On December 25th, more than one billion people will celebrate Christmas!

The birth of Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah and the world's saviour, is gaining in popularity each year.

The Gregorian calendar divides history into two sections from the time of His birth nearly 2000 years ago - BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini - which is latin for "In the year of our Lord".)

Although there have been, and still are, other calendars, the Gregorian is used worldwide.

According to Dr. Ralph Winters, an expert on world religions, the message of Jesus Christ is a very viable and powerful force in the world today.

Here are some of his findings: In the year AD 40, there was only one Christian to 40,000 pagans. By 1900, there was a dramatic change - one Christian for every 100 pagans. In 1950, the ratio was reduced further - 1 to 26. And today, the figure stands at one Christian for every 9.3 non-believers.

GREAT REVIVALS OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY ARE CURRENTLY SWEEPING THE PHILIPPINES, LATIN AMERICA, SOUTH KOREA, AFRICA AND EASTERN EUROPE.

With the collapse of communism, it will surely continue to escalate, garnering in millions more for God's kingdom!
And a growing number of imminent Jewish scholars and rabbis now believe in Jesus as their Messiah or at least acknowledge Him as prophet and teacher.

Ellis Rivkin, professor of Jewish history at Hebrew Union College, said: "Of these messianic claimants, only one - Jesus of Nazareth - so impressed his disciples that he became their Messiah. And he did so after the very crucifixion which should have refuted his claims decisively. But it was not Jesus' life which proved beyond question that He was the Messiah, the Christ. It was His resurrection".

And even though Muslims do not accept Jesus as the Son of God and His substitutionary death on the cross for our sins, they believe in Him as a prophet.

History has a way of repeating itself and like the middle ages, the religious race is once again between Mohammed's Islam and the Gospel of Christ.

And now with the door open to the former Soviet Union, we can carry the gospel of Jesus Christ into the many Muslim republics there!

Muslims have been taught to sacrifice themselves for their religion - And when they realize that Jesus Christ is the Very Son of God (which their Koran teaches, as well as contradicts) they will be willing to die for Jesus, if necessary!

With that kind of a mind-set, the gospel will spread quickly among the masses, as it did in the Early Church period!

But, with the enormous wealth of the Arab Gulf States - some of which heavily support Islam's missionary vision - and the fanaticism of Iran's Shiites, the religion of Mohammed is gaining ground.

Although Christianity has made gigantic strides during the last two millenias, many believers have become lukewarm in their devotion to Jesus Christ and are Christian in "name only". And unfortunately, some denominations have compromised their doctrinal position and denied "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints". (Jude 3)

St. Paul warned of those who "have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof". His admonition was: "from such turn away".

THREE FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH, WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK BY LIBERAL THEOLOGIANS, ARE THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST, HIS SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH AND PHYSICAL RESURRECTION!

Let's go back to the beginning of Christianity and Jesus' birth, in order to understand the phenomenon surrounding this great event.

Isaiah prophesied the Messiah's virgin birth 700 years before it happened. He also foretold His death on the cross.

"Therefore, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

Numerous prophets had revealed other aspects of His miraculous birth, perfect sinlessness, supernatural miracle ministry, substitutionary death and glorious resurrection from the dead.

Micah prophesied His birth in Bethlehem. This was fulfilled when Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, made a decree that all Palestinians must return to the town of their ancestry for a general census.

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

Although Joseph - the husband of Mary - lived in Nazareth, he had to return with his expectant wife for the enumeration. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as the prophet had said.

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:4-7)

Hosea foretold His flight into Egypt, where He and His parents fled from King Herod, who sought His life. Jeremiah prophesied the mourning of children killed by Herod in the "slaughter of the innocents".

"Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." (Matt. 2:17-18)

Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies, identifying the Messiah, were fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth.

The sad part is that today, multitudes of people celebrate His birth, but have no vital contact with Him. They've also forgotten the reason for His coming!

HE CAME TO GIVE HOPE TO THE WORLD, PEACE TO TROUBLED HEARTS AND MINDS AND HEALING TO THOSE WHO HURT. JESUS CAME TO PROVIDE SALVATION FOR THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE!

"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:" (John 1:11-12)

Jesus Christ is the real reason for the season!
HAVE A SAFE, PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON