Unleashing the Beast

272 / U NLEASHING THE B EAST

one of the major constellations. Victor Paul Wierwille, in his book J esus Christ, Our Promised Seed , uses Scriptural, historical, and astronomical evidence to evaluate and answer the question, "When was Jesus Christ born?" Western Christians traditionally celebrate Christ's birth on December 25. It may be possible that He was conceived at this time, but His birth would have actually occurred in the early Fall, more than likely on or near one of the Fall feasts of Israel. Scholars have placed Christ's birth from as early as 7 B.C. to as late as 1 B.C. No early church source places the birth of Christ before 4 B.C. In fact, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Julius Africanus, Bishop Hippolytus of Rome, Origen and Euseubus all date the birth of Christ between 3 B.C. and 2 B.C. Also, Josephus records an eclipse that occurred at the death of Herod. Secular history records five major eclipses from 5 B.C. to January 9, 1 B.C. Jesus was in Egypt at the time Herod died, and the angels told Joseph it was safe to bring Jesus back to Israel (Matthew 2:19-20). Most evidence points to the January 9, 1 B.C. eclipse being the one that occurred at Herod's death. This would coincide with Jesus' birth being either 2 or 3 B.C., since Christ was in Egypt for a brief time as an infant. The Magi saw "His star." The ancients considered all heavenly bodies as stars, including the planets (except the sun and moon). In ancient history, Jupiter was considered the star of kingship, even among ancient Jewish scholars. Three years before the birth of Moses, Jupiter and Saturn were in conjunction in the constellation Pisces.