The Bells of Christmas | The Institute for Creation Research

The Bells of Christmas

"In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar" (Zechariah 14:20).

In these strange times when the traditional Christmas carols are not considered politically correct, the secular songs associated with the gift-giving season are increasingly popular. "Silver Bells," for example, is a pretty tune which is often sung during this season. Even this song, however, includes the phrase, "Soon it will be Christmas Day," and so may be banned eventually by the secularists. Also, the bells of the song may cause one to think of the Salvation Army, so this also might be offensive.

But just how did bells become associated with Christmas anyway--or with Christianity itself for that matter? Bells are never mentioned at all in the New Testament. Yet many churches have bells, which are often rung at weddings or funerals, or even just to announce church services. The chorus of a once-familiar hymn even featured the words "when they ring those golden bells for you and me."

In the Old Testament, two kinds of bells are mentioned. A group of one type of golden bells were on the bottom hem of the robe of the high priest, so that "his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out" (Exodus 28:35).

The other type of bell was that mentioned in the text above. It seems that ancient war horses, especially among the Assyrians, were fitted with bells which would sound out fiercely while charging into battle. In that wonderful age to come, on the other hand, the bells on the horses will ring out glorifying the holiness of God.

Perhaps the bells of Christmas can remind us of both God's holiness and the sacrifice of our great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. HMM

The Latest
NEWS
Creation's Easter Message
While many Christians still consider the creation doctrine a fringe issue, a proper understanding of the Christian message finds creation at its core...

NEWS
ICR Veteran Don Barber Retires
Don Barber   After 34 years with the Institute for Creation Research, Director of Enterprise Technology Don Barber will retire...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
The Sanctity of Life | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode 23
Abortion is a big issue culturally and in the church. How can believers love our neighbors and act as the hands and feet of Christ when it comes...

NEWS
Plant Receptors Are Designed to Control Immunity and Development
God has designed plants to continuously track their environment.1 They do so with specially designed detectors (also called receptors) on...

CREATION PODCAST
Homo Naledi: The Lies Behind Evolution's Rising Star | The Creation...
Homo naledi, once evolution's 'rising star,' was considered to be a prime example of human evolution. But is it really proof? Or...

NEWS
A Subsurface Ocean on Mimas?
Scientists have analyzed data obtained from the Cassini spacecraft and concluded that irregularities in the orbit of Saturn’s moon Mimas indicate...

NEWS
In Theaters March 20 & 21: The Ark and the Darkness
Is Genesis true? What about Noah’s Flood? How did Noah fit the animals on the ark? Wasn’t it a local flood? Have you asked these questions? Though...

NEWS
Enigmatic Fossil Plants
The pre-Flood world thousands of years ago was unlike the world of today.1 Unfamiliar animals and plants were common, and there were a lot...

NEWS
Surprisingly Colorful Fossil Snail Shells
Finding organic compounds such as flexible dinosaur collagen and complete bone cells1,2 is becoming common, much to the shock and consternation...

NEWS
March 2024 ICR Wallpaper
"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6 NKJV) ICR March 2024 wallpaper is now available for mobile, tablet,...