The Biblical Astronomy Blog Key

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This month’s post is the result of a realization and desire to improve accessibility to the blog studies on this site, as the Archive is insufficient on its own. With separate hyperlinked access to each blog, it is much easier to navigate the individual studies here, and cross-reference related topics for further study. With our 5th Anniversary quickly approaching on the 4th of July, it is high time  for these improvements, which will be further augmented with a Table of Topical Studies where related blogs can be grouped as a study aid. I’m so thankful for all the readers that are blessed by these studies, especially the contributors who have and will share God’s Wisdom inherent in His Word, related to these topics of Science and Biblical Astronomy.

Agape’

Rene’

Blog Contents 2014-2023

2014    red moon

July 3rd Four Kingdoms of Life

July 4th Celestial Prelude of Signs leading to the Birth of Christ

July 12th Blood Moons and Israel

August 9th Biblical Blood Moons Calendar

Sept. 10th The Menorah – Prophetic Tabernacle Plan – Celestial Symbolism

October 8th Blood Moon Lunar Eclipses Surrounding the Birth of Christ

October 20th Blood Moon Lunar and Solar Eclipses-Oct. 2014

November 21st Blood Moon Lunar and Solar Eclipses and the Lords Feasts [Pt. 1]

November 28th Blood Moon Lunar and Solar Eclipses and the Lords Feasts [Pt. 2]

December 14th Birth date of Jesus Christ [Pt. 1]

December 25th Birth date of Jesus Christ [Pt. 2]

2015    The Molten Sea

Jan. 30th Biblical Astronomy of the Venus-Mars Conjunctions 2015

Feb. 8th Eastern Light through the Tabernacle [Pt. 1]

Feb. 24th  Eastern Light through the Tabernacle [Pt. 2]

Mar. 10th Birth and Return of Jesus Christ and the Celestial Sphinx

Mar. 14th Pi Day

Mar. 20th Total Solar Eclipse at the North Pole

Mar. 30th History of the Blood Moon Tetrads and Jerusalem

April 6th Passover Blood Moon-April 4th and Nova Sagittari 2015

April 18th Biblical Evidence of the Blood Moon Tetrads on Hebrew Feasts

May 16th Blood Moon Tetrad and the Celestial Prelude

June 6th Blood Moon Tetrad and the Rev. 12 Heavenly Signs [Pt. 1]

June 15th  Blood Moon Tetrad and the Rev. 12 Heavenly Signs [Pt. 2]

June 24th 2015 Triple conjunction of Jupiter-Venus and Christ’s Birth and Return

July 26th Jupiter-Venus triple conjunction and Regulus with the Birth and Return of Christ

Aug. 1st  The Great Pyramid and the Boundary Stone of the Promised Land [Pt. 1]

Aug. 17th The Great Pyramid and the Boundary Stone of the Promised Land [Pt. 2.]

Aug. 31st Partial Solar Eclipse on Rosh Hashanah 9-13-15

Sept. 24th Biblical Astronomy of the Super Blood Moon 9-28-15

October 7th Jupiter-Venus Triple Conjunction and the Birth of Christ.

October 13th Biblical Astronomy of End Times Prophecy of Dendera Zodiac Axes

November 2nd Summary of 2015 Heavenly Signs Bracketed by Venus-Mars Conjunctions

November 20th New Evidence of the Coma Supernova and the Birth of Christ.

December 14th Celestial Prelude and the Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ

2016    

Jan. 2nd Biblical Astronomy of the Venus-Saturn Conjunctions of 2016

Jan. 24th Biblical Astronomy of the January-February 2016 Planetary Alignment

March 6th Blood Moon Bombshell of 2016?

March 14th Pi-Day 2016

March 22nd Purim Blood Moon on March 23rd 2016.

March 29th Biblical Astronomy of 2016 Solar and Lunar Signs

April 30th Biblical Astronomy of the Mercury Transit May 9th 2016

May 31st Biblical Astronomy of the Blood Moon Tetrads and Judah Ben Samuel’s Jubilee Prophecies [Pt. 1]

June 30th Biblical Astronomy of the Mercury-Venus Conjunctions of 2016-2017

July 16th End Times Prophecies of the Great Pyramid and the Pi and Phi Ratios [Pt. 1]

Aug. 1st End Times Prophecies of the Great Pyramid and the Pi and Phi Ratios [Pt. 2]

Aug. 29th Biblical Astronomy of the Invisible Lunar Eclipse and the Jupiter-Venus Conjunction in Virgo-August 2016

Sept. Biblical Astronomy of the Tishri 1 Annular Solar Eclipse 9-1-2016

Oct 3rd Biblical Astronomy of the Passover Darkness and the Crucifixion of Christ

November 1st Biblical Astronomy of the Comets in Perseus-Destroying the Adversary

November 12th Biblical Astronomy of the Super-Moon on Nov. 14th

Dec. 13th Biblical Astronomy of the 2016-2017 Comets and the Blood Moon Tetrads

Dec. 25th Heart of the Magi

2017       Related image

Jan. 19th Heart of the Magi [Pt. 2]

Feb. 11th Lunar Eclipses and the Crucifixion of Christ

March 14th The Biblical Astronomy of Pi Day 3-14-17

March 15th The 70 Weeks of Daniel 9 and the Acceptable Year of the Lord

April 13th The Celestial Prelude and the Birth and Return of Christ

May 20th Biblical Astronomy of the Phi Ratio in the Temple/Tabernacle of Israel  [Pt. 1]

June 24th The Biblical Astronomy of the August 21st Total Solar Eclipse-America Repent!

Aug. 1st Moses’ Tabernacle colors and the Phi and Lucas Ratios

Sept. 1st The Heavenly Sign of Rev. 12 and Teshuvah the Season of Prayer

Sept. 29th The Celestial Sphinx and the Jupiter-Spica Triple Conjunction of 2017.

Oct. 4th The Modern Blood Moon Tetrads and the Mars-Spica Triple Conjunctions

Oct. 20th The Biblical Astronomy of the Birth and Return of Jesus Christ and the Dual Fulfillment of Revelation 12, [Part 1]

Nov. 6th The Biblical Astronomy of the Birth and Return of Jesus Christ and the Dual Fulfillment of Revelation 12, [Part 2]

Nov. 15th The Biblical Astronomy of the Christmas Day Signs in 2 BC and 2017

Nov. 21st Celestial Symbolism of the Cherubim in Ezekiel’s Vision

Dec. 2nd, 2017 Abraham and the Prophecy of the Magi

Dec. 17th 2017 The Feast of Hannukah and the Magi

2018   

Jan. 15th Super-Moon Triad, Blood Moon Tetrad and the Jerusalem Temple

Feb. 8th Convergence of the Super-Moon Triads with the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad

Mar. 9th Virgo’s Triple Crown, The Great Pyramid and the Celestial Sphinx

Mar. 12th The Biblical Astronomy of Pi Day 3-14-18

April 4th The Birth of Christ on Tishri 1 with the New Moon

May 20th Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions and the Celestial Prelude

June 10th Biblical Cosmology of the Precession of the Equinoxes

June 21st The Blood Moon Tetrad of 168-166 BC and the Abomination of Desolation

July 3rd The Blood Moon Tetrad of 168-166 BC and the Abomination of Desolation [Part 2]

July 20th The Anti-Christ Equation [Part 1.]

August 8th The Anti-Christ Equation [Part 2] Full post.

August 28th The Times of the Gentiles and Temple at Jerusalem.

Sept. 10th Comet Giacobini-Zinner and the Birth and Return of Jesus Christ.

Oct. 1st Lunar Occultations and the Birth’s of Moses and Christ.

Oct. 13th The Pegasus Square and God’s Blueprints for Creation.

November 1st  The Celestial Prelude and the Blood Moons of 5 BC, [Part 1].

Dec. 2018  The Celestial Prelude and the Blood Moons of 5 BC, [Part 2].

2019       Related image

Jan. 3rd New Year Lunar Eclipses of January 2019 and the Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions

Feb. 10th Ancient Monuments of Biblical Archaeo-Astronomy, [Part 1].

March 10th Ancient Monuments of Biblical Archaeo-Astronomy, [Part 2].

April 13th Attributes of God in Christ

May 30th The Father of Lights

June 15th The Biblical Astronomy Blog Key

July 13th, Heavenly Signs and Earthly Tremors, Part 1.

August 31st, Solar System Symmetry and the Design Pattern of the Jerusalem Temple.

Sept. 15th, Biblical Astronomy of the Sufferings and Glory of Jesus Christ.

October 2nd, Phi and Pi ratios in the Jerusalem Temple and the Body of Christ.

Nov. 7th, Biblical Astronomy of the 7 Genesis Titles of Jesus Christ.

Nov. 10th Biblical Astronomy of the 2019 Mercury Transit and the Jupiter-Venus Unions.

Dec. 21st, The Celestial Prelude, the Star of Bethlehem and the Great Pyramid.

2020  

Jan. 17th, 2020 Heavenly Signs and Earthly Tremors- 20202.

Feb. 7th, Biblical Astronomy of the Lunar Mansions.

March 1st, Biblical Astronomy of Pi and the Lunar Mansions.

April 23rd, Lunar Mansions Part 3, Dendera Lunar Decans.

May 8th, The Great Sphinx, the Dendera Zodiac and The Gospel in the Stars.

June 8th, Biblical Astronomy of Heavenly Signs.

July 16th, Witness of the Great Pyramid Star Shafts, and the birth and Return of Jesus Christ.

August 29th, Geometric Growth in the 1st Century Acts Church.

Sept. 30th, Witness of the Great Pyramid in Job 38 and Rosh Hashanah, Part 1.

Nov. 1st, Structure of the Hebrew Menorah and the Pi Ratio.

Dec. 17th, The Jupiter-Saturn Timeline, The Celestial Prelude and The Coma Supernova.

 

2021    

Jan. 19th, 2021 The Jupiter-Saturn and Mercury, Triangular Massing.

Feb. 12th, The Triple union of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, with the Moon.

March 14th, Pi Day Reprint of the Structure of the Hebrew Menorah and the Pi Ratio.

March 31st, The Year of The Comet 323/P SOHO.

May 5th Biblical Astronomy of the Star of David.

June 9th, Genesis 3:15 Planisphere Axis and the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ.

Aug. 1st, The Celestial Prelude and the Celestial Encore.

Sept. 20th The Megalithic Monuments of Ancient Egypt.

Oct. 26th, End-time Prophecies of the Great Pyramid, the Celestial Sphinx and the Birth and Return of Jesus Christ.

Dec. 18th, Orion, The Pleiades, the Great Pyramid and Precession.

2022   

Jan. 30th, 2022 Timeline of the Celestial Prelude and the Celestial Encore.

Feb. 28th, Kepler’s Supernova-1604SN  A Beacon at the Celestial Crossroads.

Mar. 13th, Pi Day- The Miracle of the 153 Fish and Pi.

April 16th, The Celestial Signs of April 2022 and Passover.

June 18th, The Old Covenant Foundations for the Celestial Gospel.

July 10th, Biblical Astronomy of the Grand Celestial Alignment of June 2022.

Aug. 21st, Biblical astronomy of the Luni-Solar Eclipses of 2021-22.

Sept. 30th, The Miracle of the Sundial of Ahaz.

Oct. 30th, The Great Pyramid and Jacob’s Ladder.

Nov. 30th,  Biblical Astronomy of the Miracle of Joshua’s Long Day. 

Dec. 16th, 2022  Blog Summary of the birth of Christ and the Celestial Prelude.


2023
Jan. 25th. Joshua’s Long Day and the Birth of the King’s Son.

Feb. 27th. Expanded Light on the Coma Supernova and the Celestial Prelude.

March 13th. Divine Signature of Pi in the Bible.

April 7thAlmond symbolism in the Menorah and Aaron’s Rod that budded.

May 29th.  Ancient Megalithic Code of the Great Pyramid, Stonehenge and New Jerusalem.

June 30th.  Daniel, the Antikythera Device and the Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions of the Celestial Prelude.

July 30th.  The Prophet Daniel, the Magi and King Cyrus.

August 30th.  Cuneiform Tablets, the Magi, and the Star of Bethlehem.

Sept. 29th, 2023, The Sacred Geometry of Biblical Astronomy.

October 14th, 2023, Biblical Astronomy of the 10-23-14 Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse.

Nov. 29th, 2023, The Eclipse Menorah of 2014-2027.

Dec. 15th, 2023, Synopsis of the Celestial Prelude. Part 1.

2024        The Four Cardinal Points

January 2024, Synopsis of the Celestial Prelude. Part 2.

February 2024, Is there Bible Evidence for an Eclipse with Jonah?

March 2024, The Great Pyramid’s Void and its Star Shafts.

April 2024, The Celestial Gospel; Class Syllabus for the NJ Day in the Word.

May 2024, Was the Coma Nova a Recurrent Nova like the Coming Eruption in Corona Borealis?

June 2024, The Spirit of God is the Light of God in Concretion.

July 2024, Biblical Archaeo-Astronomy of Blood Moon Tetrads and Ancient Cultures.

August 2024, The Creator’s Deliberate Design and Pi & Phi Ratios.

September 2024, A Deeper Perspective on the Precession of the Equinoxes.

October 2024, The Rev. 12 Sign, Virgo’s Crown & the Birth and Return of Christ.

November 2024,

December 2024,

God Bless!!

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New Year Lunar Eclipses of January 2019 and Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions

New Year Lunar Eclipses of January 2019 and Jupiter-Venus Unions

As the heavens open with a celestial fireworks show for the New Year of 2019, there is a notable lunar theme in the air! In this first blog of 2019, we are highlighting two lunar eclipses in the first 3 weeks of 2019, including a Partial Lunar eclipse Jan. 5-6, and a Super Blood Moon on Jan 21st. This is part of a Super Moon series in 2018-19. A Super-Moon takes place when the Moon reaches peak fullness during its closest approach to Earth. Super-Moons appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than normal. Super-Moons can occur multiple times yearly, as we are seeing with the current Super-Moon Triad.

Image result for 2019 new years fireworks images

With two Lunar Eclipses in January, on the 6th and 21st, the final lunar sign in this Super-Moon series pulls a trifecta, also being a Total Lunar Eclipse, as a rare Super-Blood Moon.

A most notable recent Super-Blood Moon happened back in Sept. 2015 concluding the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad, with the 1st known Super Blood Moon on a Hebrew feast. This Blood Moon Tetrad wrapped up with a Super Blood Moon on Tabernacles Feast, Sept. 28, 2015.

The Jan. 31st, 2018 Blood Moon was also be visible in Israel as the moon in rising. It is the first of 3 consecutive Blood Moons visible in Israel. The 2nd occured on July 27/28, 2018 and the 3rd Jan. 20-21, 2019. This Blood Moon lunar triple of 2018-2019 follows 7 years after the lunar triple of  2010-2011 Blood Moons also visible in Israel. As we find in Fig. 1 below, these two sets of Blood Moon Lunar triples framed the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad, marking Hebrew Feast and holy days in 2014-15.

Figure 1. Lunar Triads and Solar Eclipses framing the Blood Moon Tetrad  2

Blood moon triad midpoints symmetry

The 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad was centered between the saddest days on the Hebrew Calendar, the days of Av marked by two lunar triples framing this Tetrad between 2010-11 and 2018-19. These Lunar triples or triads are Blood Moon lunar eclipses that do not fall on Hebrew Feast or holy days, bracketing the Blood Moon Tetrad that did. These lunar triples recall the Jerusalem Temple being destroyed on two key occasions in history, during Hebrew Sabbath years of 586-587 BC and 69-70 AD. The Jubilee calendar also marks 27-28 AD as a Jubilee year, denoting the year Jesus opened his ministry to Israel, as seen in [Isa. 61:1ff & Lk. 4:18-19].


The 2010-2011 Lunar triple
 dates prior to the Blood Moon Tetrad and Eclipses of 2016 are seen below:

12/21/2010
6/15/2011
12/10/2011

The 2018-2019 Lunar triple dates after the Blood Moon Tetrad and eclipses of 2016 are seen below:

1/31/2018
7/27/2018
1/21/2019

All the solar eclipses on either side of the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad are spaced equi-distant from the center of the Lunar Tetrad. For example, we find this with two solar eclipses closest to the center of the Blood Moon Tetrad, Oct. 23, 2014, and Mar. 20, 2015, are the same distance on either side of the center date [Jan. 5, 2015] of the Lunar Tetrad. The dates for the Partial Solar Eclipses before the Blood Moon Tetrad are listed below:

The Partial Solar Eclipse dates before the Blood Moon tetrad:

1/4/2011
6/1/2011
7/1/2011
11/25/2011

Partial Solar Eclipse Dates with the Second Lunar Triple:

2/15/2018
7/13/2018
8/11/2018
1/5-6/2019

It is interesting that the mid-point date Jan. 5, 2015, of this Blood Moon Tetrad is almost exactly 4 years to the day of the 4th Partial Solar Eclipse on Jan. 5-6 2019, during New Years week 2019. This Jan. 5-6 Partial Solar Eclipse Eclipse is the 58th eclipse in the Solar Saros Series 122. During the first week in January, we will see the Moon by passing Jupiter and Venus in Ophiuchus leading up to its Jan. 5-6 Partial Solar Eclipse. As it reaches the Super-Blood Moon on Jan. 21stEclipse totality will last 63 minutes.

Figure 2. The Moon passing by Jupiter and Venus New Years week Jan. 2019.

Generally, a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter happens once a year. But this year, in 2019, Venus and Jupiter will not only rendezvous the day after the Super-Blood Moon, on Jan. 22nd as seen in Fig. 3 below, but also for a 2nd notable conjunction in 2019 on the evening of November 24th, 2019.

Figure 3. Jupiter-Venus union aligned with Antares the Scorpion’s Heart Jan. 22nd, 2019.

There has been notable activity with the unions of Jupiter-Venus both at the birth of Christ and again linked to the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad, two years ahead of the Sept. 23rd, 2017 Rev. 12 sign.

The following dates, also show elements of the Celestial Sphinx in the Regulus unions in Leo, while the Jupiter-Venus conjunctions took place in Virgo in 2016-2017:

July 30th, 2016 Mercury-Regulus Conjunction
Aug. 5th, 2016 Venus-Regulus Conjunction
Aug. 26-27th, 2016 Jupiter-Venus conjunction [Jupiter enters Virgo]
Feb. 26th, 2017 Jupiter-Venus conjunction
Sept. 23rd, 2017 [Virgo clothed 
with the Sun/Moon @ feet]-Rev. 12:1-2 
Nov. 13th, 2017 Jupiter-Venus conjunction

The two brightest planets –Venus and Jupiter –teamed up to provide the closest planetary conjunction of 2014, which had been the closest Venus- Jupiter conjunction during the six Lunar Eclipses of 2014-2016, until August 27, 2016, when Jupiter entered Virgo to be eventually“birthed” in 2017. This Venus-Jupiter union on August 27, saw these two planets three times closer than during their 2015 union when they were separated by only 1/3 of a degree.

With this celestial context in mind it lends a deeper meaning for the Venus-Jupiter conjunctions of 2019. The upcoming morning conjunction on January 22, 2019, has very favorable sighting conditions, because Venus is near its maximum distance from the sun. The stellar backdrop for the two Jupiter-Venus unions in 2019 is Ophiuchus/Scorpius. We find Jupiter in retrograde in 2019 near the foot of Ophiuchus that was bruised by the Scorpion’s sting, [Gen. 3:14-15] depicting the spiritual conflict between Satan and Christ.

Figure 4. Jupiter in Ophiuchus’ foot near the star Saiph.


Jupiter appears in front of the stars of Ophiuchus’ foot, during its 2018-2019 appearance. (Starry Night Pro)

Ophiuchus is identified with Christ in the triple conjunction of Saturn with the star in the serpent-holder’s left foot, called Saiph, meaning “bruised.” This of course is linked to the first prophecy of the promised seed in Gen. 3:14-15.

Saturn began its retrograde in Ophiuchus March 26th, then Saturn entered Sagittarius for 84 days prior to returning to Ophiuchus May 18th, 2017. Around August 21st, 2017 Saturn reached its Western stationary point North of the star Theta Ophiuchi, the day of the Total Solar Eclipse across America. Saturn’s retrograde ended a week later on August 28th, 2017. After returning to its regular motion, Saturn completed its 3rd union with Saiph on Sept. 6th, 2017, as Mercury was in retrograde, circling Mars and Regulus in conjunction in Leo, on Sept. 4th. Saturn remained in Ophiuchus till November 18th, 2017, before heading back into Sagittarius.

Figure 5. Jupiter in retrograde in 2018-201 with Venus conjunctions

This sequence of the triple union of Saturn with the star Saiph in 2017 was a precursor of Jupiter’s retrograde motion also leading to the same bruised foot of Ophiuchus in 2018-19. But there is another element of these Jupiter-Venus unions of 2019 that directly links these celestial events, that being the heart of the Scorpion the Red Star Antares. Antares means “the wounding” as a description of the temporary wound the adversary inflicted on Christ at the Cross, as the very death that Christ conquered in defeating the enemy eternally, [Heb. 2:14].

Prior and during the Jupiter-Venus conjunctions of 2019, we find three unions of these planets with Antares in 2018-19.

1. December 23rd, 2018; Jupiter-Antares conjunction.
2. January 15th 2019; Venus-Antares conjunction.
3. November 9th, 2019; Venus-Antares conjunction.

Here we see the King Planet Jupiter and Venus the bright and Morning Star which embody different aspects of the Lord Jesus Christ effectively crushing the Head/Heart of the Serpent/ Scorpion leading up to the final death blow our Lord will execute in this titanic struggle of the Ages.

Figure 6.  Mercury, Jupiter, and Antares Dec. 21st 2018

The preceding separate triple unions of Jupiter and Saturn are a prelude to the upcoming Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunction in 2020.We find secondary elements of this theme just prior to the December 23rd, 2018 Jupiter-Antares conjunction, because on December 21st Jupiter and Mercury-Gabriel are less than a degree apart. Mercury, Jupiter, and Antares are nearly aligned in a 6° range, as seen in Fig. 6 above. Mercury-Gabriel heralds the coming Jupiter-Saturn conjunction as Dec. 21st marks two years until their Great Conjunction, when they appear only 0.1° apart! 7 Of course it was their triple union in 7 BC as part of the Celestial Prelude that helped the Magi recognize the traits of Jupiter as the Bethlehem Star bringing them to the birth of Christ.

What a great way to wrap up the 2018 Holiday Season and kick off the New Year!!

God Bless!!

Footnotes

1. Figure 1 graphic by Alexander Lawrence
2. Figure 2. Picture credit from Bruce McClure-Tonight Jan. 2019.
3. Figure 3. picture credit from [https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2018/10/24/2018-2019-jupiter-dances-with-the-snake-handler/]
4. IBID Figure 4 picture credit.
5. IBID Figure 5 picture credit.
6. IBID Figure 6 picture credit.
7. Ibid

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The Celestial Prelude and the Blood Moons of 5 BC [Part 2]

Birth of Jesus Christ
Biblical Astronomy of the Luni-solar eclipse Tetrad marking the Birth of Christ

The subject of this blog picks up from observations in our previous blog post in Part 1 of this study, concerning a triad of lunar eclipses on Hebrew Holy days in 5 BC, reflected in the chart below. This study will focus on the Total Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse of March 13th, 4 BC, which has long been erroneously held as the Eclipse marking Herod’s death. It was Dr. Ernest Martin who removed all doubt that this eclipse was the one Josephus said coincided with the death of Herod, and one of the main reasons was that in the year of this eclipse, it fell on Adar 15 on the Hebrew Calendar. From the time of Queen Esther [Esther 9:1-32] the 14th and 15th of Adar were set aside as festival days of Purim, [Esther 9:17-18], that celebrated the death of Haman with his family, and the overthrowing of his evil plot to destroy Israel. Although Purim was not one of the 3 main feasts that required the men of Israel to be in Jerusalem, Purim is a key feast for other reasons. More on this later.

Image result for Purim historical images

In March, 5 BC, concurrent with the Blood Moon and according to some records again in April4 BC, a Comet with no tail, or a Nova, appeared first in Capricorn, the sign of Christ the coming Sacrifice, and later in Aquila the Eagle, one of Capricorn’s 3 decans and enemy of the Serpent. The Pisces conjunctions of 7/6 BC would have directed the Magi’s attention to Jerusalem, but this Nova in Capricorn 2 years later, during the Passover and Unleavened Bread  feasts marked by Blood Moons, may also have confirmed for the Magi the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude. E.W. Bullinger references the popular belief regarding this general sign that was visible in and before the first century: “a traditional prophecy well known in the East, carefully preserved and handed down, that a new star would appear in this sign [Coma] when he whom it foretold, would be born.” 1

The activity in Figure 1 below sets the signs of 7-4 BC, ahead of the signs that began the following year marking the birth of Christ. Previously our focus mainly concerned the triple planetary union of Jupiter-Saturn in 7 BC, compared with the triple planetary Conjunction of Jupiter and Regulus 4 years later. In this study our focus is dialed into the intervening period of celestial signs in 5-4 BC, providing more detail leading to the birth of Christ. Part 1 of this study revealed these Blood Moons took place on the Spring and Fall feasts of the Hebrew Calendar, and the March 23rd Blood Moon Total Lunar eclipse fell on the evening of Passover on March 22nd-23rd starting the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Also in the Fall of that year, a 2nd Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse, opened the week of Tabernacle Feast, Sept. 15th. This was preceded by a Partial Solar Eclipse the evening of Sept. 1st that started the Feast of Trumpets on the 2nd of September, giving us a triad of Luni-Solar Eclipses on Hebrew Feast and holy days in 5 BC, also marked by Nova Capricornus, a notable set of Celestial Pageantry leading to Christ’s birth to be sure.

Figure 1. The Celestial Prelude of 7 to 4 BC

BC Dates 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: [Unleavened Bread Feast]
Virgo   Total eclipse
April 15-20, 6 Lunar occultation Series
Mar. 23rd  5 Nova Capricorn
Sept. 1st, 5
Partial Solar Eclipse: [Feast of  Trumpets]
  Total eclipse
Sept. 15th, 5
Total Lunar Eclipse: [Tabernacles Feast Week]
Pisces   Total eclipse
Mar. 13th 4   eclipse Partial Lunar Eclipse: Purim Nova Aquila

When we include the March 13th Blood Moon Total Lunar eclipse on Purim, to the eclipses of the previous year, we find a Tetrad of luni-solar eclipses on Hebrew Feast days leading to the birth of Christ. To my knowledge there has not been an Eclipse Tetrad linked with the birth of Christ previously, although there was a Blood Moon Tetrad linked with Christ’s Crucifixion in 32-33 AD. This crucifixion date would make Jesus 36+ years old instead of entering his 30th year to start his ministry, as scripture tells us. Once we adhere to the Jan. 9-10, 1 BC date for the eclipse marking Herod’s death, our crucifixion date in April, 28 AD is a precise fit with Christ opening his ministry over a year earlier in 27 AD. This reflects the “acceptable year of the Lord” as Jesus prophesied, [Lk. 4:19-22] as opposed to the 3 year ministry held by religious tradition. The lunar eclipse on Purim was also a potential factor in the Eclipse Tetrad of 2016.

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

What was unique about the Jubilee Year of 2016 is that either Purim or Passover fell on March 23rd, depending on if Adar 2 was included or not. This is the most recent time that a Lunar Eclipse could have occurred on Purim, although as a Penumbral lunar eclipse, the entire lunar surface was not eclipsed. It fell 120 days after the Super Blood Moon of Sept. 28, 2015. Specifically, Purim began Wednesday evening on the Hebrew Calendar, March 23, 2016 continuing through Thursday night, March 24th. It was also  the first full Moon after the Spring Equinox. We have pointed out in previous blogs how this Eclipse Tetrad with a Purim Eclipse in 2016 matched exactly with the tetrad of luni-solar eclipses marking the Roman’s destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD, seen below.

As in the eclipse tetrad leading to the birth of Christ in 3 BC, there was not only a Partial Lunar Eclipse on Purim, March 4th, 71 AD, but also a Rev. 12 sign in both cases. In Fig.2 we can see the Rev. 12 sign in Virgo, marking the birth of Christ.

Figure 2. Revelation 12 sign of Christ’s birth on Sept. 11th, 3 BC. 2

virgo at sunset on september 11th 3 bc

 The following summary from our Biblical Blood Moon Calendar post, shows the signs marking the 70 AD Roman’s Temple Destruction as Jesus Prophesied. It is fitting that Jesus prophesied about the 70′ Temple Destruction in [Matt. 24:2], marked by this Luni-solar eclipse tetrad, while another eclipse tetrad is found leading to his hirth. This provides another example of the Celestial Gospel supporting and confirming God’s written and incarnate Word.


Figure 3. Comparison of Luni-Solar Eclipses in
 69-71 AD with 2016.

Solar & Lunar Eclipses from 69-71 AD.         2016 Solar & Lunar Eclipses omitting Adar 2:

Partial Lunar       Sukkot              10/18/69

Total Solar           Nisan 1              3/30/70        Total Solar Eclipse 3/9/2016 on Nisan 1

Penum lunar       Passover          4/14/70         Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Passover 3/23/2016/ Nisan 14

Annular Solar     Rosh Hash      9/23/70        Annular Solar Eclipse 9/3/2016/Trumpets Feast 

Penum lunar       Sukkot              10/08/70     Penum Lunar Eclipse 9/16/Sukkot/9-16 to 9/23/16

Partial Lunar       Purim               3/4/71

 

 A comparison of Solar and Lunar signs between 70 AD and 2016 is truly remarkable! Also, the Purim lunar eclipse in 71′  was the last Lunar Eclipse on Purim we can find in the intervening period, after 4 BC, leading to the birth of Christ. The intriguing parallel here is that these Solar and Lunar signs marked the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70′, but in the 2016 tetrad we are looking for the return of a Third Jerusalem Temple as the next logical step to fulfill Biblical Prophecy following up to Israel’s reclamation of Jerusalem marked by the 1967-68′ Blood Moon Tetrad, in the 6-day War with Egypt. Thus we see the importance of these Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 5-4 BC and 2016 as they align with the only other Soli-lunar eclipses on Hebrew Feasts that include a Purim Eclipse over the last 2000 years! We must also be mindful that the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-15 and the 2016 eclipse tetrad lead the way to the replay of the Rev. 12 sign on Sept. 23rd of 2017. this leads to three pairings of eclipse tetrads including Purim eclipses, leading to 3 separate Rev. 12 signs in history!

Figure 4. Rev.12 Sign; 9/23/17 [Sun clothing Virgo with the Moon at her feet]. 3

A Penumbral Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse on the Feast of Purim, taking place during a Hebrew Jubilee Year, should also  get our attention for a number of reasons.

One can not help, but be struck by the unique and rare occurrence of the 2014-15 Eclipse Tetrad of four Blood Moons during the Shemitah of Shemitah’sand now the Jubilee comes with yet another Lunar eclipse on Purim, forming a Quintet of lunar eclipses on Hebrew Holidays from 2014-2016. The 70 AD destruction of the Jerusalem Temple marked the removal of God from His Temple in stages, and the dispersion of the Jews among the Gentile Nations. This 2016 Lunar Eclipse on Purim, may testify as another indicator towards the appearance a New Temple on the Mount, as part of the coming treaty allowing modern Israel the Restoration of Temple sacrifices in Jerusalem, previously marked by an Eclipse Tetrad in 69-71 AD, when those sacrifices were last enacted, [Dan. 9:24-27].

The 69-70 AD solar and lunar eclipses marking the Roman’s destruction of the Temple are reflected in the solar and lunar eclipses of 2016, leading to the 2017 rewind of the Great Wonder of Rev. 12:1-2. Amazingly, another version of this Rev. 12 celestial wonder occurred on August 27th, in 70 AD, in between the 4/14/70 Passover Lunar Eclipse, and the 9/23/70 Rosh Hashanah Solar Eclipse!

Figure 5. The Rev. 12 sign on August 27th, 70 AD: With a Jupiter-Venus union. 4

In this version of the Rev. 12 sign, the woman-Virgo has a crown of 12 stars, with Jupiter and Venus in such close union they appear to merge into one star just as they did in 2 BC, except this time in the lower rear paw of Leo. The Sun is clothing Virgo and the Moon near her feet. The planets Jupiter and Venus are also aligned with Mercury-Gabriel and the King Star Regulus in Leo.  What is extraordinary with this version of the Rev. 12 Sign is that it occurs in the center of the luni-solar eclipse tetrad on Hebrew Feast and holy days marking the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD.

Purim is a story of both deliverance and a sudden destructionPurim is a Hebrew holiday and has been incorporated much like Hanukkah into the list of Feasts that have been added to the 7 major Feasts of Jehovah. 

The meaning of the Feast of Purim is disclosed only in the Bible’s book of Esther. The beginning of the Book of Esther starts off with a 6-month feast of the King. As Purim amazingly aligns with a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, when we consider the context of Hebrew Calendar and the Eclipse series of 2014-2016  what is the message we can glean from these Purim lunar eclipses, linking the Rev. 12 signs at the birth and potential return of Christ? The record of the history and origin of the Purim Feast in the Book of Esther, is significant today for a number of reasons. Even as the evil Haman was bent on his genocidal plan against Israel in the ancient Persian Empire, so today there is a group of Islamic and world powers conspiring to “wipe Israel off the map.” Purim is prophetic in relation to the deliverance of God’s People from those enemies that seek to destroy the heritage of the Almighty, and Redeemer’s bl0od-line. The Purim feast also celebrates the death of Haman, an Amalekite from the tribe of Edom and his 10 sons [Esth. 3:10, 9:24].

Biblical record of Esther not only shows the history of the Feast of Purim, but also reveals elements of how the Heavenly Father saved His people, exhibiting His undying Love and protection of IsraelGod Saved His people not only so they could enjoy His blessing on their lives, but also so He could return them to the Promised Land of Israel and their Holy city-Jerusalem. We can see this long-standing purpose of God because after nearly 2000 years of being dispersed among the Gentile Nations, in 1948-50 Israel was reformed as a nation-state, also marked by a Blood Moon Tetrad, and the Jews have been returning to their homeland ever since. There is also another overriding purpose found in Esther, and that is the preservation of the Christ-line. Numerous times in history the enemy attempted to wipe the Hebrews from the face of the Earth as he knew they would bear man’s Redeemer. The serpent usually executes these purges through his evil earthly spiritual seed, of which Haman the Edomite was a prime candidate. During the birth of Moses, the Egyptians killed the male Hebrew infants for this purpose. During the time of Christ’s birth, Herod who also descended from Edomite ancestry, had the male infants murdered around Bethlehem, for the same reason.

This is one of the reasons why we have noted the link between lunar eclipses and the activity of the serpent’s seed in history and mythology. The link here seems to relate to the idea that the adversary is parasitic in nature, and the Moon as the lesser light ruling the night, does not generate its own light, but only reflects the sunlight or else periodically eclipses it. It seems while the Moon occults the Sun-light the enemy is encouraged to carry out its purposes contrary to the true God, as witnessed above.

The graphic below shows an astronomical disc from Apian’s Astronomicum Ceasareum (1540 AD). It illustrates the ascending and descending lunar Nodes (dragon’s head & tail), in calendrical calculation of solar and lunar eclipses.

Figure 6. Apian’s Astronomicum Ceasareum (1540 AD) 5

calculation of the solar and lunar eclipse

Lunar eclipses are a result of the activities of the Moon in monthly ascending and descending nodes,  that always lie opposite one another on the eclipticEclipses coincide with the Moon’s orbit intersecting the ecliptic. Solar and Lunar eclipses only occur when the Full or New Moon is within a six degree range of the lunar Node. The line connecting these nodes, the two “dragon points” where the Moon crosses the ecliptic, is called the “Line of Nodes.” The motion of this mythic line generates the 18.618-year eclipse cycle, but the Moon does not return to the same spot in the sky until it has gone through three of these cycles, totaling just under 56 years. This is called “precession of the nodes.”6 The golden section influence or phi ratio math seems apparent here, as in the saros, because during the 18.618-year eclipse cycle, the Line of Nodes recedes in the “precession of the nodes“19.618 days each year. The ancients conceived of the lunar nodes as a large celestial dragon. An apt example of this is found in old Arabian astronomy, where the two aspects of the Draconic Month were known as the Head and Tail of the Dragon.

As we see the efforts of Haman to exterminate the nation of Israel along these lines. The setting for Esther was ancient Persia-modern-day Iran. Even as Daniel who also served under this 2nd world Empire following Babylon from their capital city of Susa, Queen Esther decided to stand up for the nation of Israel against Haman’s evil plot, she received favor from her King and Husband Xerxes I. Esther enjoyed the favor of the King’s Sceptre when she risked her life by entering the conference of the King. It is interesting that; Biblically “a Sceptre can also be symbolic of a person!” In Numbers, we read;

(Numbers 24:17)”I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Seth.”

That Sceptre embodied the prophesied return of the Promised Seed, who came first over 1,900 years ago, and by his sacrifice provided redemption for all mankind. All who believe in Him, and follow Him, have a pathway back to God, who alone is able to deliver them from blood-thirsty hatred of those today, like Haman seeking the genocide of Israel. Our website study on the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude covers the significance of this Numbers 24 record regarding the Sceptre, in the context of the heavenly signs surrounding the birth of ChristThe heavenly birth signs for Christ as seen in Rev. 12, appeared again in 2017, with a prominent role for Jupiter, the King Planet and Royal Sceptre of the King of Kings.

For Messianic Jews and modern day Christians, we anticipate with great hope our embodiment in the spiritual Church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as we partake in the sceptre of his righteous authority and everlasting victory over the evil darkness of this world.

A Most Joyous Holiday Season for 2018 to all my readers…

God Bless!

Footnotes

1. Witness of the Stars, E. W. Bullinger
2. Picture Credit, Jesus Christ our Promised Seed, American Christian Press
3. Picture credit, Stellarium Software graphic of 9-23-17 Sign in Virgo.
4. Picture Credit, Stellarium Astronomical Software on Aug. 27th, 70 AD
5. Apian’s Astronomicum Ceasareum (1540 AD)
6. Star Names, their Lore and Meaning, R.H. Allen, p. 208.

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The Celestial Prelude and the Blood Moons of 5 BC

Birth of Jesus Christ
Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ

As we enter the late fall and winter months of November 2018, it will be fruitful to reconsider in greater detail the signs of the Celestial Prelude that led the Magi to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have proposed that the triple union of Jupiter-Saturn in 7 BC was not the actual signs marking the birth of Christ, as many have contended, but a Prelude to help the Magi recognize the triple union of Jupiter-Regulus in 3-2 BC, as the genuine heavenly signs surrounding the birth of Christ. Others as we will see, hold that Christ was born in 5 or 4 BC.

Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction

Related image

It is easy to see why this Jupiter-Saturn union could be mistaken for the celestial markings of the actual birth of Christ. Its understandable when we recall that much of this tradition was based on the teachings of the Prophet Daniel, who was made the master of the Magi, and the stargazers by King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, [Dan. 5:11]. He continued to preside over this august group in the reign of Darius I, [Dan. 6:1-3] when the Persians took control of the Babylonian empire. Daniel’s influence on the genuine sect of the Magi, not the Magicians who followed the perverted occult path into Astrology, was notable representing a key aspect of the astronomical doctrines of these Gentile scientists, especially regarding the widely held belief in the general sign marking the coming of the Messiah during this period in history. Obviously the Magi were aware of the truths of the Celestial Gospel concerning the coming redeemer, since it was their unrivaled expertise in Astronomy that led them to Jerusalem in the first place. As Matt. 2:3 tells us, their reputation clearly preceded them as Herodand all Jerusalem was troubled at their appearance. Herod seems to hold the Magi’s opinion regarding the star that lead them to Jerusalem, above the belief of his own scribes and chief priests, which is evident in the secret meeting he arranged with the Magi in Matt. 2:7.

The activity in the first Chart below compares the signs of 7-4 BC, ahead of the signs that began the following year in the 2nd Chart. Previously our focus mainly concerned the triple planetary union of Jupiter-Saturn in 7 BC, in comparison with the triple planetary Conjunction of Jupiter and Regulus 4 years later. In this study we will focus more on the intervening period of celestial signs in 6-4 BC, providing more detail leading to the birth of Christ. We will add details on some other signs like the two Blood Moons in 5 BC, to more fully sketch out and establish this comparison. What gets our attention with these Blood Moons is not only do they take place in the Spring and Fall Seasons of the Hebrew Calendar, but the March 23rd Blood Moon Total Lunar eclipse falls on the evening of Passover on March 22nd opening the date of the 23rd on this calendar starting the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Also in the Fall of that year, a 2nd Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse, occurred opening the week of Hebrew Feast of Tabernacles, Sept. 15th. This was preceded by a Partial Solar Eclipse the evening of Sept. 1st that started the Feast of Trumpets on the 2nd of September, giving us a triad of Luni-Solar Eclipses on Hebrew Feast and holy days in 5 BC, also marked by Nova Capricornus, a notable set of Celestial Pageantry leading to Christ’s birth to be sure.

The Celestial Prelude of 7 to 4 BC

BC Dates 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 [Unleavened Bread Feast]
Virgo   Total eclipse
April 15-20, 6 Lunar occultation Series
March 23rd  5 Nova Capricorn
Sept. 1st, 5
Partial Solar Eclipse [Feast of  Trumpets]
  Total eclipse
Sept. 15th, 5
Total Lunar Eclipse [Tabernacles Feast Week]
Pisces   Total eclipse
April 4 BC Nova Aquila

In March, 5 BC, and according to some records again in April, 4 BC, a Comet with no tail, or a Nova, appeared first in Capricorn, the sign of Christ the coming Sacrifice, and later in Aquila the Eagle, a decan of Capricorn and enemy of the Serpent. The Pisces conjunctions of 7/6 BC would have directed the Magi’s attention toward Jerusalem, but this unique Nova in Capricorn two years later, during the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread marked by Blood Moons may also have confirmed for the Magi the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude, seen in what E.W. Bullinger uncovered below. He references the popular belief regarding this general sign that was visible in and before the first century: “a traditional prophecy well known in the East, carefully preserved and handed down, that a new star would appear in this sign [Coma] when he whom it foretold, would be born.” 1  This tradition was at least partially based on Balaam’s declaration in Numbers 24, telling us that Balaam’s prophecy holds for us, at least a twofold import.

Numbers 24:17

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.4

   First, Balaam’s revelation refers to the advent of Christ the King, the ascendant bright and Morning Star, who came forth out of Jacob’s genealogical line. This genealogical line was marked astronomically by the similarity in the Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunctions surrounding both the births of Abram and Christ. Secondly, there is a celestial double meaning in the phrase: Star out of Jacob, with connotations for both the general and specific aspects of our Celestial Prelude. The new star, or supernova in the head of the infant in Coma, visible over 200 years, before 7 BC, was the general sign, the Star out of Jacob, that prepared the Magi to watch for specific aspects of the second part of the Celestial Prelude, including the JupiterSaturn triple unions of 7 BC in Pisces. We find this 2nd aspect of Balaam’s prophecy relating to the scepter, symbolic of the reign of the king planet-Jupiter.

As we progress in our study it becomes plain that Jupiter was the planet the Magi referred to as “his Star” in Matthew 2:2. The Magi noted the triple union of Jupiter and Saturn, that gave them a blueprint for the actual signs marking Christ’s birth, 4 years later. A Jupiter-Venus sign in August of 3 BC motivated them to begin their caravan to Jerusalem. Both of these aspects of the General and Specific celestial signs marking the birth of Christ are covered in more detail in the study on “The Stars Over Bethlehem, showing what the Magi observed in the skies overhead at the Messiah’s birth, both in Virgo and Coma.

They reached Judea years before the death of Herod, Jan. 9th, 1 BC marked by a Blood Moon, not to be confused with the Blood Moons of the 5 BC on Spring Passover, or during the fall feast of Tabernacles coinciding with Nova Capricornus. Over the last 18 years, when I first proposed the idea of a “Celestial Prelude,” and published it on [www.try-god.com], I have not been aware of any similar proposed theories that have come to the surface. There are however, some folks that have arrived at different conclusions from the same data. I recently came across some research by Jonathan Gray that falls into this category. Gray documents the history of what I have referred to as the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude in his book; “The Sting of the Scorpion,” where he states;

“FACT 9: Both Gentile and Jewish peoples preserved an ancient prophecy that in the period in which the Promised One should be born, there would appear a very bright star in the sky (22/161). This new star was to appear in the sign of the Virgin (5/36-37). A new and peculiar star did make its appearance in the period immediately preceding Jesus’ birth; it was so bright as to be visible even in the day time; and it continued in the sky during the whole period of Jesus’ lifetime, and for a period thereafter (22/161-163). It was in the first decan of Virgo, namely Coma, the sign of the Infant accompanying the Virgin, and it marked the very head of that Infant. The calculations on these remarkable incidents in the sky are recorded in ancient Mesopotamian and Chinese documents (10/239-247). They have been repeatedly re-examined by noted astronomers and pronounced to be correct. The facts thus stand attested by the best science. There can be no doubt that the conjunctions all in the sign of Pisces, along with the new star in the Virgin and Child (Coma) indicated that the One now born could be none other than the divine-human Seed of the woman. Is it any wonder that the Magi, as they approached Jerusalem, grew excited? That they were soon to see the illustrious Virgin-born Deliverer of the world, whom the zodiac and all sacred writings had been proclaiming from remotest antiquity, they had no longer the least shadow of a doubt. For long ages the world had awaited him. The time was now.” 2

Gray attests to the same historical evidence I first documented in the late 90’s regarding the “Coma Supernova,” but arrives at different conclusions regarding the birth of Christ due to his belief that Herod died in 4 BC. We find evidence for his belief towards the end of the next quote from Gray.

Figure 1. Coma the first Decan of Virgo from the Dendera Zodiac

Image result for Decan Coma

Regarding the Magi, Gray says;

“We cannot doubt that they were following some written or traditional prediction, a prediction referring to some general warning that was to be followed by a definite sign. It is clear that this warning had occurred two years previously, and it was this warning that caused the Magi to look for his sign, “his star in the East” (Matt. 2:2). So it was that these wise men from the East came asking for a newborn king and saying that they had seen his star in the East. Herod, the Roman-appointed puppet king, was nervous about the possible usurper of his throne and “inquired… what time the star appeared” (v. 7). The visitors must have informed him concerning the conjunctions and the associated omens. The jealous despot sent his murderers to Bethlehem to butcher an estimated twenty unweaned male infants living there. He was playing it safe. An attestation of the slaughter of the Bethlehem babies comes from Augustus Caesar (Macrobius, Saturnalia, lib.2, ch. 4). It is mentioned by Pascal (Pensees, 753 in the Penquin edition). Perhaps by this action Herod felt secure. Fat chance: within months, he was dead – and so lost the throne anyway! As for the star, some may regard it as entirely mythical, some as miraculous*, but it is also possible to suppose and inquire after an actual celestial phenomenon back of the account.” 3

Some of the varied conclusions Gray holds are based on a common error in this field, that Herod died in 4 BC as opposed to the much more likely date of  Jan. 1 BC, where Dr. Ernest Martin, shows that this eclipse is the only one that meets all the evidence required by Josephus and others, [Askelm.org]. 4  This error of linking the March 13, 4 BC Blood Moon to Herod’s death is a major determinant of his thesis of a 4 BC birth of Christ. The signs Gray notes in 5-4 BC are thus designed to support the birth of Christ during this time, but he is not alone in this false assumption. Yet this date is too early for the birth of Christ to fit with other aspects of the Biblical timeline of Christ’s ministry. The “general warning” Gray refers to above, that the Magi followed to a “definite sign” appears to be the Jupiter-Saturn triple union two years prior. So he considers this triple union of planets as a general warning pointing to the Nova Capricornus that followed also in Pisces. As Gray points out; “at the precise hour of midnight in the third week of September 5 BC, the sign of PISCES (everywhere regarded as a sign of the people of Israel), witnessed this constellation reaching its zenith on the meridian above Bethlehem, the prophesied birth-place of the coming Messiah.” 5 Gray also states earlier in the same year both Virgo and Coma were rising on the eastern horizon, seen from Jerusalem.

Figure 2. Jupiter-Saturn Triple union in Pisces. 6

Triple conjunction

Gray correctly points out the regular annual period when the Sun is clothing Virgo [Rev. 12:1-2] but makes no reference to the Moon being at the Virgin’s feet… 6 “It is a further ASTRONOMICAL Truth that on this date the SUN stood in Virgo (regarded the sign of the Virgin mother from whom the divine-human Redeemer was to be born. 16 David’s prophecy (2 Sam. 23:4) “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the SUN riseth,” is explained in the Jewish Midrash on this passage (par. 29, ed, Lemberg, p 56b, lines 7-9 from the top) as applying to the appearance of the Messiah (9/30). He is also termed the SUN of Righteousness and the LIGHT of the world (Mal. 4:2; John 8:12). So now, at the appointed time, the SUN stands in the VIRGIN.” 7

Gray recognizes the Sun’s annual trek through Virgo but leaves out the Moon, so his evidence falls short of the events describing the birth of Christ at this earlier time, which IS however fulfilled 2 years later. Gray’s general timeline is correct, which is described in his next reference below, but like many others not all the details fit.

“The Herodians knew that the time for the appearance of Messiah was at hand. The general expectation of the Jews as the time for Messiah’s appearance had arrived. Hence the Jews sent priests and Levites to John the Baptist, to ask him, Who are you? “And he confessed… I am not Messiah.” Then when Jesus himself appeared, many said, “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (Jn. 1:19, 20; 6:14; 7:40, 41). John the Baptist understood the chronology of Daniel’s prophecy and made it one of the bases of his appeal, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2).” 8

Gray’s incomplete timeline of events marking the birth of Christ omits key details that allow us to separate truth from error. But the information he supplies is not without value if applied to the genuine timeline of Christ’s birth. Below Gray refers to a general time-frame of the Messiah’s return based on teachings from the Talmud– “The School of Prophets,” headed by Elijah.

“THE JEWISH EXPECTATION: “HE’S DUE” There cannot be the slightest doubt that the portents announcing the birth of Jesus were understood by the rabbis (see page 23). But, more than that, they had the amazing prophecy of Daniel. Early Jewish documents such as the Septuagint (LXX) translation (285-246 B.C.) and the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs (c. 100 B.C.) interpret Daniel’s time prophecy (ch. 9:24-27) as referring to the Messiah (12/824-825; 13/47). Indeed, whether Essene, Hellenistic, Pharisaic or Zealot, “the most usual interpretations [of Dan.9:24-27] of Judaism until after 70 AD… were of the Messianic kind” (3/521). Notice this statement in the Talmud: The Tanna debe Eliyyehu [School of Elijah] teaches:

The world is to exist six thousand years. In the first two thousand there was desolation; for two thousand years the Torah flourished; and the next two thousand years is the Messianic era” (Talmud Sanhedrin, 97a, Vol.2, p.657).” 9

c. 4000 BC                   Abraham                             Messiah                          The End

| c.2000 yrs | ______c. 2000 yrs ______ | ____ c. 2000 yrs _____ |
The Desolation Era      Hebrew Torah Era             Messianic (Christ) Era

We can see the relevance of this history in light of the consistency between the signs surrounding both the births of Abraham & Moses, leading to Christ. Aspects of the Hebrew Faith were based on ancient traditions going back to the birth of Moses and Abraham, because it was believed the birth of Moses was also marked by a triple union of Jupiter and Saturn. We have detailed the signs surrounding these triple unions marking the births of Abraham and Moses for this very reason. These triple unions of Jupiter and Saturn would be a prophecy from deep antiquity that the Piscean Age would bring forth God’s eternal purpose in the revelation and personal presence of Jesus Christ, the promised seed of the woman. In the following reference to Jupiter-Saturn triple unions related to the birth of Moses, R.H. Allen has probably isolated at least part of the quote by 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.”10 [emphasis mine]

With this in mind, plus the fact that Moses was a forerunner of Jesus [Acts 3:22ff], it is worth noting that in the three years following the triple union of Jupiter and Saturn, and the Triangular massing of planets in February of 6 BC, Jesus Christ was born.  Even so, the triple union of Jupiter and Saturn in Taurus starting in the summer of 1536 BC, was the prelude to the birth of Moses. Perhaps the highest compliment we can pay the Magi is that they were genuine Gentile believers who sought for, and accurately anticipated the first coming of Jesus Christ, according to the ancient science learned from Daniel and the Astronomy they applied from their own traditions of Zoroastrianism. As Matthew 2:10 states; they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. The exceeding greatness of their joy, however was not founded upon their sighting of “his star” only, but on both the General and Specific signs of this Celestial Prelude, and all that Jupiter represented regarding the first coming of Jesus Christ the promised seed written in the stars. The roots of their knowledge of the Promised Seed trace to the monotheistic teachings of Zoroaster. A second man of the same name was said to have coexisted with Daniel in the reign of “Darius the Mede” in the 5th – 6th Centuries. We find a reason for their joy, in Rolleston’s quoting of Abulfaragius below:

Zeradusht {Zoroaster} taught the Persians that in the latter times a virgin should bring forth a son, and that when he should be born a star should appear, and should shine and be conspicuous in the midst of the figure of the virgin. It is then said that he commanded his disciples, the Magi, when they should see the star, that they should go forth where it directed them, and offer gifts to him that should be born.”11 (emphasis mine)

This confirms what we have already seen in Zoroastrian writings concerning the coming of the promised seed. The Magi would certainly have been joyfully awestruck when they realized the dual witness of the supernova in Coma, along with “his star,” the king planet Jupiter at rest in the mid-section of Virgo, on their way to Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy written in the stars, and established by their teachers, Zoroaster and the prophet Daniel. A graphic rendition of this is found in our banner at the top of this blog post. It shows both the general sign of the Celestial Prelude next to the specific sign of Jupiter in Virgo, directly over Bethlehem, as the Magi testified to the Creator’s precision, with the Rhythms of His celestial cycles in perfect harmony, bringing the Magi to their appointed destiny as witnesses of His purpose of the ages, the foretold arrival of the redeemer of Mankind.

The Nova’s in Capricorn and Aquila would have drawn the Magi’s attention to the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude, the Supernova in the head of the infant in his mother’s lap in Figure 1. Capricorn emphasized the perfect Sacrifice of our Lord and Savior laying down his life for the salvation of all mankind.

The Celestial Signs of 3 BC to 1 BC

May 19th, 3 BC Mercury-Saturn Taurus
June 12th, 3 BC Venus-Saturn Taurus
Aug. 31st, 3 BC Jupiter-Venus Leo
Sept. 9-12, 3BC Eta-Draconid Meteor Showers Draco
Sept. 14th, 3 BC Jupiter-Regulus Leo
Feb. 17th, 2 BC Jupiter-Regulus Leo
March 31st, 2 BC Triangular massing of Venus, Mars & Saturn Taurus
May 8th, 2 BC Jupiter-Regulus Leo
June 17th, 2 BC Jupiter-Venus Leo
Aug. 27th, 2 BC massing of planets Jupiter, Venus, Mars & Mercury Leo
Aug. 28th, 2 BC Alignment of Jupiter, Venus & Mars, Sun & Moon. Leo
Dec. 9th, 2 BC Venus-Mars Scorpius
Dec. 25th, 2 BC “Star of Bethlehem” Virgo
Jan. 9th, 1 BC. Total Lunar Eclipse Gemini-Death of Herod
Aug. 21st, 1 BC Jupiter-Venus Virgo


The Coma supernova set the stage for the triple union of Jupiter-Saturn in 7 BC leading to the birth of Christ. This union in Pisces also marked a transition in the ages of the precession of the equinoxes, from the Age of Aries to the Age of Pisces. This was not only the case in ancient Israel but the world-views of many ancient cultures including, Sumeria, Babylon, Egypt, Persia and the Meso-Americas., all held similar views. According to this pattern, Jupiter-Saturn triple unions occur in Pisces only once every 800 years, exhibiting how this series subdivides the precession, that totals a period of about 25,000 years. Since every 30 cycles of Jupiter-Saturn triple unions in Pisces totals a period of 24,000 years, this period is near enough to the full cycle of precession, to warrant our attention. This new Precessional Age was highlighted because for the prior 2160 years, Aries was the sign wherein the Sunrise occurred on the Spring equinox. The Triple union of Jupiter-Saturn marked the first time that the Sun arose in the Sign of Pisces, on the Spring equinox, signifying a new Precessional Age, the Age of Pisces. Over 2000 years has already passed since this opening of the Piscean Age, and the Birth of Christ that occurred four years later. The Sign of Pisces contains two fish, one swimming vertically towards the North Pole and the other horizontally along the ecliptic. The fish represent the houses of Judah and Israel, further disclosing the Promised Seed would come out of the Royal House of Judah. Christ had to be the Son of Adam, Abraham and David to fulfill all righteousness. The fullness of the gap between the sufferings of the Lord, seen during his first coming, and his glorious return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords continues to take place in the Piscean Age. Finally, this triple Conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn in Pisces gave the Magi all they needed to identify the signs marking the birth of Christ when the triple union of Jupiter-Regulus took place in Leo, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This panoramic view of Biblical and Celestial History, beautifully encapsulates how God utilized the Natural Law witness in the heavens, coordinated with Divine Scripture, to reveal in increasing detail, the identity of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

Heb 11:3 Through faith4102 we understand3539 that the3588 worlds165 were framed2675 by the word4487 of God,2316 so that things which are seen991 were not3361 made1096 of1537 things which do appear.5316

worlds” [G165 aion] ages of time were repaired, or set back in order by the individual spoken Words [G4487 rhema] of God.56 Thus we can trace the Audible Spoken Words of God in Scripture at the inception of each Spiritual Administration.

framed” [G2675-katartizo] means; to establish, set up, arrange, complete, perfect, finish, refit, repair, mend.57 [I Cor. 1:10, Gal. 6:1, I Thess. 3:10]

Each of the seven temporal administrations represents a step closer in the progression towards the total reparation of the ages of Time, thrown into chaos by Lucifer’s revolt in the 1st Heaven and Earth.  As the Entropy Law was instituted, resulting from the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the enemy became “Time Lord” in the kingdoms of this world. The Entropy Law, also known as the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, or “Time’s Arrow,” dictates the degradation of all matter in Creation, inexorably moving from higher degrees of order to lower states of order. This is the palpable effect of the release of sin nature on Creation, [Romans 8:19-23]. The Creator is the only One Who could reclaim the rule of the Temporal World, and from Eternity past, He set His plan in motion to be carried out in Jesus Christ. Each Spiritual Age /Administration brings Man closer to the Return of Paradise in Christ, where God’s order will be restored forever. In this way Christ is seen as the consummation of the ages, the center and embodiment of God’s plan to repair the damage done by the enemy, at the fall of man. As all history turns upon the Messiah- the axis of temporal order [BC/AD], so all men look to the Messianic prophecies of his appearing in faith of this restoration of the Ages 

In summary it is the Scriptures of Messianic prophecies that provide irrefutable proof of the identity of Jesus Christ. All the singularly unique signs, miracles and wonders that followed his life and ministry, pale in comparison to the collective witness in Biblical Prophecy of his appearing. As powerful as the single threads of Messianic truth are in foretelling of his earthly sufferings, it is the unified record in the tapestry of Messianic truth, and the Celestial Gospel, that together provide the complete fulfillment of his everlasting Glory as the Red Thread, forming an unbreakable chain of sacred evidence binding God’s Written Word and all Creation, into a unified whole. This mighty Chronicle of the Ages, consummated in the embodiment of God’s Word made flesh, brought to life in the only begotten Son of God, make the life, ministry and truth of Jesus Christ absolutely indisputable, because they are built upon the unshakable ground and foundation of the Eternal Rock-Who is our God and Loving Heavenly Father!

God Bless…

Footnotes

1. Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger
2. The Sting of the Scorpion, Jonathan Gray
3. Ibid
4. The Star that Astonished the World, Ernest L. Martin ppg. 72-106
5. The Sting of the Scorpion, Jonathan Gray
6. Graphic video credit for Figure 2, from [Bobmoler.wordpress.com]
7. The Sting of the Scorpion, Jonathan Gray
8. Ibid
9. Ibid
10. “Star Names Their Lore and Meaning,” R.H. Allen
11. “The Mazzaroth,” Frances Rolleston, Footnote on “The Star of Bethlehem.
12. Strong’s Concordance,  [G165 aion], James Strong
13. Ibid, [G2675-katartizo]

 

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