Bethlehem 6:00 a.m. Local Time
Bethlehem is a small town with a big heart. The people here, while occasionally boastful, are really just humble, simple people, living life the old-fashioned way. There is nothing here to draw big crowds, not since the census about thirty years ago, but there is something here that speaks of warmth and welcoming. I feel as if I could ask any of these people for a place to stay and they would offer me the best stall in their stable.
There is some history here. The name of the town was changed from Ephrathah to Bethlehem at some point, although no one remembers exactly when this took place.
Some prophets have said that this was to be the birthplace of the Messiah. While that is in dispute even to this very day within the Prophet Guild, many citizens, especially in this town, believe it.
Here in a time before birth certificates, all we have to go on is the census records themselves. Good News Weekly has submitted a formal request for a copy of the Bethlehem portion of the census, but the Roman Records Office, or RRO, is backed up with requests for these precious, hand-scribed documents. There is no telling how long it will be before we can see for ourselves whether Jesus’ parents registered here, and whether they also registered an infant son.
The long wait does not seem to affect the people of Bethlehem. In fact, nothing seems to affect them. They just go about their lives as though the election does not touch them, but something tells me that proof of a Bethlehem birth for one of the Messianic candidates will elevate the local mood.
Jonah Ammitai, Good News Weekly, reporting.
Bethlehem is a small town with a big heart. The people here, while occasionally boastful, are really just humble, simple people, living life the old-fashioned way. There is nothing here to draw big crowds, not since the census about thirty years ago, but there is something here that speaks of warmth and welcoming. I feel as if I could ask any of these people for a place to stay and they would offer me the best stall in their stable.
There is some history here. The name of the town was changed from Ephrathah to Bethlehem at some point, although no one remembers exactly when this took place.
Some prophets have said that this was to be the birthplace of the Messiah. While that is in dispute even to this very day within the Prophet Guild, many citizens, especially in this town, believe it.
Here in a time before birth certificates, all we have to go on is the census records themselves. Good News Weekly has submitted a formal request for a copy of the Bethlehem portion of the census, but the Roman Records Office, or RRO, is backed up with requests for these precious, hand-scribed documents. There is no telling how long it will be before we can see for ourselves whether Jesus’ parents registered here, and whether they also registered an infant son.
The long wait does not seem to affect the people of Bethlehem. In fact, nothing seems to affect them. They just go about their lives as though the election does not touch them, but something tells me that proof of a Bethlehem birth for one of the Messianic candidates will elevate the local mood.
Jonah Ammitai, Good News Weekly, reporting.