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The Star of Bethlehem Revealed
John Chapter 8
31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Matthew Chapter 2
1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2. 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.
3. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
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I believe the Magi (Wise Men) of the Eastern School in Babylon first saw an unusually bright star rising in the east just before sunrise on 8-12-3BC around 4:22AM. This star is a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Venus and is the same star the Magi will see once more before they ride off to Jerusalem in search of the "King of the Jews". I call it the "Teaser Star" because it is rising in the east just before sunrise and is only viewable for an hour and a half at the most until the sun rises and it disappears from view. But it's enough to wet the appetite of the Magi and draw their attention to even more signs in the sky that begin to appear in about a months time from now. These close conjunctions of Jupiter and Venus are extremely rare and last less then 8 hours or so. But when they do happen, they are only visible from certain specific longitudes on Earth and would be striking to see.
Genesis Chapter 1
14. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Isaiah Chapter 40
26. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Psalms Chapter 19
1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun...
Luke Chapter 21
25. (Christ speaking) And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars...
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Around 1 month later on 9-11-3BC, Venus has left the scene and the Magi's eye's are now on Jupiter. The picture above shows Jupiter (the "King" planet) just three days before it's closest approach to Regulus (the "King" star). All this happening in the constellation Leo (the Lion) which represented the Jewish tribe of Judah. In the following months to come, Jupiter will go into retrograde drawing a halo over Regulus. In doing so, there will be three conjunctions of Jupiter and Regulus. (I turned "Daylight" off in Starry Night in the above picture to black out the background so you can see the planet and stars more easily.)
Revelation Chapter 12
1. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2. And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
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Here is another look at the Virgin on 9-11-03BC but with constellation Illustrations turned on and Daylight turned off. We start off at the top with Venus, the Mother planet symbolizing Motherhood. Next we have Mercury, the winged Messenger of Fertility telling us the Virgin's conception is at hand. The Sun illuminating the entire event along with Spica (the ear of corn), the brightest fixed star in Virgo, and the New Moon below symbolizing Christ. All of these taken together draw a gentle curve throughout the constellation Virgo. I find the symbolism in Virgo overwhelmingly in favor for a sign given to the Magi (and ourselves of today) to announce the Conception of Mary and the birth of a King. I am not the only one who believes this to be true. Even thought this sign appears in the daytime, the Magi know the relative positions of the constellations and could easily place the Sun and Moon in their correct positions at this time along with Venus and Mercury. Even Pluto known as "Hades" or "The Greek god of the Underworld" decides to make a sneaky appearance and does so totally out of place with the others.
Revelation Chapter 12
1. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2. And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
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Shown in the picture above is a wide FOV (field-of-view) shot of the night sky back in early 2BC. Our focus here is on the fixed background stars and if you go outside at night, you can still find them in the same place as they were well over 2,000 years ago. Note the positions of the star Polaris and the constellations Draco and Virgo. Did you find them? Great! Polaris is also known as our Northern (Hemisphere) Star or Pole Star because it's sitting almost exactly on the center of Earths axis of rotation. And as you watch the stars rotate across the night sky, Polaris does not appear to move at all. So perhaps we can think of Polaris as the "God Star" because it is firm, steady, faithful, and never wavering. We know about Virgo and what sign's have appeared there and what do we find sitting between Polaris and Virgo? The constellation Draco. Draco the Dragon. Ready to sweep a third of the stars out of the skies to stand before the virgin (Virgo) waiting to devour her child as soon as it was born. We know the Dragon represented Herod (the Great) who tried to slay the infant Christ by killing all male children 2 years of age and younger in the town of Bethlehem and the surrounding areas. This was a vision of John's taken from the book of Revelation Chapter 12 verses 3 & 4.
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Three days after the sign of the Virgin, the conception date of Mary, Jupiter and Regulus come into conjunction for their first time. Then over a period of 9 months, two more conjunctions of Jupiter (the King Planet) and Regulus (the King Star) take place in the constellation Leo for a total of 3 conjunctions. Because Jupiter goes into retrograde, its apparent motion through the background stars draws a halo (or Crown) over Regulus. Then, at the end of this nine month period appears the Star of Bethlehem in the western skies when looking from Babylon toward Jerusalem. Babylon being where the Magi where looking from.
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Jupiter held the attention of the Magi because of its unusual motion thru the background of fixed stars (retrograde motion) while circling over Regulus in the constellation Leo. The Magi I believe also saw the signs in the constellation Virgo indicating the conception of a virgin. The Magi, putting these signs together led them to believe that there would soon be the birth of a Child King, one who would become the King of the Jews. When the Star appeared the second time shining brightly at an approximate magnitude of -6.11 (the brightest star ever seen) in the West, the 3 wise men (Magi) rode off on a ~700 mile trip, ~6 month journey from Babylon to Israel in search of the newly born King to worship and present gifts to him.
I pose a challenge for all Astronomers: This conjunction of Jupiter and Venus is the closest one I've ever found using Starry Night having a separation of only 0deg 0min 36sec. Can you find a closer conjunction than this one? I did, but Venus overlapped Jupiter thus blocking Jupiter's light. Remember, they can't overlap each other. If you do find one, please email me at flashpoint@frontiernet.net!
Note: Concerning Magnitude, the smaller the number, the brighter the star. So, a minus X (-x) magnitude star is brighter that a plus X (+x) magnitude star. The current brightest star in the entire night sky is Sirius with a magnitude of -1.46.
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Here we see the early morning sky of the first Christmas on 12-25-2BC looking from Jerusalem toward the little town of Bethlehem, just 5 miles away. Jupiter directly to the south, high in the sky now in Virgo, stopped and now in full retrograde. I can see many wonderful signs placed here by God in the night sky. Can you point out any yourselves?? For the people of this time did not have light or smog pollution and the night sky was extremely bright. It was very likely the topic of conversation much like Television is for us today. You can click on these pictures to enlarge them or view them yourselves using Starry Night software. If you're using Starry Night, make sure your location is set correctly along with the time and date as you'll find in the pictures.
Matthew Chapter 2
1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2. 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.
3. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
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Here we see the Blood Moon (Lunar Eclipse) that Josephus recorded occurring shortly before the death of King Herod on 1-10-01BC at 2:19AM. Here the Moon appears black in color but in the following picture, you can see the one I took of an actual Blood Moon in about the same position in the sky as the one occurring here at the time of Herod's death. The Moon is in the constellation of Cancer and in exactly one day (24 hours) later, the Moon will be located directly under the King Star Regulus in the constellation Leo.
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Here is a picture I took of a Blood Moon, a total Lunar Eclipse occurring on 8-28-2007 at approximately 2:50AM. A Lunar Eclipse gets no direct illumination from the Sun. The only light that hits the Moon is the light that gets refracted thru Earth's atmosphere. Most of the light passing thru Earth's atmosphere during a Lunar Eclipse is scattered except for the longer wavelengths which are red in color. You can research this phenomenon at Wikipedia HERE.
Acts Chapter 2
19. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
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Shown here is a Blood Moon rising just as it clears the horizon in Jerusalem at close to 7:30PM. The Moon begins its eclipse below the horizon at exactly 3:16PM, very near the 9th hour (3PM) when Jesus was said to have died on the Cross at Calvery, the place known as Golgotha meaning, "the place of a Skull".
Matthew Chapter 2
12. And being warned of God in a dream that they (the Magi) should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
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Once again The Star appears 2 years later after the Magi first saw it on 8-12-3BC after the Magi had returned back to their home country. The moment of its closest conjunction happens at 8:18AM, around 1 hour before the Moon rises. In the constellation Virgo we now have the Sun and Mercury. The Planets Jupiter and Venus in near perfect conjunction one more time for a total of three conjunctions in a period of only 2 years and a New Moon at the Virgin's feet. And there's Pluto, "The Greek god of the Underworld", off to the side hiding far behind the other foot of Mary keeping an envious eye on the entire event.
(The Magi would not have known of Pluto's existence of course since it can not be seen with the naked eye. It was discovered not all that long ago on 2-18-1930.)
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That evening the Magi got one final glimpse of "The Star Of Bethlehem" setting once more in the West toward Israel and Bethlehem, a glimpse that they would never see again. A tribute, to a place they had visited over 6 months prior, a reminder of a journey that began for them over 1 year ago and, to the time they first saw it over 2 years ago.
Acts Chapter 2
1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9. Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11. Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13. Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope...
John Chapter 3
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John Chapter 4
48. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
God planned these signs in sky, these events, long before he flung the Universe into existance for a Testament to the conception, birth and death of his son, Jesus Christ! You can either choose to see the obvious or close your eyes but, I pray that you choose to see!!
And I'll finish here saying that even some that do see signs and wonders, still, they will not believe that Jesus Christ is the one true Son of the one and only GOD who came here amongst us, to save us from our Sins and that we may all come to know him, to love him, and one day be with him again in the Kingdom he is building for all those who confess him as their Lord and Savior.
And remember, it's ok to look for signs in the sky and stars but, what's not ok is to think they have control over the direction of our lives...
Amen
This web page and the information contained within was first posted on 2-18-2010 at 11:05PM.
Thanks to Starry Night for the excellent sky charts!
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