“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”[1]

When David wrote the nineteenth Psalm he said that the universe is speaking to us about the existence of God. Later when Paul penned the first chapter of Romans, He also said that the existence of the universe speaks to every person so that we have no excuse for not believing that God exists: For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.[2]

See: “The Star of Christmas,” at Amazon

These facts of scripture make it clear that God intended that we would see Him in what He has made. He also instructed the prophets of the Old Testament to write scriptures that would give us hints about the arrival of His Son.

From the first prophecy in the Bible at Genesis 3:15, God has continually given the world prophecy and signs in the heavens that predict and give hints to the world about the coming of His Son to die for the sins of the world. David wrote Psalms 19, nearly one thousand years before Jesus arrived. Paul wrote Romans just after Jesus came, in fulfillment of over 400 Messianic Prophecies.

This book describes a few of these prophecies and the facts that surround each one—telling us that a Star would arise from Jacob and He would be the Savior of the world.

When the Magi read the Hebrew prophecies of the Messiah, they believed that He was about to be born in Bethlehem, according to the prophet Malachi. At the same time a conjunction of planets was taking place in the night sky, that gave these wise and learned men reason to believe that the Son of God was going to be born at that time.

This year, in 2020, we have a similar phenomenon that will occur that will align Jupiter and Saturn on December 21, 2020, during the December solstice. These two planets will be closer together from our view on earth, than they have been since the year 1226 A.D. At their closest, Jupiter and Saturn will be only 0.1 degree apart. That’s just 1/5 of a full moon diameter between the two, in our view from earth.

It is reasonable that the Star of Bethlehem could have been observed by sky watchers elsewhere in the world, not only by the Magi. Although the men are known as wise men or kings, they were actually priests who relied on astrology.

Between September of 3 B.C. and June of 2 B.C., Jupiter passed by the star Regulus in the constellation Leo. Jupiter reversed itself and then passed Regulus again, turning back to pass the star a third time. This was a remarkable event since astrologers considered Jupiter the “Kingly Planet” and regard Regulus as the “Kings Star.”

This book is a short narrative about the prophecies that God gave the world—signs in the heavens that announced the arrival of His Son—Jesus, coming as the most precious gift the world will ever receive.

When we think of Christmas, we remember that it all began because Jesus was born in Bethlehem. God gave the world the most precious gift that has ever been given. We observe and honor this gift, by the giving of our gifts to others.

The giving of gifts did not originate with man. Long before anyone conceived of the idea, God had determined that He would give to each person—a gift of such profound magnitude—the world would stand in awe of His love.

In Bethlehem, 2,000 years ago, a tiny baby was born who did not originate in the womb of Mary. He came out of eternity and made His entrance into the world through the veil of human flesh. God became a man so that all those who would receive Him could obtain eternal life. There is no payment for this gift that is necessary by any one of us. God would pay the full price and give His only Son—freely, lavishly—out of compassion and care.

Christmas is the profound exhibition of God’s love for all people—illustrated by the perfect life of His Son. Although Jesus was born as a man, He lived a life of perfect righteousness, fulfilling all of the requirements of God. He died, not for His own sins, but for the sins of the whole world. Regardless of our estate in life, whether poor or rich, good or bad, all those who receive Jesus become as righteous and perfect as He is—forever.

Though He lived only 33 years amongst us—His life, death and resurrection have forever changed the lives of countless numbers of people who have believed upon Him.

Christmas is more than the human expression of buying gifts, wrapping packages and giving our love. It is the celebration of this single life which has brought hope to all people. God has come and invited us to come and receive the gift of His love—for time without end. All we must do is receive His Son and He will receive us.

In the delight and enjoyment of the Christmas season, there is a great need today to understand the true purpose of the celebration. This book is a look at the origin and intent of God’s great gift in giving us His Only Son.

NOTES:

[1] Psalms 19:1-4 (NLT)

[2] Romans 1:20 (NLT)

Categories: Blood Moon, Darkness at Noon, Forgiveness of Sin, God with us, God's Sovereignty, How Salvation Occurs, Origin of the Universe, Physical Constants, Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus, Prophecy, Robert Clifton Robinson, Salvation through Jesus, Science and the Bible, Signs in the heavens, The First Arrival of the Messiah, The Historical Jesus, The Suffering of Jesus, Virgin Birth, Why Jesus had to die

Tags: Christmas, Death of the infants in Bethlehem, Jesus born to die, Signs in the heavens, The Star of Bethlehem