For years I have struggled with the birth of Jesus.  I felt certain that is was no coincidence that the numbers of His name when multiplied gave us the days of His Holy life.  I was hung up on a September birth because of the Feast of Tabernacles.  But, slowly I have come to the truth of the matter.  Below is the probable truth of, as much as I dislike having to give up the September birth idea.  It is supported by the numbers.

I refer the reader to early historian Dionysius Exiguus who got it right back in the early Church age.  Eclipse data indicates that the traditional death date of Herod in 4 B. C. was wrong and rather, that he died in 1 A. D.  Tracking the priestly courses indicates the time of the birth of John the Baptist was in August 2 B. C.  

“Dionysius Exiguus was a Scythian monk and prominent scholar who lived in Rome and who had access to the state and church archives, including many records now lost.  He carefully selected the year we call 1 B. C. for the birth of Christ, and set the date at December 25 as was customary in his time, and commenced the Christian era with January 1, 1 A. D.”  (See footnote 1)  Why?  Because that was the day Jesus was circumcised and NAMED.  Now we know why January 1, the date of naming our precious Lord Jesus starts the Christian calendar each year.

“No ancient historian recorded the birth of Jesus as being in 4 B. C.  That date was based on the statement of Josephus that the death of Herod the Great occurred on March 13, 4 B. C.  This is the only eclipse recorded by Josephus.  That eclipse was only a partial eclipse in March 4 B. C. visible for only 2 hours.  A greater one occurred December 29, 1 B. C.”  (See footnote 2).   Since Herod died after the eclipse, this one more accurately fits data regarding Herod, and surrounding the birth of Jesus.

So, based on this, the birth of Jesus Christ appears to have happened on these time lines, and these figures seem to prove that it is so:

Jesus first coming was not as King of Kings, or Lord of Lords, but as our meek and lowly Savior.  His name therefore was Jesus.  His second name was Savior.  “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save (“Savior”) His people from their sins”.

Jesus in Greek and Hebrew both count to                             888
Savior in Greek and Hebrew both count to                             14
The multiplied product is                                                   12,432 days  

That is 34 years and 14 days total on the Gregorian calendar using the 365.24219 days per year count.

Jesus was the perfect man.  He was God in flesh.  His conception was of the Holy Spirit.  His times were therefore, perfect.  His birth was textbook perfect as well.

Now, consider that this count will begin at CONCEPTION, not at birth.  That means that 280 days of the 12,432 days were in the womb.  That leaves His life span to be 12,152 days.  Consider also, that His earthly life ended at the cross on the day He died.  That date was evidently April 2/3, 33.  How do I know?  

Counting from April 2/3, 33 A. D. back 12,432 days lands one on March 19/20, 1 B. C. That is the Spring equinox of that year, and the date of his CONCEPTION.   It is then a matter of counting forward 280 days to the day of His birth.  That date is DECEMBER 24/25, of 1 B. C.  I know this because Passover in 33 A. D. was April 2/3 and therefore the arrest, trial and crucifixion was on April 2/3 33 A. D.

This, as a side note, speaks eloquently against abortion on demand.  Jesus total days included time from CONCEPTION TO DEATH, not just birth to death!  How awful the judgment of those who support this ungodly practice!!

This tells me that the days in the tomb and subsequent resurrection days when He appeared in His glorified state are not part of the count.  These days evidently belong to the Age of the Church or the Age of Grace, as you please.  These total 3 in the grave, 40 in appearances to His disciples and others, and 10 days back to heaven before the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.  Total days, 53.  No wonder the UNIVERSAL SONS OF GOD, the Church is numbered 153.  That’s 53 for Son of God and 100 for universal.  It could be that the fish of John 21 signify the totality of the Universal Sons of God who are to come out of the Age of Grace.

Looks to me like the ancient church leaders knew about it after all.

Gerry

Footnotes 1 and 2  “Dionysius Exiguus Got It Right”  Bruce Killian email bakillian@earthlink.net

P. S.  If you want a detailed read, a great paper entitled “Dionysius Exiguus Got It Right” on this matter is found at www.scripturescholar.com/DionysiusExiguus.htm for free.