07-Nov-Dec-1

This issue of YAHSHUA'S WITNESS MAGAZINE
was published for NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2007

Inside this issue:

The Legend of Santa Claus

The Saturnalia

Christmas Illegal?

The Spirit of Christmas Vs. The Spirit Of Truth

A Moment In Time

Involve Yahweh and Yahshua Now

Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee

The Buzzard, the Bat, the Bumblebee and People
.......

EDITOR: Jerry Healan
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: John McCarty

PROOFREADERS:
Frances Healan, Jerry Healan, John McCarty

.......

OUR COVER: We have decided to focus on the end of the year holiday season in this issue. At one time Christmas was deemed a false pagan holiday in both England and America. The cover picture is of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria and family observing Christmas with their tree as a centerpiece. Just as in ancient Israel, the overall majority of the people follow their leaders, Oliver Cromwell had been the leader under Puritan influence. They rejected the pagan Christmas customs and the overall majority of the people followed. The prince was German and the queen was raised under German influence. Christmas and Christmas trees were very popular in the German society. With Christmas re-instituted by royalty, the people in both Britain and America have followed suit. It has become so popular that it will take divine intervention to restore the true ways to the people.

For comments or inquiries please write to YEA, P. O. Box 31, Atlanta, TX 75551.

FROM THE EDITOR

A Christmas Story

Recently my wife and I were consuming our evening meal when the telephone rang. (It seems that many people are inspired to place a call to our home during this period of time. Not that I am complaining, it’s just a fact.) The voice on the other end of the line praised me for being such a good citizen (How did he know? Somehow my name was on his calling list and he was just parroting the same line that they say to everyone).

He eventually got into the meat of the matter...it seems that Newt Gingrich is traveling about the country promoting a new book that he has written about this country, God, etc. He was drumming up financial support for this endeavor.

It seems that this country needs to get back to God and the supposed things that makes God happy if we are truly ever going to be blessed again. He brought up a story about some school in either Michigan or Wisconsin that is no longer allowed to call their end of the year program the Christmas program, but rather a Holiday program because there was a Moslem attending school there who would have been offended at the term “Christmas.” This was my chance!

I told him that December 25th is not the birthday of the Savior. HE AGREED! He acknowledged that it truly is not His birthday. I said, the Savior said that we must worship the Father in Spirit and in truth; since there is no truth in Christmas, then why does Christianity continue to hold onto a falsehood. He replied that they desired to honor His birthday, so they appointed Christmas (Dec. 25th) as the day to celebrate it. This, of course, is faulty and fallacious reasoning.

The Scriptures proclaim, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways death,” Prov. 14:12; 16: 16:25. If Christmas observers would only take these two verses to heart, they would be able to get a better handle on the ability to walk in the truth.

The Apostle Paul writes, “For if the truth of Yahweh hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just,” Ro. 3:7-8.

Here is something for everyone to think about; what did Paul really mean here? Isn’t this an oxymoron? Truth and falsehood (lies) are extreme opposites. So how can truth abound through a lie? The fact of the matter is that lies presented with a little truth are still lies. Lies are utilized to twist and corrupt the truth into something that it is not. Truth sets free, lies enslave.

I remember when I found out the truth as a child, that there was no Santa Claus. I was so disappointed. But the Christmas lie still kept me enslaved to observing the false birthday of the Savior until I found out the truth about that.

Christmas itself, is an enigma because on one hand people love to celebrate it, but on the other hand, the bills that mount up because of all the presents that family and friends expect to receive do enslave one to the credit cards and other loans that many are still paying (with burdening interest) even when the next Christmas rolls around. Of course, the ones who love it the most are the merchants, banks, lenders and politicians who reap the rewards of large sales, interest payments and taxes collected.

This leads me to the next question, If the Christian ministers, priests, churches, etc., have their hearts set on publishing the truth, then why do they continue to promote outright falsehoods and lies? The truth of the matter is that their own heart is set only on their own pocketbooks. They had rather promote a falsehood, a lie, from which they will prosper financially, than the truth, that may cause a backlash from a public who loves their pagan holidays. But they should remember what Paul stated, if we seek to promote the truth through a lie, then we are still labeled as a sinner. The penalty of sin is death (Ro. 6:23). We are supposed to repent of sin! Yahshua told the woman caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more.” (Jn. 8:11)

These ministers, priests and churches are not only embracing sin, but they are leading the sheep of Yahweh’s pasture down the broad way to sin and destruction. Paul says, “...whose damnation is just.” Damnation has to do with judgment. The crux of the matter (a pun), is that Yahshua is the truth and we should serve Him in Spirit and in Truth! To those who are the leaders, the greater condemnation (judgment) will be meted out.

Our admonition to the ministers and priests is to REPENT OF YOUR SINS! Turn and feed the sheep with the true, pure, clean food of Spirit and Truth. Let the true light, our light, Yahshua the Messiah shine forth and leave behind the fallacious Christmas lights that have no truth in them at all. JH

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How many of us haven’t heard the song dedicated to the Christmas tree. It was originated in German and then translated into the English language. In German, the word Christmas tree is tannenbaum. The song goes:

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
They're green when summer days are bright:
They're green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
How oft at Christmas tide the sight,
O green fir tree, gives us delight!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!

In the German-speaking countries the Christmas tree is part of the pre-Christian tradition of the "12 Rauhnächte" (12 harsh or wild nights), which later became the "Twelve Nights of Christmas." The tree is put up on December 24 and taken down after New Years or on January 6, known as "Twelfth Night." A part of the tradition of taking down the tree is the "Plündern," raiding the tree of cookies and sugar plums, an event, anxiously awaited by the children. January 6 is also known as " Three Kings." On that evening carolers, three of them dressed as the three kings or Magi, stroll from house to house. In some areas the old trees will be brought to a public place and burnt in a big bon-fire. January 7 ushers in the pre-Lenten Fasching or Carnival season.

Winter in the northern countries was harsh. As the early Germans observed Fall with the gradual dying of nature, when plants and leaves of trees began to change color, shriveled up and fell to the ground, followed by Winter with ice and snow, they blamed evil spirits for the "killing." Only a few trees stayed "alive," the evergreens, and to them they became a symbol of immortality. Good spirits and the magic power of the evergreen were believed to resist the life-threatening powers of darkness and cold. They believed in the special powers of these trees and wherever they were, evil spirits could not go, so they brought the greenery into their homes.

First reports of people bringing holly and pine branches into their homes at Christmas-time date from the late Middle Ages. Live green branches, symbols of life in the cold and dead of winter, were placed on windows, mirrors, and in vases, and may have served to keep evil spirits away. Over time, this mythical function of the greens became simply decorative. Evergreen ropes (garlands) were draped over staircase railings, mantels, picture frames and along ceilings. Fearful that dry branches would catch fire from oil lamps or sparks from the fireplace or heating stove, families waited until almost Christmas eve to hang the garlands.

The decorated tree was originally a pagan tradition in Germany's upper Rhine region. A decorated holly tree was brought into the house and even placed in the village square. We know this because in 14th-century Alsace laws were written which forbade farmers to cut down evergreens for Christmas uses.

In the 15th or 16th century, the church gave new meaning to the customary symbol of life by decorating trees during the holiday season with apples to symbolize Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden. Greens were incorporated into medieval miracle plays and into a Christmas play, honoring Adam and Eve, that was traditionally presented. An evergreen hung with apples, the fruit of knowledge, was the stage prop. (Information from the Internet.)

Are you getting all of this? The Christmas tree is part of PRE-CHRISTIAN TRADITION! The PRE-CHRISTIANS blamed evil spirits for killing all vegetation during the winter. The evergreen trees, to them, were symbols of immortality. The evergreens had the power to keep evil spirits away!? The decorated tree was originally a PAGAN TRADITION!

But the church itself gave new meaning to the customary symbol of life by decorating with apples which symbolized Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden! Furthermore, the apples symbolize the FRUIT OF KNOWLEDGE!

WORSHIPPING TREES

Evergreens were a symbol of rebirth from ancient times. Egyptians brought green palm branches into their homes on the winter solstice as a symbol of life's triumph over death. The Romans decorated with evergreens during Saturnalia, a winter festival in honor of their god of agriculture. In Northern Europe the pagans observed the Soltice festival of Jul (Yule) - a two month feast beginning in November with prickly pine branches hung around doorways and windows to keep away demonic spirits. But the sacred trees of the druids and norsemen were deciduous oaks, not evergreen conifers.

It is generally acknowledged that the Christmas tree is of German origin. In the pre-Christian era the oak was the sacred tree for the Germanic peoples. Legend has it that the missionary to the Germans, St. Boniface, in order to stop sacrifices at their sacred Donar oak near Geismar, chopped the tree down [725 A.D.]. He is said to have replaced the oak by a fir tree, adorned in tribute to the new-born Christ. Ironically, the evergreen tree had been ascribed magical power by the Germanic peoples as a representation of fertility. Today, the fir and its next of kin enjoy the highest degree of popularity. The Christmas tree custom has spread across large parts of the world. (Christmas Customs and Their Pagan Origins)

What a wondrous thing it is that the so-called St. Boniface did! He cut down one sacred tree and substituted another in its place. The problem is that the ancient heathens and pagans worshipped just about everything in existence. If one is going to teach the worship of the Father and the Son, then he must not substitute one physical thing for another. St. Boniface accomplished nothing more than transferring worship from one tree to another.

Another thing that so called St. Boniface accomplished is he substituted another tree that had magical powers ascribed to it, as well as being a fertility symbol. This fits in quite well with the birth of the little sun-god who is later transferred to the Messiah.

THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE

As already touched on, religious plays called “Mystery Plays” included the popular Paradise Play depicting the story of Adam and Eve, their sin and banishment from the Garden of Eden. An evergreen tree was the logical choice for a lush garden tree on this winter festival, and it was decorated with apples symbolizing the forbidden fruit. It ended with the promise of the coming Savior and his incarnation, so gradually flat wafers symbolizing the forgiveness of sins in communion were added to the paradise tree, making it now not just the tree of knowledge but also the tree of life. This resulted in a very old European custom of decorating a fir tree in the home with apples and small white wafers representing the Holy Eucharist at Christmas time. These wafers were later replaced by little pieces of pastry cut in the shapes of stars, angels, hearts, flowers, and bells. (Legends of the First Christmas Tree)

When the article quoted says “LEGENDS” that is exactly what they are: LEGENDS AND MYTHS, FALSEHOODS AND LIES!

The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought about sin, corruption and death, not life! “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die,” Gen. 2:17.

If you will notice, the references of all articles quoted will call the tree the tree of knowledge and the fruit is the fruit of knowledge. The simple fact of the matter is that it was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the fruit was the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. The tree and its fruit brought forth death!

However, man, in his own limited knowledge and reasoning has now turned the fruit into a fruit of essential and life-giving knowledge and the tree is now presented as the tree of life. There is a Scripture that condemns such practices, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isa. 5:20.

BON-FIRES & YULE LOGS

In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year. (History.com)

There was some dispute about the proper date of the birth of Christ and not everyone agrees even to this day. It was not until A.D. 350, that December 25 was declared the official date for celebrating Christmas by Pope Julius I. When the fathers of the church decided to settle upon a date to celebrate the event, they wisely chose the day of the winter solstice, since it coincided with some rival religions' celebrations and the rebirth of the sun, symbolized by bon-fires and yule logs. December 25 was a festival long before the conversion of the Germanic peoples to Christianity, it seemed fitting that the time of their winter festival would also be the time to celebrate the birth of Christ. The darkness that had frightened and threatened to defeat the ancient pagans, was forever defeated by the coming of Christ.

Because of changes in man-made calendars, the time of the solstice and the date of Christmas vary by a few days. As Christianity spread among the peoples of pagan lands, many of the practices of the winter solstice were blended with those of Christianity. In the dead of winter a celebration of rebirth of life was symbolized in the birth of Christ. The time of the winter solstice, when days grew longer again--the return of the light--became the hope of the world in the birth of Christ, "the light of the world." (Christmas)

Candles replaced bon-fires as a symbol for the returning sun. The imitative magic of the illuminated Christmas tree, as did the bon-fires, was to assure a steady supply of light and heat from the sun, and it had as a second aim the purification or destruction of the forces of evil (Symbols, p. 101). In the Christian tradition, candles represented Christ as the Light of the World. (O Tannenbaum-O Christmas Tree)

From these excerpts we learn that bon-fires and yule logs originally represented the re-birth of the sun. Candles on the Christmas tree became the replacement symbol for the bon-fires and yule logs, which the church changed to typify the birth of the Messiah. Today, the Christmas trees are enshrouded with the electric lights, but the symbols remain the same. They are celebrating the birth of the sun-god, not the birth of the true Messiah.

THE BRANCH

Legends about the first Christmas tree abound. One of these tells about a woodcutter who helps a small hungry child. The next morning, the child appears to the woodcutter and his wife, and is none other than the Christchild. The child breaks a branch from a fir tree and tells the couple that it will be a tree that, at Christmas time, will bear fruit. As foretold the tree is laden with apples of gold and nuts of silver. (O Tannenbaum-O Christmas Tree)

This is an outright blatant attempt to associate the pagan sun-god with the true Messiah Yahshua as the Prophet Zechariah is inspired to write, “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH,” Zech. 3:8.

Furthermore, Isaiah is inspired to prophesy, “In that day shall the branch of Yahweh be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel,” Isa. 4:2.

Notice that he talks of the fruit of the earth being excellent, but he certainly doesn’t refer to any apples of gold, nor nuts of silver.

Jeremiah is inspired to write, “Hear ye the word which Yahweh speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith Yahweh, Learn not the way 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,” Jer. 10:1-4.

These Scriptures can be applied in two ways. One goes out to the forest to cut a Christmas tree, fasten it with nails and deck it with gold and silver. (At least that is the way it was done in the old days.)

But in another instance, the woodsman can carve the wood into idols which they cover with gold (to represent the sun gods) and silver (to represent the moon gods and goddesses).

Both activities are acts of idolatry, heathenism and outright paganism.

The idolators want their branch to bring forth gold and silver. Yahweh’s branch will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

YAHWEH’S WARNING

Yahweh cautioned Israel, “These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which Yahweh Elohim of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. 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: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto Yahweh your Elohim….When Yahweh thy Elohim shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto Yahweh thy Elohim: for every abomination to Yahweh, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it,” Dt. 12:1-4, 29-32.

Christianity has been deceived to do the very things that Yahweh had forbidden Israel to do. We are supposed to forsake every false thing, idol, name and practice that He considers to be an abomination.

The heathens, pagans, idolaters, etc., had been serving their false deities with trees of every sort, especially evergreen trees before the Messiah was born. The winter solstice was the birthday of their sun-god.

The Christmas tree symbolizes the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, not the tree of life. How long will people continue to serve the tree of death and its false messiah? We encourage repentance now, for all who read this article. JH

WORSHIPPING TREES

THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE

When the article quoted says “LEGENDS” that is exactly what they are: LEGENDS AND MYTHS, FALSEHOODS AND LIES!

BON-FIRES & YULE LOGS

THE BRANCH

Notice that he talks of the fruit of the earth being excellent, but he certainly doesn’t refer to any apples of gold, nor nuts of silver.

But in another instance, the woodsman can carve the wood into idols which they cover with gold (to represent the sun gods) and silver (to represent the moon gods and goddesses).

Both activities are acts of idolatry, heathenism and outright paganism.

The idolators want their branch to bring forth gold and silver. Yahweh’s branch will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

YAHWEH’S WARNING

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Who is Santa Claus? Where is he found in the annals of the past? Is it important? We will present the information here and you can be the judge, but remember this, we must judge righteous judgment.

By Jerry Healan

A careful study into the modern day seemingly loveable character Santa Claus produces alarming results; especially when one allows the truth of the Scriptures to be his guide.

An article entitled “Christmas Customs And Their Pagan Origins” has this to say, “The church also placed Christ's birth at the time of the winter solstice and fostered as the bringer of gifts St. Nikolaus, the bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, who died on December 6, 343. Christian symbols and earlier historical layers of Germanic mythological figures began to meld, or to live side by side. Consequently, the old German God Wotan, riding the wild skies with his retinue, emerged out of the pre-Christian past.

To this day Nikolaus traditions vary as widely from region to region as his guise and name. He appears as St. Nikolaus (mainly in Catholic areas), Klaus, Nickel, Sünnerklas, Seneklos, Pelznickel, Knecht Ruprecht, Weihnachtsmann and Christkindl (in mostly Protestant areas). He is afoot or astride a white horse, a reindeer, a mule, or even a goat. More diverse than those of the saintly Nikolaus are the many legends and traditions surrounding his often wild companions: the Zwarte Pitt, Hans Muff, Schimmelreiter, Krampus, Leutfresser, Rumpelklas, Schmutzli. A religious myth whose source was in a Semitic nation, was subsequently developed by a Mediterranean people, and finally superimposed on the quite alien mythologies of the Northern Europeans. The result is a wide array of coexisting customs, Christian and Germanic….In many regions, and also in the U.S., the festivities originally attributed to the gift-giving St. Nikolaus have been transferred from December 6 to Christmas. The giver of gifts is the "Weihnachtsmann" [Santa Claus] or the "Christkindl" [Christchild, an angel]. The latter, misunderstood by Anglophones, became "naturalized" as "Kris Kringle." Christmas customs are perhaps the nicest example for cultural transfer and adaptation resulting in an American tradition with a German touch. ”

What!!?? Christmas customs are the nicest example for cultural transfer and adaptation resulting in tradition? We would say that they are one of the best examples for the blending of the false pagan customs and traditions of men who love not the truth, but love lies (2 Thes. 2:9-11).

Let’s take a look at the things associated with this character called Santa Claus so we can truly understand his nature.

ST. NICKOLAUS

Supposedly, Santa Claus stems from a Christian bishop of Myra named St. Nickolaus who gave out many gifts to others. He died on December 6th 343 CE and his gift-giving tradition was transferred to December 25th to associate him with this Santa Claus figure.

In actuality, the name Santa Claus does come from Saint Nickolaus. It is quite easy to see the association between the two names. The name Santa Claus is just a contracted form of Saint Nickolaus.

But Nickolaus is a Greek name coming from a combination of two words, “Nike” and “Laos.” Nike is the name of a Greek Goddess that means “victory,” or “conqueror.” Laos is the Greek word for “people.” Thus, Nickolaus means “conqueror of the people,” or “victory over the people.”

It is reported that this Nickolaus is presented afoot or astride a white horse, a reindeer, a mule, or even a goat.

The book of Revelation chapter six reveals Yahshua the Lamb stripping seals off of a scroll. The first seal reveals one on a white horse, going forth conquering and to conquer. (v. 2)

The words “conquering” and “conquer” both come from the root word “nike.”

In the book of Genesis, the serpent conquered the woman with a lie. This same serpent is revealed in Revelation 12:9 to be, “...that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world…”

Are you one of those who continues to propagate this falsehood named Santa Claus (St. Nickolaus)? If so, then you are one who is being conquered by him.

WOTAN

The pagan Germanic god Wotan has been interwoven into the Santa Claus figure. The form of his name is quite varied in the various cultures. Wotan is his High German name, Woden is the Low German name. He is known as Oden to the Norse and Odin to the Anglo Saxons. He was the leader of the “wild hunt.”

The original leader of the wild hunt was Nimrod, the world’s first tyrant/ dictator/messiah after the flood, “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before Yahweh. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar,” Gen. 10:8-10.

The beginning of his kingdom was Babel. Babel means “confusion.” Babel is none other than Babylon. Check out your interlinears, concordances and dictionaries to see if such is not the case. Babel/Babylon comes from another Hebrew word “balal,” which means to overflow, to mix, to fodder. Balal, in turn, comes from another Hebrew word “beliyl,” which means “mixed feed.” Another Hebrew word associated with these is beliyal, which is defined as without profit, worthlessness, wickedness, destruction, etc.

History.com says this about Oden, “The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.”

Odin’s/Oden’s/Wodan’s/Wotan’s place of dwelling was Valhalla. Valhalla means “Hall of the slain.” “The hall itself has 540 doors, so wide that 800 warriors could walk through side-by-side. It is said that there is room enough for all those chosen. Here, every day, the slain warriors who will assist Odin in Ragnarök, the gods' final conflict with the giants, arm themselves for battle and ride forth by the thousands to engage in combat on the plains of Asgard. Those who die in the fighting will be brought back to life. At night, they return to Valhalla to feast on the boar Sæhrímnir and drink intoxicating drink.” (Wikipedia)

So now we can understand why there is the Christmas ham tradition in America along with the boar’s head in England. Also, we can understand why there is a lot of partying and drinking associated with the holidays at the end of the year.

The point is that this character, Santa Claus has been mixed (Hebrew balal) with the false pagan god Wotan/Odin so that the whole story becomes a mythological hodge-podge of belial (Hebrew beliyal).

WEDNESDAY & MERCURY

While our calendar is called the Roman calendar which utilizes the names of many of the Roman deities for the months of the year, some of the days of the week are still primarily named after the Norse deities. Woden’s/Odin’s companions were Tyr (Tiw), Thor and Frigg. Tuesday is named after Tyr/Tiw, Wednesday is named after Woden/Oden, Thursday is named after Thor and Friday is named after the female goddess Frigg.

The naming of Wednesday after Woden also associates him with the Roman, Latin deity Mercury and the Greek Deity Hermes.

Mercury and Hermes were the messenger gods. Mercury was the Mediator between heaven and earth (blasphemy).

Odin, Mercury and Hermes were deities of the merchants. Words that issue forth from Mercury are merci (mercy), merchant and merchandise.

They were also “trickster” deities. Both Mercury and Hermes are represented with wings on their feet, which not only represented them as messengers, but as tricksters who could fly from place to place causing various troubles. Wotan/Odin could also fly about and so can Santa Claus.

Now let’s get to the gist of the matter. Santa Claus is a mythological, fictitious character. December 25th is not the true birthday of the Savior. Of course, the religious hierarchies are the ones who propagate the falsehoods, but the merchants also have their part.

The merchants love to focus on Christmas and Santa Claus because through their trickery, they profit greatly. They propagate a spirit around that time of the year, which if we allow it, it will turn our heads to think that it is a beautiful, heart warming time of love and gift giving. It seems good and like the right thing to do. After all, it’s especially for the children, right?

It is deceit, trickery. The religionists and merchants may rejoice in today’s world, but when the true Messiah is revealed, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. What will you be doing at that time?

An 1886 depiction of Odin. Put a red suit and cap on him, as well as a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face and GUESS WHO!?

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Long before the Christians had designated December 25th as the birthday of the Savior, the Romans were observing a festival period at the end of the year called the Saturnalia. It appears many of the customs of the Saturnalia were inculcated into the end of the year Christmas observance. Who was this deity Saturn? The truth is shocking.

By Jerry Healan

The Saturnalia was a feasting period appointed by the Romans in honor of their god Saturn. Historically, it was held from December 17th to the 23rd. During the festival schools were closed; no war was declared or battle fought; no punishment was inflicted.

Distinctions of rank were laid aside: slaves sat at table with their masters or were waited on by them, and the utmost freedom of speech was allowed them. Gambling with dice, at other times illegal, was now permitted. All classes exchanged gifts, the commonest being wax tapers and clay dolls. These dolls were especially given to children, and the makers of them held a regular fair at this time. Varro thought these dolls represented original sacrifices of human beings to the infernal god. There was, as we have seen, a tradition that human sacrifices were once offered to Saturn, and the Greeks and Romans gave the name of Cronus and Saturn to a cruel Phoenician Baal, to whom, e.g. children were sacrificed at Carthage. The Cronus to whom human sacrifices are said to have been offered in Rhodes was probably a Baal, for there are traces of Phoenician worship in Rhodes. It may be conjectured that the Saturnalia was originally a celebration of the winter solstice. (Classic Encyclopedia)

The Christian church didn’t know how to deal with unrepentant pagans, especially when the Caesars took over as the high priest (Pontifex Maximus), therefore, they were willing to bend and blend pagan practices in with church teachings.

St Nickolaus, the Saturnalia, the birthday of Mithras as Solis Natalis Invictus, as well as rituals and customs of peoples all around the world, were inculcated into the modern day Christmas practices.

One might say that we don’t do child sacrifices in today’s world, but you are sacrificing your child or children on the altar of the false pagan deities if you persist in teaching and leading them into the errors of heathenism and paganism as found in the Christmas rituals.

Another most important point is the fact that the Greeks and Romans gave the names Cronus and Saturn to a cruel Phoenician god named Baal. Thus, Baal worship continues to thrive in today’s world.

SATURN

Who was Saturn? He was primarily the Roman god of agriculture. The sickle was his instrument.

Alexander Hislop has done much to uncover “Mystery Babylon” (Rev. 17:5) in his book entitled The Two Babylons. On page 269 he writes, “If we know the Apocalyptic name of the system, that will lead us to the name of the head of the system. The name of the system is ‘Mystery’ (Rev. xvii. 5). Here, then, we have the key that at once unlocks the enigma. We have now only to inquire what was the system by which Nimrod was known as the god of the Chaldean Mysteries. That name, as we have seen was Saturn. Saturn and Mystery are both Chaldean words, and they are correlative terms. As Mystery signifies the Hidden system, so Saturn signifies the Hidden god. To those who were initiated the god was revealed; to all else he was hidden. Now, the name Saturn in Chaldee I pronounced Satûr; but, as every Chaldee scholar knows, consists only of for letters, thus—Stûr. This name contains exactly the Apocalyptic number 666: —

S = 60

T= 400

U= 6

R = 200

666”

Mr. Hislop does an excellent job of tracing the whole Mystery system back to Nimrod after the flood, but he lacks linking it to the original individual before the flood. That individual is none other than Cain!

HIDDEN

Adam and Eve had taken of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, bringing sin, corruption and death not only upon themselves, but their posterity (Ro. 5:12). Their firstborn son, Cain slew his own twin brother Abel becoming the first murderer.

While Adam and Eve had been banished from the Garden of Eden, Cain was banished from the face of Yahweh, “And Yahweh said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto Yahweh, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And Yahweh said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Yahweh set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of Yahweh, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden,” Gen. 4:9-16.

The Hebrew for “hid” is presented in the English as cathar, but the Hebrew letters are samek, tau, resh (rts, rts [remember that Hebrew reads from right to left, thus the English would be str). Samek = 60, Tau = 400, Resh = 200 = 660.

The Chaldeans added the waw, which equals to 6 into the mix, thus the word “Satur/Stur = 666.” The Chaldean, Hebrew and Phoenician languages were all sister languages. They possessed the same letters and the same numbering system for each.

AGRICULTURAL GOD

Saturn, the Hidden One, was the god of agriculture. Cain was a tiller of the ground, a farmer (Gen. 4:2).

Abel was a keeper of sheep, a shepherd (Gen. 4:2).

In the process of time, both brought an offering to Yahweh. Cain brought of the fruit of the ground (because he was a farmer) while Abel brought of the firstlings of the flock and the fat thereof (Gen. 4:3-4).

Yahweh had respect to Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Why? Because Abel’s offering was a type of the sacrifice that Yahshua would make several thousand years in the future, but Cain’s offering showed no real foresight nor understanding of the coming blood sacrifice of the Messiah.

Cain became angry and jealous, so he argued with Abel in the field and slew him. (Gen. 4:8).

ROMULUS AND REMUS

Interestingly, Rome had its own version of two twin brothers named Romulus and Remus. Their story, while mythological, has Biblical types and examples in it.

They were born of the vestal virgin Rhea. Mother Eve, of course, was a virgin until she had relations with her husband Adam.

Because of an evil uncle, the boys were placed in a basket or ark in the river Tiber. This smacks of Moses’ miraculous deliverance in the ark in the river Nile.

Their basket came to rest in the roots of a fig tree. Again, the fig tree is associated with Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis, chapter three.

The twins, of course, are likened to Cain and Abel. Romulus slew Remus. Cain slew Abel.

As we have already linked Cain and Saturn, Saturn fled from Greece to Italy/Latium where he built a city. Cain had to flee from the face of Yahweh to the land of Nod, where he built a city named after his own son Enoch.

Rome was famous for consolidating pagan teachings and gods into her own brand of religion.

Romulus eventually disappeared in a storm and was subsequently deified as the god Quirinius. He was eventually included in a trinity with Jupiter and Mars.

The whole thing has to do with “Mystery Babylon the great,” things hidden that need to be brought to the light of day and carefully scrutinized. They need to be compared with the Scriptures so that we can understand how the people became so deceived, and yet, continue in that deception to this day. None of it pleases Yahweh.

Jude warns, “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core,” vv. 10-11.

The Christmas season and celebration is a hodgepodge of ancient pagan legends and myths. We have focused on the Christmas tree, Santa Claus and the Christmas celebration itself in this issue of Yahshua’s Witness Magazine in order to reveal to you the hidden things behind it all. We have been able to trace the whole matter all the way back to Cain.

If you love your Creator; if you love His word, which is truth, then you will embrace truth and turn from falsehood, legends and myths. As the Scriptures exhort, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and Yahweh hath remembered her iniquities,” Rev. 18:4-5.

Revelation goes on to declare that the kings of the earth and the merchants will weep in the day of her fall. Will you be one of those weeping and wailing also, or of those who rejoice because of the judgment that will be poured out? Repent while there is yet time to do so.

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