What will Christmas be like for those left behind?  (If we would be raptured, that is.)  Will the TV networks trash all the Baby Jesus movies...will it only be Santa and all the other "holiday" type movies?  There are lots of movies out there that at least mention Jesus so they would be eliminating a whole lot of them.

What about religious decorations...Christmas carols...food drives for the unfortunate...meals for the elderly and lonely...so much of Christmas is about the spirit of Christmas---the hope, the joy, Jesus as the Savior of all men...even with the holidays as secular as they are they still hold the essence of Christ.

Just makes you wonder.  Do you have any thoughts?

I imagine EVERYTHING to be very different and nothing like it is today. I see it basically turned upside down and unrecognizable.

Thanks for all your thoughts.  I feel bad that I started this thread...just too sad and morbid.  Hard to think of loved ones at Christmas missing all their loved ones.  Maybe we can just leave it at that.

Won't all children be gone after the rapture?

No children=No Christmas, no santa, no cheer, no glad tidings

I think the world will be a VERY different place after the rapture.  I'm sure new believers will celebrate it privately, but not the way we are accustomed to celebrating it today.

BridesMelody,

No need for an apology at all! WHAT AN AMAZING QUESTION!!!!!

That was my first thought when I read your question. Thanks.

Posted by Vey:

Shalom,

Sorry i have long disappeared from RITA, but I always read the article here.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, please see the following scripture verse :

REVELATION CHAPTHER 11

9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12. 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.

I think verse 10 really shows the atmosphere of Christmas, so I'm sure at the time of the two witnesses were killed, it's at Christmas.

So I think people on this earth and even the Antichrist himself still celebrate Christmas just as a moment to celebrate and party.

If we agree about this, maybe we can pull back the two witnesses were killed until the date we are raptured to heaven.

I'm having trouble following why everybody in Jerusalem would be celebrating Christmas.  If Christmas reverts back to a strictly pagan holiday, maybe.  But what if the gift giving in Revelation 11 is pointing to a Jewish holiday instead?  That is assuming it is pointing to a holiday at all.....they all might be celebrating because they think all their problems will stop.
 
If, a Jewish holiday is in view, then which one?  I believe that the two witnesses will be killed near the end of the Tribulation, very possibly right before the Feast of Trumpets, as I discuss in this thread:
 
http://raptureintheairnow.com/rita-main-discussion-forum/two-witnesses-ministry
 
Here is the timeline I present there:
 

 
Yes, the remnant of Jews that become believers are out in the wilderness being protected during the last half of the Tribulation.  However, there will be many unbelievers still in Jerusalem that will follow after the antichrist.
 
Look how many secular people celebrate Christmas, even though it is supposed to be a Christian holiday.  Would it be any surprise for unbelieving Jews to still cling to their traditions and exchange gifts both in celebration of the death of these two witnesses, but also in celebration of the Jewish New Year (the Feast of Trumpets)?
 
Likewise, I see the rest of the world clinging to their traditions.  For those that celebrate Christmas it will probably be celebrated more like its pagan origins, since Christianity will be illegal under both the Harlot religion and the rule of antichrist.  That said, it may be outlawed or at least renamed because of the strong Christian connection it has today.
 
I'm really starting to believe that not much has changed over the centuries regarding men's traditions; they've just been repackaged to suit the culture and religion.  IMO, Christmas will likely be repackaged to align with the mystic Babylonian religion where it's roots started anyway.  That said, I believe a Jewish holidy over a pagan holiday would be more in view being in Jerusalem.  I could be wrong, but the timing fits with the Trumpets ending and the Bowls being poured out shortly before Jesus returns on Atonement. 

Vey wrote:

Dear Amy,

IMO, there's no other holiday in the world that's identical with gift giving as musch as Christmas do. And we also know that the two witnesses were not killed in Jerusalem, but in a modern country like Babylonia--which I believe it could be Europe or United States of America.   

I believe that John's vision was not only about Jerusalem, but the world in general. And I also believe that John was explicitly describing the ambience when the the two witnesses were killed--where people sending gifts to each other. This could be a guideline for us, and we can pull back the time when two witnesses were killed until the date we are raptured to heaven.

Shalom,

VEY

The Scriptures are clear that they are killed in the same physical city that Jesus was.  Jerusalem here is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, but it is still physical Jerusalem:

Revelation 11:8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Vey wrote:

I think verse 10 really shows the atmosphere of Christmas, so I'm sure at the time of the two witnesses were killed, it's at Christmas.

Also, people give gifts for lots of occasions....birthdays, weddings, newborns, etc.  I guess I wouldn't assume that a holiday has to be in view here, especially a Christian holiday.

Better yet, what will Christmas be like in Heaven???  How shall we celebrate Christmas in Heaven?

Love & blessings...Tender Reed

Probably like we would celebrate our spouses' birthday!

Jer 10:1  Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
Jer 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.
Jer 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.
Jer 10:4  They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.