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Lunar Eclipses and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

History of Biblical Astronomy

Lunar Eclipses and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

In this February 2017 blog post, we are featuring notable lunar eclipse activity on Feb. 10-11 in Leo, near Regulus, and Feb. 26th, in Pisces. On the eve of February 10-11, 2017, the full moon falls under the penumbral shadow of planet Earth. This penumbral lunar eclipse will be best seen from Northern Europe and Africa. Only a two hours following this lunar eclipse, Comet 45P makes it closest approach to Earth, about 7.4 million miles away according to NASA.1 We covered this comet back in our November 2016 blog, which has been visible after sunset the past couple of months. In the graphic below the comet’s path is traced through Hercules Feb. 9th-11th, Corona the Northern Crown Feb. 12th, and Bootes on Valentine’s Day.

Figure 1. Path of Comet 45P [Sky and Telescope; Feb. 2017] 2
A Longer, Deeper Arc
About two weeks later the New Moon will eclipse the sun in an annular solar eclipse on February 26th. This event is highlighted by a narrow ring of sunlight surrounding the perimeter of the New Moon, primarily visible in southern South America, and South Africa.

Later this Summer an August 7th, a partial lunar eclipse will be seen from the eastern hemisphere. Then a much anticipated total solar eclipse over the United States on August 21st will take place. In light of the significance of this solar and lunar eclipse activity in 2017, it is key to realize it’s links to Biblical prophecy. This may seem like a redundant statement considering the amount of published material posted on this blog about the Blood Moon Tetrads, however there is a big assumption many have made here which should not be overlooked. Most recent Blood Moon literature has focused on end-times prophecy due to Joel’s Prophecy [Joel 2:28-32]. People have assumed that his prophecies applied only to 20th-21st century end-times, especially where Joel refers to the “Sun turning to darkness and the Moon turning to Blood,” while ignoring the context of his prophecy which refers to God “pouring out His spirit on all flesh.”

Image result for day of pentecost images

As the Apostle Peter quoted this prophecy from Joel in Acts 2:16-21, from his sermon on the Day of Pentecost, or the Birthday of the Church in 28 AD, he specifically refers to the events of this awesome day as the fulfilling of Joel’s prophecy with the words “this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel,” [Acts 2:16]. The 12 Apostles spoke in tongues for the first time in history, even as the rest of the 3000+ believers did-exhibiting the signal that they were born again, re-establishing the holy spirit connection with the Heavenly Father that was lost in the Garden of Eden. Through the finished work of the Messiah, and the salvation wholeness provided by the perfect sacrifice of the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the believers of the First Century Church and all those since have been rescued from the enemy.

There were 7 weeks of counting, that linked Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread with Pentecost. At the time of the first Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, Israel left the bondage of Egypt. A major transition point during the Exodus was the giving of the Law at Sinai, to which Pentecost became linked. As Passover is embodied in Jesus Christ, it symbolizes not only Israel’s Exodus from Egypt, but the Church’s Exodus from death and bondage to the OT Law. The Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, marked the Passover feasts of both these years in the last Blood Moon Tetrad that will not be seen again on Hebrew feasts or holy days, for the next 500 years! Christ’s redeeming work led to Pentecost in 28 AD, when the new birth first became available, and the gift of holy spirit was poured out as Joel predicted [Joel 2:28-31], opening a new spiritual administration, the Age of Grace. Jesus Christ was resurrected at the first harvest during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as the first-fruits from the dead. At Pentecost in 28 AD, the believers were made a harvest, manifesting the first-fruits of the holy spirit as they spoke in tongues for the first time; [Rom. 8:23]. Believer’s in the age of Grace having the first-fruits of the spirit, meet Christ in the air in his victorious return for his Saints, gathering us together, [I Thess. 4:14-17]. Christians during the current end times are warned by a series of Blood Moon Tetrads, among other heavenly signs, in the last days prior to our gathering together unto the Lord. The final, and complete harvest will be at the return of Christ with his Saints, when the enemies of God are vanquished, and the remnant of believers are resurrected. God’s Word describes this as the harvest at the end of the world.³ [Matt. 13:38-39]

But this was not the only part of Joel’s prophecy that was fulfilled. The references to the heavenly signs of the Sun and Moon were also fulfilled-since they were quoted by Peter in Acts 2, but the question is when? I believe the subtle error many have fallen into in all the Blood Moon media hype we have witnessed over the past few years, is related to the fact that people have only viewed Joel’s references to the Sun and Moon in a modern end-time context, instead of realizing the possibility of a dual fulfillment of these verses. This means that these heavenly signs at the start of the Age of Grace, seen here in the days of Christ’s suffering leading to the day of Pentecost, would be confirmed at the end of this age, which we are seeing in our day. This is the focus of February’s blog post. Obviously, our Biblical Blood Moon Calendar provides a historical context for the Blood Moon Tetrads, but this is separate from Joel’s Biblical prophetic context. So where do we look for the fulfillment of these heavenly signs in the local time frame of Peter’s Sermon on the day of Pentecost? One place to start is the events of Christ’s crucifixion where he finished the work to complete the salvation of humanity in the previous feasts of Unleavened Bread and Passover.

Luke 23:44-47 NIV
⁴⁴It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,⁴⁵for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

These events were also prophesied in Amos 8:

Amos 8:8-10 NIV

⁸“Will not the land tremble for this,
    and all who live in it mourn?
The whole land will rise like the Nile;
    it will be stirred up and then sink
    like the river of Egypt.

⁹“In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord,
“I will make the sun go down at noon
and darken the earth in broad daylight.

¹⁰I will turn your religious festivals into
mourning and all your singing into weeping.
I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave
your heads. I will make that time like
mourning for an only son and the
end of it like a bitter day.

Image result for earthquake images @ Christ's crucifixion

This prophecy in Amos 8 is interesting because it includes four key elements present in the Crucifixion Darkness Gospel records. Verse 8 refers to the land trembling-or an earthquake, verse 9 states; the sun would darken at noon and darken the earth during daylight. Verse 10 refers to religious festivals-like Passover which Jesus fulfilled as the Passover Lamb sacrifice, and the end of the verse tells of mourning for an only Son-another reference to the death of Christ. These details confirm the fulfillment of this Messianic prophecy from Amos, during Christ’s crucifixion events at Golgotha in 28 AD.

The scope of Christ’s Crucifixion is world wide and universal for without Christ, all the world sits in darkness. He took all our sins to the cross making atonement for our forgiveness, and reconciliation to the Father. The darkness marking Christ’s crucifixion reinforced and symbolized the impact of the crucifixion, as the sins of men were cast upon the only begotten, sinless Son of God. Since the Son of God embodies the Sun as the light of the world, even as the Sun itself was darkened for three hours. So we see the stain and shadow of sin obscuring the Light of the World for three hours, on the day of Christ’s death. Matthew’s gospel provides more details.

Matthew 27: 45-46 NIV
⁴⁵From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

In Matt. 27:45 above Joel’s Prophecy concerning the “Sun turning to darkness” would very well have been fulfilled here. All the requirements are fulfilled even though the cause for the darkness remains a mystery, perhaps beyond the ken of human science to explain. As was referenced in a previous blog, the cause for this darkness is often assumed to be the result of a Solar eclipse. In fact, the NEB, Moffat’s 20th Century New Testament, uses this term.4 Here many have all fallen into an obvious error. The Crucifixion at Passover, required a Full Moon, yet there cannot be an eclipse of the Sun at a Full Moon. Furthermore, the darkness is said to have continued for three hours, but the maximum time a Solar eclipse will last is about 7.5 minutes. Whatever the cause of the mysterious darkness, it certainly was not a Solar eclipse. Man always wants to discount the super-natural by providing scientific explanations whether they fit or not, as this example shows, further illustrated below.

Image result for https://blood moon over crucifixion images

This could also be the case with the Moon turning to blood as we will see presently. Whatever obstructed the sunlight from Earth’s view, whether irregular conditions of the atmosphere or supernatural causes may also have caused a Blood Red Moon. Thus any need to link Christ’s crucifixion date with a potential Blood Moon lunar eclipse evaporates. More on this later, first though lets take a closer look at the earthquake that took place.

Matt. 27:50-54
⁵⁰And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. ⁵¹At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ⁵²and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. ⁵⁴When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Only Matthew includes the earthquake [Amos 8:8] at the time the Veil in the Temple was rent; while Mark and Luke don’t cite the earthquake, or graves opening and the raising of the dead from their tombs, [Matt. 27:52 -53]. We know from Scripture [I Thess. 4:15-17, I Cor. 15:51-52] that God has resurrected no one to eternal life yet—except Christ. There is also uncertainty concerning the veracity of these two verses in [Matt. 27:52-53] due to numerous instances this section of [Matt. 27] is omitted by the Ante-Nicene Church Fathers, when they quoted [Matt. 27], casting a long shadow of doubt on these verses. However, if included it could only fit with God’s Word [I Cor. 15:22-23] if those raised from the grave were like Lazarus, to live out their natural lives thereafter. Those raised could not precede Christ in resurrection as the first fruits from the dead.

Figure 2. The Temple and Golgotha

Image result for https://jerusalem temple crucifixion images

The timing of the opening of the Holy of Holies with the death of Jesus the High Priest points to the way of access back to the Almighty being opened not only for Israel, but ultimately all mankind resulting from the spiritual rebirth that Jesus made available. As far as physical and scientific evidence for the earthquake at the crucifixion of Christ goes, the following link records a widespread earthquake around Jerusalem in the year 31. Geological evidence is centered on this year with an accuracy of +/-5 years, covering 26-36 AD. This reference that the force of this earthquake was “sufficiently energetic to deform the sediments at Ein Gedi but not energetic enough to produce a still extant and extra-biblical historical record,” shows the geological evidence narrowing the earthquake activity between the years 26-36, but it is not possible to pinpoint an earthquake at the crucifixion of Christ using this geological data alone. Thus we are more dependent upon historical and Scriptural accounts to narrow down the accuracy of the accuracy of this record. 5

In support of this while analyzing earthquake activity in the region, geologist Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geo-sciences studied three cores from the beach of the Ein Gedi Spa adjacent to the Dead Sea. Varves, which are annual layers of deposition in the sediments, reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in 31 BC, and a seismic event that happened sometime between the years 26 and 36. The latter period occurred during “the years when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea and when the earthquake of the Gospel of Matthew is historically constrained.” Although its not possible to prove which day an earthquake took place during this time from geological data alone, it seems possible using a combination of historical, geologic and scriptural data could disprove a 33 AD crucifixion date, while supporting a 28 AD date.

There has been a sway current of opinion in support of the April 3rd, 33 AD crucifixion date, I believe for at least two key reasons. First because of the Blood Moon that occurs here that could explain the “moon turning to blood” from Joel’s prophecy. Next because this fits in the time frame of Pilate’s rule from 26-36, and can conform to some of the other evidence and clues agreeing with a traditional 3+ year ministry of Christ. Part 2 of this study will show conclusively that the length of Christ’s ministry was 70 weeks-fitting into “the acceptable year of the Lord” [singular] that Jesus referenced when he opened his ministry in Luke 4, at his home Synagogue in Nazareth. The following Biblical evidence disproves any possibility of a 33 crucifixion date.

A key sticking point to the accurate determination of the day Jesus was crucified always seems to start with the proper understanding of the weekly Sabbaths versus a High Sabbath. This is precisely why scholars have landed on “Good Friday,” which cannot be true because it contradicts the 3 days and 3 nights that Jesus was in the heart of the earth [Matt. 12:40]. There is no possible way to squeeze 3 full days and nights in the time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday Morning! The key to avoid the error of those holding the crucifixion on “Good Friday,” is in separating the ANNUAL feast days, that were also Sabbath days, called HIGH holy days, from the weekly Sabbaths. These High Holy days also took precedence over the weekly Sabbaths, which is the origin of the tradition of a Friday crucifixion, because those holding to this idea have considered only a weekly Sabbath during Passover week. But, God’s Word shows a clear distinction in John 19:31 that this particular Sabbath/Annual feast day was Not a Weekly Sabbath day. In other words this particular Sabbath day-called a High Day, was the Feast of the first day of Unleavened Bread, Not the weekly Sabbath. John 19:31 also says that the Scribes and Pharisees did not want to crucify Jesus on this particular SABBATH day during a High Feast day of Unleavened Bread, where no manual labor was permitted.

John 19:31
³¹The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Figure 3. Jesus’ 3 Days and Nights in the Tomb

The chart above shows that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, Nisan 14 when the Passover Lamb was normally chosen for sacrifice by the priests. Three days and nights later Jesus arose on Saturday the normal Sabbath day in Hebrew reckoning, not Sun-day when the heathens worshiped the Sun-god. Also according to the US Naval Observatory the only years between 26-36 AD where Passover fell on a Wednesday, was in the years 28 and 31. 7

The first Passover Jesus attended, in [Jn. 2:13-23] where he cleansed the temple the first time, is separate from the following year of his crucifixion. Obviously this “acceptable year of the Lord,” is 5 years short of the traditional dating of Christ’s crucifixion, prior to the Blood Moon Tetrad of 32-33 AD. Again scholars have stressed the crucifixion in 33 due to fitting with the Blood Moon that satisfies Joel’s Prophecy, but this approach of using the Blood Moon Tetrad to set the crucifixion day of Christ is not consistent with the truth of the Scripture narrative on this subject. Thus with all these historical and Biblical time markers in agreement established on Biblical truth, a strong case is presented against traditional crucifixion dates in 32-33, with a 3-year ministry of Jesus Christ.

Part 2 of this study will show the Biblical keys verifying the 70 weeks of the “Acceptable year of the Lord,” exploding the myth of the ministry of Jesus Christ in excess of 3 years.

Footnotes

1. Approach to Earth of Comet 45P, NASA
2. Sky and Telescope Feb. 10th 2017, Path of Comet 45P/H-M-P [Picture credit]
3. Previous blog post
4. Moffat’s 20th Century New Testament [Matt. 27:45-46]
5. [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00206814.2011.639996]
6. Beyondtoday.tv [picture credit] Figure 3.
7. US Naval Observatory [http://www.judaismvschristianity.com/passover_dates.htm]

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The Heart of the Magi [Part 2]

Sun of Righteousness

The Heart of the Magi [Part 2]

Happy New Year and God’s Abundant Blessings to everyone in 2017!

In our last blog post in December of 2016, we recalled how the Magi followed the Star of the Messiah-Jupiter to Jerusalem and then Bethlehem. This study will expand on that basis as Part 2 of the study on the Heart of the Magi. We begin here in Matthew, and take a look at some deeper aspects of theses first verses of chapter 2.

Matt. 2:1-2
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ²and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Verse 1 says the “Magi from the east,” in the Greek east is [G393-anatole] or in the rising, refers to the Sun or a star rising 1 in this and related forms of this word. In this case in verse 2 when the Magi saw His Star-Jupiter rising, it is the same word anatole, where the King Planet first in the Summer of 3 BC, rose in the pre-dawn eastern skies leading the magi to Jerusalem [Matt. 2:9]. It is interesting how the God’s Word uses this word anatole and in another form; [G395] anatello: to cause to rise, 2 referring both to the astronomical light of the rising Jupiter, to lead the Magi to the Spiritual light of the World-the Promised Seed Jesus Christ. We find an example of this in Luke 1, initially referring to John the Baptist, whom Jesus called a “burning and shining light,” [Jn. 5:35] in verse 76.

Luke 1:76-79

⁷⁶And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; ⁷⁷To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, ⁷⁸Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, ⁷⁹To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The word for “Dayspring” from on high-or heaven above is also anatole, and the next verse reveals some of the mission statement of deliverance that the Son of God, the Prince of Peace would bring to the Earth. The light that Jesus embodies to all mankind is compared to the sunrise many times in the Gospels and Epistles; [Matt. 5:45, 13:6, 17:2, Luke 2:32, Jn. 8:12, 12:3, 5-6, Acts 9:3, 2 Cor. 4:4-6, Pet. 1:19]. Just as the light of Jupiter guided the feet of the Magi to the Prince of Peace and the way of peace, so Jesus will do for all those who believe on his name for the light of salvation. Another verse along this line is found in Matthew 4.

The Magi’s Caravan entering Jerusalem.

Image result for persian magi images

Matt. 4:12-17
12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; ¹³And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: ¹⁴That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, ¹⁵The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

¹⁶The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. ¹⁷From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

In verse 16 above the word for “sprung up” is also anatello, which again links the astronomical light to the spiritual light of Christ, revealed when he began his preaching on the Kingdom of Heaven. His apostles and disciples expected Jesus to bring his kingdom into fruition as part of his ministry to Israel, but because the kingdom and king were rejected by Israel, the Age of Grace followed, providing the Gentile nations access to the spiritual body Christ. As the Lord Jesus Christ has embodied the deliverance and light and to all who sat in darkness, the believers are able to escape the bondage of the enemy’s kingdom of darkness.

The Caravan of the Magi

Image result for persian magi images

2 Cor. 4:3-6

³But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ⁵For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus‘ sake. ⁶For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It is only in the deliverance brought by the Lord Jesus Christ that empowers us to escape death. In I Cor. 15 below we find a comparison of Astronomical light with Spiritual light that expands on what we have already seen in the Journey of the Magi.

I Cor. 15:40-50
⁴⁰There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. ⁴²So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. ⁴⁶Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. ⁵⁰Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Even as the astronomical Light of His Star-Jupiter lead to and is compared to the spiritual light of Christ, so the glory of the celestial bodies is compared to the spiritual glory we will see in the resurrection. We also find this comparison expressed in the banner of this blog post in Malachi 4 below.

^{I Cor. 15:51-58

51}Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

John 8:12
¹²Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

As Jesus himself said-He is the Light of the World and even as we bear witness of his light who would lighten the Gentiles [Lk. 2:32] so our labor will not be in vain in the Lord. To only bear his light is truly reward enough, yet the Heavenly Father showers us with everlasting blessings and rewards as we do. As we mentioned above concerning Malachi 4;

²But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. ³And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

Here the light of the Sun is compared to the light of Christ in prophecy, even as a light brighter than the Sun was seen on the mount of Transfiguration-in the face of Jesus Christ.

As we carry this message into the New Year 2017 we will see the signs, miracles and wonders that accompany the believers walking in the power of the holy spirit.

God Bless!

Footnotes

1. Strong’s Concordance, James Strong [G393] Anatole

2. Strong’s Concordance, James Strong [G395] Anatello

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The Heart of the Magi

Birth of Jesus Christ

Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ

This final message during Christmas weekend of our December 2016 blog is a Big Thank You to all of our new and longer standing readers and supporters. We have some exciting and unique products set to launch in 2017 and we will keep you updated on these events!

During this season of Holiday Cheer, those of us who realize that Christ was NOT born on Dec. 25th, wonder if there is any Biblical significance to the remembrance of the birth of Christ at this time of year. Since much of the information on this blog and website shows proof of Christ’s birth on September 11th, 3 BC, we have documented that the Magi did not arrive in Jerusalem until December of 2 BC as the gospel of Matthew records;

Matt. 2:1-2
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ²and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

What Star did the Magi see that led them to Jerusalem? It was the King planet Jupiter that in 7-6 BC was involved in a triple conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn in Pisces, that served as a “Celestial Prelude” to the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Regulus in 3-2 BC, marking the birth of Jesus Christ. The Magi were astronomer- kings from the eastern land of Persia, who upon observing Jupiter’s movements, got started on their intrepid journey across about 900 miles of hostile desert territory towards Jerusalem. They did not arrive until December of the next year, when King Herod organized a meeting with his chief priests and teachers of the law.

Matt. 2:3-8
³When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.⁵“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”

⁷Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

As the record denotes King Herod was not interested in “worshiping” Jesus, since he had all the children two years and under killed in Bethlehem. He would not have done this unless the exact time the star appeared to the Magi was close to the start of this 2-year time frame. The gospel also tells us the Magi found a “young child; paidion” in a House, not a new-born; brephos in a manger or Inn when they arrived, [Matt. 2:11]. This is why God warned the Magi of Herod’s treachery in a dream to avoid Herod and take a different route to return to their homeland.

Matt.2:9-10
⁹After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

The King Planet Jupiter guided the hearts of the Magi to be among the first Gentiles to recognize the only begotten Son of God, as it halted in retrograde motion over Jerusalem and Bethlehem-a few miles to the south. The banner heading this blog post shows the skies with Jupiter standing still in Virgo over Bethlehem, during the winter solstice when the Sun, the light of the world was also standing still.
What a joy and thrilling time this was for the Magi to follow with precision, the stars and planets as the Creator set them in their orbits and celestial stations, to find the Promised Seed. Jupiter as “His Star” led the Magi to the Messiah’s dawning day, opening a way through the principles of Biblical Astronomy to the Redeemer-the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostles led by Peter, were also eyewitnesses to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as he opened and served his ministry to Israel, which was validated in a mandate from Heaven with audible words from the Almighty.

Image result for mount of transfiguration pictures

2 Peter 1:16-19

¹⁶For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” ¹⁸We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. ¹⁹We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

The miracles of this Scriptural account of the birth of Christ fulfilled the grand purposes of the Almighty through His only begotten Son, to redeem mankind from the clutches of the adversary. The emphasis here is that the Truth of God’s Word is better than any eyewitness account could ever be; God Said It, that settles it! As the light of Jesus Christ the bright and Morning Star arises in our hearts even greater than it did for the Magi, we are sealed and reserved for an ever bright eternity with our Heavenly Father, in Christ as members of the spiritual body of his Church.

As we walk in the spirit with God in Christ in us, we too are not only “warned of God” when evil is afoot from the enemy, but we have the the freedom to take every step with the Almighty through Christ, enjoying the Abundant life in our complete fellowship of body, soul and spirit; so that we are preserved blameless unto the coming and soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ, [1 Thess. 5:23].

T’is the Season to remember and honor these truths that have called and saved us from this dark and perverse world…

Footnote

1. The Transfiguration by Carl Bloch [picture Credit]

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Biblical Astronomy of the 2016-17 Comets and the Blood Moon Tetrads

2016-17 Comets and the Blood Moon Tetrads

There has been some noteworthy Comet activity in the heavens during 2016, going into 2017, relating to our previous November 2016 blog. We noted significant events in the Nov. 14th Super Moon post, which was the largest Super-Moon since the 1948 Super-Moon, preceding the Blood Moon Tetrad of 1949-50. We should also realize that other heavenly signs like Comets were prominent during this time, with Israel re-forming as a nation-state for the first time in nearly 2000 years.

The 1948 Comet-called the “Eclipse Comet” was a spectacular sight approaching the Sun during the first week of November with a total solar eclipse. This eclipse occurred after Sukkot week at sundown Nov. 1st, leading into the 8th month- Rosh Chodesh Chesvan. It was first noticed as a brilliant object about 2 degrees southwest of the Sun during the total solar eclipse on November 1st, mag. about -2, with a 20 degree tail. Its southwest path through Hydra during November and December as a 2nd magnitude object with a tail up to 30 degrees long, was visible mainly in the Southern and low Northern latitudes. This 1948 Eclipse Comet appeared near the eclipsed sun as if the Sun was holding a sword. With its position passing through Hydra-the Serpent destroyed, this sword was raised against the serpent-enemy persecuting Israel. As a prelude to the 1949-50 Blood Moon Tetrad, this Eclipse Comet brought attention to the luni-solar Eclipse Tetrads that would also take place in 1967-68 marking Israel’s re-taking of Jerusalem, along with the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015.

The Comet theme is not only consistent with the message of our previous November blog post on the Comets in Perseus, but also throughout 2016 going forward into 2017. Our December blog post will summarize the Comet activity through the year and give us a preview of Comet activity we can expect going into the New Year. The first Comet we will look at in Fig. 1 below is known as Catalina.

Figure 1. Path of Comet Catalina

Comet Catalina [C/2013 US10] is an Oort Cloud Comet that became visible to the naked eye around November 24th 2015, after coming to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 15 November, just after the conclusion of the 2014-215 Blood Moon Tetrad. In Figure 2 below we can see Venus just prior to its Lunar Occultation.

Comet Catalina was discovered in 2013 by the Catalina Sky Survey, near Tucson, Arizona. The Comet was joined in an a dazzling celestial triad including the waning Crescent Moon and Venus in December 2015.

Figure 2. Venus on the Edge of the Moon.

Venus was seen just to the left- above the Moon, so bright in the sky it was visible to the naked eye in daylight. Around 12:30 p.m., the brilliant light of Venus the bright and Morning Star was covered by the Moon in an occultation, reemerging on from the lunar dark side a few hours later.

Comet Catalina is seen below in Fig. 3 moving northward through Virgo near Spica.

Looking southeast to left of the brightest planet Venus, about an hour before sunrise, Venus the bright and Morning Star, was near the star Spica in the constellation Virgo, very easy to see, out-shining the Comet like a laser beam.

Above Venus is the the-dimmer red planet Mars–Michael signifying the presence of the Warrior Arch-Angel. Also higher up in Virgo-is Jupiter the King Planet, forming a December Planetary Alignment as Jupiter heads towards Virgo’s womb, in the late Summer and Fall of 2017.

Figure 3. Virgo Planetary Alignment with Comet Catalina

On the Morning of Dec. 7th the comet paired with Venus and the waning crescent Moon as seen from the Central US, in Virgo close to her womb. This seems to foreshadow Jupiter’s 2017 “gestation period” in Virgo’s womb. As Catalina passed north at about 1° per day, it left Virgo into Boötes on Christmas Eve, on a beeline for Arcturus on New Year’s Day, 2016-marking the New Year in a solar conjunction as the comet glided 1/2 degree southwest of the Sun, preparing us for a year of unique Comet activity. The Constellation Böötes represents the work of the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd, laboring to enter into in the promised land resting place (H4496 menuchah, Ps. 23:2, Isa. 28:10,12; Num. 11:33) between the sheepfolds, opening the way as he leads his flocks.

Aratus’ name for Bootes is Arctophylax, ie. the guardian of Arctos, the flock of the greater fold, called today the great bear. This aligns with the name of the brightest star in Böötes, Arcturus, which was probably the name of this sign in antiquity [Job 9:9], providing a conclusive link with the celestial shepherd and his flocks. It is intriguing to see Draco the dragon depicted below, as winding his way down between these two flocks in the northern skies, with the lower coils of his tail under the star Thuban, the archaic pole star.

After the comet came closest to Earth at 66.9 million miles, on Jan. 12, 2016, the Comet swept just 1° north of the star Alkaid, at the tip of the Big Dipper’s handle, on January 14–15. Two days later it sped by the double star Mizar in the handle’s bend, as a magnitude 5 object. [see Fig. 1] After a fairly slow start in Virgo, the comet raced across the sky, becoming a circumpolar object in Ursa Major by mid-January. Then around Jan. 21st Comet Catalina crossed into Draco cutting thru the dragon’s Tail near the North Pole. Sky & Telescope

Figure 4. Comet Panstarrs in Pisces.

A few months after Catalina faded out of naked eye visibility, Comet C/2013X1 (PanSTARRS) stepped onto the stellar stage. Figure 4 above shows Comet PanStarrs moving through Pisces in mid-March near the Pegasus Square. It was seen with the Crescent Moon during this time, with a minimum Earth distance of about 1/2 AU through June 2016. This New Crescent Moon was significant this year as it followed a Total Solar Eclipse 3 days prior on March 9th, 2016 that was also Nisan 1 on the Hebrew Calendar. This was the first of four luni-solar eclipses on Hebrew feast and holy days in 2016, as a follow-up to the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-15. The second of these Eclipses was a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse on Passover 3/23/2016, that was also Nisan 14, the very day of Christ’s crucifixion in 28 AD. It is noteworthy first that the four luni-solar eclipses in 2016 mirror luni-solar eclipses marking the Romans destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem in 70 AD. Secondly, Comet Panstarrs in Pisces represents Israel-the Redeemed.

Other comets capturing our interest this month into 2017 include 45P/ Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova in January of 2017, depicted in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova in Capricorn.

This Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova should brighten quickly from mid-December into early January as it moves across Capricorn low in the southwestern sky at dusk. Capricorn the Goat calls attention to the perfect Sacrifice of Jesus Christ as he laid down his life for our sins, once and for all, enshrined at Passover. As we head towards the Spring of 2017, another Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak in March 2017, will attract our attention. These are the Comets with a greater potential of being visible to the naked eye in 2017, with the possibility of being close to Earth during these times.

Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak may also reach naked-eye visibility (magnitude +6) in Ursa Major in early April 2017. The comet has a history of outbursts. When Comet 41P/T-G-K passes closest to Earth (0.14 AU) in late March, it rushes across the circumpolar constellations Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and Draco. The comet’s path in April and May takes it across the Tail and in front of the Head of the Dragon Draco @ the North Pole. Like Comet Catalina it cuts thru the dragon’s tail, but Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresakalso also slices through the neck of the dragon removing its Head. This appears a precursor of the Great Dragon’s coming destruction as described in Revelation with five names:

Rev. 12:9 “⁹The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who deceives the whole world.

All this circumpolar Comet activity going into 2017 is indicative of the disasters that will be inflicted against the Dragon and his minions, in the coming judgment of the world.

Figure 6. Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak

A point of interest here is that one of the namesakes of this comet [Giacobini] was also linked with the parent comet the spawned the meteor shower leading up to the birth of Christ on Sept. 11th, 3 BC. The excerpt below is from my study [www.try-god.com] the Introduction to the Jupiter-Regulus Conjunctions.

“R.H. Allen adds that; “the conclusion of the verse [Rev. 12:4] “did cast them to the earth,” would show a possible reference to meteors.”⁶ This is the earliest reference in print I have found that ties a potential Meteor shower to this section of Revelation 12. This Meteor shower that originates from the tail of Draco, the cast down dragon, is linked to its parent comet, known today as the Giacobini-Zinner Comet. Traditionally comets have been viewed as omens of disaster, perhaps another ironic twist from the Heavenly Father to mark the fall of the archaic morning star with a celestial sign pointing out the dragon’s own disastrous end. As we noted with the previous Comet Catalina, the lunar Occultation of Venus was also apparent leading to Christ’s birth from September 9th to the 12th. The Eta-Draconid Meteor Showers, with their radiant in Draco, the Dragon cast down. The Moon was mid-body with the Sun in Virgo occulting the planet Venus, starting at 11:50 PM.”6

To add to this heightened show of recent comets, according to scientific data regarding incoming Oort cloud comets, they appear to be originating from one localized point of the Oort cloud. This indicates not random influence, but an unidentified specific object, as the cause of comets or asteroids potentially being knocked from their Oort cloud orbits and sent on altered trajectories towards the Earth.

On November 8th, 2016, Earth had a close encounter with a sizable asteroid. The asteroid, designated 2005 YU55, shot by Earth at a distance of about 200,000 miles, just this side of the lunar orbit. Obviously, asteroids have come this close to the Earth before, but not 400 meters in diameter since 1976, and these scientists tell us its likely not to happen again until 2028. Its interesting to note that the “fly-by” traffic in our part of the inner solar system started getting heavier around September 2015, at the conclusion of the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad.

In summary something may have disturbed an area of the Oort cloud recently, sending a stream of first time comets and asteroids hurtling in our direction that are now starting to arrive. What could have knocked these Oort cloud objects out of their orbits? Perhaps a distant planet from the outer solar system like the mysterious Planet X/Nibiru. We have also heard rumors of a red-brown dwarf star headed our way, or is it a star like Nemesis passing very close to, or even, breaching our solar system? Whatever form it takes it resembles what John described in Rev. 8:8-12.

Rev. 8:8-12
⁸The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, ⁹a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

¹⁰The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— ¹¹the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

¹²The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

This is only part of the wrath that will be visited upon the inhabitants of the earth, during this quickly approaching judgment. The Christian believers as members of the spiritual body of Christ will already be seated with Christ in heaven during this time, so if you want to enjoy the eternal abundant blessings of Christ, with God the Father, you must come to him to receive your inheritance. [Romans 10:9-10]

God Bless!