The Star of Bethlehem Goes Back to Daniel

There has been much speculation and debate over what was the “Star of Bethlehem” that guided the magi to the Christ child, and when it occurred (anywhere between 7-1 BC).

But the fact that the magi were Persian wise men (“magi” – Dan. 2:2, 10 LXX) looking for this messianic king remains a solid testimony that Daniel’s influence over that kingdom had remained until the first century.

American scholar and minister Dr. Ernest L. Martin did extensive research on the Star of Bethlehem in his book, The Star that Astonished the World.

He disproved the interpretations of the star as being an angel or a direct miraculous event outside of natural processes. He argued that the actions of the Magi and the details in the New Testament supported the theory that the star was an actual astronomical phenomenon.

And the theory could be analyzed scientifically by projecting what we know of astronomy back in time to the first century.

He concluded that Jesus was born September 11, 3 BC. And his conclusion was based on astronomical data lining up with Scriptural data as well as Persian astrological data for the arrival of Messiah.

Martin explains that the Magi in Matthew 2 were very familiar with rising stars as portents of omens, good or bad.

But they had followed this star all the way to Judea because they had considered it a royal omen of good tidings.

Then after visiting with King Herod, they went on their way until they beheld “the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was” (Matt. 2:9).

In August, 3 BC, the planet Jupiter (the father of the gods) rose in conjunction with Venus (the goddess Ishtar). Jupiter was known as the king planet. But they were also in the constellation of Leo the lion, another ancient symbol of royalty, and the lion of Judah in the Hebrew zodiac. Twenty days later, the sun was entering the constellation of Virgo (the Virgin). Looking back, these conjunctions coincide with the historical facts that Messiah from the tribe of Judah the lion was to be born to a virgin, and would be heralded by a messenger, John the Baptizer.

This does not mean that modern astrology with its horoscopes and belief in the stars’ control over humanity is anything other than pagan lies condemned by God (Isa. 47:13-14).

But it does point to the fact that God often uses pagans to accomplish his purposes, and maybe, just maybe, God created the heavens to display his glory and be signs for his announcements of the Gospel (Rom. 10:15-18 with Psa. 19:1-4).

And the understanding of that Bethlehem Star most likely began because of Daniel’s captivity in Babylon, and his placement over the magi or wise men of King Nebuchadnezzar.