Celebrating Christ the King?
So, Sheila and I were invited to a typical church service this morning to celebrate the baptism of a family member. As you might expect, it was all about Christmas. They sang lots of songs and read Scriptures about “our king” being born to us THIS DAY (of course in reference to December 25th).
Some thoughts occurred to me, which made my spirit grieve exceedingly. It is NO SECRET that December 25th is the birthday of the sun-gods, which trace back to Nimrod,* who was the first KING in our Bible. Interestingly enough, as he would later be known by many (possibly even 70) different names as a result of the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel, one of them being Osiris, he also became known as the “king of kings and lord of lords” (in the Egyptian Book of the Dead). Suddenly all of the songs and praise concerning the “king of kings” born on Christmas day took on significantly dark meaning. Now, I KNOW no one there was worshiping Nimrod. Their hearts were toward Yeshua (Jesus) the Christ. I get that.
But even the word “Christ” is too generic. Christós in classical Greek usage meant covered in oil, or anointed, and is thus a literal translation of messiah: the anointed one. A messiah (or mashiach) in the Hebrew Bible is simply a king or High Priest traditionally anointed with holy anointing oil. However, messiahs were not exclusively Jewish, as the Hebrew Bible refers to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, as a messiah for his decree to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple. Was Cyrus “the Christ”? Not in the sense that we typically imagine, but according to the actual meaning of the word, yes, he was “a” messiah/christ (see Hebrew text of Isaiah 45:1).
The same is true of other kings:
So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’S anointed [mashiach].” – 1 Samuel 24:6
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’S anointed [mashiach]? – 2 Samuel 19:21
He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed [mashiach], unto David, and to his seed for evermore. – 2 Samuel 22:51
The word “mashiach” = “anointed one” (messiah/christ) comes from the word “mashach” = “to smear, anoint”, thus we see these words used all over the Old Testament in reference to “the Lord’s anointed” – or in other words, in reference to kings.
Now bear in mind that the Beast is referred to as a “christ” as well (albeit an “anti” christ – meaning an antithesis of the Christ). The Beast is a false messiah – a false anointed one – a false king – who is opposed to the true Messiah, the true Anointed One, the true King.
So, here’s the problem: Our true “Messiah/Christ” was NOT born on December 25th. So, exactly which “Christ the king” are we celebrating then on that day? The answer is simple: the ANTICHRIST!
My heart cringed every time the pastor referred to December 25th as the day “Christ was born” and “unto you is born THIS day a savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Again, I KNOW he was not thinking about Nimrod. And yet, albeit unknowingly, he was actually proclaiming the birth of a king (a christ) who WAS born on December 25th. By the way, Nimrod was also known as Baal, which is a proper name derived from the noun “ba’al,” which is a Hebrew word that means “lord.” I’ll say it again, I KNOW the pastor was NOT talking about, thinking about, nor intentionally worshiping Nimrod/Osiris/Baal. I get that. But there are just WAY TOO MANY things associated with December 25th that ALL point ONLY to this pagan god, and which have NOTHING to do with our Savior, Yeshua (Jesus) the true Messiah/Christ.
We all talk about what it means to US, but imagine you are Yeshua. You were not born on that day. Yet all of your followers are celebrating stuff that has NOTHING to do with you or your birth, but rather are directly linked to your arch-enemy, the End Times Beast. So, in HIS eyes, which “christ the king” are we really celebrating on December 25th? How does HE feel about this false celebration in His name? How would you feel?
After enduring a LOT of lies concerning Christmas, the service ended with “the Lord’s Supper.” Again, this – as is commonly practiced – has nothing to do with Christ. The common practice was and is from a ritual established by the Catholic Church to replace Passover. The “Communion Table” had the typical engraved words, “In Remembrance of Me” on the front of it. For the first time in my over 35 years of being saved, I simply could not “do that” because it was not what was to be done in remembrance of Him. Jesus did not make up a new ritual. He was having a Passover meal with His disciples and as He took of the bread and the cup that are all part of that GOD ORDAINED RITUAL He said do THIS in remembrance of Me. Why? Because Passover was always about Him!!!
That was the day He became the final sacrificial Lamb. From that time forward, all other Passover meals were to be done in a way that would look back on that sacrifice and be remembered. The so-called “Lord’s Supper” was a very specific thing, which goes all the way back to the time of the Exodus. It was not some made up (Catholic) ritual with tiny crackers and cute little grape-juice cups. Call me crazy, but I just can’t “play church” anymore. I can’t just participate in things that are contrary to the Scriptures and/or have no basis in them.
It was all I could do to hold back the tears that wanted to flow from my eyes. We have gotten SO FAR AWAY from the truth of YHWH’s Word it’s frightening. And I know that even posting this note is going to draw fire from those still living in the pagan-Christian paradigm. They just don’t know. Most are totally clueless and are innocent in these things because they have never been taught anything but lies. How much longer can we continue this way though? Does the truth of YHWH’s Word not matter to anyone in the pulpit these days?
I put my finger in my Bible at the page before Matthew begins. And I will challenge you to do the same thing. Right now, stop reading this and go get your Bible. Open up to Matthew 1 and hold the entire New Testament in-between the fingers on your right hand. Then look at the amount of the book we call the Bible that is in that hand and compare it to what is left on the other side. You’ll quickly notice that the stack of pages in your left hand is significantly bigger than the stack in your right hand. That’s how much the modern Church does NOT understand about the book they claim to follow. That is why we’ve gone so far off the map. That is why we’ve strayed away from truth. There is a reason the Old Testament ends with this final chapter from Malachi:
The Great Day of God
4 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, ”Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this, ”Says the Lord of hosts.
4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,With the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Do you really think the Old Testament would end that way if we were really supposed to toss it all out when we turn the page to Matthew??? Why is YHWH going to “strike the earth with a curse?” Consider what Zephaniah also has to say about the Last Days:
Zephaniah 1:
1 The Lord gave this message to Zephaniah when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah.
2 “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” says the Lord. 3 “I will sweep away people and animals alike. I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea.I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble, and I will wipe humanity from the face of the earth,” says the Lord. 4 “I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship. I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will disappear. 5 For they go up to their roofs and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the Lord, but then they worship Molech, too. 6 And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.”
7 Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord, for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment is near. The Lord has prepared his people for a great slaughter and has chosen their executioners. 8 “On that day of judgment,” says the Lord,“I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all those following pagan customs. 9 Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies, and those who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.
It doesn’t get much more direct than that! Meanwhile, for those of us who are out there trying to lead people back to the TRUTH and who are constantly being ridiculed and bashed by the pagan holiday practicing Christians, take comfort in Zephaniah 2 and 3:
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you—protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.
Zephaniah 3:
4 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. 16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
18 “I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more. 19 And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed. 20 On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
We may be mocked now for “mourning for the appointed festivals” (which are the Feasts of YHWH – the TRUE holidays), but there is great reward to come for those who seek to follow His commandments.
Finally, consider this: Why does the whole world “worship the Beast” in the Last Days? Because they already are – and have been for a long time! This Christmas/Easter nonsense is global and the thoroughly paganized “Jesus” we are seeing in the Church today looks nothing like the Yeshua/Jesus the Bible portrays. They will follow the counterfeit so easily because they already are. This is why I am so passionate about this issue. When the disciples of Jesus asked Him what the Last Days would be like, he started off by warning them/us not to be deceived.
Matthew 24:
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Church, PLEASE pray about all of this. I am NOT judging you, I am BEGGING you. I’m trying to point out the truth to you in love. Don’t believe me. Go read your Bible for yourself. Start to Google what Christmas is really all about. You desire to love God and worship Him. Great. The problem is you simply can NOT do so in spirit and in TRUTH while practicing and perpetuating lies. We are NOT to worship YHWH in the SAME WAY the heathen do (Deuteronomy 12). In fact, we are to “learn not the way of the heathen” (Jeremiah 10). We are to worship in spirit and in TRUTH (John 4:24) and to show our LOVE to our Heavenly Father through obedience (1 John 5:1-3).
Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
That is a cry of of love from heaven. It is the same cry I am giving here in love. Time is short. Let’s get back to worshiping in spirit AND in TRUTH. We can do so by celebrating Yeshua, Christ the King the way HE told us to, when and how He told us to. Leviticus 23 give us the “appointed festivals” Zephaniah was talking about. These are the true HOLYdays that point to the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, power, return, justice and reign of our Saviour.
– Rob Skiba
* NOTE: The work of Alexander Hislop [The Two Babylons] has come under attack by a number of scholars. Many claim to have “debunked” his work concerning Nimrod/Semiramis. Although I personally do believe there is a LOT of synchronicity between many of the various sun-gods and Nimrod, whether Hislop was right concerning that issue or not is truly irrelevant. Nimrod was the “rebellious one” and most Christians are following in rebellion by discarding the truth for lies in order to defiantly hold onto their traditions, which are against the clear Word of Scripture. That sort of mentality, of course, is akin to the spirit of antichrist. So, again, whether Nimrod was ever represented as Mithra or Osiris, or any other false sun-god, it really does not matter concerning this issue.
The simple fact of the matter is that Yeshua was NOT born on December 25th. Therefore, since when does anyone knowingly celebrate the birthday of a loved one on a totally different date from when they were actually born? That makes no logical sense whatsoever in any human context – much less when dealing with the Divine. Though some false sun-gods were believed to/said to have been born on December 25th, for the sake of argument, let’s assume NONE of them were born on that date. The argument against Christmas still stands. If our King was NOT born on that day, who then – what king – are we celebrating? At best: Nobody. At worst: The Antichrist… or at the very least a counterfeit. In all cases, our celebration is thus in vain.
The true King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born during one of YHWH’s “appointed times” in the FALL and not the Winter. The Feasts of YHWH [Lev. 23] were designed to teach us all about Yeshua – His birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, power, justice and reign. My research as well as that of people like Dr. Michael Heiser (and many others) has revealed the most likely date of Yeshua’s birth to have been on Sept. 11, 3BC based on the exact fulfillment of the stellar alignment given in Rev. 12:1-4, which heralded His birth. Judging by the phase of the moon on that day, it would place His birth during the Feast of Trumpets. Some believe He was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, but that takes place during the full moon, and as such does not fit the perfect alignment that fulfilled Rev. 12:1-4. Either way, He was born in the FALL and most certainly was not born in the Winter. Thus, to celebrate His birthday during Dec. 25th is to practice a LIE. Combine that lie with the fact that most of the traditions commonly associated with it are directly connected with pagan rituals [ see for instance: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-12-22-christmas-pagan_N.htm ], which pre-date Yeshua’s birth by hundreds (if not thousands) of years and we find there is not one thing about Christmas we should be participating in. Many early Church Fathers understood this as did a lot of Christians prior to the beginning of the 20th Century.
If you want to worship our Lord and Savior on that day (as we should any/every day of the year), do so in spirit AND in TRUTH [John 4:24]. As much as you may have fond memories of this time of the year, you simply cannot do the “truth” part while participating in and perpetuating lies. The true “O Holy Night” was in September, NOT in December. Again, I beg you – search this stuff out for yourself. Exodus 32 provides all we need to know concerning how YHWH feels about being associated with false gods and worshiped under such pretense. Sorry, but our “freedom in Christ” is not a license to sin and to associate the holy with the profane.
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