January, 2016 | Try-God.org

Biblical Astronomy of the January-February 2016 Planetary Alignment

Birth of Jesus Christ — Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ

Biblical Astronomy of the January-February 2016 Planetary Alignment

Could the rare alignment of the five brightest planets in our Solar System; Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars seen on the horizon over the next month, be related to the Biblical heavenly signs surrounding, the Star of Bethlehem? These five planets will be visible to stargazers in the pre-dawn skies from Jan. 20th through Feb. 20th, 2016. There has not been a similar alignment of these five planets since 2004, but for the proper context of this year’s planetary quintuplet, there are many intriguing points to consider in light of previous recent planetary alignments leading up to this planetary alignment. As the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015 was wrapping up late last Summer into the Fall, there is a 1 degree Triangular massing of Jupiter-Venus, Mars in Leo on October 28th,2015, which is preceded earlier in the month with a planetary alignment with Regulus in Leo, [see Figure 1 below]. This is significant due to its resemblance to the Rev. 12 heavenly sign marking the birth of Christ, we have discussed in previous posts on this blog.

Rev. 12:1-2
12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: ²And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

In Fig. 1 below we can see how the alignment of three planets in Leo forms the crown of the Woman–Virgo with 12 stars, consisting of the 9 fixed stars in Leo, combined with the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mars, forming the Crown of 12 stars over Virgo’s head. A very similar planetary alignment will be seen again in Sept. of 2017, [Figure 2.] involving the same players, with the exception that Mercury will replace Jupiter in Leo, since Jupiter will be birthing in Virgo’s midsection. The planetary alignment in 2015, serves as key celestial foreshadowing 2 years prior to this birthing of Jupiter in Virgo, when these heavenly signs that marked the birth of Christ will be repeated in the Fall of 2017. As we will see, this month’s planetary alignment of five shows another sign along the path leading us to the heavenly signs of 2017.

Figure 1. Planetary Alignment in Leo, October 3rd, 2015

As there were 3 Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions marking the Rev. 12 birth signs of Christ in 3-2 BC, so this triple alignment of Jupiter-Mars, and Venus in Leo with Regulus, reflects a similar spiritual light in the context of the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014–2015. In fact the Rev. 12 heavenly sign: the [Sun clothing Virgo with the Crescent Moon at her feet] on Sept. 17th, 2015 is announced by Mercury-Gabriel located just outside the womb area of Virgo, united with Spica/Al Zimach, on this day 2 years ahead of the rewind of the Great Wonder in Heaven, on Sept. 23rd 2017! Thus we can not only view this first planetary parade of five in 2016, but also the second alignment of these five planets in August of 2016, as added heavenly signs involving Jupiter-Venus opening the next 2 years, leading up to the birthing of Jupiter in retrograde motion in Virgo’s womb in 2017.

Best seen before dawn, the brightness of Venus and Jupiter make the event easier to find whether by the naked eye or binoculars. With Jupiter rising first, and the red-hued Mars next, golden-tainted Saturn, followed by Venus the brightest planet and lastly Mercury. Jupiter rises first as night falls early in these winter evenings, followed by Mars after midnight, before Saturn, Venus and Mercury join the conga line. Their timing will vary each day depending on observers location. Mercury will be closest to the eastern horizon, which is why it is the last to appear low in the sky, Mercury however should be more visible starting the first week of February. The waning Moon will also shed its lunar light among these five aligned planets partially occulting Jupiter on Jan. 27th, continuing it trek through the planets on the ecliptic till Feb. 6, 2016.

Does this planetary alignment tell a story? If so what does it mean? Biblical Astronomy does relate a narrative in the stars and constellations which hold them, as the planets pass through the 12 houses on the ecliptic, [Ps. 19]. Each of the 12 main signs of the zodiac relates to one of the 12 tribes of Israel, and the star pictures of the constellations each tell a different aspect of the story of the Coming Redeemer-Jesus Christ, [Gen. 49]. Also, each of the planets or “wandering stars” have their own Biblical symbolism, for example Mercury is Gabriel the fleet Messenger Archangel, appearing in Sagittarius depicting Christ as the victorious returning Conqueror, winning the war in heaven as his arrow pierces the heart of the scorpion–Scorpius. This theme is established not only with Mercury’s presence in the head of Sagittarius, but Venus the Bright and Morning Star is also seen on top the Archer’s Bow, doubly emphasizing the Lord’s speedy Return. Since this rare planetary alignment is taking place after the completion of the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad, the Victorious Return of Christ FOR his Saints can surely occur at any time-Are You Ready? Saturn is Satan’s planet in Ophiuchus/Scorpius, the scorpion, symbolizing the Redeemer’s conflict with the enemy. Satan knows he is defeated and that his time is very short, but he will never stop fighting against God, His only begotten Son, the Church and Israel because of his hatred for the Light that defines is very existence.

Figure 2. Sagittarius [Ps. 45:3-5]

We can’t ignore the Sun in Capricorn, as the atoning sacrifice of the Light of the World, that truly is the only Hope of our dark and perverse world, increasingly run by the enemy and his minions. We owe our very lives not only in this world, but also in the coming new age, all to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ who gave himself for us when we were dead in sin. Mars the red planet-signifies on one hand, Michael the Warrior Archangel doing battle with the enemy, but it can also symbolize the Savior’s shed blood, which seems a better fit with the atoning work of the redeemer seen in Libra’s balances, which portray the Savior paying the price to purchase us back from sin, and the enemy slave-master holding us in bondage. Thus we can see a consistent theme with Mars in Libra and the Sun in Capricorn with this planetary alignment. Jupiter also appears in Leo in this rare alignment of planets, as the King planet presides in the ruling house of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, [Rev. 5:5]. This shows the ultimate power of the regal Lion-King as he puts down the rebellion of the serpent-scorpion once and for all, utterly destroying the enemy under his feet, seen in Leo’s claws rending Hydra-the serpent destroyed! [Isa. 27:1]

Thus the message of this planetary alignment fits with our quickly returning and conquering Lord, and our preparation for that great day! These same five planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will appear together again this summer between the 13th & 19th of August, 2016 but “Mercury and Venus will be positioned low in the western sky at dusk, not easily seen from the northern hemisphere.

When this heavenly sign of the five brightest sentinels of our solar system in their planetary alignment is taken in the context of the concluded Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, we certainly have more than enough evidence in a mandate from heaven, telling us of the speedy and inevitable Return of the Lord Jesus Christ! As we overcome the increasing evil of this world, with the Lord’s Good, as he showed in his fathomless Love, we will surely show ourselves as Children of Light.

Sources

1. The Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger
2. Earth and Sky
3. solarsystem.nasa.gov [picture credit]
4. 2015 Sky & Telescope [picture credit]

Biblical Astronomy of the Venus-Saturn Conjunctions of 2016

Biblical Astronomy of the Venus-Saturn Conjunctions of 2016

Back in November 0f 2015, I posted an article summarizing the heavenly signs framing the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2015 between two conjunctions of Venus and Mars. The first of these planetary conjunctions was February 21-22, followed by the second on Nov. 3rd, 2015. These two Venus -Mars conjunctions of 2015 effectively frame the crescendo of the Blood Moon Tetrad in 2015, while introducing the opening of the 50-Year Hebrew Jubilee
/Shemitah. The Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015 is the first and only Tetrad to mark both the feasts and holy days of Israel along with the Shemitah/Jubilee cycle. The Year of Jubilee began on September 23, 2015, the Day of Atonement, and it ends on October 2, 2016. God told Israel to set aside yet another year of rest after seven Shemitah cycles; as a special Sabbath after every 49 years. This is the 50th cycle called the Jubilee. Just as there are 50 days between Passover and Pentecost, so there are 50 years between Hebrew Jubilees. Not only is this a time for Israel to allow the land rest, but debts are also forgiven and slaves are freed. (Leviticus 25: 33-49)

Since Joel’s Blood Moon Prophecy from [Joel 2] focuses our attention on these Hebrew Feasts and holy days with this series of Blood Moon Tetrads, we should do our best to understand the fuller message contained in His warning, as a mandate from heaven.

Joel 2:30 ³⁰And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

God tells us here, He is The One showing the wonders in heaven and earth! Its not by chance or natural coincidence that these Blood Moons took place on Hebrew feast and holy days, it is by the design of the Hand of the Almighty, Who spun the stars and planets in their courses with precision at Creation. The series of Blood Moon Lunar and Solar Eclipses during the Age of Grace is an example of these kind of heavenly wonders God is displaying for our benefit and warning. The prophecy in verse 31 below is one that got the most media attention, but we cannot understand it fully without the context of God’s Word in Joel 2. This verse provides more information for us narrowing the time frame of these solar and lunar signs to before the Great and terrible Day of the Lord comes! The “Last days” technically include the entire Age of Grace, but we are now in the end times since Israel has been reformed as a nation, for the first time in over 2000 years, marked also by the Blood Moon Tetrad of 1948-1949! Nineteen years later, the next Blood Moon Tetrad in this modern series took place in 1967-68, not only marking the return of control of Jerusalem to Israel for the first time in nearly 2000 years, but also the previous Hebrew 50-Year Jubilee. However with the completion of this Blood Moon Tetrad, we have crossed a prophetic marker in the Creator’s Timeline, where the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ FOR his Saints can occur at any time. With this in mind, we turn our attention to the heavenly signs of 2016 and beyond.

Joel 2:31-32

³¹The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. ³²And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

But whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be delivered, and those that heed these dire warnings from the Hand of God will share in the glory of the Lord… This reminded us some similar heavenly signs with Venus and Mars bracketing the birth of Christ. Between the March 31st, 2 BC Venus-Mars–Saturn triangular massing in Taurus and the Venus-Mars union in Scorpius on 12-9–2, are key heavenly signs marking Christ’s birth
enlightened the heavens. As the Venus-Mars conjunctions of 2015 bracket the crescendo of the Blood Moon Tetrad in the Sabbatical year of 2015, we see Venus-the bright and Morning Star unified with Mars-Michael, the Warrior Archangel, in their battle against the forces of darkness. Even as the Dragon attempted to take out the promised seed of Israel, Jesus Christ at his birth, so the persecution of Israel has continued, as this end time series of Blood Moon Tetrads has witnessed over the last 200 centuries, especially since the rebirth of the state of Israel marked by the modern Blood Moon Tetrad of 1948-1949. Ever since the prophecy of the Promised Seed first took place in [Gen. 3:14-15] spiritual warfare has been waged [Rev. 12:7] between the Serpent’s forces of darkness and the Promised Seed of the Woman, coming to points of crisis as we can see in the dual fulfillment of [Rev. 12:1-4].

It is noteworthy that this first Venus-Mars conjunction, March 31st bracketed the heavenly signs surrounding the birth of Christ included Saturn. As we noted, the signs of the 2015 Blood Moon Tetrad were bracketed by two Venus-Mars conjunctions, and now we see the heavenly signs of 2016 being bracketed by two more Venus-Saturn conjunctions! The first of these Venus-Saturn conjunctions, also in Scorpius takes place Jan. 9th, 2016 followed by the 2nd on Oct. 30th, 2016. We need also to keep in mind the Venus-Saturn Conjunction on June 12th of 3 BC in Taurus leading up to the heavenly signs surrounding the Birth of Christ on Sept. 11th of 3 BC. As we continue to correlate the current signs in the heavens in light of the signs marking Christ’s birth, we can uncover the needed understanding that God has made available for us. In effect we have a continuation in greater detail of the signs marking the birth of Christ appearing again in the end times Blood Moon Tetrad leading to Christ’s victorious Return. [Rev. 12].

The Planet Saturn

Saturn’s Rings tilted-reflecting a brighter Surface

Saturn’s Ring Cycle

Another point of comparison between the end time series of Blood Moon Tetrads, and the heavenly signs surrounding the birth of Christ we want to highlight here involves Saturn’s 13-year ring cycle. As we know, Saturn is best known for its remarkable set of rings. Due to Saturn’s tilt and Earth’s changing orbital position, the aspect of Saturn’s Rings tilt in relation to the Earth, changing over time. Saturn’s Rings tilt out of view when they are edge-on seen from Earth. This is known as Saturn’s “ring plane crossing.” Saturn’s Rings greatly impact its brightness, from Earth’s view. About every 13-15 years, Saturn is dimmest when its Rings are edgewise-from Earth’s line-of-sight, seen only as a thin line in telescopes – sometimes invisible. The Earth last passed through Saturn’s Ring Plane in Sept. 2009, but Saturn’s Rings will not be open again to full view for maximum light reflection on Saturn’s surface till 2017. This tells us a little about the symbolism of Saturn’s Rings, since they reflect light on Satan’s planet, they represent the 1/3 of angels [Rev. 12:4] that he deceived and took down with him, in his failed coup attempt in heaven. Thus Saturn’s Ring cycle fluctuates between reflecting maximum brightness on their master planet, to invisibility from Earth’s view, depending upon the deceiver’s need in the situation. [II Cor. 11:13-15]

During the time surrounding Christ’s Birth, it is interesting that Saturn’s 13-year ring cycle (in 7BC) began on September 14th, 7 BC, as part of the Celestial Prelude, when the Sun was also aligned with the Earth. Since this was the last day before the start of the two-year period, encompassing the Sept. 15th, 7-5 BC signs of the Celestial Prelude. This gives us a stellar corroboration of the notion that the initial signs of the Celestial Prelude refer to Lucifer in the 1st heaven and earth, in his first estate as the bright and morning star. Before the fall of Lucifer, [Isa. 14:12] he led the choral groups of angels in praise of the Heavenly Father. He was second only to the Almighty at this point, which we find symbolized in this first in the union of Venus-the Bright and Morning Star with Saturn-the planet of Satan. Secondly, we see this with the first Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction of May 27th, 7 BC as set alone, outside of the two-year period, from September 15th, 7 BC to September 15th, 5 BC. This was one aspect of the heavenly signs noticed by the Magi that alerted them to look for another two-year period which would reveal the signs surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, marked by the first of three Jupiter-Regulus Conjunctions starting Sept. 14th in 3-2 BC. In our end time signs of the Blood Moon Tetrad, we also have seen a specific two year period marked in the Sept. 17th, 2015 [Sun clothing Virgo with the Moon at her feet] looking towards the Sept. 17th, 2017
As the last day prior to the two-year period bracketing the Celestial Prelude, the significance of this day tells us of Lucifer’s successor, the rising Morning Star-Jesus, was already prophesied, prior to Satan’s overthrow of the world-order, [Eph.1:4]. It’s as if the former days of Lucifer’s brightness and splendor never existed in the eyes of God.

Job 3:4-5

4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. 5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

Since Saturn began to reach its peak brightness on September 14th, 7 BC, culminating on December 6th 1 BC, we find the peak of Saturn’s cycle of brightness running concurrent with, not only the signs of the Celestial Prelude, but most of the heavenly signs surrounding Christ’s birth as well. This verse in Job makes some other notable connections with the shadow of death.

The Celestial Prelude of 7 BC to 5 BC

BC Dates	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
Mar. 23rd, 5	Total Lunar Eclipse	Virgo
April 15-20, 6	Lunar occultation	Series
Sept. 15th, 5	Total Lunar Eclipse	Pisces

Intriguingly, these connections both carry reference to the darkening of daylight, first seen in cloud covering, and second with the blackness of the day which ominously resembles a total Solar eclipse. One aspect of the spiritual significance of these celestial realities is seen in the apparent period of midday darkness on April 28th, 28 AD, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. There is no indication of an eclipse on this day, but the shadow of death probably stained this day more than any other in history, and the blackness of this day was certainly evident spiritually in the death of Jesus. This was turned completely around three days later, however when Christ arose as the “first fruits from the dead.” Thus, the brightness of Lucifer’s day was certainly turned into darkness the moment he turned away from God, The original and eternal Source of Light.

In this light it is noteworthy that the next major heavenly sign taking place following this Venus-Saturn conjunction on Jan. 9th, 2016, is a Partial Solar eclipse occurring 2 months later, on March 9th, 2016. This is followed in short order with a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse only 2 weeks later, three days after the Spring Equinox on March 20th, 2015. This is followed up in late Summer with an Annular Solar Eclipse on Sept. 1st, with another Penumbral Lunar Eclipse only 15 days later, on Sept. 16th, 2016!

With these heavenly signs kicking off the New Year in 2016, we can expect an interesting ride as everyday brings us closer in our approach the Christ’s Victorious Return.

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