App
December 15, 2016
Dear Brethren,
Since the presidential election and the Thanksgiving holiday, America—along with most of the world—has rushed headlong into the Christmas season! When you think about it, the pagan holidays of this world are actually a witness against those who keep them, showing that they are utterly deceived. Today’s “Christianity” celebrates Christmas ostensibly in honor of God, focusing on Jesus’ birth. Yet many churchgoers, and practically all ministers, acknowledge that Christmas is founded on an ancient pagan holiday held in celebration of the sun god Baal—a form of worship God resoundingly condemns! It is absolutely amazing!
Why do so many insist on keeping Christmas—as well as other worldly holidays—while recognizing its pagan origin? How can they claim that such holidays honor Jesus?
Christians today have no qualms about observing “pagan holidays” because they have been taught that such holidays have been “Christianized.” They reason that they are now honoring the true God with these “pagan” practices, as opposed to false gods. They believe it is now perfectly acceptable to celebrate them—that they are actually good for children. By using this “human reasoning” approach, Satan has deceived millions, keeping them enslaved to his counterfeit, so-called “Christian” religious holidays.
Most worldly Christians today simply believe, as their ministers have taught them, that the Old Testament is no longer relevant. Protestants claim that Jesus abolished the Law, and Catholics reject it as the “old law.” Thus, they are willingly ignorant of what the Old Testament says about mixing paganism with the worship of God.
By failing to read or believe the Old Testament, people have no clue that God actually hates these pagan holidays and practices. God warned ancient Israel through the prophet Amos: “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies…. Take the noise of your songs away from Me; for I will not hear the melody of your harps…. Have you offered sacrifices and offerings to Me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? But now you have carried the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves. So I will cause you to go into exile beyond Damascus” (Amos 5:21, 23, 25-27). History proves the Bible true: For these very sins, God did indeed remove the House of Israel from their land in 710-703 BC—and the House of Judah in 585 BC. God sent them into exile—into Assyria, Persia, Babylon, and around the world.
Satan’s Sunday/holiday deception—which includes the rejection of God’s Sabbath and holy days—is so cunning that people fail to realize they are sinning against God. Religious leaders have attach God’s name and Jesus’ name to these pagan practices. Thus, people gladly accept Sunday and various pagan holiday observances, thinking everything is well and good, fun and exciting—they are surely blessed by God!
But God warns them that “you have made Me serve with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities” (Isa. 43:24). This is what the modern descendants of the House of Israel do to this very day. Rather than love and obey God, they attach God’s name to pagan practices. In so doing, they give the appearance of godliness to heathen practices. Thus, they end up calling evil good and good evil, as Isaiah writes: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame burns up the chaff, their root shall be like rottenness, and their blossoms shall go up like dust because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, the anger of the Lord is kindled against His people…” (Isa. 5:20-25).
Satan the Devil—Master Deceiver: In the New Testament, Paul writes that it is Satan who keeps men blinded to the truth of God’s Word. “But if our gospel [the Word of God] is hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing; in whom the god of this age [or world] has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Cor. 4:3-4).
When Sunday-keeping, Christmas, and other pagan holidays are thoroughly examined in the light of Scripture and true history, there is no question that these “occult holidays” represent one of the greatest frauds in the world! Is it any wonder that the Bible reveals that Satan is actively deceiving the whole world (Rev. 12:9)—that he is the “father of lies” and does not “stand in the truth” (John 8:44)?
Most people have a Bible in their home, and it is readily available on line. Yet Satan is able to perpetuate his “holiday hoax” because people rarely read the Old Testament. The result is exactly as John wrote, “We [true Christians] know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one” (I John 5:19; also see Matt. 4:8-10 and Luke 4:5-8).
By ignoring the Old Testament, professing Christians fail to realize that God commands His people—Israelite or Christian—to not observe pagan religious practices. God’s instructions are quite clear in the following passage: “Be careful to observe and obey all these words which I command you, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever when you do that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.
“When the Lord your God shall cut off the nations before you, where you go to possess them, and you take their place and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you do not become ensnared by following them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not ask about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods that I may also do likewise?’
“You shall NOT do so to the Lord your God, for every abomination to the Lord, which He hates, they have done to their gods; even their sons and their daughters they have burned in the fire to their gods. Whatsoever thing that I command you, be careful to do it. YOU SHALL NOT ADD TO IT, NOR TAKE AWAY FROM IT” (Deut. 12:28-32).
False Prophets and False Teachers in the New Testament: Jesus often warned His disciples that there would be many false prophets, some claiming that Jesus is indeed the Christ, but would yet deceive the majority of people (Matt. 24:4, 11, 24; Mark 13:5, 22; Luke 21:8). He warned that such prophets would come in “sheep’s clothing”—appearing to be righteous and as innocent as a lamb. This is how they disguise their evil intentions and wicked teachings: “But beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, for within they are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15).
In their epistles, the apostles Peter, John, and Jude repeated Jesus’ warnings against false prophets, false teachers, and antichrists. In fact, each of them was personally confronted by such false leaders (II Peter 2; I John 2:18, 22; 4:1, 6; 5:19; II John 7, 10; Jude 3-4).
Likewise, the apostle Paul repeatedly warned the brethren about false prophets and their false teachings. He warned that they would disguise their false teachings with smooth, enticing words—that sound blessedly true. In fact, they would twist Scripture, mixing it with false doctrines, and thereby preach a false Christ. He writes: “For we are not like the many, who for their own profit are corrupting the Word of God; but we speak with sincerity, as from God, and before God, and in Christ” (II Cor. 2:17).
Later in the same epistle, Paul warned those who believed such subtle lies that they were following in the footsteps of Eve: “I would that you might bear with me in a little nonsense; but indeed, do bear with me. For I am jealous over you with the jealousy of God because I have espoused you to one husband, so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For indeed, if someone comes preaching another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept [originally from Paul or his helpers], you put up with it as something good” (II Cor. 11:1-4).
These false teachers were bringing another Jesus, a different spirit—not the Holy Spirit of God—and a different gospel. They were also attacking Paul. Yet many of the brethren were apparently willing to believe their false teachings and accept them as apostles of Christ: “But I consider myself in no way inferior to those highly exalted so-called apostles [false apostles]. For although I may be unpolished in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; for in all things I have demonstrated this to you” (verses 5-6).
Paul then identified them as servants and apostles of Satan the devil—promulgating false doctrines: “For such are false apostles—deceitful workers who are transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And it is no marvel, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his servants also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness—whose end shall be according to their works” (verses 13-15).
Paul was absolutely amazed that the brethren in the churches of Galatia were believing false teachers—paganized Judaizers who were teaching numerous cunning false doctrines that sounded righteous, as well as pleasing, to the brethren. Instead of seeking to grow spiritually in grace and knowledge, the Galatians were all too willing to please their carnal minds. Read carefully what Paul wrote and how strongly he rebuked those false teachers.
In fact, Paul wrote a most powerful denunciation against deceitful men and their false doctrines: “I am astonished that you are so quickly being turned away from Him Who called you into the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which in reality is not another gospel; but there are some who are troubling you and are desiring to pervert the gospel of Christ.
“But if we, or even an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel to you that is contrary to what we have preached, LET HIM BE ACCURSED! As we have said before, I also now say again. If anyone is preaching a gospel contrary to what you have received, LET HIM BE ACCURSED!
“Now then, am I striving to please men, or God? Or am I motivated to please men? For if I am yet pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ. But I certify to you, brethren, that the gospel that was preached by me is not according to man; because neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it by man; rather, it was by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal 1:6-12).
Notice the end result of paganized Christianity seeking to please men rather than God. In his book The Golden Bough, Sir James George Fraizer gives a succinct summary of the Catholic Church’s sleight-of-hand tactic of syncretizing pagan rituals and feasts with “Christianity.” It was quite simple: Attach Christian-sounding names to pagan festivals while retaining all aspects of the festivals’ ritual practices. He writes, “Taken altogether, the coincidences of the Christian [Catholic feasts] with the heathen festivals are too close and too numerous to be accidental. They mark the compromise which the church in the hour of its triumph was compelled to make with the vanquished yet still dangerous rivals. The inflexible Protestantism of the primitive missionaries, with the fiery denunciation of heathendom, had been exchanged for the supple policy, the easy tolerance, the comprehensive charity of shrewd ecclesiastics, who clearly perceived that if Christianity [Catholicism] was to conquer the world it could do so only by relaxing the too rigid principles of the Founder, by widening a little the narrow gate which leads to salvation” (page 419; emphasis added).
Yet the practice of putting church/papal authority and tradition in place of the Scriptures rejects the authority and teachings of God! So complete is this delusion that people are even told that they do not need to read the Bible—and they willingly accept it!
The Christmas Tree: Notice the results. In spite of having a Bible in their homes, people know nothing about God’s warning concerning the Christmas tree as found in Jeremiah—because they never read it! “Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord, ‘Do not learn the way of the heathen, and do not be terrified at the signs of the heavens; for the nations are terrified at them. For the customs of the people are vain; for one cuts a tree out of the forest with the axe, the work of the hands of the workman. They adorn it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers, so that it will not move. They [stand] upright like the palm tree, but cannot speak. They must surely be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them; for they cannot do evil nor good, for it is not in them [because they are not God, nor do they represent Him].’
“Therefore there is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and Your name is great in might. Who would not fear You, O King of nations? For fear belongs to You because among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You. But they are altogether foolish and animal-like; the tree is a doctrine of vanities. Silver beaten into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the goldsmith. Violet and purple are their clothing; they are all the work of skillful ones” (Jer. 10:1-9).
What Does the Christmas Tree Symbolize? The celebration of Christmas is a delusion, based on clever satanic lies, masquerading as a “Christian” practice. But what does the tree, in reality, symbolically represent? Is there any meaning to the Christmas tree or its decorations? Can we identify them from the Bible?
- The tree: An evergreen, or artificial tree, represents a false immortality—as the serpent said to Adam and Eve, “In dying, you shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4).
- The star on top: The fallen star—Satan himself—“O shining star” (Isa. 14:12). The leader of the angelic rebellion, who “transforms himself as an angel of light” (II Cor. 11:14).
- The lights or candles: The one third of the angels, who fell with Satan and became demons (Rev. 12:3-4).
- The ornaments: The fruit of the forbidden tree—various sex symbols.
- The garland: The garland is a ropelike decoration that intertwines the tree from the bottom to the top and connects with the star. It represents the serpent, Satan the devil, the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4).
- Angel’s hair: A massive spider web-like decoration that covers the entire tree. When backlit by lights, the web gives off a beautiful, yet eerie and mystic, glow. This symbolizes Satan’s deception of the whole world (Rev. 12:9; I John 5:19).
- The giving of gifts: Represents the benefits Satan promises to those who worship him.
A popular Christmas carol eulogizes the tree: “O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, you are the one that I love!” Unwittingly, however, it is Satan the world loves. “[The] whole world was amazed…. And they worshiped the dragon [Satan the devil]” (Rev. 13:3-4).
In reality, then, the Christmas tree is an idol glorifying Satan the devil as the “god of this world.” The holiday is thus a celebration of the fall of mankind, beginning with the rebellion of Adam and Eve in their taking of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Clearly, Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with honoring or worshiping God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Again, this is why God declares, “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies…. Take the noise of your songs away from Me; for I will not hear the melody of your harps…. [I despise] the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves” (Amos 5:21, 23, 26).
Jeremiah writes this about the true God being against false gods: “But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to stand His fury. Thus you shall say to them, ‘The gods who have not made the heavens and the earth, they shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.’ He [the true God] has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens by His judgment” (Jer. 10:11-12).
(For a complete understanding of this subject, please request our book Occult Holidays or God’s Holy Days—Which? and the booklets, Christmas—The Greatest Story Never Told and When was Jesus Born?)
The Tree of Life: Adam and Eve were cut off from access to the “tree of life” because they sinned against God by eating the fruit of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Likewise, all of mankind has been denied access to this tree. At the time of Noah’s flood, Eden was apparently destroyed and God withdrew the “tree of life,” taking it back to heaven. Other than the account in Genesis, only the prophecies of the book of Revelation mention this tree.
Over 4,000 years after Adam and Eve’s sin, Jesus, the promised Messiah, came (Gen. 3:15). During His ministry, Jesus never mentioned the “tree of life.” However, He did bring the promise of eternal life for those who would believe God and follow Jesus—who would repent of their sins, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel’ ” (Mark 1:14-15). Peter adds: “Repent and be baptized each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you yourselves shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
When true believers, disciples of Christ, receive the begettal of the Holy Spirit, it is only the “down payment” on the promise of eternal life. Paul explains: “In Whom [Jesus] you also trusted after hearing the Word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:13-14).
At this time, believers do not receive the fullness of eternal life. However, if we are faithful to the end, we will receive the full redemption—eternal life in first resurrection at Jesus’ return. “But for us, the commonwealth of God exists in the heavens, from where also we are waiting for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ [to return]; Who will transform our vile bodies, that they may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the inner working of His own power, whereby He is able to subdue all things to Himself” (Phil. 3:20-21).
This is the transformation from flesh to spirit and the fullness of the promise of eternal life for all the faithful in Christ—whether in the grave or alive at Jesus’ return: “And as we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly One. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
“For this corruptible must put on incorruptibility, and this mortal must put on immortality. Now when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’ ” (I Cor. 15:49-54).
As spirit beings and sons and daughters of God the Father, Jesus promised that we would have access to the “tree of life.” The apostle John writes: “The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes I will give the right to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7).
Apparently, when God’s awesome plan is completed, with the new heaven and new earth, He will then use the “tree of life” to serve all the nations of His spiritual children. John detailed this vision: Jesus said, “ ‘It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts, I will give freely of the fountain of the water of life.’… Then he showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And in the middle of the street, and on this side and that side of the river, was the tree of life, producing twelve manner of fruits, each month yielding its fruit; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 21:6; 22:1-2).
The word healing is translated from the Greek therapeian. This word has more than one meaning. While it does mean healing, it can also mean serving divinity. Since all those of the nations that are saved are spirit beings and will be serving God, they will obviously have no need of healing. Rather, the eating of the fruit and the leaves of the tree more likely refers to the constant learning of all things eternal that God has appointed for His children. On an eternal spiritual level, this learning is comparable to Peter’s admonition for Christians today to “grow in grace and knowledge”—but on a vastly greater, eternal scale.
In completing the book of Revelation, Jesus gives us this inspiring encouragement: “And behold, I am coming quickly; and My reward is with Me, to render to each one according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who keep His commandments, that they may have the right to eat of the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:12-14).
Brethren, we thank God the Father and Jesus Christ for our fantastic calling, for the Holy Spirit, and for the promises of eternal life in New Jerusalem—wherein we will serve forever and ever. “For this reason, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure; because if you are doing these things, you will never fall at any time. For in this way, you will be richly granted an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: (II Pet. 1:10-11)
However, for now, we need to continue to work and serve the brethren in preaching the Gospel—and proclaim God’s plan as revealed by the Sabbath and holy days. We need to teach God’s way of life, and help the brethren grow in grace and knowledge to prepare for eternal life. Finally, we need to preach the Gospel to the world—which we are doing through our Web sites and all of our books, publications, and audio and video messages.
Thank you for your love and prayers. We pray for you daily—for your healing, your health, and God’s protection. Thank you for faithfully giving of your tithes and offerings, which, combined with prayer and the workings of the Holy Spirit, enable us to preach and publish the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May God continue to bless you in everything as you grow in the grace and love of God.
With love in Christ Jesus,
Fred R. Coulter
FRC
