Tag: bethlehem

What did Bethlehem do for you? Isaiah 25:7-9

Verse 7. And I will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people and the vail that is spread over the nations. Verse 8. He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth for the Lord hath spoken. Verse 9. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord, we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. Comment: The Hebrew word used here in verse 9 for salvation means a deliverance from outside of yourself! It comes from outside of your circumstances! It has nothing to do with your efforts! Jehovah the God of our Salvation! Salvation is associated with the forgiveness of sin! A deliverance from Satan (fallen angel), and his power! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Touched by an Angel? 2 Peter 2:4

What do we know about angels? From our Bible we know that there are 3 basic groups of angels. Gabriel (messenger angels), Michael (war angels), Lucifer (praise angel), who became Satan! We know that angels are created beings just like humans! We know we are not to worship angels. We know we were created just a little lower than the angels. We know Lucifer was the disobedient angel that rebelled against God and 1/3 of these angels were cast out of Heaven down to earth! We know angels can dwell in flesh. We know Christ was not a created being but was pre-existent and always was is and forever will be! What has all this to do with Christmas? A lot! Everything! Did you ever notice 1/3 of the earth’s population is Christian! One third of the disobedient angels were cast down out of Heaven to earth! Yet 1/3 of the earth’s population has been redeemed! We know that Satan can never be redeemed! However Satan dwelling in flesh or humans is his effort to destroy them! Remember Jesus has authority over demons and cast them out of people! At the mention of His name demons tremble! Jesus God’s Son incarnated into the earth was God’s plan to defeat Satan! Those that reject Christ continue to live under the control of Satan! The Christmas story is a lot bigger than tinsel, gifts and food! It is all about the defeat of the fallen angel in your life and the deliverance of your soul from the same plight that awaits Satan! The small baby in Bethlehem is God’s plan to deliver us from evil. Merry Christmas! Praise God and Christ for our praise replaces the praise in Heaven lost by Lucifer’s removal from Heaven! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Signs in the Heavens! Matthew 24:29-31

Contrary to what is commonly believed, the magi did not arrive at the manger on the night of Christ’s birth; rather, they found the young Jesus and His parents living in a house (Matthew 2:11). This could have been nearly two years after Christ’s birth, since Herod–afraid of his own position as King was threatened–tried to have Jesus eliminated by killing all male children under the age of two (Matthew 2:16). It may be that the star first appeared over Bethlehem when the magi were in the East (Persia). From that distance, they would have not been able to distinguish the exact location but would have certainly have known to head west. They went to Israel’s capital city Jerusalem, a likely place to begin their search for the King of the Jews. It seems that the star may have disappeared by the time the magi reached Jerusalem but then reappeared when they began their (much shorter) journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, approximately 6 miles away. This view is supported by the fact that first, the magi had asked King Herod where the King of the Jews was born, which means the star wasn’t guiding them at that time (Matthew 2:2). And second, they rejoiced exceedingly when they saw the star (again) as they began their journey to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:10). After the magi had met Herod, the star went on before them to Bethlehem and stood over the location of Jesus. It seems to have led them to the very house that Jesus was in–not just the city. The magi already knew that Christ was in Bethlehem. This they had learned from Herod, who had learned it from the priests and scribes (Matthew 2:4-5,8). For a normal star, it would be impossible to determine which house is directly beneath it. The star over Christ may have been relatively near the surface of the earth so that the magi could discern the precise location of Christ. Whatever the exact mechanism, the fact that the star led the magi to Christ is evidence that the star was uniquely designed, made by God for a very special purpose. God can use extraordinary means for extraordinary purposes. Certainly the birth of our Lord was deserving of honor in the Heavens. It is fitting that God used a celestial object to announce the birth of Christ since “the heavens declare glory of God”___(Psalms 19:1). Source: Answers in Genesis. Comment: In verse 29 of Matthew was Jesus talking about the 7 year tribulation? Here are some signs listed in the Heavens at His second coming! The rapture has probably already happened before this event and these are the redeemed people that came to Christ during the tribulation period! The sun is darkened and the moon shall lose it’s light and the stars shall fall from Heaven! When the unbelievers shall see Him they shall mourn! The believers shall rejoice! Two different responses with two different outcomes! Then Christ shall gather the elect from the ends of the Heavens! Help us to shine His light into the earth before the opportunity for Salvation closes for men! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Herod’s Defensive Letter to Caesar!

Letter form Herod Antipas to Tiberius Caesar and the Senate of Rome: “My Noble Lords, Greeting, As to what Pontius Pilate says in regard to my cowardice and disobedience in the case of Jesus of Nazareth, I will say in my own defense: I was informed by all the Jews that this was the same Jesus that my father aimed to destroy in his infancy; for I have it in my father’s private writings and accounts of his life, showing that when the report was circulated of three men inquiring where was he that was born King of the Jews, he called together the Hillel and Shammai schools, and demanded the reading of the sacred scrolls; that it was decided he was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, as read and interpreted that night by Hillel. So when my father learned that there was a birth of a male child in Bethlehem under very strange circumstances, and he could not learn where or who the child was, he sent and had all the male children slain that were near his age. Afterward he learned that his mother had taken him and fled into the wilderness. For this attempt to uphold the Roman authority in the land of Judea the world has not ceased to curse him to this day; and yet the Caesar’s have done a thousand worse things, and done them a thousand times, and it was all well. Just think how many lives have been lost to save the Roman Empire; while those infants were only removed in their innocence from the evil to come. The proper way to judge of action is to let the actor judge, or the one with whom the action terminates. If this should be done, and there is a life of happiness beyond for innocence to dwell in, those infants as well as Rachels should be thankful to my father for the change. Again my Lord’s, Pilate is a higher officer than I; and you know in our law the lower court always has the right to appeal to the higher. As to Pilate’s saying that Jesus was a Galilean, he is mistaken. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, as the records show. And as for his citizenship, he had none. He wandered about from place to place, having no home, making his abode principally with the poor. He was a wild fanatic, who had taken up the doctrines of John (but not his baptism), and was quite an enthusiast. He had learned sooth-saying, while in Egypt, to perfection. I tried to get him to perform some miracle while in my court, but he was too sharp to be caught in a trap; like all necromancers, he was afraid to show off before the intelligent. From what I could learn he had reprimanded some of the rich Jews for their meanness, and his reproaches were not out of the way, from what I heard they would have much better men if they had practiced what they preached.” Herod Antipas

Christmas Myth Debunked! Luke 2:8

Skeptics over the years claimed that the winter time would be too cold for the shepherd herders to be out in the field with their sheep! The average temperature in Bethlehem Israel in the month of December is 59 degree’s F. There are 6 hours of bright sunlight each day which represents 58 percent of the 10 hours of daylight. Bethlehem and the surrounding hills get 4.4 inches of rain in December. Here is a quote from a Holy Land traveler who spent most of his life on the dusty trails of Palestine; “In the dry summer season the hills are well-nigh bare, affording insufficient pasture, so the shepherds then normally keep their sheep near a town and enfold them at night. But when the winter rains fall, the hills become clothed with grass, and the shepherds knowing this, take their sheep further into the fields. Then because of the distance it would make the sheep walk too far every evening expending energy needlessly, they simply watch the flocks in the fields at night. In the winter the shepherds do not stay in the town they are afar in the field or common pasturage. The sheep were only taken there in the winter.” H.B. Tristrous (Holy Land Traveler)

A Miracle! Isaiah 7:14

King Ahaz was a wise King! When the Lord told him He would give him a sign he did not want to tempt the Lord! He did not want to put God to a foolish test! Ahaz was really telling God I do not question you! Mortal men do need to be questioned! Jesus will do that at the judgment! Men and women asked Jesus a lot of questions! Are you really the Son of God? Prove it! Come down from the Cross if you are God! The word sign means a miracle in the Hebrew! Jesus virgin birth is a miracle! After Peter witnessed the miracles he told Jesus you are the Christ the Son of the living God! The Lord gave Peter signs! The star over Bethlehem was a miracle! Christ’s resurrection from the dead was a miracle! Salvation is a miracle! Being born again is a miracle! These acts of God are beyond the natural and are supernatural. They are God’s Grace in that God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves! Miracles are the love of God towards men! Faith in God is living from miracle to miracle! It cannot be explained outside of God! Your life is a miracle! If you were not here you could not experience the love of God! No miracles! That is why abortion is so cruel. You kill a miracle! We need life to make choices! Could not wonder and awe about God? Could not see the slender of His creation! Could not experience His Power and Glory! Could not know His peace! Without Him no purpose! Only loneliness and emptiness! No hope! But surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life! Lord give me another miracle today! Not to prove who you are but prove I cannot live without you! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Mary’s Song! Luke 1: 54-55

“He hath cooperated with His servant Israel; in remembrance of His mercy; to Abraham and His offspring both past, present and future!” Comment: Mary really did understand the implications of the incarnate birth of Jesus! Forever includes both past, present and future! Remember Jesus said before Abraham was i was! The religious leaders could not wrap their brains around such statements! Jesus said i am the same yesterday, today and forever! Salvation comes through the Jew! Christ pre-existed creation yet was born into the earth through the flesh! Born to a Jewish girl named Mary. Mary the offspring of Abraham brought forth the Christ child! This responsibility had to weigh heavily on her! Her response was to break forth in Praise! God Himself conceives an offspring to bring redemption to the earth! Joseph and Mary lived in troubled times just as we do today! But the joy of our salvation overcomes all the worldly troubles! In child birth the pain is overcome by the joy of a new life! The best news you will ever find is in and during the Christmas season! Join the generations of the past, present and future along with the angel’s in praise to our King! There is only one earthly King who came down from Heaven to serve you! No King will ever do for you what this King has done! This King is God Himself come to conquer death, hell and the grave just for you! My allegiance is to Christ alone simply because no one else can deliver me from my sin and raise me from the dead! None else can promise you eternal life and deliver it! Find time to rest in Him this season and discover why Mary broke forth in praise! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Christmas and Science! Micah 5:2 (800 B.C.)

Using astronomy software and an article written by astronomer Craig Chester and based on the work of Ernest Martin, Larson thinks all 9 characteristics of the star of Bethlehem are found in the events in the skies of 3-2 B.C. Highlights include a triple conjunction of Jupiter, called the King planet with the fixed star Regulus called the King star, starting in 3 B.C. Larson believes that may have been the time of Jesus conception. By June 2 B.C., nine months later, the human conception period, Jupiter had continued in its orbit around the sun and appeared in close conjunction to Venus in 2 B.C. In Hebrew Jupiter is called “Sedeq”, meaning “righteousness” a term used for the Messiah, and suggested that because the planet Venus represents love and fertility Chester believes astrologers would have viewed this as indicators of a coming new King of Israel and Herod would taken this seriously! Astronomer David Reneke independently found that in 2 B.C. planetary conjunction would have appeared as a “bright beacon of light.” Jupiter next continued to move and then stopped in its apparent retrograde motion on December 25th of 2 B.C. over the town of Bethlehem! Since planets in their orbits have a “stationary point”, a planet moves eastward through the stars but after passes the opposite point in the sky from the sun, it appears to slow, come to a full stop and moves backward(westward) for some weeks. Again it slows, stops and resumes its eastward course. The date December 25th that Jupiter appeared to stop while in retrograde took place in the season of Hanukkah and that date later was chosen to celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Mary’s Song! Luke 1:49

“For He that is mighty hath done miracles and perfect is His name!” Comment: Our God majors in miracles! God never went to school! He is mighty because of who He is! He is perfect because perfection is in His name! He is creator of all things! No evolution with God! He is creator of all things but He Himself was not created! He always was and is and is to come! He is the pre-existent one! No one proceeded Him! He is the cause for all that is and everything that has been! His Son Jesus Christ also proceeded creation! God is the designer and cause for all life! You are created as all the angels were! That is why we do not worship angels! Miracles and perfection are the character of God! God being born into the earth through flesh causes me to sing songs of Praise along with Mary! Mary was impregnated by God for the birth of His Son Jesus Christ! Human parents by themselves could never achieve this! Man could only be saved from His sin through divine intervention! Signs and wonders will follow those who believe in Him! The Christian story is a miraculous story and those miracles are lived out on those who follow Christ! Be like the wise men and follow Him! The perfect God brings perfection in your life! He has done His best in us and we are to do our best in Him! Let us like Mary break forth in Praise to our God as we experience the miracles and perfection of a little baby born in Bethlehem! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com