BEMA Episode Link: 89: Written in the Stars
Episode Length: 44:09
Published Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2018 01:00:00 -0700
Session 3
About this episode:

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin the trek through the gospel narrative of Matthew and the life and ministry of Jesus, starting with a look at the story of the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Magi.

Discussion Video for BEMA 89

Prepare the Way #5: In Our Present sermon — YouTube

Men Askaenos in Antioch of Pisidia — Wikipedia

The Real Meaning of the Zodiac by D. James Kennedy

The Nativity Story (2006 film)

Picture of the Bull in the House

Transcript for BEMA 89

Notes

*Note: The following notes are handwritten by me, Adam, and I reserve the right to be wrong.

  • The disaster that her conception would have been for Mary.
    • Joseph was trying to save face for Mary.
  • The prophecy from Isaiah
    • Is this about Jesus or is Luke alluding to something else?
  • Men Askaenos
    • Temple worship of the zodiac.
    • The wobble of the earth’s poles meant that the sun began to rise in a different “house of the zodiac” than years past.
  • Mithra
    • Wiseman/Magi from the East (from Babylon).
    • They mentioned a “rising” star as in a star rising in a new “house”.
    • Ballam prophesied that a star would rise from Israel. These Magi knew Ballam’s prophecy and they found themselves looking for a new king to be born in Bethlehem.
    • The star stopped over the “house”. This could be read as the zodiac or as though they are in the Christmas story.
  • Mark’s gospel discussing the “tearing of the heavens”.
    • Romans wouldn’t know about any veil of the temple except for the temple covering the front of the temple.
    • Josephus tells us that this specific veil was covered in stars (or the zodiac to Roman’s).
    • Roman’s, who were Mithra followers would have seen the zodiac being ripped apart implying that there was a new king and that Mithra was not it.

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