Gospel in the Stars March 11, 2011

Transcription

1 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tim Miller I. REVIEW A. The heavens declare the glory of God. Day after day, and night after night, the skies shout the glory of God as revealed in the gospel of Jesus the crucified and risen Messiah, who is coming again to resurrect the dead, reward the righteous, punish the wicked, establish the kingdom of God on the earth, and restore all things. Psalm 9:-4 (NIV) The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech (concerning the gospel); night after night they display knowledge (the knowledge of who God is as made known in the gospel). 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Romans 0:6-8 (NIV) 6 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? (cf. Is. 53:). 7 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message (the gospel) is heard through the word of Christ. 8 But I ask: Did they not hear (the gospel, cf. v. 6)? Of course they did: Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world (quoting Ps. 9:4). B. Because God created the stars to declare His glory, it is a noble pursuit to consider the gospel as it is written in the sky. Like King David, our hearts should overflow with awe and love for God as we consider the message of the skies. Psalm 8 (NIV) O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth (cf. Ps. 9:4 because all people have access to the skies)! You have set your glory above (Heb. al wide range of meaning on, at, upon, among, upwards, on high, against, toward ; YLT who settest thine honour on the heavens ; NET You reveal your majesty in the heavens above ; context favors these, cf. vs. 3 moon and stars ) the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise(cf. Job 33:23-28) because of your enemies (including sin, Satan, and death; cf. Cor. 5:25-27; praise because He has triumphed over these, in accordance with the message in the skies), to silence the foe (Satan, the Accuser? cf. Zech. 3, Rev. 2:0) and the avenger (the death/destroyer angel that carries out God s punishment? cf. Ex. 2:23, 2 Sam. 24:6, Is. 37:36, Ezek. 9, Cor. 0:0, Cor. 5, Heb. 2). 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings (Heb. elohiim gods; cf. Ps. 82) and crowned him with glory and honor (cf. Heb. 2; applied to resurrection of Christ and those in Him). 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet (cf. Leo trampling the fleeing serpent): 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name (covenant faithfulness) in all the earth! C. From ancient times, Satan has tried to obscure the true message of the stars. This should not surprise us, because like the Bible they prophesy about the day of His demise. Throughout history, the nations in their depravity and rebellion have been held captive by the lie that the stars especially the 2 signs of the zodiac control their fate and destiny. However, God is sovereign over the affairs of history. He sets up kingdoms and tears them down. He foils the signs of false prophets and diviners. Isaiah 40:2-23 (NIV)

2 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 2 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning (When God entrusted the true message of the stars to humanity, cf. Rom. )? Have you not understood since the earth was founded (when God put the sun, moon, and stars in the sky, cf. Gen. )? 22 He sits enthroned (has sovereignty and power over) above (on His throne in the highest heaven) the circle of the earth (the perceived circular path of the through the zodiac, or the ecliptic, located in the first heaven below His throne in the highest heaven), and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy (God is the Creator), and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing (God, not the stars and their representative images, is the One truly directing human affairs). Isaiah 44:24-28 (NIV) 24 This is what the LORD says your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, 25 who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners (who use the stars to make predictions on the assumption that they control the fate of human beings), who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense (cf. Dan. 2), 26 who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, It shall be inhabited, of the towns of Judah, They shall be built, and of their ruins, I will restore them, 27 who says to the watery deep, Be dry, and I will dry up your streams, 28 who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, Let it be rebuilt, and of the temple, Let its foundations be laid. (the return from exile being depicted in the sign of Pieces.) D. Last month we talked about how God s righteousness is inextricably bound to His covenant faithfulness. The covenants pertain to God s plan of salvation and redemption. The gospel of our salvation is thus inextricably bound to His faithfulness to His covenants. Our blessed hope is a covenantal hope. In a covenantal context, God s righteousness means God doing and being faithful to what He promised in the covenants. Psalm 40:9-0 (NIV) 9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly (cf. Rev. 7); I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. 0 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. Isaiah 56: (NKJV) Thus says the LORD: Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. Romans :6-7 (NKJV) 6 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 7 For in it the righteousness of God (the covenant faithfulness of God) is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live (then end-game of the covenants the restoration of life in the resurrection) by faith. E. Last month, we also looked at how God s glory, His covenant faithfulness, and the Messiah s mission are intricately interconnected concepts (e.g. Isaiah 40). The zodiac tells the same story as the Bible, in the same sequence. This is because both come from the same Creator! F. Each month, the sun rises and passes through a different sign of the zodiac. The signs of the zodiac symbolically depict different phases of God s redemptive plan, including the covenants. The sun is a prophetic picture of God s glory passing through His covenant promises. Each month as the sun passes through a different house of the zodiac, God is saying to His people, Don t loose heart My people in this age of darkness and death! Keep going! Keep seeking me! For just as faithfully as the sun passes each month through these signs that represent My covenant promises, so too My Son My chosen Messiah will return in glory to restore all things in accordance with My

3 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 covenant faithfulness. It is sure. It will happen. Persevere in faith. Persevere in hope. Persevere in love. G. If you are interested in learning about this in more detail, I encourage you to read Tim Warner, Mystery of the Mazzaroth. He also has a series of teachings on this topic at II. VIRGO THE PROMISES OF THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT A. Virgo is depicted as a woman with a branch in her right hand, and a sheaf of grain/wheat in her left hand. B. Virgo represents the promises of the Abrahamic covenant. C. In ancient Egyptian mythology, Virgo scattered the sheaf of grain, and it became the Milky Way. This is an interesting story in light of Genesis 5, where God asks Abraham to look up and count the stars. D. The promises of the Abrahamic covenant (This Age) Abraham and his seed crafted and made worthy of the inheritance; the work of God s hands in sanctification and preparation.. Bless and preserve Abraham and his seed (quantitatively and qualitatively) unto the formation of a holy, righteous nation worthy of the age to come (Gen. 2:-3, 3:6, 5:5, 2-6, 7:6, 22:7, 26:24, 28:4, 32:2, 35:; 46:2-4; Is. :2-26, 4:2-4, 5:-7, 29:5-24, 45:9, 5:-2, 60:2-22, 64:8; Jer. 3:35-37, Rom. 9:2, :28-29). 2. Administer God s blessing (the Spirit unto life in the resurrection) to the nations in/through Abraham and his seed (Gen. 2:-3, 8:6-7, 22:5-8, 28:4; cf. Is. 44:-5; Rom. 8:0-; Gal. 3:4) 3. Bless Abraham and his seed unto the formation of a holy, righteous community/assembly of nations worthy of the age to come (Gen. 28:-5; Gen. 35:9-5; cf. Rev. 7) The black and white pictures used in this teaching can be found at Ian Ridpath, Star Tales, <h=p:// startales/startales3.htm>; the color pictures can be found at Ian Ridpath, Urania s Mirror, <h=p:// atlases/urania.htm>. The other photos come from Starry Night astronomy sojware.

4 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 E. The promises of the Abrahamic Covenant (The Age to Come) Abraham and his seed receive the inheritance; the work of God s hands in glorification and restoration.. Blessing of the Spirit poured out in Day of Lord unto resurrection of Abraham and his righteous seed from the dead (Gen. 5; cf. Is. 44:-5; Rom. 8:0-; Gal. 3:4) 2. Give Abraham and his righteous seed the land of Israel/earth as an eternal inheritance (Gen. 2:6-7, 3:4-8; 24:7-8; 28:0-7). 3. Appoint and exalt Abraham and his righteous seed governmentally over this holy nation and holy community of nations (Gen. 7; cf. Rom. 4) 4. Administer God s blessings to the nations forever in/through Abraham and his righteous seed forever (Gen. 2:-3, 8:6-7, 22:5-8, 28:4; cf. Is ). F. The administration of the promises to Abraham s seed. Promises given to Abraham 2. Isaac born miraculously 3. Abraham s seed (corporate biological) multiplied in Egypt formation of the nation of Israel 4. Abraham s seed (corporate biological) oppressed in Egypt cry for justice; God s punishes Israel s enemies in the Exodus 5. Abraham s seed (corporate biological) enter into Mosaic Covenant promises now contingent on perfect obedience to God s revealed standard of justice 6. Abraham s seed (corporate biological) fall short of God s standard, unto punishment, expulsion from the land cry for mercy how will the promises be fulfilled? 7. Abraham s seed (singular, biological Messiah) sent into the world 8. Abraham s seed (singular, biological Messiah) obeys the Mosaic Law perfectly 9. Abraham s seed (singular, biological Messiah) receives the eternal promises eternal life, the land, and the kingdom 0.Abraham s seed (singular, biological Messiah) pours out the Spirit on Abraham s seed (corporate, biological, spiritual believing Jews).Abraham s seed (corporate, biological, spiritual believing Jews) are now one with Abraham s seed (singular, biological the Messiah) through the Spirit as His Bride; in him they are made worthy of the eternal inheritance 2.Abraham s seed (believing Jews corporately in the singular seed Messiah) go to the nations; Israel in Christ can now fulfill her calling as a light to the nations 3.Abraham s seed (believing Jews corporately in the singular seed, the Messiah) preach the gospel, and the Spirit comes on the Gentiles 4.Abraham s seed (singular the Messiah) is now one with Spirit-filled Gentiles; therefore, they too as believing Gentiles are now Abraham s seed (non-biologically, but covenantally/ through the Spirit in union with/one with a resurrected biological Jew) 5.Abraham s seed (believing Jews) along with Abraham s seed (believing Gentiles) are in Abraham s seed (Messiah); the Bridegroom with a Bride from all nations 6.Abraham s seed (Jew and Gentile) perseveres through testing at end of the age; cry for mercy on her oppressors 7.Abraham s surviving biological seed (Jews) repent and turn to Jesus (mystery completed; Rom. ) 8.Abraham s seed (singular the Messiah) returns, and resurrects Abraham s seed from Israel and Abraham s seed from the nations they inherit the earth forever 9.In the resurrection, Abraham and his seed inherit the earth forever. Christ inherits the promises, and we inherit them with him as co-heirs. 20.Jerusalem/Israel becomes the capital and praise of the earth under Jesus leadership. Revelation 2:-5 (NIV) A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun (sun rising in Virgo), with the moon (new moon)under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth (to the Messiah, through whom

5 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 the covenants would be fulfilled). 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. 4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. Genesis 37:9-0 (NIV) 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. Listen, he said, I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me. 0 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you? Deuteronomy 28:, 2-4 (NIV) If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God 2 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 3 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 4 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them. Isaiah 62:-3(NIV) For Zion s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. 2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. 3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. III. LIBRA GOD S STANDARD OF JUSTICE AS REVEALED IN THE MOSAIC LAW A. Libra is represented a set of scales used for weights and measurements. B. Scales are a symbol for justice and judgment. God evaluates kingdom s on the basis of His standard of judgment. Daniel 5:22-28 (NIV)

6 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6 22 But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. 25 This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin. 26 This is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 27 Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. 28 Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. C. God s righteous standard of justice was revealed on Mt. Siani when He gave His Law on Mt. Siani. Leviticus 9:35-37 (NIV) 35 Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. 36 Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. 37 Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the LORD. Deuteronomy 4:7-8 (NIV) 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? 9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. IV. SCORPIO THE WILDERNESS WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL (STING OF SIN) A. Scorpio is depicted as a scorpion. B. Scorpions are usually associated with the desert. Though many technically aren t poisonous, the poison of many scorpions is strong enough to cause death. C. Scorpio represents the wilderness wanderings of Israel and the deadly sting of sin. Israel quickly fell short of God s righteous standards as expressed in the Mosaic Covenant, and a whole generation experienced the sting of death because of their rebellion against God.

7 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 7 Deuteronomy 8:,5 (NIV) Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 5 He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. Deuteronomy 2:4-6 (NIV) 4 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them. 5 The LORD s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp. 6 Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died Corinthians 5:54-56 (NIV) 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. V. SAGITTARIUS THE ARCHER THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN UNDER JOSHUA A. Sagittarius is depicted as a mighty archer going forth in battle with drawn bow and a victor s crown before him B. Sagittarius represents Israel s conquest of the land under Joshua. Genesis 49:22-26 (NIV) 22 Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. 23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. 24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of your father s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. 26 Your father s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers (NKJV on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers ). Numbers 3:8,6 (NIV)

8 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8 8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun 6 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.) VI. CAPRICORN THE PROMISES OF THE DAVIDIC COVENANT A. Capricorn is depicted as a goat with a fish s tail B. Capricorn represents the Davidic Covenant.The ancient synagogue zodiacs called this sign En Gedi. En Gedi was an elevated, mountainous terrain full of steady-footed mountain goats. It was one of the places where David was fashioned by God into a king worthy of leading Israel. Samuel 23:29-24:-2 (NIV) 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi. 24:After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, David is in the Desert of En Gedi. 2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. C. The Davidic Covenant 2 Samuel 7:-3 (NIV) The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 2 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 3 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Isaiah :-5 (NIV) A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. Jeremiah 33:4-6 (NIV) 4 The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 5 In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 6 In

9 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9 those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. D. En Gedi to be transformed into a Garden Paradise under the Son of David Ezekiel 47:7-0 (NIV) 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8 He said to me, This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 0 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds like the fish of the Great Sea. VII.AQUARIUS THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY A. Aquarius is depicted as a strong man holding an urn, with the southern fish being gathered up into the urn B. Aquarius represents Nebuchadnezzar taking the southern tribe of Judah captive Habakkuk :2-7 (NIV) 2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, Violence! but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. 5 Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. 6 I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. 7 They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour; 9 they all come bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. 0 They deride kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; they build earthen ramps and capture them. Then they sweep past like the wind and go on guilty men, whose own strength is their god. 2 O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish. 3 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;

10 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0 you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? 4 You have made men like fish in the sea, like sea creatures that have no ruler. 5 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad. 6 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. 7 Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? VIII.PISCES THE RETURN FROM EXILE A. Pisces is depicted as two fish - the northern fish and the southern fish tied to bands/cords B. Pisces represents segments of Jews from the northern tribes and the southern tribes being brought back to Israel Ezra :-4 (NIV) In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: 2 This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Anyone of his people among you may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem. Isaiah 46 (NIV) Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden.the images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. 2 They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. 3 Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. 4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. 5 To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? 6 Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. 7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles. 8 Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former

11 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me (cf. Is. 40:25ff). 0 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. 2 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. 3 I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel. Hosea :3-4 (NKJV) 3 I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms (out of Egypt, cf. v. :;); But they did not know that I healed them. 4 I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them (bands of love picture of God removing foreign yoke of foreign oppression though in this context referring to the Exodus). IX. ARIES THE LAMB OF GOD SLAIN FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD A. Aries is depicted as a ram B. Aries represents the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sin of the world John :29-3 (NIV) 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. 3 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.

12 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 X. TAURUS THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY A. Taurus is an ox pulling a heavy load B. Taurus represents the ministry of the apostles and the gospel going forth to the nations. Some have seen in Taurus a charging bull. Taurus is not a charging bull, but an ox straining as he pulls a very heavy load. An ox is a domesticated bull, trained since he was a calf to pull heavy loads and obey the commands of his driver. This is the perfect representation of the Apostolic ministry. 2 Corinthians 9:2-2 (NIV) 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? 8 Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 0 Surely he says this for us, doesn t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 2 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn t we have it all the more? 2 Chronicles 4:2-4 (NIV) 2 He made the Sea (Heb. yawm ) of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it. 3 Below the rim, figures of bulls encircled it ten to a cubit. The bulls were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea. 4 The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. 2 Tim Warner, Mystery of the Mazzaroth, 58.

13 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 XI. GEMINI THE TWINS JEWISH AND GENTILE BELIEVERS BOUND TOGETHER IN CHRIST AS ONE NEW MAN A. Gemini depicts two twins bound to one another in a brotherly embrace B. Gemini represents Jew and Gentile bound together as one new man in Christ Ephesians 2:-22 (ESV) Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands 2 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 3 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 4 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 5 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 6 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 7 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 8 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 9 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 2 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

14 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 XII.CANCER THE ANTI-CHRIST EMPIRE A. Cancer is depicted as crab B. The Crab depicts the Anti-Christ empire that will arise just before Jesus returns Leviticus :9-0 (NIV) 9 Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. 0 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water you are to detest. Isaiah :2-4 (NIV) 2 Oh, the raging of many nations they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples they roar like the roaring of great waters! 3 Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale. 4 In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us. Zechariah 2:2-3 (NIV) 2 I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. Daniel 7:2-3,23-27 (NIV) 2 Daniel said: In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea. 23 He gave me this explanation: The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. 26 But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be

15 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him. Revelation 3: (NIV) And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. XIII. LEO THE SECOND COMING AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE LION OF JUDAH A. Leo is depicted as a lion trampling the fleeing serpent Hydra B. Leo represents the triumph of the Lion of Judah at the Second Coming

16 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6 Genesis 49:8-2 (NIV) 8 Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father s sons will bow down to you. 9 You are a lion s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness who dares to rouse him? 0 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 2 His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk (NIV note - Or will be dull from wine, / his teeth white from milk). Revelation 5:5 (NIV) Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. Isaiah 26:20-27: (NIV) 20 Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. 2 See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer. 27: In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent (represented by Hydra, the seven-headed serpent, under the foot of Leo), Leviathan the coiling serpent (represented by Draco, which coils around the north celestial pole); he will slay the monster of the sea. C. The twisted (coiled) serpent, represented by Draco, appears to be threatening the constellation known as Ursa Major (the Great Bear), commonly referred to as the Big Dipper, chasing it counterclockwise around the celestial North Pole. The English Bible refers to this constellation as Arcturus and his sons (KJV), or the Great Bear with its cubs (NKJV). But these are interpretations, not literal translations. In context, God was certainly speaking about constellations. Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs? The Hebrew word aish, rendered Arcturus or Great Bear, literally means an assembly. The Hebrew text refers to the

17 Session 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 7 constellation we call the Big Dipper as the assembly with its sons. And this is whom Draco the twisted serpent is poised to strike. In the New Testament, both the words synagogue and Church mean an assembly. It is clear that Draco, who has positioned himself on the farthest sides of the north, is threatening the assembly of believers. Ursa Minor also appears threatened. It seems the former refers to the Gentile majority and the latter to the Jewish minority with the body of the redeemed. 3 3 Warner, Mystery of the Mazzaroth, 8.