Repost: Happy Belated Birthday Jesus
Signs of a Comet - Part 2: Is September 11th, 3 BC the birth of Christ?
Introduction
This past September 11th, 2024 was a day of remembrance for those who died on September 11th, 2001, a tragic and horrifying day that occurred 23 years ago. Each of us can probably remember that day. We each remember where we were and what we were doing.
I was not in NYC at the time but had worked in D.C. in a prior job and traveled to the World Trade Center Tower 1 for a meeting on the 55th floor. I remember the tall narrow windows overlooking the harbor and I spotted the Statue of Liberty down below.
The memories and images haunt me every September 11th.
However, could September 11th have been a day in history that was not meant to be somber?
Hypothesis:
Could September 11th be the day that the Seed of the Woman was fulfilled as prophecied in the Protevangilium? Could September 11th, 3 BC have been the birth of Jesus Christ?
(source: Govert Flinck, public domain Wikimedia Commons)1
Reference:
The following questions will be investigated:
When do shepherds watch their sheep in the fields?
Is September 11th the Birthday of Jesus Christ?
Are there other signs that parallel this sign in history?
Let’s start first with the practice of raising sheep.
Where were the shepherds?
In the Book of Luke, the shepherds are the primary witnesses to the birth of Jesus Christ as they were in the fields keeping watch over their sheep.
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:8, NASB1995 [emphasis added]
The shepherds were not at their homes. The sheep were not in the sheepfolds. They were together, out in the fields. The Greek word is agrauleó which denotes “to live in the fields”. Agrauleó, is only found once in the Bible.
Usage: I spend the night in the open, bivouac.2
bivouac: a usually temporary encampment under little or no shelter3
Like David, the shepherds were probably sleeping out under the stars as they kept watch for wild beasts that would prey upon the sheep.
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ [Messiah] the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger [feeding trough].”
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
Luke 2:9-15, NASB1995 [emphasis added]
Using Luke’s account of the Birth of the Messiah, let’s take a look at what Morning AgClips, America’s #1 Ag News Source states in this 2022 article, “Keeping watch over their flocks: The shepherds of the Nativity”,
The shepherds work revolved around providing food for their flocks of sheep based on the season.
In the spring, pastures were abundant in the region so sheep would graze near the shepherd’s home village. The grain harvest also took place in the spring in Israel. Sheep would be allowed to graze in the harvested fields after the grain was collected and the poor allowed to collect what remained after the harvest as was Jewish custom.
In summer, shepherds would have to lead flocks to pastures further from their towns.
In late fall and winter when pasture was most scarce shepherds would stable sheep at their homes and feed them.
The birth of Jesus likely occurred in the spring as the shepherds were in pastures near the town of Bethlehem.4
Based on the common practice of shepherds and where the sheep would graze, December does not fit the narrative. Furthermore, Randall Niles writes in DriveThruHistory,
Bethlehem means “house of bread” in Hebrew. The town was known for its grain fields running down its slopes. After the harvest, shepherds were welcome to bring their animals into the fields to eat the remaining grain and stubble. In return, the sheep and goats fertilized the fields for the next planting season. In first century Judea, being a shepherd was considered a lowly profession. These were the social outcasts.5
Spring (March to May) or summer months (June to September) would be the likely timeframe of the account described above in Luke 2:8-15. Let’s try to further analyze the timeframe of the birth of Christ through the following temperature data.
Bethlehem in Winter?
Would the shepherds have been in the fields in December? Probably not, because it would have been pretty cold to be spending the night in the open.
The annual temperature changes in Israel can be classified as Mediterranean. It is most similar to certain regions of Northern California. As another data point for our analysis, let’s take a look at the temperature variations per month between Bethlehem and Sacramento, CA.
(source: Weatherspark.com)6
Notice the winter months in both regions do average in the 40 to 50 degrees Farenheit range which would be a reason to keep the sheep close to home in the sheepfold and not out in the fields. Shepherds would also want to stay within their homes.
Even in the spring months of March to May, the low temperatures are still between 46 to 57 degrees Farenheit which would require some good insulation to sleep all night under the stars. Therefore the Greek word agrauleó which denotes “to live in the fields” may not be wise in March to May for an extended period.
The “Now” line above is mid-September when temperatures (low of 63 degrees Farenheit) would be favorable to grazing sheep in the fields and staying out all night.
Furthermore, vegetation would become scarce at the end of summer. Sheep and goats typically graze further and further from home in search of untouched fields, thus leading to shepherds keeping watch at night in temporary uncovered bivouacs under the stars…What would they see above in the tent of stars, the wide expanse of the firmament?
The following was written by Isaiah in approximately 740–701 BC.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14, NASB1995 [emphasis added]
A Sign on September 11th, 3 BC
On September 11th, 3 BC, a virgin woman is clothed with the sun, the moon at her feet. Two wandering stars (Mercury and Venus) orbit down from Leo to her head. Jupiter is crowning Regulus, the little king, in retrograde motion. Thus the King Planet, “His Star”, is crowning the little king, in the Lion of Judah.
This event is visible at sunset the night of September 11th, 3 BC leading into the morning of September 12th, 3 BC.
The following was written by Apostle John the last living apostle on earth 95-96 AD.
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
Revelation 12:1-2, NASB1995
Comparing September 11th, 3 BC to September 23rd, 2017
In 3 BC above, Jupiter, “His star” is crowning Regulus in Leo the Lion of Judah. This is the first crowning and Jupiter will crown Regulus 2 more times on February 16th, 2 BC and again May 8th, 2 BC.
In 2017 below, Jupiter, “His star” is in the womb of the virgin for 9 months in retrograde motion and exits September 23rd, 2017.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6, NASB1995
From the Lion of Judah, a Ruler, a King of Israel, will be born as a child, a prince, a little King and he will shepherd His flock as King David.
And there is more to come as we look up to watch the “Comet of the Century”.
In Closing
The following questions have been investigated:
When do shepherds watch their sheep in the fields?
By factoring in the temperature and common practices of raising sheep it looks like they would be agrauleó which denotes “to live in the fields” in the summer months.
Is September 11th the Birthday of Jesus Christ?
There is a significant alignment of heavenly lights in the firmament on September 11th, 3 BC, which is compelling and fits the scriptural narrative of the Messiah’s birth.
In previous analysis, the conception of Jesus Christ has also been associated to this date, however I am leaning toward this date being the birth.
Are there other signs that parallel this sign in history?
September 23rd, 2017 is a similar sign that aligns with the Revelation 12 sign.
The Covenant Signs also covers other similar signs.
The incoming “Comet of the Century” is compelling in that it circles these signs and Spica (more analysis to come).
Conclusion:
Could September 11th be the day that the Seed of the Woman was fulfilled as prophecied in the Protevangilium? Could September 11th, 3 BC have been the birth of Jesus Christ?
Yes, definitely - Happy Belated Birthday Jesus.
Updated References:
Additional References who have also studied September 3rd, 3 BC:
Heiser, M. (c2023). Certificate Programs - Certificate of Biblical Studies - Unseen Realm 102 - Module 05 - In the Fullness of Time: The Birth of Jesus as a Signal of Cosmic Reversal. AWKN School of Theology.7
Larson, R. (2021). About the project. The Star of Bethlehem8
Martin, E.L.9 (1976-2023) The Star of Bethlehem: The Star That Astonished the World. Associates for Scriptural Knowledge.
Ray, T. (2011). September 11th, The Day Jesus Christ Was Born.10
Articles from previous years:
2021: Rick Larson’s “Star of Bethlehem” documentary and analysis was reviewed.
2022: Related series
2024: See Multiple Chapters from The Covenant Signs.
Additional Research:
The Sixth Seal Signs and The Covenant Signs take the apologetics approach where science and probability reinforce God’s signs and Covenants.
COMING SOON:
“The Signs of Jonah”. Work in Progress.
Referral Program:
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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Govert_Flinck_-_Angels_Announcing_the_Birth_of_Christ_to_the_Shepherds_-_WGA07928.jpg
https://biblehub.com/greek/63.htm
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bivouac
Hansen, C. (2022). “Keeping watch over their flocks: The shepherds of the Nativity” Morning AgClips, America’s #1 Ag News Source. https://www.morningagclips.com/keeping-watch-over-their-flocks-the-shepherds-of-the-nativity
Niles, R. (2017). “Shepherds in the Fields near Bethlehem”, DriveThruHistory.com https://drivethruhistory.com/shepherds-fields-near-bethlehem/
https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/1157~98811/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Sacramento-and-Bethlehem
Heiser, M. (c2023). Certificate Programs - Certificate of Biblical Studies - Unseen Realm 102 - Module 05 - In the Fullness of Time: The Birth of Jesus as a Signal of Cosmic Reversal. AWKN School of Theology. https://catalog.awkngschooloftheology.com/courses/ur-102
Larson, R. (2021). About the project. The Star of Bethlehem. https://bethlehemstar.com/about/
Martin, E. L. (1976-2023). The Star of Bethlehem: The Star That Astonished the World. Associates for Scriptural Knowledge. https://www.askelm.com/star/index.asp
Ray. T. (2011). September 11th, The Day Jesus Christ Was Born. https://www.amazon.com/September-11th-Jesus-Christ-Born/dp/1466232382