An Epiphany - ἀνατολή a star in the east, or a star rising?

There are times when I read my Bible and the Lord gives me an "a-ha" moment. The last one began in our Lectio group when He brought to mind Mat 2:2, specifically focusing on the phrase “We saw his star as it rose (Mat 2:2 NLT)  That night the Lord prompted me to leave my NASB at home for what I thought was a change of pace in my reading, but it turned out there was a deeper purpose that lead me on a persuit of the Greek word “anatole” (to dawn, east)

 The NASB/KJV refer to the star in terms of geographical location (east), and the ESV/NLT refer to it in an astronomical sense (dawning, or rising).

"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose (Mat 2:2 ESV)

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, (Mat 2:2 NAS)

The Greek word ἀνατολή (anatole)  can be translated either way

The BDAG Lexicon places anatole  in  Mat 2:2 under the first definition  “1. upward movement of celestial bodies, rising, of stars…  probably not a geographical expression… but rather astronomical”.

In Matthew, God was brining a new dawn, an end to Israel’s 400 long years of prophetic silence, in a celestial proclamation that was visible to the nations. Yet God’s people were not only taken by surprise, they missed it, and ultimately rejected the coming of the Messiah it was proclaiming. Herod even tried to prevent it!

Jesus later said that his next coming will also be announced through astronomical changes in the heavens. (Mat 24:29-30).

Yet we need not look to the stars to understand the signs of His coming. God has given us a commission to take His morning star to the nations (Mat 28:19-20), that is carried and sent via earthen vessels (Jn 1:14, 2 Cor 4:7). so that others will know God and Make Him Known.  As we respond to His comission call,  we are not only aware of the sign of His coming, we actually participate in (Mat 24:14) and experience His presence! 

For the light that the wise men saw rise in the heavens (Mat 2:2), has risen in our hearts (2 pet 1:19).