Each year children and adults alike await this holiday. Some people prepare the whole year for this one day. But does anyone truly know the origins of this holiday, or what this day is about? Does anyone really, really know where the legend of Santa Claus comes from and who his “helpers” were long before they were called elves? How about celebrating our Savior’s birth? Is December 25th really the date He was born? Can we find this date in the Bible, or perhaps other dates that point towards His day of birth?
Those who seek answers, shall find answers. I sought, and I got my answers. History tells us exactly where it all began. Read further, and find out the origins of Christmas.
Where did the name Christmas come from?
This one word is a combination of two words: “Christ” and “mas(s)”. There are historical documents that first recorded this name in the year 1038 followed by the word Cristes-messe in 1131, but there is no other information when exactly this name was created or used. All we have to know is that the meaning leaned towards the Christ and the Mass made for Him by Catholic Church.
When Yeshua (Jesus) Christ was born?
Its hard to believe that with all the access we have to information today, most Christians still don’t know for sure when Yeshua was born. Scholars, theologians, professors of history know so much, but for some reason the knowledge of the true date of our Savior’s birth is an enigma. How is it possible that all the clear Biblical facts that are in plain view in the bible have yet to be spread to the masses? Is it possible that the enemy is trying to hide this wonderful date to keep us from a true blessing?
So when was Yeshua born?
To answer this question we need to establish a few things beforehand. We cannot only focus on the back of the book – The New Testament, or what is commonly referred to as the Good News. We also have to look deeper into the Old Testament which is called the Tanakh. Let’s start with one obvious fact. The Bible tells us exactly when John the Baptist was born. We can establish the date by calculating John’s father, Zacharias, priestly service at the Temple. From then we are told by Luke in his gospel that it was six months later that Yeshua was born. Lets take a closer look at the scriptures that magnify these facts.
“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.” — Luke 1:5
“Now it happened, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division”, — Luke 1:8
“It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.” — Luke 1:23
“After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months…” — Luke 1:24
The scripture tells us that Zacharias was a priest in the Temple of God. To understand what kind of service he was doing at the temple and when exactly the “division of Abijah” occurred, we have to go back to the book of 1st Chronicles and read what kind of instructions God gave to King David regarding the Temple priesthood and its times of serving.
The Bible tells us precisely in 1 Chronicles about these courses. Let’s read:
“1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.
4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.” — 1 Chr 24:1-4
“11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord.” — 1 Chr 28:11-13
“These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.” — 1 Chr 24:19
Also the famous Jewish historian Josephus greatly describes 24 divisions that God established by the hand of King David.
“7. But David, being desirous of ordaining his son king of all the people, called together their rulers to Jerusalem, with the priests and the Levites; and having first numbered the Levites, he found them to be thirty-eight thousand, from thirty years old to fifty; out of which he appointed twenty-three thousand to take care of the building of the temple, and out of the same, six thousand to be judges of the people and scribes, four thousand for porters to the house of God, and as many for singers, to sing to the instruments which David had prepared, as we have said already. He divided them also into courses: and when he had separated the priests from them, he found of these priests twenty-four courses, sixteen of the house of Eleazar, and eight of that of Ithamar; and he ordained that one course should minister to God eight days, from sabbath to sabbath. And thus were the courses distributed by lot, in the presence of David, and Zadok and Abiathar the high priests, and of all the rulers; and that course which came up first was written down as the first, and accordingly the second, and so on to the twenty-fourth; and this partition hath remained to this day.” — Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 7, Chapter 14, Paragraph 7.
1 Chronicles 24:10 tells us exactly that Abijah was the eighth course. Also 1 Chronicles 27:1-2 states that Nisan was the first month were priestly divisions started.
“1 Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.
2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.” — 1 Chronicles 27:1-2
That means that Zacharias served his course on the 9th week counting from the first month of Nisan in God’s calendar year. When Zacharias came back to Elizabeth it was probably the middle of the month Sivan which was between May and June.
Since we have the subject of divisions explained, this will help us to understand the true date of John the Baptists’, and later Yeshua conception. Zacharais’ 8th course called “Abijah” at the Temple finished in the month of Sivan (May – June).
The bible tells us that Yeshua was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the sixth month of Elisabeth’s pregnancy:
“24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” — Luke 1:24-27
Since six months after month Sivan the virgin Mary got conceived, this takes us to the month of Kislev (Nov. – Dec.);
From the month of Kislev we need to calculate 9 months of pregnancy or better 10 lunar months (40 weeks). John the Baptist was most likely born in Nisan (Mar – April), which is interesting enough because in the middle of this month we have the festival of Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. Also, on the Passover, Jewish people still today prepare a special setting of wine during the Passover meal in expectancy for Elijah coming this week, based on the prophecy in Malachi which states:
“5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” — Malachi 4:5-6
The angel that appeared to Zacharias in the temple, also indicated that John would be the expected “Elijah”:
“And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” — Luke 1:17
Since John the Baptist was born in the month of Nisan, all we need to do is add six more months to get the precise month of Yehsua birth. And that would be the month of Tishri (Sep. – Oct.)!
Guess what Jews and many Christians celebrate during this month??? Yep, you guessed.
The Feast of Trumpets!
There are a few interesting facts about the Feast of Trumpets I found during my research for this article. You can research on your own the amazing connections between Yeshua and all the festivals of God – Yahweh (the festivals are not only for the Jewish people, like many pastors today teach. They are the Feasts of God).
“‘These are the set feasts of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season.” — Leviticus 23:4
“You shall keep it a feast to Yahweh seven days in the year: it is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall keep it in the seventh month.” — Leviticus 23:41
There is yet another great and logical reason why Yeshua birthday could occur on the Feast of Trumpets. The bible states that Mary and Joseph couldn’t find any room in Bethlehem.
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” — Luke 2:7
Why there was no room at the Inn?
Could it be that that there was no vacancy due to the fact that people had travelled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets? It is likely that in those later days many people from outlying areas came into Jerusalem and stayed for more than three weeks arriving before the Feast of Trumpets on Tishri 1, and staying until after the Last Great Day on Tishri 22. Bethlehem is situated only 5 miles from Jerusalem, so that would make sense. If there was no room in Bethlehem, because it had been occupied by pilgrims, then for sure there would have been no room in Jerusalem.
Recently I came upon interesting opinions stating that Yeshua was probably born on September 11, 3BC. This exact date points to the Feast of Trumpets on the God’s calendar that started on Tishri 1, 3759, which was September 10-11, 3BC. The conclusion of this opinion was basically by taking Revelation 12:1-2 into the literal picture of our constellations. Only on September 11, 3BC (which is -2 astrological year) constellation Virgo was “clothed in Sun and had the Moon under her feet”. Constellation Virgo also have 12 stars above her head.
“12 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” — Revelation 12:1-2
Joseph Dumond, author of “Remembering the Sabbatical Years of 2016, 2023, 2030, 2037, 2044,” defends this idea by saying: “The key to the very day of Jesus’ birth is the words ‘and the moon under her feet.’ The word ‘under’ signifies that the woman’s feet were positioned just over the moon. Since the feet of Virgo represent the last 7 degrees of the constellation (in the time of Christ this would have been between about 180 degrees and 187 degrees along the elyptic), the moon has to be positioned somewhere under the 7 degree arc. But the moon also has to be in that exact location when the sun is mid-bodied to Virgo. In the year 3 B.C., these two factors came to precise agreement for less than two hours, as observed from Palestine, on Sept. 11th. The precise arrangement began about 6:15 p.m. (sunset), and lasted until 7:45 p.m. (moonset). This is the only day in the whole year that this could have taken place.”
I think it is worth mentioning that today’s September 11 is recognized as the day of sorrow and remembrance by the majority of the world. I wouldn’t be surprised if this date was chosen by demonic realm to once and for all make people forget to actually celebrate it and turn it into the day of joy, because of our Savior’s birthday. Anyway, let’s continue.
Below is another scripture that confirms Yeshua could not be born in December.
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” — Luke 2:8
Now, why this scripture is so important? In Israel as in many other countries it is cold during the winter season. So if the shepherds were in the fields watching the flock by night, this couldn’t be the end of December, because it would be way too cold and rainy to be out in the field. The Bible has another scripture that proves that winter was a rainy season.
“For, behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone.” — Song of Songs 2:11
Since The Bible gives us proof that December 25 its not the true date of Yeshua birth then why have people chosen this date?
Why December 25?
This date has long been known even before the birth of Yeshua. The beginnings of this date reach all the way to the grandson of Noah, Nimrod. Nimrod was a builder of the Babylonian system. He was the one who built the tower of Babel, original Babylon, and ancient Nineveh. Some documents says that he married his own mother Semiramis. After Nimrod’s death, Semiramis created a doctrine that the spirit of Nimrod was still alive and that he is the true Sun god. Hebrews called Nimrod “Marad” which translates to – “he rebelled”.
We have known for centuries that the winter solstice is “reborn” on December 25. From this date the days begin to get longer over the next year. From this perspective the “Sun” is reborn because the sun stays out longer during the day. There are many books and articles about how the Emperor Constantine changed many of God’s biblical festivals and replaced them or combined them with pagan celebrations; and this is true as well. I suggest to you that it has everything to do with pagan Sun worship festivals. However, Constantine wasn’t the first one who started celebrating this date.
There was a man called Cerinthus, whose disciples invented the feast of December 25th. Cerinthus, who apostle John disliked very much called him a Nicolaitan. Let’s read what God thinks about the Nicolaitans:
“14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15 So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.
16 Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.” — Revelation 2:14-17
I submit to you that much bigger forces than we imagine are pulling strings to fabricate the truth of this important day. The devil is always trying to counterfeit God by imitating poorly the scenarios close to His plan. He fabricates everything our God is doing and many people become deceived by his tricks. All the pagan countries who worship the sun god celebrate their god’s birthday on December 25. From Egyptians to Aztecs, continuing through Asian countries and finishing up with Scandinavians. No matter where you are in the world most of the sun god’s birthdays are on December 25 or on the day of the winter solstice. All these regions and religions celebrate on this day. The same goes with celebrating Easter, Halloween and many other festivals that have pagan origins.
Since we are not to be of this world, and not put any other gods before Him, you would think that Christians would avoid this date and for example choose another day to celebrate the Savior’s birth. I think that a lack of understanding and knowledge, coupled with manmade traditions have reaffirmed this date to many Christians all over the world. In the past, December 25 was forced on Christians as the date to celebrate the birth of their King while compromising their beliefs with pagan beliefs. I believe there were many people who rejected this day, and died in vain to stand up for what was right. People today are afraid of the “new” – which in this case is actually very old. Churches do not want to start the conversation of removing Christmas. The fear of loosing believers and money is greater than the fear of respecting God. True fear does not come from God, so if the church would do the right thing, God would help them flourish. Maybe instead of following the whole world (which should already raise red flags that something is wrong, because the world hates God and does not want to have anything to do with Him), we should be like our great fore fathers of faith?
Christmas Illegal
You may find it interesting to note that many of the great champions of faith knew all of these things. There are historical documents stating that Christmas was prohibited in the past because of the very facts I wrote about above. This quote is taken from no one else but Charles Spurgeon (!), the authority for many Christian churches in United States and around the world.
“We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas: first, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin or in English; and, secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority.” — Charles Spurgeon, Sermon on Dec. 24, 1871
“For preventing disorders, arising in several places within this jurisdiction by reason of some still observing such festivals as were superstitiously kept in other communities, to the great dishonor of God and offense of others: it is therefore ordered by this court and the authority thereof that whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way, upon any such account as aforesaid, every such person so offending shall pay for every such offense five shilling as a fine to the county.” — From the records of the General Court,
Massachusetts Bay Colony
May 11, 1659
Look at the date – 1659! Can you believe that before the United Stated was even established Christmas was illegal? Everyone knew that Christmas was a pagan festival. Where did we go wrong?!
Who is Santa Claus and where he come from?
This is absolutely astounding! If you think that Saint Nicolas was the one who originated the idea of a good man helping others, think again. This favorite giver of gifts has many different names and if you do some simple research on the web you can find out that those names are still in existence in many countries today. The origins of Santa Claus trace farther back than one would think. For some of you it may sound crazy, but the whole idea of idolizing the man with the white beard takes its roots from Scandinavian countries who worshiped a god called Odin.
Who was Odin? Odin was a god of intoxication, ecstasy, etc. His name was “The Inspired One”. He traveled around the world on his white horse with 8 legs and a crosier in his hand. Sound familiar? In later years the legend was altered to keep kids more interested, so instead of 8 legs, it became 8 reindeers. You might say: “Well it was nine reindeers. What about Rudolph?” Again, please do your research and you will find out that Rudolph was added later on as a more interesting story telling element for kids.
The origins of Odin reach all the way back to ancient Egypt and some say that even to the times of tower of Babel. Those civilizations worshiped the Sun god. Pagan Sun god’s names were: Ra in Egypt, Zeus in Greece, Jupiter in Roman Empire, and many more in other places. It is astounding to note that around the world every single Sun god’s birthday is and was on December 25th.
Another interesting thing I will add here is the definition of “Old Nick” in the dictionary.
“Old Nick – (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell, Beelzebub, Devil, Lucifer, Prince of Darkness, Satan, the Tempter.” — Dictionary
On a side note, it is interesting that the same letters that comprise the word Santa, also are the very same letters that found in the word Satan.
Santa Claus’ helpers, elves, previously were called Krampus and these were (and still are in some countries in Europe) very scary creatures to all kids.
Christmas Tree
Now, I would like to talk about the Christmas tree. If you think that the Christmas tree is something that is innocent in God’s view, lets take a closer look. Read below what the prophet Jeremiah tells us about a tree that God hates so much.
“1 Hear the word which Yahweh speaks to you, house of Israel!
2 Thus says Yahweh, “Don’t learn the way of the nations, and don’t be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts 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 not move.
5 They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don’t speak: they must be carried, because they can’t go. Don’t be afraid of them; for they can’t do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
6 There is none like you, Yahweh; you are great, and your name is great in might.” — Jeremiah 10:1-6
Jeremiah in verse 5 writes that tree itself doesn’t do good or evil. He is right. The tree itself doesn’t do any evil, but when you worship it as a part of a holiday that is pagan then its a different story.
Now lets talk about presents. I submit to you where I believe the idea of the tree and presents came from and then you can decide for yourself if it resonates with you.
“Now read this quote under “Christmas”: “In the Roman world, the Saturnalia (December 17) was a time of merrymaking and exchanging of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birthdate of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances were added the German and Celtic Yule rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain and central Europe. Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season. Fires and lights, symbols of warmth and lasting life, have always been associated with the winter festival, both pagan and Christian” — Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., vol. II, p. 903.
Conclusion
I think that Christmas is one of the best examples of how a pagan festival creeps into sincere Christians hearts. The devil unfortunately has wrapped many in this great deception. Today, for some, it will be very hard to forget about the whole idea of this holiday. It is hard, and I understand that there are a lot of feelings, memories, nostalgia, and traditions involved, but how much can we sacrifice for our Lord? He sacrificed His only begotten Son for us, so we would be forgiven from sin, how much less is giving up a pagan holiday that worships demonic spirits and symbols. How much of a Christian we call ourselves if we only focus on what we want and not what He wants? Christmas has become a mass marketed money making holiday that is self centered and focuses on wants of material things. Even if you think “well, that’s not what Christmas means to me, to me it is about Him and His birthday.” It parallels the story of the Israelites who had come out of Egypt, seen all the miracles of God, and while waiting at the base of Mt. Sinai, decided to make a golden calf feast to Yahweh, because they thought their mediator Moses wasn’t coming back. As soon as their mediator Moses left them for forty days, they went back to their old traditions and ways grafting in new feasts of God into the old pagan feasts.
“4 He received what they handed him, and fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molten calf; and they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.” — Exodus 32:4-5
Let’s see how God (Yahweh) responded to this celebration to Him.
“7 Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go, get down; for your people, who you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves!
8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’” — Exodus 32:7-8
Doesn’t this sound familiar to what Constantine and many Christian churches have done throughout the centuries after Yeshua had been crucified and raised from the dead? We are accepting pagan traditions and symbols and grafting them into our homes and calling it the birthday of our Messiah.
The date of Yeshua Hamashiac birth has been long forgotten for centuries. Now, through the devil’s craftiness, we are still forgetting that it all should be about Yeshua and not Santa Claus, Rudolph, sales, trees, and presents.
Lastly, I would like to share a parable that I heard from one of my teachers.
“If you are married to wife that you really love and one day you tell her:
Honey, before you I dated this other girl for many years and I got used to the date of her birthday. It will be so much easier for me if we change your birthday date and just keep the one I remember for years. This way I will never forget your anniversary. You have to understand that I still love you and I won’t celebrate the other girl, but you.”
How would you respond? If you could be offended by this, how much more could God be? Think about it.
Am I saying that giving presents and gifts or keeping live trees in the home is bad? No.
Am I saying not to celebrate birthdays? No.
Am I saying that celebrating God’s Holidays are bad? No.
All I’m saying is that background of holidays like Christmas and its traditions are pagan. They were created to worship not the God of the Bible, Yahweh, but the pagan Sun god/(ha)satan that stand against Him. We all need to realize that this holiday is not as innocent as we think. If Santa Claus was plainly called Odin, or any other name that was associated with the Sun god, you would never celebrate any of this because you would see it was against God. If you knew that in the past kissing under the mistletoe was an invitation to a sexual orgy or that the famous “Ho ho ho” was used by actors in centuries past to announce an actor playing the role of satan, you would never put any of these symbols in your family home. You would never teach your children these traditions to pass along to future generations.
I know you have just been exposed to a lot of information, but it is a chance for you to decide if you will keep the “Spirit of Christmas” or the “Holy Spirit” in your home. Research on your own and pray to God for passion and wisdom to reveal the truth in your heart. There is always a choice. If you are afraid that people might reject you or dislike you, then how much more should you fear the Creator of the Universe, who hates the ways of the Nicolaitans who teach the ways of Balaam.
I rather celebrate the festivals and holidays that are from God and that I find in the Bible, than festivals which are manmade and are created by God’s biggest enemy – satan.
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