Читать книгу Kingdom Perspective: Odds and Ends - Kenneth B. Alexander Alexander - Страница 13

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament [expanse of heaven] literally shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard.

Their line [sound] has gone out through all the earth,

And their words to the end of the world" (King David Psalm 19:1-4).

Today's astrology is a perverted interpretation of the true astrology. It is in line with the type of astrology, witchcraft, soothsaying, fortune telling etc. that God condemned. As God said to the Israelites as they were to enter the promised land: “When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations [the nations the Israelites disposed]. “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. “For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you…“For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so. “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him” (Dt 18:9-15). Prohibitions against such practices are noted on at least 50 occasions in the Bible.

Also: “Let now the astrologers, Those who prophesy by the stars, Those who predict by the new moons, Stand up and save you from what will come upon you. “Behold, they have become like stubble, Fire burns them;” (Isaiah 47:13-14). The Chaldeans and many of the Canaanite nations were astrologers. “The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans [master astrologers] and the diviners” (Daniel 5:7). The reason God prohibited the use of divination and astrology was that Israel was to rely on the prophets He raised up to speak the true Word of God, not those who used other means to predict the future.

True astrology does not predict anything but paints a picture of the revelation of Christ in the sky, using the stars. It is not known how or how often this method was used but there was a time when there was no writing, and stories were passed down word of mouth possibly using the astrology explained here. The stars and constellations are mentioned many times in the Bible especially, in the Book of Job. For instance: [Job speaking of God] “Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars; Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea; Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, [constellations] And the chambers of the south;” (Job 9:7-9).

Christian astrology, and for that matter astrology before Christ, is ancient. Reading the stars and their interpretation was common to ancient civilizations before there was any writing. Before the Bible, man read the stars and constellations as revealing God's plan or as duplicating in their own religion. The astrology presented here portrays details of the revealing of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Pagan and present astrology only interprets or predicts events that take place on earth and in men's lives, many of the events unrelated to God at all. We will proceed to explain briefly this ancient method of the revelation of the will of God, which can rightly be called Christian Astrology.

The Zodiac is a 360 degree circle, divided into 12 sections. Each section denotes the passing of the earth through one or more constellations as it completes its orbit around the Sun. The denotation of the earth passing through a constellations is called a sign. Each constellation is a grouping of stars that seem to form a shape such as an animal or thing. Also each 30 degree "piece of the pie" is divided into three 10 degree sections called decants. The decants are also constellations, further descriptive of the main sign. Both signs and decants are indicative of an aspect of Christ. When taken all together, they form a complete revelation of our Savior.

The constellations are given names reflecting what they purportedly depict such as Virgo the virgin, Libra the scales of justice, Scorpio the serpent and so on. The revelation we present here begins in the sign of Virgo and ends with Leo. The 12 signs, each with three decants, are: Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aires, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo. The entire Zodiac, its signs, are briefly described below.

1.Promised Seed of the Woman (Mary) is VIRGO (The Virgin), depicts a woman bearing a branch in her right hand and an ear of corn in her left. This is the beginning of Christ’s ministry in the earth, His birth by the virgin woman.

2. The Redeemer's Atoning Work is depicted by LIBRA (The Scales). The price deficient balanced by the price which covers. The coming seed of the woman was, among other things, to give up His life for others. "They sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy...for Thou was slain, and hast redeemed...to God by thy blood" (Rev 5:9).

3. The Redeemer's Conflict is represented by SCORPIO (The Scorpion). The aspect of Christ as seeking to wound the serpent (Genesis 3:15), but itself trodden under foot. "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder. The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet." (Psalm 91:13).

4. The Redeemer's Triumph is represented by SAGITTARIUS (The Archer). He is the two-natured (man and horse) conqueror going forth "Conquering and to conquer." “God shall shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves; All that see them shall flee away” (Psalm 64:7-10).

5. Their Blessings Procured is represented by CAPRICORNUS (The fish-goat). Represents the goat of Atonement (Azazel goat) slain for the Redeemed see Leviticus 16). This sign opens with the Goat, and closes with the Ram, two animals of Jewish sacrifice; the two middle chapters are both connected with fishes (see below).

6. Their Blessings Ensured is represented by AQUARIUS (The Water-Bearer). The Atonement being made (Leviticus 16), the blessings have been procured, now they can be bestowed and poured forth as water upon the Redeemed [us]. "He shall pour the water out of His buckets, And His seed shall be in many waters, As rivers of water in a dry place" (Isaiah 32:1, 2).

7. Their Blessings in Abeyance is PISCES (The Fishes). The Hebrew name is Dagim, the Fishes. In Genesis 48:26, Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, and says, "Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." The margin in the Bible says, "Let them grow as fishes do increase." It refers to the fulfillment of Genesis 1:28, "Be fruitful and multiply."The seed of Abraham was to be as the stars of the sky, and the sand of the sea. "A very great multitude of fish," (Ezekiel 47:9).

8. Their Blessings Consummated and Enjoyed in ARIES (The Ram or Lamb). This second grouping of 4 constellations (Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces and Aires) began with the Goat dying in sacrifice, and ends here with the Lamb living again, "as it had been slain." The goat had the tail of a fish, indicating that his death was for a multitude of the redeemed. In the two middle Signs the fishes represent Christ's gift presented to us in grace, and in their conflict. This sign also ends up with victory and triumph; the foundation on which that victory rests, Atonement, by the blood of the Lamb "When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son" (Gal 4:4), and "in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom 5:6).

9. Messiah, The Coming Judge of All the Earth is TAURUS (The Bull). This is the last of the 3 groupings of 4 of the constellations representing the coming of the Messiah. The star picture formed is that of a Bull rushing forward with mighty energy and fierce wrath, his horns set so as to push his enemies, and pierce them through and destroy them. It is a prophecy of Christ, the coming Judge, and Ruler, and "Lord of all the earth."

10. The Messiah's Reign as Prince of Peace by GEMINI (The Twins). The two-fold nature of the King. The more ancient star-names help us to see the many other myths regarding this sign. Gemini represents the two-fold ministry of God and man, His twofold work of suffering and glory, and His twofold coming in humiliation and in triumph.

11. Messiah's Redeemed Possessions represented by CANCER (The Crab). Christ's possession held fast. This sign represents the completion of His work. In Cancer we see it with reference to His redeemed, and in the next (the last) Sign, Leo, with reference to His enemies. The 3rd Decant of this sign beautifully illustrates ARGO (The Ship). The redeemed pilgrims safe at home. Again speaking of peace and security of the redeemed, Isaiah described it this way: "The ransomed of the LORD shall return And come to Zion with songs, And everlasting joy upon their heads; They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isaiah 35:10

12. Messiah's Consummated Triumph is LEO (The Lion). The Lion of the Tribe of Judah aroused for the rending of the Enemy. Here we come to the end of the Zodiac, beginning with Virgo, and we end with Leo. Its Head is Virgo and its Tail is Leo. Leo is the end of the Revelation of Christ or the end of the revelation written in the heavens. The Zodiac was first divided when the sun at the summer solstice was in 1 degree Virgo, where the woman's head joins the Lion's tail. His feet are over the head of Hydra, the great Serpent, and just about to descend upon it and crush it. The three constellations (decants) of the Sign complete this final picture of the end of the serpent (Satan).

1. Hydra, the old Serpent destroyed.

2. Crater, the Cup of Divine wrath poured out upon him.

3. Corvus, the Bird of prey devouring him.

Thus we have the complete revelation of Christ written in the stars. This truly is the revelation of Christ's redeeming work on our behalf.

Bibliography: Bullinger, Witness of the Stars