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UPDATE 2024: Jonathan Cahn has provided details related to the timing of Jesus' birth.
He also provides additional details on the Magi from the Hebrew scripture.
The shepherds would only be in the field at night because the sheep were giving
birth to lambs and they would need to assist, this happens in SPRING, March-April time frame,
or in the Jewish month of Nisan. Because of the Appointed Times in Leviticus 23 and
the work of Christ, he believes Nisan 1 was the birth date of Jesus.
He cites several passages from the Torah that make this date credible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptlsXtTf6n0
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notes on "The Star of Bethlehem" video
https://bethlehemstar.com/
https://bethlehemstar.com/setting-the-stage/the-nine-points-of-christs-star/
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ONLY two minor errors he makes that do NOT effect his overall research.
1) Jesus was in Nazareth, NOT Bethlehem - See Luke 2's very precise details.
2) Jesus was NOT crucified on Friday, but on Thursday - Preparation Day for Unleavened Bread, aka, THE PASSOVER.
The best that can be determined from this presentation is a 4 BC birth of Jesus.
This fits with a 1BC death of Herod the Great.
Jesus born 4BC, 2 years pass for the Magi to arrive in Jerusalem, then about 1 year in Egypt between Passovers.
4BC birth of Jesus
2BC visit by Magi in a HOUSE in Nazareth - Joseph dreams, Fled to Egypt
1BC death of Herod the Great - Joseph & Jesus do NOT miss a Passover return to Israel
HOWEVER, 6BC is a more likely date as 4BC is more likely the death of Herod.
With 2 years added to that date, the birth of Christ would have been 6BC, likely Nisan 1 (Mar/Apr)
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VERSES CITED IN VIDEO (full passages below):
Job 9:9
Job 38:31-32
Isaiah 40:26
Psalm 19:1-4
Romans 10:17-18
Luke 21:25
Matthew 2:1-11 (Magi/Herod)
Micah 5:2 ff (Bethlehem
Gen 49:9-10 (Judah)
Rev 12:1-5 (scepter/rod of iron)
Acts 2:19-22 (day of Pentecost)
Joel 2:30-32 (wonders in the sky - day of the Lord)
Mark 15:25-37 (support for the blood moon during the crucifixion)
http://bibletech.net/
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THERE IS AN ECLIPSE on the day of the crucifixion that will determine the YEAR of HIS Death.
(He gets the preparation day wrong... it is NOT FRIDAY, but THURSDAY, the
FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD WAS A SABBATH AND ON FRIDAY.
Passover IS the preparation day... Feast of Unleavened Bread is the reason for the preparation day..
He claims April 3, 33 AD fits his scenario for the day of the crucifixion, we can look at the details with Stellarium
WE MUST ALSO RECONCILE Jesus' prophecy about His death...
Mat 12:40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights
in the belly of the sea monster,
so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME LINE THAT FITS IT PERFECTLY: (remember Genesis 1:5 -
Gen 1:5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night.
And there was evening and there was morning, one day.)
Sunday 10 Nisan - Palm Sunday
Thur 14 Nisan - Passover - DAY ONE
Fri 15 Nisan - Unleavened Bread - NIGHT ONE / DAY TWO
Sat 16 Nisan - Sabbath according to the Command - NIGHT TWO / DAY THREE
Sun 17 Nisan - Resurrection - NIGHT THREE
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NOTE: The death of Herod the Great is important to date the Birth of Christ...
1) the murder of the boys 2 years and younger (based on the sighting of the star)
2) Herod was still alive when Joseph fled to Egypt with Jesus
3) Herod's death and Joseph's dream to return to Nazareth took place BETWEEN Passovers
4) Luke clearly states:
Luk 2:39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
Luk 2:40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luk 2:41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. (THIS IS VERY KEY!!!)
IMPORTANT BECAUSE:
Deu 16:6 but at the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name,
you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt.
JESUS HAD TO FULFILL THE ENTIRE LAW... Leviticus 12:2-4; Lev 23-26; Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:6
THREE FEASTS required presence of the males in Jerusalem:
1) Passover(Lev 23:5-7),
2) Pentecost(Harvest Lev 23:16-22) and
3) Booths(Tabernacles, Ingathering)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Pilgrimage_Festivals
Exo 23:14 "Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me.
Exo 23:15 You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you,
at the appointed time in the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed.
Exo 23:16 Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field;
also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.
Exo 23:17 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord God.
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IF the star appeared AT the birth of Jesus... and the Magi got there 2 years later... visited Jesus, and then JOSEPH
FLED to Egypt, Herod died, and Joseph returned... ALL without missing a PASSOVER, an appointed time... Then
Jesus would have been born 2 to 3 years before Herod's death. If 4BC, then 6 to 7 BC; If 1BC, then 3 to 4 BC.
REASONING: The time given to Herod of the star, the hasty escape to Egypt shortly after the visit of the Magi,
and the dream to return... ALL WITHOUT VIOLATING THE LAW CONCERNING THE PASSOVER.
HOWEVER, it's also plausible that JESUS was born earlier than those dates if the star was NOT directly linked to His birth!
Because the Magi presented their gifts to HIM, the CHILD in the HOUSE... It would seem that Jesus would have been at least 2.
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TWO PREVAILING DATES of Herod the Great's death:
Herod died - 1 or 4 BC
(speculation by the 1BC folks that 4BC date was suggested to give those ruling more credibility of serving with Herod)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great
Reign 37–4 BC (Schürer)
36–1 BC (Filmer)[1]
Died March–April 4 BCE (Schürer) or January–April 1 BCE (Filmer) in Jericho, Judea
In Josephus' account, Herod's death was preceded by first a Jewish fast day (10 Tevet 3761/Sun 24 Dec 1 BCE),
a lunar eclipse (29 Dec 1 BCE) and followed by Passover (27 March 1 CE).[89]
Objections to the 4 BCE date include the assertion that there was not nearly enough time between the eclipse
on March 13 and Passover on April 10 for the recorded events surrounding Herod's death to have taken place.[88][90][74]
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NINE POINTS of the Star: (does this fit an eclipse, comet, conjunction or any stars?)
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NOT a:
- shooting star...
- comet... 1) omens of doom 2) 2-3 BC - no comments in history 3) herod was surprised...
- nova/expolding star... same reasons
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- CONJUNCTURES - wandering stars, planets... part of his hypothesis - Jupiter (King planet)... all 9 points?
(video goes into starry night) very accurate reproduction - (think it's stellarium - have it on Linux)
https://stellarium.org/ Jupiter - king & halo, but... rev 12... Virgo follows..
September of 3 BC, Regula/Leo/Virgo clothed in the sun, moon at the feet...
...jumps forward 9 months (from Babylon, 2BC)
Jupiter (king planet) and Venus (mother planet) - brightest star...
THE Starry Dance -
A coronation
Lion of Judah
Birth of a King
The Brightest Star
A Southern Star (Jupiter)
can a star stop... retrograde movement...
(doesn't stop over Bethlehem... needs to be over Nazareth...)
10-30- 2BC 11-25-2BC... stops 12/25/ 2BC (Interesting that he thinks the visit to the child was December 25th 2BC,
meaning that Jesus was probably born 4 BC according to what I can guess from his presentation.
toddler in a house... but... this guy misses the part of Luke where they returned to Nazareth!
(while this is likely not a show stopper, as with the naked eye how are they going to tell? also,
no mention of what time they saw the star... so his error on cities, even though they're opposite
directions still works.)
The day of the cross... interesting use of Stellarium to show an eclipse...
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THE 9 THINGS THE STAR MUST MEET:
===================================
1) birth,
2) kingship and
3) Jews. It also gives us a clue about the Magi. They were interested in things Jewish.
Matthew 2:2b …We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
4) it must rise in the east like most other stars.
(the motive of the magi: They wanted to worship a Jewish king.
Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Matthew 2:4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law,
he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
5) It appeared at an exact time. And yet another qualification:
Matthew 2:8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child.
6) Herod didn’t know when it appeared. He had to ask. Matthew 2:8
7) It endured over a considerable period of time. The Magi saw it, perhaps from Babylon, traveled to Judea and saw it still.
8) It went ahead of them as they traveled from Jerusalem... (video author is wrong on where they went AFTER Herod)
(ERROR... they weren't in Bethlehem, but Nazareth, in a house!) NORTH, not SOUTH...
NOTE: After Jesus was dedicated at the temple, they returned to Nazareth, according to the law:
7 days + 33 days = 40 days Leviticus 12:2-4
Luk 2:39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee,
to their own city of Nazareth.
Luk 2:40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
9) The Star stopped! Can a star do that? Yes, if it's a planet in retrograde... which makes sense.
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http://johnmeister.com/BIBLE/CHRISTMAS/Christmas-TIMELINE.html
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1) Mary is visited by an angel, learns she'll be fulfilling Isaiah 7:14
2) Joseph is visited by an angel in a dream - does not put Mary away quietly.
(note: the betrothal period is considered part of the marriage - one year, shows
that the couple has not behaved improperly... the reason for the dream, and also
why Mary would have gone with Joseph to Bethlehem... scripture says that Joseph
kept her a virgin until after Jesus was born)
3) Elizabeth is also with child, John the Baptist - recognizes Jesus in Mary's womb.
4) a Census is called - all must return to their "home of record".
5) Joseph is of the House of David - returns to Bethlehem.
6) They arrive, city full, no place to stay - use a manger, this is like a parking
stall under a house where one would keep their mule... it is likely that there were
not a bunch of barnyard animals in this place with Mary and Joseph.
7) angels tell shepherds in the field that the King of Israel has been born and where to find him....
they visit that night. I believe that's when the star of Bethlehem is first visible.
8) the Star stays lit... from the text it appears that's what brought the magi from the east,
and would lead them to Israel.
9) After 8 days Jesus is circumcised, then the purification period and off to Jerusalem.
10) after the dedication in JERUSALEM, up to NAZARETH.
11) a couple years later... the Wise Men show up in Jerusalem and ask about the
new King... Herod is unhappy... orders kids 2 and under murdered in Bethlehem.
12) the wise men are redirected from Bethlehem to Nazareth, see the young child.
13) Joseph is warned in a Dream to take the child to Egypt. This fulfills a prophecy.
14) Herod dies, Jesus leaves Egypt, returns to Nazareth. - I believe within one year as Luke
records that Joseph made it to Jerusalem EVERY year for the Passover.
15) Jesus grows up in Nazareth. Begins His ministry around 30AD.
Details with the TIMELINE the birth of the Jewish Messiah, sequence of events:
1) Birth of Christ - circa 5 BC.
2) Shepherd's visit - after birth - before circumcision
3) Circumcision - 8th day
" Leviticus
12:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived
seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days;
according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be
unclean.
12:3
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
4) Purification time - Leviticus 12
" Leviticus 12:4
And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and
thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the
sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled."
7 days + 33 days = 40 days
5) Temple Dedication - around the 40th day - in Jerusalem - at the TEMPLE
" Luke
2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child,
his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was
conceived in the womb.
2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were
accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
2:23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the
womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of
the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the
same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and
the Holy Ghost was upon him.
2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see
death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought
in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy
word:
2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
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Job 9:9 Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
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Job 38:31 "Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion?
Job 38:32 "Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, And guide the Bear with her satellites?
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Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars,
The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.
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Psa 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Psa 19:2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
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Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Rom 10:18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have;
"THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD." (Psa 19:1-4)
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Luk 21:25 "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations,
in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
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Mat 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
Mat 2:2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Mat 2:4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people,
he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
Mat 2:5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
Mat 2:6 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"
Mat 2:7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
Mat 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child;
and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."
Mat 2:9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east,
went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
Mat 2:11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother;
and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.
Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
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Mic 5:2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity."
Mic 5:3 Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child.
Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel.
Mic 5:4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.
Mic 5:5 This One will be our peace....
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Gen 49:8 "Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
Your father's sons shall bow down to you.
Gen 49:9 "Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him up?
Gen 49:10 "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Gen 49:11 "He ties his foal to the vine, And his donkey's colt to the choice vine;
He washes his garments in wine, And his robes in the blood of grapes.
Gen 49:12 "His eyes are dull from wine, And his teeth white from milk.
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Rev 12:1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars;
Rev 12:2 and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
Rev 12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads
and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.
Rev 12:4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.
And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth,
so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
Rev 12:5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron;
and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
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Act 2:19 'AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD,
AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
Act 2:20 'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT
AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
Act 2:21 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'
Act 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with
miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--
Act 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God,
you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
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Joe 2:28 "It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.
Joe 2:29 "Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
Joe 2:30 "I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke.
Joe 2:31 "The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
Joe 2:32 "And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Will be delivered;
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who escape, As the Lord has said, Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
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Mar 15:22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.
Mar 15:23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.
Mar 15:24 And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves,
casting lots for them to decide what each man should take.
Mar 15:25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him.
Mar 15:26 The inscription of the charge against Him read, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."
Mar 15:27 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.
Mar 15:28 which says, "AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS."]
Mar 15:29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying,
"Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
Mar 15:30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!"
Mar 15:31 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves
and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself.
Mar 15:32 Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!"
Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
Mar 15:33 When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Mar 15:34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?"
which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
Mar 15:35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, "Behold, He is calling for Elijah."
Mar 15:36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying,
"Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down."
Mar 15:37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.
Mar 15:38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Mar 15:39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last,
he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
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