Venus, The Star Of Bethlehem

Copyright Ó2003-2025 Bruce Alan Killian   Jan 02, 2025 A.D. Email: bakillian at earthlink.net

To index          file: www.scripturescholar.com\VenusStarofBethlehem.htm or .pdf

YouTube 1: Jesus’ Star: chapter 1—https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7-NOgTpsiE

YouTube 2: Jesus’ Star: chapter 2 The movie Esther—https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvV6a9M1JYw

                        19 to 23-minute talks covering some of the material presented here.

See Also: Esther and the King’s Golden Scepter—http://www.scripturescholar.com/EstherScepter.htm .pdf.

Constellation of Leo as seen before sunrise from Jerusalem on August 24, 2 B.C.[1] All dates are Julian. (The view from Babylon is the same) Numbers after planet names are the relative brightness; lower numbers are brighter, and negative numbers are very bright. Star size represents its brightness; The atmosphere makes planets golden or rosy near the horizon. Three planets depict a scepter in the hind feet of the Lion (Leo) Venus’ heliacal rise !Horizon !Sun

It was primarily a study of Scripture, not the heavens, which led to finding His enigmatic star. The Star of Bethlehem was Venus, the brightest star. This star guided the magi by pointing to a picture of a lion with a golden scepter. It announced the Messiah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who would rule all the Earth, was coming and then went towards Judah. Later, it helped them find His house in Bethlehem on Passover.

Near Christmas, we encounter the story in Matthew 2:1-15 of the magi (wise men) visiting Jesus, finding Him by heading to the place where the star waited. Here’s Matthew’s account:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they saw[i] when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt (Matthew 2:1–14).

Why did the wise men go to Jerusalem to worship a child king? The short answer is that they observed Venus rising before sunrise, as shown above, on August 24, 2 B.C.[2] Venus, called a wandering star by the ancients (Jude 1:13), fulfilled prophecies given by Jacob c. 1800 B.C., Balaam c. 1400 B.C., and David c. 1000 B.C. The magi explained why they came, “we saw his star at it rose” (Matthew 2:2). The image shows Venus rose just before dawn to mark a golden vertical line of planets formed by Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter.[3]

Why identify Venus as the Star of Bethlehem? In the Bible’s last chapter, Jesus called Himself “the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16). Venus is ‘the bright morning star.’ How do we know? The morning stars are Mercury and Venus. The ancients referred to two planets as ‘morning stars’ because they were usually only visible for a few hours before dawn when they were visible in the morning. They are visible then because they are closer to the sun than the Earth. Venus is the brighter, and Jesus is the bright morning star, so Venus is His Star.

Venus can occasionally be seen during the day and is the brightest natural object in the sky after the sun and moon. It is the brightest star-like object. All other natural heavenly bodies are further from the sun than the Earth and are visible throughout the night. Mercury and Venus are also evening stars because they are only visible for a few hours after sunset when visible in the evening. Since Jesus is ‘the bright morning star,’ it had to be Venus rising in the morning. Venus spends about half of its cycle as a morning star. Every 1.6 years (584 days), Venus rises with the morning sun for the first time. The magi saw Venus rise, and it was the Star of Bethlehem.

The magi spotted Venus as it rose near Jesus’ birth and observed these signs. The magi were professional astronomers. They spotted Venus as early as possible. The magi observed His star’s first rise in each cycle.

How can we identify the specific time the star rose? In Matthew 2:2, the phrase ‘en te anatole’ (ἐν th anatolh) (in its rising) because it is in the singular, with the article and in contrast to apo anatolwn (from the east) Matthew 2:1 probably isn’t a geographical but an astronomical expression; simultaneously with its rising [near the horizon] also Matthew 2:9.[4] The term appears to refer to a star simultaneously rising with the sun (a heliacal rising). We’ll see the heliacal rise of Sirius signaled the start of the Nile flood season and Pleiades, the start of the sailing season.

The verb “we saw” (eidomen, εἴδομεν) is in the aorist tense, meaning an action completed at a point in time. The magi came because of a particular event, not because of one that endured for weeks or months. This verse is frequently mistranslated. If Matthew meant ‘we have seen,’ he’d have used the pluperfect tense. I discuss the common word for a heavenly object rising anatello later. Matthew 2:9 means, ‘they saw’ the same star heliacally rise again.

An astronomy program allows us to view when Venus rose with the sun once every 1.6 years. Venus rose on two dates: August 24, 2 B.C., and March 27, 1 A.D.[5] The latter date was a Passover, which proves to be significant. We can see what the magi observed once we know when Venus rose in the morning. The picture on the first page depicts what they saw. I’ll explain the significance of this scene. To understand it, I needed to link the picture to the Scriptures.

Why Did God Make the Sun, Moon, and Stars?

In the Bible’s first chapter, God explains the purpose of the sun, moon, and stars. God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years” (Genesis 1:14). The Bible groups the sun, moon, stars, planets, comets, etc. Generally, their purpose is to be lights and order time, but a purpose is to be signs.[6]

In its simplest form, the Bible uses the word sign synonymously with our word picture.[7] The stars form connect-the-dots images we call constellations. The Bible mentions constellations, some by name: the Bear, Orion, and Pleiades.[8] Each tribe of Israel had a banner with a picture. Judah’s banner pictured the Lion of the tribe of Judah.[9] The Lion of Judah is the Messiah. The constellation associated with Judah is Leo, which is Latin for lion.[10] From the context, sign means picture and relates to time because of its association with seasons, days, and years. A purpose for the sun, moon, and stars are pictures marking particular times,[11] a dated picture. A depiction of the tribe of Judah banner[12]

The Date of Jesus’ Birth

Jesus’ birth appears unrelated to this rising of Venus, except that it follows the sign of the Lion of Judah with His scepter and precedes Venus’ next rising. Jesus was born December 25, 1 B.C.,[13] the traditional date. This date is near the latest that modern scholarship can support. It led to the finding of the star of Bethlehem.

In 70 A.D., General Titus (later Caesar) conquered Jerusalem (commemorated by the Arch of Titus). He brought the Jewish census records to Rome. These records allowed the checking of Jesus’ birthday in Rome over the following centuries, but they are now lost. God wanted the world to know Jesus’ birth date. Rome searched the census records on at least three occasions to investigate Jesus’ birth. Justin Martyr (100-165 A.D.), addressing Emperor Marcus Aurelius stated Jesus was born in Bethlehem, “as you can ascertain also from the registers of the taxing.” After that, they started to celebrate Jesus’ birthday on December 25. Tertullian (160-250 A.D.) wrote “the census of Augustus—that most faithful witness of the Lord’s nativity, kept in the archives of Rome.” When Cyril of Jerusalem (348-386 A.D.) asked Pope Julius (337-353[14]) to assign the correct day of Christ’s birth “from the census documents brought by Titus to Rome,” Julius assigned December 25.[15]

Christmas occurred twice between the first and second signs. I will develop other reasons for selecting this date under the sun and the moon section. Other heavenly signs marked His birth.

The shepherds watched in the fields at night during the lambing season, the winter months starting about mid-December. Sheep would trample newborn lambs in the pens where they spent the night most of the year. I’ll provide historical proof.

His birth didn’t occur during Passover or Tabernacles, or the shepherds would have been in Jerusalem for the feast with their flock (to be available for sacrifices). Also, they were watching their flocks, not living in a sukkah (temporary shelters Israelites lived in during the fall feast of Booths/Tabernacles/Sukkoth).

The Prophetic Link

Daniel, the chief magi (c. 600 B.C., Daniel 2:48, 5:9, 5:11), introduced the magi to the Bible. The magi are always associated with a king and his royal court. A key discovery was connecting the scene on the first page at the rising of His star on August 24, 2 B.C., to Jacob’s famous prophesy in Genesis 49:9-10. Jacob (also called Israel) called his son Judah a lion, linking Judah with a lion. Venus rose in Leo. On that day, three planets, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter, formed a vertical line in the hind feet of the constellation Leo. Jacob prophesied, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his” (Genesis 49:10). The line of planets pictured a scepter. The magi observed the golden scepter, a mark of kingship, in Leo, representing the tribe of Judah, marked by His star. Venus continued in the sky after sunrise. Later, I will explain the planets’ color, but briefly, they change color near the horizon, like the setting sun.

The planets pictured a ruler’s staff or scepter on August 18, 2 B.C.[16] The stars remained in line, pivoting and shortening until the scepter was vertical. The scepter was 3.5º long, and Orion’s belt is 2.3º.[17] The scepter was brighter than Orion even though Orion is the brightest constellation. This passage is synonymous parallel Hebrew poetry;[18] the ruler’s staff and the scepter have a related meaning. Hebrew poetry repeats or contrasts objects, actions, ideas, etc., rather than rhyming words. On the day Venus rose, the line of stars was about to go out of alignment. Venus was ‘He that comes’ to mark the scepter in Leo. Venus represented Jesus; the scepter belongs to Jesus.

August 23 or 24 were the only days that fit the prophecy, and one had to have excellent visibility and be alert to spot it. The date is significant; the scepter was visible before, but not His star; it hadn’t come. After that, there was no scepter for two days. On the third day the scepter reappeared tipped toward Venus as Queen Esther.[19]

Because the magi studied the heavens, they would be more familiar with the Scripture passages mentioning astronomical lights, like the sun, moon, and stars. The magi were familiar with another prophecy that helped them understand Jacob’s prophecy. Balaam said, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). This is the Bible’s first mention of a single star. A word’s first appearance in the Bible is often significant. Balaam refers to a star as ‘him’ and parallels a star and a scepter. Identifying a star with Him reveals why they said they saw ‘his star.’ This section is Hebrew poetry, so scepter and star are related objects. Numbers 24:9 mentions a crouching lion and a lioness, similar to Genesis 49:9. A star will rise out of Jacob, so the star represents a descendant of Jacob. The scepter and His star in Leo fulfill both the prophecy by Jacob and the prophecy of Balaam. These are two Scriptural witnesses to this sign. God announced the king to whom the scepter belonged.

On this day, the daystar[20] set in Jerusalem’s direction before sunset. The star pointed the way and preceded them on their journey. Most who write on the star of Bethlehem mention this passage but typically identify the star Regulus with the scepter. Regulus means ‘little king’.

In a separate article, I add a chapter to this story. I detail the signs in the sky, revealing the earliest possible conception date of the child Jesus. God tells the story of Esther in the sky from August 13, 2 B.C., until August 29, 2 B.C. Esther is the Persian word for Venus, and Ahasuerus, a title meaning lion king, extends his golden scepter toward Esther. Esther is the annotated script for the silent movie the magi watched. See “The Heavenly Movie Esther; The King Extends His Golden Scepter.”[21] The earliest conception was Venus’ last night as the evening star and Jupiter’s the last night in the evening; that is their acronycal set. This story reveals God’s control over the visibility of the signs needed to tell the story.

Why did the magi come to worship this newborn King?

The magi recognized the ‘sign’ announced a king of the Jews. Why did they journey to ‘worship’ Him? Angel Gabriel revealed to Daniel the year the Christ would come (Daniel 9:24-27). The magi knew Christ’s coming neared, as did all of Israel (Luke 3:15). Daniel, a prophet, predicted four world kingdoms, and then a fifth kingdom would be set up as an everlasting kingdom. Everyone would come and worship the king of this fifth kingdom.

Since Daniel’s time, four world kingdoms had come: Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome (Daniel 2:39-44; 8:20-22). This sign was of the king of the fifth kingdom. “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. Note: He’s ascending to heaven, not coming down from heaven. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14 NIV). The magi came to worship a king who would rule forever and be worshiped by all.

The magi didn’t understand the sign of the scepter in Leo until they had researched it. They came to Jerusalem timed to match when His star would again soon rise with the sun to arrive after the child was born.

Why did the magi look for the king in Jerusalem and not Rome? Jew comes from ‘Judah,’ the name of the principal surviving tribe of the twelve tribes of Israel. The scepter would not depart Judah. The scepter was a sign of kingly authority or rule. To find a King of the Jews, Jerusalem was the logical destination. It was the capital and principal city of the Jews. The magi had a second witness. They saw the morning star continue after sunrise. It traveled through the day until it disappeared before sunset in the west, the direction of Jerusalem.

The magi came to Jerusalem looking for the child king, assuming He was the current king’s son. They came to worship the king who would rule the world forever. The magi timed their arrival in Jerusalem to match the rising of Venus. After learning from the chief priests and the scribes where the king was born, King Herod sent them to Bethlehem 5.5 miles (9 km) south. He said, “Search diligently for the child,” implying he heard the shepherds’ report but never found the boy king, so he must have departed Bethlehem. Since all were in expectation, why didn’t some chief priests and scribes accompany the magi? They prepared for Passover, and Herod’s search failed. Herod probably had them followed, but their attire made the magi stand out.

The Day Star

Saint Peter identified the morning star as the day star.[22] “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star (phōsphoro, φωσφόρος) arise in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19 KJV).” This time in Venus’ orbit, one could see it throughout the day, even at noon. H. B. Curtis describes Venus as visible throughout much of the day[23]—a star seen day and night.

Venus’ daytime visibility occurs near the inferior conjunction (between the sun and Earth). It must have sufficient separation from the sun. Curtis viewed Venus with 9.4 degrees of separation. He states, “Any pair of eyes with normal vision could easily have seen Venus that day.” The heliacal rising of Venus occurs on the first day of visibility after the inferior conjunction. Some ancients refer to the horns of Venus, apparently indicating that they could recognize the phases of Venus.[24] Here is a link to an account of one person who saw the horns of Venus in modern times.[25] Horns in the Bible indicate power; e.g., altars had horns. Balaam spoke of him with horns as the wild ox (Numbers 24:8). The magi saw the star rise in the east, but it set in the west fifty minutes before sunset, going before them in the direction they were to go.[26]

Two views of Venus the crescent is what it appears like near its inferior conjunction. Later, it appears smaller and more nearly spherical as it moves further from the Earth. The crescent is brighter because Venus is closer. As the crescent moon, the crescent Venus looks like horns, but to most people, Venus appears as a point of light in most situations.

In the two heliacal rising views of the bright morning star cited by the magi, Venus rises less than 3 degrees before the sun with a horizontal separation of 9.5 degrees—better conditions than Curtis experienced when he could view Venus during the day. For one to see Venus, there must be excellent visibility. God put the planets in orbit and controlled the weather.

Other Venus References in the Bible

In the Canticle of Zechariah, Venus is also called the Dayspring (anatole, anatolh).[27] John the Baptist’s father prophecied about Jesus. “Through the tender mercy of our God when the Dayspring shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the road of peace” (Luke 1:78-79). Observe this star comes up with the sun but is a light in the darkness. It isn’t the sun, and it can guide our feet (something stars aren’t known to do). All of these features were necessary. The Dayspring was visible at dawn, and in the dark, it’s not the sun dawning, so only Venus qualifies.

The Vulgate also identifies Christ with the day star in Psalm 110:3 and associates it with a scepter. This Psalm is the most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament, at twenty-five times. The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand: Until I make thy enemies thy footstool. The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot thee (Psalm 110 (109):1-3 Douay).

Jesus references this passage as referring to Himself. For example, Matthew 22:44-45 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet’? If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?” Jesus answers that question in Revelation 22:16, “I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches.[28] I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.” The reference to the bright morning star refers back to Psalm 110:3, ‘the day star,’ so Jesus confirms the Vulgate’s translation is correct.^[29] This star also shows up in Job, and brightness like that of the noon day shall arise to thee at the evening and when thou shalt think thyself consulted thou shalt rise as the day star (Job 11:17 Douay). [30]

This star also appears in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (called the Septuagint or LXX), as the Anatole (the same word Zechariah used in Luke 1:78) as the translation of the Hebrew word tsamach (צמח), which is a messianic term for Branch, but means ‘a shoot’ (of a plant) or ‘to rise up.’ This translation occurs in Zechariah 3:8, 6:12, and Jeremiah 23:5. In each case, the LXX used Anatole for the bright morning star. See also Isaiah 4:2. It is reasonable that Zechariah would know this because he shares a name with the author.

A Great Light

In Greek, Anatole referring to Christ could explain why the magi called Venus ‘His star’ long before John wrote Revelation 22:16. Zechariah links darkness and the shadow of death; morning and evening are shadows of darkness. Some passages in the Old Testament link the coming of a great light with the Messiah. Isaiah said, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. … For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever (Isaiah 9:2, 6-7).

Another reason the magi called it his star is the Septuagint in Numbers 24:17 substitutes man for scepter. I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, and a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Sheth (Numbers 24:17 LXX).

This great light wasn’t the sun because it appears in other Bible passages directly linked to Jesus. Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16 quoting Isaiah 9:1-2). And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19 RSV). Here the RSV translates day star as morning star. So this light showed in darkness (not the sun) and appeared at dawn, but it was a great light that could guide. Genesis 1 calls the sun and moon “great lights” because they are visible during the day. Venus is a great light when one can see it during the day.

Greek has another word for “rise,” anatello (ἀνατέλλω). They used it for the rise of a heavenly object. They use anatello for the rising of the sun, moon, stars, and clouds, but it isn’t linked with the rising of the sun (unless it is the sun rising). It helps to clarify that the anatole refers to rising with the sun. In contrast, anatello refers to any heavenly body rising, whether with the sun or not.[31]

Led By a Star

Nineteen months earlier, the star rose on August 24, 2 B.C. Venus rose about 12.5 degrees south of where the sun rose and was visible as the day star until fifty minutes before sundown. It set in the west toward the kingdom of Judah (from Ctesiphon or Susa). So the star pointed to a sign of a new king in Jerusalem and moved in the direction they were to go.

Bethlehem was a small town about half a kilometer east of the north-south ridge of hills dividing Judah. In Bethlehem, several boys appear to be the correct age. Which one is the Christ?

On Sunday morning, March 27, 1 A.D., the magi watched the Star of Bethlehem rise before sunrise and continue in the sky throughout the day. The bright morning star rose in the east and remained visible overhead as the daystar, and after sunset, low in the west. Since Herod probably had the magi followed, when they found nothing, the spy was released to celebrate Passover.

Venus rose in the constellation of Aries, the constellation picturing a slain lamb. The rising of Venus marked the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). The magi rejoiced when they saw Venus rise for three reasons. They understood it was another sign: Venus marked a Lamb, and they were in a town of sheep. The magi learned from the passage, which identified that the King would be born in Bethlehem, that He would shepherd His flock (Micah 5:2-4). Even though they would have known the star would rise in Aries, they couldn’t link sheep/Aries to the Messiah until they connected these passages to Bethlehem. Second, they saw Venus heliacally rise. Third, Venus lingered after sunset, maybe to guide them. Was Venus saying, “Follow me?” Venus was at a different point in its orbit and was still ten degrees above the horizon at sunset.

Matthew 2:9 doesn’t say the star led the magi; instead, it went before them and stood (stopped or waited) over their destination. The Earth rotates, so it moved from horizon to horizon with the sun. It went ahead in the direction they were to go, and they followed it. Many don’t believe this could be a real star because stars can’t ‘go before’ to ‘lead’ and can’t ‘stop’ over a town, much less a particular house. Many believe the star was an angel because it led during the day and could lead around corners. A star couldn’t lead because it was too far from the Earth. Those believing this tend to view the star as an angel (the Bible occasionally calls angels stars Job 38:7, Revelation 12:4). Why did it lead to Jerusalem rather than directly to Bethlehem if it was an angel?

At Bethlehem, there is a north-south ridge of hills west of town, so the star came low near Earth after sunset. It was just above the crest of the hills at a saddle to the west of Bethlehem. It beckoned the magi because it was low in the sky after sunset. The star had gone before them to its destination.

The magi walked toward the star, and it stopped. As they moved, it waited over the saddle as they approached. Because their horizon was changing as they moved toward the ridge, the star appeared to stop. Venus was alone in the western sky. No other heavenly body was visible, so no celestial light appeared to stop with Venus. The star moved in the sky but waited for them from their viewpoint. Their motion, walking up the hill and toward the ridge, caused the apparent downward movement of the star to cease. The star’s height above the ridgeline remained constant as they climbed the hill. It led to a point on the crest of the hills, which was 12.3 degrees north of west. The star moved from the opposite side as they moved upward, canceling the magi’s motion. It waited for them to arrive. The star set 24 minutes after sunset, so the magi reached the ridge before it set.

They followed the star on the road from Bethlehem to the crest, which by ‘coincidence’ was in the correct direction. They came to His house beyond the crest.

The full moon and Jupiter were on the opposite horizon and moved typically. Nearby, they saw the star above an isolated house where Jesus and Mary were. When they got to the house (or cave) and looked behind it for the star, it wasn’t visible; it disappeared into that house. Atmospheric extinction made it disappear. Near the horizon, a little humidity dramatically reduces the star’s visibility. Today, two thousand years after the bright morning star guided the magi to Jesus’ house, we can retrace their steps to locate it. Beyond the ridgeline, to the west. They traveled half a kilometer up the ridge. The house in Bethlehem was away from the town center.

I cropped the following map from a 1912 map of Bethlehem; each square is 500 meters.[32] The dashed line marks the estimated journey of the magi. The map shows Bethlehem’s topography. The magi followed the ancient path. The route curved slightly west to follow the star. The magi’s starting location couldn’t be fifty meters north or south of their path (or road), or they would lose sight of the star as they traversed the ravines that would be in their path.

é North

The Hebron-Jerusalem road at the far west (left) follows the ridge south from Jerusalem but lies west of the summit. We don’t have the road/path from Roman times, but it would go up to a saddle to the Hebron road. The green house is about where Jesus’ house was. The blue dot marks the cave where He was born.[33] The orange building marks the inn’s approximate location. The dashed arrow was their path of travel.

The star had no apparent motion along the horizon. The magi’s slight southward vector canceled its slight northward vector. Only the horizon provided perspective, so Venus, like the moon, seemed closer and more prominent.

Viewing Venus from above, if down is 180 degrees, it descends 165 degrees to the north. The magi moved west but veered slightly north, so Venus appeared fixed on the horizon at the point toward which the magi moved. The magi ascend the road to Joseph and Mary’s house. Because they followed the road, their position relative to Jesus’ home can be determined when locating the ancient road.

The following charts depict how the magi could follow a star and how it stopped.

I depict Venus’ position at sunset and 24 minutes later before it set.	Venus as seen by the magi moving toward the saddle. Top picture first, bottom picture last.

The star led during twilight when travel was safer than at night. As Zechariah prophesied, the Dayspring (not the sun) guided their feet on the road of peace. They followed the side road up to the main north-south road leading to Jerusalem. There was no commotion in Bethlehem, like in Jerusalem, so no one witnessed the magi follow a star. No message of a baby quickly reached King Herod in Jerusalem. Most people were in Jerusalem celebrating Passover. God answered which boy in Bethlehem! Beyond the junction was Jesus’ house. That evening, the magi visited that house. By divine ‘coincidence,’ Jesus lived there. Matthew said they entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary. That might mean they knocked, and when no one answered, they entered and found them. Maybe if Joseph had constructed a cave to hide in like the houses in Nazareth had, they heard a cry and located the cave.

The magi brought Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Seneca wrote, “One cannot greet Parthian royalty without bringing a gift without a gift.”[34] The magi worshipped Jesus; they didn’t doubt that He was the LORD.

The magi slept after leaving Jesus and Mary. They were warned in a dream that night. After the feast, Joseph was warned in a dream during the watch (Exodus 12:42). Jesus and his disciples kept this watch in the garden of Gethsemane thirty-two years later. Joseph hurried from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and fled to Egypt with Mary and Jesus at night. So Jesus’ flight to Egypt and His arrest thirty-two years later were about the same time of year. It was Passover night when Israel fled Egypt for the Promised Land. On Passover night, the holy family fled the Promised Land for Egypt. It was a full moon, so they had sufficient light to travel safely.

The magi arrived at least forty days after Jesus was born. When His parents presented Him in the Temple at forty days old (Luke 2:22 and Leviticus 12:2-8), the offering included a lamb unless the family was too poor to afford one. Joseph couldn’t afford a lamb to redeem the Redeemer (a lamb cost about one day’s wage for a laborer); he had no gold, frankincense, or myrrh.[35] The magi visited when Jesus was thirteen weeks or three months old.

The Location of the Holy Families House

There is Biblical evidence Jesus’ house was on this ridge in several indirect ways. It was outside the town proper, so it was easier to hide a newborn. Jesus’ mother, like Moses’ mother, hid him for three months until she could no longer hide him.[36]

When Joshua divided the Promised Land, each family received a parcel of land by lot. The Lord controlled every throw of the die, so God selected this plot of land. In Israel, the land passed from father to son. Joseph was a direct male descendant of King David (Luke 1:27). David was also a direct male descendant of Boaz (Ruth 4:20-21), so Joseph could inherit property from his ancestor Boaz. Boaz’s mother, Rahab, married Salmon (Matthew 1:5) about when the land was divided by lot.

Boaz slept at a threshing floor to guard his barley harvest (Ruth 2:3-8). So Boaz’s inheritance likely included a threshing floor. They used the wind to help separate chaff from grain kernels, so they were in windy places. The windiest places are typically ridges, particularly a saddle, because it channels the wind. Since the prevailing wind in Judah is from the west, the ridge near Bethlehem would be an excellent place for a threshing floor. A threshing floor was a flat rocky area in a windy place where they separated the grain from the chaff. It would also be a secure place to build one’s house.[37]

The Gospel in the Heavens

From the signs the magi saw, God announced the gospel because the Bible linked the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Passover Lamb. In Revelation 22:16, where Jesus identified the Bright Morning Star with Himself, He also identifies Himself as the Root of David. This phrase only occurs in one other passage, Revelation 5:5-6 See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. … Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne.[38]

Only this passage identifies Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and it also identifies Him as the Lamb, looking as if slain. So, this passage brings these signs together with the Bright Morning Star. The two signs the magi saw are two key titles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They knew the boy was God because they came to “worship Him” and did so. Combined with the day of the event, these two signs succinctly tell the gospel. The long-promised Divine Son born to rule the nations will be their sacrificed Passover Lamb. The primary purpose of sacrifice was to forgive sin. So, a redeemer would soon arrive.

A Problem: When Did Herod Die?

Most determine the probable date of King Herod’s death before searching for the star. Josephus, a Jewish general and historian, wrote c. 90 A.D. He recorded a lunar eclipse seen shortly before King Herod the Great’s death about ninety years earlier.[39] Selecting the proper eclipse is a key to dating it. The correct eclipse was December 29, 1 B.C. The eclipse of March 15, 4 B.C., was too close to Passover for the events Josephus recorded to reasonably occur that year. The other possible eclipse, January 10, 1 B.C., was only visible from 2 to 4 AM when few would see it. On December 29, 1 B.C., the moon rose half eclipsed twenty minutes after sunset. Many observed the eclipse, and its significance as a sign would be more widely recognized. The moon eclipsed at the horizon appeared blood red increasing the omen’s significance. Josephus recorded the eclipse because it was a sign. This sign moves King Herod’s death from 4 B.C. to 1 A.D.[40] Josephus recorded that King Herod died before Passover. Herod died after Passover 1 A.D. when the magi saw the star again, and he killed Bethlehem’s babes. A moon eclipsed near the horizon appears deep red because Earth’s atmosphere bends the red sunlight component and illuminates the moon while dispersing the blue.

Eclipsed moonrise on December 29, 1 B.C. Here’s a similar but not actual image because I can’t time travel:

“The reddening becomes more pronounced and deeper when the moon is viewed from those longitudes of the Earth where it is just after sunset or just before sunrise. In these cases, the light returning to the Earth again travels horizontally through the Earth’s atmosphere and undergoes further reddening, taking on a dark red color.”[41]

The Temple officials interpreted the Scriptures to say that Passover fell on the evening of the fourteenth day of the lunar month. The Vernal equinox preceded the full moon on the fifteenth day of Nisan. The Vernal equinox was on March 25, 1 A.D. The first full moon following this would be Passover. Therefore, Passover started on Sunday, March 27, at sundown.

In Herod’s last weeks, God afflicted him with unclean sores, and no one unclean could celebrate Passover. Therefore, he had to defer when he celebrated Passover, choosing to celebrate it one month later as permitted. Herod’s illness meant Venus could first be visible on Passover, yet have Herod die before “he” celebrated Passover the same year. The magi visited Herod in Jerusalem and probably arrived on the tenth of Nisan. They visited the Holy Family on Passover four days later, but Josephus said Herod died before Passover.[42]

God had each family select their Passover lamb on the tenth of Nisan (Exodus 12:3). So, the magi announced the star, revealing God’s selected Lamb. Therefore, Herod planned to celebrate Passover on April 25, A.D. 1, and was alive when the star of Bethlehem rose. He had the babes of Bethlehem slaughtered that day (Matthew 2:10-18) but died shortly after that. Since Josephus isn’t Scripture and wasn’t an eyewitness, he used a faulty source for an event ninety years earlier. There could be other reasons for erroneously dating Herod’s death before Passover.

In Judah, in the first century, different groups used different calendars. They disagreed on when to celebrate Passover. At least two, a lunar-solar calendar used by the Sadducees and a solar calendar used by the Essenes. The gospels demonstrate this problem; Jesus celebrated Passover on one day, while others celebrated it at least one day later (Luke 22:15, John 18:28).

The problem is solved if Josephus’ details came from a group celebrating Passover later. Josephus may have got his details wrong. His writings have many known errors; for instance, he had John the Baptist die about four years late in 36 A.D. If the magi arrived near Passover, Herod would be far more likely to be in Jerusalem. Second, more distractions would hinder King Herod from monitoring the magi with Passover coming that evening. There were hundreds of thousands of visitors in Jerusalem.

Joseph was in Jerusalem for the Passover, not at home. When the magi arrived, the magi saw the Child and His mother Mary (Matthew 2:11). Joseph was warned in a dream that night to flee with Mary and the child to Egypt. Because it was Passover, there was a full moon all night to light the path for the Holy Family while they fled. Jesus was ninety-two days old on that night.

Herod’s sons dated coins from 4 B.C. Some argue they could not do this until King Herod died. Herod’s sons didn’t date coins until the fourth year of their reign; they waited until Herod died. Herod made them coregents, not independent rulers who could mint coins until Augustus approved of their rule when Herod died. They date their coins from their coregency but mint coins after Herod’s death.

The Census of Quirinius

In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment when Quirinius governed Syria (Luke 2:1-2). Joseph and Mary journeyed to Bethlehem because of this decree. Many doubt this decree occurred because of the timing. My proposal has less difficulty because I place the date of King Herod the Great’s death after Passover 1 A.D., so there are fewer chronological difficulties.

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible proposes the decree was an oath of allegiance to the emperor, so it was a public enrollment of subjects expressing their loyalty to the reigning emperor. It may also be Quirinius was the administrator of the Judean census years before he became the Legate of Syria and did the census for taxation in 6 A.D.[43]

The necessity to return to one’s city requirement was likely specific to Judah, not the empire. The final piece to this puzzle is the three requests to search the census records. God prompted the census to fix the date of Jesus’ birth using astronomical data, Roman records, and Scriptural evidence.

To many, the eclipse appears to put the birth of Jesus four or more years earlier, while the census places His birth about six years after this. Those arguing for the earlier date don’t successfully deal with the census date.

Augustus in Rome put Gaius, his nineteen-year-old grandson and planned successor, as governor over Syria on January 29, 1 B.C. Caesar made Quirinius (an experienced governor), Gaius’ tutor, to accelerate his training. After arriving in Syria (c. April 1, 1 B.C.), Gaius negotiated a period of peace with Parthian King Phraates V.[44] After the treaty, he was appointed consul for the year 1 A.D. He died in battle with Parthia on February 21, 4 A.D.[45] During this peace, the wise men arrived in Jerusalem. The magi’s party was small, or Herod would’ve viewed them as a threat. Luke said Quirinius governed Syria, not that he was the governor. He was Gaius’ rector, so they both governed, but Gaius was the governor.

The Constellations Marked by the Rising of Venus

On Sunday, August 24, 2 B.C., Venus rose in the constellation of Leo to mark the Lion of the tribe of Judah receiving His golden scepter. Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Jesus is the King of the Jews (John 18:33-37) and the King of kings (Revelation 17:4, 19:16).

On March 27, 1 A.D., Venus rose in the constellation of Aries. Aries means slain Ram or Lamb. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, like a Passover lamb. John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36). Lamb is one of the most common titles of Jesus in the New Testament. The Passover lambs were selected in their first year (not yet one year old Exodus 12:5). Jesus was in His first year when the magi announced His star in Jerusalem.

During Jesus’ public ministry, Venus rose on August 15, 31 A.D., in the constellation of Leo. Venus rose on March 19, 33 A.D.,[46] several weeks before Jesus’ resurrection, in the constellation of Pisces. Pisces represents two fish, and the link to the fisherman who led a new Church is not coincidental. (E. W. Bullinger indicates the Hebrew name of Pisces is closely connected with growing as fish do into multitudes and with the mystery of the Church.).[47]

The Position of Mercury during these Risings of Venus

During each of these risings of Venus (August 24, 2 B.C., March 27, 1 A.D., August 15, 31 A.D., and March 19, 33 A.D.), Mercury is a morning star like Venus. God said the morning stars sang together while laying the Earth’s foundation (Job 38:4-7). It appears the morning stars sang together to announce Jesus’ conception and resurrection. Another link to God’s ancient plan is the Bible says the Lamb that was slain … before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). The signs in the sky were in motion before God formed the Earth. At Earth’s creation, the planets were in orbit as a sign of the Lamb and signaled His coming in Bethlehem. God set the lights in the sky for signs (Genesis 1:14), so the sun, moon, and stars form timed signs from God.

Isaiah 14:12 refers to a morning star (halal or Lucifer, son of the morning (KJV)). It isn’t the bright morning star but Mercury, the other morning star, and it refers to Satan.

Christmas and the Birth of Jesus

In several related articles, the author discusses the date of the birth of Jesus.[48] The simple answer is that Jesus was born at midnight on Sunday, December 25, 1 B.C. Julian, this date was confirmed by Roman census records, by the priestly course timing of Zechariah, and by astronomical signs in the sun and the moon. In the winter season, shepherds kept watch in the fields at night.

Some say all birthdays celebrated in the Bible are for evil rulers (Pharaoh and Herod). That is not true; angels and shepherds celebrated Jesus’ birth, and Job’s sons feasted on their birthdays (Job 1:4-5). Jesus was born just before the start of 754 A.U.C., known today as 1 A.D.

The Moon Witnesses to Jesus Birth, Death, and Resurrection

Jesus was born on December 25, 1 B.C. Four days later, on December 29, 1 B.C., the moon rose just after sundown partially eclipsed. An eclipsed moon at the horizon would be red, an ominous sign. We have the witness of Josephus that they saw this eclipse near his birth. This was the closest an eclipsed moon could approach a moonless winter solstice. This was also Jesus’ actual due date from a Passover April 6, 1 B.C. conception. Jesus’ crucifixion occurred on Friday, April 3, 33 A.D. After sundown on that day, the moon visible from Jerusalem rose eclipsed over the Mount of Olives.

Saint Peter strongly confirmed this date by referring to a red lunar eclipse on the day Jesus died. He said, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood ‘before’ the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord” (Acts 2:20). Peter quoted Joel 2:31. During a lunar eclipse, the moon at the horizon is often red.[49] Therefore, in both cases, blood moons were seen shortly after sundown at Jesus’ birth and death.

Also, in the Hebrew of Joel’s prophesy, the word ‘before’ means ‘in the presence of’ or ‘before the face of’, and there is no definite article before day of the Lord, so the sun will be darkened and the moon turned to blood in the presence of a day of the Lord. Jesus’ birth and death appear to be days of the Lord, and the sun and the moon witnessed events; we can check two thousand years later. Except for the weather, one can check all of these signs today.

The full moon and Jupiter rose on the eastern horizon, while the star led the Magi to Jesus’ house.

The Last Supper lasted until midnight;[50] they took about 15 minutes to cross the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives. The nearly full moon reigned, but at 3:20 AM, the moon set, so it became much darker. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus watched and prayed for three hours. The timing is quite precise for a population without clocks. Jesus said to those arresting him, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). So those arresting Jesus waited until the moon set to arrest Him.[51] They did this because Jesus had escaped many attempts to arrest/kill Him (John 7:44, 8:59, 10:39, etc.). The cohort of soldiers (about 500 men) surrounded and attempted to surprise Jesus in the darkness.

At Jesus’ resurrection, the moon again was full. Shortly before dawn, the moon was at the horizon in the west. It was under the woman’s feet (Virgo, the only female constellation the moon passes through), similar in circumstance to Revelation 12:1-2. In this instance, Virgo was pointed head down in worship.

Shepherds in the Field by Night

According to the Mishnah (Jewish oral law recorded c. 200 A.D.), sacrificial lambs in Jesus’ day had to be born within the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem, up to about a mile south of Bethlehem. The chief priests specified that male lambs born within the set boundary and without defect were Temple sacrifices. Jesus, born under the Law, kept this non-Biblical law.

Migdal Eder translated Tower of the Flock is mentioned with Rachael’s death on the way to Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19-21). It also marked the approximate limit where clean animals born would automatically be sacrificial animals. This tower may be where the angel told the shepherds of Jesus’ birth.

Many argue Jesus’ birth couldn’t have been in December because it would be too cold and wet for the shepherds to remain in the fields. This argument falls apart when one understands Levite shepherds in Jerusalem’s vicinity were required to stay there year-round to provide sacrifices for the daily needs of the Temple.[52] Bethlehem’s climate is generally mild, and snow is very infrequent.

A baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger was a ‘sign’ to these shepherds—their job description included certifying sacrifices were without defect. The shepherds visited to certify the Lamb of God was without blemish, as required by the law. In the days of Jesus, one couldn’t bring a lamb from one’s flock. One needed to purchase a sacrificial lamb from the Temple flocks. We can know it had never broken a bone.

The star of Bethlehem rose to mark the first anniversary of Jesus’ conception. He was conceived on Passover and revealed by the star of Bethlehem on Passover. The scepter in Leo, which Venus marked, appeared about one year before John the Baptist’s birth. The scepter was a sign timed to herald the birth of the one who would prepare the way for our Lord Jesus Christ.[53]

The Sun Witnesses to Jesus’ Life

Because Jesus’ birthday was December 25, we can observe new insights. Throughout Jesus’ lifetime, December 25 was the winter solstice. The winter solstice marks the longest night of the year and when days get longer. The Romans later celebrated the solstice as the birthday of the sun. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). God prepared the Roman world to celebrate this day. The sun dawned on the day the Son dawned. The sun played a part in each of these signs. The sun ‘clothes’ (Revelation 12:5) all of these astronomical events because they occur immediately before sunrise, or in the case of the moon, after sunset. Also, all planets shine by reflected sunlight.

Jesus was born during the night, and the shepherds visited him that night. It was a moonless midnight on the longest night of the year, and the light of the world was born in a cave. No time better symbolizes His role of coming into the world to be the light of the world. Another Scripture links the sun and righteousness, “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2). The sun is the primary source of light to the Earth. Without the sun, our planet would be dead. Without the sun, our world would have no life; without Jesus, we have no life.

Genesis 1:14 says the first purpose of the lights, referring to the sun, moon, and stars, is to be for signs. The sun, moon, and the brightest stars signs witnessed the birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of the great light (Matthew 4:16). There are hints that the night of Jesus’ birth was overcast, as well as being the solstice. Luke says that after the angel announced this to the shepherds, a multitude of heavenly hosts were suddenly visible. This host likely referred to angels and stars. The clouds cleared, giving the shepherds light to find their way to Jesus. The Milky Way (or clouds of heaven) was visible that night.

Many incorrectly assume Rome chose the date of Christmas because of the minor Roman god Sol Invictus. Hippolytus of Rome (c. 202-211 A.D.) spoke of Christmas before the cult and festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti developed (c. 274 A.D.).

The lion and sun symbol is based mainly on astronomical and astrological configurations: the ancient sign of the sun in the house of Leo.[54] This appears suspiciously close to a heliacal rise of Leo. The magi were in the royal Parthian court; Ahasuerus means lion king. The sign would link the Parthian King of kings to the Messiah.

Heliacal Risings Observed by the Nations

The magi noted heliacal risings in the daily logs or ephemeris tables. The heliacal rising of Sirius (the dog star) signaled to Egypt the start of the Nile flood season. The heliacal rise of the constellation of Pleiades (the seven sisters) heralded the start of the sailing and farming seasons.[55] The magi particularly paid attention to heliacal rises. This scepter in Leo had the heliacal rise of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Leo in short order. This must have been a particularly notable aspect of this sign. The previously noted Esther movie uses the heliacal risings of heavenly lights for the actors’ entrance into the king’s court, the dark area at the feet of the lion king. The horizon is the entrance and exit from the stage.

Clouds Witness to Jesus’ Life

Clouds witness to the LORD’S glory. And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud (Exodus 24:16). Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, [namely], the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning (Numbers 9:15). Why did the star disappear over Jesus’ house? A little humidity was all it took, an invisible cloud west of His house. Joel 2:31 associates the sun darkening and the moon turning to blood and clouds, and Saint Peter refers to this (Acts 2:20-21). Clouds likely played a part in the signs in the heavens at Jesus’ birth, the magi’s coming, the heavenly signs at the start of His ministry, and His death and resurrection. We can add His transfiguration to this. So Jesus’ birth was darker because clouds obscured the sky and then cleared at the angels’ announcement to the shepherds. Elijah’s servant saw a little cloud in the west to signal the end of the 3.5-year famine (1 Kings 18:44).

The Heavens Worship Jesus

God commanded all not to worship the lights in the heavens. Beware lest you lift your eyes to heaven. When you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and worship them and serve them, things the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven (Deuteronomy 4:19). God allotted the heavenly bodies to the peoples for lights and day after day to reveal His glory, but they can worship. Since God gives dreams and interpretations, we learn heavenly bodies can worship Him. Joseph dreamed that the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to worship him (Genesis 37:11).

How could the sun, moon, and stars bow before Joseph or Jesus? If the sun were visible, the eleven stars wouldn’t be visible. Hence, the sun bowed by hiding itself (but coloring the sky), either in an eclipse[56] or below the horizon. I propose the sun, moon, and stars bowed before Jesus by hiding their light while revealing their presence. A second way they bow is by being low to the ground on the horizon. They also appear to bow at the feet of the one they worship.

In most cases, when the planets or a constellation form a sign mentioned in this article, the stars were as low in the sky as they can be and still be seen. The duration of their visibility was short. The stars formed a barely visible scepter in the constellation of Leo. Extinction colored and dimmed their light.

When the sunlight played a part in the sign, it hid its light (or Venus was a competitor). At Jesus’ birth, it was the winter solstice, so the sun’s light was at a minimum, and it was at midnight, so the sun hid its light for the maximum time. At Jesus’ death, God hid the sun’s light from noon, when it was usually at its strongest.

The Earth can only eclipse the full moon. The moon bowed to worship in two of these signs by being eclipsed. So the sun and moon bowed in their strength. The moon was only briefly visible on the horizon. In both cases, the Earth partially eclipsed the moon. (At the time of Christ’s death, (3 PM) the moon was fully eclipsed, but it wasn’t yet visible above the horizon in Jerusalem). When the moon did reveal itself, it was just above the horizon after sundown.

Interestingly, God kept the order. The sun darkened, and then the moon turned to blood in each instance (rather than the moon then the sun). The sun, moon, and stars didn’t shine at His birth and death. They did reveal their presence after He was born and after He died.

Joseph’s dream links the sun to his father, the moon to his mother, and the stars to his brothers. Later, the brightest star represented Jesus, the firstborn Son of God.

Jesus referred to Himself as the Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15). Psalm 19:4-5 refers to the sun as a bridegroom coming forth from his chamber. It appears that when God darkened the sun during Jesus’ crucifixion, the sun represented Jesus being in His bridal chamber. When Jesus said, “It is finished” (tetelestai, Τετέλεσται) or “It is consummated,” He consummated His marriage covenant with the Church. Afterward, the sun as the bridegroom came forth from its chamber.

In the Bible, red or scarlet represents sin or uncleanness. Though your sins be as scarlet, you shall be white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). When a woman gave birth, she was unclean (Leviticus 12:2). So the moon appeared unclean after the birth of Jesus. Both were unclean until the evening when a husband and wife consummated their marriage, so the moon’s redness indicated consummation.

It is a reasonable conjecture the sun and the moon worshipped Jesus, witnessed His birth, and announced it. Jesus didn’t become unclean at His birth or death but remained holy; see the “Immaculate Conception.”[57] So, if there were any doubt, God had the sun and moon witness twice to Jesus, and they worshiped Him.

Another way the heavens worship Jesus is they allow us to discover the glory of His creation. The apparent size in the sky of the sun and the moon are nearly equal, which is unique to our planet in our solar system. Since the sun and the moon can eclipse each other, God greatly aided our discovery and understanding of our universe.[58]

The Conception of Jesus

Luke 1:26-39 records the conception of Jesus in Nazareth. Jesus was conceived on Passover Wednesday, April 7, 1 B.C. Jesus’ conception occurred at midnight. “For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, the all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed” (Wisdom 18:14). The preceding verses link this event with the Passover.

Midnight means Mary kept the Passover watch commanded for all Israelites (Exodus 12:42). Mary left in haste, leaving for Zechariah and Elizabeth’s home that night. Before dawn, Venus was high and bright, Mercury was bright, and they were together in the constellation of Pisces. Thirty-three years later, Jesus and his disciples kept this watch in the garden of Gethsemane. Mary conceived Jesus, so He came while His star was still the morning star, before His star had departed as Genesis 49:9-10 predicted and required.

Elizabeth revealed her pregnancy at Passover when she stayed home because she was pregnant. She kept it hidden for five months but revealed her pregnancy when she didn’t go to Jerusalem for Passover. As we know, the angel Gabriel came to Nazareth in Elizabeth’s sixth month. It was early in her sixth month because Jesus was born four months and one day after John the Baptist.[59] One can determine this date from the priestly course of Abijah, to which Zechariah belonged. As seen from the priestly cycle records in the Dead Sea scrolls, these courses didn’t reset each year as many infer, but they continued to rotate.[60]

The Start of Jesus’ Ministry

John alludes to a dramatic sign in the heavens (John 1:51) inaugurating Jesus’ ministry. He told His disciples, “Amen, Amen, I tell you soon you all shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” The next evening, March 4, 31 A.D., they saw the sign as they returned to Galilee.

The clouds parted to reveal a ladder, formed by all visible wandering stars, evenly spaced in a straight line, reaching from the Earth to the center of the sky, with Venus marking the constellation of the lamb. John had just pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God, and to make the way of the Lord straight, Jesus is the straight way to heaven[61]. The ladder was probably also crossed by a cloud, which it rested against, making it look like a cross. It appears God hung the constellation of Aires on the cross. See www.scripturescholar.com/LambofGod.pdf for a complete description. This event happened when Jesus was thirty, shortly after His forty-day fast that preceded His public ministry. Age thirty was when a person took priestly or kingly office in Israel. This highway John prophesied, again filled in valleys, leveled mountains, straightened the path and graced the sky at Jesus’ ascension.

King Herod Slays the Boys of Bethlehem

King Herod killed all the boys in Bethlehem two years of age and under, which fits well with the 1.6-year (584 days synodic) period of Venus. Jesus didn’t have to be born at the sign because King Herod understood from the magi the Messiah had to be born before the star rose again, as Jesus was. These quotes help us understand that King Herod the Great was wicked. So we should not be surprised that a non-Christian wrote the following about Herod’s massacre of children under the age of two that is mentioned in Matthew 2:16. The writer is Macrobius (A.D. 395-423). On hearing that the son of Herod, king of the Jews, had been slain when Herod ordered that all boys in Syria under the age of two be killed, Augustus said, “It’s better to be Herod’s pig, than his son” (dicta 56 Malc.)[62] Pig and son rhyme in Greek. So, on the day Herod slayed the boys of Bethlehem, he also killed his oldest son, Antipater, five (four not counting inclusively) days before he died.[63] Since there was wailing in Herod’s palace that day, many additional links exist to the first Passover—the slaying of the firstborn, wailing, night flight, etc.

Planetary Visibility

Venus and the planets in the scepter would be beyond the limit of visibility ‘today.’ There is more light pollution, moisture, and particles in the air. Venus’ visibility is affected by clouds, the latitude, the total astronomical extinction coefficient, Venus’ magnitude, the magi’s visual acuity, the azimuth difference,[64] and the number of particles in the air. Programs used to determine a planet’s heliacal rising use average visibility. Visibility can vary a lot and isn’t an exact science. The sun is closest and, therefore, brightest on January 3 and most distant and dimmest on July 4. On August 24, it would be about 5% below maximum brightness.

The magi viewed the star of Bethlehem under ideal conditions. God, who placed the planets in orbit before the world’s foundation, controlled the weather and visibility of these planets. The magi saw the sign. “The calculation of visibility phenomena is plagued by uncertainties that will only be resolved by a body of reliable observations that does not yet exist.”[65] Besides extinction, three other factors affect visibility: the amount of light from earthbound sources (which dilutes the light), the amount of moisture (which scatters the light), and the number of particles (which absorb the light). The magi observed these signs long before light pollution. The humidity was minimal; they were long before autos and contrails added moisture to the atmosphere. They lived long before industry increased the amount of particulate matter in the air.

God organized the picture so that the brightest planets were closest to the horizon and would still be seen. The planets all had similar visibility because extinction reduced the lowest planets’ visibility more, except Mars’ red color is less absorbed.

Besides the weather, God also controlled solar/cosmic weather. The Forbush decrease refers to the reduction in cosmic rays due to the sun’s activity. The decrease in cosmic rays dramatically clears the Earth’s atmosphere of particles, further increasing visibility. The Forbush decrease events occur sporadically with no apparent pattern.[66]

The Nations Carefully Watched the Rising of Venus

Both the Babylonians and Maya tracked and recorded many years of the various phases of Venus. Both groups recorded the invisibility phase at the inferior conjunction lasting seven or eight days.[67] Modern recorders set this period as being about twelve to fourteen days, which means that we can no longer see the heliacal rise of Venus with the clarity of the ancients. Today, Venus isn’t considered visible for about the last three days before it drops below the horizon and for the first three days after it rises above the horizon. The Maya and the Babylonians recorded Venus on the last day before it set and the first day after it rose. Whatever the extinction coefficient was, the magi could see these signs.

Venus Tablets of Assisaduqa[68]	Dresden Codex Venus Table

Summary

The heavens declare the glory of God to all (Psalms 19:1). Hopefully, I have elucidated His glory. The sun, moon, clouds, fixed and wandering stars, etc., announced His glory. The stars announced the Son’s conception soon would occur. The sun and moon gave Him glory by diminishing themselves when He was born and died. The signs uniquely identified Jesus as the One for whom God placed them when the magi arrived at His house.

God made pictures in the sky that many could interpret. One doesn’t have to be a professional astrologer to interpret them. One did have to connect these signs to a specific Bible passage to interpret them. Venus rose in the constellation of Leo on August 24, 2 B.C. Julian, preceding the birth of John the Baptist by about one year. This sign, the golden scepter in the lion, announced the King. God made signs the whole world could see. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5).

Venus rose in the constellation of Aries on March 27, 1 A.D., the first anniversary of Jesus’ conception. From before dawn until early evening, Venus was visible. After sunset, it stood over His house, waited for the magi to arrive, and faded from sight. This sign announced the Lamb of God.

A picture in the sky in the early evening of Sunday, March 4, 31 A.D., at the start of Jesus’ ministry, announced Him as the Lamb of God, the Way to Heaven, and foreshadowed the crucifixion of the Lamb. John spoke of a straight highway to heaven this sign depicted.

The morning stars witnessed the foundation of the Earth. God’s plan to redeem us was in progress before Adam walked the Earth. Will you ever look at the sky with the same casualness again? Our epoch starts on Sunday, January 1, 1 A.D., the day Jesus was named and circumcised, the day Jesus entered the family of God. Every time you date something, you witness the Name of the Son of God.

This is a unique sign, a golden vertical scepter at dawn between the feet of the Lion of Judah at a heliacal rising of Venus. The brightest stars were near the horizon, where extinction was the greatest. 1.6 years later, that same star guided the magi in Bethlehem by waiting for them while there was enough light to walk safely to Jesus’s house. No angel, horoscope, or strange interpretations were needed. God guided the magi as only He could to His Son. It took humanity two millennia to figure out how God led the magi. Only the Creator could craft this sign and reveal His glory.

Timeline of Events (All dates Julian)                              (JD Julian Day number)

August 20, 2 B.C.	Fri	Scepter forms in Leo	JD 1720923.5
August 24, 2 B.C.	Sun	Venus marks picture of a scepter in Leo	JD 1720927.5
August 28, 2 B.C.	Thu	Golden scepter extended to Esther	JD 1720931.5
April 6, 1 B.C.	Tue	Jesus conceived—Passover midnight	JD 1721153.5
August 24, 1 B.C.	Tue	John the Baptist born	JD 1721293.5
December 25, 1 B.C.	Sun	Jesus born—Winter solstice	JD 1721416.5
January 1, 1 A.D.	Sun	Jesus circumcised	JD 1721425.5
February 3, 1 A.D.	Fri	Jesus Presented in the Temple
March 22, 1 A.D.	Wed	Magi visit Herod in Jerusalem (Nisan 10)	JD 1721503.5
March 27, 1 A.D.	Sun	Magi see the star of Bethlehem Passover (Nisan 14). They follow it on Nisan 15.	JD 1721508.5
August 30, A.D.		Start of the ministry of John the Baptist
January 8, 31 A.D.	Mon	Jesus’ baptism by John	JD 1732387.5
March 4, 31 A.D.	Sun	Picture—Ladder to Heaven—Lamb of God	JD 1732442.5
April 3, 33 A.D.	Fri	Jesus’ Crucifixion—Moon turned to blood	JD 1733203.5
April 5, 33 A.D.	Sun	Jesus’ Resurrection	JD 1733205.5
May 14, 33 A.D.	Thu	Jesus’ Ascension—highway to heaven
Dec 12, 1531 A.D.	Tue	Our Lady of Guadalupe

Pictures of Jesus Presented

· “The Good Shepherd” was inspected by Levite shepherds, who certified Jesus had no defect.

· “The Light of the World” was born on the festival of lights and the day the Sun was born.

· “The Bread of Life” was born in the house of bread (Bethlehem). He presented Himself as food in a manger. But He was found near a threshing floor, so the grain needed threshing.

· The magi discovered “The Lamb of God” in a sheep town by a star marking the constellation of the Lamb. Selected as the Passover Lamb but found too late to be offered that year.

· “The Bright Morning Star” led the magi to Jesus, and they found the Bright Morning Star on the day the Bright Morning Star was born.

· “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah” had come to receive His scepter of world rule.

· The Lamb Crucified as the Ladder or Stairway to Heaven.

· The Great Light in the Darkness rose to be a light in the day.

· The Great Light waited over Jesus’ house for the Gentiles who sought the light.

· Sacrifice, a manger is also the stall to fatten a sacrifice.

Epilogue: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Before dawn on the winter solstice, December 12, 1531 A.D., Venus rose just before sunrise. Venus formed a line of planets low in the eastern sky with Mercury and Jupiter, a sign of kingly authority or rule. Virgo (Virgin) was in the center of the sky.

The magi climbed the hill to the west to find Mary and Jesus’ house. Juan Diego climbed Tepeyac hill to the west[69] (the opposite of his other encounters with Mary). Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego. She left her image on his tilma (a serape-like outer garment). Four astronomical signs marking Jesus’ birth, the moonless winter solstice, and the rising of Venus,[70] with Mercury in a line of three stars just before dawn, marked the Blessed Virgin Mother’s appearance. The image on Mary’s mantle shows many stars present in that sky.

As the resurrection was the critical event in evangelizing the world, Mary’s appearance was the critical event in the evangelism of the New World. Mary’s hands were folded in prayer, and her words always pointed to Jesus. The tilma is the only tangible ‘relic’ of Mary. Mary’s image on the rough cactus fiber cloth is detailed. It allows, with magnification, the image of the group who were presented the flowers by St. Juan Diego to be seen in Mary’s eyes.[71]

The signs established by God before He made our world link the star of Bethlehem with Mary’s visit to Mexico City over fifteen hundred years later. These signs show that God had the sun, moon, and stars honor Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe because Mary eclipsed the sun, was over the moon, and crowned with the stars.

Mary’s visit resulted in Mexico’s conversion, a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet. The Church grew in the New World as it lost European members due to the Protestant Reformation. About three thousand converts were baptized “daily” for nine years,  a substantial conversion. Mary appeared to a Catholic convert when she could have appeared to a Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican, Orthodox, etc. Was Mary hinting at something?

A thought on the days of the year chosen for Christmas and Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast. Christmas is always 12/25; twelve is the number of government or rule, and five is the number of grace, so 12/25 is “rule by grace multiplied.” 12/12 is “government.” Mary rules as the Queen Mother of Heaven.

The constellations are inside out as if viewed from the outside, so God looks down.	Stars cover the outer surface of Our Lady’s blue mantel.
		The eastern sky before dawn, December 12, 1531 A.D.[72] Venus rising with the sun marked a line of three planets (Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter) on the day The Blessed Virgin Mary left her picture on St. Juan Diego’s tilma. The scepter is extended to the Virgin, giving Mary the authority to intercede for the world much as the scepter tipped to Esther gave her the authority to intercede with the King of kings for the Jews.

While Venus rose with the sun, this wasn’t the first day of morning visibility, but the last day, Venus was visible in the morning. It was the winter solstice. The sun, moon, and Venus set that day, signaling the Aztecs the potential end of their empire.[73] They acknowledged the end of their empire and embraced the Spanish culture and Catholic faith.

For Further Research

The author has written a second article briefly examining this subject: www.scripturescholar.com/StarOfBethlehem.htm. There are YouTube presentations linked on http://www.scripturescholar.com. For a fuller presentation of the signs discovered by this author, see the manuscript Jesus’ Star, http://www.scripturescholar.com/StarBook.pdf.

The author has an article that details the whole life and ministry of Jesus. It includes many signs in the heavens of Jesus’ life. See www.scripturescholar.com/ChronologyJesus.pdf. This article shows practically every aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry connected to Passover, not just Jesus’ conception and flight into Egypt.

This is the only Star of Bethlehem theory that can answer the Bible’s facts about this star. See http://www.scripturescholar.com/StarOfBethlehemNotes.pdf for a list of answers that Star must be able to provide.

For the great sign that marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, see The Ladder to Heaven—The Lamb of God http://www.scripturescholar.com/LambofGod.pdf.

For a fuller understanding of the woman and the dragon in Revelation 12, see http://www.scripturescholar.com/ApocalypseKey.htm.

For a fuller understanding of how God varies visibility to tell His stories, see “Esther and the King’s Golden Scepter,” http://www.scripturescholar.com/EstherScepter.htm .pdf.

Problems with other Star of Bethlehem theories

The most popular Star of Bethlehem theories identify it with planetary or star conjunctions. All references in the Bible to the Star of Bethlehem refer to a single star, not to stars. Others recognizing this problem identify the Star of Bethlehem with a single star, often Jupiter or Regulus, one of the stars in conjunction or with an occultation of a star. The translation of “we saw his star in the east” literally translated, is “we saw his star heliacally rise.” They don’t cite the heliacal rise of a star.

The oft-proposed stopping of a planet over Bethlehem, as seen from Jerusalem due to the retrograde motion of a planet, can’t be what the magi saw. They knew they were to go to Bethlehem. King Herod sent them there; they didn’t need a sign to get there. They needed guidance in Bethlehem to let them know which child was born to rule as king forever. Jesus, like Moses, was hidden because He was born in a perilous time. The daystar rose in the east before dawn and disappeared over a house in the west after sunset. The sign they saw marked the house where the Divine King lived.

Why would Mary and Jesus hide? The angel told shepherds, born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). They spread this message (Luke 2:17). If Mary hadn’t hidden Jesus, then all of Bethlehem and soon all of Israel would have shown up at their door, and Herod would surely have slain Jesus. Bethlehem has hundreds of caves; maybe Joseph remembered one on his property.

So when the shepherds left the cave where Jesus lay in a manger, the Holy family left and hid, maybe setting up a tent where they would build or repair a house or cave in which to live. At the time of Jesus’ birth, most perceived shepherds as perpetual liars.[74] They barred shepherds from testifying in court because they assumed they would lie. Since the report came from shepherds of the birth of Christ the Lord, if they couldn’t find Jesus and His parents queried, the news would die out rather than grow. So we can tell that the holy family hid and avoided the danger publicity would bring.[75] This reason is similar to why there was no room at the inn. If King Herod found a trustworthy witness to Jesus’ birth, he would find and kill Him. This also puts to rest the theory that if the magi got to Bethlehem, Christ would be easy to find. If so, Herod would have found Him and killed Him.

A general problem with all other stars of Bethlehem theories is that they don’t advance our knowledge or understanding of God. God controls the brightness and period of the planets and the fixed stars. He controls the terrestrial weather and solar weather. To a greater or lesser extent, most depend on astrology, which the Bible condemns as an offense punishable by death (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). How could God condemn one for astrology and honor another for using the same dark art?

The theory on the star presented here also links Jesus’ early life to the Jewish calendar. It clarifies the meaning of several obscure passages. This Star of Bethlehem proposal concisely tells the gospel in the sky, something only the Almighty can pull off. Jesus’ Star is the great light that shines in the darkness, and the light is a regular theme in the Bible.

Michael R. Molnar, an astronomer in The Star of Bethlehem; Legacy of the Magi, said the magi didn’t see the star Jupiter as it rose but calculated it because the moon occulted Jupiter. Matthew says the magi said we “saw” his star rise. If the moon occulted the star, they couldn’t see it.

Another problem with his theory is the magi needed to know Roman astrology to interpret it. The magi came from the east, outside the Roman empire. Molnar has a long section on interpreting Roman horoscopes, which is not something the Scriptures or Christianity condones. Jupiter is the largest planet but not the brightest or most important star to the ancients.

Ernest L. Martin, in The Star that Astonished the World, Second ed. 1996, presented a series of nine conjunctions. The most significant was the very close conjunction of Jupiter and Venus on June 17, 2 B.C. This conjunction has become a staple of Star of Bethlehem theories; several problems exist. The sign was in the western evening sky, not the morning heliacal rising event. The magi said we saw his star as it rose in the east. He also notes the triple conjunction of Jupiter with the brightest star in Leo, Regulus.[76]

Fredrick Larson has presented the most widely accepted theory of the Star of Bethlehem. He made an excellent video to back his argument, The Star of Bethlehem. He’s a lawyer (not an astronomer or Biblical scholar). He does an excellent job of “selling” the misidentification of the Star of Bethlehem. His presentation is a Hollywood version of Martin’s theory. Fredrick glosses over many things, which would weaken his theory. He identifies the Star of Bethlehem as Jupiter. He notes Jupiter is the largest of the planets but not the brightest. The ancients considered Venus the most important because it was the brightest.

His theory has phases: conception happened when Venus and Jupiter came near each other. A months-long shallow loop (crowning) by Jupiter near Regulus indicated His kingship. Virgo, in the daytime sky, gave birth on Rosh Hashanah. Their guidance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem because Jupiter paused as it changed direction.

He sees the king of the Jews identified in a month-long shallow loop of Jupiter near Regulus, the king star in the constellation of Leo. It doesn’t “crown” this star but makes a shallow loop near it as it appears to loop like a Spirograph drawing in the sky. The magi saw the star rise at a point in time, not a month’s long wait (while Jupiter passed reversed, passed reversed, and passed again).

He then observed a close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter to indicate the conception of Jesus. He claims this conjunction was the brightest star anyone had ever seen (but these stars didn’t touch for someone with normal vision. Venus, near its inferior conjunction, is brighter than Venus and Jupiter at that time together, as indicated by its daytime visibility. Finally, he saw a link between the woman in Revelation 12 giving birth. He doesn’t mention this happens annually, and it wasn’t visible because it was daytime. The Scripture says they saw the star as it rose with the sun, a heliacal rising ‘en te anatole,’ not just a rising anatello.

He further presents the star guiding the magi to Bethlehem when Herod had already sent them there two months earlier. They knew Bethlehem was where they were to go, but they didn’t know how to identify which of the boys in Bethlehem was the newborn king. Jupiter stopping, he mentions, is something Jupiter does twice each year. See figure below (and happened twice in the “crowning of Regulus.” If Jupiter was His star, why didn’t Regulus crown Jupiter rather than vice versa? If it was easy to find Jesus in Bethlehem, why the necessity of killing all boys under two years old? To protect her baby, every mother in town would likely point out Jesus if they could. It wasn’t easy because both Jesus and Moses’ mother hid them. When He moved from the cave, no one knew where He went.

The stopping of Jupiter is when it reverses and goes into retrograde motion. It doesn’t point to Bethlehem; one can’t visually determine when it occurs, visually you can’t, and during the night, how do you follow the star? How does one know it isn’t further south, perhaps in Hebron?

The diagram shows what the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn look like when observed from Earth. They look like Spirographs; Jupiter is regularly stopping and looping. Something neither the magi nor modern astronomers would especially note. But one unfamiliar with planetary motion, like a lawyer, might think it was unusual.

Jupiter crowns one star and then stops in its retrograde motion over Bethlehem. This logic crowns many stars and indicates many locations, so this retrograde motion doesn’t make sense. Jupiter “crowns” Regulus about every 83 years.

Colin R. Nicholl, a biblical scholar in The Great Christ Comet: Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem, proposes that the star of Bethlehem was a great comet, but there is no record of this comet, so his entire theory is conjecture, with no observational support. His proposed comet was visible during the day. It guides south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, so his proposal has two flaws. He does propose that the comet looked like a scepter and was in the night sky between 8 and 6 B.C. Because it is conjecture, we learn nothing about the timing of this star’s first or second appearance. His speculative comet is too early for the correct date of Jesus’ death, Passover eve 33 A.D.

An Angel or a Miracle—many believe the star that guided the magi was simply a miracle or an angel (and angels are occasionally called stars). The Bible called the star of Bethlehem a star. Today, airplanes and helicopters regularly fly overhead. God could have done this, but why say a star guided them rather than an angel? Matthew is careful to differentiate between angels and stars. Can an angel heliacally rise, maybe but not predictably? How would the magi know when to arrive and be ready to see it happen the second time?

It is clear from the information presented in this article that God was able from the foundation of the world to use the lights He set in the sky as signs to guide the magi. I believe most who hold this view don’t recognize Venus’ unique attributes and how well they fit the requirements necessary to guide the magi. Many people could see Venus, but it was faint. One would only see it if they paid close attention; only the magi did so.

Why would the Designer use an angel to guide the magi when He could show off His divine capability and use Venus? If an angel guided the magi, why didn’t many curious people follow, and a crowd arrived at the house of Mary and Jesus? Satan’s angels are called stars in Revelation 12:4; if an angel can lead, then the Deceiver can deceive many. Using a planet, we can know the year, the day of the year, the time between the star’s first and second rise, and the time between Jesus’ birth and the second rise. Venus lets us know the location of Jesus’, David’s, and Boaz’s houses millennia after they died. All of these things would be impossible with an angel guiding the magi. We would also not see the heavens bowing to worship Jesus. Most theories don’t make these connections.

Nazareth or Bethlehem?

Luke 2:39 says, When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their town of Nazareth. Therefore, some say the magi came to Nazareth. Their return to Nazareth occurred after forty days because Jesus needed to be circumcised and later presented at the Temple when He was forty days old.

Those holding this view forget the Law says The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers, you must listen to him (Deuteronomy 18:15). Since Jesus was the prophet like Moses, to be like Moses, there were additional requirements for Him, according to the Law, because there had to be similarities between Moses and Jesus. Both Moses and Jesus were born under foreign rule, and both had their lives threatened as babies by a king. Moses fled from Goshen to Egypt to save his life when he was three months old. Jesus escaped from Judah to Egypt when He was three months old to save His life. In both cases, other boys did die.

Moses and Israel left Egypt suddenly on Passover night. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph left for Egypt suddenly on Passover night. In both cases, after the king and all who sought the child’s life had died, they returned to their home country. Matthew 2:15 quotes Hosea 11:1, referring to Exodus 4:22 Out of Egypt I have called my son. Since the Law places a few more requirements on the one like Moses, Jesus needed to fulfill a few additional requirements before they returned to Nazareth. So, after they returned from Egypt, they returned to Nazareth.

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[1]Chart by Cartes du Ceil, www.astrosurf.com/astropc.

[2] All dates are Julian. Gregorian dates are 2 days earlier August 22, 2 B.C. The sign was probably visible on August 23, 2 B.C., but either day works and the 24th was more visible.

[3] Some say extinction made these planets invisible, for a rebuttal see planetary visibility section.

[4] Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Chicago Press, 1979, p. 62.

[5] Earlier heliacal rising dates are January 15, 3 B.C. and June 15, 5 B.C.

[6] Luke 21:25 There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. It might go against your belief system, but God does reveal things to the nations with the sun, moon and stars.

[7] This is a simplification, sign can mean many things, but picture is one of the primary meanings.

[8] Job 9:9, 38:3, 31-32. Isaiah 13:10; Amos 5:8; Wisdom 7:29.

[9] Num 2:3, 10:14 “Standard”, http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Lion-of-Judah.

[10] E.W. Bullinger, The Witness of the Stars, 1893, p. 163.

[11] In Hebrew the word for sign is ōth (אוֹת), a word that starts with the first and ends with the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet connected by the letter that means 'and' like "alpha and omega" in Greek. This sign is revealed in the first and last chapters of the Bible, it is the sign of signs.

[12] Gibraltar, http://jahtruth.net/britspan.htm.

[13] Bruce Killian, “Dionysius Exiguus Got It Right”, 2000. www.scripturescholar.com/DionysiusExiguus.pdf, Bruce Killian, “The Chronology of Jesus’ Life,” 2019, pp. 25-6, https://tinyurl.com/y5oth3qy

[14] Wikipedia, Pope Julius I, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Julius_I, viewed 2024-12-12.

[15] Cyril Martindale, “Christmas,” The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III, 1908 Robert Appleton Co., Online Edition Copyright, 2003 K. Knight www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm.

[16] Bruce Killian, The Heavenly Movie Esther, The King Extends His Golden Scepter Esther and the King’s Golden Scepter, 2021, http://www.scripturescholar.com/EstherScepter.pdf and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvV6a9M1JYw

[17] Job 38:31 mentions Orion’s belt, the bands of Orion.

[18] I. M. Casanowicz, Jewish Encyclopedia, Parallelism in Hebrew Poetry, 1906, https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11902-parallelism-in-hebrew-poetry.

[19] Bruce Killian, The Heavenly Movie Esther, The King Extends His Golden Scepter Esther and the King’s Golden Scepter, 2021, http://www.scripturescholar.com/EstherScepter.pdf.

[20] Dictionaries define daystar as Venus before dawn, not Venus visible during the day.

[21] Killian, The Heavenly Movie Esther, http://www.scripturescholar.com/EstherScepter.htm

[22] Learned from Leo Bauer LtCdr, USN, a WWII aviator in the South Pacific on a reconnaissance mission, his navigation aids said a fix could be taken off Venus that day and it was visible.

[23] H. B. Curtis, “Venus Visible at Inferior Conjunction,” 1935, pp. 18-19, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1936PA.....44...18C.

[24] Campbell, W. W., “Is the Crescent Form of Venus Visible to the Naked Eye?,” 1916, p. 85, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1916PASP...28...85C.

[25] David Lance Goines, “Inferential Evidence For The Pre-Telescopic Sighting Of The Crescent Venus,” Berkeley, California, 1992 http://www.goines.net/Writing/venus.html.

[26] Balaam mentions horns of the wild ox (Numbers 24:8) possible linking to the Venus crescent.

[27] Dayspring or anatole may be a proper name for Venus rising at sunrise in the Septuagint.

[28] Venus could be seen as the messenger, Jesus sends as a testimony for the churches.

[29] In contrast Psalm 110:3 in the RSV Your people will offer themselves freely on the day you lead your host upon the holy mountains. From the womb of the morning like dew your youth will come to you. What does that mean?

[30] There are other references to this: Sirach 39:31 & 50:6 (refers to Simon the high priest) Job 11:17; Job 38:32; Revelation 2:28; eosphorus (morning star); phosphorus (day star); Hesperus (evening star); anatole (dayspring).

[31] ἀνατέλλω anatello is an another word in Greek used to rise of sun, moon, stars or clouds, Matt 4:16; Matt 5:45; Matt 13:6; Mark 4:6; Mark 16:2; Luke 12:54; Heb 7:14; James 1:11; 2 Peter 1:19 only in Hebrews 7:14 it is used of Jesus not rising from a line of priests. One used anatello for a non-heliacal star rising.

[32] Map subsection http://www.kchanson.com/PTJ/bethlehem.html, 1912.

[33] Justin Martyr (100-165) wrote from Samaria Joseph found lodging for Mary in a cave outside the village, and that was where the Christ child was born. Origin (185- 254) wrote pilgrims of his time visited the cave where Christ was born in Bethlehem. https://dwightlongenecker.com/how-can-we-be-sure-that-jesus-was-born-in-bethlehem/ Accessed 12/20/2024.

[34] Seneca, Epistles Volume I, XVII. https://www.stoics.com/seneca_epistles_book_1.html.

[35] Isaiah links a rising star in the dark and into the day, with specific gifts being brought to the Messiah. Isaiah 60:2-3, 6 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. … Herds of camels will cover your land, …, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.

[36] There are many links between Moses and Jesus the prophet like Moses Deuteronomy 18:15-19, for instance both were under a death sentence because they were a male child. Both survived the threat by crossing water into Egypt.

[37] A second reference uses the Ark of the Covenant, as a type of Mary. The times of the wandering of the Ark seem to correspond to the periods of Mary’s life. The Holy Family lived in this house in Bethlehem, for three months, and the Ark of the Covenant remained near a threshing floor for three months, in the house of Obed Edom (2 Samuel 6:3-11). Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2676, http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2676.htm.

[38] There is a similar phrase 'the root of Jesse' used only in Isaiah 11:1 and 11:10 also in association with branch, so these verses might point to Venus as His Star. It may be that some words translated branch (multiple Hebrew words) may have multiple meanings, meaning both sprout and Dayspring. For example the lamp in the Tabernacle had both branches and lights (the word in Hebrew used for stars in Genesis 1:15, 17 and Exodus 25:37).

[39] Josephus, Jewish Antiquities XVII, 167. wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/josephus/ant-17.htm. Book XVII, Chapter 6.4 Viewed as a sign in the heaven in the context of killing a leader of a sedition attempting to stop King Herod’s desecration of the Temple with a golden eagle.

[40] John Pratt, “Yet Another Eclipse for Herod,” Planetarian, vol. 19, no. 4, Dec. 1990, pp. 8-14. www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/herod/herod.html.

[41] Rodger C. Young, “How Lunar and Solar Eclipses Shed Light on Biblical Events,” Associates for Biblical Research, (2015), https://tinyurl.com/yamr5gsk.

[42] Josephus, Jewish Antiquities XVII, 191-213. www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/ant-17.htm.

[43] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, New Testament, 2010, Ignatius Press, p. 109.

[44] Gaius Caesar and Phraataces worked out a rough compromise between the two powers c. 1 A.D. “Roman-Parthian Wars,” World Heritage Encyclopedia (2018), also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman%E2%80%93Parthian_Wars.

[45] Wikipedia Gaius Caesar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Caesar, viewed 2024-12-09.

[46] Venus rose an hour before sunrise and likely marked the moment of Jesus’ resurrection.

[47] E.W. Bullinger, The Witness of the Stars, (Kregel) pp. 93-4. philologos.org/__eb-tws/chap23.htm

[48] Bruce Killian, “Dionysius Exiguus, Got It Right,” 2002, www.scripturescholar.com/DionysiusExiguus.pdf, Bruce Killian, “The Chronology of Jesus’ Life,” 2019, pp. 25-6, https://tinyurl.com/y5oth3qy.

[49] John Pratt, “Dating the First Easter,” The Ensign 15, No. 6 (June 1985), pp. 59-68. www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/easter/dating.html.

[50] Exodus 12:22, 29, 31.

[51] Bruce Killian, “The Chronology of Jesus’ Life,” 2020, pp. 44-45, https://tinyurl.com/y5oth3qy.

[52] Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Book 2, Eerdmans, 1953, pp. 186-187. www.philologos.org/__eb-lat/.

[53] Prediction one year before the birth of a miraculous son occurs several other times in the Bible, Genesis 17:21, 18:10-14; 2 Kings 4:16-17. See also “The Chronology of Jesus’ Life” http://www.scripturescholar.com/ChronologyJesus.pdf.

[54] Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_and_Sun viewed 2024-12-08.

[55] Hesiod, Works and Days, Wikipedia Heliacal rising, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliacal_rising, viewed 2024-12-09. Amelia Sparavigna, “The Pleiades: the celestial herd of ancient timekeepers,” https://arxiv.org/pdf/0810.1592. Aristoteles Philosophus, Historia Animalium, references Pleiades’ heliacal rise.

[56] A solar eclipse is like twilight, not night so only a few of the brightest stars can be seen without optical aid.

[57] Bruce Killian, “The Immaculate Conception,” 2008, http://www.scripturescholar.com/ImmaculateConception.pdf

[58] “Our Privileged Planet, The Search for Purpose in the Universe” one hour video, http://vimeo.com/8361588

[59] Bruce Killian, “The Immaculate Conception,” 2008, http://www.scripturescholar.com/ImmaculateConception.pdf

[60] Bruce Killian, “Dionysius Exiguus, Got It Right,” 2002, www.scripturescholar.com/DionysiusExiguus.pdf

[61] Bruce Killian, “The Ladder to Heaven—The Lamb of God,” 2006, www.scripturescholar.com/LambofGod.pdf.

[62] Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius, Saturnalia, Book 2, section 4:11. p. 349. Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, ch7-8. http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/josephus/ant17.html. Note it was only the boys in Bethlehem that were killed, not all the boys of Syria.

[63] Antipater, son of Herod the Great, Encyclopaedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antipater-son-of-Herod-the-Great.

[64] Victor Reijs, “Extinction angle and heliacal events” pp. 5-6, http://www.iol.ie/~geniet/eng/extinction.htm.

[65] Planet, Lunar and Stellar Visibility, www.alcyone.de.

[66] @

[67] “The Dresden Codex Venus Table,”

George Sarton, Ancient Science Through the Golden Age of Greece, 1993, p.77-8 https://tinyurl.com/y8jkeu8q, “on the 25^th of Tammuz Venus disappeared in the west for 7 days remaining absent in the sky, and on the 2^nd of Ab Venus was seen in the east”

[68] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_tablet_of_Ammisaduqa.

[69] Jesus’ final journey to Golgotha was also up a hill to the west, with the daystar over head, and he would encounter His mother Mary.

[70] Note in this case, Venus has been the morning star, and this is the last day it will appear as the bright morning star.

[71] Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, A Handbook on Guadalupe, 1997, pp 1, 68-71, 80, 89-91. Similar www.jkmi.com/ologimage.htm.

[72] Chart by Cartes du Ceil, www.astrosurf.com/astropc.

[73] Movie: 1531: A Story not yet finished, On Formed.org, This video is the source of many details included here, but it makes no connection to the star of Bethlehem or stars in the Bible.

[74] Solomon Schechter and Lewis N. Dembitz, “Evidence,” Jewish Encyclopedia, (1906), http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7435-hearsay-evidence.

[75] This reveals there was no midwife at Jesus’ birth because she could indentify the holy family.

[76] See http://www.askelm.com/star/index.asp.

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[i] My translation, the ESV-CE reads, “had seen.”