Merry Christmas 2013 To All of You

On behalf of the Universal Church of the Living God and Seminary, Inc., I’d like to wish each and every one of you a blessed and merry Christmas. “Where is the one who has been born king of the World?  We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2 we have been receiving many emails from people condemning us for speaking about Christmas because it is not a Biblical holiday and because it is based on pagan tradition. However, it is our responsibility to educate both Jews and non-Jews on the birth of the Messiah, the prophecy about His birth, and what better day to do it on - than today, the day known as his birth-day. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9:6)  Today, all around the world, Believers are commemorating the birth of Jesus the Messiah, who brought hope of a restored relationship with God for all humankind. As a ministry of Jews who live here in Israel, we don't celebrate Christmas, because we know that he was born at a different time of the year, however every day should be a day of celebrating Jesus!  The Jewish people here in Israel know that it is Christmas "outside of Israel," and it is a great day to share the Good News with Israelis as they are open to speaking about this subject.   They don't care what day He was born on - they just want to know more. His birth is so wondrous and puts such joy in the hearts of Christians that at this time of the year countless carols and hymns are sung about this amazing prophetic fulfillment of Bible prophecy. This music of praise and thanksgiving is entirely fitting!  Even the angels sang at His coming!  Though He was born as a baby, they knew that He would fulfill everything said about Him and that victory was certain.  Two thousand years ago, angels appeared to Jewish shepherds who were watching over their flocks near Bethlehem, announcing the birth of Jesus the Messiah in fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6.  “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  (Luke 2:10–12)  The shepherds, who were at first frightened by the astonishing appearance of hundreds, if not millions, of angels, received the news with great joy and rushed to pay homage to the newborn King.  The fact that God chose to proclaim the birth of Messiah to humble shepherds should encourage us all.  Shepherds were not regarded as the most important of people.  Socially speaking, they were considered to be of little worth.  And yet God gave them this incredible honor.  After seeing Jesus, they went on to tell everyone what they had seen.  They probably even told the priests in the Holy Temple, which was about five miles (nine kilometers) away, since it is possible that they were caring for the sheep bred for animal sacrifices there. One message, then, of the birth of Jesus is that our social standing doesn't qualify us to serve God.  He loves everyone.  Anyone who is willing to serve God can proclaim the Good News of Jesus. "For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise ... so that no man may boast before God."  (1 Corinthians 1:26–29)  Today, in this world of fear and anxiety, the good news of Jesus’ birth is still being received with joy. God loves us and fulfilled dozens of Messianic prophecies.  Here are a few of those amazing Bible prophecies: The prophet Micah accurately foretold that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem: “But you, O Bethlehem, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”  (Micah 5:2) The prophet Isaiah foreshadows His supernatural conception, revealing that He would be born of a virgin. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel [God with us].”  (Isaiah 7:14) Jeremiah prophesied that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”  (Jeremiah 23:5) The prophet Daniel, who was also visited by an angel, provided a clear time frame for the Messiah’s coming, dating it from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem during the Babylonian exile: “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and for your holy city for putting an end to the transgression, for making an end of sin, for forgiving iniquity, for bringing in everlasting justice, for setting the seal on vision and prophet, and for anointing the Especially Holy Place.”  (Daniel 9:24) “As clearly as Daniel could have stated it, he taught that 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem had been issued, Messiah would be here on earth,” Arnold Fruchtenbaum writes in Messianic Christology: A Study of Old Testament Prophecy Concerning the First Coming of the Messiah. If the Messiah did not come during the 483 years (69-weeks-of-years period), then Daniel would, perhaps, have to be considered something of a false prophet. “Since Daniel 9:24–27 speaks of events that must be fulfilled before the destruction of the Second Temple (which took place in 70 CE), the question that must be asked is this: If Jesus did not fulfill Daniel 9:24, who did?" Michael Brown asks in Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, Volume 3. "Who was it that ushered in everlasting righteousness and made atonement for iniquity before 70 CE if not Jesus the Messiah?  In reality, if he did not fulfill Daniel 9:24, then no one fulfilled it and the prophecies of Daniel cannot be trusted,” Michael Brown states. The 70th week, the last 7 years, is accounted for in the book of Revelation with 3 1/2 years of peace followed by 3 1/2 years of trouble at which time, Jesus will come again and set up His Messianic Kingdom on earth as it is already in Heaven. The Savior of Jews and Gentiles As the prophets foretold, Jesus was a Jewish male of the line of David born to a virgin in Judea in the city of Bethlehem. The timing of His birth perfectly fulfills Daniel’s time line. But despite the astonishing fulfillment of so many Bible prophecies, Jesus was not received nationally by the Jewish People; even so, a great number of first century Jews followed Jesus, retaining their Jewish identity. So while the Jewish People as a nation have rejected Jesus and still await the coming of the Messiah, many Gentile Believers have warmly embraced Him. That acceptance of Jesus by the Gentiles is also fulfillment of Bible prophecy: “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.  I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”  (Isaiah 42:6–7) “It is too small a thing for you to be My servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept.  I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”  (Isaiah 49:6)