Restoration
|
|
|
|
The Plain Truth December, 1966 THE
GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD! Millions of Christians do not know the real story of
Jesus! Now the startling history behind Christ's birth and the
mysterious Magi is at last revealed. by Charles V. Dorothy You probably never heard the
true facts BEHIND Christ's birth! You only hear the overworked
"holy family" story, or the "babe in a manger" theme. Nothing wrong with the birth story
of Jesus -- as recorded in the Bible -- of course. But you are not told the surprising
facts BEHIND what the Bible says! Today, you do not hear the story as it
happened 2,000 years ago. You are not told the world's greatest empire moved
EXACTLY according to God's plan, preparing for the birth of Jesus! You are not told how great rulers
and masses of people were electrified by the birth of a world Savior! These world-shaking events are
deliberately left out of the "story"
you hear today. Historic proof of those events is too often purposely IGNORED, SUPPRESSED, FORGOTTEN! Why were you
never told before? Why were the facts hidden? Untold Problems The truth is an untold story of current
events -- as they were 2,000 years ago -- showing
how God intervened in history to fulfill prophecies hundreds of years old. Think of these staggering problems
surrounding the greatest event in history -- the birth of the Son of God! How will God bring Jesus' family to the
prophesied birthplace ( the birth? How will He convince people this birth is
SPECIAL, different from all others -- that THIS birth is genuine? How will He make
kings and rulers know that the King of kings is born? How will He make those rulers
responsible, inexcusable -- later on -- for killing the Son of God? We will answer those questions. But
first, go over the story of Christ's nativity again. Think as God does -- THINK BIG!
Watch God solve these problems. You will be astounded at the story! A Great Story The Old Testament prophesied many years
earlier that Jesus would be A DESCENDANT OF DAVID. God caused Joseph and Mary
(both of David's line, both obedient
to God's laws, both good child-rearers) to be
married. First problem solved. But now, God faces a huge obstacle. The
Old Testament also prophesied the Christ would be
born in the City of The answer has never been understood in
its proper light! "And it came to pass in those days
that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus [44
B.C. -- A.D. 15], that all the world should be taxed" (Luke 2:1-2). Who did you say?
Augustus Caesar? Why, he is the emperor
of a world empire! You are right! God moves a whole empire, and the
greatest leader of the world sets up a whole new
government office (the taxing-census bureau), has senators and nobles
roaming throughout the Roman Empire -- just to move Joseph
and Mary to the city where Christ must be born. Notice what the decree causes: "And
all went to be taxed every one into HIS OWN CITY" (Luke 2:3-4). A legal
requirement of the census was to go to the family's city of origin. So,
because Joseph "was of the house
and lineage of David," he left and went to "the city of problem solved. But wait a minute. Atheists and Bible critics claim there
is no historic proof for Luke's "First taxing
under Cyrenius" (see any modern Bible translation). Luke does not date this first taxing, and godless historians falsely claim no source outside the Bible mentions it. Therefore, critics assume, no
census existed. This supposed "error"
of Luke of course casts doubt on Jesus' birth! Is there, as is claimed, no proof outside of the Bible? Far from it! God preserved the proof
through archaeology and history! The Great Story Proved The proof of history is in the
"Chronicle of John Malalas", translated by Matthew Spinka (Univ. of
Chicago Press, 1940). John Malalas was a historian of pages 32-33 he writes: "In
the 39th year and the 10th month of his [Augustus'] reign he
commanded the taking of a census of all his lands, including all that
the Romans held during the consulship of Agrippa II, and of Donatus.
And all the earth under the Romans was registered by Eumenes and Attalus, the Roman senators." Using the October to October calendar Malalas used, that dates the issuance of the
decree for the census to JULY, 5 B.C. Suidas --
another reliable authority -- and many others, add information about Augustus'
decree, which proves the census in time Christ was born! Abundant evidence from both early
Christians AND EARLY PAGANS corroborate this census
(see the excellent article in Unger's "Bible
Dictionary" under "Chronology"). The Next Problem How will God announce the birth of His
Son? The world must not doubt the FACT of Christ's birth. Suppose Joseph
announces the birth of a Holy Child. Imagine Joseph saying "Say,
people ... I am the father of the very Son
of God!" Ridiculous! Who would believe him??
Joseph would be considered at best a liar; at worst, a wild-eyed fanatic! No, Joseph won't do. How about Mary? Suppose Mary says "Say,
I am a virgin, but I am also the mother of God!" Preposterous! Can't you
hear suspicious, carnal-minded humans
chortling sarcastically, "Of all the nerve," "Fallen woman" ... What a mockery
that would be! No, neither Joseph nor Mary can announce the birth of Jesus Christ. God's plan will confound the
wisdom of men. Notice. "And there were in the same
country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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" (Luke 2:8-18). God sends a humble group of shepherds --
in contrast to the noble Augustus and Cyrenius. Here is
the first tiny link in an unbreakable chain of proof for the miraculous birth of Jesus. We need to analyze this oft-repeated but little understood
story. The Truth About the Shepherds God gives a very startling, but PERSONAL
announcement. "For unto YOU is born this day in the
city of Christ the Lord" (verse
10). Their interest piqued, the shepherds want to see this Savior who is announced as THEIR Messiah.
Now notice how God absolutely
convinces the shepherds and the people of First, notice the shepherds are "in
the same country," but NOT right on the slopes above distance because of the
expression "let us go EVEN ONTO distance gives proof of the vision. How so? Think a moment. What if the shepherds
had been right on the same hill above the manger? They could come down the hill,
meet people they know very well, then claim to have an angelic
vision. When they find the child a few
feet away, what do people think? Naturally they think the
shepherds are in "cahoots," in collusion with Joseph and Mary! No, shepherds NEARBY wouldn't do. But distance rules out a conspiracy with Joseph and Mary. Second, the angel says: "And this
shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke ADDRESS. Why? So the shepherds will begin to ask
everyone they meet: "Where is the newborn
Savior?" "Where is the Christ Child?" Can't you imagine people's reactions?
"WHAT Christ Child?" "In a manger -- are you
serious?" "A Savior? ... born in a
BARN?" But that is precisely the point. God
wanted the herdsmen to ask, to question, to focus people's attention on His Son's
birth. If God had given them the
address of the manger, they would ask no one. The announcement would not be broadcast. This
natural way -- God's way -- the announcement
is broadcast! Finally, with the help of one or more local
citizens, the shepherds actually DO find the swaddled baby in -- of all places -- a stable! The
sign is confirmed! The angel told the truth! Now analyze what God has done. God has
masterfully confirmed the angel's message to THREE
parties: The shepherds themselves, the independent townspeople; plus Joseph and family! Strange as the message first sounded to
the SHEPHERDS, they did find a child in a stable after all. Finding the child,
as the angel said, adds weight to the
angel's announcement that He is "Christ the Lord." The
message is confirmed to the independent TOWNSPEOPLE who know that the
shepherds were honestly looking, that they were not
"primed," that they sincerely sought a baby they believed to be Christ --
and all this in a strange and unlikely place, a manger. JOSEPH AND FAMILY -- who realized no one knew they were there, who
told no one of the birth, also see God's hand, God's proof. Such
circumstances cannot be concocted by mere man. Armed with irrefutable proof, the
shepherds boldly announce Christ's birth TO MANY PEOPLE.
"They made known ABROAD the saying which was told them concerning this child" (verse 17).
The Jewish people were amazed. The Mysterious Magi How can God announce Jesus' birth to His
own nation -- the Lost Ten Tribes of the House of the nobles, dignitaries, "higher ups"? The answer
has never before been told. The answer is in the mysterious Magi ... the much maligned, much misunderstood Magi! Matthew is the only Gospel writer who records this
great story. But scholars cannot agree about what Matthew means. Do you know who the Magi were?
Commonly the Magi are supposed to be
either heathen or pagan worshippers of Zoroaster, or maybe practicers of black magic. The Bible talks of two kinds of Magi or Magians. The earliest mention in all ancient
records of the Magi is found in Jeremiah 39:3, 13. The King
James says "Rab-mag," left untranslated
because the translators did not know the meaning. "Rab-mag"
has correctly been deciphered as "Chief Magi." These were pagan priests, physicians,
learned men in the company of the Babylonians. The best
authorities -- ancient and modern -- all tell us that "Magi"
comes from "mag" or "mog" meaning priest, great one, from the old Persian language called "pahlavi." You may confirm this in any reliable Bible dictionary. From
these priests (Magi) descend a long
line of evil and perverted priests, sorcerers, etc. -- from Haman the Agagite (Book of
Esther) to Bar-jesus
or Elymas the sorcerer (Magian)
of Acts 13. So the Bible shows that
"Magi" sometimes means a priest of paganism. But that is not all. Classical history, ancient Greek dictionaries,
and the Bible ALL AGREE there is ANOTHER kind
of Magian or Magi. Look at Daniel great gifts, and made him ruler
of the whole and CHIEF of the governors OVER
ALL THE WISE MEN [Hebrew: Magi] OF BABYLONIAN Magi! Since Daniel
remained president for a long time, this Bible example proves there
was at least one righteous Magi -- namely
Daniel. Daniel also certainly taught, and set the example of, God's way to those he ruled! Through Daniel's teaching the Magi (priests) of
the pagan world came into contact with Bible prophecies about Christ, as we shall see proved
later. But this does not answer the
question: Who were the Magi of Matthew? Where Did the Magi Come From? Let's get the truth straight at last!
Commentaries and Bible dictionaries are in CONFUSION on this vital point. Matthew certainly knew where they came from. He tells us they went back to "their OWN country"
-- he had to know WHICH country, to know it was their own. Matthew is not trying to hide their
identity by saying Magi "from the
East" (or "Eastern Magi"), HE IS TELLING US WHERE THEY CAME FROM. But where is "the East?" Based on a misunderstanding of such
prophecies as Ps. 72:10-11 and Isa.
60:6 (which Matthew did not think were fulfilled by Magi) many
commentators think "the East" means " How about did not come from prophecy of a world ruler, and
hearing a report of the expedition of the Magi to the West -- sent
emissaries in the first year of the Christian era (that is, 1
A.D., Christ's fourth year), to find out whether the predicted
royal child had actually appeared (Sir William Jones,
"Asiatic Researches", Vol. 10, p. 27-28). This report from Indian history
proves the Magi were not Indians: the Indians heard ABOUT the Magi. Further, if the Magi were Indian, they would have reported
to already have known the child was born. Obviously the Magi were not Indians, not Brahmins. And The most common suggestion for the
Magi's home is The pagan Persian Magi were
priests of the false savior, Zoroaster. Did Zoroastrians come to see Christ in Matthew 2? The best answer here is found in the
"Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics", therefore, that Matthew 2 ...
ISOLATES THE MAGI FROM PERSIAN RELIGION. This source spends
pages proving that pagan Zoroastrians DID NOT STUDY
astronomy. Furthermore, they despised dreams. But the wise men of Matthew are VERY LEARNED in astronomy, and certainly do not despise dreams. No, the wise men are not Persian, not
Zoroastrian Magi. The Mystery Solved! Then were the Magi from suggested by scholars. In the face of such confusion, you might become confused yourself. Don't be! You need to know just two important facts to dispell confusion. The Old Testament has two expressions
for "the East" -- anything on the east side or
eastern is termed "what is BEFORE" (meaning
the near east). Anything FAR to the east or distant as the rising of the sun is termed
"rising of the sun" (meaning distant east). So also Matthew -- who follows the Hebrew very closely in every way -- has two
expressions for areas east of (in
Greek, "ton anatolon"), or the distant
East. Second, Magi see the star IN "the east"
("te anatole"
in Greek) -- west of the Magi, but east from Upham's "Star of the Wise Men".) Now consider this. One great empire east
of the biblically "the distant
east" -- conquered the lands east of the areas of ruled this whole area, and was
the empire of THE EAST; the land of the MAGI! Who Were the Parthians?
The Parthians
rose to power around 250 B.C. in and around the southern shores of the into which the House of Israel -- not Judah -- was exiled!
The exiles in this land were members of the ten tribes of Parthian Empire included none
other than the exiled lost ten tribes of captivity until about A.D. 226." Were there Magi in shows the strong influence of
Magi in the king's council of [king's relatives], and the
other that of WISE MEN and MAGI, from both of which groups the kings
were appointed" (Geography, 11.9.3). Final Proofs Contrary to the false story of
"Three Kings" who are supposed to be the Magi, eastern
writers ALL AGREE there were TWELVE Magi! Thus, the Magi do
not represent the three sons of Noah, nor the Trinity or any
such idea. What do the twelve Magi represent? Is it
coincidence that there were TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL? And certain of the ancient
Magi could claim Abraham as
their father! (See McClintock & Strong's "Cyclopedia", article "Magi".) The Magi of Matthew 2 were following the
star, were following the prophecy of
Numbers 24:17 -- "There shall come a star out of Jacob [and most of
the "lost tribes" of Jacob or shall rise out of connects the apostle Thomas'
work with the Magi IN PARTHIA, after the resurrection of Christ. The distant nation of witness of Christ at His birth,
(not to mention other nations through which this large caravan of Magi traveled)! Now we clearly understand why Matthew
mentions the Magi. Matthew -- and he alone -- puts
in the words of Christ: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of THE HOUSE OF that the shepherds (Jews) come
first to Christ; the Magi (representing the tribes of the Gentiles come third? An amazing story of precision, of fulfilled prophecy! But there is more. How does God witness
to the whole nation? Let's see. "When Herod the king had heard
these things [the Magi arriving at HIM (Mat. 2:39. This Idumean (not Jewish) king is SHAKEN! Prophecy is being fulfilled! A
new king threatens Herod's throne. "And when he had gathered ALL THE
CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES OF THE PEOPLE together, he
demanded of them where (not "whether") the Christ should be born" (verse 4). What meeting is
this? Nothing less than the Supreme Court of
the Jewish nation: THE SANHEDRIN. "And they said unto him, in
Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet" (verse 5). Do you realize
what Matthew is saying? The greatest ruling body in the nation
-- the Sanhedrin -- pronounces with one voice that Christ is born in do not deny the fact! They publicly and officially proclaim
the truth of God TO THE KING. Do
you see now how God has reached the king? Do you see how God has witnessed to the rulers
and nobles of that age? Do you see how (probably under threat
of their lives from Herod) the Sanhedrin pronounces and admits
the truth of the Old Testament -- only to deny it a generation later? That very Sanhedrin (with
slight changes of personnel)
KILLED THE SAME JESUS WHOM THEY TESTIFIED OF! This only begins the "great story
never told." You need to begin READING YOUR BIBLE! You will see a great story all through-the pages of your New Testament. You will see diametric opposites from what is commonly
taught in the name of religion today! The great story of Christ's life -- as the Bible tells
it -- is not being published by the
professing Christian world today.
|
