Many conservative evangelical Christians at this time of year want to

“Put Christ back in Christmas” and insist that

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season.”

“Unfortunately, you don’t have much of a case.”

It is a Pagan Festival

Christians took over the Decemer 25th Roman holiday of

Natalis Solis Invicti, festival of the birth of the invincible sun,

as well as

Saturnalia. Christians took over German mid-winter festival celebrations which used evergreen trees and holly as symbols of eternal life.

Where is Christ in all of this? How is Jesus the reason for the season of mid-winter

festivals that pre-date Christianity?

Luk 1:3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus; Luk 1:4 that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things

Zachariah the Priest

The end of Zechariah's temple service Annunciation of Mary took place after 150 days John's Birth took place after 280 days

Jesus' birth took place after 430 days

+ 7 days_

Luke 1:8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil

According to the Bible Calendar, the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri) is the Day of Atonement. The Jews call it Yom Kippur. We know this date for certain. It comes once a year only

Yom Kippur will occur on the following days of the Gregorian calendar: Jewish Year 5766 : sunset October 12, 2005 - nightfall October 13, 2005 Jewish Year 5767 : sunset October 1, 2006 - nightfall October 2, 2006 Jewish Year 5768 : sunset September 21, 2007 - nightfall September 22, 2007 Jewish Year 5769 : sunset October 8, 2008 - nightfall October 9, 2008 Jewish Year 5770 : sunset September 27, 2009 - nightfall September 28, 2009

Luke 1:23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months

remained in seclusion.

+ 7 days?

Luke 1:26-33 On the sixth month (of Civil Calendar – Elizabeth’s pregnancy)

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, To a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, .... You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

1

2

3

4

5

6

9

8

7

Birth of John the Baptist

Tammuz 3

June third weekZachariah goes Home

Annunciation

Of Mary

On the sixth month would then well be "on the sixth month i.e. Adar " which is also the "sixth month of pregnancy of Elizabeth." From 23rd Tishri adding 280 days of gestation period we arrive at (7+30+29+30+29+30+29+30+29+30+3)

Tammmuz 3 June 20Birth of John the Baptist .

+ 7 days_

Tammmuz 3

Birth of John the Baptist

Adding 6 more months we arrive at Teveth 3

which is around December end

+ 7 days_

2

3

4

5

6

9

8

7

Birth of John the Baptist

Tammuz 3

June third week

Annunciation

Of Mary

1

Birth of Jesus

5 months 280 days of Gestation Period

DAY OF ATONEMENT

ElizabethConceives

Mary conceives20 March 6 BC

Birth of Jesus25 December, 6 BC

10 Tishri

Second half of September

7 days

+ 7 days?

In BC 6 using Gregorian Calendar it falls exactly on Dec 25th

The Julian Calendar

Correction to calendar

The system of numbering years A.D. ( "Anno Domini") was instituted in about the year 527 A.D. by the Roman abbot Dionysius Exiguus,

Gregorian Dec 25

“Bringing an evergreen tree into the house is another pagan tradition relating to the worship of evergreen plants as symbols of fertility, life and reproduction. The pagans decorated their trees with fruit, and placed other foods underneath it as offerings to the tree.”

Kaavu?

In spite of the many attempts on the part of some historians to trace the origin of the Christmas tree to mythology, the custom and the symbolism are completely Christian. The Christmas tree resulted from a combination of the medieval Paradise tree and the Christmas candle.

One of the most popular of the medieval German mystery plays was the Paradise play, representing the creation of man, the sin of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from Paradise.

This play became a favorite for Advent because it usually ended with the consoling promise of a Savior.

As a matter of fact, the closing scenes led directly to the story of Bethlehem.

an allegorical drama popular in Europe especially during the 15th and 16th centuries, in which the characters personify moral qualities (such as charity or vice) or abstractions (as death or youth) and in which moral lessons are taught.

The mystery plays, usually representing biblical subjects, developed from plays presented in Latin by churchmen on church premises and depicted such subjects as the Creation, Adam and Eve, the murder of Abel, and the Last Judgment.

In this play, the Garden of Eden was represented by a large tree symbolizing the "Tree of Discernment of Good and Evil." The Paradise tree was usually surrounded by lighted candles and the play enacted within the circle of lights

Nicholas – Bishop of Turkey 300 AD

Born in Patara in Turkey (Lysa, Asia Minor)

Bishop of Myra

St.Nicholas Day December 19

                                                                                                                                                               

Show your thankfulness to the Lord by sharing your bounty with someone less fortunate! Donate gifts, toys, canned and non-perishable items to your local shelters. When you give

something make sure it is something you like and would enjoy if you were receiving it.

                                                                                                              

                                                                      

rituals intended either to bolster a natural process necessary to survival or to reaffirm the society's commitment to a particular set of values and beliefs and means of communication.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Colossians 2:16-17

Leviticus 23 1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and

say to them: 'These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you are to proclaim

as sacred assemblies.

Deu 14:25 then you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses, Deu 14:26 and spend the money for whatever you desire, oxen, or sheep, or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves; and you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.

Lev 10:9 "Drink no wine nor strong drink, you nor your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die; it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.

Deu 14:28 "At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce in the same year, and lay it up within your towns;

Deu 14:29 and the Levite, (those who serve you in your spiritual matters) because he has no portion or inheritance with you.

and the sojourner (Those who have just come into your area),

the fatherless,

and the widow,

who are within your towns,

shall come and eat and be filled; that

the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.