Spring of 5 BC - The Magi and Star of Bethlehem

One and a half year passed. Joseph, Mary and Jesus are back in Bethlehem around the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. The star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was (Matthew 2:1-2, 9).

The magi were wise men from the east. Judah was captive under Babylon (Iraq) and Persia (Iran). They were skilled in astronomy and watched for the Messianic prophecy of Daniel 9. They saw the triple conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn in May, October and December of 7 BC, conjunction of Jupiter and Mars in February of 6 BC and four lunar eclipses. Finally in March or April of 5 BC, they saw a comet in the eastern sky. According to tradition, comets were signs that brought significant events. As the Star of Bethlehem appeared in the east and moved southwest, the wise men traveled west to Jerusalem and then south to Bethlehem.

In 5 BC, the Chinese and Koreans recorded a tailed comet in Capricorn that lasted about 72 days. A southwest direction is contrary to stars and planets. The comet fits the description of the Star of Bethlehem and sets the date the Magi's visit in Sivan or May/June in 5 BC.

Second year of the Chien-p'ing reign period, second month (5 BC, March 9-April 6), a suibsing [tailed comet] appeared at Ch'ien-niu for over 70 days.
----Chinese Record - Han Shu (History of Han Dynasty)

Year 54 of Hyokkose Wang, second month, (day) Chi-yu, a po-hsing appeared in Ho-Ku.
----Korean Record - Samguk Sagi (The Chronicle of Silla)

Astronomical Signs of the First Coming

God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years (Genesis 1:14).

Through the whole story of the First Coming, there are amazing signs in the heavens. Ten lunar eclipses, four conjunctions and a comet (Star of Bethlehem) describe the time of the Birth of Jesus Christ. One of the first prophecies in the Bible tells us God made the sun, moon and stars for light and appointed times. The cycle of moons at the birth of Jesus Christ repeats during 2014-2016. See Blood Moons.

Lunar Eclipses - (Bold - Visible in the Middle East)

•  April 14, 7 BC - 14th of Nisan - Passover - Birth of John the Baptist
•  May 13, 7 BC - 15th of Iyar
•  October 8, 7 BC - 15th of Tishri (Tabernacles) - Birth - Christmas Star
•  November 7, 7 BC - 14th of Heshvan
•  April 4,  6 BC - 14th of Nisan - Passover
•  September 27, 6 BC - 15th of Tishri - Tabernacles
•  March 23, 5 BC - 14th-15th of Adar - Purim
•  September 15, 5 BC - 15th of Tishri - Tabernacles
•  March 13, 4 BC - 14th-15th of Adar - Purim
•  September 5, 4 BC - 14th of Elul - Teshuvah

Conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn

•  May 27, 7 BC
•  October 6, 7 BC - 15th of Tishri (Tabernacles) - Birth - Christmas Star
•  December 1, 7 BC

Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars

•  March, 4, 6 BC

Comet - Bethlehem Star

•  ~March 9-June 16, 5 BC

Escape to Egypt and Death of Herod the Great

When they [wise men] were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and you be there until I bring you word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod (Matthew 2:13-15).

Jesus Christ was a 1½ year-old child when the wise men visited. Herod the Great was king at the time of Christ's birth. Joseph, Mary and Jesus fled Bethlehem to Egypt. Herod's decree to kill boys two and under in Bethlehem was based on the first conjunction in May 7 BC. Historian Flavius Josephus wrote that Herod died after a lunar eclipse on a fast day. NASA calculated a partial lunar eclipse on March 13, 4 BC after the Fast of Esther. Herod's sons coined money in 4 BC.

The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ was born after Caesar Augustus' census decree (8 BC) and before Herod's death (spring of 4 BC). The dates of Dionysius Exiguus and James Ussher are after Herod's death. The Christmas story points to earlier dates of the birth of Jesus Christ on the Feast of Tabernacles on October 7/8, 7 BC and the visit from the wise men in the spring of 5 BC.

Nazareth or Egypt

Matthew and Luke describe two different events that separate shepherds and wise men by time. Luke's account of the story, Jesus Christ was a newborn baby born in a manger and visited by shepherds. This occurred during a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (Christmas star). There is no hurry to go to Egypt. After Joseph and Mary do what is required by the Law, they returned home to Nazareth. In Matthew's account, the wise men followed a star and found the young child in a house. Being warned in a dream, the family fled to Egypt.

Luke - Nazareth
When they (Joseph and Mary) had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth (Luke 2:39).

Matthew - Egypt
When Joseph arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt (Matthew 2:14).

Life of Christ on Jewish Holy Days

•  Conception - Hanukkah
•  Birth - Tabernacles
•  Crucifixion - Passover
•  Burial - Unleavened Bread
•  Resurrection - Firstfruits
•  Holy Spirit Given - Weeks/Pentecost
•  Rapture - Trumpets
•  Second Coming - Atonement
•  Millennial Reign - Tabernacles

Conclusion

Each December, we are taught the Christmas story. However, Caesar's decree, Zechariah's service, astronomy signs and Jewish feast and fast days tell the exact timeline. Jesus Christ was conceived on Hanukkah and born on Tabernacles. Jewish culture, history and astronomy confirm that Scripture is correct. Shepherds, Simeon, Anna and Magi were looking for their promised Messiah and saw prophecy fulfilled before their eyes.

Today, Christians are looking for the Messiah to rapture the Church and return to rule on earth. Scripture once again tells the future advent through Jewish culture and our recent history. World War I, the Holocaust of World War II and Iraq War I start on the 9th of Av (Kadesh-Barnea). Iraq War I (Persian Gulf) ends and Iraq War II begins on Purim. There is more to be learned of recent history and future prophecy occurring on Jewish holy days. God told us when through the Jewish calendar.

Reference: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars & End Wars - Chapter 16 - The Life of Christ, Great Conjunction, Chronology of Man, HebCal Jewish Calendar, NASA Lunar Eclipses,  Stellarium