June 6, 1944 was the day that the Allied armies invaded the territory that was controlled by the tyrant Adolf Hitler! The preparation of invasion had been worked on for years! There was 9 battleships, 23 cruisers, 104 destroyers, and 71 large landing craft of various descriptions as well as troop transports, mine sweepers, and merchant ships, in all, nearly 5,000 ships of every type were used to transport the invasion force. 100,000 troops would be transported in the first wave of the invasion. The last week before "D" Day, the US had a fighting force of 1.75 million men in Great Britain. But the US Military was not the only needed piece in the invasion, the manufacturing might of the US, which was civilian, would out produce the factories of Germany. More than 16 million tons of supplies would be needed to feed and supply US forces and their allies: six and one-quarter pounds of rations per day per man; 137,000 jeeps, trucks, and half-tracks; 4,217 tanks and fully tracked vehicles; 3,500 artillery pieces; 12,000 aircraft; and huge stores of sundries everything from dental amalgam for fillings to chewing gum and candy bars.

The beaches of Normandy became the beachhead for the 2 million plus army of the US, Great Britain, Canada and the underground forces of France. Those beaches were important because through them the needed reinforcements and supplies would be able to land and help continue the advancement of the Allies! The eyes of the world were on that day! We had to get a toehold somehow!

Christmas means different things to different people. To some it is a day of family, friends and food! Others gage the day by the gifts that they receive. But to me Christmas is: Heavens "D" Day!

The plans had been made in eternity (He was to be "lamb slain before the foundation of the world" Rev. 13:8). The creative "Word" logos would become flesh (John 1:1, 3, 14). The One who had created Heaven and Earth would become the Savior of humanity! The One who was rich would be come poor (2 Cor. 8:9).

That is why the eyes of Heaven were on the cradle at Bethlehem!As you read the accounts of the birth of the Lord in the gospels, you will notice the presence of angels throughout the birth. In the Word of God the Birth of the Lord is the event where we see more angels on this earth than any other time in scripture! Angels came to Mary, Joseph (twice), and Zacharias (father of John the Baptist). Shepherds experience a multitude or "great number"(TDNT) of "angels" of the army of heaven (Luke 2:13)! In the New Testament angels are "divine messengers and heavenly representatives" (TDNTA, p. 13)! Heaven is well represented at this birth!

Why is this so important? The birth of the Lord is the start of the invasion, the day the Kingdom of God invaded the Kingdom of Satan! How did it happen? It happened because God came down! The beam of light of heaven pierced the darkness of sin! And darkness no longer held people by fear (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus describes the invasion best as he speaks to earthly foes, the Pharisee's:

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you 11 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (Luke 11:20 , King James Version)

Jesus came to the house and went in! Whose house was it? The house of Satan! The earth was under the control of Satan! Satan was the God of this world(II Cor. 4:4)! The Prince and power of the air (Eph. 2:2)! Yet Jesus invaded Satan territory! He was stronger so he took the Satan's armour! But not only his armour but his spoils! Satan's spoils was the blind, lame, the deaf, and the dead! Jesus opened the blinded eyes, and unloosed the tongue of the dumb!He destroyed the armour of death and took the keys of death and hell (Rev. 1:18)! But not just the psychically dead but the spiritually dead! He distroyed sin and its controling ability by forgiving our sins and the debt that sin produces. He took our sins, blotted them out and nailed them to the cross (Col. 2:13-15)!

He came uninvited but not unannounced! The army of heaven announced it! They praised God on earth at the Birth of Jesus and then return to heaven (Luke 2:14) watching Jesus constantly and coming to assist Him in His battle to regain lost humanity! They were the reinforcements that should accompany him at high points in his life and ministry: his birth, temptation, passion, and resurrection (Lk. 2:9ff.; Mk. 1:13; Lk. 22:43; Mt. 28:2).

As I listened to the songs of the season I kept hearing the word "angels"!

Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the new born king!

Angels we have heard on high

Oh, come all ye faithful Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

These song writers understood that heaven was watching the birth of our Lord! They placed them in their songs! Why? To help us remember the importance of this event!

The Lord's birth began the invasion and this invasion will end in total victory for Jesus with everything under His feet (Eph. 1:20-23)!