2015 & 2016 BETHLEHEM STAR

Return Of The Bethlehem Star

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?

For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

"When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy."

~ Matthew 1:2, 10 ~

There are mounting evidences that this conjunction of stars is what those living in 2 – 3 BC saw and is what drove the Magi to search out the Christ Child, the long waited Messiah.

Constellation

Leo ~ The Lion

Virgo ~ The Virgin

Star

Regulus ~ The King Star

Planet

Jupiter ~ The King Planet

Venus ~ The Morning Star

Note: BC/BCE dates noted on the pictures are a off by one year as the software Stellarium includes a year '0' in its calculations

Interestingly enough there was another event 14 months later. Note the first occurrence (above) is in Leo and the second (below) in Virgo.

“Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child,

and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I my come and worship Him also.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold the star which they had seen in the East went before them,

till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

~ Matthew 2:7-10 ~

Scripture indicates there were two appearances of the star. At the time the wise men from the East followed it to Jerusalem and then after they had met with king Herod. This would explain why they rejoiced when they saw it from Jerusalem, otherwise why would they rejoice if it was still in the sky and why would king Harod want children from the ages of two and under to be killed if Jesus was still a new born. He had secretly called them to determine when the star had appeared.

“Then Harod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent for and put to death all male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”” Matthew 2:16-18

We have recently had a replay of these events, one occurring June 30, 2015 with the first in Leo and then again as before 14 months later in Virgo

Venus and Jupiter beautifully recreate the conjunction they had in June 17, 2 BC

Photo (above) of the Bethlehem Star; a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus with Regulus standing by Southern California, June 30, 2015

Fourteen months later in Virgo

For more in depth information there are several studies and articles regarding the conjunctions of Jupiter and Venus. I would like to recommend one that focuses specifically the Bethlehem Star.

The work performed on this event by A. S. K., The Association for Scriptural Knowledge has been recognized by several observatories, universities and modern astronomers where their findings are taught and researched. Though the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus happens with some regularity, this particular encounter had several additional aspects to it that identified it as something remarkable. The historical event was documented by surrounding civilizations as a most unique event.

For a more in-depth study beyond the fabulous information on the A.S.K site I direct you to Dr. Ernest L. Martin's book "The Star That Astonished The World" used by over 600 planetariums.

God has given extraordinary signs through what many see as ordinary. It would be wise for us to keep watch and make note of things past and those He has promised to perform in the future. His not through with this work on earth as yet and He has more that we do not know about after all these things have passed.

As a Pastor once remarked "We have more life ahead of us than we have behind us."

The King has come and is coming again; we can rest assured of that.