Considering that something astronomical must have driven the three kings (you don’t have to be a Christian to believe there is some historical chronicling going on in there) to Bethlehem, what could it have been? There are a a few compelling candidates.
Through the years, astronomers and others have proposed a variety of objects for the Christmas star — comets, an exploding star or a grouping of planets. Some suggest that the star was a miracle created especially by God. Such a suggestion cannot be proved or disproved, and it is entirely outside the realm of science. But there’s no need to resort to miracles, given the actual astronomical events of the time.The first thing is to determine the approximate date of Jesus’ birth. Then we look into the sky of that period and try to identify the star. It doesn’t work the other way around: Since virtually any year can boast at least one reasonably interesting sky event, the astronomy must follow the history
We haven’t ruled out other possibilities for the Star of Bethlehem. And the mere existence of interesting celestial events does nothing to prove that the birth of Jesus was accompanied by a star, that the Magi existed, or even that the Nativity took place as described in the Bible.
But it does make our search more rewarding to find a truly interesting astronomical event that happened during the most likely time for the Nativity.
Here’s another interesting link on the subject.
So what do you think? Comet, Nova, Conjunction? Nothing?
Although Christians are loath to give credibility to astrologers, the idea of a conjunction of planets in 3 B.C. makes a lot of sense. I mean, a nova or a comet wouldn’t have meant anything to anyone.
Those Babylonian court astrologers were the best source of prediction they had in those days. The conclusion they came to was a fortunate guess, because they were right.
Obviously there was more to the story for them to find the right house where the Messiah was at. By this time, he wasn’t in the stable anymore. The disciples who wrote it down didn’t consider his birth and growth to be that important compared to what He did & said during His ministry.
What do Christians have against astrologers? It is too easy for someone to do a bunch of mumbo-jumbo and then hand out demonic advice. If you submit to demonic advice, you have indirectly submitted to the author of that advice. That can affect you for the rest of your life –or until you renounce it.
I’m sure it has something to do with the Martians decorating their houses like this some 2000 years ago, before the energy crisis hit them and they were forced to abandon the planet…
Scholars that argue that the Bethlehem Star is a legend need to study the ancient Chinese chronicles. In 5 BC, which was the 2nd year and second month of a new Chinese emperor, Chinese astronomers recorded an awesome comet, which appeared in the constellation Leading Ox. The ancient Chinese associated that constellation with sacrifice. The comet began at the star Altair and was visible for 70 days. Then 13 months later, which was the 3rd year and 3rd month of the emperor, April 24, 4 BC on our calendar, a miraculous new star appeared, moving away from Altair. Because of independent historical sources that point to the birth of Jesus in 4 BC, and the remarkably detailed observations written out by the Chinese chroniclers, I think it’s obvious that the miraculous new moving star was the Bethlehem Star.
#3, the birth date of Jesus is still unknown but us estimated to be between 2 and 7 BC. The “star” of April, 4 BC. was a comet. The only thing “obvious” from that time is the uncertainty and inaccuracy of records and events as observed by the superstitious, unprofessional and ignorant, by today’s standards.
#4
The Bethlehem Star was a very unusual comet. I call it a true miracle. It guided the wise men straight to the Christ child then “it stopped over the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:9).
Did you ever notice that while walking along at night the stars appear to move with you, and when you stop, they stop?It’s most noticeable when you walk by close objects such as trees.
The commonly held belief is that the star as described in the gospel narrative was an instrument of God. The Bible never specifically comments on who is directing the star, leading some to believe that it was actually a tool of Satan’s. The fact that the star first leads the magi to Herod, who wished to kill Jesus, seems to support this theory. The star then leads them to Jesus, with the intent of return to report to Herod. Instead of being lead by the star back to Herod however, they are then contacted alternatively through a dream, telling them not to return to Herod, instead returning to their country by another road. This leads to the theory that the star was an instrument of Satan’s, and the dream to not return to Herod originating from God.
More then likely it was nothing at all. I find it hard to believe what people wrote down when they had no clue what science was. Example: “Thunder! GOD is Mad!!! People writing things down that a friend heard from a friend. Then re-written by someone else. Over time, it will be distorted.
Nothing.
I was raised in Jehovah’s Witnesses, and while the Christmas celebration is verboten, the Virgin Birth is still doctrine.
Most of the Bible’s position on Fortune-Telling, Witchcraft and Astrology is unfavorable. Jehovah’s Witnesses’ cite that the Wise Men were told to return home another way rather than risk having report Jesus’ location to King Herod.
This leads us to what I’ve come to call “Lucifer’s Gambit”.
The Star Of Bethlehem is argued by some faith groups to be a function of the Prince of Powers In The Air.
Limited to his conscription to Earth, Lucifer placed a false beacon of “hope” over the stable where the Christchild was born.
The supposed goal of the Star Of Bethlehem was to hasten the Wise Men on Herod’s errand.
What if after all these years, innocent greeting cards and Peanuts/Charlie Brown Christmas Specials, we’ve celebrating Satan’s attempt to call in an airstrike on the Holy Family?