| After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, MAGI FROM THE EAST came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw HIS STAR in the east and have come to worship him.” THE BIBLE, MATTHEW 2:1-2 HOW DID THE MAGI IN PERSIA FIGURE OUT WHAT THE STAR MEANT IN JUDEA? *Due to a Gregorian calendar error, Jesus was actually born BC 4-6, not AD 1 OFFICIALS IN PERSIA, INDIA, BABYLON AND JUDEA AT THE TIME JESUS WAS BORN |
MAGI PRIESTLY TRIBE
*c. 450 BC the Magi Tribe of Media (later Persia) was mentioned by Herodotus (i.132).
*c. 522 BC, Darius the Great, Emperor of Persia described a revolt by the Magic Tribe that he put down.
*c. 300 BC and on (Seleucid Period), the Magi Tribe became the priestly advisors to the kings.
*c. 250 BC and on (Parthian Period), the Parthians (located between Iran and India) ruled Persia/Iran for several centuries.
In early centuries they analyzed livers of sacrificial sheep, but later also analyzed the heavens (astrologers ~
forerunners of today’s astronomers).
KING PHRAATTES IV
Phraattes was the Parthian king when Jesus was born. He was poisoned by his Italian wife in 2 BC.
KING GONDOPHARES
After the Mauryan dynasty, most of India was made up of small independent dynasties, especially in the north.
Gondophares was the most powerful ruler in India.
KING HEROD
Herod the Great was king of Palestine from 30 BC to his death in 4 BC.
PREMIER DANIEL
A Jew brought as a young man from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar c. 605 BC and appointed ruler over the
province of Babylon (Bible, Daniel 2:46) and later one of three under the king to govern the entire empire. He continued to
hold his high position through the reigns of King Cyrus of Persia and Babylon, who died 530 BC and King Darius the Mede
who died 486 BC (Bible, Daniel 6:1-28).
QUEEN ESTHER
Jewish Queen of Persia and wife of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) 492 BC to 460 BC. Anything Daniel or she wanted included in
the national archives were included.
*c. 450 BC the Magi Tribe of Media (later Persia) was mentioned by Herodotus (i.132).
*c. 522 BC, Darius the Great, Emperor of Persia described a revolt by the Magic Tribe that he put down.
*c. 300 BC and on (Seleucid Period), the Magi Tribe became the priestly advisors to the kings.
*c. 250 BC and on (Parthian Period), the Parthians (located between Iran and India) ruled Persia/Iran for several centuries.
In early centuries they analyzed livers of sacrificial sheep, but later also analyzed the heavens (astrologers ~
forerunners of today’s astronomers).
KING PHRAATTES IV
Phraattes was the Parthian king when Jesus was born. He was poisoned by his Italian wife in 2 BC.
KING GONDOPHARES
After the Mauryan dynasty, most of India was made up of small independent dynasties, especially in the north.
Gondophares was the most powerful ruler in India.
KING HEROD
Herod the Great was king of Palestine from 30 BC to his death in 4 BC.
PREMIER DANIEL
A Jew brought as a young man from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar c. 605 BC and appointed ruler over the
province of Babylon (Bible, Daniel 2:46) and later one of three under the king to govern the entire empire. He continued to
hold his high position through the reigns of King Cyrus of Persia and Babylon, who died 530 BC and King Darius the Mede
who died 486 BC (Bible, Daniel 6:1-28).
QUEEN ESTHER
Jewish Queen of Persia and wife of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) 492 BC to 460 BC. Anything Daniel or she wanted included in
the national archives were included.
| ANCIENT EASTERN CAPITOLS, LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES |
ECBATANA
CTASPHON (CTESIPHON)
Capitol of Persia beginning 250 BC under the Parthians (in today’s Iran), and still the capitol when Jesus was born.
TELLO
Babylonian city with over 60,000 writings of the Medes, Parthians and Persians, mostly government documents.
NIPPUR
Babylonian city with over 50,000 writings of the Medes, Parthians and Persians, mostly religious.
- Capitol of Persia beginning the 6th century under King Darius (in today’s Iraq)The archives of both King Cyrus and King
Darius were kept at the citadel here (Ezra 6:1-3).
"In the first year of Darius, son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom ~ in the
first year of his reign, I Daniel understood from the [JEWISH] SCRIPTURES….” [Daniel 9:1-2a]
HAD ACCESS TO JEWISH PROPHECIES [Daniel 9:2b]
HAD ACCESS TO THE JEWISH LAW OF MOSES [Daniel 9:11-13]
CTASPHON (CTESIPHON)
Capitol of Persia beginning 250 BC under the Parthians (in today’s Iran), and still the capitol when Jesus was born.
TELLO
Babylonian city with over 60,000 writings of the Medes, Parthians and Persians, mostly government documents.
NIPPUR
Babylonian city with over 50,000 writings of the Medes, Parthians and Persians, mostly religious.
| ANCIENT SACRED WRITINGS OF MAJOR GOVERNMENT RELIGIONS KNOWN TO THE MAGI AT TIME OF JESUS’ BIRTH & THEIR REFERENCES TO A STAR |
JEWISH BIBLE ~ STAR REFERS TO A KING
Numbers 24:17, Predicted c. 1400 BC
“I see in the future of Israel, far down the distant trail, that there shall come a STAR from Jacob! This RULER of Israel.”
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, Predicted c. 700 BC
Isaiah 60:1a, 3, Predicted c. 700 BC
Daniel 8:10, 20-21, Predicted c. 500 BC
Daniel 12:2-3, Predicted c. 500 BC
Daniel 9:24-27 Predicted c. 500 BC
THE EXACT YEAR the ruler would be recognized
Numbers 24:17, Predicted c. 1400 BC
“I see in the future of Israel, far down the distant trail, that there shall come a STAR from Jacob! This RULER of Israel.”
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, Predicted c. 700 BC
- “The people walking in darkness have seen a GREAT LIGHT….For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the
government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince
of Peace….He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom…forever.”
Isaiah 60:1a, 3, Predicted c. 700 BC
- “Arise, my people: Let your LIGHT shine for all the nations to see….All nations will come to your light; mighty kings
will come to see the glory of the Lord upon you.”
Daniel 8:10, 20-21, Predicted c. 500 BC
- “It grew until it reached the [STARRY] HOST of the heavens, and it threw some of the STARRY HOST down to the earth
and trampled on them….The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat
is the king of Greece.
Daniel 12:2-3, Predicted c. 500 BC
- “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: Some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting
contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,
like the STARS for ever and ever.
Daniel 9:24-27 Predicted c. 500 BC
THE EXACT YEAR the ruler would be recognized
- "Seventy 'sevens' [490 years] are decreed for your people and your holy city [Jerusalem] to finish transgression
[punishment]....and to anoint [crown] the most holy. Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore
and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One [priest-king], the RULER COMES, there will be seven 'sevens' [49 years]
and sixty-two 'sevens' [+434 years]....After the sixty-two 'sevens,' [434 years] the Anointed One [priest-king] will be cut
off and will have nothing....He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven' [set of 7 years]. In the middle of the
'seven' [3-1/2 years] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering" [sacrifice himself - Hebrews 10:3-5].
['weeks' = years. 7 days in a week represent years.]
49 years + 434 years = 483 years
BC 457 city walls of Jerusalem rebuilt
AD +26 Jesus, at age 30, began to preach (Luke 3:23)
483 years
+ 7 years confirm covenant
490 years
But in middle of the 7 (3-1/2 yrs) will put an end to sacrificing Jesus preached 3-1/2 years (count the annual Passovers he
attended), then was crucified, being the sacrificial Lamb of God (John 1:29, 18:28 and 19:16-18). After that, sacrificing
animals at the Temple became unnecessary (Hebrews 10:3-5)
HINDU UPANISHADS ~ STAR REFERS TO THE HEART & SELF
Chan-Dogya
“Within the lotus of the heart are heaven and earth, the sun, the moon, the lightning and all the STARS.”
Brihad-Aran-Yaki
Chan-Dogya
“Within the lotus of the heart are heaven and earth, the sun, the moon, the lightning and all the STARS.”
Brihad-Aran-Yaki
- “Among the gods, he who awakened to the knowledge of the Self became Brahman. He it is who dwells in the sun, in the
moon, in the STARS.”
BUDDIST SUTTAPITAKA ~ STAR REFERS TO A GOOD MAN
Happiness 15
“One ought to follow such a good and wise man as the moon follows the path of the STARS.”
*ZOROASTROISM ~ STAR REFERS TO THE RAIN GOD & MISC. GODS
Yasna 12
Yasna 12
- The Glorious Beings [gods] are clothed in the light of the STARS. Tishtrya, the rain god, is identified with the STAR
SIRIUS. *Zoroastroism was the official religion of Persia at the time Jesus was born.