The Christmas Star and the Rapture

 

Most Biblical scholars teach that the star that led the magi to Jesus was an astronomical event. (For example, the work on The Star of Bethlehem presented by Frederick Larson.) I believe there was indeed a sign in the heavens involving the planets and the King star Regulus announcing the birth of the Messiah, but in recent years I’ve been led to look deeper into what was the Christmas Star and believe it was a separate event from the great conjunction.

 

What renewed my interest in the Star was a prophesy through Brandon Dawson of the Tribe of Christians Ministry which I shared in THE ROAR, THE TRUMP, AND THE RETURN OF THE STAR:

 

Brandon described how on September 25, 2023, he was caught up in the Spirit and witnessed events in Heaven that surrounded the time of the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation.

He tells how he was taken to Jerusalem and was shown a Star. At the 5:27 minute mark he says,

“It all began with

a sign that emerged in the skies. It was

a star that appeared similar to the time

of the birth of Jesus and the entire

world was shaken at the emergence of the

star. Every single major world religion

looked to the star and they received it

as a sign of the coming Messiah and all

this began in Jerusalem. . .”

Because his experience was not in linear time, but Eternal time, it’s unclear whether this Star appears before or after the Rapture. . .

 

In The Sceptre Star and the Revelation 12 Birth of the Man Child I shared the many prophecies of a star-like comet plummeting to earth on the day of the Rapture. But could the Christmas Star be a comet or a conjunction of heavenly bodies?

 

I've come across more research based on people asking themselves some basic questions--like how could a natural astronomical body pinpoint a particular place as the Christmas Star did for the magi in Matthew 2:9—

 

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. - Matthew 2:9 KJV

 

This is not possible for a natural astronomical body—to stand over one specific home. While outside my house on December 21, 2020, gazing up at what the world was calling “another Bethlehem Star”, I was able to clearly view the conjunction overhead as it was a beautiful starry night. But I noticed that as I walked up the hill of my driveway the brilliant planets first appeared over the farmhouse next door then they seemed to stand over a different house when I got to the top of the driveway. So how could the Bethlehem Star stand over where Jesus was?

 

Contrary to popular opinion, the star was probably not a typical event in the heavens (e.g., supernova, planetary alignment, comet, etc.) Instead, it was truly a miraculous and special star. . . Source: Christmas Timeline of the Biblical Account | Answers in Genesis

 

Here’s an excerpt from an article by Dr. Danny R. Faulkner (An Evaluation of The Star of Bethlehem DVD) that explains further:

 

If the star of Bethlehem was not a planetary alignment and conjunction with a star, then what was it? The only record we have of the star is Matthew 2. . .

The Matthew 2 text suggests that the star wasn’t always visible to the magi, nor was it necessarily visible to others. This suggests that the star may have been a localized object specifically fashioned as a message to the magi. This supernatural object would not be bound by the motions of objects normally found in the sky, and thus its odd behavior, such as appearing over where Jesus was, is easy to explain. In short, the star of Bethlehem likely was a unique and miraculous local apparition to fulfill God’s purpose and one of the ordained purposes for stars to be for signs as in Genesis 1:14. This is not unusual, for the Lord used the Shekinah glory to guide Israel in the wilderness.

 

In the video Christmas Special 2022 - Derek Walker explains why he believes the Star of Bethlehem was actually the GLORY OF GOD RETURNING TO ISRAEL. You will want to begin at the 12:17-minute mark for this which includes a moving account of why the newborn Jesus being placed in a manger was a sign to the shepherds (Luke 2:12). Derek points out how stars normally move east to west HOWEVER this star moved west to east!

 

In Matthew 2 we read of the magi making their journey but the glorious star has disappeared by now. Once they arrive in Jerusalem and meet with Herod the star reappears. This is why they rejoiced!

 

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. - Matthew 2:9-10 KJV

 

This is no ordinary star or conjunction of planets! It leads them directly to where the young child was (Matthew 2:9). Derek Walker came to the same conclusion Danny Faulkner (and others) have—the Christmas Star was an angelic or some other type of supernatural manifestation of the glory of God!

 

As I wrote in THE ROAR, THE TRUMP, AND THE RETURN OF THE STAR what transpires in Israel—especially Jerusalem—is the key to when the Star will reappear. If the first Christmas Star was the manifest presence of God’s glory perhaps the Star will be brilliantly displayed once again as the Dispensation of Grace ends and the Visitation of God by way of His Wrath begins. The Wrath or 7-year Tribulation is also called Jacob’s Trouble for this is when God will turn His attention once again to Jacob/Israel to lead them into salvation. So the Tribulation will be experienced by the natural born Israelites who have not yet accepted Yahshua, our Jesus, as their Messiah:

 

This period of time will be Israel's most trying time ever... There shall be great tribulation in Israel such as never was since there was a nation (Daniel 12:1). It will also be a time when G-d will ultimately judge sin and all the nations on the earth. Through it, the nation of Israel will be physically saved from total destruction by G-d, and will, as a nation, accept Yeshua as the Messiah. "...But he shall be saved out of it" (Jeremiah 30:7)...[excerpt from page 113 of The Seven Festivals of the Messiah by Edward Chumney]

“I pray that we see another Hannukah miracle here in the UN.”

The world is on the precipice of Jacob’s Trouble beginning as witnessed by the December 12, 2023, United Nations General Assembly vote to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

 

“In the short term, a ceasefire is an essential precondition for urgently stabilising the humanitarian situation in Gaza. To ensure the basic safety and needs of the civilian population, especially women and children in Gaza in the longer term, consultations and preparations must now be launched towards the deployment of an international protective presence in the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory under the supervision of the UN,” the experts said. Source: UN experts urge States to unite for peace and push for ceasefire in Gaza 08 December 2023

 

Take note of the language directed against Israel used here just days before the vote: “. . . preparations must now be launched towards the deployment of an international protective presence in the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory under the supervision of the UN”. The nations are DEMANDING that Israel abandon land that is Scripturally their inheritance.

 

“The people of Gaza are looking into the abyss.  The international community must do everything possible to end their ordeal,” he said, urging the Security Council to push for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the protection of civilians and the urgent delivery of life-saving aid.  At the same time, he added, the international community must not lose sight of the only viable possibility for a peaceful future — a two-State solution. “This is vital for Israelis, Palestinians and for international peace and security,” he said. ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations

 

For the sake of any new readers, let me reiterate—Israel is the key to the Rapture Door.

 

Since the UN General Assembly voted to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday and the Biden administration is pressuring Israel with a 2023 deadline to end the conflict, will God allow the nations to force a peace agreement this winter which will inevitably divide Israel further including the Holy City of Jerusalem?

 

If so, a series of events will ensue and the Resurrection and Rapture of the True Church will result as sudden destruction comes upon the nations! Either a comet or the miraculous Star of Bethlehem will appear (or both) and all will be in wonder and awe. The religious realm will believe it is a sign that their Messiah or Mahdi is coming when in reality the greatest trouble ever seen with a capital “T” as in Jacob’s Trouble will befall the world. 

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. - Matthew 24:21 KJV

 

December 13 began the Hebrew month of Tevet. Jarrett at Supernatural By Design explained in WE ARE FINALLY HERE!!! The Season of the Esther Rapture! how currently the Book of Esther is being played out once again and that Esther was given a 7-day wedding feast during the month of Tevet—a magnificent prophetic parallel to the Wedding Feast of the Heavenly Bride to her Lord and King Jesus Christ!

 

When the King extended his sceptre to Esther it was to show his favor and resulted in him granting her wish. Could it be that on the Day of the Rapture, a Comet or Sceptre Star, will be extended toward us, the Bride, thus granting our greatest desire--to be with our KING forever!

 

Related:

In light of the fact that the US is increasingly alone in Israel support as 153 countries vote for ceasefire at UN, End Times: Darkness Descending has posted a very encouraging and enlightening article—BREAKING PROPHECY ALERT: THE 153 INGATHERING AND “COMBAT NAVAL TASK FORCE 153”.