The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise
what we know about the birth of John the
Baptist, can help
Dr. John Harbaugh,with Denise Styka
(September, 2007)
The Vatican Legacy:
"An inscription in the Vatican states plainly, "He who will not eat of my body, nor drink of my blood, so that he may be one with me and I with him, shall not be saved." This is not terribly surprising, unless you consider that this is inscribed on the remains of the temple the Vatican was built on- one dedicated to the God Mithras. Mithras was a solar deity whose worshippers called him redeemer; his religion died out not long after the advent of Christianity. Such eerie parallels between the pronouncements of Jesus and Mithras are not the only similarities between the two religions."
(N. S. Gill)
"Many cultures celebrate the rebirth of a god at the Winter Soltice. In fact, most of the Christian story was lifted almost word for word from an ancient Hindu myth. Some of it was also taken from the celebration of Mithras, the sun god, who was worshipped by the roman armies as far away as Britain. Mithras birthday was celebrated on December 25th. The Winter Soltice is a turning point of the Earth tides. The Sun is at its lowest point. If you wish, you can use a nativity set to represent the Great Mother, her consort,and the newborn Sun child. After all, this idea has been around much longer than Christianity. If you have others celebrating with you, give them the parts to answer for the Mother and the Elemental Powers."
(Lady Liberty League)
"Increasing daylight following the winter solstice around December 22, once marked the Roman celebration of Saturnalia. Saturnalia, during December 17 - 24, was in commemoration of the planetary god Saturn. Religious significance was assigned to mark the end of fall sowing, and shortening daylight. About 273 A.D., the Roman Emperor Auerlian instituted the festival of Dies natalis solis invicti , or "birthday of the unconquered Sun." The seven day week ends with Saturday, reiterating the notion of Saturnalia ending the year. Pagan ceremonies were changed to Christian in 354 A.D., and the birthday of Christ was declared to be December 25."
(Clark K. Nelson)
"Consider this- several other Gods share the December birthday, and like Mithras, they are also solar deities, who are born in the winter solstices, often of virgin mothers, die, and are reborn. One of these, a pre-Christian deity called Attis, was called "The lamb of God," and his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection were celebrated annually, with ritual communions of bread and wine. His virgin mother, Cybele, was worshipped as "The Queen of heaven." It gets more interesting the further back we look- Attis and Cybele's predecessors are the Babylonian Goddess Ishtar, and her consort Tammuz. It is from their legend that we get the name for the annual celebration of the resurrection of Christ- Easter, a name of the Goddess Ishtar."
(N. S. Gill)
BUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS ON THIS WISE
The original post by Denise Styka was edited, expanded, and formatted by Dr. John Harbaugh
(Matthew 1:18 KJV) "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise ..... "
While the birth date of Jesus Christ is one which pagan tradition has places on the 25th. of December, most Bible scholars agree that, that date cannot be reconciled with either history or scripture.
In examining this, we will look at different points ** in time ** which can be easily retrieved from a careful of study of Scripture. And because it is so well chronicled, the place to start such a study is with the conception and the birth of John the Baptist.
What we know about the announcement, conception, and birth of John the Baptist generally comes from Luke’s gospel account, and it is concretely explained by the Temple organization contained in the Old Testament.
John's father, Zachariah, is a priest of the course of Abia (or Abijah) and is serving one of his two ministrations in the temple, when he is visited by the angel Gabriel.
Luke 1:5 (KJV) "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth."
Luke 1:9-13 (KJV) "According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 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."
The Levitical priestly rotation began on a Sabbath and in particular the
8th and last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The 7th month of the Hebrew calendar year, is regarded as the beginning of the festival year because of the “harvest” and the blessing of God’s
provision. It is during the 7th month that 2 important feasts and the Day
of Atonement (Yom Kippur) are celebrated. So we also know the rotation of
the Hebrew calendar (significant in the rotation of the course of Abijah)
in respect to the secular calendar (significant to our concept the
anniversary of a person's birth).
(Walking in the Light)
What do we know about the course of Abijah? … The 8th course fell by lot to
Abijah.
1 Chronicles 24:7-10 (KJV) “Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the
second to Jedaiah, The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, The fifth to
Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to
Abijah …”
In the year of significance to the conception of John the Baptist, the date
of one ministration of Abijah was from 12-18 Chisleu = December 6-12. Because of the coincident of call to the "taxing" and because the sheep were not in the mangers at the birth of Christ, this first ministration is not considered in the computation/evaluation of John's conception.
The date of the second ministration of Abijah, was from 12-18 Sivan = June
13-19. It is this ministration that is spoken of in the scripture, regarding the activities of Zacharias.
We know that it is after the days of his ministration are completed, that
Zachariah begins his journey back home to the hill country of Judea. It is
safe to suggest that because of the Sabbath, Zachariah did not leave
Jerusalem until June 20th and allowing a couple of days for him to make the
30 mile journey home, which was probably in the priestly city of Juttah
(see Luke 1:39 below), we can surmise that the miraculous conception of the
barren Elizabeth took place on or about the 23rd of Sivan (or about June
23rd or 24th of that year).
Luke 1:23-24 (KJV) “And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his
ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after
those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months …”
In the sixth month (of Elisabeth’s pregnancy) the angel Gabriel was
sent to a virgin name Mary who is espoused to Joseph in the town of
Nazareth … This would be about the 23rd or 24th of December, by the secular
calendar.
Luke 1:26-27 (KJV) “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.”
Gabriel tells Mary that she will conceive in thy womb by the Holy Spirit
and will bring forth a Son and His name is to be Jesus and so He shall also
be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:31-32 (KJV) “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring
forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be
called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the
throne of his father David:”
Gabriel reaffirms to Mary that nothing is impossible with God telling
her that her cousin Elisabeth who once was barren has conceived and is in
her sixth month with child.
Luke 1:36-37 (KJV) “And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also
conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who
was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Mary immediately departs for the home of Elisabeth with haste and upon
arrival has already conceived.
Luke 1:39-42 (KJV) "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill
country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of
Zacharias, 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 Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and
said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."
Mary abides with Elisabeth for about 3 months and returns home. After
which time that Mary departs, Elisabeth’s full time comes and she brings
forth a son and name is called John.
Luke 1:56-57 (KJV) "And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned
to her own house. Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be
delivered; and she brought forth a son."
This would be around the 23rd or 24th of March, by the secular calendar.
John the Baptist was born, and Mary is three months with the conception of
Jesus.
A decree comes forth by Caesar Augustus that everyone is to be taxed.
Luke 2:1 (KJV) "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed."
a. "The taxation came about the time of the fall harvest because the
material wealth of those reaping the harvest was part of which Rome would
tax upon. This is supported by undisputed historical argument."
(Walking in the Light)
b. Joseph being of the lineage and house of David, departs with Mary his
espoused, who is great with Child for the town of Bethlehem to fulfill the
obligation of the taxing.
Luke 2:4-6 (KJV) "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. And so it was, that, while they
were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."
c. Shepherd’s abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night,
are visited by angel announcing a Saviour is born that day in the City of
David who is Christ the Lord.
d. Flock’s abiding in distant fields again an indication of the time of
year it was, it definitely could not have been in late March and most
definitely not in December. It had to be before the middle of the secular
month, October.
Luke 2:8-11 (KJV) "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 Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord."
Conclusion
John the Baptist was conceived around 22nd- 23rd Sivan (23rd – 24th June
5 B.C.) and was born around 4th – 7th Nisan (25th – 26th March 4 B.C.)
Therefore unlike tradition, Jesus Christ was conceived around 1st Tebeth
(in December) and was born around 15th Tishri (Late September)
References
SWORD SEARCHER - King James Bible computer Version 5.0.1.1; Brandon Staggs; (2206)
THE TWO BABYLONS (Or The Papal Worship); Alexander Hislop; Lifeline Printing Philippines; (1853, expanded 1858)
BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION (Ancient and Modern); Ralph Woodrow; Ralph Woodrow Evangelistic Association, Inc.; (1966)
CAESAR AUGUSTUS (Octavian); Walking in the Light; (date ubknown)
Lady Liberty League, Religious freedom support for Wiccans, Pagans, and other Nature religions practitioners worldwide.
CHRISTIAN ERA CALENDARS; Clark K. Nelson; Time Emits Services and Clark K. Nelson; (Copyright: 1995, 2002)
THE MYSTERIOUS DYING GOD ; N. S, Gill; (Date unknown)
