I'm seeing this article pop up on my timeline and other's websites. While I love science, and I would LOVE for Jesus to return, there is one problem with the "Star of Bethlehem" convergence.
This convergence, as well as the one that is estimated to have occurred around 2BC, both occurred in the evening sky just after sunset. Venus will either trail or proceed the Sun by an hour meaning it will only be in view in the east before sunrise and the west after sunset. This instance appears in the west after sunset.
The Bible's account:
Sure the Wise Men were from the East, implying they traveled West to follow the star, however, they didn't follow the start until they had already traveled West and when they turned around they looked to the east and saw the star. Mathew 2:1-2 says they were from the east AND saw the star in the east and decided to follow it. They were not IN the east but were FROM the east. In fact, they were West of Bethlehem and followed the star Eastward to Christ.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him" (Matt. 2:1-2, NASB). [emphasis added]
That means a convergence with Jupiter and Venus in the west is not the "Star of Bethlehem" unless the convergence occurred in the morning.
Morning/Evening Star
Looking deeper into morning or evening, It's safe to say most people in that period traveled by day which would indicate the star rose in the east just before sunrise. But have you tried to follow a star during the day? (besides our sun of course)
To follow the star would lend credence to traveling at night, and if the sun sets in the west and the star rose in the east, and it gets darker, then the convergence is not with a planet closer to the sun than Earth, ruling out Mercury and Venus as being a member of the "Bethlehem Star" group. Venus' maximum elongation is 46 degrees. While capable of being visible long into the night, it could not have risen in the east but instead slowly appear as a twinkling star in the evening.
There is a lot of speculation and theories as to what this "Star of Bethlehem" was; a comet, a supernova, a convergence of other planets (not Venus). The testimony in Mathew says the star was moving, ruling out a convergence which appears to stand still for several days. But the fact that the Magi called it a "new star" combined with their wisdom to know the difference between a star and a comet, I believe it rules out that it was a comet. "New" indicates they have been tracking the stars and this one wasn't seen before, which could prove it's a supernova, but again, the appearance of movement would be zero to them without telescopes as supernova are light years away.
So what was it? No one knows for sure, but I feel credit can be given to a Miracle.
But what about prophecy? Isn't there a sign that the second coming is close by the appearance of a star? One reference I found was Luke 21:25a "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars."
Doesn't specify.
How about a direction? I've heard it said "Jesus will come from the East" but I've also heard West. What's the Bible say? I found this in Mathew 24:27 "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. "
I don't think it matters which way you face, according to this verse, the coming of the Lord will be seen from any direction.
In the confusion of the world today, it's only natural for Christians to look to the heavens and ask God to hurry up and rescue us. We've lost our way, as a nation, and as a world. Wrong has become right and right is now wrong. Right and wrong is no longer decided based on morals or law, but based on feelings. We might look west while others look east. We follow our own compass, not calibrated to any logic, distracted from true north because true north has become taboo and doesn't align with our feelings.
I believe this convergence, as cool and bright and unique as it is, is just that, a convergence of two planets who's line of sight with our planet will be worth staying up and outside on a summer evening to witness as it most likely won't happen again in your lifetime. I don't believe it should be referred to as "The star of Bethlehem." Calling it that might be a distraction.
Is this a false sign? Is this the enemy making us look to the west and distract us from the actual sign in the east? I don't know, that's not my call. The Bible says we are to be ready for His return, from whatever direction it will be from.
For me, I'll be watching the whole sky, not just the west.
</rant>
