Supplemental Notes:

The Christmas Story

(What Really Happened!)

What really happened in Bethlehem two thousand years ago? Who were the Magi? Why did a virgin birth occur? What does a Christmas tree have to do with it?

Discover the real story behind the traditional nativity account, including the loophole upon which the Messianic hope rests.

© 1994 Koinonia House Inc.

Page 1 The Christmas Story The year of ’ birth is broadly accepted as 4 B.C., primarily from erroneous conclusions derived What Really Happened? from Josephus’ recording of an eclipse, assumed to be on March 13, 4 B.C., “shortly before Herod died.”

Each year at Christmas we celebrate the birth of There are a number of problems with this in addi- Jesus . After the New Year, we struggle to tion to the fact that it was more likely the eclipse remember to add a year as we date our checks, which occurred on December 29, 1 B.C. Considerable time should remind us that the entire Western World elapsed between Jesus’ birth and Herod’s death since reckons its calendar from the birth of the One who the family fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s edict and changed the world more than any other before or they didn’t return until after Herod’s death.3 since. Furthermore, Herod died on January 14, 1 B.C.4

It is disturbing to discover that much of what we Tertullian (born about 160 A.D.) stated that Augustus have been taught about the Christmas season seems began to rule 41 years before the birth of Jesus and to be more tradition than truth. It isn’t only Santa died 15 years after that event.5 Augustus died on Claus that is the result of myths and legends of the August 19, 14 A.D., placing Jesus’ birth at 2 B.C.6 season. Tertullian also notes that Jesus was born 28 years after the death of Cleopatra in 30 B.C., which is con- When Was Jesus Born? sistent with a date of 2 B.C. Irenaeus, born about a century after Jesus, also notes that the Lord was Most serious Bible students realize that Jesus was born in the 41st year of the reign of Augustus. Since probably not born on December 25th. The shep- Augustus began his reign in the autumn of 43 B.C., herds had their flocks in open field1 which implies a this also appears to substantiate the birth in 2 B.C. date prior to October. Furthermore, no competent Roman administrator would require registration Eusebius (264-340 A.D.), the “Father of Church His- involving travel during the season when Judea was tory,” ascribes it to the 42nd year of the reign of generally impassable.2 Augustus and the 28th from the subjection of Egypt on the death of Anthony and Cleopatra.7 The 42nd If Jesus wasn’t born on December 25, just when was year of Augustus ran from the autumn of 2 B.C. to the he born? Although the Bible doesn’t explicitly iden- autumn of 1 B.C. The subjugation of Egypt into the tify the birthday of our Lord, many scholars have Roman Empire occurred in the autumn of 30 B.C. The developed diverse opinions as to the likely birthday 28th year extended from the autumn of 3 B.C. to the of Jesus. (It reminds one of the rabbinical observa- autumn of 2 B.C. The only date that would meet both tion: with two Jews, you have three opinions!) of these constraints would be the autumn of 2 B.C.

The Year of Jesus’ Birth John the Baptist There are many scholastic debates offering contrast- ing views of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Another approach in determining the date of Jesus’ following exploration reviews but a few. birth is from information about John the Baptist.

Page 2 Page 3 Elisabeth, John’s mother, was a cousin of Mary and the day of the Feast of Trumpets. (See also our the wife of a priest named Zacharias who was of the briefing package on The Feasts of Israel for more “course” of Abijah.8 (Priests were divided into 24 background.) courses9 and each course officiated in the Temple for one week, from sabbath to sabbath.) Then Why December 25th?

When the Temple was destroyed by Titus on August The early Christian church did not celebrate Jesus’ 5, 70 A.D., the first course of priests had just taken birth, and therefore the exact date had not been 10 office. Since the course of Abijah was the eighth preserved in festivals. course, we can track backwards and determine that Zacharias would have ended his duties on July 13, 3 The first recorded mention of December 25 is in the B.C. If the birth of John took place 280 days later, it Calendar of Philocalus (354 A.D.) which assumed would have been on April 19-20, 2 B.C. (precisely on Jesus’ birth to be Friday, December 25, 1 A.D. Passover of that year). When the Emperor Constantine eventually declared John began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius as the state religion of the Roman Em- 11 Caesar. The minimum age for the ministry was pire in the Edict of Toleration in 312 A.D., the perse- 12 30. As Augustus died on August 19, 14 A.D., that cuted Christians exchanged the rags of hiding for was the accession year for Tiberius. If John was the silks of the court. born on April 19-20, 2 B.C., his 30th birthday would have been April 19-20, 29 A.D., or the 15th year of The predictable expediency to adopt the inevitable Tiberius. This seems to confirm the 2 B.C. date and, cultural changes caused many of the former pagan since John was five months older, this also confirms rituals to be adapted to their new “Christian” trap- the autumn birth date for Jesus. pings. The date of December 25th, which was offi- cially proclaimed by the church fathers in 440 A.D., (John’s repeated introduction of Jesus as “The Lamb was actually a vestige of the Roman holiday of 13 of God” is interesting if John was indeed born on Saturnalia, observed near the winter solstice, which Passover.) itself was among the many pagan traditions inher- ited from the earlier Babylonian priesthood.14 The Date of Jesus’ Birth

Elisabeth hid herself for five months and then the Babylonian Traditions Angel Gabriel announced to Mary both Elisabeth’s condition and that Mary also would bear a son who All forms of occultic practices have their origins in would be called Jesus. Mary went “with haste” to the original city of Babylon. Isaiah Chapter 47 visit Elisabeth, who was then in the first week of clearly brings this out. (See also Hislop in the bibli- her sixth month, or the fourth week of December, 3 ography.) Most of what we associate with pagan B.C. If Jesus was born 280 days later it would place Rome had its origins in ancient Babylon. It has the date of his birth on September 29, 2 B.C. been the adherence to these idolatrous influences that has evoked the intense criticism of Roman Ca- If Jesus was born on September 29, 2 B.C., it is tholicism by Protestant commentators over the many interesting to note that it was also the First of Tishri, centuries.

Page 4 Page 5 Babylon is mentioned in over 300 references in the There are numerous other examples: the wassail Bible. It is even alluded to three times in Christ’s bowl, the mistletoe (a fertility rite), and others that own genealogy. Babylon is presently being rebuilt are documented in such works as Hislop, et al. (See 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Baghdad. bibliography.) When Babylon was conquered by subsequent em- The Origin of Babylon pires, this entire religious system was transplanted, first to Pergamos under the Persians, and then to The first world dictator was Nimrod, the “Rebel.” Rome. As the pagan Rome (Babylonian) religious Nimrod built the famous Tower of Babel as the cen- system was integrated with Christian ceremonial terpiece of his rebellion against God. (“Bav” = gate; observances, many of our current traditions sur- “El” = God. Thus, Babel = “gateway to the gods”). rounding Christmas emerged. This was the beginning of the city of Babylon. Other Holidays God disrupted the rebellious coalition through the “confusion of tongues” in Genesis 11. This rebel- The Babylonian worship of Ishtar, the Golden Egg lion against God is still with us. The residuals from of Astarte, and the fertility rites of spring give us Babylon, including most of the traditions of idol wor- Easter (“Ishtar,” the mother goddess of Babylon). ship, astrology, and the occult, continue to the These get combined with other fertility symbols such present day. The original Biblical significance of as prolific rabbits, etc. (Have you ever wondered the zodiac (or “Mazzeroth”) was corrupted by the where we get rabbits that lay eggs?) Babylonian religious system and continues in all cul- The calendar year-end on October 31, and its associ- tures to this day. (See our briefing packages, Signs ated occultic rituals, gave us our Halloween. Many in the Heavens, and The Mystery of Babylon.) ancient cultures—Celts, Druids, et al—observed Oc- The Tammuz Legend tober 31, the Eve of Samhain, as their year-end. This was related to the worship of Baal (Mars) and Tammuz, the son of Nimrod and his queen, may have been stimulated by the perturbation of Semiramis, was identified with the Babylonian Sun the orbit of the earth associated with the planet God and worshipped following the winter solstice, Mars. (See our Briefing Package, The Signs in the on about December 22-23. As the days became Heavens.) shorter and shorter through the winter, they be- come the shortest at the winter solstice, about De- It appears that an “ecumenical” integration of all cember 22-23. Tammuz was thought to have died the world’s religions, including the ancient during the winter solstice, and was memorialized Babylonian occult forms that presently masquerade by burning a log in the fireplace. (The Chaldean as the “New Age,” are destined to be the final reli- word for infant is yule. This is the origin of the gious climax. (See our briefing package, The Mys- “yule log.”) tery of Babylon, for more background.)

His “rebirth” was celebrated by replacing the log The Messianic Promise with a trimmed tree the next morning. Sound fa- miliar? (Jeremiah 10 contains an interesting verse God’s declaration of war on Satan15 involved the prom- which talks about trimming trees, etc.) ise of a kinsman-redeemer of Adam: the Messiah. Page 6 Page 7 It is interesting to note Satan’s repeated attempts Luke Matthew Luke Matthew to eradicate the Messianic line from Eve onwards & Luke throughout history. From Cain and Abel and the Adam Nathan Solomon Flood of Noah to the slaughter of the infants in Seth Mattatha Rehoboam Egypt, Satan has attempted to interrupt the royal Enosh Menan Abijah line, even to the slaughter of the babes in Bethlehem. Kenan Melea Asa The Blood Curse on Jeconiah Mahalalel Eliakim Jehoshaphat Jared Jonan Jehoram The kings of both Israel and Judah went from bad Enoch Joseph Ahaziah to worse. Ultimately, God pronounced a “blood curse” Methuselah Judah Joash on Jeconiah and his descendants16 and, thus, on the Lamech Simeon Amaziah royal line. How can the Messiah be of the royal line Noah Levi Uzziah and yet not be subject to the blood curse? Shem Matthat Jotham Arphaxad Jorim Ahaz The Two Genealogies Salah Eliezer Hezekiah Eber Jose Manasseh Peleg Er Amon Matthew: As a Levi, Matthew focuses on the Reu Elmodam Josiah Messiahship of Jesus: he traces the legal line from Serug Cosam Johoiakim Abraham (as any Jew would) through David, then Nahor Addi Jehoiachin Solomon and the royal line, to Joseph, the legal fa- Terah Melchi Salathiel ther of Jesus (Mt 1:1-17). Abraham Neri Zerubbabel Isaac Shealtiel Abiud Luke: As a physician, Luke focuses on the human- Jacob Zerubbabel Eliakim ity of Jesus: he traces the blood line from Adam (the Judah Rhesa Azor first man) through David, then through Nathan (a Pharez Joanna Sadoc different son of David) to Mary, the mother of Jesus Hezron Judah Achim (Lk 3:23-38). Ram Joseph Eliud Amminadab Semei Eleazer Solution: A virgin shall bear a son (Isa 7:14) LXX: Nahshon Mattathias Matthan parthenos. Why? Deity, yet a kinsman-redeemer of Salmon Maath Jacob Adam. (See genealogies on the next page.) Boaz Naggai Joseph Obed Esli “Loophole”: Daughters of Zelophehad: One must Jesse Nahum note the amendment to the law which permitted David Amos inheritance through the daughter if no sons were Mattathias available and she married within the tribe.17 Study Joseph the following verses: Num 26:33; 27:1-11; 36:2-12; Janna Josh 17:3-6; 1 Chr 7:15. Melchi Levi (John also has a genealogy of the Pre-Existent One: Matthat John 1:1-3.) Page 8 Page(Mary) 9 Why Bethlehem? Tape 2: The Magi Why did Samuel, knowing that the royal line was of the tribe of Judah, anoint Saul from the tribe of Eastern tradition: 12 Magi; (Christmas: Jan 6) Benjamin? Western tradition: 3 Magi; (Epiphany: Jan 6)

This, and the link of Bethlehem to David, is found In the third Century: Magi became “Kings” bearing in the Book of Ruth. (See the briefing package, The gifts: Psalms 72:10, 68:29. Sixth century chronicle, Romance of Redemption.) You cannot understand Exerpia Latina Garbari, gives the names of the Magi: Revelation Chapter 5 without it.18 Bithisarea Balthasar A Master Plan Melichior Melchior Genesis Chapter 5: The Genealogy of Noah Gathaspa Gasper

Adam Man Bede (673-735): Magi were representatives of the Seth Appointed three sons of Noah and their progeny from Asia, Enosh Mortal Africa, & Europe: Shem, Ham, Japheth. Kenan Sorrow; Mahalalel The Blessed God 14th century Armenian tradition: Jared Shall come down Enoch Teaching Balthasar King of Arabia Methuselah His Death shall bring Melchior King of Persia Lamech The despairing Gasper King of India Noah Rest, Comfort Relics attributed to them were discovered in the The Ultimate Issue fourth century; transferred from Constantinople to Milan, fifth Century; to Cologne by Frederick Barbarossa in 1162 where they remain enshrined. Three things God “can’t do”: The Eternal One cannot lie; The word Magi comes from a Latinized form of Magoi He cannot learn; (Herodotus, 1:101), which came from an ancient He cannot make you love Him. Greek transliteration of the Persian original, mean- ing “magic” (Singular, magus). Four things He “doesn’t know”: A sin He doesn’t hate; However, “Magicians” (a profession, rather than citi- A sinner He doesn’t love; zenship or cultural link) are presented in Acts as An alternative path to His throne but through vile men without standing or morals: Simon Magus His Son; in Samaria, Acts 8:9-24; Elymas Magus at Paphos A better time to receive His Son than right on the Island of Cyprus, associated with Sergius now. Paulsu the proconsul.19 What is your Christmas gift to Him?

Page 10 Page 11 Persian Cult the essential mediator between God and man by vir- tue of a blood sacrifice. Each depended upon the Rab-mag, Chief of the Magi. (Untranslated title of wisdom of the priesthood in divination (The Urim Nergal-shar-ezer in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, Jer and Thummim of the Levite; the barsoms, small 39:3,13). Magi of lesser rank in Dan 2:10,27; 4:7,9; bundles of divining rods, of the Magi); each mutu- 5:11. (Cf. Magi are Median; vs. Chaldean.) ally held concepts of clean and unclean forms of life.

Title of Daniel.20 His Jewish appointment may have The Magi developed into a hereditary priesthood serv- had repercussions among the hereditary Median ing several religions; they became the priestly caste priesthood, leading to the plot of Daniel 6. during Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian periods.

Persian Magi credited with profound and extraordi- NT Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) nary religious knowledge. (Babylonian magi were often considered impostors.) Political Background: Since the days of Daniel, the fortunes of both the Persian and the Jewish nation Established as the state religion of Persia by Darius had been closely intertwined. Both nations had fallen the Great, after some Magi who were considered to under Seleucid domination in the wake of Alexander’s be expert in the interpretation of dreams had been conquests. Subsequently both had regained their attached to the Median court. (Oneiromancy, not as- independence: the Jews under Maccabean leader- trology, is the key skill mentioned by Herodotus, et ship, and the Persians as the dominating ruling group al. I.107, 120; VII.19.) within the Parthian empire.

It was in this dual capacity whereby civil and politi- It was at this time that the Magi, in their dual cal counsel was invested with religious authority that priestly and governmental office, composed the up- the Magi became the supreme priestly caste of the per house of the council of the Megistanes (“magis- empire. trates”?) whose duties included the absolute choice and election of the king of the realm. The Magi are mentioned in the trilingual inscription of Bisitun, made by Darius I The Great (550-486 It was therefore a group of Persian-Parthian “king B.C.; reigned 522-486). The three languages were makers” who entered in the latter days Elamite, Akkadian/Babylonian, and Old Persian/Ara- of the reign of Herod. Herod’s reaction was under- maic. It speaks of his speedy and final triumph standably one of fear when one considers the back- over a revolt of Magi in 522 B.C. The Magi were not ground of Roman-Parthian rivalry that prevailed dur- originally followers of Zoroaster.21 ing his lifetime.

The subsequent syncretistic Magian religion of Pompey, the first Roman conqueror of Jerusalem, in Archaemenid days had much in common with the 63 B.C. had attacked the Armenian outpost of Parthia. religion of the Jews: Each had its monotheistic con- In 55 B.C. Crassus led Roman legions in sacking cept of one beneficent creator, author of all good, Jerusalem and in a subsequent attack on Parthia who in turn was opposed by a malevolent evil spirit. proper. The Romans were decisively defeated at the Each had its hereditary priesthood which became battle of Carrhae with the loss of 30,000 troops, in-

Page 12 Page 13 cluding their commander. The Parthians counterat- maneuvering requisite to choosing his successor. It tacked with a token invasion of Armenia, Syria, and was conceivable that the Magi might have taken Palestine. advantage of the king’s lack of popularity to further their own interests with the establishment of a new Nominal Roman rule was reestablished under dynasty which could have been implemented if a Antipater, the father of Herod, who retreated be- sufficiently strong contender could be found. fore another Parthian invasion in 40 B.C. During this time it was entirely likely that the Mes- Mark Antony reestablished Roman sovereignty in sianic prophecies of the OT, culminating in the writ- 37 B.C. and, like Crassus before him, also embarked ings of Daniel, one of their own Magians, was of on a similarly ill-fated Parthian expedition. His di- profound motivating significance. The promise of sastrous retreat was followed by another wave of divinely imposed world dominion at the hands of a invading Parthians which swept all Roman opposi- Jewish monarch was more than acceptable to them. tion completely out of Palestine (including Herod (Their own Persian and Medo-Persian history was himself who fled to Alexandria and then to Rome). studded with Jewish nobles, ministers, and counse- With Parthian collaboration, Jewish sovereignty was lors; and in the great Archaemenid days, some of restored and Jerusalem was fortified with a Jewish the kings themselves were apparently of Jewish garrison. blood.) Herod, by this time, secured from Augustus Caesar In Jerusalem the sudden appearance of the Magi, the title of “King of the Jews.” However, it was not probably traveling in force with imaginable oriental for three years (including a five-month’s siege by pomp and accompanied by adequate calvary escort Roman troops) that the king was able to occupy his to insure their safe penetration of Roman territory, own capital city. Herod had thus gained the throne certainly alarmed Herod and the populace of Jerusa- of a rebellious buffer state which was situated be- lem. tween two mighty contending empires. At any time, his own subjects might conspire in bringing the It would seem as if these Magi were attempting to Parthians to their aid. perpetrate a border incident which could bring swift reprisal from Parthian armies. Their request of At the time of Christ’s birth, Herod may have been Herod, regarding the one “who has been born king close to his final illness. Augustus was also aged; of the Jews,”22 was a calculated insult to him who and Rome, since the retirement of Tiberius, was with- had contrived and bribed his way into that office. out any experienced military commander. Pro- Parthian Armenia was fomenting revolt against In the providence of God, the Messianic prophecy of Rome (which was successfully accomplished within the kingdom having been then fulfilled; the Magi, two years). The time was ripe for another Parthian “being warned in a dream” (a form of communica- invasion of the buffer provinces, except for the fact tion most acceptable to them), departed to their own that Parthia itself was racked by internal dissension. country with empty hands. Phraates IV, the unpopular and aging king, had once Within two years, Phraataces, the parricide son of been deposed and it was not improbable that the Phraates IV, was duly installed by the Magi as the Persian Magi were already involved in the political

Page 14 Page 15 new ruler of Parthia. Later, Philo of Alexandria, 20.Daniel 4:9; 5:11 Cicero, and others record that Magi were attached 21.Encyclopedia Britannica 7:691 to senior Roman courts with acknowledged gifts and 22.Matthew 2:2 standing. Star of Bethlehem? Bibliography

Was it a fulfillment of Balaam’s prophecy in Num 24:17? Neither Num 24:17 nor Isa 60:3 are quoted Hislop, Alexander, The Two Babylons, Loizeaux Broth- by Matthew. (Note: Simon Bar Cocheba, “Son of the ers, Neptune, New Jersey, 1916. Star.”) Conjunction theory: Kepler suggested that the star was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Missler, Chuck, Expositional Commentary on Daniel, the constellation of Pisces in 7 B.C. (Wrong date: 2 (tape cassettes with notes), Koinonia House, 1994. B.C. 4 B.C. suggested from an erroneous inference from Josephus.) See Signs in the Heavens for a Santala, Risto, The Messiah in the Old Testament in the discussion of the Hebrew Mazzeroth and the Zodiac. Light of Rabbinical Writings, (trans. from the He- brew), Keren Ahvah Meshihit, Jerusalem, 1980. * * * Notes: Santala, Risto, The Messiah in the in the 1. Luke 2:8. Light of Rabbinical Writings, (trans. from Hebrew), 2. Matthew 24:20. Keren Ahvah Meshihit, Jerusalem, 1984. 3. Matthew 2:15, 19-22. 4. Magillath Ta’anith, an ancient Jewish scroll contempo- Yamauchi, Edwin M., Persian and the Bible, Baker Book rary with Jesus. House, 1990. 5. Tert. adv. Judaeos c.8. 6. No year 0 between B.C. and A.D. Also Encyclopedia Judaica, Encyclopedia Britannica, the 7. Eccle. Hist. i.5. Babylonian Talmud, and other various encyclopedias, 8. Luke 1:5, 8-13, 23-24. dictionaries, and other reference materials as noted. 9. I Chronicles 24:7-19. 10.Both the Talmud and Josephus confirm this. 11.Luke 3:1. 12.Numbers 4:3. 13.John 1:29, 36. 14.Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, Loizeaux, Nep- tune, NJ, 1916. 15.Genesis 3:15 16.Jeremiah 22:30 17.Numbers 27:1-11; 36:2-12 18.Micah 5:2 19.Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible 3:222

Page 16 Page 17 Commentaries on Tape

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