This year, more than ever before, the Lord spoke to me about a particular aspect of the Satanic celebration called “Christmas.” This practice, He tells us, greatly offends Him–the use of what is called the CHRISTMAS TREE. When I would be out at night the lights from almost every house and yard offended me even more than usual. They seemed to be brighter than usual–more reflective of the power that the devil has over that which calls itself “Christianity.” Though I did not realize it until tonight, this was the Lord’s way of preparing me to write this series. It ties in with the previous series in that the ancient reprobate named Nicolas was involved in the church’s embracing of both the Sunday sabbath and Christmas. Does the name Nicolas, as in Saint Nicolas of reindeer, presents and decorated trees fame ring a bell? Nicolas means “destroyer of the people.” Billions of people around the world have been spiritually destroyed by him because of either ignorance of God’s Truth or rejection of it.

Christmas, with its emphasis on jolly old St. Nicolas, December 25 and presents under a tree seems to be more popular this year than at any time I can remember. The irony surrounding this abomination is that some 600 years before Jesus of Nazareth was born the Prophet Jeremiah was warning the Israelites about the celebration the church would later call Christmas. Read about God’s attitude toward the celebration using the key word–Christmas. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Jeremiah wrote the following: “Hear you the Word which the Lord speaks unto you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord, ‘Learn not the way of the heathen (Gentiles), and do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven (lights) for the heathen are dismayed by them. For the customs of the people (heathen) are vain, for they cut a tree out of the forest–the work of their own hands–with an axe. They deck (decorate) it with silver and gold; they fasten it (stand it up) with nails and hammers so that it will not move ….'”‘ (10:2-5). In verse 8 the Lord condemns such “doctrines of vanities” because they show a lack of fear and reverence for Him as the King of nations.” Have you ever wondered why billions of people bring evergreen trees into their homes and decorate them with shiny ornaments every year at the same time? Have you ever wondered why decorated trees are connected to the celebration of Christ’s birth? If God hates Christmas trees so deeply, there must be a reason.

The Lord declares anything made by the hands of men and used in any religious way as an idol. For this reason He condemns such things as crosses, fish symbols, Christian flags, statues, paintings, wreaths AND CHRISTMAS TREES. In several places in the Holy Scriptures the GREEN TREE is associated with idolatry and pagan worship (1 Kings 14:23 for example). Since all trees are green during certain times of the year, the explicit mention of “green” trees refers to species that are green the year around. Such species are known as “EVERGREENS.”

During the days of Jeremiah people were making idols out of evergreen trees. During the time of Solomon the Israelites had begun worshiping in groves, thereby associating their worship with trees. Solomon had married hundreds of pagan women. He then allowed them to bring their pagan gods and religious beliefs into the Israelite kingdom. Over time their beliefs and customs corrupted almost the entire nation. Some of their gods–Baal for example–demanded child sacrifice for blessing people’s crops. As a result, the valley called Hinnom just outside of Jerusalem was dedicated to the sacrifice of children by fire. In the way those Israelites sacrificed their children physically, those who celebrate Christmas today (myself in the past) are sacrificing their children spiritually to Satan. The series on Christmas goes into more detail about this subject.

The primary problem with the celebration of Christmas, the trees, etc. is that, in the process of honoring the Lord Jesus, He is in fact being dishonored. Sadly, many church people know that Christmas is pagan to the core but refuse to give it up. A variety of excuses are voiced in order to justify their rejection of God’s Words relative to the subject. Children are usually the central reason for celebrating the “Christmas season.” Also, it “brings families together.” But nothing can justify doing what God declares is against His will and is therefore hated by Him. Bowing to the devil is never an excuse to make someone happy, even if that someone is our beloved child. The Apostle Paul summed up God’s attitude as only Paul can: “Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey” (Rom. 6:16). The celebration of Christmas is bowing to Satan and thereby obeying him, just as did Adam and Eve. Celebrating Christmas makes one their spiritual descendant.

Even though the scriptures mentioned in this series come from the distant past, THEY ARE GOD’S WORDS. The death of Jesus Christ changed nothing relative to pagan worship practices. Paganism then is paganism now. We must keep in mind that the Book of Revelation is primarily prophetic, meaning that its contents apply to our lives today. Note that the cutting down and setting up of a tree, decorating it, etc. was termed “the way of the heathen” by God Himself (vs 3). We are commanded not to learn or follow that way (vs 2). The entire passage in Jeremiah10 clearly tells us that using a tree in that way is, in God’s eyes, IDOLATRY. L.J.