Happy Christmas for 2022

[DAMIEN1307]

It is that time of year once again when Anton and myself would like to wish all of our fantastic forum members a very Happy Christmas as well as looking forward to a better New Year.

Let's face it guy's, the last 2 years have really sucked for many here, whether it was due to Covid, loss of family members, (our furry and feathered family included), lockdowns, job and financial losses, kids locked out of school as well as athletics with socialisation issues resulting, inflation, and the list goes on and on.

However, now is our time to dwell and reflect on what this time of the year should actually mean to many of us here, though we all know that the Messiah was not born on December 25th, but more likely in the Springtime, his birth was important as the beginning of the biblical promises of a coming day where it was written,

Revelation 21:4 King James Version (KJV)
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away"

So even though things have been tough for many of us, it's time that we now look forward to a promise of things to come.

Luke 21:28 King James Version (KJV)
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh"

As per our usual Christmas message to all of our members and their families, We have another selection of music reflecting the season...Enjoy.

A Happy Christmas to all this year.

Anton and Damien





This video I also enjoy from 2009...Wiener Sängerknaben - Adeste fideles, (Vienna Boy's Choir...Oh Come All Ye Faithful).

 

[darwin]

Merry Christmas Ladies!

 

[DieselTech]

Best wishes to all & Merry Christmas.

 

[ismellnownlatters]

Merry Christmas and God bless

 

[Wrench]

Mele Kalikimaka Hau Oli Makahiki Ho

 

[Impossworld]

Merry Christmas ! Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday

 

[michael whiteman]

Thank you Damien for sharing all of this with us. Bless you brother. You're right about the birth of Jesus, but I think you might be thinking of John the Baptist being born in April. If you're willing to take the time to do the math it's all laid out in LUKE 1:26 to 1:56. ELUL, in the Hebrew calendar, is August 15 to September 15. Knowing this, one can determine Jesus was born in early October.

There was no Christmas until Constantine, emperor of Rome in the third century after being converted, declared a holiday to celebrate the birth of our Savior. For Christians this was an alternative to the week long pagan festival of the Winter Solstice, which was much like Mardi Gras I suspect.

 

[Wrench]

There was no Christmas until Constantine, emperor of Rome in the third century after being converted, declared a holiday to celebrate the birth of our Savior. For Christians this was an alternative to the week long pagan festival of the Winter Solstice, which was much like Mardi Gras I suspect.

Historians will argue that point

 

[DAMIEN1307]

Thank you Damien for sharing all of this with us. Bless you brother. You're right about the birth of Jesus, but I think you might be thinking of John the Baptist being born in April. If you're willing to take the time to do the math it's all laid out in LUKE 1:26 to 1:56. ELUL, in the Hebrew calendar, is August 15 to September 15. Knowing this, one can determine Jesus was born in early October.

There was no Christmas until Constantine, emperor of Rome in the third century after being converted, declared a holiday to celebrate the birth of our Savior. For Christians this was an alternative to the week long pagan festival of the Winter Solstice, which was much like Mardi Gras I suspect.

Nope, wasn't thinking about Jesus' cousin John...This supposition is based on the premise that the shepherd were still in the fields with their sheep, That would have been either spring summer or fall in the middle east, so most scholars have narrowed down to either fall or spring.

Now take into account that everyone had to travel back to their home villages for the official census to be taken for the Roman Empire, The Romans, knowing how volatile that region was with Jewish dissidents with various uprisings, etc. would not have been very wise if they had ordered this in the Fall where moving about like this would have been quite inconvenant and would have inspired further altercations among the populace, but inclement weather from Fall going into Winter would also have delayed results of that census getting back to Rome on time for tax purposes until weather permitted proper sea travel again, and we all know how much the Romans, as well as their appointed tax collectors just couldn't wait for the cash flow to commence...lol...lol.

Hence, logic suggests the Spring as the most probable time probably on or about the year 4 BCE, (BC).

 

[DAMIEN1307]

There was no Christmas until Constantine, emperor of Rome in the third century after being converted, declared a holiday to celebrate the birth of our Savior. For Christians this was an alternative to the week long pagan festival of the Winter Solstice

Historians will argue that point

Actually...December 25th was the church's chosen date somewhere along of the time of the Council of Nicea around 325 CE, (AD)...Constantine reasoned that it was easier to incorporate this as a date for Christmas since it would coincide with the ancient Roman 'Saturnalia' celebration festival of the rebirth of the sun and thus making it an easier transition for pagan Romans, when and if they converted to the so-called Christanity of that era.

Ps...Trust me when I tell you that this was nothing more than a political ploy on the Emperor's part in order to try to unify his Empire with its many diverse religious entities he was dealing with at that time.