The Bible is clear that the Magi followed the direction of a star (Comet?) to find Jesus. How, though did they know that the King was to be born? The Bible speaks many times about signs in the heavens and we are even to look for a sign for His return when Jesus speaks of many false Messiahs and signs he says; “Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For where ever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:25-32 AV). NOTE: “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven”. What could this sign be? I’m going to add my opinion to this mystery. I caution this is an opinion and NOT a prophecy nor a revelation. I may be wrong!
In the fall of the year 2 BC there was a series of movements in the heavens that may have given the Magi their “marching orders”. In the early morning hours of August 25, in the eastern sky observed in the area near Jerusalem, the planets Mars, Mercury and Jupiter are so close together they would appear as a single bright object with the planet Venus very near and slightly closer to the horizon. Later in the month of September a series of movements in the constellation Leo (the lion, representing Judah?) occur that could be this “sign of the Son of Man”. Leo consists of one bright star, Regulis, and 13 other stars. Jupiter (representing the king), Venus (female), and Mars (war) move within the region of the constellation. From September 20 until October Jupiter appears very close to Regulis so that they may appear as a single object. Venus remains above and Mars below them during this period. As we move to mid October, Venus, Jupiter and Regulis come into close proximity and Mars moves away. All these movements would have been observed just before each days dawn. Could these movements have told the Magi that a King was coming to Judah, he would be born of the woman and war would be driven away by his coming? If this was the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens could events similar to these show us the time of his second coming. I don’t know, but perhaps someone who understands astronomy will run the star clocks forward and find this sign again.
One thing I do know for certain is Jesus will return. He promised: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is a thirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:12-21 AV)
I add my voice to God’s Word; Even so, come, Lord Jesus.