Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The Plain Truth about NEW YEAR'S!

How did the celebration of New Year's Eve begin? Why is the beginning of a year placed in the middle of a dead winter? And where did the many customs surrounding it originate?

MOST people carelessly assume that celebrating New Year's Eve is a Christian custom.

But did the practice of "waiting the old year out" really come from the Bible?

Is January 1 the true beginning of a new year? Who has the AUTHORITY to determine when a new year begins?

An Ancient Pagan Custom

New Year's is one of the oldest and most universal of all pagan TRADITIONS! The custom of celebrating it has remained essentially unchanged for 4,000 years!

"There is scarcely a people, ancient or modern, savage or civilized," writes Theodor H. Gaster, in his definitive book "New Year", "which has not observed it ... in one form or another. Yet no other festival has been celebrated on so many different dates or in so many seemingly different ways."

In ancient Babylon, New Year's festivals were closely bound to the pagan feast called "Christmas" today. The little-known connection of New Year's with Christmas is made clear in our free booklet, "The PLAIN TRUTH About CHRISTMAS!" If you haven't read it before, write for it immediately.

When and how did New Year's celebrations originate? Who began the custom?

Notice the proof of history.

"Mesopotamia," writes Earl W. Count, "is the very ancient Mother of Civilization. Christmas began there, OVER FOUR THOUSAND YEARS AGO, as the festival which renewed the world for another year. The 'twelve days' of Christmas; the bright fires and probably the Yule log; the giving of presents; the carnivals with their floats, their merrymakings and clownings, the mummers who sing and play from house to house; the feastings; the church processions with their lights and song -- all these and more began there centuries before Christ was born. And they celebrated THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW YEAR!" ("4000 Years of Christmas", pp. 20-21.)

That is how it began. The celebration of New Year's began in ancient Babylonia in Mesopotamia. It was a pagan custom of ancient sun-worship 2000 years before the birth of Jesus.

The celebration of New Year's is never once commanded in the Bible. Jesus and the apostles never observed it. Moses forbade it!

Don't say "it doesn't matter." It does matter to God whether we adopt the customs of the heathen. Your Bible says, "Learn not the way of the heathen" (Jeremiah 10:2).

Click here to read more

Monday, December 28, 2009

American Detained in Jerusalem's Russian Compound

American Detained in Jerusalem's Russian Compound

Nobody arrested me. I was detained when I faithfully reported to the Jerusalem police office at 9 a.m. Monday morning, January 9, 1996 (day before my birthday) the day after The Jerusalem Post published on their front page an article shedding light on what they were doing in the dark.

After my initial interrogation of six and one half hours, the Thursday before, I reported, as demanded, to the Jerusalem police station Friday morning, Saturday morning, Sunday morning, and then Monday morning the fellow who had actually been nice to me, he said his name was Moshe, was ordered to serve me a deportation order. He expected me to sign it and, appalled, I purposely dropped the accursed paper from my hands and let it fall to the floor where it belonged! I refused to sign it.

They put me in that dungeon called the Russian Compound, built hundreds of years ago by the Turks, and which has since been toured by Israeli parliament members who say it should be torn down! I was in a cell made for ten and at one time we had twenty one people in it, with mats lying all over the floor and bed bugs crushed on the walls and everyone but me (by the grace of God) had welts on them from their bites!

We had one "bathroom" for all of us in that cell: it was a literal hole in the floor, and the shower pipe (no showerhead) was just over that hole, and a filthy sink, and everyone had to practically beg for toilet paper. I was there for over two weeks before my unjust deportation, after being brought before the Jerusalem magistrate (who refused to release me, being represented by famous Israeli lawyer Naftali Warzberger), and later before Israel's High Court who agreed there was no reason I shouldn't have been set free, that there was no risk of flight, but now they were just going to deport me since my citizenship request was denied.

The Temple Mount Faithful paid for all my legal expenses, recognizing the whole ordeal was politico-religious persecution against all of us, yet the Leftists targeted little ol' me! Why? Because I had written an article published in Jerusalem that highlighted the plight of the Temple Mount suffering under Nazi-Muslim occupation: how the Israeli police enable Muslim discrimination daily against Christians and Jews who are unable to pray or read the Bible, in peace, upon the site of the holy temples.

Is it a crime to have an abiding love for Israel? To believe what's written in the Law and the Prophets concerning the Temple and our responsibility to construct it? To mourn that it hasn't been done yet? As the Jerusalem Talmud states: "every generation in which the Temple has not been built is as if the Temple were destroyed in it...." Isn't Israel's state emblem a gold menorah in between two gold olive branches?

Must I remain in exile, banished from the Land I love, because my hope, prayer, and dream is for Israel to fulfill what that symbol represents: the Temple and Israel's destiny to become a Light to all nations?

A House of Prayer For All Peoples?

Jews Must Demand Rights to Temple Mount

Restore Israeli Sovereignty Over Temple Mount

Still at Large!

Israel's Unjust Deportation of David Ben-Ariel

Why Edward Abington, Jr. Must Be Investigated!

Blow Up the Mosques or An Expired Visa?

Dangerous Ideas?

From Toledo to Jerusalem

When Caesar Plays God: When the State Oversteps its Bounds

Sheik Palazzi expresses solidarity with David Ben-Ariel

Exposing the German-Vatican plot to occupy Jerusalem

Is Administrative Detention Just?

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Peter's Vision Was About Gentiles!

Re: Unclean Christianity vs Peter's Vision
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ivan88
Good Job David Ben-Ariel. Yes, Peter's vision was not about food, but about the lost tribes of Israel dwelling in Asia & Europe considered by ordinary Pharisaical religion to be unclean because they were divorced from God in the time of Rehoboam.


The Israelites, like too many Jews, are Gentilized and need to remember our Hebrew roots and biblical responsibilities and forsake the unclean ways and polluted holidays of counterfeit Christianity. However, Peter's vision was concerning salvation being offered to legitimate ethnic Gentiles, not just Gentilized Israelites, and certainly had absolutely nothing to do with an imaginary change in the dietary laws (that have been in effect since Creation), as the traditional schizophrenic "Christian" slop goes.

Israel and Judah Must Get House in Order Before King Messiah Arrives
__________________
http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Never Forget "Palestinian" Terrorist Take Over of the Church of Nativity!

The PA Takeover of the Church of the Nativity
On April 2, 2002, as Israel implemented its Defensive Shield operation to combat the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure, in Bethlehem "a number of terrorists took over St. Mary's Church grounds and...held the priest and a number of nuns there against their will. The terrorists used the Church as a firing position, from which they shot at IDF soldiers in the area. The soldiers did not return fire toward the church when fired upon [emphasis added]. An IDF force, under the command of the Bethlehem area regional commander, entered the Church grounds today without battle, in coordination with its leaders, and evacuated the priest and nuns."33

That same day, "More than 100 Palestinian gunmen...[including] soldiers and policemen, entered the Church of the Nativity on Tuesday, as Israeli troops swept into Bethlehem in an attempt to quell violence by Palestinian suicide bombers and militias."34 The actual number of terrorists was between 150 and 180, among them prominent members of the Fatah Tanzim. As the New York Times put it, "Palestinian gunmen have frequently used the area around the church as a refuge, with the expectation that Israel would try to avoid fighting near the shrine" [emphasis added].35

And in fact this was the case. The commander of the Israeli forces in the area asserted that the IDF would not break into the church itself and would not harm this site holy to Christianity. Israel also deployed more mature and more reserved reserve-duty soldiers in this sensitive situation that militarily called for more agile, standing-army soldiers.36

On the other hand, the Palestinians did not treat it the same way. Not only did they take their weapons with them into the Church of the Nativity and fire, on occasion, from the church, but also reportedly booby-trapped the entrance to the church.37

On April 7, "one of the few priests evacuated from the church told Israeli television yesterday that gunmen had shot their way in, and that the priests, monks and nuns were essentially hostages....The priest declined to call the clergy 'hostages,' but repeatedly said in fluent English: 'We have absolutely no choice. They have guns, we do not.'"38

Christians clearly saw the takeover as a violation of the sanctity of the church. In an interview with CWNews, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, the Vatican's Undersecretary of State and the top foreign-policy official, asserted that "The Palestinians have entered into bilateral agreements [with the Holy See] in which they undertake to maintain and respect the status quo regarding the Christian holy places and the rights of Christian communities. To explain the gravity of the current situation, let me begin with the fact that the occupation of the holy places by armed men is a violation of a long tradition of law that dates back to the Ottoman era. Never before have they been occupied - for such a lengthy time - by armed men."39 On April 14, he reiterated his position in an interview on Vatican Radio.40

On April 24, the Jerusalem Post reported on the damage that the PA forces were causing:

Three Armenian monks, who had been held hostage by the Palestinian gunmen inside Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, managed to flee the church area via a side gate yesterday morning. They immediately thanked the soldiers for rescuing them.
They told army officers the gunmen had stolen gold and other property, including crucifixes and prayer books, and had caused damage....
One of the monks, Narkiss Korasian, later told reporters: "They stole everything, they opened the doors one by one and stole everything....They stole our prayer books and four crosses...they didn't leave anything. Thank you for your help, we will never forget it."
Israeli officials said the monks said the gunmen had also begun beating and attacking clergymen.41

When the siege finally ended, the PA soldiers left the church in terrible condition:

The Palestinian gunmen holed up in the Church of the Nativity seized church stockpiles of food and "ate like greedy monsters" until the food ran out, while more than 150 civilians went hungry. They also guzzled beer, wine, and Johnnie Walker scotch that they found in priests' quarters, undeterred by the Islamic ban on drinking alcohol. The indulgence lasted for about two weeks into the 39-day siege, when the food and drink ran out, according to an account by four Greek Orthodox priests who were trapped inside for the entire ordeal....
The Orthodox priests and a number of civilians have said the gunmen created a regime of fear.
Even in the Roman Catholic areas of the complex there was evidence of disregard for religious norms. Catholic priests said that some Bibles were torn up for toilet paper, and many valuable sacramental objects were removed. "Palestinians took candelabra, icons and anything that looked like gold," said a Franciscan, the Rev. Nicholas Marquez from Mexico.42

A problem that arose during the siege again shows Christian fear of Muslim domination. Two Palestinian gunmen in the church were killed, and the PA wanted to bury them in the basilica. "With two Muslim bodies inside the Church of the Nativity, Christianity could be facing an absolute disaster in Bethlehem," said Canon Andrew White, the special representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Middle East. "It would be catastrophic if two Muslim martyrs were buried in the church. It could lead to a situation like that in Nazareth," he said.43 Only after intensive mediation efforts were plans to bury the bodies inside abandoned.

excerpt from THE BELEAGUERED CHRISTIANS OF THE PALESTINIAN-CONTROLLED AREAS

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Globalists vs Zionists, Catholics vs Christians

Even as most Jews don’t want to be associated with those liberal and godless Jews who often make the headlines and cause great disturbances in both domestic and foreign affairs, the so-called “Zionists” (I always correct folks that Zionists and Zionism are good - that the Jews they’re referring to are evil globalists, UNJews, Hellenists), neither do Bible-believing Christians want to be falsely associated with hateful Roman Catholicism, which we know and understand and expose is nothing but the Babylonian Mystery religion in “Christian” drag, misleading the masses. The Roman Catholic Cult is not Christian!

Christian Zionists, Jews, and Israel

Why Such Hatred For The Plain Truth?

Re: The Plain Truth (YouTube Video)
 
 

DBA should contemplate why it is that everyone who knows him detests him.
 

Amos 5:10
They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, And they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.

Not everyone detests me [Christ in me]... only those who hate the plain truth of the Bible and history that I dare to share, only those who are hateful and dishonest and deceitful like you - folks who are left without excuse and deserve the punishment that's coming.


Will God Curse Our Countries for Christmas?

You've been warned: believe it or not! But instead of focusing on the message, taking it to heart, thanking God for bringing these truths to light and offering a way out, too many want to shoot the messenger but it will backfire on them.

John 7:7
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

Is the Plain Truth Too Strong?

John 17:14
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Psalm 34:21
...they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.


 

Drunks and Whores

Shape up or get shipped out!

Plea to Diehard Catholics & Protestants to Repent
 

www.DavidBenAriel.org

Kwanzaa?

Why Kwanzaa?
By William Bowmer
From December 26–January 1, several million Americans will be celebrating Kwanzaa, a “harvest festival” first proclaimed in 1966 to celebrate blessings of African heritage. How should we view this recently-devised holiday?
(read more ...)

Friday, December 25, 2009

Bah Humbug!

Bah! Humbug!

The sounds, the smells, the colorful lights and decorations; folks being thoughtful and remembering the poor, good feelings all around; what could possibly be wrong with any of this? Short days, cold, long nights can use some brightening up and some cheerful activities, so “Just leave me alone” the devotees to Christmas might say to those who decry the celebrations of the season.
“It’s for the children!” many say, as a defense for continuing the observance in the face of all the incriminating evidence against it. Some will say, “We are honoring Jesus Christ, our Savior, by observing this season regardless of its origins.” In actual fact, to put Christ into Christmas, you would have to hijack Him, since He was never anywhere in the observance, from its beginnings down to modern times.
This greatest of all the “Christian” holidays began in antiquity, as a pagan observance of the winter solstice, and has morphed into a quasi-religious observance that is really a great merchandising opportunity for merchants who cater to every whim, as people scramble to buy gifts for family, friends, and business associates. Surely, one can’t be against booming commerce which brings jobs and prosperity to so many people.
Then comes the day after the big celebration, when the reality of the credit buying binge crashes in on many families who financed their generosity with credit cards bearing high interest rates. Many heads ache from the over-indulgence in food and drink that would be unthinkable at other times of the year, but which is perfectly acceptable during this winter season. The stress and strain associated with all that goes on leading up to the climax of the observance takes a toll on many of the participants.
Still, you might be thinking, “If I’m willing to accept the responsibility and put up with all of this pressure to conform, why should anyone care?  It’s nobody’s business but mine!”  And, if you are not concerned about what the Bible has to say about the situation, you would be right.  However, actions have consequences, which include the universally popular observance of Christmas.
Consider that the Bible says that truth is important. Notice John 8:32: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” I’m certain you are aware that one of the basic ten commandments given by God on Mt. Sinai concerned being truthful: “You shall not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16). With that in mind, consider that Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th. So, the basic premise of the observance is based on an untruth – that’s right – a lie!
 Another big part of the celebration, especially for children, is the Santa Claus tradition.  I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there is no Santa Claus.  It is a lie!
What does the Bible say about the fate of liars?  It is not pretty.  Revelation 21:8 states: “…all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Clinging to traditions is not new. Jesus dealt with the subject when He strongly corrected the Pharisees and Sadducees saying: “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9). In another place, Jesus explained that paying lip service and using His name is not what is required. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). What is His will?  That we worship him with sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8; cf., 1 Peter 1:22).
Christmas is not the only popular tradition or teaching that is not biblical.  If you have the courage to face reality about many of the things taught by mainstream Christianity, then you will find our free booklet, Satan’s Counterfeit Christianity very helpful.
As you read this booklet you may find yourself saying with Scrooge, in the popular Christmas story, “A Christmas Carol” – “Bah! Humbug!”

Does the truth piss you off?

"Jesus only told half the story.
The truth 'will' set you free.
But, first it's going to piss you off."

-- Solomon Short
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Solomon.Short.Quote.DC0F

************

Especially when you dare to share the plain truth of the Bible and history about the baptized paganism of the "mass of Christ" or Christmas trees!


Is the Plain Truth Too Strong?

Will God Curse Our Countries for Christmas?

Plea to Diehard Catholics & Protestants to Repent

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Bethlehem suffers under Arab occupation!

Re: Oh Bethlehem A Son!

Even though I quit keeping the Roman Catholic hollow day of Christmas years ago, as soon as I found out the plain truth about how God hates Christmas as a whitewashed pagan abomination, I've been to Bethlehem on "Christmas Day." It's a Nazi-Muslim, Arab-occupied place now - certainly not a Jewish village Miriam, Yosef or Yahshua would feel welcome in!

Baptists reject Christmas but fall for SUNday!

The following is brief correspondence I had with some Baptists who rightly reject "the mass of Christ" as baptized paganism but somehow fail to see SUNday is spiritual adultery pimped by the same Roman Catholic Cult that deceives the world with Christmas!

************

I wrote:

I was thrilled to see you dare to share the plain truth about how Christmas is spiritual adultery and amounts to sun worship, and then so disappointed when I see you fall for Rome's replacement theology of SUNday and use the lame excuse it was the day of Yahshua's resurrection (which even if it were true, doesn't follow God changing His mind (Malachi 3:6) or Christ - who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrew 13:8) - about his holy commandments).

SUNday is spiritual adultery! God help you to come out of Babylon all the way.

************
Baptist heretics responded:

We are New Testament followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles.

We are not Old Testament followers of Moses.

The apostles changed the form of worship, just as Jesus had prophesied (John 4:20-24; Col 2:16-17; Heb 9:10).

************
My response:

If Jesus were your Lord, you would love and obey Him and follow His example. He kept the Sabbath, his disciples kept the Sabbath, and the whole world will keep the Sabbath when the King of the Jews returns and reigns. Furthermore, the Sabbath didn't begin or end with Moses.

Sad you commit spiritual adultery by bowing to ROME every SUNday, whether you chose to remain in drunken denial of this fact or not. True Christians know God has not changed His mind and Yahshua is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus prophesied about false followers speaking against the holy commandments of God (that they may keep their own idolatrous traditions), and Daniel warned about those who would "think to change times and laws."

Remember the Sabbath

Roman Catholic and Protestant Confessions about Sunday

"The law is done away" - don't you believe it!
 
 
http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity?

By COGwriter

Is God a trinity? Was the modern trinity the teaching of the Bible or the faithful leaders of the Christian church?

If it was not part of the early church, when did it become accepted?

This article will attempt to answer those questions from the Bible, early writings, and even from Roman Catholic writings.

Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity?

Why give gifts at Christmas?

"Understand. Before Christmas was the Roman Saturnalia, upon which Christmas is founded. Tertullian; considered an early Catholic church father, wrote that during the Saturnalia, presents were exchanged and “every pomp of the devil is frequented” (On Idolatry, circa 200 – 206 A.D.)."
- Why Satan loves Christmas

************
Christmas is About Giving -- Says Who?

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Death - not eternal life in hell fire!

Re: Faith - The Wages Of Sin...

************
Death - not eternal life in hell fire!
TRADITIONAL Christians misrepresent God as a sadist who will torment sinners forever. However, the plain truth of the Bible reveals that God will put unrepentant sinners out of their misery and destroy them in the Lake of Fire. Even Satan will be destroyed and everything evil will be history.

Those same TRADITIONAL Christians blather "the law is done away" - but don't you believe it!

Yahshua paid the eternal DEATH penalty for those who confess and forsake their sins, who go and sin no more, who love and obey God in attitude and in action, in words and works, exercising faith and works, so help us God. We're to overcome in Christ daily!


Pearly Gates (David Ben-Ariel YouTube Video)


Dead & Buried (David Ben-Ariel YouTube video)


Born Again and Heaven and Hell

British vassals of the German-Jesuit EU?

Ten reasons to leave the EU
By Daniel Hannan

************

We don't want to be useful idiots for Germany and the Jesuits who are clearly forging Germany's Fourth Reich - the final revival of the unholy Roman Empire - that threatens national sovereignty and world peace, as Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall warns.

The British-Israelites will finally leave the decadent EU or be thrown out. Which will it be?

Berlin, Rome and Britain—an Unworkable Combination


http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Monday, December 21, 2009

Impeach Obama!



Click here

Christmas is Saturnalia in Christian drag!

News 11 Your Day
Your Day chat for Monday, Dec. 21
http://www.wtol.com/Global/category.asp?C=110980


I just wish folks wouldn't get angry and hateful when they're informed Christ was NEVER in Christmas! They should be happy to know the truth and let it set them free. The "mass of Christ" is nothing but Saturnalia in Christian drag!

Why Satan loves Christmas
By Wyatt Ciesielka
Most people dismiss the commercialism, the pagan influence, or the impossibility of a December 25 birth, and take comfort in slogans such as “Put Christ back in Christmas.” But, would true Christians feel comfortable celebrating Christmas if they understood that you cannot “Put Christ back in Christmas” because Christmas is founded upon Satan worship?

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Why Satan loves Christmas

Why Satan loves Christmas

Most people dismiss the commercialism, the pagan influence, or the impossibility of a December 25 birth, and take comfort in slogans such as “Put Christ back in Christmas.”  But, would true Christians feel comfortable celebrating Christmas if they understood that you cannot “Put Christ back in Christmas” because Christmas is founded upon Satan worship?

This is no new understanding!  But the churches of the world hide or ignore this truth!  The Catholic Encyclopedia reveals: "Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts…” (vol. 3, pp. 724, 728).  Christmas was even briefly outlawed in Massachusetts in 1659 and in England in the mid 1600s as being unbiblical.

Understand.  Before Christmas was the Roman Saturnalia, upon which Christmas is founded.  Tertullian; considered an early Catholic church father, wrote that during the Saturnalia, presents were exchanged and “every pomp of the devil is frequented” (On Idolatry, circa 200 – 206 A.D.).

But, the Saturnalia was simply an adaptation of something earlier – Persian Mithraism.  As the Catholic Encyclopedia records: “In Mithraism, the highest god was Aion, Kronos, or Saturnus.  Saturnus; the name popularized by the Roman world, was no other than the ancient Iranian [Persian] god; Zervan (“Mithraism”).

The Romans eagerly adopted Mithraism in the form of the Saturnalia.  Emperor Diocletian built a temple to Mithra in Carnuntum, and “The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the winter-sun” (ibid).

In Mithraism, the mid-winter festivals began with worship of Zervan, whose celebrations ended on December 24.  The celebrations then transitioned to worship the reborn Zervan as the newborn Mithras, the new Saturn, born on December 25 who brought back the sun after the winter-solstice (Mithras, the Secret God, M.J. Vermaseren).

The pagan god Zervan was depicted as a winged, part-human, part-lion figure.  Thus, we see that Zervan depicts angelic cherubim characteristics (2 Chronicles 3:13; Ezekiel 10:14).  Further, Zervan was typically accompanied by snakes wrapped around his legs, arms or body (The Mysteries of Mithra, by Franz Cumont, 1903, page 93).  Scripture reveals that Satan (formerly Lucifer) is a fallen cherub (Ezekiel 28:14-16), and is associated with the snake (Genesis 3:1-14; Revelation 20:2).

A righteous angel will not permit himself to be worshipped (Revelation 19:10; 22:9).  And Revelation 9:20 warns that idolaters are actually worshipping demons.  Clearly, the cherub who demands his worship at the winter-solstice is no righteous angel.  Whether calling himself Zervan, Saturn or another eponym, this deity is a proxy for no other than Satan, the fallen cherub!

But even the Roman Saturnalia and Persian Mithraism was an adaption of an even earlier mystery religion – the Babylonian mystery cult.  The ancient Babylonians celebrated the reborn Nimrod as the newborn Tammuz by worshipping an evergreen tree (now the common Christmas tree).  The Babylonians also celebrated this rebirth during the winter solstice.  Jeremiah condemns ancient Israel for copying this terrible paganism, and even specifically mentions the evergreen tree in Jeremiah 3:13.

Regardless of fond memories or whether “everyone does it,” a true Christian will reject Christmas, not only because of the commercialism, the pagan influence, and the impossibility of Jesus being born mid-winter, but more fundamentally because Christ refuses to have any part with idolatry (2 Corinthians 6:15-16).  Christ was never part of Christmas and He will not be “put back” in Christmas.

God commands us to “learn not the way of the heathen” (Jeremiah 10:2, KJV), reveals that pagan celebrations are abominations to Him (Jeremiah 10:3-4; Ezekiel 8:13-14), and tells us to not change what was taught through Christ and the Apostles (2 Thessalonians 2:15).  Once this truth is understood, a true Christian will shudder at the idea of celebrating Christmas, realizing that these winter solstice celebrations are indeed Satan’s celebrations.

To learn more, watch the powerful Tomorrow’s World telecasts, Origins of Christmas and Insight into Christmas, or read the insightful article “What is Hidden by the Holidays.”

************



Call for Christmas tree sellers to repent!
Another dishonest Christmas tree seller!
Jeremiah 10 condemns Christmas trees!
Why I No Longer Celebrate Christmas
Christmas is About Giving -- Says Who?
C.H. Spurgeon on Christmas and Roman Catholicism
Will God Curse Our Countries for Christmas?
The Plain Truth about Christmas
Tiger Woods, Christmas and Adultery
Christmas is adultery!
"Christians" in denial
Christian Reprobates?
A Nation of Drunks and Whores

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Obama's Hanukkah Hypocrisy

The Maccabees would tell Obama to go to hell!

Re: Chanukah II: Obama’s Revenge

The president usurper, the fraud and foreigner, Obama/Soetoro/Obama, is an unclean liar and hypocrite who calls for the ethnic cleansing of Jews - allegedly in a vain attempt to appease the Nazi Muslim beast - and has the chutzpah to even pretend to celebrate Hanukkah? Furthermore, Obama's cold-hearted demand that the Israelis "freeze" going and growing in Judea and Samaria, contrary to God commands, is abominable! The Maccabees would tell him to go to hell, and any self-respecting Jew would refuse to attend any of his filthy Hanukkah charades.

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Another dishonest Christmas tree seller!

Why am I not surprised? I've received an email from another dishonest Christmas tree grower and seller, also a German-American (is that a coincidence?), vainly attempting to justify the "mass of Christ" and pagan Christmas trees. Here's my response:

I thank you for responding, but I'm sorry to see your idolatrous traditions blind you - or more likely, prejudice you against the plain truth of the Bible and history. Your drunk friend is also just plain ignorant or dishonest, failing to recognize the spiritual principles Jeremiah 10 teaches us about adopting heathen customs and pagan practices to worship the true God - something both the "Old" and "New" Testaments condemn. There's absolutely no excuse for the accursed Roman Catholic "mass of Christ" that nobody in the Bible kept or would keep since it amounts to dishonest baptized paganism, whitewashed bull. As Jeremiah 10 condemns Christmas trees! testifies:

Those who adorn their Christmas trees and remain in denial about its pagan origin, who play deaf, dumb and blind to the facts, who attempt to dismiss or downplay how it's a heathen custom, are living a lie and shamefully reject the clear commandments of God that speak against such spiritual adultery, mixing and matching pagan error with biblical truth, and will suffer the consequences for being so dishonest and deceitful.
You have a lot of chutzpah, as a Roman Catholic cultist, to pontificate to a Bible-believer who dares to share what history teaches about the Roman Catholic Cult and the pagan holiday masquerading today as the "mass of Christ."

Call for Christmas tree sellers to repent!


David Ben-Ariel

The Nazis were more honest about Christmas than Christians!

Re: Guess who invented ‘holiday trees’

It's sad that the vile Nazis were more honest about the pagan origins of the "mass of Christ," the whitewashed heathen customs both the Old and New Testaments condemn, than too many Catholics and Protestants!

Call for Christmas tree sellers to repent!

Call for Christmas tree sellers to repent!

Even as the apostle Paul was dangerously unpopular with those who made a living off of making idols (Acts 19: 23-41), dependent on pagan superstitions, the plain truth about the pagan practices of "Christmas" and "Christmas trees" isn't well received by those entangled in the Christmas tree industry! I sent Jeremiah 10 condemns Christmas trees! to many Christmas tree farms and received this hypocritical response from one woman:

We keep the Christ in Christmas. We hope that you can open your heart and embrace the true meaning of the season - Love - Peace - Joy to all of God's children.

The Bible IS the greatest book ever written - however - much was lost in translation. In your daily prayers, ask God to open your heart and mind to love - not criticize.

God's Blessings,


[name withheld since she didn't want to go public when I asked for permission]

As the article links within Jeremiah 10 condemns Christmas trees! proved beyond any shadow of a doubt: Christ was NEVER in Christmas!

Why I No Longer Celebrate Christmas

Christmas is About Giving -- Says Who?

C.H. Spurgeon on Christmas and Roman Catholicism

Will God Curse Our Countries for Christmas?

The Plain Truth about Christmas

I've opened my heart and mind to hear what God's Word has to say about baptized paganism, popular pagan practices and whitewashed heathen customs, rather than just blindly follow idolatrous traditions. Those who are truly God's children love and obey Him:

1 Corinthians 10:19-21
19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. [No mixing and matching of pagan error with biblical truth]

2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? [No diluting, adulterating and polluting of God's truth with pagan blends]Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."

17 Therefore
"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
[Don't stay stuck in the rut of tradition, but let the plain truth set you free!]
Do not touch what is unclean,
And [then] I will receive you.

18 [on these conditions] I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty."

Those who are proud and stubborn and insist on tinsel traditions (like pagan Christmas) are not God's children! They're of their father Satan the devil, spiritual drunks and whores, since they prefer religious lies to the plain truth of the Bible. They're "Christians" in denial - refusing to see Christmas is adultery!

Nothing has been lost in "translation," a dishonest argument, especially concerning the clear cut commands against modifying pagan holidays to worship the true God:

Deuteronomy 12
30 and after they [the pagans] have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same." 31 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates.

God isn't fooled by sanctimonious purrings about the "mass of Christ" or the new wrapping the old religious bull of Saturnalia is covered in today. Some are stuck in the muck of Babylon and don't even know it, but those who have received a God-given opportunity to know the truth and be set free and rejected it condemn themselves and curse our countries!

Don't criticize? Don't rock the boat? Don't slaughter your sacred cows? Don't disturb your darkness?

Is the Plain Truth Too Strong?
"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression [the Church and Synagogue], And the house of Jacob [the family of Israelite nations - all Twelve Tribes of Israel] their sins. 2 Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God" (Isaiah 58).

God's blessings are upon those who love and obey Him - who receive the pardon and the power to go and sin no more, and submit to His Word - not to accursed Rome and its mass deception!

I trust many of the Christmas tree farms are beautiful (although abusing God's good creation for pagan purposes) and those who own them or work on them are sincere, even if sincerely wrong, but it's past time to move on, to repent of throwing fuel on the fires of pagan practices and heathen customs the Bible and history condemn, and receive God's blessing.

God is with the Jews!

God is with the Jews!


Quote:


concerning the love affair of Christians with the modern-day state of Israel

It's clear you fail to recognize that Christian Zionist love is for the Word of God that we see wonderfully fulfilled in the modern state of Israel.

Your Jew hatred blinds you to God's faithfulness, power and grace in restoring Judah to the Promised Land in preparation for their repentance and the return of the King of the Jews.

The REAL JESUS Can't Return Until...

Quote:

... consider that Israel has hundreds of nukes and is ready to use them if she is threatened ...

Oh, you mean like the US and Britain and France, to name a few? Why the selective concern? Objective observers note how irrational Jew haters prove themselves to be.

Quote:

Just how many of your righteous Jew friends believe in Jesus?

Only a chosen few, just like the Bible foretold. Same goes for our professing Christian nations of Gentilized Israelites who worship a counterfeit Christ and have fallen for another gospel.

Quote:

Herbert Armstrong was a godly man but he never advocated subservience to the modern state of Israel like you are implying.

Your inferiority complex is glaring, as I've never taught any "subservience" to our Jewish brethren but call for restoration and reconciliation between British-Israelites and Jews, just like the Bible does.

Interesting, nevertheless, is biblical prophecies do reveal that ultimately all will acknowledge God is with the Jews (who will have embraced Yeshua by that time) and with their biblical Sabbath and festivals - unlike the baptized paganism of counterfeit Christianity that composes the Babylonian Mystery religion.

Genesis 49:8
"Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's children shall bow down before you.

It looks like our future "subservience" to our Jewish brethren isn't so bad, according to the Scriptures, does it?

Zechariah 8:23
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'In those days ten men [representatives of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel?] from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.""

So the tribes of Israel will acknowledge Judah as a leader among us, and other nations will acknowledge collective Israel and Judah, all 12 Tribes of Israel, as the Servant Nation of God or be punished and/or destroyed.

See - I represent our Great Creator God, the God of the Bible, the God of Israel and speak His plain truth:

Isaiah 60
10 "The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls,
And their kings shall minister to you;
For in My wrath I struck you,
But in My favor I have had mercy on you.
11 Therefore your gates shall be open continually;
They shall not be shut day or night,
That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles,
And their kings in procession.
12 For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish,
And those nations shall be utterly ruined.


Quote:

you are of the John Hagee type.

No, he's a Protestant who I've read thinks the Jews can be saved without acknowledging Yeshua. I don't believe that nonsense. At least he knows this much: it's the Promised Land of ISRAEL - not some accursed "Palestine!"

Christians Reject "Palestine" for the Promised Land of Israel

Quote:

And stop claiming that anyone who criticizes Israel is a "Jew Hater"

I've never claimed that anyone who criticizes Israel is a Jew hater, as I criticize Israel and Judah often but I offer constructive criticism - unlike you with your selective and irrational attitudes and insane jealousy about and against the Jews.

John 8
37I know that you are [physical] descendants of Abraham [contrary to those who wickedly teach otherwise]; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. 38I declare what I have seen in the Father's presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.'

39 They answered him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham’s children [spiritually, not just physically], you would be doing what Abraham did, 40but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41You are indeed doing what your father does.' They said to him, 'We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.' 42Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. 44You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.'

Yes, that's what Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day, and He would say the same and more to professing Christian leaders today! (1 John 2:4).

Do You Prefer TRADITION Over Truth?

Is the Plain Truth Too Strong?

You fail, as many are guilty of who are irrational Jew haters, of learning to rightly divide the Word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Did Jesus Call Jews the Children of the Devil?
Jesus acknowledged that Abraham is the father of the Jews physically, but not always spiritually (John 8:37, 39, 42, 44). The same can be said and is true about all Twelve Tribes of Israel. In fact, the commission of the Two Witnesses - in the spirit of Elijah - is to restore our relationship with our Fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and thereby through their true religion reconcile us to our Heavenly Father (Malachi 4:6; Isa. 49:5-6).

Romans 11
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

"The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins."

28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 evn so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 "For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?"
35 "Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?"

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Instead of always downing our Jewish brethren, you ought to pray and do what you can to see that the true gospel of the Kingdom, the true Yeshua, is presented to them to help clear up the confusion counterfeit Christianity has shamefully spread among them.


The Great Mideast Commission: Reaching the Cities of Judah

Israel and Judah Must Get House in Order Before King Messiah Arrives


www.davidbenariel.org

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Herbert Armstrong

The Mystery of MELCHIZEDEK Solved!
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. And he [Melchizedek] blessed him [Abraham] and said, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!' And Abram gave him [Melchizedek] a tenth of everything" that is, a tithe of all, for a tithe means a tenth (Genesis 14:18-20, RSV).

THE SIN OF INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE
This world says the cause of racial problems is segregation, when in fact the opposite is the case.

Just What Do You Mean...Kingdom of God?
Is it the CHURCH? Is it something "setup in the hearts of men"? Is it the British Empire? Is it "the good within you"? Is it "the Millennium"? Each of these is widely taught - yet none is right!

Herbert W. Armstrong Was Ahead of His Time!
Mr. Armstrong was ahead of his time. The principles of prophecy he spoke of remain absolutely true: a final revival of the unholy Roman Empire is prophesied and the EU is forging ahead with that Frankenstein Monster now.

The Plain Truth About Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God
Herbert W. Armstrong was courageously teaching the plain truth around the world, announcing the good news of the Wonderful World Tomorrow, the Kingdom of God that will soon be established with the return and reign of Christ.

Was Herbert W. Armstrong Elijah?
Was Herbert W. Armstrong the prophesied individual to come in the power and spirit of Elijah, as taught by the former Worldwide Church of God and still believed by many of the branches of the Sabbath-keeping Church of God?

Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God Mentioned in Israeli Newspaper
One of the Worldwide Church of God beliefs is that there will be a politico-military mess that will take place by next year. In their opinion, Germany, and maybe even Italy, will attempt to conquer the world. That attempt will ignite a world war that will take two thirds of the world's population, but that afterwards there will begin a true peace for planet Earth. The members of the Worldwide Church of God will be among those that survive and they believe that eventually their beliefs will be accepted by all the Earth.

Is All Animal Flesh Good Food?
Were all animals made clean? What about the unclean animals shown to Peter in a vision? Here is a straightforward Bible answer, giving the New Testament teaching. This subject is important to your health and well-being!

Accusations Against Herbert W. Armstrong
Those who truly are Christians understand that the Christian thing to do, especially in light of the fact that the worst accusations against Herbert W. Armstrong would be thrown out of court, dismissed for lack of evidence, is to give Herbert W. Armstrong the benefit of the doubt, as we would want, knowing we're to love our neighbor as ourselves...

Halos and other pagan images

Pagan Sun Worship and Catholicism
The Sunburst Image, the Queen of Heaven and Baal

What's Happening in Europe?

Open Europe press summary: 15 December 2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Good News for Captive Israel!

Gospel

How Adam and Eve Reflect the Kingdom of God
"For we are members of his Body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they TWO shall be ONE FLESH. This is a GREAT MYSTERY: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church" (Ephes. 5:30-32).

Overcome in Christ Daily
GOOD NEWS:
Yeshua is able to break the bonds of sin and set free those who are slaves, saving us from both sin's eternal death penalty and delivering us from the sin. Some deny this POWER and only want the pardon but the Throne of Grace offers both.

Man Questions Whether We'll Be Angelic Or Divine
Even as we have been fully mortal and human like Adam, we shall be fully divine and holy Spirit like Christ the Second Adam, being born again into the literal Kingdom-Family of God. How Satan is insanely jealous of this fact!

Born Again and Heaven and Hell
Yeshua said that which is born of the flesh is flesh (like we are now in this life), but that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT. He also said you can't even see or enter into that Kingdom of God unless you're born again...

Sneak Preview of the Kingdom of God
If I may, as God is my Witness and Judge, when I was only 17 years young, God UNEXPECTEDLY gave me a VISION while I was in prayer. I was within that vision as a glorified Spirit-Being, whiter than glistening snow and like a brilliant white cloud with the sun shining on it, appearing smooth, dressed in a white robe - even my hair was that brilliant white - holding a Book in my hands and teaching two flesh and blood mortals who were sitting on the ground, in an outdoor setting like a park or meadow.)

Born Again: The Kingdom of God!
GOD IS REPRODUCING HIMSELF! That's the glorious Good News that Jesus boldly proclaimed! The Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD announces the GOD KINGDOM: a Spirit-Born Kingdom of God-Beings! A Royal Family that we can enter (Rev. 3:21). A Divine Family that will administer God's Government throughout the universe and eternity (Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:18).

A Higher Calling: Quest for the Kingdom of God
Jesus clearly said, "No man can come to Me, except the Father who has sent me draw him..."(John 6:44). Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Christian calling includes recognizing Jesus is the only way to the Father, learning all about Him as the Incarnate Word of God and walking in that light as a way of life, following Jesus by the lead of the Holy Spirit, the power and influence of God (Romans 8:14, 1 John 2:6).

Kingdom of God-Beings to Rule Earth from Jerusalem!
Yeshua has gone to Heaven and is preparing for the coming Kingdom of God, making room for us (converted Christians then transformed) in His Administration, preparing our positions and government seats in the Kingdom-Family of God, and will then return and receive us to Himself, sharing His glory and power and honor with us from Jerusalem, the seat of God's government, the Throne of David, the Throne of the LORD.

The Great Mideast Commission: Reaching the Cities of Judah
So there is a physical preparing, as well as a spiritual, in preparing the way for Messiah's Coming! Further, God says we are to SHOUT, with amplified power, to the CITIES OF JUDAH the glad message that the Messiah is soon coming" - Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong, Volume II, pages 469-470

Gospel

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The DEAD faith of traditional "Christians"

James 2
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Those traditional "Christians" who have a dead faith and who lie and hypocritically say the law is done away, or any other such nonsense, are rebuked by the plain truth of the Bible:

1 John 2:4
4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

"The law is done away" - don't you believe it!

Christian Reprobates?
A Nation of Drunks and Whores
Apostate Christians
Is the Plain Truth Too Strong?
Do You Prefer TRADITION Over Truth?

"Christmas is about giving" - Says Who?

Who started that BIG LIE? Undoubtedly those with something to sell, the modern moneychangers! Look at the folks about you rushing like sheep to the slaughter, to the "sales" and such that they simply cannot afford. Going into debt certainly isn't biblical, so why not break free from the trance? The "Christmas" rush is a "drug" pushed by commercial pimps prostituting a supposedly Christian holiday for their ungodly profits! They hold hands around the cash register and sing, "What a friend we have in Jesus."

In all honesty, Christmas is about GETTING! The whole idea of giving gifts has gotten out of hand. First it's not Jesus' birthday. Second the wise men didn't exchange gifts with each other but gave their gifts fit for a King to the King of the Jews (two years old and living in a house at that time - which is why Herod slaughtered the children two years and under trying to abort the Messiah's ascension to David's Throne).

If Christmas is supposed to be about Christ (and some sincerely believe it is, still in denial that it's a pagan holiday God wants no part of), why let Santa steal the show? Why do folks pretend they care that Jesus was born when they deny His life the rest of the year? Why do folks get angry when you mention these facts and they're not even religious? The herd doesn't want their trance broken, so they'll go broke keeping alive pagan festivals and foolishness that will be the death of many. Too many prefer tradition over truth, grieved to say.

"Harmless" Christmas celebrations, abominations to God and rejected by Christ, are setting the stage for our worst nightmare: our family and friends are going to be shipped off like cattle, since our countries are prophesied to suffer national defeat and deportation due to such idolatrous ideas and tinsel traditions, as brought out in: Shape up or get shipped out!

WAKE UP: Christmas is an ABOMINATION. That's why I no longer celebrate Christmas, refusing to live a lie. The plain truth of the Bible and history has set me free from such traditional Babylonian bondage!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Blasting Roman Catholic Bull!

Re: Happy Hanukkah!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marvin
You don't know your bible.
I do know the Bible and testify to its plain truth which is what Roman Catholic cultists hate. The Roman Catholic Cult depends on folks being kept in the dark to what the Word says, since its light exposes your evil, as C.H. Spurgeon wrote:

C.H. Spurgeon on Roman Catholicism

"Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho." Joshua 6:26
"Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jericho, much more the man who labours to restore Popery among us. In our fathers' days the gigantic walls of Popery fell by the power of their faith, the perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel trumpets; and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed system upon its old foundations. O Lord, be please to thwart their unrighteous endeavours, and pull down every stone which they build. It should be a serious business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error which may have a tendency to foster the spirit of Popery, and when we have made a clean sweep at home we should seek in every way to oppose its all too rapid spread abroad in the church and in the world. This last can be done in secret by fervent prayer, and in public by decided testimony. We must warn with judicious boldness those who are inclined towards the errors of Rome; we must instruct the young in gospel truth, and tell them of the black doings of Popery in the olden times. We must aid in spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for priests, like owls, hate daylight. Are we doing all we can for Jesus and the gospel? If not, our negligence plays into the hands of priestcraft. What are we doing to spread the Bible, which is the Pope's bane and poison? Are we casting abroad good, sound gospel writings? Luther once said, 'The devil hates goose quills,' and doubtless, he has good reason, for ready writers, by the Holy Spirit's blessing, have done his kingdom much damage. If the thousands who will read this short word this night will do all they can to hinder the rebuilding of his accursed Jericho, the Lord's glory shall speed among the sons of men. Reader, what can you do? What will you do?"

From "Evening By Evening" by Charles Spurgeon
Uhrichsville, Barbour and Company, 1991.


Quote:
Jesus continually did work on the Sabbath day.
from harvesting grain to healing the sick.
Yes, Yahshua cut through all the entangling human traditions to keep God's holy commandment. If Yahshua transgressed the holy commandment rather than merely BREAK WITH TRADITION, he would have been a sinner. Why are you accusing Yahshua of being a sinner? You're stuck in the muck of Babylon and condemn yourself with its religious bull that the Word of God slaughters.

Remember the Sabbath

Which day is the Christian Sabbath?

"And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day....Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all the work He had created and made" (Gen. 2:2- 3).

Yahshua kept the seventh day Sabbath, just like Peter, James and John and every other true follower - unlike the accursed Roman Catholics who prefer their idolatrous traditions like SUNday and other pagan holidays.

Do You Prefer TRADITION Over Truth?
If anybody is honestly interested in knowing whether or not this or that doctrine is actually biblical or merely traditional, all they have to do is objectively search the Scriptures like the noble Bereans did in Acts 17:11, after hearing Paul out, to see whether what he taught was true...
__________________
www.DavidBenAriel.org

Maccabees versus Hellenists

Even though it's not politically correct, and goes against our democratic grain, and could result in a backlash - Hanukkah represents those who are willing, if and when necessary, to risk the wrath of others to insure the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness, and right over wrong.

In this particular case, the light of what's good and right was the brilliant example of those faithful few Jews who held their head high (sick and tired of being beaten down) and publicly chose to reject alien ideas and destroy imposed idols.

The Maccabees weren't overly concerned with a suicidal fear of world opinion, but mightily expressed their faith in God. They didn't flirt with "foreign affairs," or engage in self-destructive interfaith orgies. They kept the faith and cleansed the Temple Mount of its spiritual filth.

World Jewry continues to celebrate Hanukkah to this day, but in the spirit of hypocrisy! We're more like the cowering Hellenists who assimilated, rather than the courageous Maccabees who fought to remain true to themselves!

Thank Heavens, there are a growing number in Israel who want to see Jerusalem restored as our spiritual center, and our lives rededicated to biblical ideals, not humanist ideas.

Pray for Jerusalem's peace and the rekindling of Israel's light!

Where's the Temple on the Temple Mount?

Biblical Festivals in the New Testament

Biblical Festivals in the New Testament

1. Passover
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:5
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Matthew 26:2, 17-19
Mark 14:12-16
Luke 2:41-42; 22:1, 7-20
John 2:13, 23; 6:4; 13:1-30
1 Corinthians 11:23-29

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:6-8
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Matthew 26:17
Mark 14:12
Luke 2:41-42, 22:1,7
Acts 20:6
1 Corinthians 5:6-8

3. Feast of Pentecost
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:15-22
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Acts 2:1-21; 20:16
1 Corinthians 16:8

4. Feast of Trumpets*
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:23-25
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Matthew 24:30-31
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Revelation 11:15

5. Day of Atonement
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:26-32
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
Acts 27:9

6. Feast of Tabernacles
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:33-43
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
John 7:1-2, 8, 10, 14
Acts 18:21

7. Last Great Day
Commanded in Old Testament:
Leviticus 23:36
Observed by Jesus Christ, the apostles or the Church in the New Testament:
John 7:37-38
*Although the Feast of Trumpets is not mentioned by name in the New Testament, the theme of the day—the sounding of trumpets announcing Jesus Christ's return—is mentioned by several New Testament authors as noted in the references.

- excerpt from God's Holy Day Plan

Hanukkah Hypocrisy!

World Jewry and Israelis especially should be ashamed of themselves! The very fact that the Temple Mount remains without a Temple stands as an indictment against Judaism. God hates hypocrisy. I'm sure it stinks to high Heaven when folks celebrate Hanukkah by eating sufganiot rather than liberating the Temple Mount and demanding their leaders DO SOMETHING.

Jews Must Demand Rights to Temple Mount

Restore Israeli Sovereignty Over Temple Mount

A House of Prayer For All Peoples?
__________________
www.DavidBenAriel.org

Friday, December 11, 2009

Happy Hanukkah!

This Sabbath evening begins the Festival of Lights (Jesus kept it - the Feast of the Dedication - John 10:22) and is a perfect time to remember the Temple Mount and how it will again soon graciously host a House of Prayer for All Peoples.

Taking a stand for the Temple Mount!

How December 25 Became Christmas

How December 25 Became Christmas
by Andrew McGowan

On December 25, Christians around the world will gather to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Joyful carols, special liturgies, brightly wrapped gifts, festive foods—these all characterize the feast today, at least in the northern hemisphere. But just how did the Christmas festival originate? How did December 25 come to be associated with Jesus’ birthday?

The Bible offers few clues: Celebrations of Jesus’ Nativity are not mentioned in the Gospels or Acts; the date is not given, not even the time of year. The biblical reference to shepherds tending their flocks at night when they hear the news of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:8) might suggest the spring lambing season; in the cold month of December, on the other hand, sheep might well have been corralled. Yet most scholars would urge caution about extracting such a precise but incidental detail from a narrative whose focus is theological rather than calendrical.

The extrabiblical evidence from the first and second century is equally spare: There is no mention of birth celebrations in the writings of early Christian writers such as Irenaeus (c. 130–200) or Tertullian (c. 160–225). Origen of Alexandria (c. 165–264) goes so far as to mock Roman celebrations of birth anniversaries, dismissing them as “pagan” practices—a strong indication that Jesus’ birth was not marked with similar festivities at that place and time.1 As far as we can tell, Christmas was not celebrated at all at this point.

This stands in sharp contrast to the very early traditions surrounding Jesus’ last days. Each of the Four Gospels provides detailed information about the time of Jesus’ death. According to John, Jesus is crucified just as the Passover lambs are being sacrificed. This would have occurred on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Nisan, just before the Jewish holiday began at sundown (considered the beginning of the 15th day because in the Hebrew calendar, days begin at sundown). In Matthew, Mark and Luke, however, the Last Supper is held after sundown, on the beginning of the 15th. Jesus is crucified the next morning—still, the 15th.

Easter, a much earlier development than Christmas, was simply the gradual Christian reinterpretation of Passover in terms of Jesus’ Passion. Its observance could even be implied in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 5:7–8: “Our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the festival...”); it was certainly a distinctively Christian feast by the mid-second century C.E., when the apocryphal text known as the Epistle to the Apostles has Jesus instruct his disciples to “make commemoration of [his] death, that is, the Passover.”

Jesus’ ministry, miracles, Passion and Resurrection were often of most interest to first- and early-second-century C.E. Christian writers. But over time, Jesus’ origins would become of increasing concern. We can begin to see this shift already in the New Testament. The earliest writings—Paul and Mark—make no mention of Jesus’ birth. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide well-known but quite different accounts of the event—although neither specifies a date. In the second century C.E., further details of Jesus’ birth and childhood are related in apocryphal writings such as the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and the Proto-Gospel of James. These texts provide everything from the names of Jesus’ grandparents to the details of his education—but not the date of his birth.

Finally, in about 200 C.E., a Christian teacher in Egypt makes reference to the date Jesus was born. According to Clement of Alexandria, several different days had been proposed by various Christian groups. Surprising as it may seem, Clement doesn’t mention December 25 at all. Clement writes: “There are those who have determined not only the year of our Lord’s birth, but also the day; and they say that it took place in the 28th year of Augustus, and in the 25th day of [the Egyptian month] Pachon [May 20 in our calendar]...And treating of His Passion, with very great accuracy, some say that it took place in the 16th year of Tiberius, on the 25th of Phamenoth [March 21]; and others on the 25th of Pharmuthi [April 21] and others say that on the 19th of Pharmuthi [April 15] the Savior suffered. Further, others say that He was born on the 24th or 25th of Pharmuthi [April 20 or 21].”

Clearly there was great uncertainty, but also a considerable amount of interest, in dating Jesus’ birth in the late second century. By the fourth century, however, we find references to two dates that were widely recognized—and now also celebrated—as Jesus’ birthday: December 25 in the western Roman Empire and January 6 in the East (especially in Egypt and Asia Minor). The modern Armenian church continues to celebrate Christmas on January 6; for most Christians, however, December 25 would prevail, while January 6 eventually came to be known as the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the arrival of the magi in Bethlehem. The period between became the holiday season later known as the 12 days of Christmas.
The earliest mention of December 25 as Jesus’ birthday comes from a mid-fourth-century Roman almanac that lists the death dates of various Christian bishops and martyrs. The first date listed, December 25, is marked: natus Christus in Betleem Judeae: “Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea.”

In about 400 C.E., Augustine of Hippo mentions a local dissident Christian group, the Donatists, who apparently kept Christmas festivals on December 25, but refused to celebrate the Epiphany on January 6, regarding it as an innovation. Since the Donatist group only emerged during the persecution under Diocletian in 312 C.E. and then remained stubbornly attached to the practices of that moment in time, they seem to represent an older North African Christian tradition.

In the East, January 6 was at first not associated with the magi alone, but with the Christmas story as a whole. So, almost 300 years after Jesus was born, we finally find people observing his birth in midwinter. But how had they settled on the dates December 25 and January 6?

There are two theories today: one extremely popular, the other less often heard outside scholarly circles (though far more ancient).

The most loudly touted theory about the origins of the Christmas date(s) is that it was borrowed from pagan celebrations. The Romans had their mid-winter Saturnalia festival in late December; barbarian peoples of northern and western Europe kept holidays at similar times. To top it off, in 274 C.E., the Roman emperor Aurelian established a feast of the birth of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun), on December 25. Christmas, the argument goes, is really a spin-off from these pagan solar festivals. According to this theory, early Christians deliberately chose these dates to encourage the spread of Christmas and Christianity throughout the Roman world: If Christmas looked like a pagan holiday, more pagans would be open to both the holiday and the God whose birth it celebrated.

Despite its popularity today, this theory of Christmas’s origins has its problems. It is not found in any ancient Christian writings, for one thing. Christian authors of the time do note a connection between the solstice and Jesus’ birth: The church father Ambrose (c. 339–397), for example, described Christ as the true sun, who outshone the fallen gods of the old order. But early Christian writers never hint at any recent calendrical engineering; they clearly don’t think the date was chosen by the church. Rather they see the coincidence as a providential sign, as natural proof that God had selected Jesus over the false pagan gods.

It’s not until the 12th century that we find the first suggestion that Jesus’ birth celebration was deliberately set at the time of pagan feasts. A marginal note on a manuscript of the writings of the Syriac biblical commentator Dionysius bar-Salibi states that in ancient times the Christmas holiday was actually shifted from January 6 to December 25 so that it fell on the same date as the pagan Sol Invictus holiday.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Bible scholars spurred on by the new study of comparative religions latched on to this idea. They claimed that because the early Christians didn’t know when Jesus was born, they simply assimilated the pagan solstice festival for their own purposes, claiming it as the time of the Messiah’s birth and celebrating it accordingly.

More recent studies have shown that many of the holiday’s modern trappings do reflect pagan customs borrowed much later, as Christianity expanded into northern and western Europe. The Christmas tree, for example, has been linked with late medieval druidic practices. This has only encouraged modern audiences to assume that the date, too, must be pagan.

There are problems with this popular theory, however, as many scholars recognize. Most significantly, the first mention of a date for Christmas (c. 200) and the earliest celebrations that we know about (c. 250–300) come in a period when Christians were not borrowing heavily from pagan traditions of such an obvious character.

Granted, Christian belief and practice were not formed in isolation. Many early elements of Christian worship—including eucharistic meals, meals honoring martyrs and much early Christian funerary art—would have been quite comprehensible to pagan observers. Yet, in the first few centuries C.E., the persecuted Christian minority was greatly concerned with distancing itself from the larger, public pagan religious observances, such as sacrifices, games and holidays. This was still true as late as the violent persecutions of the Christians conducted by the Roman emperor Diocletian between 303 and 312 C.E.

This would change only after Constantine converted to Christianity. From the mid-fourth century on, we do find Christians deliberately adapting and Christianizing pagan festivals. A famous proponent of this practice was Pope Gregory the Great, who, in a letter written in 601 C.E. to a Christian missionary in Britain, recommended that local pagan temples not be destroyed but be converted into churches, and that pagan festivals be celebrated as feasts of Christian martyrs. At this late point, Christmas may well have acquired some pagan trappings. But we don’t have evidence of Christians adopting pagan festivals in the third century, at which point dates for Christmas were established. Thus, it seems unlikely that the date was simply selected to correspond with pagan solar festivals.

The December 25 feast seems to have existed before 312—before Constantine and his conversion, at least. As we have seen, the Donatist Christians in North Africa seem to have know it from before that time. Furthermore, in the mid- to late fourth century, church leaders in the eastern Empire concerned themselves not with introducing a celebration of Jesus’ birthday, but with the addition of the December date to their traditional celebration on January 6.

There is another way to account for the origins of Christmas on December 25: Strange as it may seem, the key to dating Jesus’ birth may lie in the dating of Jesus’ death at Passover. This view was first suggested to the modern world by French scholar Louis Duchesne in the early 20th century and fully developed by American Thomas Talley in more recent years. But they were certainly not the first to note a connection between the traditional date of Jesus’ death and his birth.

Around 200 C.E. Tertullian of Carthage reported the calculation that the 14th of Nisan (the day of the crucifixion according to the Gospel of John) in the year Jesus died was equivalent to March 25 in the Roman (solar) calendar.March 25 is, of course, nine months before December 25; it was later recognized as the Feast of the Annunciation—the commemoration of Jesus’ conception.10 Thus, Jesus was believed to have been conceived and crucified on the same day of the year. Exactly nine months later, Jesus was born, on December 25.

This idea appears in an anonymous Christian treatise titled On Solstices and Equinoxes, which appears to come from fourth-century North Africa. The treatise states: “Therefore our Lord was conceived on the eighth of the kalends of April in the month of March [March 25], which is the day of the passion of the Lord and of his conception. For on that day he was conceived on the same he suffered.”11 Based on this, the treatise dates Jesus’ birth to the winter solstice.

Augustine, too, was familiar with this association. In On the Trinity (c. 399–419) he writes: “For he [Jesus] is believed to have been conceived on the 25th of March, upon which day also he suffered; so the womb of the Virgin, in which he was conceived, where no one of mortals was begotten, corresponds to the new grave in which he was buried, wherein was never man laid, neither before him nor since. But he was born, according to tradition, upon December the 25th. 12

In the East, too, the dates of Jesus’ conception and death were linked. But instead of working from the 14th of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, the easterners used the 14th of the first spring month (Artemisios) in their local Greek calendar—April 6 to us. April 6 is, of course, exactly nine months before January 6—the eastern date for Christmas. In the East too, we have evidence that April was associated with Jesus’ conception and crucifixion. Bishop Epiphanius of Salamis writes that on April 6, “The lamb was shut up in the spotless womb of the holy virgin, he who took away and takes away in perpetual sacrifice the sins of the world 13 Even today, the Armenian Church celebrates the Annunciation in early April (on the 7th, not the 6th) and Christmas on January 6.

Thus, we have Christians in two parts of the world calculating Jesus’ birth on the basis that his death and conception took place on the same day (March 25 or April 6) and coming up with two close but different results (December 25 and January 6).

Connecting Jesus’ conception and death in this way will certainly seem odd to modern readers, but it reflects ancient and medieval understandings of the whole of salvation being bound up together. One of the most poignant expressions of this belief is found in Christian art. In numerous paintings of the angel’s Annunciation to Mary—the moment of Jesus’ conception—the baby Jesus is shown gliding down from heaven on or with a small cross (see photo of detail from Master Bertram’s Annunciation scene); a visual reminder that the conception brings the promise of salvation through Jesus’ death.

The notion that creation and redemption should occur at the same time of year is also reflected in ancient Jewish tradition, recorded in the Talmud. The Babylonian Talmud preserves a dispute between two early-second-century C.E. rabbis who share this view, but disagree on the date: Rabbi Eliezer states: “In Nisan the world was created; in Nisan the Patriarchs were born; on Passover Isaac was born...and in Nisan they [our ancestors] will be redeemed in time to come.” (The other rabbi, Joshua, dates these same events to the following month, Tishri.) 14 Thus, the dates of Christmas and Epiphany may well have resulted from Christian theological reflection on such chronologies: Jesus would have been conceived on the same date he died, and born nine months later. 15

In the end we are left with a question: How did December 25 become Christmas? We cannot be entirely sure. Elements of the festival that developed from the fourth century until modern times may well derive from pagan traditions. Yet the actual date might really derive more from Judaism—from Jesus’ death at Passover, and from the rabbinic notion that great things might be expected, again and again, at the same time of the year—than from paganism. Then again, in this notion of cycles and the return of God’s redemption, we may perhaps also be touching upon something that the pagan Romans who celebrated Sol Invictus, and many other peoples since, would have understood and claimed for their own too. 16


Notes
1. Origen, Homily on Leviticus 8.

2. Clement, Stromateis 1.21.145. In addition, Christians in Clement’s native Egypt seem to have known a commemoration of Jesus’ baptism—sometimes understood as the moment of his divine choice, and hence as an alternate “incarnation” story—on the same date (Stromateis 1.21.146). See further on this point Thomas J. Talley, Origins of the Liturgical Year, 2nd ed. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991), pp. 118–120, drawing on Roland H. Bainton, “Basilidian Chronology and New Testament Interpretation,” Journal of Biblical Literature 42 (1923), pp. 81–134; and now especially Gabriele Winkler, “The Appearance of the Light at the Baptism of Jesus and the Origins of the Feast of the Epiphany,” in Maxwell Johnson, ed., Between Memory and Hope: Readings on the Liturgical Year (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000),
pp. 291–347.
3. The Philocalian Calendar.
4. Scholars of liturgical history in the English-speaking world are particularly skeptical of the “solstice” connection; see Susan K. Roll, “The Origins of Christmas: The State of the Question,” in Between Memory and Hope: Readings on the Liturgical Year (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000), pp. 273–290, especially pp. 289–290.
5. A gloss on a manuscript of Dionysius Bar Salibi, d. 1171; see Talley, Origins, pp. 101–102.
6.  Prominent among these was Paul Ernst Jablonski; on the history of scholarship see especially Roll, “The Origins of Christmas,” pp. 277–283.
7. For example, Gregory of Nazianzen, Oratio 38; John Chrysostom, In Diem Natalem.
8. Louis Duchesne, Origines du culte Chrétien, 5th ed. (Paris: Thorin et Fontemoing, 1925), pp. 275–279; and Talley, Origins.
9. Tertullian, Adversus Iudaeos 8.
10.  There are other relevant texts for this element of argument, including Hippolytus and the (pseudo-Cyprianic) De pascha computus; see Talley, Origins, pp. 86, 90–91.
11. De solstitia et aequinoctia conceptionis et nativitatis domini nostri iesu christi et iohannis baptistae.
12. Augustine, Sermon 202.
13. Epiphanius is quoted in Talley, Origins, p. 98.
14. b. Rosh Hashanah 10b–11a.
15.  Talley, Origins, pp. 81–82.
16.  On the two theories as false alternatives, see Roll, “Origins of Christmas.”
a. See Jonathan Klawans, “Was Jesus’ Last Supper a Seder?” BR 17:05.
b. See the following BR articles: David R. Cartlidge, “The Christian Apocrypha: Preserved in Art,” BR 13:03; Ronald F. Hock, “The Favored One,” BR 17:03; and Charles W. Hedrick, “The 34 Gospels,” BR 18:03.
c. For more on dating the year of Jesus’ birth, see Leonara Neville, “Fixing the Millennium,&rd; AO 03:01.
d. The ancients were familiar with the 9-month gestation period based on the observance of women’s menstrual cycles, pregnancies and miscarriages.
e.  In the West (and eventually everywhere), the Easter celebration was later shifted from the actual day to the following Sunday. The insistence of the eastern Christians in keeping Easter on the actual 14th day caused a major debate within the church, with the easterners sometimes referred to as the Quartodecimans, or “Fourteenthers.”


Andrew McGowan
Warden and President of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne, Australia, Andrew McGowan’s work on early Christianity includes God in Early Christian Thought (Brill, 2009) and Ascetic Eucharists: Food and Drink in Early Christian Ritual Meals (Oxford, 1999).