Scripture to read: Nehemiah 2&13, Luke 1&2, Matthew 2
In the next two lessons I will show you how I confirmed Jesus’ life on earth using the prophecy of Daniel 9 timeline and comparing Bible scripture to historical and astrological documentation. I wanted to separate it into two lessons, number one because there is a lot of scripture to read and number two to have a break between his birth and his crucifixion. By confirming the date of his death, I could now determine the day of his return as early as 2033 using the words of Hosea 6.
455 BC + 29 AD – 1 = 483 years
“So, you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree (455 BC) to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince (29 AD), there will be seven weeks (49 years) and sixty-two weeks (434 years); it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress.” Daniel 9:25
455BC – Signing of edict by King Artaxerxes I to rebuild Jerusalem
“And it came about in the month NISAN (March-April), in the TWENTIETH YEAR of KING ARTAXERXES. So, I prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said to the king, 'If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, I request that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father’s tombs, that I may REBUILD it.' Then the king said to me, with the queen sitting beside him, 'How long will your journey be, and when will you return?' So, it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time. And I said to the king, 'If it pleases the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, so that they will allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which is by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house to which I will go.' And the king GRANTED them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.” Nehemiah 2:1-8
443BC – King Artaxerxes I gave permission to Nehemiah to repair Jerusalem
“But during all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the THIRTY-SECOND YEAR of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had come to the king. After some time, however, I requested a leave of absence from the king,” Nehemiah 13:6
Documented: “It does not seem possible to us that both the tablet in the British Museum and the one found by the University of Pennsylvania can be forgeries or errors. Therefore, we must deduce that Artaxerxes I did indeed accede in 475 BC. So, his 20th year would have been 455 BC”. (Truebiblecode.com)
Documented: "The starting point of the 490 years is set: from the going forth of the word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This order to restore and rebuild Jerusalem was given by Artaxerxes I in the month of Nisan in the 20th year of his reign in April 455 BCE. As Nehemiah said that the city wall was completed in 52 days on 25 Elul (22 September), he therefore made to hear this “word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem” on 3 Ab (2 August) to the Jewish deputy rulers who returned to the city." (Time.graphics)
Documented: "During the 20th year of Artaxerxes (455 B.C.E.), Nehemiah was granted permission to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the city. Nehemiah later returned for a time to the court of Artaxerxes in that king’s 32nd year (443 B.C.E.)." (Time.graphics)
March 3 BC - John the Baptist birth
“Now after these days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months. Now in the SIXTH MONTH the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary” Luke 1:24-27
“And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called infertile is now in her SIXTH MONTH. “Luke 1:36
“Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.” Luke 1:57
“Now the child grew and was becoming strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel” Luke 1:80
How Mary & Joseph met
In the Jewish tradition, a matchmaker helped to suggest a spouse for a young woman at the age to be married. God was ultimately given the final choice, through prayer, but rarely was the decision left to the young couple. It was likely that a similar situation occurred with Joseph and the Virgin Mary. It is held that the Virgin Mary was entrusted as a seamstress to the Temple at an early age and when she reached puberty a proper husband was sought. Joseph moved from Bethlehem to Nazareth for carpentry work. According to Christian tradition and the biblical account in the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph was chosen to be Mary’s husband through divine intervention.
The account, quoted in its entirety, runs thus:
“When [Mary] had come to her fourteenth year, the high priest announced to all that the virgins who were reared in the Temple, and who had reached the age of their womanhood, should return to their own, and be given in lawful marriage. The rest obeyed the command, and Mary alone answered that this she could not do, both because her parents had dedicated her to the service of the Lord, and because she herself had vowed her virginity to God.... When the high priest went in to take counsel with God, a voice came forth from the oratory for all to hear, and it said that of all the marriageable men of the house of David who had not yet taken a wife, each should bring a branch and lay it upon the altar, that one of the branches would burst into flower and upon it the Holy Ghost would come to rest in the form of a dove, according to the prophecy of Isaias, and that he to whom this branch belonged would be the one to whom the virgin should be espoused. Joseph was among the men who came.... [and he] placed a branch upon the altar, and straightaway it burst into bloom, and a dove came from Heaven and perched at its summit; whereby it was manifest to all that the Virgin was to become the spouse of Joseph.”
While it may not have been a romantic meeting according to our modern sensibilities, their meeting was providential, and they grew in their love of each other, providing a beautiful home for the child Jesus to grow up in.
September 11, 3 BC – Jesus’ birth (6 months after John the Baptist) This date is recorded as Tishri 1 the first day of the first Jewish month. It is also known as the Feast of Trumpets “Rosh Hashanah”.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
Documented: “Elizabeth conceived in June/July, Mary conceived 6 months thereafter in December/January and gave birth 9 months later in September/October, which is in the fall.” (bibleversestudy.com)
Documented: “The significance of this Tishri 1 considered the “day of a new beginning” is that not only was Jesus born on that date, but it includes the first day of creation; Noah’s first day after floods subsided considered the first day of a new world; the inauguration of Solomon, Jeremiah and Ezra; Joseph of Egypt became king; Joseph was freed from Egyptian prison; Jewish people began their freedom; and it’s the birthdate of Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Samuel and Jacob. Some speculate that the day of Rapture could happen on the Feast of Trumpets also."(Truthinscripture.net 1/2/2017)
“And God said, let there be [lights] in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for [signs], and for seasons, and for days, and years:” Genesis 1:14
Astrological confirmation: “He looked at Jupiter's retrograde motion with respect to Regulus and discovered that on very rare occasions, Jupiter does what appears to be a triple loop around Regulus, and one of those conjunctions occurred in September of 3BC on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.” (salvomag.com)
Newborn Jesus - visited by the shepherds at the time of his birth. At the same time, a star was visible to Magi in their homeland miles away.
“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the field keeping watch over their flock at night.” Luke 2:8
“And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger” Luke 2:16
Documented: “At that season {winter}, it has been urged, the weather was commonly too inclement for shepherds and sheep to pass the night in the open air, and there was too little grass for pastorage. In summer, on the other hand, the grass on the hills is rapidly burnt up. The season at which the grass is greenest is that just before the Passover (fall), so this appears the most probable date.” (bibleversestudy.com)
“Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2
“And I will display [wonders in the heavens above] and signs in the earth beneath” Acts 2:19
Astrological Confirmation: “In the words of Paul Wierwille,” it probably began in August of 3 BC, when Jupiter the King planet became visible above the eastern horizon as a morning star, seen by the Magi ‘in the rising.’ On August 12, Jupiter came into conjunction with Venus, the bright morning star, in the constellation of Leo, the sign of Judah. This might have been the “first sighting” which the Magi later communicated to King Herod when they were questioned by him after arriving in Jerusalem. Perhaps, the Magi began preparing for their long journey to Jerusalem to find the Jewish Messiah after this initial sighting.” (truthinscripture.net 1/4/2017)
“A great [sign appeared in heaven]; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was pregnant, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth”. Revelation 12:1-2
Astrological confirmation: "Jupiter has been determined to be the star that the Magi saw in the East as it was visible starting Sept 3BC. It was common for planets to be considered stars & in Hebrew; Jupiter was known as Sedeq (righteousness or kingship) a term also used for Messiah. On that same day the star Regulus known as the brightest star of the constellation of “kings” Leo stopped its lateral motion for 6 days. It has also been determined that not only did Jupiter stand still over Bethlehem on Sept 11 3BC but assumed its position while in the abdomen region of the constellation of Virgo “the virgin”. It has also been noted that the Sun was in the constellation Virgo together with the new moon at this time. This fits a plausible interpretation of the passage in Revelation describing the birth of a male child who is to be the ruler of our universe. So, the royal planet (Jupiter) approached the royal star (Regulus) in the royal constellation (Leo) representing Israel. It is also noted that Jupiter & Venus “mother planet” made close contact around July 3BC in the constellation Leo. The planet Jupiter & star Regulus repeated their conjunction in Feb & May 2BC continuing the guidance of the Magi to Bethlehem with a final show in June 2BC of contact between Jupiter & Venus, the brightest objects in the sky besides the sun & moon." (TruthinScripture.net Jesus birth-The Star of Bethlehem Jan/4/2017 and Hillsdale.edu/Imprimis1996)
Infant Jesus - was circumcised 8 days after birth and then 33 days later after the required purification period for a male had his presentation at the temple in Jerusalem.
“And when eight days were completed so that it was time for His circumcision, and when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord” Luke 2:21-22
After his birth they stayed in Bethlehem for several reasons, Jesus needed to be circumcised in 8 days and presented at the temple in Jerusalem after 33 days. Mary needed to present herself at the temple 40 days after birth for purification. Bethlehem was closer to Jerusalem than Nazareth so to make these religious ceremonies more manageable they stayed in Bethlehem. This journey wasn’t just a bureaucratic formality; it was an arduous trip that involved significant travel and logistics. Having made the difficult journey of 7-10 days to Bethlehem and given the newborn Jesus’ fragile state, it would make practical sense to stay put for a time. They may have found some stability in Bethlehem—a place teeming with Joseph’s kin—and could have received familial support that was essential in those times for sustenance and childcare.
The second sighting by the Magi happened when they arrived in Jerusalem after inquiring about the birth of the Child. It has been determined that the preparation for the long trip and travel time for their journey took approximately 15 months. They arrived on Dec 25 2BC bearing gifts. This date, December 25th, was originally chosen based on an estimated date of Jesus conception in March, later rumored to coincide with Roman pagan festivals. It's amazing to find that it coincides with confirmed documentation of the Magi’s visit and serves as a better reason for the giving of gifts.
“He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found him, report back to me, so that I too may come and worship Him. After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with joy.” Matthew 2:8-10
Astrological Confirmation: “According to the above authors, beginning in August of 3 BC and ending December of 2 BC, several conjunctions of the planets Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn occurred. In addition, movements of planets within constellations associated with the Messiah occurred [Leo the lion, Virgo the virgin, and Cancer the crab]. Finally, planetary conjunctions with key stars occurred [Jupiter with Regulus (the “King star” – in the constellation of Leo, the “Royal Constellation”)]. This was quite a show in the heavens for those trained to see it! At the end of 2 BC, Jupiter appeared at its ordinary time for retrogression, and it became stationary among the stars. It was at this time in December of 2 BC that something unusual happened."
Ernest Martin describes the details of this particular occurrence:
“But this time something unusual happened. In 2 B.C. as viewed from Jerusalem, Jupiter came to its normal stationary position directly over Bethlehem on December 25th."(truthinscripture.net 1/4/20)
Astrological Confirmation: “In fact, Jupiter and Venus, each very bright, had been moving closer together in the sky for many nights. But on June 17, they appeared to have fused into one great star. No one alive had seen anything like it; centuries separate conjunctions like this. This event was one in a sixteen-month-long progression of events, each involving Jupiter, the king’s star. If you had been an astrologer in the East (Mesopotamia), you would have consulted omens lists to interpret such events. Those omens lists were many centuries old, and they had come to be revered as a kind of scripture. In fact, if an omen threatened the life of the king, a substitute king might be placed on the throne for a time, so that the evil destined for the king could happen to the substitute. Three striking omens in succession warned against someone killing the king, changing the dynasty. In the Parthian Empire, one house of the government was the House of the Magi. They were the people who read the sky and advised the kings, based on the omens. It makes perfect sense that a delegation of Parthia’s Magi ventured west to find that “someone” who would rise, and secure peace rather than face war. The fact is: we can now attach calendar dates to the different scenes in that sixteen-month-long pageant involving the king’s planet Jupiter in 3 and 2 BC. The pageant culminated in a stationing (stopping against the background stars) of Jupiter, seen from Jerusalem as shining above Bethlehem. That was on the 25th of December, 2 BC. Matthew’s story of the Star has become virtually undeniable.” (patternsofevidence.com 6/17/22)
Toddler Jesus (15 months) - Jesus’ family were visited by the Magi in their home in Bethlehem (not a stable) when he was a young child (not a baby).
“And after they came into the [house], they saw the [young child] with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
Escape to Egypt- After the Magi’s visit, the family escape to Egypt until Herod’s death. As described below, if they fled during December or early January, the average temp in the desert at that time is 77 degrees.
“Now when they were gone, behold, an angel of the Lord, appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up! Take the Child and his mother and flee to Egypt and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill him. So, Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night and left for Egypt.” Matthew 2:13
December 29, 1BC Herod the Great death - from a combination of chronic kidney disease and a rare infection that causes gangrene of the genitalia.
“But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, get up, take the Child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead” Matthew 2:19-20
Documented: "Josephus also tells us that Herod was 25 (corrected from an impossible “15”) years old when he was appointed governor of Galilee. That was in 47 BCE. Counting forwards to get to the year in which Herod was 70 years old would bring us to 2 or 1 BCE for his death. If Josephus started counting Herod’s reign from his first regnal year rather than his accession year, that would place his death a year later, in 1 BCE." (greekreporter.com 12/14/2024)
Documented: "Josephus remarks in Antiquities 17.6.4 that there was a lunar eclipse shortly before Herod died. There were two lunar eclipses in the year 1BC. Of these two, the one on December 29 was the one most likely to be seen and remembered." (Biblicalarchaeology.org 12/22/2024)
Joseph took his family to Israel as instructed by God, but heard that Herod’s son, Archelaus, was now reigning over Judea. Once again Joseph received a warning and left for the region of Galilee and settled in the city of Nazareth where Jesus grew up as a child.
“When he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee and came and settled in a city called Nazareth.” Matthew 2:22-23
Documented: "Herod Archelaus (Ancient Greek: Ἡρῴδης Ἀρχέλαος, Hērōidēs Archelaos; 23 BC – c. AD 18) was the ethnarch [1][2] of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea, including the cities Caesarea and Jaffa, for nine years [3] (c. 4 BC to AD 6)."