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Many agree that
the Holy Bible is an inspired book. It is safe to say
that no other book on earth is so widely read, and yet
so completely misunderstood. Why is this? This is primarily
because traditions and myth easily distort the bible's
pure teaching. Take the Christmas "story"
for example. On the surface, it seems as though nothing
could be more Biblical than the popular stories of the
events surrounding the birth of Yashua, the Anointed
One (Jesus Christ). Yet, amazingly, when one looks at
what the bible really says, it becomes apparent that
there are major discrepancies between the birth of Yashua
as described in the Bible and the Christmas "story"
that we know and have come to ignorantly accept as true
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"Seek
ye out of the book of the LORD, and read:
no one of these shall fail, none shall want her
mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his
spirit it hath gathered them." Isaiah 34:16 |
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Few people stop to
think about why they observe Christmas and its customs. How
much do you know about the origin of Santa Claus - of the
Christmas tree - of feasting - of the custom of exchanging
gifts?
Lunar Versus Solar Calendar Year
In Order to understand what time of year Yashua, the anointed
one was born, you must first have some knowledge of the calendar
system used by the ancient Hebrew people. The Bible calculates
the year in the terms of a Lunar Calendar and refers to each
month by its corresponding number (1st month through the 12th
month). Therefore, when the angel Gabriel came to Mary in
the 6th month, this was not the month we know as June, but
rather the sixth Hebrew month.
According to the Scripture, the first month of the year is
called in the Hebrew tongue, Abib. That name corresponds to
the month we know as April. YHWH made springtime the beginning
of the year instead of the dead cold winter season where nothing
in nature grows or flourishes.
According to the Bible, God commanded the nation of Israel
to blow trumpets over their burnt offerings and sacrifices
at each New Moon, initiating the beginning of a new month.
The New Moon festival was an important time of regathering
for the children of Israel (Num. 10:1O; Isa. 66:23; Ps. 81:3;
Ezk. 46:3; Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1-6) The phases of the moon
cycle appear on most calendars you purchase today, and the
New Moon usually falls somewhere in the middle of the month.
The Bible reckons time according to the Lunar calendar system.
The Roman/Gregorian calendar in use today is based upon a
solar reckoning of time. The pagan peoples worshipped the
sun and ordered their months to fit their sacrifices to the
sun god. The entire pagan year has days dedicated to sun worship,
including the winter solstice, known today as "Christmas!"
Below is a table which refers to the Hebrew calendar names
of the months along with the corresponding names of the Gregorian
(English) calendar.
The Origins of Christmas Customs
Part 2
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