THIS NOVA HERALDED THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Posted 1-30-06

The Witness of the Stars

Both fish in Pisces are connected together by the band that Aries the Ram (i.e., Jesus, the Lamb of God) has his foot on. The two fish represent the saints that are caught up to Heaven (Saturn) in the two Raptures. Even though caught up at different times, they are joined by The Band into one Body of Christ.

In God's gospel in the stars, the Zodiac is THE WAY, from the Heb. root "zodi". In Pisces are the two fish that stand for the saints of the two Raptures, the Pre-Trib Rapture and the Pre-Wrath Rapture.

Both fish are tied to Christ, the Lamb of God, i.e., Aries, by the constellation called THE BAND. As the Body of Christ, we are his fish (PISCES) and are connected to the Lamb of God (ARIES) by THE BAND.

CETUS (who represents Satan) is allowed to tug at The Band to test us, but the Lamb of God (Christ) puts his foot down on THE BAND and says, "Enough" when we pass our test. Cursing then turns to blessing. Those represented by the fish swimming up toward Cepheus (Christ as King of kings) are the Bride of Christ. Only the 144,000 Israelites that are caught up at the second Rapture are added to the Bride group (Rev. 14:4,5).

The people represented by the large fish (PISCES AUSTRALUS) that is not tied to THE BAND can make the decision to accept the living water (Holy Spirit) poured out by Christ our water giver. When he accepts Christ as Saviour, he is baptized by Christ (AQUARIUS), and is filled with the Holy Spirit, as on Pentecost in 30 AD. He then becomes part of the body of the fish (i.e., the Body of Christ) connected to the Lamb of God by THE BAND. There are two kinds of fish. The one swimming up (representing wise virgins) is espoused to Him and becomes the Bride of Christ caught up to Heaven in the Pre-Trib Rapture. The other fish (representing foolish virgins) has to swim back for a time so she can get get more water (representing the Holy Spirit) from the water-giver, Jesus. The foolish virgins are in the group that have to get more water (Holy Spirit) before they can be caught up in the Pre-Wrath Rapture.

ANOTHER SIGN IN 6 BC

In PISCES, on February 25, 6 BC, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn came to within 8 degrees of each other. This only happens at 800-year intervals.

The massing of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars in 6 BC seems significant, because these three planets are the three heavens mentioned in II Cor. 12:2, (1) Mars, (2) Jupiter, and (3) Saturn (our Heaven, 'Paradise').

Rev 2:7 says, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life (symbol of Christ), which is in the midst of the PARADISE (the third heaven) of God".

In II Cor. 12:2-4, Paul said, "I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man (Paul himself, v 6,7) in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the THIRD HEAVEN. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into PARADISE, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."

According to Josephus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were represented by the 5th, 6th and 7th lamps in the lampstand in the temple. The 1st through 4th were Sun, Mercury, Venus and Earth (Ant. III. VI. 7). From Earth, the center lamp, there were only three heavens represented.

THE SIGN OF 5 BC THAT PRECEDED JESUS' BIRTH

In February, there was a NOVA, a NEW STAR, IN CAPRICORN. It appeared in the east several hours before sunrise. This could be the star that caused the wise men to travel to Jerusalem. It winked out before the wise men arrived in Jerusalem.

That trip probably took about 4 months, 120 days. The wise men would have seen the star only part of the time. This could help us understand why they asked Herod where he that was born King of the Jews was located.

The star that went before them to Bethlehem and stood over the exact house seems to have been God's miracle, like the Shekinah Glory that led the Israelites in the wilderness. I don't see how any star far up in the sky could point out one house among many.

BC 5: HEROD'S REASON FOR KILLING BETHLEHEM'S MALES TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER

The wise men could have told Herod that they saw the triple conjunctions two years ago. That would work out right. If they referred to the triple conjunction of 7 BC, Jesus would have been born in 5 BC.

BC 4: THE FAST OF ESTHER PRECEDED THE LUNAR ECLIPSE AFTER WHICH HEROD DIED

In Ant. XVII. VI. 4, Josephus said of Herod, "he deprived Matthius of the high priesthood...and made Joazar...high priest in his stead. Now it happened, that during the time of the high priesthood of this Matthias, there was another person made high priest for a single day, THAT VERY DAY WHICH THE JEWS OBSERVE AS A FAST (THE FAST OF ESTHER, Adar 13, Esther 4:14)...But (the next day, Purim, Adar 14) Herod deprived this Matthias of the high priesthood, and burnt the other Matthias, who had raised the sedition, with his companions, alive. AND THAT VERY NIGHT THERE WAS AN ECLIPSE OF THE MOON."

That eclipse was on March 13, 4 BC. NO OTHER ECLIPSE IS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE A FAST DAY DID NOT PRECEDE THEM.

HEROD DIED BETWEEN THE LUNAR ECLIPSE AND PASSOVER

Josephus mentioned the Lunar Eclipse. He said, "And that very night there was an eclipse of the moon. But now Herod's distemper greatly increased..." (Ant. XVII. VI. 4,5). He told of Herod's death in Ant. XVII. VIII. 1 and mentioned the Passover in XVII. IX. 3, saying, "Now, upon the approach of that FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, which the law of their fathers had appointed for the Jews at this time, which feast is called the PASSOVER..."

Here are the possible eclipses from: Lunar Eclipses, Fred Espenak, NASA: mhttp://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEcat/LE-0099-0000.html
I adjusted the years to eliminate the astronomer's zero year.

BC 7 Apr 14 - Penumbral - Nisan 25, 3752
BC 7 May 13 - Penumbral - Iyar 24, 3752
BC 7 Oct 08 - Penumbral - Tishri 25, 3753
BC 7 Nov 07 - Penumbral - Heshvan 25, 3753
BC 6 Apr 04 - Partial - Nisan 25, 3753
BC 6 Sep 27 - Partial - Tishri 24, 3754
BC 5 Mar 23 - Total+ - Veadar 24, 3754 (Last eclipse before Jesus born Sept. 4, 5 BC)
BC 5 Sep 15 - Total+ - Elul 23, 3754 (1st eclipse after Jesus was born)
BC 4 Mar 13 - Partial - Adar 25, 3755 (Herod died between this eclipse and Passover)
BC 4 Sep 05 - Partial - Elul 24, 3255
BC 3 Jan 31 - Penumbral - Shevat 24, 3256
BC 3 Mar 02 - Penumbral - Adar 25, 3756
BC 3 Jul 27 - Penumbral - Av 25, 3756
BC 3 Aug 26 - Penumbral - Elul 25, 3756
BC 2 Jan 20 - Partial - Shevat 24, 3757
BC 2 Jul 17 - Partial - Tammuz 24, 3757
BC 1 Jan 09 - Tm Total - Teveth 24, 3758
BC 1 Jul 05 - T- Total - Tammuz 24, 3758
BC 1 Dec 29 - Partial - Teveth 24, 3759

"Jesus was born before Herod died soon after the eclipse of March 13, 4 BC. Archelaus ruled as Ethnarch ("Ruler of the Nation") over Judaea, Idumaea (the original homeland of his family), and Samaria from 4 BC to 6 AD. Rome banished him to Gaul after he had ruled 9 years, from 4 BC to 6 AD." (Herod Archelaus, Ethnarch 4 B.C. - 6 A.D. (Forvm Ancient Coins)
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/roman-coins.asp?vpar=927&pos=0)

The Herodian Dynasty
http://www.amuseum.org/book/page10.html

After Herod's death in 4 BCE, the Roman Emperor Augustus divided his kingdom among Herod's three sons. Archelaus was appointed ethnarch ...

Herod Antipas received purely Jewish but widely separated area - Galilee and Peraea (Jewish Transjordan). And the third son, Herod Philip, was given predominantly non-Jewish settlements in Syria. This was reflected in their coinage...

The coins of Herod Philip II (4 BCE - 34 CE) are generally of middle bronze size, depicting a portrait of the Roman Emperor on the obverse and the facade of a tetrastyle (four columns) temple on the reverse; they are all dated according to the Emperor's regnal year.

SIGN OF 2 BC

A close, bright, conjunction of Jupiter and Venus took place June, 2 BC, near Regulus in Leo. There were no closer, or brighter, eclipses in the 2000 years before and after the birth of Jesus. The conjunction was seen right at sunset in the west.

ANCIENT JEWISH COINS RELATED TO THE WORKS OF JOSEPHUS

http://members.aol.com/FLJOSEPHUS/coins.htm

Herod the Great (ruled 37 BCE - 4 BCE)
Herod Archelaus (ruled 4 BCE - 6 CE)
Herod Antipas (ruled 4 CE - 40 CE)
Herod Philip II (ruled 4 CE - 34 CE)

INFANT OR YOUNG CHILD

Nick Strobel said, "Matthew uses the same word to describe Jesus' age when he fled to Egypt with his parents and when he returned after Herod's death---HE WAS A LITTLE CHILD WHEN HE LEFT AND WHEN HE RETURNED" (The Star of Bethlehem, An Astronomical Perspective: http://www.astronomynotes.com/history/bethlehem.star.html#FixDate).

I'm thankful that Strobel pointed that out. It is true. In Mt. 2:8, Herod said, "search diligently for the young child (paidion, Strongs: "Neuter DIMINUTIVE of G3816 [pais, "maid (-en), (man) servant, son, young man]; a childling (of either sex), that is, (PROPERLY) AN INFANT, OR (by extension) A HALF GROWN BOY or girl; figuratively an immature Christian: - (LITTLE, YOUNG) CHILD, damsel."

In verse 9, the star "stood over where the young child (paidion) was." Jesus was an infant, yet he was called "paidion."

In verse 11, the wise men "saw the young child (paidion) with Mary his mother." Jesus was still an infant.

Verse 13 says, "Arise, and take the young child (paidion) and his mother, and flee into Egypt...for Herod will seek the young child (paidion) to destroy him."

Verse 14 says, "he took the young child (paidion) and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt".

Verse 16 says that Herod "sent forth, and slew all the children (pais, son, young men) that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under".

Mt 2:20,21 says, "Arise, and take the young child (paidion) and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's (paidion) life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel."

SIGNS OF 3 AND 2 BC

Venus and Jupiter (the two brightest planets in the night sky) came close together on August 12, 3 BC and June 17, 2 BC. Mars, Saturn, and Venus massed together on August 27, 2 BC.

THE CENSUS

In The Star of Bethlehem
(http://www.asa3.org/ASA/topics/Astronomy-Cosmology/S&CB%2010-93Humphreys.html,
Colin Humphrey shows how the census problem can be solved.

He said, "The problem can be resolved if the census was not for taxation purposes but was instead a census of allegiance to Caesar Augustus (some translations of Luke 2:1-5 refer to taxation, but this is not implied in the Greek text). The fifth century historian Orosius (Adv. Pag. VI.22.7, VII.2.16) states '[Augustus] ordered that a census be taken of each province everywhere and that all men be enrolled. So at that time, Christ was born and was entered on the Roman census list as soon as he was born. . . . In this one name of Caesar all the peoples of the great nations took oath, and through the participation in the census, were made part of one society'. Josephus (Ant. XVII, ii, 4) appears to refer to the same event: 'when all the people of the Jews gave assurance of their goodwill to Caesar, and to the king's government, these very men [the Pharisees] did not swear, being above six thousand.' From the context of these words in Josephus, this census of allegiance to Caesar Augustus occurred ABOUT ONE YEAR BEFORE THE DEATH OF HEROD THE GREAT.

"There is one further problem with this census. Luke 2:2 is usually translated 'This census was first made when Quirinius was governor of Syria', but Quirinius did not become governor of Syria until AD 6. However, the Greek sentence construction of Luke 2:2 is unusual and an alternative translation is...'This census took place before the one when Quirinius was governor of Syria'. As noted above, from Josephus this latter census can be dated to AD 6, and Luke (Acts 5:37) was well aware of it. Thus the earlier census reference by Luke in Luke 2:1-5 provides a chronological clue to the birth of Christ, and from the context in Josephus (Ant. XVII, ii, 4) this census of allegiance occurred about 1 year before the death of Herod the Great, which is consistent with our placing the birth of Christ in the spring of 5 BC". (I think it was Sept. 4, 5 BC)

"The evidence that Herod died in 4 BC is strong, and the accounts in Josephus of the reigns of his three sons, Archelaus, Antipas and Philip, all correlate perfectly with a 4 BC date." Some have a problem understanding Luke 2:1-5. In the KJV, it says, "it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child." Let's look up some of the original words in Strong's Concordance to get a better idea of the meaning. Luke 2:1-5 (KJV) says, "it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world (i.e., the entire Roman Empire) should be taxed (apographo, to write off [a copy or list], that is, enroll: - tax, write; i.e., list their inherited property for taxation purposes). (And this taxing was FIRST [protos, contracted superlative of pro, a primary preposition; fore, that is, in front of, prior; In compounds: foremost in time, place, order or importance: - before, beginning, first of all, former] made when Cyrenius was governor [hegemoneuo, a leader, i.e., justice, judge, one in charge of the tax enrollment] of Syria, and the Holy Land was added) And all went to be taxed (apographo, to enroll), every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed (apographo, enrolled, i.e., registered for taxation purposes) with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."

The word "protos" is translated "before" in John 1:30. It says, "This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before (emprosthen, in front of) me: for he was before (protos) me."

The Wycliffe New Testament says, "This first DESCRIBING was made of Cyrenius, JUSTICE of Syria [justice, or keeper, of Syria]."

New English version says, "In those days a decree was issued by Emperor Augustus for a general registration throughout the Roman world. This was the first registration of its kind; and it took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria."

In 5 BC, Cyrenius was a LEADER in Syria, probably a JUDGE, who was put in charge of conducting a registration, or census, for taxation purposes. In 6 AD, after becoming governor of Syria, he conducted another registration, so the one in 5 BC was the first, and the one in 6 AD was the second.

In "Luke 2:1-20 Christmas: A Time to Celebrate" (http://www.abideinchrist.com/messages/lk2v1.pdf), Wil Pounds said, "The date was BC 4 or 5...

"Quirinius is the governaor of Syria. In fact, he was probably governor twice and was involved in at least two censuses. Inscriptions discovered by Sir William Ramsay show he was "governor" in Syria both before and after the birth of Jesus. The eminent archaeologist Jerry Vandeman found a coin with the name of Quirinius on it in small writing. This coin places him as proconsul of Syria and Cilicia from 11 BC until the death of Herod. The census would have taken place under the reign of Quirinius."

In Antiquities of the Jews, XVIII, I. 1 and II.1, Josephus sheds some light on the second census. This was after Archelaus was removed from office, and since this giving account of their estates was ANOTHER registration, there had to be one BEFORE this one, i.e., in 5 BC.

Josephus said, "I:1. Now "CYRENIUS" (Quirinius), a Roman SENATOR, and one who had gone through other MAGISTRACIES, and had passed through them till he had been CONSUL, and one who, on other accounts, was of great dignity, came at this time into SYRIA, with a few others, being sent by Caesar to be a JUDGE of that nation, and TO TAKE AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR SUBSTANCE. Coponius also, a man of the equestrian order, was sent together with him, to have the supreme power over the Jews. Moreover, "CYRENIUS" came himself into JUDEA, which was now added to the province of SYRIA, TO TAKE AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR (JEWS) SUBSTANCE, and to dispose of (Herod's son) Archelaus's Money; (after Herod's death and later Archelaus's removal) but the Jews, although at the beginning they took the report of A(NOTHER) TAXATION heinously, yet did they leave off any further opposition to it, by the persuasion of Joazar, who was the son of Beethus, and high priest; so they, being over-persuaded by Joazar's words, GAVE AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR ESTATES (TRIBAL PROPERTY INHERITANCES), without any dispute about it....

In XVIII. II. 1, Josephus said, "When "CYRENIUS" had now disposed of Archelaus's Money, and when the TAXINGS were come to a CONCLUSION, WHICH WERE MADE IN THE THIRTY-SEVENTH YEAR (i.e., ON THE ANNIVERSARY) OF CAESAR'S VICTORY OVER MARK ANTHONY at ACTIUM..."

The Battle of Actium ended the era of the Roman Republic and began the time of the Roman Empire. It took place on September 2, 31 BC. The 37th anniversary of that Battle was September 2, 7 AD.

Cyrenius, the Greek form of Quirinius, Web Bible Encyclopedia: (http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/cyrenius.html) "His full name was Publius Sulpicius Quirinius. Recent historical investigation has proved that Quirinius was governor of Cilicia, which was annexed to Syria at the time of our Lord's birth."

In "Bethlehem and the Tax Census" (http://members.aol.com/JAlw/tax_census.html), Joseph Alward said that "an inscription found on a stone (the Lapis Tiburtinus)...refers to someone who was a governor, AGAIN, of Syria.

The year of the second registration was 6 or 7 AD. The only census documented outside the Bible near this time under Quirinius is the one referred to by Josephus, which he says took place after Augustus deposed Archelaeus. That was in 6 AD.

Did the TAXATION in Luke 2:1,2 also take place on the Anniversary of the historic "Battle of Actium", September 2, 31 B.C.? No. I have plenty of evidence now Jesus' birth was on September 4, 5 BC (Tishri 1, 3757).

In "Can you date the crucifixion of Jesus Christ using astronomy?" (http://holtz.org/Library/Social%20Science/History/Metals%20Age/Dating%20Jesus%20Death%20by%20Lunar%20Eclipse.htm), it says, "Humphreys and Waddington then assumed that both 14 and 15 Nisan are possible dates, and then consulted predictions of the lunar motion to determine for which dates between AD 26 - 36, either 14 or 15 Nisan fell on a Friday. These are the only dates possible for the Crucifixion as set by the Biblical evidence."

"14 Nisan
Friday 11 April AD 27
Friday 7 April AD 30
Friday 3 April AD 33

"15 Nisan
Friday 11 April AD 27
Friday 23 April AD 34"

I think they missed, because they thought the Crucifixion was on Friday. I think it was on Thursday, "the preparation of the passover" (John 19:14), April 6, 30 AD.

DOUBLE CHECK

Herod began to build the temple in 20/19 BC (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (http://www.bible-history.com/jewishtemple/JEWISH_TEMPLEInternational_Standard_Bible_Enc.htm)

"The building was commenced in 20 BC - 19 BC. The naos, or temple proper, was finished in a year and a half, but it took 8 years to complete the courts and cloisters. The total erection occupied a much longer time (compare John 2:20, "Forty and six years")".

I think Jesus was born Tishri 1, 3757, September 4, 5 BC. He was baptized near Tishri 1 in 26 AD, when he was about 30 (Luke 3:23). The temple had been under construction 46 years at the first passover of his ministry in 27 AD. He was crucified on the preparation day for the 4th Passover, Thursday, Nisan 13, 3790, April 6, 30 AD.

I'm glad to find out that the temple proper was finished in 1.5 years. Then the Tribulation Temple could be finished in 1.5 years. Herod had the stones pre-cut before the existing temple was torn down. Israel already has the stones pre-cut for the Tribulation temple. I get the feeling that what has been will be.

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