Dear Doves,
      In Luke Chapter 1 we learn much about the priest Zacharius, his wife Elizabeth, and their son John the Baptist (Yochanon the Immerser). We are told that John was the older cousin of Messiah/Christ. The Scriptures, THE WORD, tells us that John was 6 months older. Why is this important? If we know when the subdivision of priests served in the Second Temple, known as Abijah, concerning the service of the priest Zacharius, we have a reliable answer. Add 9 months for the pregnancy of Elizabeth with John. Once we ascertain the approximate date of John's birth, simply add 6 months for the time Messiah/Christ was born. This is like playing detective. Once we have the correct clues-data, we simply need to connect the dots. There is a long article at http://versebyverse.org/doctrine/birthofchrist.html with information on page 12 about when the subdivision of the priests known as Abijah served in the Second Temple. Abijah was the 8th of 24 courses established by King David. The first began on the Sabbath before Nisan 1. Then add 8 weeks to course number 8. Each course was 1 week in duration. Abijah served in Spring and in Autumn. The following is very interesting information about Abijah service and whether Zechariah was serving during the Spring or Autumn course of Abijah. The writer begins about Nisan 1 in 4 BC.
 
4. The period for the 8th course of Abijah would have been from May 19 to May 26.
5. If it was this late Springtime administration when the angelic messenger appeared to Zacharias about his wife's immanent pregnancy , then we have a chronological clue of the period of John the Baptist's conception.
6. It must have happened around that time, indeed, because Zacharias was struck dumb during his administration, which immediately disqualified him, from that moment from exercising the priest's office (Lev. 21:16-23).
7. He left for home sometime near May 26 to June 1, Elizabeth conceived.
8. Since the human gestation period is about 280 days (9 months and 10 days), this would place the birth of John near March 10 in 3 BC (this would place Christ's birth in the 1st half of September, 3 BC).
9. The reason for rejecting the late Autumn session for Zacharias' duty in the Temple (John would have been born near mid-September, and Jesus in March) is the extreme unlikelihood that Jesus' parents would be traveling to Bethlehem during the rainy season. [Ramsey demonstrates in his book, Born in Bethlehem, that the general time of year for the start of censuses was from August to October, Pg. 193]. End of quotation. It seems that Elizabeth conceived within the next month, by July 1.
 
      When we study these clues-data we may look reliably to a Hanukkah conception of Messiah/Christ and His birth during one of the days in the month of Tishri. Was He conceived around Hanukkah day 1 or later? It may have been Hanukkah, day 5. That is when the Servant Lamp and day/position 1- 5 lamps would be lit. The number 5 is associated with the current Dispensation, The Age of Grace!  According to John 10:22 He appeared suddenly, like out of hiding, in Solomon's Porch on Hanukkah day 5, in "the midst" of the days of Hanukkah. Midst means in the middle or half way through the 8 days of Hanukkah. Shortly thereafter He states He is The Light of the World and no one will be seized out of His hand. The theme of "Harpazo" is a clue for The Blessed Hope, which He spoke about on day 5! Blessed are the Days of Hanukkah, the anniversary time when He was conceived and began to dwell with us in His human life. Then between Trumpets and Tabernacles He was born and began to dwell with us as a newborn baby. Come quickly, Lord...
 
With Love and Shalom,
Jean