O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer’s here,
But also when ’tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can’st give me;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can’st give me;
How often has the Christmas tree
Afforded me the greatest glee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can’st give me.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
From base to summit, gay and bright,
There’s only splendor for the sight.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee! !”
So what exactly does this have to do with the Baby Jesus, in a stable in first century Judea? Absolutely nothing! In fact the god here seems to be referring to the German mountain spirit Ruebezahl. He’s usually represented as a very large bearded, pipe-smoking mountain man, with enormous powers of both good and evil inhabiting the Krkonose mountains. He is a kind of nature spirit, responsible for the rain, wind, snow and the growth of plants in the mountains. Or Dionysus to whom all evergreen plants were sacred. Because they are green even in winter they signify the perpetual youth and vigor of the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, ritual madness, fertility, theatre and religious ecstasy.
Ruebezahl
This green tree or branch can be traced back it the dawn of recorded history in the ancient Mesopotamian valley. Any species that does not drop its leaves in winter was used by the ancients, palms, ivy as well as coniferous trees. What it represented was the “mystery” way of representing the son i.e. scion, or branch of Cush, and that was Nimrod. To the Greeks he was Dionysus, to the Romans he was Bacchus, the imbiber of the sap of the sun i.e. wine. But in the Bible he is the one who created all things pagan at the tower of Babble. He was the grand originator of all the Babylonian Mystery Religions.
and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth’s abominations.” Rev. 17:5
Bits of bringing in the green or yule tree survive even in our time. As some still burn a yule log. But originally it was a yule child that was sacrificed and cremated. Some ancient accounts say the child was killed then burned and some say the poor little thing was just thrown into the fire alive and screaming. The next day the green tree was erected on the ashes as a kind of resurrection, spring will come again representation, because this tree is still green. Jeremiah proclaims God’s judgment on His people for just this abomination.
“For long ago you broke your yoke and burst your bonds; and you said, ‘I will not serve.’ Yea, upon every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down as a harlot. Jer. 2:20
What about the lights? This festival was all about winter solstice. The days get perceptively shorter. The idea was that the sun was losing in its annual battle with the darkness. So lights were lit to help in the struggle. Until 4 days after solstice when it was clear that the sun was gaining. Then the great celebration was held. Drunken debauchery was everywhere. Everything was backwards. Slaves became masters, and master became slaves. It got so bad in ancient Rome that the rich fled the city, during Saturnalia.
So how did it come then, that the Church has welcomed this abomination into our homes, hearts, and churches? Why is it even entertained? Why was it given the new name of CHRISTmas tree? Why would anyone want to make this acceptable? The simple answer is that greedy churchmen and merchants, want the money. Covetous people want to be just like the pagans around them. We like fitting in. After all, they are having a lot of fun. So we all conspired together to hide the truth, for our own good pleasure, and now we are addicted. Addicted to false ideas, false faith, and false convictions.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
Addiction is the inability to give something up, especially when you know it is evil and / or unhealthy.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1Cor. 3:16
If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are. 1Cor. 3:17
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; 1Cor. 6:19
We do not need this tree, we do not need these lights. The sun is not struggling with the darkness. God established the heavenly bodies for us to come to understand the seasons and rhythms of our earth.
And God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, Gen. 1:14
There is no need of false lights. We already have the true light, and He certainly does not need our help to shine brighter.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5
There are two women presented in the Bible. One is the true bride the other is a whore. [Jeremiah 2-6, Ezekiel 16, 23, Hosea, Rev 17] The whore always thinks she is God’s people. But the prophets over and over decry them as corrupt. Needing to repent of their corruption. But they would find false teachers who would sooth them with gentile words and promises of God’s deliverance.
Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles false and misleading. Lam. 2:14
They soon believe that He will keep His promises to them, even though they are unfaithful. Which brings us to:
The Ten Virgins
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matt. 25:1 -13
The parable of the ten virgins has always disturbing. They are all virgins! Which means they are all believers. But five are unprepared. How did they get unprepared? They were supposed to have enough oil for the long wait. What did they do with their oil? Up until the electric inventions of Tesla and Edison, the world was lit with oil or wax. Oil was the main fuel for all lights in first century Judea, one would not casually run out of it. Instead of saving their oil for the coming bridegroom, they must have been burning it for another. Though they are virgins, i.e. believers, they must have been using the oil to fuel lights for other lovers. Feeding that old addiction to all things pagan. They have not keep their faith simple and pure. They do not completely trust God. They have taken in other lovers, like the pursuit of money and possesions, and the directions of thier own lives. They have turned to pagan ideas for comfort, solace, and hidden information. They have been hedging their bets. Theirs is not the sin of unbelief, it is one of feeling that they are not getting enough, lusting for what others have. Pagans always promise great health, wealth, and fame. The five foolish virgin’s clothes are not washed and white, they are soiled or missing altogether and they have traded thier own inheritance.
Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Rev. 3:4-5
Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Rev. 3:18
(“Lo, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who is awake, keeping his garments that he may not go naked and be seen exposed!”) Rev. 16:15
Of the Whore God says—
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
“Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; Rev. 18:4
Time is short. The King is coming. Do you have oil for the night? Or have you been wasting it on false lovers? It is time to buy clean garments and eye salve. Read your Bible. Stop listening to false teachers, telling you soothing pleasant things, to assuage your guilt. Return to the simple faith, of the Bible. Leave all things Babylonian behind. Clean up your homes, hearts, and churches.
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Heb. 10:19-25
From the Congregation of Biet Sepher 
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