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"The Birth Of The Lord Jesus"
The Word of God as a whole may not be intended to teach science, chronology, or history, either Assyrian, Babylonian, Palestinian, Egyptian, Man`s “Traditions,” Man`s “Opinions:” but everything that is recorded will be in perfect harmony with whatever is true of any or all these. Science means knowledge, and nothing in scripture will be found to contradict what we really know, which is true science. Much that goes by the name of science is only a hypothesis: and much, assuming is so mixed up with knowledge that, the results is corrupted.
All must be brought to the bar of the Divine Word. That word as a whole is the context for its every part. All that is outside the covers of the Word of God must be judged. We must not reverse this process and judge what is within by anything that may come to us from without.
The Lord Jesus said in (Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.). In their coming in response to the call, much is fulfilled. But since it rest not with them, but with God who called them and permitted them to come, on this account alone they have no reward. But if after being called they do what is good, and that rest with them themselves, for that they will receive their reward.Since then it is granted to the Hebrews and then to them that are called from the Gentiles to believe the teachers of truth, while it is left to the personal decision of each individual, whether he will perform good deeds. The reward rightly falls to those who do well. Belief has its aim, the doing of what the Lord has ordered. As the Lord Jesus Himself declares in (Luke 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? ). For it is not speaking that can profit anyone, but doing. The Holy Spirit thought the Apostle Paul wrote in (2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.).Many teach that one need not to understand the Old Testament. Paul wrote in (1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.). To understand the New Testament, one must understand the Old. The Lord Jesus said in (Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.). Man needs all of God`s word to survive the end time events.The “Three Great Feast” are (Deuteronomy 16:16
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:).There are three types of “Sabbaths,” (1). The weekly Sabbath, (Exodus 31:15
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.). (2). The Sabbath Year, (Leviticus 25:4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.). (3). The Sabbath of Atonement, (Leviticus 16:31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.). This means that there could be, “two” or “three” Sabbaths in one week.One must understand that man had changed the Calendar. The beginning of months was (Nisan), March-April, the “Passover.” (Exodus 12:2
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.). Man also changed the hours of a day, (John 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.).One need to understand that the number “8,” is
the Lord Jesus`s number. Eight denotes “resurrection,” and “regeneration:” a “new beginning,” or “commencement.” The eight is a new “first.” The Lord rose on the eight day or the new first. His circumcision was on the eight day, (Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.).The Lord Jesus said in (John 4:23-24
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.). Only by the “Holy Spirit” and with “truth” can one approach and worship the Father. This must come from God Himself, (Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.). Spirit in the Greek is (Pneuma), which means, “mental disposition.” (Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, ).(1). It thus appears without a shadow of a doubt that the day assigned to the birth of the Lord Jesus, (December the 25th), was the day on which He was begotten of by the “Holy Spirit,” by the (Pneuma Hagion), equal “Divine Power,” (Matthew 1:18-20
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.).And His birth took place on the (15th of Ethanim), “September,” in the year following, thus making beautifully clear the meaning of (John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.). On the (1st of Tebeth), or December the 25, (5 BC), and “tabernacle,” which in the Greek, is (Skeonos), which means “temporary residence, the human body (as the abode of the spirit.” With us on the (15th of Ethanim), or “September the 29th, (4 BC).”The 15th of Ethanim or Tisri, was the first day of the “Feast of Tabernacles.” The circumcision therefore took place on the “eight” day of the Feast, equal the 22nd of Ethanim, equal (October the 6th to the 7th), Luke 2:21
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Leviticus 23:33-43 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.). So, that these two mementos events fall into their proper place and order, and the reason is made clear why the “25th of December” is associated with our Lord, and was set apart by the Apostolic Church to commemorate the stupendous event of the “Word” becoming flesh, and not as we have for so long been led to suppose, the commemoration of a pagan festival.(2). An overwhelming strong argument in favor of the correctness of this view lies in the fact that the date of the Festival of Michael and all Angels, has been from very early times, the (29th day of September), on Gentile (Western) reckoning. But the Church even than had lost sight of the reason, why this date rather than any other in the calendar should be indissolubly associated with the great Angelic Festival. The following expresses the almost universal knowledge or rather want knowledge of Christianity on the subject. We pass on now to consider, in the third place, the commemoration of (September the 29th), the Festival of Michael. It does not appear at all certain what was the original special idea of the commemoration of this day.
A reference, however, to the Table and Statement above, makes the original special idea why the Festival of Michael and all the Angels is held on September the 29th, abundantly clear, our Lord was born on that day. The first day of the feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:39
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.). This was on the 15th day of the seventh Jewish month called “Tisri,” or “Ethanim,” corresponding to our (September the 29th, of the year 4 BC).The “Begetting” (Genesis) Day of the Lord was announced by the Angel Gabriel, (Daniel 8:16
And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.).The Birthday of the Lord, was announced by the Angel of the Lord, unnamed in either Matthew or Luke. That this Angelic Being was Michael the Archangel of (Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.), and “Michael the Great Prince” of (Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.). Seems clear for the following reason: if, when again, yet he bring the “First Begotten” into the world, He said, “Let all the Angels of God worship Him.” (Hebrew 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.). Quoting, (Psalm 97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.). Then this must include the great “Archangel Michael” himself: by parity reasoning, on the first beginning into the world the only begotten Son, the Archangel must have been present. And the tremendous announcement to the shepherds, that the Prince of Peace was on earth in the person of the Babe of Bethlehem, must therefore been made by the head of the heavenly host, (Luke 2:9-14 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. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.). In mundane affairs, announcements of supreme importance, of kings, are invariably conveyed through the most exalted person in the realm.(3). The fact of the birth of our Lord having been revealed to the shepherds by the Archangel Michael on the 15th of Tisri, or Ethanim, corresponding to September the 29th (4 BC), the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, must have been known to believers in the Apostolic Age. But the mystery of iniquity which was already working in Paul`s day, (2 Thessalonians 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.). Quickly enshrouded this and other great facts of the Lord`s begetting on the first day of the Jewish month of Tebeth, corresponding to December the 25th (5 BC), as well as other events connected with His sojourn on the earth, in a rising mist of obscurity in which they have ever since been lost.The earliest allusion to December the 25th, modern reckoning, as the date for the Nativity, is founded in the Stromata of Clement of Alexandria, about the beginning of the third century AD. That Christmas was a pagan festival long before the time of our Lord is beyond doubt. In Egypt, “Horus,” or “Harocrates,” the son of “Isis,” Queen of Heaven, was born about the time of the winter solstice. By the time of the early part of the fourth century AD, the real reason for observing Christmas as the date for the miraculous begetting of (Matthew 1:18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.), and the “Word” becoming flesh of (John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.). Had been lost sight of. The policy of Constantine, and his order of Milan, by establishing universal freedom of religion furthered this. When many followers of the old pagan system, the vast majority of the empire, it must be remember adopted the Christian Faith as a cult, which Constantine had made fashionable, and the Church became the Church of the Roman Empire. They brought in with them, among a number of other things, emanating from Egypt, and Babylon, the various festival days of the old religions. Thus Christmas Day, the birthday of the Egyptian “Horus,” became gradually substituted for the real Nativity Domino of our blessed “Savior.”(4). If, however, we realize that the center of gravity, so to speak, of what we call the Incarnation is the Incarnation itself, the wondrous fact of the Divine begetting, when the “Word” became flesh, and that this is to be associated with December the 25th, instead of March, as for 1,600 years Christians has been led to believe, then Christmas will be seen in quite another light, and many who have been troubled with hesitation concerning the day being, as they have been taught, the anniversary of a pagan festival, will be able to worship on that day without doubt, as the time when the stupendous miracle which is the foundation stone of the Christian faith, came to pass.
The announcement by the Angel Gabriel marked the Genesis of (Matthew 1:18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.), and the first words of (John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.). The announcement to the shepherds by the Archangel Michael marked the birth of our Lord. John 1:14, is read as though, the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, were one and the same thing, whereas they are two clauses. The paragraph should read thus: And the Word became flesh: And tabernacle with, or among us. The word tabernacle here receives a beautiful significance from the knowledge that the Lord of Glory was founded in fashion as a man, and thus tabernacled in human flesh. And in turn it shows in equally beautiful significance that our Lord was born on the first day of the great Jewish Feast of Tabernacle, the 15th of Tisri, corresponding to September the 29th (4 BC), modern reckoning.The Circumcision of our Lord took place therefore on the eight day of the Feast, the Great Day of the Feast of (John 7:37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.). The Feast of Tabernacle had eight days, the Feast of Unleavened Bread had seven, and Pentecost one, Leviticus the 23rd chapter.(5). The main arguments against the Nativity of our Lord having taken place in December may be set forth very simply.
(a). The extreme improbability, amounting almost impossible, that Mary, under such circumstances, could have undertaken a journey of about 70 miles, as the crow flies through a hill district averaging some 3,000 feet above sea level, in the depth of winter.
(b). Shepherds and their flocks would not be founded abiding in the open fields at night in December, for the paramount reason, that there would be no pasturage at that time. It was the custom then, as now, to withdraw the flocks, from the open districts, and house them for the winter.
(c). The Roman authorities in imposing such a census, taking for the hated and unpopular foreign tax would not have enforced the imperial decree of (Luke 2:1
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.). At the most inconvenient and inclement season of the year, by compelling the people to enroll themselves at their respective cites in December. In such as a case they would naturally choose the line which would cause the least friction, and interference with the habits and pursuits of the Jewish people. This would be in the autumn, when the agricultural round of the year was complete, and the people generally more or less at liberty to take advantage, as we know many did, of the opportunity of going up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacle. Compare (John 7:8-10 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.).To take advantage of such a time would be to the Romans the simplest, and most natural policy, whereas to attempt to enforce the order of registration for the purpose of Imperial Taxation in the dept of winter, when traveling for such a purpose would have been deeply resented, and perhaps have brought about a revolt, would never have been attempted by such a ruler as Augustus.
(6). With regard to the other two Quarter Days, June the 24th and March the 25th, these are both associated with the miraculous conception, (Luke 1:7
And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.). The birth of the forerunner, as December the 25th, and September the 29th, are with our Lord`s miraculous, begetting and birth: and therefore connected with the “Course of Abia.”The Course of Abia, (Luke 1:5
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.). This was the eight of the priestly courses on ministration in the temple, (1 Chronicles 24:10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, ). And occurred as did the others, twice in the year.
The courses were changed every week, beginning with a Sabbath. The reckoning commenced on the 22nd day of Tisri or Ethanim. This was the eighth and last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and equal the Great Day of the Feast, (John 7:37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.). And was a Sabbath, (Leviticus 23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.).The first course fell by lot to Jehoiarib, and the eight to Abia or Abijah, (1 Chronicles 24:10
The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,). Bearing in mind that all the courses were served together at the three Great Feasts. The dates for the two yearly ministrations of Abia will be seen to fall as follows: the first ministration was from the 12th to 18th Chisleu, equal December the 6th to 12th. The second ministration was from the 12th to the 18th Sivan, equal June the 13th to the 19th.The announcement therefore to Zechariah in the temple as to the conception of John the Baptist took place between the 12th to 18th Sivan (June the 13th to the 19th) in the year (5 BC). After finishing his ministration, the aged priest departed to his own house, (Luke 1:7
And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.). Which was in the hill country of Judah, (Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;).The day following at the end of the Course of Abia, being a Sabbath, (Sivan the 19th), he would not be able to leave Jerusalem before the 20th. The thirty miles journey would probably occupy, for an old man, a couple days a least. He would therefore arrive at his house on the 21st or 22nd. This leaves ample time for the miraculous conception of Elizabeth to take place on or about the 23rd of Sivan, which would correspond to June the 23rd to 24th of that year. The fact of the conception and its date would necessarily be known at the time and afterwards, and hence the 23rd of Sivan would henceforth be associated with the conception of John the Baptist as the 1st of Tebeth would be with that of our Lord.
But the same influences that speedily obscured and presently obliterated the real dates of our Lord`s “Begetting” and “Birth,” were also at work with regard to those of the Forerunner, and with the same results. As soon as the true Birthday of the Lord Jesus had been shifted from its proper date, the 15th of Tisri, September the 29th, and a festival day from the pagan calendar substituted for it December the 25th, then everything else had to be altered too.
Hence Lady`s day in associated with March the 25th, “new style,” became necessarily connected with the “Annunciation.” And June the 24th made its appearance, as it still is in our calendar, as the date of the Nativity of John the Baptist, instead of as it really is, the date of his miraculous conception.
The Four Quarter Days, may therefore be set forth thus: first in the chronological order of the events with which they are associated. (1). The conception of John the Baptist, on or about the 23rd of Sivan, equal June the 24th, in the year (5 BC). (2). The Genesis (Begetting) of our Lord, the 1st of Tebeth, equal December the 25th, in the year (5 BC). (3). The birth of John the Baptist, the 4th to 7th Nisan, equal March the 25th to the 28th, in the year (4 BC). (4). The birth of our Lord, the 15th of Tisri, equal September the 29th, in the year (4 BC).
Alexandria. The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt. About A.D. 200, "../cathen/04045a.htm" (Strom., I, xxi in P.G., VIII, 888) says that certain Egyptian theologians "over curiously" assign, not the year alone, but the day of Christ's birth, placing it on 25 Pachon (20 May) in the twenty-eighth year of "../cathen/02107a.htm". [Ideler (Chron., II, 397, n.) thought they did this believing that the ninth month, in which Christ was born, was the ninth of their own calendar.]
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