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FREE BOOKLET CAN YOU GUESS THE RIDDLE? MYSTERY 1 BEFORE THAT GOD CREATED MAN; MY LIFE EXPRESSED HIS GREATEST PLAN, THAT THINGS OF DUST COULD EVER SAY, SUCH GLORIOUS TRUTHS AND POINT THE WAY, I FIND IT HARD TO COMPREHEND, SINCE TRUTH I PREACH SO MANY BEND. THEY TAKE THE WORD OF GOD SO TRUE, AND TWIST IT SO THAT PEOPLE WHO, BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE SERVING GOD, ARE CAUSED TO SIN WHILE SAINTS APPLAUD. YET I CAN NEVER CLAP MY HANDS, WHEN PEOPLE FROM SO MANY LANDS, KILL ME...WHILE THEY SPEAK OF LOVE; THEY CLAIM THEIR JOY COMES FROM ABOVE. THE LIGHT THEY SEE IN ME'S NOT WHAT, THE LIGHT WHICH I PORTRAY HAS TAUGHT. THEY TAKE WHAT GOD GAVE ME TO STAND, AND GIVE ME WORKS FROM THEIR OWN HAND. THE GOOD THAT MEN USE ME TO DO, IS BASED ON EVIL THROUGH AND THROUGH. THE NAME THE BIBLE GIVES TO ME, IS SOME WHAT STRANGE, THOUGH I PRAY YOU'LL SEE; THAT WHAT INDEED I REALLY AM, WAS MADE CORRUPT BY SONS OF HAM. SO IF YOU WANT TRUTH THAT LEADS TO HEAVEN, LOOK FOR MY NAME IN GOD'S BOOK - TIMES ELEVEN. WHAT AM I? In many of our other books and booklets we have written and proven from the Bible the manner in which the Bible proves itself, its accuracy, and its means of interpretation. We have shown that everything that God created is designed by Him so that it portrays some SPIRITUAL truth (If you would like more FREE information....NO ONE WILL PESTER YOU FOR ANY REASON....contact us at the address on the back cover of this booklet). We have many booklets written about many different things that God created and what they symbolize. Our other booklets show the Bible usage of the different symbols such as rainbows, clouds, the sun, the moon, stars, the earth, flowers, trees, honey, butter, seeds, grass, the sea, names, various animals, the human body and its different parts, and many thousands of other things. This particular study is about a very important "type" or symbol used in the Bible. In explaining the "type", we will show how that many people actually are led to believe that something is good which in God's sight is VERY EVIL. Some who read this will notice that we teach similar to a couple of church groups in the world today who are well known for teaching beliefs such as we are describing here. However, you will notice that we do not just teach the evil of the thing, but we are also trying to show the reader the spiritual TYPE that pertains to our subject. It is not enough to declare something as evil simply because evil people originated it and practiced it. There are many things that even Jesus did (such as eat, drink, sleep, work, etc.) that evil people also do. We need to know WHAT MAKES THE THING EVIL. Please do not connect us with these other churches. We are TOTALLY NON-DENOMINATIONAL. "BEFORE THAT GOD CREATED MAN; MY LIFE EXPRESSED HIS GREATEST PLAN" In the Bible, EVERGREEN TREES are often referred to as "every green tree". We realize that nearly ALL living trees are green, but that was the common manner of speech years ago when our Bible was translated. Ezekiel 6:13 puts the Oak tree in a separate category from "every green tree", even though ALL live oak trees ARE GREEN. The EVERGREEN TREE was created on the third day of creation; therefore was "BEFORE THAT GOD CREATED MAN". A careful study of the scriptures will reveal that God used the EVERGREEN TREE to symbolize ETERNAL LIFE, which certainly is the theme of God's "greatest plan"! Many texts speak similarly to Psalms 1:3 which describes the righteous man as a TREE whose LEAF NEVER WITHERS. (ie: an EVERGREEN TREE). Certainly, ETERNAL LIFE means to NEVER WITHER. "THAT THINGS OF DUST COULD EVER SAY, SUCH GLORIOUS TRUTHS AND POINT THE WAY" Can things which were created from dust (other than humans) REALLY speak to us about our God? Romans 1:19-20 says:"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" Notice that Paul is saying that God uses all the creation of God (ie: what God has made) to represent or symbolize SPIRITUAL TRUTH to his people. Even the HIDDEN or "invisible" attributes of God are expressed in the realms of nature. Psalms 19:1-4 says: 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. 19:3 [There is] no speech nor language, [where] their voice is not heard. 19:4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, The Psalmist is expressing here the fact that the SUN, MOON, STARS, and PLANETS are portraying (symbolically) spiritual truths of God's word which can be understood by every language and every nationality. Many other scriptures bear out this fundamental truth and show us this is why God holds all men accountable. ALL HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD. Let's look at only a couple of simple examples of how the Bible uses this same symbolism. In Revelation 1:20, Jesus explains that the seven stars symbolize the angels (ie: message bearers or pastors) of the seven churches. Since the symbolism remains consistent in the scriptures, we can easily use Jesus' words as a "key" to understanding other scriptures. For example, in Revelation 8:10 the "star" falling from "heaven" (which means a HIGH SPIRITUAL PLACE OR EXPERIENCE Eph. 1:3, Eph. 2:6) pictures the fall of a "GREAT" pastor or ministry which has rejected the third trumpet portion of TRUTH sent forth in these last days (FREE booklet, "When Do the Seven Trumpets Sound?"). "I FIND IT HARD TO COMPREHEND, SINCE TRUTH I PREACH SO MANY BEND. THEY TAKE THE WORD OF GOD SO TRUE, AND TWIST IT SO THAT PEOPLE WHO, BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE SERVING GOD, ARE CAUSED TO SIN WHILE SAINTS APPLAUD." Could it be possible that the customary usage of the evergreen tree (or an artificial copy) at "CHRISTMAS," is actually a pagan ceremony which "bends" and "twists" the truth and changes it to a lie? Could it be that these pagan rituals DO cause even TRUE CHRISTIANS TO SIN, while they actually "applaud" and rejoice in one another's pagan deeds? Please read and consider the following excerpts from various books and publications. Keep in mind that most of these are PRO (for) Christmas celebration, but just trying to let people know where the celebration originated. "Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church." --THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA. "The first mention of the celebration of Christmas occured in A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar."--THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. "Inexplicable though it seems, the date of Christ's birth is not known. The Gospels indicate neither the day nor the month." --NEW CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA In the book CELEBRATIONS, by Robert J. Myers, we read: "The Biblical narrative of the birth of Jesus contains no indication of the date that the event occurred. However, Luke's report [Luke 2:8] that the shepherds were 'abiding in the field, keeping watch over thier flocks by night' suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night." In DAILY LIFE IN THE TIME OF JESUS, by Henri Daniel-Rops, we read: "The flocks . . . passed the winter under cover; and from this alone it may be seen that the traditional date for Christmas, in the winter, is unlikely to be right, since the Gospel says that the shepherds were in the fields." U.S. CATHOLIC states: "It is impossible to separate Christmas from it's pagan origins." It adds: "The Romans' favorite festival was Saturnalia, which began on December 17 and ended with the 'birthday of the unconquered sun' (Natalis solis invicti) on December 25. Somewhere in the second quarter of the fourth century, savvy officials of the church of Rome decided December 25 would make a dandy day to celebrate the birthday of the 'sun of righteousness'. Christmas was born." THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA states: "This celebration [Christmas] was probably influenced by pagan (unchristian) festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans held year- end celebrations to honor Saturn, their harvest god; and Mithras [the sun god]." THE NEW CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA says: "On Dec. 25, 274, [Roman emperor] Aurelian had proclaimed the sun-god [Mithris] principal patron of the empire . . . Christmas originated at a time when the cult of the sun was particularly strong in Rome." The book CELEBRATIONS states: "The clergy eventually brought the . . . world of the Saturnalia into the Church itself." James Hastings states in ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHICS: "Most of the Christmas customs now prevailing ... are not genuine Christian customs but heathen, which have been absorbed or tolerated by the Church. ... The Saturnalia in Rome provided the model for most of the merry customs of the Christmas time. This old Roman feast was celebrated on 17-24 December." In 1643, England's Parliament even outlawed Christmas because of it's pagan background, but later it was restored. In 1659, it was outlawed in Massachusetts, but there too it was later restored." U.S. CATHOLIC reports: "Because Christians in the U.S. ... associated Christmas with pagan customs, they didn't celebrate Christmas in a big way until the mid-19th century." In the book, CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS AROUND THE WORLD, a religious book which is very much FOR the celebration of Christmas, the author states, "When the church found it impossible through repeated bans to abolish all the pagan customs, it 'Christianized' a number of them, divested them of their worst features, and finally incorporated them in the Christian observance of Christmas........Although at first Christians were expected to observe the day of Nativity as a religious holiday esclusively, gradually secular, even pagan, elements were added. Therefore, our modern Christmas draws on all mankind for certain elements of its observance, but at the same time it is in danger of becoming, and often has become, a strange medley of Christian and pagan rites." Encyclopedia Americana, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and The Manners and Customs of Mankind, make the following statements about Christmas: "But from the early centuries of our era the religious side has been stressed, largely for the reason that it supplied a respectable motive for the feasting and holiday-making, which clearly derived their origin from the Roman Saturnalia and from the celebration by Norse and German tribes of the turn of the year, the reappearance of the sun and the awakening of nature from its winter rest." "In the 5th century the Western church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun and at the close of the Saturnalia, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ's birth existed. Among the German and Celtic tribes the winter solstice was considered an important point of the year and to commemorate the return of the sun they held their chief festival of yule, which, like other pagan celebrations, became adapted to Christmas. Most of the customs now associated with Christmas were not originally Christmas customs but rather were pre-Christian and non-Christian customs taken up by the Christian church." "Its (Christmas) observance as the birthday of the Savior is attended with secular customs often drawn from pagan sources." "YET I CAN NEVER CLAP MY HANDS, WHEN PEOPLE FROM SO MANY LANDS, KILL ME... WHILE THEY SPEAK OF LOVE; THEY CLAIM THEIR JOY COMES FROM ABOVE" Isaiah 55:12-13 says:"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." Here again the scriptures use symbolic language picturing people as TREES. The "fir tree" (an evergreen")is used here in connection with the thought of an "EVERLASTING" sign (and also TREES who clap their hands). The "Christmas Tree" is used in many countries of the world. The common manner of usage is to cut the tree down, which of course, KILLS IT! What a picture of the destruction of the eternal life of salvation! While people CLAIM to be following a CHRISTIAN practice, inspired "from above", they actually follow pagan rituals and turn good into a lie! We live in a world full of lies, yet John 8:44 says that SATAN is a liar and the FATHER OF LIES. That verse of scripture shows us that if something we participate in can be proven (by the Bible) to be based on a lie, then we should not take part in it, as it is the creation of Beelzebub! HOW CAN WE BE TRUE CHRISTIANS AND STILL PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING WHICH IS THE RESULT OF LIES??!! FOR EXAMPLE: THE BIBLE SHOWS WISE MEN WERE NOT PRESENT AT THE "NATIVITY SCENE" . 1) We will show in this booklet that many things practiced and taught by most churches about "CHRISTMAS" are LIES!!! For example, most "nativity scenes" portray the baby Jesus in a manger surrounded by shepherds and 3 wise men. Such a display is based on at least two lies. One, the Bible shows us that THE WISE MEN DID NOT ARRIVE UNTIL JESUS WAS A "YOUNG CHILD" (Matt. 2:11) a little under two years of age. A careful study of Matthew chapter two will easily prove this. As Herod knew what time the star appeared (revealing the Savior's birth - verse 7) and used that information to determine the age of the children to be killed. To slay so many children is to weaken the nation! Also, the more children slain, the more seeds of hatred Herod would be sowing in his kingdom. As wicked as he was, Herod was not so stupid as to give the death sentence to two year olds if Jesus was only a newborn babe! The slaughter was only to extend to those who might be the Christ Child! (verse 16) Luke 2:12 shows the shepherds came to see a "babe" in a manger, while THE WISE MEN CAME TO SEE A "YOUNG CHILD" IN A HOUSE! The words "babe" and "child" come from two entirely different Greek words. "Babe" is translated from a word meaning either an unborn, or a NEWLY BORN child. "Child" is translated from a word which means a growing child PAST babyhood! Certainly any nativity scene or preaching that puts them all in one place at the same time LIES against the scriptures! You might say, "but it's no big thing." How "big" does a lie have to be before it is sin? Revelation 21:8 says "ALL LIARS" suffer the same torment. ALL LIES COME from Satan, and the whole "christmas" season is based on lies! SANTA CLAUS isn't the ONLY lie of the season! Though space in the booklet is not sufficient to cover the subject, we can PROVE FROM THE BIBLE THAT THERE WERE EIGHT WISE MEN who came to see the child Jesus! 2) JESUS WAS BORN OVER TWO MONTHS BEFORE DECEMBER 25th AS WE'LL PROVE FROM THE BIBLE LATER IN THIS BOOKLET! In Luke 16:15 Jesus said, ".... for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." This text of scripture can not be taken to fit all cases without qualification, as even EATING is highly esteemed among men (as well as other perfectly good deeds). However, the text has to do with anything that is a religious ceremony or practice that is highly esteemed among men. People who are not TRUE Christians celebrate Christmas! Do the majority consider it something dreadful and want nothing to do with it, or do they highly esteem it? Just think, IF CHRISTMAS IS REALLY A CHRISTIAN EVENT, then MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT! Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-23 that the majority of people are lost, even though they are religious and pretend to serve Him. He said only a FEW people are truly His servants! BE HONEST AND ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION........... "DO YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING THAT IS AN ABOMINATION TO GOD?" Perhaps someone will say, "GOING TO CHURCH IS HIGHLY ESTEEMED AMONG MEN." That is true, and JUST "GOING TO CHURCH" is DEFINITELY an abomination to God!!! Vast amounts of scriptures in our Bibles warn us against false churches and false preachers, and show us that the MAJORITY ARE FALSE! (For more scriptural info showing how to tell a false church, ask for our FREE booklets.) All churches that are not founded on truth are serving the OTHER "JESUS" Paul wrote about in II Cor. 11:1-15. They are abominations to God! Friend, we say this in love but with solid scriptural basis; God's TRUE CHURCHES are very few and far between! Wherever you find a TRUE BODY OF CHRIST (a true church-I Cor. 12:27), it will be just as rejected by the majority of men as Jesus was in His literal body. All but a handful of followers forsook him! A TRUE CHURCH WILL BE VERY UNPOPULAR; especially in the eyes of false churches. The teachings of God's TRUE CHURCHES will be looked upon as foolish by people who are not saved. Notice I Cor. 2:14: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." WHAT IS POPULAR WITH GOD IS UNPOPULAR WITH THE MAJORITY AND VICE-VERSA! I think that we've explained enough that it's time to ask you to excuse us if we cease to use the term CHRISTmas. That name blames Christ for a Catholic Church "MASS", that actually has it's ORIGIN IN ANCIENT PAGAN WORSHIP. CHRIST NEVER WAS IN CHRISTMAS!!! Any genuine historical account you read on the subject of X-mas will shock you if it gives very much background! You'll learn that the December 25th celebration, it's tree and other common customs, carry out the same heathen traditions that were begun in the days of wicked NIMROD and his ungodly mother! She supposedly bore him in a "virgin" birth about 2000 years before the birth of Christ. He became the founder of ancient SUN-GOD worship, and Dec. 25th has been the celebrated season of HIS birthday for nearly 4000 years!!! The historical details are too lengthy to be included here, but a trip to your local library to study the subject could be very rewarding! Someone might say, "but the customs of Christmas are harmless, and they're such little things that God surely won't mind." Friend, it would be good if you would study and meditate on the events of Joshua 7. It really seems a LITTLE thing that Achan kept a few little "treasures." I'm certain the Babylonian garment seemed quite HARMLESS to him, BUT GOD DID NOT SEE IT THAT WAY. As a result Achan and his family ALL LOST THEIR LIVES over a SEEMINGLY LITTLE THING! God required that he AND his family (who had not partaken in his sin) ALL be KILLED. Even so, Xmas traditions today are nothing but GARMENTS of SPIRITUAL Babylon (see our booklet, "What is Babylon?"). They take something that is good (the birth of Christ) and "CLOTHE" it in BABYLONIAN worship!!! SPIRITUAL BABYLON IS THE "HARLOT" RELIGION OF REVELATION 17! "THE LIGHT THEY SEE IN ME'S NOT WHAT, THE LIGHT WHICH I PORTRAY HAS TAUGHT. THEY TAKE WHAT GOD GAVE ME TO STAND, AND GIVE ME WORKS FROM THEIR OWN HAND. THE GOOD THAT MEN USE ME TO DO, IS BASED ON EVIL THROUGH AND THROUGH." People look at "Christmas" trees and admire the many beautiful lights. However, they miss the TRUE SPIRITUAL LIGHT that the unadorned tree portrays so beautifully. People remove the natural (God-given) "stand" or root system by cutting down the tree, and then try to build their OWN "stand" for it. The trees root system allows it to be ALIVE and GROWING as it draws in the "water of life" through it's roots. However, when the tree is cut down no water can be obtained, so the sun (symbolizing the "SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS", Malachi 4:2) that once helped the tree to grow, now dehydrates it and "burns" it up! Colossians 2:7 says: "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." Jeremiah 10:2-5: 10:2 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. 10:3 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 ax. 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. As Jeremiah 10 paints the picture; the heathen "workmen" goes and chops down the tree. Instead of the tree standing ALIVE and supported by its roots, it now is propped up by ARTIFICIAL means, as the workmen uses "nails and hammers" to cause it to be "UPRIGHT." This symbolizes precisely the methods used by false churches to create IMITATIONS OF LIVE TREES. ( ie: of true Christians.) They CREATE HYPOCRITES by giving them ARTIFICIAL SUPPORTS IN PLACE OF GENUINE ROOT SYSTEMS! They use such "nails" as church joining, social gatherings, religious rituals, false doctrines, social positions, and even contests and bribes, to keep people standing "upright"! In other words, instead of people attending church and serving God PURELY because they LOVE HIM and WANT TO, they entice people to come to church, to obey the rules, and to therefore be "UPRIGHT" or righteous appearing "trees". People are often more motivated in their "religious service" by the praise from the pastor and the people, or the good feeling produced in the conscience by the performance of a good deed or a service to someone, THAN BY A GENUINE LOVE FOR GOD. The best way to tell if we REALLY LOVE GOD is to check our selves and to see if we LOVE THE WORD of GOD enough to put it before anything or anyone else in our lives. The Bible shows that God sends His word to test us. Of course we DO need to realize that receiving the TRUE WORD of GOD requires more than just reading the Bible or listening to a preacher speaking about the Bible. We ONLY receive the Word of God when God actually INSPIRES AND SENDS the words we are receiving. The false preachers and their FALSE PREACHING and twisting of the scriptures (their "hammers") must POUND very hard to prevent their phoney "X-mas tree christians" from falling down! Jeremiah 10:4 shows the decoration of the X-mas tree. It is wonderful how God is so careful in his choice of words. Revelation 17:4 declares that false religion (Spiritual Babylon) IS ALSO "DECKED" with GOLD and other beautiful decorations. This is important symbolism, since the TRUE CHURCH is pictured in the Bible as MADE OF GOLD... NOT JUST DECORATED BY IT!!! The Bible constantly uses "decking" or adorning of the outward person or thing as a symbol of HYPOCRISY! The decking of the X-mas tree with decorations and lights pictures the fact that false religion is NOT the light of the world (Matt. 5:14), but is only DECORATED by the presence of an OCCASIONAL TRUE child of God! (their light!) Gold is a symbol of TRUTH in the scriptures. False religion is NOT solid truth, nor is it ALL LIES! It is a mixture; a sprinkling of gold, silver, and precious stones, like decoration on an X-mas tree. What does God have to say about all of this? "LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN"! (Jer. 10:2) In other words, he's not only saying "DON'T DO IT", He says don't "LEARN" IT! The word "learn" is translated from a Hebrew word meaning to "learn" or to "TEACH"! Don't TEACH your children to be pagans either! Many people celebrate X-mas feeling that if they don't, they'll cause their children to be left out. Personally, I'm more concerned about helping my children to BE LEFT OUT OF HELL! Someone might say, "but is it really sin to cut down an evergreen, or to give gifts, etc.?" NO... UNLESS YOU DO SO TO CELEBRATE A PAGAN FORM OF BAAL WORSHIP WHICH IS WHAT X-MAS REALLY IS IN GOD'S SIGHT! Just because we don't KNOW BETTER does not change the fact that SIN IS SIN. (Nunmbers 5:6-7, Leviticus 4:27-28, I John 1, etc. Just because some of these verses are OLD TESTAMENT writings does not change the fact that the SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES still apply. See II Timothy 2:20-21 & II Corinthians 7:1.) Let's notice a few more LIES connected with the Dec. 25th season. (1) Contrary to common belief, the X-mas season is NOT a HOLY one! It is MAINLY celebrated with wild parties, lustful use of mistletoe, drunken "JOY", and by multitudes of people who (if they are honest), will have to admit they enjoy receiving more than they do giving! (TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS BASED ON GIVING; especially the giving of GOD'S TRUE WORD AND ETERNAL LIFE! If the phoney and counterfeit "X-mas Spirit" of giving were genuine, it would remain all year! The fact that it DOES NOT REMAIN is proof that it is a LIE! (2) People use the excuse that they give gifts because the wise men brought gifts to Jesus for his birthday. Friend, study your Bible! The wise men did not come on Jesus' BIRTHDAY, but brought him gifts because he was a spiritual KING! Today he wants us to give ourselves as gifts to him! He wants to be our KING! (ROM. 12:1-2) It's not too hard to realize that ANY CHURCH THAT CELEBRATES X-MAS IN ANY WAY IS DOING WRONG! X-mas is one of the biggest traditions that has come from Catholicism, and has been handed down to Protestantism. There was a time when the Methodists and Baptists and others would have nothing to do with X-mas! Notice this excerpt from the book "The Christmas Tree" which is written to glorify the X-mas tree. "These excesses, although they were banned by the church, nonetheless persisted to the time when Christmas was banned as an observance, particularly in England. The objections to Christmas by the Puritans, and their vigorous attempt to subdue the holiday, or rather, the whole series of days which had grown into an elaborate festal season, were not too effective. For there was ingrained in the hearts of the people a love for Christmas which no law or rule could subdue." The wise men who came seeking Jesus did not go along with the majority, OR with the EARTHLY KING in the land! They didn't even bring gifts to the earthly king, but brought three kinds of rich gifts for the child Jesus! The reason there were three gifts is because EVERYTHING IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST (FROM THE CONCEPTION TO THE RESURRECTION) are SPIRITUAL TYPES! Those three gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh; represent the three offices of Christ. He was King, Prophet, and Priest! Gold is representative of the King. Frankincense is representative of the priestly office. Myrrh is representative of the prophetic office. The wise men knew from the Old Testament scriptures that Christ was going to be Prophet, Priest, and King, so the wise men gave him gifts accordingly. Those gifts give us a spiritual picture of what we should bring Christ today, if we are true SPIRITUAL wise men! We don't have space in this little booklet, but if you are interested, please contact us and we will be glad to give you spiritual proof of the following: Gold symbolizes the real value of spiritual salvation. It is used in the Bible to represent the word of God. (which is the source and basis of our salvation - James 1:18; I Peter 1:23; Eph. 2:8 with Romans 10:13-17; Rev. 3:18, etc.) The "GOLD" of God's word of truth is certainly a fit gift for a King! How do WE give such to HIM??? Matthew 25:40 says: "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." This means that when we bring the word of truth to God's people, we (spiritually) bring GOLD to Jesus. Frankincense is a symbol of prayers of praise and intercession in behalf of others! (See Rev. 5:8 and 8:3-5) Myrrh is a symbol of the bitterness the flesh goes through as we (like the prophets) suffer for Christ. (I Peter 4; John 15:18-23, etc.) One thing about X-mas a lot of people don't want to admit; it's an idolatrous season! I don't know of ANY idol worshippers that ever believed they were idolatrous! The ancient Baal worshippers never believed they were idolators! They believed they were doing what God wanted them to do! Even the children of Israel (who knew better) deceived themselves into believing they were doing nothing wrong when they practiced pagan ways (I Corinthians 10). People are doing the same thing today. They say, "I'm not really worshipping that tree." Friend, people didn't THINK they worshipped it in ancient times either! It was only a symbol to them. There was a time when the founding fathers of this nation said that "X-mas and the celebration of it was a great dishonour to God." In 1659 the general assembly of the court of Massachusetts made a law that anyone caught FEASTING on December 25th was thrown into jail, or had to pay a fine. Yet today's churches LOVE the pagan festival! Around the X- mas season there will be a big push to build memberships. There's going to be all sorts of fun, games, gimmicks, prizes, treats and programs. At churches all over the country you will find X-mas trees in the sanctuary, or in the church grounds. Yet with all that, they call it "christian." Let's ask ourselves, "what kind of an effect does this idolatrous season have on us?" What if God leads to have an all day meeting on December 25th. People say, "It's not an idol; it doesn't have any hold on me." In that case it won't bother you to have an all day meeting. There would be many people who claimed to be Christians, who would not come! They would say, "Oh, I have to go to a big family get- together." Friend, that's what an all day meeting is! It just depends on WHICH family you value the most. The physical family or the SPIRITUAL! IF YOU PUT THE PHYSICAL FAMILY AHEAD OF THE SPIRITUAL YOU ARE NOT A DISCIPLE OF JESUS. Matthew 10:35-40 says: 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 10:36 And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household. 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. Someone might insist, "But I really don't feel X-mas is an IDOL to me." There is definitely a way to check yourself! If it is NOT an idol, then you will want to study this subject carefully, and if you find what we are saying to be true, YOU WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM CEASING YOUR PAGAN FESTIVITIES! However, if you REFUSE to search out and study what is truth in the matter, and you get upset about this booklet, it shows YOU ARE BOUND TO AN IDOL! The more upset you become, the more the idolatry has a hold on you! Someone asks "is anything wrong with giving gifts?" Giving gifts is fine if they are needed and are not given to celebrate X-mas. I think it is wonderful to be able to give things to others! Why wait until ONE time of year and then give people things they don't really need? Why not give people things when they need them? Let's forget this one time of year "jolly" business of "Ho! Ho! Ho! Here comes Santa!" I'm glad we don't have to go sliding down chimneys to TRULY help people! One big thing in people's minds today is, "shouldn't we remember Jesus' birthday?" The Bible doesn't say to remember his birth, but it does say to remember his death. According to the Bible, JESUS' BIRTH COULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN DECEMBER so why was December 25th chosen to celebrate Jesus' "birthday"? Notice the following chart: FROM: "ASTRONOMICAL TABLES OF THE SUN, MOON, AND PLANETS" by J. Meens. YEAR TIME OF WINTER SOLSTICE 1 A.D. DEC. 23 AT 3:04 A.M. 2 A.D. DEC. 23 AT 8:55 A.M. 3 A.D. DEC. 23 AT 2:50 P.M. As you can see, the SOLSTICE varies from year to year. December 25th is approximately the first day that starts to grow longer. You can hardly tell a difference, but it is longer. According to the religion of ancient pagans, the sun was born on that day. That is why it was called the winter "solstice". "Sol" meaning SUN; "stice" meaning STOP! They believed that the sun STOPPED (the days were at their shortest) at the solstice, and that the birth of the sun was on or about December 25th! It was real easy for the Catholics to change it and make people think it was the birthday of the "christian" God. People had always worshipped December 25th as the birthday of their pagan god, the sun, so by changing the name they made it Jesus' birthday! You might say "then when was Jesus born?" If we will look at the Bible, we will see it was at the time when they had to be enrolled and had to pay taxes. Luke 2:1 says: "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed." Scripture then tells us that Joseph and Mary went up to Bethlehem where Christ was born. If you were Caesar, would you wait until the middle of the coldest month to have people travel to the place of their birth to pay taxes? History shows that the rulers in that day collected taxes at the time of year when people would most likely be able to pay. Naturally, people back then didn't draw wages the same way we do today. They didn't get paid every week. Most of them were farmers, so what time of year would they have something with which to pay their taxes? HARVEST TIME of course, which was in the fall of the year! What better time of year for Ceasar Augustus to tax the people? To wait a few months after harvest would mean that people would not have as much money to pay their taxes. According to Leviticus 23:39 the seventh month of the Jewish year (Tisri) was the time of the close of the harvest season. Tisri is equal to the last week of September and first few weeks of October. Tisri 15 is approximately October 8, and is the approximate birth date of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:20 says: "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:" Jesus did not want their journey to be in the winter because Palestine winters are very cold. For this reason history says the shepherds never wait later than October 15th to bring their flocks in from the field. Remember, when Christ was born the shepherds were watching their flocks by night in the fields. It could not possibly have been in December! Daniel 9 teaches Jesus' ministry would last half of a "week" of seven years. John tells us that Jesus partook of 4 passovers. The first was after he went into the ministry. The second one was a year later, and so on down through 4 passovers. He was crucified immediately after the fourth passover. If we put all that the Bible gives us on this subject together, notice what we can learn. ----------------Three and one-half YEARS-------------------- | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | | passover | passover | passover |passover| | | | | | Jesus AGE 31 AGE 32 AGE 33 Jesus' AGE DEATH 30 Begins and MINISTRY RESURRECTION Nisan is the first month of the Jewish calendar. The 14th of Nisan was when the passover lamb was "slain". Christ was our "passover" sacrifice Paul said in I Corinthians 5:7, so to fulfill the "type", Jesus died on Nisan 14. the month Nisan is approximately the last week of our March and the first weeks of our April. We can't pin it down to the exact day, because the Jewish calendar had only thirty days in each month. Christ was killed about April 10th in our calendar year, or around the end of our first week in April. The traditional (PAGAN) "EASTER", which is derived from ancient fertility rites symbolized by bunnies with eggs, etc., is always the first SUNDAY after the first MON (MOON) DAY after the first FULL MOON after the equinox (which is based on position of the SUN). The fact that Jesus' ministry lasted three and one half years gives us something to go by. He was thirty when he started his ministry. If we go back and find the time he started his ministry, we'll find his birthday. If the passover was in the first half of April, then Jesus' birth was in the first half of October. This fits in real good with the shepherds being out in the fields, because the shepherds don't bring their flocks in until the middle of October. If we can learn the time of the birth of John the Baptist, then since the Bible shows that John the Baptist's birth was 6 months before Christ, we can know when Jesus was born. Luke 1:23-27 & 36 says: 1:23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 1:25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to take away my reproach among men. 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary. 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. If you read on you will see how the angel spoke to Mary and told her that the spirit of the Lord HAD come upon her and she would be with child. Mary went right to Elizabeth and told her, "God HAS DONE to me great things." Luke 1:42-44 says: "And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salvation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy." Obviously, Mary had conceived just prior to this meeting with Elizabeth. This means that Mary conceived six months after John the Baptist was conceived. Luke 1:5 says:"There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia:" John the Baptist's father was of the course "Abia", or Abijah as it is spelled in I Chronicles 24:10, which declares that Abijah was the eighth course of priestly service. You will find there were 24 courses or 24 periods of serving in the tabernacle. Each priest had to serve during his appointed time. Zacharias served his course during Abijah which was the eighth course. I know this sounds very complicated, and I realize that is NOT a means of finding the precise date of the birth of Jesus Christ. However, the charts on the following pages should help us get close. ----------------------------------------------------------- |Courses of Priesthood|Jewish Month| Approximate Dates | |---------------------|------------|----------------------| |#1 Jehoiarib |Abib/Nissan |Abt. Mar. 25 - Apr.24 | |#2 Jedaiah | " " | " " | |#3 Harim |IYAR |Abt. Apr. 25 - May 25 | |#4 Seorim | " | " " | |#5 Malchijah |Sivan |Abt. May 26 - June 25 | |#6 Mijamin | " | " " | |#7 Hakkoz |Thammuz |Abt. June 26 - July 26| |#8 Abijah | " | " " | ---------------------------------------------------------- |J| A | S | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O |u| u | e | c | o | e | a | e | a | p | a | u | u | u | e | c |l| g | p | t | v | c | n | b | r | r | y | n | l | g | p | t |y| | t | | | | | | | | | e | y | | t | ^ ^ ^ JOHN JESUS JESUS CONCEIVED CONCEIVED BORN Study the following verses; Exodus 12 & 13, Deut. 16:1, and Esther 3:7, and you will see that the month called Abid and Nisan was the first month of the JEWISH year, and thus the beginning of the courses. Nisan is during the last few days of our month of March and the first few weeks of April. During the three time periods; pentecost, the feast of the passover, and the feast of firstfruits, all the priests served together. This allowed each course to serve for two weeks. Don't try to pin the date of Jesus' birth down to the exact DAY by this or any other method. NO ONE EVEN KNOWS HOW LONG THAT MARY CARRIED JESUS BEFORE HE WAS BORN SINCE SUCH TIMES DO VARY. WE ARE ONLY ATTEMPTING TO SHOW APPROXIMATELY THE TIME HE WAS BORN IN ORDER THAT WE CAN SEE THAT IT WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO DECEMBER 25. Luke 1:23-27 (shown on previous page) shows that as soon as Zacharias came home, his wife conceived. Six months after Elizabeth conceived, Mary was with child. About nine months from then, sometime in the first to middle part of October, Mary gave birth. SO JESUS WAS BORN ABOUT THE TIME OF THE JEWISH FEAST OF FIRST-FRUITS, WHICH WAS A "TYPE" OF HIS BIRTH! "THAT WHAT INDEED I REALLY AM, WAS MADE CORRUPT BY SONS OF HAM." Genesis 10 shows the NIMROD, the source of the original pagan ceremonies of X-MAS was a descendant of Noah's son HAM. "LOOK FOR MY NAME IN GOD'S BOOK-TIMES ELEVEN" The phrase "every green tree" is found in the Bible (God's Book) 11 times. The ancient pagans worshipped this tree which God only intended as a SYMBOL of eternal life. We realize there are MANY who profess Christ, and yet do not really KNOW HIM! Such persons will simply laugh at, mock, or just ignore the message of this booklet. However, if you DEAR READER are an "honest heart", such as Jesus describes in Matthew 13, then we know you'll want to BEWARE of this ancient heathen ritual, and to warn others; NOT CONDEMNING, but manifesting the LOVE OF GOD! This is a much more serious SIN than most people realize and the sad part is that people are WILLINGLY IGNORANT! We want to add just a few more thoughts that we hope will put together the picture that we have been attempting to "paint" for you with the help of the Bible and of history. The most EVIL thing about celebrating Christmas is that it BREAKS GOD'S TYPES!!! SINCE GOD HAS SEEN FIT TO USE THE "TYPES" AS THE MAIN MEANS OF REVEALING THE "DEEPER TEACHINGS" OF HIS WILL, WE MUST BE CAREFUL NEVER TO BREAK THEM. NOTICE: (1) The evergreen tree is a symbol of a saved person (one who has spiritual life and is therefore a child of God). (2) Would it be wrong for you or I to "cut down" a fellow Christian and kill them spiritually? WE WANT TO STRESS THAT IT IS NOT WRONG TO CUT DOWN EVERGREEN TREES FOR LUMBER, FIREWOOD, ETC. HOWEVER, TO CUT ONE DOWN IN ORDER TO USE IT AS PART OF A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IS TO USE IT FOR A RELIGIOUS RITUAL IN GOD'S SIGHT. THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE TO HIM. YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN A FORM OF WITCHCRAFT, A PAGAN RELIGIOUS RITUAL. (3) False Religion DOES attempt to "cut down" and destroy God's true people. The only thing that prevents this from happening is God's love and grace which He manifests towards His children. GOD PREVENTS IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE REAL SPIRITUAL REALM.....WHY SHOULD WE PRACTICE A "TYPE" THAT DEMONSTRATES JUST THE OPPOSITE FROM REALITY. A "TYPE" THAT SHOWS JUST THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT GOD DOES, AND THEN TRY TO MAKE OURSELF FEEL GOOD BY SAYING THAT WE ARE DOING IT TO REMEMBER JESUS' BIRTHDAY? (4) Even if we use an artificial tree, we are still using a symbol of the symbol, and we are STILL doing it as a religious ceremony. I KNOW that many who read this will claim that they do not celebrate Christmas as a religious ceremony. However, we do not have to look very far to prove that is not so. Even the secular world plays "sacred songs" for part of their "Christmas carols". Even many, many people who do not go to church at any other time of year go to religious plays, musical cantatas, and even to regular church services during the Xmas season. It is a season when most people in the world "act" a little more religious than at most times of the year, even though it IS just an act for most people. Another way we can see that the Xmas season is a form of religious ritual is in the fact that people DO NOT put up decorated trees, etc. in the spring or summer. They always wait for the SEASON. It shows there IS a spirit in the thing, but it is not the spirit of GOD. True religious worship is practiced every day and all year long. IT IS OUR PRAYER THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER SERIOUSLY THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED AND PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL SHOW YOU WHAT HE WOULD HAVE YOU TO DO. Dear Reader, We are calling this series of our booklets, the MYSTERY series for a good reason. Paul tells us in I Corinthians chapter two that Godly wisdom is "MYSTERY" wisdom, and that God reveals even the hidden, "DEEP" things of God. This booklet is different from the rest in this series. In our other booklets, we will try to help you understand some very wonderful truths which have remained hidden for ages, but God is revealing today! We also have many other booklets as well as a FREE audio and video cassette LOAN LIBRARY. If we can be of any help in your spiritual growth, feel free to visit or contact us. Our services are ALL centered around Bible Study. THE BIBLE STUDY CENTER, PASTOR DOYLE ARMSTRONG SUNDAY---1:00 P.M., with Bible teaching until about 3:30 or 4:00. Bible study resumes about 4:30 to 6:15 or so. THURSDAY-7:00 P.M. Bible study to 9:00 or so. IF YOU HAVE A COMPUTER AND A MODEM, WE INVITE YOU TO MAKE USE OF OUR FREE BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM FOR COMPUTERS ONLY. CALL (513) 866-6435. WE SERVE ALL COMPUTER TYPES WITH ASCII TEXT FILES OF BIBLE STUDIES. 300/1200/2400 BAUD ---24 HOURS DAILY. OR WRITE BIBLE STUDY CENTER, 851 S. ELM ST., W. CARROLLTON, OH. 45449 FREE BIBLE STUDY BOOKLETS AND BOOKS INCLUDE: The Challenge - Study of the deeper truth & types in Isaiah 7. Cities of Refuge - Study of the type pictured by those cities Dagon's Temple - Study of the types pictured by Dagon, etc. Forsaking The Right Way - Study of types in Balaam's story. David and Goliath - Study of the types of Jesus in David. Looking For A Miracle - Eye opener about today's problem. What Is Babylon? - Shows symbolism of "MYSTERY BABYLON". Pathway To Resurrection - Types in raising of Lazarus. Slain By The Lion - Types in a story from O.T. writings. The Brazen Serpent - Types in the Brazen Serpent incident. Bible Names - Study of the meanings and significance of names in the Bible and what it really means to pray in Jesus' name. Eat To Live - Study of the types in story of Manna from God. Drive Out The Ites - Study of type of seven Canaanite nations Thoughts On Thorns - Study of the symbolism of thorns. When Do The Seven Trumpets Sound? - Study in Revelation. Mark Of The Beast - What the MARK really is...not speculation The Sin Question - Study of the TWO different types of sin. Spiritual Feetwashing - What Jesus really meant in John 13. Gold At The End Of The Rainbow - Study rainbow types, etc. Altar Of Earth - The symbolic meaning of "earth" in Bible. The Two Covenants - What is the NEW TESTAMENT and OLD TEST.? God's Grace; MORE THAN AMAZING - Study of real SALVATION. Did Paul Sin - A study of Paul's life as a Christian. Churches On The Road To Hell - Study of False Churches. Members One Of Another - Christian relationships. Mystery Series - Booklets that challenge your thinking. Divorce and Remarriage - What the Bible has to say. How To Understand The Bible - Let the Bible interpret..... Black But Comely - Study of types in the Song of Solomon. What Is A Cult? - A comparison study of true and false ways. The Red Heifer - Study of the types pictured in sacrifices. From Creator To Eternal Servant - Who Is Jesus? INCENSE - Types pictured in the ingredients of TRUE incense. The Blood Type - What does BLOOD symbolize in the Bible? Body, Soul, and Spirit - The Three parts of man. Types In The Book Of Ruth - The plan of redemption. The Evergreen Tree - Study of this Bible type and application Jesus Death - Proof of the TWO KINDS of death Jesus suffered. TRUE PRAYER - Does away with many misconceptions. Grace Versus The Law - What part does each "play"? Kings Of The Earth - What do they symbolize in Revelation? PLUS MANY MORE AS THE LORD ALLOWS US TO PRINT THEM.