WEBVTT
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Christmas morning.
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It's the highlight of
the year for many children
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in the Western world.
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They leap out of bed
to discover what Santa
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brought them this year.
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They bound down the stairs, eager with anticipation,
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imagining what new toys
may be awaiting them.
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And then, they see them.
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Under the Christmas tree,
there they are: neatly
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stacked presents covered
in red and green wrapping,
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awaiting the children's
discovery of what's inside.
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What could be more exciting than this yearly Christmas ritual?
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Everyone loves a surprise.
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And children all over the
Western world look forward
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to the thrilling moment
on Christmas Day:
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The long-awaited instant
when the presents are opened.
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But does the Christmas-present opening ceremony live up
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to its billing?
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Do the presents really
fulfill the wishes and
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dreams of those
boys and girls?
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Or, after a few minutes
or hours of playing with
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a new game or doll, does
the newness wear off?
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Or, is the disappointment
immediate, when an expected
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electronic game turns out
to be pens or pencils?
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Sadly, all too often, the
anticipation of the gift
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is greater than
the real thing.
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But think about it, though.
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Isn't Christmas in
general, sort of like
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a disappointing gift?
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It's bright, it's colorful,
attractive, and beckoning.
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But when you open it
up, what's inside?
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Is it what you had hoped for?
01:32.425 --> 01:35.895
Let's answer that question
today on Tomorrow's World,
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as we unpack the truth about this popular holiday.
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And get ready, because
I'm going to give you an
01:42.202 --> 01:45.972
opportunity to request our free study guide offered today,
01:46.039 --> 01:48.575
Is Christmas Christian?
01:48.641 --> 01:50.977
So join me today on
Tomorrow's World,
01:51.044 --> 01:54.314
as we unwrap some
Christmas surprises.
01:54.380 --> 01:55.748
I'll be right back...
01:55.815 --> 02:01.754
♪
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Welcome to Tomorrow's World, where we help you make sense
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of your world through
the pages of the Bible.
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Christmas is one of the
most anticipated holidays
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of the Western world.
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For many, it's a joyous time.
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And it's especially
fun for children.
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Millions of boys and girls
arise Christmas morning,
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gleefully expecting to find gifts under the Christmas tree.
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One of the most popular parts
of Christmas is gift-giving.
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Everybody likes a present.
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And maybe that's what
makes Christmas so
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popular with children.
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But just like children can
be disheartened when they
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get socks or a sweater
instead of the latest
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electronic game or a new
puppy, Christmas is filled
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with unpleasant surprises
for adults, too.
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Some are quite shocking.
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Let's talk about some
Christmas surprises in
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our program today.
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The first one is:
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1. Christmas isn't
Christian at all.
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Christmas is supposed to
be the celebration of
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the birth of Christ.
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And yet, it's made up of
many customs that have
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their roots in ancient
pagan traditions.
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As author Desmond Morris
wrote in his book,
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Christmas Watching:
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"Hardly anything we do
during the Christmas
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festivities has the
slightest connection
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with Christianity, let
alone with the arrival
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of the infant Jesus."
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Simply put, the earliest Christians did not
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observe Christmas.
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This is a fact recognized
by all reputable sources.
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Even those who observe
this holiday with great
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fervor recognize this fact.
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Notice this statement from
the Catholic Encyclopedia:
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"Christmas was not among
the earliest festivals
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of the Church.
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Ireneaus and Tertullian omit
it from their lists of feasts;
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Origen... asserts... that in
the Scriptures sinners alone,
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not saints, celebrate
their birthday...."
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The early Church
never kept Christmas.
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And that's quite a surprise
for some, especially for
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a holiday which is assumed to
be one of the most important
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in the Christian year.
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In 350 AD, Pope Julius
proclaimed December 25
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to be the date of
Christ's birth.
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But before that, practically every month of the year
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had been suggested, by
some teacher or another,
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as the month of Christ's birth.
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This can be found in the book The Pageantry of Christmas,
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on page 10, edited
by Stanley Fillmore.
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And according to biblical evidence, there's no way
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that December 25 could have
been the birthday of Christ.
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Adam Clarke, the prominent
biblical historian from the
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19th century, explained in
his discussion of Luke 2
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that the shepherds and their flocks would have not been
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in the fields at the end of December, as that was the
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cold and rainy season
in ancient Israel.
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So, the story that countless millions of children are
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taught each year is
absolutely false.
04:58.297 --> 05:01.434
Christmas isn't
Christian at all.
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Even details of Christ's
birth are jumbled,
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when told in the
Christmas story.
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For example, the wise
men from the East did
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not visit Jesus as
a baby in a manger.
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Luke 2 describes an angel
telling shepherds they would
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find the newly born Messiah as
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"a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
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That's in Luke 2:12.
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But by the time the wise
men came to look for the
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"King of the Jews" in
Matthew 2:2, Jesus was
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already a young child
and lived in a house.
05:33.099 --> 05:36.135
At the time of the wise
men's visit, Christ
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would have been close
to two years old.
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Surprise after surprise
after surprise.
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You'd think a fundamental
Christian holiday would actually
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stem from accurate Church history and from the Bible.
05:49.716 --> 05:52.618
But when it comes to
Christmas, you'd be wrong.
05:52.685 --> 05:56.122
And what about the
myth of Santa Claus?
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In the English-speaking world, Santa plays a prominent role.
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How many children go to
sleep on Christmas Eve,
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dreaming of the fantastic
toys Santa will bring
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during his night-time
ride through the skies?
06:09.368 --> 06:12.371
Did you grow up
believing in Santa?
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Do you remember the instant
you learned Santa wasn't real?
06:17.176 --> 06:20.480
Were you perplexed and
even crushed that someone--
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even your own parents--
had lied to you?
06:23.549 --> 06:25.918
It reminds me of a story
from a few years back,
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when a morning disc jockey
at Babylon, New York's
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WBAB-FM station told his
young listeners that there
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was no Santa Claus.
06:34.227 --> 06:37.563
Outraged mothers and fathers complained to the station,
06:37.630 --> 06:42.101
and disc jockey John Parise
was forced to apologize.
06:42.168 --> 06:45.004
And yet, what he
had said was true.
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What an uncomfortable and
even nasty surprise--
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to find out the people you
trusted most had fed you a lie.
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In an article run by Newsday, back on December 23, 2004,
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professor Cyndy Scheibe
pointed out:
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"Who tells you Santa
Claus is not real?
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It's usually someone you
don't know or someone
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who's not particularly
trustworthy, like your
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annoying older brother...
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And who tells you
he does exist?
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People you trust."
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So, one ugly surprise about Christmas is that it's based
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on myths and legends that have nothing to do with the Bible
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or the teachings of Christ.
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Christmas isn't
Christian at all.
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But most people think,
What's the big deal?
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After all, does it really
matter where it comes from,
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as long as we use
it to honor Christ?
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That's a common question.
07:39.091 --> 07:42.862
And the surprising answer will come in our next segment.
07:42.929 --> 07:45.765
But before we answer that
question, let me offer you
07:45.832 --> 07:49.569
our free study guide,
Is Christmas Christian?
07:49.635 --> 07:51.804
Maybe this is the first time you've heard about the real
07:51.871 --> 07:53.372
origins of Christmas.
07:53.439 --> 07:55.208
But don't take our word for it.
07:55.274 --> 07:57.009
Look into it yourself.
07:57.076 --> 07:58.344
Read your own Bible.
07:58.411 --> 08:02.048
Frankly, you can usually find articles every Christmas-time
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that explain these pagan
origins quite openly.
08:05.751 --> 08:08.888
To help you in your study of
the truth about Christmas,
08:08.955 --> 08:11.224
we've created a
free study guide.
08:11.290 --> 08:14.493
It asks important questions, such as: "What is the
08:14.560 --> 08:18.397
reason for the season?";
"Why December 25?"; and,
08:18.464 --> 08:21.000
"When Was Jesus Born?"
08:21.067 --> 08:22.568
You need this booklet.
08:22.635 --> 08:26.572
It's free of charge--so click, call or write to get your copy.
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Order today.
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♪
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For today's free
offer call...
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Or go to...
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This clear and
straight-forward resource
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will help you understand
this vital truth--
08:46.459 --> 08:49.562
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
08:49.629 --> 08:52.098
If you're calling for the
first time, you will also
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receive a free annual
subscription to Tomorrow's
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World magazine.
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Six inspiring issues
discussing news, science,
09:00.106 --> 09:02.842
and modern culture will
help you make sense of
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your world from a
biblical perspective.
09:07.079 --> 09:09.348
Call today and join
millions around the world
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who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
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truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
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Call now!
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Or go to...
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♪
09:28.567 --> 09:31.570
In the last segment, we
saw that Christmas isn't
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Christian at all.
09:32.905 --> 09:34.473
But does it really matter?
09:34.540 --> 09:38.511
If it represents peace and
goodwill toward men, and gives
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us time with our families,
how can it be bad?
09:41.847 --> 09:43.215
Well, that's a
good question.
09:43.282 --> 09:46.953
And that leads us to our
second Christmas surprise:
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2. It matters to God
how we worship Him.
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Now, you might say,
"Stop right there.
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I know that the origins of Christmas are a little shady,
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a little suspect, but
does God really care?"
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Stay with me,
and let's see.
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In the time of ancient
Israel, when God was
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first bringing His people
out of Egypt, He gave them
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specific instructions
on how to worship Him.
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The Ten Commandments form the basis of those instructions.
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But He also gave many
other details as well,
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including the mandate to
not worship the true God
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with pagan practices.
10:24.390 --> 10:26.592
Notice one of those instructions, found
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in Deuteronomy 12:29...
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"When the Lord your God
cuts off from before you
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the nations which you go
to dispossess, and you
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displace them and dwell in
their land, take heed...
10:39.205 --> 10:42.575
that you do not inquire
after their gods, saying,
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'How did these nations
serve their gods?
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I also will do likewise.'
10:47.446 --> 10:51.717
You shall not worship the
LORD your God in that way."
10:51.784 --> 10:52.985
Notice.
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God didn't just tell them,
"Don't worship the pagan
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gods of those around you."
10:57.123 --> 11:01.660
No, He said, "Do not worship
Me, the true God, with the
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pagan forms of worship
of those around you."
11:05.031 --> 11:06.165
Now think about it.
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That's exactly what is
done today with Christmas.
11:09.635 --> 11:13.205
Ancient, pre-Christian
symbols and forms used in
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the name of Jesus Christ.
11:15.374 --> 11:17.843
Maybe it is a big deal to God.
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Later on in Israel's history, the prophet Jeremiah got
11:22.114 --> 11:23.149
more specific.
11:23.215 --> 11:28.087
Notice what it says starting
in Jeremiah 10:2...
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"Thus says the Lord: 'Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
11:32.058 --> 11:34.527
Do not be dismayed at
the signs of heaven,
11:34.593 --> 11:37.229
For the Gentiles are
dismayed at them.
11:37.296 --> 11:40.533
For the customs of the
peoples are futile;
11:40.599 --> 11:42.368
For one cuts a tree
from the forest,
11:42.435 --> 11:45.104
The work of the hands of
the workman, with the ax.
11:45.171 --> 11:47.640
They decorate it with
silver and gold;
11:47.706 --> 11:49.575
They fasten it with
nails and hammers
11:49.642 --> 11:52.178
So that it will
not topple."
11:52.244 --> 11:54.580
How could it be
any more plain?
11:54.647 --> 11:57.983
The principle in the Bible
is don't mix the religion
11:58.050 --> 12:00.786
of the world with the
religion of the true God.
12:00.853 --> 12:04.290
It matters to God
how we worship Him.
12:04.356 --> 12:08.360
Notice what Christ said to the Samaritan woman at the well.
12:08.427 --> 12:11.530
By the way, the Samaritans
were well known for mixing
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elements of the true religion with idolatrous practices.
12:16.035 --> 12:19.438
Exactly what God had
expressly forbidden.
12:19.505 --> 12:22.741
That's one reason why the
Jews were so antagonistic
12:22.808 --> 12:24.009
toward them.
12:24.076 --> 12:28.814
Notice, starting in John 4:23...
12:28.881 --> 12:31.817
"...The hour is coming,
and now is, when the true
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worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;
12:35.488 --> 12:38.824
for the Father is seeking
such to worship Him.
12:38.891 --> 12:42.561
God is Spirit, and those
who worship Him must worship
12:42.628 --> 12:44.830
in spirit and truth."
12:44.897 --> 12:46.065
Think about it.
12:46.132 --> 12:49.135
How does keeping Christmas qualify as worshiping God
12:49.201 --> 12:50.736
in spirit and in truth?
12:50.803 --> 12:54.306
Jesus tells us to worship
Him, and the Father,
12:54.373 --> 12:57.910
according to truth, as
outlined in Scripture.
12:57.977 --> 13:00.312
But Jesus goes on further.
13:00.379 --> 13:02.948
He explains that just
proclaiming His name
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is not enough.
13:04.350 --> 13:07.853
We have to obey His and
the Father's commandments,
13:07.920 --> 13:10.156
not the traditions of men.
13:10.222 --> 13:15.461
Notice what He told the
Pharisees in Matthew 15:3...
13:15.528 --> 13:18.531
"He answered and said to them, 'Why do you also transgress
13:18.597 --> 13:20.900
the commandment of God
because of your tradition?
13:20.966 --> 13:22.201
...Hypocrites!
13:22.268 --> 13:24.703
Well did Isaiah prophesy
about you, saying:
13:24.770 --> 13:27.173
"These people draw near
to Me with their mouth,
13:27.239 --> 13:31.443
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
13:31.510 --> 13:34.313
And in vain they worship
Me, Teaching as doctrines
13:34.380 --> 13:36.215
the commandments of men."'"
13:36.282 --> 13:38.884
To put this in the vernacular, Jesus is saying,
13:38.951 --> 13:41.854
"Don't worship me any way
you want, thinking as
13:41.921 --> 13:44.690
long as it's with the
name of Jesus it's ok.
13:44.757 --> 13:48.093
It matters to Me,
how you worship Me."
13:48.160 --> 13:52.998
How can keeping an ancient
festival of Saturnalia satisfy
13:53.065 --> 13:54.733
what Christ is saying?
13:54.800 --> 13:58.537
Especially when we see the
early true Church never
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kept this festival?
14:00.306 --> 14:04.977
We need to seek not our own reasoning, but God's will.
14:05.044 --> 14:07.780
What does God want, not
what do our friends do,
14:07.846 --> 14:10.849
or what did our parents
or grandparents taught us.
14:10.916 --> 14:14.153
We can't be afraid of
upsetting those around us.
14:14.220 --> 14:18.557
Some will not like it if we fearlessly follow the truth.
14:18.624 --> 14:21.493
But whom are we
seeking to please?
14:21.560 --> 14:23.829
The world, or our Savior?
14:23.896 --> 14:27.333
Many are shocked to read
some of the actual words
14:27.399 --> 14:31.904
of Christ, such as in Matthew 10, starting in verse 34.
14:31.971 --> 14:33.305
Read it with me...
14:33.372 --> 14:36.475
"Do not think that I came
to bring peace on earth.
14:36.542 --> 14:39.612
I did not come to bring
peace but a sword.
14:39.678 --> 14:42.281
For I have come to 'set a
man against his father,
14:42.348 --> 14:45.551
a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law
14:45.618 --> 14:48.153
against her mother-in-law';
and 'a man's enemies will be
14:48.220 --> 14:50.089
those of his own household.'
14:50.155 --> 14:53.926
He who loves father or
mother more than Me is
14:53.993 --> 14:55.261
not worthy of Me.
14:55.327 --> 14:58.163
And he who loves son or
daughter more than Me is
14:58.230 --> 14:59.632
not worthy of Me.
14:59.698 --> 15:03.802
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is
15:03.869 --> 15:05.904
not worthy of Me."
15:05.971 --> 15:09.375
In other words, it's difficult to really obey God in this
15:09.441 --> 15:12.878
world, because so many are
going the opposite way.
15:12.945 --> 15:16.348
But if you're watching this program, and if you're seeking
15:16.415 --> 15:18.851
the truth, and you're understanding what you're
15:18.917 --> 15:21.487
hearing, you can step
out on faith.
15:21.553 --> 15:25.024
You can determine in your
heart, "I'm going to follow
15:25.090 --> 15:27.259
the truth no matter what.
15:27.326 --> 15:31.397
I will open this Book and
find out what God is really
15:31.463 --> 15:32.998
telling me to do."
15:33.065 --> 15:34.700
So be courageous.
15:34.767 --> 15:36.435
Step out on faith.
15:36.502 --> 15:40.339
Determine to really seek
Him and obey Him and He
15:40.406 --> 15:42.041
will bless you for it.
15:42.107 --> 15:45.811
It matters to God
how we worship Him.
15:45.878 --> 15:49.782
As you boldly search for
truth, we want to help.
15:49.848 --> 15:52.484
Tomorrow's World
has produced a free,
15:52.551 --> 15:56.021
information-rich study
guide to help you get to
15:56.088 --> 15:57.222
the bottom of this issue.
15:57.289 --> 16:00.859
It's entitled,
Is Christmas Christian?
16:00.926 --> 16:04.997
It explains the ancient
idolatrous worship passed
16:05.064 --> 16:08.167
down to the modern age,
discussing "Evergreens and
16:08.233 --> 16:09.968
Other Christmas Traditions."
16:10.035 --> 16:13.539
And it asks the next logical question, "Can Christmas
16:13.605 --> 16:15.441
Sanctify the Pagan?"
16:15.507 --> 16:17.743
These are not
trivial issues.
16:17.810 --> 16:21.647
They strike at the very
core of a vital topic.
16:21.714 --> 16:25.184
That is, how to
worship the true God.
16:25.250 --> 16:28.053
Maybe this is the first time you've heard about the real
16:28.120 --> 16:29.455
origins of Christmas.
16:29.521 --> 16:31.123
But don't take our word for it.
16:31.190 --> 16:32.891
Look into it yourself.
16:32.958 --> 16:34.426
Read your own Bible.
16:34.493 --> 16:37.296
It's not enough to know the origins of these traditions--
16:37.363 --> 16:39.098
you need to know what
to do about it.
16:39.164 --> 16:41.900
So call, click or write to us.
16:41.967 --> 16:42.968
Order today.
16:43.035 --> 16:43.869
♪
16:43.936 --> 16:45.938
This clear and
straight-forward resource
16:46.004 --> 16:48.574
will help you understand
this vital truth--
16:48.640 --> 16:51.377
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
16:51.443 --> 16:52.411
Call now!
16:52.478 --> 16:56.415
Or go to...
16:56.482 --> 16:58.650
♪
16:58.717 --> 17:01.019
In the first two segments,
we discovered two
17:01.086 --> 17:02.755
Christmas surprises.
17:02.821 --> 17:05.657
One, that Christmas isn't
Christian at all.
17:05.724 --> 17:09.261
Two, it matters to God
how we worship Him.
17:09.328 --> 17:13.332
But if we're to not keep
ancient idolatrous rituals
17:13.399 --> 17:16.835
in honor of Christ, what
days are we to keep?
17:16.902 --> 17:21.273
In this segment, let's unwrap the third Christmas surprise.
17:21.340 --> 17:27.179
3. The Bible reveals holy days Christians are to keep.
17:27.246 --> 17:28.747
What are they?
17:28.814 --> 17:31.116
They can be found
listed in your Bible.
17:31.183 --> 17:33.152
You may have heard
of some of them.
17:33.218 --> 17:35.954
But you might have assumed
that they're Jewish.
17:36.021 --> 17:38.190
It also may come as a
surprise that they can
17:38.257 --> 17:40.426
be found in the
New Testament.
17:40.492 --> 17:44.363
The New Testament Christians
of the first century understood
17:44.430 --> 17:46.465
and observed these days.
17:46.532 --> 17:47.933
So, what are they?
17:48.000 --> 17:50.903
Well first comes the
New Testament Passover.
17:50.969 --> 17:54.440
It occurs in the spring-time, usually in early April.
17:54.506 --> 17:57.876
Passover reminds us that
Jesus fulfilled the role
17:57.943 --> 18:01.146
of the Lamb of God
slain for our sins.
18:01.213 --> 18:04.716
That's why Passover is
important to Christians.
18:04.783 --> 18:08.887
As Paul said in
1 Corinthians 5:7...
18:08.954 --> 18:12.324
"For indeed Christ,
our Passover, was
18:12.391 --> 18:14.259
sacrificed for us."
18:14.326 --> 18:18.163
In other words, the Christian Passover is the crucial first
18:18.230 --> 18:20.999
step in the plan of God,
in bringing redemption
18:21.066 --> 18:23.101
to sinning mankind.
18:23.168 --> 18:26.071
And Passover was kept
by the early Christians;
18:26.138 --> 18:28.006
even the Gentile Christians.
18:28.073 --> 18:30.876
Next, we find the Feast
of Unleavened Bread.
18:30.943 --> 18:33.512
It follows right
after Passover.
18:33.579 --> 18:36.448
The Feast of Unleavened
Bread teaches us that we
18:36.515 --> 18:38.350
must change and grow.
18:38.417 --> 18:42.855
Christ's sacrifice sets us free but we can't continue in sin.
18:42.921 --> 18:45.791
We have to resist sin and
learn a new way of life,
18:45.858 --> 18:47.426
with God's help.
18:47.493 --> 18:51.296
As Paul also says in
1 Corinthians 5:8...
18:51.363 --> 18:54.366
"Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven,
18:54.433 --> 18:56.835
nor with the leaven of
malice and wickedness,
18:56.902 --> 19:00.506
but with the unleavened bread
of sincerity and truth."
19:00.572 --> 19:03.709
The third holy day in the
lineup of God's New Testament
19:03.775 --> 19:07.646
holy day calendar is the
Feast of First Fruits.
19:07.713 --> 19:10.449
In New Testament times
it was called Pentecost,
19:10.516 --> 19:12.551
meaning "fiftieth."
19:12.618 --> 19:15.787
Pentecost occurred in
late May to mid-June.
19:15.854 --> 19:19.358
In the Middle East, in the
holy land, this was the time
19:19.424 --> 19:21.460
of the beginning of
the wheat harvest.
19:21.527 --> 19:24.363
For Christians in the New
Testament, Pentecost was
19:24.429 --> 19:28.333
the day in 31 AD when the
Holy Spirit was poured out
19:28.400 --> 19:29.968
on the early Church.
19:30.035 --> 19:35.007
That's found in Acts 2:1...
19:35.073 --> 19:37.142
"When the Day of Pentecost
had fully come, they were
19:37.209 --> 19:39.778
all with one accord
in one place.
19:39.845 --> 19:42.514
And suddenly there came a
sound from heaven, as of
19:42.581 --> 19:45.817
a rushing mighty wind, and
it filled the whole house
19:45.884 --> 19:47.553
where they were sitting."
19:47.619 --> 19:50.722
This was the beginning of the New Testament Church of God.
19:50.789 --> 19:54.126
It began the "firstfruits"
of salvation.
19:54.192 --> 19:57.596
The bigger harvest occurred later at the end of the summer.
19:57.663 --> 20:00.165
So, what we learn from
this feast day is that
20:00.232 --> 20:04.136
God is not calling everyone
today, only a small group
20:04.202 --> 20:06.672
of firstfruits,
the early harvest.
20:06.738 --> 20:09.107
The rest will have
their chance later.
20:09.174 --> 20:12.578
Have you ever heard about
the New Testament Passover,
20:12.644 --> 20:15.247
the Feast of Unleavened
Bread, and Pentecost?
20:15.314 --> 20:17.716
Are you aware that New
Testament Christians
20:17.783 --> 20:20.819
should be keeping
these days?
20:20.886 --> 20:22.554
That might come as
a surprise to you.
20:22.621 --> 20:25.991
But instead of Christmas and other traditional holidays,
20:26.058 --> 20:30.128
these are the biblical holy days that Christians are to keep.
20:30.195 --> 20:34.299
The next holy day, or feast day, is called the Feast of Trumpets.
20:34.366 --> 20:37.069
The Feast of Trumpets
occurs in late September
20:37.135 --> 20:39.605
or early October in
the Roman calendar.
20:39.671 --> 20:42.741
It prophetically represents
the triumphant return
20:42.808 --> 20:44.276
of Jesus Christ.
20:44.343 --> 20:47.012
He will come to earth
a second time.
20:47.079 --> 20:50.315
Only this time, He will
come in power and glory,
20:50.382 --> 20:54.486
during a time of war, misery
and destruction here on Earth.
20:54.553 --> 20:58.490
Find out more about it through our telecast entitled,
20:58.557 --> 21:01.593
"What is the
Feast of Trumpets?"
21:01.660 --> 21:04.496
After the Feast of Trumpets comes the Day of Atonement.
21:04.563 --> 21:07.265
The Day of Atonement also
occurs in late September
21:07.332 --> 21:09.468
or early to mid-October.
21:09.534 --> 21:13.105
It represents humanity
being purified from sin.
21:13.171 --> 21:15.607
And it represents the
source of that sin,
21:15.674 --> 21:18.110
the devil, being taken away.
21:18.176 --> 21:21.446
The Day of Atonement was
still held in high esteem
21:21.513 --> 21:24.316
by New Testament Christians
in the first century,
21:24.383 --> 21:28.053
as we find in Acts 27:7.
21:28.120 --> 21:30.522
In this passage, Luke
detailed the journeys
21:30.589 --> 21:33.892
of Paul and his traveling
companions as they sailed
21:33.959 --> 21:35.861
on the Mediterranean Sea.
21:35.927 --> 21:37.496
We read this...
21:37.562 --> 21:41.133
"...We sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.
21:41.199 --> 21:44.102
Passing it with difficulty,
we came to a place called
21:44.169 --> 21:47.205
Fair Havens, near
the city of Lasea.
21:47.272 --> 21:49.741
Now when much time had
been spent, and sailing
21:49.808 --> 21:52.744
was now dangerous because
the Fast was already over,
21:52.811 --> 21:54.579
Paul advised them..."
21:54.646 --> 21:58.083
In the New International Version it translates it this way:
21:58.150 --> 22:01.953
"by now it was after
the Day of Atonement."
22:02.020 --> 22:04.289
How are we to
understand this?
22:04.356 --> 22:06.625
Well, the Day of Atonement
took place in late
22:06.692 --> 22:09.528
September or early
to mid-October.
22:09.594 --> 22:12.097
And after that time, sailing
on the Mediterranean was
22:12.164 --> 22:13.899
stormy and dangerous.
22:13.965 --> 22:16.702
But the writer, Luke, used
the Day of Atonement as
22:16.768 --> 22:19.371
a marker of time that
his audience would be
22:19.438 --> 22:22.908
familiar with, even
Gentile Christians.
22:22.974 --> 22:26.011
Why would they care about
the Day of Atonement, unless
22:26.078 --> 22:29.181
they were actually keeping it years after the Church was
22:29.247 --> 22:31.483
founded in 31 AD?
22:31.550 --> 22:35.520
The next biblical Feast Day
is the Feast of Tabernacles.
22:35.587 --> 22:38.323
In short, the Feast of
Tabernacles is a seven-day
22:38.390 --> 22:42.327
period that usually falls
in early to late October,
22:42.394 --> 22:46.565
foreshadowing 1,000 years
of peace, prosperity and
22:46.631 --> 22:47.999
abundance on earth.
22:48.066 --> 22:51.737
This is still in the future,
but it is coming soon.
22:51.803 --> 22:54.873
Jesus Christ will personally reign on this earth.
22:54.940 --> 22:59.010
And all humanity--those who
survive the Great Tribulation
22:59.077 --> 23:01.913
and the Day of the Lord--
will enjoy the blessings
23:01.980 --> 23:06.485
and benefits of living under
the rule of Jesus Christ.
23:06.551 --> 23:09.354
And that brings us to
the last feast day of
23:09.421 --> 23:11.623
God's biblical Holy Days.
23:11.690 --> 23:14.392
This is called the
Last Great Day.
23:14.459 --> 23:17.295
It follows on the heels of
the Feast of Tabernacles
23:17.362 --> 23:21.233
and represents the time of
the general resurrection.
23:21.299 --> 23:24.136
This is the time when the
great masses of unsaved
23:24.202 --> 23:27.339
billions will be raised
to life again and have a
23:27.405 --> 23:29.641
genuine chance for salvation.
23:29.708 --> 23:31.409
This day is for them.
23:31.476 --> 23:34.246
It's after the
1,000-year millennium.
23:34.312 --> 23:37.115
Their understanding will
be opened, God's Spirit
23:37.182 --> 23:39.484
will be made available
to them, and they'll be
23:39.551 --> 23:41.553
offered eternal life.
23:41.620 --> 23:45.056
Those are the Holy Days
found in your New Testament.
23:45.123 --> 23:47.459
In contrast to Christmas,
Easter and other traditional
23:47.526 --> 23:50.862
holidays, these are the holy days that are found in the
23:50.929 --> 23:55.133
Bible, and were kept by the early New Testament Church.
23:55.200 --> 23:58.303
And so, they should be
kept by Christians today.
23:58.370 --> 24:00.205
That might be a
surprise to you.
24:00.272 --> 24:01.673
But check it out
for yourself.
24:01.740 --> 24:04.543
Don't believe us,
believe your own Bible.
24:04.609 --> 24:07.712
There's much more to this
subject than we can cover
24:07.779 --> 24:09.314
in a short program.
24:09.381 --> 24:11.716
And that's why we are offering you the free study guide,
24:11.783 --> 24:14.085
Is Christmas Christian?
24:14.152 --> 24:16.955
It will open your eyes to
the true origin of the
24:17.022 --> 24:18.723
customs of Christmas.
24:18.790 --> 24:22.294
And just as important, it will show you what to do about it.
24:22.360 --> 24:25.497
It will show that "God
offers a Better Way."
24:25.564 --> 24:28.834
It discusses the memorial
that Christ did command
24:28.900 --> 24:32.704
to keep--the memorial of
His death, not His birth.
24:32.771 --> 24:35.574
And it explains that not
everyone is just going
24:35.640 --> 24:37.108
along with Christmas.
24:37.175 --> 24:40.145
In fact, "Many are opting
out of Christmas".
24:40.212 --> 24:41.446
What about you?
24:41.513 --> 24:43.648
Judge these things
for yourself.
24:43.715 --> 24:45.083
Don't take our word for it.
24:45.150 --> 24:46.418
The stakes are high.
24:46.484 --> 24:48.453
This is important.
24:48.520 --> 24:50.589
And you need this information.
24:50.655 --> 24:55.760
So, request your free copy
of Is Christmas Christian?
24:55.827 --> 24:59.130
Order online, by mail,
or call us on the phone.
24:59.197 --> 25:00.298
Order today.
25:00.365 --> 25:01.366
♪
25:01.433 --> 25:08.406
For today's free
offer call...
25:08.473 --> 25:13.612
Or go to...
25:13.678 --> 25:16.147
This clear and
straight-forward resource
25:16.214 --> 25:18.817
will help you understand
this vital truth--
25:18.884 --> 25:22.087
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
25:22.153 --> 25:24.589
If you're calling for the
first time, you will also
25:24.656 --> 25:27.392
receive a free annual
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25:27.459 --> 25:28.860
World magazine.
25:28.927 --> 25:32.397
Six inspiring issues
discussing news, science,
25:32.464 --> 25:35.367
and modern culture will
help you make sense of
25:35.433 --> 25:39.404
your world from a
biblical perspective.
25:39.471 --> 25:41.840
Call today and join
millions around the world
25:41.907 --> 25:44.376
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
25:44.442 --> 25:50.282
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
25:50.348 --> 25:51.616
Call now!
25:51.683 --> 25:55.654
Or go to...
25:55.720 --> 26:00.926
♪
26:00.992 --> 26:03.628
On today's program, we've
peeled back the veneer
26:03.695 --> 26:04.896
of Christmas.
26:04.963 --> 26:07.365
And we've seen that the
pagan origins of Christmas
26:07.432 --> 26:08.900
are well documented.
26:08.967 --> 26:11.836
And many of them are not
a surprise to most people.
26:11.903 --> 26:14.406
What is surprising
to some is when they
26:14.472 --> 26:18.376
discover that it matters
to God how we worship Him.
26:18.443 --> 26:21.212
And He actually gives us
specific days to keep,
26:21.279 --> 26:23.214
outlined in the Bible.
26:23.281 --> 26:28.286
In 1 Kings 18:21, we read the famous account of the prophet
26:28.353 --> 26:31.256
Elijah and his showdown
with the prophets of Baal.
26:31.323 --> 26:33.058
It says...
26:33.124 --> 26:35.860
"And Elijah came to all
the people, and said,
26:35.927 --> 26:39.264
'How long will you falter
between two opinions?
26:39.331 --> 26:44.736
If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.'"
26:44.803 --> 26:47.839
God is delivering the
same message to us today.
26:47.906 --> 26:51.276
God wants us to reject the
world's traditions that
26:51.343 --> 26:54.379
only have the veneer
of the name of Christ.
26:54.446 --> 26:57.015
And He instructs us to
keep the biblical holy
26:57.082 --> 26:59.250
days that He made holy.
26:59.317 --> 27:03.221
He commands us to worship
Him in spirit and in truth
27:03.288 --> 27:07.359
with other sincere Christians who are discovering this
27:07.425 --> 27:09.327
precious truth as well.
27:09.394 --> 27:12.964
We hope and pray
that includes you.
27:13.031 --> 27:14.466
Thank you for watching.
27:14.532 --> 27:17.235
And don't forget, request
your free study guide,
27:17.302 --> 27:18.903
Is Christmas Christian?
27:18.970 --> 27:20.805
It's yours absolutely free.
27:20.872 --> 27:24.943
And be sure to come back for more Tomorrow's World episodes.
27:25.010 --> 27:27.912
As Gerald Weston, Richard
Ames, Wallace Smith and I
27:27.979 --> 27:31.216
explain the Good News of Tomorrow's World, and the
27:31.282 --> 27:36.187
truth, comfort and hope it can bring to you and your family.
27:36.254 --> 27:37.389
See you next time.
27:37.455 --> 27:38.256
♪
27:38.323 --> 27:45.096
For today's free
offer call...
27:45.163 --> 27:49.801
Or go to...
27:49.868 --> 27:52.103
Call today and join
millions around the world
27:52.170 --> 27:54.773
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
27:54.839 --> 27:59.310
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
27:59.377 --> 28:01.479
The preceding program
is produced by the
28:01.546 --> 28:02.747
Living Church of God.
28:02.814 --> 28:24.769
♪