Was The Star Of Bethlehem Really A Star, And Was Christ Really Born In A Barn?


Overview: In this article, Bible Scholar Helena Lehman of Pillar of Enoch Ministry reveals the myths surrounding the traditional Nativity Story, what is actually said about it in the Gospels, and what is left unsaid, but carefully implied in the mysterious story of the Magi, and the magical Star of Bethlehem.

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December 9, 2007: Over the years, there has been much speculation surrounding Christ’s birth, from whether it occurred in a cave, or barn, to whether it occurred in winter or autumn, and whether the Star of Bethlehem was a supernatural event, or a natural phenomena, or both.

In the traditional view, though the location of the Nativity was a humble barn in Bethlehem, there was quite an array of guests in attendance. Besides Joseph, Mary, and a few barnyard animals, the newborn Christ was gazed upon by a group of shepherds with their flocks, a caravan containing three Wise Men, their entire entourage, and a whole legion of angels - all who served as living witnesses of the most miraculous event in history. What isn’t said is that everyone in that tiny Jerusalem suburb called Bethlehem would likely have seen, heard, and joined all these personages arriving in their small town out of curiosity, if nothing else.

In fact, upon closer scrutiny of the biblical narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, a decidedly different version of the legendary events surrounding Christ’s birth emerges. Matthews’s Gospel, for example, explicitly states that Christ was a young child when the Magi found his whereabouts. Furthermore, we are told that Mary was residing in a house with Christ by this time. It therefore clearly suggests that the Wise Men arrived quite awhile after Luke’s account of Christ being laid in a manger. In addition, Matthew never gives the number of Magi present. He only tells us that this unnumbered group of dignitaries from the East worshipped Christ, and presented him with the three precious gifts. What is left unsaid, but is no doubt implied, is that these three gifts were traditionally given as tribute to newly coronated kings in Mesopotamia, and the Middle East at that time.

Over the centuries since Christ’s birth, many scholars have postulated that the Magi may have been Zoroastrians from Persia, and that the mysterious star that hovered over Bethlehem when Christ was born was a miraculous, supernatural phenomenon - and not an ordinary star. These suppositions, however, make no sense when carefully scrutinized. First of all, why would Zoroastrian dignitaries from a rival culture and religion care about the birth of a Jewish king, especially since Judea was merely a vassal kingdom under Rome’s control at that time? Furthermore, why would the Magi want to worship this king like a god, and present him with costly gifts if they had no Jewish hope in the coming of a great king and Messiah, like most Jews of that time period did?

Faced with these discrepancies, some skeptics dismiss the Nativity story as a myth. But if we strip away all the legends surrounding the biblical narratives of Christ’s birth, we can entertain more plausible assumptions about just who the Magi were, and what they were doing in Bethlehem. First of all, since virtually no one would care about the birth of a Jewish king except a Jew, or a rival to his throne, we must assume that the Magi were either Jews, or Zoroastrian converts to Judaism. Secondly, since Zoroastrian Magi were well acquainted with the mystical Astronomy of the day called Astrology, we can assume that the star they followed was a real star, and not a supernatural one.

But by far the most amazing revelation hidden in the study of the events surrounding the Nativity is what the Magi understood about the Zodiac. They would have known, for example, that the supposedly Pagan Zodiac had originally been viewed as a Bible written in the stars - whose author was God alone. Furthermore, in order to identify the time of Christ’s birth, the Magi would have had to be able to correctly interpret the special story behind each symbol of the 48 constellations in that ancient Zodiac.

Since the Holy Spirit was obviously guiding the Magi when they found Christ in Bethlehem, it would make sense that they would have understood the Zodiac through that same Spirit of God. As shown in my Language of God Book Series (at: http://pillar-of-enoch.com/graphics/Anti-Peace-Sign_4-Horsemen_Article-Pix.pdf), if the Zodiac story is viewed through Judeo-Christian eyes, the primary heroes in this ancient 48-chapter storybook are not the Greco-Roman pantheon found in Classical literature, but the Bible heroes who prefigured Christ, as well as Christ Himself in both His First and Second Advent roles!

The events surrounding the birth of Christ, the celestial signs that appeared at that time, and the amazing Gospel story behind all 48 constellations of the Zodiac are the subject of my book: “The Language of God in the Universe” (at: http://pillar-of-enoch.com/Language_of_God_in_the_Universe/). It is part of a four volume series about the allegorical Language of God, a hidden language that God uses to communicate with mankind that is found in nature, and all Biblical symbols. In fact, every book in this exhaustively researched, illustrated, reference library is filled with facts showing the amazing connection between the themes and prophecies in the Bible, and the Zodiac story.

For anyone with an interest in Ancient History, Comparative Religion, Bible Prophecy, Astronomy, Astrology, and the hidden meanings behind biblical symbols, there is no other reference work on the market today that even approached this set in depth of scope, or detail. And right now, for a limited time, this entire, amazing reference set can be purchased for a huge savings off the cover price of each book at my Pillar of Enoch Ministry Web site at http://pillar-of-enoch.com/. When placing your order, keep in mind that, for guaranteed Christmas delivery, books must be ordered by December 15th, 2007.

In addition to the books, I also offer two free articles surrounding Christ’s Birth in the free Articles section of my web site at http://pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/. The article entitled “Where Is Christ In Christmas?” is about the spiritual meaning behind the traditional symbols of Christmas, and its connection to Chanukah, and the other article entitled “The Divine Timing Of The Celestial Signs At Christ’s Birth” deals specifically with the timing of, and meanings behind the amazing celestial events surrounding Christ’s birth.

I hope you will take some time out this holiday season to feed your soul with the many wonderful spiritual truths hidden behind the symbols surrounding Christmas, and the timing of Christ’s birth, and I invite you to purchase my books to learn even more about the wonderful spiritual secrets that God alone has hidden in every star, and constellation.

Have a Happy Chanukah, and a very Merry Christmas!