The year our Savior was born
2011JudgmentDay.com - Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Earth - 2009-2012 / 2018-2025
THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
1. The reign of king Herod in Judaea
Ruled from 37B.C. - 4B.C.
Matthew 2:1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem
King Herod
Roman-appointed king of Judaea (37–4 BC)
* We know that Jesus was born during King Herod's reign. He died in 4 BC.
Therefore, Jesus was born between the years 37B.C. and 4 BC..
2. King Herod's decree to Bethlehem
To slay all 2 year old boys and under
Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Killed all male children 2 years and under
* The Bible tells us that King Herod killed all the male children 2 years old and under per the wise men's declaration of when they seen the star. This is at least 2 years before King Herod died.
* Scripture then tells us that Joseph took Mary and Jesus into Egypt to live for an unspecified time period.
Therefore, Jesus had to have been born between 35B.C. and 6 BC.
3. King Herod dies/his son Archelaus reigns
King Archalaus reigns from 4B.C. - 6A.D.
Matthew 2:19-23
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
Luke 2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
The Feast of Passover
Joseph refused to take Jesus to the yearly Passover because he was afraid of King Herod's son Archelaus whom was reigning (Luke 2:41). But something changed. Joseph now allowed Jesus to attend this Passover when He turned 12 years old (Luke 2:42). What changed? Archelaus ceased to be king in the middle of the year 6A.D..
So, if Jesus was 12 years old in 7A.D. at the Passover, that means He had to be born either in the year 6B.C. or 7B.C.. Remember there is no year "0".
4. Which year? 6B.C. or 7B.C.?
The birth of John the Baptist
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.
Luke 1:57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
Luke 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
The births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ
Zacharias was a priest of the course of Abia (Abijah) whichmeans he served during the 4th month (ended in the beginning of July). Elisabeth conceived sometime in the beginning of July and John was born sometime in the beginning of April. She went full term (9 months).
Mary conceived 6 months later than Elisabeth. Therefore, she gave birth to Jesus 6 months later sometime in the beginning of October. So, Jesus was born sometime in the beginning of October.
So, which year was Jesus actually born? Was it 6B.C. or 7B.C.?
Jesus was born sometime in the beginning of October of 7B.C..
Here's why...
If Jesus was born October 6B.C., that means He would only be 11 years old during the April 7B.C. Passover. He would not turn 12 until the October of 7B.C..
Therefore, Jesus was born October 7B.C..
5. The 50 Year Jubilee
The year 7B.C. was a 50 Year Jubilee
Leviticus 25:10
And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
The 50 Year Jubilee represented setting all slaves free and all debts forgiven.
Jesus came & fulfilled the 50 Year Jubilee to free His chosen Elect from the slavery of sin and to pay for their sins indebted to them.
Jesus was born in the 50 Year Jubilee year of 7B.C..
Also something interesting...
Jacob was born in 2007 B.C. = 2,000 years before Christ.
David ascended to the throne in 1,007 B.C. = 1,000 years before Christ.
6. The Day of Atonement
The holiest day of the year
Leviticus 25:9-10
Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
Notice how the Day of Atonement is intricately intertwined with the 50 Year Jubilee.
Colossians 2:16-17 declares that all holydaysare "a shadow of things to come". Most holydays have already been fulfilled, such as...
The Feast of Passover - Jesus was the final Passover Lamb.
The Feast of Pentecost - This is when the Church Age began.
The Day of Atonement was performed only once a year when the high priest went into the Holy of Holies to be in the presents of God. To free the sins of the people. It's the holiest day of the year when the shophar is blown.
Jesus was prophesied as Emanuel, "God with us". To free His Elect from their sins.
Jesus was born in the fall sometime in the beginning of October. Although it can't be proven, we can with a high degree of certainty say that Jesus was most probably born on October 2nd (Day of Atonement) in 7B.C. (a 50 Year Jubilee year).
7. The Census
1st enrollment census
Luke 2:1-3 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
The year 7B.C. was when Saturninus and Cyrenius both governed Syria. Cyrenius was the local governor at the time. Saturninus served as Legatus Augusti pro praetore (imperial governor) of the Roman province of Syria from 9B.C. 7B.C.. Tertullian declared that Saturninus actually held the 1st census enrollment for the region. This was not a taxation census. The greek word that is translated as tax in Luke 2:2 actually means enrollment.
Tertullian lived from 160 - 225AD, he was a Christian law expert from Carthage in North Africa, whom wrote that Jesus was born while Gaius Sentius Saturninus was Legate of Roman Syria. In combination with other sources, this suggests Jesus was born in 8BC or 7BC.
The evidence for the year Jesus was born
The Lord has graciously given us multiple proofs of evidence declaring in what year Jesus the Messiah was born. From the reign of the puppet king Herod in Jerusalem and the date of his death, the killing of all male children of 2 years and under, the start and ending reign of his son Archelaus, and the course of Abia of Zacharias the priest, the 50 Year Jubilee & the Day of Atonement.
We will make a simple conclusion of 7B.C. with the proofs listed above.