is different from Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, Presbyterian, and so forth? They still go to church on the same days, they sing, they pray, and they worship in their way. They give tithe and offerings, they support missionaries, and they try their best to do good not evil. They celebrate Christmas and Easter, and some celebrate Halloween. Where is the difference?
Do a Google search on who celebrates Christmas. You will find that over 81% of all non-Christian Americans celebrate it as well as Muslims, Hinduism, Buddhism, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Russian Orthodox, Wicca, and on and on. So, do you still think this is just a Christian holiday to honor baby Jesus? Please keep reading.
2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1 (KJV) 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
This scripture is enough evidence for me that God doesn’t want His people to be yoked with those who celebrate this day He does not approve of. Do you think because you read a scripture and say this day is all about Jesus that it makes it right in God’s eyes? Is there anything you could do or say to make murder, adultery, rebellion, witchcraft, lying, abuse of your mother and father, fornication, and theft, okay with God?
What does the Jewish Calendar mean to Christians?
The Biblical Feast days stand as a portrait of the Lamb of God and the role He will play at God’s appointed time. God taught Israel about the first and second coming through the Feast. The seven Feasts of God represent the full Plan of Salvation. Just as the Tabernacle was laid out in such a way to represent how we are to come before God and the sacrifices were done as an example of how one sinless lamb would be sacrificed to take away our sin forever. Yehovah is a God of intricate plans and precepts. I couldn’t possibly cover the depth of all the spiritual meaning of these feasts, but I do want to point out a few things.
In the Bible the Biblical year begins with the first New Moon after the barley in Israel reaches the stage in its ripeness called Aviv. When the barley is Aviv, it means that it is ripe and ready to harvest. Aviv is what was used to determine when the first day of the new year and new month would be. No man can know the day because only God can ripen the grain to the point it is ready to harvest. The Jewish calendar was adjusted accordingly each year. The main point here is that none of the God-ordained feasts (holidays) were ever on a single set day every year. Some Jews or those following Jewish traditions still celebrate feasts according to the Biblical calendar and others have adopted different calendars.
Google words to search: Aviv, Abib, Nissan, Jewish calendar, Tabernacles, Sukkot, Ingathering.
Once the new month is determined fourteen days later is the Lord’s Passover. Passover is celebrated in one night. It memorializes the lamb’s blood that spared the children of Israel from the death angel. The important point for us is that this was a dress rehearsal of God’s mercy and grace to send His Son to shed His blood to save us from eternal death. Every Passover ever observed was done to remind God’s people that HE would supply a lamb whose blood would save them. Just as He proved to Abraham He would. What does Passover mean in the plan of salvation? Passover points to the death and blood of the lamb slain for sin.
Leviticus 23:4-8 (KJV) 4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. 5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’s passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
Jesus was brought up following the instructions God gave Moses and the oral law of his forefathers. One of those required that every male, of age, travel to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Passover. The time Jesus was lost at 12 would have been the time of his bar mitzvah, which marks the age of accountability and the age a boy is ready to observe and take part in public religious worship. This would have been Jesus’ first public Passover.
Luke 2:41-42 (KJV) 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
What is the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
The day after Passover begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Leaven is likened to sin throughout the Bible. The Jews were told to eat no leaven and they had to go as far as to completely remove it from their house. These seven days were set to remind them that God brought them out of slavery, bondage, and sin. The purpose of these seven days is to audit your life and see if there is any wicked thing within you that you are allowing to grow and affect the spiritual part of you. It is also the time to check your doctrine, does it match the Word of God?
Matthew 16:6, 11-12 (KJV) 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
In the example Jesus gave in Matthew He compares leaven to the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. What was their doctrine? They taught men’s traditions and made the word of God of no effect. Jesus proved over and over that He did not approve of these men or what they taught. He encourages the disciples to actively “not” do the traditions these men taught but He held up every single word God taught His people through Moses and the prophets.
When we fast and pray, in the correct way the Bible tells us, we remove the distractions from our mind and focus in on what God is saying to us. We find out what God sees as pleasing or what we should change in our life.
What does the Feast of Unleavened Bread mean to us in the plan of salvation? It is a time to reflect and make sure of what we believe and why.
How did Jesus fulfill the Feast of Unleavened Bread? The bread that was His body was offered sinless. He died as the Passover lamb; His blood redeems us from our sins. To qualify for this substitute lamb, He had to present Himself sinless, and He did.
What is the Feast of Harvest?
The Feast of First Fruits also called the Feast of Harvest, begins on the next Sabbath, which is a High Sabbath. That Sabbath does not have to be on a Saturday. A High Sabbath may fall on any day. All three feasts take place in the month of Nisan and are generally grouped into one feast or celebration.
Exodus 23:14-17 (KJV) 14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. 15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) 16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. 17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
Notice here again God doesn’t command us to give someone else a gift but He does command us to bring Him an offering on His feast days.
The Feast of First Fruits was an offering of the waving of the Omer, an Omer is a dry measure. The Israelites brought the first measure of the harvest to the priest to wave an offering before the Lord. How did Jesus fulfill the Feast of the First Fruits? He rose from the dead. He was the first fruit of those who would be resurrected in the last days. He was the lamb slain who rose from the dead. When Mary met Him just after He left the tomb, He told her not to touch Him. A high priest could not be touched before they entered the Holy place with a sacrifice for sin.
John 20:16-17 (KJV) 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Jesus died as the Passover lamb; His blood redeems us from our sins. He presented Himself sinless, the Unleavened Bread, that was His body, was offered sinless. He became the First Fruit as the first to be resurrected from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:20-21 (KJV) 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
Romans 8:23 (KJV) 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
What is the Feast of Weeks?
After the First Fruits Day, Israel is to count 50 days and then bring an offering of two wave loaves and these loaves are to be baked with leaven in them. This is to be a new meal offering. This is the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, or in Greek, it is called Pentecost because it means 50. This was the harvest of the wheat and the beginning of the harvest of souls.
The two loaves represent the Jew and the Gentile whom both have sin in them, but God has made them acceptable in His house. It also represents the infilling of the Holy Ghost, the birth of the Bride, and the Church, into one body because of the finished work of Jesus.
What does Pentecost mean in the plan of salvation? Pentecost represents the New Covenant, the promise of the Father to pour out His Spirit on all flesh. The time when God promised to write His law on our hearts.
Acts 2:1-4 (KJV) 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:33 (KJV) 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Luke 24:49 (KJV) 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
What is the Feast of Trumpets?
The Feast or Holy Day begins on the first day of the seventh month. God ordained the seventh day of the week a Sabbath and the seventh month was also to be a holy month. It began when two or more witnesses saw the new moon. Jubilee was also celebrated in the seventh month every 49 years.
Trumpets were used to declare special events. The sound would carry through the villages and cities, then be taken up by other trumpet blowers to continue the sound. This was done at the beginning of the Sabbath, to call the people to war, to call a solemn assembly, to anoint a king, to announce a Jubilee year, or for a general sound of praise. Most have heard of the seven trumpets of Revelation sounding to begin the apocalyptic events of the last days.
For 10 full days, Israel was supposed to meditate on God and repent to prepare themselves for the Day of Atonement. Each of these days the trumpet was blown to make sure their spirit is alert and prepared for the Day of the Atonement. This feast doesn’t have any direct instructions in the Bible as to what is to be done or its significance. However, there are those who believe the day of Pentecost was the birth of the church, and 1948, which was a Jubilee year, the call went out for Israel to come home. Now the church and Israel exist.
Leviticus 25:8-9 (KJV) 8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.
Romans 10:18 (KJV) 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
If you have not read Jonathan Cahn’s books, I suggest that you read them. The intricate way that God does things will blow your mind. God raises up individual people to use in His plans and He orchestrates entire nations to fulfill His prophecy. Read them all for the most powerful faith boost but the Oracle explains in great detail the part that Israel plays in the last days as well as explaining the prophecy that has already been fulfilled.
What is the Day of Atonement?
On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would go into the Holy of Holies with a blood sacrifice and sprinkle the blood seven times on the mercy seat. This was the only day they were allowed to come before the mercy seat. The blood of the sacrifice reconciled Israel with God. Symbolically they were free of sin and able to come into the presence of God. The blood sacrifice cleansed the people to prepare them for the holiest feast, the Feast of Tabernacles.
The priest would begin this day of sacrifices normally. Then he would wash and put on pure white robes with no adornment. This would come to represent the robe of flesh Jesus would take on to become our sinless sacrifice. Then two goats would be brought, and lots would be cast for them. The goat chosen for the scapegoat, also called Azazel, would have a red ribbon tied around his horns. The priest would kill a bullock and sprinkle its blood on the mercy seat for his own sins. Then he would return to kill the other goat and take its blood to sprinkle on the mercy seat for the sins of the people. Just as blood was required for the High Priest to enter the presence of God, so it is required for the blood of Jesus to bring us before the mercy seat of God.
Again, God never said to make merry and give gifts to people, but He did say to afflict your souls (to fast and pray) and to honor His High Sabbath forever, both Jews and Gentiles.
Leviticus 16:29 (KJV) 29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
Hebrews 9:11-16 (KJV) 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Jewish tradition states that God opens the books at the Feasts of Trumpets and records each person’s good or bad works. How they are weighed during this time determines if they will live or die the next year. The books are closed again on the Day of Atonement.
Revelation 20:12-13 (KJV) 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Exodus 32:31-33 (KJV) 31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
Psalms 69:28 (KJV) 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
What does the Day of Atonement mean in the plan of salvation? Jesus ascended to heaven and took His own blood to the throne of God, the final sacrifice for the sins of the world. Those who have followed His plan of salvation to repent, turn from their wicked ways, been baptized in Jesus’ name, and been filled with the Holy Ghost have had their names written in the Lamb’s book of Life. Jesus tells us that no man can pluck us out of His hand. God’s grace and mercy follow us all the days of our life. If we continue to keep His commandments and live in a way that is pleasing in His eyes our name will never be blotted out.
Luke 10:19-20 (KJV) 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Revelation 3:5 (KJV) 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
What is the Feast of Tabernacles?
The next time men are told to go to Jerusalem is the Feast of Ingathering or Tabernacles, this is also called the Feast of Sukkot. This feast starts five days after the Day of Atonement when all of Israel is forgiven of their sin. Sukkot last 7 days and marks the time of the final harvest of the year. It is also a foreshadowing of the final harvest of souls when Jesus returns.
According to the Law, the Israelites were told to build booths to live in for seven days. The booth was to have at least three walls and use branches for a roof, it was to be a temporary dwelling. The purpose was to remind them of the time they came out of Egypt and lived in booths, or tents, in the wilderness. It also stood to remind them that God dwelt in a tent among them.
Zechariah 14:16 (KJV) 16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Israel was supposed to remember that God provided a place to live, water out of rock, and bread from heaven for them for 40 years. This is a time to reflect that God still provides for our needs. This is the only feast that God intends to continue throughout all eternity.
Has Sukkot been fulfilled?
Just as we have many different opinions of when the Rapture will take place, Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation there are many different opinions on if Sukkot was fulfilled or not. In this scripture, John tells us that Jesus was the Word that became flesh and “Tabernacled” among us. If we take this fact alone, the Jesus came and dwelt with us in a temporary mortal body then perhaps this feast was fulfilled.
John 1:14 (KJV) 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
In Jesus’ day, it was dangerous to travel the roads alone or even in small groups. When it came time to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, they went together in large caravans for safety. The Bible tells us that Joseph was required to go pay a tax. History of the time says these tax collecting times were done when the men came to Jerusalem for one of the feasts. Some say that Jesus was born in a Sukkot and the manger that is mentioned was really a booth that Joseph had built for the feast. Manger is one of the translations for the word Sukkot. Since Mary was close to being delivered, she would not have been required to stay in Sukkot. However, since the inn was full, she had no choice. While I can see that it could be true and it follows the way God lays things out, I don’t think this feast has fully been fulfilled.
Jesus was born around the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, which would have been between September and October. This time frame fits with the fact there were shepherds in the fields. The sheep would have been brought into shelter no later than the middle of October. There would not have been any shepherds or sheep in the field in December. It is much too cold. You can be sure of one thing, Jesus was not born in December.
I believe this Feast of Ingathering or Tabernacles represents what Christians have termed the Rapture. Note the word Rapture is not in the Bible. But the Bible does say that Jesus will return to Earth and the Bride will be caught up together in the clouds. Those who have followed the plan of salvation and lived their lives in obedience to the Word of God will be changed from human flesh to something immortal.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (KJV) 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (KJV) 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 — The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
What does all this have to do with Christmas?
Notice that each one of these God-ordained holy days has deep meanings, sometimes many different meanings. They all point to God’s plan for mankind and their salvation. Each one is rooted in something that the Israelites experienced. All stand for something God wanted His people to remember. All are a physical act that is a type and shadow of something spiritual. The bottom line is they all have a valid reason for what is said and done and the timing of God’s plans.
Now be honest and look at Christmas. Is there anything at all that you can name that has any deep meaning from the Bible? Is there anything that is said or done that lines up with God’s plan of salvation? Can you point to anything done at Christmas that was done in the Bible by anybody? Reading scripture and singing a song does not count. You could read scripture just before committing adultery, but one act does not cancel out the other.
Cutting down a tree, or using a fake one, and decorating it in your house. Going into debt to buy everyone lavish gifts. Saying this is the day Jesus was born and I am going to celebrate His birth and give Him honor on this day. None of these things is something God approved of or that anybody did in the Bible.
Deuteronomy 12:1-4 (KJV) 1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. 2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: 3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. 4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 12:30-32 (KJV) 30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Deuteronomy 13:3-4 (KJV) 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
God told us plainly don’t go into the land and learn what the heathen do to their gods and then do the same to me. God considers any form of worship that He did not directly appoint to be an abomination in His eyes. He gave us all holy days or holidays that He approved of. Halloween, Christmas, and Easter are not on His list. In this next section, I will discuss a bit of where Christmas came from and why it falls into God’s category of doing to Him as the heathen do to their gods.
What about the Nativity?
People will tell you the reason they give gifts at Christmas is that the three wise men came bearing gifts at Jesus’ birth. The nativity scene is also a figment of the Roman Catholic churches’ imagination. Saint Frances created it in 1223.
Read the true Biblical story of Jesus’ birth. As already stated above it is not possible that Jesus was born in December because the shepherds were there. They came the night Jesus was born, as did the angel. But the wise men did not. They came when Jesus was about 2 years old. There were three gifts, not three men.
The gifts they brought were just in (God’s) time to finance the small families’ exile into Egypt. Historians say that these gifts were the inheritance of Daniel from all the wealth God gave him. They say he told Daniel of the birth of Messiah and what to watch for when it was time. These wise men who came were the descendants of those Daniel trained in the courts of King Nebuchadnezzar, and they brought some of his great wealth to Jesus.
Google search Daniel as Chief over Magi, Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar, Hebrew Magi.
Matthew 2:1-3 (KJV) 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 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. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Matthew 2:11 (KJV) 11 And when they were come 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.
Matthew 2:14-16 (KJV) 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 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.
16 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 enquired of the wise men.
Matthew 2:7 (KJV) 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
What about Santa Claus?
Saint Nicholas was also created by the Roman Catholics. Saint Nicholas in Dutch is Santa Claus. Nicholas was one of the bishops on the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE. He is well known for standing against and even striking, Arius. Arius was the founder of Arianism, which was declared a heresy by the Council. Arius was one of the strongest defenders against the council’s determination to create a trinity. He believed God is a singular deity, as is said throughout the Bible there is only ONE GOD.
Since Saint Nicholas was part of the day, time, and men who decided to take away Jesus’ deity I would sincerely doubt that God would ever agree that Saint Nicholas should be seen as a hero worthy to represent a holiday God blessed.
Some class the story of Nicholas hitting Arius as a legend and not fact. You can Google these names for more information: Saint Nicholas, Arius, Arianism, Council of Nicaea.
What about the worship of idols?
What really happened in the wilderness when people decided they wanted a golden calf to worship? God said the people have corrupted themselves by turning from Me to worship in a way I do not approve of. Yes, it was idol worship but it was also disobedience to God’s commandments. This was not how God told them to celebrate or honor Him.
Notice that Aaron called this “worship” a feast to the Lord. Did God accept their worship, done their way? No, He did not. He said they had corrupted themselves and He decided to kill them all. Did it matter to God that they had “good intentions” or that the reason they chose to celebrate was Jesus’ birth? Our intentions or feelings don’t change God’s mind or His commandments. Just because we call it honoring God doesn’t mean God accepts it. The fact is He does not.
Exodus 32:5-6 (KJV) 5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. 6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Exodus 32:7-10 (KJV) 7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
Saying “I accept Jesus as my savior” gets you absolutely nothing. Why? It doesn’t matter what you accept, what matters is does God accept you. Does God approve of what you are doing? Does He bless what you are calling worship? Is His name honored when heathens from all nations take part in this same holiday and they don’t even believe in God?
Where did the Israelites learn to worship this way? They learned it from the Egyptians who worship the god Hathor, who was represented as a cow. They didn’t come up with a new way to worship they just borrowed the ways and means of the Egyptians and called it worshipping God. They wanted to worship something they could feel with their hands and see with their eyes. The exact same way the Roman Catholic church borrowed pagan ways, means, and celebrations. They took what the people of the land did to their gods and called it holy worship of God Almighty. Exactly what God said He hates.
What is December 25th?
You could spend days researching which gods were born on December 25th and still not have an answer when you stop. I don’t believe it matters which false gods were born on that day. What matters is who wasn’t born that day and who should not be worshipped during the Winter Solstice.
On December 21st the winter solstice begins. It is the shortest day of the year with the least amount of sun. The sun is also at its lowest point in the sky even at noon. Because of this, many cultures call this time of year the rebirth of the sun, because each day after the 21st the sun rises higher and remains seen longer. Historians believe this is the reason stone circles such as Stonehenge were built, to keep track of the sun’s yearly progress.
Winter Solstice has been celebrated from the time of living in caves. Those who grew their own food to survive believed the sun was their god because without the sun they had no food to live. Different people celebrate the feast in different ways, but the theme is the same. The old year is dying, and a new sun is born. Their god was worshipped so he would bring the warmth of the sun back.
Fires were burned high, and the log was not allowed to go out or it brought bad fortune to the family. This is the tradition of the Yule log that is still celebrated around the world at Christmas.
In the days of Rome, they celebrated Saturnalia, which lasted from December 17th through December 23rd. Saturnalia was celebrated to honor the sun god Saturn because he was the god of agriculture. The feast was a national holiday and all businesses closed and the people gathered to eat, drink, and play. They all dressed in colorful clothing and participated in a role reversal of master and slave. On the third day, they worshiped the goddess of fertility. The last day of the festival was marked by the giving of gifts.
December 25th was the day all of Rome worshiped Sol Indiges (later Deus Sol Invictus) the sun god. He was considered the god of the newborn sun. Both festivals were such a favorite Roman holiday that the early church couldn’t get rid of them. Therefore, they incorporated it into the Christian calendar and replaced the sun gods Saturn and Sol Invictus with Jesus and kept everything else the same. Rome declared Jesus was born on December 25th so they could consolidate all their sun god worship into one acceptable holiday and call it Christian or Christ’s Mass. This happened in 336 AD by order of Constantine.
What did Christmas inherit from these seven days of idol worship?
- Decorating the home with garlands, lights, fires on the hearth, and candles
- Time off work and merry-making feasts of food with friends and family
- Gift giving
- The time of year
Google the feast and festivals of Juul, Saturnalia, Alban Arthan, Dongzhi Winter Solstice Festival Sol Invictus,
All the days of the Winter Solstice celebrations are the same. A time of winter solstice celebration to worship a sun god who was responsible for keeping them alive another year. These are not new celebrations. They have been going on from the days of the Druids which goes back to the time of Nimrod and the tower of Babel. When Shem killed Nimrod his wife told the people that Nimrod had gone into the sun and they should worship the sun now.
The ancient historian Josephus states of Nimrod, “He also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach and that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers”
When God confused the languages all these people went to other nations with a new language but they kept their same sun god worship. The names of the sun gods are different from nation to nation, but the practices are the same.
- Nimrod of Mesopotamia or as we know it Babylon
- Tammuz god of fertility and spring
- Baal god of fertility, weather, seasons, rain, and dew
- Mithra the sun god of Iran or Persia who oversaw the changing of the seasons
- Sol Invictus the sun god of Rome
- Sol the Norse Sun goddess
- Jupiter the Roman god of the sky
- Helios also called Titan was the Greek sun god
- Arinna the Hittie goddess
Judges 10:6 (KJV) 6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
In each of these times when Israel went to worship the god of other nations, the things they did became tangled together with their own traditions. Note that in 1 Kings 11 God took the kingdom away from Solomon’s children because he set up a high place on a hill EAST of Jerusalem to worship the fire gods Chemosh and Molech. East where the sun rises.
1 Kings 11:6-8 (KJV) 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
1 Kings 11:11 (KJV) 11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
Why did God depart from Israel in Ezekiel?
Ezekiel was in captivity in the land of the Chaldeans and God sends him visions of what is to come for the Israelites. Chapters 1-7 tell of all the curses that God will bring against the people for what they have done. Then in Chapter 8, God takes Ezekiel in a vision to see the abominations the people were committing at the gates and within the walls. The elders or leaders were worshiping beasts and idols within the temple. God takes him to the door of the gate and there are women weeping for Tammuz the fertility god. God takes him to the most sacred place at the inner courts of the temple where 25 priests have their backs to the altar as they face the East, bow, and worship the sun. Notice the political and the spiritual leaders were taking part in these acts against God.
Ezekiel 8:13-17 (JPS 1917) 13 He said also unto me: ‘Thou shalt again see yet greater abominations which they do.’ 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 the women weeping for Tammuz. 15 Then said He unto me: ‘Hast thou seen this, O son of man? thou shalt again see yet 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 in that they fill the land with violence, and provoke Me still more, and, lo, they put the branch to their nose?
Ezekiel 9:4-6 (KJV) 4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Chapter 9 of Ezekiel God’s judgment begins on the idolaters who defiled the temple in Jerusalem. Ezekiel is given a vision of God leaving the mercy seat and leaving the temple. God told the angels to go out and mark all the people who were standing up to say these things are an abomination. God set apart all those who refused to worship the sun or cry for Tammuz and marked them as His. He then told the angels to go out and kill everyone else who was crying for Tammuz or worshipping the sun.
The people God marked for death were mixing the holy with the profane. They were taking part in pagan idol worship in the temple of God. They were worshiping idols in the place set aside to for the worship of God. They brought idol worship into God’s house and expected God to ignore what they were doing. Or did they expect God to bless what they are doing because they called it holy worship? Don’t do unto Me as they do to their gods!
Jeremiah 10:1-4 (KJV) 1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2 Thus saith the LORD,
Learn not the way of the heathen,
and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven;
for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the people are vain:
for one cutteth a tree out of the forest,
the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold;
they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Leviticus 18:1-5 (KJV) 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
Ordinances = substantially the same: — appointed, custom, manner, ordinance, site, statute.
Leviticus 20:22-23 (KJV) 22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. 23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
Deuteronomy 12:29-32 (KJV) 29 When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; 30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Deuteronomy 12:3-4 (KJV) 3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. 4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
Judges 2:2 (KJV) 2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
Psalms 106:34-41 (KJV) 34 They did not destroy the nations,
concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35 But were mingled among the heathen,
and learned their works.
36 And they served their idols:
which were a snare unto them.
37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons
and their daughters unto devils,
38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
39 Thus were they defiled with their own works,
and went a whoring with their own inventions.
40 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people,
insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen;
and they that hated them ruled over them.
Ezekiel 20:32-33 (KJV) 32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
33 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (KJV) 9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
2 Kings 17:15-18 (KJV) 15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. 16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
How can anyone be stupid enough to worship and idol?
How many times have you thought to yourself, “I don’t see how Israel was so stupid to fall back into idol worship”? How many times have you thought, “If that was me, I never would have messed up like that”? The tricks Satan pulled on them are very like the ones he has fooled the world with ever since. Just rename a thing and make it a tradition. People won’t question it they will just follow along and do what everyone else does. It still works. The world celebrates Christmas and calls it honoring God. A God who said plainly don’t do unto me what they do to their gods.
America now stands in the exact place that Israel did all those years ago when Ezekiel witnessed God leaving the Temple. America has turned away from God and let in false gods and idol worship. Just as Israel was cursed to fall to ruin if they turned away from God so was America. We now stand cursed for taking part in the things God hates. Remember the angels that went around marking those who didn’t take part in the abominations? Those angels are walking around today. Did you ever hear of the mark of the beast? If there is a mark of God on you the beast can’t mark you. Think about that.
1 Peter 4:3-5 (KJV) 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
Ephesians 4:17-23 (KJV) 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Ezekiel 8:16-18 (KJV) 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. 18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
God is calling you to repent of your idol worship, to come out from among them and be separate. Will you hear Him?
You may bless me, mock me, hate me, or shun me but I will stand for what I believe no matter what it costs me. On the day of judgment, each of us will give an account of our actions and reactions to God’s Word. As for me, I will listen to the greatest voice in my life, my grandfather Rev. O.R. Graves who said, “If you doubt don’t do it.”
Ezekiel 3:18-19 (JPS 1917) 18 When I say unto the wicked: Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
