Maybe the Nativity doesn't look quite like we think it does
The Nativity Story from the point of view of the citizens of Judea.
Part 1 (33) Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, (34) Speak to the children of Israel, saying: The fifteenth day of this seventh month {shall be} the Feast of Tabernacles {for} seven days to the Lord. [Leviticus 23:33–34 NKJV] Scriptures: Exodus 23:16; 34:22–23; Leviticus 23:33–39; Numbers Read More …
Author’s note: The above representation is technically incorrect as it shows the Woman Clothed with the Sun in darkness (and therefore clearly visible) above the horizon despite the sun not having set. This is a visual aid to help us Read More …
We can trace the origins of many of the traditions found in nativity plays to what are known as the infancy gospels, pseudepigraphal works written much later than what we now refer to as the canonical gospels. The oldest and most Read More …
We leave for Nashville today to attend the National Religious Broadcasters convention. We will be pitching our family of products to TV stations, radio stations, and book publishers. God Save the King for TV (eight 30-minute episodes) is in the Read More …
The “morning” observation took place during the darkness before sunrise and then continued until the sun’s brightness occluded most other celestial objects. The “evening” observation worked in reverse. It began with the sun still above the horizon when most other celestial objects were still “invisible,” until the sun set enough for twilight to begin and these other celestial objects to start to become visible. Read More …
The “taxation” or “census” mentioned in Luke 2:1 provides a huge key that unlocks certain portions of the mystery surrounding the birth of Jesus—in particular, the correct date when he was born. But there are also some common misconceptions regarding this verse, usually based on a muddled translation. Read More …
When the Roman General Pompey annexed Syria, the Romans entirely redesigned Damascus as a Roman city. Still today, “Old Town” Damascus retains its rectangular Roman design and seven extant ancient gates. The name “Ester Gate” predates the Romans, so it Read More …
My vision for God Save the King breaks down into three primary components I call Chronicles. The Judean Chronicle focuses on Judean perspective, the nation of Judea, and the Judean characters in the nativity story—Elizabeth and Zechariah, Joseph and Mary, the baby Jesus, the Read More …
“He simply may not have known the precise dates of the events he describes.”
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Pieter Bruegel the Elder was a Dutch and Flemish renaissance painter. He was known for his landscapes and peasant scenes. Two of his works are representations of the “The Census at Bethlehem” (1566) and “The Massacre of the Innocents” (1565–1567). Read More …