♪ [Narrator] We all know the story, the nativity, the shepherds, the three wise men from the East. It's a tale we're comfortable with, familiar from childhood, but how well do we really know it? Beneath the surface lies a mystery, a prophecy hidden for over 400 years. Today, on Revival Radio TV, we unravel the mystery of the star prophecy, the sign that proclaimed, the King has arrived.
♪ In every generation, there have been revivals, massive moves of the Spirit that changed the course of history. In every revival, there were believers like you who chose to answer the call to become the one in their generation. Discover your call to be the one in your generation. ♪ [Narrator] Indianapolis, 1876, a steam train clatters through the frontier landscape. Inside a rattling car, two men, one a famous agnostic, the other a celebrated Civil War General, Lew Wallace.
He is an amazing man. He was a soldier, a senator, and governor of the New Mexico Territory during the notorious Wild West saga of Billy the Kid and the infamous Lincoln County War. The two men on the train sit locked in an intense debate. It's called German higher criticism of the Bible. The atheist levels his criticisms against the Bible, doubting its stories. But Wallace, a man of action, remains silent.
He feels ashamed, not because he has lost faith, but because he lacks the knowledge to answer this man's attacks. He feels ashamed of his ignorance, but is determined to correct this. Little does Wallace know that this moment will change him forever and set him on a journey of discovery, a path that will lead him to write one of the most influential books of the 19th century. [Gene Bailey] Wallace's journey began with a simple question.
What happened to the wise men after their visit to the Christ child? It was this question that ignited his research and led to the creation of this book, The First Christmas, a short book that would later become the opening chapter of his epic classic, get this, Ben-Hur. This is no ordinary book. It was the hero's journey of a young Jewish nobleman who rediscovers his faith among the miracles and turbulent events surrounding Jesus' ministry in Roman Judea.
For many readers, it was the first time they encountered the gospel story in its authentic Jewish context. Wallace masterfully wove this tale in a way that captivated America, making Ben-Hur the best-selling book of the 19th century America. It sparked a national revival of faith, driving millions back into the Word of God and set the stage for one of the most significant religious movements of that time. Ben-Hur became a book that shook the world.
[Narrator] But there's more to Lew Wallace than his literary genius. He was a man of action and intellect. During the Civil War, he defended Washington, D.C. when it was under threat. Wallace also pardoned the infamous outlaw, Billy the Kid, adding another layer of intrigue to his life. Wallace remains perhaps the most famous man you've never heard of, yet his sculpture stands proudly in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall as a testament to his extraordinary life.
♪ [Gene Bailey] Look what I have here. It's an antique, hand-carved Nativity set. Christians held close the story of their Savior's birth, and these little Nativity scenes held a special place of honor in every home. It was there to remind them of the story from the Gospel of Matthew. Most Nativity scenes like this one, with their solemn depiction of the Magi, drew from Wallace's own imagination.
But what Wallace may not have known was that the archaeology and ancient texts were beginning to reveal a deeper truth, one that echoed through the centuries, and one that was hidden beneath the sands of time. ♪ [Narrator] The traditional narrative of the Nativity, immortalized by Lew Wallace in his writings, paints a timeless picture of serenity and prophecy fulfilled. A rural stable cradles the Holy Family, Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus, while animals quietly rest around them.
The baby Jesus lies in a manger, the scene humble and unassuming. Yet in the quiet of that night, two groups arrive to witness the event. The shepherds, summoned by angels and the enigmatic Magi, guided by a mysterious star from the east. The shepherds, often portrayed as simple men, are chosen to witness the prophecy fulfilled. The Magi, bearing gifts for the newborn King of the Jews, arrive as foreign scholars, representing the Gentiles being drawn into the unfolding story of redemption.
But what ancient knowledge guided them to Bethlehem? What voices from history, now unearthed, continue to whisper across the ages, adding layers of intrigue to the greatest story ever told? ♪ Let me read this from the second chapter of Matthew, verse one. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him." So the Magi knew the King of the Jews had been born, but how did they know? What prophecy led them there? [Narrator] In the waning days of Israel's long journey through the wilderness, they found themselves encamped in the plains of Moab, just across the Jordan from their ultimate destination, the Promised Land. Having spent decades in the desert, after their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites were poised to cross into Canaan.
But their presence in the region sent shockwaves through the neighboring kingdoms. The king of Moab, Balak, fearing the sheer size and strength of the Israelite nation, knew he could not defeat them militarily. Desperate for any advantage, he turned to Balaam, a powerful seer with a reputation for effective blessings and curses. His mission? To curse the Israelites and ensure Moab's safety.
Balaam was brought to the high places of Moab, notably to a peak near Mount Peor, a location that offered a commanding view of the Israelite camp below. But it wasn't just any vantage point. This spot lay adjacent to an ancient road that ran east to west, leading toward Jerusalem. Centuries later, in the time of Jesus' birth, this very road would be trodden by the magi on their way to the holy city. Balaam found himself unable to speak curses.
Instead, he blessed Israel, guided by a force greater than himself. From this high place, Balaam looked down upon the people of Israel and pronounced a startling prophecy, one that would echo through history. "I see him, but not now. I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel." What was it about this prophecy that resonated so powerfully?
Could it be that Balaam, a foreign prophet with no allegiance to Israel, moved by the Spirit of God, foresaw something in a celestial event? A royal figure whose arrival would reshape history? Balaam's prophecy, spoken on the threshold of Israel's entry into the Promised Land, became a thread in the greater tapestry of messianic expectation. One that would continue to be unraveled through the ages by the Jewish sages.
And eventually, magi from the east, who following the prophesied signs, would walk that very same Roman road to Jerusalem, seeking a king whose scepter would rise from Jacob. [Narrator] To uncover the story of the magi, we must first travel back to a remote corner of Jordan, where an extraordinary discovery was made. In the Deir Alla museum lies an inscription, faint and worn by time, yet unmistakable in its significance.
Balaam, Son of Beor. This is one of the inscriptions that prove the accuracy and historicity of the biblical account. In the museum, this ancient inscription of Balaam sits alongside another remarkable artifact, a fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This particular scroll, dating to around 200 BC, also contains Balaam's prophecy.
The scroll was discovered near the ruins of Qumran, deep within the Judean desert, adding weight to the idea that the story of the star rising from Jacob was well known among the Jewish people, and perhaps beyond. Imagine the scrolls, carefully hidden in caves for millennia, only to be rediscovered in the 20th century. This story, along with its archaeological evidence, is just one of the hundreds of messianic prophecies woven through time.
These prophecies are like puzzle pieces that tell an enigmatic story of events revealed one piece at a time in the pages of the Bible that now reverberate through history. [Gene Bailey] And of course, we also have the prophecy in Numbers in the Septuagint. Remember, the Septuagint is the name of the Hebrew Bible translated into Greek that dates to the 3rd century BC. The point being, long before the time of Christ, we have documented evidence of the prophecy of His arrival.
This prophecy set in motion a chain of events that would ultimately lead wise men from the East to seek a newborn King. But how? Could this very prophecy have made its way beyond the borders of Israel into the far reaches of the Persian Empire, carried in the minds of scholars who watched the skies? [Narrator] Jerusalem, 586 BC, the sacking of Jerusalem by Babylonian forces under King Nebuchadnezzar, stands as a defining moment in Jewish history. The first temple was destroyed.
Much of the Jewish population was exiled to Babylon. This catastrophe set in motion what is now known as the Babylonian Captivity, a time of profound upheaval and transformation for the Jewish people. Amidst the ruins, many of Judah's elite, its scholars, nobles, and prophets, were taken to serve in the king's court in Babylon. Among them was the prophet Daniel, whose path would be shaped by a series of extraordinary events.
By what many might call divine favor, Daniel found himself interpreting one of Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dreams, a revelation that set him apart from all others. For this act of wisdom, Daniel was rewarded, placed in charge of the king's court, rising to a position of power and influence in a foreign land. But was Daniel's rise merely a matter of fate, or was there a deeper purpose?
Was his placement in Babylon part of a divine plan to guide the destiny of nations, setting the stage for the fulfillment of ancient prophecies yet to come? It was the prophet Jeremiah who first spoke of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity. In Jeremiah 25 verses 11 and 12 and Jeremiah 29:10, he foretold that the exile would endure for 70 years before the Jews would be allowed to return to their land.
This was a prophecy that must have seemed distant and improbable to those living through the fall of Jerusalem. But Jeremiah's words carried through time, resonating with one particular man, Daniel. In Daniel 9:2, he reflects on this very prophecy, acknowledging that he understood from the scriptures that Jerusalem's desolation would last exactly 70 years.
This revelation prompted Daniel to turn to prayer, not merely as a formality, but as a deep spiritual recognition that the prophesied time of restoration was at hand. The moment had arrived. Daniel knew that history was on the brink of change and that Jeremiah's words were about to be fulfilled. What role would Daniel play in this restoration? Was he simply a witness, or had he been placed at the heart of these events for a purpose far greater than even he imagined? [Narrator] Persia 539 BC.
In 539 BC, the world witnessed a pivotal moment in history as Cyrus the Great, ruler of the Persian Empire, brought down the mighty Babylonian Empire. This was not merely a conquest of lands and cities. Something deeper was at play. In the aftermath of his victory, Cyrus encountered Daniel, a man whose reputation for wisdom had carried him to prominence under Babylonian kings.
What transpired next is shrouded in mystery, but the ancient Jewish scriptures tell us that Daniel revealed to Cyrus an astonishing prophecy. Recorded centuries earlier, the prophet Isaiah had named Cyrus specifically as the one chosen by God to free the Jewish people and restore their holy city of Jerusalem. Could this have been what convinced Cyrus to issue his famous decree, allowing the exiled Jews to return home and rebuild their temple?
Perhaps it wasn't merely an act of diplomacy, but a response to what he perceived as a divine calling. And in recognition of Daniel's insight, Cyrus bestowed upon him even greater authority, placing him in charge of the Magi, the elite scholars and astrologers of Persia. What knowledge did Daniel share with these wise men? Did he pass on ancient prophecies of a future King, born under a celestial sign, setting in motion the mysteries that would one day lead the Magi to Bethlehem?
[Gene Bailey] Is there archaeological evidence of Cyrus and his decree to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple? The answer is yes, and not just yes, but how amazing is it that this comes right out of the Bible and it was buried in the sand for 2,500 years before being dug up? This is the Cyrus Cylinder. The original now sits in the British Museum. It was discovered back in 1879 in the ruins of Babylon in modern-day Iraq.
This clay document holds Cyrus' famous decree issued after his conquest of Babylon. The cylinder doesn't just talk about his victory, it spells out his revolutionary policies, including the one that allowed exiled Jews to return to their homeland. And all this leads to another question. Is there evidence of Daniel's presence in Persia and what impact could he have had on the Magi, the wise men who served Cyrus the Great?
♪ Is there archaeological evidence of Daniel's influence on the Persian Empire and the Magi? The answer is a resounding yes, at least tantalizing clues suggest so. During the reign of Cyrus' dynasty, we see a profound shift in the religious landscape of Persia. Before this period, the Persian religion was polytheistic, but something changed when Daniel arrived.
Carvings from the dynasty of Cyrus, Darius, and Xerxes period show the Persian kings offering sacrifices on outdoor altars, altars strikingly similar to those described in Jewish texts. At Tel Arad, an Israelite temple was discovered with an altar dedicated to Yahweh, much like the outdoor altars used in Persian rituals. Both cultures burned incense, dressed their priests in distinct robes, and maintained a sacred fire on the altar.
The parallels between Jewish practices and those of the Persian court raise an intriguing question. Could Daniel, the Jewish prophet placed in charge of the Magi, have influenced Persian religious worship? This shift toward monotheism is unmistakable in the reign of Cyrus, with the "one God" becoming the central figure of worship. Is it possible that Daniel's teachings, grounded in Jewish scripture and prophecy, played a role in this transition?
Could it be that Daniel passed down the ancient star prophecy to the Magi under his charge, embedding monotheistic principles into Persian religion, and leaving behind a legacy that would ripple through time? Daniel's impact on Persia is evident, not just in history, but in the very landscape of the region. Take the Persian Garden, for example. This is no ordinary garden. It's a symbol, deeply rooted in the idea of Eden.
Even the name of the garden, Paradeezia is where we get our word "paradise". But why does all this matter? Well, the Garden of Eden is the core story of the Bible. It's the heart of the Bible's story. God created it as a place for him to dwell with humanity. Ever since man was exiled from that paradise, God's been working on a plan, a plan of redemption, to bring his creation back into that sacred space.
Now imagine Daniel living in a time when he saw Solomon's Temple and how it was adorned with garden imagery. It served as a teaching tool for Israel. It makes perfect sense that Daniel would use the Garden of Eden as a way to teach the Persians about God's divine purpose and plan. [Narrator] The Persian Gardens, also known as Paradise Gardens, first emerged during Daniel's time in Persia at Pasargadae. These gardens were crafted in the image of the Garden of Eden, as described in the Bible.
Even the word "paradise" is derived from the old Persian Paradeezia, a term originally used for these very gardens. The parallels are striking. These gardens were divided by four streams, mirroring the four rivers of Eden. Like Eden, they had a central fountain from which these streams flowed. Trees and fruits were abundant, echoing the Garden of Eden's tree of life and tree of knowledge of good and evil.
All these elements are central to the biblical narrative, symbolizing divine purpose and the plan for redemption. Daniel likely shared with them how, at creation, God placed man in Eden to work it and keep it. The idea that Adam tended the Garden of Eden is in the Bible. Genesis 2:15 states, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." The Persian kings took this literally and personally tended their gardens as a way of respecting God's plan.
There's historical evidence that Persian kings took this idea literally, personally working in their gardens as Adam did in Eden. Greek historian Xenophon tells us how Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian empire, took immense pride in his gardens and even tended to them himself. This connection suggests a deeper, perhaps divinely inspired influence, one that might just trace back to Daniel's teachings.
♪ While much of Persia's history was lost when the Greeks burned the capital and destroyed its records, enough remains to suggest that Daniel's influence went beyond his own people. His prophetic visions of a coming kingdom resonated deeply with the Magi. Daniel prophesied the exact time of the Messiah's arrival, approximately 500 years between Daniel's prophecy and the time of Jesus' ministry. [Gene Bailey] And what about Daniel?
Could he have truly left such a lasting impression on the Magi and the Persian court? The clues are certainly there, like parallels in worship, shifts in belief systems, and the rise of monotheism during his time in power. And I am not the first to explore these connections. To the early church fathers, this idea was passed down. ♪ [Narrator] The connection between the Magi, prophecy, and the birth of Christ was further elaborated by early Christian scholars.
One of the most prominent among them, Origen, delved into this connection in his work, Contra Celsum. He linked the Magi's knowledge of the star and the Messiah directly to the prophecy found in Numbers 24:17, the prophecy of Balaam. Origen argued that the Magi knew of this prophecy because it had been passed down to them from the time of Daniel, who served as the chief of the Magi under the Persian king Cyrus.
Origen's argument was echoed by other early scholars, including Julius Africanus, an early Christian historian who lived from around 160 to 240 AD. These texts, alongside other early church manuscripts, offer a tantalizing glimpse into a tradition rich with mystery and ancient expectation, pointing to a deeper connection between Daniel's influence and the fulfillment of prophecy.
So we've looked at the early church fathers and their belief that Daniel passed down the prophecy of the Star to the wise men. But that leaves us with a big question. What exactly were these wise men following? What was this sign in the sky? Well, there's no definitive answer, but we do have some fascinating records that point to an actual astronomical event around that same time.
[Narrator] Babylonian tablets from the British Museum, Chinese astronomical records, and the work of Christian mathematician Johannes Kepler, all align with something significant happening in the heavens. Kepler even projected the motion of the planets in his star book to see what might have been visible. Whatever this event was, perhaps a rare planetary alignment or a supernova, it's still a mystery. But one thing is certain.
Something extraordinary appeared in the night sky, and it coincided with the journey of the wise men from the East fulfilling that ancient prophecy. In our search for the origins of the Magi's mysterious journey, we turn to one of the earliest surviving Christian texts, the Gospel of James, written in the mid-2nd century. This ancient account expands on the Gospel of Matthew's sparse narrative, offering tantalizing details about the Magi and their celestial guide.
The text describes the star as, "--so bright it dimmed the other stars, a beacon of divine significance unmatched in its brilliance." In the book, the Magi appear as dignified seekers of truth, their journey to Bethlehem both deliberate and awe-inspiring, guided by this miraculous star. Early Christian art in the Roman catacombs also immortalizes their role, depicting them in royal attire, bearing their precious gifts, and bowing in reverence before the Christ child.
These sources reflect the theological weight the early church placed on the Magi, not just as visitors, but as witnesses to a cosmic revelation heralding the King of kings. In their journey, we glimpse the fulfillment of Balaam's prophecy, a star shall come out of Jacob. The mystery of the Magi is perhaps no real mystery. It was all a part of God's covenant unfolding over generations revealing His promised Savior. For centuries, the Magi kept their eyes on the skies.
Dynasties rose and fell, empires crumbled, but their sacred order held firm, preserving the knowledge passed down from Daniel. For 400 years, they watched, calculated, and waited, passing down sacred texts from one generation to the next, knowing that the heavens would one day testify to the birth of a King, a King destined not just for Israel, but for all nations. And then it happened. The heavens aligned, and a star appeared, a sign they had waited for so long.
Their journey to Bethlehem wasn't just a myth. It was the fulfillment of a prophecy written across millennia. The evidence is there, echoed through history and archaeology, a true and reliable message of hope that a loving God had been working His plan through the ages. And that is the real Christmas Story. It's about the enduring promise that no matter how much time passes, God's plan is still unfolding.
Just like the Magi followed the star to find the Christ child, we too are called to seek out that same hope, a Savior who was born to bring light to the world. [Narrator] "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders, and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. ♪ From all of us at the Victory Channel, Merry Christmas. ♪