Many
years ago, I came across the following story:
"A
virgin shall bear a son called the branch, the gloriously beautiful, who shall come down and have dominion. He shall be desired
and longed for, but also he shall be despised and be a sin offering. He shall be pierced, but will also pierce. He is the
heretofore and the hereafter. He will come suddenly to rule, subdue, govern and tread under foot".
This story does not ORIGINATE from any book or human record whatsoever.
It has been recorded and hidden in the stars of the heavens. It is revealed through the most ancient fundamental principles
of the stars, plus the ancient meanings of the names of forty eight constellations or star pictures and their attendant stars.
The above story comes from the constellation VIRGO and its three attendant constellations COMA, CENTAURUS and BOOTES. It gives
only a part picture of the whole story written in the stars.
Ancient
astronomical records which have come down to us over many thousands of years, reveal this extraordinary message of God’s
divine will directed towards mankind. According to Scripture, this message was in place long before the Bible canon was drawn
up.
In many of the ancient civilizations, Astronomy/
Astrology was widely practised. Surprisingly accurate records of star charts and particularly constellations were produced.
They will be referred to as Zodiacs hereafter.
The
night sky appears to be identical to us each time we see it. It appears to revolve once every twenty four hours due to the
revolving of the earth. However, in addition to this, the whole universe as seen from earth is very slowly revolving about
one degree of arc every seventy one years. Therefore, the positions of the stars and also the constellations, as seen today,
are different to those seen several thousand years ago. As a result of this phenomenon astronomers are able to calculate the
approximate date of ancient Zodiacs. Accordingly, some are known to date back several thousand years, long before the birth
of Jesus the Christ. Some can even be proved to be copies of more ancient Zodiacs.
The various ancient constellations were apparently named similarly and had similar identifying
figures irrespective of which civilization they originated from, as will be shown. In addition, the names of the various stars
within each constellation had meanings which were also similar. From the ORIGINAL meanings of the names of the constellations
and their attendant stars, God’s divine message to mankind - for that is what it is - is revealed. Unfortunately, however,
we do not have a complete picture. Some constellation names and figures as well as star names have been lost or altered by
intent or accident. For example, both the Egyptians and the Greeks changed some names etc., for their own purposes. However,
sufficient original evidence has been handed down from ancient times, and thanks to the records of many individuals over several
millennia, it is available to us today.
Scripture confirms the existence of this message in the stars. Psalm 19:1-6
states:
“The heavens declare the glory
of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There
is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to
the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and
rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it;
and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof”.
Verses
2,3, and 4 quite clearly record the existence of this message in the stars. Paul refers to this in Romans 10:18, speaking
about Israel he says:
“But I say, Have
they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”
Notice that both quotations state that the words went to all corners of
the world. So all mankind could have seen it! This in turn is proven by the astronomical records of a number of ancient civilizations
which have come down to us.
Genesis 1:16 tells
us:“he (God) made the stars.”
Psalm
147:4 adds: “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names”.
Isaiah 40:26 continues the story: “Lift up your eyes on high,
and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by names by the greatness
of his might for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.”
Job 9:8 & 9 tells us: “(God) Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon
the waves of the sea. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south “.
God himself speaks to Job in 38:31 & 32: “Canst thou
bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou
guide Arcturus with his sons?”
Mazzaroth
is an ancient name for the constellations, including the twelve signs of the Zodiac, which were originally also the names
of the months of the year. Amos tells us in his book chapter 5 verse 8:
“Seek him that maketh the seven stars
and Orion”
Arcturus, Orion and the Pleiades
(the seven stars) are ancient star names and are still used today. These quotations surely tell us that God was responsible
for these and all other stars and therefore of course also for the constellations. Because of the similarity of the figures
representing the constellations in several ancient civilizations, we can safely conclude that the ORIGINAL figures also must
have come from God. Josephus and Persian and Arabian traditions ascribe the practice of Astronomy to Seth and Enoch. These
antediluvian patriarchs may well, by inspiration, have drawn up the original figures. Isaiah 45:12 provides a suitable conclusion
to this part where he records God’s words:
“...
I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded”
From ancient records and Zodiacs, we find that the original constellations were forty-eight
in number. Twelve of the constellations are referred to as the signs of the Zodiac. The correct meaning of Zodiac is the name
given to a strip of the sky about 16 degrees of arc wide, the centre line of which is the apparent yearly path of the sun
called the ecliptic. The twelve signs of the Zodiac are sited nominally within this part of the sky. Each of these signs relate
to three additional constellations referred to as decans in ancient Arabian astronomical records, and will be so
named hereafter as the first, second and third decan with each sign of the Zodiac.
The various names of the constellations and attendant stars are from various civilizations
and languages and are marked:
The first sign of
the Zodiac we start with is VIRGO (L) the virgin, because it is the obvious starting point of the divine message, as will
be seen. The sign Virgo is represented by a picture of a woman with a branch in the right hand and ears of corn or wheat in
the left hand. Virgo means ‘a virgin’, another name is BETHULAH (H) meaning also a virgin. In this connection
Isaiah 7:14 says:
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son”.
In Arabic we have the name VIRGA (A) meaning ‘a branch’.
Another name SUNBUL means ‘an ear of corn’. The ear of corn in the picture draws our attention to the
bright star AL ZIMACH (A) as being important. Another name is TSEMECH (H). Both of these names mean ‘the branch’.
The modern name is SPICA (L) meaning ‘an ear of corn’. Another star called ZAVIJAVEH means ‘the
gloriously beautiful’. Isaiah 4:2 echoes these names:
“In
that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious,”
A further star AL MUREDDIN (A) means ‘who shall come down’ or ‘who
shall have dominion’. This last star is also called VINDEMATRIX (C) meaning ‘the son or branch who cometh’.
Thus VIRGO tells of a virgin bearing a son called
the branch who shall come down.
Decan 1.1 COMA
(Figure 1)
This name means ‘the desired’
or ‘the longed for’. Albumazar, an 8th Century astronomer, tells us that this ancient sign was represented
by a pure virgin nursing an infant BOY with a Hebrew name which the Greeks called CHRISTOS. Modern star charts or Zodiacs
show a picture of a woman’s hair called Coma Berenices. However the ancient Egyptian name was SHES-NU (E) which
means ‘the desired son’. The picture shown in Figure 1 comes from the Denderah temple in Egypt. No further
detail is available here.
COMA then tells of the
desired son. Haggai 2:7 also tells us:
“...
the desire of all nations shall come...”
Decan
1.2 CENTAURUS (Figure 1)
The Centaur.
The Hebrew name for this sign was BEZEH and the Arabic name was AL BEZE, both of which mean ‘the despised’
Another name for this sign was ASMEAH (H) which means a ‘an offering’. The Greek name was CHEIRON which
means ‘the pierced’ or ‘who pierces’.
The brightest
star is TOLIMAN which means ‘the heretofore and the hereafter’. Isaiah 53:3 shows again the closeness
of Scripture: “He is despised and rejected of men”
Revelation 1:8 adds further confirmation: “... saith the Lord which is, and which was, and
which is to come”
CENTAURUS’s
message then is of the despised one v the everlasting one.
Decan
1.3 BOOTES (Figure 1)
The coming one.
The modern name is The Bear Driver. If this were the original, why the sickle? The picture shows a man walking rapidly
with a spear in his right hand and a sickle in the left hand. An ancient name was SMAT (E) meaning ‘one who rules,
subdues and governs’. Another name is BAU (E) meaning ‘the coming one’. It is probable that
the most ancient name was ARCTURUS which is also the name of the brightest star and means ‘he cometh’.
The star in the spear head is called AL KATUROPS (A), meaning ‘the branch treading under foot’. A star
below the waist is MIRAC meaning ‘the coming forth’. The star in the head is named NEKKA and means ‘the
pierced’. Bootes surely identifies the Messiah, the coming one who was pierced who comes to rule, subdue
and tread all evil under foot -The Branch. Revelation 14:14-16 confirms the divine message in the stars:
“one ... like unto the Son of man, having on his head
a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle ... he ... thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped”.
2) LIBRA: (Figure 1)
The Scales. The sign 'picture' shows a pair of scales. Libra
is a Latin name meaning ‘weighing’. Other names are MOZANAIM (R) meaning ‘the scales weighing’
and AL ZUBENA (A) meaning ‘purchase or redemption’. The picture is probably not the original one. A much older
name TULKA (AK) means ‘a sacred mound’ or ‘a holy altar’. This relates more closely
to the star meanings hereafter. The brightest star in the lower scale is ZUBEN AL GENUBI (A) and means ‘the purchase
or price which is deficient’. This tells us that man is weighed in the balance and found wanting.
Daniel 5:27 refers to Belshazzar: “Thou art weighed in the balance,
and art found wanting “.
In the upper
scale the star ZUBEN AL CHEMALI (A) means ‘the price which covers’ Paul in I Corinthians 7:23 tells us
that a price which covers has been paid: “Ye are bought with a price” The sacrifice on the cross.
A star near and below the lower scale ZUBENAKRABI (A) or ZUBEN AL
AKRAB (A) means ‘the price of the conflict’
LIBRA then says, we have been weighed and found wanting, but a price which covers has been paid.
Decan 2.1 CRUX (Figure 1)
This name means a cross. But a deeper meaning is ‘it is finished’. The more popular
name is the Southern Cross, and it is not visible from northern latitudes. This sign is situated immediately below Centaurus.
Another name was ADOM (H) meaning ‘cutting off’.
Daniel 9:26 refers: “And ... shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:”
The meaning of Crux was echoed by Jesus on the cross Just before he ‘yielded
up the spirit’ (Matthew 27:50) saying in John 19-30. ‘It is finished’.
Decan
2.2 LUPUS: (Figure 1)
Although known as the wolf,
this picture could be that of any animal. However, the important point is that it has been slain and is falling down dead.
Other names are THERA (G) meaning ‘a beast’ and VICTIMA (L) ‘the victim slain’. The
sign is called THE VICTIM in Figure 1, here the CENTAUR is performing the slaying. In the Zodiac, in the temple of Denderah
in Egypt this sign is pictured as a little child. In view of the divine message so far, this would be more appropriate. Nevertheless
the message is the same - the victim (Jesus) gives up his life. (For us all). John 10:17, 18 draws our attention to an important
point:
“... I (Jesus) lay down my life,
that I might take it up again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have
power to take it again.”
The power of
God is infinite make no mistake, but so is his mercy!
Decan
2.3 CORONA: (Figure 1)
The crown. The modern name
Corona Borealis meaning ‘the northern crown’. Another name is ATARAH (H) ‘a royal crown.’
The Arabic name is AL ICLIL (A) ‘an ornament or jewel’. The brightest star has the name AL PHECCA ‘the
shining’. A royal crown can only be destined for a king.
LIBRA
tells us that man has been found wanting, but is redeemed by the price which covers; the redeemer having been slain so paying
the price for the sins of all. Finally the redeemer is crowned.
The
Scorpion. The sign shows SCORPIO trying to sting the heel of a mighty man OPHIUCHUS, who struggles with SERPENS the serpent.
But the man crushes the Scorpion’s heart with his foot. The Hebrew name AKRAB means ‘scorpion’
but it also means ‘conflict or war’. The Coptic name is ISIDIS meaning ‘the attack of the enemy’
or ‘oppression’. Another name is AL AKRAB (A) ‘wounding him that cometh’. The brightest
star is ANTARES meaning ‘the wounding’. It should be noted also in Figure 1 that the serpent is trying
to seize the royal crown CORONA.
In this sign we
see the conflict between the man and the serpent and the scorpion. The following three Decans add more detail.
Decans 3.1 & 3.2 SERPENS & OPHIUCHUS (Figures 1 & 2)
As has been said the Scorpion, the Serpens and Ophiuchus are all fighting.
The name OPHIUCHUS (H) and AFEICHUS (A) both mean ‘the serpent held’. The brightest star in the head
of Ophiuchus is RAS AL HAGUS (A) meaning ‘the head of him that holds’. A star in the same figure’s
foot is called SAIPH (H) meaning ‘bruised’. Genesis 3:15 gives the prophecy of this bruising:
“And
I (God) will put enmity between thee and the woman (Eve) and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and
thou shalt bruise his heel”
At this stage
of the message we can see the battle between ‘the rulers of the darkness of this world’ (Ephesians 6:12)
and our mighty Redeemer.
Decan 3.3 HERCULES (Figure
2)
The mighty man. In the picture he is seen
bending on one knee, with his left foot over the head of DRACO the dragon. His right hand grasps a club and the left hand
holds a triple headed monster CERBERUS. In Arabic he is called AL GISCALE ‘the strong one’. In the temple
of Denderah in Egypt, a similar figure is called BAU meaning ‘who cometh’. The
brightest star in the head is called RAS AL GETHI (A) meaning ‘the head of him that bruises’. In the
right arm base is a star named KORNEPHORUS meaning ‘the branch kneeling’. In the right elbow is a star
named MARSIC meaning ‘the wounding’. In the upper left arm, a star named MA’ASYN meaning ‘the
sin offering’. Finally in the lower part of the right arm is CAIAM or GUIAM meaning ‘punishing’.
In Arabic it means ‘treading under foot’.
4)
SAGITTARIUS: (Figure 2)
The Archer. The picture
of this sign shows in outward form, a Centaur, he is holding a bow with the arrow pointing at the heart of the Scorpion. The
Hebrew name is KESITH meaning ‘the Archer’. The Arabic name is AL KAUS 'the arrow'. In Coptic
it is PIMAERE ‘the graciousness’ or ‘Beauty of the coming forth’. The Greek name
is TOXOTES ‘the Archer’. The various star names tell a similar story - NAIM (H) and AL NAIM (A) ‘the
gracious one’; AL WARIDA (A) ‘who comes forth’; RUCHBA ER RAMI (A) ‘the riding of
the bowman’.
This sign tells us of a
gracious being riding forth to conquer the enemy. Revelation 6:2 relates the same story:
“... behold a white horse; and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given
unto him; and he went forth conquering and to conquer”.
Decan
4.1 LYRA: (Figure 2)
The Lyre or Harp. The Lyre
represents music and praise. The brightest star VEGA means ‘he shall be exalted’. The star SULAPHAT means
‘springing up’ or ‘ascending’ as in praise. Psalm 21:13 is very relevant:
“Be
thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power”.
Decan 4.2 ARA: (Figure 2)
The
Altar. Placed below the Scorpion’s tail, it is a small asterism of nine stars. The picture shows a fire burning on an
altar. The Arabic name is AL MUGAMRA, ‘the completing’ or ‘finishing’. The Greek
name was ARA usually meaning ‘cursing’. This sign, though brief in message, tells of the future removal
from the earth of the curse of evil. Matthew 25:41 describes the scene:
“Then shall he (King Jesus) say also unto them (the goats of verse 33) on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”.
Decan 4.3 DRACO: (Figures 2 & 1)
The Dragon. A Dragon as far as we know, has never been seen. But we have many descriptions
and pictures handed down through the ages. The picture here appears to represent a large serpent like figure, wriggling and
being cast down. Revelation 12:9 tells the story:
“And
the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world...”
Draco means ‘trodden on’. In the Zodiac Figure 2
we see Hercules, the mighty man (representing God) treading on the head of the Dragon. The Brightest star THUBAN (H) means
‘the subtle’. Nearly 5,000 years ago this star was the Pole star. The star in the head RASTABAN (H) means
‘the head of the subtle’. In Arabic it is called AL WAID which means ‘who is to be destroyed’.
Another star in the head ETHANIN means ‘the long serpent or dragon’. Other unidentified stars are: GIANSAR
(H) ‘the punished enemy’; AL DIB (A) ‘the reptile’; EL ATHIK (A) ‘the
fraudful’. The message of this sign is clear - the Dragon being cast down from heaven.
5) CAPRICORNUS: (Figure 2)
The
Goat. All ancient Zodiacs show this sign - with some variations - as a goat with a fish tail. Capncomus is the current Latin
name. The Hebrew name is GEDI ‘the kid’ or ‘cut off’. The star between the horns
of the goat is AL GEDI (A) ‘the kid’ or ‘the goat’. In the tail is DENEB AL GEDI
(A) meaning ‘the sacrifice cometh’. Other unidentified stars are AL DABIK (A) and AL DEHABEH (A) both
meaning ‘the sacrifice slain’; SA’AD AL NASCHIRA (A) meaning ‘the record of the cutting
off’. Leviticus 9:15:
“And
he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered
it for sin, as the first”
This quotation
records the Goat sin offering for the Children of Israel and here in the sign, the message is of the Goat (Redeemer) being
sacrificed as a sin offering for all mankind.
Decan
5.1 SAGGITA: (Figure 2)
The Arrow. The meaning
of this sign is obscure. The arrow, sited between Aquila and Cygnus is coming from an unknown origin to an unknown target.
It is certainly not coming from SAGITTARIUS, his arrow has not left his bow. The Hebrew name is SHAM meaning ‘destroying
or desolate’. Both David and Job record personally the experience of God’s arrows of chastisement. In all
probability it seems most likely that this sign refers to the pierced and wounded Redeemer, giving up his life for mankind
as in Capricornus.
Decan 5.2 AQUILA: (Figure 2)
The
Eagle. The picture is of a wounded dying eagle. The stars in this sign tell us the message. The brightest star in the Eagle’s
neck AL TAIR (A) means ‘the wounding’; The star in the throat AL SHAIN (A) means ‘the bright’
with the added meaning in this case of being scarlet coloured; The star in the back TARARED means ‘wounded’
or ‘torn’; in the lower wing star ALCAIR (A) means ‘the piercing’ and in the tail
we have AL OKAL (A) meaning ‘wounded in the heel’ These star names give a clear message of the wounded
and dying Redeemer.
Decan 5.3 DELPHINUS: (Figure
2)
The Dolphin. The picture of this sign is of a
live fish with its head upwards. The ancient names for this sign are: DALAPH (H) ‘pouring out of water’;
DALAPH (A) ‘coming quickly’; SCALOOIN (A) ‘swift’ as in the flowing of water. A
Persian Zodiac shows a stream of water with the fish. This is the water of life as in Revelation 21:6:
“It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely”.
The message of Capricornus and its attendant Decans tells of the sacrificial
Goat, representing the Messiah, dying but living in its after part, the wounding and falling (the eagle) and the rising triumphant
(the dolphin.)
6) AQUARIUS: (Figure 3*)
The water carrier. The picture shows a seated man pouring out water from
an urn into the mouth of a fish. Aquarius is a Latin name meaning ‘pourer forth of water’. The Hebrew
name DELI and the Arabic name DELU both mean ‘the water urn’ or ‘bucket’. In the
temple of Denderah in Egypt the man is called HUPEITIRION meaning ‘the place of him coming down or poured forth’.
The star in the right shoulder is SA’AD AL MELIK (A) and means ‘the record of the pouring forth’.
Another star in the left shoulder is SA’AD AL SUND (A) meaning ‘who goeth and returneth’ or ‘the
pourer out’. The star in the lower right leg is SCHEAT (H) ‘who goeth and retumeth’. The bright
star on the urn MON or MEON (E) means ‘an urn’. This sign tells of the future pouring forth, by the promised
one, of his spirit and blessings. Isaiah 44:3 confirms this:
“For I will pour water upon him that
is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon thy seed (Israel) and my blessing upon thine offspring”.
All creation also will be similarly treated
as shown in Isaiah 51:3:
“... he (The
Lord) will make her wildemess like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord...”
Decan 6.1 PISCIS AUSTRINUS: (Figure 3*)
The southern fish. This constellation is connected with Aquarius, the water is poured out
into the fish’s mouth. The bright star in the fish’s head is called FOM AL HAUT (A) meaning ‘the mouth
of the fish’. In these constellations, a fish represents redeemed mankind including the Children of Israel. So
the message here tells of the promised blessings for the redeemed.
Decan
6.2 PEGASUS: (Figure 3*)
The winged horse. This
is no ordinary horse; such an animal is unknown in creation. The brightest star on the neck is MARKAB (H) meaning ‘returning
from afar’. The star in the top of the left foreleg is SCHEAT meaning ‘who goeth and returneth’
(The same name as in Aquarius above.) A star in the wing is AL GENB (A) means ‘who carries’. In the nose
is star ENEF which means ‘the water’. Lastly, the star in the left leg below SCHEAT is called MATAR (A)
meaning ‘who causes to overflow’. This constellation further confirms the pouring out of blessings at
the coming of the Messiah.
Decan 6.3 CYGNUS: (Figures
2 & 3*)
The Swan. The picture is of a swift
flying swan descending to earth. The brightest star in mid body is DENEB ‘he judges’ (another repeat
from Capricornus) Another name is ADIGE meaning ‘flying swiftly’. A star in the beak is AL BIREO (A)
also meaning ‘flying swiftly’. A star near DENEB is SADR (H) means ‘who returns’
as in a circle. Two stars in the tail are AZEL meaning ‘who goes and returns quickly’, and FAFAGE meaning
‘gloriously shining forth’. Cygnus tells us of the swift return of the Messiah & Judge. Revelation
22:20:
“He which testifieth these things
saith, Surely I (Jesus) come quickly”.
So
far we have considered the divine message as revealed in twenty-four constellations, including six signs of the Zodiac. Briefly,
it tells us:
‘A virgin shall bear a son called The Branch, he shall be much desired and shall come
down. But he shall also be despised and rejected by men and shall be pierced. Man has been weighed in the balance and found
wanting, but a price which covers will be paid by he who shall come down. There will be conflict between The Branch and the
serpent, the scorpion and the dragon, all representing the forces of evil. The Branch will crush these forces and rescue mankind,
and praise for him will rise up. The enemy, the forces of evil, will be destroyed. The redeemed of mankind will be saved and
many blessings will be poured down’.
The
full weight of the message written in the stars when completed in Part 2 will show overwhelming evidence that God will overcome
all evil and redeem all of those of mankind who will accept his free gift of such redemption by believing in the gracious
Son of God. There is no other way or hope of following on into the promised life eternal for mankind, at the conclusion of
this present earthly life.
These names and their
meanings completely portray the Messiah crushing that old serpent (Satan) so rescuing the world from sin. Isaiah 27:1 refers:
“The Lord shall punish leviathan that crooked serpent; and he
shall slay the dragon that is in the seal”.
