Who is Santa Claus?

The Christmas spirit seems to pervade the air. Colored lights! Decorated trees and homes! People dressed in holiday styles are bustling in the shops and buying their gifts. Everyone cheerful, for “tis the season to be merry.” Even many Christians, celebrate Christmas. Should we take part in the Christmas celebration? Does Bible prophecy say anything about Santa Claus? Christ warns us what will happen in our day, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Could Santa Claus, be a false prophet who is trying to deceive God’s people? Perhaps you think,” That is ridiculous. Santa is an innocent, mythical character who makes Christmas fun for our children.” Lucifer, the mightiest angel that stood next to God was thrown out of heaven because he wanted to be like God. “For thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Since his fall, Satan has been exalting himself and trying to eclipse God from our view. Notice that he sits in the sides of the north. Could it be that Satan has used Santa Claus as his agent and exalted him in the minds of people like the most High? Let us consider the ways that Santa Claus attempts to imitate Christ.

SANTA’S APPEARANCE VS. CHRIST’S APPEARANCE

Santa has curly white hair and twinkling eyes. Christ has white hair and eyes like fire.

“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were like as a flame of fire.” 2

Santa wears a red suit. Christ comes in a vesture dipped in blood.

Revelation 19:13 And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.”3

SANTA’S RESIDENCE VS. CHRIST’S RESIDENCE

Santa comes from the North Pole. Christ’s throne is on the sides of the north.

“Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”4

Santa lives in a sparkling palace where he is served by elf’s. Christ lives in mount Zion where thousands of angels serve and worship Him.

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.”5

SANTA’S CHARACTER VS. CHRIST’S CHARACTER

Santa is all powerful. Christ is Omnipotent.

Santa is supposed to have infinite power and he defies natural laws. “He violates gravity with the help of eight tiny reindeer. He carries a seemingly infinite load of presents – enough for all the children of the world- in the finite space of his sleigh. Although he is quite wide, he slides through narrow spaces and passes through smoke and flames with hardly a singe. In children’s eyes Santa can certainly do more than Daddy and Mommy. He looks more like God than anyone else.”6

The Bible clearly states that God is the only Omnipotent One. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?”7

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Santa is all-knowing. Christ is Omniscient.

Santa claims to know everything. “The song “Santa Claus is Coming’ to Town” is supposed to evoke awe and at least an attempt at good behaviour right before Christmas because:

“He sees you when you’re sleeping;

He knows when you’re awake.

He knows if you’ve been bad or good,

So be good for goodness sake.'” 8

The Psalmist tells us that only our Creator is all-knowing. “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.”9

Santa appears in every house around the world on the same night. Christ is Omnipresent through His Spirit.

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee.” 10

Santa does no wrong. Christ is the only righteous One.

Have you ever heard anyone talking about Santa’s character faults?

Tradition has painted him as faultless. The Scriptures tell us that “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”11 There is only One righteous Being, “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee…. for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth.” 12

SANTA’S MISSION VS. CHRIST’S MISSION

Santa acts as a judge. Christ is our judge.

A song about Santa Claus says, “He’s making a list, going to find out who’s naughty and nice.” The Bible teaches that Christ is our judge. “and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” 13

Santa gives gifts based on good actions. Christ gives us salvation by faith.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith;”14 This faith works by love and helps us obey God’s commandments. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” 15

SANTA’S KINGSHIP VS. CHRIST KINGSHIP

Santa is a King. Christ is the king of the Universe.

Santa is an unrivalled being. he is unique and has no equal. The Word of God tells us that God is the only Being in the universe who is unique and unequalled. “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” 16

Santa sits on a royal throne. Christs sits on the eternal throne in the Most Holy Place.

“Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou has loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even they God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” 17

SANTA AND THE CHILDREN VS. CHRIST AND THE CHILDREN

Santa picks up the children and puts them on his lap. Christ invites the children to come to Him.

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” 18

Santa asks the children to confess their wrongs to him. Christ is the only One to whom we should confess our sins.

“For there is one God, and no mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 19 “And if any man sin, ewe have an advocate with the Father, Jesus “Christ the righteous.”20

Santa tells children to obey their parents. Christ commands children to honor their parents.

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that the days may be long upon the land which the Lord they God giveth thee.”21

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”22

SANTA’S COMING VS. CHRIST’S COMING

Santa comes sometime after midnight. Christ’s second coming may be around midnight.

“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh: go ye out to meet him.”23

Santa’s sleigh is led by reindeer. Christ comes in a chariot led by angels.

“For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.” 24

Santa comes in the fog on Christmas Eve. Christ will come in the clouds.

“Behold he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him.”26

All around the country can be seen replicas of Santa. The second commandment forbids idolatry. “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image.” 27

Santas famous laugh is, “Ho-ho-ho, Merry Christmas.” Christ tells us, Ho! Ho! Come forth and flee from the land of the north.” 28

The land of the north refers to Babylon. ” Nations and peoples today, unconscious of their origin, are perpetuating Babylonian religious customs when they celebrate Christmas with feasting, lighted candles, holly and mistletoe.” 29

“The three-gold Ho-ho-ho sounds like the three fold “Holy, holy, holy” that the angels speak as they stand in awe before God’s throne. “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” 30

As thousands of families prepare their children to meet Santa Claus, what will you do? Will you spending this time to prepare your children to meet Christ their Maker?

Satan is using Santa Claus to mock Christ and to divert Christians from getting ready to meet their Lord.

References:

1. Isa 1:14-18
2. Rev 1:14
3. Rev 19:13
4. Ps 48:2
5. Heb 12:22
6. Bobgan. Sword & Trowel. Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, No. 4. 1992
7. Jer 32:27 Luke 1:37
8. Bobgan. Sword & Trowel. Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, No. 4. 1992
9. Ps 139:1,2
10. 1 Kings 8:27
11. Isaiah 64:6
12. Dan 9:7,14
13. Eph 2:8,9
14. Rev 22:14
15. Rev 20:12
16. Isa 4:8
17. Heb 1:8,9
18. Mark 10:13,14
19. 1 Tim 2:5
20. John 2:1
21. Ex 20:12
22. Eph 6:1
23. Matt 25:6
24. Isa 66:15
25. Ps 68:17
26. Rev 1:7
27. Ex 20:4,5
28. Zec 6:8
29. Haskell SN The Story of Daniel the prophet, South Pub Assn Nasville TN 1977
30. Bobgan. Sword & Trowel. Metropolitan Tabernacle London No. 4, 1992
31. Joshua 24:15

Further reading: http://sabbathsermons.com/2009/08/26/tis-the-season/