Stars in Jesus' life

'And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist' (Col1:17).

Christ is the true Source of everything in existence. We therefore might expect the heaven's to scream his greatness. And it sure does.

Christ's birth

Signs in the heavens start at Jesus' birth. On August 12, 3 BC, a bright star appeared in Leo, which is a picture of the root of the Jewish people, called 'root of David' and 'the Lion of Judah' in Revelation 5:5. In the gospel account of Mathew we read about the wise men from the East. These wise men from the East, must have known the old prophecies from the law of Mozes and of Daniel because of decades of Jewish influence since the diaspora under Nebuchadnezzar (about 600 BC). Moreover they had probably studied the skies for years, and must have known its patterns, and had somehow seen this coming. The 'walking stars', as they named the planets that we know under the names of Venus and Jupiter were expected to come into close proximity. How close and under what exact circumstances, they probably could not foresee. On August 12 they were astonished at the brightness they saw early in the morning directly above the horizon, more than an hour before sunrise. The closeness of Venus and Jupiter resulted in a star of unmatched brightness. After this event they were witness of Venus' passing by Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, called the King Star. During the 8 months that followed, they saw, while on their journey to the West, three transits of Regulus by Jupiter, the second time with Jupiter in retrograde motion.

Once they reached the land of the Jews and the jewel of the East, the magnificent city of Jerusalem, with at its center an enormous temple, which was being built, they were quite disappointed by the total ignorance about the born King of the Jews. The reaction of king and priest was one of complete disregard for any sign or prophecy about Messiah. After having received some suspicious instructions, they set off for Bethlehem. And while eagerly watching the heavens for what they expected to happen again, in the evening of June 17 of 2 BC, they were struck with an even greater brightness in the sky than they had seen while at home. This time Venus and Jupiter formed an evening star, at further distance from the sun than earlier, Venus again came in very close conjunction with Jupiter. As evening star, it was positioned in the West and visible until about two hours after sunset, before it followed the sun behind the Horizon. While their search for the King in Jerusalem had been a tedious affair, that had kept them busy during the whole day, they approached the small village of Bethlehem while the sun was already down for about one hour. This gave them a unique vision of the phenomenon of the star which at times seemed to throw down a vague light cone as if guiding them toward the right place. The pureness of joy of the presence of the Almighty all around them was never matched anyhow near during the rest of their lives. No wonder, they were thrilled to meet the young Child, once they met it and they bowed down before Him, knowing that this was the One that had shown them the star and had guided them on their way toward Him. If only all of humanity would follow the example that the wise man from the East left to the world.

Most of the world acts like the Jerusalem in the days of Christ's birth, in utter ignorance and indifference, not knowing the eternal Treasure they neglect to search after and to hold dear till all eternity. The dates of August 12 of 3BC and July 17 of 2 BC are not written in the annals of history but they are in the tale of the stars. God watches over the honor of his Son. These dates have been disputed because of the one man that played the most evil of roles in this tale of Christ: Herod the Great. He would have died in 4 BC and thus the 2BC and 3 BC conjunctions could have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. There is however hardly any evidence for the 4 BC death of Herod - just Flavius Josephus mentioning it happened at the time of a lunar eclipse. There was a 37% lunar eclipse in 4 BC but there was also a total lunar eclipse in 1 BC. And above all, a 1 BC death of Herod the Great offers a better fit to the scriptures.

Would one of the wise men from the East ever have revisited the land of the Jews in a quest for the Christ, as the movie 'Ben-Hur' suggests? We do not know it. The Bible doesn't tell us. We will need eternity to figure out all correlations and relationships that have existed between followers of Christ and their Master, even if we only take the ones that were alive in those 33 years that He walked among us. As John states: 'I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books' (John  21:25).

Jesus at twelve

Looking at two other events in the life of Jesus in connection with the stars, we first turn to Him while being 12 years old on Passover, which must have been in 11 AD. The full moon with the sun in the Lamb on 11 AD falls on April 4th on our calendars. The full moon is at the feet of Virgo, where she would be again at the crucifixion. It speaks of the perfect testimony of Jesus toward the people of Israel, starting with his mother. On the right side of the moon is Vesta (fire), picture of the Holy Spirit. On the left side is Mars, picture of war,  the anxiety which would squeeze the heart of Mary within a few days because of Jezus, Who would seemed to have vanished, but much more in a few decades because of the Jewish establishment.

The festivities lasted for eight days, Passover for one day and the feast of unleavened bread for seven days. On that eighth day, the moon was on the left leg of Aquarius. One day later Joseph and Mary discovered Jesus was nowhere to be found and had to walk for days in order to find Him. The moon stood at the other leg of Aquarius. This illustrates their search for the Fountain of life, which was incorporated in their own Jesus. After three long worrisome days they found Him in the temple. On the day, they found Him, the moon stood in Pisces, directly under Venus, which also stood in Pisces. The 12-year old, Jesus was already busy as Fisher of man, asking the right questions to the teachers of the holy scriptures, who were astonished at his understanding and answers. He was well on his road to becoming the Man of glory, the Bright and Morning Star, Who would become the great Fisher of men and Who in the coming ages, would save millions from total misery and would bring them into an eternity of joy with Him. During days of the festivitiy and shortly thereafter, Jupiter was at the right leg of Leo, showing that the Boy that had come in humility, was growing in strength, becoming the Lion of Judah, which would defeat all enemies of God and man.

His mother didn't understand the situation and some tremor in her voice must have betrayed her reproach while she said: “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

In a gentle way Jesus had to remind her of his eternal roots and said: 'Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know I had to be about my Father's business?' High above Pisces, the place where the moon and Venus were at the moment Jesus was found in the temple, is Cephus, picture of God, the Father in heaven. The answer of Jesus to his troubled mother contains the first words we hear out of his mouth in the gospels: 'Why were you searching for Me?' Some of his last words were almost the opposite 'Why have you forsaken Me? - to his God in heaven. Jesus was the One true Man of God - and He was forsaken by God on our behalf. Wouldn't we run into his arms in order to receive the salvation He offers and to thank Him for it, once we've received it?

Jesus' baptism

The other event in Jesus' life which could be see in the skies is Jesus' baptism in the year 26 AD. One arrives at this year on the basis of Daniel's prophecy of the 70 'weeks', 70 x 7 = 490 years. A total of 69 x 7 = 483 years would run up to 'Messiah, the Prince' (Dan.9:25). The year-count had to start at the command to 'restore and rebuild' the city of Jerusalem, which probably was in 458/7 BC. When adding 483 years to 458 BC, one arrives at 26 AD (there is no 'year 0'). The event must have taken place while many Jews were in and around Jerusalem in expectation of the start of Israel's fall feasts. For it is said: 'Then went out to him (John the Baptist) Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan' (Mathew 3:5). The timing of the fall feasts happens in the seventh month, with the sun moving toward the constellation of Libra. In 26 AD, that would be in the first half of October - reckoned from our present day calendar. At the end of the feasts, on October 16, we see Venus at the base of 'the altar', in a retrograde movement, the first during Jesus' ministry. The altar is also 'the Scales' and 'Libra', the foundation of righteousness. At his baptism we hear Jesus say to John (who is reluctant to baptize Jesus): 'thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness' (Mathew 3:15) Uranus is at the mouth of Leo - the voice of the Father: 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased' (Mathew 3:17). In the first week of November of 26 AD, Mercury - while retrograding- descends upon Venus 'like a dove', while Venus is also retrograding in Libra.

The crucifixion

But the most important event in history of which the heavens bear testimony is the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior. Historically the most likely date for 'Good Friday' is April 4 or 5 of AD 30. We won't dive into arguments on this year or date but we see clear signs in the heavens that this indeed must have been the date. We look at the position of all heavenly bodies in order to back up this assumption. Everybody can see these things for themselves in Stellarium, by adjusting the place to Jerusalem and the time to April 4, 30 AD

(1) On April 4, 30 AD,  The sun is in Aries, at the right foot of the Lamb, as 'the first of the months on which the Passover had to be celebrated. This is an argument for April 4 or 5 but not for the year 30 AD for Passover is celebrated with the sun in Aries in all years of the first centuries (Ex.12:2,3).

(2) On April 4, 30 AD, the full moon is descending from under the bundle of wheat, at the knee of Virgo toward her feet and ending above the altar. Jesus was the perfect testimony and the 'corn of wheat' (John 12:24) that had to fall to the ground - and to come upon the altar as the perfect grain offering in order to bring forth much fruit. Again this is only an argument for April 4 but not for 30 AD. Every Passover in the first century is celebrated with the moon in this position.

(3) On April 4, 30 AD,  Jupiter is at one of the cords of Pisces, Jesus in humility and suffering, breaking the bonds of humanity, which had become entangled in the world empire (Cetus) that is under full control of satan. This is evidence for a crucifixion in 30 AD.

(4) On April 4, 30 AD, Mercury - Picture of God's angels - is at the Pleiades in Taurus, picture of the 7 lamps of  fire before the throne of God. From there Mercury starts a retrograde movement toward the sun as if to strengthen Christ while standing before the great work of salvation (Luke 22:43). The lamps of fire mirror the eternal Spirit through Whom Christ offered Himself (Heb 9:14).

With with the sun in Aries in their midst, Jupiter and Mercury (still in the Pleiades) form a cross. Below the sun, at the foot of the cross, is constellation 'Fornax', that could also represent an altar. This cross in ony seen in 30 AD.

This altar, Fornax is at star 15 of the 28 stars of the death river, (Constellation Eridanus) that runs through human history. The offering of Christ has been accomplished when more than half of human history had passed (4,000 of 7,000 years). Left and right at the end of this 'death river' are a clock and Phoenix, indicating the resurrection of the dead at the end of time. The hour on the clock, with the minute hand on '12' and the hour hand on '9', is 'nine o'clock', the hour that Jesus died. His death and resurrection are the guarantee for the resurrection of every human being. Therefore Jesus could say: 'I hold the keys of death and Hades' (Rev.1:18).

Around this cross we find constellations that makes one think of Psalm 22, the Psalm that starts with 'My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?' and in which is uttered: 'Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.' (Psalm  22:20,21)

Indeed we see a sword, lions, dogs and a wild oxen (Taurus) surrounding the cross in the sky of April 4, 30 AD.

(5) On April 4, 30 AD, Venus is at the edge of Pisces and Aquarius, pointing toward the age of glory, the Millennial kingdom of Christ, that will come after the present age will have passed. That is also part of Psalm 22. The words of the suffering Servant of God, of Jesus on the cross, end with lines like: 'All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.' (Psalm 22:27,28). This position of Venus, at the twilight of God's kingdom, is also unique to April 4, 30 AD.

(6) On April 4, 30 AD, Saturn is at the heel of the right person in Gemini, showing satan at the heel of Christ, illustrating the verdict from the beginning of God upon satan: 'And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.' (Gen 3:15) - This also is only to be seen on the fourth of April of 30 AD.

(7) On April 4, 30 AD, Mars is at the mouth of Capricorn. Capricorn is type of the sacrificial animal that shows signs of an execution by the empire (the cross at the hind part). The empire is characterized at the hind part of Capricorn as a fish, an animal from the sea. The world empire is characterized in the Bible as beast from the sea.  The front side of Capricorn shows a goat with legs that are intact. This conforms with the old-testament law of the Jews concerning offerings: 'A bone of him shall not be broken' (John 19:36). It was the sacrificial system of temple priests, illustrated in Capricorn, that waged war against the Lamb of God. Their words were spitting hatred towards Him. That could be the meaning of Mars at Capricorn's mouth. This position of Mars seldomly occurs on the Jewish date of passover.

(8) On April 4, 30 AD, Uranus is at Regulus, the King Star in Leo, at the heart of Leo. Uranus is one of the pictures of God the Father and Leo is 'the Lion of Judah' Who has prevailed (Rev.5:5), type of Jesus. So the Father is at the heart of the Son while He is establishing the work of salvation on the cross, as Jesus said to Thomas: 'Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me' (John 14:11). And again, before entering Gethsemane: '...and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me' (John 16:32). It takes Uranus about 84 years to reach this significant position again and thus indicates 30 AD as the crucificion year.

(9) On April 30 AD, Neptune is at the tail of Capricorn, showing the fate of the Jewish people after they would have waged war against their Messiah. Neptune is picture of the elements, being submissive to God. The nation of Israel would be thrown in the depth of the sea, as foretold by Jesus when He cursed the fig tree and continued his way toward Jerusalem, while pointing toward the tempel mount said: '...if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.' (Mathew 21:21). The cycle of Neptune lasts 164 years.

The retrogrades of Venus

During its 8-year cycle, Venus performs 5 retrogrades at regular intervals. In the days of Jesus, Venus retrograded in these constellations:

(1) November 26 AD - Retrograde in Libra (about the time of the baptism - see above) - '...thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness' (Mathew 3:15)

(2) June 28 AD - Retrograde in the right, beating fist of Orion. The sun in the midst of Gemini - God with us. The moon comes from the horns of Taurus, close to Saturn (type of satan), and occludes Venus. It is a picture of the chastisement that would be upon Jesus from the side of sinful man

(3) February 30 AD - Retrograde around the left hand of Aquarius, carrying the water, while the sun is in the stream of Aquarius. It was around the time of Lazarus' resurrection. it pictures the working of both the Father and the Son in the resurrection of the dead.

(4) August 31 AD - Retrograde in Leo - 'the Lion of Judah' - Gospel to the Jews directly after the resurrection and ascension

(5) April 33 AD - Retrograde in Pisces - 'I will make you fishers of men' - Gospel to the gentiles after the stoning of Stephan

In November 34 AD, the retrograde in Libra is repeated, be it a slightly bit more to the top of 'the scales'. We see the crucifixion in the year 30 AD perfectly in the centre of both Venus-retrogrades in Libra - witnessing the righteousness of God that was glorified by Jesus through the sacrifice of Himself. 

No blood moon

There is one argument for other years than the year of 30 AD: the absence of a blood moon in April of 30 AD. However, the years 31-33 AD do not show any blood moon either. What Stellarium shows is a partial moon-eclipse on April 23 of 31 AD, which was barely visible from Jerusalem. There was a significant blood moon on April 12 of 32 AD but that one was invisible from Jerusalem for the moon had already set there for six hours.  The same is true for a partial moon-eclipse. The moon had not yet risen and the moon-eclipse was partial and barely visible on April 1 of 33 AD.

The preaching of Peter on Pentecost referred to the fulfillment of Joel 2:31 - 'The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come' (Acts 2:20). This probably did not concern a regular blood moon, which in some seasons appears almost twice a year somewhere on earth. Joel 2:31 was probably fulfilled in a supernatural event, that darkened the sun for 3 hours (Luke 23:44) and caused the moon to color red. Such an event is of course invisible on Stellarium, which is based on today's orbits of the heavenly bodies, extrapolating them back for thousands of years.