THE MAGI, WHO WERE THEY?

The Magi, who were they and are they just simply three guys on camels bearing gifts as secular Christmas Card shows. Oh on the contrary, they are powerful religious men in the times of Pre-Islamic Persia. Some say they date back to the times of Abraham. But what we do know about who the Magi are, is that they were super powerful, religious and scientific. We also know they believed in one god, demons, angels, magic, sorcery, science, architecture and agriculture. Although they did indeed believe in one god as Islam does today, it was not the God of the Holy Bible. So what makes them so powerful, well we need to go back into the times of history when the Jews were exiled out of Israel when Jerusalem was conquered in 597 BC. We know about this history by reading the Book of Daniel and his time in captivity. I could really expand upon this point, but YHWH truly has a plan within His Providence that's so in your face throughout the Bible. Why is Daniel in Babylon, well we know the Jews were like us all sinners, rebellious even all the while knowing God is to be worshipped. So under judgement they were defeated and many brought into Babylon. All these accounts will lead us to the fulfilment of the ultimate saving prophecy.

As we read the accounts of Daniel, we see his faith in the Lord our God even unto the point of death because of the jealousy of the other Magi as we read in Daniel 6.

16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.

When Daniel was eventually called upon by the best Magi or Wise Man to interpret the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. This is when we start to see what the Magi is, at this point they are into magical things, but after this the King realizing that Daniel's God was to be authoritative and feared. This would continue for sometime, after the lion's den those who conspired against Daniel where thrown to the lions den as quick justice. In these times between 597 BC to 538 BC when many Jews were exiled into Persia especially into Babylon, they became part of Babylonian society and actually marrying into non Jewish families. They even say because of this, that some of the Kings of the late Persian Empire had Jewish blood lines. Why do I say all this, well to give you a deeper understanding as to why the Magi who came to Jerusalem in the 1-2 AD were educated in Hebrew History and prophecy.

The Magi were powerful men in powerful positions by this time, raising and even chosen the Kings of Persia by guiding them through the laws of the Medes & Persians, such as religious, scientific, architectural and agricultural. This is important to understand that these men were not simpletons but highly educated and well versed in even Hebrew prophecy. The coming of the Jewish Messiah was sound doctrine within the Magi's and this being no surprise that they would know by the Lord that the time had come for the Messiah to be born. The Magi being powerful men would have gone in an entourage of many Magi's followed by warriors, slaves and craftsmen to Jerusalem. They would have been very majestic to see with conical styled headwear. majestic robes, and many bright and glittery accessories.

We can now imagine what this truly would have been like, as these very powerful and religious men road on their beautiful arabian horses into Jerusalem. Receiving a very royal like welcome of sorts.

They would send a letter or scroll asking for a meeting with the then king Herod, who only by roman decree was he allowed that title, keeping the Jews happy. The Magi have their meeting with Herod, and asking him where is the Messiah the King of the Jews to be born. So Herod, not sure conveynes with his council of priests and scribes asking them where is the Messiah to be born. They then answer, in Bethlehem as told in scripture. Micah 5.

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Well after this we can understand why Herod became fearful and trembling to this great unfolding, it wasn't because 3 men arrived on camels....yes they came with 3 gifts but also with an entourage of thousands that have come from Persia as Gentiles seeking to worship the true King of Kings who we know today as the Lord Jesus Christ or Emmanuel "God Among Us".

I pray this gives you a greater understanding of the accounts of the Magi coming to worship the true saviour of the world.

For those that still are willingly blind to the truth, for your own love of sins, I pray for your eyes to be opened, so that you can see like me you have fallen short of the glory of God Romans 3:23. and that we have accrued a debt that is punishment by eternal torment as told us in Romans 6:23, but because of the very One the Magi went to worship, knowing that He was to be born the true King and Saviour of all the world, especially to all who believe in what Jesus Christ did on that cross, that He paid it all, so that if you today bow before Him and cry out for His mercy and repent of your sins He will truly save you. Not because you are worthy, but because He is Righteous and in your place He died and paid the debt of God for you. What a ransom, what a love, to give your not created Son, but your begotten Son as substitution for a bunch of wretched sinners, O Lord may we be of usefulness to you, and may we glorify you in all that we do.

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Yours by God's Grace

Dean

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