Missing Haley's comet
The interval for Halley's Commet in this sentence is about 77 years putting one in 10 BC which is missing. So with Christ's birth thought to have been about 1 to 5 BC the period falls shortly after one event that should have been recorded but is not, refer to the next paragraph in this book for significance.
The Star of Bethlehem: Science, History, and Meaning
two passages of the famous comet Halley can be identified, the passage of 164 BC and of 87 BC
- The problem with identifying the star to astronomical phenomena is this. If the Magi were in the east, the star would have moved opposite the west to east progression. Stars ‘rise in the east and set in the west in accordance to the earth’s rotation. It would have been seen in the west and then slowly risen overhead as they approached Bethlehem. This would also have been overvthe course of weeks and not a single night. I believe they saw a star, but it was totally contrary to expectations, which would have intrigued the Magi.
- Thank you! Throughout the Bible, God is presented as being One Who may use direct intervention to draw interest to His message. I think of the miracles in the Gospels that were meant to highlight and establish Jesus' teachings about life, human predicament, and He Himself being the only lasting solution. The birth of Jesus was miraculously foretold in prophesy, His life and message were miraculously verified by the supernatural signs of healing, raising the dead, and the sufficiency of His sacrifice for our sins was demonstrated and evidenced by His supernatural resurrection. So it would certainly be in keeping with God's power and working to have a supernatural sign of a moving heavenly body in the heavens to spotlight the arrival of His son.