The
Branch
An almond tree blossoms as early as December in Jerusalem. It is the first-fruit. Clearly it is a picture of our Lord being the first-fruit. The almond's very essence is oil. Oil is used for anointing. Jesus Christ is the Anointed One.
A mature almond tree grove is something difficult to find in today's modern world. Growers currently graft almond trees to other trees with different root systems. The root system on an almond tree is very pervasive. They will spread out in every direction for 30 to 40 feet. They will graft with root systems from other almond trees wherever they touch. They will form a single living organism through their root system. When the Grower waters one tree He has watered them all. Almond Branches represent the Body of Christ.
Jacob placed an almond branch in the watering trough or manger in order to receive the blessing. The blessing Jacob sought was Rachael. Rachael would die giving birth in Bethlehem. The Blessing the world seeks is Jesus Christ. The Father would later place the branch in the manger in Bethlehem.
Aaron's Rod was a strong branch, a scepter that budded and produced ripe almonds. Ezekiel 19:14 tells us that the strong branch is the scepter.
Perhaps the literal Hebrew word concerning the Ark of the Covenant would help. The Hebrew word for Ark means coffin. Perhaps the dimensions of the Ark would help enlighten one to fully appreciate what the Holy of Holies contains. The Ark is 2.5 cubits by 1.5 cubits. That is a coffin 45 inches by 27 inches. That is a coffin for a child. In the manger the Lord is dressed prepared for death. The Ark is the manger. The Ark contained Aaron's Rod. The manger contained the strong Branch.
Our only image of the Branch is contained in the Arch of Titus in Rome. Titus had conquered Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and took the contents of the Temple to Rome. Perhaps we should look with wonder at the Menorah which was kept in the Lord's Temple. The violation of the Temple felt by the Jews can not be understood. Yet the Menorah contains a message the Jews did not understand. Embodied in the structure of the Candlestick is the exact time and place of the Messiah's birth as observed in the heavens from the Temple itself.
I wish to document some observations I have made while studying the birth of Christ. If there is any doubt as the awesome power of our Lord, I challenge you to maintain your attention on the following information. As a clown would attempt the role of Hamlet, I am quite aware of my limitations as a finite being searching the scriptures and the mind of God.
I have provided some Internet links for you to confirm what is about to be presented. I also hope you would search the scriptures to confirm the information also. This is conjecture to be sure, but done so in the pursuit of the truth.
May our Lord be glorified!
Your Sky is an online server, which is recommended.
CyberSky shareware.
Skymap.com site with free evaluation copy for Skymap Pro 6.
Edersheim writes in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah:
"The merit of first discovering these facts - of which it is unnecessary here to present the literary history - belongs to the great Kepler who accordingly placed the Nativity of Christ in the year 748 A.U.C. (6 B.C.). This date, however, is not only well nigh impossible; but it has been that such a conjunction would, for various reasons, not answer the requirements of the Evangelical narrative, so far as the guidance to Bethlehem is concerned."
Kepler's assignment of the Birth of Christ to this date (Feb.20th 6 BC) was based on a significant conjunction between Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, which would be very bright. This date would indeed not appear to workout. However what Edersheim should have clearly seen is that the date would correspond to the Magi searching for the Messiah. The magi declare they have seen His star in the east (note past tense; Matt.2:2). Herod had ordered the execution of the children 2 years and younger which corresponds to the earlier conjunctions. Furthermore Herod was dead in 5 B.C. The Magi simply did not arrive at the time of the Nativity. The Nativity should correspond quite nicely with one of the earlier conjunctions (three conjunctions appeared in the previous year on May 29th 7 BC, October 1st 7 BC, and Dec. 5th 7 BC) . Perhaps even the very conception of our Lord corresponds with the earlier conjunctions.
Kepler has pointed to the most significant celestial event, which could have been calculated. With today's technology, we can demonstrate that there is more information here than Kepler realized. In addition we can see how this event would "point" to Bethlehem regardless of Edersheim's comment. The following clearly demonstrates that this event would lead the Magi, who according to scripture are looking into the sky at this conjunction in Jerusalem.
Today there is software, which is designed to aim telescopes at celestial events. The Laws of Planetary Motion, which were developed by Kepler work quite nicely for this purpose. You can simply program your position, and set a date, and the computer will target the event your ambitions choose. These mathematical relationships work for both future and past events.
The following graphic is a computer-generated model of the horizon in Jerusalem covering the date Kepler calculated. Kepler's calculations are based upon the conjunction of Jupiter with Saturn and Mars, which observed in his lifetime (Sept 27th 1604). I personally also observed this conjunction on April 15th 2000. The star was brighter than Venus, and twice as bright as anything around it. Kepler does not seem to realize that all the planets in the solar system have lined up in addition to the conjunction forming a scepter.
The first graphic clearly demonstrates that "the star shall shine forth out of the east" (Matthew 2:2). The scriptures call for a star and a scepter (Num 24:17), which this model will demonstrate. You will also be lead to Bethlehem as the view from Jerusalem shows the star setting there.
