(Cont. from Previous Page).
CONCERNING THE CHRISTMAS REBELLION.
Christmas has proved to be solely a commercial arrangement, instituted through the will prevailing among its celebrators; for the purpose of selfish gain and loose conduct, especially by those whom God refers to as the "goatlike leaders of the earth", and their subjects. (Isaiah 14:9 NWT).
All these festive activities are for sensual gratification only, although people sinfully place the name of our Lord against it. (Christ, means: Anointed). What these man-made festivities promote, is condemned by God and His Son (See Luke 21:34. Gal 5:19-21), and therefore by all true servants of God. Condemned also are the sects, who have deviated away from the central doctrines of truth by their promotions of this once-a-year rebellious farce, that they choose to call a season of 'good will'. (1 Cor 11:23. Titus 3:10. Rev 2:5. Isaiah 29:1).
Good will is not a human quality to be turned on and off like a tap, at prescribed times and dates to suit commerce! When on earth, our Lord The Christ taught a Way of Holiness for humans, for all the year round, and a covenant arrangement was instituted by him for an annual remembrance celebration for EXAMINING ONE'S OWN BEHAVIOUR TOWARD OTHERS DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR. Since The Christ's death, this is what should be celebrated. But there are no instructions whatsoever for celebrating The Christ's birth. (1 Cor 11:23. Luke 22:19). We are required to bring to memory the meaning of Christ's life and his death, until he arrives, and the details of the requirements of our covenant with the Lord.
THE SO-CALLED SEASON OF "GOOD WILL" AMONG THE REBELLIOUS:
The general drunkenness, overeating, anxieties of life and resulting depression, along with other abuses that people of this world indulge in over the so-called Christmas period (before, during, and after these celebrations), is denounced by way of warnings clearly set out in the Holy Word from God. (See Luke 21:34-36. 1 Cor 11:23) (Titus 3:10. Rev 2:6. Isaiah 29:1).
THE VISUAL AND PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF SATAN
--THEIR GOD-- WHILE UNDER A VEIL OF IGNORANCE
The means that the "shining one" (satan) uses to stimulate the immature minds of his subjects toward such unGodly Christmas activities, are mainly visual. He incites them to decorate their homes and their purchases, to make these things "SHINING" in an outward and colourful way; unable to do anything for their benefit in a lasting way within them. (Isaiah 14:12). Instead, he uses such visual means to dull people's sensitivities, away from meditating on and living by the Word of God, adversely inciting young minds over many weeks (which later become years), and resulting in short-lived material and physical appreciations only.
Instead, they should be living according to the Holy Spirit, growing within the active spirit creativity of God, which could result in great benefit now and everlasting life in a new spirit "body" after the death of their physical body. (1 Cor 15:44-49). But the main human promoters of this Christmas hypocrisy against the Spirit of God are the commercial "goatlike leaders" on earth. These are the ones whom God referred to as those "driving [others] to work", along with all others who are still obedient to their Christmas rebellion. They are the ones prophesied who will be "impotent (powerless) in death". (Isaiah 14:4,9 NWT). This means of course that at death they will not have the required "power" (subjected holiness) to be resurrected to everlasting life in paradise, but "may die the second death", everlasting death.* (See Jer 51:39,40 (NWT) and *The Targums. Also: Rev 21:8. 20:14,15. 2:11).
1/12/88.