PROPHECY IN THE HEAVENS

Many are finding the stars of interest today. Astrology is forbidden to the Believer, but Astronomy is encouraged. Reading Job 38:31-32 sheds some light on this topic. It says:

These questions were rhetorical, God's response to Job when Job questioned God's actions. God is seen to be asking Job, "Who are you anyway Job, to question My ways? Did you create the heavens and all that is in them, or did I"? You see, God did indeed bring forth Mazzaroth. The Mazzaroth was the name used in the Old Testament for what we now know as the Zodiac. Genesis 1:14 explains the importance of the Mazzaroth to us. It explains that in the fourth day God gave us the lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and He ordained them to be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years. They were designed not only to light our world and chart our time, but also as indicators for the timing of events which were to be prophesied in the days ahead.

The world has fallen prey through the ages to the worship of creation rather than the Creator. II Kings 23:5 tells us that the kings of Judah had ordained the burning of incense unto Baal and to the sun, and the moon, and the planets, and all the host of heaven, and that the idolatrous priests of that time complied. Today New Agers bow down to Gaia (the Earth goddess) and worship Mother Earth, and consult the occult to find out what the future holds by viewing the relationship of the stars and planets to our time of birth. It is a pseudo-"science" called Astrology, a form of divination which is strictly forbidden to God's children in Deuteronomy 18:10 and many other Biblical passages. As Christians we are not to seek to know your future. We are to focus upon God and allow Him to lead us as He chooses, trusting Him for all of our tomorrows and all that we will find packaged within them. We are, however, told to observe the signs of the times, and admonished to be aware of His plan for mankind and the timing thereof.

In Luke's writing of the Olivet Discourse, Luke 21:11 states:

Luke 21:25 continues:

In Matthew 16:3 the Lord rebuked the Pharisees and the Saducees because they could only read the most basic of signs of the sky (that red sky meant fair weather; but red and lowering meant foul weather), but they could not discern the signs of the TIMES. It is obvious that there was more that they were to know regarding the signs of the heavens as it related to God's plan, yet it has been all but lost to our dispensation.

Isaiah 40:26 and Psalm 147:4 tells us that every star is named by God. In the Milky Way alone, there are 100 thousand million stars. It would take us 2500 years just to count them at the rate of per second. Do you think that they may be important to Him, and that through His naming of them He is indicating their importance to us? The Mazzaroth is divided into twelve segments called zones or houses, each one having it's own sign. The signs used in the Zodiac today, are basically the same as the original signs in the Mazzaroth. Some nations (such as China) have their own version of the Zodiac that varies, but most nations use the one we have come to know in this country.

Historical evidence shows that Adam, Seth, and Enoch studied astronomy, and understood God's ,plan for the ages as disclosed in the heavens. Truly, the mystery of God in all of this is breathtaking. Even pagan mythology is based loosely upon the Mazzaroth in Satan's twisted style. Indeed mythology appears to be the world's version OF the plan of God which was written in the heavens.

Judges 5:20 tells us that the stars in their courses fought Sisera. Since stars obviously cannot literally fight, this must have been a figurative indication that the heavens spelled out the message in the sky. Now this was in about 1250 B.C., and presumably written by Samuel, so the wisdom of the heavens was apparently understood by him at that time.

Let's take a look at a constellation of stars known in Astronomy as Orion. In the book The Gospel in the Stars by Joseph A. Seiss, we read: "... This constellation is also significant because of a Talmudic tradition related to it. For it is said that if a comet ever passes through the constellation of Orion, the earth would be destroyed". Now isn't it interesting that one of the largest comets known to man (Hale-Bopp) traveled through Orion beginning with Passover and ending at Pentecost in 1997? (It traveled from there into an area of the heavens known by Egyptians as Duat, located between Orion and Leo, where the souls of the departed are said to hope to go!) The tradition continues that were it not for the heat of Orion the world could not endure the cold of Pleiades; and were it not for the cold of Pleiades, the world could not endure the heat of Orion.

We are also told that Hale-Bopp has visited our planet before. Some say it was about 3600 years ago, in the days of Noah, shortly before the God's chosen ones made their exodus from captivity to the promised land. Matthew 24:37 tells us that these end days will be as the days of Noah, and again God's chosen ones are promised an exodus from the captivity of this worldly existence to the promised land He has provided for us. Now isn't that coincidental?

The Mazzaroth can be quite interesting. Within it are twelve sections called houses, each containing a sign constellation and three sub constellations. Thus, there are four constellations in each house, and twelve houses, for a total of 48 constellations in the Mazzaroth. Orion (for instance) is one of the constellations in the house of Taurus. The twelve signs of the Mazzaroth create a circle story of God's plan for the ages, supplemented as well by the additional constellations. The Sphinx is a composite of two figures, the head of a woman and the body of a lion. The word Sphinx means "to bind closely". The head of the woman actually represents the starting point of the Mazzaroth circle story with the house of Virgo the woman, and the end of the story is represented by the lion portion of the Sphinx, which represents the house of Leo the lion. So, let's begin the circle story with Virgo.

• House #1
  Virgo is the virgin who bears a son to save mankind. Yeshua is His name.
  
  
• House #2
  Libra signifies the weight of the sins of the world upon the shoulders of Christ and the price He had to pay to redeem us.
  
  
• House #3
  Scorpio introduces Satan. The scorpion is a form of serpent, and represents the enemy of all that Yeshua comes to accomplish. The word Scorpio even means conflict or war. This is the one who is to bruise the heel of the seed of the woman per Genesis 3:15 mentioned above. (Note the constellation of Ophiuchus is found in this house, representing Christ with his foot held over the head of the scorpion of Scorpio which is poised to strike His foot.)
  
  
• House #4
  Sagitarius is the man on horseback who is seen to be drawing a bow with the arrow aimed directly at Scorpio, the serpent. Psalm 45:4-5 tells us that He rides in majesty, prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness, and that His right hand shall teach thee terrible things. His arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under Him.
  
  
• House #5
  Capricorn is a compilation of both a dying goat (the sin offering Aaron was to sacrifice on the Day of Atonement and a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Christ for our sin) and a thriving fish (which represents the church that is created due to the death of the goat).
  
  
• House #6
  Aquarius is a man pouring water from an urn. Capricorn was the picture of atonement for the church, and now the resurrected and living Christ is pouring out the living water of the Holy Spirit upon the redeemed of mankind. The constellations are arranged in such a manner that the water is pouring directly into the mouth of Piscis Australis, which is a constellation of a fish in this house.
  
  
• House #7
  Pisces is a picture of two identical fish tied together with a band which joins their tails. One fish points West, and the other points North. Some say the fish pointing North is the "church" which is to be raptured while the one pointing west represents Israel (the Jewish counterpart to the "church") which remains behind at the Pretribulational Rapture. I personally do not share this opinion. There are many signs that could have represented Israel here, but we have TWO FISH, and FISH represent the CHURCH. I believe this has been distorted recently because those who believe that the entire church will be raptured together simply don't know how else to explain it. I believe it to be further proof that the apostate and unprepared portion of the church will have their eyes on the world rather than being focused on God, and will still be here while the "glorified" portion of the church (the portion which was prepared per Matthew 25:1-13 and watching and waiting for their Bridegroom's coming and living for Him when He comes) will be taken home first as the First Fruits Bride. The band which joins the tails of these two fish indicates that they will ultimately be reunited, as they are still one church. It is also notable that one of the nearby constellations is Cepheus (a sea monster which represents Satan). He is trying to pull the two fish apart, and succeeds in keeping the fish which points West from going home with the fish pointing North. (Note, Andromeda is another constellation associated with Pisces. It is of a woman chained and ravaged, representing the treatment of the Church in this world until taken home by our beloved Lord.)
  
  
• House #8
  Aries is the ram. It was originally a lamb, but the Romans changed it because they believed a ram to be much more noble than a lamb. The lamb was to represent Christ. He is peacefully at rest, and the layout of the constellations shows that one foreleg of this Lamb of God is placed over the band of the two fishes of Pisces, as though He is watching over those whom He loves.
  
  
• House #9
  Taurus is the bull or ox. He is rushing forth with mighty wrath. (It is significant that Orion is in this house). Taurus is of a species referred to in Scripture as Pheem or a "unicorn"! This is not the one-horned sweet horsies we see now (thanks to Satan's depiction of them in the New Age movement). It is a member of the OX family, and is wild, untameable (even when taken very young), and EXTREMELY FIERCE. He is larger than an elephant, and will charge anyone or anything with impunity. Job 39:10 says, "Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow?" ... It is a rhetorical question, as people then understood that this was impossible. Isaiah 34:7 warns that the unicorn shall come down with them, ... and the land shall be soaked with blood. Taurus is judgment and wrath poured out upon the earth during the Tribulation.
  
  
• House #10
  Gemini is two men of war who are twins. Here though, they are not battling, but embracing one another, and walking together in peace. They represent the united kingdoms of Judah and Israel in the Millennial Kingdom. Isaac and Ishmael may even be united as one family. This cannot happen at the hand of man no matter how promising the "Peace Process" looks from time to time. God's Word is the final word on the subject, and it says that this will not be possible until the return of our Lord and Savior to rule and reign as King Yeshua in the Millennial Kingdom. PRAISE GOD!
  
  
• House #11
  Cancer is the picture of a crab. The raptures have occurred, and the entire body of Christ stands before the Bema Judgment Seat of Yeshua. Those who will enter the Millennial Kingdom with Him find that their bodies are now changed to bodies which cannot be harmed, even as the crab requires a shell to cover his vulnerability. In this life, we put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new (Colossians 3:9) but then we will shed the restraints of these bodies and be reclothed in our new immortal bodies.
  
  
• House #12
  Leo is the Lion of Judah, poised in consummated victory. He is ready to pounce upon His prey, and His feet are over the serpent of the constellation Hydra. The Millennial Kingdom is behind us, and the day of judgment has come! The wicked will not escape Him. I Corinthians 15:2-28 will have been completed. Christ will have delivered up the Kingdom to God the Father, and He will return to Him the rule, authority, and power which has been allotted to Him until all enemies have been conquered. At this time, it will be acknowledged that this has been accomplished. Yeshua will have completed the task of putting all things under His feet, and totally destroying the enemy. The last casualty is death itself. Upon this judgment, the circle is complete, the Eternal Kingdom is at hand, and God will again be "all in all".

Now let no man say God's signature is upon the heavens!!!

Also worth noting: We have had three virtually total lunar eclipses (eclipses of the moon), each six months apart. They all happened to be full (Lavanah) Moons, and all just happened to fall on Lord's Feasts, the first on Passover, the second on the Eve of the Feast of Tabernacles (Erev (Hag HaSuccoth), and the third on the Feast of Purim (March 23, 1997), which just happened to be the day that Hale-Bopp was nearest the earth and most clearly visible (even to the naked eye), making a most SPECTACULAR display in the sky! It just happened that this third lunar eclipse was a 92% eclipse, leaving a tiny rim of white at the top as though something (blood?) was being poured out, (for all three of these eclipses just happened to turn the moon blood red). We are told of this type of moon in Joel 2:30-32. This passage of Joel also tells us that the sun shall be turned into darkness. On March 9, 1997 there just happened to be a total solar eclipse (eclipse of the sun) in Mongolia and western Russia, which just happened to turn the sun as black as sackcloth, while Hale-Bopp glowed brightly against the daytime sky! This passage also mentions wonders in the heavens and the earth (as in the appearance of) blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. It just happened that the recent surge of volcanic action worldwide has repeatedly painted portraits of these very wonders against the sky. It just happened that there was also a fourth lunar eclipse, six months from the previous one. It just happened that this made three six month intervals in the spacing of these lunar eclipses, (666). It just happened that this fourth eclipse also occurred at full moon, and it just happened that it too caused the moon to turn blood red. It just happened that this eclipse occurred on September 16, 1997, midway through the days of Teshuvah (repentance) during the month of Elul. (Recall that this is the month when mankind is also being cautioned by the sounding of the shofar each day to repent and draw near to the Lord!)

The year 1997 began a new lunar cycle which initiated a strange phenomenon. The sun was just below the horizon, clothing the constellation Bethulah (Virgo the Virgin) with light. The new moon moved directly to the feet of Bethulah within 24 hours. Over head, Bethulah was crowned with a constellation of twelve stars known as "Bernice's Hair". Near her legs was Draco, the constellation of the Dragon, poised to consume the child she would deliver (the new moon to move beneath her feet).

Just prior to the birth of Yeshua (Shiloh), the stars proclaimed His first coming in a most spectacular way, from the sceptre between the feet of Judah (Genesis 49:10) in Leo, to the star in the east (Matthew 2:1-9). Might God not precede His second coming with such signs (Luke 21:25), allowing us just a short space (maybe as much as 7 to 10 years) to draw our loved ones into right relationship with Him between His signs and His coming?

In the Antiquities of the Jews (3:7:7) Josephus indicates that the seven lamps upon the candlesticks (menorahs) refer to the "course of the planets". (The sun and the moon were also referred to as planets then.) The concept of seven major lights in heaven aligning has since been referred to as the "heavenly menorah". In Revelation 1:13-20 we find that the seven candlesticks are the churches. Could there be a symbolic link between the two references? Now a rare event will occurred during advent in December 1997, as all seven planets and the moon could be seen at once in the sky for a seven day period.

However, on May 5, 2000 A.D., It just happened that we saw the alignment of Venus, Mercury, the Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and the Moon. It just happened that they were found in the midst of the constellations of Aries (the Lamb of God) and Taurus (His judgment). Just as Josephus saw this alignment in the first century, it will just happened to occur again in the year 2000.

It may also be significant that the planet Saturn (known as the "Grim Reaper" just happened to enter the house of Taurus (the House of Wrath) in the year 2000, and just happened to proceed through the constellations that complete the circle story of the Mazzaroth through the year 2007. Saturn carries with him a sickle, and is prophetically linked to the harvest of the wicked in Revelation 14:17-20. This should not be confused with the in gathering harvest of the balance of the "church" (the 2nd rapture) noted in verses 14-16. Remember that these are two separate harvests in Revelation 14.

It is important to recall that the first of these harvests, (as seen in verses 17-20) is the harvest of the Believers that were not among the First Fruits offering. This occurs when He returns at Rosh HaShannah to take them home. Note that chapters 12-14 of Revelation are an overview, and the timing cannot be seen here. To find the timing for the return of Christ for the Believers who were left behind we can go to Revelation 16:15 when the Lord says again:

This occurs with the distribution of the fifth vial. God's judgment upon the earth will almost have been completed at this time, and we will NOT want to be here until then!!! The evil spirits are just now being released to begin to convince the kings to gather themselves against Israel for the battle of Armageddon at this time. The time of Jacob's trouble for the last three and one-half years of Tribulation will be consumed in the process of the world wanting to rid itself of Israel!

It is the SECOND angel of Revelation 14:17-20, however, that we want to take note of here. It is he who is seen as the "Grim Reaper", and it is he who will settle the score with the "grapes of wrath". This angel will not harvest any Believers (the wheat) now, as they are all in heaven. Nor does he harvest any who are of Jacob's Hebrew blood lineage, as they must be left here to stand before the Sheep and Goats judgment. He comes strictly to harvest those who have been found to have no redemptive value. They are the unbelieving of the nations. They are not of Hebrew descent, and by choosing not to believe upon Yeshua as redeemer, they are seen as rejecting God. They are seen in their state of insufficiency to be grapes and fit only for destruction because they were not protected by either the blood of Jacob's lineage or by the blood of Yeshua. The angel is now told that these grapes are ripe, and they are harvested and thrown into the winepress of the wrath of God.

No Believer has to be here to face the trials ahead during this time of incredible wrath, but merely wearing the tag of "Christian" does NOT mean that you won't be here then! Many verses indicate that the "church" will not all be taken home at the same time. Only if we are yielded to the will of God in our lives, allowing Him to live and work through us (living a life of active faith), watching and waiting upon our blessed Lord's return, and praying always to be found worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass (Luke 21:36), will we be ready to go to meet Him at the "appointed time" (prior to the onset of the Tribulation)! This appears to be His promise to those of the "church" who would keep the Word of His patience, (i.e. that we could be taken, just as Enoch was taken because we walked with God!) Note that does NOT MEAN that we would be taken because our label as "Christians" indicated that we SHOULD be walking with God or because as "Christians" we CLAIM to be walking with God. It means that Yeshua looked down, judged our fruit trees, and FOUND THAT WE WERE walking with God, so He took us! Will you be counted as walking with God when He comes? Will you be taken to the Bridal chamber prepared for us, (and enjoy the companionship of the Bridegroom in heavenly places, OR will you endure the horrors of the Tribulation to come upon the earth during that time? Believers AWAKEN! Be overcomers now, not DURING the time of Tribulation ahead for the world, but should you be left behind, be sure you overcome before you stand before Christ at the Bema Judgment seat!!! AWAKEN, the time is at hand, He is even at the first of the doors (Matthew 24:33 and Mark 13:29)! May God bless hearts, and enlighten spiritual vision as these concepts are studied!