Hint: It’s not December 25!
Watch why December 25 is a Pagan holiday: The Truth About Christmas by Pastor Robert Breaker
Excerpts from: Pastor Mike Schreib, BBCI - Bible Study - When Was Jesus Born?
Let's look at what the Bible indicates to us when was Jesus born (in physical flesh). We can study the birth of Christ from three different angles and I got to tell you it wasn't in December and the first way we study the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is by looking at Luke chapter 2
Disclaimer: I inserted “(in physical flesh)” pertaining to Jesus’ birth because Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1, John 10:30, 1 John 5:7) and He is eternal (Psalms 90:2, Revelation 1:8), He just manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).
1. Shepherd’s Flock
Luke 2:1-11 King James Version
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.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 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.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
We eliminate the month of December just from verse 8
From John O. Read’s When Was Jesus Born?
There is additional proof that Jesus was born in the fall of the year. The census of Quirinius (Cyrenius in Greek) that required Joseph to travel from Galilee to Bethlehem would most probably have taken place after the fall harvest when people were more able to return to their ancestral homes (Luke 2:1-5). Besides, it was customary in Judea to do their tax collecting during this period, as the bulk of a farmer's income came at this time.
The grape harvest was usually completed before Tabernacles, but most of the olive harvest came after the autumn festivals. In ancient Israel the primary harvest season extended from April to November. This harvest period might be subdivided into three seasons and three major crops: the spring grain harvest, the summer grape harvest and the autumn olive harvest. These harvests have a general correspondence with the festivals. Some grain might be harvested after Pentecost, threshing and grape-picking might overlap, and the olive harvest came both before and after the Festival of Tabernacles.
1st and 3rd Angle seems to be related if you read Revelation 6:6: Wheat & Barley = John the Baptist, Wine (Grapes, Figs, Pomegranates) & Oil (Figs [Ointment], Olives) = Jesus Christ
Another point is that Joseph and Mary had to find shelter in a barn or some other kind of animal shelter, like a cave or grotto, because the inns were full (verse 7). This indicates that the pilgrims from around the world had begun to arrive in Jerusalem and surrounding towns. Thus, the fall festival season had already commenced. There would have been no similar influx of pilgrims in December.
Also, as the shepherds were still in the fields with their flocks (verse 8), Jesus' birth could not have occurred during the cold-weather months of winter. Sheep were normally brought into centrally located pens or corrals as the weather turned colder and the rainy season began, especially at night. If this were not significant, it begs the question, "Why would Luke have mentioned it in such detail if not to convey a time reference?"
Notice what commentator Adam Clarke writes regarding this:
It was a custom among the Jews to send out their sheep to the deserts [wilderness], about the passover [sic], and bring them home at the commencement of the first rain: during the time they were out, the shepherds watched them night and day. As the passover [sic] occurred in the spring, and the first rain began early in the month of Marchesvan, which answers to part of our October and November, we find that the sheep were kept out in the open country during the whole of the summer. And as these shepherds had not yet brought home their flocks, it is a presumptive argument that October had not yet commenced, and that, consequently, our Lord was not born on the 25th of December, when no flocks were out in the fields; nor could He have been born later than September, as the flocks were still in the fields by night. On this very ground the nativity in December should be given up. The feeding of the flocks by night in the fields is a chronological fact, which casts considerable light on this disputed point. (Clarke's Commentary, vol. V, p. 370)
2. Counting Backwards from the end of Jesus Christ’s Three and Half Year Ministry
Bible records that the Lord Jesus observed four Passovers during his ministry that recorded for us in the book of John: John 2:13, John 5:1, John 6:4 and John 11:55 making the earthly public ministry of the Lord Jesus approximately three and a half years and he was Crucified that last Passover. remember the day of the Crucifixion was the same day as the Passover animals or lambs were sacrificed. It says that when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist at the beginning of his ministry Luke chapter 3 verse 23 says Jesus began to be about 30 years of age this was at the beginning of his ministry well 30 years of age plus three and a half years of ministry would mean that his death, burial, Resurrection and his Ascension occurred when he was 33 and a half years old and the day of his Crucifixion occurred on the Passover, that happened about the first month of the Jewish calendar.
Did you know the first month of the old world calendar fell in approximately March and not in January?
The Passover was established by God just before the “destroyer” passed by to kill the first-born in each family (Exodus 12:23). The Hebrew word for “Passover” means “to pass over.” Moses had warned Pharaoh one last time to let Israel leave or the Lord would kill the first-born (Exodus 11:1-10) in the land of Egypt. Pharaoh refused. Those who believed God and obeyed God’s command were passed over; their lives were saved.
The old world calendar began in March and ended in what we call February now, but along came Pope Gregory and the Catholic church and they began to start counting the beginning of the new calendar year in January and now I think every country in the world follows that same calendar, beginning with January ending in December, but it didn't used to be that way. In fact the month September means seven it was the seventh month in the old world calendar, but it's the ninth month in our calendar now, October like octagon, eight sides would be the eighth month, November the ninth month and December like decagon or decade means the tenth month.
Jesus was 33 and a half years old when he died, buried, was resurrected and ascended that means if you begin at his death and count backwards 33 and a half years it puts the birth of Jesus at roughly the month of September on our calendar.
3. Counting Forward from John the Baptist’s Birth
Third way of studying when Jesus was born it's a more technical but it's very accurate as well
it just takes a little bit of a little bit more reading I want you to come to the book of Luke chapter one look at Luke chapter 1 verse 5.
Luke 1:5-9 King James Version
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.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Now I need you to come all the way back to the Old Testament, to the book of First Chronicles and chapter 24.
1 Chronicles 24:1-10 King James Version
1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.
3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.
4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.
5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
Zacharias is in the priestly order of Abijah which is the 8th to serve in the temple. He would perform his priestly service on the 2nd half of Tammuz (2 Divisions per Jewish month, 12 Months = 24 Divisions)
Luke 1:10-31 King James Version
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
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 shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Elizabeth conceived right after Zacharias' priestly service around the month of Av, and during the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Mary conceived a son which they will name JESUS.
Jesus wasn't born in December, if John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus which he was and he was conceived in about June-July that means that Jesus would have been conceived in December, but he wasn't born in December all you have to do is then count forward nine months and that puts Jesus birth once again in the month of September. – Pastor Mike Schreib, BBCI
Matthew 18:16 King James Version
“But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
We have seen all three angles and have established that the birth month is September, but can the Bible tell us which day of the month too?
My Personal Hypothesis on the Day of Birth
What about the exact day in September did Jesus Christ was born (in physical flesh)?
We go back to the verses from the First angle of Jesus Christ’s birth and see if the Bible can give us a clue.
Luke 2:7-11 King James Version
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 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.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The word “born” in the chapter first occurred in verse 7, and we know from what we learned that the 7th month in the Old Jewish Calendar was September right around the Fall/Autumn Harvest and the Feast of Tabernacles, also God Always Uses the Number Seven.
Related:
The next time we see the word “born” again is in the 11th verse and it says: “For unto you is born this day…” Does this imply that Jesus Christ was born on September 11th? Are there significance to the number 11? Let’s look at some verses in the Bible that includes the number “11” and how it relates to Jesus Christ.
Genesis 37:9 King James Version
“And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.”
Joseph’s dream interpretation is in Genesis 37:10 and these are related to the prophecy in Revelation 12
Revelation 12:1-2,5 King James Version
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
The child in verse 5 is Jesus Christ who will rule all nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27) born from the line of Judah (Hebrews 7:14) one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Revelation 12:1 can also be interpreted literally. The constellation of Virgo have 12 main stars around its head, the sun went to the midbody part of Virgo at the same time the moon went under the constellation's feet on September 11th, 3BC as per this video.
Hebrews 11:11 King James Version
“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”
The same theme of a miraculous birth found in Hebrews 11:11, and “Hebrews” pertains to Jews, and Jesus Christ is of Jewish descent from the tribe of Judah.
Hebrews 11:17-19 King James Version
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
The verses are in the same theme as John 3:16 and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
There is a modern-day significance to September 11th but we remember it not in a good way…
The devil has a habit of plagiarising God and destroying His image.
Revelation 13:6 King James Version
“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”
Could the Birth of Jesus Christ be on September 11th which is why the devil terrorized on that day?
Well, at least we can be sure that Jesus Christ was not born (in physical flesh) on December 25th. Even this Catholic News Site put up an article that Jesus Christ's birth (in physical flesh) is around September 3BC!
The Bible emphasizes that we give more importance to His death. burial and Resurrection rather than His birth, because Jesus died for us in order to save us from our sins.
Romans 5:5-8 King James Version
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 King James Version
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
1 Corinthians 15:3 King James Version
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”
Romans 10:9-10 King James Version
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Hebrews 9:22 King James Version
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
Remembering and worshipping Jesus Christ should not be limited to a holiday, we should always give thanks, worship and praise Him each and every single day of our lives.
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1 Thessalonians 5:18 King James Version
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
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Hope this may be a blessing to the readers.
How to go to Heaven? Find out in the short video below.
GOD's Simple Plan of Salvation
If you were to die today for any reason, are you 100% sure you will go to heaven?
This video explains the SIMPLE TRUTH according to the Scriptures. The only way to go to heaven is by:
(1) Admitting that you are a sinner
(2) Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior and Lord
(3) Repenting (meaning you are willing to turn away from your sins) of your sins then confessing your sins to God
Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed Himself and shed His precious blood on the cross as a substitute for you, so that you don't have to burn in hell for all eternity because of your sins, and have eternal life in heaven instead.
Watch the video to learn what Scripture says of God's great plan of salvation for you and how to receive His free gift. This is wonderful news. We pray you surrender to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and to know 100% for sure you will go to heaven when you die!
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