The Mystery of the Star of Bethlehem

The Star of Bethlehem and Astral Catastrophes in the Bible

• The Bible suggests that the star of Bethlehem was a real star, likely a nova or supernova
• Historical records indicate only a few visible supernovas, the oldest in a.d. 1054
• Early Bible scholars and a more recent writer have provided evidence of a unique new star observed worldwide around the time of Christ's birth
• The magi recognized the star's significance due to their familiarity with prophecies of Daniel and ancient messages carried by divinely intended "signs"
• The biblical account does not indicate that the star "led" the wise men to Bethlehem
• The magi's observations and knowledge of prophecies led them to Bethlehem, where the star stood vertically over the location of the young child
• The supernova explanation seems to meet both biblical and astronomical data
• NASA's space program has revealed heavily cratered surfaces on various celestial bodies, indicating bombardment by meteorites, asteroids, or comets
• The existence of meteorites and asteroids suggests evidence of catastrophism in the heavens
• The Bible does not directly address astral catastrophes, but predicts future events involving falling stars
• Secular writers have also discussed the possibility of cataclysmic encounters between the earth and meteorites or other bodies
• The Bible predicts future cataclysmic events involving meteorite, asteroid, or comet impacts in the last days

The Gospel in the Stars and the Bethlehem Star

• The Old Testament was revealed to the Jewish nation through prophets, while the rest of the world had no written revelation for at least two-thirds of human history.
• The 12 signs of the zodiac have been recognized as the same in every nation since the dawn of history.
• Abraham and Job are said to have obeyed a certain body of divine laws, but it is not known if these were written down or simply spoken and memorized.
• The writer suggests that the original message of the 12 signs might have been something like that shown in table 4.
• The correct understanding of the heavenly signs is not as important now as it may once have been in the primeval world.
• The stars were created to be "signs" and were used to measure "seasons, days, and years".
• A star prophecy was given almost 15 centuries before its fulfillment, and it announced the birth of the promised Savior.
• The Bethlehem star directed the Magi to Israel and finally to Bethlehem where they could worship the newborn King.
• There have been theories about the nature of the Bethlehem star, with explanations ranging from a conjunction of planets to a specially created guiding light in the sky.
• The most well-trained and observant ancient scholars in astronomy, the Magi, could not have mistaken any of these phenomena for a star.
• Matthew's record of the star must have come originally from the wise men or by direct inspiration from God.
• The account of the wise men is given as a simple historical record, and the Magi called the star a star.