The History of Blood Moon Tetrads and Jerusalem

History of Biblical Astronomy

Passover Blood Moon on April 4th 2015

The upcoming Passover Blood Moon on April 4th, 2015 is the third Blood Moon in the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015. As the first full moon two weeks after the Total Solar Eclipse at the North Pole, on March 20th, Nisan 1 and the Spring Equinox, it marks not only the opening of the ecclesiastical year in Israel, but also the midpoint in both the Hebrew Sabbatical year of 2014-2015, and the Blood Moon Tetrad over the same period. When we consider that there has never been a Total Solar Eclipse at the North Pole in the history of timekeeping in the Hebrew Calendar, we can see that this upcoming Passover/Easter Blood Moon is most certainly a unique one. As we consider the Total Solar eclipse on Nisan 1, we should recall that it also coincides with the Dedication of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. But, the April 4th Passover Blood Moon, commemorates not only the first Passover of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt, but also the Sabbath Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. This speaks loudly that the ministry of Jesus Christ was designed to fulfill the OT Law, including every aspect of the Passover Lamb’s sacrifice, not only for Israel, but all mankind also. With added importance, we see the revelation for this plan of the Tabernacle of Moses foreshadowing the blueprint for the Jerusalem Temple, as the ministry of the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek is energized in Christ. We find the Biblical precedent for this in Hebrews 8;

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, said he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. [Exod. 25]

This is a key verse indicating a heavenly Jerusalem. Thus, the plan of the earthly Tabernacle and Temple is a physical model of the original Temple of God in Heaven, and the earthly city of Jerusalem is based on the Holy City of God in Heaven. God’s City below is designed to reflect the one aboveThe New Jerusalem, [Rev.21]. As God occupies His throne in the heavenly Temple above, so the Creator revealed Himself to His chosen people in the earthly Temple below. This also explains the celestial symbolism that God designed into Hebrew Temple and Tabernacle structure, revealing the Creator’s Intelligent Design in the beginning of the world. God planned it so in the Millennial reign of Christ, the earthly Temple would receive all people through the High Priest Jesus Christ, to be spiritually nourished by the Heavenly Father, through the mediator-Jesus Christ. [Isa. 2:2-4]In this future New Jerusalem God’s Shechinah Glory is again revealed, and a spirit of fellowship restored. Here the Kingdom of God, Creator of all, is revealed to the world, and all people will come to worship and serve Him. Here everyone may be purified of sin and can stand before God in righteousness, since Jesus has paid the debt for our sins. This future Holy Temple, embodies the relationship each Christian believer can now enjoy with the Heavenly Father through the Lord Jesus Christ, as we pour out our hearts in prayer before God, and sing before God at His altar. Here we worship, acknowledging God’s constant, ever-present and unfathomable Love[I Cor. 3:9-23, Heb. 9:11-28]

History of Blood Moon Tetrads and Jerusalem Blood Moon images 2015 – Bing images

Image result for blood moon images 2015

Over the last 2000 years the history of Blood Moon Tetrads starting with Peter’s Sermon opening the Age of Grace, [Acts 2:20] has seen a steady progression of Bible Prophecy related to Israel, being fulfilled at increasing levels. We have seen prophecies of the Jerusalem Temple’s Destruction spoken by Jesus, marked with Blood Moons fulfilled around 70 AD. We witnessed the dispersion of the Jews around the world, as we have seen the Jews return to a reformed State of Israel in 1948-1950, marked by a Blood Moon Tetrad. In 1967-68 we saw the 6-day war with Egypt, when Jerusalem was first reclaimed under Israel’s control, also marked by a Blood Moon Tetrad, all leading to the next logical step of prophecies to re-build a Third Jerusalem Temple. A chart of the Blood Moon Tetrads over the last 2000 years is available in our blog post on the Biblical Blood Moon Calendar.

The rebirth of the State of Israel has given rise to hopes for a re-built Jerusalem Temple as a guiding light for the nation of Israel. This is indeed the pattern displayed when we view both world history and the Blood Moon Tetrads over the last 2000 years. With each conflict in the Middle East involving Israel, it seems they draw nearer in proximity to the Temple Mount. As this pattern of Biblical Prophecy proceeds to its inevitable conclusion, their progress will take them past the current boundary of the Western Wall. From the first days of the Temple in Jerusalem, it has been the center of the spiritual and national life of Israel. As the Temple embodied the center of royal authority for Davidic rule, so it held the seat of the High Priest, as the center of all spiritual ceremony and authority. Thus, we stand at the precipice of a crisis point in the history of the holy Land.

In the glory days of Kings David and Solomon-the building of the First Temple – transformed the holy city into the spiritual center of the world. Since the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 AD, Israel has awaited the coming of the Third Temple, to fulfill the words of the Prophet Isaiah:

Isa. 2:2-3 “And it shall come to pass in the last days. that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established at the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all of the nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come. and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. and he will teach us of his ways, and we shall walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of God from Jerusalem.

There are many groups working to ensure that everything needed to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple is ready when the time presents itself. For example there are Schools of the Talmud in Jerusalem teaching many students the details of Temple service. Other groups are researching the genealogy of priestly lines to perform sacrificial rites, while others are ensuring all the implements of daily worship and sacrifice are in place. Of these groups the Temple Institute, may be the most zealous.

The Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat

Even as the nationof Israel under Moses crossed the Sinai, in their exodus out of the bondage of Egypt, God told them hey must :”Build me a Temple and I shall dwell amongst you.” (Exodus 25:2)As the Almighty revealed Himself to His people in the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple at Jerusalem, it took place in the Holy of the Holies or God’s Throne-room. This is known in the Temple as the Mercy Seat which  covered the Ark of the Covenant. As Hebrews 9 tells us below, the Cherubim were stationed  on top of the Mercy-seat over-shadowing the throne of the Almighty, Who dwelt “between the Cherubim.” [Ex. 25:22].

And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.So what is the link between the Total Solar Eclipse at the North Pole on Nisan 1 marking the dedication of the Tabernacle in the wilderness?As Job 22:12 says; Is not God in the height of Heaven? And behold the highest of the stars, how high are they?This Biblical imagery of the highest stars of heaven is found again in Isaiah 14, as Isaiah discusses the circumstances surrounding the Fall of Lucifer.

Isa. 14:13-14
“For you have said in your heart I will ascend into heaven
I will exalt my throne above the Star-God
I will sit on the Mount of the Congregation on the farthest sides of the North
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds
I will be like the Most High…”

As we saw above in Isa. 2, the Lord’s house or celestial Temple is located in the highest of mountain tops, even as the Temple Mount holds the earthly Temple, [Isa. 51:16].  Also God Himself is referred to as the Highest of all Stars, that Lucifer desired to exalt his throne above. Isaiah also tells us that this Mount of the Congregation is located in the highest recesses of the North, even above the celestial North Pole. As the unprecedented March 20th, Total Solar eclipse over the North Pole depicts, we find the Almighty over-shadowing all Creation from the power of His throne room in heaven, which He reveals in no uncertain terms, in the fast approaching Apocalypse.

Psalm 91:1 He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty.

As we have a front row seat to witness all the Blood Moon Tetrads and other heavenly signs and events, leading to the greatest redemption in human history, with our deliverance from the darkness and bondage of this world, we are encouraged that no earthly or spiritual power can overcome our Almighty Heavenly Father, although the deceivers will surely attempt to make us think they can!

As II Thess. 2:2-4 tells us; 2 “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come except there come a departure first,. and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God, sits in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

This man of sin or the Anti-Christ, will do the bidding of his father who is the devil, even as we have seen in Lucifer’s heart above. Since the Almighty is showing us so clearly in the tapestry of the stars, in concert with the written testimony of  Scripture, that His un-alterable Will is indeed coming to pass before our eyes, we have no excuse to be sucked in by what any deceiver can say or do. Let us rejoice- “Hosanna in the Highest,” as the popular Easter refrain tells us, that we serve the risen Savior of the world, the only begotten of the Father, and no power exists that can prevent the truth of God’s Word from coming to pass Just as He spoke it.

 

March 20th Total Solar Eclipse at the North Pole

NaturalLaw

March 20th Total Solar Eclipse at the North Pole

According to many Bible historians, the pattern of Blood Moon Tetrads falling on Hebrew feasts points to deep significance of our current times in 2014-2015. Prior to the April 4th Passover Blood Moon, an unprecedented Total Solar Eclipse will occur on March 20th, the Spring Equinox. This also marks the beginning of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the first month in their ecclesiastical year, at the midpoint of the Shemitah year on the Hebrew Calendar. Any total solar eclipse reaching the rarefied air of the North Pole is unique, and the path of this Total Solar Eclipse follows exact tracking that ends at the North Pole, putting it within eclipse totality for about 2 minutes. A total solar eclipse at the North Pole on the Spring Equinox takes place about once every 100 centuries, but it has never happened on Nisan 1 in Hebrew Timekeeping, especially when combined with a Super-moon, putting this Total Solar eclipse in a class by itself. The Almighty is obviously trying to get our attention when He shows us unique heavenly signs like this, so what is the big deal about a Total Solar eclipse at the North Pole?

Figure 1. The Astronomical and Geographic Poles

Astronomical versus geographical Poles
Earth’s Geographic Poles in relation to Ecliptical and Equatorial Poles

In Biblical Astronomy, there is great significance attached to the North Pole, which we will explore in this Blood Moon Blog post. As this Total Solar Eclipse marks not only the center point of the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, but also the center point of the Shemitah Year on the Hebrew Calendar, it is noteworthy indeed! To understand the importance of the North Pole in this context, we need to take a detailed look at the primary constellations in the northern sky and their Biblical star names to see the story they tell. Isaiah 14 below describes the fall of Lucifer from heaven, which is depicted in the zodiac sign Draco at the astronomical North Pole, seen below in Figure 1.

Isaiah 14:12

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

The demise of Lucifer is depicted in a key way with the astronomical mechanism known as the precession of the poles, in the star Thuban: alpha draconis, the brightest star in Draco the dragon, the original pole star. The precession of the poles is indicative of Lucifer’s demise, because the pole star has moved from Draco, and now resides near Polaris, or Al Ruccaba of the “little flock” of Ursa Minor. This pole star between the feet of the crowned king Cepheus, depicts Jesus Christ in at least two ways. First, as the prominent king, and new Chief Cornerstone, since Cepheus is the crowned king at the North Pole, even as Regulus the king star, is between the feet of Leo, the Lion king of Judah; [Gen.49:10]. Cepheus also means ” the branch” and is depicted as a king holding a branch at the northern pole, [Jer. 23:5, 33:15]. Secondly, and with spiritual hindsight, he is the head of his spiritual body, the Church. God put all things under Christ’s feet, indicating his seven-fold lordship over all Creation; [Eph. 1:20-23]. The exception to this, of course is God Himself, Who Christ ultimately subjects himself to; [I Cor. 15:27-28], avoiding the pitfall of Lucifer’s ego when he tried to take the Creator’s place. As God’s Name implies, there can only be One Almighty God! E.W. Bullinger refers to this precession of the North pole and Al Ruccaba specifically as follows:

 “Although the star does not revolve like the others, the central point in the heavens is very slowly but steadily moving. When these constellations were formed the Dragon possessed this important point, and the star alpha, in Draco, marked this central point. But by its gradual recession, that point is sufficiently near this star Ruccaba, in the Lesser Sheepfold, (Ursa Minor) for it to be what is called “the Polar Star.” But how could it have been known five or six thousand years ago? How could it have been known when it received its name, which means the turned or ridden on? That it was known is clear: so likewise was it made known in the written Word that the original blessing included not merely the multiplication of the seed of the faithful Abraham, but it was then added, “And thy seed shall possess the gate of thy enemies,”1 [Gen. 22:17].

   This is an obvious indicator of the accuracy of these God-inspired star names [Ps. 147:4], dating back to antiquity, showing God’s divine insight in the heavenly gospel  from the beginning. This is also a point we have already come upon, that the purpose of the Revelatory Astronomy of God stands in juxtaposition to the evolutionary theories governing modern scientific Astronomy. Bullinger’s reference also shows the witness of the stars in concert with that of the Scriptures that is a consistent testimony throughout this study, and a major theme of our blog and web-site.

 This stellar transition of the pole star reflects an aspect of the transition of power from the fallen Morning star, who presided over ten categories of precious stones, representing angels [Ezek. 28:14], to the Risen Morning Star [Rev. 22:16], presiding over 12 categories of precious stones, as the High Priest representing the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 signs of the zodiac, and later perhaps the 12 apostles at the foundations of the Age of Grace.

Fig. 1a. The Precession of the Poles

Fig. ia. The precession of the north polestar, from Thuban to Polaris over the last 5,000 years.
triple planetary conjuction

As the high priest after the order of Melchisedek, Jesus inherits his double square breastplate of 12 precious stones, symbolizing the authority of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah as Priest-King over Israel’s twelve [4 x 3] tribes [Ex. 28:15-30]. In keeping with the celestial symbolism theme, the breastplate, was designed with a niche which held the Urim and Thummim, or lights and perfections; representing the two great lights of the Sun and Moon. As oracles of the High Priest, these two stones would reveal the wisdom and glory of the Creator, even as the movements of the Sun and Moon in the heavens declare the glory of God: [Ps. 19:1]. We find more references to the 12 stones and their variants in the living stones of I Pet. 2:4-7 and the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem: [Rev. 21:19-20] that the prophet Daniel called the Mountain of God, [Dan. 9:16-20]. Here we can see a unified witness of the promised seed bringing the 12 tribes of Israel to deliverance in the New Jerusalem, fulfilling the witness of the 12 signs of the zodiac. This witness coincides with the testimony of the Blood Moon Tetrads throughout the history of the Age of Grace over the last twenty centuries, [read more], where God’s deliverance has always rescued the nation of Israel when they were persecuted by their enemies. The breastplate of the High Priest fastened to the two large bejeweled shoulder studs of the ephod, and by gold chains fastened to the four-corners of the double square pectoral, representing the earth. The four rows of three jewels each, shows the same ecliptic order as Israel’s 12 tribes in their wilderness encampment.

Just as the Written Scriptures have prophetic elements so also does the Gospel in the Stars. These elements are readily visible in the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, and the other Blood Moon Tetrads going back through the Age of Grace: [read more]. The Creator wrote important elements of Spiritual history in the stars for us to decipher and obey, at the appointed time. This is evident as we connect the Biblical Astronomy truths of the North pole to the March 20th Total Solar Eclipse in the Northern skies, and over the Earth’s North Pole. Here is a picture of today’s Total Solar Eclipse taken from Edinburgh. Figure 1b. Total Solar Eclipse on March 20th 2015

An eclipse of the sun from Carlton Hill in Edinburgh
An eclipse of the sun from Carlton Hill in Edinburgh

  Job 26 provides more detail on this intriguing subject.

Job 26:5-13 “The dead tremble, Those under the waters and those inhabiting them.
Sheol is naked before Him, And Destruction has no covering.
He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.
He binds up the water in His thick clouds, Yet the clouds are not broken under it.
He covers the face of His throne, And spreads His cloud over it.
10 He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble, And are astonished at His rebuke.
12 He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm.
13 By his spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

He hath garnished the heavens“- garnished (*H8231) means to: polish, glisten, shine forth as the dawn, which applies figuratively to alpha draconis as the archaic “bright and morning star,” and the first capstone of creation. It also means to: be beautiful, the notion of brightness is also applied to the building of sound.This matches with the root of  the word Lucifer “halal,which is making a show emphasizing sound and light, showing the reason for the “morning stars singing together,” their praises to the Creator in Job 38:7. This garnishing of the heavens appears to be a figurative reference to the precession of the poles, placed in the heavens by His (God’s) Hand, indicating a heavenly prophecy of the coming redeemer Jesus Christ, [I John 3:8b]. Seiss’ comments on this word “garnished are noteworthy here: “It’s main sense is that of ornament, decoration, something added for embellishment; but it has the further meaning of summons and warning. And by these adornings God hath summoned the heavens and filled them with the proclamations and warnings of His great purposes, if Draco or Hydra are meant, then He himself is the Author of it, and by implication, the Author of the whole system of the constellations of which Draco and Hydra are a part.”6

Figure. 2 The Northern Polar Constellations

. draco and hydra

formed“- *H2342 (coiled) means to twist or whirl in a circular or spiral manner, to dance in a circle or writhe in pain, pervert, travail, be wounded;7 as the fatal wounding of the serpent’s head, (Gen. 3:16). The circular motion or dance, is also figurative for the circular motion of the precession of the poles, where the pole star is wrested from the serpent’s dominion in his painful battle with the promised seed, signified by Cepheus, the crowned king coming into his dominion over the pole starpolaris in Ursa Minor. This word also means to “be full of turns,” as Draco is depicted with his many coils, indicating his wily and subtle nature. Additionally it means to “return, to turn oneself round or away.”8 This word is used twice in Job 26, the first occurrence in verse 5, which refers to the imprisoned spirits of destruction (v. 6 abaddon) that carried out the ruination of the First Heavens and Earth. These spirits, figuratively referred to as “locusts in Revelation 9, are currently captive in the abyss, depicted in Revelation 9. This foreshadows Draco’s destiny, and eternal destruction in the lake of fire, depicted in the stars of the southern polar regions; or chambers of the south, [Job 9:9].

The circular motion or dance, in reference to the word “formed“- *H2342 (coiled), in Job 26:13 depicts an example of a Biblical literary figure for the celestial mechanism of the precession of the poles. Another example of a Biblical figure similar to this aspect of the starry serpent pertains to the “shadow of death.” This shadow was first cast by the author of death: [Heb. 2:14], when he committed the original sin, and iniquity was found in him. This section of Job 26 refers to the serpent, once he became crooked, obviously God did not create him this way. In reference to the ancient possessor of the pole star, formerly embedded in the coils of the dragon’s tail, Proctor wrote: “One might almost, if fancifully disposed, recognize the gradual displacement of the Dragon from his old place of honor, in certain traditions of the downfall of the great Dragon whose ‘tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven’ alluded to in Revelation 12:4.” 9 Once iniquity was found in Lucifer and he turned his back on the Heavenly Father, he separated himself from the source of light and life. The archaic and fallen nature of the morning star is depicted in Lucifer, while its risen victorious aspect is seen in Christ. The relationship between the dragon and the Devil casting his shadow of death is depicted not only the astronomical mechanism of the pole precession, in Job 26:13 above, but it also describes the imagery of an eclipse, as we can see below in Job 3.

Figure. 3. Cetus the Sea Monster, from Bayer’s Celestial Atlas.

Cetus

Fig. 4 Draco the Dragon and the northern astronomical pole, from the Star Atlas of Hevelius. Also shown is Cepheus the Crowned King with Polaris, the pole star, placed between his feet.

Draco the Dragon at the North Pole
Draco the Dragon at the North Pole

The astronomical cycle of the Precession of the poles thus depicts Lucifer in his former glory in the First Heaven and Earth, as the bright and morning star in his first estate. This precessional cycle also tells us of Lucifer’s successor, the rising Morning Star-Jesus, who was already prophesied, prior to the overthrow of the world, [Eph.1:4]. It’s as if the former days of Lucifer’s brightness and splendor never existed in the eyes of God. Another example of this figure that we  studied in detail on the try-god.com website [read more] is the Eta-Draconid Meteor Showers, which preceded the first Jupiter-Regulus union in Leo, in 3 BC. This Draconid Meteor shower is a key because the radiant of the shower of stars falling to earth September 9th-11th, [read morewas one of the stars of Draco the Dragon as we have just seen above in Figure 4. This embodies the casting down of the dragon, We will see the signs of 3 BC picking up on the theme of judgment on Lucifer, once iniquity was found in him during his first estate. This imagery is found in the dual significance of the prophecy of Rev. 12 regarding the Birth of Christ, and his victorious Second Coming. In Job Chapters 2-3 we find the record of Job, after Satan has afflicted him, speaking from the depths of his sufferings, he curses his day of birth.

Job 3:4-5, 8-10
4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.
May the stars of its morning be dark; May it look for light, but have none, And not see the dawning of the day;
10 Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb, Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.

These verses in Job make some notable connections with the shadow of death. Intriguingly, these connections both carry reference to the darkening of daylight, first seen in cloud covering, and second with the blackness of the day which ominously resembles a total Solar eclipse. Here Job links terror to the “blackness of the day,” along with those who arouse Leviathan, [Job 41] which is another manifestation of the serpent as the sea monster, linked with Cetus in Figure 3 above. This again identifies the true source of the persecution, disease and death, from the author of death, the Devil and Satan. This imagery speaks loudly as to the Biblical symbolism of eclipses as negative heavenly omens, indicative of the enemy’s persecution and war for mankind in general and Israel specifically, as the activity surrounding the Blood Moon Tetrads in history attests. The recurrent theme seen in the Blood Moon Tetrads however, is always the deliverance of the Almighty God, Whose Love for His people is ever true and unfailing.

This Solar eclipse imagery is also found at the crucifixion of Christ, as seen in the apparent period of midday darkness on April 28th, 28 AD, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. There is no indication of an eclipse that I have found on this day, but the shadow of death that stained this day was more palpable than any other in history, and the blackness of this day was certainly evident spiritually in the death of Jesus. This was turned completely around three days later, however when Christ arose as the “first fruits from the dead.” Thus, the brightness of Lucifer’s day of apparent victory was certainly turned into darkness the moment he turned away from the Almighty, original and eternal Source of Light. We are reminded of this as we look to the next Blood Moon in the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad, which takes place on April 4th 2015, both Passover and Resurrection [Easter] weekend. As the third Blood Moon in this Tetrad, on Passover it commemorates not only the 10th plague of Darkness that consummated the 10 plagues of God’s judgment on Egypt leading to the Exodus, but especially God’s protection and deliverance of Israel, which freed them from their Egyptian bondage. This is the dominant theme of the Blood Moon Tetrads, that no matter what persecution the enemy produces, it always works for God’s deliverance which always improves the overall situation of faithful in Israel, and for Christians alike.

The Biblical imagery of a Total Solar Eclipse is not a good sign for Israel or the nations, as far as the persecution is concerned, especially with it taking place in the midst of the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, yet we can take comfort as God’s Judgment is being carried out on our Spiritual Adversary, as God protects His people while bringing the imminent and final destruction of the Devil and Satan to pass.

FOOTNOTES:

1. Witness of the Stars  E.W. Bullinger, p. 152
2. Strong’s Concordance. James Strong, note on H8231.
3. Gospel in the Stars Joseph Seiss, p. 21
4.  Strong’s Concordance, James Strong
5. Myths and Marvels of Astronomy, Proctor

 

Pi Day-March 14th, 2015 [3.14159]

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Pi Day 2015 [3.14159]

To commemorate Pi Day,  March 14th, 2015 we are recognizing the Creator’s usage of Pi in the Hebrew Tabernacle and Temple. 2015 holds a special Pi Day, since 3.14.15 is a once in a century event! We are happy to recognize this day by calling attention to the Creator’s application of the Pi ratio in some of the sacred furniture found within the inner and outer Temple/Tabernacle Courts. A portion of the material presented below is reprinted from my website study on “Pi in the Sky” @ try-god.com; [read more]. In a recent two Part Blog post, we discussed the Eastern Light through the Temple/Tabernacle, [read more] as an east-west axis line, where the people of Israel approached God in worship, a theme we will pick up in this study also. The first element on this line of access utilizing the Pi ratio is the round Brass Laver at the entrance to the inner court of the Tabernacle/ TempleI Kings 7 below provides the descriptive details of this “molten sea.

Figure 1. The Brasen Laver of Solomon’s Temple

The Molten Sea

The Brass Laver in the Outer Court I Kings 7:23-30 23And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. 24And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast. 25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. 26And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths. 27And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it. 28And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: 29And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work. 30And every base had four brazen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had under-setters: under the laver were under-setters molten, at the side of every addition.

Figure 2. The Tabernacle of Moses Layout

Hebrew Tabernacle layout
Tabernacle of Israel Layout

As we consider the Biblical usage of words related to how the pi ratio is revealed in Scripture, we will gain insight into the divine perspective of the Creator’s viewpoint on Pi, and His Intelligent Design of Creation. Anytime we can adopt the view of the Almighty through the truths He has shared with us in His matchless Word, it always speaks volumes to those of us who are paying attention. The Hebrew word for “line” of thirty cubits, in verse 23 is “qav” [*H6957]. The word carries the primary meaning of a measuring cord, a ruler, or standard of measure. We are also familiar with this concept by another term known as a “canon.” On the surface the Bible gives the basic mathematical value of pi here as 3, but the deeper truths of God’s Word lie below the surface, for those who have the heart and will to look for them. It is noteworthy that the first place where the pi ratio is applied by God in the Tabernacle and Hebrew Temple is in connection with the semi-circular Brass Laver in I Kings 7:23. Let’s take a look at some other places where this Hebrew word “qav” shows up. In the 38th chapter of Job, God is discussing the foundations of the Earth. The question in verse 5 asks:Who hath laid the measures thereof, if you know? Or who hath stretched the line upon it?” The obvious Biblical answer to these questions is the Creator. In light of the usage of “qav” in I Kings 7:23, God’s exercise of Pi as a standard ruler or measure in laying and measuring the spherical dimensions and foundations of our planet, recorded in the book of Job, the oldest book of the Biblical Canon is enlightening. This is especially the case when we consider the context of Job 38, which deals with a series of questions about various elements of Creation, that only God Almighty could answer. The Intelligent Design specifications of the planet Earth would easily fall into this category, as to how the Earth’s spherical dimensions and temporal order fit into the celestial context of Creation. We can see the sense of this clarified even more in our next reference to the Hebrew word “qav.”

Figure 3. Planet Earth

earth creation

In Psalm 19, The heavens declare the glory of GodVerse 4 says, “Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He hath set a tabernacle for the sun.” Once again the Hebrew word for “line” here is qav. Let me ask you, what is the heavenly or celestial line that is a tabernacle, or provides the houses of the sun? The only sensible answer is the ecliptic! This is quite logical when we consider that the Israelites, during their 40-year sojourn in the Sinai wilderness were led by God, seen as a pillar of cloud during the day, and one of fire by night. The pillars dwelt over the Holy of the Holies in their Tabernacle, signifying the Creator’s personal presence among His people. When they camped during the evenings, Numbers 2 tells us they camped in the order of the tribes as it matched the order of the course of the sun on the ecliptic, (east, south, west, north). Israel’s twelve tribes, as we are aware by now, also matched up with the twelve signs of the zodiac in their God-ordained significance, before they were corrupted in heathen Astrology and mythology. This tribal order is also found in the twelve jewels of the High Priest’s breastplate, [Ex. 28:15-21]. Thus the celestial gospel originally related the story of the coming redeemer of mankind, that God wrote in the stars before He ever committed it to His Written Word. These are the words of Ps. 19:4 that have gone out through all the earth, unto the end of the world. This application of the Pi (the mathematical relation of the diameter of a circle to its circumference) by God, in reference to the circular ecliptic is certainly intriguing in light of the Sun’s apparent 360-degree path through its 12 houses of the zodiac, as viewed from Earth. In this light we should also be aware of the earlier context of I Kings 7.

Figure 4. 12 Signs of the Zodiac on the Ecliptic

Ecliptic with the 12 Signs

The next aspect of the Temple layout relating to the Pi ratio concerns the two huge Brass Pillars at the entrance to the Hebrew Temple. These are described also in I Kings 7:13-15 below. 1 Ki 7:13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. [14] He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. [15] For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. The word for “line” in verse 15 above is not qav, as it is in verse 23, but it does indicate a line for measuring, thus a closer look at these brass pillars is still called for. As we know, Pi has long been considered a transcendental number, or constant of mathematics (3.14159….), linking a straight diameter to a curved circumference. The French archaeologist and mathematician Charles Funk-Hellet points out that:   “Solomon had Hiram contribute to building a temple whose brass columns were 18 cubits high, and 12 cubits around. In other words, one cubit equaled the twelfth part of the circumference of the arc of 30 degrees, or pi/6. By subtracting the circumference from the height, they obtained 6 cubits in a straight line, which was equal to 1/2 circumference, or the exact value of pi; so that 1000 years before Christ the Hebrews knew that a cubit was a mathematical entity dependent on the circumference, and were able to resolve pi to four points of decimal.” 2 (emphasis mine)

Funk-Hellet’s observation that: “By subtracting the circumference from the height, they obtained 6 cubits in a straight line, which was equal to 1/2 circumference, or the exact value of pi/6.3 is worth remembering when we come to the subject of the celestial symbolism of the Menorah, and its application of pi, building on what we have found here. Funk-Hellet goes on to say that: “the Biblical cubit is equal to the Egyptian Royal cubit, which was incorporated into the Temple at Jerusalem as pi/6, or 523.6 millimeters. Using one unit of measure as the radius of a circle, the ancients found the trigonometric value of 30 degrees to be pi/6, (which divided the full circumference of the circle into 12 equal parts) and was the value of the royal cubit, or .5236 of the unit used: 3.1416/6 = .52364 (parenthesis & emphasis mine)

Figure 5. Solomon’s Temple with Brass Pillars at the Entrance

The Two Brass Pillars Jachin and Boaz
Brass Pillars at the Entrance of Solomon’s Temple

In effect, we have an architectural representation of the twelve-fold division of the heavens preserved in the dimensions of the Temple’s Brass columns, all based on the mathematical standard Pi, long before most modern scientists imagined the ancients knew anything about Pi at this level of accuracy. This provides more evidence showing the Creator’s perfect wisdom and Nature’s Great Geometer, at work in the dimensions of His Temple, as an illustration of heavenly realities [Heb. 8:5], which He gave to King David by revelation. Also symbolically contained in the dimensions of the Temple’s brass columns, is a figure of 12 calendar months of 30 days, totaling the 360 days of their year, a calendar also used going all the way back to Noah’s time, in the context of the 360-degrees of the ecliptic. This reveals the true origin of the 12 – 30° segments of the ecliptic, as a standard celestial measure, and also reveals the Pi ratio at the root of the Hebrew Calendar matching the 360 degrees of the circle with the 360 days of the year on the Calendar of the Biblical Patriarchs. And since Noah was already 600 years old when the Bible records the details of this luni-solar calendar in Genesis 7, it also implies that it was used by the earlier Biblical Patriarchs prior to the flood, and centuries before history and human science thought this level of sophisticated astronomical timekeeping was in use. For more information on Noah’s Calendar, [read more]. As we find in the above Biblical uses of the Hebrew word “qav,” God’s application of the Pi concept far exceeds any previous application in human history. Views based on scientific Materialism will never account fully for the realities of God’s Creation. Only from the Creator’s viewpoint in His Word, and the Works of His Hands, do these applications of pi make sense. Only He could apply pi to the ecliptic and the dimensions of our planet, a concept which is borne out in much greater detail, in how pi is symbolically and architecturally applied, not only in the Hebrew Tabernacle and Temple, but also in the Great Pyramid. Since the pattern shown to Moses for the Tabernacle was by divine revelation, just as the pattern of the Temple was shown to King David, these men of God did not calculate the blueprints for these sacred edifices, or their related measurements, by scientific trial and error. Thus they didn’t need to wait on the Greeks, like Archimedes, generally considered the greatest of ancient scientists, to rediscover them or to apply them in divine architecture. Although Archimedes is to be commended for his application of the pi proportion, respectfully it pales in comparison to what we find in the Biblical uses of “qav” relating to pi. For example, the third piece of furniture utilizing pi in the Tabernacle is the Menorah. Since it is located in the Inner Court or Holy Place, it is closer to the Holiest of All, the throne-room and dwelling place of God. When we consider the Menorah or candlestick we are primarily concerned with the original model exhibited in the Tabernacle of Israel. Later, in the Temple there were 10 candlesticks utilized in a different manner than at first. In (Figure 6.) below we see the first candlestick, or Menorah in the form of what James Strong has called a “stylized tree.” Strong gives his own description of Exodus 25:33 quoted below: 

Ex. 25:33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.” 

Strong’s geometric synopsis of this verse states:

It will be perceived that each section of the semicircles of which these lines are the radii is composed of two members: the shank (a plain tube) and the bulb (or swell), and that each has a third part or base (a circular double flange, as a means of connection, hence an actual joint) only where it is united to a different kind of piece; i.e., at the bottom and top of the central shaft and of the six arms, including the intersections of the shaft with the arms.”5  [emphasis mine] 

Figure 6. The Hebrew Menorah 6

central shaft and of the six arms


  When we apply what we have already seen in the Biblical teaching of the Sun’s dual symbolism, to the Menorah, it takes on a new light, associating the Sun not only with the solar system, but also the circular zodiac. The Menorah structure shows its central shaft as the foundation of the candle, since it holds the main light as the candle centerpiece. All the branches of the candlestick are attached to the central shaft, even as they obtain their light from the main candle. This pattern is mirrored in the solar system as the planets and moons do not generate their own light, but reflect the light of the Sun, as they orbit around it. We find not only the solar system order reflected here but also that of the ecliptic with 12 Constellations. This is evident in the Menorah’s semi-circular pattern based on pi. By expanding on Strong’s analysis of the Menorah this comes to light. In Strong’s smaller geometric model of the Menorah, we note bulbs on the six branches of the candlestick that are projections of the central bulb, where all the radiating geometric lines of the central light emanate. These projections of the central light on the six branches, (five naked eye planets and the Moon) depict how these luminaries reflect the Sun’s light in their individual orbits upon the Earth. This system reflects the temporal periods and orbits of each planet in our solar system, in relation to the Sun’s light. This is revealed first in the context of the mathematics of the base 60 standard, a primary trait of the Creator’s celestial order. Strong’s emphasis above on the geometric design of the Menorah, exhibits the Hebrew zodiac as in Genesis 49, with Jacob’s prophesies over his twelve sons. We should see that these lines noted by Strong as “the radii of the semi-circle,” reflecting the symbolic light of the world, if extended into a complete circle, the radii would divide it into 12 equal parts of 360 degrees of the circle according to pi. We can be safe in making this conceptual leap in the implied design of the Menorah, because we have just seen this pattern in the Temple pillars: Jachin and Boaz. This marks the Menorah as a complete symbolic piece of furniture in the Temple and Tabernacle, acting as a celestial symbol of the structure of both our solar system and the zodiac. It is complete because it is the third aspect we have observed utilizing pi measures, following on the great Brazen Sea and the Temple pillars. These aspects of The Celestial Symbolism of the Temple and Tabernacle; [read more] utilize pi to depict the Hebrew Calendar of 12 months of 30 days in the sacred 360-day year utilized by Noah. But the Menorah goes beyond this, embracing the planets in a heliocentric model of the ancient solar system, long before the Greek Aristarchus of Samos proposed it in the second century BC. The Menorah’s [read more] implicit use of the pi ratio incorporates the previous usage of this principle in the Brasen Sea and the Temple pillars, while adding the symbolism of the heliocentric solar system to these previous applications, all incorporated into a single model. According to conventional history, the idea of a heliocentric “universe” or solar system, originated with the ancient Greeks, specifically Aristarchus of Samos as mentioned above. This idea however, did not catch on in a big way until Copernicus, who while reviewing some of Aristarchus’ ideas seized upon this concept and ran with it. He did this at his own peril due to the prevailing worldview of the time, especially that of the Roman Catholic Church, based on a geocentric view of the solar system espoused by Ptolemy, which held sway in intellectual and religious circles for over 1500 years. In the Figure 7. graphic below from Harmonica Macrocosmica [A. Cellarius, Amsterdam 1660] depicts a Sun-centered Copernican view of the cosmos.

Figure 7. Heliocentric Solar System 7

harmonica macrocosmica

This aspect of pi as it applies to Biblical cosmology will show the idea of a heliocentric “universe” predating the 2nd Century BC and Aristarchus, by at least 1300 years, and its genuine roots are found in the Old Testament Scriptures. Our present tour through the Hebrew Taberncale/Temple not only reveals this, but even deeper truths as the Menorah’s complete symbolic nature is revealed, leading to the holiest of all with the Ark of the Covenant, and the Holy Names of God. The pi ratio in I Kings 7, should also be considered with any practical application of pi in King Solomon’s day. On this subject there is information concerning a practical approximation of pi in the ancient world, based on septenary units of measure. In some ancient traditions, the relation of the Diameter to the Circumference, embodied in pi, symbolized the names of God; Elohim and Jehovah. With Elohim, the Creator representing the Circumference, of the curved line – the totality of His Creation, and in Jehovah, the straight line Diameter, or God in relationship to His Creation, thus pi embodies some geometrical expressions of the Almighty. We find the basic elements of the concept of “squaring the circle” in the Circle’s diameter inscribed in the circumference of a surrounding Sphere inside a Cube, in I Kings 7:30 above, contained in the square base containing the circular brasen sea. This principle has survived through the centuries in the domed sacred architecture of many temples and churches, where the circular dome is surrounded by a square building. We should take note that the Holy of the holies, containing the Ark of the Covenant, was a perfect cube, contained within a double-square ground-plan of the Hebrew Tabernacle. This provided the divine foundation of many practices in the “sacred geometry” of the secular world. The practical approximation of pi in the ancient world of sacred architecture, has preserved this concept of the Creator God in relation to His Creation, in a systematic application of principles of sacred geometry, based on septenary units of measure. According to Stechini, in this system the; “circumference was considered 22/7 of the diameter; this approximation of pi rendered (3 1/7, or 3.142857) is still in use today as an adequate approximation in many problems of engineering.” 8   As Beckmann points out, “Archimedes started with a hexagon and progressively doubling the number of sides he arrived at a polygon of 96 sides, which yielded pi as 3 1/7, or 3.142857.” 9

The importance of relating pi to septenary units is obvious in a Biblical light when we consider God’s abundant use of the number 7 in His ordering of Creation, including the Menorah. Some of this evidence is covered in our website essay on the Calendar of the Israel, [read more]. This ratio of 22/7 is also intriguing because it expresses the ratio between the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, in relation to its seven vowels. This is a supporting factor in the idea that the roots of writing and the first alphabet originate in the Celestial Gospel. As the first “written” revelation to mankind, the stars in this gospel were named and numbered by God [Ps. 147:4]. The divine message of the coming redeemer and the means God chose to deliver it, thus provide the sacred foundation of all language and mathematics. As the divine original source of this wisdom, the witness of the stars was above reproach. The pi ratio expressed as 22/7, reflects this perfection of the celestial gospel, in at least the mathematicalgeometrical and linguistic contexts. Let’s now consider a final point linked with septenary measuring units.  This note from Keil and Delitzsch’ Commentary on I Kings 7:23 below, adds support to the application of pi relating to septenary units as seen in the brazen sea above, [3.142857] and the ancient knowledge of its use in Israel, via revelation from God, in the dimensions of the Tabernacle, Temple and its sacred furniture. “The brazen sea (cf. 2Ch. 4:2-5). – “He made the molten sea – a water-basin called יָם (mare) on account of its size – ten cubits from the one upper rim to the other,” i.e., in diameter measured from the upper rim to the one opposite to it, “rounded all round, and five cubits its (external) height, and a line of thirty cubits encircled it round about,” i.e., it was thirty cubits in circumference. The Chethib קוה is to be read קָוֶה here and in Zech. 1:16 and Jer. 31:39, for which the Keri has קָו in all these passages. קָוֶה or קָו means a line for measuring, which is expressed in 1Ki. 7:15 by חוּט. The relation of the diameter to the circumference is expressed in whole numbers which come very near to the mathematical proportions. The more exact proportions would be as 7 to 22, or 113 to 355.”10  [emphasis mine]

Figure 8. The Ark of the Covenant

Ark of the Covenant
Ark of the Covenant

The septenary relation to pi uncovers the link between the pi and phi ratios, through the popular Fibonacci Series. This is interesting when we consider that the dimensions of Ark of the Covenant conform to the phi standard, in the holiest of all. Since the lid or “mercy seat” of the Ark represents the Creator’s Throne, we not only find the geometric application of the Names of God: Jehovah/Elohim in practice by the Nation of Israel, as they worship the Almighty according to the tenets of Scripture, but the measures of the Ark are based on a 1×2 rectangle [Ex. 25:10] that perfectly conforms the phi ratio as seen in the Coffer of the Kings Chamber in the Great Pyramid. This link between phi and pi makes it possible to obtain pi without the need for measuring! This is illustrated in the following quote from Livio Stechini: “It is possible to use the Fibonacci Series to obtain an accurate relation for the diameter of the circle to its circumference, without recourse to pi. In the Fibonnacci series of 21, 34, 55, if 21 is taken as the diameter of a circle, its circumference will be 55 x 6/5 = 66, accurate to the one thousandth part, giving the Great Pyramid value of pi as 22/7 = 3.142857. Higher numbers in the fibonacci series provide increasingly finer values in whole numbers accurate to one ten-thousandth part. Prolonging the series to 80, 144, 233, 377, 610… a diameter of 144 (4 x 576) gives a circumference of 377 x 6/5 or a pi value of 3.1415. A diameter of 233= a circumference of 610 x 6/5 or a pi value of 3.1416…”11

Since the phi principle inherent in the Fibonacci Series is the basis of the precepts of geometric growth life throughout the plant and animal kingdoms of life evident in the Creator’s Four Kingdoms of Life, [read more] this principle of mathematics is elevated above that of pi. As the Creator and ultimate Source of Life, the Almighty  has led us on this path of spiritual discovery paved with the principles of geometric and mathematical truth revealed in God’s Word. This is the geometric progression we have just witnessed in our pi journey through the Tabernacle/ Temple of Israel, on this day memorializing Pi.

Footnotes

1. Strong’s Concordance, James Strong, notes on [H6957]
2.  Secrets of the Great Pyramid,  Peter Thompkins, p. 263
3. IBID p. 16.
4. IBID
5. The Tabernacle of Israel, James Strong
6. IBID [picture credit]
7. Harmonica Macrocosmica, Amsterdam, 1660
8. Secrets of the Great Pyramid,  Peter Thompkins,
9. A History of Pi, Petr Beckmann. p. 64
10. KEIL & DELITSCH Commentary on I Kings 7:23.
11. Secrets of the Great Pyramid,  Peter Thompkins, p. 97 fn

 

The Birth and Return of Christ and the Celestial Sphinx

Great Sphinx, Great Pyramid and Dendera Zodiac
Biblical Archaeo-Astronomy


The Birth and Return of Christ and the Celestial Sphinx

Eleven years ago, in a study on the Try-God.com website we proposed a thesis that the Great Sphinx was originally intended as an oracle of the promised seed and the Messiah. Both Herbert Lockyer and Frances Rolleston have stated, that the Great Sphinx symbolizes the Summer Solstice 4000 years before Christ, sealed by the union of Virgo and Leo. Rolleston notes that this junction of Virgo and Leo is marked by the star Denebola, the namemeaningthe Lord or Judge who comes quickly,”1 thus representing a living image, of the Lord Jesus Christ coming in judgment. As the star marking the unity between Virgo and Leo, the alpha and omega signs of the Biblical zodiac, this prophetic messenger of the coming Messiah has endured as the largest, and oldest colossal sculpture of renown on the planet.

Figure A. The Great Sphinx

The Great Sphinx
The Great Sphinx

This monument to the promised seed carved out of the Giza plateau, has stood for ages facing east, envisioning both the first and second advents of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the imperious sentinels of Giza, the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramid are the foremost ancient monuments, having stood the test of time, foreshadowing the Second Coming of the Son of God as no other landmarks in human history. These great surviving wonders of the ancient world have remained singularly poised, high above the barren shifting sands of human ignorance, safely founded on prehistoric bedrock of truth, prophesying of the coming promised seed, in harmony with the witness of the Stars and Scriptures. Their combined declaration sounds out from the geographic center of the Earth’s landmass, ever ringing upward in concert with the testimony of the celestial luminaries. These monolithic monuments of the Giza plateau, the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx, serve as prime examples of our thesis, showing the roots of what Joseph Campbell called the world monomyth , the idea that all the world’s myths are rooted in one master overarching epic narrative. I believe as others have before me, that this master myth has celestial roots, and these roots ultimately lead us to the divine Astronomy of the Biblical Patriarchs, Adam, Seth and Enoch. The following introduction to the Great Sphinx, from a Biblical Astronomy viewpoint, will serve as important step along this path of understanding. During recent posts on our Blood Moon Blog we have surveyed the Biblical Astronomy of the heavenly signs surrounding the Birth of Jesus Christ, where a number of aspects linked to the Great Sphinx have surfaced, which are summarized in the study of The Great Sphinx @www. Try-God.com, [read more].

Our review of the heavenly signs surrounding the birth of Christ gave us an introduction to some unique aspects of the Great Sphinx, which we will expand on in this study. A consistent indicator marking the heavenly signs bearing the celestial seal and signet of the Great Sphinx, is that most of these heavenly signs occur during the 3-week annual period when the Sun is clothing Virgo, [Rev. 12:1]. This is relevant due to its symbolism of the genuine exaltation of Mary, the woman who was most highly blessed among women, because she believed the words of the archangel Gabriel when he told her she would bear the promised seed. We have made past references to the dual significance inend times
prophecy
in [Rev. 12:1-2] as it relates both to the sufferings and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, in his 2-fold ministry to present his kingship to Israel, that was rejected 2000 years ago, and now is being revisited as we complete the Blood Moon Tetrad of 20142015 with the heavenly signs presaging his glorious Second Coming to install his kingdom of everlasting righteousness and peace. The graphic below depicts Mary crowned with the 12 Stars/Tribes of the Hebrew Zodiac [Gen. 37: 9-11] holding the infant Jesus, with the Crescent Moon at her feet. Here Jesus embodies the Sun clothing Virgo with the Moon at her feet as seen on Sept. 11th, 3 BC in the heavenly signs marking the Birth of Jesus Christ. Modern stargazers have struggled to fit the crown of 12 stars around Virgo’s head, with the heavenly signs marking his birth and Second Coming, but as Gen. 37 tells us in Joseph’s dream, the Sun, Moon and 11 Stars bowed down to Joseph as his 11 brothers bowed at his feet in Egypt, fulfilling his dream. Both the Great Sphinx and Joseph’s Dream show the 3-fold Solar, Lunar and Stellar aspects of the Hebrew Calendar, and as we view Virgo Crowned with the 12 Stars/Signs/Tribes of the Hebrew Zodiac in the context of the Great Sphinx, the truths of the Celestial Sphinx come into focus.

Figure B.  Mary Crowned with 12 Stars holding Jesus with the Moon at her feet.

Mary Crowned with 12 Stars and the Moon at her Feet
Mary holding Jesus Crowned with 12 Stars

In addition, the Sun in Virgo usually coincides with the annual start of the Hebrew Civil Year, opening the month of Tishri. As we have pointed out in recent Blog posts, the Feast of Trumpets opening the month of Tishri is marked by a Partial Solar Eclipse on September 13th this Fall, even as the opening of the sacred year/Nisan 1 is marked with a Total Solar Eclipse on March 20th, the Spring Equinox, followed by a Blood Moon Lunar eclipse two weeks later at Passover. Thus from the inception of the heavenly signs linked to what I have called the Celestial Sphinx, the fact that these notable heavenly signs take place on, or during Hebrew Feasts and holy days, is also a key indicator, even as it has been throughout the Age of Grace relating to the Blood Moon Tetrads, over the last 200 centuries. Another prime aspect of the heavenly signs linked to the Celestial Sphinx is that we find unique planetary conjunctions that took place marking the Birth of Jesus Christ, in the constellations Virgo and Leo. Since these are the zodiac signs that constitute the alpha-omega signs of the Hebrew Zodiac, forming the Celestial Sphinx, it provides a living practical example of Biblical Astronomy which the Great Sphinx itself memorializes. As a central example of Biblical Archaeo-Astronomy, the Great Sphinx is a true living artifact of the divine science of Biblical Astronomy that the Creator utilizes today, marking the heavenly signs of the Second Coming of His only Begotten Son. In this light, we take note of the relief from the ceiling of the Temple of Esneh;2 [Fig. C], where the basic stellar figures of Virgo and Leo are unified in the Great Sphinx, pictured with the solar disk crowning the head of the woman-“sun clothing Virgo,” who is joined with the body of the Lion, above the serpent Hydra. This clear stellar image found at the same temple site housing the Dendera zodiac, provides strong archaeological support, not for the union of Virgo and Leo only, affirmed in the two stellar aspects of the Sphinx monument, but also the exaltation of the woman-Virgo. She is pictured at the far right below, prominently holding her grain stalk, or branch [Al Zimach] as she is shown in Dendera’s zodiac, symbolizing her bearing the promised seed, the light of the world. This is a key point in the history of Biblical Archaeo-Astronomy, since the Dendera Zodiac is another central piece of archeological evidence in our Biblical Astronomy narrative. This will be the topic of future posts on our Blood Moon Blog.

Figure C. Ceiling Relief from the Ancient Egyptian Temple of Esneh

The union of the ends of the ecliptic in the Great Sphinx, with the Sun in Virgo, as seen in the Temple of Esneh.
great sphinx

This sets the basic context of the original function of the Great Sphinx, including:

  • The unity of the Biblical zodiac which starts at Virgo and ends in Leo, summarizing the truths of Biblical Astronomy and Archaeo-Astronomy.
  • The original role of the Sun in this context of “clothing Virgo,” along with embodying the solar aspects of the Sphinx as the Son of Righteousness.
  • A Stone monument memorializing these truths parallel witness to the Coming Redeemer found in the Stars and in Scripture.

With this in mind, lets look at some specific stellar aspects of the Great Sphinx.

Stellar Elements of the Great Sphinx

There are at least three categories of Celestial Sphinx signs. The first is in a class by itself, that we find in Figure E. Here, the head of the woman Virgo, clothed with the sun is rising above the horizon as seen from Jerusalem, with the full body of Leo the Lion, already risen. As a marker for the birth of Christ highlighting these two major components of the Great Sphinx, this sign certainly is worthy of our special attention. A second category of signs along these lines is seen also when the Sun is clothing Virgo. During this time of year, a period of about 20 days length, if planetary unions occur in both Leo and Virgo, the two stellar aspects of the Celestial Sphinx are thus highlighted. An example of this was seen in the signs surrounding the birth of Christ, from September 9th to the 14th in 3 BC. Figure E shows the first of three conjunctions of Jupiter and Regulus in Leo first visible, as the heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ took place  September 11th, in Virgo. The original teaching of the witness of the signs of the zodiac is encapsulated in the zodiac signs Virgo and Leo and preserved in this ancient monument of the Giza plateau, the Great Sphinx. An interesting astronomical truth in support of this lies in the fact that the crowned head of Virgo actually bridges about 10 degrees into the sign Leo on the ecliptic. We have already made reference to this in connection with the star Denebola. The star Sarcam in Leo, is a Hebrew word meaning “the joining,“3 identifying the point where the two ends of the Zodiacal circle have their joining. This is borne out in the sign Corvus, the bird of prey devouring the sea-monster Hydra, a decan of Virgo. The bright star in the eye of Corvus the Raven, called Al Chibar in Arabic means “joining together,”4 referring also to the union of as these two ends of the true zodiac! This is pictured in Figure D. below, depicting the Hydra a major sea-dragon constellation [Isa. 27:1], with Corvus the Raven and carrion eater, shown devouring the perishing remains of the destroyed Serpent. This is the enemy’s destiny which we also find pictured in the Temple of Esneh above, with the serpent under the Lion’s claws.

Figure D. The Constellation Hydra; the Serpent destroyed.

Image result for Hydra constellation images

 

This also fits with the start of the Hebrew calendar in Tishri, the equivalent of our September-October, the beginning of their civil year when the Sun was clothing Virgo. As we have seen in previous posts, the heavens announced Jesus’ arrival with the setting of the star Spica, Virgo’s branch on our September 11th, of 3 BC. In addition to naming the start and close of the celestial canon, the Great Sphinx mirrors the binding of Scripture together from Genesis to Revelation, as seen in references to Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah in both Gen. 49:8-10 and Rev. 5:5, the first and last books of the Bible. Another indicator of the central importance of these stellar aspects of the Great Sphinx, is that our recognition of the Celestial Sphinx, pictured below, Virgo and Leo the lion provide the basis for the signs of the triple union of Jupiter-Regulus in Leo, in 3 BC related to Gen. 49:8-10. This is a foundational key linking the Great Sphinx both to the witness of the stars and Scriptures, in their unified testimony to the Coming promised Seed. As we view the celestial context of this first union of Jupiter and Regulus, [Fig. E] we can see the head of Virgo rising above the eastern horizon just below the full body of Leo the Lion on the ecliptic. This is the view of what an observer standing near Palestine facing east would have seen on this date, providing a clear aspect of the astronomical symbolism of the Celestial Sphinx as an important marker and monumental prediction of Jesus’ birthday on September 11th, a prophecy of the birth of Christ preserved in stone from antiquity! Thus, the Great Sphinx stands as Giza’s defiant sentinel, having weathered hundreds of centuries as a witness and messenger of both the canon of the celestial scroll of God’s Word engraved in the heavens, a prophesy of the birth of the Son of God. Always facing east, the Great Sphinx anticipates the truth of the Son-rise of the ages, whose eastern light is the long awaited dawning of a new day for all Mankind. As the subject of our last two February posts, this Eastern light through the Tabernacle is reflected spiritually in the Tabernacle/ Temple ministry that Jesus Christ fulfilled as the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, even as we see it in the Creator’s celestial order, as the Sun travels its annual path through the 12 houses of the ecliptic, daily rising in the east. This is a theme that arises again in relation to The Celestial Symbolism of the Tabernacle and Temple of Israel, [read more] This serves as a monolithic marker to the prophecy provided in Rev. 12:1-5, in the sign of Virgo, further establishing the dual significance of this prophecy foretelling of the First and Second Advents of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Figure E. The Celestial Sphinx.

The Head of the Woman and the Body of the Lion as seen on Sept. 14th, 3 BC, on the eastern horizon from Palestine, forming the aspects of the Celestial Sphinx, marking the first Jupiter-Regulus Conjunction in Leo.

head of a woman and body of a lion

We find these landmarks at the head and tail of the zodiac, which adds light to Dr. Martin’s observation that: “the woman Virgo is the Constellation of Headship for all twelve signs. The head position of Virgo is located within the last 10 degrees of Leo.” Virgo’s head is seen in Fig. D, just below and adjacent to the star Denebola in the tail of the Lion, unifying the circle of the zodiac. When viewed in context with the witness of the Great Sphinx, this sign on 9-14-3 BC takes on added meaning, indicated in the Sphinx’ two basic elements. These two elements are detailed in the movement of the King planet Jupiter entering Leo, the lion-body of the celestial Sphinx, while the Sun was in Virgo, the female head of this Sphinx. As the stars are allowed to speak in harmony with this witness in stone, the solitary guardian of the Giza plateau anticipates the dawning of a new day for mankind, as it predicts the birth of Spica, Virgo’s promised seed. Thus, the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramid stand, as oracles, monumental prophets of both the Alpha and Omega, the first and second advents of Jesus Christ, revealing both his sufferings and glory. These stellar aspects of the Sphinx, are reinforced by the picture of the eastern horizon during the early morning hours of September 14th, at the time of the first Jupiter-Regulus union. This distinct star picture of the Head of the woman Virgo rising above the horizon, with the body of the lion above, initiating the first of 3 Jupiter-Regulus unions, aligning the prophecy of the stars with the Scriptural prophecy of Genesis 49:8-10 is definitive evidence for our thesis. This triple conjunction of Jupiter-Regulus in Leo was bracketed by the two Jupiter-Venus conjunctions also in Leo between August 31st, 3 BC and June 17th 2 BC. This June 17th, 2 BC conjunction of  Jupiter and Venus the bright and Morning Star, was a most notable and attention grabbing heavenly sign marking the birth of Christ.

Figure F. Leo the Lion

Leo The Lion
Leo The Lion of Judah

The major signs marking the birth of Christ on September 11th 3 BC, are not only sealed with this triple union of Jupiter-Regulus in Leo, but also by this singular Jupiter-Venus conjunction in Leo on June 17th of 2 BC. In addition the greater majority of heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ were bracketed by 2 Jupiter-Venus unions inand 1 BC.  The first Jupiter-Venus Conjunction marking the birth of Christ took place on August 31st 3 BC, in Leo with the last one occurring on August 21st 1 BC, in Virgo. Here we find an interesting variation on a Celestial Sphinx sign highlighting planetary conjunctions of Jupiter-Venus, that took place during the first fulfillment the Rev. 12:1-2 prophecy relating to the sufferings of Christ in his ministry as the Passover Lamb. This alerts us that we should look for similar Celestial Sphinx signs as a precursor to the Lord’s Second Coming. The fact that there were also two Venus-Mars conjunctions bracketing the central Jupiter-Venus union between  March 31st, 2BC and Dec. 9th, 2BC, marking the birth of Christ, sets a precedent that we will see in similar fashion leading up to the Lord’s glorious Second Coming.  In this light, it is with great interest that we discover between the two Venus-Mars conjunctions of 2015, that 3 Jupiter-Venus conjunctions will occur in Leo, followed by Jupiter-Venus conjunctions in Virgo in both 2016 and 2017.

The following dates will see Jupiter-Venus conjunctions in Leo in this Hebrew Jubilee year of 2015:

June 30th, 2015
August 25th, 2015
October 26th, 2015 

The following dates below, will see Jupiter-Venus conjunctions in Virgo in 2016-2017:

July 27th, 2016
Feb. 26th, 2017
Nov. 13th, 2017

These modern heavenly signs of the Celestial Sphinx are manifesting before our eyes in the last days leading to the victorious Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, informing us in no un certain terms that the end is near. As the rewind of heavenly signs of Christ Jesus’ first appearance on earth occur in the context of the present day Blood Moon Tetrad, including the upcoming Passover Blood Moon on April 4th, the celestial warnings of the Second Coming are undeniable to those with eyes to see and ears to hear… Are you ready?


Footnotes

1. Gospel in the Stars, Joseph Seiss, ppg. 133-134
2. Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger, p.21
3. IBID, p. 165
4. IBID, p. 169