We Three Kings? It’s NOTHING Like Your Nativity Set!
Your nativity set is defective. If it has “we three kings” at the manger presenting their gifts right alongside shepherds to a “dear 8 pounds 6 ounces newborn infant Jesus, who don’t even know a word yet,” this episode should turn the entire Christmas story on its head for you. When the Magi entered Jerusalem seeking the “King of the Jews,” Herod saw this as a potential invasion.
At the time of Christ’s birth, Rome’s sworn enemy was the Parthian Empire. Herod the Great’s own father had been defeated by the Parthians 55 years before Jesus. Even after Herod had been installed as “King of the Jews” by Mark Antony, he was forced to remain in exile for three years while the Romans struggled to drive the Parthians out of Jerusalem. The Parthians had a bicameral legislature that was centuries ahead of its time. And the legislative house responsible for selecting the new king was called, “The Magi.”
The Scripture
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, Maji from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him.
After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written this way by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.”
After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw in its rising led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country. (Matthew 2:1-12 NET)
Who Were the Magi?
The Magi are all through the Bible. The Prophet Jeremiah wrote about them. They were the interpreters of dreams for Nebuchadnezzar and Darius. And one even tried to buy the Holy Spirit from Peter in Acts 8. But when we look at who they are historically, the evidence about who they were and their political importance is unbelievable.
The Magi began as a religious system in the 7th Century BC. In many ways, they followed practices that mirrored ancient Israel. They refused graven images and statues. They had restricted diets. And they functioned as the religious mediators between the Persians and their god. While Darius the Great ruled over Persia, these Magi proved they could correctly interpret dreams, and became the hereditary priesthood of the Persian Empire. Daniel rose to prominence within this group and was given the title of “Rabmag” – Chief of the Magi (Daniel 2:48).
The Parthian empire spanned the region from the Mediterranean to India and China in the east, stretching from 247 BCE to 224 CE. The Parthian empire was the chief rival of Rome. And the border between the two superpowers was Judea.
The King of the Jews
Remember back to the second episode in this series? The only person who was called the “King of the Jews” was Herod. He’s paranoid. He’s vindictive. And when he feels threatened, get out of the way. If the haunting little Christmas carol we’re so fond of told the real story, these three kings were dead men. They entered into Jerusalem asking around about the newly born “King of the Jews.” That’s signing your own death sentence.
But Herod doesn’t kill them. In fact, he’s terrified of them. Ask yourself, “why?” Look a little closer at the story. Not only is Herod terrified, but it says all of Jerusalem was too. Three guys on camels asking about a baby scared an entire city to death? Not likely.
Remember, the Magi are the kingmakers of Parthia.
The Parthian Empire was the arch enemy of ancient Rome. And the most contested battleground where this war was waged was a little strip of land nestled between the two empires known as Judea. Herod the Great’s father was defeated and driven into exile by the Parthians. When Herod the Great was appointed his successor by Mark Antony, it took another three years for the Romans to win back Jerusalem.
But there’s more. The Parthian Empire had an alliance with the Hasmonean Dynasty – the Jewish priest/kings famous from the Hannukah story. Parthia supported Jewish self-rule. Many of the citizens of Israel preferred Parthian control over Roman. And now, members of their legislative body had entered into Jerusalem seeking a new Jewish King.
So again, why didn’t Herod kill them? Because it wasn’t a trio of royal wise men on camels who entered the city. As the official delegates of the Parthian Empire, these Magi – however many there were – were accompanied by hundreds if not thousands of soldiers, support staff, and servants. When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem, Herod and the rest of the city feared an invasion.
The Star
Many Christians have speculated over the past two thousand years what the star the wise men followed was. But with today’s advances in science, we are finally able to see exactly what the skies of Jesus birth looked like. And the story told in the stars is fascinating.
The vision of John written in the Book of Revelation is a powerful clue indicating where we should begin looking in the heavens. The constellations are powerful signs in the heavens that God ordained as indicators of His prophetic plan for humanity. God ordained the stars, named each one of them, and planted a story in the heavens that tells of His overwhelming love for mankind and His plan for redemption and restoration.
Revelation 12
John’s vision in Revelation 12 is a retelling of the birth of Christ from a heavenly perspective. At that very moment of the birth of Christ, Jupiter (which is known in every ancient language as the King Planet), came into perfect conjunction with Regal (also known in every ancient language as the King Star). This conjunction takes place directly above the constellation, Virgo (meaning Virgin), when it is clothed in the Sun, with the moon at its feet. John connects this vision with a clear prophecy of the Birth of the Messiah.
The moon in this vision gives us a better picture. The Hebrew calendar was based upon the phases of the moon. The beginning of the new month was determined by the sighting of the first sliver of the new moon. And in the sky that September night, we find the first sliver of the new moon being sighted. Combine this with the fact that this would not only indicate the beginning of a new month, but that moon indicated the sighting of the seventh moon of the Jewish religious calendar. This moment is the very start of the Feast of Yom Teruah, also called the Feast of Trumpets: the Day of the Awakening Blast. Trumpets are sounding in the Heavens!
The conjunction between Jupiter and Regulas – the King Planet and the King Star – is also very significant. Jupiter is in retrograde motion (appearing to move back and forth in the sky) between the feet of Leo – the Lion. The symbol of the tribe of Judah, which is the tribe that Jesus was from, is the Lion.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10)
A Heavenly Perspective
Some key words in this prophecy by Jacob over his son, Judah, unlock the meaning of this passage. First, the word “scepter” in Hebrew is “shebet” which means “a branch, rod or staff that indicates rule.” The second important word is “feet”, which in Hebrew is “regel.” And the third is “shiloach” which means “the one to bring peace.” With a closer look at these three Hebrew words, we see a curious picture taking shape. A “branch, which indicates rule” will remain between the “feet” of Judah (which we know is represented by the lion) until “Shiloh”, or the Messiah, comes.
The Messiah is referred to numerous times in the Old Testament as “the Branch”. But if you look at the last description of “regel”, or “feet”, it indicates the importance of the number three.
Unlocking the Prophecy
This unlocks the vision of John in Revelation 12! Due to the optical illusion known as retrograde motion, Jupiter – the King Planet – comes into conjunction with Regulas – the King Star – within the feet of Leo – the Lion of the Tribe of Judah – three times beginning on September 11, 3 B.C. – the Feast of Trumpets – the day when the kings of Israel received their crown and officially ascended the throne.
Is there any wonder that the Magi, upon seeing this sign in the heavens, made their way to Jerusalem looking for the newly born Messiah!
Herod had every reason to be fearful of the Magi. The Parthian force would have been announced for days or weeks before getting to Jerusalem. When the official kingmakers of Rome’s enemy arrived, they asked about the new “King of the Jews.” And when the Magi who studied the heavens explained the Star of Bethlehem, the religious and political rulers became terrified. A threat was five miles away from the throne. The King had been born.
