A brilliant star shining against a black night is an enduring symbol of Christmas. It's also one straight from Scripture. The gospel writer Matthew is specific: A star guided "wise men from the east" to the King of the Jews born in Judea. Astronomers and Bible scholars have pondered that "star of wonder," as a hymn writer described it. A planetarium show presented at the University of North Alabama earlier this month, " 'Tis the Season," covers a spectrum of explanations, such as the star actually being a comet. A comet could have been a glorious sign and could have remained visible long enough for the wise men to follow, said the show's writers. But they conclude that none was recorded in the time span many scholars today give for Jesus' birth, 3 B.C. to 1 B.C. Also, comets were usually regarded as evil omens, the researchers said. The program also dispels novas and supernovas as possibilities. Nova means "new star" and it can flare up thousands of times brighter than normal.

Supernovae are old stars that blow up in explosions, which temporarily increase their brilliance millions of times. Either could have lasted for months and would have been dramatic to sky watchers, according to the presentation. However, no one recorded any in that time period, and Herod, the king of Judea, and his court would have known of such an appearance, not just the wise men, the show's researchers concluded.

View: Full Article | Source: Decatur Daily

Hmmm the conjunction of Venus & Jupiter in Leo sounds like the most viable answer to me ?!!

My awnser to this is in the alternate history book.

It was a star

Hi Walken I checked out your thread in alt. history !. I appreciate your theory, part of my need to be part of this site is my eagerness to learn & to explain what science,history,religion,myth. etc fails to explain. So I can see your theory being plausible. 1. I cant discredit UFO's & Ive been fascinated by em' for years & 2. The nature of the star as described had to be unusual to guide 3 Magi to the precise place & time of Jesus birth yet escape completely the attention of Herod who later went on a first born killing spree trying to prevent the baby Jesus from attaining greatness.
For me though I am firstly inclined to consider what nature/natural phenomena could be reponsible & (grateful for having owned a telescope & after seeing unbelievable sights in our own night sky) I can believe what an impact a conjunction of Venus & Jupiter would have !!! ... here we have the 3rd & 4th (I believe) brightest objects as seen from Earth (On New Moon phases where the night is pitch black Venus can cast easy to see shadows!!!) ... When both these planets make this alignment it would be a spectacle & being in the constellation Leo would infer a relevance to a King. Just MHO

indeed it was

THE ONLY REAL SOURCE THAT IS KNOWN TO EXIST AT THIS TIME IS THE BIBLE, AND IT STATES THAT GOD PLACED IT THERE. I THINK IN OUR SOMETIME OVERLY BLOATED VIEW OF OUR INTELLIGENCE WE TEND TO TRY AND OUTTHINK OUR CREATOR. SILLY AT LEAST, DANGEROUS AT MOST. GOD SAID IT WAS A STAR PLACED THERE TO LEAD THE MAJI TO THE CHRIST CHILD, ANDI FOR ONE THINK THAT ANY BEING THAT CAN CREATE AN UNIVERSE IN 6 DAYS WOULD HAVE LITTLE TROUBLE FIRING UP ANOTHER LIL' 'OL STAR. WHAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE "SO CALLED LEARNNED" IS THAT THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN TO BE TAKEN ON FAITH, NOT TO BE RIPPED APART AND SAY THAT EZEKIEL WENT TO HEAVEN IN AN UFO, OR THAT SODOM AND GOMMARAH WAS NUKED....TO QUOTE A 'LIL 'OL WOMAN SOME 40 YEARS AGO..."THE GOOD LORD MAY NOT HAVE TOLD US ALL WE WANT TO KNOW...BUT HE SHORE TOLD US ALL HE WANTS US TO KNOW" AND I FOR ONE THOUGHT MY GRANDMA WAS THE SMARTEST HUMAN BEING GOD EVER ALLOWED TO DRAW A BREATH...NOT TO MENTION BAKE KILLER SUGAR COOKIES......

Can you take off your caps lock TMB, it's considered SHOUTING

Thanks

I like what Beowulf said, That is like using the Bible to prove the Bible. If the Bible is not true, no use wondering what the Star was anyway.

So allow me to use the Bible to PROVE the Bible, and to PROVE there is a GOD, and to PROVE JESUS is who God sent.

We know the Jewish Scriptures called the Old Testament existed before Jesus and Bethlehem, There were many copies of the books which make up those Scriptures. Many are still being found (Dead sea Scrolls). Parts and fragments which are easily proved to be the age they should be.

The Jewish Nation are witnesses the Old Testament books existed, and were not changed to fit Jesus. And they do their job well. Just as it was intended.

Over 40 different writters recording events that would happen to one person, on one day, Covering 1500 years of writtings. Then 400 silent years, from the end of Malachi, or God speaking to man till the events of Bethlehem.

It is the Abiltiy to predict in detail those events, to have them recorded by so many different writters, and to have those events come to pass, which could only be possible with there BEING A GOD, and Him having done it. And Jesus being the one He used.

Now, the Star of Bethlehem:

Had God sent a Comet, The King of Midian would have kept Humphery in the Stable. The King of Ephah would have gone fishing, the those of Sheba would have gone on as usual.

However, Had God showed the Brightness of the MOON beyond what they had seen before, and if 1,000 years had passed since David's Child born to Bathsheba which died 7 days after Birth had passed.

Then the King of Midian would have called, and had Humphery arraid in his finest Camel apparel, They would mount up. They would be expecting to go to Jerusalem, And God would hide the moon so they would. "For THIS MAN was born there." And the Child was, they did not know He would be REBORN in a Stable in Bethlehem. The Firstbegotten of the Dead as Revelation 1:5 shows. And as a PRINCE, But He went to the Cross as a King (Psalms 2:6/7)

They not only knew from the Scriptures the Date, they knew Stars were for SIGNS and this SIGN OR STAR was the brightness of the Moon, They knew what the STAR meant, that the King of the Jews was Born. They were not into Astrology, They were Bible students. They were not wondering if the Bible would prove the Bible, they were watching it do just that.

David's child born outside wedlock (He is called a rock of offence for a reason) was about 1004 bc, the REBIRTH at Bethlehem is about 4 bc. A child born outside wedlock could not enter the Congregation even untill his tenth generation. 10 100-year generations (100 year generations seen in Genesis)

God said He would send Elijah at the end of the Old Testament, then 400 Silent years or 10 40-year generations. God uses that which is despised (1Corinthians 1:28) Don't let the word God uses offend you.

(ISAIAH 60:22) A little one shall become a thousand, and a small
one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time. (KJV)
1004 bc to 4 bc

(ISAIAH 60:19) The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither
for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord
shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. (KJV)
The Brightness of the MOON was the SIGN or STAR.

(ISAIAH 60:1) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of
the Lord is risen upon thee. (KJV)

ARISE is why the Church will not use these verses, We can not have God come down with a word like ARISE, But we can have a dead child come back to be the Firstbegotten of the dead.

(ISAIAH 60:2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and
gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and
his glory shall be seen upon thee. (KJV)

(ISAIAH 60:3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings
to the brightness of thy rising. (KJV)

WE THREE KINGS, I'll bet Two Kings and a Queen of Sheba.

(ISAIAH 60:4) Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they
gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come
from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. (KJV)

We need women nursing their daughters in the Nativity scene, that is why the Shepherds were told "You will find HIM lying in a Manger." There were other babies there.

(ISAIAH 60:5) Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine
heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea
shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come
unto thee. (KJV)
(ISAIAH 60:6) The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the
dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come:
they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the
praises of the Lord. (KJV)

Camels? Oh Humphery made it. Bringing Gold and Incense. Do I have to explain what Frankincense and Myrrh are?

Not a bad prediction, This is just a similitude, all prophecies are fulfilled the day of the cross, but that takes a lot of explaining.

After David took Bathsheba, and She born him a son outside wedlock, God sent a message by Parable unto David, The Parable was His using Bathsheba to prepare for the WAYFARING MAN who had come unto Him. The Promise of the Messiah is WHO had come unto David in 2-Samuel 7:11/14.

(2SAMUEL 12:4) And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he
spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for
the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's
lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. (KJV)

(JEREMIAH 14:8) O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time
of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as
a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? (KJV)

Not quite the way the Story is told, But God has a way of keeping things hidden, and using things that offend people works best. Does anyone really think a Baby born outside wedlock is different then any other baby? But, Because they are hated without a cause, God thought they had a special place in His heart.


Now, Let me turn this spaceship aroung to Ezekiel's wheels, as long as it was mentioned several times.

All the Visions look to the day of the cross. The day is made as 7 days in Isaiah 30:26. It is made as 3 pictures, each showing the day in a different way, as 2 or 3 witnesses.

First is as 4 6-hour periods, seen as 4 beasts with 6-wings (Also as Ezekiel's creature with 4 faces. the 4 beasts are full of eyes, as are the wheels Ezekiel saw.)

Second picture as 2 12-hour periods, seen as 2 witnesses in Revelation. As God doubles twice to establish, The day was made as a week, so the second picture is also made as a week, so they see their dead bodies 3 days and a half, or half a week for each, Life enters as they are fulfilled in God's word.

Third is as 1 24-hour period seen as 24 Elders in Revelation. It is also the 7 days of the Creation story. Move the beginning to the day of the cross, the New Word begins there, the Old World had no beginning, No 6,000 year old earth, sorry.

Start the Creation story at Sunset to Midnight with Let there be light: I am the True Vine, I am the Good Shepherd, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, In My Father's House are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for you. How is that for LIGHT?

Now for the 4 creatures:
(EZEKIEL 1:10) As for the likeness of their faces, they four had
the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and
they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also
had the face of an eagle. (KJV)

(REVELATION 4:7) And the first beast was like a lion, and the
second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man,
and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. (KJV)

An Ox and a Calf have the SAME FACE.

(REVELATION 4:8) And the four beasts had each of them six wings
about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day
and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was,
and is, and is to come. (KJV)

(EZEKIEL 1:16) The appearance of the wheels and their work was like
unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and
their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the
middle of a wheel. (KJV)
(EZEKIEL 1:17) When they went, they went upon their four sides: and
they turned not when they went. (KJV)
(EZEKIEL 1:18) As for their rings, they were so high that they were
dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
(KJV)

Sorry but you are looking at the same picture through two differnt people's eyes. God uses Similitudes and He multiplies visions.

NOW, If the Bible can not prove the Bible, Here is a Suggestion. Go to the Zoo, and Wait as long as it takes till a Monkey gives birth to a scientist. You can tell they will be a scientist by the way they chase their tails. (Beliving scientist, Please turn the other cheek, it was not meant for you, But it is cute.)

Ken

If we could study god, and work out how he works, then we are god.

Well, if the Bible says its a star...then by golly its a star! I'm in no position to doubt or challenge the Bible...

If we could find out God, we would be God? Cute.

One man asked me "If I squashed an ant to death, Am I a God to the Ant?

I told Him "Sure you are, Assuming you can restore him to life?"

We do not find out God, God allows us to see different things about Him. Like Gad saying "If I had a need, I would not tell thee." Which tells us to look for a need God has. Because He DID NOT TELL US WHAT NEED HE HAS, therefore HE HAS ONE.

A Star is a sign, If you want to take the Bible literally, Then when all the stars fall to the earth, You better kiss it goodby. Make that if ONLY ONE falls. Those little things twinkling in the Sky are not fireflies.

There is also a STAR called Wormwood. That also falls upon the Earth (CRUNCH).

It falls when the third angel sounds in Revelation. That would be at Sunrise, When Jesus is Judged. Jesus made all things cursed, He is even as the Earth cursed because of sin.

The third 6-hour period, is sunrise to noon. The Third seal is the Black Horse with Balances as Jesus is Judged. The STAR WORMWOOD is the SIGN of the JUDGMENT Falling on Jesus.

(AMOS 5:7) Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off
righteousness in the earth, (KJV)

The Second part of the Verse is Jesus renders to mankind His righteousness seen in Job 33:26. So by grace are we saved, Through Faith, and that not of ourselves (Jesus gave us His)

The fourth 6-hour period is noon to sunset, the Fourth beast with 6-wings is as a Flying Eagle as Jesus commends His spirit to God. The Fourth seal is the Pale Horse, Death followed by hell as Jesus died and descended into hell.

The Fourth day in Genesis, God makes two great lights, Sun seen as the Throne in Psalms 89:36 darkened as Jesus died and they think that is the end. Moon seen as the Establishment of the Throne in Psalms 89:37 turned to blood as the Blood of Christ established the Throne.

Fourth angel sounds and a third of the Sun and a third of the Moon is smitten, or the day of the cross seen as 3 pictures (doubled twice to establish God's word). Has had one of the three pictures fulfilled.

The day as 4 6-hour periods, Sunset to Midnight is Old Heaven, Midnight to sunrise Is Old earth, The third beast with 6-wings which is Sunrise to noon has the Face of a man. This is the FACE Heaven and earth flee from, Or Old heaven and Old earth are gone.

New Earth is Sunrise to noon, New Heaven is noon to sunset. When Heaven and earth flee from His face (The day as 7 days being shortened) the the first seal, the White Horse (coming in clouds is when Jesus took sin during this time, clouds as sin in Isaiah 44:22) Then moves, and NOW the Third 6-hours put together is the GREAT WHITE THRONE OF JUDGMENT.

Every man judged out of the things written in the book, According to THEIR (THE BOOKS) works. And What is Written in the book is all iniquity on Jesus in Isaiah 53:6, and His righteousness on mankind in Job 33:26=All saved by grace.

Precept upon precept, line upon line, Here a little, there a little, as all of God's words go together.

(MATTHEW 5:18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled. (KJV)

Old Heaven and Old Earth passed at Sunrise the day of the cross.

(LUKE 18:31) Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them,
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by
the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. (KJV)

ALL THINGS, and DANIEL is a PROPHET.

(DANIEL 9:24) Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon
thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of
sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in
everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (KJV)

THE SEAL kept the Disciples and Paul from seeing sin ended as accountable unto men. Daniel's vision of the Evening and Morning is the day of the cross, it was for MANY DAYS, Here as 70 weeks, In Genesis, as all the days.

Evening and Morning were the FIRST DAY
Evening and Morning were the SECOND DAY (Same Evening and Morning)
ETC ETC.

Ken

I'm a christian but I thought you miht like to know, I challenged my RE teacher, I told him Moses never crossed the red sea he must have done it somewhere else and I got sent out of class. what happened a week later on TV they had a doco on that event and found a translation error in the Bible, it was the REED sea not the red sea. But I see you point. i believe it was a star and thats what is says.

Don't try to find a pathetic story on how it was a comet super nova rah rah rah just believe what you are told for once in your life people!

the three wise men were devoted scholars and they knew what they were doing

LilJellybean.

You FORGOT part. The Chldren of Israel got over the Red Sea, or the Reed Sea. But the Egyptians did not.

Too many look at how to explain them getting across without a miracle from God, and forget what happened to the Egyptians.

The Star of Bethlehem is the Brightness of the noon as Isaiah 60:19 shows.

That was the Star (Sign) they followed.

Ken