AN ASTEROID measuring 150ft across will dash across the heavens tomorrow night, mirroring the biblical Star of Bethlehem which announced the birth of baby Jesus Christ. But could this coincidence be a sign from God himself?
The asteroid, dubbed Asteroid 2018 XN5, will swing past the planet on the same night Christians believe the star announced the imminent birth of Jesus 2,018 years ago. Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California expect the space rock to flyby on a so-called Earth Close Approach tomorrow. At its closest, the asteroid will come within 706, 464.14 miles (1.13million km) of Earth at approximately 6.17pm GMT on Monday evening, December 24. And though the asteroid will not be visible to the unaided eye from the planet, is it more than just a coincidence it passes on the night of Christmas Eve?
The fabled Star of Bethlehem, or Christmas Star, appears in the nativity story penned in the Gospel of Matthew.
The star is believed to have led the Three Wise Men from the East to Jerusalem where they paid tribute to baby Jesus in his manger.
Matthew Chapter 2 reads: “And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.”
But what does this mean for Asteroid XN5? Is tomorrow’s flyby connected to the biblical story of Jesus Christ’s birth?
According to Dr Bob Thiel, an expert on biblical prophecy and scripture, the passage is more likely than not a coincidence.
But the biblical expert suggested there are other such celestial bodies described in the New Testament, which could be headed for Earth.
Dr Thiel told Express.co.uk: “In my view, Asteroid XN5 is simply a natural phenomenon.
“But it would not surprise me if some feel that the timing is supernatural or that it could be related to the prophesied destruction of Wormwood described in the Book of Revelation.
“Wormwood could be an asteroid, though a comet seems more likely.
“But because of the timing of Asteroid XN5, it cannot be Wormwood.
“That destruction cannot happen for at least seven years from now as it happens after the seventh seal of the scroll of Revelation 5 is opened, which is shown in Revelation 8:1.”
Dr Thiel added most biblical scholars, himself included, do not actually believe Jesus was born on the widely celebrate Christmas Day on December 25.
The Bible does not specify an exact date for Jesus’ birth, but some clues point towards the springtime.
The date of December 25 was adopted by early Christians from pagan traditions in a bid to ease the transition into the growing religion.
Dr Thiel said: “We would not think that the timing of Asteroid XN5 is a message from God related to Christmas.”
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