Author: Rene Fretz

My first interest in Biblical Astronomy was sparked during the study of the celestial signs surrounding the Birth of Christ in the late 70's and early 80's. This grew into a greater interest in Astronomy, resulting in numerous studies, clubs and activities as an amateur astronomer. Starting around 2003 I began working on the Try-God website, as a venue to publish my various articles and studies in Biblical Astronomy, which in the last 10 years, has garnered interest from an audience around the globe. With renewed effort and energy, we are expanding on our initial efforts with the website, for a more effective outreach to our growing audience.

The Blood Moon Tetrad of 168-166 BC and the Abomination of Desolation

The Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse Tetrad and the Destruction of the Jerusalem Temple

The solar and lunar eclipses in the Blood Moon Tetrads during the formation of the state of Israel in 1949-50, to the reclamation of Jerusalem by Israel, marked by the 1967-68 Blood Moon Tetrad, to the recent 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad, all exhibit how God speaks to His people via His Word, Spoken, written and incarnate, confirmed by these heavenly signs. As in the 1949-50 and 1967-68 Tetrads, the Blood Moons have indicated war in Israel was is the case historically in 168-66 BC.

Image result for 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad images

As we have seen with previous Blood Moon Lunar and Solar Eclipses marking the defiling of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD [Table 2.], these are noteworthy and instructive concerning current and future events. The subject of this study concerns a relevant aspect of Biblical Prophecy relating to events of the end-times that we can see coming together before our eyes.

In end-time prophecy, Daniel 8 is a key section of Scripture. Scholars are agreed in Daniel 8 that the goat’s first horn (the horn that was broken) is Alexander the Great, and the four horns arising afterwards are four generals who divided his empire, from which Antiochus IV arose. The symbols of the ram and he-goat, in Daniel 8 are the  kings of Persia and Greece.

Antiochus’ IV took the title “Epiphanes” (God Manifest) when he took the Seleucid throne in 175 BC. Antiochus’ IV efforts to Hellenize the kingdoms he conquered had an effect on other cultures besides Israel. Their various pagan idols or “stars” were cut down by Antiochus IV to establish Hellenized religious observances throughout his kingdom, [Dan. 8:10]. Although the books of the Apocrypha hold little Scriptural value in the Canon of God’s Word, the Books of the Maccabees are valuable concerning the historical record of this time period. These records from Maccabees show the nature of the conflict Antiochus IV engaged with Israel, his unbridled ego and events surrounding the Temple at Jerusalem.

Figure 1.

Image
Bust of Antiochus IV at the Altes Museum in Berlin. 1

1 Macc. 1:7-10  [175 B. C. 137th Seleucid year; Antiochus IV begins his reign]

7 Alexander had reigned twelve years when he died. 8 Each of his officers established himself in his own region. 9 All assumed crowns after his death, they and their heirs after them for many years, bringing increasing evils on the world. 10 From these there grew a wicked offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes son of King Antiochus; once a hostage in Rome, he became king in the 107th year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

Daniel 8:1-22 reveals the times of Daniel, with a promise that God would bring an end to Israel’s oppression. Antiochus VI Epiphanes, took the Seleucid throne of Syria in 175 BC. In 167 BC that there was a revolt in Jerusalem, where he sent troops to suppress, halting the daily Temple sacrifices [Dan. 8:11] and polluting it, 167-164 BC. His attempt to blot out Judaism ultimately led to a reaction, led by Judas Maccabee and his cohorts, who won a series of dynamic military victories over the Seleucids to reclaim and purify the Temple three years later.

As a forerunner of the end-times Anti-Christ, Antiochus IV seemed successful in promoting his secular agenda. Circumcision and Sabbath-observance were being extinguished. Greek paganism under him, attempted to eliminate the true worship of Almighty God. But God chose Israel to bring the Messiah into the world, and He chose Jerusalem, for the location of His earthly Temple, as the place where the true Lamb of God would offer his life for all Mankind. The temple, the people of Israel, and Jerusalem were to be preserved together until the glorious arrival of Jesus Christ. Once the Messiah came to fulfill his ministry, the Temple would be razed in A.D. 70, as Jesus prophesied in [Matt. 24], but in 164 BC the temple had to be cleansed for God to fulfill His plan. A new aspect of this study compares the solar and lunar eclipses marking the 70 AD temple destruction with the Blood Moon Tetrad of 168-166 BC. Adding the Biblical Astronomy of the Solar and Blood Moon Lunar eclipse data provides a level of scientific verification to the historical data of this period previously not seen. Much of what was prophesied by Daniel has came to pass, but the complete story has not yet been fulfilled. This certainly puts a heightened focus on the current events leading to the Third Jerusalem Temple. 

To accomplish this required the faithful of Israel to stand against Antiochus‘ IV political and military pressure. Among the resistance was the priest Mattathias, who fled Jerusalem to the mountains with his sons. Others joined them, and they began raids removing pagan altars. When Mattathias neared death, he appointed his son Judas Maccabeus as the rebel captain, whose power and  influence grew in their battles against pagan enemies. Judas’ men fasted and believed God to defeat the armies Antiochus sent against them, and God aided their righteous efforts, so that in under 3 years the brave warriors of Israel prevailed.

Figure 2.

The Triumph of Judas Maccabeus, Rubens 2.

Antiochus VI Epiphanes, plundered the Jerusalem Temple in 169 BC and desecrated it in late 167 BC by commanding that sacrifices be made to Zeus on an altar built for him. Finally, Judas and his men reached Jerusalem. Upon seeing the desolation, the profaned altar, the gates burned, they made a great lamentation, rending their clothes and casting ashes on their heads. In only three days, 80,000+ were lost in a massacre of  young and old, with many of these meeting a violent death, and a similar number sold into slavery, [2 Macc. 5:11-14]. They proceeded to cleanse the entire area, built a new clean altar, made new holy vessels, and put the lampstand, table, and altar of incense into their rightful places. On the 25th of Kislev, in the year 164 BC, when the Temple was rededicated they celebrated its cleansing and dedicated it anew to the living God, with great rejoicing. No pagan tyrant will ever be able to withstand Almighty God. This event is celebrated in the annual Hanukkah festival. As Jon Nessle suggests: “if we count back 2300 days from 164 BC, it brings us to the month of Av on the Hebrew Calendar in 170 BC.”3

Was the Sanctuary trodden underfoot for 2300 days by Antiochus IV? This is a feasible thesis, and a purpose of this study is to investigate whether the Biblical Astronomy supports it, which we consider below. Antiochus wished to conquer Egypt, but he had to stabilize his empire first, including Israel. His plan was to consolidate its cultural and religious aspects. During his return from the military campaign in Egypt via Jerusalem, Antiochus left a swath of destruction burning many houses, killing and enslaving tens of thousands of Jews and attacking the Jerusalem Temple, the center of life in Israel. The Syrian soldiers robbed the temple treasures and on 15 Kislev, 167 BC Antiochus IV, illustrating why he took the title “Epiphanes” (God Manifest), erecting a statue of the Greek god Zeus etched with his own face in the central altar of the Jerusalem Temple, (1 Macc. 1:54). Then on 25 Kislev, 167 BC he desecrated the most holy place in the temple while destroying the holy scrolls.

As Rev. Nessle states regarding the 2300 days: “In my analysis of the prophecies of Daniel, I showed that this time span very well could be the entire time span that the sanctuary was trodden under-foot by the army of Antiochus IV. We know from Maccabees that the end point of the “desecration of the Temple was on Kislev 25, or Dec. 16th, in 164 BC.”4  This initiated the Hanukkah festival when the Temple was rededicated, due to the desecration of the abomination by Antiochus IV, as a forerunner of the end-times Anti-Christ.

The prophecy in Daniel 8 is in two parts, “the first section covers the Persian Empire up through the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes whose desecration of the Temple was the first mention in Daniel of the Abomination that took place in the Temple.”5

Figure 3. Jerusalem Temple model-70 AD.

Diagram of Herod Temple

“A prominent feature is that it gives a time span of 2300 days. This is exactly 78 Lunar months. When one compares with the Book of Maccabees, the time span does not fit the total length of time the Temple was actually desecrated. In (2 Macc. 1:54-59) Antiochus set up the abomination; the 15th of Kislev and sacrificed on 25th of Kislev [12/6/167 BC]. The Temple was cleansed three years later [2 Macc. 4:52, 25th of Chisleu 12/16/164). But there is more. The phrase “trodden underfoot,” is also included. History records that the Temple was rededicated on the 25th of Kislev in 164 which was the inception of the Jewish Feast of Hanukkah. If we consult Parker and Dubberstein’s ancient Jewish calendar, we can see that the years 170 and 167 had Intercalary 13th months (II Adar) in them. So counting back 78 months from the Temple cleansing and the end of the abomination desolation, brings us to the end of the 5th month Av, in 170 AD. Antiochus IV fought the Egyptians in the Battle of Mt. Kasios in early November in 170 AD. Parker and Dubberstein tell us that would have been in the middle of the 8th month. The beginning of the 2300 days was the 26th of Av (the month Av is always 30 days long). This date would have been 80 days before the battle. The [orbis.stanford.edu] website calculates that a Roman Legion would take about 50 days to travel 300 miles from Damascus to the Battle site of Pelusium via Jerusalem (at speed of Ox Carts). So it is not implausible at all that the Sanctuary was “trodden underfoot” by advanced elements from Antiochus in the Summer of 170.”6

 Since Antiochus is a type of the Anti-Christ, this qualifies as a “preliminary fulfillment” of this prophecy, yet to be completed by the end-times anti-Christ. We can see however how Antiochus IV fulfills the prophecies of Daniel 8;

Dan. 8:11-14
11 Yea, he magnified {himself} even to the prince of the host [To God Almighty or the Jewish High Priest] and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the Sanctuary was cast down. [Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Temple] 12 And an host was given {him} against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down truth to the ground; and it practiced [transacted business], and prospered.

13 Then I heard one saint (angel) speaking, and another saint (angel) said unto that certain {saint} which spake, How long {shall be} the vision {concerning} the daily {sacrifice}, and the transgression of desolation, [reference to the “Abomination of Desolation”] to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; [Exactly 78 Lunar Months*] then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. [Time span includes all the parts of verse 13] {insertions by Jon Nessle in red} 7

*A numerical note on the 2300 days equaling 78 lunar months is that (78=6 x 13), 6 as the number of man destitute of God multiplied by the number of rebellion or apostasy.8 These are fitting links since Antiochus IV was a type of the end times Anti-Christ and he instigated this version of the Abomination Desolation. Also the relation between lunar months and this Blood Moon Tetrad marking key dates as the Temple was being trodden underfoot during the 2300 days is notable. Other elements of the history of these events are recorded in the Book of Maccabees and in our timeline below.

This explanation says that the entire temple defilement lasted 2300 days, or six years plus 110 days, about 6 1/3 years from 170-164 BC, not a complete 7 year period as is many times assumed.

Table 1. Book of Maccabees 9

1 Mac 1:10               175 BC. 137th Seleucid year; Antiochus begins reign

1 Mac 1:10-15        *171 BC. desolating covenant to worship Greek gods

26th of month AV, 170 BC- 78 Lunar months prior to the cleansing of the Temple in 164. 

Antiochus fought the Egyptians in the Battle of Mt. Kasios early November/mid-8th month 170 BC. [Seleucid year 143]

1 Mac 1:20-28       169 BC; plunders Jerusalem temple 

1 Mac 1:54-59       15th of Kislev, 167 BC; set up abomination 25th of Kislev 12/6/167, then sacrificed abomination of desolation in the Seleucid year 145

2 Mac 6:1, 2           “compel the Jews to forsake the laws of their fathers and cease to live by the laws of God. Also polluted the Jerusalem temple calling it the temple of the Olympian Zeus.”

1 Mac 4:42-58       25th of Chisleu 12/16/164; sanctuary cleansed; Antiochus died in Seleucid year 148. 10

2 Mac 10:1-8         Sanctuary purified


1 Macc. 1:20-28
20 After his conquest of Egypt, in the year 143, Antiochus turned around and advanced on Israel and Jerusalem in massive strength. 21 Insolently breaking into the sanctuary, he removed the golden altar and the lampstand for the light with all its fittings.  22 Together with the table for the shewbread offering, the cups, the golden censers, the veil, the crowns, and the golden decoration on the front of the Temple, which he stripped of everything. 23 He made off with the silver and gold and precious vessels; he discovered the secret treasures and seized them. 24 and, removing all these, he went back to his own country, having shed much blood and uttered words of extreme arrogance. 28 The earth quaked because of its inhabitants and the whole House of Jacob was clothed with shame.

Key points of this record of Antiochus plundering and defiling the Jerusalem Temple in the 2300 days from 170-164 BC, are highlighted in the general celestial markings of the Blood Moon Tetrad of 168-166 BC. We will find added meaning as we compare this Blood Moon Tetrad to the the Solar and Lunar eclipses surrounding the Temple destruction in 70 AD.

Figure 4. Blood Moon over Jerusalem

Image result for Blood Moon over the Wailing Wall image

The Blood Moon Tetrad of 168-166 BC.

The Solar and Lunar eclipse activity during this period from 168 BC to 166 BC is noteworthy around  the desolation and plundering of the Temple at Jerusalem by Antiochus IV. Although there may have been other eclipse activity during this 3 year period, the focus of this study is the Blood Moon Tetrad and Solar eclipses starting in mid-168 BC. This Tetrad includes 3 Total Lunar Eclipses in 167-166 BC. Notably the Solar and Blood Moon lunar eclipses are paired in tight intervals starting with the first Total Lunar Eclipse of this Blood Moon Tetrad. 11

Total eclipse Partial Solar Eclipse
On July 5th there was a Mercury-Regulus conjunction in Leo. On July 17th 168 BC, there was a Partial Solar Eclipse with Sun and Moon in Cancer. Later in July of 168, a Jupiter-Mercury-Regulus Alignment occurred in Leo. These opening signs in Leo are similar to the opening signs of the 2016 Solar and lunar eclipses on Hebrew Feasts and Holy Days. [see Table 2 below].

Total eclipse Total Lunar eclipse  
The first Total Lunar Eclipse of this Blood Moon Tetrad occurs on Dec. 27th, 168 BC, after the Winter solstice. The Blood Moon and Neptune were in Scorpius, with the Scorpion signifying the war Antiochus IV was bringing to Israel. The Sun was in Capricorn, with Saturn in Libra. Mars was unified with Leo the Lion, while Jupiter was in Virgo showcasing the signs of the Celestial Sphinx. Venus the Bright and Morning Star was in Sagittarius, whose arrows were aimed at Antares the heart of the Scorpion-enemy.

Total eclipse Solar Eclipse
About 2 weeks after the first Blood Moon and opening the New Year on Jan. 10th, 167 BC, there was another Solar Eclipse with the Sun and Venus in Capricorn, close to the border of Aquarius. Mercury was in Sagittarius. Mars-Micheal was in Leo with Jupiter in Virgo, depicting the signs of the Celestial Sphinx, as seen at the birth of Christ. This was the first of 4 luni-solar eclipse pairs in this Tetrad.

Total eclipse Solar Eclipse
Opening the Summer season on June 7th of 167 BC, was another Solar Eclipse, two weeks prior to the Summer Solstice Total Lunar Eclipse. Sun was in Gemini, with Mercury. Jupiter was near Mars  in Virgo. Venus was in Cancer with Saturn in Libra. If we take into account the next solar eclipse a month later we can see the Second Blood Moon of this Tetrad bracketed tightly between these two Solar Eclipses.

 Total eclipse Total Lunar eclipse
The 2nd Blood Moon of the Tetrad, was a Total Lunar Eclipse, June 21st, 167 BC, at the Summer Solstice. The Sun was in Gemini, and Saturn in Libra. Mercury and Venus in Leo, with a Jupiter-Mars union in Virgo again emphasizing the Celestial Sphinx. Mercury-Gabriel was heralding the Bright and Morning Star in Leo the Lion of the tribe of Judah, while the King Planet Jupiter was unified with Mars-the Warrior Archangel standing against the forces of Antiochus IV.

Total eclipse Solar Eclipse
The following month on July 7th, 167 BC there was another Solar Eclipse, forming a pair of solar eclipses bracketing this Blood Moon. In July of 167 BC, the Sun was in Cancer, with Saturn in Libra. Mercury and Venus were in Leo, with Jupiter and Mars in Virgo again marking the Celestial Sphinx.

Total eclipse Solar Eclipse
On Dec. 1st there was another key Solar Eclipse, which gets our attention 1st because it occurred only 5 days before Antiochus set up the abomination on Nov. 26th, or the 15th of Kislev, sacrificed 10 days later on 25th of Kislev or 12/6/167 BC. Venus and Mars were in Capricorn as the righteous sacrifice opposed to Antiochus’ abomination. The Sun was in the Bow of Sagittarius with arrow aimed at the heart of the Scorpion enemy. Mercury was near Neptune in Ophiuchus showing the ongoing conflict between the Serpent bearer and the Scorpius. Saturn was in Libra. Then only 10 days later the 3rd Total Lunar Eclipse of this Blood Moon Tetrad followed.

Total eclipse Total Lunar eclipse.
167 BC closes out with a Third pair of Eclipses in December. followed by the 3rd Blood Moon of this Tetrad, with a Total Lunar Eclipse on Dec. 16th. On Dec. 14th, 167 BC, the Blood Moon and Jupiter were at Virgo’s Feet, moving towards Scorpio. The Sun in Sagittarius, Mars and Venus in Capricorn, and Saturn in Libra. This sign in mid-Dec. 167 BC with the Moon at Virgo’s Feet, recalls the Rev. 12 sign, at the birth of Christ. It is notable that this Blood Moon on Dec. 16th foreshadows the cleansing of the Temple and the initiation of Hannukah, 3 years later on Dec. 16th, 164 BC, or the 25th of Chislev. This is verified in 1 Macc. 4:54 below where “the altar was dedicated, at the same time of year and on the same day when the Gentiles had originally profaned it.”

Total eclipse Partial Solar Eclipse
The year 166 BC also witnessed eclipse activity starting the 28th of May with a Partial Solar Eclipse. The Sun and Mercury are in Gemini, with Mars and Venus in the Bull of Taurus. Saturn is in Libra, with Jupiter is at Virgo’s feet. Here we see a 4th pair of tightly packed eclipses wrapping up this Blood Moon Tetrad.

Total eclipse Total Lunar eclipse
This was followed the next month by the final Blood Moon of this Tetrad, in a Total Lunar Eclipse on June 11th, with the Moon in Aries less than two weeks from the Summer Solstice. The Sun is still in Gemini, with Mars and Venus in the Bull of Taurus. Mercury has now moved into Cancer. 

Total eclipse Partial Solar Eclipse
Later on Nov. 20th, 166 BC there was a Partial Solar Eclipse, framing the final Blood Moon of the Tetrad. The Sun, Moon and Neptune were in Ophiuchus. Jupiter was in Libra, with a Mercury-Saturn union in Scorpio. Venus in the Bow of Sagittarius. Mars was in Virgo protecting Israel.

Total eclipse Partial Lunar Eclipse
Finally on Dec. 6th there was a Partial Lunar Eclipse closing out 166 BC, with the Moon grazing by Jupiter in Libra. Jupiter is at Scorpio’s border joining Saturn in Scorpio, with Mercury and Neptune in Ophiuchus. The Sun and Venus were in Sagittarius. This was 1 year to the day after the sacrifice of the Abomination Desolation on 25th of Kislev or 12/6/167 BC. 12

Image result for blood moon images 2015

1 Macc. 1:37-57 documents the year 168 BC that witnessed the plundering of Jerusalem, and the halting of sanctuary services, not to mention the abomination desolation under the decree of Antiochus IV.

1 Macc. 1:54-57

 54 On the fifteenth day of Chislev in the year 145 the king built an appalling abomination on top of the altar of burnt offering; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah. 56 Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. 57 Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practicing the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death.

1 Macc. 4:49-59

49 They made new sacred vessels, and brought the lamp-stand, the altar of incense, and the table into the Temple. 50 They burned incense on the altar and lit the lamps on the lamp-stand, and these shone inside the Temple. 51 They placed the loaves on the table and hung the curtains and completed all the tasks they had undertaken. 52 On the twenty-fifth of the ninth month, Chislev, in the year 148 they rose at dawn 53 and offered a lawful sacrifice on the new altar of burnt offering which they had made.

54 The altar was dedicated, to the sound of hymns, zithers, lyres and cymbals, at the same time of year and on the same day on which the Gentiles had originally profaned it.

55 The whole people fell prostrate in adoration and then praised Heaven who had granted them success.

56 For eight days they celebrated the Dedication of the altar, joyfully offering burnt offerings, communion and thanksgiving sacrifices. 58 There was no end to the rejoicing among the people, since the disgrace inflicted by the Gentiles had been effaced. 59 Judas, with his brothers and the whole assembly of Israel, made it a law that the days of the Dedication of the altar should be celebrated yearly at the proper season, for eight days beginning on the twenty-fifth of the month of Chislev, with rejoicing and gladness; [164 BC]

 Thus was fulfilled that which was spoken by Daniel, “then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” (8:14). This began the Feast of Hanukkah (meaning “dedication”), that Israel celebrated in Jesus’ day (John 10:22-23) and every December until today. (1 Macc. 1-6 and 2 Macc. 3-10.)

After three years of struggle, the Greek armies retreated from Jerusalem, and the Maccabees entered the Holy Temple which the Greeks had defiled, reconsecrated it to God, and began again the Temple service. Among other things, they wanted to relight the olive oil candlestick (Exodus 25), but could only find one day’s supply of undefiled oil – and it would take eight days to make and bring  more oil. Miraculously, the Menorah stayed lit for 8 days (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought. The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that the Hand of God was present. The faithful were overjoyed, because the Hand of God meant everything to them. This
is what Hanukkah represents: remaining close to God; and the rejection of Hellenization. The priests instituted the festival of Hanukkah to honor the miracle. This became known as the festival of lights, and the purpose for lighting the Hanukkah-Menorahs. This Hanukkah-Menorah, is a special version of the original seven-branched Menorah, with eight candles, commemorating the miracle of the oil lasting eight days, and the ninth to hold the central candle used to light the others. The military victory would not be celebrated if not for the miracle of the oil.

 Roman Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
 
 Over the last 2000 years the history of Blood Moon Tetrads starting in Peter’s Sermon opening the
 Age of Grace, [Acts 2:20] has seen a steady progression of Bible Prophecy related to Israel, being
progressively fulfilled. This includes prophecies of the Jerusalem Temple’s Destruction spoken by
Jesus, marked with Blood Moons fulfilled in 70 AD. We witnessed the dispersion of the Jews around the world, as we have seen the Jews return to a reformed State of Israel in 1948-1950, marked by a Blood Moon Tetrad. In 1967-68 we saw the 6-day war with Egypt, when Jerusalem was first reclaimed under Israel’s control, since 70 AD, also marked by a Blood Moon Tetrad, all leading to the next logical step of prophecies to re-build a Third Jerusalem Temple. A chart of the Blood Moon Tetrads over the last 2000+ years is available in our blog post @ Biblical Blood Moon Calendar. The following summary from this link, shows the 70 AD Roman Temple Destruction as Jesus Prophesied, alongside the 2016 Solar and Lunar Eclipses.

Table 2. 
Solar & Lunar Eclipses from 69-71 AD.         2016 Solar & Lunar Eclipses omitting Adar 2:

Jupiter-Regulus Conjunction   10/15/69   in  Leo

Partial Lunar      Sukkot              10/18/69

Total Solar           Nisan 1              3/30/70       Total Solar Eclipse 3/9/2016 on Nisan 1

Penum lunar       Passover          4/14/70        Penum Lunar Eclipse-Passover 3/23/2016/Nisan 14

Rev. 12 Sign of the Woman       8/27/70

Annular Solar     Rosh Hash      9/23/70       Annular Solar Eclipse 9/3/2016/Trumpets Feast 

Penum lunar        Sukkot            10/08/70     Penum Lunar Eclipse 9/16/Sukkot/9-16 to 9/23/16

Partial Lunar       Purim               3/4/71

These dates may look familiar to those following my Biblical Astronomy Blog [blog.try-god.org], as the first 2 Total Solar Eclipses of 2016 form the continuation of Solar and Lunar signs on Hebrew Feast and Holy days after the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-15. Due to a lack of consensus on the appearance of Aviv Barley in Israel, the alignment of these solar eclipses with Hebrew Feast and holy days went mostly unnoticed in 2016. But they are key as they represent a direct link to the Aug. 21st, 2017 Pan-American Total Solar eclipse. An intriguing detail about the 2nd Blood Moon of each lunar triple bracketing the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad is that it was visible over Jerusalem. This provides a direct link with Blood Moon Tetrad to the razing of the Jerusalem Temple in the Hebrew Sabbath years of 586-587 BC and 69-70 AD. Nebuchadnezzar burnt the Temple in 587-586 BC [2 Chron. 36:17-20], and in 69-70 AD, Titus and his Roman legions burnt the Temple. In both cases Jerusalem lay desolate for the next 50 years on the Jubilee Calendar. 13

With the solar and lunar eclipses marking the 69-70 AD destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, 70 AD was the last year Jerusalem was under control of Israel until the Blood Moon Tetrad of 1967-68.  These Luni–Solar Eclipses of 2016 mirror exactly the 69-70 AD solar and lunar eclipses on holy days and Hebrew feasts. Its also noteworthy that the triple union of Jupiter-Regulus marking the birth of Christ, is linked to the Temple destruction in Jerusalem foretold by Christ [Matt. 24:2], since the next Jupiter-Regulus conjunction did not recur till Oct. 15th, 69 AD. 14

By putting these birth signs of Christ together with the physical Temple being destroyed, it recalls Jesus’ words in [Jn. 2:19-20] where Jesus links the Temple’s destruction, wherein he was standing when he said “destroy this temple,” with the “temple of his body.”  Christ embodied the Temple in two aspects; first as the Bride of Israel when he spoke this prophecy, and later in the Church of Gentile Christians communing with the Heavenly Father spiritually after the Day of Pentecost in the Age
of Grace, [Eph. 2:11-22]. Since Jesus superseded the physical Temple in his Spiritual body of the Church, the Jerusalem Temple on the Mount will not be seen again until its daily sacrifices are restored prior to Jesus’ 2nd Coming. The 69-70 AD solar and lunar eclipses marking the Roman’s destruction
of the Temple are reflected in the solar and lunar eclipses of 2016, leading to the 2017 rewind of the Great Wonder of Rev. 12:1-2. Amazingly, another version of this Rev. 12 celestial wonder takes place on August 27th, in 70 AD, in between the 4/14/70 Passover Lunar Eclipse, and the 9/23/70 Rosh Hashanah Solar Eclipse! Wow, that (9/23 date) sure keeps popping up…

Figure 5. The Rev. 12 sign on August 27th, 70 AD: With a Jupiter-Venus union. 15

The woman has a crown of twelve stars, with Jupiter and Venus in such close union they appear to merge into one star just as they did in 2 BC, except this time in the lower rear paw of Leo. The Sun is clothing Virgo and the Moon near her feet. The planets Jupiter and Venus are also aligned with Mercury-Gabriel and the King Star Regulus in Leo. What is extraordinary with this version of the Rev. 12 Sign is that it occurs in the center of the solar and lunar eclipses falling on Hebrew Feast and holy days as they also marked the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD.

Just as these signs of the Celestial Sphinx are evident in the Blood Moon Tetrads of 168-166 BC with Antiochus, and 70 AD in Titus’ destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, by types of the Anti-Christ, they were also present not only at the birth of Christ, on Sept. 11th 3, BC, but also the Rev. 12 signs on 9/23/17. This of course supports our thesis of the Celestial Prelude. The reader can refer to previous studies on the Celestial Sphinx and the Celestial Prelude to gain added context for these subjects.

As we can see these celestial signs of the end-times lighting up the sky, we are encouraged and rejoice in the Hope of our quickly returning Lord Jesus Christ.

God Bless!


Footnotes

1. “Bust of Antiochus IV” [https://everipedia.org/wiki/Altes_Museum/].
2. The Triumph of Judas Maccabeus [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Paul_Rubens]
3. “Analysis of Prophecies in Daniel.” [ppg. 15-16.] Jon Nessle
4. The Abomination of Desolation and other Prophetic terms of Biblical Eschatology. Jon Nessle.
5. “Analysis of Prophecies in Daniel.” [p. 15-16] Nessle
6. IBID
7. Ibid p.14
8. Number in Scripture, E.W. Bullinger
9. 1 & 2 Books of Maccabees
10. *The sources of the dates above are a small representation which agree with Matthew Henry and Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown. The Scofield Reference Bible, (Congregational),  1909; The New Bible Commentary, (Presbyterian influence), Inter-Varsity Fellowship, 1953; The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Moody Press, 1962; The Ryrie Study Bible, Moody Press, 1986.

11. Dates for Solar and Total Lunar Eclipse data are From NASA [https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/SE-0199–0100.html]

12. Planetary union and zodiac data are from  Starry Night Pro Software program.
13. Number in Scripture, ppg. 237-38, E.W. Bullinger
14. http://www.777thsabbath.com/page97.html
15. Stellarium Astronomical Software on Aug. 27th, 70 AD

 

 

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Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions and the Celestial Prelude

Birth of Jesus Christ
Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions and the Celestial Prelude

One of the singular aspects of my Biblical Astronomy research has revolved around the Celestial Prelude. I was recently encouraged by Jon Nessle to take a closer look at the historical aspects of Jupiter’s retrograde motion in light of Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunctions, that I believe influenced the Magi so powerfully, as a precedent to the astronomical signs surrounding the birth of Christ. I took his advice to heart because Jon has never steered me wrong, and there are always positive outcomes as a result. I’m so very thankful to Rev. Nessle for inviting me to take part in his ministry work and for our resulting fellowship. It motivates me even more to think that we have only just begun, and I’m excited to see what the Lord has in store!

Let’s do an overview of both the general and specific aspects of the Celestial Prelude. Its General sign, The Coma Supernova as we will see below, was visible for over 250 years, while of signs from 7-5 BC, focus on the triple Conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn during this period. These signs allowed the Magi to recognize the stellar details of the long awaited prophecy of the coming of the promised seed. Also during this same period referred to by Ptolemy, shekels from Judea struck during the period of the second revolt, [135-132 AD] bear the design of a bright star over the Jerusalem Temple, called Bar Kaukab. The leader of the Second Revolt was Shim’on Bar Koseba. He was known as Bar Kochba, meaning “Son of the Star,” in reference to messianic expectations of (Num. 24:17): “There shall step forth a star (kochab) out of Jacob.”

Figure 1. Bar Kochba, Silver Sela shekel coin from 133/134 AD, (Brom. 94) 1

Here the Temple is pictured with the Ark of the Covenant between its central pillars. This coin with the bright star over the Temple is assumed to refer to Shimon the “Son of the Star“ and leader of this revolt, but it could have also been a logical reference to the supernova that appeared in the head of the woman’s son in Coma‘s lap, the desired of the nations, and perhaps even a providential reference to Jesus as the true temple. Why would we even consider this as a possibility? Because the approximate 280 year period of visibility of the Coma Supernova began about 125 years before the birth of Christ according to Hipparchus, near the time of the 2nd revolt, with the appearance of this new Star over the Temple near the Second Revolt in Jerusalem, the impact of this “new star” was such that, one of the leading sages of that time known as Rabbi Akiva, proclaimed Bar Kochba as the messiah. This not only shows the Messianic expectations of this period, but also the impact of this New Star in the skies over Jerusalem, doubtlessly contributing to Shimon’s moniker as “Son of the Star,” commemorated by the coin. It was this kind of Messianic expectation that permeated Jerusalem at the time.

E.W. Bullinger uncovers below, the popular belief regarding this general sign 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

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.4

 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 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 specific aspects of the second part 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 was the planet that the Magi referred to as “his Star” in Matthew 2:2. The Magi had noted the triple Conjunction of signs from 7-6 BC, involving Jupiter and Saturn, that gave them a blueprint for the Jupiter-Regulus triple union marking Christ’s birth, starting in 3 BC. An early sign in August of 3 BC motivated them to begin their caravan to Jerusalem. Both of these aspects of the General and Specific celestial signs marking the birth of Christ are apparent in the study on “The Stars Over Bethlehem,“ which provides further details of what the Magi observed in the skies overhead at the Messiah’s birth, both in main constellation of Virgo, and its decan of Coma.

The decan of Coma is pictured below as the three bright stars forming the inverted “L” shape, that significantly contains the North Galactic Pole, located 5 degrees west of Beta Coma. Its interesting in light of the original star picture associated with this decan, as seen in the Dendera Zodiac, of a mother holding her Son in her lap, known as “the Desired of the Nations,”[Hagg. 2:7] [Figures 2, and 3. below].

 Figure 2. Coma Decan in the Dendera Zodiac  3

sun of righteousness

The Prophet Daniel taught the Magi and other astronomers of the king Nebuchadnezzar’s court [Dan. 5:11] about these planetary unions from the contemporary example of a Jupiter-Saturn triple union 523-522 BC in Virgo. Less than 400 years later, near 132 BC a new star as the Coma supernova exploded onto the scene, in a decan of the sign Virgo called Coma. This is intriguing when we remember that much of this tradition was based on the teachings of the Prophet Daniel, who was made the master of the Magi, the Chaldeans and stargazers of the King’s Court  in Babylon. He continued to preside over this august group in the reign of Darius I, [Dan. 6:1-3] when the Persians took control of the Babylonian empire. Daniel’s influence on the genuine sect of the Magi, not the Magicians who followed the path occult and Astrology, represented a critical  impact on the astronomical doctrines of these Gentile scientists, especially regarding the widely held belief in the general sign marking the coming of the Messiah during this period in history. Obviously the Magi were aware of the truths of the celestial gospel concerning the coming redeemer, since it was their unrivaled expertise in Astronomy that led them to Jerusalem in the first place. As Matthew 2:3 tells us, their reputation clearly preceded them as Herod, and all Jerusalem were troubled at their appearance. Herod seems to hold the Magi’s opinion regarding the star that lead them to Jerusalem, above those of his own scribes and chief priests, which is evident in the secret meeting he arranged with he Magi in Matt. 2:7.

The Biblical references to Christ associated with the Sun as the “light of the world,” the “Sun of Righteousness” [Mal. 4:2] and in Psalm 19: 4-6, are only a few of many such references. Thus, in the case of the promised seed, Zero-ashta, the religion of the Magi served as a vessel for many principles and astronomical precepts, that led mankind to the birth of Jesus Christ as the Promised Seed of the Woman, [Gen. 3:15-16].

Ignatius, one of the Church Fathers and the Bishop of Antioch, in about 69 AD, records that, “At the appearance of the Lord a star shone forth brighter than all other stars.”4 If we are careful not to confuse this reference with the planet Jupiter, we can deduce that this supernova was still visible about 275 years after it was first seen as the celestial marker of the general time frame of Jesus’ birth. Thus, the Celestial Prelude proposes that the Coma Supernova that occurred in the head of the infant “Christos,” nursed by his mother as the General Sign marking the general time-frame of the Messiah’s birth. The close proximity of the Northern Galatic Pole, in Coma recalls the imagery of Cepheus “the crowned king” who regally sits astride the Celestial Pole star polaris, picturing Christ seated in the heavenly temple at the right hand of the Heavenly Father [Eph. 1:20-23]. Seiss has some viable historical references on this point:

“Hipparchus about one hundred twenty-five years before Christ, observed it [Coma supernova] as a new star, and was led by it to draw up his record of stars. Ptolemy, about one hundred and fifty years after Christ, refers to it as having been observed by Hipparchus, but as having become so faint as hardly to be any longer discernible.”5 

(parenthesis and emphasis mine) From these key historical notes, we have temporal references from about 125 years before Christ’s birth, extending to about 150 years after his birth; giving us a period within about 280 years of when the Coma Supernova was visible as the General sign of the Celestial Prelude.

Figure 3. Virgo with the Decan Coma-Stellarium 6

The Magi would have witnessed both this new star shining brightly in Coma, a decan of Virgo, while Jupiter was in retrograde, standing still on the Meridian in Virgo, in December of 2 BC. The general sign of our Celestial Prelude thus harmonizes with the specific signs, as the Magi headed south from Jerusalem, their visit with Herod just concluded, towards Bethlehem in search of the promised seed. This also explains why the Magi were the only group to recognize these specific celestial signs of the Messiah’s birth, because the general sign was a fixture in Coma for about 130 years prior to this period. The typical person wouldn’t have noticed anything out of the ordinary in the heavens, because it would not stand out unless coupled with the knowledge of the specific signs, bringing the Magi to Israel in the first place. This is another reason why the Magi were so joyful when they saw “his star,” Jupiter over Bethlehem. This scene of what the Magi beheld in the skies over Bethlehem in December of 2 BC, is depicted in the banner of this article above, and covered in detail in our website article on the Skies over Bethlehem. In Numbers 24:17, when Jacob is referred to in Balaam’s prophecy, it refers not only to the seed of Jacob, but also to the land promised to him as an inheritance, in his Covenant with God [Gen. 15:18]. Francis Rolleston has notable remarks regarding this:

“The Magi forewarned that the star must appear over Jacob, over his inheritance, would see that star in Coma passed over the center of that inheritance: but as it would also appear to pass vertically over every part of it that was nearly in the Latitude of Jerusalem, they could not at once fix on the spot of the Messiah’s birth, therefore they went to inquire; the Latitude, as it were, being given by the star, the longitude by the prophecy.“7 [mazzaroth]

Here we find the witness of the stars, and the Scriptures, working together to bring the Magi to the toddler Jesus, because their alert observation of “his star” brought them to Jerusalem and the scribes declaration from Micah 5:2, when Herod questioned them, sent the Magi to Bethlehem. While en route they witnessed the heavens come alive with the proof that their historic journey was not in vain, because they saw both the Coma Supernova, and Jupiter in Virgo in the same skies over Bethlehem. This puts both elements of the General and Specific Signs of the Celestial Prelude in the same skies observed by the Magi leading them to the birth place of Jesus Christ.

Plate 1. Jupiter in retrograde its triple union with Saturn in Pisces in 7 BC. 8
Triple conjunction

This initial set of signs indeed set the stage for the actual signs announcing the birth of Christ. The Charts below reflect the signs of 7-5 BC, leading to the signs of 3-1 BC, displaying the principals of the Celestial Prelude. For our purposes here, our main focus will be on the triple Conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn not only from 7-5 BC, but also those preceding it with close proximity to the Coma Supernova in 126 BC, and the Jupiter-Saturn Triple conjunction in Cancer in 146-145 BC. We will consider how these previous Jupiter-Saturn triple unions with their planetary signs,  more fully sketch out and establish the signs of Christ’s Birth.


Figure 4. Jupiter-Saturn Triple Conjunctions

Date                   Time                Jupiter     Saturn

SEP 10, –581 | 06:56 AM | 000 | 16VI47 | 16VI47 |
|JUL 27, –562 | 12:09 PM | 000 | 07TA33 | 07TA33 |
|NOV 01, -562 | 02:11 PM | 000 | 05TA05R | 05TA05R|
|FEB 10, –561 | 01:21 AM | 000 | 02TA29 | 02TA29 |
|DEC 13, –542 | 10:49 PM | 000 | 03CP51 | 03CP51 |
|DEC 16, –522 | 11:46 PM | 000 | 27VI59 | 27VI59 |
|MAR 14, -521 | 02:10 PM | 000 | 25VI54R | 25VI54R|
|JUL 10, –521 | 05:24 PM | 000 | 23VI07 | 23VI07 

SEP 16, –164 | 02:16 AM | 000 | 08SC49 | 08SC49 |
|OCT 18, –145 | 11:50 AM | 000 | 16CA44 | 16CA44 |
|DEC 10, -145 | 12:56 PM | 000 | 15CA33R | 15CA33R|
|MAY 04, –144 | 03:15 PM | 000 | 12CA11 | 12CA11 |

|APR 24, –125 | 08:15 PM | 000 | 02PI14 | 02PI14

The Chart above from Richard Nolle, 9 reflects both “normal” and triple conjunctions of Jupiter-Saturn over the last 600 years leading to the birth of Christ. According to this Chart in Figure 4, above, there were Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunctions in Pisces in 861/860 BC and in 981/980 BC, marking the Temple of Solomon, where both times the proximity of Jupiter-Saturn was closer than 7 BC. The spectacular Jupiter-Saturn triple union in the constellation Cancer that occurred in 146/145 BC, was marked above as -145 and -144 as the others, due to the lack of a zero year on the timeline. The dates and planetary activity of this 146-145 BC triple union that are not supplied in Figure 5, fit in the gap between the 185 and 126 BC Jupiter-Saturn signs as follows:

1. Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Cancer on Oct. 18th, 146 BC, in the Crab’s lower pincer, with the Sun in Libra, Moon in Gemini, Venus at the feet of Virgo, Mars in Capricorn and Mercury in Scorpius.

2. Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Cancer on Dec. 10th, 146 BC, Sun & Mercury in Sagittarius, Moon between the Horns of Taurus, Venus in Libra, Mars in Aquarius.

3. Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Cancer on May 4th, 145 BC, Sun and Mercury in Taurus, Moon in Virgo, Venus in Aries, Mars in Gemini.

When any two planets outside earth’s orbit enter a conjunction, it has the potential for a triple conjunction, where instead of only one flyby the pair of planets can form a triple union over the space of a few months, based on the planet’s retrograde motion. Jupiter and Saturn had “normal” unions or conjunction phases nearly every 20 [19.85] years. Jupiter-Saturn triple unions have a rich astronomical cross-cultural history going back into ancient times.

The “normal” Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Pisces on April 24th, 126 BC is unique to our purpose due to its proximity to the appearance of the Coma Supernova. Since it was Hipparchus about one hundred twenty-five years before Christ, who observed this supernova in Coma as a new star, putting this sighting close to 128 BC. This sighting was confirmed by the Church Father Ignatius in 69 AD. After the Coma Supernova first appeared this notable Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Pisces on April 24th, 126 BC, took place. This Jupiter-Saturn union was one in a series on the ecliptic paralleling the Band of Pisces holding the horizontal fishtail of Pisces. Figure 5 below shows 7 Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions in Pisces from 185 BC to 54 AD, leading to Jesus’ birth. During this Jupiter-Saturn union, Venus also appears in the loop of the Band located at the future location of the June 8th, 7 BC union of Jupiter-Saturn nearly 120 years in advance. The Band with the horizontal fish of Pisces, here embodies a countdown not only to the opening of the Piscean Age marked by this triple union of Jupiter-Saturn, but also the signs marking the birth of Christ.

Figure 5. 7 Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions in Pisces from 185 to 54 AD. 10

185BC-54AD

According to Bullinger, the Fish of Pisces reflect “the multitude of Abraham’s seed where God compares his future posterity to the stars of the sky, and the sand upon the seashore. This very great multitude of fish [Ezek 47:9] also recalls Jesus with his disciples during his resurrection appearance to them by the sea [John 21:5ff], and the miracle of the 153 fish in the unbroken net. Figure 5 depicts the triple union of Jupiter-Saturn in 7 BC in white letters with the June 8th, 7 BC union in the loop of the Band as Jupiter initiates its retrograde loop with Saturn. In 7 BC in the constellation Pisces, this Jupiter-Saturn triple Conjunction also coincided with the dawn of a new Precessional Age, the Age of Pisces, with a new age every 2160 years. After this Jupiter-Saturn triple Conjunctions, there was a planetary massing of Jupiter-Saturn and Mars, after which followed a key Conjunction involving Mars. This unique Feb. 25th, 6 BC, trianglar  massing of  planets Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, was referred to by Kepler; 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.

As we have noted, the importance of Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions is also recognized in close relation to the precession of the equinoxes in the Hebrew cosmology evident in Genesis 1:6-10, and the world-views of ancient cultures including, Sumeria, Babylon, Egypt and in Meso-America. According to this pattern, Jupiter-Saturn triple unions occur in Pisces
only once every 800 years. This exhibits how the Conjunction series subdivides the precession, which totals a period of about 25,920 years, because every 30 cycles of Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunctions that occur in Pisces totals the period of 24,000 years, a time close to the full cycle of precession.

Like the ancient Egyptians, the Maya pyramid-building culture of ancient Mexico had a very advanced Astronomy. They had their own version of the 360-day year, called a “tun” and added 5 extra days, called “haab,” considered an unlucky period, regularly. According to Peter Thompkins, the Mayans also; “calculated the orbit of the Earth about the Sun as 365.2420 days, and marked the close of the year by the erection of a stone they called a “tun.” They did likewise for a 20-year cycle or “Katun,” a period they considered governed by the Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.” 11

Thompkins continues saying that; “The Maya had a very special sacred year of 260 days called tzolkin, that the Aztecs called tonalamatl.” This 260-day sacred calendar was “divided into 13 months of 20 days and the multiples of 13 and 20 became the heart of a chronological computation, stunning in its simplicity and exactness. A greater cycle of 260 years was 13 consecutive Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction cycles of 20 years.”12
[emphasis mine]

Related image

This greater 260-year cycle based on the cycle of Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions, was also a tool anciently utilized by the Mayans to break down the very long cycle of the precession of the equinoxes. Thompkins states that: the “Maya also had a cycle of 942,890 days, or 2,582 years, that turned out to be 130 Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions.”13 [10 x 13] Twice this 2,582 year cycle [5,163 years], not only gave the equivalent of the greater 260-year cycle of Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions, but 100 of these greater 260-year cycles was equal to 26,000 years, often reckoned the length of the precession by the ancients. With Kepler’s recognition of the pattern of Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions and the Mayan tzolkin, we have two culturally distinct and seemingly independent views of how Jupiter-Saturn Conjunctions subdivide the precession. Similarities not only in planetary and star names, but also in their symbolism, among widely removed nations in both space and time is a feature so common in the study of Astronomy, that it discounts any idea of mere coincidence. This adds to the mound of evidence favoring what Joseph Campbell called the world monomyth which is the idea that all world mythology is rooted in one Great Epic narrative based on stellar truths, which we contend is preserved in the ancient star names God first gave to Adam and the Biblical Patriarchs [Ps. 147:4]. This age-old system was organized around the continual nesting of shorter celestial cycles, like the precession of the poles, nested as gears within the larger stellar wheels of the precession of the equinoxes, a strategy we find utilized in the construction of the Antikythera Device. This provided the frame-work within which the truths of the celestial gospel were first unveiled to Biblical Patriarchs and later corrupted forming the basis of mythology the world over.

During the time of the rise of ancient Israel, in last millennium BC, there were 43 “normal” conjunctions between the two planets, with at least 7 Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunctions taking place, with varying intervals from 40 years (as from 861 to 821 BC and again between 563 to 523) to 377 years (as between 523 to 146 BC), as seen above. The events following the 7 BC triple union of Jupiter-Saturn are depicted in the chart below [Fig. 6], including other key celestial events leading to the birth of Christ.

Figure. 6 The Celestial Prelude of 7 BC to 5 BC

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

Finally, on the heels of this Feb. 25th, 6 BC Conjunction including Mars, in the next month came a remarkable series of lunar occultations, followed by two total lunar eclipses in 5 BC. One of these Lunar occultations has been proposed as the actual Star of Bethlehem recently by, Michael Molnar of Rutgers University. He has drawn attention to a lunar occultation of Jupiter in 6 BC in the constellation Aries. Molnar suggests that this 6 BC occultation was the Star of Bethlehem due to astrological associations, Aries being the ruling star sign of Judea and Jupiter symbolizing a king, with the occultation, and the reappearance of the planet from behind the Moon- symbolizing a royal birth. Although Molnar’s thesis is dubious as to standing on its own accord as the Bethlehem Star, this March 17th 6 BC occultation took place very close to the Sun and just after sunset. Its observation would have been difficult with the Sun only 3 degrees below the horizon, and Jupiter in close proximity just 5 degrees above it. The nearness of this lunar event to the Sun, however is interesting as this exposure of the King planet occurred so close to the Sun as the light of the world.

Another sign that took place around the same time as this Lunar Occultation in Aries was a Nova most likely in Capricorn. Similarly, in mid-March of 5 BC there were Chinese reports that an object described as a Nova was stationary and seen for 2.5 months. Despite its longevity of visibility, the object was not a supernova, which was concluded from the lack of a visible remnant, or radio source. This bright Nova was seen in northern Capricorn or southern Aquila in mid-March 5 BC and chronicled by the Chinese and Koreans. The date (March 5 BC), date falls into the Celestial Prelude period leading to the birth of Jesus, its position in the sky (in the east at dawn) and long duration of visibility (70+ days), make it a key contribution to the Celestial Prelude before the Star of Bethlehem. Being another Nova sign while the Coma Supernova was still visible to the naked eye, only lends added credence to our thesis given that the Magi must surely have observed the importance of this Nova in this Celestial context including this Lunar Occultation.

These preliminary signs from 7-5 BC provided the Magi with the blueprints they would need to recognize the celestial signs identifying the time frame of the birth 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 Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015 was foreshadowed by lunar eclipses leading to the Rev. 12 sign of 2017 predicting the return of Christ, which we find in the 7th of the 12 traits of the Celestial Prelude. The Jupiter-Saturn triple unions in 7 BC, highlighted by a planetary alignment on Sept. 15th, initiated a pattern of heavenly signs reappearing in September of 5 BC with a pair of eclipses. This embodies the 10th trait of the Celestial Prelude. On 9-5-5 BC there was a partial Solar eclipse, with a Blood Moon Total Lunar eclipse following 10 days later on 9-15-5 BC. These heavenly signs exactly 2 years apart, enlightened the Magi that they should be on the lookout for heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ, in the next 2-years in September of 3 BC– the 8th trait of the Celestial Prelude. [Figure 6.] The fact that these 7-5 BC signs almost all occur in Pisces, is interesting due in part to ancient eastern tradition, that the influence of the sign of Pisces, the fishes presided over the land of Israel most likely linked to God’s  promise to Abraham. This included the Pisces symbolism of the House of Jacob, with the obvious presence of the King planet Jupiter, detailing why the Magi came to Jerusalem looking for the King of Israel.

This further evidence provides strong support for the thesis of the Celestial Prelude, giving us a firm footing for the Sept. 11th, 3 BC, Tishri 1 birthday of Jesus Christ!

 

Footnotes

1. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/coins-from-the-second-revolt

2. Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed, V.P. Wierwille ppg. 63-64. 3. IBID p. 17.

3 Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids. Peter Thompkins. p.289.

4 Ibid.

5. Gospel in the Stars, Joseph Seiss

6. Virgo-Coma Stellarium astronomical software

7. The Mazzaroth, Frances Rolleston

8. Graphic video credit on Plate II, from [Bobmoler.wordpress.com]

9. THE JUPITER-SATURN CONJUNCTION GEOCENTRIC TROPICAL ZODIAC) 600 BCE to 2400 CE copyright 1998-1999 by Richard Nolle all rights reserved

10.  [http://uofgts.com/Magi.html]

11. Secrets of the Great Pyramid, Peter Thompkins

12. IBID

13. IBID

 

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The Birth of Christ on Tishri 1, with the New Moon

The Birth of Christ on Tishri 1, with the New Moon

Ps. 104:19a “He appointed the moon for seasons.”

During this time of year when we see the first full Moon following the Spring Equinox, we thankfully recognize the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, following his loving perfect sacrifice for all Mankind. The famous Messianic prophecy from Isaiah tells us:

Isa. 9:6-7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called wonderful counselor, the mighty god, the everlasting father, the prince [sar] of peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with Justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.

When Jesus was raised from the dead he brought Peace among many other benefits, as he completed God’s plan of Salvation. Jesus Christ is the Prince [Sar–H8269] of Peace. Christ is the only one who has ever brought true peace to the world, and without the birth of Christ peace is not possible. In light of our study of the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, leading to the recapitulation of the Rev. 12 sign on 9-23-17, we see how the Blood Moons focus on the Lord’s feasts and heavenly signs employed by the Creator, foretelling the victorious Return of Christ-the Prince of Peace. Before believers can truly claim the eternal peace that God has set aside for His Children, we must vanquish our adversaries once and for all, by laying hold on the victory that our Prince of Peace has secured in the spiritual warfare raging through the ages. The Blood Moons symbolize this war being fought on physical and spiritual battlefields against the princes of the darkness of this world. [Eph. 6:12]

The Babylonian word “Sar” is doubtlessly related to the Hebrew word [sar *H8269] of the same spelling, meaning; “prince, captain, chief, ruler, leader, head.”1 The word has retained this meaning even in modern usage, as in the Tsar of all the Russias. As a testimony to what may have been based on the first human language, “Aesar” is a word for “God” in both, Icelandic and Irish, “Osar” in Egypt as “Osiris” was the prince. The English word “sir,” and the Roman “Ceasar” are also traceable to this root. In Isaiah 9:6, a great prophecy of the promised seed, its applied to the Christ as Sar-Shalom; the Prince of Peace, who will bring peace to all Creation [Eph. 2:11-18], as a result of his glorious return, marked by the prophetic Blood Moons. It is also used of Prince  Moses in Exodus 2:16.

Sun of Righteousness

According to Hislop, The Chaldean version of this word; “Zer,” meaning “to encompass” gives us not only the idea of the mathematical concept in English for: “Zero signified by a circle among the Chaldeans,” but also Zero; “the seed.” Further, it relates to the Hebrew word zera [*H2233] used in reference to Jesus Christ the promised seed in Genesis 3:15. Thus the Chaldean word for the “woman’s promised seed” was “Zero-ashta,” also the basis of the name Zoroaster.2 Notably, in Zoroastrian prophetic writings- the Zend-Avesta, predicted the return of Zoroaster, the savior who renewed all existence in preparation for the Last Judgment. References to the woman’s promised seed here relate to a blog study [The Celestial Prelude and the Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ] and our Try-God.com study; “The Stars OverBethlehem.”

Hislop goes on to say: “As he who by the Chaldeans was regarded as the great Seed was looked upon as the Sun incarnate, [Mal. 4:2] and as the emblem of the Sun was a circle, the hieroglyphic relation between zero; “the circle,” and zero; “the seed” was easily established.”3

Another view of the meaning of the Hebrew word for prince; “sar,” is Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace and Creation embodies “the sum of creation,“ [Isa. 9:6]. Rosh Hashanah on Tishri 1, was the “head” of the Hebrew calendar as New Year’s day and Jesus’ birthday, the first day of the 50-year cycle of Hebrew Jubilees. Isaiah’s birth prophecy of Christ, followed the basic temporal pattern of the holy days and feasts of Israel’s sacred calendar, set up by the Heavenly Father from the beginning. A central theme our Blood Moon studies on this blog, includes how the Hebrew Feasts and Holy days form the basis of the temporal and stellar patterns, upon which God structured heavenly signs for both advents of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ on the Earth.

stock photo of jesus - Illuminated silhouette of Jesus Christ raising his hand - JPG

Christ as The Risen Prince of Creation

In the prophecy of the “Great Wonder” in Rev. 12:1, the feet of the woman, Virgo are found at the crossroads of the ecliptic and e Celestial Equator, known as the autumnal equinox, one of the so-called four “pillars of heaven,” the four Cardinal points. This celestial point was generally marked on the Hebrew calendar during the Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot, that occurred later during Tishri, the 7th Month of the Hebrew year. With the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, the end-time emphasis on the  Lord’s Feasts has been brought home to us in no uncertain terms with multiple Blood Moons marking the Feasts and Holy days on Israel’s Calendar. It is interesting to realize that a great majority of Blood Moons that occurred in the current Age of Grace, over the last 2000 years are usually found near this part of the sky, near Spica in Virgo. This gives a clue to the heavenly signs marking the potential return of Christ, as the modern solar and lunar eclipses resemble the pattern of signs in 3-2 BC, marking Jesus’ Birth. First we must grasp the importance of the Feast of Trumpets on Tishri 1, the sacred seventh month, as it is revealed in the following reference from Alfred Edersheim:

“Just as age was reckoned from Tishri 1 to Tishri 1, so were the regnal years of Judean Kings. The blowing of trumpets of Ram’s Horns was also part of the coronation ceremony of these Judean Kings.” 4

Thus Jesus’ prophesied reign as King of Kings was marked on his birthday of Tishri 1, the “Day of Trumpets.” The significance of the King’s Coronation tied to Rosh Hashannah, New Years Day and the head of Israel’s calendar, in one aspect is that Jesus as the King of Kings presides over all temporal, civil and sacred matters as the King-High Priest of Israel. God also marked this coronation in the heavens with the triple conjunction of the King planet Jupiter with the King star Regulus in Leo during 3-2 BC, based on Jupiter’s retrograde motion.  His birth on this key day in the Hebrew calendar was foreordained by God, to fit the pattern of 7 primary Hebrew Feast and holy days, before the foundations of the world. The New Moon of Tishri 1, the seventh month is the only New Moon of the year that was sanctified by God as a feast day. This critical date on the calendar of  Israel is perfectly synchronized to mark Jesus’ birthday on New Years Day, Tishri 1, 3 BC. Thus it is fitting that the solar and lunar eclipses occurred near this area in Virgo, symbolizing Israel, close to Spica-Al Zemach, marking the only begotten Son and offspring of God the Father.

Spica is not only significant for marking the four-fold ministry of Christ as King, Servant, Son of Man and Son of God, as seen in the four Gospels, but also because the meaning of the star Spica-Al Zemach is the seed of corn pictured in Virgo’s hand. This provides another agricultural reference related to the harvests of the Hebrew Calendar, as Christ himself the first-fruits from the dead, Jesus is the crown of God’s spiritual harvest, being resurrected at the 1st harvest during the feast of Unleavened Bread. At the very time of offering the first-fruits according to Leviticus 23:10-11, Jesus Christ furnished himself as the first-fruits from the dead, the first in a long line of believers who will conquer death. Even as Christ embodies the agricultural aspects of the 7 Feasts of the Lord, and their relation to the harvest of certain crops, so we find this theme running through the rest of the Lord’s Feasts. In the structure of the Lord’s seven O.T. Feasts, the Hebrew Calendar focused on three of these sacred feasts, all commemorating the celebration of key crop harvests.

The first harvest was celebrated in Nisan during the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the barley harvest, when a sheaf of barley was brought to the Priest for the wave offering of the first-fruits of the harvest. This was the first day the Hebrews began counting the 7 weeks toward Pentecost. The 2nd harvest was the wheat harvest at Pentecost, 50 days later. The third harvest was the Feast of Tabernacles in the middle of the 7th month. This final harvest of the year included the grape harvest, ending the agricultural year before winter. As these three feasts of the Lord were celebrated during three separate harvests, they also celebrated three great events in the history of Israel. First, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, celebrated Israel’s Exodus from the bondage of Egypt. The second, Pentecost was recognized by Hebrews to mark the time God first revealed the Law to Israel at Mount Sinai. The third, the Feast of Tabernacles was a 7-day feast commemorating God’s watchful care of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness forty years. [Levi. 23] 5

We can see the wisdom in understanding the dual significance of the Revelation 12 prophecy, as it not only applies to Jesus’ first appearance with his birth and sufferings, but also his victorious return in Glory. Almighty God has mirrored the heavenly signs marking the birth of Jesus Christ, 2000 years later in the Lunar light of the Blood Moon Tetrads and Israel’s gathering as a nation, to set the stage for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since the beginning of all months on the Hebrew Calendar were considered holy; [Num. 28:11-15] it is important to distinguish the first day of the 7th month from the other months according to God’s Word. The sighting of the first sliver of the New Moons initiating the beginning of their months, were linked to regular weekly Sabbath days, but only the New Moon of the 7th Month was a holy convocation.

Image may contain: one or more people, people on stage and text

Offerings at the Feast of Trumpets

Num. 29:1-6
29 ‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets. 2 You shall offer a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, without blemish. 3 Their grain offering shall be fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, 4 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs; 5 Also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, to make atonement for you; 6 Besides the burnt offering with its grain offering for the New Moon, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, as a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

We find a distinction not only in the New Moons of the year versus the seventh month, but also in the sacrificial offerings commanded by the Lord added for the 7th month, to the regular offerings of the weekly Sabbaths, in verse 6 above. Even though the trumpets were blown over the offerings of the weekly sabbaths, [Num. 10:10, 28:14] not one of these was the High Holy Day of Trumpets. Also in 1 Samuel, David refers to this special festival and yearly sacrifice to excuse himself from dining with Saul.

1 Sam. 20:4-5
4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” 5 So David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I ought to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening. 6“If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.’

The Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah marks the start of ten days of repentance before God. As one of seven sacred Feasts in Israel appointed by the LORD, it is one of the 3 feasts that take place in the Fall. The Feast of Trumpets always began on the first day, at the New Moon of the seventh month. One aspect in the celestial relationship to these feasts is seen clearly in connection with the Book of Ruth. This short story in the OT Bible record holds great insight for our understanding of the Lord’s Feasts, as they relate to the 1st and second advents of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ruth was a Gentile woman, of the Moabites, who by God’s Grace and Mercy was included in the Royal genealogy of King David. Ruth 2:11-12 tells of Boaz’ high regard of Ruth and her reward, for her trust under the Hand of the God of Israel. Ruth came to Bethlehem with Naomi, at the start of the Barley harvest [Ruth 1:22 to 2:22], and gleaned in the fields of Boaz till the end of the Barley and Wheat harvests, [Ruth 2:23]. After this she obeys Naomi’s instruction to go to Boaz, activating her right of the eastern custom called kinsman redeemer. Since Boaz was part of Naomi’s family, and both Ruth and Naomi’s husbands had died, it became Boaz’ right to take Ruth in marriage, if a closer kinsman didn’t activate this right ahead of him. Ruth 3:9 shows how Ruth presented herself to Boaz and how he covered her with his cloak, signifying his acceptance and protection of her in their resulting impending marriage.

As we consider the skies during this time of year in Israel, its instructive to realize Virgo’s position during this harvest season. When viewed historically, we find astronomers as early as Caesius, linking Virgo with Ruth gleaning in the fields of Boaz.6 Annually we can see Virgo’s position mirroring the harvest seasons as follows; Virgo arises in the East during the Barley harvest and  Wave Offering, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Figure 1. Virgo at Sunset on September 11th 3 BC, marking Christ’s Birth.

virgo at sunset on september 11th 3 bc

Virgo is at zenith, the highest point in the sky in the early evening at the start of the Wheat harvest, during the Pentecost Feast. Finally, Virgo is setting in the early evening western skies of the latter harvest, during the Feast of Tabernacles. As we find in the graphic above, this matches Virgo’s position on the eve of September 11th, in 3 BC!64 We should be reminded that this was the period when the Sun was clothing Virgo, giving us a beautiful link to Boaz spreading his cloak over Ruth, as a figurative sign of his acceptance and protection of her. Since Boaz was part of the royal genealogy leading to Christ, the Sun of Righteousness and the light of the world, enlightening Virgo is truly a beautiful celestial figure aligning with this Scriptural truth. It also embodies the Bridegroom [Ps. 19:5], as Christ, clothing his Bride-Israel, a figure of the marriage supper of the Lamb, all seen in Boaz redeeming his kinswoman Ruth! This Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur during the Feast of Tabernacles, while the latter harvest relates to the 14th day of this seventh month of Tishri.

The Feast of Trumpets commemorated the end of the agricultural and festival year. Also, the Day of Atonement fell on the tenth day of the month, and Sukkot or Tabernacles began on the 15th day, with the Full Moon, while the blowing of trumpets on first day of the month occurred at the New Moon as seen in Fig. 1. above, with the birth of Christ, on Tishri 1. This could not be a “full new moon” because we have two separate feasts taking place, first the Feast of Trumpets at the New Moon starting a time of preparation for the Day of Atonement. Secondly, The week of the Feast of Tabernacles, starts with the Full Moon in the middle of the 7th Month. the holiest month on the Hebrew Calendar. The first sliver of the New Moon was sighted at the feet of Virgo marking Rosh Hashanah the first Day of the New Year on the Hebrew Calendar, framing the time of Christ’s birth between Sunset and Moon-set on Tishri 1. 

Lev 23:26-28 NASB
*The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD.” You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God.  

The Day of Atonement, Tishri 10, was a special Sabbath, and the holiest day in the OT calendar year. The only day of the year our Heavenly Father came down to be with man, in the Holy of Holies within the Temple at Jerusalem. On this day our Heavenly Father annually covered the sins of Israel, making them holy for another year, as they awaited the promised Messiah. Each year on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest symbolically placed the sins of Israel upon a goat, which was turned loose in the wilderness. This scapegoat would die as atonement for the sins Israel had committed that year, leaving these sins in the desolate wilderness where he died. The sins of the world would be put on Jesus’ shoulders, as he physically died upon the cross, a one-time sacrifice for the sins mankind would commit. [Levi. 16:10, 21-22]

God’s plan of redemption was structured around these feasts illustrating future events in Bible prophecy, related to how these  feasts are fulfilled in the ministry of Christ as Prophet, Priest and King. The feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread shows the resurrection of Christ as first-fruits from the dead, [I Cor. 15:20-23]. The wheat harvest on the Feast of Pentecost illustrates the giving of the holy spirit on the Day of Pentecost, when the apostles and believers initially spoke in tongues. The Feast of Tabernacles depicts the resurrection of the just and unjust, in the harvest at the end of the world.7

Presets Blowing their Trumpets on the Feast Day

Image result for two silver trumpets bible

Calculating the New Moon of the seventh month, or Tishri, is of critical importance to the observance of the Lord’s feasts, as the proclamation of Tishri 1 declares the New Year or head of the calendar. The month of Tishri is the first month of the New Year, setting the standard for calculating the other feasts and holy days of the year. The truth of Jesus being born on Tishri 1, our Sept. 11th of 3 BC and the astronomical signs marking his birth take on added importance in this light. Also the idea of Virgo’s position in the sky during the harvest season correlating with the record in Ruth and coinciding with the wonder of Rev.12, verifies the context of this record. We see evidence of this in Isaiah’s prophecy in [Isa. 62:2] that holds a reference to the same Hebrew word for “new” [H2319] Moon, but it refers to the “new name” the Lord would give him. The adjective of this word, reveals the meaning of newness:

Isa. 62:2
“And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new [H2319] name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.”  

 The word translated “new moon” in Hebrew is the noun [chõdesh H2320] from H2318 to renew, or as a verb shows an action of renewing or restoring. This usage as a noun, [H2320] refers specifically to a New Moon or to the month which it begins.8

2 Chron. 15:8
When Asa heard the prophecy of Obed he put away the idols from the land, and renewed [chãdash‘ H2318] the altar of the LORD.“

This brings to mind the feast of dedication when the temple and altar were restored after being defiled by the Romans. This New Moon on the first day of the seventh month, called the Feast of Trumpets was also distinct from the “full Moon” of the 7th month. Ps. 81:3 refers to a full moon festival [keh’seh H3677]. This Full Moon was the 15th day of the 7th month, starting the Feast of Tabernacles. The Hebrew word for “full moon” is a different word [keh’seh H3677] than for the New Moon, used only in Prov. 7:20 and Psalm 81. The “full Moon” is omitted in the KJV of Ps. 81:3 but included in the NKJV below.

Psalm 81:3-5
3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. 4 For this is a statute for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob. 5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony, When He went throughout the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language I did not understand.

These verses declare that when God brought Israel out of Egypt, He ordained a “testimony” [eduth’ H5715], meaning a decree or code of law concerning a New Moon [chodesh H2320], a reference to sighting of the new thin crescent Moon, that was to be observed as a “solemn feast day.” [Ps. 81:3] This law of God recorded in Psalm 81, is a song of Asaph–the chief musician among those who blew the trumpets in declaration of the New Moon. Asaph also declares that God issued this law at the time of the Exodus, that became the foundation of the Hebrew Calendar.

There were 7 weeks of counting, that linked Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread with Pentecost. At the time of the first Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, Israel left the bondage of Egypt. A major transition point during the Exodus was the giving of the Law at Sinai, to which Pentecost became linked. The last Passover embodied in Jesus Christ. symbolizes not only Israel’s Exodus from Egypt, but the Church’s Exodus from death and bondage to the OT Law. The Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, conspicuously marks the Passover feasts of both these years in the last Blood Moon Tetrad that will not take place again on Hebrew feasts or holy days, for the next 500 years!! Christ’s redeeming work led to Pentecost in 28 AD, when the new birth first became available, and the gift of holy spirit was poured out as prophesied by Joel [Joel 2:28-31], starting a new spiritual administration, the Age of Grace. Christ was resurrected at the first harvest during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as the first-fruits from the dead. At Pentecost in 28 AD, the believers were made a harvest, manifesting the first-fruits of the holy spirit as they spoke in tongues for the first time; [Rom. 8:23]. Believer’s in the Age of Grace having the first-fruits of the spirit, meet Christ in the air in his victorious return for his Saints, gathering us together, [I Thess. 4:14-17]. Christians during the current end times are warned by a series of Blood Moon Tetrads, among other heavenly signs, leading to the last days prior to our gathering together unto the Lord. The final, and complete harvest will be at the return of Christ with his Saints, when the enemies of God are vanquished, and remaining believers are resurrected. God’s Word describes this as the harvest at the end of the world.9 [Matt. 13:38-39]

On September 11, 3 BC or (-2) as calculated in Stellarium, we see the waxing sliver of a New Moon (which signals the beginning of the Fall Feasts) under the feet of Virgo, who is now “clothed with the sun” shining brightly near  her belly.

Figure 2. Virgo and Leo on Sept. 11th 3 BC in Stellarium.10

The command to blow the trumpets “at the New Moon [`chõdesh H2320]” in Ps. 81:3 refers to the sanctification of the day as Tishri 1, the Feast of Trumpets. “At” is from the Hebrew preposition beth, used mark the exact time the horn was to be blown-at the first sighting of the New Moon. Psalm 81:3 states that trumpets are also to be blown “at the Full Moon [keh’seh H3677],” although this command was omitted by the King James translators. Again we have clear textual evidence showing the distinction between the Full Moon and the New Moon, as there are separate Hebrew words for each event. “At” is also the Hebrew preposition beth, used in a temporal sense to mark the exact time the horn is to be blown–at the occurrence of the Full Moon. The blowing of trumpets thus applies to both the sanctification of Tishri 1, and Tishri 15, the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The commands for the “new moon” and the “full moon” in Psalm 81:3 make it absolutely clear that this verse refers to these festivals of the seventh month. No other month of the year has both a New Moon and Full Moon that were sanctified by God as annual High Holy days.

The Feast of Trumpets

Levi. 23:24-25

23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.’”

The 7th month was Tishri, and the first day of this month was a holy convocation-a special feast day. This day was recognized above the regular weekly Sabbaths that coincided with the other New Moons of their calendar. The [`chõdesh H2320], or new crescent Moon, of Ps. 81:3 is the only New Moon God commands to be observed as an annual High Holy day. It is the only New Moon commanded to be observed by God, as there were no assemblies commanded for any other New Moon. The Tishri 1 New Moon also sets the calendar for all the remaining holy days in the year, as verses 4 and 5 of Psalm 81 testify. The word “statute” in verse 4 is rendered from the noun [chõq-H2706], meaning in this context “a law of a religious festival”.11 The word “law” in verse 4 is from the noun [mishpãt’ H4941], meaning “a case or cause presented for judgment”.12

The Hebrew Calendar has an ancient history that can be traced through Scripture to the time of Moses in the 15th century BC. Moses was given divine instructions for a luni-solar calendar that calculated the annual feast seasons by both the New Moons (lunar year) and the harvest seasons (solar year). The Hebrew Calendar is based on the lunar year, which is about eleven days short of the solar year. This difference accumulates each year until an another month [Adar] is added to correct it. Via the practice of inter-calation, the Hebrew Calendar keeps the months of the year synchronized with their climatic seasons, ensuring that the holy days are observed at their appointed times during the harvest cycle. The first month of the year began with the Spring feast at the barley harvest and was designated as the Aviv [“green ears”- Deut. 16]. Centuries later, the original name of this month-Aviv, was replaced by the Akkadian name Nisan. The name Nisan was adopted in Israel along with other Akkadian* names for these months, during the Babylonian captivity.

Deuteronomy 16:1 as a command to observe the new moon of Abib: “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.”

The Hebrew Calendar has both sacred and civil aspects as the calendar year based on Tishri 1 to Tishri 1 was different than the calendar based in Nisan. The Nisan calendar is for Sacred timekeeping called “Rosh Hodashim,” while the Tishri Civil calendar of course is Rosh Hashanah. The Civil calendar tracks the Sabbatical year and the 7-year cycles leading to the Jubilee.

Upon examining the Hebrew text, we find that this verse does not support the observance of the New Moon of the 1st month. Instead, this is a command to observe the festivals of the month of Abib or Nisan, not the New Moon starting the month of Nisan. The word “observe” in this verse translated from [shãmar’ 8104] means “to celebrate a festival” (Brown Driver Briggs, H&E OT Lexicon, p. 1036).12 This Hebrew verb does not denote observation of the New Moon of the first month, nor is it a command to keep a festival on the day of the New Moon. The New Moon of the first month is not a festival, or annual Sabbath, as the New Moon of the 7th month [Lev. 23:24-25]. 

As Moses’ words to the children of Israel reveal, the time that God established as the beginning of the year is “the month Abib” (Ex. 12:2). In commanding that the time of the Abib be recognized as the first month, God perpetually linked the beginning of the year with the spring harvest cycle. The Hebrew text clearly contradicts those who claim that the new moon of the first month determining the appointed feasts of God. The perfect coordination of the luni-solar celestial cycles with the Lord’s Feasts as we have seen in the Blood Moon Tetrads during the Age of Grace, shows the undeniable witness of the Creator’s Hand behind these events, according to His perfect foreknowledge.

 

Footnotes

1. Strong’s Concordance is the source for all Hebrew and Greek words unless otherwise noted [note on H8269], James Strong
2. The Two Babylon’s, Alexander Hislop
3. IBID
4. The Temple, Alfred Edersheim
5. IBID
6. Star Names their Lore and Meaning, R.A. Allen, p.461
7. Jesus Christ our Passover, American Christian Press, ppg. 407-408
8. Brown Driver Briggs, on root of [chõdesh H2320]
9. Jesus Christ our Passover, American Christian Press, p. 409
10. Stellarium astronomical software
11.  (Brown Driver Briggs, p. 349)
12. (Ibid., p. 1048)
13. General reference [http://www.cbcg.org/franklin/cal_of_christ_part1_revised.pdf]

 

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The Biblical Astronomy of Pi Day, 3-14-2018

The Biblical Astronomy of Pi Day, 3-14-2018

As we recognize Pi Day on 3-14-2018, its great to give credit where it is really due; to the Almighty Creator and Heavenly Father Who as the Originator of Physics and Mathematics, was the first One to utilize the Pi ratio. As we realize how the Creator utilized this famous mathematical proportion of Pi in Scripture and practically in the Creation of the universe and the construction of His Temple and Tabernacle, we can see the patterns for the heavenly versions of the Creator’s dwelling place!

These applications of the Pi Ratio in the Bible, provide insights into the Creator’s Intelligent Design of His Creation, so that man would see the fingerprints of the Almighty embedded in the Natural Laws of the Universe, and the Mathematics of Astronomy, reflecting the same Pi ratio evident in the construction of the Great Pyramid.

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What a great way to honor God and His Omnipotent Power and Wisdom as He illustrates the beauty of His Hand in operation in His Created Works…

This study is based on a study I posted on [try-god.com] over 16 years ago regarding the usage of the pi ratio in the Bible. The Hebrew word for “line” of thirty cubits, in 1Kgs. 7: 23 is “qav” [*H6957]. The word carries the primary meaning of a measuring cord, a ruler, or standard of measure in this case for circumference. We are also familiar with this concept by another term known as a “canon.” On the surface the Bible gives the basic mathematical value of pi as 3, but the surface is for the neophytes. The deeper truths of God’s Word lie below the surface, for those who have the heart and will to look for them. There are also clues in the text indicating potential mathematical truths hidden under wraps.

The letters of the Hebrew alphabet also have numeric value. As Jochen Katz points out: “we can take the ratio of (the gematria value of “qav“) in its unusual word form (having three letters), to the regular word form with two letters which is 111/106.“12 The q is valued a 100; and the v is a value of 6; thus, the normal spelling yields a numerical value of 106.  The addition of the h, with a value of 5, increases the numerical value to 111. This equals a ratio of 111/106, or  31.41509433962, which is the essential pi value with the decimal moved one space to the left. Derived another way, the value of this ratio (1.047198) when multiplied by the Bible’s basic value of pi; (3) gives the result of 3.1415, or pi accurate to five digits. This formula is revealing because it employs the computation of a ratio hidden in the number values of the Hebrew language, yielding a higher degree of mathematical accuracy for the pi ratio, than its surface value of 3. This information is helpful when we consider the application of pi in the Great Pyramid, and in light of the other Biblical uses of the word “qav,” that we covered in the study referenced above. This sub-surface meaning of how pi is used in the Bible again stretches the envelope of the historical awareness of the scientific sophistication in the ancient world. Since this expertise is revealed as an aspect of the dimensions of the sacred furniture of the Temple and Tabernacle, it makes sense that God’s knowledge of these matters would far exceed human knowledge. This is exactly what Isaiah tells us:

Image result for Golden Ratio Great Pyramid of Giza

Isa. 55:8-9
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Only when we allow the Word of God to have its rightful say, are we allowed glimpses of His glory. We have seen that God’s use of Pi relating to the measures of our planet, the ecliptic, the “pattern of the tabernacle” [Heb. 8:5, Exod 25:9, 40] and the temple in Jerusalem, including the sacred geometry of the Menorah, revealing the Creator’s Omniscient wisdom and His Intelligent Design of Creation, far above any historical application of pi by man. Those who play with the surface values and external truths of the Scriptures in an effort to disprove it are doomed to fail. Only those who recognize God for Who He is, and give His Word the proper respect due it’s unique position in the history of literature, will even begin to see the wonders of His glory. Like the temple at Jerusalem, the Great Pyramid as a temple in stone witnesses to the Lord Jesus Christ as one of the longest enduring monuments of its kind.

Figure 1. 7/11 ratio of the Great Pyramid’s Base to its Apex.

Great Pyramid of Giza: proportions height to lenght are 7:11, and the angle is 51º 51 seconds

In our previous blog post this month in March 2018, we focused on Virgo’s Triple Crown, and some of the astronomical alignments inherent in the Great Pyramid that centered on the 9/23/17 Rev. 12 sign. The application of the Pi ratio in the construction of the Great Pyramid is well-known, but the Jupiter-Venus conjunction series also plays a prominent role, as it highlights the signs of the Celestial Sphinx. What is interesting is the role the Pi ratio plays in the heavenly signs leading to the Rev. 12 sign. When viewed in the context of astronomical alignments and planetary conjunctions leading to the 9-23-17 Rev. 12 sign, we find a temporal aspect of the pi ratio that was not emphasized in some previous considerations.

As we view the Jupiter-Venus unions leading to the 9-23 to 9-25-2017 time frame, the 1st of two Jupiter-Venus unions is the close conjunction of Venus-Jupiter on August 27, 2016.
This conjunction is key since it marks the entrance of Jupiter into Virgo in preparation for its triple union with Spica and 2017 birthing from Virgo. Forty days prior to this union of Venus-Jupiter, a conjunction of Mercury and Venus occurred in the constellation Cancer, July 17, 2016. This is interesting when we discover that the prior conjunction of Venus-Jupiter in Cancer on August 18, 2014, was exactly 700 days earlier. This period of 700 days was also found between the October 25, 2015 conjunction of Venus-Jupiter and the Revelation 12 signs on September 23-25, 2017.

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The Mercury–Venus conjunction on July 17, 2016 also occurred 400 days before the solar eclipse in Leo on August 21, 2017. One aspect of the previous conjunction of Jupiter-Venus in Cancer, on August 18, 2014 was that it came 1131 days before the Feast of Trumpets 2017. That sum divided by pi equals 360 days! This number 360 is not only a key in the measurement of time, but also is critical in the geometry of a circle-where pi is a ruling principle. The close conjunction of Venus-Jupiter on August 27, 2016 also came 360 days before the total solar eclipse in Leo on August 21, 2017.  But there are more pi numbers found related to the Jupiter-Venus conjunction series before the Feast  Trumpets 2017. Eight Hundred fourteen days before this feast there was a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on July 1, 2015. When we multiply 814 days by pi = 7 solar years of 2,555 days. This sum of days-7 years relates to the length of the Great Tribulation period. But there is yet another pi number produced from the second Cancer conjunction, on July 17, 2016, completing a 700 day count from the 1st Cancer conjunction of August 18, 2014. That first conjunction in Cancer also comes 1100 days before the total solar eclipse in Leo on August 21, 2017. The numbers of 700 and 1100 form a half pi ratio, and represent the ratio of the Great Pyramid’s base to its Apex; [Fig. 1]. Pi has been represented as the fraction 22/7, thus, 2 x 1100/700 [11/7] is also equal to pi. The day counts of 1100, 700, and 400 capture our attention, as they illustrate a half pi calculation relating to other numberas related to the tribulation.

Figure 2. Signs of 2016-17 

 The day counts of these pi calculations are inclusive–in that they include the start and end days. Considering the day counts above, the period of 400 days is worthy of a closer look. By an inclusive count, its true sum is 401 days from the 2nd Cancer conjunction till the Total Solar Eclipse in Leo on August 21, 2017. If we take 401 days multiplied by pi, it equals 1,260 days. Of course, 1,260 is half the seven year Tribulation, but 1260 was also the number of days from the 1st eclipse of the Blood Moon Tetrad (April 15, 2014) until the Revelation 12 sign on September 23-25, 2017. This tells us the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-15 leading to the Rev. 12 sign on 9-23-17 is a warning for the Tribulation, again not a prediction for it as implied in [Figure 2]. The inclusive count of 1,260 days ends at September 25th. The final Blood Moon eclipse of this Tetrad on Sept. 28, 2015 occurred 2,520 weeks after the end of the Six-Day-War, during the previous Blood Moon Tetrad of 1967-68, when Israel reclaimed control over Jerusalem for the first time since 70 AD. As God continues to restore “Israel” to perhaps redeem a faithful remnant therein, the heavenly signs appear to be counting us down to the signs of the end, as the other Venus-Jupiter conjunctions, since the Blood Moon Tetrad have exhibited similar countdown traits focused on the Feast of Trumpets and beyond. The math and astronomy involved here get our attention, but when these alignments with key heavenly locales like the constellation Cancer, align the astronomy and math with prophecy, its something else. The Greek for “Cancer” is Karkinos, meaning to hold or encircle, as does the Latin “Cancer.“ In the Center of Cancer there is a bright cluster of stars, visible to the naked eye. The ancient name for this cluster is Praesepe, meaning a multitude or offspring. The brightest star in Cancer is Tegmine or holding. Another bright star in the lower claw is Acubene, meaning the sheltering or hiding place. Thus in Cancer we can see the Messiah’s redeemed possessions held fast. These Cancer signs point to the gathering of many to a sheltering place–that has been prepared for us. We will be protected on the day the pi ratio of the circle or encircling (the Greek meaning of Cancer) works to enact its protection for us.

Footnotes

1. Figure 1-Secrets in Plain sight [picture credit]
2. [watchfortheday.org] Big thanks to these folks for the data on day counts.
3. Witness of the Stars. E.W. Bullinger, p.148

 

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