As readers of this blog know, I love astronomy, and I believe absolutely everything I read in the Bible. I also do really deep dives into things most people completely ignore.
This brings me to the Star of the Magi. The Star of the Magi is what I have named both the “Star in the East” and the “Star of Bethlehem” seen by the Wise Men in Matthew 2 (as well as whatever it was that “went before them” in between those to appearances).
I know exactly what the Star of the Magi was. And when I say exactly, I mean EXACTLY. I can tell you what it was, what it meant to the Magi, who the Magi were, how the star guided the magi to Judea, how the Star seems to have picked out a particular house, the chronology of all these events, and even how these events were reflected in extra-biblical sources. In other words, I know EVERYTHING about the Christmas Story, and I can prove it.
And before people start asking questions, I’ll already give you some answers:
Yes, I have read Colin Nicholl’s The Great Christ Comet.
- – Yes, I have seen the 2007 Rick Larsen DVD that is now on YouTube.
- – Yes, I have read the 1996 book by Earnest Martin, “The Star that Astonished the World,” which the Rick Larsen video was based on.
- – Yes, I have read John Mosley’s 1987 book “The Christmas Star.”
- – Yes, I have read David Hughes’s two books on the subject.
- – Yes, I have seen Roger Sinnott’s original article in Sky and Telescope on the Star of Bethlehem (which I had to get through the Library of Congress, because there is no other archive of it).
- – Yes, I have read the 2013 book by Michael Molnar’s “The Star of Bethlehem, the Legacy of the Magi.”
- – Yes, I have read Aaron Adair’s 2013 “debunking” book “The Star of Bethlehem, a Skeptical View.”
- – Yes, I have read Origen’s original 3rd century explanation of the star of the Magi in “Contra Celsus, Book 1, Chapter 58-60.
- – Yes, I have read and watched just about everything there is to read or watch on this subject.
And no, none of them get it right (even though some come close).
I have previously written on subjects surrounding the Magi Star in the following blog posts:
- Are You Sure You Know Joseph’s Hometown?
- Solving the Census of Quirinius
- The Adoration of the Magi and the Waters Above the Firmament
- The Massacre of the Innocents in Recorded History
- Why Was Joseph Afraid of Archelaus?
However, now I’m ready to tell the story of the star itself. Click THIS LINK to sing up to receive updates on the Magi Star and for more information.
You can also see more information on the “Speaking Engagements” page of this website.
I found Frederick W Blatz book “When the Bible Meets the Sky” very helpful. It argues for the later date of Herod the Great’s death and does some legitimate astronomical theorizing afterwards. Also your Registraion for the Census article is spot on and should dovetail nicely with the Bethlehem Star. But that is just conjecture until you post your conclusions.
Thanks for the lead, and I’ll check out the book. That’s one of the (very few) that I haven’t read on the Star of Bethlehem.
If you want updates, be sure to register on the Magi Star website. The next step is to present my findings either in person (to groups and churches) or online by Zoom to raise money to produce a full documentary. Though I am fundraising, the price to “see it” is literally just your email, your request, and about an hour of your time.
Once you know the two dates of the “Star in the East” and the “Star of Bethlehem,” the chronology of everything (including the census of Quirinius) clicks into place. And it clicks into place in SURPRISING ways.
It’s an amazing find and I can’t believe that I of all people came across it. Thanks for your encouraging words!