Days

It is no longer a mystery that Jesus was not actually born on the day we celebrate Christmas, December 25^th.  The selection of December 25^th had more to do with the interest in taking back a time period that had long been dedicated to pagan ceremonies regarding the winter solstice.

In today’s world, we now have astronomy software that will allow us to see the night sky at any point in history.  As such, we can actually look back in time to try and see the signs in heavens that signaled the birth of the Messiah.  Although this is very much a speculative endeavor, it is still quite fascinating.  To look back in history, we turn to the work of Rick Larsen.  His video ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ is well worth watching as is the study available on his website.

Here a few of the things that Rick Larsen points out that have contributed to identifying when Jesus was born.

An error was discovered regarding modern copies of the writings of Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.  His work has traditionally led to the assignment of Herod’s death in 4 B.C.  But a study of the earliest saved manuscripts identified a copy error which was propagated forward after 1544 A.D.  Reverting to the correct copies of the manuscripts moves Herod’s death to 1 B.C.  This is important because Herod was alive when the Magi (wise men) came to Jerusalem looking for the new born king.  This points researchers to the skies of 2 and 3 B.C. (Larsen R. , Why are we hearing this now?).  We also know that Herod died shortly after Christ’s birth, most likely on January 14 of 1 B.C. (Missler).

Sheep in the region of Bethlehem are kept out in the fields from approximately April to October; winter is not a time when shepherds are out with the flocks.  Bethlehem is the location for the raising of lambs for use in Temple sacrifice and the lamb birthing season was in the spring.  It would not be unexpected for us to think it likely that Jesus would be born in the same season as the sacrificial lambs.  It is also unlikely that Caesar Augustus would call for a census during the harsh winter months.  As such, the winter would be not be a great candidate when looking for the birth of our Savior (Avilla). 

Rick Larsen has identified three critical moments.

The first regards what the Magi viewed from their vantage point in Babylon.  These astrologers are associated with Zoroastrianism and viewed as being shaped by Daniel, as he became the head of the wise men in Persia.  It is speculated that Daniel could have instructed them to watch for signs in the sky regarding the future Messiah (Avilla).  Regardless, a sign did occur.  The Magi witnessed a star rising in the east announcing a king had been crowned in association with the Tribe of Judah. 

Over a few months, the Magi would have watched as the motion of Jupiter — the Planet of Kings – appears to draw a circle above Regulus — the Star of Kings.  Their view is from Babylon looking towards Israel and they see this culminate in September of 3 BC.  What they observed were Jupiter and Regulus in close proximity to each other as part of a conjunction. As such, Jupiter travels back and forth across Regulus three times, which would be interpreted as drawing a halo or crown.

In addition, this is happening in the constellation of Leo – which represents Judah.  The symbol of The Tribe of Judah is the lion.  Jesus is referred to as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.   So, Jupiter has been crowning Regulus in the constellation of Leo.  The Magi would have understood that they were witnessing a coronation (Larsen R. ).  But one more sign occurred – a woman clothed with the sun.

The sun in the constellation Virgo is possible during a 20-day period (August 27 to September 15) for 3 B.C. – but with the moon under her feet this further narrows it down to an 81-minute period at twilight on only one day…and this is the only day in 3 B.C. when this could occur.  This date is Tishri 1 on the Jewish Calendar and is marked by a new moon (sliver).  Tishri is the month of September.  And notably, Tishri 1 was Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets (Lenard, Jesus’ Birth – Astronomical/Zodiacal References) (Larsen R. , The Birth of a King).

So, what we have on the 1^st of Tishri of 3 B.C. is Jupiter crowning Regulus in Leo, then up rises Virgo clothed with the sun and the new moon at her feet – and this occurs on Rosh Hosannah, the feast of trumpets, the day you announce a new king.  And the 1^st of Tishri is the first day of the Jewish calendar, it is the start of the new year.  In his analysis of this day, Rick makes a very interesting point.  This is the time of conception. This is the moment when Mary is now pregnant.  Life begins at conception, and on the day of trumpets God has announced the life of a new king (Larsen R. , The Birth of a King).  For the actual birth of Jesus, we now have to look nine months later, to the second critical moment…because this is the time when we see the alignment that we refer to as the Christmas Star.

Nine months later brings us to the spring of 2 BC.  By June, Jupiter had finished crowning Regulus and had traveled on towards another rendezvous.  Jupiter now moved in conjunction with Venus. Venus is the mother planet and was now joined by Jupiter, the king planet.  These two planets moved so close together that they became one to the naked eye – and this combination resulted in a brightness that no one alive at that time had ever seen before (Larsen R. , Westward Leading).  Regarding the potential birthdate of Jesus in the spring time, it is of interest to note that Clement of Alexandria circa 200 A.D. recorded a belief present at the time that Jesus was born on May 20, with other dates circulated within the church of April 20 or 21.  Dating Jesus date of birth to December 25 does not occur until the 4^th century (McGowan). 

Returning to Rick Larsen’s analysis, it is likely that the startling light in the night sky caused by the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus over Judea started the Magi on their journey west.  Rick estimate’s that they arrived sometime in November of 2 BC giving them the time to travel the 700 miles to Jerusalem. As the Biblical account states, they would encounter Herod and then proceed to Bethlehem.  Now they would see the third critical moment and final sign in the sky – a star that appears to stop.

As the Magi head towards Bethlehem, they see Jupiter do something new – it stops.  The software model shows Jupiter reaches a full stop in its travels through the stars and it appears to have stopped directly over Bethlehem. The Magi finally arrive in Bethlehem, and incredibly, the date is now December 25^th of 2 B.C. (Larsen R. , To Stop a Star).  Here the Magi encounter a toddler and proceed to give Him gifts – because He is the king proclaimed by the stars.  From Rick Larsen’s analysis we find the birth of the Savior in the Spring of 2 B.C. – probably May or June, and then amazingly the Magi arrive in Bethlehem when Jupiter comes to a stop on of all days — December 25^th.  It is remarkable that the Magi might have actually arrived in Bethlehem on the day that in our current world we have been celebrating as Christmas Day. 

So, from Rick Larsen’s work, we see that the woman clothed with the sun star sign announced the life of a new king, when Jupiter crowned Regulus and that was the moment when the stars proclaimed conception – the life of the new king had begun.  This occurred at only one time in 3 B.C. – the first of Tishri, which is Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets.  The month of Tishri is the month of September in our current calendar…and the first day of Tishri is identified in this analysis as, of all days, September 11^th (Lenard, Jesus’ Birth – The Feast of Trumpets).

It is a little astonishing that September 11^th emerges from Rick Larsen’s work as a such an important date.  Given that that we then see the woman clothed with the sun astronomical alignment occurring in 2017, it does perhaps give more reason to not simply dismiss this sign.

But other things occurred in 2017 as well—as the actions of a U.S. president would result in him getting hailed as a modern-day King Cyrus.