I am working on a blog that dates the time when Christ was born. I allude to the date in this blog, but I am short on details – I am working to provide more.

Few really believe that Christ was born on December 25th, but most have never really examined the date or the customs they use to worship the birth of the Messiah. This blog, from last year examines the customs.

I know I am pouring cold water on your holiday plans and memories, but isn’t knowing the truth better than affronting your Lord with rituals that he despises?

For decades, I enjoyed the holidays traditions and shared them with my children. Today, I wish I had known the truth of what I was communicating to those I dearly love and instead had taught them the proper way to celebrate the Messiah in the way he teaches us. It is never too late to do the right thing(s).

The following is a passage from my book, Grafted: Embracing Torah. The subject matter is important to consider before you become caught up in the ‘magic’ of the holidays.

Many “Christian” holidays are taken from pagan festivals.  The Catholic Church combined these traditions as a means of making Christianity more acceptable to the pagans they sought to convert.  Be careful that you do not worship other gods through the rituals and traditions of heathens.

¹⁸ Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? ¹⁹ What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? ²⁰ But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. ²¹ Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. ²² Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? ²³ All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. ²⁴ Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.  ²⁵ Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: ²⁶ For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. ²⁷ If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. ²⁸ But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: ²⁹ Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? 

(1Corinthians 10:18-29 — emphasis added)

Knowledge is the key here.  If you know that something is idolatry – stay away.  Do not be a “stumbling block” (Romans 14:13) to others having less knowledge and/or faith.

An entire book could be written on the fallacies and pagan origins of this holiday alone.  It is amazing how much corruption has been allowed to enter into this season and nothing short of a complete boycott can begin to rectify this abomination.  Most people have fond memories of Christmas as a child (I do) and want the same for their children (I tried).  If we demand true worship now, then our children can have fond memories of what is right rather than what is profane.

We have to start with the day the holiday is celebrated.  The Catholic Church ‘chose’ this time in December because many pagan religions worshiped a Sun god.  They believed that the days would continue to get shorter unless they held a festival during the winter solstice.  To help integrate these nonbelievers into Christianity, they declared that Christ was born around the end of December.  ‘You have your Sun god – we have our son of God – let’s party together.’

The Scriptural account contradicts a late December birth.  “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8).  This was not done in the winter.

Depending on the account you read, King Herod died anywhere from 1 BC to 4 BC.  Herod cannot order the killing of the children of Bethlehem if he is already dead.  By this we confirm that the date given for Yeshua’s birth is wrong.

There are many books and online studies about the actual date of Christ’s birth and I recommend you investigate for yourself.  Obviously, they don’t all agree so you will have to determine what makes sense to you and stop using pagan rituals to celebrate it – I’m serious. More importantly, Yahweh is serious about this. 

As of the date of this publication, I have resolved that Yeshua was born on September 11, 3 BC (between 7:30pm and 9:00pm).  This would have been during Rosh Hashanah at that time. 

It is also available to determine when Zacharias served his “course” as Priest at the Temple (http://www. the13thenumeration.com/Blog13/2012/11/02/the-course-of-abija/).  Using Zacharias’ course and adding nine months for Elizabeth’s pregnancy we find John the Baptist is born at Passover.  Mary conceived six months after Elizabeth, so Yeshua’s birth would be in the Fall.

I first read of this in the book, Jesus Christ: Our Promised Seed, by Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille.  I have since become convinced this is correct by studying the works done by others (since I’m not an astronomer).  The signs in the stars seem to indicate that something special was happening, both in the skies over of Judea and in the skies over Persia (where the Magi were located – the Magi would not be able to see the skies over Judea from Persia).

So why December 25th?  Nimrod and Tammuz are both, reportedly, born (or, at least, their births were celebrated) “on the first day of the year when the sun is reborn . . . .”  That would be December 25th.  Think this was an accident?  The Catholic Church has long been influenced by the many cultures it has assimilated, in much the same way that Solomon was influence by the cultures of the hundreds of women he married.  Solomon began his reign both righteous and wise, but he became corrupted.

¹ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; ² Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. ³ And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. ⁴ For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his  wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. ⁵ For Solomon went after Ashtoreth  the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. ⁶ And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. ⁷ Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. ⁸ And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 

(1Kings 11:1-8 – emphasis added)

I was astonished by the many pagan symbols that have been adopted by the Catholic Church – in their doctrine, traditions, and architecture.  This, again, could be its own book.  There is much scholarship concerning this on the internet and not all of it is bat-shit crazy.

I want to quickly break down the many idolatrous images associated with Christmas (even today!).  The whole weight of the imagery should sicken you.

1. December 25th:  I already mentioned it is associated with the birth of Tammuz (the son of the god, Nimrod). Other gods with the same birthday:

• Ba’al
• Mithras of Persia
• Osiris, Ra of Egypt
• Chaldeans  (“Yule” day)
• Attis of Rome  (12 day Feast of Saturnalia)

2. Santa:  Really?!  The anagram spells “Satan”, for Pete’s sake.

• One of the definitions of the word “Satan” is “Old Nick” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
• Scandinavia – Odin. Big guy, white beard, rode around on a horse with eight legs (eight reindeer?)
• Holland – Sinterklaas and his “blackjacks” (Krampus)

3. Elves:  Early “Klaus” depictions show him with “dark helpers” (Krampus).  Santa gave gifts to good kids – Krampus would beat and punish bad kids.  St Nicholas and Krampus are still celebrated today in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and others countries (https://www.youtube .com/watch?v=mojrfw7SJ14).  Commercialism has made the elves cute and toy makers, but this video (and others like it) show the true demonic origin of “elves”.

4. Chimney:  the Norse Goddess Nerthus (Mother Earth) or Hertha in the German (from where we get the word “hearth”).  If she entered your area, you had peace (“peace on Earth”).  She could enter your home through the chimney.  This gave rise to the legend of hobgoblins (Puck being the most famous), who would do nice things around the home if you were good or if you left them gifts or treats.

5. “Ho, ho, ho”:  Puck (Robin Goodfellow – Shakespeare) appears in literature in the 1500s and announces himself before entering a room by saying,  “ho, ho, ho”.

6. Christmas Tree:  The pine tree was considered sacred by many cultures because of its ability to remain green through all the seasons.  Pine cones appear in many pagan symbols

³ For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. ⁴ They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

(Jeremiah 10:3-4)

7. Mistletoe:  Is a symbol of male fertility.  Celts referred to it as the “semen of Taranis”.  The Romans hung it up during Saturnalia and would have orgies beneath it to aid fertility.

8. Sun Disc / Star Atop the Tree:  the eight-point star is associated with Ba’al worship.  Many examples exist in artifacts and architecture.

Don’t say, “the day does not matter as long as we are celebrating Christ.”  Try telling your spouse that you want to celebrate their birthday every year on the date that your ex was born.  Tell me how that went after you get out of the hospital.

¹ These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. ² Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under  every  green  tree: ³And  ye  shall  overthrow  their  altars,  and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. ⁴ Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.

(Deuteronomy 12:1-4)

Most people have fond memories of Christmas as a child (I do) and want the same for their children (I tried). If we demand true worship now, then our children can have fond memories of what is right rather than what is profane.

Imagine the ridicule you will receive if you reject this holiest of commercial holidays. Is this how you choose to celebrate the birth of Messiah each year:

1. Spend more than you make and/or have saved and spend the next several months paying off your credit cards.
2. Spend weeks (months?) worrying about whether the people you bought gifts for will:
   • like your gift
   • be offended because it does not fit
   • return it
   • be jealous because of what you got someone else
   • be jealous if you don’t spend the same amount on everyone (I heard of a woman who would give money to her children if their present did not cost as much as the most expensive present she gave – if one cost $24.83 and another cost $12.70, she would give the second child $0.13)
3. Spend time and money trying to impress your family and neighbors with your ‘tasteful’ display of pagan symbols that you have ‘christianized’.

Yahweh does not want us to worship Him using the symbols of idols.  We are to tear them down and destroy them. He has His own prescribed holidays that He has instructed us to keep. When did we decide it was okay to ignore what He made holy and replace it with a profane counterfeit?

Study this for yourself (you can take a shortcut by reading chapter 4 of my book Grafted: Embracing Torah – Prescribed Feasts / Holy Days versus Christian (“pagan”) holidays / Feasts to Idols) and endeavor to make ‘Jesus the reason for EVERY season’.