There have been many theories concerning the STAR OF BETHLEHEM (stars, constellations, meteors), but the Bible does not explain the “star.”
It could have been a combination of these, plus other manifestations. How did a “star” stand over a house? Regardless, it was a special, miraculous manifestation. How has God used RADIANCE in the past?
OLD TESTAMENT
I presented God's use of Radiance as a sign throughout the Bible. Let us consider God used RADIANCE as a manifestation of His glory and power from the Garden of Eden to the New Testament Church.
God Determined the Heavenly Lights (Sun, Moon and Stars) to be Signs (Ge 1:14).
God Gave the Rainbow (produced by light) as a Sign of God's mercy (Ge 9:13).
God Appeared as a Flame of Fire to Moses in the Burning Bush (Ex 3:2).
God Led Israel through the wilderness (40 years) in the Cloud and the Pillar of Fire (Ex 13:21).
God Shrouded Mt. Sinai in a Devouring Fire (Ex 24:17).
God Showed His Glory to Moses (Ex 33:22-23).
God Caused Moses Face to Shine (Ex 34:29).
God Covered the Tabernacle and Filled the Sanctuary with His Glory (Ex 40:34; Nu 9:16).
God Consumed the Acceptable Sacrifice with Fire (Le 9:24).
God Removed His Glory when the Philistines took away the Ark of the Covenant (1 Sa 4:21-22).
God Filled Solomon's Temple when the Ark was brought into it (1 Kg 8:11; 2 Ch 5:14).
God Filled Solomon's Temple after Solomon Dedicated the Temple (2 Ch. 7:1).
OLD TESTAMENT
I presented God's use of Radiance as a sign throughout the Bible. Let us consider God used RADIANCE as a manifestation of His glory and power from the Garden of Eden to the New Testament Church.
God Determined the Heavenly Lights (Sun, Moon and Stars) to be Signs (Ge 1:14).
God Gave the Rainbow (produced by light) as a Sign of God's mercy (Ge 9:13).
God Appeared as a Flame of Fire to Moses in the Burning Bush (Ex 3:2).
God Led Israel through the wilderness (40 years) in the Cloud and the Pillar of Fire (Ex 13:21).
God Shrouded Mt. Sinai in a Devouring Fire (Ex 24:17).
God Showed His Glory to Moses (Ex 33:22-23).
God Caused Moses Face to Shine (Ex 34:29).
God Covered the Tabernacle and Filled the Sanctuary with His Glory (Ex 40:34; Nu 9:16).
God Consumed the Acceptable Sacrifice with Fire (Le 9:24).
God Removed His Glory when the Philistines took away the Ark of the Covenant (1 Sa 4:21-22).
God Filled Solomon's Temple when the Ark was brought into it (1 Kg 8:11; 2 Ch 5:14).
God Filled Solomon's Temple after Solomon Dedicated the Temple (2 Ch. 7:1).
The Temple had two rooms, the Holy Place was illuminated by the lamp stand, the inner sanctum of the Holy of Holies was illuminated by the Glory of God's presence.
Before God allowed the Temple to be destroyed by the Babylonians, the Glory of God was removed from the Temple in stages...
* From the Holy of Holies to the Temple threshold (Eze 9:3)
* From the threshold to the Eastern Gate (Eze 10:18-19)
* From the Eastern Gate to the Mount of Olives until it Departed the City (Eze 11:23).
NEW TESTAMENT
* From the threshold to the Eastern Gate (Eze 10:18-19)
* From the Eastern Gate to the Mount of Olives until it Departed the City (Eze 11:23).
NEW TESTAMENT
TO THE SHEPHERDS...
LUKE 2:8-9
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.
TO THE MAGI...
MATTHEW 2:1-2, 9-10
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
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.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
LUKE 2:8-9
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.
TO THE MAGI...
MATTHEW 2:1-2, 9-10
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
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.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Christ's earthly ministry, manifested God's glory.
HEBREWS 1:1-3
1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
TO HIS DISCIPLES...
MATTHEW 17:2
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
LUKE 9:29
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
AT HIS RESURRECTION...
MATTHEW 28:2-5
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
AT HIS ASCENSION...
ACT 1:9-10
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
AT PAUL'S CONVERSION...
ACTS 22:6
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
Though we do not not know the exact nature of Star, we know that God led the Magi by a great light, that led them day and night.
BIBLE USES, "STAR" IN REFERENCE TO...
Celestial Bodies
Christ Himself
Human Beings
Angels
CELESTIAL BODIES...
GENESIS 1:16-18
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
DEUTERONOMY 4:19
19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
ISAIAH 13:10
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
AMOS 5:8
8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:
CHRIST HIMSELF...
2 PETER 1:19
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
REVELATION 2:28
28 And I will give him the morning star.
REVELATION 22:16
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
HUMAN BEINGS...
GENESIS 37:9-10
9 And he (Joseph) 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.
10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
NUMBERS 24:17
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
DANIEL 8:10
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
JUDE 1:13
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
REVELATION 1:16, 20; 2:1
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
ANGELIC CREATURES (including demons)...
JUDGES 5:20
20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
(dlg note... This could refer to natural disaster and/or angels fighting in Israels behalf. Remember Judges 4:15).
CELESTIAL BODIES...
GENESIS 1:16-18
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
DEUTERONOMY 4:19
19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
ISAIAH 13:10
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
AMOS 5:8
8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:
CHRIST HIMSELF...
2 PETER 1:19
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
REVELATION 2:28
28 And I will give him the morning star.
REVELATION 22:16
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
HUMAN BEINGS...
GENESIS 37:9-10
9 And he (Joseph) 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.
10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
NUMBERS 24:17
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
DANIEL 8:10
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
JUDE 1:13
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
REVELATION 1:16, 20; 2:1
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
ANGELIC CREATURES (including demons)...
JUDGES 5:20
20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
(dlg note... This could refer to natural disaster and/or angels fighting in Israels behalf. Remember Judges 4:15).
JUDGES 4:15
15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
JOB 38:7
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
ISAIAH 14:12-13
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
REVELATION 9:1
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
REVELATION 12:3-4
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
I don't know that it is totally unthinkable that God sent a Star, a Messenger, an Angel to lead the Magi. If it was a Celestial Creature, it could have appeared as something other than an angel (cloud, fire, star). Just a thought.
