Traditions from Babel to Pergamus to Rome

Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; [kjv]

και τω αγγελω της εν περγαμω εκκλησιας γραψον ταδε λεγει ο εχων την ρομφαιαν την διστομον την οξειαν [gnt]

Many customs originated from the Tower of Babel and Babylon.

Sunset to sunset: Hebrews, Germanic cultures. (Christmas Eve)
Midnight to midnight: Greece, Rome.

Spring (renewal, planting, Easter)
Summer (growing)
Fall (harvest, fruit, Halloween)
Winter (Saturnalia, Christmas, Hanukkah)

[linguistic connections, papyrus vs. parchment, underground pipes]

Some people went north and west, as ended the Germanic tribes with customs of the winter solstice tree.

More: Genesis 1: Evening and morning

The Greek for "two edged sword" means, literally, "two mouthed sword" as in "let my sword do the talking".

More: A peace of the mouth of the sword

More: Romans: Under the law as in sewer pipes

Revelation 2:12

All

KJV: And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Greek: και τω αγγελω της εν περγαμω εκκλησιας γραψον ταδε λεγει ο εχων την ρομφαιαν την διστομον την οξειαν

English: O Christmas Tree
German: O Tannenbaum (O fir tree)

Why did the Christmas tree idea start?

The Christmas tree idea started because people wanted to spruce things up.

English: O Christmas Tree
German: O Tannenbaum (O fir tree)

The German word "Tanne" ≈ "fir" and is related to the English word "tanner" and "tan".
The German word "Baum" ≈ "tree" and is related to the English word "beam".

The tree and the ornaments are made of fractal curves called Koch snowflakes.

From what addiction do ornaments suffer?

They are usually hooked on trees.

More: Song: O Tannenbaum

Here are the lyrics in English.

Here are the lyrics in German which date to about 1550.

What is the story with the Christmas tree? In German, "O Tannenbaum".

German records: Ordinance from 1561: No one "shall have for Christmas more than one bush of more than eight shoes length". Records from Strasbourg in 1605 describe decorating the Christmas tree.

Hessian troops in the Revolutionary War are thought to have introduced the custom of Christmas trees.

Many more German immigrants later brought the custom to America - which had apparently unlimited fir trees.

Now that you know what Christmas trees are fir, you should not fir-get it.

[Alexander the Great and the Hydaspes]


Charlie Brown	Problem	Solution	More realistic

Everyone loves Charlie Brown, Christmas and the tree.

Problem: A catnip bush in the dining room.
Solution: A catnip Christmas tree.
Kitty reaction: A purr-fect tree.
Update: It only worked one year. Never again.

Favorite kitty Christmas carol lyrics:

Here comes Santa Claws, here comes Santa Claws, ...
O’ Christmas tree, O’ Christmas tree, your ornaments are history.

Where did these Christmas customs originate?

More: Song: O Tannenbaum

Problem: A catnip bush in the dining room. It is not acceptable, even with a 2-1 vote in favor (me and kitty).

Engineering solution: Trim the catnip bush, add ornaments, etc., to turn the catnip bush into a "Charlie Brown" catnip Christmas tree.

Sometimes engineering efficiency is not the top priority.

The next year: A better tree.

Jeremiah 10:2 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. [kjv]

10:3 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. [kjv]

10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. [kjv]

10:5 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. [kjv]

Jeremiah 10:2

All

KJV: 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.

Hebrew: כה אמר יהוה אל דרך הגוים אל תלמדו ומאתות השמים אל תחתו כי יחתו הגוים מהמה׃

Greek: ταδε λεγει κυριος κατα τας οδους των εθνων μη μανθανετε και απο των σημειων του ουρανου μη φοβεισθε οτι φοβουνται αυτα τοις προσωποις αυτων

Jeremiah 10:3

All

KJV: 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.

Hebrew: כי חקות העמים הבל הוא כי עץ מיער כרתו מעשה ידי חרש במעצד׃

Greek: οτι τα νομιμα των εθνων ματαια ξυλον εστιν εκ του δρυμου εκκεκομμενον εργον τεκτονος και χωνευμα

Jeremiah 10:4

All

KJV: They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Hebrew: בכסף ובזהב ייפהו במסמרות ובמקבות יחזקום ולוא יפיק׃

Greek: αργυριω και χρυσιω κεκαλλωπισμενα εστιν εν σφυραις και ηλοις εστερεωσαν αυτα και ου κινηθησονται

Jeremiah 10:5

All

KJV: 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.

Hebrew: כתמר מקשה המה ולא ידברו נשוא ינשוא כי לא יצעדו אל תיראו מהם כי לא ירעו וגם היטיב אין אותם׃

Greek: αιρομενα αρθησονται οτι ουκ επιβησονται μη φοβηθητε αυτα οτι ου μη κακοποιησωσιν και αγαθον ουκ εστιν εν αυτοις

Ezekiel 8:14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. [kjv]

και εισηγαγεν με επι τα προθυρα της πυλης οικου κυριου της βλεπουσης προς βορραν και ιδου εκει γυναικες καθημεναι θρηνουσαι τον θαμμουζ [lxx]

Many Christmas traditions have pagan roots going back to Babylon and the Tower of Babel.

Tammuz is the child of Semiramis, wife of Nimrod. Tammuz symbolizes death and rebirth in nature and is celebrated at the Winter solstice be a yule log and then decking a tree the next morning. Tammuz worship is mentioned in Ezekiel.

What is a tradition?

handing over to children
handing over as betrayal

Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. [kjv]

και μη αναβλεψας εις τον ουρανον και ιδων τον ηλιον και την σεληνην και τους αστερας και παντα τον κοσμον του ουρανου πλανηθεις προσκυνησης αυτοις και λατρευσης αυτοις α απενειμεν κυριος ο θεος σου αυτα πασιν τοις εθνεσιν τοις υποκατω του ουρανου [lxx]

The Bible forbids worshiping the sun, moon, or stars.

That is exactly what people have done since the beginning of time.

Days of the week: Moons day, Suns day, etc.
Months of the year

Deuteronomy 4:19

All

KJV: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

Hebrew: ופן תשא עיניך השמימה וראית את השמש ואת הירח ואת הכוכבים כל צבא השמים ונדחת והשתחוית להם ועבדתם אשר חלק יהוה אלהיך אתם לכל העמים תחת כל השמים׃

Greek: και μη αναβλεψας εις τον ουρανον και ιδων τον ηλιον και την σεληνην και τους αστερας και παντα τον κοσμον του ουρανου πλανηθεις προσκυνησης αυτοις και λατρευσης αυτοις α απενειμεν κυριος ο θεος σου αυτα πασιν τοις εθνεσιν τοις υποκατω του ουρανου

Genesis 10:8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. [kjv]

χους δε εγεννησεν τον νεβρωδ ουτος ηρξατο ειναι γιγας επι της γης [lxx]

10:9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. [kjv]

ουτος ην γιγας κυνηγος εναντιον κυριου του θεου δια τουτο ερουσιν ως νεβρωδ γιγας κυνηγος εναντιον κυριου [lxx]

10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. [kjv]

και εγενετο αρχη της βασιλειας αυτου βαβυλων και ορεχ και αρχαδ και χαλαννη εν τη γη σεννααρ [lxx]

Genesis 10:8

All

KJV: And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

Hebrew: וכוש ילד את נמרד הוא החל להיות גבר בארץ׃

Greek: χους δε εγεννησεν τον νεβρωδ ουτος ηρξατο ειναι γιγας επι της γης

Genesis 10:9

All

KJV: He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

Hebrew: הוא היה גבר ציד לפני יהוה על כן יאמר כנמרד גבור ציד לפני יהוה׃

Greek: ουτος ην γιγας κυνηγος εναντιον κυριου του θεου δια τουτο ερουσιν ως νεβρωδ γιγας κυνηγος εναντιον κυριου

Genesis 10:10

All

KJV: And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

Hebrew: ותהי ראשית ממלכתו בבל וארך ואכד וכלנה בארץ שנער׃

Greek: και εγενετο αρχη της βασιλειας αυτου βαβυλων και ορεχ και αρχαδ και χαλαννη εν τη γη σεννααρ

Genesis 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. [kjv]

δια τουτο εκληθη το ονομα αυτης συγχυσις οτι εκει συνεχεεν κυριος τα χειλη πασης της γης και εκειθεν διεσπειρεν αυτους κυριος ο θεος επι προσωπον πασης της γης [lxx]

Many pagan customs originated at or from the Tower of Babel. The people who dispersed out from there took their customs with them, making up new stories along the way, some based on tradition and some as new traditions.

Winter solstice: rebirth (days start getting longer)

[Saturnalia]

Genesis 11:9

All

KJV: Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Hebrew: על כן קרא שמה בבל כי שם בלל יהוה שפת כל הארץ ומשם הפיצם יהוה על פני כל הארץ׃

Greek: δια τουτο εκληθη το ονομα αυτης συγχυσις οτι εκει συνεχεεν κυριος τα χειλη πασης της γης και εκειθεν διεσπειρεν αυτους κυριος ο θεος επι προσωπον πασης της γης

Who is Simiramis? Who is Ishtar? Who is Astoreth?

Assyrian: Shamiram
Greek: Semiramis

Wife of Onnes, later Ninus, succeeding to the throne of Assyria, believed by some (e.g., from Hislop) to be wife/consort of Nimrod.

Ezekiel 8:13 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. [kjv]

και ειπεν προς με ετι οψει ανομιας μειζονας ας ουτοι ποιουσιν [lxx]

And he said to me, You shall see yet greater iniquities which these do. [bs3]

Ezekiel 8:13

All

KJV: He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.

Hebrew: ויאמר אלי עוד תשוב תראה תועבות גדלות אשר המה עשים׃

Greek: και ειπεν προς με ετι οψει ανομιας μειζονας ας ουτοι ποιουσιν

Brenton: And he said to me, You shall see yet greater iniquities which these do.

Ezekiel 8:14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. [kjv]

8:15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. [kjv]

και ειπεν προς με υιε ανθρωπου εωρακας και ετι οψει επιτηδευματα μειζονα τουτων [lxx]

Tammuz is the child of Semiramis. Tammuz symbolizes death and rebirth in nature.

Ezekiel 8:14

All

KJV: Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

Hebrew: ויבא אתי אל פתח שער בית יהוה אשר אל הצפונה והנה שם הנשים ישבות מבכות את התמוז׃

Greek: και εισηγαγεν με επι τα προθυρα της πυλης οικου κυριου της βλεπουσης προς βορραν και ιδου εκει γυναικες καθημεναι θρηνουσαι τον θαμμουζ

Ezekiel 8:15

All

KJV: Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.

Hebrew: ויאמר אלי הראית בן אדם עוד תשוב תראה תועבות גדלות מאלה׃

Greek: και ειπεν προς με υιε ανθρωπου εωρακας και ετι οψει επιτηδευματα μειζονα τουτων

Ezekiel 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. [kjv]

και εισηγαγεν με εις την αυλην οικου κυριου την εσωτεραν και ιδου επι των προθυρων του ναου κυριου ανα μεσον των αιλαμ και ανα μεσον του θυσιαστηριου ως εικοσι ανδρες τα οπισθια αυτων προς τον ναον του κυριου και τα προσωπα αυτων απεναντι και ουτοι προσκυνουσιν τω ηλιω [lxx]

After showing Ezekiel the woman weeping for Tammuz, he continues.

What is Saturnalia? When is the winter solstice?

Who is Ishtar? Who is Astoreth?

Ezekiel 8:16

All

KJV: And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

Hebrew: ויבא אתי אל חצר בית יהוה הפנימית והנה פתח היכל יהוה בין האולם ובין המזבח כעשרים וחמשה איש אחריהם אל היכל יהוה ופניהם קדמה והמה משתחויתם קדמה לשמש׃

Greek: και εισηγαγεν με εις την αυλην οικου κυριου την εσωτεραν και ιδου επι των προθυρων του ναου κυριου ανα μεσον των αιλαμ και ανα μεσον του θυσιαστηριου ως εικοσι ανδρες τα οπισθια αυτων προς τον ναον του κυριου και τα προσωπα αυτων απεναντι και ουτοι προσκυνουσιν τω ηλιω