Is there Bible Evidence for an Eclipse with Jonah?

 

In our recently completed 2023 OT History Class we presented Biblical prophets chronologically instead of canonically, which brought out the evolution in the revelation regarding Messianic prophecy and Jewish Eschatology. Here are some samples of Rev. Nessle’s comments in a recent email from him:

From Jon’s Email 1/16/24

“Then in the Old Testament History class we followed the development of Messianic Prophecy when we re-ordered the Prophets in chronological order instead of canonical order.  Then we clearly saw how Jonah foresaw the doom of Israel but shirked his responsibility to prophesy against Nineveh for fear that they might obey and not be destroyed. Well, God made sure the message was delivered on schedule even after Jonah had been dead for 3 days and 3 nights! God had to pull a rabbit out of a hat to get the job done, or better said, pull a prophet out of a fish! Why? Because He had an appointment to keep! God had to stay on schedule. They did repent because Rene Fretz pointed out the possibility that God also sent a coinciding sign of a Solar Eclipse. It went right over Nineveh that decade! I think it coincided! Wow!

Then after Jonah, came the prophet that didn’t deserve to be named because he shut up. He clammed up in fear of King Amaziah and stopped prophesying. He just spoke his mind afterward. This disqualified that prophet. The Bible does not name disqualified prophets! After that it was up to the next prophet, Amos, who was the lowest of the low, without pedigree, not of the school of the prophets, a former pig farmer who stood up and became enshrined as the prophet that wouldn’t shut up! He spoke the answer to the burning question of that day. If God promised the kingdom to David’s seed, how can that come to pass if the Assyrians are going to wipe us out? Then we saw the progression and growth of Jewish eschatology and Messianic prophecy that expanded from Amos’ seed through prophet after prophet, in chronological order, until it fully blossomed with Isaiah, who spoke so much Messianic prophecy that the book of Isaiah is said to be the 5th Gospel!

Jon Continued; “Well, that got me thinking and I realized something. I wondered if there was anything in the book of Jonah that could be linked with an eclipse. This was because it was very unusual that a foreign nation like Assyria with a different pagan religion would receive and repent to a message given by Jonah, an unknown prophet to them…  I was thinking the Eclipse had to coincideBut how could I prove that?  Then I realized that God did do just that!  In Jonah 4:5 Jonah made a booth outside the city to see what would become of it.  When he complained about the heat, God prepared a gourd that grew which gave him shade I was looking for evidence of an eclipse which shaded the sun.  Here in that very context is an allegory regarding
a gourd that does just that! Wow!  I think there is a connectionMaybe if some of those verbs in verses 6 and 7 have astronomical overtones that would really nail it!  I am thinking that this was an allegory to an eclipse, explained in terms an ancient man would understand. If God told Jonah the Astro-Physics details, he would not have understoodIf this is true, then we have a fixed date for Jonah!” Love ya!  Jon

This inspired email from Jon Nessle got me moving to delve into the text of Jonah, to see what the Scriptural details may tell us in support of an eclipse allegory. As we will see, there are verbs in this context having astronomical overtones, but it might help if they occurred on the same day, as the eclipse, since I’m not aware of eclipses lasting beyond a single day! With this in mind, lets take a look at the record of Jonah, with this evidence of an allegory like this in mind, too see if it stacks up.

Jonah’s story is unique since the record of most prophets entails their ministry and background, including the impact of their divine message and how their oracle and vision fits in the prophetic line of Israel, and Scriptural canon. Jonah’s record is different, since being a so-calledreluctant prophet,” it relates the details in this episode where a prophet tries to escape the Godly calling on his life, to cry against the wickedness of Nineveh, by detouring from Nineveh, hopping a slow boat in the opposite direction to the Spanish Riviera, [Tarshish]. As Jonah learns, its not smart to contradict the Almighty Creator, [Jon. 1:9] which put Jonah’s passage in jeopardy of shipwreck. Even the ship’s crew had the common sense to know this was a bad idea, [Jon. 1:10-16] and if any of this crew was not God-fearing before this voyage, none were left thereafter, [Jon. 1:15-16]. This fits with a theme of this book of the Bible, that God’s loving care extends not only to Israel, but the to the Gentile nations also! Jonah told the crew to cast him overboard, then he disclosed that he was the reason their ship was in danger, [Jon. 1:11-12]. God then sent a great fish to swallow Jonah, where he spent 3 days and nights in the belly of the fish. His prayer out of the fish’s belly-called the “belly of hell,” is the Hebrew word for the grave: [H7585-sheol]. #1 This was the same period Jesus spent in the heart of the earth after his death and crucifixion, [Matt. 12:40-41]. This tells us also that Jonah died during this period, until he recalled his prayer and commitment to God, who spoke to the fish to vomit Jonah out on dry land, [Jon. 2:10]. At this point, Jonah got what many of us in life need, his second chance to obey God’s calling on his life, to go to Nineveh and preach his message, [Jon. 3:1-4]

From my June blog in 2017; I referenced research on the impact of an eclipse over Nineveh that may have coincided with Jonah’s ministry, without going into much detail. “In 765 B.C, a plague broke out in Nineveh where even the king was not able to go out to war, as was custom. Next came a civil war and another plague!” The first plague referred to here occurred in 765 BC, followed by the civil war that started in 763, the same year as the eclipse.

Image result for Prophet Jonah in Nineveh images

“An archaeological find of cuneiform tablets was uncovered in the 19th century describing events in Nineveh. A famous eclipse mentioned in the tablets was known as the Bur-Sagale eclipse, which is verified by NASA as occurring on June 15, 763 BC. The path of totality passed very near Nineveh, which was located 4 mi. north of modern day Mosul and Erbil in Iraq. God declared the Sun and the Moon were for signs, and now the Ninevites saw evidence of God’s judgment coming even before Jonah’s arrival. When Jonah did show up, the Ninevites were ripe for repentance.” #2

Figure 1. The June 15th, 763 BC Bur-Sagale Eclipse over Nineveh. #3

Julian calendar does not include the year 0, so the year 1 BC[1] is followed by the year 1 AD. This is awkward for arithmetic calculations. All pages in this web site employ the astronomical numbering system for dates (they use the year 0). Years prior to the year 0 are represented by a negative sign []. Historians should note that there is a difference of one year between astronomical dates and BCE dates. Thus, the astronomical year 0 corresponds to 1 BCE, and year -100 corresponds to 101 BC, etc. This adds a year to the date above making it June 15th, 763 BC. #4

763 BC eclipse map

NASA graphic showing the path of the solar eclipse of June 15, 763 BC. The eclipse would have been seen as total in the area between the blue lines. The site of ancient Nineveh (the city) is about four miles northeast of the center of the modern city of Mosul, Iraq; the province of Nineveh occupied a considerably larger territory. If this NASA reconstruction is correct, the eclipse would have been observed as only partial in the city, but total just a few miles further north. The fact that modern astronomical programs show the eclipse as only partial in the city itself has led some investigators to surmise that the eclipse mentioned as occurring in the eponym of Bur-Sagale was some other eclipse at another date. This is usually done to support alternative biblical chronologies that do not agree with the conventional interpretation of the Assyrian Eponym Canon (AEC). However, it is precisely in the 8th century BC that the AEC is most assured of being correct, because various copies of the AEC have been found that overlap this time, and these in turn overlap the reigns of the kings of Assyria and Babylon given in Ptolemy’s Canon, which begins in 747 BC. Map from NASA, #5

We know that the Prophet Jonah ministered during the reign of King Ashur-Dan III since the Bible mentions him in [2 Kings 14:23-5], placing his ministry during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel. Since this solar eclipse was a  most noteworthy highlight occurring in the reign of Ashur-Dan III, certain theologians suggest that the Bur-Sagle eclipse was a primary reason that the people of Nineveh were so ready to repent upon hearing Jonah’s message of judgment. “According to E.R. Thiele’s chronology, Jeroboam II was sole ruler of Israel between the years 782-753 BC, while Ashur-Dan III was king of Assyria between 772-755 BC.” #6 An aim of this study is to look for evidence of Jonah’s entry into Nineveh that may coincide with this eclipse.

Ashur-dan III’s reign was particularly difficult. Much of his reign was spent putting down revolts. These revolts were perhaps the result of the plague epidemics sweeping Assyria and the Bur-Sagale solar eclipse on 15 June 763 BC; both the epidemics and the eclipse could have been interpreted by the Assyrian populace as the gods withdrawing their divine support for Ashur-dan’s rule. The Assyrian empire had entered a period of decline, experiencing a plague in 765 BC, a peasant revolt from 763 to 759 BC, and a second plague in 759 BC. The BurSagale eclipse, occurred in the midst of these troubled years, in 763 B.C. We don’t know the exact timing of Jonah’s visit to Nineveh, but we do know from the Biblical record that this was the time period during which he prophesied (2 Kings 14:25).

Jonah 3:3-4 tells us it took Jonah 3 days to navigate the streets of Nineveh to deliver his message of repentance, that Nineveh would be judged within 40 days, to change their ways, a biblical number symbolic for probation, as the 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness, and the 40 days of rain during Noah’s Flood. Not only the general population declared a fast [Jon. 3:5] but also the King published a decree enforcing a fast for both man and beast, to turn from their evil ways, God saw their change and repented the evil that He had previously pronounced, witholding His judgment.

If we fast forward to the celestial signs just before the birth of Christ, on August 12th, 3 BC, the first Jupiter-Venus union in Leo framing Christ’s birth occurred on Elul 1 on the Hebrew Calendar, openingSeason of RepentanceJesus’ birth on Sept. 11th the month after this Aug. 12th union, on Tishri 1-Hebrew New Years Day, was followed by Yom Kippur on Tishri 10, or Sept. 19th that year, marked 40 days to the Day of Atonement, from Elul 1.

In the Great Sign of Revelation 12, a 400-day [40×10] link was found to Yom Kippur 2017 via a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on August 27, 2016. But, when we view the Pan-American Total Solar Eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017, the eclipse was 40 days before Yom Kippur 2017, on Sept. 30th. Before the modern Hebrew Calendar, from Elul 1 till the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was 40 days, known as the “Season of Repentance.” The total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 begins this traditional 40-day Season of Repentance. The Season of Repentance is a call to repent before the Day of the LordJewish tradition says those written in the Book of Life will be resurrected on the Feast of TrumpetsElul is the month of repentance on the Jewish calendar, the time of turning in all the tithes to the storehouseA month later, during the Days of Awe from Rosh Hashanah on Tishri 1 and Yom Kippur on Tishri 10, shows the record of celestial events marking Christ’s birth from Rev. 12.:1-2. A key chronological note to recognize here if viewed in isolation that if there was an eclipse that “coincided” with Jonah’s visit to Nineveh, it likely occurred by this time, or even to open the 40-day season of repentance, as Jonah prophesied in Nineveh. But there is also historical context to be aware of. “The eclipse was not the only calamity during Ashur-Dan’s reign. The AEC recounts a plague in 765, the eclipse and a revolt in the city of Ashur in 763, a revolt in Ashur again in 762, a revolt in Arrapha in 761 and 760, and a plague plus a revolt in the city of Guzana in 759758 BC was marked by a campaign against Guzana and then “peace in the land,” after which the king remained “in the land” for the next two  years. Although there were military campaigns in 755, 754, 749, and 748, the AEC does not list any misfortune until the city of Calah revolted in 746 BC, the 9th year of Ashur-Dan’s brother and successor, Ashur-Nirari V. The Assyrians regarded plagues and eclipses as divine judgments for the whole land#7 (Wiseman 1979: 44). The plague of 765, followed by a revolt and eclipse in 763 and then revolts in the following four years would only confirm in the mind of the Assyrians that they were under divine verdict.  It is appealing to think that the “year of peace” in 758 and the lack of revolts and plagues in the following 11 years were a consequence of God’s mercy because of the repentance of the nation. If so, this could date Jonah’s visit at Nineveh to 759 or 758 BC.”#8

This view fits with God’s Grace and Mercy to acknowledge the repentance of the Ninevites, supported by the historical record. This is also why Jonah’s displeasure and great anger at God’s forgiveness of the Ninevites, shows how far out of line his thinking was in pronouncing judgment on God’s forgiveness, which was the goal of Jonah’s mission in the first place. This history probably is the best evidence that the eclipse may not have coincided with Jonah’s visit to Nineveh, but preceded it by 3-4 years, as we would expect the repentance of the city, to effect a change in their misfortune. The record in Jonah 4:4-11 is as follows;

Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angrySo Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the cityAnd the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourdBut God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it witheredAnd it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. 10 Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not labored, neither made it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six-score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

The word for “booth” in Jonah 4:5 is [H5521-cukkah; a temporary abode, hut or tent, as the booths the Feast of TabernaclesLevi. 23:40-43, Deut. 16:30, Isa. 4:6]

It is important to point out here the three potential sources that Jonah had in this record to shade him from the sun’s intense heat. The word for “shadow” in vs. 5 and 6 are the same Hebrew word [H6738-tsel] lit. or fig. This is also the same Hebrew word used in [2 Kings 20:10-11, Isa. 38:8] for the astronomical shadow that went down 10 degrees in the miracle of Ahaz’ Sundial. E.W. Bullinger teaches this word for “shadow” in Jonah 4:5-6 [H6738-tsel] is the figure of speech called “paranomasia” or rhyming words, or the repetition of words similar in sound, but not necessarily in sense, [p.307, 317]. #9 In this potential allegory, the plant [gourd] ostensibly representing a solar eclipse, was stricken by the worm [Jon. 4:7] as it smote [H5221] the gourd to the end it withered, [H3001yabesh]. Strong’s says “yabesh means to be ashamed, confused or disappointed, also to dry up or wither as herbage.” #10 A Biblical sample of this kind of language refers to a solar eclipse. In Isa. 24:23 we find this once again expressed by Bullinger as the figureAntimereia” of the adjective the exchange of one part of speech for another. #11

Isa. 24:23 says;

23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously.

This seems to support the idea of the gourd as an allegory for a solar eclipse as it is found in this recordIt also is possible that a solar eclipse may have been accompanied by the growth of the gourd, at the same time outlasting an eclipse– that normally only last a few minutes, to 3-5 hours, in a single day providing Jonah added relief from the Sun. This notion is supported by Jonah 4:7 dictated by the diurnal solar cycle when “the morning rose the next day.” an eclipse of the Sun is not historically known to last beyond a day, and with the lunar blockage of the sun completed the previous day, the gourd was not withered by the worm until the next day. With both the shading of the gourd and the Moon no longer stopping the sun, the sunlight beat [H5221]-same word as “smote” in v.7 which can be either lethal [90x] as the worm struck a lethal blow to the gourd, or a non-lethal blow[Ex. 21:12, Josh. 10:26].

This is not only a personification, where in the Sun and Moon are given human qualities, but also the related figure of prosopopeia, when the absent are spoken of as present, the dead as alive, or anything is addressed as a person.#12 [p.861] This language is indicative of both solar and lunar eclipses when Sunlight is blocked by the Moon, or the Earth-shadow turns the lunar surface red-as with
a blood moon. This could have fulfilled an allegory in Jon. 4:6 where the Lord made a gourd to shadow over Jonah’s head to deliver [H5337natsal] Jonah from his grief. This rhyming word with shadow[H6738-tsel] in Jonah 4:5-6 s
hows the Lord’s potential act to deliver Jonah from the Sun’s intense heat by shading him with a solar eclipse, where the Moon blocks the sunlight either partially or totally.  The sun’s unblocked heat combined with the intense east wind beat down on the Jonah’s head, that he fainted, and begged his death by sunstroke. Here we find two possible sources of shade over Jonah, so where is the 3rd? If we recall from Jon. 4:5 he built himself a booth, the kind of which is the same as those built by the Jews for the Feast of Tabernacles. During this feast the Jews honored God not only as their provider, but their deliverer also, just as God had done for Jonah with the fish. As Isa. 4:6 tells us;

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

The word for “shadow” in Isa. 4:6 above is the same as Jonah 4:5-6 [H6738]. This shows us that Jonah was angry at the loss of his shade, but God points out that Jonah was more concerned with the shade from the gourd and the eclipse than he was with the potential impact of the eclipse on the repentance of a city of 120,000 inhabitants in Nineveh. Jonah’s booth-building during the Tabernacles Feast, tells us these events took place in the month Tishri, our Sept.-Oct. and that Jonah also had his personal repentance to make right with God, for disobeying His call to preach to Nineveh. It also establishes the link pointed out above to the 40-days of Repentance and the birth of Christ, our intercessor and mediator of our repentance.

Added astronomically related verses in this context are found in Isaiah 40; 45:12, 34:4, Jer. 33:22, Dan. 8:10, Mt. 24:29]

Isa. 40:22-26   

21 Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is
He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in
23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and He shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, [H3001] and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. 25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth. [cp. Ps. 147:4]

This Scripture not only includes the astronomical context as the Almighty Creator stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in: but also the botanical allegory related to princes and judges of the earth that are not planted or sown, whose stock takes no root and they wither, which is the same Hebrew word for “withered” as seen in Jonah 4:7, above.

The purpose of Jonah’s prophecy is to show the sovereignty of God at work in the life of an individual (the prophet Jonah), and his concern for His own people and that the way to avert national catastrophe is a concentrated outreach effort to all people. Jonah’s theme is God’s mercy to the individual (Jonah, a Jew), a group (the heathen sailors), the heathen world power (Assyria, a Gentile nation), and His people (Israel).

Jesus employed the repentance of the Ninevites to rebuke the Pharisees, thereby illustrating the hardness of the Pharisees’ hearts and their lack of repentance, (Matt. 12:38-41; Luke 11:29-32). The heathen city of Nineveh repented at the preaching of a reluctant prophet, but the Pharisees would not repent at the preaching of the greatest of all the prophets, in spite of over-whelming evidence that He was actually their Lord and Messiah. Jonah is a picture of Israel, who was chosen and commissioned by God to be His witness (Isa. 43:10-12; 44:8), who rebelled against His will (Exodus 32:1-4; Judges 2:11-19; Ezek. 6:1-5; Mark 7:6-9), but like Israel, was miraculously preserved by God through centuries of exile and dispersion to finally preach His truth; (Jer. 30:11; 31:35-37; Hosea 3:3-5; Rev. 7:1-8; 14:1-3).

As Tom Hobson, chair of Biblical Studies at Morthland College, observes:

The Assyrian nation was weak and in chaos in the decade around 760 BC…. They had one earthquake (one sign of divine wrath). There was a famine from 765-758 BC. Assyria was losing battles and losing territory to its enemies. There were domestic riots… Now was a perfect time for a prophet from far away to arrive on the scene and command a response. Is it possible that in His mercy, God not only planned the miracles to engineer Jonah’s visit to correspond with an impressive eclipse, but He also spun the heavenly bodies in perfect synchronization with these events to help convince Nineveh to repent. #13

According to the Assyrian writings cited by Wiseman, here’s what a solar eclipse would have meant to them: “the king will be deposed and killed, and a worthless fellow will seize the throne…rain from heaven will flood the land…the city walls will be destroyed.” The Assyrians tell us that these times called for, a solemn fast, and the king would hand over his throne to a substitute until the danger passed. At least once when there was a total solar eclipse, the Assyrians cried, “Nineveh shall be overthrown!” This has dual meaning of, “Nineveh shall be made to repent!”).#14

We can’t prove the hypothesis that Jonah showed up in Nineveh for the 763 BC eclipse, but this does not mean that this solar eclipse did not help produce the desired results of Nineveh’s repentance recorded in the Biblical account.
God miraculously brought Jonah to preach his message at exactly the right time for the people of Nineveh to listen to him. The Assyrian nation was weak and in chaos in the decade around 760 BC. They already had one earthquake (a sign of divine wrath). There is a possibility that Amos also refers to this earth-quake [Amos 1:1] since Amos was a contemporary of Jonah. There was a 7-year famine from 765-758 BC. While the Assyrians were losing battles and land  to their enemies, there was internal strife and domestic riots. With all the unrest they were experiencing, they seemed primed to believe Jonah and his warning.

With the events from 765 BC- a revolt and eclipse in 763 and then revolts in the following four years would only confirm in the mind of the Assyrians that they were under divine displeasure. It would fit the spiritual timeline that the “year of peace” in 758 and a lack of rebellions and plagues in the next 11 years were a consequence of God’s mercy because of the repentance of the Nineveh. If so, this could date Jonah’s appearance at Nineveh to 759 or 758 BC.

The repentance of an entire pagan city the size of Nineveh would be a greater miracle than for Jonah to survive getting swallowed by a fish. Yes, such an experience was fatal for Jonah, but this was part of the miracle, which was completed over 700 years later when Jesus cited Jonah as a sign comparable to his own resurrection. If we believe the Bible’s account of Jonah’s survival inside the fish, then a greater miracle of the repentance of the entire pagan city of Nineveh is possible also, since they are part of the same miraculous narrative.

I’m thankful for Jon Nessle’s email as the impetus for this month’s blog, and pertinent questions it sparked regarding Jonah and this eclipse. As the Lord Jesus Christ is the mediator of our own repentance, I invite those who would like to take part in commenting on this study for group discussion.

God Bless!

Rene’

Footnotes

1. Strong’s Concordance, [H7585-sheol], James Strong
2. Read more at https://globalrumblings.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-sign-of-jonah-and-binding-of.html#JF4HXT0ur7boJ0rM.99
3. Five Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses [Espenak & Meeus]
4. [http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsearch/SEsearchmap.php?Ecl=-07620615.]
5. [https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/calendar.html]
6. The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings. Edwin R. Thiele
7. THE TYNDALE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY LECTURE, 1977
JONAH 1 S NINEVEH By Donald J. Wiseman 1979: 44
8. https://biblearchaeology.org/research/biblical-chronologies/4517-how-lunar-and-solar-eclipses-shed-light-on-biblical-events
9. Figures of Speech used in the Bible, ppg. 307, 317. E.W. Bullinger
10. Strong’s Concordance, [H3001-yabesh], James Strong
11. Figures of Speech used in the Bible, pg. 495, E.W. Bullinger
12. IBID, [p.861]
13. (http://www.tyndalehouse.com/TynBul/Library/TynBull_1979_30_02_Wiseman_JonahsNineveh.pdf)
14. THE TYNDALE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY LECTURE, 1977
JONAH 1 S NINEVEH By Donald J. Wiseman 1979: 44

 

 

The Eclipse Menorah of 2014 to 2027.

 

Welcome to the November 2023 Blog everyone! This month’s study is a follow- up on the Oct. “Ring of Fire” study, with added insights relative to the recent Hamas attacks in Israel, in a recent historical context to shed added light on these events. We will look not only at Israel’s recent history of conflict with its Muslim neighbors, but also the astronomical history of this period, from Israel’s Independence, and reclamation of Jerusalem through recent/current celestial signs through 2034. The graphic below shows the a bird’s eye view of world eclipses from 2024 to 2034. The pattern of focus here concerns eclipses crossing in the USA, as their paths intersect the eclipses that are due to cross in the middle east from 2027-2034.

To show the true rarity of total solar eclipses, in a 20-year span, the 2017 USA eclipse “X” stands in similarity to the amazing “X” resulting in the Mideast eclipses (USA ring of Fire is not pictured). The symmetry of X’s in the USA
and Middle east Judgment eclipses are unique historically, as seen in the relationship between the Blood Moon Tetrads of 2014-2016 and 2033-2034.

Figure 1. Recent World Eclipses #1

An important aspect of this study is to understand what I’m terming as an Eclipse Menorah of 2014 to 2027. The Ends of an “Eclipse Menorah” seem to appear in the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad as they extend to the 2033-2034 Blood Moon Tetrad.

red moon

During the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, we find the backdrop and context for the Northern Polar Eclipses that bracket the eclipse activity between the North Pole 3-20-2015 @ Spring Equinox during 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad- 2259 days from its Center Point Blood Moon on May, 26th 2021. The other end of this Menorah of Eclipses is found in the 2033-2034 Blood Moon Tetrad, also with an Equinox Total Solar Eclipse on March 20th, 2034, likewise 2259 days from the center point eclipse on May, 26th 2021. These eclipses are the outer extremes of this Menorah, but they do not “take place in a vacuum” or without context. Thus it is profitable to be aware of the historical context of the recent history of Israel to gain further insight into current events.

Total Solar Eclipse at the North Pole: 3-20-2015 on Spring Equinox.  

During the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015 Israel was involved in war with Hamas. The report below is from Wikipedia on July 19, 2014, during Israel’s third war against Hamas. A densely populated neighborhood of Gaza City was Shijaiyah, that the army said Hamas had transformed into a “terrorist fortress,” filled with tunnels, rocket launchers and booby traps. As Israeli forces pushed into Shijaiyah, a jumble of squat concrete buildings and narrow alleys, the army said militants unleashed a barrage of automatic gun-fire, anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades. This Hamas terrorist assault against Israel in 2014 preceded the current invasion by nearly 9 years, that took place between the Passover and Sukkot Holy days marked by Total Blood Moon Lunar Eclipses on 4/15/2014 and 10/8/2014.

The battle came on the third day of a ground offensive that had been preceded by a 10-day air campaign. Then, as now, Palestinian civilians had been told to leave the neighborhood. Then, as now, many stayed, either because Hamas told them to or because they had nowhere else to go. Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, launched an attack inside Israel over a month ago, on Oct. 7th, 2023 killing hundreds while abducting 200+ hostages. An unprecedented border breach sent terrorists inside border communities to assault women and children with the families at a peaceful music fest, shocked Israel and its allies. The 2014 attack by Hamas described above, preceded the most recent and much more brutal incursion by Hamas over a month ago, on the 50-year anniversary of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. #2

April 15th2014 Opening Blood Moon of the 2014-2015 Tetrad
Illustration of Mars in our night sky.

A key aspect of the opening the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad was the Mars-Spica triple conjunction in Virgo. This was based on the retrograde motion of Mars in Virgo’s womb, as seen above during which Mars passed the star Spica three times in Virgo, foreshadowing the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Spica in Virgo’s womb in 2017. The Mars-Spica triple conjunction in Virgo occurred as
a result of the 3rd Mars Retrograde in Virgo, seen above on the 1st Blood Moon of the Tetrad starting on Apr 15, 2014. This put the 1st Blood Moon of the Tetrad between the 2nd and 3rd Mars-Spica union. The dates of this Mars-Spica triple union in Virgo are as follows:

Mars-Spica #1: Feb 1st, 2014 in Virgo
Mars-Spica #2: March 27th, 2014 in Virgo
Mars-Spica #3: June 13th, 2014 in Virgo

The opening Blood Moon of the 2014-2015 Tetrad took place April 15th2014 marking the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. What is fascinating here is that Mars in retrograde not only marks the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrads, but also the previous two Blood Moon Tetrads in 1949-50 and 1967-68! In addition, the triple planetary conjunctions linked with the Mars’ retrograde also mark all three sets of modern Blood Moon Tetrads according to the pattern of the Celestial Sphinxwith signs in both Virgo and Leo as follows,
in a reverse timeline:

Mars-Spica #1: Jan. 20th, 1967 in Virgo
Mars-Spica #2: Apr. 20th, 1967 in Virgo
Mars-Spica #3: July 4th, 1967 in Virgo

The Second 1967 Mars-Spica union took place 4 days before Passover. Here Mars-Michael the warrior archangel stands strong in battle against the Muslim terrorist enemies of Israel, not only in the 6-day war, but also in the previous war for Israel’s Independence, as seen in the triple conjunction of Mars-Regulus in Leo in 1947-48′. Israeli defense forces [IDF] recaptured Jerusalem and the Temple Mount on June 7th, 1967, 6 weeks after the 2nd Mars-Spica union in Virgo.

Image result for 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad images

The first modern Blood Moon Tetrad marking Israel’s Independence was highlighted by a Mars-Regulus Triple union in Leo as follows:

Mars-Regulus #1: Nov. 28th, 1947 in Leo
Mars-Regulus #2: Feb. 18th, 1948 in Leo
Mars-Regulus #3: May 19th, 1948 in Leo

Israel’s 70+ years as a State began in May, 1948. This was marked in the sky by  a Mars-Regulus Triple union in Leo, along with the first of the modern Blood Moon Tetrads in 1949-50. The Third Mars-Regulus union took place 5 days after Israel’s Declaration of Independence on May 14th 1948. These 3 dates are all linked with a Mars retrograde, showing a history of Bible prophecy. The Retrograde of Mars started on March 10th, 1967 and moved into a visual sight alignment with the Star Spica of Virgo on Jan. 20th, April 20th and July 4th of 1967. During this period, Mars entered at the head of Virgo on Nov. 17th 1966, while moving in its regular motion on a parallel path to the ecliptic, until starting its retrograde just below Virgo’s knee on March 20th, 1967. With its reversal of motion, Mars came into its first visual alignment and conjunction with Spica, Jan. 20th, 1967while Mars was in its retrograde loop return, it aligned with Spica again on April 20th, 1967. Finally, Mars ended retrograde, on May 28th, 1967 returning to its normal motion on Pentecost, June 5th, 1967- 2 days before Israel recaptured Jerusalem for the first time in over 2000 years!

As we consider the dates of the inception of Israel’s statehood in 1948, and it’s related 1948 borders, compared to when Israel recaptured Jerusalem in 1967, Israel’s land gains are notable. The biggest change to Israel’s frontiers in 1967, after the Six Day War left Israel holding the Sinai peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and most of the Syrian Golan Heights – effectively tripling the size of territory under Israel’s control.

Israel’s declaration of Independence.

The first Mars retrograde marked the Mars-Regulus triple conjunction in 1947-1948. The closest Super-Moon since Jan. 31st, 2016 Super-Blood Moon fell between the 1st and 2nd Mars-Regulus union in Leo, on Jan. 26th, 1948. In view of the link to the 1948/eclipse comet and the forming of Israel’s state, we find an emphasis on the 70-year period from 1948-2018. The last 7 years of this period are highlighted by the Super-Moon/soli-lunar eclipse signs, while marking the Hebrew Jubilee of 5777.

The Third Mars-Regulus union took place 5 days after Israel’s Declaration of Independence on May 14th, 1948. The 1948 Eclipse Comet appeared ahead of the Blood Moon Tetrad of 1949-50 near the eclipsed sun, as if the Sun was holding a sword. The comet’s position passing through Hydra-the Serpent destroyedthis sword was raised against the serpent-enemy persecuting Israel. As a prelude to the 1949-50 Blood Moon Tetrad, this Eclipse Comet brought attention to the luni-solar Eclipse Tetrads that would also occur in 1967-68, marking Israel’s re-taking of Jerusalem, along with the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015.

The first Mars retrograde marked the first modern Blood Moon Tetrad in 1947-48 in Leo, with a Mars-Regulus triple conjunction. The following 2 Mars retrogrades marked the next 2 Blood Moon Tetrads in Virgo, in 1967 & 2014 with 2 sets of triple planetary conjunctions of Mars-Spica. Here we find an emphasis on the Alpha and Omega eclipses of the Hebrew Mazzaroth as seen
in the Celestial Sphinx signs leading to the replay of the Rev. 12 sign in Virgo.

On 19 June 1967, shortly after the Six-Day War, the Israeli government voted to return the Sinai to Egypt and the Golan Heights to Syria in exchange for a permanent peace settlement and a demilitarization of the returned territories. #3 [75][76][77] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War]

On the Hebrew Jubilee calendar of 49 years [7×7] plus one year for the 50th year of Jubilee, the Yom Kippur War, or “October War” took place in 1973. The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War,[60] the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was an armed conflict fought from 6th to Oct 25th 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. Most of the combat between the two sides took place in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights—both of which were reclaimed by Israel with fighting in African-Egypt and north Israel. [61][62][page needed]

Egypt’s initial objective in the war was to seize a foothold on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal and subsequently leverage these gains to negotiate return of the rest of the Israeli-held Sinai Peninsula.[63][64][65][66]
The war began on October 6th 1973, when the Arab coalition jointly launched a surprise attack against Israel, as the Arabs violated their previous treaty, on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, that had occurred during the 10th day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in that year.[67] The Yom Kippur War had far-reaching implications; the Arab world experienced humiliation in the lop-sided rout of the Egyptian–SyrianJordanian alliance in 1967. The Israelis recognized that there was no guarantee that they would always dominate the Arab states militarily, as they had done previously throughout the FirstSecond &
Third Arab–Israeli Wars; these changes paved the way for the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. At the 1978 Camp David Accords that followed the war, Israel returned the entire Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, resulting in the 1979 Egyptian–Israeli peace treaty, marking the first instance that an Arab country accepted
Israel as a legitimate state. During the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel captured Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, roughly half of Syria’s Golan Heights, and the territories of the West Bank which had been held by Jordan since 1948.[74]  #4

The current hostilities were initiated by Hamas on Oct. 7th of 2023 on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a seemingly planned assault designed to coincide with Israel’s holy days, as this history observes. This violence aligns with some notable celestial activity on the front end of this Menorah of Solar and Lunar signs over a 14year period from the Spring Equinox Eclipse at the North pole on 3/20 2015, 2259 days from the Center point Super-Blood Moon Eclipse on May 26th, 2021, to the Total Solar Eclipse on August 2nd, 2027– also 2259 days after the central May 26th, 2021 Eclipse! “This August 2nd, 2027 sign crosses over the March 20th, 2034 Total eclipse, intersecting Egypt over Luxor, also separated by a 2422-day span [7 Eclipse Years]. As the American Total eclipses from 2017-2024 also both occur on Mondays, and are separated by the same 2422-day span, with all four crossing lunar eclipse signs belonging to the same Eclipse type of family.” #5

These signs form celestial brackets around 3 matched sets of stunning Eclipses symmetrically based around a common center point of May 26, 2021, from 2015-2027. Even as the Spring Equinox Eclipse @ the North Pole is part of the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad, so also the August 2nd, Total Solar Eclipse frames a near Blood Moon Tetrad of 2025-2026.

The Near Lunar Tetrad of 2025-2026
; #6

March 14th, 2025, Total Lunar Eclipse
Sept. 7th
, 2025, Total Lunar Eclipse
March 3rd
, 2026, Total Lunar Eclipse
August 12th
, 2026 Partial Lunar Eclipse

This Blood Moon Lunar Tetrad consists of the first of 2 Total Lunar Eclipses in 2026, initially occurring on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, after which the August 12th, 2026 Partial Lunar Eclipse occurs. As the 3rd eclipse in a near Tetrad, the March 3rd, 2026 Eclipse is preceded by a March 14th, 2025, Total Lunar Eclipse, followed by the Sept. 7th, 2025, Total Lunar Eclipse. As the final Lunar Eclipse in this near Lunar Tetrad of 2025-2026, the 8-12-2026, partial Solar eclipse falls 1904 days after the central super Blood Moon on May 26, 2021. This links to the March 9th, 2016 Total Solar Eclipse that also fell 1904 days prior to the central super Blood Moon on May 26, 2021. This 2016 total solar eclipse on March 9th, was part of a lunar sextet of signs following the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Lunar eclipse series.

The next 2 corresponding eclipses in this Menorah are the subject of my Oct. 2023 blog that cross to form the Alpha/Omega eclipses of 2017 and 2024. These Pan-American eclipses, are separated by 1211 days [3.5 eclipse years] each for a total of 2422 days [7 eclipse years]. The Aug. 2nd, 2027 eclipse over the Nile river and eastern Saudi Arabia, will be the longest eclipse of the 21st century, forming an “X” marking middle eastern boundaries, will be visible in Israel.

Figure 2. Eclipse Crossing over the Middle East 2027-2034. #7

Map from 1260d.com website. The epicenter of the Cross is southeast of Luxor, home of the Pharoahs, on the Tropic of Cancer. The pattern, as in the USA eclipses is the cross, or the X—Tav in Hebrew, Christ in Greek.

These eclipses occur on the 19-year Metonic just as Spring Solar Equinox eclipses match calendar days of 3-20-2015 and 3-20-2034. A lunar tetrad occurs in 2023 and 2033 and High Holy day tetrad occurs in the years 2033 and 2034 (though the eclipses will not be total in 2034). In each case,
an important solar eclipse occurring on the Spring Equinox takes place between lunar eclipses on the high holy days of Judaism. #8

The precise midpoint of the 2017 and 2024 USA eclipses was Dec. 14, 2020. This date appears to be a US political center of activity, as on this daybetween 10am-5pm Eastern time, the Electoral College certified Joe Biden & Kamala Harris as President and Vice-President of the United States of America. A key Monday Total Solar eclipse was perfectly centered between two Total Solar eclipses, as the political administration that oversaw the division of the USA, was installed to close the American Century from 1918-2017, written in eclipse shadows across US borders. This however is not the only importance of this date as Dec. 14th, 2020 also witnessed a Hannukah Total Solar Eclipse, as an-other center point eclipse not only for the Pan American Eclipses of 2017-2024, with 1211 days between each eclipse, but a spiritual view of a Hannukah eclipse is established the next year on Dec. 4th, 2021 with another Hannukah Total Solar eclipse, a lunar year or 355 days later. An Eclipse on Hannukah represents the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, by lighting candles on the Menorah embodied in these seven eclipses!

This central date of Dec. 14th, 2020 represents the center candle of a Menorah of Eclipses-two Pan American eclipses from 8-21-17 to 4-8-24, each separated by 7 eclipse seasons–1211 daysin either direction brings you the USA Eclipse Judgments (which themselves are exactly 7 eclipse years apart). Seven eclipse seasons is 3-1/2 eclipse years … 34 months to the day before the USA’s Ring of Fire eclipse, last month on 10/14/2023. This represents a Base Menorah of three eclipse-branches, as a foundation to a regular seven-Branched Eclipse Menorah, centered on May 26th, 2021 Central super Blood Moon.

The remaining three pair of eclipses form the entire symmetry of this Seven- branched Eclipse Menorah over the following 14 years:

1. 3-20-2015 Total Solar eclipse 2259 days before the central May 26th Blood Moon is paired w/ Aug. 2nd, 2027 Total Solar Eclipse 2259 days after May 26th.

2. 3-9-2016 Total Solar Eclipse 1904 days before the central May 26th Blood Moon is paired w/ 8-12-2026 Total Solar Eclipse 1904 days after May 26th, 2021.

3. 7-2-2019 Total Solar Eclipse 694 days before the central May 26th Blood Moon is paired w/ 4-20-23 Total Solar Eclipse 694 days after May 26th, 2021.

As we look forward to December and the Hannukah Holiday Season, we can be mindful of how the Almighty Creator has installed the perfection of His patterns in His Creation of the cycles of the Heavens and Earth.

God Bless!

Rene’


Footnotes

1. Figure 1 Picture credit, [https://eclipsewitness.com/eclipse-judgment-series]
2. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War]
3. IBID
4. IBID
5. [https://eclipsewitness.com/eclipse-judgment-series]
6. IBID
7. Figure 2 picture credit [Map from 1260d.com website].
8. [https://eclipsewitness.com/eclipse-judgment-series]

The Biblical Astronomy of the 10-14-2023 “Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse.”

We had an exciting astronomy event this past weekend folks, with a most rare and prominent occasion- an Annular Solar Eclipse. I saw this “Ring of fire” eclipse over my house in Nevada-Saturday morning @ about 9:30 with 80-85% coverage of the Sun. What a glorious sight! But what does it mean? This was not just any old eclipse, it is a follow-up to only the 2nd cross-country eclipse ever recorded to cross the entirety of the continental United States. The first installment of this later Eclipse took place in 2017, which we recognized in our June blog of 2017, on August 21stTotal Solar Eclipse. In that blog, I recalled the incident in the Bible where, Jesus told us “there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon and in the stars,” prior to His return, causing many to wonder at what this huge “X” of solar eclipses across the U.S. might mean. Some believe this eclipse series, visiting the shores of United States in 2017 and 2023-24, could initiate certain signs of the end-times, marking a 7-year period of tribulation spoken of in the Book of Revelation. Just to be clear, I’m not saying that, but this does not mean these celestial signs are not related to unique events of this nature, especially in light of the lunar cycle that framed these events starting in 2014.
This blog will clear up some of the confusion surrounding these events, for example if these signs Do relate to the 7-year tribulation, why does the period between these eclipses fall just short of seven calendar years? This blog will include elements of a reprinted article, explaining why astronomical prophecies in the Bible, especially involving eclipses may not refer only to calendar years.

This study is not designed to be an exhaustive view of all eclipses within the 2020 decade, but focuses on a period starting with the Blood Moon Tetrads of the formation of the nation-state of Israel, following to include the Blood Moon Tetrads of 2014/2015, and their Metonic Partner Blood Moon Tetrads of 2033/ 2034. The North Pole Spring Equinox Eclipse of 3-20-2015 also has its counter-part in the 3-20-2034 Great Eclipse, on the Equinox exactly 19-years later. This Metonic 19-year period is bracketed by Blood Moon Tetrads Equinox Eclipses, holding some of the most notable eclipses in history, whose shadow paths out-line the conflicts and actions of key ancient and modern human empires.

As we approach the 2000-year anniversary of the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, This central event in all human history certainly is the focus of celestial history even as it is in Scripture. In the pre-ponderance of Biblical, historical and chronological evidence resulting from decades of Biblical research and teaching, April 28th, 28 AD is not only the most likely candidate for the date of Christ’s crucifixion, it is the strongest and most well supported option that fits the accuracy of Biblical timelines on this subject. This is not only during the time Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, but also based on calculations of Herod’s death eclipse in January1 BC, not 4BC. We also include the Bible guideline of Jesus at 30 years old, when according to Judean law, he was qualified as an adult, able to carry out his ministry in the 1-year [not 3] called the “acceptable year [singular] of the Lord,” according to Bible prophecy, [Isa. 61:1-2]. This is the text that Jesus quoted when He taught in the Synagogue [Luke 4:18-19], but he did not quote the entire text, stopping mid-verse 2 because “the day of vengeance of our God,” is and remains still future, in reference to God’s wrath in the day of judgment, and was not part of Christ’s ministry at that time.
.
As we view Luni-Solar eclipse cycles, we begin with the 346.62 day eclipse year, wherein the moon, earth and sun are realigned in the same lunar node on the ecliptic. This involves the coordination of three different kinds of years:

Solar Year: The Earth’s orbital cycle around the sun. 365.242 days
Lunar Year: The Moon’s cycle to complete 12 orbits of the Earth. 354.3 days
Draconic Year: when the earth, moon and sun align at a Lunar node on the  ecliptic. 346.6 days

We should not focus on any one of these types of years, but look at coordinating all three. When these 3 yearly cycles align it forms a pattern whereby we can predict eclipses, most clearly evident in the 19-year [6940+/- day] Metonic cycle.

Thus, eclipses generally repeat on about the same day of the year every 19 years. Eclipses are more easily predicted via the Saros cycle of 223 lunar months, or about 18 years and 11 days, which is also 19 eclipse years.

As the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth spun the Sun, Moon and Stars in their cycles according to His perfect and Omniscient timing, we can gain an understanding of His order of Creation, and set our lives in correspondent order with the Father of Lights. [Gen. 1:14-19]

These Solar eclipses could serve as a warning of impending judgments, since the crossing point of these eclipses is very near to the New Madrid fault zone. This  fault zone is six times larger than the San Andreas fault zone in California and it covers portions of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. Back in 1811 and 1812, a series of very devastating earthquakes along the New Madrid fault zone opened some deep fissures in the ground, caused the Mississippi River to run backwards in some places, and were reportedly felt as far away as Washington D.C. and Boston. As the strongest earthquakes ever recorded east of the Rocky Mountains, the heart of this “X” falls not only closest to the eclipse’ place of longest duration of totality, but also precisely in the area where we would expect such an earthquake. This does not mean these three solar eclipses are predicting an earthquake event, but it may serve as a warning for the U.S. to repent and turn to God, reminding us the Day of Christ’s crucifixion darkness was accompanied by a great earthquake.

As we review the context of the total solar eclipse on August 21st, 2017the 2nd Pan-American Eclipse across the US, we find the following dates, shown with the Regulus unions in Leo, and the Jupiter-Venus conjunctions in Virgo in 2016-2017, as signs of the Celestial Sphinx:

July 30th, 2016 Mercury-Regulus Conjunction
Aug. 5th, 2016 Venus-Regulus Conjunction
Aug. 26-27th, 2016 Jupiter-Venus conjunction [Jupiter enters Virgo]
Feb. 26th, 2017 Jupiter-Venus conjunction
August 21st, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse in Leo @ Regulus
Sept. 23rd, 2017 [Virgo clothed 
with the Sun/Moon @ feet]-Rev. 12:1-2
Sept. 30th Yom Kippur-Day of Atonement

Nov. 13th, 2017 Jupiter-Venus conjunction

The two brightest planets –Venus and Jupiter –teamed up to provide the closest planetary conjunction of 2014, which has been the closest Venus-Jupiter union during the six Lunar Eclipses of 2014-2016, until August 27, 2016, when Jupiter entered Virgo eventually to be birthed in 2017. This Venus-Jupiter union on August 27th, saw these two planets three times closer than during their 2015 union when they were separated by only 1/3 of a degree.
This comparison of celestial alignments within the Lunar Eclipse Sextet from 2014-2016 with the Total Solar eclipse of August 21st, 2017 shows a series of solar and lunar eclipses on sacred feasts of the Hebrew Calendar. This high-lights the importance of the timing of the eclipse on 21st August 2017 relating to Elul 1marking a 40-day Season of Repentance to Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. It also brings to light the spiritual nature of the recent invasion of Israel by Hamas, behind the Palestinian Terrorists who brutally slayed women, children and civilians on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. We need a recognition of the true source of Hamas’ hatred for Israel, its ancient roots exposed from Scripture to reveal the enemies of the true God, and their seething bloodlust against the race of His only begotten Son-Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, as found in [Genesis 3:15, 49:8-10]. As we investigate the roots of “Hamas,” this word is the same Hebrew Word that means “violence.” It is found in Strong’s Concordance [H2555-Chamac]1 with its 1st usage found in Gen. 6:11; where the pre-flood earth was corrupt and filled with violence. In v. 12 it says “All flesh had corrupted [H7843] its way upon the earth. All flesh here is not all without exception, as Noah and his family were saved in the Ark. Also, v13 repeats the idea of v. 11, establishing the truth that the earth was filled with violence; [H2555-Chamac], through them-those who had corrupted themselves, via this violence-prompting God’s destruction of all the evil ones via the great flood of Noah. The kind of violence linked to “hamas,” is not a garden variety of damage inflicted upon humanity. Strong’s says its vehement violence inflicted to oppress. It is extreme wickedness and cruel violence, so rampant in those daysGod had to wipe it off the map, and start over with the human race-with Noah. Thus, God executed the violent ones on the earth, those who had given themselves over to the devil spirit of violence that had so ingrained itself in the lives of that evil generation, because God hates those wicked ones that love this kind of brutal violence; [Ps. 11:5-6]. They are those who covenant by eating the bread of wickedness & drink the wine of violence, [Prov. 4:17], as the soul of this kind of transgressor feeds on violence, [Prov. 13: 2, Isa. 59:6-7]. Those destitute of the true God are given over to idols, making their land full of bloody crimes and their city full of violence, [Ezek. 7:18-23]. This is the iniquity discovered in the Adversary himself, the violence embodied in the “great Satan,” not the U.S. or Israel, as the terrorists say, but the fallen archangel and prince of darkness; [Ezek. 28:16], who once sat at the side of the Almighty. This spiritual hatred rooted in the conflict between the two seeds of Gen. 3:15, is what makes for the virulent blood feud witnessed through all of OT History, and now in the last days, we are returning to the days that are like those of Noah.
As it was the enemy’s desire to prevent the 1st Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the genocide of Haman’s plot foiled by and the bravery of Queen Esther and Mordecai, that saved the Jews by the Hand of Almighty God of their day, so it remains their desire to inflict as much pain and destruction on Israel and the Christian world as possible today. God’s acts of righteous judgment will be completed as the evil ones of today are exposed and dealt with according to God’s perfect justice. The remainder of this blog is a reprint of the sections and the summary article on the 3 eclipses that started in August 2017. Please refer online to; [https://eclipsewitness.com/eclipse-judgment-series] where you can find more info on this topic for your personal study…

The American Century in Eclipses. 2

 

Two sets of Eclipses define the American century. The first set define its beginning…a cross country USA eclipse on June 8, 19187 eclipse years (2422 days) later, an eclipse cut across the Northern US from Minnesota through New York CityThe second set defines its end…starting with a cross-country USA eclipse on August 21, 2017seven eclipse years (2422 days) later, an eclipse cuts south to north through New York State ( the “empire state”)…
Between the 1918 and 2017 USA cross country eclipses is 36, 234 days.
Between the 1925 and 2024 USA eclipses is 36,234 days… Between each matching member of the pairs is 99 years and 74 days… or 1190 months and 13 days… The True American Century written in eclipses, bracketed by 7-year eclipse pairs.

June 8, 1918

 

In this illustrated Map of June 8, 1918 eclipse, Mt. Saint Helens in center of totality. The only Eclipse that traveled across the entire contiguous USA before 8-21-2017 was June 8, 1918. During this time the US was embroiled in WWI— and at the start of a Spanish Flu Pandemic …note incredible similarity to path of 8-21-2017 USA eclipse. This marks the beginning of US dominance in world affairs.

2422 days from Jan 24, 1925 US eclipse

36,234 days from August 21, 2017 US eclipse

Jan, 24, 1925

 

 At the mid-point of the roaring 20’s on January 24, 1925, a total solar eclipse across the northern USA from upper Minnesota provides the last total solar eclipse in New York City, the new epicenter and empire of western civilization, (“empire state”). New York was home to the financial and cultural centers of the nation–Wall Street, Broadway and vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley—the city was treated to rare clear skies and the eclipse was widely observed. The eclipse path crossed the Atlantic ocean to extreme northern latitudes. Near totality at Kennedy Home.

2422 days from June 8 1918  US eclipse

36,234 days from August 21, 2017 US eclipse

USA-Three solar eclipses in 7 years starting in 2017 – See the A? #3

 

It’s difficult to find any nation in history so perfectly trisected by solar eclipses geographically as the USA is by eclipses on 8-21-2017, 10-14-2023 and 4-8-2024…over a 2422 day spanA is for Alpha, (Hebrew) Alef , It’s an “A” that is comprised of three lines, two x’s. The 8-21-2017 and 4-8-2024 are Hepton Total Eclipses, both on Monday’s.
HEBREW IS READ RIGHT TO LEFT… ALEF AND THE TAV

 

 Paleo-Hebrew was the script in which the Old Testament was written, not the modern script that is currently used ( being standardized around 200 B.C.)

On the left is a Tav–the last letter (22nd) of the Hebrew alphabet– essentially a cross or X in the above illustration.

On the right is the Paleo-Hebrew Aleph–the first letter of the alphabet. The Tav is being written by the shadow of the moon on both locations.

The Aleph-( where we get Alpha and our letter A) is written by shadows of the 2017, 2023 and 2024 eclipses on the USA. 4

The Alpha and the Omega

Reading right to left,  “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” –Rev.22:13… go back  and look at the Aleph (A)  over the USA mapped in last section

Total Solar Tav over America-2017 and 2024

 

It’s a cross. It’s also a Tav, the last letter, the 22nd, of the original Hebrew alphabet. It means truth. In the Greek alphabet, X is the symbol for the letter ‘chi. ‘ Chi (or X) is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ” and can stand in for the word Christ“, which is why people can write “Happy Xmas.” In the early days of the Christian church, Christians used the letter X as a secret symbol to indicate their membership in the church to others.

The above map illustrates the Total solar eclipses of 2017 and 2024 over America, both on Mondays, separated by a 2422 day (7-eclipse years) span.

The Mideast Eclipses of 2027 and 2034—see the X

[map from 1260d.com] 5

As the author points out this eclipse crossing in view of the Giza Plateau, embodies the southern border of the land promised to Abraham by God in Gen. 15:8, [see Ex. 6:1-8]. As we have just concluded 120 hours of teaching in our OT History class over 1.5 years, showing how the Jews have dwelt in this middle eastern land of Israel starting with Abraham for 1900+ years! This evident truth of Bible history will never be erased by holocaust denying terrorists. On Aug 2nd, 2027 and March 20, 2034 Total Eclipses intersect near the Valley of the Kings in Egypt…are also separated by a 2422-day span (7 Eclipse Years). Like the American Total Eclipses, both are Hepton Cycle eclipses taking place on Mondays. All four crossing eclipses are members of the same Hepton Cycle. 27 AD to 34 AD contain all the probable dates for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

AMERICAN OMEGA–THE TOTAL ECLIPSES 

Monday Aug 21 2017

 

The USA divided in half on Aug, 2017. 7 months and 1 day after Trump’s inauguration. First day of the month of Elul, Hebrew year 5777.  In Jewish tradition, the month of Elul is a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. 6

Monday April 8 2024

 

2422 days later, the USA is divided South to North, along with Mexico and extreme Eastern Canada. This occurs 8 days after Easter and 14 days before Passover. 7

The Mideast eclipses occur on boundaries of this 2,000th year anniversary, but no solar eclipse can naturally occur on the exact day’s anniversary. Jesus was crucified at Passover (which is at full moon). Solar eclipses  happen at new moon.

The total eclipses occur 7 eclipse years (draconic years -346 days) apart, both on Monday –Moon Day. A span of 2422 days. They are part of a unique series of eclipse groupings called a Hepton. 8

NOW ADD THE GREAT 10-14-23-AMERICAN RING OF FIRE

Ring of Fire 2023

531 years and two days after Columbus discovered America, an Annular eclipse creates a ring of fire from Oregon to Texas and then on to South America this past weekend, October 14th 2023, one of 3 U.S. solar eclipses in the USA in Seven Years, [2017-2024].

Extremely significant Ring of Fire eclipses also occur during this time frame… including 12-26-2019 Tsunami Anniversary Eclipse.
6-21-2020 Solstice/Father’s Day Pandemic Eclipse
,
6-10-2021 Canadian Judgment, and USA Ring of Fire 10-14-2023.

There are many ways to look at this grouping but it seems to demand consideration because of its obvious boundaries around the USA. There are three eclipses in 7 years in the USA and the nation is perfectly trisected. The fact that the nation was politically divided and subdued during this time frame stands clear as a historical fact. 9

USA, Central America, Exits Brazil

It enters Oregon–center of annularity coming ashore near Florence at 9:05 am. Oregon’s second eclipse in 7 years- and heads across the Southwest USA. Crosses Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan, Central America, across the Amazon and exits into the Ocean at Natal, Brazil. Natal is Portugese for Nativity. 10

Over the Cross of the Four Corners

The only place in the USA where four states meet and form a cross, the sacred lands of the Four Corners region. The Eclipse path perfectly covers the Cross as it travels over some of the most beautiful areas on planet earth, including confluence of Green and Colorado Rivers, several national parks and centers of the lost Anasazi Civilization like Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde.

Corpus Christi–The Body of Christ

The eclipse exits the USA at the exact centerline of annularity directly over the city of Corpus Christi, Tx (Body of Christ) – The only city in America that bears such a name. The eclipse then traverses the gulf of Mexico before crossing the Yucatan. 11

Ring of Fire Eclipse 10-14-23

A “Ring of Fire”/ Sunflower Annular eclipse passes over the western US on 10-14-23 before traveling to the Yucatan and crossing northern Brazil. 177 days before the Spring 2024 total eclipse.

RememberTotal and Annular Solar Eclipses are rare. To have three completely trisecting the USA in 7 years is nothing short of incredible. One eclipse is past-the Great American Eclipse of Aug 21 2017The next total solar eclipse in the USA arrives 2422 days later on April 8, 2024, It will be the only Total solar eclipse to touch all three nations in the 21st Century. The shadow paths of these two eclipses mark an X over America-centerpoint just south of Carbondale Illinois, specifically near Salem Road near east bank of Cedar Lake.

The total eclipses occur 7 eclipse years (draconic years -346 days) apart, both on Monday –Moon Day. A span of 2422 days. They are part of a unique series of eclipse groupings called a Hepton. 12

The exact midpoint of the Total eclipses is 1211 days. That date turned out to be Dec.14, 2020...It so happens there was another total solar eclipse then on the other end of the Americas, also a Hepton Eclipse, also on Monday. It coincided with a momentous day  in the USA;

MONDAY 12-14-2020- MIDPOINT OF USA MONDAY JUDGMENT ECLIPSES

Joe Biden is confirmed President by Electoral College

The precise midpoint of the 2017 and 2024 USA eclipses was Dec. 14, 2020. On that day, between 10am and 5pm Eastern time, the Electoral College certifies Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice-President of the United States of America. A significant Monday Total Solar eclipse perfectly spaced between two Total Solar Monday eclipses. 13

7 eclipse seasons–1211 days– in either direction brings you to the USA Eclipse Judgments of 8-21- 2017 and 4-8-2024 (which themselves are exactly

7 eclipse years apart).
7 eclipse seasons is 3 and 1/2 eclipse years … 34 months to the day before the USA’s Ring of Fire eclipse.

TWO TAVS MAKE AN ALEF / USA ECLIPSEStotally unique 2024

The April 8 2024 Eclipse will be the only one to cross Mexico, USA and Canada in the 21st Century. It occurs 8 days after Easter on a Monday.

Texas will get its second solar eclipse in 6 months. 14

First Tav–Annular 2023 and 2024 Total

Here is the cross/ Tav / X / Omega formed by this past weekend’s 10-14-23 Ring of Fire and the 4-8-24 Total solar eclipses, 177 days apart. They cross in Texas somewhere in the hill country. The exact point where paths cross has yet to be posted on the internet.

Second Tav– Total Eclipse Tav-2017 and 2024

And here is the Tav formed by the 2017 and 2024 Total USA Solar Eclipses, their intersection south of Carbondale Illinois, at Salem Road on the East edge of Cedar Lake. 15

And The Alpha-The sum of the Two Tavs

Once again, the shadows of the three eclipses that occur in a 7-year span clearly write the letter A upon the United States. It is Alef, Alpha. Perhaps those with wisdom will reckon these days.

USA 8-21-2017

Total Eclipse/Judgment Eclipse. Hepton Cycle Monday Eclipse. The Great American Eclipse. The most viewed American eclipse of all time. America Divided. First major city in totality was Salem, Oregon–the largest US city named after Jerusalem. Before this, the last eclipse visible in the US was Feb. 26, 1979, seen only in the Northwest. 16

Eclipse Feb 26,1979

 

Last Total eclipse in USA for 38 years. Totality over Mount Saint Helen’s (1222.2 degrees longitude). 388 days before she awoke with an earthquake on Spring Equinox of March 20 1980, before she exploded to the due north on May 18 1980 in the largest volcanic eruption in modern Continental US  History. The beginning of the technological era. The final era of the American Empire and the creation of one of the last world Empires. 17

American Judgment 4-8-2024

Hepton Cycle: Monday Eclipse. Total Solar Eclipse. Judgment Eclipse. Finishes both Tavs and the Aleph over the USA (2nd Tav pictured above). 8 days after Easter, 2422 days from USA eclipse of 2017, 1211 days after Election Eclipse of 2020, 177 days after Ring of Fire eclipse of 10-14-2023. Do these eclipses embody Judgment on America?

Metonic Cycle is a 19- solar year period of time which is bordered by the exact same solar date, lunar phase and ecliptic reality. In this case, matching solar spring equinox eclipses on 3-20-2015 and, 19-years later on 3-20-2034. Both of these dates are also bordered by lunar eclipse tetrads which fall on the high holy days of Judaism (Passover and Feast of Tabernacles). Within this Metonic are a series of eclipses that appear to highlight the empires of man, both along the anniversary years and around them. 18

Lunar Eclipse Tetrads announce the Metonic

The North Pole Spring Equinox Total Solar Eclipse of  3-20-2015 is the official Solar beginning of the Metonic we are considering, but its bordered by a extraordinary set of lunar eclipses, which created quite a stir in some circles. The so-called “Blood Moon ” Tetrad of 2014 and 2015 brought successive lunar eclipses on the high holy days of Judaism. Passover ( April 15) and Feast of Tabernacles (October 8) in 2014 and again Passover ( April 4) and Feast of Tabernacles (Sept 28) in 2015…nestled between these events was the singular 3-20-2015 Solar Eclipse which ended directly at the North Pole. It is unclear whether any eclipse in history has ever done such a thing. 19

Tetrads also announce the end of Metonic

There is another perfect lunar tetrad (meaning total eclipses) in the years 2032 and 2033. Between the the years 2033 and 2034 the lunar eclipses land again on the high holy days of Judaism.

2033–April 14 and October 8

2034–April 3rd and September 28…you will notice that these dates are essentially the same as the Lunar tetrads of 2014 and 2015. That is how the amazing Metonic cycle works.

A 19-year Chapter to write the Final Story

19 solar years is exactly 235 lunar months, and exactly 21 eclipse years (eclipse years are 346.62 days). Within this time frame are the Judgment Eclipses. Does the time frame start between the lunar or the solar? Is it the Blood Moon Tetrads that announce the beginning and the end of the cycle, or is it the tremendous Spring Equinox Eclipses of 2015 and 2034 that rest between them?

LUNAR ECLIPSE HOLY DAY TETRADS AND EQUINOX ECLIPSES

The Beginning of the Blood Moon Metonic

 

The only lunar eclipses considered in our survey involve the High Holy day tetradsThey occur on the 19 year Metonic just as the Solar Eclipse Equinox eclipses match calendar days of 3-20-2015 and 3-20-2034.

Lunar eclipses on the High Holy Days of Judaism in the years 2014 and 2015 sandwich a Total eclipse of the Sun on the Spring Equinox of 2015 ( Jewish and Muslim New Year) which ends immediately at the North Pole. Only 7 such lunar eclipse tetrads have occurred since the coming of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. A Blood Moon Tetrad occurred between 1493 and 1494 shortly  following the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 and the discovery of the New World.

A Blood Moon Tetrad occurred between 1949 and 1950 on Passover,  after the 1948 declaration independent Jewish state, which was followed by the war for Jewish independence.

A Blood Moon Tetrad occurred between 1967 and 1968, following the 1967 “Six Day War,” during which Israel liberated the entire city of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount where the First and Second Temples once stood. For the first time in 2,000 years, Jerusalem, in its completeness, was the capital of the Jewish stateA lunar tetrad occurs in 2023 and 2033 and a High Holy day tetrad occurs in the years 2033 and 2034 (though the eclipses will not be total in year 2034) 20

The End of the Blood Moon Metonic

They occur on the 19-year Metonic just as the Solar Eclipse Equinox eclipses match calendar days of 3-20-2015 and 3-20-2034. A lunar tetrad occurs in 2023 and 2033 and a High Holy day tetrad occurs in the years 2033 and 2034 (though the eclipses will not be total in year 2034). In each case, an important solar eclipse occurring on the Spring Equinox is sandwiched by lunar eclipses occurring on the high holy days of Judaism. 21

The author of this article via his website [https://eclipsewitness.com/eclipse-judgment-series] certainly presents some compelling celestial history here in a most convincing context. The celestial structure of these Luni-solar eclipse signs is not something one should ignore. If you do, you do so at the peril of yourself and your loved ones. These celestial signs surrounding the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection and ascension are not a coincidence,” being a direct by-product from the Hand of our Almighty Creator, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I don’t agree with all the author’s conclusions, but I’m sure the Believer’s will get blessed and be edified with this research! Enjoy…

God Bless!

Rene’


Footnotes

1. Strong’s Concordance, [H2555-Chamac] James Strong.
2. https://eclipsewitness.com/eclipse-judgment-series
3. IBID
4. IBID
5. map from 1260d.com
6. https://eclipsewitness.com/eclipse-judgment-series
7. IBID
8. IBID
9. IBID
10. IBID
11. IBID
12. IBID
13. IBID
14. IBID
`15. IBID
16. IBID
17. IBID
18. IBID
19. IBID
20. IBID
21. IBID

 

Cuneiform Tablets, the Magi and the Star of Bethlehem

Cuneiform Tablets, the Magi, and the Star of Bethlehem

The August Blog of 2023 builds upon the last couple of articles we have posted, as it expands on Daniel’s use of the Babylonian Star Dairies as a tool to teach the Magi about the celestial signs in line with the Biblical Messianic Prophecies that would predict the birth of Christ. God did not leave Himself without witness of His only begotten Son-Jesus Christ, not only in Scripture but also in the Gospel of the Stars even as His promises to Abraham linked to the Celestial Gospels. God’s master-plan of redemption was known to mankind long before it was written in human script, even as the Messiah-the Lion of the tribe of JudahAbraham’s grandson, was prophesied in Leo, [Gen. 15:5, 49:8-10]. This month’s study reveals an ancient Babylonian Cuneiform tablet that appeared in the period of Daniel’s leadership in the royal courts over the Magi in Babylon and Persia. We will review some of the traits of what I have termed the Celestial Prelude, as the celestial signs that led up to the birth of Christ, which allowed the Magi to recognize and correctly identify the stars of the Messiah’s birth.

God’s plan to rescue humanity is embodied in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and his birth was connected with and prophesied in the starsThe Star Gospel as found in the Old Testament, or for Judaism in the Tanakh, long foretold his birth, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension. Following the rise of ancient Babylon, the forces of king Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel in 604 BC, and led most of its key people in captivity to BabylonAmong the exiles was a group of gifted and intelligent young men with their leader named Daniel. After distinguishing himself by first accurately revealing king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and then interpreting it for him, he was rewarded with a high seat in Babylon’s royal court, that included key governmental authority, where he was made chief over all the magicianssoothsayersand wise men of Babylon. This put Daniel and his friends in key positions to influence many royal decrees that descended, not only from Nebuchadnezzar, but many of the subsequent Kings including Cyrus, during their lifetimes. As we have seen, the Babylonians were already renown in history for their study of the stars both from a perspective of science and symbolism. With the rise of Daniel and his team, their view of Scripture and Messianic prophecy influenced the royal court, regarding the coming Christ. Having the Babylonian Star Diaries, the cuneiform clay tablets at his disposal, provided valuable resources for his work in identifying and accurately teaching the Magi the celestial signs to look for, that led to the birth of Christ.

Figure 1. Old Persian cuneiform syllabary From the Tomb of Darius. 
(circa 500 BC)

Daniel’s knowledge of the Gospel in the Stars not only enlightened his view of the OT Prophecies of Christ, but also provided the special insight needed to teach these key truths to the Zoroastrian Magi, whose monotheistic religion also influenced King Cyrus, as one of the most enlightened leaders in history. Daniel’s knowledge of the Gospel in the Stars was closer to the Bible Patriarchs like Noah, since it was a throwback to the initial revelation of what was first given, later corrupted in the practices of astrology and divinationrooted and further developed in Babylon. As in modern times, astrologers cast their horoscopes, while many believe that the stars fatalistically control one’s destiny. But Daniel, preserved the Tanakh, and developed his own order of scholar-disciples committed to his teaching, based on the truth of Scripturenot to include astrology or other kinds of divination, as they were strictly forbidden in the Hebrew Scriptures. Daniel spent all his adult life in Babylon and later in Persia as a high official of the kings he served, while never wavering from his true service for the One true God. When the Prophet Daniel was carried off in captivity to Babylon, it was the result of one of 27 sieges of Jerusalem in Israel, the first destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, who burnt the Temple in 587-586 BC, [2 Chron. 36:17-20], the 2nd in 69-70 AD, by Titus’ of Rome who also burnt the Temple.

In a recent study by John Wee, he provides examples of the “five major scholarly disciplines in the Assyrian Court” that provide insight into the scene that confronted Daniel in the Courts of Babylon and Persia, in his oversight of the professional court astronomers and Magi.

Scribal Learning, Commentaries, and the Lamentation Priest

The profession and its texts become more illuminated from the late Neo-Assyrian period, especially during the reigns of Esarhaddon (680–669 BC) and his son Assurbanipal (668–c. 627 BC), two monarchs who displayed particular interest in cuneiform scholarship and in celestial and other kinds of divinatory lore. Assurbanipal boasted that he “wrote on tablets the wisdom of the god Ea, the Lamentation arts,” and compiled a catalog (4R 53) listing individual liturgies ascribed to Lamentation priests. As one of the five major scholarly disciplines in the Assyrian court, the kalû (“lamentation priest”) stood along-side the āšipu (“magician / exorcist”), bārû (“haruspex /diviner”), ṭupšarru or ṭupšar Enūma Anu Enlil (“scribe /astronomer”), and asû (“physician”). Compound terms such as kalûtu or āšipūtu designated the “arts” or expertise of each profession, denoting not merely skills or proficiencies in the abstract, but also cuneiform text corpora associated with the profession. Different professions operated in ways that complemented each other. Chief kalûs like Urad-Ea and his son and successor Nabû-zēru-iddina belonged to the Assyrian king’s inner circle, and regularly wrote letters to the king concerning festival observances and kettle-drum performances before planets & gods. Other occasions, however, called for their participation in joint rites with the cooperation of court magicians. One Lamentation priest of some stature was Marduk-šāpik-zēriwho, even when (temporarily?) out of favor with the king, was influential enough to gather various professionals and apprentices under his auspices, including magicians, haruspices, physicians, astronomers, and other Lamentation priests (SAA 10, 160 obv. 47 – rev. 37). The details of his educational credentials are worth citing at length:” #1

In the reference from John Wee below we find these priests were groomed in families as they learned the “arts” of their profession from their fathers in service to the King, that included being well “read” (šitassû) in “the arts of the magician and of the astronomer” or the astronomical omen series Enūma Anu Enlil. Enlil, … I have observed the stars of the sky. I have read Šummaizbu, [Kataduqqû], Alamdimmû, Nigdimdimmû, […], Šummaālu. I learned … Under the protection of the king my lord, I have fulfilledand … I am competent in my father’s duty”. The list of achievements is impressive, including ritual performance and recitation, observances of “healthy (and) sick flesh” that may be medical in nature, and various text series on astronomical omens (Enūma Anu Enlil), omens from birth anomalies (Šumma izbu, or abbr. Izbu), omens from human physiognomy (Alamdimmû, etc.) and speech (Kataduqqû), and omens from various terrestrial experiences and encounters (Šumma ālu, or abbr. Ālu). The juxtaposition of professional arts and text series, which we see in Marduk-šāpik-zēri’s résumé, occurs also in a catalog (K 2248) from Assurbanipal’s famous library at Nineveh: “[The arts of the magician], the arts of the lamentation priest, Enūma Anu Enlil, Alamdimmû, Šumma izbu (written Sa-gig, Katadugga, Lugal-e (the myth of Ninurta’s Exploits) and An-gim dím-ma (the myth of Ninurta’s Return to Nippur). These are from the mouth of the god Ea.” #2

These Astronomer-Priests needed also to be experts in the arts of celestial calculation related to planetary movements mapped and recorded in celestial time and space resulting from their direct observation. It is reasonable that Daniel and his friends were trained in some of these skills prior to the Babylonian Captivity, and brought some of this training to the courts of Babylon from Israel. For Lamentation priests, in particular, their responsibility for rituals before planets imply existing concerns for maps of celestial time and space, and suggested motivations for developing or at least keeping up to date with astronomical ideas and methods.

Illustrating the value put on celestial prediction, Lamentation priests of the Ebabbar temple in the Neo-Babylonian city of Larsa performed a kettledrum ritual in anticipation of a lunar eclipse, which was likely based on knowledge of the Saros cycle, but which ended up actually not happening due to cumulative errors in calculation. Beaulieu (2000,12f.) has noted that, among cuneiform tablets owned or copied by descendants of Sîn-lēqi-unninni, “the largest group consists of astronomical texts,” “the second group consists of copies of rituals which were performed by the kalû priests,” …” Indeed, Lamentation priests (kalûs) of the Sîn-lēqi-unninni family and magicians (āšipus) of the Ekur-zākir family appear to account for all astronomical tablets from Seleucid Uruk, and individuals from both groups were sometimes designated ṭupšar Enūma Anu Enlil (“astronomer”). In contrast to the distinct office of “astronomer” in the late Neo-Assyrian court, the titleastronomer” became employed in much more restricted contexts in the Achaemenid and Seleucid periods, with magicians and especially Lamentation priests engaged in astronomical scholarship and occasionally adopting the title itself. The expanded roles of lamentation priest and magician could be attributed to professional ties to Babylonian temples and temple institutions, which grew in importance as patrons of traditional cuneiform scholarship under Persian and Hellenistic rule.” #3 Daniel’s influence however, would have included an emphasis in the astronomical arts and studies in reading and interpreting the actual stars and their movements for the genuine Magi, as opposed to the astrological rituals linked to observances of “cultic magic.” 

The importance of the acquisition of Cuneiform texts by these scribes was one of their duties to expand the holdings of the king’s libraries, which kept the scribes busy amongst all their other scribal obligations. “In yet another letter sent to the city of Borsippa, the king listed in detail specific titles of cuneiform works to be acquired, demanding that his scholars seek out “rare tablets that are known to you, but are not in Assyria.” As these letters suggest, the king’s agents were expected to be broadly versed in cuneiform scholarship, so as to be competent enough to recognize new or innovative compositions, to accurately copy tablets of different genres, and to categorize them according to the needs of the library. Assyrian library records, for example, show that “two (exemplars) of kalûtu” were in fact donated not by a Lamentation priest, but by one “Arrabu the magician.” This and other frequent dissonances between texts and professions led Parpola (1983, 8f.) to conclude that “the texts listed for them [i.e., the different tablet contributors] do not represent their entire private libraries but rather only that part of it which they did not need in their professional work.” In fact, the ownership (and donation) of kalûtu tablets by Arrabu the magician seems merely reflective of the way professional boundaries mapped uneasily onto the boundaries of text ownership and expertise.”#4

In this light it is logical that Daniel would have had his priest-team looking out for any cuneiform texts that would fit the traits of the Messianic prophecies of the coming Hebrew Savior-King, and that these scribes were expert enough to read these texts and identify the Messianic traits that fit the caseDaniel’s responsibilities would have included the oversight and pairing of Kings with Scholar-scribes, where he could not only steer his research in a direction that would advance the cause of the genuine Magi, but also maximize relations between his team and the ruling monarch.

A sense of the kinds of tablets owned and copied by Lamentation priests may be obtained from the excavated library in the south-east gate-building (area Le XVI3) of the Bīt rēš, the temple of the god Anu in Seleucid Uruk. The 170 or so cuneiform tablets of this library date to 192–162 BC and belonged to Anu-bēlšunu and his family of kalûs who claimed descent from Sîn-lēqi-unninni. “Also from this library is the famousList of Kings and Sages/Scholars” (BagM Beih. 2, 89) that pairs kings with sages (apkallu) or scholars (ummânu) in (mostly) one-to-one fashion, implying that scholars in later times were the intellectual successors of the antediluvian sages. Astronomical texts here include omens and commentaries on the series Enūma Anu Enlil (BagM Beih. 2, 76. 80), other celestial omens (BagM Beih. 2, 75), horoscopes (BagMBeih. 2, 81–82 and 106; NCBT 1231), an astronomical almanac (BagM Beih. 2, 83), a Calendar Text (BagMBeih. 2, 79; Wee 2016b, esp. 182), a GDBT-type text (BagMBeih. 2, 78), as well as various planetary texts, ephemerides, diaries, and other records on the positions of celestial bodies.”#5 The records we are sourcing of Babylonian star diaries and cuneiform texts, fall in the 400-year period, part of when Daniel’s oversight of the Royal Court Magi in the Babylonian and Persian empires, occurred from mid-6th century BC to the mid-2nd century BC. This would have encompassed not only Daniel’s entire adult life, but also the key Magi mentored and influenced by him for centuries.

In the reference from Rochberg below, we find the ancient idea of a Gospel in the Stars, or constellations were “Heavenly Writing” millennia in advance of Rolleston, was not only basic content in Cuneiform Tablets, but also functioned as a kind of “Rosetta Stonelexicon in translating the dead language of Sumerian into Akkadian used in Babylon.

The first of these Mesopotamian astronomical precepts is found in texts stating that the starry sky depicted [sitirti samami, sitir same, or sitir burume], “heavenly writing“—literally a hallowed cuneiform text inscribed by the star-gods themselves, (CAD 17/pt.3, p. 144; Rochberg, 2004, pp. 64, 163, 294, 299; Rochberg-Halton, 1988, p. 15 n. 54; von Soden, 1981, III, 1253, sitru, lexical section). This accords with the title of the Babylonian astrologer: tupsarru, “writer, scribe,”—an expert who read the sacred writing” of the celestial sky for signs of future earthly events to be avoided or exploited (Brown D., 2000, pp. 33-36; Rochberg, 2004, pp. 41, 45, 71, 219; CAD 19, pp. 152-153, tupsarru). The concept is summarized by Francesca Rochberg, “The metaphor may be interpreted to express the idea that a written message was encoded in the sky, and that the message was a form of communication from the gods#6

Hence, Babylonian Astronomers/astrologers were adroit grammarians proficient at reading and writing in the highly complex cuneiform writing system; a task that included mastery of their spoken tongue, Akkadian, as well as proficiency in the reading and writing of Sumerian, which was the “deadlanguage of the southern Mesopotamian people from whom the Akkadian-speaking Babylonians adopted the cuneiform script. Babylonian astrologersknowledge of Sumerian is visible in their study of the Sumerian-Akkadiandictionaries,” a point evinced by the list of texts edited by astrologers serving the Assyrian king, Esarhaddon (Lambert, 1976, pp. 313-318; Rochberg, 2004, p. 211). The circa 1800-1600 BC Sumerian-Akkadiandictionarieslisted a Sumerian logogram beside its Akkadian meaning; a Sumerian logogram consisting of a cuneiform sign or sign grouping for a Sumerian word, which was then used to represent an Akkadian word with the equivalent meaning (Huehnergard, 1997, pp. 107-111). Pertinent to the current article is that these Sumerian-Akkadian dictionaries were an essential resource to the astrologer (Lambert, 1976, pp. 313-318; Rochberg, 2004, pp. 209-236). And Mesopotamian and Hellenic scholars were translating these Sumerian-Akkadian dictionaries into Greek in the late first century AD, a time contemporaneous with the writing of the Gospels (Geller, 1997, pp. 6495; Sollberger, 1962, pp. 63-72). The Sumerian-Akkadian dictionaries illustrate that the cuneiform writing system was predisposed to an astounding level of polysemy, i.e., multiple meanings on a word or phrase. The latter point exemplified in the Sumerian logogram MUL, which meant “star” in Sumerian and represented the Akkadian word kakkabu, “star” (CAD 8, p. 45, kakkabu). Yet MUL also functioned as the logogram for the Akkadian nouns sitirtu, “inscription” and sitru, writing” (CAD 17, pt.3, p. 144, sitirtu, b; CAD 17, pt.3, 144, sitru), as well as the verb nabatu, “to shine brightly” (CAD 11, pt.1, p. 22, nabatu). MUL could also be read MULU, which represented the Akkadian word mulmullu, “arrow” (CAD 10, pt.2, 190-191, mulmullu). #7

This reveals root of the Sumerian concept of “Heavenly writing” with the example of the Sumerian logogram MUL [from the Cuneiform astronomical compendiumMUL.APIN text] translated not only to the Akkadian word for “star,” but also to the logogram for the Akkadian nouns sitirtu, “inscription” and “writing.” This idea that one of the oldest writing systems on the planet was an embodiment of a star-book or Gospel in the stars, is a powerful concept first utilized by the God of Noah and Abraham, prior to the Scriptures being recorded in Hebrew. As these ideas were applied to a cultural Calendar, where the people lived by them, it served as a means to honor either the true God or idols. An example of this is found in heliacal rising stars.

The calendrical significance of heliacally rising stars also fits better with descriptions such as “a constellation exceeding (the limits) of its month” (EBC obv. 5–6) immediately following in §B1. This emphasis on the heliacal rising of stars is also evident in the Gospel of Matt. 2:1-2 where the words “in the rising” in the Greek are “en te anatole” referring to the rising of a star just prior to sunrise, that the Magi had observed as they prepared to depart on their journey to Jerusalem. The star was visible until it was lost in the brightness of the sun. The “star” they observed was the king planetJupiter which we will see in reference to the Cuneiform tablet [LBAT-1601] below, became critical in meaning when it went into retrograde motion. We find an example of this in the Izbu Cunieform tablet below;

B1 Title of Izbu Tablet I (EBC obv. 5–7)

“At its heliacal rising or first visibility, a star is just emerging from the sun’s glare and is still relatively close to the sun, so dates for the first visibilities of stars served as estimates of the sun’s position on the star map during the course of a year. In this way, constellations could be assigned to certain ideal months. Due to delays or errors in intercalation, for example, months reckoned in practice could deviate noticeably from these ideal months, so that constellations appeared to exceed the limits of their expected months. Something similar happens later in LBAT 1601 (obv. 15 H–16H), where an appendix to Sa-gig tablet II (§C2α) does not actually address the incipit-title of Sa-gig tablet II (§C2) but one of its later entries. These instances alert us to the fact that, though the commentator was primarily concerned with incipit-titles, he was also cognizant of other contents of these works, exemplars of which (not only the titles) were available for his consultation. Described in this section is a planet at a point where it appears to be momentarily stationary, either when it first pops up after a period of invisibility, or when it switches from direct motion to retrograde motion or vice versa (innemid) in its movements east and west, or when it arrives at a maximum latitude in its movements north and south. The second of these phenomena, when a planet is reaching a stationary point and about to change its direction along an east-west axis, was expressed by the N stem of the verb emēdu (logogram), which very literally indicates the “meeting” or “joining together” of a planet and a fixed point in celestial space. Although this terminology is normally reserved for stationary points, the commentator extended the idea to planetary positions of first visibility and maximum latitude as well, when the planet appears stationary for a moment.”The context of these comments related to planetary retrograde motion gains importance in light of the subject matter of Izbu Tablet II below. 

§B3 Incipit-Title of Izbu Tablet II
(LBAT 1601 obv. 3 H–5H // EBC  obv. 12–13)

What “begins with the lion” here is not temporal but textual, referring to the incipit-title and teratological entry at the very beginning of Šumma izbu tablet II: “If a woman gives birth, and (the child) has a lion’s head, there will be a harsh king in the land.”

Aligned with the notion that the stars were a “heavenly writing” (šiṭir šamê /šiṭirtišamāmī ), this Izbu omen likely became activated when a planet lit up the relevant scene in the night sky. The lion was of course represented by the Lion (Leo) constellation, which lies a little west of Erua (identified as γ Comae Berenices). According to an Achaemenid or Seleucid List of Stars and Deities from Borsippa, “Erua (is called) Creatress of semen” (5R 46 no. 1: 46), reflecting a medical tradition that women too contributed seed in reproduction, perhaps modeled after how the primeval waters Apsû and Tiamat mingled their fluids as the first act of the Babylonian Creation Myth (Enūma elišh I, 3–5). In any case, the epithetCreatress of semenarose out of similarities between the nameErua” and a.ri.a (the logographic mul mul ku6 (K 42, line 22) in ACh Ištar no. 6. ma In-nu ina -ši Izbu II 1 (Leichty 1970, 45; De Zorzi 2011, 274; 2014, 393). Mul=ba-na-at ri-ḫu-tum 5R 46 no. 1: 46; Wee (2016a, 162f.).  Stol (2000, 7–8). #9

250  John Z. Wee, Pan-astronomical Hermeneutics and the Arts of the Lamentation Priest writing for “semen”). As portrayed in the sky, Mother Erua right beside the Lion constellation evoked the image of a child born with a lion’s head.

This amounts to historical evidence not only of the Babylonian knowledge of The Star Gospel –“heavenly writing” 2500 years+ before Rolleston, but also this “Izbu tablet omen” refers to many points in line with Biblical Messianic Prophecies starting in Gen. 3:15 the first prophecy of the Promised seed in the Bible. As the tablet notes indicate, the Child with a lion’s head is an astronomical reference to Leo, and the celestial signs that would mark his birth. This also agrees with another prophecy of Leo in Gen. 49:8-10 that details the astronomical elements of the Jupiter-Regulus triple conjunction in 3-2 BC, as the king planet Jupiter [sceptre in Num. 24:17united with Regulus, the king star in the Lion’s heart. This embodies the King planetlighting up the relevant scene in the night sky.” Even if this prophecy was couched in an astrological context, the true Magi would have known how to interpret it correctly in line with Messianic prophecy. It was also a contingent statement, where the Magi were instructed to look for Jupiter in Leo as the relevant scene in the sky to be watchful for. [see traits of the Celestial Prelude] that the Magi would have gathered in their observation of the 7 BC triple union of Jupiter-Saturn. The statement that “there would be a harsh king in the land” refers to a Messianic prophecy of a king who will rule with a rod of iron, [Ps. 2:6-9, Num. 24:17]. The reference to Erua (identified as γ Comae Berenices) not only refers to the Coma Supernova as the General sign of the Celestial Prelude, marking the general timeframe of Christ’s birth, but also recalls the original star picture Virgo’s decan, of the woman with her child in her lap; [Fig. 2] prior to the corruption of this decan star picture in the Seleucid List of Stars, into the picture of a woman’s wig in Coma Berenice’s. Another aspect of this is Erua’s/Coma’s title of the “Creatress of semen” as an indirect reference to the woman’s seed in Gen. 3:15, describing by the truth that God Created the seed that produced Jesus in Mary’s fallopian tubes so that Jesus would carry the innocent blood as a perfect sacrifice for all mankind, separate and distinct from the first Adam’s corrupted and sinful bloodline carried by Eve, as an astrological view of this unique event that had never occurred in previous secular history, before or since.

Figure 2. Coma Decan in the Dendera Zodiac  #10
Image result for Decan Coma

As this Coma decan of Figure 2 above comes from the ancient Dendera Zodiac, we should also recall that Axis E of this renowned zodiac represents a prophecy of the appearance of Coma’s Child, whose Axis E intersects the fish of Pisces as it extends across the circular zodiac. This tells us that the 7 BC triple union of Jupiter-Saturn marked the opening of the new precessional age of Pisces, as it closed out the previous Age of Aries the Ram. [See our Dendera Zodiac Poster in the right margin of this blog page]

Figure 3. Axis E on the Dendera Zodiac. #11

Following the triple Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 BC was a unique triangular massing of planets. The great German astronomer Johannes Kepler referred to the Feb. 25th, 6BC triangular massing of planets; Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, as the “decisive Conjunction of 6 BC that opened our precessional age of Pisces.” As we have noted, Kepler also advanced the idea that the Magi were guided to Judea by the appearance of this series of Conjunctions.

E.W. Bullinger uncovers below, the popular belief regarding this general sign of the [Celestial Prelude] that was prevalent in and before the first century BC“a traditional prophecy well known in the East, carefully preserved and handed down, that a new star would appear in this sign [Coma] when he whom it foretold, would be born.” 2 This tradition was at least partially based on Balaam’s declaration in Numbers 24, meaning that Balaam’s prophecy holds, for our purposes, minimally a twofold import.

Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

 First, Balaam’s revelation refers to the advent of Christ the King, the ascendant bright and Morning Star, who came forth out of Jacob’s genealogical line. This genealogy was marked astronomically by the similarity in the Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunctions surrounding both the births of Abram, Moses and Christ. Secondly, there is a celestial double meaning in the phrase: Star out of Jacob, with bearings on both the general and Specific aspects of our Celestial Prelude. The new star, or supernova in the head of the infant in Coma, visible to the naked eye for over 275 years, was the general sign, the Star out of Jacob, that prepared the Magi to watch for the aspects of the specific signs of the Celestial Prelude, which included the Jupiter-Saturn triple unions of 7 BC in Pisces. We find this second aspect of Balaam’s prophecy relating to the scepter as symbolic of the reign of the king planet; Jupiter. As we progress in our study it will become plain that Jupiter the king planet was the star that the Magi referred to as “his Star” in Matt. 2:2. The Magi had noted the triple Conjunction of signs in 7 BC, involving Jupiter and Saturn, that gave them a blueprint for the Jupiter-Regulus triple union marking the birth of Christ, starting in 3 BC. An early sign in August ofBC motivated them to begin their caravan to Jerusalem.

C2 Incipit-Title of Sa-gig Tablet II (LBAT 1601 obv. 12 H)

The line begins with a citation of the incipit-title of Sa-gig tablet II. What appear to be dates (Month 10 Day 7 ~Month 1 Day 1) actually indicate the incipit-title of the Calendar Text series 10. 7. 11, which identifies the initial position of a virtual moon at Capricorn (sign 10)on Month 1 Day 1 of an ideal calendar. The use of Babylonian month names like (iti) (lit. “Ṭebētu,” 10th month) for zodiacal signs of the same number (i.e., Capricorn, the 10th sign) was not unusual in Calendar Texts, where an ideal year of 360 days was mapped exactly onto the sun’s ecliptic of 360°, so that each month begins with the sun’s movement into a new zodiacal sign, and the 30 days of a month correspond to the 30° of a zodiacal sign.” #12 Here we find an example of how the 12 signs of the zodiac matched their alignment in the astrology of the 12 months of their Babylonian calendar, with the 360-day year matched the 360° zodiac, depicting the Babylonian base 60” hallmark of their number system, still in use in modern times. I submit that a combination of these celestial signs pointed out in the Cuneiform Tablet [LBAT 1601] with the chart on the Characteristics of Celestial Prelude below, gave the Magi all they needed in astronomical information to lead them to Christ’s birth.

The Celestial Prelude and the Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ

In the early 2000’s when I first posted my studies on the Celestial Prelude of the Birth of Christ on [www.try-god.com], my proposal that the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude was the Coma Supernova that marked the general timeframe when the Magi should be aware and cognizant of the period leading up to the birth of Christ. The period was highlighted by the explosion and continued naked-eye visibility of the Coma Supernova, that was first reported in historical records around 134-128 BC. This was the inception of the time when the Magi would be looking for a triple planetary union with Jupiter in Leo. The precursor to this was the specific signs of the Celestial Prelude in the 7 BC triple union of Jupiter-Saturn in Pisces, the primary key that set the precedent for the actual Triple conjunction of JupiterRegulus in Leo, [see the Traits of the Celestial Prelude below.]

In previous blogs on the Coma Supernova marking the Birth of Christ as the General Sign of The Celestial Prelude, it was visible to the naked eye for a period perhaps of 275 years, as we documented in the blogs of the Celestial Prelude. The Second part of these heavenly signs that allowed the Magi to recognize the celestial markers of the birth of Jesus Christ as the Specific Signs of the Celestial Prelude, revolve around the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn in 7 BC, that gave the Magi the stellar keys to breaking the code that sent them on their 800-mile journey to Jerusalem and Bethlehem to pay homage to the young king of kings. The separation of the General and Specific signs of the Celestial Prelude helped to untangle much of the confusion that has plagued this topic of study for millennia. Our realization that the Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunction of 7 BC, was the primary precursor that set the pattern and stage for the actual signs of Christ’s birthremoved added confusion from this topical study. With this fresh perspective of this triple union of Jupiter-Saturn, we can point out the precise details and aspects of the celestial signs marking the birth of Christ. This is a major departure from previous astronomical proposals for the “Star of Bethlehem,” including birth timing that align with the Hebrew Holy days of their calendar. With our updated view of the triple planetary unions of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces, in 7 BC, in the proper historical context of this series of planetary unions that has been taken for Jesus’ actual time of birth by some, and also accepted as just too early to mark his birth by others, adjusts the vague and fuzzy details into clear focus. The debate between these two major camps that continues today, can finally be solved. This study will show, that the details of this celestial pageantry can even mark the very moments of the birth of the infant Jesus, with our recognition of the impact of these signs on the Magi in their search of Scripture for the revelation of the promised seed, in Rev. 12. How did the Magi know what to look for in this search? The entrance of the Babylonian Cuneiform Tablets referenced above, adds another element that fits the historical narrative of how the Prophet Daniel would have provided the best advice and clues for the Magi in their intrepid search for the only Begotten Son of God, that was so richly rewarded. The star trail that the heavenly Father left for Daniel and the Magi, leaving no stone unturned, allowed these notable priests to separate the stardust from the golden gifts that they delivered to Joseph, Mary & Jesus. The signs God left for them- a series of celestial clues for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, made provision so they wouldn’t miss this momentous occasion. This is precisely the proposal of this study that herein lies the true significance of these rare unions of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces in 7BC. Based on the details of this specific set of preliminary signs, the Magi were alerted to a series of planetary unions and heavenly signs announcing the actual birth of Christ.

The Specific Signs of the Celestial Prelude of 7 BC to 5 BC  

Dates BC Conjunction of Planets Constellation
May 27th, 7 Jupiter-Saturn Pisces
Sept. 15th, 7 Jupiter, Saturn; [ring cycle], Sun & Earth aligned. Pisces
Oct. 5th, 7 Jupiter-Saturn Pisces
Dec. 1st , 7 Jupiter-Saturn Pisces
Feb. 25th 6 Triangular massing of Jupiter, Saturn & Mars Pisces
Mar. 5th , 6 Jupiter-Mars Pisces
April 15-20, 6 Lunar occultations   Series
Mar. 23rd, 5 Total Lunar Eclipse Virgo
Sept. 15th, 5 Total Lunar Eclipse Pisces

This series of planetary Conjunctions involving Jupiter certainly drew the focus of the Magi to the king planet, which they recognized as “his star.” They would have noted Jupiter’s triple planetary union with Saturn, and they knew that this union was caused by Jupiter’s retrograde motion. The Magi would have noted these triple unions involving Jupiter in both 7-5 and 3-2 BC. Therefore, the Magi would have been watchful not only of Jupiter’s motion, but vigilant also for a triple union associated with its motion. Perhaps we can begin to see the wisdom of the Heavenly Father’s choice of stellar signs, which make up this celestial epistle of introduction, for the Magi to mark the signs surrounding Jesusbirth. These clues alone would have provided the Magi much on their way to finding the Messiah, but God had a lot more in store, as the Jupiter-Saturn triple unions chased, the 6 BC massing of planets with Mars, after which followed a key Conjunction including Mars. Finally, on the heels of this Conjunction involving Mars, in the next month came a remarkable series of lunar occultations, followed by two total lunar eclipses in 5 BC. These preliminary signs not only provided the Magi with the blueprints they would need to recognize the celestial signs identifying the time frame of the birth of Christ in 3-2 BC, but they even set the pattern of Total Blood Moon Lunar eclipses, marking the victorious return of Christ. The fact that the signs of this dress rehearsal unfolded over a period in excess of two years was also a clue of what to expect, when the curtain actually arose on the celestial pageantry of the birth of Christ. The period of exactly 2 years from Sept, 15th of 7 BC to Sept. 15th of 5 BC as seen in the chart above, set the stage for two Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions bracketing the heavenly signs marking the actual birth of Christ between Aug31st, 3BC and Aug. 21st of 1 BC, we can see how the Magi would recognize these specific markers leading them to the promised seed-Jesus Christ. Also, the fact that these signs almost all occur in Pisces, is interesting due in part to an ancient eastern tradition, that the influence of the sign of Piscesthe fishes presided over the land surrounding and including Israel. Others believed that Pisces symbolized the House of Jacob, and with the obvious presence of the King planet Jupiter, would spell out why the Magi came to Jerusalem looking for the King of Israel. This relationship of Jupiter-Saturn heavenly signs linked to Israel stretched back in history even to include the births of Abraham and Moses. In the following reference to Jupiter-Saturn unions related to the birth of Moses, R.H. Allen has probably isolated the quote from Abrabanel referenced by Kepler;

“The Rabbis held a tradition, recorded by Abrabanel in the 15th Century, that a similar Conjunction took place three years previous to the birth of Mosesand they anticipated another at their Messiah’s advent.”13 

Figure 4. May 27th, 7 BC Jupiter and Saturn in Conjunction in Pisces, with the Sun and Mercury in GeminiVenus in CancerMars in Virgo and Moon in Pisces. 14

In this first preliminary sign we find Jupiter the scepter and King planet in Conjunction with Saturn, symbolic of Satan, in Pisces near dawn in the eastern sky, as a result of Jupiter’s proper motion.

birth of jesus

The first thing to notice about the Specific Signs of the Celestial Prelude from 7-5 BC, is that this first Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn shows the authority of the scepter of God’s kingdom resident with Saturn-Lucifer in his first estate as the Angel of light. He was set apart and alone in his authority from the celestial signs that follow, outside of the clearly marked two-year period from Sept. 15th 7BC to September 15th 5BC, containing the rest of these specific preliminary signs.

Its purpose is to mark the first estate of Lucifer as the original bright and Morning Star, second only to God the Creator, in the 1st heaven and earthhead over all the angels as the angel of light, prior to the Creation of Man in the Garden of Eden. Let’s take some time to digress here and set the background of Lucifer’s history according to the accuracy of God’s Word written in the stars, and in Scripture. This first sign refers to Lucifer in his original estate as the “star of the morning” as Isaiah 14 tells us:

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!

draco

The demise of Lucifer is indicated in the astronomical mechanism known as the precession of the poles, with the star Thuban: alpha draconis, the brightest star in Draco the dragon, as the original pole star. The precession of the poles indicates Lucifer’s demise, because the pole star has moved from Draco and now resides near Polaris, or Al Ruccaba of the little flock” in Ursa Minor. The 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, even as Regulus the king star, is between the feet of Leo, the Lion king of Judah; [Gen.49:8-10]. Cepheus also means “the branch” and is depicted as a king holding a branch/sceptre at the north pole, [Jer. 23:5, 33:15]. Secondly, and with spiritual foreshadowing, 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 egomaniacal demise. The Decan of Cepheus depicts the Royal king and redeemer coming quickly to rule, enthroned in the highest, at the northern polar reaches of the heavens. With his scepter in hand and the Northern Pole Star symbolizing all things in Creation under his feet, as seen in the capstone of the Great Pyramid, we have powerful imagery of the Authority and Dominion of the King of Kings. As the principles of Biblical Astronomy tell us, the star names relating the Biblical narrative of each constellation they appear in, relate the info. Their description of the promised seed in each constellation and decan of the Mazzaroth, as it aligns with how those star names are used in Scripturesets the standard.  There are 19 main stars in Cepheus, 3 of which we focus on here.

Zech. 6:12-13 “Thus speaks the Lord of Hosts, saying behold the man whose name is the Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the Temple of the Lord.” v. 13 “Even he shall build the Temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”

Here we see the promised seed of the woman clothed in the celestial royalty of absolute dominion over all Creation, corresponds to the “Branch;” the holy scion of God in light of the branch prophecies in God’s Word. As the only Crowned star picture in the heavens, the name “Cepheus” in the Dendera Zodiac, is known in ancient Egypt as Pe-Ku-hor; meaning “one coming to rule-” a consistent theme of the star names below. The 3 primary stars of Cepheus are as follows;

1. Al Deramin-he who comes quickly from the right Arm or Hand of the Father-The Hand of Blessing.
2. Al Phirk-signifying the Redeemer of the stars of his flocks [Ursa Minor and Major].
3. Al Rai-The Shepherd who bruises or breaks
. [Ps. 23; and the 7 Redemptive Names of God embodied in the Shepherd.]

Figure 5a. Cepheus Decan15

A8894510-F71A-41C7-B134-7371581E9B26

Thus, we have the Redeeming Shepherd coming quickly from the right hand of God who bruises or breaks, to redeem his flocks. An interesting note regarding these 3 primary stars at the North Celestial Pole, as the Pole star recedes according to the Precession of the Poles, each of these 3 brightest stars in Cepheus will inherit the title and function of Pole star, currently occupied by Polaris-[Al Ruccaba] of Usra Minor. Starting around 4000 AD in 1500-year intervals, these primary stars of Cepheus will occupy the coveted Northern Pole Position;”

1st  Al Deramin
2nd Al Phirk
3rd Al Rai

Cepheus as the third and final decan of the sign, “Pisces,” He is the crowned and bearded King arrayed in his royal robes, seated as if on a throne where he holds a scepter raised in his left hand stretched out to Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia is a decan constellation belonging to the next primary constellation group of “Aries, the Ram.” Jon Nessle taught us the record in his recent 8/15/23 session 1b of Chapter 5 in the OT History class, on how the King of Persia-Darius I extended his golden scepter to his Queen Esther, [Esth. 5:1-3] when she entered the royal court uninvited, resulting in saving the Jews in his kingdom, from Haman’s evil plan of genocide against Israel. With a futuristic viewCassiopeia also can represent the bride of Christ, delivered by him. Even as king Darius I saved all Israel with his extended scepter, so Christ has saved all his church. Cepheus has his foot literally planted atop the Northern Pole Star; “Al Ruccaba” as pictured in a time-lapse photo below, depicting how all the stars revolve around the King of Kings. [I Cor. 15:24-28].


Stars orbit polaris

These signs and constellations at the North Pole or circumpolar stars are reflective of the Royal Family since they never set. The ancients called them the imperishables. With the right foot of the King standing over the penned and guarded sheep of Ursa Minor, we can see Jesus the Shepherd protecting his flock of the “little dipper” from his enemies, that will be trodden underfoot.

Figure 5b. Cepheus Decan16

43B0547C-C993-458A-9C2E-5BC90774E8AE

Even in this veiled mythology we can see the light of the narrative of the returning Shepherd-redeemer shining through to deliver his flocks. 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,” [Gen. 22:17]. 17

This is an obvious indicator of the accuracy of these God-inspired star names [Ps. 147:4], dating back to antiquity, showing divine insight inherent in the heavens from earliest times. This establishes a previous point that the purpose of God’s Revelatory Astronomy stands in juxtaposition to the evolutionary theories governing modern scientific Astronomy or the idolatry of astrology. Bullinger’s reference also shows the witness of the stars in concert with that of the Scriptures, and how the individual words in Scripture link to star names as a consistent testimony throughout this study, and a primary theme of our blog and web-site.

This stellar transition of the pole star reflects an aspect of the transference 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, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 signs of the zodiac, and later the 12 apostles at the foundations of the Age of Grace and the 12 foundations of New Jerusalem, [Rev. 21:10-21]. The following is a Summary of the Traits of the Celestial Prelude:

The summary below shows the specifics of the signs that led the Magi to the birth of Christ.

Characteristics of the Specific Signs of the Celestial Prelude

  • Jupiter was clearly marked as “his star.”
  • Jupiter was involved in a triple planetary Conjunction.
  • Jupiter was involved in a series of planetary conjunctions.
  • Jupiter’s retrograde motion would play a key role.
  • Jupiter’s triple union was followed by a massing of planets.
  • This massing of planets was followed by a Mars Conjunction.
  • The Jupiter-Mars Conjunction was followed by a series of lunar occultations, and 5BC total lunar eclipses.
  • This series of conjunctions would last about two years.
  • The annual twenty days when the Sun is in Virgo would be a key.
  • The September 15th alignment of Jupiter, Saturn the Earth and Sun in 7 BC that occurred in the evening at sunset, directed the Magi’s attention to the end of the 20-day period when Virgo was “clothed with the Sun.”
  • The second lunar eclipse on September 15th of 5 BC established that the Magi should be watchful of lunar activity during this time. This framed the 42 minute period between Sunset and Moonset on the only day of the year when Virgo “was clothed with the Sun and the moon under her feet.” [Rev. 12:1-5]
  • The September 15th Heliacal Rising of Jupiter and Saturn foreshadowed the Heliacal Setting of Spica, located between the setting Sun and Moon in Virgo, identifying a 30-minute period when the birth of Christ happened.

This important interlude and temporary detour into the symbolism of the first Jupiter-Saturn conjunction is required to fully grasp the significance of the spiritual war we are currently engaged in, whether we realize it or not. God has fully equipped us for victory with our panoply of spiritual weapons and armor, in Christ but we must dress and train ourselves in our renewed mind implements, if we are to be victorious, [Eph. 6:10-17]. Now we are ready to resume to our dialogue on the Babylonian Cuneiform Tablets as part of the “Esoteric Babylonian Commentary” (abbr. EBC) that represents an excerpt from a larger commentary tablet LBAT 1601, that is unusually wide in scope encompassing … medical diagnosis, cuneiform sign exercises, and magical incantations and rituals, which reinterpreted these diverse fields of knowledge in terms of astronomical phenomena. The topics selectively excerpted into EBC by a lamentation priest suggest a compartmentalization of textual expertise, consistent with professional purviews in the late 1st millennium BC. #18

Next we will look at an Appendix of the EBC below;

  • Qα Appendix to §Q (EBC rev. 4–5)

As was the case with §B2α, the appendix here belongs only to EBC, but not to LBAT 1601. The term âtu probably has the same sense that it had in §Q, referring primarily to the lexical tradition. The commentator’s aim was to ratify the conclusions reached in §Q and to relate the tripartite world of “mound, sea, and wind” to the great gods Anu, Ea, and EnlilAnu’s identity as the “primevalworld mountain rising out of watery origins certainly befitted his status as head of the Mesopotamian pantheon in late period Uruk. Some corroboration, is provided by tablet IX of the incantation series Sag-gig-ga-meš (“Headaches”): “The goddess Ištar, prior to whom (nam-an-na =ullânušša) none exists in tranquility (and) delight, allowed it (i.e., the headache) to come down from the mountain” (CT 17,22: 155–158). The expression nam-an stems from the idea that an (i.e., the god Anu) designated the “primeval” (ullânu). We are on much firmer ground with the other two major gods of the pantheon. “Ea refers to water” simply alludes to the subterranean waters of the Apsû as Ea’s domain. The epithet im-ḫur-saĝ for the god Enlil appears in the composition Enlil in the Ekur (Enlil A: 97), as well as in a bilingual passage where the epithet is left untranslated in Akkadian: “The great mountain, Enlil- im-ḫur-saĝ, whose peaks rival the heavens, whose foundations are laid in the pure Apsû” (4R 2  27 no. 2: 15–18).  To be sure, interruptive glosses such as im tu-ḫur-saĝ (“im-ḫur-saĝ – with the sign read as the logogram 15 ‘wind’”) are less common in commentaries, though there is a striking parallel in another commentary on the Babylonian Creation Myth: tu šá-a-ri, “the sign – read as the logogram 15 – (means) wind.” In view of the avowed plan for these commentaries, i.e., to bring diverse fields of knowledge under the umbrella of pan-astronomical hermeneutics, the singling out of Anu, Ea, and Enlil here most likely served astronomical purposes as well. Just as the entire cosmos was encapsulated in the basic sound patterns of cuneiform (§Q), components of this cosmos typified by the three great Mesopotamian gods were likewise inherent in the sky, since all celestial bodies traveled along three heavenly paths: the Path of Anu centered on the ecliptic, the Path of Ea to the south, and the Path of Enlil encompassing the circumpolar stars to the north. #19

We may prefer, instead, the following syntax: *im-ḫur-saĝ :im:šá-a-ru: šá-du-ú, “im-ḫur-saĝ, (with) the sign im meaning wind (and) the logogram meaning mountain.” Lambert (2013, 140: 20). The erroneous understanding d:d: ul-la-nu: d 40: mu-ú /-ṭú : d: šá-a-ri,“Girra = Anu = fire; from of old. Ea = water. Earth = the Nether-World mountain. Enlil = air” by Scurlock/Al-Rawi (2006, 371f.) has led to the astounding conclusion that these were “Mesopotamian equivalents for the four elements as conceived by Hellenistic philosophers.” #20

In the light, of “the entire cosmos was encapsulated in the basic sound patterns of cuneiform spoken words of the Creator in Gen. 1:1-2…some revealing parallels have been drawn between the Creation Epic of the Babylonian Cosmos and the Biblical Cosmos in Gen. 1, by Iurii Mosenkis, included below. This insight may help to see how these Biblical concepts were corrupted in Babylonian astrology.

Gen. 1:1-2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was without shape (tōhū) and empty (bōhū), and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep (tehōm), but the Spirit (ah.) a [1] of God was moving (the root rh.f ‘to soar’ related to rh.m ‘to hatch’) over the surface of the water’ (Gen. 1:1–2). Let us interpret the key concepts of the passage.

Tōhū is akin to names of sea and sea monster[2]. Not only Tōhū but also the cognate Akkadian Tiamat ‘primeval water monster’ and Leviathanwater monster’ (mentioned in, Job 41) might be compared to the Egyptian constellation of the Crocodile (modern Draco).[3]

Bōhū as a cognate of Hebrew behēmōtearth monster,’ might be compared to the Egyptian constellation of Hippopotamus (Ursa Minor). [4] The Spirit of God (ah, a cognate of the Arabic legendary bird Ruhh name) can be related to the image of the Cygnus constellation (‘swan’ or simply ‘bird’ in ancient Greek astronomy). e [5]

Thus, three primordial beings in the Creation story (Tōhū, Bōhū, and Ruah) might be linked to the circumpolar (unsetting, ‘immortal’) constellations of Draco, Ursa Minor, and Cygnus. Aforementioned Behemoth, Leviathan, and the monstrous bird Ziz of medieval legends might be other images of the same constellations.

On the other hand, three primordial beings of Chaos may symbolize three Babylonian zones of the heaven: tōhū may be referred to the zone of Enki-Ea the water god (the southern constellations), Bōhū may be linked to the zone of Anu the sky god (the constellations near the ecliptic), ruah refers to the zone of Enlil the air god (the imperishable northern constellations).

Behemoth’s sword (Job 40:19) and ‘the flame of a whirling sword’ which guarded the Paradise (Gen. 3:24) may be regarded as sword-shaped Cygnus or more likely as Boötes which also resembles the sword. The fall of the primordial serpent in the book of Revelation 12, may be related to such astronomical events as the exit of the North Celestial Pole from the constellation of Draco (after 2000 BC) and the moving of the constellation toward the horizon. [fall]

The throne of God (merkābāh) is a cognate of the star name of chariot (markab), in Pegasus’ decan, whereas the unsetting circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major is regarded as a chariot in ancient astronomy, [6].

Ursa Major might also appear in the image of menorah (the first description: Exodus 25:31-40) as ‘a lamp to burn continually’ (Ex. 27:20; Lev. 24:2-4). Hanuka (as the rite of altar renovation) and the burning of Hanukal Menorah may symbolize the winter location of Ursa Major in direct opposition to the rising constellation Ara (literally ‘altar’). [Rev. 1:20[7] 

[1] Hebrew ah. breath, soul, wind’, Ugaritic rh, rh. ‘id’ (О Балу, с. 413), cf. Sumerian EN.LILlord of wind’.

[2] Hebrew tehōm. ‘abyss’ or ‘ocean’ (Abb. 3:10; Ps. 42:8; night see: О Балу: Угаритские поэтические сказания, с. 358), Akkadian tâmtu sea’ and Tiamatsea monster as an embodiment of primordial chaos’ (slain by Marduk who was symbolized by Jupiter).

[3] The name of Leviathan is a cognate of Ugaritic Lotan or Lawtan (who fights Baal Hadad) and Greek (borrowed from Semitic) Ladon (Draco, according to Hyginus Astronomy); cf. also Biblical monsters Tannin (Gen. 1:21; Ps. 74:13, comments: О Балу, с. 157; the same word in Ex. 7:9 means ‘snake’, in Ez. 29:3crocodile’, in Is. 27:1sea creature’; Hebrew tannin means ‘snake’, ‘sea snake’, ‘sea beast’: О Балу, с. 363) and Rahab (Is. 51:9; Ps. 89:10), Ugaritic snake Tunnunu fighting Balu (О Балу, с. 19-20, 181–182). The division of the dragon in Babylonian cosmogonical myth means the creation of zodiac (this creation by Marduk after his victory over Tiamat is clearly described in the Babylonian epic). Draco is the primeval snake named Ophion in Orphism. However, some of these images might be influenced by the concept of Hydra constellation.

[4] Bōhū is traditionally compared to βάαυ as a primordial creature of Phoenician cosmogony (Philo of Alexandria). Crocodile (Draco) is depicted on the back of the Egyptian hippopotamus-goddess Taurt (Ursa Minor). Cf. bhmtw as the designation of еру beast-shaped constellation in Qumranб Text I. 4Q 186.1: Тексты Кумрана, СПб., 1996, вып. 2, с. 264.

[5] Arabic Roc like Indian Garuda (which captures elephants and rhinoceroses) may also be Cygnus near Ursa Minor (behemoth in Egyptian mythology). The word ah means ‘air’ and ‘wind’ in the Bible (Dobin, J., p. 215), and this word might be compared with Sumerian; En-lil, ‘god of wind’, as the lord of the northern sky; cf. also Eg. Shu, the god of air, and the first bird on the first hill (perhaps, the North Pole) in Egyptian cosmogony. [Bennu bird]

[6] Cf. also Cassiopeia constellation, associated with a throne in ancient Greek astronomy.

[7] Ursa Major is known also as the Minoan Double Axe in ancient Crete. #21

The last element we want to add for your consideration of the idea that the Cuneiform Tablets, were referred to as “heavenly writing.” and their possible link to the Gospel in the Stars. Evidence has surfaced that indicates that there are two celestial forms of history authentication related to Scripture. From Greece came the belief in katasterismos, i.e., that the constellations depicted tableaux of miraculous earthly events that had been transferred onto the stars. And from Mesopotamia came the belief that the constellations depicted divine, cuneiform writing” that imparted inviolable truth through wordplay encrypted in each star-god’s name or epithet. Originating from Mesopotamia was the astrological belief that the constellations depictedheavenly writingthat divulged unassailable truth through the medium of wordplay encrypted in the star-gods’ titles. Cuneiform literature confirms that Mesopotamian’s construed pun-based wisdom as a form of divine revelation, and recorded such findings in their religious mythologies as if they were historical facts. #22

The Hellenic tenet called katasterismos, or “placing among the stars,” proclaimed the forty-eight ancient constellations as a sacred record of historic events that had occurred on earth—each star-figure engaging in one or more of the preternatural feats that made it, like Jesus, immortal (Cancik, Schneider, 2005: 7, 33-34; Condos, 1997: passim). Moreover, Greek celestial mythology written seven centuries before Jesus’s birth attests that Orion had the ability to walk upon the sea. It will be shown that this supernatural power, which was reported as historical fact, appears to have been derived from astronomical observation. When Orion is plotted on a star-map his outstretched legs depict him striding away from celestial land and onto the astralSea” delineated by the eight, contiguous aquatic constellations consisting of the Dolphin, Goatfish, Southern Fish, Water-pourer, Sea Serpent, River, Twin-Fishes, and Ship; an act accentuated by the fact that his front foot, demarcated by the star Rigel (P Orionis), is also the first star (X Eridani) in the River constellation, Eridanus. #23

Figure 6a. The Star Rigel in Orion’s foot as the first star of the celestial river Eridanus. Fig. 6ab Eridanus Super-void. #24

EarthSky - A winding river of stars called Eridanus 🌌 Tonight, you'll need a very dark sky in order to see Eridanus the River. You won't see this one from the city,The Eridanus Supervoid up close shows galaxy superclusters flat-lined across its massive walls ...

When Matthew, Mark, and John inspected the place where Jesus had ascended, ouranos, “heaven, firmament,” they saw Orion in the act of walking upon the celestialSea” depicted by the eight, adjacent watery constellations; with wordplay in one of the cuneiform titles for Orion imparting the phrase “Walking upon the Sea.” Other puns in Orion’s cuneiform title yielded “Son of God” and “Anointed-One” – terms that accorded precisely with the evangelists’ conception of Jesus. We argue that these correlations compelled the Gospel authors to equate Orion with Jesus and ascribe the constellation’s astronomically based “sea walking” ability to him as well. Moreover, it will be shown that the setting of Jesus’s Sea-Walk miracle corresponds with the celestial landscape surrounding Orion; and that wordplays in Orion’s stellar Sea-Walking tableau correlate with the common themes found in the Gospels’ Sea-Walk narratives. #25

Seven-hundred years before the birth of Jesus the Greek astronomer-poet Hesiod wrote:

Orion … the son of Euryale, the daughter of Minos, and of Poseidon, and that there was given him as a gift the power of walking upon the waves as though upon land” (Hesiod, 1977, pp. 70-71). Interestingly, this claim appears in the Astronomia, “Astronomy,” a text whose subject matter was astronomical in nature. The Greek mythographer Apollodorus reiterated this claim around 50 BC, “Poseidon bestowed on him [Orion] the power of striding across the sea.” #26

And decades before Jesus Sea-Walk miracle took place, the Roman astronomer-poet Gaius Julius Hyginus (64 BC-17 AD) wrote, “Orion … He had the ability of running over the waves as if on land. . .” (Grant, 1960, p. 221). How did Hesiod and later Greco-Roman astronomical writers conclude that Orion could walk upon the sea? The answer is intimated by Hesiod in the Astronomia. Shortly after proclaiming Orion’s miraculous sea-walking ability, the Earth-goddess sent up a giant Scorpion to pursue Orion and sting him dead. Zeus placed both Orion and Scorpius in the sky as a testimony to this monumental chase scene: as Scorpius rises in the east, Orion sets in the west; a celestial picture simulating the primordial chase undertaken by these two constellations. The simultaneous rising of Scorpius and setting Orion seen in Fig. 8 below, inspired the supernatural story of his deathreported as historical fact in Hesiod’s ‘Astronomia.’ Pertinent here is Hesiod accepted the supernatural, stellar chase scene portrayed in Scorpius-Orion as an event that had once taken place on earth because it was depicted in the heavenly realm of the constellations; the still-frame of Scorpiuschasing Orion, serving as the proof upon which this miracle was based. #27

Figure 6b. Ophiuchus viewed between and above Scorpio and Sagittarius. [public domain]

This section of the sky between Sagittarius and Scorpius, is also where Kepler’s Nova exploded onto the scene at Ophiuchus’ heel, at this truly critical juncture or crossroads in the heavens. This is where the ecliptic, that houses the 12 signs of the Mazzaroth, [Ps. 19:4-6crosses the Galactic equator! It is highly fascinating that Kepler’s Nova exploded so close to the star Saiph; meaning the wounded one, as if to specifically mark it. The Planisphere axis intersects the star Saiph, in the LXX Greek meaning bruised,” located in Ophiuchus‘ heel, the same Greek word found in Gen. 3:15 for “bruised,” while Ophiuchus‘ other other leg is poised over the head of the Scorpionstriking his fatal blowcrushing the enemy-scorpionKepler’s Supernova marked the celestial inception point of this Planisphere Axis of the Heavens, in kindred harmony with the Jupiter-Saturn cycle of conjunctions, which over 1600 years previous, had qued the Magi to begin their trek to Jerusalem for the birth of Christ.

With what we have already documented in previous blogs concerning the Gen. 3:15 Planisphere Axis, this Planisphere Axis inter- sects a series of Stars, constellations and decans, telling a very specific story-of the prophecy of Gen. 3:15 which is still in the process of becoming history as Jesus has already fulfilled much of these star prophecies, sealing the dragon’s doom! The root and basis of all world mythology, not only spanning the Ecliptic and the Galactic Equator with the Celestial Gospel, also links the words of Scripture, to specific star names in reference to these prophecies of the Promised Seed Jesus Christ.

Figure 6cThe Ecliptic in relation to the Galactic Equator.

When we consider the location of Kepler’s Supernova in close proximity in the Star Saiph in Ophiuchus’ Heel, being stung by the Scorpion, we are witnessing the first of multiple heel alignments on the Planisphere Axis relating different aspects of the victory of the Promised Seed over the Serpent, as promised in Genesis 3:15Figure 6c above, shows the Galactic Axis in harmony with the Axis of the Planisphere extending through Ophiuchus’ Heel between Sagittarius and Scorpius, rising in the east with Orion setting in the western Galactic Plane. Here Orion’s foot star-Rigel is the first star of the heavenly river Eridanus also intersecting the celestial equator, depicting the relationship at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, unifying the message of The Star Gospel on the ecliptic and equator via the Galactic plane.

Figure 7. Ophiuchus, battling Serpens as the Scorpius stings his heel. #28

the serpent scorpion

In the record of Scripture, with the celestial depiction of the first Messianic Prophecy of Gen. 3:15, we find this stellar chase scene portrayed between Scorpius-Orion at opposite ends of the heavens; 

Gen. 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Here we have a reference to the spiritual battle between light and darkness, embodied between the serpent and its seed, versus the Woman with her seedGod is telling the serpent that the seed of the woman, who is Jesus Christ would bruise the serpent’s head, indicative of the fatal blow that Christ inflicts on the enemy, as opposed to the scorpion stinging Christ’s heel, showing Christ’s sacrifice, as short-term sufferings that freed all mankind from the serpent’s curse. While the man Ophiuchus’ heel is stung by the Scorpion, he is wrestling the serpentSerpens for Coronathe Crown of Dominion aboverevealing how our spiritual adversary, shown as a serpent works through his seedthe scorpion, in conflict with the man, fitting the three Scriptural elements of the star picture; in Fig. 7, the Man vs. the Serpent and its Scorpion-seed. In Hebrew the Scorpion is Akrab, meaning war or conflictagainst the Man, for dominion over Creation. The Church of the body of Christ is already walking in this victorious power, as the entire kingdom of the serpent and his seed is crushed under our feetin Christ. We must recognize this unalterable victory as a past tense reality, we only need to stand on the truth of God’s Word to reap the full benefits of this eternal victory, both in this world, and the coming one.

This story from Gen. 3 is depicted in astonishingly powerful ways in the Gospel in the Stars, as the truths the stellar axis brings to light as it intersects stars across the heavens in Fig. 8 below.

Figure 8. Genesis 3:15 Planisphere Axis. #29

This “Genesis 3:15 Planisphere Axis” extends through the North pole intersecting a number of constellations and notable decans that relate aspects of the Genesis 3:15, theme from various teaching perspectives. Starting at the bottom of the planisphere, we find the Scorpion constellationScorpius, whose prominent tail stinger is located under the heel of Ophiuchus the Serpent-bearer sign, who is engaged in a struggle with the serpent-Serpens. The axis intersects the star in Ophiuchus‘ heel, called Saiph, in the LXX Greek meaning “bruised.” [30] This is the same Greek word found in Gen. 3:15 for “bruised,” while Ophiuchus’ other leg is poised over the head of the Scorpionstriking his fatal blow in crushing the head of the enemyKepler’s Nova marked the star Saiph to open the Galactic Axis where it crosses the ecliptic path of the 12 signs of the Mazzaroth, calling our focus to this axis, and its alignment of Heels across the heavens between two Stars named “Saiph,” at each end of the Genesis 3:15 Axis. We find further evidence in the lunar signs of the evening on Wed., April 28th, after Christ was crucified. During this evening the 1st Full Moon following the Spring Equinox, in 28 AD, the Moon passed over Ophiuchus’ foot-the Man who just laid down his life, by shedding his sinless blood to redeem all mankind, fulfilled this key part of the Messianic Prophecy of Gen. 3:15. This Paschal Moon seen from Jerusalem rose about 7:16 pm, and set about 6:15 am Jerusalem standard time, the eve of April 28th and morning of the 29th of April, 28 AD. [31]

I submit that the Mythology of Greece, Mesopotamia and many other ancient earthly nations, are all rooted as corrupted forms of what Joseph Campbell called the World Monomyth. In his works he embodies a framework for Comparative Mythology, wherein the Hero’s Journey is a template where he embarks on his journey, has transformative adventures, and returns home. #32  In the Genesis 3:15 Planisphere Axis as this axis extends through the next sign, we find it intersecting the decan of Scorpius called Hercules, whose foot is placed over the Head of Draco the serpentdragon whose location over the North pole, has been removed from it and now resides under King Cepheus’ foot over the tail of Ursa Minor. The axis runs between the two heads of Hercules and Ophiuchus, who are aligned, but inverted to each other. The star in Hercules’ head is Ras Al Gethi, meaning the head of him who bruiseskeeps with the Gen. 3:15 theme. 33 As this axis extends down to Hercules’ left foot, it shows the result of Ophiuchus‘ battle with the Serpent, since Hercules left foot crushed the Dragon’s headdestroying the devil’s works. As Hercules is kneeling, his right heel is lifted up as if wounded, in some star maps as Fig. 9 with a spear through his heel, [Rev. 12:9-10, Ps. 74:12-14]. Thus, we can see the source of the Greek Myth of the Labors of Hercules, not to mention Jason and his Argo-nauts pursuing the Golden Fleece; the ever-shining constellations as they tell of the greatest Hero of All-Jesus Christ!! Even as “Joshua” is the Hebrew equivalent of “Jesus,” so “Jason” is the Greek namesake of our Lord of Lord’s.

Figure 9. The Decan of Hercules

greek mythology of hercules

A.R. George writes: In ancient cuneiform scholarship the writing of a name can be adapted to impart information about the nature and function of its bearerJohn 20:30-31 leaves an intriguing clue regarding the nature of Jesus’ miracles, referring to them as semeia, signs,” the plural form of semeion. And although the Greek semeion indeed meant “sign, mark, omen”—it also had a more nuanced meaning: “a Godly sign, an omen, especially of the constellations regarded as signs” (Liddell & Scott, 1997, p. 727). #34 Once again most mythographers have it backwards since the constellations existed prior to mankind, and were untouched by the infected hand of man, being the handiwork of the Almighty.

Moreover, one of the astronomical epithets for Orion, SUKAL, “Vizier, Messenger,” also represented a revered type of priest whose title meant “Anointed-One,”the cuneiform equivalent to the Greek-Christos. Their highest order of such priests assumed the designation, “Anointed-One-of-the-ApsU,” implying they held sway over the Apsu, i.e., the stellar Sea that Orion was walking upon in Greek celestial mythology. In an era when celestial punning was construed as religious revelation, it seems likely that Matthew, Mark, and John would have conceptualized this as an epiphany imparting that Orion was the avatar of Jesus, whose Sea-walk also included the disciples’ boat- correlating with Argo, the Ship constellation stationed just southeast of OrionJesus. How the Argo may have come to be seen as a Boat full of “disciples” is found encrypted as wordplay in its Mesopotamian title. The Argo appears to be the derivative of a MesopotamianCargo Ship” or “Barge” written Makurru in AkkadianCuneiform astronomical texts confirm that this stellar Ship was found in the “path of Ea,”-which is the southern region of the night sky (Hunger & Pingree, 1989, pp. 35-39). Mythical texts also confirm its presence in the Apsu, or celestial Sea” that JesusOrion is walking upon; (Kramer & Maier, 1989, pp. 42-43). #35

In summary, some key elements in this study include; the LBAT 1601 Cuneiform Tablet, and how it could have aided the Magi in their search for the Star of Bethlehem, and how this tablet meshes with the Traits of the Celestial Prelude, as a likely basis for Daniel to teach the Magi what to look for in their search. These Cuneiform Tablets could have also provided a historical medium to transmit the prophetic content of the Celestial Gospel from ancient times. As we continue efforts to uncover more documentation along these lines, we could see added evidence for the Gospel in the Stars. In recognition of this, I’m signing off in Cuneiform this month!!

God Bless! 

Rene’


Footnotes

1. John Z. Wee, Pan-astronomical Hermeneutics and the Arts of the Lamentation Priest.
2. IBID, 10, 212 obv. 9 – rev. 1. 9–15, (SAA 10,160 obv. 36–45)
3. John Z. Wee, Pan-astronomical Hermeneutics and the Arts of the Lamentation Priest.
4. IBID, Parpola (1983, 8f.)
5. IBID, (BagM Beih. 2, 89, 75, 76, 78, 79, 80, 81–82, 83 and 106; NCBT 1231, Wee 2016b, esp. 182)
6. (Rochberg-Halton, 1988, p. 15, n. 54)
7. John Z. Wee, Pan-astronomical Hermeneutics and the Arts of the Lamentation Priest.
8. IBID, B1 Title of Izbu Tablet I (EBC obv. 5–7)
9. IBID, §B3 Incipit-Title of Izbu Tablet II (LBAT 1601 obv. 3 H–5H // EBC  obv. 12–13)
10. Figure 2. picture credit for Coma Decan, p. 39 Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger.
11. Figure 3. picture credit, Axis E on the Dendera Zodiac. The Skies in Memory, John Lash in The Atlantis Blueprint, Wilson & Flem-Ath. p. 171.
12. John Z. Wee, Pan-astronomical Hermeneutics and the Arts of the Lamentation Priest. [C2 Incipit-Title of Sa-gig Tablet II (LBAT 1601 obv. 12 H)]
13. Star Names their Lore and Meaning, p. 341, R.H. Allen
14. Figure 4 picture credit, May 27th, 7 BC Jupiter and Saturn in Conjunction in Pisces, from Starry Night Pro, astronomy software.
15. Figure 5a. picture credit for Cepheus Decan. [https://emmausroadministries.international/2020/06/05/the-real-story-in-the-stars-part-22-cepheus-the-king/]
16. Figure 5b. picture credit for Cepheus Decan. [https://emmausroadministries.international/2020/06/05/the-real-story-in-the-stars-part-22-cepheus-the-king/]
17. Witness of the Stars, p. 152, E.W. Bullinger.
18. John Z. Wee, Pan-astronomical Hermeneutics and the Arts of the Lamentation PriestEsoteric Babylonian Commentary
19. IBID, Qα Appendix to §Q (EBC rev. 4–5)
20. IBID, Scurlock/Al-Rawi (2006, 371f.)
21. THE HISTORICITY OF THE BIBLE, CHRONOLOGY, ARCHAEOLOGY, ARCHAEOASTRONOMY by Iurii Mosenkis. [ref. a-h]
22. How Orion’s Ability to “Walk upon the Sea” Was Attributed to Jesus: The Astronomical Basis for Christ’s Sea-Walk Miracle, John McHugh, M. A. BYU; Provo, Utah, USA E-mail: jjmchugh72164@comcast.net
23. Ibid, (Toomer, 1998, p. 384; Aratus, 1997, pp. 98-99, 316; Condos, 1997, p. 105)
24. Figure 6a picture credit [Earthsky.org] Fig. 6ab picture credit Eridanus Supervoid. [pinterest.com]
25. How Orion’s Ability to “Walk upon the Sea” Was Attributed to Jesus: The Astronomical Basis for Christ’s Sea-Walk Miracle, John McHugh, M. A. BYU; Provo, Utah, USA E-mail: jjmchugh72164@comcast.net
26. IBID, (Apollodorus, 1967, pp. 30-31, brackets inserted)
27. IBID, (Hesiod, 1977, pp. 70-73; c.f., Aratus, 1997: 118121).
28. Figure 7 picture credit, Witness of the Stars, Book cover, E.W. Bullinger.
29. IBID, Figure 8 picture credit
30. Strong’s Concordance [H7779], James Strong.
31. Biblical Astronomy Newsletter, Bob Wadsworth
32. An Introduction [revised edition] Joseph Campbell.
33. Witness of the Stars, p. 59, E.W. Bullinger.
34. How Orion’s Ability to “Walk upon the Sea” Was Attributed to Jesus: The Astronomical Basis for Christ’s Sea-Walk Miracle, John McHugh, M. A. BYU; Provo, Utah, USA E-mail: Freedman, 1992, I, pp. 472-474)
35. IBID, (McHugh, 2016, pp. 90-94; Hunger & Pingree, 1989, p. 39; CAD 10/pt.1, p. 141; Gossmann, 1950, no. 254; Salonen, 1939, pp. 12-19; ePSD: magur).