Simple Calculation:
"We all agree that Jesus Christ lived for 33 ½ years. Now let us admit that he was born in December, as the Churches teach; it will mean, therefore, that his 33rd birth anniversary fell in December: and six months later, which was June, he died. If it were so, why then are the churches celebrating his death in April and not in June? The plain truth is that he was born in October. His 33rd birthday fell in October, and six months later, which was in April, he was slain...."
Bible Account:
In those days there were appointed 24 Jewish priests, the sons of Aaron, to serve in the temple in a year. Everyone officiated according to the order of his course or turn - two every month. The first priest served from the beginning of the first month called Nisan or Abib and retired at the middle of the month; and the second took over from the middle to the end of the month.
The priest Abijah served in the eighth course according to 1 Chronicles 24: 1-10. The eighth course started from the middle to the end of the fourth month known as Tammuz, which, according to the Jewish Calendar, corresponds with the latter part of our June to early July, according to The Oxford Encyclopedic Concordance, page 197, and The Universal Bible Dictionary by Buckland & Williams, page 475.
Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was a successor of Abijah. It was when he was officiating in the temple in the order of his course - "the course of Abijah” - that an angel of God appeared to him saying that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son to be named John. (Luke 1: 5-13) After the completion of Zacharias' period of duty in early July, (Tammuz), his wife became pregnant, and she hid herself for five months, (that is, from July to November). - Luke 1: 23, 24.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth's conception - Chisleu, which is our December - the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the virgin Mary and he announced to her that she would conceive and bear a son to be called JESUS. The angel added: "And behold, thy cousin, Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible." - Luke 1: 26-31, 36, 37.
Consequent upon the annunciation Mary, no doubt, was in high spirits. With haste she went straight to a city in the uplands of Judah to meet Elizabeth. She stayed with her cousin about three months (i.e. from January to March) and then returned home. (Luke 1:39, 40, 56) According to medical authorities the span of foetal life under normal conditions is 280 days, which is nine months. Any time in the tenth month the child, by God's grace, can be born. This was the case with John the Baptist. The angel appeared to Mary in the sixth month of Elizabeth's conception, which was December, and Mary went to her and stayed three months, (January to March). Six months plus three months equal nine months. It was then "Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son" - obviously, in the tenth month, April. - Luke 1: 36, 56, 57.
The Bible reveals that John, who became known as “John the Baptist” was six months older than Jesus Christ. (Luke 1: 26, 36) So, if he was born in April, we only have to add six months to April, (counting from May) to know when Christ was born - which are May, June July, August, September and October - when Christ was born.
That apart, something dramatic occurred when Mary visited Elizabeth. As soon as she entered Zacharias' house and greeted Elizabeth, the babe (John) stirred in her womb. The words of Elizabeth to Mary at that instance, which were motivated by the Holy Spirit, show clearly that Mary herself was already pregnant. Not only did Elizabeth bless the fruit of her womb but she went on to address her outright as "the mother of my Lord". (Luke 1:41-44) Having been equipped with this knowledge, let us now count Mary's conception from January as was manifest in Elizabeth's declaration: we shall have January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September (the ninth month), then any time in the tenth month OCTOBER, Jesus Christ was born. But on which day in October his birth took place no one can tell because there is no record. We of the GKS say only what we can prove. - John 3:11; Deuteronomy 29:29.
Again, the fact that most Churches observe the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in April shows that his birth could not have taken place in December. Of a truth, he was killed in April, which is Nisan or Abib, the first month of the Jewish year, when the Feast of Passover or Unleavened Bread was celebrated. - Exodus 12:1-28; John 18:28; 19:14, 31, 42.
We all agree that Jesus Christ lived for 33 ½ years. Now let us admit that he was born in December, as the Churches teach; it will mean, therefore, that his 33rd birth anniversary fell in December: and six months later, which was June, he died. If it were so, why then are the churches celebrating his death in April and not in June? The plain truth is that he was born in October. His 33rd birthday fell in October, and six months later, which was in April, he was slain....
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