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=<FONT color="#oooaaa" size="">'''Welcome'''</font>=
 
=<FONT color="#oooaaa" size="">'''Welcome'''</font>=
 
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">'''''GOD BLESS lSRAEL'''''</font>=
 
 
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">'''Meirpanim'''''</font>=
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">'''GOD BLESS ISRAEL AND THE IDF'''</font>=
===='''YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE'''====
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===='''MAKE A DONATION'''====
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===='''https://meirpanim.org/'''====
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=<FONT color="#aa0000"  size="6">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
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====='''THE DARK TRUTH about tithing that your church never tells you'''=====
 
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====='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWzP8ejgf5I'''=====
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">'''WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SPIRIT LEAVES A PERSON'S BODY?'''''</font>=
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===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jKfsoi2JY'''====
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===='''TBN Israel's Yair Pinto reports on the Israel-Hamas War.'''====
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'''CAN YOU ANSWER THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESUS? YOU ARE AMAZING!'''
===='''FOLLOW US:'''====
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'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv1lNFs3JLU'''
===='''TBN Israel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbnisrael/​'''====
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===='''TBN Israel Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbnisrael/'''====
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===='''Something Demonic Just Happened But Everyone Missed It'''====
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">''' Netanyahu ➤ THEY DID IT AGAIN  (THE END HAS REALLY BEGUN) Prophetic Message for Humanity'''</font>=
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqOyq2_gmJM'''====
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===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0qyZ7gYocU'''====
 
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'''16/04/2024'''
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">'''URGENT!'''</font>=
==='''BREAKING: IDF Prepares Iran Counter-Strike; Hamas DEAMNDS Israeli Gaza Withdrawal | TBN Israel'''====
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====='''See What The Bible Says About Cremation Of The Dead | Jonathan Cahn Sermon'''=====
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNcPOOotK1o'''====
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===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_rX9gbDRb8'''====
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=<FONT color="#aa0000"  size="5">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
 +
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="4">'''WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SPIRIT LEAVES A PERSON'S BODY?'''''</font>=
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===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jKfsoi2JY'''====
 
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'''09/04/2024'''
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
===='''BREAKING: IDF Withdraws From South Gaza; Houthi Rockets INTERCEPTED Above Israel | TBN Israel'''====
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====='''Urgent! See The Bible's Harsh Truths About Cremating the Dead'''=====
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBrtbCdQ13k'''====
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===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0dgQhbOQw4'''====
 
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===='''Signs of the End Times are 'Intensifying' as Anti-Semitism Soars'''====
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====='''Signs of the End Times are 'Intensifying' as Anti-Semitism Soars'''=====
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iksrmK0I9MQ'''====
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iksrmK0I9MQ'''====
 
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<iframe framespacing="0" frameborder="no" src="https://www.biblegateway.com/votd/get?format=html&version=KJV">View Verse of the Day</iframe> </noscript></html></div>
 
<iframe framespacing="0" frameborder="no" src="https://www.biblegateway.com/votd/get?format=html&version=KJV">View Verse of the Day</iframe> </noscript></html></div>
 
<html><div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Bible-King-James-Version/dp/000725976X/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=king+james+bible&amp;qid=1706001332&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-2&_encoding=UTF8&tag=lani9loo-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fad5721f4a5a269868d5ca08eb22c3bc&camp=1634&creative=6738">'''Our recommended bible!'''</a></div></html>
 
<html><div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Bible-King-James-Version/dp/000725976X/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=king+james+bible&amp;qid=1706001332&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-2&_encoding=UTF8&tag=lani9loo-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fad5721f4a5a269868d5ca08eb22c3bc&camp=1634&creative=6738">'''Our recommended bible!'''</a></div></html>
<blockquote><p>WiCWiki has been in existence in various forms for over 24yrs when our very first early site launched in 2000.  Since then as with our beliefs we have been on a extraordinary journey and have been able to build a website that is so vast with a staggering <FONT color="#oooaaa" size=>'''{{NUMBEROFPAGES}}''' </font>articles, you could be here for days.... well we hope. </p>   
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<blockquote><p>WiCWiki has been in existence in various forms for over 25yrs when our very first early site launched in 2000.  Since then as with our beliefs we have been on a extraordinary journey and have been able to build a website that is so vast with a staggering <FONT color="#oooaaa" size=>'''{{NUMBEROFPAGES}}''' </font>articles, you could be here for days.... well we hope. </p>   
 
<p>Our biggest aim is to share the <FONT color="#ooooaa" size="">'''Word of God'''</font> through a medium that is accessible to everyone who has access to a PC, Tablet or even mobile device.  We have searched through every nook and cranny of the Wibbly  Wobbly Web to find the best and most accurate articles according to the bible, all into to one place...'''www.wicwiki.org.uk'''. *formerly known as<FONT color="#oooaaf" size=""> '''What is Christianity'''</font></p>   
 
<p>Our biggest aim is to share the <FONT color="#ooooaa" size="">'''Word of God'''</font> through a medium that is accessible to everyone who has access to a PC, Tablet or even mobile device.  We have searched through every nook and cranny of the Wibbly  Wobbly Web to find the best and most accurate articles according to the bible, all into to one place...'''www.wicwiki.org.uk'''. *formerly known as<FONT color="#oooaaf" size=""> '''What is Christianity'''</font></p>   
 
<p>We hope we become your source for information relating to the Christian religion and pray that these articles help you in every way possible.</p>
 
<p>We hope we become your source for information relating to the Christian religion and pray that these articles help you in every way possible.</p>
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<br>
 
<br>
 
'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40DclW84HkM'''
 
'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40DclW84HkM'''
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<FONT color="#oooffo" size="4">'''IDF Releases Video REVEALING Hamas Hiding Hostages In Al-Shifa Hospital''' </font><br>
 
'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EIijSXkYTk'''
 
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<FONT color="#oooffo" size="4">'''Jerusalem LIVE view </font><br>https://www.tv7israelnews.com/jerusalem-live-feed/'''
 
 
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<FONT color="#oooffo" size="4">'''When Demons Are Real!'''</font><br><br>
 
<FONT color="#oooffo" size="4">'''When Demons Are Real!'''</font><br><br>
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<FONT color="#oooffo" size="4">'''CRAZY "CHURCHES" and "PREACHERS" vs A TRUE CHURCH of GOD'''</font><br><br>
 
<FONT color="#oooffo" size="4">'''CRAZY "CHURCHES" and "PREACHERS" vs A TRUE CHURCH of GOD'''</font><br><br>
 
'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1DQTDepL7A'''
 
'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1DQTDepL7A'''
 
 
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<FONT color="#aa0000" size=""><li><i class="fa fa-arrow-circle-right"></i></font>'''[[Abortion]]'''</li>
 
<FONT color="#aa0000" size=""><li><i class="fa fa-arrow-circle-right"></i></font>'''[[Abortion]]'''</li>
 
<FONT color="#aa0000" size=""><li><i class="fa fa-arrow-circle-right"></i></font>[[:Category: Family Prayers.|'''Family Prayers.''']]</li>
 
<FONT color="#aa0000" size=""><li><i class="fa fa-arrow-circle-right"></i></font>[[:Category: Family Prayers.|'''Family Prayers.''']]</li>
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<FONT color="#aa0000" size=""><li><i class="fa fa-arrow-circle-right"></i></font>[[:Categories:Israel]]</li>
 
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     <h3 class="panel-title">[[File:Page.png]] '''April''' featured article</h3>
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     <h3 class="panel-title">[[File:Page.png]] '''December''' featured article</h3>
 
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">'''A Man-directed or Christ-directed Kingdom?'''</font>=
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="6">'''History & Customs of Christmas'''</font>=
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'''December 25'''
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<p>The reason for choosing the day of December 25th as Christ's birthday is usually held that the day was chosen to correspond to pagan festivals that took place around the time of the winter solstice, when the days begin to lengthen, to celebrate the "rebirth of the sun". Northern European tribes celebrated their chief festival of Yule at the winter solstice to commemorate the rebirth of the sun as the giver of light, warmth, and life. The Roman Saturnalia (a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun), also took place at this time, and some Christmas customs are rooted in this ancient pagan celebration. The early church did not celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Christ. The Gospels indicate neither the month nor the day on which Christ was born. Although Luke places the birth in a historical perspective, even the year cannot be determined with exactitude. If the date of Christ's birth were of real religious significance, then the day and the month would have been given; as was given in the first passover. Some of the early church fathers, including Origin, stated for the record that it was blasphemous to celebrate this festival.</p>
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<p>Most Christian churches except the Armenian Church observe the birth of Christ on December 25. This date was not set in the West until about the middle of the fourth century, and in the East until about a century later. The Armenians follow the old Eastern custom of honoring Christ's birth on January 6, the day of the Epiphany, commemorating in the West chiefly the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, and in the East, Christ's Baptism. Some churches hold their most elaborate festivals on January 6, and in parts of the United States this date has been celebrated as "Old Christmas" or "Little Christmas". This time, over a century after the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church would account for much. The Catholic practice of assimilating the rituals, images, festivals and even gods of pagan religions, into their brand of Christianity by giving these all "Christian" names or purposes, would explain these dates and their significance. Christmas even in more modern times has not always been remembered with gaiety and good cheer. Excessive frivolity has always been frowned upon by some, and Christmas was not celebrated by the Puritans or Calvinists. When the Puritans came to power in England under Oliver Cromwell in 1642, Christmas celebrations were banned as evidences of anti religious sentiment. Penalties were exacted for celebrating Christmas, and for staying home from work on Christmas day. The Puritan tradition was brought to New England, where Christmas did not become a legal holiday until 1856.</p><strong>Yule Log</strong>
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<p>The burning of the Yule Log was adapted to an English custom from the ancient Scandinavian practice of kindling huge bond fires in honor of the winter solstice. This helped the dying earth to regain strength and allow the rebirth of the sun. The log was cut from a red oak, and burned all of Christmas Eve and some would burn it all day on Christmas Day also. All of this is taken from sun worship rituals.</p>
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<strong>Nativity Scenes</strong>
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<p>Shortly before Christmas 1223, St. Francis of Assisi wrote to his friend, John Velita, the Lord of Greccio, "I would fain make a memorial of that child who was born in Bethlehem, and in some sort behold with bodily eyes His infant hardships; how He lay in a manger on the hay, with ox and ass standing by." St. Francis organized a group of people to go on Christmas Eve and created the first live nativity scene that year. It has become a greatly practiced custom. Also from this re-creation came the celebrating or h onoring of the cr`eche, the wooden model of the feeding trough holding the Christ Child. In some Catholic countries, this elaborately carved cr'eche, often taking years to complete and much wealth to buy, is placed as the center of the Christmas festival, replacing the customary Christmas Tree.</p>
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<strong>Mistletoe</strong</strong>
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<p>In ancient Britain it was the sacred plant of the druids. The arch druid and his priests performing elaborate ceremonies around it at the winter solstice. Because of the pagan associations, the mistletoe has seldom been sanctioned in church decorations. Traditionally, a girl would stand under it, when a male would approach and pick a berry and kiss the girl. When the berries were all gone then there were no more kisses.</p>
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<strong>Christmas Cards</strong>
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<p>Sir Henry Cole, the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and royal academician John Calcott Horsely, thought of and designed a card in 1843. By 1846 they were selling 1000 of them for one shilling each. In 1844, painter, W. Dobson sent out hand painted Christ-mas cards to friends instead of writing his usual letters. Also, in 1844, Mr. Braadley, a Newcastle vicar had his cards litho-graphed and circulated to his friends. In neither of these cases were any of them sold. Another English artist, William Egley, designed and printed a card either in 1842 or 1849. He was 16 in 1842. German emigrant, printer Louis Prang, designed and sold colored Christmas cards in Roxbury, Mass. in 1874. In less than ten years his shop was putting out more than five million cards per year.</p>
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<strong>The Twelve Days</strong>
  
<p>Now we have come to the most important issue found in this booklet. The question is, are Christians to take their faith and their gifts and go forth to attempt to deliver the world, to set up the Kingdom of God? Or should the believers wait patiently on the Lord until He shows us what to do, and guides and empowers us in doing the necessary work of the Kingdom? Will the Lord Himself build His own Church on the Rock, or does He expect us to build the Church? Will all these wonderful aspects of redemption drop down from Heaven some day as a persecuted remnant waits patiently before the Lord, or are the Christians to use their faith and energy to produce a triumphant Church that will take its place as the head of the nations? </p>
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<p>Christmastide extends from the anniversary of the birth of Christ, officially established as December 25 by the Western church, to the Feast of the Epiphany twelve days later, which celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi. This joyous period was popularly called the "Twelve Days". It included New Year's Day, traditionally a time when midwinter fertility rites were performed as the season moved from barren winter toward burgeoning spring. The Twelve days also embraced more somber religious occasions such as the anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Stephen and the Massacre of the Innocents. But even these are overlaid with festivity, and generally speaking the time is one of revelry, mumming, the exchange of gifts, and feasting, with vestiges of pre-Christian fertility magic such as decoration with evergreens, kisses under the mistletoe, and lighting new fires. In short, the events and customs usually associated with Christmas are spread across the Twelve Days.</p>
<p>For two thousand years the Christian churches have attempted to use the things of God, in addition to numerous physical devices including human talents, energy, wisdom, and especially money, and by them set up the Kingdom of God on the earth. Such efforts have not endured and shall never endure. </p>
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<strong>Christmas Tree</strong>
<p>For several centuries the Catholic Church used every ability of the flesh, including political intrigue, treachery, and the torture and murder of its adversaries, in its attempt to establish what it believes to be the Kingdom of God, the will of God, on the earth. It has stopped at nothing and will yet stop at nothing in order to accomplish its own ends. </p>
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<p>Today there is a movement among Christians termed Reconstructionism. Reconstructionism is an attempt by Christian people to employ faith, the gifts of the spirit, politics, money, and whatever else can be brought to bear in order to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth. This effort is well-intentioned but, like the efforts of the Catholic Church, it is not in accordance with God's Word. </p>
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<p>The moral depravity, the abortions, the sexual perversity, and all the other abominations that are filling the nations of the earth have irritated and disgusted Christian people until they are ready to take action. "Let us arise and put a stop to this corruption. Church of God, on your feet. Up from the pews. March forward in the name of the Lord Jesus." </p>
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<p>Recently a major Pentecostal organization called for morality in the government of the United States of America. Perhaps it would be a better idea for the organization to stress moral behavior among its own people. The problems of the world will not be solved as secular governments repent and obey the laws of the Kingdom but as the Lord's people repent and obey the laws of the Kingdom (II Chronicles 7:14). </p>
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<p>The church people are sinning because of the overemphasis on grace and the teaching of the any-moment pre-tribulation "rapture." The Christian churches are filled with immorality, rebellion, striving for preeminence, bitterness, covetousness, feminism, hatred, sorcery, and every other evil imagination, motive, word, and deed. And they are calling on the <em>worldly governments </em>to repent? </p>
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<p>The attempt to force Christian moral values on local and national governments sounds like a Christian effort. In fact, the believer who does not get behind the Reconstruction movement is scorned as a pew-warmer, a do-nothing, a coward, as someone not fit to be a part of Christianity. </p>
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<p>Christian reconstructionism will finally come to nothing. All it will accomplish is to bring persecution upon the churches as secular society rises up to defend its immoral, ungodly behavior. </p>
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<p>So few people, it seems, so very few people understand the way of the Lord!—the way of the cross!—the way of the Lamb! </p>
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<p>The way of the Lord is not for large bodies of believers to go on the march no matter how worthy their intentions. The way of the Lord is for the <em>individual </em>to wait on the Lord, patiently seeking His face year after year, being content with the mercies and signs of His love that are given to those who fear Him. </p>
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<p>The believer is not to go to war, he is to go to the cross. We do not overcome the adversary by our proclamations of faith or our boastful attitude. We do not, as someone said, "put on our administrative hat" and command the works of God's hands. We can overcome the accuser only by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our Spirit-enabled testimony, and by loving not our life to the death. </p>
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<p>The natural man is pleased to move forward in a belligerent manner, calling on Jesus to help him as he seeks, in his own fleshly understanding and energy, to enforce the behaviors that he—the human being—judges to be important and valuable. All of this is of babylon—confusion—and comes to nothing. </p>
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<p>It is the personal cross of the believer that slays the self-will, the self-centeredness, the enthusiasm, the personal ambition, and all the other motives that drive the religious crusader. </p>
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<p>God has the greatest of all revivals prepared for the closing days of the present age. The Holy Spirit will be poured out as never before. This is the promised "latter rain." The Lord Jesus is looking for those few disciples who, in the midst of the spiritual uproar, will patiently, patiently, patiently wait upon Him until He gives clear directions. There will be a great and powerful wind that will tear the mountains apart and break the rocks in pieces, an earthquake, and then fire. But the Lord will speak to His elect in a gentle, quiet whisper. </p>
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<p>Will you do this? Will you turn away from your religious planning and programs and wait until you hear the quiet whisper of the Lord Jesus? If you choose to meekly wait on the Lord you will be scorned by many. "Come down from the cross and do something. Climb down from the wall, Nehemiah, and listen to us. Do this! Do that! If you are a son of God, march forward in the power of the latter rain." </p>
+
<p>Indeed, the latter rain shall fall. But the saints who truly give the eternal witness will be those who patiently bear their cross after Jesus, thinking, speaking, moving only as they hear from the Lord. </p>
+
<p>These crucified ones are a small minority. But it is from them that the resurrection life shall flow, the eternal changes shall be made. Babylon (human-activated Christianity) will make a great noise, but the noise is confusion and will not affect the Kingdom of God. </p>
+
<p>It is time to take the head of man off the Body of Christ and to put the true Head on the Body. This is possible only as there are those who leave the babylonish planning of the church movements and turn to the Lord Jesus in quietness and self-denying patience. </p>
+
<p>Redemption always comes from above, from the Lord Jesus. Even today all that we need and desire comes from above. We are to lift up our heads. Those who look to man to bring to us the good things of the Kingdom of God are looking in the wrong direction. Man, whether or not he names the name of Jesus and does what he does in the Lord's name, is unclean, unholy, self-seeking—totally unable to give us the desires of our heart. The experienced saint learns that only in Jesus are our needs met. Only Jesus knows the true and profitable desires of our heart, and only Jesus can give them to us. </p>
+
<p>Let us lift up our heads. Our redemption always is drawing near, always is coming from above. Our strength, wisdom, guidance, health, and all other resources always are coming from Heaven; always are coming down from the Lord Jesus.
+
  
 +
<p>The Christmas Tree which is decorated with lights to celebrate the nativity of Christ and on which offerings are made to Him; is a survival of pagan tree worship and of early Christian rites which celebrated the winter solstice with tree and lights. This tree in Germany was an oak, which fostered the custom of the Yule Log which is oak. The Druids in England worshiped the evergreen because it had eternal life, it did not brown and die in the winter. Our modern Christmas Tree is a cross between the two ancient forms of pagan worship. This is the equivalent of the May tree (May pole), a fertility symbol. The tree even dates back to Baal worship in the old Testament. Jeremiah 10:1-6 "Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might."</p>
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<strong>Caroling</strong>
  
[[Category:Main Pages|Main_Pages]]
+
<p>A well-loved Christmas custom is the singing of Christmas carols. The word "carol" is thought to have originally denoted a dance accompanied by singing. Thirteenth century Italy is considered the birthplace of the real Christmas carol, and St. Francis of Assisi, who led songs of praise to the Christ Child, is thought to be the father of this custom.</p>

Latest revision as of 18:22, 5 December 2025

Welcome


GOD BLESS ISRAEL AND THE IDF


THE DARK TRUTH about tithing that your church never tells you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWzP8ejgf5I

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESUS? YOU ARE AMAZING! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv1lNFs3JLU


Netanyahu ➤ THEY DID IT AGAIN (THE END HAS REALLY BEGUN) Prophetic Message for Humanity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0qyZ7gYocU


URGENT!

See What The Bible Says About Cremation Of The Dead | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_rX9gbDRb8


Please Watch

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SPIRIT LEAVES A PERSON'S BODY?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jKfsoi2JY


Please Watch

Urgent! See The Bible's Harsh Truths About Cremating the Dead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0dgQhbOQw4


Signs of the End Times are 'Intensifying' as Anti-Semitism Soars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iksrmK0I9MQ


Verse of the Day

'''Our recommended bible!'''

WiCWiki has been in existence in various forms for over 25yrs when our very first early site launched in 2000. Since then as with our beliefs we have been on a extraordinary journey and have been able to build a website that is so vast with a staggering 86,456 articles, you could be here for days.... well we hope.

Our biggest aim is to share the Word of God through a medium that is accessible to everyone who has access to a PC, Tablet or even mobile device. We have searched through every nook and cranny of the Wibbly Wobbly Web to find the best and most accurate articles according to the bible, all into to one place...www.wicwiki.org.uk. *formerly known as What is Christianity

We hope we become your source for information relating to the Christian religion and pray that these articles help you in every way possible.

Wow! we have been vistied 56,096,806 times, which is a great blessing!

Investigating Islam with Dr. Jay Smith (2 Corinthians 10:5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40DclW84HkM


When Demons Are Real!

https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-television-program/when-demons-are-real


CRAZY "CHURCHES" and "PREACHERS" vs A TRUE CHURCH of GOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1DQTDepL7A


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Articles to read and study.



Page.png December featured article


History & Customs of Christmas

December 25

The reason for choosing the day of December 25th as Christ's birthday is usually held that the day was chosen to correspond to pagan festivals that took place around the time of the winter solstice, when the days begin to lengthen, to celebrate the "rebirth of the sun". Northern European tribes celebrated their chief festival of Yule at the winter solstice to commemorate the rebirth of the sun as the giver of light, warmth, and life. The Roman Saturnalia (a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun), also took place at this time, and some Christmas customs are rooted in this ancient pagan celebration. The early church did not celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Christ. The Gospels indicate neither the month nor the day on which Christ was born. Although Luke places the birth in a historical perspective, even the year cannot be determined with exactitude. If the date of Christ's birth were of real religious significance, then the day and the month would have been given; as was given in the first passover. Some of the early church fathers, including Origin, stated for the record that it was blasphemous to celebrate this festival.

Most Christian churches except the Armenian Church observe the birth of Christ on December 25. This date was not set in the West until about the middle of the fourth century, and in the East until about a century later. The Armenians follow the old Eastern custom of honoring Christ's birth on January 6, the day of the Epiphany, commemorating in the West chiefly the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, and in the East, Christ's Baptism. Some churches hold their most elaborate festivals on January 6, and in parts of the United States this date has been celebrated as "Old Christmas" or "Little Christmas". This time, over a century after the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church would account for much. The Catholic practice of assimilating the rituals, images, festivals and even gods of pagan religions, into their brand of Christianity by giving these all "Christian" names or purposes, would explain these dates and their significance. Christmas even in more modern times has not always been remembered with gaiety and good cheer. Excessive frivolity has always been frowned upon by some, and Christmas was not celebrated by the Puritans or Calvinists. When the Puritans came to power in England under Oliver Cromwell in 1642, Christmas celebrations were banned as evidences of anti religious sentiment. Penalties were exacted for celebrating Christmas, and for staying home from work on Christmas day. The Puritan tradition was brought to New England, where Christmas did not become a legal holiday until 1856.

Yule Log

The burning of the Yule Log was adapted to an English custom from the ancient Scandinavian practice of kindling huge bond fires in honor of the winter solstice. This helped the dying earth to regain strength and allow the rebirth of the sun. The log was cut from a red oak, and burned all of Christmas Eve and some would burn it all day on Christmas Day also. All of this is taken from sun worship rituals.

Nativity Scenes

Shortly before Christmas 1223, St. Francis of Assisi wrote to his friend, John Velita, the Lord of Greccio, "I would fain make a memorial of that child who was born in Bethlehem, and in some sort behold with bodily eyes His infant hardships; how He lay in a manger on the hay, with ox and ass standing by." St. Francis organized a group of people to go on Christmas Eve and created the first live nativity scene that year. It has become a greatly practiced custom. Also from this re-creation came the celebrating or h onoring of the cr`eche, the wooden model of the feeding trough holding the Christ Child. In some Catholic countries, this elaborately carved cr'eche, often taking years to complete and much wealth to buy, is placed as the center of the Christmas festival, replacing the customary Christmas Tree.

Mistletoe</strong

In ancient Britain it was the sacred plant of the druids. The arch druid and his priests performing elaborate ceremonies around it at the winter solstice. Because of the pagan associations, the mistletoe has seldom been sanctioned in church decorations. Traditionally, a girl would stand under it, when a male would approach and pick a berry and kiss the girl. When the berries were all gone then there were no more kisses.

Christmas Cards

Sir Henry Cole, the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and royal academician John Calcott Horsely, thought of and designed a card in 1843. By 1846 they were selling 1000 of them for one shilling each. In 1844, painter, W. Dobson sent out hand painted Christ-mas cards to friends instead of writing his usual letters. Also, in 1844, Mr. Braadley, a Newcastle vicar had his cards litho-graphed and circulated to his friends. In neither of these cases were any of them sold. Another English artist, William Egley, designed and printed a card either in 1842 or 1849. He was 16 in 1842. German emigrant, printer Louis Prang, designed and sold colored Christmas cards in Roxbury, Mass. in 1874. In less than ten years his shop was putting out more than five million cards per year.

The Twelve Days

Christmastide extends from the anniversary of the birth of Christ, officially established as December 25 by the Western church, to the Feast of the Epiphany twelve days later, which celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi. This joyous period was popularly called the "Twelve Days". It included New Year's Day, traditionally a time when midwinter fertility rites were performed as the season moved from barren winter toward burgeoning spring. The Twelve days also embraced more somber religious occasions such as the anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Stephen and the Massacre of the Innocents. But even these are overlaid with festivity, and generally speaking the time is one of revelry, mumming, the exchange of gifts, and feasting, with vestiges of pre-Christian fertility magic such as decoration with evergreens, kisses under the mistletoe, and lighting new fires. In short, the events and customs usually associated with Christmas are spread across the Twelve Days.

Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree which is decorated with lights to celebrate the nativity of Christ and on which offerings are made to Him; is a survival of pagan tree worship and of early Christian rites which celebrated the winter solstice with tree and lights. This tree in Germany was an oak, which fostered the custom of the Yule Log which is oak. The Druids in England worshiped the evergreen because it had eternal life, it did not brown and die in the winter. Our modern Christmas Tree is a cross between the two ancient forms of pagan worship. This is the equivalent of the May tree (May pole), a fertility symbol. The tree even dates back to Baal worship in the old Testament. Jeremiah 10:1-6 "Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might."

Caroling

A well-loved Christmas custom is the singing of Christmas carols. The word "carol" is thought to have originally denoted a dance accompanied by singing. Thirteenth century Italy is considered the birthplace of the real Christmas carol, and St. Francis of Assisi, who led songs of praise to the Christ Child, is thought to be the father of this custom.