by Timothy W. Burnett
The chronology comes from Victor Paul Wierwille's book "Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed" (pp. xxi - xxiv), which utilized a great deal of Biblical research as well as other research literature including Ernest Martin's "The Birth of Christ Recalculated."
Because of research into astronomical events that occurred before, during and after Jesus' birth, the chronology will include planet and star positions based on the above mentioned research. My comments will be in brackets.
--May, 4 B.C. The angel Gabriel appears to Zacharias while he was serving in the Temple (Luke 1:11).
--June, 4 B.C. Conception of John the Baptist (Luke 1:23-24).
--December, 4 B.C. Gabriel appears to Mary in Nazareth. Jesus Christ is conceived. Mary travels to Judea to see her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:26-56).
--March, 3 B.C. Mary returns to Nazareth. John the Baptist is born to Zacharias and Elizabeth (Luke 1:56-57).
--August, 3 B.C. Jupiter and Venus in conjunction in Leo. The Magi begin noting their observations of the activity of Jupiter, the king planet. [The Magi were not kings, and traveled as a group much bigger than three people. Conjunction means the two stars are lined up in a way so that a straight line can be drawn through them and to the North Star. Leo symbolizes the lion as spoken by Israel while blessing his son Judah (Genesis 49:9-12).
--September, 3 B.C. Birth of Jesus Christ. First day of the Hebrew month Tishri. The sun was positioned inside of the constelation Virgo with the "moon under her feet" (Revelation 12:1). [The angel sent a message to shepherds in the field about the new born savior and described how to find the baby what they would see. The shepherds found the baby with Mary and Joseph and then went out to declare what they heard and saw (Luke 2:6-17). The Magi leave for Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1)].
--September 14, 3 B.C. Jupiter and the star Regulus in conjunction in the constellation Leo.
--February 17, 2 B.C. Jupiter and Regulus in conjunction in Leo.
--May 8, 2 B.C. Jupiter and Regulus in conjunction in Leo.
--June 17, 2 B.C. Jupiter and Venus in conction in Leo.
--August 27, 2 B.C. Massing of planets Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Venus in Leo. Jupiter and Mars in conjunction. Magi leave for Jerusalem after this celestial event.
--December, 2 B.C. Magi arrive in Jerusalem. Jupiter ["the star"] visible over Bethlehem before dawn as the Magi depart for Persia. Joseph, Mary and Jesus flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:9-15).
[The word "young child" refers to a young boy and not an infant. The treasure gifts from the Magi would have sustained Joseph, Mary and Jesus through their return from Egypt.]
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