And it came to pass in those days… A decree from Caesar Augustus declared all the world should be taxed.

Octavian’s ascension to absolute power as the Emperor Augustus marks the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. He institutes an unpopular sales tax, inheritance tax, and personal income tax for the first-time history. The birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, coincides with the Roman Revolution. *1 AD

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David.

William the Conqueror invades England, absconds the Anglo Saxon’s land and confers it upon his continental followers. The “Doomsday Book” surveys all property, prescribes a value, and creates the English aristocracy to collect taxes and govern a centralized kingdom. *1066 AD

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child.

Genghis Khan creates the largest contiguous land empire in the world. The Mongol Empire tax every soul from the Sea of Japan to Eastern Europe, the Arctic to the Indian subcontinent. *1206 AD

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Wat Tyler leads a full-scale rebellion on an unpopular poll tax, corruption of justice, and recurrent breakdown of law and order. He meets with King Richard (age 14) at Mile End in London; who grants collective charters of pardon and freedom from serfdom to the English. *The Peasants Revolt, 1381 AD

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Christopher Columbus discovers the New World; Portugal and Spain agree to divide the Earth in two; 10-12 million captured and enslaved Africans begin their journey across the Atlantic Ocean. *1492 AD

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Martin Luther’s “Ninety-five Theses” ignites a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church. The Italian Renaissance re-discovers classical Greek philosophy, and the study of politics, architecture, literature, art and science shift the middle age to inform modernity. *The Protostant Reformation, 1517 AD

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Peter the Great ascends the throne of Russia; modernizing the empire into a European power. A compact called “The Testimony” describes a political strategy by which Russia intends to control the world via conquest by the 21st century. *1689 AD

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another; to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God entitle them; a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The U.S. Declaration of Independence. *1776 AD

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Abraham Lincoln changes the legal status of more than 3.5 million African American slaves in 11 confederate states from enslaved to free with an executive order. The Emancipation Proclamation. *1863 AD

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Mahatma Gandhi’s policy of non-violent, civil disobedience leads to the Salt March and India’s Independence from British rule in India. *1947 AD

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying; Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

A 1,200-plane airborne assault precedes the largest amphibious mission in history. More than 5,000 vessels; 160,000 troops; and 2+ million Allied soldiers land on the shores of Normandy to liberate Europe.The Allied Forces of World War II are responsible for the surrender of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. *VE-Day, May 8, 1945 AD

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Yuri Gagarin orbits the earth 1,440 times at 18,000 mph for 21 days. The Soviet Union is the first to arrive in the heavens. *Sputnik 1, October 4, 1957 AD

And they came with haste and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Martin Luther King leads a march of 250,000 people to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. Standing at the Lincoln Memorial he calls for an end to racism and unconscious bias. “I Have a Dream” is the defining moment of the civil rights movement, and the most iconic speech in American history. *March on Washington, August 28, 1963 AD

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

A political movement confronting racial segregation throughout the United States culminates in abolishing racial segregation in public schools, public transportation, and interracial marriage. The Fair Housing Act prohibits the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. *The Civil Rights Act, 1968 AD

And all they that heard it, wondered…

In the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Russia strategically invades the Ukraine creating a collapse in food supply, food insecurity, refugee crisis, and compounds a global economic crisis into a geopolitical prophecy by Peter the Great to control the world. *February 22, 2022 AD

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addresses the United States Congress. “War presents a choice; to be animals or humans; to choose mayhem, hope, murder or peace; to serve God or to serve man. *December 21, 2022 AD

At those things which were told them by the shepherds.

The 2023 Hamas led attack on Israel on October 7 results in 1,139 Israeli and 18,000+ Palestinian deaths. For Palestinians, East Jerusalem (al-Quds) is to be the capital of the future Palestinian State. For Israelis, the entirety of Jerusalem (Yerushaláyim) is the sole and indivisible capital of the Jewish State. Subsidized by the U.S. and Iran respectively, the holy war won’t resolve “until absolute victory."

And Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart…