Many are anticipating the ‘epiphany’ or manifestation of the Messiah in these times of Tribulation. Christ himself revealed how he would manifest and to whom. This article will show the false and the true.
The word ‘epiphany’ is one of Greek origin. It is defined as; 1. to manifest or to show 2. an appearance or manifestation of a divine being 3. a sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (as when something ‘dawns on you’, you suddenly or slowly perceive or understand).
“The Epiphany” on January 6th is also known by other names including: “Little Christmas” and “Three Kings Day”. The details are tedious! All the different and conflicting ideas given for their meaning of the day only leaves one in a state of confusion. No epiphany there! Every country has its own traditions for the day. It is a public holiday in many countries and a “holy day of obligation” for Roman Catholics.
Like other “Christian” seasons, the church appropriated ‘Epiphany’ from an old pagan festival honoring pagan gods Zeus and Artemus
The Epiphany, January 6th, is the “Twelfth Day of Christmas”. While it brings an end to the Christmas holidays, it marks the beginning of Carnival Season or Bacchanalia for the Greeks and Romans. This is yet another indulgent, ancient pagan holiday. Then comes Lent to dry out before the Easter rituals begin. These are all commemorating pagan gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome. It’s up to the priests to keep all these dates straight on the calendar. The people need only pay attention to the displays in the grocery and retail stores.
The word ‘epiphany’ meaning ‘manifestation’ or ‘showing forth’ is observed by the Western Roman church. ‘Theophany’, meaning “manifestation of god” or ‘divine manifestation” is observed by the Eastern Greek Orthodox church. One says it celebrates the ‘Three Kings’ while the other celebrates the baptism of Christ. They don’t know!
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
A notable ruler of Greece at the time of the Maccabees (167 BC) shortly before Christ, was Antiochus Epiphanes. He thought himself to be the ‘manifestation of Zeus’. Much like the present day Roman Pontifex Maximus thinks of himself as a ‘manifestation of heyZeus’ in his claims to be the ‘Vicar of God’, ‘Holy Father’ and also Apostolic Succession.
Christ revealed how he will manifest
The Disciples of Christ asked him about the things that were to come.
He replied:
Take heed that no man deceive you, For many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceive the majority.
Matthew 24:5
He that has my commandments and keeps them, that is he that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Judas said to him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that does not love me does not keep my sayings: and the Word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”
These things I have spoken to you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my Name, he shall teach/show you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.”
John 14:21-26
The Epistle of 1 John
He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin because he is born of God.”“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither he that does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that Wicked One and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”
1 John 3:8-12
Who are the Righteous?
“They shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. Then you shall return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves Him not.”
Malachi 3:17-18