The Star of Bethlehem

The Star of Bethlehem1. Virgo. "A Deliverer will come into the human family someday, born as a man, yet supernaturally conceived of a virgin, seed of the woman, yet son of God."2. Libra. "Since man is a sinner and under the curse, an adequate price muse be paid to redeem him and balance the scales of divine justice."3. Scorpio. "The price of redemption must be the death of the Deliverer, since man is under the condem-nation of death, and yet, in dying, He must also destroy the Serpent who led man into sin."4. Sagittarius. "To prevent the coming of the Deliverer in the human family, the great Dragon will seek to corrupt mankind into a race of demon-possessed monsters and murderers."5. Capricorns. "Man will finally become so sinful as to leave no remedy but complete inundation of his entire world"·6. Aquarius. "The floodgates of heaven will pour forth waters to cleanse an evil world, but representa-tives of his land animals will survive to fill the earth again."7. Pisces. "From the waters will emerge the true people of God, as God retains His kingly throne despite all the attacks of Satan".8. Aries. "In the fullness of time, the seed of the woman will come, ready to die as the sacrifice for man's sins, paying the great price to redeem His bride and destroy the works of the Dragon."9. Taurus. "Having paid the price, the slain Ram will rise as the mighty Bull, to execute judgement on all ungodliness and to rule supreme."10. Gemini. "As both Son of God and Son of Man, the second Adam will claim His bride as did the first Adam, taking her to himself forever".11. Cancer. "All the redeemed will come to Him from all times and places, secure eternally in His pres-ence, enjoying His love and fellowship."12. Leo. "As eternal King and Lord of Lords, He will utterly vanquish and destroy the Serpent and all his followers, reigning forever".

Angel announces birth of JESUS

The Star of Bethlehem"Introduction...God made the stars...for signs and times and seasons. (Genesis 1:14-16). There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. (Numbers 24:17) He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names. (Psalm 147:4)And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising... they shall bring gold and incense. (Isaiah 60;3,6)I am the bright and morning star. (Rev. 22:16)Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him...and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (Matthew 2:1,2,9)Surely the most appropriate time in universal history for the Creator to use celestial bodies, as a "sign" would be when God Himself became man, incarnate in human flesh, for the redemption of mankind. Scripture condemns the principles of astrology and Matthew was not endorsing such practices. While the Magi were astrologers (with its inherent potential for misinterpretation), they were astronomers (with word-leading scientific observation of the heavens) who had been influenced by Daniel and other Old Testament prophets

I. DEATH OF HEROD...Since the nineteenth century the majority of theologians have placed the birth of Jesus before the Spring of 4 B.C., in spite of the fact that most of the church fathers within the early centuries placed his birth from 3 B.C. to 1 B.C. This pre-4 B.C. placement was due to a reference in Josephus that King Herod died shortly after an eclipse of the moon and before a Springtime Passover of the Jews. Astronomers in the last century informed theologians that an eclipse of the moon, which could be seen in Palestine, occurred on the evening of March 13, 4 B.C. Herod's death was arbitrarily placed within the 29 days from that eclipse until the Passover. Thus, theologians and astronomers have looked for celestial displays as candidates for the Star before that date. However, Ernest Martin builds a convincing case showing that the proper eclipse occurred on January 10, 1 B.C.

II. CENSUS OF CYRENIUS...Called Quirinius in Rome historical documents, this qualified leader had experience in Syria by administering the census Tertullian referred to in 3/2 B.C. Martin demonstrates that Cyrenius received special Roman commands throughout his career, especially in census-taking events, and acted as procurator. This special census was one of the most important in history.This census (or registration) in 3/2 B.C. was actually an oath of allegiance demanded by Augustus Caesar and proclaimed during the summer of 3 B.C. Since both Joseph and Mary were descendants of David, and could both be considered legitimate claimants of the throne of Israel, both could be required to make the trip to Bethlehem. On February 5, 2 B.C., Augustus was given the title Pater Patriae (Father of the Country) by decree of the Senate and the people of Rome. The festivities coincided with his 25the jubilee year of being emperor of Rome and the 750the year of the founding of Rome

III. ATTENTION IN THE HEAVENS...

III. ATTENTION IN THE HEAVENS...In 1605 astronomers Johann Kepler suggested that a conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars was the Star of Bethlehem. To Persian Magi Saturn represented Jerusalem and Jupiter represented royalty. Pisces and Virgo both represented the Hebrews.

On May 29, 7 B.C. a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter occurred in Pisces. On October 3, 7 B.C. the same thing happened.

                        

                           

An excavated Roman garden wall, dating to the time of Augustus Caesar, shows a painting of a tree with fruit clustered in the configuration of the star constellations. An "extra" fruit is shown where this "nova" occurred. It is of interest to note that this "nova" (X-1 Cygnus) appeared in the Northern Cross, with star Deneb (meaning "The Lord Comes") at the head of the cross. Stars Altair ("The Wounding") and Vega ("He Shall be Exalted") are nearby. Our entire Solar System is moving toward star Vega. A celestial announcement card anticipating the birth of a king is again being displayed!

...

This normally occurs once in 804 years. In the spring of 6 B.C. they conjuncted again with Mars joining! This is the only historical occasion when a planetary

"massing" has occurred at the same time as a "triple" conjunction. Certainly a celestial message was being sent!

Supernovas have been suggested as candidates for the Star. Visible supernovas have been reported in A.D. 1054 (the Chinese star), A.D.

1572 (Tycho's star), and A.D. 1604 (Kepler's star). On a date corresponding to July 5 B.C., the Chinese astronomical records report a "guest star", a nova in the constellation Aquilla. (

Camels in the desert

IV. MAGI'S HEIGHTENED OBSERVATION...

On August 12, 3 B.C. Jupiter and Venus united as a "morning star", then displayed an "evening star" reunion 10 months later... On September 14, 3 B.C. Jupiter (the royal planet star) came into union with Regulus (the royal fixed star of the first magnitude) in the constellation of Leo, the Lion. Regulus is situated between the feet of Leo (the Royal constellation). After this first conjunction Jupiter continued on its normal course in the heavens. Then, on December 1, 3 B.C., the planet stopped its motion through the fixed stars and began its annual retrogression. As it did so, it once again headed toward the star Regulus. On February 17, 2 B.C. the two were reunited. Jupiter continued this backward, retrogressive motion another 40 days and then reverted to its normal motion through the stars. This movement placed the planet once again into a third conjunction with Rugulus on May 8, 2 B.C. To an appropriate observer, it would appear that Jupiter was making a circling "crown" effect over and around Regulus. With each of these apparent changes in direction, the Planet briefly becomes "stationary" within the background of the fixed stars. On December 25 th, 2 B.C. Jupiter came to a normal stationary position DIRECTLY OVER BETHLEHEM, as viewed from Jerusalem! At precisely this time the planet "stopped" in the middle of the constellation Virgo, the Virgin. The Sun was also "standing still" in its usual Winter Solstice.

V. ROMAN INTERPRETATION...

To the secular world devoid of spiritual conscience, particularly to those in Rome, it seemed like heaven itself was giving approval for the emperorship of Augustus and that Roman government had the divine right to world sovereignty. This was in spite of the fact that they were aware of the prophecies made by Daniel. Suetonius and Tacitus confirmed that Rome knew of the belief that the empire of the world would be given to someone from Judea.

V. JEWISH INTERPRETATION...

Martin aptly notes that the spectacular astronomical signs from May, 3 B.C. to December 2 B.C. would have caused wonderful interpretations, by astrologers, on behalf of Augustus and the Roman Empire, but the Magi decided instead to go to Jerusalem with gifts to a newborn Jewish king. On August 12, 3 B.C., Jupiter rose as a morning star, which soon came into conjunction with Venus. That started Jupiter off on a journey in which six conjunctions with other planets and the star Regulus took place. The final planetary union was the massing of the planets, which occurred with Mars, Venus, and Mercury on August 27, 2 B.C., Jupiter then became "stationary" for a brief time over Bethlehem on December 25, 2 B.C. At the inception of this scenario, here was Jupiter (the King Planet), which had just united with Venus (the Mother), now joining itself with the King star Regulus (the star of the Jewish Messiah) in Leo (the constellation of Judah), while the Sun (the Supreme Father of Ruler) Marwas then located in Virgo (the Virgin).

VI. CHRONOLOGY...

1) Joseph and Mary began their journey to Bethlehem for the "census" at the close of the Jewish civil year in 3 B.C.2) Near this time on August 12, 3 B.C. Jupiter and Venus united as a "morning star", then Jupiter continued its phenomenal progression through the starry heavens.3) Jesus was born in a stable on the twilight period of September 11, 3 B.C., the Day of Trumpets.4) On September 14, 3 B.C. Jupiter came into union with Regulus and began the circling "crown" effect, which took place during the early months of Jesus' infancy.5) Fifteen months later, when Jesus was a "young child" in a house the Magi arrived on December 25, 2 B.C., when the King planet Jupiter came to its stationary point in mid-Virgo, the Virgin. The star would have been seen as "stopped" over Bethlehem, as viewed from Jerusalem.One conclusion that can be drawn is that that star in the east, which that Magi saw was this progression of Jupiter through the heavens. Thus, the star was not "standing" over the manger at the time of Jesus' birth (even though it was already in its divinely-appointed historic progression), but instead, at the appropriate time "stood" over Bethlehem at the time the Magi arrived to visit in the house.

Upper Galilee

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread." -- Courtesy of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism