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=<FONT color="#oooaaa" size="">'''Welcome'''</font>=
 
=<FONT color="#oooaaa" size="">'''Welcome'''</font>=
 
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">'''GOD BLESS lSRAEL AND THE IDF'''</font>=
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">'''GOD BLESS ISRAEL AND THE IDF'''</font>=
 
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<FONT color="#aaooo" size="4">'''(Redirected from Main Page)'''</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="">''' [[Israel News]]'''</font>=
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">'''Meirpanim'''''</font>=
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'''CAN YOU ANSWER THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESUS? YOU ARE AMAZING!'''
===='''YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE'''====
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'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv1lNFs3JLU'''
===='''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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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">''' Netanyahu ➤ THEY DID IT AGAIN  (THE END HAS REALLY BEGUN) Prophetic Message for Humanity'''</font>=
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="6">'''WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SPIRIT LEAVES A PERSON'S BODY?'''''</font>=
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===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0qyZ7gYocU'''====
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">'''URGENT!'''</font>=
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====='''See What The Bible Says About Cremation Of The Dead | Jonathan Cahn Sermon'''=====
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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>=
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jKfsoi2JY'''====
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jKfsoi2JY'''====
 
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===='''She Mocks God on Live TV Then THIS Happens'''====
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqOyq2_gmJM'''====
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====='''Urgent! See The Bible's Harsh Truths About Cremating the Dead'''=====
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="6">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
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===='''Urgent! See The Bible's Harsh Truths About Cremating the Dead'''====
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===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0dgQhbOQw4'''====
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0dgQhbOQw4'''====
 
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="6">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
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====='''Signs of the End Times are 'Intensifying' as Anti-Semitism Soars'''=====
===='''MINUTES BEFORE DEATH: THIS VIDEO WILL SHOCK YOU (BIBLICAL EXPLANATION)'''====
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===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnXhTRnddmg'''====
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===='''Signs of the End Times are 'Intensifying' as Anti-Semitism Soars'''====
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===='''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>
 
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'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40DclW84HkM'''
 
'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40DclW84HkM'''
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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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     <h3 class="panel-title">[[File:Page.png]] '''August''' 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="">====Rapture" or Resurrection====</font>
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=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="6">'''History & Customs of Christmas'''</font>=
 
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The resurrection from the dead is one of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian Gospel—the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. The fifteenth chapter of the Book of First Corinthians is devoted to the topic of raising the bodies of the saints from the dead.
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If our bodies are not going to be raised from the dead our faith in Christ is in vain.
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If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (I Corinthians 15:19)
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In fact, the Scripture does not consider we have been brought to life until our body has come forth from the grave.
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For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. (I Corinthians 15:22,23)
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We shall have attained the fullness of victory when our mortal body has been made alive by the Spirit of God. This will take place at the coming of Christ.
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The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (I Corinthians 15:26)
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The resurrection from the dead, which is the final victory of the saint, must be attained.
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If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection (Greek, out-resurrection) of the dead. (Philippians 3:11)
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We attain to the resurrection by overcoming the world, the satanic lusts that dwell in our flesh, and our self-will. If we live in the appetites of the flesh we will die spiritually. If we, through the Holy Spirit of God, achieve victory over the world, sin, and self-will, we will attain to eternal life.
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For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)
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Eternal life, immortality, that which Adam and Eve forfeited, has been lost to mankind from the time of the fall. Death has been working in our flesh and spirit since our physical birth. God has given Christians the gift of eternal life, that is, He has brought us into His Presence with a view to immortalizing all that we are—spirit, soul, and body.
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The gift of eternal life must be grasped. Eternal life is a demanding gift. God has not given us the gift of life as one would make a present of money but as the opportunity to attain to life. There is a difference between these two concepts.
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If we Christians choose to employ the grace of God in order to live righteously, we attain to eternal life; we attain to the resurrection out from among the dead. If we do not choose to serve righteousness, do not learn through Christ to behave righteously, we will not attain to eternal life (Romans, Chapter Six).
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The return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth and the raising of the bodies of the saints have been the hope of the godly from the days of the Apostles of the Lamb and ought to be the hope of the believers of our time.
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Instead, an unscriptural emphasis on the catching up ("rapture") of the saints has been inserted in place of the historical hope. According to Dr. Ladd of Fuller Theological Seminary, the doctrine of a pre-tribulation translation of the believers came into existence in the nineteenth century. It was not known before this time (George E. Ladd, The Blessed Hope , Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956, p.19).
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The emphasis on the catching up of the saints rather than their resurrection has destroyed the spiritual vitality of the Christian churches. The doctrine of the catching up, as it currently is presented, appeals to the unregenerate nature of man. The catching up is perceived as a means of escaping suffering, a doctrine with no scriptural support (see, for example, the fourth chapter of First Peter for the scriptural attitude toward the suffering of the believers).
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The Old Testament speaks of the resurrection of the saints but never, to our knowledge, of their being caught up. The fifteenth chapter of I Corinthians is the "resurrection chapter" of the Scriptures; yet, this chapter does not mention the catching up of the saints. Paul was not seeking to attain to the catching up (Philippians 3:11).
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Except for I Thessalonians 4:13-18, a passage written for the comfort of the bereaved believers but which is now regarded as a special, secret appearing of Christ, none of the epistles of the Apostles alludes to the catching up of the saints.
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There is no indication in the fourth chapter of I Thessalonians, that Paul is referring to a flight to Heaven or a flight to escape suffering. These ideas have no basis in Scripture.
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The fourth chapter of I Thessalonians, with its "shout," its "voice of the archangel," and its "trump of God" is speaking of raising from the dead the army of Christ in anticipation of the Battle of Armageddon (Ezekiel 37:10).
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The Epistles emphasize the resurrection but not the catching up. The Book of Revelation emphasizes the return in Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and speaks directly of the first and second resurrections from the dead. The catching up of the witnessing saints is mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
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And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. (Revelation 11:12)
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If the catching up of the saints had one-tenth the importance being assigned to it today it would be discussed in several passages of the New Testament, as is true of the doctrine of righteousness, for example.
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The Book of Revelation, which is the definitive unveiling of the future, does not reveal a withdrawing of the believers to Paradise for the purpose of escaping suffering or escaping the Antichrist. It is the resurrection, not the catching up, that is the victory.
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Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
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Once we have been raised from the dead we have no need of being caught up to deliver us from suffering. We shall have immortal bodies. Therefore it is not logical to speak of the catching up as being for the purpose of escaping suffering or danger.
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Rather, the catching up of the saints is for the purpose of arraying the army of Christ in battle formation under the Commander in Chief.
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It is Christ’s resurrection, not His catching up, that saves us, that justifies us. We are being pressed into His crucifixion and His resurrection. The power of Christ’s resurrection is associated with the fellowship of His sufferings. Christ’s ascension, which took place forty days after His resurrection (as may prove to be true also in our own case), was not an act of redemption on a level with His resurrection.
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Redemption is the reclaiming of that which disobedient man forfeited to Satan. Man forfeited access to eternal life, not residence in Heaven.
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'''December 25'''
To our knowledge there is no inkling of such an emphasis in the Old Testament, while the resurrection from the dead indeed is presented in the Old Testament— (Job 19:25,26; Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:12; Daniel 12:2).
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Resurrection into eternal life in the Presence of the Lord Jesus is the great hope of the Christian Church. Ascension into the realm of spirits is no guarantee that we will not suffer. Indeed, there is much suffering in the spirit realm. The worst suffering anyone can experience is found in the spiritual Hell and the spiritual Lake of Fire. There is no release there by means of unconsciousness or death.
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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>
  
Numerous believers in Christ are facing stripes (or worse!) in the spirit realm because of their halfhearted, disinterested, disobedient walk in Jesus. The concept of a "rapture" to deliver them from suffering is not taught in the Scriptures. Indeed, it may be "out of the frying pan into the fire" for multitudes of the church-attenders of our day.
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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>
  
If the present generation of Christian "believers" were to be caught up into the Presence of Him whose eyes are a flame of fire there would be scenes of agony, remorse, wailing, terror, that no person could bear to watch
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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>
  
The believers have been taught that once they make a profession of Jesus as Christ they no longer need to fear the judgment of God. While such a concept can be derived from one or two passages, the bulk of the New Testament writings declare the opposite.  
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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>
  
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)
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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>
  
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:8)
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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>
  
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23)
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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>
None of the above passages is addressed to the unbelievers.  
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<strong>Christmas Tree</strong>
  
Nowhere in the New Testament is there a suggestion that Christ will deliver the believers from tribulation by lifting them up to Heaven. Are we preaching and teaching that which is not taught clearly in the Scriptures?
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<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>
  
A change in emphasis from the doctrine of the catching up of the immature believers to Heaven to avoid tribulation, to an emphasis on the pursuit of righteous and holy behavior such that the resurrection from the dead is attained to (which was the expressed hope of the Apostle Paul), will restore spiritual vitality to the Christian churches.  
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<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>
[[Category:Main Pages|Main_Pages]]
+

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.

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Investigating Islam with Dr. Jay Smith (2 Corinthians 10:5)
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When Demons Are Real!

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


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


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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.