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Home , 20s BC, 23 BC, Sol Invictus

Star of

a talk to

Springfield Park Baptist Church

by

Gary Auker

on Tuesday 2 nd 2008

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 1 : Talk Overview

• What time of year was born ? • Which year was Jesus born ? • The Politics of the Time • • Prophesy of Jewish Messiah known in many parts of Middle East • Magi came from the East • Who were the Magi ? • Candidates for the Star of Bethlehem • When was Christ’s real 2000 th Birthday ?

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 2 Star of Bethlehem Time of Year clue from

• Luke 2:8 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” • Keeping a watch on their flocks at night is what shepherd’s do during the lambing season in Spring Lambing occurs in Spring not Winter

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 3 Star of Bethlehem

• If Jesus was born in the Spring reading Luke may imply why do we celebrate his birthday on 25 th December each year ?

• To answer this question we need to understand a little about Roman culture in 1 st century & some early church history

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 4 Star of Bethlehem

Why celebrate on 25 December ?

• Invictus (Unconquered ) Festival introduced in 274 AD by Emperor celebrated on 25 December

• Celebration of Jesus’ birthday pre-dates the Sol Invictus festival, The earliest record of the celebration of Christ's birthday on dates to 243 A.D.

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 5 Star of Bethlehem • Why celebrate Christmas on 25 December ?

• – Roman of Agriculture & Harvest celebrated.

• – Roman Festival held to Saturn 17 - 23 December since was introduced in 45 BC Slaves were exempt from punishment. Public holiday were Masters would serve their slaves at a banquet. Toga not worn but informal clothes, and the Freedman’s hat (Pileus) was worn by everyone.

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 6 Star of Bethlehem • Why celebrate Christmas on 25 December ?

• chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.

Julius I Papacy 337 – 352 AD Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 7 Star of Bethlehem

• Which year was Jesus born ?

• We know the current year is not 2008 after his birth

• It wasn't until 525 AD that the year of Jesus' birth was fixed. by Dionysius Exiguus who determined Jesus was born 8 days before Roman New Year's day in the year 1 A.D.

• The Gospels provide us with clues that Dionysius Exiguus was wrong. Herod the Great died before 1 AD.

• Jesus most likely born between 8 BC censors & 6 AD censors

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 8 Star of Bethlehem Jewish History recorded by the Jew & later Roman citizen Josephus • Josephus (AD 37 – c. 100), also known as Yosef Ben Matityahu (Joseph, son of Matthias). His works give an important insight into first-century Judaism.

• Josephus fought the Romans in 66-73AD as a Jewish military leader in Galilee. • Josephus and one of his soldiers surrendered to the Roman forces

• In 71AD, he arrived in & became a citizen of Rome. It was while in Rome, and under Flavian patronage, that Josephus wrote all of his known works.

• Josephus was granted accommodation in conquered Judaea, and a decent, if not extravagant, pension. Roman bust possibly of Josephus (AD 37 – c. 100) Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 9 Star of Bethlehem : Empires

Persian Empire Parthia, an Iranian kingdom, c.60 BCE

Roman Republic c 44 BC

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 10 Star of Bethlehem • The Politics of the Time – Palestine under Roman rule from (63 BC) Mark Anthony Co-ruled 44-31 BC Emperor 27 BC to 14 AD was adopted nephew of Julius Caesar

Emperor Julius Caesar Dictator of Rome Empire 49 – 44 BC Octavian later re-named 14 AD to 37 AD Emperor Augustus Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 11 Star of Bethlehem • The Politics of the Time – Palestine under Roman rule from (63 BC)

• A family fight : brother-in-laws Mark Anthony & Octavian fall out

• Disagreement between Octavian and Anthony erupted into civil war, in 31 BC.

• Anthony was defeated by Octavian at the naval near Greece, and in a brief land battle at , .

• Mark Anthony committed suicide, and his lover, the Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, killed herself shortly after.

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 12 Star of Bethlehem • The Politics of the Time – Palestine under Roman rule from (63 BC)

• Caesarion was proclaimed “King of Kings” 34BC by Cleopatra & Mark Anthony. Caesarion was Julius Caesar’s natural son

• Octavius invaded Egypt 30 BC.

• Octavius had 17 yrs old Cleopatra & her Caesarion executed in 30 BC Julius Caesar son Ptolemy XV Dictator of Rome Also named Empire 49 – 44 BC Caesarion (Little Caesar) Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 13 Star of Bethlehem

• Herod was the pro-Roman king of the small Jewish state in the last decades before the common era AD. He started his career as a general, but the Roman statesman Mark Anthony recognized him as the Jewish national leader.

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 14 Star of Bethlehem

Herod’s life • Herod had 10 wives in his lifetime • Mariamne I (48 BCE to 29 BCE) was the second wife • Herod had 2 sons & 2 daughter by her • Both sons Alexandros and Aristobulus were executed circa 7 BC

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 15 Star of Bethlehem Herod Timeline 30s BC • 39–37 BC – War against Antigonus. After the conquest of and victory over Antigonus, executes Antigonus.

• 38 BC Herod made King (age~ 35) of by Mark Anthony

• 35 BC – Aristobulus III of Judea is drowned at a party, on Herod's orders.

• 31 BC – Judea suffers a devastating earthquake. Octavian defeats Mark Antony, so Herod switches allegiance to Octavian, later known as Augustus.

• 30 BC – Herod is shown great favour by Octavian, who at Rhodes confirms him as King of Judaea

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 16 Star of Bethlehem Herod Timeline 20s BC •27 BC – An assassination attempt on Herod was foiled.

•25 BC – Herod imported grain from Egypt and started an aid program to combat the widespread hunger and disease that followed a massive drought. He also waives a third of the taxes.

•23 BC – Herod built a palace in Jerusalem and the fortress Herodion (Herodium) in Judea. He married his third wife, Mariamne II, the daughter of high priest Simon.

•Circa 20 BC – Expansion started on the Second .

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 17 Star of Bethlehem

When did Herod die ?

Josephus wrote that Herod died after a lunar eclipse ?

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 18 Star of Bethlehem Lunar Eclipses visible from Jerusalem including 8BC & 6AD Censors and the Mass Oath to Emperor Augustus in 3-2 BC

9 BC Jun 03 23:00 Total Lunar Eclipse 9 BC Nov 28 18:50 Total Lunar Eclipse 5 BC Mar 23 18:20 Total Lunar Eclipse 5 BC Sep 15 20:10 Total Lunar Eclipse 4 BC Mar 13 00:40 Partial Lunar Eclipse

3 AD May 04 19:26 Total Lunar Eclipse 3 AD Oct 28 22:37 Total Lunar Eclipse 4 AD Oct 16 23:02 Partial Lunar Eclipse 6 AD Mar 03 20:22 Partial Lunar Eclipse 7 AD Feb 20 20:08 Total Lunar Eclipse 8 AD Feb 09 23:00 Partial Lunar Eclipse Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 19 Star of Bethlehem Lunar Eclipses 5 BC & 4 BC

Total Lunar Eclipse Partial Lunar Eclipse 28 Aug 2007 16 Aug 2008 Similar to 5 BC Similar to 4 BC

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 20 Star of Bethlehem Herod’s Death The scholarly consensus, based on Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews is that Herod died at the end of March or early April in 4 BC. Reasoning as follows: • Herod died 34 years after the death of Antigonus II Mattathias circa 37 BC. Implies Herod died 4 / 3 BC • Herod Philip II's death took place after a 37-year reign in the 20th year of Tiberius 33 AD. Implies Herod died 5/4 BC.

• Josephus wrote that Herod died after a lunar eclipse, and a partial eclipse took place in 4 BC. It has been suggested that 5 BC might be a more likely date– there were two total eclipses in that year. • However, the 4 B.C. date is almost universally accepted

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 21 Star of Bethlehem The Census Problem

• The Census of Quirinius took place in 6–7 AD.

• The census Luke referred to could have been another event such as a mass oath taking that took place when Augustus was given the title "father of the nation" (3–2 BC).

• Augustus is known to have taken a census of Roman citizens at least three times, in 28 BC, 8 BC, and AD 14

• Other scholars, however, argue that Luke was simply mistaken.

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 22 Star of Bethlehem

Prophesy of Messiah known in many parts of Middle East

• Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem 597 BC, deposed King Jehoiakim of Judah.

• Following a Jewish rebellion in 587 BC King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem along with the 1 st Temple to (Almightly God)

• Daniel and leading Jewish leaders exiled to Babylon taking Isaiah Prophesy (740 – 700 BC) of Messiah with them.

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 23 Star of Bethlehem 3 Magi travelling on Camels ? Its about as likely as the PM

Not very likely Riding one of these on official business Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 24 Star of Bethlehem • Magi were of high status and would have used high status transport. • In the Ancient World the only transport for people of high status was the horse.

'Confraternity of the Star' in Florence, Italy

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 25 Star of Bethlehem Who were the Magi ? • Matthew 2:1 - They came from the East • Early Christian 6th Century mosaic shows them wearing Persian clothing

Tuesday 2nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 26 Star of Bethlehem Who were the Magi ? • Magi were most likely Zoroastrian Priests from Persia (Iraq / Iran ) • Zoroastrian religion founded 500 BC by Zoroaster

• Zoroastrians believe in One God (Ahura Mazda) • Cosmic battle going on between truth and order against chaos, falsehood and disorder. • There will then be a final purge of evil from the Earth. Good will win in the end • All things will undergo a cosmic renovation and time will end • All will experience immortality and will share a single purpose for a perpetual exaltation of God’s glory. Tuesday 2nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 27 Star of Bethlehem Magi’s Journey – probably along the Fertile Crescent From Babylon to Jerusalem ~ 700 miles (take 2-3 months)

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 28 Star of Bethlehem Magi Gifts:

• Gold – Denotes Kingship • Frankincense - this gift symbolizes sacrifice, Christ's divinity When burned it produced a white smoke which used for prayers and praises

Tuesday 2nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 29 Star of Bethlehem Magi gift of Myrrh Myrrh promotes spiritual awareness and is uplifting. Used in embalming, as a cure for cancer, leprosy, and syphilis. Myrrh, mixed with coriander and honey, was used to treat herpes. It was used as an anti-infectous, anti- inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent and as a tonic. Because of myrrh's various medicinal uses this gift represents Christ's human nature

Tuesday 2nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 30 Star of Bethlehem

Bethlehem photo 1898

Bethlehem in 1880 Bethlehem today

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 31 Star of Bethlehem: 7 BC triple conjunction ?

Triple conjunction between & Saturn 7 BC 1 degree min separation Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 32 Star of Bethlehem: 6 BC Lunar occultation ?

Moon passes in front of Jupiter in constellation of Aries (The Ram) sign of in 6 BC

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 33 Star of Bethlehem Lunar Occultation's still occur: THIS HAPPENED LAST NIGHT !

Jupiter

Venus reappears

Venus disappears behind Moon Venus reappears from behind Moon from Romania Wiltshire, UK ~ 3:45 PM, 1 st December 2008 ~ 5:15 PM , 1 st December 2008

Tuesday 2nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 34 Star of Bethlehem: Venus & Jupiter conjunction June 2 BC ?

A Christmas Near Occultation - Venus and Jupiter , June 17, 2 BC

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 35 Star of Bethlehem: A Comet ?

• Assuming the Star of Bethlehem was a comet, there were 3 possible years, 12 (Halley’s Comet), 5, and 4 B.C.

• Chinese recorded a major, new, slow-moving comet -- a "sui-hsing," or star with a sweeping tail in the Capricorn region of the sky.

• The Chinese say the 5 BC comet appeared in Spring between March 9 and April 6 and lasted over 70 days 70 days corresponds to Magi journey time from the East.

• This period has the added virtue of including the year's Passover, a most propitious time for the birth of a Messiah.

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 36 Star of Bethlehem: 5BC Comet

Comet Hyakutake spring 1996 was exactly 2000 years after 5 BC Comet Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 37 Star of Bethlehem: Jesus real Birthday •A good fit to gospel account is Jesus was born between 7 – 5 BC, apart from Luke’s mention of a census that would have taken place in 8 BC or 6 AD.

• Triple conjunction between Jupiter (Kingship), & Saturn (old order) 7 BC

• Bright Springtime 5 BC Comet Hyakutake spring 1996 was comet exactly 2000 years after 5 BC Comet may have declared Jesus real 2000 th • 2 year uncertainty could birthday in the heavens explain why order to kill boys up to 2 years of age. Matthew 2: 16

Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 38