The Celestial Prelude, the Star of Bethlehem and the Great Pyramid
One of the topics on the Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ that makes our approach to this pivotal point in history unique, concerns the Coma Supernova that I’ve entitled the General Sign of The Celestial Prelude. This Supernova was visible to the naked eye for a period of about 275 years, as it has been documented in history. The second part of these heavenly signs that allowed the Magi to recognize the celestial markers of the birth of Jesus Christ are the Specific Signs of the Celestial Prelude. These signs revolve around the triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7-6 BC, that gave the Magi the stellar keys to breaking the code that sent them on their 800-mile journey to Jerusalem and Bethlehem to pay homage to the new king of kings. A major departure from the confusion around the “Star of Bethlehem,” bringing a new view to the celestial signs surrounding the birth of Christ involves a fresh look at the triple planetary Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces, in 7-6 BC. Historically, this series of unions has been taken for Jesus’ actual time of birth by some, and also accepted as just too early to mark his birth by others. The debate between these two major camps continues today. This study will show among other things, that while this celestial pageantry does not literally mark the actual time of the birth of the infant Jesus, we cannot discount the impact of these signs on the Magi in their search for the revelation of the promised seed. How did the Magi know what to look for in this search? What if God left a series of clues for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, making provision so they wouldn’t miss this momentous occasion? This is precisely the proposal of this study that herein lies the true significance of these rare unions of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces in 7-6BC. Based on the details of this specific set of preliminary signs, the Magi were alerted to the series of planetary Conjunctions and heavenly signs announcing the actual birth of Christ.
The time frame we will be looking at for this Celestial Prelude is from 7-5 BC, and the first thing that we will notice is that the signs marking the birth of Christ are astronomical in nature. They were not some miraculous manifestation only visible to the Magi, as some have said. This is the initial clue as to what the Magi were lead to look for, not a comet, like Halley’s Comet which some have attempted to make a case for. The dates for Halley’s Comet are too early, to coincide with the birth of Christ, although it does fall within the time-frame of the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude, about 5 years before this triple union of Jupiter-Saturn. The foregoing and concurrent supernova in Coma was meant to draw attention to this general time-frame of the birth of the promised seed, and the specific signs revealed its inherent details to the Magi. The charts below compare the signs of 7-5 BC, with those of 3-1 BC, in greater detail. For our purposes here, we will focus mainly on the triple planetary Conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn from 7-5 BC in comparison with the triple planetary Conjunction of Jupiter and Regulus in 3-2 BC. We will add a few other signs to more fully sketch out and establish this comparison. The Summary of the Celestial Prelude below wraps up the indicators provided by the heavenly signs involved with these Jupiter-Saturn unions, pointing to the signs of 3-2 BC marking the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Celestial Prelude of 7 BC to 5 BC.
| Dates BC | Conjunction of Planets | Constellation |
|---|---|---|
| May 27th, 7 | Jupiter-Saturn | Pisces |
| Sept. 15th, 7 | Jupiter, Saturn; [ring cycle], Sun & Earth aligned. | Pisces |
| Oct. 5th, 7 | Jupiter-Saturn | Pisces |
| Dec. 1st , 7 | Jupiter-Saturn | Pisces |
| Feb. 25th 6 | Triangular massing of Jupiter, Saturn & Mars | Pisces |
| Mar. 5th , 6 | Jupiter-Mars | Pisces |
| Mar. 23rd, 5 | Total Lunar Eclipse | Virgo |
| April 15-20, 6 | Lunar occultation | Series |
| Sept. 15th, 5 | Total Lunar Eclipse | Pisces |
These series of planetary Conjunctions involving Jupiter certainly drew the focus of the Magi to the king planet, which they recognized as “his star.” They would have noted Jupiter’s triple planetary union with Saturn, and we know today that this union was caused by Jupiter’s retrograde motion. The Magi would have noted these triple unions involving Jupiter in both 7-5 and 3-2 BC. Therefore, the Magi would have been watchful not only of Jupiter’s motion, but vigilant also for a triple union associated with its retrograde motion. Perhaps we can begin to see the wisdom of the Heavenly Father’s choice of stellar signs, which make up this celestial epistle of introduction, for the Magi to mark the signs surrounding Jesus’ birth. These clues alone would have provided the Magi much on their way to finding the Messiah, but God had a lot more in store. After these Jupiter-Saturn triple Conjunctions, there was a massing of planets including Mars, after which followed a key Conjunction involving Mars. Finally, on the heels of this Conjunction including Mars, in the next month came a remarkable series of lunar occultations, followed by the Blood Moon total lunar eclipses in 5 BC. These preliminary signs not only provided the Magi with the blueprints they would need to recognize the celestial signs identifying the time frame of the birth of Christ in 3-2 BC, but they also set the pattern of Total Blood Moon Lunar eclipses, foretelling the victorious return of Christ. The fact that the signs of this dress rehearsal unfolded over a period in excess of 2 years was also a clue of what to expect, when the curtain actually arose on the celestial pageantry of the birth of Christ. With a period of exactly 2 years from Sept, 15th of 7 BC to Sept. 15th of 5 BC as seen in the chart above, setting the stage for two Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions bracketing the heavenly signs marking the actual birth of Christ between August 31st, 3BC and Aug. 21st of 1 BC, we can see how the Magi would recognize these specific markers leading them to the promised seed-Jesus Christ.
Also, the fact that these signs almost all occur in Pisces, is interesting due in part to an ancient eastern tradition, that the influence of the sign of Pisces, the fishes presided over the land surrounding and including Israel. Others believed that Pisces symbolized the House of Jacob, and with the obvious presence of the King planet Jupiter, would spell out why the Magi came to Jerusalem looking for the King of Israel. This relationship of Jupiter-Saturn heavenly signs relating to Israel dates back in history even to include the births of Moses and Abraham. In the following reference to Jupiter–Saturn unions related to the birth of Moses, R.H. Allen has likely isolated a quote from Abrabanel referenced by Kepler;
“The Rabbis held a tradition, recorded by Abrabanel in the 15th Century, that a similar Conjunction took place three years previous to the birth of Moses, and they anticipated another at their Messiah’s advent.”1 [emphasis mine]
Plate a. The Triple Planetary Conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn in 7 -6 BC. 2
A major contemporary proponent of the 7-6 triple Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn marking the actual time of Jesus‘ birth is David Hughes. He is convinced that Jesus was born September 15th of 7BC, based on this series of unions of Jupiter and Saturn. He has taken note of how these conjunctions point to the birth of Christ, following a modified version of Kepler’s view. However, he admits a feeling of uncertainty about the final summaries of his hypothesis, because Jupiter could never have been seen as one star, as their closest approach was only 0.98 degrees. Hughes confusion is typical of that surrounding the view of the “Star of Bethlehem,” which at least in part is based on the lack of recognition and separation of the general and specific signs marking Jesus’ birth. As we can see, the specific signs of the Celestial Prelude, and their corroboration of the signs from 3-2 BC, meet all the provisions of the genuine signs marking the birth of the Messiah. With the 7-6 BC triple union of Jupiter and Saturn setting the pattern of the Specific signs of Celestial Prelude, let’s take a more detailed look these preliminary signs in the triple Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.
i. May 27th, 7 Jupiter and Saturn in Conjunction in Pisces, with the Sun and Mercury in Gemini, Venus in Cancer, Mars in Virgo and Moon in Pisces. [Fig. i.]
In this first preliminary sign we find Jupiter the scepter and King planet in union with Saturn symbolic of Satan, the fallen Morning Star, in Pisces near dawn in the eastern sky as a result of Jupiter’s proper motion.
Figure i. May 27th, 7BC Jupiter-Saturn in Conjunction in Pisces. 3
The first thing to notice about the specific signs of the Celestial Prelude from 7-5 BC, is that this first Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn shows the authority of the scepter of the kingdom resident with Lucifer in his first estate as the Angel of light. He was set apart and alone in his authority from the celestial signs that follow, outside of the clearly marked two-year period from September 15th 7BC to September 15th 5BC, containing the rest of these specific preliminary signs.
Its purpose is to mark the first estate of Lucifer as the original bright and Morning Star, second only to God the Creator, in the 1st Heaven and Earth–head over all the angels as the angel of light, prior to the Creation of Man in the Garden of Eden. Let’s take some time to digress here and set the background of Lucifer’s history according to the accuracy of God’s Word written in the stars, and in Scripture. This first sign refers to Lucifer in his original estate as the “star of the morning” as Isaiah 14 tells us:
Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Figure ii. The Precession of the Northern Polestar from Thuban to Polaris.
These signs and constellations at the North Pole or circumpolar stars were reflective of the “Royal Family” since they never set, and their narratives are some of the most popular in Greek Mythology. Perseus’ deliverance of Andromeda from the dread Sea Monster Typhon/Cracken, is a good example, which Hollywood captured in “Clash of the Titans.” Even in veiled mythological references, we can see the light of the narrative of the returning redeemer shining through to deliver his flocks. Bullinger refers to this precession of the North pole and the star Al Ruccaba specifically as follows:
“Although the star does not revolve like the others, the central point in the heavens is very slowly but steadily moving. When these constellations were formed the Dragon possessed this important point, and the star alpha, in Draco, marked this central point. But by its gradual recession, that point is sufficiently near this star Ruccaba, in the Lesser Sheepfold, (Ursa Minor) for it to be what is called “the Polar Star.” But how could it have been known five or six thousand years ago? How could it have been known when it received its name, which means the turned or ridden on? That it was known is clear: so likewise was it made known in the written Word that the original blessing included not merely the multiplication of the seed of the faithful Abraham, but it was then added, “And thy seed shall possess the gate of thy enemies,”3 [Gen. 22:17].
This is an obvious indicator of the accuracy of these God-inspired star names [Ps. 147:4], dating back to antiquity, and the Astronomy of the Biblical Patriarchs, showing divine insight inherent in the heavens from earliest times. This establishes a previous point that the purpose of God’s Revelatory Astronomy stands in juxtaposition to the evolutionary theories governing modern scientific Astronomy. Bullinger’s reference also shows the witness of the stars in concert with that of the Scriptures that is a consistent testimony throughout this study, and a primary theme of our try-god blog and website.
This stellar transition of the pole star reflects an aspect of the transition of power from the fallen Morning star, who presided over ten categories of precious stones, representing 1/3 of angels [Ezek. 28:14], to the Risen Morning Star [Rev. 22:16], presiding over 12 categories of precious stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 signs of the zodiac, and later the 12 apostles at the foundations of the Age of Grace and the New Jerusalem.
The demise of Lucifer is indicated in the astronomical mechanism known as the precession of the poles, with the star Thuban: alpha draconis, the brightest star in Draco the dragon, as the original pole star. The precession of the poles indicates Lucifer’s demise, because the pole star has moved in the polar circle from Draco in the dragon’s tail, now residing near Polaris, or Al Ruccaba of the “little flock” of Ursa Minor. The pole star between the feet of the crowned king Cepheus, depicts Jesus Christ in at least two ways. First, as the prominent king, and new Chief Cornerstone, since Cepheus is the crowned king, even as Regulus the king star, is between the feet of Leo, the Lion king of Judah; [Gen.49:8-10].
Cepheus also means ” the branch” and is depicted as a king holding a branch/sceptre at the north pole, [Jer. 23:5, 33:15]. Secondly, and with spiritual hindsight, he is the head of his spiritual body, the Church. God put all things under Christ’s feet, indicating his seven-fold lordship over all Creation; [Eph. 1:20-23]. The exception to this, of course is God Himself, Who Christ ultimately subjects himself to [I Cor. 15:27-28], avoiding the pitfall of Lucifer’s egotistical demise. The Decan of Cepheus depicts the Royal king and redeemer coming quickly to rule, enthroned in the highest, at the northern polar reaches of the heavens. With his scepter in hand and the Northern Pole Star symbolizing all things in Creation under his feet, as seen in the capstone of the Great Pyramid, we have powerful imagery of the Authority and Dominion of the King of Kings. As the principles of Biblical Astronomy tell us, the star names relate the narrative of each constellation they appear in. There are 19 main stars in Cepheus, three of which we focus on here.
Zech. 6:12-13 “Thus speaks the Lord of Hosts, saying behold the man whose name is the Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the Temple of the Lord.” v. 13 “Even he shall build the Temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”
Here we see the promised seed of the woman clothed in the celestial royalty of absolute dominion over all Creation. The name “Cepheus” has possible Egyptian linguistic roots in “Cheops” or Khufu the Pharoah whose Dynasty saw the construction of the Great Pyramid. In the Dendera Zodiac, Cepheus is known as Pe-Ku-hor; meaning “one coming to rule” which is consistent with the star names below. The 3 primary stars of Cepheus are as follows;
1. Al Deramin–he who comes quickly from the right Arm or Hand of the Father-The Hand of Blessing. [Ps. 16:7-11, 118:14-24]
2. Al Phirk-signifying the Redeemer and the stars of his flocks [Ursa Minor and Major].
3. Al Rai-The Shepherd who bruises or breaks. [Ps. 23; and the 7 Redemptive Names of God embodied in the Shepherd.]
Figure iii. Cepheus the Crowned King with the Al Rucabba- the current Polar Star underfoot.
Thus we have the Redeeming Shepherd coming quickly from the right hand of God who bruises or breaks, to redeem his flocks. An interesting note regarding these 3 primary stars at the North Celestial Pole, as the Pole star recedes according to the Precession of the Poles, each of these three brightest stars in Cepheus will inherit the title and function of Pole star, currently occupied by Polaris of Usra Minor. 4 Starting around 4000 AD in 1500 year intervals, these primary stars of Cepheus will occupy the coveted “Pole Position;”
1st Al Deramin- circa 4000 AD
2nd Al Phirk- circa 5500 AD
3rd Al Rai- circa 7000 AD
The star Al Deramin is indicative of the Boundary Stone of the Great Pyramid, as the Pyramid’s Bethlehem Line marks out a highway through the desert wilderness that Israel traveled under Moses to get to the promised land. I have referred to the Great Pyramid as a primary monument and touchstone of the Astronomy of the Biblical Patriarchs, that embodies the Covenants of God, written in the Stars, in Scripture, in Stone and incarnate in the Man Jesus Christ. One way we find the Great Pyramid depicting the Astronomy of the Biblical Patriarchs is in what is known as “Horizon-based astronomy.” The Great Pyramid is also aligned with the sun. In the summer, the sun sets between the pyramids of Khufu and Khafre. When these three elements are seen together, the sun between the two pyramids, they form the hieroglyph for “horizon”, or akhet, in Fig iv. The Great Pyramid is also known as the “Horizon of Khufu”, which is evidence that the perfect alignment of this Pyramid with the solar path of the ecliptic is not a coincidence.
Figure iv. The Egyptian Heiroglyph for the “Horizon” with Lions and woman. 5
A fascinating example of this is found in Figure v. below, wherein the center of this graphic the Great Pyramid is aligned to the Horizon sunset of the Rev. 12 sign on 9-23-25-2017, when the Sun is clothing Virgo and the Moon is at her feet, also witnessing Christ’s birth on Sept. 11th 3 BC, in Fig. vii. As we have held for many years, this is a prophecy for the birth and return of Christ coming in all his glory, in connection with the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad, which opened 1260 days prior to the Rev. 12 sign of 2017, starting in the Passover Blood Moon on 4-15-2014, and in the Rev. 12 sign of Fig. v.
Figure v. The 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad and the Great Pyramid Alignments. 6
As the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx are the two stone witnesses of the Giza Plateau, their coordinated testimony established the tenets of the Astronomy of the Biblical Patriarchs. With the ancient testimony of the Great Sphinx embodied in Virgo the head of the woman with Leo the Lion’s body, facing the eastern autumnal equinox the Sphinx is directing us to the setting Sun in Virgo as pictured with the Pyramid’s horizon view in Virgo. This is a clear example of the tandem testimony of the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramid established in the Hieroglyph in Figure vi. below, of the Sun over the female head of the Virgo-Lion. Of course, the Sun annually visits Virgo for 20 days, but the Moon is at Virgo’s feet on only one day during these times in history, fulfilling the elements for the sign of Rev. 12:1-2. Thus it is during these times that we must pay close attention to Virgo’s celestial activity, as the Magi did, which is evident in the 12 Characteristics of the Celestial Prelude, below. In this way, the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx establish astronomical and Scriptural witness of the Sept. 11the 3 BC date for Christ’s birth with uniquely exciting evidence.
Figure vi. The Great Sphinx pictured in the Sun over the Lion’s female-head. 7
| The union of the ends of the ecliptic in the Great Sphinx, with the Sun in Virgo, as seen in the ancient Egyptian Temple of Esneh. |
The heiroglyph for the Sun in Virgo is pictured above in the relief of the Temple of Esneh, which removes any conjecture about the nature and gender of the female-headed Lion, NOT a male Pharaoh! As the Great Pyramid is aligned on the horizon Sun in Virgo, it intersects the first layer of truth regarding the Great Sphinx and the Pyramid’s combined testimony of the Rev. 12 sign, but it does not stop there. As the Pyramid’s horizon view is extended beyond Virgo we can see it highlighting Coma, a Decan of Virgo, in Figure vii.
Figure vii. Virgo “clothed with the Sun with the Moon at her feet” on 9-11-3 BC, with the decan Coma “Berenices” pictured according to Greek Myth as a woman’s wig. 8
In addition to the Great Pyramid’s sunset alignments that opened to New Years Day on the Hebrew Calendar of Rosh Hashanah in Sept. 2017, there were also Sunrise alignments related to the Great Pyramid’s Ascending Passage union of Venus-Regulus in [Fig. v.] in Leo. Thus on Sept. 20, 2017, there was an added alignment of Venus in union with Regulus at this time, so Venus the “Bright and Morning Star” was aligned with the “King Star”, precisely at the Christ angle of the Ascending Passage in the Great Pyramid.
We will handle this in greater detail in a separate study, but it helps to be aware of the multiple horizon alignments of the Great Pyramid with the rising and setting Sun on this pivotal day in history, and the narratives of truth that they carry. As we find in the Fig. vii. depiction of the Coma Decan, the original star picture of this decan of Virgo, was changed in Greek Myth so that the truths of the Christ Child in the lap of his mother Mary were hidden, as seen in Figure viii below. This decan of Coma, points out the Coma Supernova that was so bright as to be visible in the day time with the naked eye, for over 275 years, leading to the birth of Christ, in 3 BC. I have termed this the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude, the Christ Child– and the Promised seed who was the desired of the nations, [Hag. 2:7] in the “L” shaped decan of Coma, where this Supernova in the head of [Christos] the Christ was preserved in the Dendera Zodiac,
Figure viii. The Coma Supernova from the Dendera Zodiac. 9
This Coma Supernova proposal as the General sign of the Celestial Prelude is a concept I first formulated in the late 90’s, based on a historical study of the Bethlehem Star, and published on the original Try-God.com website in the early 2000’s. However, it was not until recently that I saw the corroborating testimony of the Great Pyramid’s horizon Sunset alignments, and the weight of evidence added to this topic as a result. It is exciting to realize how the tandem testimony of the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramid, work together in a practical sense even into modern times, showing some current applications of this Astronomy of the ancient Biblical Patriarchs, shedding added spiritual light on the plans of the Almighty announcing the future return of Lord Jesus Christ, related to the Rev. 12 sign of 9-23-17.
Here we can see these plans in the context of the “Daystar” in 2 Pet. 1:19:
19 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 arise in your hearts:
Thus we find that this Sceptre in Leo can be seen not only in the alignment of Venus with Regulus in Leo, but with the Horizon alignment of the Sun in Virgo and its decan of Coma holding the infant Christ child in his mother’s lap, in the unified testimony of the “Daystar” in 2 Pet. 1:19.
Certainly, this verse speaks more loudly to us not only regarding the birth of Christ, as the Coming of the Promised seed enlightened the spiritual darkness of this world, confirming and fulfilling God’s Word in the flesh. The Sonrise of the ages dawned for all mankind, in the setting Sun of Tishri 1, 3 BC, providing a dual fulfillment of this “daystar” not only seen in Venus the Bright and Morning Star, but also in the Coma Supernova, that warned the Magi of the Christ, so they would not miss the signs of this Celestial Prelude, leading to the birth of Christ. The historical context of Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions was utilized by many world cultures to break down the very long cycle of the precession of the equinoxes, including Hebrew Cosmology evident in Genesis 1:6-10, and the world-views of ancient Sumeria, Babylon, Egypt and in Meso-America. According to this pattern, Jupiter-Saturn triple unions occur in Pisces only once every 800 years. This exhibits how the Conjunction series subdivides the precession, which totals a period of about 25,920 years, because every 30 cycles of Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunctions that occur in Pisces totals the period of 24,000 years, a time close to the full cycle of precession.
The “normal” Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Pisces on April 24th, 126 BC is unique to our purpose due to its proximity to the appearance of the Coma Supernova. Since it was Hipparchus about one hundred twenty-five years before Christ, who observed this supernova in Coma as a new star, putting this sighting close to 128 BC. This sighting was confirmed by the Church Father Ignatius in 69 AD. After the Coma Supernova first appeared, a notable Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Pisces on April 24th, 126 BC, took place. This Jupiter-Saturn union was one in a series on the ecliptic paralleling the Band of Pisces holding the horizontal fishtail of Pisces. Figure ix below shows 7 Jupiter-Saturn unions in Pisces from 185 BC to 54 AD, leading to Jesus’ birth. During this Jupiter-Saturn union, Venus also appears in the loop of the Band located at the future location of the June 8th, 7 BC union of Jupiter-Saturn nearly 120 years later. The Band with the horizontal fish of Pisces, here embodies a countdown not only to the opening of the Piscean Age marked by this triple union of Jupiter-Saturn, but also the signs marking the birth of Christ.
Figure ix. 7 Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions in Pisces from 185 to 54 AD. 10
According to [Gen. 15:4-5], the Fish of Pisces reflect “the multitude of Abraham’s seed where God compares his future posterity to the stars of the sky, and the sand upon the seashore. This very great multitude of fish [Ezek 47:9] also recalls Jesus with his disciples during his resurrection appearance to them by the sea [John 21:5ff], and the miracle of the 153 fish in the unbroken net. Figure ix, depicts the triple union of Jupiter-Saturn in 7 BC in white letters with the June 8th, 7 BC union in the loop of the Band as Jupiter initiates its retrograde loop with Saturn. In 7 BC in the constellation Pisces, this Jupiter-Saturn triple Conjunction also coincided with the dawn of a new Precessional Age, the Age of Pisces, with a subsequent age every 2160 years. After this Jupiter-Saturn triple Conjunctions, there was a planetary massing of Jupiter-Saturn and Mars, after which a key Conjunction with Mars, took place. This unique Feb. 25th, 6 BC, triangular massing of planets Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, was referred to by Kepler; as the “decisive Conjunction of 6 BC that opened our precessional age of Pisces.” As we have noted, Kepler also advanced the idea that the Magi were guided to Judea by the appearance of this series of Conjunctions.
This could make him a larger presence in the history of Astronomy, even more than what he is already accredited with, due to the spiritual nature of this insight. And there are other historical figures who could be recognized for their input on this subject. The famous Roman poet Virgil is worthy of consideration here from some of his early work in his Eclogues–10 volumes of his pastoral verses. Virgil’s, good reputation in the ancient astronomical community, was seen in the honorary title of a “prophet of Christianity” given by his peers, for declaring that a great new order of centuries was now being born during the period of this Jupiter-Saturn triple union. In his Fourth Eclogue, he declared the return of the Golden Age, showing the influence of the traditional prophecy of the coming redeemer in Greece at the time: “Now the Virgin returns, now a new generation descends from heaven on high. Only thou pure Lucina, smile on the birth of the child, under whom the iron brood shall first cease, and a golden race spring up throughout the world.”11
The summary of the Celestial Prelude below shows the specific signs that led the Magi to the birth of Christ.
12 Characteristics of the Celestial Prelude
- Jupiter was clearly marked as “his star.”
- Jupiter was involved in a triple planetary Conjunction.
- Jupiter was involved in a series of planetary conjunctions.
- Jupiter’s retrograde motion would play a key role.
- Jupiter’s triple union was followed by a massing of planets.
- This massing of planets was followed by a Mars Conjunction.
- The Jupiter-Mars Conjunction was followed by a series of lunar occultations, and total lunar eclipses.
- This series of conjunctions would last about two years.
- The annual twenty days when the Sun is in Virgo would be a key.
- The September 15th alignment of Jupiter, Saturn the Earth and Sun in 7 BC that occurred in the evening at sunset, directed the Magi’s attention to the end of the 20-day period when Virgo was “clothed with the Sun.” [Rev. 12:1-2]
- The second lunar eclipse on September 15th of 5 BC established that the Magi should be watchful of lunar activity during this time. This framed the 42 minute period between Sunset and Moonset on the only day of the year when Virgo “was clothed with the Sun and the moon under her feet.” [Rev. 12:1-5]
- The September 15th Heliacal Rising of Jupiter and Saturn foreshadowed the Heliacal Setting of Spica, located between the setting Sun and Moon in Virgo, identifying a 30- minute period when the birth of Christ happened.
As the first-born of the Church-the Spiritual Body of Christ, Jesus is certainly the Head of a new and everlasting “golden race” of Saints who casts the serpent’s seed under-foot. [Gen. 3:15] The Magi certainly belong at the top of the list as the only Gentile kings and Astronomers to accurately recognize and act on what they believed concerning the birth of Christ the king of kings. Their role in this historic and epic saga of the long-awaited promised seed cannot be overlooked as they brought powerful recognition of Christ to the world and the local powers in Jerusalem. As we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, our sins are forgiven and we are saved, [Rom. 10:9-10] joining that golden race of Saints and inheriting all the everlasting benefits and rewards that go with this honor.
This horizon is rapidly approaching though all seems to remain the same. Knowing the framework of the end times and the Heavenly Father’s only way of escape through salvation and redemption in Jesus Christ are crucial, even as Christ embodies the crux of human history. We certainly have much to be grateful and thankful for during the holidays, even as Hannukah starts this weekend!
God’s Abundant Blessings to all in this Joyous Holiday Season
Merry Christmas!
Agape’
Rene’
Footnotes
1. R.H.Allen, Star Names their Lore and Meaning, p. 341
2. Graphic video credit on Plate a, from [Bobmoler.wordpress.com]
3. Planetary union and zodiac data are from Starry Night Pro Software program.
4. Star Lore, Myths, Legends and Facts, p.139. William Tyler Olcott
5. Picture Credit. Figure iv. Pinterest.com
6. Figure v. picture credit. [watchfortheday.org]
7. Picture Credit, Figure vi. p.21 Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger.
8. Picture Credit, Figure vii, Stellarium Astronomical Software, [9-11-3 BC]
9. Picture Credit, Figure viii. p. 103, Witness of the Stars E.W. Bullinger
10. Picture Credit, Figure ix, [http://uofgts.com/Magi.html]
11. Virgil’s Fourth Eclogue, Roman Poet Virgil