The Pagan rituals of Christmas

Below you will find a culmination of Historic as well as Scriptural facts exposing the truth about the celebration of Christmas. I have decided to do this research because many have asked me over the years why I do not celebrate Christmas as the rest of the "Christian" World does.

In his book, "Too Long In The Sun," Richard Rives draws an appropriate parallel to the circumstances in Exodus 32, a Biblical precedent which provoked God nearly to the point of destroying the nation of Israel for their sin of blending pagan worship with His own:

"…the golden calf was built and the celebration declared a ‘feast to the Lord.’...The people had declared a celebration to honor God that he did not recognize as being in his honor." Richard Rives, Too Long in the Sun, Partakers Pub., 1996, pp. 129-30.

"Hathor and Aphis, the cow and bull gods of Egypt, were representatives of sun worship. Their worship was just one stage in the long Egyptian history of solar veneration. The golden calf at Mount Sinai is more than sufficient evidence to prove that the feast proclaimed was related to sun worship. The event at Mount Sinai was just one episode in the Satanic apostasy which began at the tower of Babel. The celebration of December 25th, originally proclaimed in honor of the birth of the sun god Mithra, can only be one of the final events in the long continuing saga of Satanic sun worship." -Ibid, pp. 130-31.

"Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God." -LEVITICUS 18:30

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." -2 Corinthians 5:17

"No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles." -Mark 2:21-22

"The mass is the unbloody renewal of the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary's cross...Christ, through the ministry of the Roman Catholic priest, offers Himself to God in an unbloody manner under the appearances of bread and wine." 10 (Christ is thus crucified afresh, obviously indicating His death on Calvary was insufficient.) "The mass is the same sacrifice as the sacrifice of the cross because the Victim is the same. The purpose of the mass is, among other things, to satisfy the justice of God for the sins committed against Him." -Rev. John A. O'Brien, UNDERSTANDING THE CATHOLIC FAITH, Ave Maria Press, Nortre Dame, Ind, 1955, p. 212

"When the priest pronounces the tremendous words of consecration, he reaches up into the heavens and brings Christ down from His throne, and places Him upon the (Roman Catholic) altar to be offered up again as the victim for the sins of man...Christ became incarnate a single time, the priest brings Christ down from heaven and renders Him present on the (Roman Catholic) altar as the eternal Victim for the sins of man-not once but a thousand times! The priest speaks and lo! Christ, the eternal, omnipotent God, bows His head in humble obedience to the priest's command...No wonder that the name which spiritual writers are especially fond of applying to the priest is that of 'altar Christus.' For the priest is and should be another Christ." -Rev. John A. O'brien, FAITH OF MILLIONS, Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, Ind., 1938, pp. 243-244

To those who know the Savior and Lord of the Bible, Jesus Christ, the above quotations from official Roman Catholic publications are at once sickening and outrageous! Note the following from the Word of God.

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." -HEBREWS 9:22

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. " -HEBREWS 9:24-28

"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." -Hebrews 10:5-18,

The word "Merry" is defined to mean great happiness and joy. What of the word Christ?

Of course we already understand Christ is the title our Lord Jesus has been ordained before the foundation of the world for all of us. Now all we need to do is define the word "Mass" in Christ-Mass. This is in fact a Roman Catholic word, so let us go to the Roman Catholic Encyclopedia to find its meaning.

So, in essence the word Mass is defined as death sacrifice or "Destruction of the victim" according to the Roman Catholic church itself. So, when you say "Merry Christmas" you are actually declaring with great happiness and joy that Jesus is dead and gone. Kind of like the crucifix in the Catholic church declaring He is dead and they have proof they killed Him when they display His dead body for eons before the people. The Roman priests refuse to believe Christ IS risen and Christ WILL come again. If they did they would at least remove Him from that cross!

By the way, when Santa Clause says "Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas" he is openly and boldly mocking the sacrifice of Christ WITH LAUGHTER!!

(Also note that the word, "victim" of the Mass is also the Latin word "Hostia" from which the word "host" is derived.)

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." -LUKE 2:8

Are we to assume the shepherds kept sheep outside in the Winter? Fact is, the sheep were brought in under cover before mid-October to protect them from the cold rainy season that would follow. Another fact is, the winter in the Judea is at the time characterized by cold, wet, rainy conditions!! Not conditions worthy of sheep. Nor will you find shepherds outside with their sheep this time of year. Therefore it would be impossible for them to actually "see" the Star in the Eastern sky because the Bible is plain here...

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." -Luke 2:8-11,

The key part of this passage that can easily put down the assumption that Jesus was born on December 25th is, "...there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night..." This would NOT have been done in the Winter! This is absolutely impossible! According to the information we have about Palestine, the flocks were let out in the pastures in the month of March, and brought back in November, when the rainy season began.

"This proves plainly that the flocks were not yet brought home from their pastures, when the angels visited the shepherds. Some have the idea that there is no winter in Palestine, but that is a mistake, because sometimes it is very cold there, so that the lives of both men and beasts are in danger of the cold rain and hail storms of the winter."-- Horne's Introduction, Vol.II, pp. 23,24.

Concerning this, Adam Clarke makes the following remark in his commentary: "It was a custom among the Jews to send out their sheep to the desert about the passover, and bring them home at the commencement of the first rain. [See also the book, The Two Babylons, pages 91,92. ]

The first rain occured around the Jewish month of Cheshvan. That is around Oct, Nov. to us. So you see the flocks were BROUGHT IN well before Dec. 25! If everyone on planet Earth that claims Jesus as Lord would place their faith in "Whatsoever saith the Lord" we would have a LOT less Pagan activities being practiced by Christians. All too often people get offended easily by the truth that can expose the lies they have been embracing for years. But I say, stop! look! And listen! For you are not entirely at fault here. The devil is a cunning enemy, he has placed wolves in sheep's clothing before you masquerading as Christians, preachers, priests, and ministers to declare unto you the lie of Christmas. Why? So as to confuse the Truth that is held within the Word of God. And to get all the world under his control by partaking in activities of the Pagan.

"The twenty-fifth of December is supposed to be the day of the birth of Jesus Christ, and its observance has become customary and popular. But yet there is no certainty that we are keeping the veritable day of our Saviour's birth. History gives us no certain assurance of this. The Bible does not give us the precise time. Had the Lord deemed this knowledge essential to our salvation, he would have spoken through his prophets and apostles, that we might know all about the matter. But the silence of the Scriptures upon this point evidences to us that it is hidden from us for the wisest purposes. In his wisdom, the Lord concealed the place where he buried Moses. God buried him, and God resurrected him, and took him to heaven. This secrecy was to prevent idolatry." -R&H 12-9-1884

"For the very same purpose he has concealed the precise day of Christ's birth; that the day should not receive the honour that should be given to Christ as the Redeemer of the world, - one to be received, to be trusted, to be relied on as he who could save to the uttermost all who come unto him. The soul's adoration should be given to Jesus as the Son of the infinite God.

"There is no divine sanctity resting upon the twenty-fifth of December; and it is not pleasing to God that anything that concerns the salvation of man through the infinite sacrifice made for them, should be so sadly perverted from its professed design. Christ should be the supreme object; but as Christmas has been observed, the glory is turned from him to mortal man, whose sinful, defective character made it necessary for him to come to our world." -R&H 12-9-1884

"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." -ACTS 17:29-31

"Even Christmas, the day observed professedly in honour of the birthday of Christ, has been made a most effective means of turning the mind away from Christ, away from his glory. " -R&H 12-9-1890

"Christmas: The supposed anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ, occurring on Dec. 25. No sufficient data … exist, for the determination of the month or the day of the event… There is no historical evidence that our Lord’s birthday was celebrated during the apostolic or early postapostolic times. The uncertainty that existed at the beginning of the third century in the minds of Hippolytus and others—Hippolytus earlier favored Jan. 2, Clement of Alexanderia (Strom., i. 21) "the 25th day of Pachon" (= May 20), while others, according to Clement, fixed upon Apr. 18 or 19 and Mar. 28—proves that no Christmas festival had been established much before the middle of the century. Jan. 6 was earlier fixed upon as the date of the baptism or spiritual birth of Christ, and the feast of Epiphany … was celebrated by the Basilidian Gnostics in the second century … and by catholic Christians by about the beginning of the fourth century. The earliest record of the recognition of Dec. 25 as a church festival is in the Philocalian Calendar (copied 354 but representing Roman practise in 336)." -A. H. Newman, "Christmas," The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. 3, p. 47. Copyright 1909 by Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York

"A star cult, sun-worship, became (in the third century A.D.) the dominant official creed, paving the road for the ultimate triumph of Judaeo-Christian monotheism. So strong was the belief in the Invincible Sun (Sol Invictus) that for example Constantine I (d. 337), himself at first a devotee of the sun cult, found it, indeed perfectly compatible with his pro-Christian sympathies to authorize his own portrayal as Helios. And in 354 the ascendant Christian church in the reign of his pious but unsavory son, Constantius II, found it prudent to change the celebration of the birth of Jesus from the traditional date (January 6) to December 25, in order to combat the pagan Sun god’s popularity—his "birthday" being December 25." -Frederick H. Cramer, Astrology in Roman Law and Politics, p. 4. Copyright 1954 by the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.

"The reasons for celebrating our major feasts when we do are many and varied. In general, however, it is true that many of them have at least an indirect connection with the pre-Christian feasts celebrated about the same time of year — feasts centering around the harvest, the rebirth of the sun at the winter solstice (now Dec. 21, but Dec. 25 in the old Julian calendar), the renewal of nature in spring, and so on." -The New Question Box - Catholic Life for the Nineties, copyright 1988 by John J. Dietzen, M.A., S.T.L., ISBN 0-940518-01-5 (paperback), published by Guildhall Publishers, Peoria Illinois, 61651., page 554.

"Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church...the first evidence of the feast is from Egypt." "Pagan customs centering around the January calendars gravitated to Christmas." "...In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his [Jesus] birthday. It is only sinners who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world" -Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 Edition, published by the Roman Catholic Church

And to settle "some" minds out there that place no stock in any boast of Catholicism, the Roman Church is not the only one that understands this simple historic fact...

"A broad element of English Christianity still considered Christmas celebration a pagan blasphemy. The Puritans, Baptists, Quakers, Presbyterians, Calvinists and other denominations brought this opposition to early New England and strong opposition to the holiday lasted in America until the middle of the 18th century." -The Origins of Christmas," Rick Meisel, Dec. 19, 1993, p. 4.

"...Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church...." -Encyclopedia Britannica, 1946 edition

"Christmas... It was, according to many authorities, not celebrated in the first centuries of the Christian church, as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons [eg Communion - death of Christ] rather than their birth..." "...A feast was established in memory of this event [the birth of Jesus] in the fourth century. In the fifth century the Western Church ordered it to be celebrated forever ON THE DAY OF THE OLD ROMAN FEAST OF THE BIRTH OF SOL [SUN], as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ's birth existed." Emphasis added. -Encyclopedia Americana, 1944 Edition

Since there is no evidence for the observance of Christmas in the Bible, the questions arise, What is its origin? and when did its celebration begin? Lector P. Walsdenstrom says: "The custom to celebrate the birth of Christ in the last part of December began first in the fourth century. Before that the sixth of January was celebrated."-- Notes to Luke 2:8.

"How much the date of the festival depended upon the pagan Brumalia (December 25th) following the Saturnalia (December 17th-24th), and celebrating the shortest day of the year and the 'new sun'...cannot be accurately determined. The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence...The pagan festival with it's riot and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit and in manner. Christian preachers of the West and the Near East protested against the unseemly frivolity with which Christ's birthday was celebrated, while Christians of Mesopotamia ACCUSED THEIR WESTERN BRETHREN OF IDOLATRY AND SUN WORSHIP FOR ADOPTING AS CHRISTIAN THIS PAGAN FESTIVAL" Emphasis added. -The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge

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

"The interchange of presents between friends is alike characteristic of Christmas and the Saturnalia, and MUST HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY CHRISTIANS FROM THE PAGANS, as the admonition of Tertullian plainly shows." Emphasis added. -Bibliotheca Sacra (vol 12 pp 153-155)

What is the actual reason and purpose for this Pagan infiltration into Christianity? Ellen White put it best...

"This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of "the man of sin" foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan's power--a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will." -The Great Controversy, page 50, paragraph 1 -Chapter Title: An Era of Spiritual Darkness

The giving the presents was a Roman custom. The yuletide and the yule log are remnants of old Teutonic nature worship."-- Schaff-Hersog Encyclopedia.

"From the first institution of this festival, the Western nations seem to have transferred to it many of the follies and censurable (XXX) practises which prevailed in the pagan festivals of the same season such as adorning the churches fantastically, mingling puppet-shows and dramas with worship, universal feasting and merrymaking, Christmas visits and salutations, Christmas presents and jocularity, and Christmas revelry and drunkenness.... The Christmas holy days, which by a law of Tehodosius the Greek (emperor A.D. 383-395) were to comprise fourteen days, ...have borne so close a resemblance wherever they have been observed to the Roman Saturnalia, Sigillaria, etc., and to the yule feast of the ancient Goths, as to afford strong presumption of an unhappy alliance between them from the first."-- Ecclesiastical History, by Mosheim, Vol. 1, page 280.

"...The very name by which Christmas is popularly known among ourselves-- yule day-- proves at once its pagan and Babylonian origin. 'Yule' is the Chaldee name for an 'infant' or 'little child;' and as the twenty-fifth of December was called by our pagan Anglo-Saxon ancestors 'yule day,' or the 'child's day,' and the night that preceded it 'mother night,' long before they came in contact with Christianity, that sufficiently proves its real character. Far and wide in the realms of paganism was this birthday observed."-- The Two Babylons, pages 93& 94. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

"In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his [Christ's] birthday. It is only sinners [like Pharaoh or Herod] who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world."--Catholic Encyclopedia, 11th ed., art: "Natal Day."

The author of "The Two Babylons" identifies also the child, whose birth was so universally celebrated, with Nimrod, who built the tower of Babel, and says that he was worshiped by the name Osiris in Egypt, and Tammuz (the same one as Adonis the famous hunter) in Phoenicia and Assyria. (See page 56.) This Tammuz is also mentioned by the holy prophet, Ezekiel, who in a vision saw the women of Judah weeping for him. He is there spoken of in company with sun-worship.

"It was an essential principle of the Babylonian system that the sun, or Baal, was the one only god. (Notice, "BAAL?" As in Daniels day too?) When, therefore, Tammuz was worshiped as God incarnate, that implied also that he was an incarnation of the sun."--Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, Loizeaux Brothers, page 96.

"This festival has been commonly believed to have had only an astronomical character, referring simply to the completion of the sun’s yearly course, and the commencement of a new cycle. But there is indubitable evidence that the festival in question had a much higher influence than this--that it commemorated not merely the figurative birthday of the sun in the renewal of its course, but the birth-day of the grand Deliverer...the Sun-God and great mediatorial divinity." -Ibid pp. 94, 97.

In Egypt, the son of Isis, the Egyptian title for the queen of heaven, was born at this very time, ‘about the time of the winter solstice.’ The very name by which Christmas is popularly known among ourselves - Yule day - proves at once its Pagan and Babylonian origin. ‘Yule’ is the Chaldee name for an ‘infant’ or ‘little child’ and as the 25th of December was called by our Pagan Anglo-Saxon ancestors, ‘Yule-day,’ or the ‘Child’s day,’ and the night which preceded it, ‘Mother-night,’ long before they came into contact with Christianity, that sufficiently proves its real character. Far and wide in the realms of paganism was this birth-day observed." -Ibid pp. 93, 94

In this way we trace sun-worship back to Nimrod, whose worship was universal in the old time. Again we have good reason to say: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." Fact is people...

"The wassailing-bowl of Christmas had its precise counterpart in the 'Drunken Festival' of Babylon; The candles, in some parts of England, lighted at Christmas eve and used so long as the festive season lasts, were equally lighted by the pagans on the eve of the festival of the Babylonian god, to do honor to him, for it was one of the distinguishing peculiarities of his worship to have lighted candles on his alters. The Christmas tree, now so common among us, was equally common in pagan Rome and pagan Egypt. In Egypt that tree was the palm tree; in Rome it was the fir; the palm tree denoted the pagan Messiah, as Baal-Tamar; the fir referring to him as Baal-Berith.... On Christmas day the continental Saxons offered a boar in sacrifice to the sun, to propitiate her. In Rome a similar observance had evidently existed; for a boar formed a great article of Saturn, as appears form the words form Martial, 'That boar will make you a good Saturnalia.' Hence the boar's head is still a standing dish in England at the Christmas dinner, when the reason of it is long since forgotten. Yea, the 'Christmas goose' and 'yule cake' were essential articles in the worship of the Babylonian Messiah, as that worship was practiced both in Egypt and at Rome."-- Ibid., pages 97, 100, 101.

"The Christmas tree, now so common among us, was equally common in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt. In Egypt it was the palm tree; in Rome it was the fir; the palm-tree denoting the Pagan Messiah, as Baal-Tamar, the fir referring to him as Baal-Berith. The mother of Adonis, the Sun-God and great mediatorial divinity, was mystically said to have been changed into a tree, and when in that state to have brought forth her divine son. If the mother was a tree, the son must have been recognized as ‘Man the Branch.’ And this entirely accounts for putting the Yule Log into the fire on Christmas Eve and the appearance of the Christmas tree the next morning. As Zero-Ashta, ‘The seed of the woman,’ ...he has to enter the fire on ‘Mother night,’ that he may be born the next day out of it, as the ‘Branch of God,’ or the Tree that brings divine gifts to men." -The Two Babylons, p. 97.

"...the divine child born at the winter solstice was born as a new incarnation of the great god (after that god had been cut in pieces...on purpose to revenge his death upon his murderers.) Now the great god, cut off in the midst of his power and glory, was symbolised as a huge tree, stripped of all his branches, and cut down almost to the ground. But the great Serpent, the symbol of the life restoring Aesculapius, twists itself around the dead stock...and lo, at its side sprouts a young tree - a tree of an entirely different kind, that is never to be cut down by a hostile power -...and thus shadowed forth the perpetuity and everlasting nature of his power, how that after having fallen before his enemies, he has risen triumphant over them all. Therefore, the 25th of December, the day that was observed in Rome as the day when the victorious god reappeared on earth was held at the Natalis invicti solis, 'The birthday of the unconquered Sun." -The Two Babylons, p. 98.

Shall we have a Christmas tree? Will it not be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. -R&H 12-11-1879

"Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the ways of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 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. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might." -JEREMIAH 10:1-6

"The Yule Log tradition comes to us from Scandinavia, where the pagan sex and fertility god Jul, or Jule (pronounced 'yule'), was honored in a twelve-day celebration in December. A large, single log (generally considered to have been a phallic idol) was kept with a fire against it for twelve days, a different sacrifice to Jul being offered in the fire on each of the twelve days." -Holidays and Holy Days, by Tom C. McKenney

"The Yule log was originally an entire tree, carefully chosen, and brought into the house with great ceremony. The butt end would be placed into the hearth while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room. The tree would be slowly fed into the fire and the entire process was carefully timed to last the entire Yule season." -The History of Christmas; http://www.ridgenet.org/Szaflik/history.htm

This is where the Twelve Days of Christmas originated, which are now counted as the twelve days between "Christmas" and Epiphany (January 12th).

"Yuletide, meaning the turning of the sun or the winter solstice, has traditionally been a time of extreme importance in Scandinavia - a time when fortunes for the coming year were determined and when the dead were thought to walk the earth. For a long time, it was considered dangerous to sleep alone on Christmas Eve. The extended family, master and servant alike, would sleep together on a freshly spread bed of straw. " -The History of Christmas;

Stocking hanging comes from an English legend: "Father Christmas once dropped some gold coins while coming down the chimney. The coins would have fallen through the ash grate and been lost if they hadn't landed in a stocking that had been hung out to dry. Since that time children have continued to hang out stockings in hopes of finding them filled with gifts." -The History of Christmas;

"Lighted candles are foreign to the worship of God in the church of the New Testament scriptures. Yet, they too had their place in the worship of the sun god of paganism and in Christmas today. " -Alexander Hislop, THE TWO BABYLONS, Loizeaux Bros., Neptune, N.J., 1959, p. 94 and 97

"Among the pre-Christian Druidic superstitions, derived from ancient Babylon, was the legend of the mistletoe. It was regarded as a divine branch which came down from heaven and grafted itself into an earthly tree. Thus the mistletoe became a token of reconciliation, the kiss being a symbol of pardon" -Ibid p. 9

Another author says: "The third one of the great feasts of the church, Christmas, doesn't seem to be kept during the first three centuries. In contrast to it a memorial of Christ's baptism was celebrated in the Orient as a revelation of his Messiahship and glory of his divinity called Epiphania, the sixth of January. This festival was, in Egypt, also given the meaning as a memorial of Christ's birth, and in that way they had in a certain sense a substitute for Christmas, which had not yet begun."-- Ecclesiastical History, by C.A. Cornelius, part 1, page 139. Further on, the same author says, "It began first to be celebrated in the Roman Church about 360, and from there it spread to the Orient," After he has mentioned "Saturnalia," the Roman feast of joy, which began the seventeenth and ended the twenty-fourth of December with the "Sigillaria," he continues: "At last the so-called 'Brumalia,' or the winter solstice, was celebrated the twenty-fifth of December. It was also called 'deus natalis invicti solis' (the birth feast of the unconquered sun), because in that season when the short days are gone, the sun again comes forth victorious from the gloomy night to travel on its orbit like an unconquered hero."--Ibid, part 2, page 91.

This proves that the twenty-fifth of December was an annual feast celebrated in the honor of the sun. Frederick Neilsen, a Danish bishop, says, "During the first three centuries we find no trace of any feast for the birth of Christ."-- Ecclesiastical History, page 224.

The commentator, Adam Clarke, gives the following information: "The Latin church, supreme in power and infallible in judgment (?), placed it on the twenty-fifth of December, the very day in which the ancient Romans celebrated the feast of their goddess Bruma.... Pope Julius I was the person who made this alteration, and it appears to have been done for this reason: the sun now began his return toward the northern tropic, ending the winter, lengthening the days, and introducing the spring."-- Notes to Luke 2:8.

The valuable testimony of J. Murdock, D. D., is in harmony with the above: "It was Julius I (Bishop of Rome, A.D. 337-352) who first ascertained this to be the right day; and though his authority is not the best, yet it is generally admitted that the designation of the twenty-fifth of December for the festival was first made about the middle of the fourth century."-- Ecclesiastical History, by Mosheim, Vol. I, page 279.

From Johnson's Encyclopedia and other sources we also learn that Julius I, Bishop of Rome, appointed the twenty-fifth of December for the celebration of Christ's birth.

(1)that the birth of Christ was not universally celebrated by the Christians during the first three centuries;

(2) that it was the Latin church which first ordained it to be celebrated on the twenty-fifth of December;

(4) and that the customs at this old pagan festival were transferred to Christmas. This is truly surprising. Here are indeed reasons for a solemn search of heart, fervent prayer, and firmness of character for those who wish to be pure in the sight of God. -No Foundation in the Bible By, S. Mortensen

Think about that for a moment. Parents all over the world have been telling bold face lies to their children since birth about a fat man in a red suit that comes down a chimney to place gifts underneath the tree. Now guess what happens when the child comes of age. The child realizes that mommy and daddy have been lying to him the whole time! And not only that, but this child realizes that IT WORKED!!! He actually realizes that his parents lied to him and HE BELIEVED THEM! So now he has concrete evidence that lying is a resourceful tool that he can use to his advantage. And his own parents taught him.

The fabled Santa Claus also deserves our attention. The Library of Universal Knowledge says:--

"Nicholas Saint (St. Claus), a highly popular saint of the Roman Catholic Church, and reverenced with still greater devotion by the Russian Church, which regards him as a special patron, was one of the early bishops of Mysia, in Lysia. The precise date of his episcopate is a subject of much controversy. Of his personal history hardly anything is certainly known, and the great popularity of the devotion to him wrought through his intercession. He is regarded in Catholic countries as a special patron of the young, and particularly of scholars. On the vigil of his feast, which is held on December 6, (My mom puts up here tree on this day calling it "St.Nicks" day) a person in the appearance and costume of a bishop assembles the children of a family or a school and distributes among them, to the good, gilt nuts, sweetmeats, and other little presents as the rewards of good conduct; to the naughty ones, the redoubtable punishment klanbauf. The supposed relics of St. Nicholas were conveyed from the East to Bari, in the kingdom of Naples, toward the close of the eleventh century." Thus the fable is a part of the old relic-worshiping traditions of a corrupt church. The nearness of his feast, in December, to the Christmas festival, led to associating the saint and the present-giving idea with the feast of December 25. We must admit, in the light of the Bible, that it is very foolish and wrong to teach little children the tales of Santa Claus. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

Like many of us, when I was a child, I was told that Santa Claus was "All Powerful" (He makes millions of toys and delivers them in one night). He defies the laws of nature by flying and jumping down narrow chimneys. With Santa all things are possible. He is by definition, Omnipotent. "...having unlimited power or authority; all powerful-the Omnipotent God." (Webster's New World Dictionary)

I was told that Good Ol' Saint Nick knows all things (At least he knows when every boy and girl is bad or good or how they behave throughout the year). He is by definition, Omniscient. "having infinite knowledge; knowing all things-the Omniscient God." Webster's New World Dictionary

The Lord demands more of us than of them, because we have come into existence in the age of wonderful research and discovery, when knowledge should increase (Dan. 12:4), and the Bible has been in our mother tongue several centuries. In the light of this situation, we would certainly deserve severe criticism for our ignorance if we should continue to honor old traditions or relic worship.

Many upright Christians in the past have taken part in the old festival to some extent, and such we will not criticize, because they did it in ignorance. But in this enlightened age it is indeed high time to inquire: "What concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?" 2 Cor. 6:15,16. But still many Christians, not only Catholics, but also Protestants, continue year by year at the Christmas festival to honor the old idol relics under a Christian garb. This is indeed very unfortunate, and it is going so far that entrance fee is demanded in many Protestant churches. O, what a dishonor to our dear Saviour, who has pointed out a distinct line between the holy and the profane!

I have noticed many downfalls to this Pagan Xmas season. I recall some years back when I lived in the Chicago area a man killed another man at a gas station holdup on Xmas eve. When asked why he did it he said, "I needed the money to buy Xmas gifts for my children." Is this what Jesus would have us do? Is this a 'blessed by Jesus' time of year? Or 'planned by Satan' time of year. I also recall a situation where a young boy committed suicide because his mommy and daddy didn't have enough money for his Xmas gifts. Again I ask, is this a season blessed by the Lord? What of all the elderly in nursing homes left abandoned by loved ones on Xmas day? Was this designed to occur by Jesus, or satan? I recall as a child be made fun of because I didn't get as many toys on Xmas as everyone else because we were poor. Is this an activity that a blessed season would encourage? Or is this designed to occur by a devil who invented the season to make situations like this pop up all over the place. What about all the drunks depressed and suicidal behind the wheels of their cars in your neighborhoods killing your loved ones during the Xmas season? Did you know that December 25th is consistantly the highest recorded day of the year for suicide? Is this a season that the Lord God designed for His people? or is this a day designed by the destroyer devil designed for his people?

Leviticus 14:33-39, "And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house: Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house: And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall; Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days: And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house;"

Deuteronomy 12:2, "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:"

1 Kings 14:22-23, "And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree."

Psalms 37:35, "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree."

Isaiah 57:5, "Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?"

Jeremiah 3:6, "The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot."

Psalms 75:8, "For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them."

Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Revelation 6:4, "And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword."

"By us...who are strangers to Sabbaths, and new moons, and festivals, once acceptable to God, the Saturnalia, the feasts of January, the Brumalia, and Matronalia, are now frequented; gifts are carried to and fro, new year’s day presents are made with din, and sports and banquets are celebrated with uproar; oh, how much more faithful are the heathen to their religion who take special care to adopt no solemnity from the Christians." -The Two Babylons, p. 93.

So, who do we have to thank for all this Pagan infiltration in our lives? ROME! Now, don't take my word for it. Rome ADMITS this very fact...

Cardinal Newman admits in his book that; the "temples, incense, oil lamps, votive offerings, holy water, holidays, and seasons of devotion, processions, blessings of the fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure (of priests, munks and nuns), images, and statues... are all of pagan origin." -The Development of the Christian Religion Cardinal Newman p.359

Such boldness! Such arrogance! It's as if the devil is puffing up his chest to proclaim to God Himself that, "Yes, they know it's against your will Lord! Yet they choose it over you anyway!!"

Notice the following list of Pagan rituals and symbols that Catholicism has introduced into Christianity. YOUR "so called" Protestant Church is taking part in many of these as well...

-[Baal-vs-The "Catholic" God]-
INVENTED FOR THE PAGAN SUN GOD BAAL	CATHOLIC DOCTRINES OF THE VATICAN
1. The nativity of the Sun, the birth of Tammuz Dec. 25	The nativity of Jesus, Christmas Dec 25
2. The Midsummer festival held Jun 24	The Nativity of St. John held June 24
3. The assumption of Semiramus who became the mother godess	The assumption of Mary, who became the mother of God
4. The mother goddess was worshipped as the Queen of Heaven. Jer. 7:18	The Virgin Mary worshipped as the Queen of Heaven.
5. Cakes decorated to the goddess with a "+" drawn on it. Jer. 44:17,19	Hot cross buns
6. 40 days fasting for Tammuz, Ezek. 8:14	40 days of Lent
7.Pagan festival of Easter. Ezek 8:16	The festival of Easter
8. The ressurection of Tammuz at Easter and the procession of graven images during holy week	The procession of graven images of Jesus, Mary, and Peter, and of the saints
9. Veneration of graven images of Baal, Ishtar, Tammuz and lesser gods in the heavens	Veneration of graven images of Jesus, Mary, Peter, and of the "lesser" saints in the heavens
10. The belief of immortality of the soul and burning place of torment	The belief of immortality of the soul and burning place of torment
11. The doctrine of purgatory	The doctrine of purgatory
12. The belief of the dead visiting the living, feast held for all in November, (All souls day)	The festival of all souls day held Nov. 2, and all saints day held Nov. 1 (All souls day)
13. Burning incense and candles Jer 11:17; Ezek 8:11	The burning of incense and candles
14. Chants and repetative prayers. Beaded prayer chains.	Gregorian chants and the Rosary
15. Symbol of the cross as symbol of Sun worship. Mesopotamian cylinder seal depicted the "cross in the sky" as a symbol of sun worship. Ancient carvings of an Assyrian king has a huge cross carved on his chest. The oldest pictures in the world from Mesopotamia has text with is explaining the "cross" in the sky as the sun. This particular find is on display at the University Museum in Philadelphia.	The crucifix
16. Amulets and idols ro scare away evil spirits	The wearing of crucifixes and medals displayed for protection. (Scapular = main example)
17. The round disk "sun" wafer IHS symbol of Isis, Horus & Seb, eaten as food for the soul. Some wafers also had a large "+" sign engraved on them as well to symbolize Baal.	The wafer used in the Eucharist is round with IHS engraved on it on on one side, and many have a large "+" engraved on the other side.
18. Painting of the child (Tammuz) and mother (Semiramus) with the glory of the Sun around their heads	Paintings of the child (Jesus) and mother (Mary) with halos or of the Sun around their heads
19. Infant baptism, and sprinkling of holy water	Infant baptism, and sprinkling of holy water
20. Necromancy (Talking to the dead)	Mysticism (Novenas (prayers) to the dead)
21. The first day of the week kept sacred to honor the Persian sun god Mithra. "SUN"day	The admitted change of 7th day Sabbath to "SUN"day
22. Title Pontifex Maximus name for chief head of the pagan Babylonian system of idolatry	Pontifex Maximus one of the first names for the office of Pope
23. Janus and Cybele, holders of the keys to Heaven and Hell	The pope claims to have the keys of Peter
24. The high priest kings carried on a throne to the to the Temple of his god	The Pope carried on a portable throne to the Basilica of St. Peter (Sedia Gestoria)
25. The Pagan high priest king believed to be the incarnate of the Sun god	The Pope proclaims to be Christ's Vicar (replacement) here on Earth. It is also recorded in numerous documents that the pope believes he is god on earth.
26. Offerings of "good works" to appease the gods	Penance, indulgences, salvation by works
27. Houses for the virgin priestesses (Prostitutes) to be employed at Pagan temples to "service" priests that were not 'gay'	Nuns. (Recent modern day sex scandals involving Nuns has uncovered this well hidden reality)
28. Human sacrifices burned by fire as offering to appease Sun god	Opposers of doctrines of the Roman Catholic church burned at the stake
29. Gold was considered the flesh of the "Sungod"	Vatican and numerous Cathedrals are lietrally drenched in gold throughout
30. Gargoils = a pagan god of protection	Vatican as well as thousands of Catholic churches have gargoils on their roofs for 'protection'
31. Phallic symbol of the male sex organ placed on roofs as a sign of allegiance with Baal	Largest phallic symbol in center of St. Peter's square as well as steeples on all Catholic churches
32. Solar wheel as symbol for Baal worship can be found carved into ancient as well as modern Buddhist temples,, carved into ancient ornament representing Osiris. Stone carvings showing a whell to represent and Assyrio Babylonian altar.	St Peter's square has largest solar wheel on planet. ALL Catholic churches have numerous solar wheels in stain glass windows as well as many other areas of the church. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris sports a very huge one on it's face. There is a great one in ceiling as well as the floor tiles of the monastery of St. Ignatius Loyola in Spain. Numerous paintings, statues, ornaments, and letterheads of all Catholic churches have one or more "solar wheels" depicted upon them. And the ONE WORLD CHURCH that started on June 26, 2000 uses the solar wheel as its official logo.
33. Symbol of serpent on numerous Roman bath houses	Symbol of serpent on numerous Catholic church in door handles, Papal crests, etc.
34. Atlas carries the universe on his soilders	Numerous Popes depicted in paintings in same manner
35. Symbols of the "Unicorn, Peacock, and Phoenix" used to signify sun god	Symbols of the "Unicorn, Peacock, and Phoenix" used to symbolize the Christ in many churches on doors or chapels as well as sanctuarys holding the 'eucharist'
36. Crescent moon used to signify moon goddess "Nanna"	Crescent used to cradle Eucharist in the Monstrance of the Catholic church. As well as depicted in numerous paintings and scupltures with Mary standing within it
37. Three letters "S.F.S" within a small blaze is used to represent the universal symbol for the number "6" in the Pagan mysteries	S.F.S in a small blaze is carved into the Vatican Monstrance in the Vatican museum as well as many monstrances the world over
38. Alternating rays of the sun burst used to represent unity of "man and woman" common in all aspects of Paganism. (Curved ray = female "yonic" Straight ray = male "phallic")	Monstrance of Catholicism as well as many paintings and sculptures all depict same rays of both the "phallic and yonic" symbolism can be found literally all over the Roman Catholic church
39. Carvings of "nature spirits" (fauns or satyrs) depicting a horned, hoofed-god were a common feature in all Pagan cults	Carvings of "nature spirits" (fauns or satyrs) depicting a horned, hoofed-god are found all over the Treasury of the Vatican beneath St Peters square as well as many Cathedrals
40. Statues of a "Madonna" found in all Pagan cults as well as Egyptian Madonna Isis with her son Horus, or Hindu cults with Divaki and her son Krishna	Statues of Mary can be found in all Catholic churches holding baby Jesus
41. Statue of Zeus holds symbol of thunder and a lightening bolt to symbolise his position as a god.	Mary depicted in many statues holding the pagan symbol of thunderr
42. Demi-gods holding crooked diving staff representative of the serpent and lightening bolt	Pope carries exact same staff (serpent crosiers)
43. Adad, Enlil, Baal, Neptune, Poseidon and other "gods" of storm and sea were depicted as carrying tridents	Crosses as well as statues of Jesus and Mary in Cathedrals all over the world carved with tridents on them.
44. Hand gestures in the form of a trident found depicted in Jupiter, Buddah, Appollo, Hindu diety's, as well as "votive hands" in pagan temples	Statue of St. Peter (Actually the old Jupiter statue of Rome) as well as millions of other statues, painitings, photos, and videos of everyone from Jesus and Mary to priests, cardinals,bishops, all the Popes, Vatican guards and even lay people in the Catholci church seen holding up the three finger trident salute of pagan Rome. (Now called the salute to the Trinity)
45. Pine cones used to represent the diety of a solar god Osiris, Bacchus, Dionysus, as well as Mexican gods, Hindu gods, and Assyrian gods	Largest pine cone sculpture in the world found in the "Court of the pine cone" at the Vatican. Pine cone is also found carved into the crooked pagan staff (serpent crosier) or the Popes of Rome. In fact the pine cone is found all throughout the Vatican as well as Cathedrals as decoration.
46. Oanne, Babylonian fish-god (half man half fish) was depicted by Pagan high priests by wearing a fish head mitre (head dress) upon a mans head to symbolize man and fish joining when "sun god" set into the ocean. (Neptune = case in point. Half man half fish) One particular Biblical diety = "Dagon" Dag=fish On=sun	Mitres are worn by all Popes of Catholcism
47. The Roman sun-god with the alternating yonic and phallic symbols surrounding his head was found carved in excavated Roman bath houses in England. It is alos found as "Apollo" on the facade of the Pergamum Museum in East Berlin.	Almost all Catholic churches have the exact same carving above their pulpits, pillars, on statues, as well as carved into ceilings above altars. Some Catholic churches actually have it carved into the Eucharist itself.
48. Statues of the Romanized Egyptians Isis with globes in hand, Hercules as a solar diety carried the very same globe in hand, and the Persian sun-god Mithra is also depicted with the globe in hand as a sign ruler of the Universe.	The Vatican has a solid gold statues of Jesus with the globe in hand, plus a black marble statue called "the black virgin of Montserrat" and a statue of a "child Jesus" with globe in hand, the list goes on...
49. Coptic shells were carved to symbolize the Universe. Roman grave stones used them to represent the Heavens. Statues of Atlas can be found carrying the "universe" shell upon its shoulders. Pagan Rome carved Poseidon with the shell in his head. Venus was said to be born IN a coptic shell.	St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican has the Pagan symbols within the papal crest upon the wall. The Coptic shell is found over the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. This cosmic symbol is often used as a font for holy water in Catholic churches the world over. They even have statues of angels holding the pagan symbol
50. Large evil eye can be found carved on a Roman sarcophagus in the National Archaeological Museum in Rome Italy. Masonic pendants have them as well. Hathor the "eye of Osiris" can be found all over Egyptian temple. It was commonly used as protection against evil magic.	This very same evil eye within the pyramid is found on Roman Catholic pulpits, ceilings, altars, doors, pendants, medals, etc. It is also on the back of the dollar bill of the USA on the left side
51. The multi-level crown was first worn by old Babylonian gods in 1800BC. The horned tiara was carved atop Assyrian winged-bull cherubims. The Jewish Kabbalistic solar diety wore this very same tiara, as did Krishna.	The bronze tomb of Pope Sixtus (Pope6) has this three ringed tiara on his head. On that tiara you can also see 6 serpents upon it. All the Popes have word the tiara as a symbol of their authority as "gods of the earth, heaven, and hell" Hence, the "three rings" upon it. The Vatican has a solid gold tiara on display in the Vatican treasury. This is the very crown the Pope will hand to Antichrist when he arrives to impersonate Jesus Christ in the days ahead.
52. Quetzalcoatl, the lord of life and death in the Aztec and Toltec cultures of 1000 AD had an open chest with an exposed heart displayed. This was believed to be nourishment offered to the sun gods.	Literally hundreds of thousands of statues, paintings, posters, lithographs, etc have Jesus as well as Mary depicted in the same manner with what the Catholic church calls "The sacred heart." Notice that these "sacred hearts" also have the symbols of the sun god Mithra glowing rather boldly behind them.
53. Assyrians carvings show eagles as genies hovering over the dead. Their "book of the dead" depicts just such a picture on its cover.	Eagles are used as symbols all over the Roman Catholic church. See Rev 18:2 speaks of the Vatican as the "hold of ever foul spirit, and a cage of ever unclean and hateful bird."
Want to see ALL these facts and more in a FLASH animation WITH PICTURES?

Now do you understand WHY the Vatican is declared the "WHORE OF BABYLON?"
For even more data concerning the Whore,

Referring to Rorate (Nativity), a traditional Scottish melody featured on her recent Christmas album, American Scottish fiddler Bonnie Rideout described the lyrics in a way that really captures
the essence of Christmas - namely syncretism:

"Its about the birth of the Son, meaning the s-o-n, the Christ-child. And then the lyrics continue.to talk about the earth and the sea and the birth of the sun, s-u-n, meaning the winter solstice. The sun is coming back and with the return of the sun, comes new hope. But in the Christian sense, the birth of the Son, meaning the Christ child, is the bringing of new hope for Christians. So there is this sort of nice
interplay with the Christian and the Pagan beliefs coming together and sort of meaning the same thing, which is the rebirth of the spirit.its a very uplifting feeling." Bonnie Rideout, The Thistle and Shamrock,
produced by Fiona Ritchie, National Public Radio, 12/23/99.

Satan's goal is to get us to see him instead of seeing God. He wants to be like the most high in any way he can. God receives praise when we follow Him. Satan receives praise when we follow him. His strategy is to get us to follow him thinking that we're following God.

I can see him now, laughing at God every time he convinces some soul to replace God with himself. It may seem like a lovable thing to do, but it may not be reality based. Example: We celebrate Christmas and we say, "I know that Christ was born. It doesn't matter when. We choose Dec. 25th to represent his birth date. " Then we follow the crowd and sing and tell lies about a fat clown in a red suit. Then we take our children to the malls to see this perfect man called Santa Claus. As innocent as Santa may seem, Satan is mocking God.

I'm about to destroy the image of Santa Claus, so if there are children that you don't want to know the truth, you'd better get them out of here. This message is entitled "How Santa Mocks God." Let's start with Santa's hair and eyes. Santa has white woolly hair. Right? His eyes are said to have a twinkle in them. Rev. 1:14 says, talking about Christ, "His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire." Fire twinkles, doesn't it? Are we talking about Jesus or Santa Claus?

Santa is from the North pole, right? Why the North? Why not the South pole? Well, God is from the North. We find in Isaiah 14:12-14 these words: "How art thou fallen from heaven, o Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the North: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most high." I tell you, Santa is from the North because God is from the North.

Santa has unlimited power. Is there anything that Santa can't do? Ask a kid. There is no dispute about that. I don 't need a text to tell you that only God has unlimited power.

Santa is all knowing, huh? He knows when you are good or bad, so be good for goodness sake. You'd better watch out....you know the song. So we tell our children that Santa is omniscient (all knowing). Well, he would have to be in order to know about all the children in the world, wouldn't he? I don't need a text to tell you that only God is all knowing.

Santa is immortal. Have you ever heard of Santa being born? Oh, I know the story about Saint Nick. He was a generous man, but the legend of Santa Claus grew into the ridiculous tale that it is today. Only God is immortal.

Santa is perfect. Who does he need to repent to? Can Santa do any wrong? Ask a child. Who is Santa's boss? He has none. Does he ever say praise the Lord? Have you ever heard of Santa giving God glory or credit for anything? If he did, he wouldn't be Santa long. My, my, my.

Santa also judges us. I thought that was God's job. But according to Santa he's checking his list, checking it twice, gonna ' find out who's naughty or nice. Jesus Christ is coming to town. No! That's Santa Claus is coming to town. But I thought that Jesus was checking his list to see who has been naughty or nice and is coming to town to bring his rewards. Who's gonna do it, Santa or Jesus? My, my, my.

Santa calls the children to come unto him, sits them on his lap and the children repent to him for the bad that they did during the year and promise to be good. I tell you, Jesus is the one we should teach our children to repent to. Jesus often called the children to him and said forbid them not. Santa is fooling our children. Santa is omnipresent, which means that he can be everywhere at the same time. How else can he visit every home on the same night? I don't need a text to tell you that only God can visit every home at once.

I don't know about you, but I think that Santa is a clown. A big fat, jelly belly, rolely polely, curly headed clown. What about his red suit? Why red? Rev. 19:13 tells us why. "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the word of God." Need I say more? Santa, like Jesus, is the same in character today, yesterday, and forever. When does Santa come?

On a foggy Christmas Eve Santa asked Rudolph to lead his sleigh that night. There is no dispute that Jesus is coming in fog. What is fog? Clouds. The Bible tells us that the clouds are angels. Gabriel will probably lead the coming of my savior, not Rudolph.

Santa lives in a shining ice palace, like clear glass. Why? Rev. 21:18 tells us why. "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass." Santa is tended by elves, which are mysterious creatures. Just as God is tended by mysterious angels.

Come Christmas time we say that we celebrate the birth of Christ, but I ask you, who's image do we see everywhere? Who get's the most attention? Who is advertised most? Is it Jesus or Santa? If it is Jesus' birth that we celebrate, why do we buy each other gifts? Do you know anybody else in the world who has a birth-day Celebration and the world buys each other gifts and leave the birthday person out of the celebration? My, my, my.

If you want to celebrate the birth of Christ this year, give to the church. It is not a sin to give gifts to each other but I just want to get the priorities straight. I hope this makes sense to you. If we say that we are celebrating Jesus' birth, then he should get all of the gifts. The Bible says that the wise men brought gifts to Jesus. It does not say that the wise men or any men gave gifts to each other during the birth of Christ.

The merchants make millions each year and they program us by calling us a scrooge if we don't help make them rich. If the church got all of those millions, the budget would not suffer as much. The church would not need to beg so much. Just think back over the years that you spent money on gifts and left Christ out. It's like throwing a party for you and inviting everybody but you to your party.

Go to Wal-mart or Sam's this year and buy the church some paper towels or toilet paper or paper plates or donate your gift to the church budget, but give your gift to Christ, if you are sincere about celebrating his birth. Oh some will find a way to compromise with the world so that no one will fuss at them.

I don't know about you, but when I realized how Satan is playing with the world, I decided not to play with him. Since it was my choice, I grabbed my ball and went home. You know how children get mad while playing, and the one who owns the ball might grab it and go home.

What does Santa say before he enters? Ho, ho, ho. Why ho, ho, ho? The word "ho" comes from the Hebrew "ahaw" meaning listen, a word expressing pain with an exclamation point. Why would Satan use such a word? In the book of Zechariah chapter 2:6,7 we find the answer. God is talking to his people. "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the North, saith the Lord. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon." God is expressing pain in the fact that His people are on the wrong road. This is the only thing that causes God pain.

Satan is playing with God and with us. When God says ho, ho, pain, pain. Satan is saying "ho, ho, Ha. Ha." and we are too slow to pick up on it, so we join in with him and pick at God while thinking that we are saying something nice. My, my, my.

Why Santa? Well, God has more than one name. Santa unscrambled spells Satan. I use to say they x-ed Christ out of Christmas when they wrote x-mas instead of Christmas. Now I realize that Christ was never in Christmas. Col. 2:8 helps us to understand this fact. 2:8 " Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. "

The Bible does not say anything about remembering the birth of Christ. There is no Bible principle that even suggests that we do. This is Satan's doing and the i