First Coming of Jesus Christ

Luke 1-2, Matthew 1-2.

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Introduction

A key part of understanding the events and timing of the Second Coming is to understand the events and timing of the First Coming. Although most scholars agree that Jesus Christ was not born in December, there is an important reason we celebrate His incarnation near Hanukkah. The Jewish feast days God gave to Moses are fulfilled by Jesus Christ in His redemption and return.

Some traditional beliefs have truth mixed with fiction.

• Beginning in the third century, the church transforms pagan holidays into church holy days.
• Under the Julian calendar, the 25th of December was the Winter Solstice. It was the birthday of the unconquered Sun, a day to worship the sun gods.
• In 532, Dionysius Exiguus of what is now Romania computed dates for Easter and unintentional set the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25 in 1 BC.
• In 1654, Anglican Archbishop James Ussher of Ireland calculated the start of creation to October 22, 4004 BC and Christ’s birth to October 4 BC.
• The Christmas season has become a time of greed, gluttony and drunkenness.
• The holidays should be renamed ChrisHanaQuanzakaMas, a jumbled mess of holidays void of Christ and means nothing.
• With the Bible as our primary reference and using historical events, astronomy records and Jewish culture, we understand the timing of events of the birth of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
• The timing of the First Coming sets the timing of the Second Coming.
  

8 BC – Roman Census

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) (Luke 2:1-2)

Caesar Augustus was ruler over the Roman Empire. At the time, Rome's territory included all the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea including Judea. Augustus ordered a census in 24 BC, 8 BC and 14 AD. Luke the historian describes the decree of 8 BC. Because of the vast empire, it would take a year to implement a census for taxation and for the people to pledge allegiance to Rome.

Then again, with consular approval, I conducted a census alone when Gaius Censorinus and Gaius Asinius were consuls (8 BC), in which a census counted 4,233,000 heads of Roman citizens.
––––Caesar Augustus, The Achievements of the Divine Augustus

June 8 BC – Zechariah in the Temple

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. (Luke 1:5)

In Luke's historical account, why did he tell us about Abijah? Many times when we read the Bible, we skip over words or phrases we do not understand. Abijah is a critical piece of information that tells us when Zechariah was in the temple. That leads us to the birthday of Jesus Christ.

Priestly Order: 1) Jehoiarib, 2) Jedaiah, 3) Harim, 4) Seorim, 5) Malchijah, 6) Mijamin, 7) Hakkoz, 8) Abijah, 9) Jeshuah, 10) Shecaniah, 11) Eliashib, 12) Jakim, 13) Huppah, 14) Jeshebeab, 15) Bilgah, 16) Immer, 17) Hezir, 18) Aphses, 19) Pethahiah, 20) Jehezekel, 21) Jachin, 22) Gamul, 23) Delaiah, 24) Maaziah. (1 Chronicles 24)

These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the Lord, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him. (1 Chronicles 24:19)

Zechariah is the descendant of Aaron which makes him a priest. David divided Aaron's 24 grandsons into 24 divisions of priests. All priests served during the three feasts of Passover, Weeks (Pentecost) and Tabernacles. Then each division serves one week and then a second week about six months later. Each service runs from Sabbath to Sabbath.

The Jewish years start in Nisan (April) and the priestly division of Abijah was picked eighth. With Passover and Weeks, Luke tells us Zechariah is serving at the temple in the tenth week of the Jewish year in the month of Sivan (June).

And it came to pass, that while he [Zechariah] executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. (Luke 1:8-9)

One spring day in Sivan (June) on the 10th week the Jewish year in 8 BC, Zechariah had a once in a lifetime opportunity to offer incense and a prayer in the temple's holy place.

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:11-14, 16-17)

Inside the temple, Zechariah is met by the angel Gabriel, who gives him the good news. Zechariah would have a son that would prepare the hearts of the Jewish people for the Messiah. A short time later, Elizabeth was pregnant. It takes about 280 days for a woman to give birth to a child. There are 304 days between the feasts of Weeks and Passover.

The historical timing:
• Caesar Augustus is the ruler of the Roman Empire. He ordered a census in 8 BC. (Luke 2:1)
• Herod the Great is the governor of Judea and Samaria until the spring of 4 BC. (Matthew 2:1)
• Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah, meets the angel in the temple in June of 8 BC.


December 8 BC – Mary and Elizabeth

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are thou among women. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-28, 38)

Six months later in Kislev (December), Gabriel tells Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. She travels from Nazareth to the Jerusalem area to help her pregnant cousin, Elizabeth. Jesus Christ was not born in December but He was conceived on the Jewish feast of Hanukkah (Kislev 25–Tevet 2). In 8 BC, Kislev 25 (Hanukkah) starts on December 26/27 and the winter solstice is the 25th of December on the old Roman Julian calendar. On the darkest day of the year, the Light of the World begins. December 26/27 Julian is December 24/25 Gregorian.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; And entered into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit: And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. (Luke 1:39-42, 56)

April 7 BC – The Birth of John the Baptist

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. (Luke 1:57)

John the Baptist was born during Passover. Jewish tradition leaves a seat for Elijah at Passover which John the Baptist filled.


October 7/8 of 7 BC – The Birth of Jesus Christ

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. (Luke 2:3-4)

All Jewish men were required to travel to Jerusalem for Tabernacles. At the same time, the Romans conducted the census. Joseph and Mary travel about 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register. It could take a week to travel that distance and movement was restricted on Sabbaths, Rosh Hashanah (Trumpets), Yom Kipper (Atonement) and the first day of Sukkot (Tabernacles). They stayed with family at Bethlehem. Because there was no room in the guest quarters, they stayed in a stable. During Tabernacles, the Jews are required to live in booths. From the first day of Hanukkah to the first day of Tabernacles is 287 days. Both Hanukkah and Tabernacles are called the Feast of Lights and Feast of Dedication. The Jewish temple was dedicated on Tabernacles and rededicated on Hanukkah.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)

In 7 BC on the full moon of Tishri 15 which is the night of October 7 or the day of October 8 in 7 BC, Jesus Christ was born. NASA has calculated the moon phases back 4000 years.

In 1614, German astronomer Johannes Kepler determined that a series of three conjunctions of the planets Jupiter and Saturn and a star in Pieces occurred in the year 7 BC. The dates were May 27, October 6 and December 1. The October conjunction was not the Star of Bethlehem but it was a sign of the nativity for the world then and for us today.


Ocober 7 BC – The Feast of Tabernacles

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14)

Luke writes that the angels say, "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people". The Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated for seven days and is called "Season of Our Joy" and "Feast of the Nations". John refers to Jesus Christ as “the light of the world” as another reference to the Feast of Lights. Jesus Christ dwelt or tabernacled with us. Matthew says they will call Him Emmanuel, which means God with us. As God the Father dwelt in the Jewish temple, so Jesus Christ dwells in a body with humanity.

In him [the Word, Jesus Christ] was life; and the life was the light of men. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt [or tabernacled] among us. (John 1:4, 15)

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 8:23)

The prophecy of Tabernacles is fulfilled twice. During the future one thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on earth, we will go up to Jerusalem each year on the Feast of Tabernacles to celebrate both the birthday of Jesus Christ and His coronation as King of Kings. For a second time, God dwells on earth with man.

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16)

October/November 7 BC – Jesus Christ Fulfills the Jewish Law

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus. (Luke 2:21)

Eight days after the birth, Jesus Christ was circumcised on the 22nd of Tishri called Shemini Atzeret or (or Eighth Day of Assembly).

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. (Luke 2:22)

Forty days after His birth, Jesus was dedicated at the temple. That is when Simeon and Anna saw their promised Messiah. Then Joseph, Mary and Jesus return north to Nazareth.

And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. (Luke 2:39)

Notice in Luke's account of the story, there is no hurry to go to Egypt. After Joseph and Mary do what is required of the Law, they return home to Nazareth. Later, Matthew says they flee to Egypt. Matthew and Luke describe two different events that separate the stories of the shepherds and wise men by time.


Spring of 5 BC - The Magi and Star of Bethlehem

A period of one and a half year pass. Joseph, Mary and Jesus travel back to Bethlehem for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost).

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. The star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (Matthew 2:1-2, 9)

The magi were wise men from the east. Judah was captive under Babylonia (Iraq) and later Persian (Iran) rule. The wise men were skilled in astronomy and looking for the Messiah of Daniel 9 to appear. They saw the triple conjunctions in May, October and December of 7 BC. Then they saw a conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars in February of 6 BC. Finally in March or April of 5 BC, they see a comet in the eastern sky. According to tradition, comets were signs that bring significant events. As the Star of Bethlehem begin in the east and travels southwest, the wise men travel west to Jerusalem and then south to Bethlehem.

In 5 BC, the Chinese and Koreans recorded a tailed comet in Capricorn that lasted about 72 days. A southwest direction is contrary to stars and planets. The comet fits the description of the Star of Bethlehem and sets the dates the Magi's visit in Sivan or May/June in 5 BC. Joseph, Mary and Jesus travel back to the Jerusalem area for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost).

Second year of the Chien-p'ing reign period, second month (5 BC, March 9-April 6), a suibsing [tailed comet] appeared at Ch'ien-niu for over 70 days.
––––Chinese Record – Han Shu (History of Han Dynasty)

Year 54 of Hyokkose Wang, second month, (day) Chi-yu, a po-hsing appeared in Ho-Ku.
––––Korean Record – Samguk Sagi (The Chronicle of Silla)