Press Release: GKS Celebrates “Freedom Day” – Christ’s Birth Anniversary

GOD’S KINGDOM SOCIETY (GKS)

The Church of The Living God

CELEBRATES “FREEDOM DAY” – CHRIST’S BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

 

Members of God’s Kingdom Society, (GKS) – The Church of The Living God would be observing the birth anniversary of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, beginning from Sunday, October 6, 2024 by the grace of God. The GKS, which is an international Christian Organization founded by God Almighty through the instrumentality of St. Gideon Meriodere Urhobo in 1934, has been celebrating the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ in the month of October since her inception. Some of the salient spiritual reasons based on the Holy Bible for which the GKS observes the birth anniversary of Christ in October every year include:

 

  1. The birth of Jesus Christ was unique in that he was born perfect and willingly gave his life for the redemption of mankind. – 1 Peter 2:21,22; Deuteronomy 19:21; John 1:29; 15:13; Romans 5:6-9, 12-21.
  2. The Holy Bible gives people of God the latitude to do whatever will bring praise, honour and glory to God. – Philippians 4:8.
  3. The Freedom Day celebration affords us the opportunity to reflect on the significance of the life, character and teachings of Jesus Christ and endeavour to follow his footsteps by God’s grace. – Matthew 10:25; Romans 13:14.

 

In the light of the foregoing, members and friends of God’s Kingdom Society (GKS) – The Church of The Living God, would be holding Freedom Day Divine Services on all the Sundays in October, which are, October 6, 13, 20 and 27, at various centres in Nigeria as well as in Ghana, Liberia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America. Ministers of the Church will be officiating at the various centres by the grace of God. Apart from the sermon: Was Christ born on Christmas Day? the address of the President of GKS, Brother Felix Ekundayo Adedokun, entitled: Let Him That Thinketh He Standeth, Take Heed Lest He Fall would be read to the celebrants. The event will also feature musical performances and Special Thanksgiving to God.

 

CHRIST WAS BORN IN OCTOBER

 

According to Bible chronology, historical facts and the climatic condition of Palestine, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was born in the month of October, over 2000 years ago. The Bible record says that Zacharias the priest officiated in the “eighth course”, the course of Abijah (or Abia in Greek), which falls in the fourth month of the Jewish year, called Tammuz and which corresponds to our latter part of June to early July. (1 Chronicles 24:1-3, 7-10; Luke 1:5) It was while Zacharias was officiating in the temple that the Angel, Gabriel appeared to him with the news that his wife Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son to be called John. When Zacharias finished his officiation at the end of Tammuz, that is, in early July, and returned to his house, his wife conceived and hid herself five months, that is, from July to November. – Luke 1:5, 8, 11-13, 23, 24.

 

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, (that is in December) the same Angel, Gabriel was sent to Mary to inform her that she would bear a son to be called Jesus. (Luke 1:26, 27, 30, 31, 36, 37) On hearing the gladsome news, Mary went to stay with Elizabeth for about three months, (January to March), by which time Elizabeth’s pregnancy was nine months old, before she returned to her own house. The next month, April, the tenth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, her “full time came that she should be delivered” and she brought forth a son whom the father, Zacharias, named John, according to the words of the Angel. (Luke 1:56, 57, 63) Since John is older than Jesus Christ by six months, (Luke 1:26, 36) to know when Christ was born, we simply add six months to April and we will arrive at OCTOBER when Jesus Christ was born.

 

Also, when Mary visited Elizabeth in January and greeted her, the babe (John) stirred in her womb. The words of Elizabeth to Mary at that instance, which were inspired by God through His Holy Spirit, show clearly that Mary was already pregnant. Not only did Elizabeth bless the fruit of her womb, she went on to address her outright as “the mother of my Lord”. (Luke 1: 41-44) According to medical authorities the span of foetal life under normal condition is 280 days or 40 weeks or nine months. Counting Mary’s pregnancy from January as was manifest in Elizabeth’s declaration; we will arrive at September as the ninth month; then in the tenth month OCTOBER, Jesus Christ was born. But on which day in October his birth took place no one can tell because there is no record. We of the GKS say only what we can prove. – John 3:11; Deuteronomy 29:29.

 

Additionally, the climatic condition of Palestine in December does not in any way support the teaching that Christ was born in December, much less December 25. According to the Gospel account, there were shepherds attending to their flock in the open fields by night when Christ was born. (Luke 2:8-14) This could not have been possible in December, because all accredited authorities agree that December, which corresponds with the Jewish ninth month, Chisleu, (Jeremiah 36:22; Zechariah 7: 1) was a time of winter in Palestine, when the people could not stay outside in the night owing to the intense cold. “At the birth of Christ every woman and child was to go to be taxed at the city whereto they belonged, whither some had long journeys; but the middle of winter was not fitting for such a business especially for women with child, and children to travel in. Therefore, Christ could not be born in the depth of winter…” (MEDE’S Works, 1672).  But October, which is the Jewish seventh month called Tisri or Ethanim (1 Kings 8:2), is a time of normal weather when people could conveniently engage in outdoor or outside activities.

Again, the fact that the churches observe the death of Jesus Christ, which they call “Good Friday” in April, shows that his birth could not have taken place in December. Of a truth, he was killed in April, which is Nisan or Abib, the first month of the Jewish year, when the Feast of Passover or Unleavened Bread was celebrated. – Deuteronomy 16:1; John 18:28; 19:14, 31.

Furthermore, the Bible shows that Jesus Christ lived for 331/2 years on earth. If we admit that he was born in December as the churches teach, it will mean, therefore, that his 33rd birth anniversary fell in December, and six months later, which was June, he died. If it was so, why then are the churches celebrating his death and resurrection in April and not in June? The plain truth is that he was born in October. His 33rd birth anniversary then fell in October, and six months later, that is, in April, he was killed.

The Bible says: “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:31, 32. See also 2 Corinthians 13:8.

We invite all people of goodwill to join us in the Freedom Day Divine Services at the centres nearest to them for their own blessings and salvation by God’s grace.

 

FREEDOM DAY CENTRES 2024

Sunday, October 6, 2024 – Adeje, Arunton, Effurun, Emohua, Igueben, Ikorodu, Kaduna, Okokomaiko, Omoku, Onitsha, Orogun, Ota, Ubulu-Uku, Umuakpara, Owerri-Urban, USA, Manchester (UK) and Monrovia (Liberia).

Sunday, October 13, 2024 – Apapa, DSC Orhuwhorun, Diobu, Ilorin, Iguosa, Rumuokoro, Obiaruku, Oburu, Oghara, Oko-Afo, Okpanam, Orho-Agbarho, Oyigbo, Rafinseyin, Sabongida-Ora, Sagbama, Shogunle, Sokoto, Ubmmiri, Uzuakoli and Canada.

Sunday, October 20, 2024 – Abakpa-Nike, Agbor, Amaokpara, Asaba, Benin City, Choba, Eku, Elelenwo, Ibadan, Igbide, Kano, Lagos Island, Makurdi, Okota, Ovwian, Port Harcourt, Obotobo, Ugheli, Uyo, World Bank (Aba), Yenagoa, Ekpan, Obotobo and London (UK).

Sunday, October 27, 2024 – Warri, Aba, Bonny, Borum-Boki, Daki-Biu, Degema, Egbe, Ekwulobia, Sapele, Ikpoba Hill, Ilesha, Jos, Lekki-Ajah, Mbieri, Nara, Ofoni, Ogu, Urhonigbe, Uromi, Abeokuta and Accra (Ghana).

 

May JEHOVAH, the Father of mercies crown the Freedom Day activities with success by His grace and power through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

JOIN THE HAPPY CELEBRANTS! Happy Freedom Day!