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.

Virgo’s Triple Crown, The Great Pyramid and the Celestial Sphinx

Rev. 5:5
⁵And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Only Jesus Christ is qualified to “open the Book” of Scripture because he is the protagonist of the Greatest Book in History, and the Master-key to God’s Word and its interpretation and unfolding!

Rev. 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

These two verses both have astronomical references linked to the royal genealogy of Jesus Christ, through the house or root of David. Rev. 5:5 emphasizes the Lion of the tribe of Judah seen in the constellation Leo, with its king star Regulus, while Rev. 22:16 brings attention to Venus the bright and Morning Star. These verses suggest that we should pay attention to the heavenly signs when Venus is in Leo either individually or in conjunction or alignment with other planets including Regulus.

The prominence of the roots of Jesus Christ in these verses are seen in the astronomy of his birth on Sept. 11th 3 BC. A prime aspect of the heavenly signs linked to the birth of Christ fall into the category we have termed the Celestial Sphinx. This includes any stellar sign linking Virgo and Leo. One type of heavenly sign in this category includes what Rev. 12 calls the “crowning of Virgo with 12 stars.” This crowning can occur on at least three levels as we will see in this study.

Stellar Elements of the Great Sphinx

The original teaching and celestial witness of the signs of the zodiac is encapsulated in the signs Virgo and Leo and preserved in the ancient monument of the Giza plateau, the Great Sphinx. A key element of this astronomical truth is seen in the multi-layered crowns on the head of Virgo, that actually bridges about 10 degrees into the sign Leo on the ecliptic. We find the first of this triple level crown linked with the star Denebola; the coming judge or Lord. The star Sarcam in Leo, is a Hebrew word meaning “the joining,“ saying that this is the point where the two ends of the Zodiac have their joining.1

Figure 1. Hydra the Serpent trampled underfoot by Leo and devoured by the Raven-Corvus

Image result for Hydra constellation images

This is borne out in the decan Corvus, the Raven–bird of prey devouring Hydra the abhorred serpent, a decan of Virgo. This serpent actually mirrors these signs of the Stellar gospel-the Celestial Sphinx extending below Leo’s claws including the signs of Virgo the virgin, Leo and the Crab. As the Anti-Christ will present a counterfeit of the coming redeemer so this is witnessed in the stars also. The star in the eye of Corvus the Raven, called Al Chibar in Arabic means “joining together,” referring also to the union of the two ends of the true zodiac!2

Figure 2 below depicts the first level of Virgo’s Crown focusing on the 12 stars joining Virgo and Leo around the star Denebola in Leo’s tail.

Figure 2. The first level of Virgo’s stellar Triple Crown. 1a

Image result for signs at virgos feet sept-october 2017

These 12 immobile stars are constant, unlike the stars of the 2nd level Crowning of Virgo including the nine constant stars of Leo along with key planetary alignments at prophetic times in celestial history. Thus, the first level of 12 stars provide an unchanging witness to the celestial Crowning of the Woman-Virgo, all year around, not just at the start of the Hebrew calendar in Tishri, the inception of the Hebrew Civil Year when the Sun was clothing Virgo. This teaches that the truths of the celestial witness apply to all times during the year as we see in Ps. 19:2

19:²Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is not a day or night that goes by that the heavens do not pout forth their sacred knowledge. This illustrates how full of God’s revelation knowledge the celestial gospel is, for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. Sometimes the constant witness of the immobile stars however is augmented by the “wandering stars” or planets or the Greater and lesser lights that rule the day and night-the Sun and Moon. The 69-70 AD Blood Moon Tetrad marking the Roman’s destruction of the Temple is 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, [Plate 1.] 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!

Plate 1. The Rev. 12 sign on August 27th, 70 AD: with a Jupiter-Venus union! 3

The woman has her 1st level crown of 12 stars, and Jupiter and Venus are in such close conjunction they appear to merge into one star as they did in 2 BC, except this time they appear in Leo’s lower rear paw, emphasizing Virgo’s 1st level crown, [Fig. 2]. The Sun is clothing Virgo with the Moon near her feet. The King Planet Jupiter and Venus are also aligned with Mercury-Gabriel and the King Star Regulus in Leo, as the 2nd level crowning of Virgo. What is extraordinary with this version of the Rev. 12 Sign is that it occurs in the center of the Blood Moon Tetrad marking the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD. This was also the last time Jerusalem was in control of Israel until the 6-day war of 1967 marked by the 1967-68 Blood Moon Tetrad. The first level crowning of Virgo also foreshadowed the Celestial Sphinx prophecy of the birth of Christ 3 days prior to the 1st of 3 Jupiter-Regulus conjunctions marking the birth of Christ in 3-2 BC, pictured below [Fig. 5].

There were key planetary conjunctions that took place marking the Birth of Christ, in the constellations Virgo and Leo. Since these are the Mazzaroth signs that constitute the alpha–omega signs of the Hebrew Zodiac, forming the Celestial Sphinx, it embodies a living practical example of Biblical Astronomy embodied in the Great Sphinx. As an exemplar of Biblical Archaeo-Astronomy, the Great Sphinx is a true living artifact of the divine science of Biblical Astronomy preserved by the Creator and utilized through history, marking not only Jesus’ birth, but also heavenly signs of the Second Coming of His only Begotten Son.

Figure 3. Virgo at Sunset on September 11th 3 BC. 4

great sphinx

A consistent interest regarding Jesus’ birth signs is that they bear the celestial seal and signet of the Great Sphinx, the Alpha and Omega signs of the Hebrew Mazzaroth. The signs occurring in a 3-week annual period when the Sun is clothing Virgo, in the Rev. 12:1 sign including Virgo’s Crowns are a focus of this study.5 Virgo’s symbolism first relates to a genuine exaltation of Mary, the woman most highly blessed among women, because she believed the words of the arch-angel Gabriel when he told her she would bear the promised seed. This woman of Rev. 12 also symbolizes Israel, specifically the tribe of Judah in this context as the root of David.
In addition, the Sun in Virgo marks the annual start of the Hebrew Civil Year, in the month of Tishri. With this in mind, we note in the relief from the ceiling of the Temple of Esneh [Fig. 4], the basic stellar figures of Virgo and Leo are unified in the Great Sphinx, pictured with the solar disk crowning the head of the woman-“sun clothing Virgo,” who is joined with the body of the Lion’s extended claws, above the serpent Hydra.6 This stellar image seen at the same temple site housing the Dendera zodiac, provides archaeological evidence, for the union of Virgo and Leo affirmed in the two stellar aspects of the Sphinx monument.

Virgo is seen at the far right below, prominently holding her grain stalk, or branch as shown in he Dendera zodiac, symbolizing her bearing the promised seed and the light of the world. Her branch represents the Alpha Star of Virgo-Spica-Al Zemach, the branch or offspring of God the Father, [Jer. 23:5].

Figure 4. Sun in Virgo, in the Temple of Esneh, on the Giza Plateau. 7

great sphinx

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

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

The unity of the Biblical zodiac which starts at Virgo and ends in Leo.
The original role of the Sun in this context of “clothing Virgo,” along with embodying the solar aspects of the Sphinx as the Sun of Righteousness, as it moves through the 12 Mazzaroth signs during the year, [Ps. 19].
A Stone monument bearing parallel witness to the coming redeemer found both in the Stars and in Scripture.

With this in mind, lets look at some specific stellar aspects of the Great Sphinx. A key indicator of the central importance of these stellar aspects of the Great Sphinx, is our recognition of the Celestial Sphinx, pictured below, Virgo and Leo the lion provide the basis of signs of the triple union of Jupiter-Regulus in Leo, in 3 BC linked to Gen. 49:8-10. This is a corner-stone linking the Sphinx both to the Celestial Gospel and God’s Word, in their unified testimony to the Coming Promised Seed, starting with the 1st Jupiter-Regulus conjunction 3 days after Christ’s birth on Sept. 14th, 3 BC.

As we view the celestial context of this first union of Jupiter and Regulus, [Fig. 5] we can see the head of Virgo rising above the eastern horizon just below the full body of Leo the Lion on the ecliptic. This is a view of what an observer in Jerusalem facing east would have seen on this date, providing a clear view of the astronomical symbolism of the Celestial Sphinx as a key marker and monumental prediction of Jesus’ birthday on Sept. 11th, a prophecy of the birth of Christ preserved in stone from antiquity! This monolithic marker serves as a prophecy provided in Rev. 12:1-5, in the sign of Virgo, further establishing this truth.

Figure 5. The Celestial Sphinx. The Head of the Woman and the Body of the Lion as seen on Sept. 14th, 3 BC, on the eastern horizon from Jerusalem forming the Great Sphinx, and marking the first Jupiter-Regulus Conjunction in Leo. 8

head of a woman and body of a lion

We find these landmarks at the head and tail of the zodiac, which adds light to Dr. Martin’s observation that: “the woman Virgo is the Constellation of Headship for all 12 signs. The head position of Virgo is located in the last 10 degrees of Leo.”9

Virgo’s head is seen in Fig. 5, just below and adjacent to the star Denebola in the tail of the Lion, unifying the circle of the zodiac. Figure 6 below depicts the Second level of Virgo’s crowning, including the nine stars of Leo with three planets; Venus, Mars and Mercury aligned on Sept. 23rd 2017, with Regulus, seen below.

Figure 6. Level Two of Virgo’s Crown in Leo. 10

Image result for Rev. 12 Sign on Sept 23rd 2017 images

In view of the showcase of heavenly signs surrounding to 9-23-17 replay of the Rev. 12 wonder, we take note of the matched sets of triple planetary conjunctions leading to this sign. As we view recent events, in past light of Jupiter’s role in the Celestial Prelude, the 2017 triple conjunction of Jupiter-Spica was heralded by two unions of Mercury and Spica in 2015, in a 6-week period. The first conjunction occurred Sept. 17^th, 2015, with the 2^ndon October 29^th, 2015. Mercury-Gabriel, as messenger arch-angel gives two proclamations resulting from its retrograde motion, foreshadowing Jupiter’s 2017 retrograde motion in Virgo, forming the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Spica. Mercury-Gabriel established the triple union of Jupiter-Spica on Oct. 11^th, 2016, in a pre-dawn union with Jupiter, as Mercury passed within a degree of Jupiter during a Sunrise union.

Recall that all this took place during the Jupiter-Venus conjunction series from 2015-2017, as part of the Celestial Sphinx signs in Virgo and Leo. This conjunction series includes two triple unions of Jupiter-Venus, one each in Leo then in Virgo, the head of the Woman united with the body of the Lion, as the two main components of the Great Sphinx, unifying the Mazzaroth circle in its alpha and omega signs. This is consistent with signs at the birth of Christ like the dazzling Jupiter-Venus union in Leo on June 17th of 2 BC. It was also two Jupiter-Venus conjunctions that bracketed the majority of heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ in 3-1 BC.

A guiding principle of the study of the Celestial Sphinx dictates that we should be watchful of activity in the heavens related to both components of the Celestial Sphinx. For instance, with Jupiter’s retrograde activity in Virgo last fall, we also witnessed key events in Leo around the king star Regulus-the heart of the Lion. These signs mirrored the planetary alignment in Leo surrounding the birth of Christ with Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Venus all amassed in Leo, in August of 2 BC including a second level crowning of Virgo.

The 1st Jupiter-Venus Conjunction marking the birth of Christ took place on August 12th, 3 BC, in Leo, the 2nd June 17th of 2 BC, also in Leo with the last one occurring on Aug. 21st 1 BC, in Virgo. Here we find a variation on a Celestial Sphinx sign directing us to the planetary unions of Jupiter-Venus, marking the initial fulfillment of the Rev. 12 prophecy relating to the sufferings of Christ in his ministry as the Passover Lamb. This alerts us that we should look for similar Celestial Sphinx signs as a precursor to the Lord’s Second Coming.

Jupiter-Venus Conjunction

With these triple conjunctions of Jupiter-Venus and the Celestial Sphinx signs in mind, other triple planetary conjunctions related to the Celestial Sphinx would also arrest our attention. We find this in the recent activity of Jupiter and Venus related to the Celestial Sphinx signs of 2017. The following dates for signs of the Celestial Sphinx witnessed Jupiter-Venus conjunctions in Leo in the Hebrew Jubilee year of 2015-2016:

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

The following dates saw Jupiter-Venus conjunctions in Virgo in 2016-17, capped off in Nov. 2017:

Aug. 27th, 2016 [Jupiter enters Virgo]
Feb. 26th, 2017
Nov. 13th, 2017

However, before the final Jupiter-Venus union in Virgo in 2017, Jupiter starts its 42-week retrograde motion in Virgo’s womb, during which time Jupiter completes another triple conjunction with Spica in Virgo! As we can see Jupiter’s dance card was very full in 2017. The precedent for this at the birth of Christ is seen in the coronation of God’s only begotten Son in the heavens with the triple conjunction of the King planet Jupiter with the King star Regulus in Leo in 3-2 BC, starting 3 days after Christ’s birth. As we have seen regarding Jeremiah’s Messianic prophecy [Jer. 23:5], Jupiter the sedeq planet is linked with the Messiah, Jesus Christ the righteous zemach-branch, in one of 5 primary Old Testament prophecies regarding the Branch-Al Zemach, as Jesus Christ, the Coming Promised Seed.

As we view the Sept. 9^th birthing of Jupiter from Virgo’s womb, completing Jupiter’s retrograde in Virgo, we also found important events in Leo around the king star Regulus the heart of the Lion. We can see both Mars-Michael the warrior arch-angel and Mercury-Gabriel the messenger arch-angel in close vicinity with Regulus, as Jupiter is being delivered. Jupiter’s birthing is a key pre-Tribulation sign alerting us that the woman of Rev. 12:2 is “with child and travailing in birth” pangs. With Jupiter’s birthing on Sept. 9^th, a Mercury-Regulus conjunction also took place on 9/9/2017. This is key because this Mercury –Regulus union is part of another triple conjunction based on the retrograde motion of Mercury in Leo concurrent with Jupiter’s retro dance in Virgo. This added link unifies the two aspects of the Celestial Sphinx, and is the 2nd matched set of triple unions leading to the replay of the Rev. 12 sign on 9/23/17.

Figure 7. The Third level Crown of Virgo

In addition to marking the Alpha and Omega of celestial canon, these concurrent Great Sphinx signs not only mirror the binding of Scripture together from Genesis to Revelation, but also represent the 3rd level of Virgo’s Crown as the entire circle of the Mazzaroth is highlighted above the head of the woman. Her Promised Seed is the unifying subject in every book of the Bible and every constellation on the zodiacal circle, as seen in references to Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah in both Gen. 49:8-10 and Rev. 5:5, and Rev. 12, the first and last books of the Bible.

Figure 8. Axis E on the Dendera Zodiac. 9

The heavens declared Jesus’ arrival with the setting of the star Spica, Virgo’s branch on our September 11th, of 3 BC, between the setting Sun and Moon in Virgo. This is established in the 5th axis evident in the Dendera zodiac, in the Egyptian Temple of Esneh, subdividing the zodiac in the same way depicted on the ceiling of the Portico of that temple site; between Leo the Lion, and Virgo the woman, seen above with Axis E. 10 Even as the birth of Christ is prophesied by the Great Sphinx, and the Dendera Zodiac, so also the Great Pyramid is an even greater witness to Christ, as Isaiah prophesied;

Isa. 19:19-21
¹⁹In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. ²⁰And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. ²¹Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it.

Figure 9. Kings Chamber Star Shaft and Descending Passage Star alignments on Sept. 20-21, 2017. 11

On Rosh Hashanah leading to the Rev. 12 sign on 9-23-17 certain shafts and passages built into the Great Pyramid exhibit astronomical alignments on this date prophesying of, and witnessing to Jesus Christ. As we can see in Figure 9 above the King’s Chamber star shaft of the Great Pyramid is aligned to Regulus and Venus in Leo, while the Descending Passage is aligned to Jupiter in Virgo. Here we not only have a separate corroboration of the Celestial Sphinx from the Great Pyramid, but we too find a rendition of the 3rd level of Virgo’s Crown, pointed out in these Rosh Hasanah alignments of the Great Pyramid!

On September 23, 2017 there were four planets in the vicinity that complete the sign marking the Celestial Sphinx. Mercury, Venus, Mars, are in Leo with Jupiter in Virgo. In Leo at this time was Mars, Venus and Mercury. With Leo consisting of nine primary stars, the three wandering stars form the crown of twelve stars upon the head of the woman. Jupiter in Israel is known as the planet of the Messiah. Jupiter enters the sign of Virgo on August 27, 2016, which coincides with a close union of Venus. The August 27, 2016 conjunction comes 400 days before Yom Kippur, which always ends Teshuvah, the 40 day Season of Repentance. As the sign of Revelation 12 forms on Sept. 23, 2017, Jupiter is in the womb of Virgo 400 days [40 x 10], about to be born. As we recall, the meaning of Tribulation refers to the period of labor pains before birth. The world is going to endure a period of judgement resulting in the Messiah’s Kingdom. This sign foreshadows seven future years–the worst in human history. These celestial signs represent an announcement and warning of the Great Tribulation. There is still time to claim God’s deliverance for those who put their trust in Christ, [Rom. 10:9-10]. God will rescue the believers to heaven prior to the awful judgement. Yet many will miss this opportunity, but God’s grace still abounds for those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, but they will have to endure the Tribulation.

God included a special heavenly sign linked to the Great Wonder of Rev. 12. If we backtrack, 1260 days from the Rev. 12 sign, we conspicuously arrive at the day of the 1st Blood Moon lunar eclipse in the 2014-2015 Tetrad, [Joel 2:30-32]. This Passover lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014 occurred at a key location in the heavens near the star Spica in Virgo. Jesus as the Seed of the Woman became the perfect sacrifice for all mankind on Passover. He was the ear of grain that must die so that life can abound. Spica in Hebrew is Zerah meaning “seed”–the offspring of God, and its the same word found in the first prophecy of the Promised Seed in Gen. 3:15. Thus it is the perfect precursor to the Jupiter-Spica triple conjunction that occurred in Virgo’s womb, leading to the Jupiter’s birthing, as the sign warning of Jesus’ return to earth.

Figure 10. The Blood Moon Tetrad and the signs of 2017. 12

Robert Breaker Exposed false prophet | What will happen on September 23 2017

The sign of Revelation 12 is a logical celestial sign warning that the Tribulation is coming, not that it is here yet as is implied in Fig. 10. This is a key heavenly sign that links the Blood Moon Tetrad to the Rev. 12 sign on 9-23-17. The woman of Rev. 12 can embody multiple meanings in this prophecy. We have spent much time documenting this woman as Virgo, the only sign of a woman of the 12 primary constellations of the Hebrew Mazzaroth. We also showed earlier in the post, linked to the root of David, this woman could also symbolize the tribe of Judah. Also the virgin can embody (Israel) as the woman entering her labor pains, preparing to go through tribulation. When we combine this in context of recent blog posts foreshadowing the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, we can see that for the Church in these days, our time is short. When we combine the setting of Rev. 12, with the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrads and 9-23-17 sign, we have very specific markers from different perspectives pointing towards the return of Christ, quickly.

Some doubt the dual significance of the Rev. 12 sign which already had been depicted with the multiple symbolism of the Woman of Rev. 12:1-2, 4-6, 13 that is readily seen in the difference between the woman of verses 1-2 [Virgo] as opposed to the woman of v.6 who fled to the wilderness for 1260 days, which does not match the time that Joseph, Mary and Jesus spent in Egypt, to get away from Herod and those who sought the child’s life. Thus within the space of the first 6 verses of Rev. 12 we already have three different meanings for the “woman.” Not only does the time frame not match, but the 1260 days matches the end-time periods of 42 months [13:4] and time, times and half a time [12:13-14], so we can see the the woman being persecuted by the serpent was not Mary, but Israel. Thus it is obvious that the Rev. 12 sign in the context of the 12th chapter alone refers not only to the birth of Christ but the end times also leading to the return of Christ.

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

With an interval of 1260 days between the Passover Blood Moon, and this Rev. 12 sign from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25, we find the Feast of Trumpets 2017, on Sept. 21st. This day is located between the sign involving the Great Pyramid and Great Wonder of Rev. 12. We saw earlier how the Great Pyramid witnesses of Christ during this time, but there are other examples of astronomical alignments linked to this last remaining Wonder of the Ancient world that we should be aware of. As we find in Figure 11 below the Apex of the Great Pyramid is aligned with “the Coming Prince” Orion, specifically with the main star of Orion’s Belt-Al Nitak-the wounded one. One of the Pyramid’s alignments that witnesses to the birth of Christ is that Al Nitak in Orion was seen over Bethlehem at 51.51 degrees, on the day of Christ’s birth-on Rosh Hashanah (our Sept. 11th) of 3 BC. So again we find the apex or Chief Cornerstone of the Great Pyramid aligned with the star Al Nitak at meridian or zenith on Rosh Hashanah of 2017, linking these two key dates together for all time. For those doubting our thesis for the birth of Christ on 9/11 3 BC, here is more strong evidence supporting our case. There are archaeo-astronomical theories supporting the pattern of the three large Pyramids on the Giza Plateau reflecting the three stars of Orion’s belt, when transposed to the ground, where Al Nitak’s position matches the Great Pyramid. These links take you to other studies on this blog covering added Great Pyramid alignments related to Bethlehem and the birth of Christ.

Figure 11. Great Pyramid astronomical alignments on Rosh Hashanah 2017.

The alignment of the King’s Chamber Passage in the Great Pyramid to this union of Regulus-Venus in Leo, in the dawn light on the morning before Rosh Hashanah, 2017, the King Star Regulus is unified with Venus the Bright and Morning Star – in Leo the lion (Rev. 2:28, 22:16 & 1 Pet. 1:19). With Regulus and Venus in the rising together “as a morning star” in the east at the 26.3-degree Christ angle, determining the orientation of various shafts and passages in the Great Pyramid, reminds us of 2 Peter;

2 Peter 1:19
¹⁹And so we have the prophetic word confirmed,^[a] which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

We began this study with Rev. 5:5 and 22:16 with a focus on Venus the bright and morning star and the king star Regulus, and here we see 2 Peter 1:19 brings this focus home in the recent signs on Rosh Hashanah 2017, as the dawn of a new day sheds its resplendent light in our hearts. It is the hope of the return of Jesus Christ that we are anticipating which anchors our soul in this dark and perverse world, keeping us moving forward with our God and Heavenly Father.

Amen…

Footnotes

1. Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger. p. 169
1a. The astronomer, Professor Thorley, has shown that there are exactly twelve stars surrounding the head of Virgo as we view them from the earth. If one will look at Norton’s Star Atlas, twelve visible stars will be seen around Virgo’s head. They are, according to astronomical terminology: (1) Pi, (2) Nu, (3) Beta, (4) Sigma, (5) Chi, (6) Iota – these six stars form the southern hemisphere around the head of Virgo. Then there are (7) Theta, (8) Star 60, (9) Delta, (10) Star 93, (11) Beta, (12) Omicron – these last six form the northern hemisphere around the head of Virgo.
2. Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger. p. 169
3. Stellarium Astronomical Software on Aug. 27th, 70 AD
4. Jesus Christ our Promised Seed, American Christian Press, p. 71
5. The Star that Astonished the World, Earnest Martin, p.187.
6. Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger. p. 21-22
7. Ibid
8. Jesus Christ our Promised Seed, V.P. Wierweille, p. 45.
9. The Star that Astonished the World, Earnest Martin, p.186.
10. Stellarium Astronomical Software image of Virgo and Leo on Sept. 23rd, 2017
11. The Skies of Memory, John Lash [picture credit]
12. The Atlantis Blueprint, Colin Wilson & Rand Flem-Ath. ppg 167-172.
13. Signs of the End – The Oracle in Stone
14. Figure 11 Picture credit [endtimesforecaster.blogspot.com]

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The Convergence of the Super Moon Triads with the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad

The Convergence of Super Moon Triads with the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad

Psalm 8:3
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained”

“ordained” here = appointed…or appointed times – Moedim or Moed – a fixed time. This tells us that the appointed times on God’s divine calendar play out on the celestial stage before the events they portray occur in terrestrial time. The Sun, Moon and Stars were placed in the heavens so we would know and understand God’s appointed times. The Blood Moon patterns on Hebrew Feast and Holy days are wonderful illustrations of this precept.

The Total solar eclipse on the Spring Equinox, March 20, 2015 seen above was not only the central sign of the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad, but as a Super-Moon, it also linked to the Super Moon series. This was the first indicator of the convergence of a 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad with the pattern of Super-Moon triads. This Total Solar Eclipse on Nisan 1 2015, at the Spring Equinox with the Partial Solar Eclipse Sept. 13th, on Rosh Hashanah, divided the Hebrew Calendar in 2015 like a set of bookends, during the last Blood Moon Tetrad for the next 500+ years. The absolute rarity of a total solar eclipse at the North Pole on the Spring Equinox was evident, since it occurs only about once every 1000 years, but this Solar Eclipse was the first one ever on Nisan 1 on the Hebrew Calendar. If we view the Sept. 13th Partial Solar Eclipse as the start of a 7 year Shemita cycle [exactly 7 years and 13 days later] we find some interesting sky signs at the corresponding Rosh HaShana on Sep 26, 2022, also a Shemita Year. More on this later…

According to NASA: “Since the Moon’s orbit is elliptical, one side (perigee) is about 30,000 miles (50,000 km) closer to Earth than the other (apogee). The word syzygy, in addition to being useful in word games, is the scientific name for when the Earth, Sun, and Moon align as the Moon orbits Earth. When perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system occurs and the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, we get a perigee Moon or more commonly, a Supermoon!“1

A unique attribute about the lunar cycles in 2018 is that on July 27, 2018 there is a Blood Moon that will be the center of a Triad of Blood Moons nearly 7 years from the July Central Blood Moon in the 2011 Triad. Prophetically, 2011 and 2018 are tied together in multiple ways. Does this allude to a Tribulation period of 7 years? Based on these Super Moon patterns, the March 19, 2011 Perigee Moon may have been the start of a celestial prophecy ahead of the Great Tribulation. This cosmic pattern may foreshadow the Great Tribulation consisting of the 7 year “week” as foretold in Daniel 12:7-13. This prophetic sign signals an approximate 7 year Super Moon series 13 months apart, culminating in stellar signs predicting the rise of Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The nexus of this end time prophecy was seen in the Fall of 2015, when the Super-Moon Triads converged with the Blood Moon Tetrad on Sept. 28th 2015.

It is beyond interesting to consider the points below concerning the last Blood Moon (9/28/2015) of this Tetrad – an ABSOLUTE statistical impossibility, apart from God’s divinely planned design!

A. The occurrence of a perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system – a “Super Moon”
B. where the Super Moon is also a Blood Moon
C. and conditions A & B occur on one of God’s appointed Feasts and Holy Days
D. and conditions A, B & C occur in the sequence of a Tetrad, all occurring on God’s appointed Holy Days – the 8th Tetrad all occurring on Holy Days since Christ (8 in the Bible represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation.)
E. and the 2014-2015 Tetrad (4) of the lunar Blood Moon eclipses coincides with 3 sets of Perigee Lunar cycles of 3 consecutive Super Moons culminating with the September 28th Super Blood Moon (an unprecedented occurrence!)
F. and the Super Blood Moon is visable from Jerusalem (not all blood moon are)
G. and all the conditions above occur in a Shemita year
H. and all the conditions above complete at the start of a Jubilee Year
I. and the 2016 Jubilee is the 120th since the beginning of Creation – “…the Lord said, My Spirit shall not forever dwell and strive with man, for he also is flesh; but his days shall yet be 120 [Jubilee] years.” Genesis 6:3 [http://www.watchmansview.com/Blood_Red_Moons.html] 2

J. Also during the 2016 Jubilee Year there are 4 additional luni-solar eclipse events occurring on God’s appointed Holy Days directly mirroring the Lunar Eclipse Tetrad of 70 AD marking the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. This was the last time the Temple was under control of Israel until the 1967-68 Blood Moon Tetrad, when it was regained by Israeli forces during the 6-day war.

Figure 1. The Super Blood Moon over Jerusalem-9/28/2015

For nearly two decades I have advocated the concept of a Celestial Prelude that allowed the Magi to recognize the celestial signs marking the birth of Christ, in the well known historical event called the “Star of Bethlehem.” There were a number of critical triple planetary conjunctions and Blood Moons around the King Star–Jupiter, that the Magi recognized as the Star of Jesus–King of the Jews; [Matt. 2:2]. The Magi noted the triple union of Jupiter–Saturn in 7 BC, 4 years prior to the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Regulus in 3 BC marking the birth of Christ. There was also a triple conjunction of Jupiter-Venus that framed the birth of Christ from 3-1 BC, which was documented and seen again in the convergence of the Super-Moon Triads with the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad, leading to the 9-23-17 Rev. 12 sign. With the rise of the Blood Moon Tetrads, most notably the “modern” Tetrads from 1949-50, 1967-68, and 2014-15, we find an increasing emphasis on the series of Super-Moons leading to a 2022 Super-Moon Tetrad. This seems to begin with a single Super-Moon on Jan. 26th, 1948, ahead of the 1949-50 Blood Moon Tetrad marking the formation of the State of Israel.

The Lunar Perigee or Super-Moon cycles are consistent and predictable but they usually occur only in pairs. The focus of this study points out that having 3 Perigee or Super Moons in a row is rare; to have two Triads of Super Moons is amazing; and three Triads in two consecutive years is unheard of, anything beyond that is Biblical. Moreover, this Super Moon pattern puts a strong emphasis on the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad. 2015 held 2 Super Moon Triads, totaling 6 Super Moons. There were three New Moons at the start of the year and 3 Full Moons toward the end of 2015. What is singularly amazing is that the 2014-2015 Tetrad of Blood Moon lunar eclipses coincides with the Perigee Lunar cycle of 3 Super Moons in a row in 2014, plus the 2 Super–Moon Triads of 2015! If this was not enough, and what others have failed to notice is that there was yet another Super-Moon Triad in 2016! In the fall of 2016, three consecutive Super-Moons linked with a Luni-solar Eclipse Tetrad on Hebrew Holidays that was mostly missed or ignored completely, due to an adherence to a mathematically based Hebrew Calendar instead of determining Hebrew Feast and holy days according to the Bible based standard of sighting the New Moon. These 2016 celestial signs are charted below.

2016 Luni-Solar Eclipse Tetrad on Hebrew Holidays with Super-Moon Triad

Total Solar Eclipse 3/9/2016 on Nisan 1

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse/Passover 3/23/2016/Nisan 14

Annular Solar Eclipse 9/3/2016/Trumpets Feast

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse 9/16/Sukkot/9-16 to 9/23/16

1st Super-Moon of Triad-October 16th, 2016.

2nd Super-Moon of Triad- November 14th, 2016.

3rd Super-Moon of Triad- December 14th, 2016.

Figure 2. The Nov. 14th, 2016 Super-Moon

In our previous blog post we showed an exact correspondence of these 2016 signs to the Blood Moons of the 70 AD Tetrad, marking the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, by Titus the Roman prince. This was the last time the Temple Mount was under Israeli control until the Blood Moon Tetrad of 1967-68. However, on the heels of this 2016 Luni-Solar Eclipse Tetrad was another Super-Moon Triad opening on October 16 to December 14. The central Super-Moon of this Triad on Nov. 14, actually became full within 2 hours of perigee. Based on astronomical observations this Perigee Moon of November 14, 2016 (5777) was the closest Super Moon to the Earth not only for the year, but was the closest full moon since Jan. 26th 1948, and to date in the 21^st century. The full moon won’t be this close to Earth again until November 25, 2034. 3

The Sukkot Super-Moon that capped the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad on September 28, 2015, followed a Partial Solar Eclipse as seen in our August 2015 Blog. This is notable in light of the Partial Solar Eclipse later this month on February 15th, 2018, 2 weeks after the Jan. 31st Super Blood Moon! This series of Super-Moon Triads bracket the Blood Moon Tetrad, while linking this series to the 9/23/17 Rev. 12 sign via the Tetrad of Eclipses on Hebrew Feast and Holy days in 2016, as we summarized in our Sept. 2016 Blog. The Penumbral Lunar Eclipse during Sukkot week from 9/16 to 9/23/16 aligned with the 9/23/16 Sukkot feast exactly a year later in the Rev. 12 sign of 9/23/17, providing a continual link between the Luni-Solar Tetrads of 2014-2016 to the Rev.12 sign of 9/23/17. Thus we can see how the Super-Moon Triad in July, August and Sept. of 2014 opened the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad, while the 2016 Super-Moon Triad included the 2016 Luni-Solar Eclipse Tetrad in an awesome display of Super-Moon symmetry related to both consecutive Tetrads.

The Super Moon Triads thus validate the prophetic status of the modern Blood Moon Tetrads. Both celestial series converged at a singular point on the Hebrew Calendar, Sukkot of 2015. Does this near 7 year period foreshadow the 7 year Great Tribulation? If so, it could also mark the 50 year Jubilee; [1967-2017] if counted from the liberation of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in 1967. September 2015 also started a new Jubilee cycle. The new Jubilee opens with the Sept. 13th, 2015 Partial Solar Eclipse, and is unique as the 40th Jubilee year since Jesus was crucified.

These Super Moon Triads bracketing the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-15 not only testify as a confirming witness of this Tetrad of Blood Moons, but since the Super-Moon series converges with a TETRAD of Blood Moons, it bids us to look for a potential Tetrad of Super-Moons with possible links to a 7-year period. This in no way is a prediction of the Return of Christ or the start of the Tribulation period, but with an awareness of the celestial signs of the times, we are considering candidates for the signs marking these events. With this in mind we present a celestial snapshot of a potential 7 year Tribulation period as follows:

Shemitah Year 2015

Jan 20 – Total Solar Super New Moon – 1st of Triad

Feb 18 – A New Super Moon – 2nd of Triad + Bulls Eye Black Moon

Mar 20 – Total Solar Eclipse New Super Moon – 3rd of Triad  

Apr 4 – Blood Moon on Feast Day – 3rd of Tetrad and Bulls Eye between the two Triads 

Aug 29 – Full Moon, Perigee Moon, Super Moon – 1st of Triad

Sept. 13th Partial Solar Eclipse on Rosh HaShana starting a 7 year Shemita cycle

Sept 28 – Full Moon, Harvest Moon, Blood Moon on Feast day, Super Moon, 4th of Tetrad & Bulls Eye/2nd of Triad [possible import- a Super Sign just for Israel, as it is the only one of the Tetrad seen over Israel. As Blood Moons denote the judgment of God upon Israel, it may be both a Super Sign wake-up call for Israel to turn back to God, and the coming of the Tribulation]

Oct 27 – Full Moon, Super Moon 3rd of Triad

Here are the signs of Shemitah Year 2022

May 17 – Total Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse at Perigee (Super Moon)

June 14 – Super Moon

July 13 – Super Moon

Aug 10 – Super Moon

[A successive Super Moon Tetrad of 4 consecutive months]

Rosh HaShana on Sep 26, 2022, completing a 7-year Shemita cycle

Nov 8 – Lunar Total Blood Moon Eclipse (only one)

Neither Blood Moon of 2022 falls on a Hebrew Feast or Holy Day 4

Figure 3. Jan. 31st 2018, Super-Blood Moon

For further evidence supporting the concept of Super-Moon Triads leading to a Super-Moon Tetrad, we only need to look as far as the Super-Blood Moon of Jan. 31st 2018, [above]. This establishes the pattern in another Super-Moon/Blood Moon convergence that just took place last weekend. Mark Biltz, who has been a central advocate of the Blood Moon Tetrads has some interesting observations on this Super-Blue Blood Moon. He stresses he is not saying anything will happen on Jan. 31, however, he argues the specific dates involved show God is sending an important message. 5

“These are very significant biblical dates, and now we have two Blood Moons in January of both 2018-19 bracketing the central Blood Moon in July of 2018 on Tu B’Shevat.” Biltz goes on to say, “The eclipse takes place on Tu B’Shevat on the Biblical calendar, the 15th day of the month of Shevat. This is important because this Blood Moon eclipse is only one of a Triad series. The next one is on July 27, which is Tu B’Av or the 15th of Av on the Biblical calendar. The following one is Jan 21, 2019 – which just happens to be Tu B’Shevat again!”6 Here again we find a Super-Moon Triad that includes the Dec. 3rd Super-Moon in Virgo as the only one in 2017, with 2018 opening with another in Taurus on New Year’s Day! This Triad is completed on Jan. 31st with the Super-Blood Moon. This is the 3rd convergence of Super-Moon/Blood Moon Triads since the two in 2015 showing a convergence series of these lunar signs.

According to Judaism 101: “Tu B’Shevat is the new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing. The fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years; the fourth year’s fruit is for God, after that, you can eat the fruit. Each tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B’Shevat.“7 The Biblical significance of this more minor Hebrew holiday of Tu B’Shevat is found in Leviticus.

Leviticus 19:21-25
²¹And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering. ²²And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him. ²³And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: 3 years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of. ²⁴But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the Lord withal. ²⁵And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the Lord your God.

Ever since Israel regained its statehood in 1948, this holiday of planting trees has taken on a symbolic significance as more and more Jews return to their homeland, from their diaspora around the world; [Isa. 11:11, Jer. 16:13-16]. The harvested crops of these planted trees were to be decided in their tithes of first-fruits by Tu B’Shevat. This also fulfills God’s promise to Israel regarding their homeland, a pivotal sign in the last generation of the end times that will witness the return of Christ. We also find added spiritual light shed on this as we consider the 1st Psalm.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ²But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Here we see the people likened to planted trees. Each brings forth fruit in their season, when they are acceptable to the Lord. At the proper time Jesus will return for the harvest. Jesus knew the right time and season to open his ministry, when the Heavenly Father revealed it to him on a certain Sabbath he read from the book of Isaiah in the Synagogue.

Isa. 61:1-4 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; ²To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

³To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. ⁴And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

As Jesus referenced this verse in Luke 4:18-19, he stopped at the comma after the acceptable year of the Lord, because the day of vengeance was still future as it remains today. However we are much closer to seeing God’s day of vengeance than Jesus was in 27 AD. As dwellers in the end-times we know the Lord is preparing to return to reap the harvest of his trees of righteousness that were spiritually planted during his first advent.

Biltz goes on linking this to a reference in Zechariah: “This is fascinating prophetically because there is a section of Scripture where Zechariah receives a revelation of a red horse being given a great sword to take peace from the Earth. And this takes place in the month of Shevat!”8

Figure 4. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse woodcut.

The relevant section of the Bible, Zechariah 1: 7-8, reads:

Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the 2nd year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.

“Not surprisingly, Zechariah asks what this is all about, and he receives some incredible insight from an angel,” Biltz explained. In verse 12, we are told; “Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?” Biltz argues this message is of critical importance for people alive today. “The vision of the horses are of the four horses of Rev. 6:2-6. And this vision takes place at the end of a 70-year period (three score and ten) which is given to Israel. The State of Israel is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary.“9

Israel’s 70 years as a State began in May, 1948. This was marked astronomically by a Mars-Regulus Triple union in Leo, along with the first of the modern Blood Moon Tetrads in 1949-50 as seen below.

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

The Third Mars-Regulus union took place 5 days after Israel’s Declaration of Independence on May 14th 1948.

Image result for 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad images

The first Mars retrograde marked the Mars-Regulus triple conjunction in 1947-48. The closest Super-Moon since the recent Jan. 31st Super-Blood Moon fell between the 1st and 2nd Mars-Regulus union in Leo, on Jan.26th, 1948. In view of the link to the 1948/eclipse comet and the forming of Israel’s state, we find an emphasis on the 70 year period from 1948-2018. The last 7 years of this period are highlighted by the Super-Moon/soli-lunar eclipse signs, while marking the Hebrew Jubilee of 5777.

Biltz also argues the mention of the “2nd year of Darius” is of critical importance, as the 2nd year of President Trump’s administration approaches. As head of the world’s most powerful nation, Trump could substitute for Darius in modern prophetic terms. “What this suggests is the red horse of war being unleashed very soon, and these Moons heralding its arrival,” he said. “Again, I’m not predicting anything will happen on the day of the moon itself. Instead, I would look for war to break out between the two blood moons which take place a year apart on Tu B’Shevat. 10

According to some Middle Eastern media sources there is a real possibility of war in Israel starting out in Lebanon or the Gaza Strip in the near future. To put this in the proper recent astronomical context we should recall our blog post from the Christmas holidays of 2017 a little over a month ago…

During the 2017 holidays, there was a Christmas Day union of Saturn and Venus in Sagittarius! On Dec. 25th, 2017 Venus the bright and Morning Star united with Saturn, showing Christ’s victory over the evil one, as seen in Sagittarius where our quickly returning Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed in triumph, conquering to conquer! Here the star picture of the mounted Archer has his arrow aimed at the red heart of the Scorpion–Antares, while Ophiuchus’ foot crushes the Scorpion’s heart. As we noted in our previous blog post, Saturn had just completed its triple union with Saiph, the star in Ophiuchus’ other foot which was stung by the Scorpion, bruising the heels of the 1st and 2nd Adam, [Gen. 3:15]. This shows Satan’s persistent evil to obstruct God’s purposes any way he can, even though his defeat is sure. This planetary conjunction near the conqueror’s Bow, shows the deadly accuracy of our Lord’s aim [Figure 5] to destroy the works of the enemy, [I John 3:8b].

Figure 5. Massing of Planets in Ophiuchus during Hannukah Week in Dec. 2017. 11

The Hannukah feast and celebration is founded upon the defiling of the Jerusalem Temple by Antiochus IV. As a forerunner of the future anti-Christ who will declare himself-God in the 3rd Jerusalem Temple [2 Thess. 2:3-12], the celestial signs surrounding Hannukah deserve closer scrutiny. We find during Hannukah week on 12/17/2017, a massing of planets in Ophiuchus, [Fig. 5] and Venus unified with Saiph the star in the Serpent-bearer’s bruised foot. This depicts the bright and Morning Star Venus in unity with the star that embodies the wound endured by the Son of Man for all mankind. In light of the false Christ, it may foreshadow the deadly wound that the anti-Christ will be healed from, causing the world to wonder after him, [Rev.13:3].

This planetary alignment in Ophiuchus includes the presence of Mercury, and the Sun. Also both the Moon and Venus are located in Ophiuchus’ wounded leg. This takes place eight days prior to the Christmas day union of Venus and Saturn in Sagittarius. Sagittarius like other Mazzaroth signs can have a dual meaning depending on the planets occupying its space. In the classic sense of the Sun moving in the 12 houses of the Mazzaroth [Ps. 19], each sign carries a specific meaning relating to the Sun of God-Jesus Christ, [Mal.4:2]. However, when a planet like Saturn-Satan enters a sign of the zodiac, it carries a darker significance related to the enemy. Normally, the 12 Mazzaroth signs tell of the Christ, but when we see Saturn in Sagittarius we may also be viewing signs related to the anti-Christ, especially during Hannukah with its historical links to forerunners of the Son of Perdition.

Figure 6. Sagittarius and Scorpius-Jamieson 12

As we shared in some recent blogs, the Saturn-Saiph triple union in Ophiuchus occurred while Jupiter was in Virgo’s womb. These concurrent triple conjunctions resulted from the retrograde motions of the planets involved. This included Mercury’s retrograde around Regulus in Leo, as Jupiter was exiting the womb of Virgo. Mercury’s retrograde during this time took place from Aug 13 to Sept. 5, 2017. As Jupiter departed Virgo’s birth canal, Saturn was moving towards the bow of Sagittarius. It is interesting that one of Sagittarius‘ brightest stars is named Nunki-meaning the “prince of the earth,” which also relates to the anti-Christ. We find an example of this in [Dan. 9:25-27] where the first prince refers to the Messiah in v.25, but the second prince comes with his army to destroy the city and the sanctuary, not something the Messiah would ever do. This prince was Titus the future Roman Emperor, who like Antiochus VI was a forerunner of the Antichrist. [12]

Thus the first of the apocalyptic riders going forth to conquer with a crown, and a bow on a white horse can be seen, followed by the red horse of war from the prophecies of Zechariah, announced by the 1st Blood Moon of 2018. This matches the first two riders of Rev. 6…

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the (which) DAY or the (which) HOUR” Matthew 25:13

Footnotes

1. NASA Definition of “perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system”
2. http://www.watchmansview.com/Blood_Red_Moons.html
3.[NASA; https://science.nasa.gov/news-articles/2016-ends-with-three-super-moons
4. http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/total_lunar_tetrad
5. Mark Biltz on Jan. 31st, 2018 Super-Blood Moon
6. IBID
7. Judaism 101
8. Mark Biltz on Jan. 31st, 2018 Super-Blood Moon
9. IBID
10. IBID
11. Stellarium Ophiuchus Planetary Alignment Hannukah 2017
12. Alexander Jamieson’s Celestial Atlas, 1822
13. The Abomination of Desolation and other Prophetic terms of Biblical Eschatology [ppg. 4,8] Jon Nessle

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The Super-Moon Triad, Blood Moon Tetrad and The Jerusalem Temple

As the heavens open their dialogue for the New Year of 2018, there is a noted lunar theme in the air! In this first blog of 2018, we are highlighting the Super Blood Moon on Jan 31st. This is part of a series of Super Moons wrapping up 2017 and starting 2018. A Super-Moon occurs when the Moon reaches peak fullness during its closest approach to Earth. Super-Moons appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than normal. Super-Moons can occur multiple times per year, as we are seeing with the current Super-Moon Triad. The Dec. 3rd Super-Moon in Virgo was the only one in 2017, but 2018 opens with another in Taurus on New Year’s Day!

This 2nd Super-Moon sets the stage for the third Super-Moon of this series, which is not only a Super-Moon, but as the 2nd Full Moon in January 2018, it qualifies as a Blue Moon, an event occurring every 2.5 years, in this special case, a Super Blue Moon. With two Super-Moons in January, on the 1st and 31st, the final lunar sign in this Super-Moon series pulls a trifecta, also being a Total Lunar Eclipse. Thus we have a rare Super-Blue-Blood Moon.

A notable recent Super-Blood Moon happened back in Sept. 2015 as the sky burst with heavenly signs. The 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad capped off with the first known Super Blood Moon on a Hebrew feast. The Blood Moon Tetrad wrapped up with the Super Blood Moon on Tabernacles Feast, Sept. 28, 2015. The history of Blood Moon Tetrads teaches we could expect efforts to persecute Israel along with the Christian Church, while maintaining expectations that the Almighty always protects His people. The modern Blood Moon Tetrads have been significant in marking the restoration of Israel, as a sovereign nation, with its reclamation of Jerusalem. The next logical step observers are on the look out for relates to the restoration of the Temple of Israel and its daily sacrifices. Preparation along these lines has been active in Israel for a number of years, but we may expect some developments in this area along political fronts continuing, with President Trump’s recent announcement of the planned move of the US Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem, as part of a historic recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Figure 1. Super Blood Moon on Sept. 28th was visible from Jerusalem.

Blood Moon Over Jerusalem

Image result for Blood Moon over the Wailing Wall image

Announcement of the Messiah’s Reign

A Psalm of David.
110:1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ²The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

Thus we can see how the current Super-Moon Triad summarized by the Super-Blue-Blood Moon opening 2018, is linked to the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad. The spiritual impact of these luni-solar heavenly signs will not be realized individually as much as collectively. Also the fact that the culmination of the Blood Moon Tetrad in 2015 exhibited a series of signs leading to the Rev. 12 sign on 9/23/2017, is a major key to keep in mind.
As the Figure 1 chart tells us, exactly 2 years prior to the 9/23/2017 Rev. 12 sign, the 50 year Jubilee fell on the Day of Atonement on the Hebrew calendar. As we pay attention to the celestial context of the heavenly signs surrounding the Blood Moon Tetrad, we will gain a fuller understanding of their significance.

Some primary celestial markers for the birth of Christ were the Jupiter-Venus unions from 3 to 1 BC. The Triple Conjunction of Jupiter-Venus, the two brightest stars in the heavens after the Sun and Moon, is notable especially with the addition of Mercury, leading to the planetary alignment with Regulus in Leo, forming the Crown of Virgo in the replay of the Rev. 12:1-2; “Great Wonder in Heaven” on Sept. 23rd 2017. The following list dates not only the Jupiter-Venus conjunctions in Leo during the transition from the Hebrew Sabbatical year to the Jubilee year of 2015-16, but other notable planetary conjunctions and heavenly signs in Virgo and Leo during this period shedding light on the Celestial Sphinx:

June 30th- July 1, 2015 [Jupiter-Venus]
July 17th, 2015 [Venus-Regulus]
July 31st, 2015 [Jupiter-Venus]
August 5th 2015 [Venus-Mercury in Leo]
August 6th, 2015 [Regulus-Jupiter-Mercury in Leo]
August 7th [Jupiter-Mercury in Leo]
August 7th [Mercury-Regulus in Leo]
August 11th 2015 [Jupiter-Regulus in Leo]
August 29th 2015 [Venus-Mars]
Sept. 13th 2015 [Partial Solar Eclipse]
Sept. 17th 2015 [Sun clothing Virgo with the Moon at her feet]
Sept. 17th 2015 [Mercury-Spica in Virgo]
Sept. 21st 2015 [Hebrew Jubilee Year opens on the Day of Atonement]
Sept. 28th 2015 [Final Super Blood Moon, Feast of Trumpets]
October 8th, 2015 [Venus-Regulus in Leo]
October 17th-18th, 2015 [Jupiter-Mars in Leo]
October 21st, 2015 [Orionids Meteor Peak]
October 25-26th, 2015 [Jupiter-Venus]
October 28th, 2015 [Jupiter-Venus, Mars unite in a 1 degree triangular massing] in 2016.
October 29th, 2015 [Mercury -Spica in Virgo]
Nov. 2-3rd, 2015 [Venus-Mars]

We can see from this list that the sky was thick with heavenly signs leading up to and including the Final Super Blood Moon of the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad.

As there were 3 Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions marking the birth of Christ in 3-2 BC, so this triple union of Jupiter-Venus aligned with Regulus in Leo, reflects a similar spiritual light in 2015. In fact the Rev. 12 heavenly sign: the [Sun clothing Virgo with the Crescent Moon at her feet] on September 17th, 2015 is announced by Mercury-Gabriel located just outside the womb area of Virgo above Spica/Al Zimach, 2 years ahead of the replay of the Great Wonder in Heaven, on Sept. 23rd 2017! This shows us how the planetary movements surrounding the both the birth of Christ in 3-2 BC, and the heavenly signs of the Blood Moon Tetrad leading to the signs of 2017 mirror each other.

The Jan. 31st, 2018 Blood Moon will also be visible in Israel as the moon is rising. It is the first of 3 consecutive Blood Moons visible in Israel. The 2nd occurs on July 27/28, 2018 and the 3rd on Jan. 20-21, 2019. This Blood Moon lunar triple of 2018-2019 follows 7 years after the lunar triple of 2010-2011 Blood Moons also visible in Israel. As we can see below, these two sets of Blood Moon Lunar triples framed the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad, marking Hebrew Feast and holy days in 2014-15. The Chart below also shows us layers of Total Solar Eclipses, for instance the solar eclipse located outside each lunar triple.

Figure 1. 2014-2015 Biblical Tetrad 1

The 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad was centered between the saddest days on the Hebrew Calendar, the days of Av marked by two lunar triples framing this Tetrad between 2010-11 and 2018-19. These Lunar triples or triads are Blood Moon lunar eclipses that do not fall on Hebrew Feast or holy days, bracketing the Blood Moon Tetrad that did. Also the 2nd Blood Moon of each lunar triple was visible over Jerusalem. These lunar triples recall the Jerusalem Temple being destroyed on two key occasions in their history, in the Hebrew Sabbath years of 586-587 BC and 69-70 AD. This Jubilee calendar also marks 27-28 AD as a Jubilee year, denoting the year Jesus opens his ministry to Israel, as seen in [Isa. 61:1ff & Lk. 4:18-19].

The 2010-2011 Lunar triple dates prior to the Blood Moon Tetrad and Eclipses of 2016 are seen below:

12/21/2010
6/15/2011
12/10/2011

The 2018-2019 Lunar triple dates after the Blood Moon Tetrad and eclipses of 2016 are seen below:

1/31/2018
7/27/2018
1/21/2019

Further observations linking the Total Solar Eclipse of Aug. 21^st 2017 to the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, and the eclipses of 2016 is found in the fact that each Lunar triple framing this Tetrad is itself framed by a series of Total Solar eclipses! This Total Solar Eclipse series is related to the “Days of Av” as a set of 4 Total Solar Eclipses, all taking place on the 1^st of Av. The first bracket framing the Lunar triple is actually the 3rd total solar eclipse in a set of 3 total solar eclipses on the 1st of Av, as seen in Figure 1.

As we have documented in previous blog posts on June 24^th and August of 2017, the Aug. 21^st Total Solar Eclipse initiated the 40-day Season of Repentance leading to Yom Kippur 2017. However, when viewed in the celestial framework of this series of Total Solar Eclipses bracketing the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad, we are provided a clear picture of the relationship between these solar eclipses and the Blood Moon Tetrad.

The Chart below reflects both series of Partial and Total Solar Eclipses framing the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015.

Figure 2. Lunar Triads and Solar Eclipses framing the Blood Moon Tetrad 2

As we take note of the order of these Solar and Lunar eclipses, we find 4 Partial Solar Eclipses between each Lunar Triple. All the solar eclipses on either side of the Lunar Tetrad are spaced equi-distant from the center of the Blood Moon Tetrad. For example, we find this with two solar eclipses closest to the center of the Blood Moon Tetrad, Oct. 23, 2014, & Mar. 20, 2015, are the same distance on either side of the center date [Jan. 5, 2015] of this Lunar Tetrad. The dates for these Partial Solar Eclipses before the Blood Moon Tetrad are listed below:

The Partial Solar Eclipse dates before the Blood Moon tetrad:

1/4/2011
6/1/2011
7/1/2011
11/25/2011

Partial Solar Eclipse Dates with the Second Lunar Triple:

2/15/2018
7/13/2018
8/11/2018
1/6/2019

The Total Solar eclipse series serves to bracket both the Blood Moon Tetrad and both sets of Lunar triples. Total Solar Eclipse dates bracketing the first Lunar Triple and the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad are seen below:

5/20/2012
11/13/2012
5/10/2013
11/3/2013

Total Solar Eclipse dates bracketing the 2nd Lunar Triple and the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad are seen below:

3/9/2016 [Nisan 1]
9/1/2016 [Feast of Trumpets]
2/26/2016
8/21/2017 [Great American Eclipse]

These dates may look familiar to those who follow my Biblical Astronomy Blog [blog.try-god.org], as the first 2 Total Solar Eclipses of 2016 constitute the continuation of Solar and Lunar signs on Hebrew Feast and Holy days following the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-15. Due to a lack of consensus regarding the appearance of Aviv Barley in Israel, the alignment of these solar eclipses with Hebrew Feast and holy days went mostly unrecognized in 2016. But they are key as they represent a direct link to the Aug. 21^st, Total Solar eclipse. We also noted above, how the 2nd Blood Moon of each lunar triple bracketing the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad was visible over Jerusalem. Provides a riveting link to the destruction 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. 3

What is interesting is that there was also a Blood Moon Tetrad marking the 69-70 AD destruction of the Jerusalem Temple., and 70 AD was the last year Jerusalem was under control of the Hebrews until the Blood Moon Tetrad of 1967-68. These Luni–Solar Eclipses of 2016 also mirror exactly the 69-70 AD Blood Moon Tetrad, Its also worthy to note that the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Regulus marking Christ’s birth, is linked to this destruction of the Jerusalem Temple foretold by Christ [Matt. 24:2], since the next Jupiter-Regulus conjunction did not recur till Oct. 15th, 69 AD. 4

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.” Jesus Christ embodied the Temple in 2 aspects; 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. 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’ Second Coming. The 69-70 AD Blood Moon Tetrad 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 3. The Rev. 12 sign on August 27th, 70 AD: With a Jupiter-Venus union! 5

The woman has a crown of twelve stars, and Jupiter and Venus are in such close conjunction 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 with the Moon near her feet. The King Planet 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 takes place in the center of the Blood Moon Tetrad that marks the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD.

As we transition to events of the recent past, in past light of Jupiter’s role in the Celestial Prelude, the 2017 triple conjunction of Jupiter-Spica was heralded by two Mercury-Spica unions in 2015, within a 6-week period. The first conjunction occurred Sept. 17^th, 2015, and the 2^nd on October 29^th, 2015. Mercury-Gabriel, as messenger arch-angel gives two proclamations resulting from its retrograde motion, as a precursor to Jupiter’s retrograde motion in Virgo, forming a triple union of Jupiter-Spica in 2017. Mercury-Gabriel established the pending triple union of Jupiter-Spica on Oct. 11^th, 2016, in a pre-dawn conjunction with Jupiter, as Mercury passes within a degree of Jupiter in a Sunrise union.

Once the recognition of ripe Barley occurred in Israel it, added two more Lunar Eclipse events in 2016, to the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015. Although the two added Lunar Eclipses on Hebrew Feast and Holy Days with the four Blood Moons do make a highly unique event including 6 Lunar Eclipses from 2014-2016, the added 2016 events do not qualify as Blood Moons. That being said, it does not make these 2016 Lunar Eclipses any less significant, or less worthy of our undivided attention, because all 6 of these qualify as Lunar Eclipses in 3 consecutive years on Hebrew Feast days, just a bit different, in a distinct class from the Four Blood Moons! As we consider the import of these Penumbral Lunar Eclipses in 2016, we can not omit the similarity to the Penumbral Lunar Eclipses that happened in 70 AD marking the Romans destruction of the Jerusalem Temple.

The following summary from our Biblical Blood Moon Calendar post, shows the 70 AD Roman Temple Destruction as Jesus Prophesied.

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 Penumbral 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

Its interesting to note that if the ripe Barley determination was made before the Total Solar Eclipse on March 9th, 2016, it would also have aligned with Nisan 1, as seen with the Total Solar Eclipse above on 3/30/70 AD. This comparison of Solar and Lunar signs between 70 AD and 2016 is truly remarkable! Also, as we mentioned in the Purim Blood Moon post, 71 AD was the last Lunar Eclipse on Purim that we can find in the intervening period up to today. The fascinating parallel here is that these Luni-Solar signs marked the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD, while today we are looking for the return of a Third Jerusalem Temple as the next logical step in Biblical Prophecy following up on Israel’s reclamation of Jerusalem, marked by the 1967-68′ Blood Moon Tetrad, in the 6-day War with Egypt. Thus we see the impact of these Solar and Penumbral Lunar Eclipses in 2016 as they form the only other Luni–Solar signs on Hebrew Feasts that are considered a Tetrad over the last 2000 years!

In summary, we have seen how the Super-Moon Triad capped off with the 1st Blood Moon of 2018, links to the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-15, via the series luni-solar eclipses that frame it. The Lunar Triads bracketing the Biblical Tetrad visible over Jerusalem, link to the Temple which was destroyed in the Sabbath years of 587-586 BC and 70 AD, looking forward to the future 3rd Jerusalem Temple. This is established by the luni-solar eclipses matching in 2016 and 70 AD, both leading to the Rev. 12 signs tied to Christ through the Jupiter-Regulus unions in 69 AD & 3-2 BC, along with other planetary conjunctions noted above. This suggests we should expect activity related to the forthcoming Third Jerusalem Temple.

Footnotes

1. [www.bloodmoonscoming.com] Graphic 3B “Like No Other”
2. Fearful Symmetry Pt. II graphic, Alexander Lawrence
3. Number in Scripture, ppg. 237-38, E.W. Bullinger
4. http://www.777thsabbath.com/page97.html
5. Stellarium Astronomical Software on Aug. 27th, 70 AD

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The Feast of Hannukah and the Magi

Birth of Jesus Christ — **The Feast of Hannukah and the Magi**

In our previous December blog post for 2017, we looked at the astronomical heritage of the Magi going back to Abraham. This final post for 2017 will focus more on this heritage through Daniel, as we compare some of the celestial signs that brought the Magi to Jerusalem during Hannukah week in 2 BC, to current heavenly signs in 2017.

“The truth regarding “his star” became accessible knowledge to the Magi going back to when the Persians took over the Babylonian Empire {Daniel 5:31}. As recorded in Daniel 6, at the time of transition, Daniel retained the high position he had held under Babylonian rule. According to Daniel 6:3, Daniel was again set over the Magi, and therefore could fully instruct them in the accurate knowledge of Biblical prophecy written in the stars. Thus, Daniel and his Judean companions in the courts of Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian, and Darius the Persian passed their knowledge of the history and spiritual significance of the Constellations to the Magi who preserved it and hence were aware of the promise of the birth of the Judean King.” ¹

In the context of Daniel’s many Messianic prophecies, he founded and lead the Magi as the legitimate group of astronomers, preserving the principles of the Bible Patriarchs, that would play a key spiritual and historical role in recognizing and presenting gifts at the birth of the Messiah. As Gentile astronomers in recognition of the promised seed, the Magi were some of the first non-Judeans to realize the coming glory of the Son of God, as the prophecy of the Magi in Isaiah 60:3-6 indicates: “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”

Around 600 years before the birth of Christ, Daniel as Rab-mag, and chief of the Magi, proved to be an exceptional man of God. Daniel’s distinguished career not only included being a principal administrator in two world empires-the first two empires prophesied in King Necbuchadnezzar’s dream of the Great image [Dan. 2:31-47], but also wielded great political power as “ruler over the whole province of Babylon,” with his Judean companions, [Dan. 2:48-49]. The ancient Magi formed a Priesthood of the Medes known for their profound spiritual knowledge, with special expertise in interpreting dreams. Darius the Great empowered them over the state religion of Persia, [Dan. 6:1-3]. In this capacity, where both civil and political counsel was invested with religious power, the Magi became the supreme priestly caste of the Persian empire, continuing their prominence into the Seleucid and Parthian empires. Their duties even included the choice and election of the king of the realm.

Figure 1. Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, [Dan. 2:31-47].

Since the times of Daniel, the fortunes of both the Persian and the Jewish nations were closely related. Both the Persian and Israelite nations fell under Seleucid domination following the conquests of Alexander the Great. Israel regained its independence under Maccabean leadership, as the Persians became the ruling group within the Parthian Empire.

From the book of Daniel and historical sources, the meaning of the “abomination of desolation” in one sense is the desecration of the Temple when Antiochus IV set up a statue of Zeus in the Jerusalem Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar on December 25, 167 BC, honoring the birth of the Sun god. With this act of desolation Antiochus is seen as a forerunner of the future anti-Christ, who will also defile the third Temple. This desolation of the temple motivated the Jews into a revolt resulting in their political independence for the first time since the Babylonian Captivity. As Judah Maccabee marched into Jerusalem to purify the Temple, idols were torn down and the defiled temple altar was dismantled with a new altar and holy vessels to replace them. The first day of a new feast was set to re-dedicate the Temple on the 25th of Kislev, the same day when, three years earlier, Antiochus issued his decree. This end of foreign rule has been celebrated in the current Jewish festival of Hanukkah, meaning “dedication” (of the sanctuary) from 164 B. C. until today. This feast however is not recognized as one of the main seven feasts on the Hebrew Calendar starting with Passover. Even though Hannukah was not a feast sanctioned in the OT Law, the Jews honored this feast with much esteem.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Tradition tells us however, when Judah offered prayers of dedication in the Temple in 165 BC, only one vessel of sanctified oil was found—enough for one day. Miraculously, it burned for eight days! This is remembered by the kindling of lights for eight days, in the lighting of the Menorah Lamp. With this miraculous spiritual recognition, the Feast of Dedication [John 10:22], not only memorialized the removal of idols and idolatry from the Temple during this period of the Maccabees, but Jesus Christ also honored this feast celebration during his ministry. In 27 AD when Jesus opened his ministry to Israel, there were 9 weeks from the end of the Feast of Tabernacles on Oct. 11th, [Tishri 22] to the start of the Feast of Dedication on Dec. 13th 27 AD [Kislev 25] in the late fall and early Winter of 27 to 28 AD, during which time Jesus sent out the 70, [Lk. 10:1-24].

John 10:22-25

²²And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. ²³And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. ²⁴Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. ²⁵Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

Reverting back to the time of the Magi’s trek to Jerusalem, “The Star of Bethlehem,” as it has been known in tradition for centuries, has caused untold confusion with regards to the birth-date of Jesus Christ. Much of this confusion is due to the fact that the Magi actually presented their gifts to the child Jesus on Dec. 25th, 2 BC who was about 15 and 1/2 months old by this time. This holiday via Roman Catholic tradition, related to the pagan holiday Saturnalia, on the Winter Solstice that was celebrated as “Christ-mass,” once Christianity became the official state religion of Rome. However believer’s with any knowledge of this subject realize this was not Christ’s birthday. Dr. Earnest Martin documents the many reasons why the Eclipse of 4 BC, which many historians have favored, does not qualify as the sign marking the death of Herod. Instead, Dr. Martin makes a very strong case for the Jan. 9, 1 BC Blood Moon Eclipse as the one marking Herod’s Death. This provides a temporal framework for the birth of Christ on Sept 11th, 3 BC one hand, with this January 1 BC Eclipse on the other, when Jupiter was observed in the skies over Jerusalem and Bethlehem by the Magi.

Upon leaving the massing of planets in August of 2 BC, Jupiter continued in its westerly retrograde motion observed by the Magi in their normal early morning observations. It entered Virgo by December 4th of that year, shortly before dawn, where it took up a Meridian position during the conjunction of Venus-Mars. The eclipse that shortly preceded Herod’s death occurred on January 9, of the same year. Thus it was sometime during this five week period from December 4th to January 9th that the Magi journeyed from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and saw the star of Matt. 2:9.“²

As Dr. Earnest Martin relates:

“…This apparent westward motion of Jupiter each day would have indicated to the Magi to proceed in the same westward direction toward Jerusalem.“ During their visit with Herod, the Magi were directed to Bethlehem by the input of the Judean Scribes.” ³

Figure 2. The Caravan of the Magi entering Jerusalem.

Matthew 2:2
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

This question from the Magi is the first question in the NT, and very pointed one directed at Herod, who had secured the title of “King of the Jews” from Augustus Caesar, but was not able to secure Jerusalem for another three years, until after five months of Roman siege. History has no problem recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital city although the UN today and the Palestinian’s are unwilling to do so. Herod gained the throne of a thorny buffer state situated between two dominating world empires of Rome and Parthia, and as then, this continues to show Jerusalem and Israel as perhaps the most contested and important piece of real estate in the world.

” Herod and his scribes had directed the Magi to Bethlehem because of a scriptural prophecy. Now the star confirmed this location by appearing directly before them as they approached the city of David. Both Scripture and the Heavens were directing them. Interestingly, their journey brought them to Jerusalem in December, at which time a joyous festival called the Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah, took place. The significance of this time is apparent when one considers that the Feast of Dedication marked the restoration of worship in the Temple after a period of foreign occupation. Now, the Magi were coming to pay respect to, or worship, the young King of the Judeans, who was the true Temple.“ ⁴[emphasis mine]

On December 25^th, 2 BC, from our website study; “The Stars over Bethlehem,” Jupiter became stationary for six days in Virgo, due to its annual retrograde motion during the Feast of Dedication, at the time of the Winter Solstice. Although Hannukah is a joyous time for Israel, and a time for gift giving, this was the opposite theme of Solstice festivals celebrated by the pagan Gentiles. Since the start of the eight day celebration of Hannukah began on December 23^rd, the Magi presented their gifts on the 3rd day of this festival. The Jews viewed Hanukkah as a 2nd feast of Tabernacles symbolizing their redemption with and the entire world to God. No fast, or mourning was allowed during the eight days of this time of joy and festivity. From the Jewish perspective, there was no better time for the Magi to present their gifts to a child in Israel than at the time of Hanukkah. Here all of Israel commemorated their triumph over the idolatry of the Gentiles and the renewal of their lives to the God of Abraham.

In a previous blog post last month we referenced the truth that the Gentile Magi arrived during Hannukah-the festival of lights, as a 2nd Feast of Tabernacles, allowing for those who missed the first one in September. It is fitting that the initial Gentile recognition and response to the light of the world took place during the festival of lights, showing God’s Grace to all mankind, [Hag. 2:7]. The timing of the winter Solstice is also key here because the Gentile Magi appeared at the expected birth of the heathen sun-god, but honored the true Son of God instead, marking a much needed transition from the heathen world’s idol practices, to the true veneration of the Promised Seed-Jesus Christ.

With both Mars and Venus in Ophiuchus, during this sign in December of 2 BC, we can see the archangel Mars-Michael, standing to protect the ascendant Morning star-the young toddler Jesus, during this time of the enemy’s attack. A noteworthy point here is Jupiter was standing still in the heavens for about six days during the Hanukkah celebration, near the intersection of the ecliptic and the Meridian in Virgo. This focuses our attention on the path of Jupiter intersecting the ecliptic; the Sun’s path, pointing out the celestial relationship between Jupiter and the Sun, not to mention their kindred symbolism.

Martin states that:

… while Jupiter was in its “standing still” position in Virgo over Bethlehem, so the Sun was also “standing still.” All know that December 25th is in the usual period of the Winter Solstice. The word Solstice means “Sun stands still.” These stationary coincidences of Jupiter and the Sun are quite related, and would have appeared significant… ⁵

Both the King Planet and the Sun were standing still during the week of Hannukah the Festival of Lights in 2 BC! This brings us to Hannukah from 12/13 to 12/21 in 2017, where the heavens are alive with follow-up celestial signs in the wake of the Rev. 12 sign of 9/23/2017. We see Jupiter in Libra moving towards the first of a triple union with Zuben El Genubi, seen below.

Figure 3. 12/21/2017 union of Jupiter-Zuben El Genubi in Libra, with Mars near Spica in Virgo. 6

The significance of Libra not only refers to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but also includes the judgement of God on mankind. The ONLY way man can be weighed in Libra’s balances and NOT found wanting, is believing in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God who bought our redemption by spilling his innocent blood at the cross, [Rom. 10:9-10]. This truth is embodied in Libra’s star, Zuben Al Chemali-the Price that Covers! 7

Jesus is the only one ever who was not only qualified, but actually laid down his life for all mankind, making him the only Way of Salvation, the Alpha and Omega-the first and last way God made available for the redemption of all humanity. Last month in our Nov. 15th blog, I supplied the Christ-centric interpretation of the Saturn-Venus union in Sagittarius which follows. In this blog we will see an alternative view of this sign based on the first of the four riders of the Apocalypse. [Rev. 6]

To brighten our holiday season this year, there is a Christmas Day conjunction of Saturn and Venus in Sagittarius! On Dec. 25th, 2017 Venus the bright and Morning Star unites with Saturn, displaying Christ’s victory over the evil one, as seen in Sagittarius where our quickly returning Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed in triumph, conquering to conquer! Here the star picture of the mounted Archer has his arrow aimed at the red heart of the Scorpion–Antares, while the foot of Ophiuchus crushes the Scorpion’s heart. As we noted in our previous blog post, Saturn has just completed its triple union with Saiph, the star in Ophiuchus’ other foot which was stung by the Scorpion, bruising the heel of the 1st and 2nd Adam’s, [Gen. 3:15]. This shows Satan’s persistent evil to obstruct God’s purposes any way he can, even though he knows he is defeated. This planetary conjunction near the conqueror’s Bow, shows the deadly accuracy of our Lord’s aim [Figure 4] to destroy the works of the enemy, [I John 3:8b].

The Hannukah feast and celebration is founded upon the defiling of the Jerusalem Temple by Antiochus IV. As a forerunner of the future anti-Christ who will declare himself-God in the third Jerusalem Temple [2 Thess. 2:3-12], the celestial signs surrounding Hannukah week deserve closer scrutiny. We find during the week of Hannukah on 12/17/2017 a massing of planets in Ophiuchus, [Fig. 4] and Venus in union with the star Saiph in the Serpent-bearer’s bruised foot. This planetary alignment in Ophiuchus includes the presence of Mercury, and the Sun. Also both the Moon and Venus are located in Ophiuchus’ wounded leg. This takes place eight days prior to the Christmas day union of Venus and Saturn in Sagittarius. Sagittarius like certain other Mazzaroth signs can have a dual meaning depending on the planets occupying its space. In the classic sense of the Sun moving in the 12 houses of the Mazzaroth [Ps. 19], each sign carries a specific meaning regarding the Sun of God-Jesus Christ, [Mal.4:2]. However, when a planet like Saturn-Satan enters a sign of the zodiac, it carries a darker significance related to the enemy. Normally, the 12 Mazzaroth signs tell of the Christ, but when we see Saturn in Sagittarius we may also be viewing signs related to the anti-Christ, especially during Hannukah for the reasons stated above. As we shared in some recent blogs, the Saturn-Saiph triple union in Ophiuchus occurred while Jupiter was in Virgo’s womb. These concurrent triple conjunctions resulted from the retrograde motions of the planets involved. This also included the Mercury’s retrograde around Regulus in Leo, as Jupiter was exiting the womb of Virgo. Mercury’s retrograde during this time occurred from Aug 13 to September 5, 2017. As Jupiter departed Virgo’s birth canal, Saturn was moving towards the bow of Sagittarius. It is interesting that one of Sagittarius‘ brightest stars is named Nunki-meaning the prince of the earth, which also relates to the anti-Christ. We find an example of this in [Dan. 9:25-27] where the first prince refers to the Messiah in v.25, but the second prince comes with his army to destroy the city and the sanctuary, not something the Messiah will ever do. This prince was Titus the future Roman Emperor, who like Antiochus VI was a forerunner of the Antichrist. 8

Figure 4. Massing of Planets in Ophiuchus during Hannukah Week in Dec. 2017. 9

As stated above, Venus the bright and morning star in its lead up to the Christmas day union with Saturn, is in conjunction with the star Saiph in Ophiuchus’ foot. This is a follow-up to the previous triple union between Saturn and Saiph, which completed Sept. 6th 2017. As Venus joins Saturn in Sagittarius we can see elements of Rev. 6 coming to life.

Rev. 6:1-2

1. And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. +²And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Sagittarius is pictured below as a mythical beast called a Centaur-which forms the combined bodies of a horse and a man. So we have a bowman riding a horse, unified with his steed, with his crown [Corona Australis] going forth conquering to conquer…Daniel spoke about “beasts” in his prophecies [Dan. 7:17, 23] in reference to kings that would arise out of the earth. John in the book of Revelation [13:18] also refers to the number of the beast. 10

Figure 5. Sagittarius and Scorpius-Jamieson

As a follow -up to the Mercury retrograde concluding the first week of September 2017, Mercury’s next retrograde, according to NASA began in Sagittarius on December 3rd, encompassing the entire week of Hannukah 2017. A result of Mercury’s final retrograde of 2017 includes a triple union with Saturn in Sagittarius. The first conjunction of Mercury-Saturn on November 28 is the first in this series of three Mercury-Saturn conjunctions. A triple conjunction is when two planets, or a planet and star, appear together in close proximity on three different occasions in a short time-frame. The second Mercury-Saturn conjunction occurs on Dec. 6, 2017, when Mercury moves less than 1.5^o under Saturn. After the 2nd meeting of Mercury with Saturn, the messenger planet in retrograde unites with Venus, heralding the bright and morning star on December 15. The third union in this triple conjunction will be the closest of this series, with Mercury swinging about 0.7^o (seven-tenths of a degree) south of Saturn on January 13, 2018. This Jan. 13th conjunction next year will be easily visible [Fig. 6], in the morning sky since the shining Crescent Moon will spot-light Mercury and Saturn together.

Figure 6. The third of three unions of Mercury-Saturn from Nov. 28th 2017, to Jan. 13th, 2018. 11

The fall and winter of 2017 has been a beehive of triple planetary conjunctions leading up to and surrounding the Rev. 12 sign on 9/23/2017. I have linked many of the studies that tell this story in this final blog post of 2017, especially for the many new friends we have welcomed into the Biblical Astronomy Fellowship this year! If you take the time to check out the details of these linked studies, it will bless you in getting a fuller picture of what the Heavenly Father has set in the heavens for our edification for a time such as this. It is a genuine pleasure to meet you all, and I’m enjoying all the comments and feedback with all of your individual contributions!

Its a joy to share with such a fun and sharp bunch of folks, and I wish all of you the best of Holiday Seasons and the opportunity to help each other into a prosperous and blessed New Year!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

God Bless each and every one of you and your families…

Amen!!

Footnotes

1. Jesus Christ our Promised Seed, American Christian Press, p. 17.

2. THE STAR THAT ASTONISHED THE WORLD, Dr. Earnest Martin

3. IBID, Dr. Earnest Martin p. 47.

4. Jesus Christ our Promised Seed, American Christian Press, p. 63-64

5. THE STAR THAT ASTONISHED THE WORLD, Dr. Earnest Martin

6. Picture credit on Plate 3: https://jeffreylhunt.wordpress.com/2017/09/30/2017-2018

7. Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger p. 46

8. The Abomination of Desolation and other Prophetic terms of Biblical Eschatology [ppg. 4,8] Jon Nessle

9. Stellarium Ophiuchus Planetary Alignment Hannukah 2017.

10. The Abomination of Desolation and other Prophetic terms of Biblical Eschatology [ppg. 4,8] Jon Nessle

11. Bruce McClure “Tonight” Saturn-Mercury 1st of three [http://earthsky.org/tonight/mercurysaturn-conjunction-on-november-28]

Virgo’s Triple Crown, The Great Pyramid and the Celestial Sphinx

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The Convergence of Super Moon Triads with the 2014-15 Blood Moon Tetrad

2016 Luni-Solar Eclipse Tetrad on Hebrew Holidays with Super-Moon Triad

Shemitah Year 2015

Here are the signs of Shemitah Year 2022

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The Super-Moon Triad, Blood Moon Tetrad and The Jerusalem Temple

Announcement of the Messiah’s Reign

A Psalm of David. 110:1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” 2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

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God Bless each and every one of you and your families…

Amen!!

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A Psalm of David.
110:1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ²The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!