Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs …
The primary reason the lights in the firmament exists is to provide signs. Even the oldest book in the Bible, Job (believed to have been written during the time of Abraham), mentions the Zodiac (Genesis is believed to have been written during the time of Moses):
Job 38:31-32
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
The word “Mazzaroth” in the above verse is already the Hebrew word for the “constellations of the Zodiac.” So, why do traditional schools-of-thought frown on the science of Astrology? Because they take scriptures such as Isaiah 47:13-14 at face value; not researching the history or understanding to whom the text was specifically directed. They just apply it to anyone!
Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from [these things] that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: [there shall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire appnana hack cheats to sit before it.
Job 38:31 makes an explicit reference to Mazzaroth (the 12 constellations of the Zodiac and the 36 constellations associated with them; three of which are Pleiades, Orion and Arcturus). In short, the earth rotates on its axis (creating day and night) as it completes a 365-day orbit around the sun. Simultaneously, the solar system (the sun and all its orbiting planets) makes a 365-day trek along the Ecliptic (a celestial loop consisting of the 12 constellations of the Zodiac). The solar system spends approximately 30-days passing through each constellation.
Below is a chart referencing the time the sun enters and exits each constellation:
1) Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
2) Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
3) Aries (Mar 21 – April 19)
4) Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
5) Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)
6) Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)
7) Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)
8) Virgo (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
9) Libra (Sept 23 – Oct 22)
10) Scorpius (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
11) Sagittarius (Nov 22 – click this website Dec 21)
12) Capricornus (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
Our galaxy is comprised of 88 constellations – full of lights. Each in its own fixed position. In essence, these stationary star configurations serve as “markers” to determine direction and location. Theoretically, they will come in handy during long distance space travel. Be that as it may, a well-trained astrologer can always tell the location of the sun along the ecliptic by looking up at the sky at night and referencing the stars.
The constellations (lights of the firmament) have been in their fixed positions for millions of years. It is no wonder their science (Astrology) has been a prominent corner stone to the development of a variety of ancient share our website cultures. Incidentally, each culture realized the significance of the constellations. As indicated in Genesis 1:14, the lights in the firmament of heaven exhibit signs. And these astrological disclosures provide revelations. Unfortunately, there are too many constellations to determine where their messages begin and end. Albeit, an ancient method entails beginning at the nearest star; the sun. Consequently, the sun points us to the 12 constellations of the ecliptic. But where do we begin within the ecliptic?
The ancient Egyptians, driven by the necessity of re-establishing boundaries after the annual flooding of the Nile, developed the art of surveying to a high degree. They accurately set the pyramids to the cardinal points of direction. Their tops pointed to specific heavenly lights at certain times of the year. Out of all the pyramids, one structure stands out; the Sphinx, a colossal structure near the pyramids of Gaza. The Sphinx has the head of a Pharaoh and the body of a Lion (to signify the Pharaoh’s strength). However, in Egyptian mythology, the Sphinx is a creature having the head and breasts of a woman and the body of a lion.
We can correlate the top half of the mythical Sphinx (the head and breasts of a woman) with the constellation Virgo, the Virgin (the starting point of the ecliptic) and the body of Sphinx with the constellation Leo, the Lion (the ending point of the ecliptic). Each constellation of the Zodiac consists of the major constellation and three minor constellations called “decans (from the Semitic word ‘dek’ which means, “part”).” Many scholars believe the 12 signs of the Zodiac along with their decans (the lights of the firmament) tell the story of the Gospel!
Virgo (Heb: Bethulah, the Virgin)
The Virgin has an ear of wheat in her left hand (marked by the bright star, Spica) and a branch in her right. The wheat is actually seed and symbolizes the seed of the woman. Hence the virgin is made fertile. Of the lights, the brightest star in Virgo called, the Branch (Heb: Tsemech) is an Old Testament name for the Messiah (Jer 33:15, Zec 3:8, 6:12, Isa 4:2).
The virgin is seen in the first decan, Comah (the desired), pictured as a young maiden with a child (Ihesu) in her lap (Haggai 2:7). In Greek, Comah was the word for “hair” translated in Latin as “Coma.” Hence the modern name for Coma is “Coma Berenice (the hair of Berenice). The star of Bethlehem is said to have appeared in the constellation lights of Coma. The second decan is called “Centaurus, the Centaur (Heb: Bezeh Asmeath, the despised sin offering). Depicted as a half-horse/half-man, Centaurus is said to represent a child, born with the dual nature of God and man.
The third decan is Bootes, the Great Shepherd, depicted as a man holding a spear. Of these lights, the brightest star is Arcturus of Job. However, the proper Greek name is “Bo-o-tes (the Coming One)” derived from the Hebrew root “Bo (the coming).” The star in the shepherd’s spearhead is called, “Al Katurops, the Branch Treading Under Foot.” Just below the waist on the right side is the star, “Mirac, the Preserver.” In close proximity is the star, “Muphride, he who separates.” And, in the head can be found “Nekkar, the Pierced.” Together these images tell the story of a virgin that will bring forth a child (with the nature of God and man and the role that man will play’ that of the Great Shepherd.
Libra (Heb: Mozanaim, the Scales; Arab: Al Zubena, the Purchase, Redemption)
Libra is the only sign of the Zodiac that is not a life form. It contains the two bright lights Zuben el Genubi (the Southern Claw) and Zuben Eschamali (the Northern Claw). In antiquity, Libra was considered the claws belonging to Scorpio; but Greek mythology saw the need to separate them. The southern Zuben el Genubi is a variation of the Arabic, Zuben al Genubi (the price which is deficient). The northern Zuben Eschamali is a variation of the Arabic, Zuben al Shemali (the price which covers).
The three decan lights of Libra are the (Southern) Cross, Lupus (the Wolf) and the Crown. The Cross (Heb: Adom, the Cutting Off) is the symbol for the Messiah’s crucifixion. In antiquity, Lupus was known as “Victima, the Victim Slain (Heb: Asedah, the slain).” Lupus is now a slain wolf. And, since the Centaur (which also represents the Messiah in Virgo) kills the Victim (representing the Messiah in Libra), in a sense, the Messiah kills himself (offers himself as a sacrifice). And, of course, the Crown represents the victory gained through the sacrificial death.
Scorpio (Heb: Akrab, the conflict)
A giant deadly insect with its tail and sting ready to strike portrays the enemy of the Deliverer. The three decans of this sign depict the dreadful struggle between the Savior and his opposition. The decan lights; the Serpent, Ophiuchus (the Serpent Held), and Hercules.
The first two of these are engaged in a fight. The serpent is coiled around Ophiuchus. At the same time the scorpion stings Hercules in one heel but the other foot crushes the scorpion’s head. Hercules, the strong man is wounded in his heel but places his other foot over the head of the dragon. Hercules also has a club in his right hand poised to crush the three-headed Dog of Hell held in his other hand. Together, these images appear to point to the triumph of the Redeemer over the Devil who is portrayed in all of the negative symbols of the scorpion, serpent, dragon, and three-headed dog of hell. The brightest star (in the scorpion’s head) is called in Arabic, “Antares, the wounding.” The scorpion’s sting is called in Hebrew, “Lesath, the perverse.” The brightest star in the Serpent’s neck is named in Hebrew, ”Alyah, the accursed.”
Sagittarius, the Redeemer’s Triumph (Heb: Kesith, the Archer)
The figure of a horse with the body, arms and head of a man. This is the centaur, a creature that never existed but would be an interesting depiction of the dual nature God-man. His bow is drawn and the arrow is pointed at the scorpion. Thus, continuing the depiction of the struggle between good and evil, which began in the lights of the constellation Scorpio. The three decans are Lyra, the Eagle, Ara, the Altar and Draco, the Dragon.
Lyra, the heaven-bound eagle holds a lyre; symbolic of majestic music, song of victory. Ara, the Altar faces downward, burning with the fires of punishment. Draco, the Dragon depicts the Messiah’s opposition in the throes of defeat, winding himself about the North Pole. The names of the two brightest lights are significant. Their Hebrew names are Naim, the Gracious One and Nehushta, the Sending Forth. The decan Lyra, the
Eagle/Harp, contains two significant stars. The brightest is Vega, the Exalted One and Shelyuk, Ascending Eagle. The decan, Ara, the Altar (the consuming fire) in an upside down position has some significance to the coming judgement. Draco, the Destroyer rests beneath the feet of Sagittarius. The Hebrew name for its brightest star is Thuban, the Subtle.
(To Be Continued)