The 2015 Triple Conjunction of Jupiter-Venus and the Birth of Christ and his Kingdom

History of Biblical Astronomy

The 2015 Triple Conjunction of Jupiter-Venus and the Birth of Christ and his Kingdom 

The heavens are alive this Summer and Fall with exciting news of the Messiah’s Coming Reign and the vanquishing of evil from the face of the Earth. At the end of June we will see the first of three Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions in Leo, that will take place before the end of fall. The first union of these two brightest planets is being compared to their fantastic conjunction on June 17th 2 BC, which is referred to by many as the Star of Bethlehem. It is no mistake that these heavenly signs are so prominent as the final Blood Moon of the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015 wraps up in September. As the conclusion of this notable and unique Blood Moon Tetrad is upon us, we cross a key temporal threshold related to the warning from Joel’s Blood Moon Prophecy;

Joel 2:30-32 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

As we approach the last few months of final Blood Moon Tetrad for the next 500+ years, we are not losing sight of the added Blood Moons over the next few years set to occur apart from Hebrew Feast and holy days, since they are also noteworthy in the context of these heavenly signs of the end times. The truth of the matter is that the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, taking place on Hebrew Feast and Holy days is really calling attention to the planetary conjunctions and heavenly signs following the pattern of signs set forth surrounding the birth of Christ, which are appearing again as a Prelude to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are specifically pointing out these planetary conjunctions in this context, especially those that align or compare with the heavenly signs surrounding the Birth of Christ, following the principles of the Celestial Prelude. As the record from Joel 2 tells us about the signs taking place leading up to the Great and Notable Day of the Lord-the Victorious Second Coming of Jesus Christ, first God wants us to know that His comfort in these perilous times is available, as we turn away from the darkness of this world, and turn unto Him. Who ever calls on the name of the Lord will be Saved! Verse 30 also refers to Mount Zion; [Joel 2:1] the heights of the fortress within Jerusalem where God protects His faithful Remnant. This is the ultimate victory and Great Hope of the Ages, as we stand at the threshold of Christ’s Return where he will establish his absolute reign as King of Kings. Psalm 110 informs us of more details concerning the Lord’s Great Day, and final victory over evil.

Figure 1. Super Blood Moon on Sept. 28th will be 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.” The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

As King David wrote these inspired words from God, Who was prophetically addressing David’s Lord, [Jesus Christ], to sit at the Heavenly Father’s own right hand [Eph. 2:6-7], so we as the spiritual body of his Church can enjoy the same bird’s eye view of Creation, with his enemies under our feet; [Eph. 1:19-23]. God has sent us the Rod of His strength, embodied in Christ Jesus, out of Zion to rule over our enemies!

The Hebrew word for “rod” here [H4294mattah], is a scepter of rulership, authority, and judgment. It is also used of a branch or staff linked with the tribal authority of each of the 12 tribes of Israel.1  The word for “rule” here is [H7287-radah], meaning to tread down as crushing grapes with one’s feet or in a winepress; [Rev.19:15]. It is used of exercising dominion, to subdue, subjugate, prevail or reign.2 We can see this authority exercised by Christ in verses 5-6 below where; “He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations…”

There is also an interesting Talmudic idiom associated with this word, connected with the idea of taking bread out of an oven.3 This idiom is one for birth, that has survived into the modern day as; “she has a bun in the oven.” We have already seen references to this in Rev. 12 with the Birth and Second Coming of Christ where, the King of Kings was declared, and his everlasting Kingdom of righteousness will be established shortly. Rev. 12:5 says the “woman brought forth a man-child to rule” or shepherd the nations with a rod of iron,” which compares closely to this record in Psalm 110.

Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. The Lord has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” [Heb. 7]

Ps. 110:4 provides another critical aspect of the Lord’s ministry to Israel and all Mankind; as High Priest. In the Temple at Jerusalem as in the Tabernacle, the High Priest would always carry out a special sacrifice once a year in the Holy of the Holies, at the Ark of the Covenant, to cover the sins of Israel on the Day of Atonement. Since the blood of bulls and goats could never satisfy the requirements of man’s complete redemption, a more perfect sacrifice was needed, which Jesus Christ fulfilled as the Passover Lamb and the High Priest, not of Aaron’s Priesthood, but after the everlasting priesthood of Melchizedek. This PriestKing of Righteousness, embodied in the king planet Jupiter, called the Zedek planet, the Hebrew word for “righteousness,” symbolized the Messiah, Jesus Christ as the Righteous King. Genesis 49:8-10 tells us this scepter is from Leo the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The brightest star in Leo, the Lion, the royal tribe out of Jacob’s progeny, is Regulusmeaning “king, in HebrewMelechThus the Jupiter-Regulus triple coronation in 3-2 BC, at the birth of Christ not only crowned the King of righteousness, but also formed the dual elements of the title “Melchizedek,” also reflected in the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Venus in Leo, as these two brightest planets are aligned with Regulus in the Summer and Fall of 2015. Here we find two of the three callings of Christ as Prophet, Priest and King.

Figure 2. Christ the High Priest

Christ the High Priest
Christ the High Priest after Melchizedek

 

In this light we can understand Balaam’s great prophecy in Numbers 24, below where the star, also identified with the scepter, is coming out of Jacob.

 Num. 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh, there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israeland he shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Star out of Jacob and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel“- Star = [H3556-kowkab],4 Figuratively an illustrious Prince who is the star rising out of Jacob, holding the scepter as ruler over Israel. We notice the figure of speech utilized in this verse regarding the authority of the sceptre held by the Prince. This “star” linked with the sceptre rising out of Israel, is a celestial reference to the sign of Leo the Lion with specific implications first for it’s brightest luminary, Regulus the king star, the brightest star on the ecliptic also known as the “heart of the Lion.” The King’s sceptre is the symbol of his power over the heathens and those who oppose his purposes, as he will rule over them with unbending authority or a “rod of iron,” [Ps. 2, Rev. 19:15].

Regulus was known by the ancients as the fixed king star that is linked with this scepter. This fulfills Jacob’s prophecy, that one holding this scepter would arise out of Judah according to Gen. 49. Secondly, the regal authority of this star is established in the king planetJupiter, whose authority as we have just seen, was symbolized by Leo the Lion, of the tribe of Judah that provided the regal stock from which the kingly line of Israel arose, first in King David, and ultimately in Jesus Christ from the “root of David” [Rev. 5:5]. The triple planetary Conjunction of the king planet-Jupiter, with the king star-Regulus in
Leo from 3-2 BC, thus aligns with the prophecy of Genesis 49: 8-10, showing the maturation of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Balaam’s revelation here in Numbers 24:17 provides the Scriptural basis for the connection between the “star of Jacob” [Regulus] and the “Sceptre-Jupiter,” to the advent of Christ the King, who came forth out of Jacob’s genealogical line. Thus we can see maturation of the Lion from cub to the full prowess of the reigning King in the dual elements of Rev. 12, as they apply both his birth and sufferings, to the full glory and authority of his Kingship, as he establishes his kingdom on earth.

The complete details of the correlation between the triple Conjunction of Jupiter and Regulus in 3-2 BC, and the record in Gen. 49, is available on the DVD of “The Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ,” through our bookstore. This unique teaching provides the in-depth teaching on the celestial pageantry of the birth of Christ, along with the history of the Magi and numerous related Biblical Astronomy topics for those who want a deeper look.

An evident and recurring dual theme in Rev. 12 is not only the birth of the King of Kings, but also the birth of his kingdom of everlasting righteousness. Thus we can see clear reference to this kingdom, in the authority of he who rules with a rod of iron, symbolized in the king’s scepter-Jupiter. In our previous post [The Blood Moon Tetrad and the Rev. 12 Heavenly Signs [Part II.] we noted how Jupiter is being “birthed” in Virgo, in the time leading up to the Rev. 12 sign on September 23rd, 2017, exiting Virgo’s womb area after 42 weeks in retrograde, a period well within the expected time for human gestation. This fits with the connotations of the Hebrew word for “rule” noted above in Psalm 110:2, linked with the Talmud’s birth idiom. As this emphasis was evident in the heavens in 3-2 BC, at the birth of Christ, so we see the triple Conjunction of Jupiter-Venus set to take place in 2015, all in Leo, the first of which we can see forming in the heavens at the writing of this post. The key element of these Jupiter-Venus unions is their alignment with Regulus on the ecliptic in Leo this summer, carrying not only the original import of Regulustriple coronation, by Jupiter the king planet, but Venus the Bright and Morning Star is added also [Rev. 2:27-28]. The planetary symbolism of these conjunctions depict Jupiter-the King planet uniting with Venus-the Bright and Morning Star, aligned with Regulus in Leo the Lion of Judah[Rev. 5:5], over the next four months.

These planetary unions will be followed with added Jupiter-Venus unions occurring in Virgo in 2016-17. This 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 up to their planetary alignment with Regulus in Leo, forming the Crown of Virgo in the repeat 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:

32831844

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 is 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 in advance of the repeat of the Great Wonder in Heaven, on Sept. 23rd 2017!  However, there will be more heavenly signs involving Jupiter-Venus after this, leading up to the birthing of Jupiter in retrograde motion in Virgo. As we compare Jupiter’s retrograde in 2017, with Jupiter’s movements at the birth of Christ, we find some interesting correlations. First, it was the planet Jupiter that led the Magi to Jerusalem in search of the Promised seed. In [Matt. 2:2,9] the Magi saw Jupiter [his star in the east; G395-Anatole] meaning “in the rising.”5 Jupiter’s annual activities including its retrograde motion, began according to Dr. Earnest Martin, on December 25 in 2 BC Martin states:

Jupiter arrived at its ordinary time for retrogression and it became stationary among the stars. But this time something unusual happened. In 2 BC as viewed from Jerusalem, Jupiter came to its normal stationary position directly over Bethlehem on December 25th…not only that, the planet assumed its stationary position while in the middle of the Constellation of Virgo, the Virgin. 6 Thus, according to Martin, the same astronomical movement that initiated Jupiter’s 3 Conjunctions with Regulus, its annual retrogression, or retrograde motion would have caused Jupiter to stand still in the heavens for about six days near the intersection of the ecliptic and the Meridian mid-body in Virgo. This occurred in week of the celebration of the Feast of Dedication in December of 2 BC.

Also recall the relationship between the cycles of the Sun and Jupiter, and that it was the Sun, mid-bodied in Virgo for the 20-day period, in 3 BC from August 27th to September 15th, marking the birth of Christ. Martin goes on to say that: on December 25th, 2 BC at the ordinary time for the Magi’s pre-dawn observations, Jupiter would have been seen in Meridian position (directly over Bethlehem) at an elevation of 68 degrees above the southern horizon. This precise position would show the planet shining directly down on Bethlehem while it was stationary among the stars.” 7

Martin’s assertion that Jupiter began its retrograde motion on December 25th, 2 BC, agrees with research by V.P. Wierwille regarding the beginning of the Feast of Dedication, that year from 12-22 to 29. Wierwille, also points out that; As the Magi left Jerusalem, they saw Jupiter on its nightly course. Looking south they saw it high in the sky, nearing its apex on the Meridian of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.As, the king planet-Jupiter was mid-body in Virgo, even as the Sun was during the birth of Christ, mirroring the movement of the light of the world, while clearly marking the birthplace of the King of the Jews for the Magi. These were key celestial indicators for the Magi, who would have seen the spiritual import of “his star” Jupiterin Virgo’s mid-section during December in 2 BC, directly over Bethlehem, showing the birthplace of the King of Kings, who would inherit David’s throne.

Figure 3. Christ the King of Kings

Jesus's return on a white horse | JESUS: In contrast, Jesus Christ Himself is coming on a white horse to ...:

The retrograde motion of Jupiter the king planet in 3-2 BC marking the birth of Christ, compared to the birthing of Jupiter in Virgo’s womb in 2016-2017, marking the establishing of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is truly remarkable! We have front row seats to witness this ultimate transition of power that will wipe out the enemy, and trample the wicked under the soles of our feet as Malachi states in prophecy below.

Malachi 4:2-3
But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet  On the day that I do this,Says the Lord of hosts


Sun of Righteousness

 As Numbers 24:27 above is the prophecy of the Star-Scepter to arise out of Israel, so II Peter 1:19 foretells the completion of this prophecy.

 II Peter 1:19
19 And 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

It appears that “the day dawning” here may represent the first Advent of Christ, with the  Morning Star rising in your hearts, as the Second Advent or the victorious Return of our Lord and Savior. Interestingly, the Greek word for “rises” here is [G393-anatello] related to [G395-anatole] that we referenced above in connection to [Matt. 2:2,9] when the Magi saw “His star in the east” or in rising.

As the first advent of Christ during his sufferings and ministry to Israel, embody the Spring Feasts of Passover through Pentecost, so the Fall Feasts relate to the Second Coming of Christ. These feasts are designed by Almighty God for man to live in unity with Him and His purposes. It is not God’s desire that we live under the OT Law, but in our realization that Christ has fulfilled the Law, we must grasp the spiritual unity that God has called us to enjoy with Him, as the ultimate purpose behind these OT Feasts and Holy days, [Col. 2:16-17]. Even as the Blood Moon Tetrads have reminded us of the Creator’s original heavenly order in coordination with the Israel’s Feasts, the desired result is that we turn to God and away from the world, since God’s desire is that “All Men are saved and come unto a knowledge of the truth… ” Our spiritual unity with God is a daily walk, not by the 5 senses, but according to the gift of Holy Spirit that God made available in the New Birth on the Day of Pentecost in 28 AD. The final result of Christ’s birth and ministry to Israel and all mankind was witnessed in this New Birth first seen at the Day of Pentecost. Even so, the final result of the Second Coming of Christ will be the establishment of his Millennial Kingdom as he rests on his completed works, on the Davidic Throne, [Isa. 9:6-7]. The Second Coming of Christ links to the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, when Christ returns first, FOR his Saints [I Thess. 4:16-17], marked by “the Archangel’s voice and Trump of God,” and then WITH his Saints [Rev. 19:14], when we will know him even as we are known. This ultimate victory over the adversary and his brood will usher in the everlasting Jubilee Celebration of the Ages, providing a rest to God’s people and the earth. In this spiritual pattern of events on the calendar of Biblical feasts we find that Pentecost, the apex of Christ’s first advent, foreshadows the year of Jubilee, the apex of his Second Advent. We can also see this pattern comparing the days on this Biblical calendar foreshadowing years. As Pentecost is counted 50 days from Passover, totaling seven weeks and a day, so the 50-year Jubilee is seven sabbatical year cycles, with an added year of Jubilee. This is of particular interest as we enter the transition from the Hebrew Sabbatical year to the 50th Jubilee year, embarking on the Fall season of 2015-16; year 5776 on the Hebrew Calendar. This Jubilee is marked not only the by the [Sun clothing Virgo with the Moon at her feet] on Sept. 17th, 2015, 2 years in advance of the Rev. 12 “Great Wonder” on Sept. 23rd, 2017, but it also will be the 50th year since Jerusalem was recaptured by Israel in the 6-day War, marked by the previous Blood Moon Tetrad of 1967-68With the conclusion of the current Blood Moon Tetrad this September, the next 2 years could represent a final warning prior to the Return of Christ.

To properly prepare for the Second Coming of Christ, we must renounce the sin of broken fellowship with God vertically, and our fellow-man horizontally. This unity in fellowship with God and Man is embodied in the Feast of Atonement or Yom Kippur, which is a prerequisite for the Lord’s victorious Return to break the Adversary’s chains of bondage, and effect our release from captivity, as seen in the Year of Jubilee. In the Lord’s Great Day of ultimate victory, all the rebellious and wicked men will be utterly crushed under the feet of the righteous, [Ps.2:9].

We can no longer afford to put off righting the course of our lives, now is the time to get our houses straight in preparation for the Lord’s Victorious Visitation

Are you ready?

 

Footnotes

1. Strong’s Concordance, James Strong
a. H4294-mattah
b. H7287-radah
c. IBID
d. H3556-kowkab
e. G395-Anatole

2. The Star that Astonished the World, Dr. Earnest Martin
3. IBID
4. Jesus Christ our Promised Seed, VP Wierwille
5. Strong’s Concordance, James Strong [G393-Anatello]

 

 

 

 

The Blood Moon Tetrad and the Rev. 12 Heavenly Signs [Part II.]

Birth of Jesus Christ
Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ

The Blood Moon Tetrad and the Rev. 12 Heavenly Signs [Part II.]

In the 2nd installment on this topic, we will pick up our previous discussion on the record of the heavenly signs in Revelation 12.

The Ascension of Christ after his Resurrection marked the mandate from heaven that the King of  Kings was recognized and installed by the power from the Throne of the Almighty Heavenly Father. This required among other things, that 1/3 of the dragon’s spirit realm be ejected from heaven and confined to the earthly realms. But the Dragon itself still retains his authority and access to the heavenlies. As we have noted the Second Coming of Christ includes declaring and setting up his Kingdom, and we can see Christ initiating his Kingdom Authority after he ascended, in removing the fallen angel’s access to the heavenly realms. The Prince of the Power of the Air; the Adversary still has access to the heavenly throne-room to accuse the righteous, but this will change as Christ readies to Gather the Church of his spiritual Body. The Gathering Together of the Body of Christ [II Thess. 2:1ff], takes place when Jesus Christ returns FOR his Saints and we meet him in the Air; [1 Thess. 4:17]. The enemy will be deprived of his current access to the heavens, along with his ability to accuse the righteous members of the Body of Christ, as Christ Gathers the Church. This is specifically recorded below in [Rev. 12:7-8] as the record clarifies first in the war in heaven, that Archangel Michael and his Angels fight against and cast down the dragon with his minions. Revelation 12:8 also refers both to the dragon and his angels-telling us “neither was their place found anymore in heaven.” Figure 4 below depicts the rod or scepter of Christ’s Kingdom authority, symbolized in the King planet Jupiter.

Figure 4. The decan of Cepheus the Crowned King

cepheus as the crowned king

The constellation Cepheus the crowned king, shows Christ in his royal authority with his scepter in hand and the Northern Pole Star under his feet [Eph. 1:19-23], the pole star Polaris, signifying Christ’s dominion over all Creation as seen in the precession of the poles.

(Rev 12:5) And2532 she brought forth5088 a man730 child,5207 who3739 was3195 to rule4165 all3956 nations1484 with1722 a rod4464 of iron:4603 And  her848 child5043 was caught up726 unto4314 God,2316 and to his848 throne.

As we view the dual aspects of these Rev. 12 prophecies, we see Christ’s completed works, summarized in his sufferings, from birth through finishing his ministry, followed in his glorious Kingdom where he truly “rules all nations with a rod of iron.” This glorious aspect of Christ’s kingdom authority is not fulfilled until after the 2nd phase of the Lord Returning WITH his Saints is completed [Rev. 19:11-19]. This tells us that this Rev. 12:5 record is not strictly chronological in how all of its elements are set forth. As a result, the key aspects of Rev. 12 can carry varied meanings depending on which dual aspects of the record are being emphasized. The woman symbolized by the sign Virgo the virgin, can refer to Mary who birthed Jesus in verse 5, but it can also refer to Israel in Rev. 12:6; where she flees into the wilderness and is fed by God 1260 days. The word “child” can also refer to Jesus born of Mary, or the 7 Christian Churches addressed in [Rev. 1-3]as the spiritual Body of Christ that is “caught up unto God.” The emphasis here shows Christ’s ultimate victory over the serpent and its seed, despite all the enemy’s efforts to obstruct the purposes of the Heavenly Father. The second part of this verse refers to her [Virgo’s] child [G5043-teknon]1 or “toddler.” Since Jesus was not ascended as a child, but an adult who had just laid down his life as the perfect sacrifice to redeem Mankind, his ascension fulfills his status as the first fruits from the dead. Also, the child here is “caught up;” [G726-harpazo]1 to God and His Throne. This Greek word is not used to refer to Christ’s [G305-anabaino] Ascension, but Harpazo is used specifically of the Gathering Together of the Church when we are “caught up” to meet the Lord in the Air [I Thess. 4:17], at the “Rapture.” Since the Church of Christian Believers collectively fits the description of a “childspiritually when Christ Gathers us Together, better than Christ would himself at his Ascension [Eph. 4:8-10], it seems likely that this reference would apply in its dual significance to the Church Gathered together in glory, more than to the Ascension of Christ, after his sufferings. When Jesus completed the sufferings [Heb. 4:15] of his ministry and sacrifice for Israel and all Mankind, this was followed by the Day of Pentecost in 28 AD, which opened the Age of Grace. When Christ comes to Gather his Church, this closes out the Age of Grace; [Eph. 1:10, II Cor. 5:10], initiating the Revelation [Apokalupsis] period, where the events of the Book of Revelation take place.

As we have pointed out in other posts on this blog, these truths are also preserved in the ancient sentinels of the Giza Plateau; the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramid. The union of the heavenly signs of Leo the lion, with the woman Virgo in the female-headed Great Sphinx also depicts the life of Jesus, from birth, starting with the setting of Spica on September 11th, 3 BC. This is not only depicted in Rev. 12:5 above, but also in Gen. 49:9 as Christ’s human maturation from lion’s whelp, where his prey is provided for him, seen in Job 38:39-41 below, to stalking his own prey, unto his ultimate victory casting down and rending the dragon. This is the 3-fold theme from Gen. 49:9-10 ties directly to the celestial wonders of Revelation 12, linking God’s Word together with His stellar revelation. We can see this set for us at the canonical start and finish of both the Biblical and stellar gospels, forming a parallel testimony of the Scriptures with the stars. We have seen powerful specific examples of this in the celestial triple coronation ceremony of the three unions of Jupiter and Regulus in Leo, from 3-2 BC, marking the birth of Christ.

Figure 5. The Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramid

shinxpyramidsmall

We find added evidence for this in Virgo’s crown, of the 12 signs/tribes/Apostles of the Church of Christ’s Body. This theme is monumentally preserved in the Great Sphinx with the head of the Woman Virgo bearing the infant promised seed, who matures to fulfill his highest of callings, by defeating and destroying the enemy’s works, as shown in the other 10 zodiacal signs between Virgo and Leo. Here we have a reference to the Crown of 12 stars of the woman-Virgo, as her Promised Seed; Leo the Lion of the Tribe of Judah rules over the 12 tribes of Israel.

In the DENDERAH ZODIACLeo the lion bears the Egyptian name Pi-Mentikeon which tells of pouring out the divine wrath. Another Egyptian word referring to Leo is Aryo, the rending Lion,2 which is seen in Job 38.

Figure 6. Leo the Lion rending Hydra-the Serpent Destroyed

leo the lion

Job 38:39-41. 39. Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? Or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40. When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41. Who provideth for the raven his food? When his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

 This section of the book of Job also reveals the decan of Leo called Corvus the Raven who, as we can see below in Figure. 6, with the other carrion-eaters and birds of the field, feasts upon the carcass of Hydra the serpent destroyed. An interesting astronomical truth in support of this lies in the fact that the crowned head of Virgo actually bridges about 10 degrees into the sign Leo on the ecliptic. We have already seen this in connection with the star Denebola, in the lion’s tail. The star Sarcam in Leo, is a Hebrew word meaning “the joining,“3 identifying the point where the two ends of the Zodiacal circle have their joining. This is borne out in the sign Corvus, the bird of prey devouring the sea-monster Hydra, a decan of Virgo. The bright star in the eye of Corvus the Raven, called Al Chibar in Arabic means “joining together,”4 referring also to the union of as these two ends of the true zodiac! This is pictured in Figure 7 below, depicting the Hydra a major sea-dragon constellation [Isa. 27:1], with Corvus the Raven and carrion eater, shown devouring the perishing remains of the destroyed Serpent. As the last sign of the Biblical zodiac, confirming the witness of the stars that God set in them, the Astronomy of the ancients speaks loudly in support of both the Scriptures and the heavens, as they declare the Coming Redeemer of Mankind to the glory of God; [Ps. 19:1]. As we start this study in Virgo and wrap it up in Leo, we see a primary purpose of the Great Sphinx, formed as the head of Virgo the Woman, and he body of Leo the Lion– the alpha and omega of the celestial scroll, witnessing the promised seed of mankind as the first and last way of redemption provided by the Hand of the Creator. With the witness of the other monumental elements of the Giza Plateau in unison with this record, we are afforded a most powerful testimony of Biblical Archaeo-Astronomy in the Creator’s application of His Intelligent Design principles that He incorporated into His Creation.

Figure 7. The Constellation Hydra; the Serpent destroyed, with the Raven.

His final defeat of the serpent is witnessed in Leo, the Lion of the tribe of Judah [Rev. 5:5], as the Lion’s extended claws are set to rend the Hydra-the old serpent destroyedto pieces. The Hydra is the longest of the Constellations, extending below Libra’s scales through Virgo and Leo to include the sign of Cancer. These four signs; the woman, her seed, his sacrifice, and the altar, not only represent 1/3 of the entire circle of the 12 signs of the zodiac, but also depict a carnal facsimile of Christ’s righteous sacrifice, in the religion of human works, attempting to earn salvation while ignoring the completed work of Grace, given by God in His only begotten Son. Thus, as the Hydra [the serpent destroyed] slithers below these four signs of the zodiac, he represents the counterfeit and deception of the antichrist, leading away from, and denying the true work of Christ. This is a key end-time aspect of the devil’s works that Christ comes to destroy . In this end-timeline of Rev. 12, we find not only the Gathering Together of the Church prior to the “war in heaven” in verse 7, but also the woman is travailing in birth leading up to the delivery of the Church’s Gathering. This alerts us to the time of “Jupiter’s birthing” in Virgo, which takes place Sept. 9th, 2017. The symbolism of the king planet Jupiter being birthed in Virgo, embodies the birth of Christ’s Kingdom, as the Church of his spiritual body is manifested with him in heaven, at the right hand of the heavenly Father. An interesting note is that although the Jupiter/scepter/rod of iron enters Virgo on 8-26/27-2016 marking one of the 3 conjunctions of Jupiter-Venus in 2016-2017, it does not enter Virgo’s womb until November of 2016, where it spends 42 weeks in retrograde, a period well within the normal time of human gestation. When Jupiter exits the stellar enclosure marking Virgo’s womb on Sept. 9th, 2017, Jupiter’s “birthingcould signify a time period where the birth of the Kingdom of Christ may logically be initiated, with the Gathering Together of his spiritual body the Church. It is also noteworthy that the Feast of Trumpets occurs at the New Moon on 9-21-2017, [1 Thess. 4:16-17]. This is not a prediction of when the Church’s Gathering in Christ will occur, but only a summary of these Bible record details, combined with what the Biblical Astronomy of these heavenly signs tells us about this important time in our history and current events, highlighted by the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, and its historical impact for Israel during the Age of Grace over the last 2000 years. 

Revelation 12:7-9

(Rev 12:7) And2532 there was1096 war4171 in1722 heaven:3772 Michael3413 and his848 angels32 fought4170 against2596 the3588 dragon;1404 and the3588 dragon 1404 fought 4170 and his 848 angels,32 (Rev 12:8) And prevailed2480 not;3756 neither3777 was their848 place5117 found2147 any more2089 in1722 heaven.3772 (Rev 12:9) And the3588 great3173 dragon1404 was cast out,906 that old744 serpent,3789 called2564 the Devil,1228 and  Satan,4567 which deceiveth4105 the3588 whole3650 world:3625 he was cast out906 into1519 the3588 earth,1093 and  his848 angels32 were cast out906 with3326 him.846

In verse 7 we have the Archangel Michael contending in spiritual warfare against the dragon and his angels. In verse 9 we find four names of the adversary [dragon, old serpent, the Devil, and Satan], referring to four different aspects of the enemy’s spiritual dominion over the darkness of this world. We also see a fifth name-deceiver, which is a common trait in the other four names of the enemy. The Devil must deceive people into following his ways, because nobody in their right mind would ever voluntarily follow him if they knew his true nature. Thus deception is a universal trait of the enemy’s kingdom, and his key mode of operation. This shows how the enemy has marshalled his spiritual forces of fallen angels as they oppose the Heavenly Father’s Godly order. We have just seen two examples of how the serpentine aspects of the enemy’s spiritual dominion are celestially represented in the Dragon-Draco and HydraLets take a closer look at Serpens the serpent.

Figure 7. Ophiuchus and Serpens in a Struggle for the Crown of Creation.

serpentine asterism

One aspect of Serpens that arrests our attention is the recurring theme of the dragon’s head and tail, that we discussed in Part I, linked with the serpentine asterism of Draco. This points to a shadow of the 4D symbolism of the Cardinal Directions, painting a picture of composite truth, as their shadows do also. Just as each of the Serpent’s 4 names in Rev. 12:9, indicate different functions in how the adversary opposes God’s purposes, so these serpents in the sky indicate varying aspects of his activity, which when taken together, provide us a detailed picture of how he works his evil designs in his dark world kingdom. Thus we should consider these four serpentine signs both individually and collectively, as shadows of the cardinal points, to glean a fuller lesson of their message.

As Robert Burnham states: ”Serpens is the only star group completely divided into two portions: Serpens Caput [head] to the west of Ophiuchus, and Serpens Cauda [tail] to his east. In support of this concept, the stars within this Constellation follow suit. Burnham points out that “the Beta star in Serpens marks the head… while the Theta star marks the end of the serpent’s tail.5 [ppg.1764-65] He goes on to highlight an intriguing link to Roman myth, where “Serpens is a symbol of the divine healer Aesculapius who became the god of medicine, and who appears in the sky as Ophiuchus the serpent bearer.” 6

Ophiuchus’ battle against his enemy is pictured in this Constellation group as the Scorpion and Serpens. This gives us an example of how to take a composite view to glean the truth from these celestial signs. Man’s struggle for dominion against the serpent is highlighted by the temporary wound the serpent inflicts on him, as shown by the scorpion’s stinging of his heel [Gen. 3:15]. The star picture of this initial prophecy of the promised seed cannot be fully grasped, unless we take a composite look at these signs [Ophiuchus, Serpens, Sagittarius, Scorpius & Corona]. The same can be said of the four serpents in the sky, where the function and mode of operation of the evil one is concerned. A case in point we are illustrating here relates to the Mayan prophecy of the end of the World that began on December 21st, 2012. Our view of this heavenly sign-focused at the galactic center of the Milky Way Galaxy, is based on the Biblical Astronomy of this scenario, much more than the emphasis given to Mayan Astrology by many others.

The graphic below from the Voyager17 Astronomy program depicts the sky on this date initiating the end of the world based on the Mayan Astrology. The main components of the scene include Sagittarius, representing the returning Lord Jesus Christ, riding his flying white steed in ultimate victory in the spiritual warfare against the dragon and its brood, represented by Serpens and Scorpius the scorpion. The Sun is centered at the tip of Sagittarius’ arrow which is pointed at the red star Antares, the heart of the Scorpion, as it’s simultaneously being crushed from above by the foot of Ophiuchus. This reveals the light of the world shining his inescapable brilliance on the kingdom of darkness, as he totally exposes the evil works of the enemy while conquering and laying waste to them all. This again represents part of Jesus’ declaration and establishment of his kingdom, in the Second phase of his victorious 2nd Coming, as he Returns WITH his Saints, who have already been Gathered Together, and are riding by his side as the armies of Heaven; [Rev. 19:11ff] setting up his everlasting kingdom of Light.

Figure 8. The Galactic Center of the Milky Way  on December 21st, 2012.

light on the kingdom of darkness

As The Sun of God arises here with healing in his wings, the light of the world; [II Peter 1:19], is pictured in the heel of Ophiuchus. This is the heel wounded by the Scorpion, but his sacrificial death was only temporary, unlike the deadly head wound he inflicts on the serpent. This image of Jesus as the great healer of all our wounds was foreshadowed by Moses’ Brass Serpent, also known as the Caduceus. Even today, the symbol of the medical arts is this Caduceus. This ancient icon formed on mirrored serpents spiraling around a pole, finds its Biblical precedent in the book of Numbers 21. As we acknowledge the stellar elements of the Celestial Sphinx we can see the heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ rewinding in the context of the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015. God has seeded his celestial order with these heavenly signs to forewarn us of the end-times that we have the privilege to experience first hand, the Hope of the Ages, the Victorious Second Coming of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior. Lets us help rescue as many of those who will acknowledge these truths with us, to enjoy our everlasting salvation with the Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus!

 

Footnotes

1. Strong’s Concordance, James Strong [a. G5043-teknon, b. G726-harpazo c. G305-anabaino]
2. Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger
3. IBID
4. IBID
5. Burnham’s Celestial Handbook, Robert Burnham, ppg. 1764-65
6. IBID
7. Voyager Astronomy Program, Milky Way Galactic Center 12-21-2012

 

 

The Blood Moon Tetrad and the Rev. 12 Heavenly Signs

Birth of Jesus Christ
Biblical Astronomy of the Birth and Return of Christ

The Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015 and the Rev. 12 Heavenly Signs  [Part I.]

A Primary theme of our work regarding the Biblical Astronomy surrounding the Birth and Second Coming of Christ is based on the idea of The Celestial Prelude. As we documented in our most recent Blog Post on The Blood Moon Tetrad and the Celestial Prelude, the heavenly signs over the last seven years of the BC era, recognized by the first Century Magi, not only allowed them to accurately discern the timing of the Birth of Jesus Christ, but they also set the pattern for an accurate end-time recognition of the heavenly signs marking the Second Coming of Christ. In this light, we have continued with a detailed comparison of heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ with those leading up to his glorious Return. This post carries on that theme. The accurate understanding of the Biblical Astronomy of these two most critical events in all human history, is based on the record in Revelation 12. To ascertain a proper Biblical perspective of this powerful Bible Prophecy, we must first allow that this record has a dual significance that applies in detail, both to the Birth and Return of the Lord Jesus Christ. In previous Blog posts, we have referenced the “sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow,” [I Peter 1:11] as one perspective from which to understand the dual significance of the Biblical Astronomy of the Rev. 12 record. The Sufferings of Christ were endured in his perfect sacrifice for Israel and all mankind, in the Birth, life-ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. His glory we are close to witnessing as the heavenly signs that marked his first appearance on Earth, rewind to prepare us for his victorious Second Coming. As we have been documenting, the heavenly signs, and planetary conjunctions seen leading up to, and including the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, are setting the stage for the recapitulation of heavenly signs marking his glorious return. We can also understand the dual significance of this Rev. 12 record in light of the Ministry of Christ to Israel as the declaration of the King of Kings, which was rejected by Israel, resulting in the dispersion of the Jews during the Age of Grace, over the last 2000 years. The Second Coming of Christ represents the declaration of His Kingdom, when he sets up his Millennial Reign on Earth. As we have seen in the heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ, the Rev. 12 Great Wonder in Heaven” was witnessed in the Sept. 11th, 3 BC sign in Virgo, fulfilling this prophecy, as the Sun Clothed Virgo with the Moon under her feet. These are the primary elements of this celestial prophecy that unmistakably mark the birth of Christ. As we have maintained for many years, and in my DVD presentation on The Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ, available in our Bookstore in the Right hand margin of this page, we have documented the details of this Rev. 12 record, along with very moments of Christ’s birth in the Biblical Astronomy, and historical records that narrow the time of his birth down to a period of about 10 minutes! The graphic in Figure 1. below, from the book  Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed, has been utilized a number of times to depict this heavenly sign. A number of renown, professional astronomers agree with this, not the least among them being Dr. Earnest Martin.

Rev. 12:1-2 (Rev 12:1) And there appeared3700 a great3173 wonder4592in1722 heaven;3772 a woman1135 clothed with4016 the3588 sun,2246 and the3588 moon4582 under5270 her848 feet,4228 and upon1909 her848 head2776 a crown4735 of twelve1427 stars:792 (Rev 12:2) And she being with child2192, 1722, 1064 cried,2896 travailing in birth,5605 and pained928 to be delivered.

Figure 1. Revelation 12:1 sign. 1

Rev. 12 sign
Virgo Clothed with the Sun with Moon at her feet

 

There are a number of key elements beginning with this sign in Rev. 12:1, when viewed in the context of the Return of Christ that can qualify as a Biblical chronology in this record, once viewed in the context of the current Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015. As a key Blood Moon prophecy from the book of Joel states:

[Joel 2:31]  “The Sun shall be turned to darkness and the Moon to Blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

As we have detailed in numerous posts on this Blog, the Blood Moon Lunar and Solar Eclipses that have occurred on Hebrew Feast and holy days during the previous 7 Blood Moon Tetrads in the Age of Grace, culminating in the current eighth Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, represent a benchmark in the timeline leading to the Day of the Lord. Since we know that these heavenly signs will take place before the Second Coming of Christ, we can factor them into our comparison of heavenly signs leading us to the Lord’s Return. This is why we take note of not only the Blood Moon Tetrads, but all the Solar and Lunar Eclipses in the vicinity of the Tetrads, especially those marking the return of Israel to her homeland in 1949-50, and regaining Jerusalem in 1967-68, including the current 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad. The Solar and Lunar Eclipse/Feast dates of the current 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad are as follows:

img6

April 29th, 2014 Annular Solar Eclipse
October 23rd, 2014 Partial Solar Eclipse
March 20th, 2015, Total Solar Eclipse [Nisan 1]
Sept. 13th, 2015, Partial Solar Eclipse [Feast of Trumpets]
Sept. 15/16, 2015 Celestial Sphinx Sign [Rev. 12:1-2]
Sept. 23rd, 2015 Day of Atonement/50 Year Hebrew Jubilee
Sept. 28th, 2015 Super Blood Moon-Feast of Tabernacles

The Partial Solar Eclipse on September 13th at the Feast of Trumpets this Fall is the next heavenly sign in the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, before the fourth and Final Super-Blood Moon on the Feast of Tabernacles, Sept. 28th, 2015. Between these signs marking the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Tabernacles this September, we have the Day of Atonement on Sept. 23rd, 2015. This day opens the 50-year Hebrew Jubilee, year 5776 on the Hebrew Calendar! Technically, the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015 does not completed until the 28th, but the fact that this initiates a special Jubilee 7year Sabbatical period, alerts us to the synchronicity in God’s timing of these events. This Day of Atonement/Hebrew Jubilee is also critical being exactly 2 years prior to the Sept. 23rd, 2017Great Wonder in Virgo,” [Rev. 12: 1-2], but the Day of Atonement in 2017 is not till Sept. 30th.

As we compare this to the heavenly signs of The Celestial Prelude, there was a key planetary alignment and a Blood Moon both in Pisces, exactly two years apart on Sept. 15th 7 BC and the same date in 5 BC. These heavenly signs not only directed the Magi’s attention to the sign Virgoclothed with the Sun, but also the lunar eclipse on September 15th of 5 BC, establishing that the Magi should be watchful of lunar activity marking Christ’s birth. This framed the 42 minute period between Sunset and Moon-set on the only day of the year when Virgo “was clothed with the Sun and the Moon at her feet, as prescribed in Rev. 12:1. Thus it is quite significant leading up to the Return of Christ that another two year period from the Day of Atonement: 9-23-2015 to the Rev. 12:1 sign on 9-23-2017, is being marked in the heavens, as at the Birth of Christ. Just as Jupiter was recognizedby the Magi as “His Star” [Matt. 2:2] at the birth of Christ, so Jupiter the King Planet is actually being “birthed” during the two weeks leading up to this sign ofthe Sun clothing Virgo with the Moon at her feet,” on 9-23-2017. As we can see, the parallels between the Celestial Prelude of the Birth of Christ and his glorious Return are eye-opening!

Below we can see the Figure 2 graphic from the Stellarium Astronomy Program, depicting the celestial sign from 9-23-2017. Virgo is “Crowned with 12 stars,circled in red in Leo. This “crowning of Virgo” including the 3 planets; Mercury, Mars, and Venus, aligned with the king star Regulus in Leo, is fitting since Leo is the royal sign of Judah that forms the crown of 12 stars over Virgo’s head as part of the Rev. 12 sign, fulfilling Rev. 12:3 in one sense. It is fulfilled in another sense as explained below when considered from the view of the Celestial Sphinx. Also marked in Figure 2, is the king planet Jupiter being “birthed,” near Spica [Al Zimach] of Virgo, clad in the Sun with the Moon at her feet. An important note related to the Celestial Sphinx, is that as dated above, we find an added Rev. 12:1 sign on Sept. 15/16th, 2015, with the Sun in Virgo and the Moon at her feet, while Venus is in Leo from June through October of 2015 in a triple conjunction with Jupiter. Thus we see the king Planet Jupiter, in a celestial dance with the Venus-the Bright and Morning Star, leading up to the “birthing of Jupiter” in Virgo, in 2017. This seems to reflect the triple conjunction of Jupiter-Regulus in 3-2 BC, marking the birth of Christ as Jupiter the king planet crowned Regulus the King star and brightest star in Leo, which started 3 days after the Rev. 12 sign in Virgo on Sept. 11th, of 3 BC, also a sign of the Celestial Sphinx.

Figure 2. Sept. 23rd 2017- Virgo Clothed with the Sun and Crowned with 12 Stars. 2

Virgo Clothed in the Sun and the Moon at her Feet

(Rev 12:3) And there appeared3700 another243 wonder4592 in1722 heaven;3772 and behold2400 a great3173 red4450 dragon,1404 having2192 seven2033 heads2776 and2532 ten1176 horns,2768 and2532 seven2033 crowns1238 upon1909 his848 heads.

The word “appeared” [G3700]3 in verse 3, refers to a detailed gaze of fascination, noting its structure as something to be wondered at. This second “wonder in heaven,” is a celestial sign like the previous verse, since the same Greek word [G4592-semeion] is used in both instances, but referring to a different class of heavenly sign, a circumpolar called Draco the Dragon set by the Creator at the northern Celestial Pole [Job 26:13]. This is the first of 13 uses of “dragon” in Revelation, indicative of the disorderly and rebellious nature of the fiery Red Dragon. We find here the seven fold order of the Dragon’s spirit kingdom referenced in the Dragon’s 7 heads along with the 7 crowns upon his 7 heads. These 7 heads imply 7 ruling [unclean spirits-daimon; Rev. 16: 13-14] who embody a leading aspect of the Dragon’s power over his spiritual kingdom, as he opposes the Kingdom of God in Christ. During the heavenly sign of 9-23-2017, shown in Figure 2 above there is a notable conjunction of the Moon and Saturn in Ophiuchus, once the Moon moves beyond Virgo’s feet. The sign Ophiuchus is depicted in Part II. of this post in Figure 7, in his struggle with the head and tail of the Serpent Serpens, divided by the man OphiuchusSerpens is also depicted in Figure 7 with the 7 stars of Corona the Crown sign over its head as the “god of this world,” symbolizing not only the authority handed over to the serpent in Adam’s fall, but also the authority of the 7 ruling spirits above. Serpens is also uniquely marked with 7 stars in its head -neck segment held by Ophiuchus, matching the description of the heavenly sign in Rev. 12:3. Thus the union of the Moon with Saturn in Ophiuchus as part of the great Rev. 12 heavenly sign on 9-23-2017, unmistakably identifies the crowned Serpent Serpens with its prominent head and tail, as this 2nd “wonder in heaven,” in verse 3 above.

(Rev. 12:4) And his848 tail3769 drew4951 the3588 third part5154 of the3588 stars792 of heaven,3772 and did cast906 them846 to1519 the3588 earth:1093 and the3588 dragon1404 stood2476 before1799 the3588 woman1135 which was ready3195 to be delivered,5088 for to2443 devour2719 her848 child5043 as soon as3752 it was born.

This verse [Rev. 12:4] also relates directly back to the first prophecy of the promised seed in Gen. 3:15, where the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head, while the serpent’s seed bruises the man’s heel. As the dragon’s head directs the spirit realm in his tail, the desired acts of persecution and destruction against the woman’s seed are carried out by the serpent’s seed-those who follow the Way of Cain [Jude 1:11], in open rebellion against the true God. This revealed the overriding purpose of the serpent at Christ’s birth, devouring the Promised Seed of the Woman, as soon as he was born. We saw an example of this in the actions of the serpent’s seed-King Herod, who murdered all the male children around Bethlehem under age 2, in an effort to devour the infant Jesus, as soon as he was born. Having failed at this, the enemy turned his attention to the persecution of Israel and the Christian believers as the Second Coming of Christ grows nearer. We can see this ever increasing JudeoChristian persecution in today’s headlines, as the great Day of the Lord quickly approaches.

Figure 3. fromApian”s Astronomicum Caesareum,” [Ingolstadt 1540 AD] The Dragon’s alternating head & tail. 4

head tail of the dragon

As seen in Figure 3: the graphic above, there is an ancient connection in Mythology and Astrology, with dragon and the lunar cycle, seen here in the lunar Node; the point where the Moon crosses over the ecliptic, was also called the dragon’s head and tail, dictating the periods of the eclipse cycle, according to the phi ratio. The Eclipse limits for both solar and lunar eclipses are dictated by a 6 degree range within 12.5° to 18.5° of the lunar Node, wherein a New Moon or Full Moon takes place. The average period of 173.333 days between eclipses, is seen as the Sun links with a lunar Node when two of these 173.333 day-periods elapse, giving us an eclipse year of 346.62 days, 18.6 days short of the solar year of 365.242. This reveals an aspect of the phi ratio because 18.618 x 18.618=346.62 telling us that the eclipse year relates to the overall luni-solar cycle via the phi ratio of 1.618. This link between the head and tail of the dragon and the eclipse cycle of the luni-solar year, establishes the importance of not only the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, but also the related Blood Moon Lunar and Solar eclipses during this period.

Since the 6 degree range of the lunar Node was formerly tied to Draco at the northern Celestial Pole, it indicates the time before the dragon throws down his spirit realm in verse 4. However, after the dragon itself is struck down, in verses 8-9, its head and tail would be transferred from the polar regions, down to the ecliptic, where Serpens and the Hydra are located. This powerful figure of dragon casting down his 1/3 of the stars of heaven, [fallen angels] to the Earth, was symbolically depicted as a literal Meteor shower from the Constellation Dracoduring the time of Christ’s birth. For a deeper look into this topic, please review our website article: “Introduction to the Jupiter-Regulus Conjunctions.” As we approach the Second Coming of Christ, this section of Scripture takes on a new perspective in reference to the War in Heaven.

When we compare the 1/3 of the stars [G792-aster]3 of heaven being cast down in Rev. 12:4 as opposed to verse 9, we find that the dragon throws 1/3 of his angels down in verse 4, but in verse 9 the dragon itself is cast out to the earth and an undisclosed number of his angels are cast out with him. The casting out in verse 4 is an action of the Serpent’s will, as these fallen angel’s are under his authority, being dragged in his tail. But in verse 9 the dragon has no choice, being thrust down with his angels. Also the War in heaven that initiates both the dragon and his angels being cast out of heaven does not take place until verse 7. Thus it appears that the first casting down of 1/3 of the fallen stars in verse 4, occurred at the birth of Christ, signified by the Eta-Draconid meteor shower that took place during Sept. 11th, 3 BC, but the second casting out of the dragon is still future.

R.H. Allen adds that; “the conclusion of the verse [Rev. 12:4] “did cast them to the earth,” would show a possible reference to meteors.”5 This is the earliest reference in print I have found that ties a Meteor shower to this section of Revelation 12. This Meteor shower that originates from the tail of Draco, the dragon, is linked to its parent comet, known today as the Giacobini-Zinner Comet. Traditionally comets have been viewed as omens of disaster, perhaps another ironic twist from the Heavenly Father to mark the fall of the archaic Morning Star with a heavenly sign pointing out his own disastrous end, at the birth of the Ascending Morning Star Jesus Christ. As we can see, a dual perspective of this record in Rev. 12 based on it applications to both the Birth and Return of the Lord Jesus Christ, opens up some aspects of these truths that have gotten little or no attention to date. Part II of this post will look into more of these details as they come to the surface.

This concludes Part I of this post, we will follow-up with Part II later this week.

 

Footnotes

1.  Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed, American Christian Press [picture credit]
2.  Stellarium Astronomy Program, Virgo clothed with the Sun and the Moon at her feet; 9-23-2017.
3. Strong’s Concordance, [G3700, G4592, G792], James Strong.
4. Apian”s Astronomicum Caesareum, [Ingolstadt 1540 AD]
5. Star Names their Lore and Meaning, R.H. Allen

 

 

 


 

The Blood Moon Tetrad and The Celestial Prelude

Birth of Jesus Christ
Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ

The Blood Moon Tetrad and the Celestial Prelude

Our thesis since the first printing of the articles on The Celestial Prelude 12 years ago is based on heavenly signs leading up to the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, relating to the idea that the Magi witnessed a previous pattern of signs in the heavens, allowing them to recognize the signs marking the birth of Christ, when they appeared. The Heavenly Father laid out a pattern of specific heavenly signs so that He could keep His Wise Men informed about critical events concerning His Purposes with the Promised Seed. If our approach adheres to the principles exhibited in the pathway blazed by the First Century Magi, staying faithful to these Principles of Biblical Astronomy that they learned from the Prophet Daniel, then perhaps it would not be presumptuous of others to desire similar success in discerning the heavenly signs leading up to the Second Coming of Christ, even as the Magi did at his birth.

As we consider the historical context that produced the Magi, and the ancient Babylonian astronomical traditions that influenced them, we take note of the case of the Babylonian Zodiac. A key part of this history includes how the 12 main signs of the Babylonian zodiac, each of 30 degrees in the 360 degree circle of the ecliptic, was transmitted to ancient Greece. Many scholars are not certain, as to the process by which this occurred, thus its engaging to realize that both the ancient Greeks and Babylonians came under the rule of the Persian empire governedby Cyrus the Great in 539 BC. It was during the rule of Darius I, “the Mede” that the Prophet Daniel presided over the Royal Court of Astronomers. Drawing on the rich astronomical traditions of the Biblical Patriarchs combined with the famous astronomical expertise of the Persian Magi, Daniel’s potent influence convinced Darius’ high Court of Royal Astronomers to adopt salient principles of Biblical Astronomy. Also key aspects of Zoroastrianism agreed with the Biblical standard practiced by the Hebrews, carried on by the Magi. These Persian astronomers of the king’s court, generally consisted of two main categories, first those following in the astronomical tradition taught by Daniel, as their leader and Rab-Mage. Secondly, those who followed the astrological influences of “Magic” and the occult, strenuously forbidden in the Hebrew Scriptures. As a result, the Magi following the Scriptural tenets, knew of the Coming Promised Seed based on the pattern and Prelude of heavenly signs that identified the Messiah when he appeared on the scene. The Magi were also familiar with Daniel’s prophecy concerning the 70 weeks judged on Jerusalem relating to the coming Messiah, [Dan. 9:2, 24-27]. Daniel’s influence had the added effect of preserving the astronomical truths of the Promised Seed, contained in the form of the zodiacal narrative, which God entrusted in the most capable hands of the time.

 

Persian Magi-Astronomers

In the Summary of the Celestial Prelude, the 12 key elements [see below] that the Magi recognized in the Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunction of 7-6 BC, were posted that had a direct application in helping them understand the heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ in 3-2 BC. The triple conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn in 7-6 BC which the Magi were best acquainted with, is covered in my article on The Specific Signs @ [www.try-god.com]. Doctor Earnest Martin agrees as he states in his writings: “The year 3/2BC was certainly an extraordinary one for visible astronomical exhibitions, as there was no year similar to it for many years on either side (a foretaste had occurred back in 7 BC, as Jupiter and Saturn had come into conjunction on 3 occasions: May 26, October 3, and December 1, and this was followed in early 6 BC with a close triangulation with Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. This occurred when the planets were in Pisces.”1 [emphasis mine]

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12 Characteristics of the Celestial Prelude

*   Jupiter was clearly marked as “his star.”

  • Jupiter was involved in a triple planetary Conjunction.
  • Jupiter was involved in a series of planetary conjunctions.
  • Jupiter’s retrograde motion would play a key role.
  • Jupiter’s triple union was followed by a massing of planets.
  • This massing of planets was followed by a Mars Conjunction.
  • The Jupiter-Mars Conjunction was followed by a series of lunar occultations, and a total lunar eclipse.
  • This series of conjunctions would last about two years.
  • The annual twenty days when the Sun is in Virgo would be a key.
  • The September 15th alignment of Jupiter, Saturn the Earth and Sun in 7 BC that occurred in the evening at sunset, directed the Magi’s attention to the end of the 20-day period when Virgo was “clothed with the Sun.”
  • The second lunar eclipse on September 15th of 5 BC established that the Magi should be watchful of lunar activity during this time. This framed the 42 minute period between Sunset and Moonset on the only day of the year when Virgo “was clothed with the Sun and the moon at her feet.” [Rev. 12:1-2]
  • The September 15th Heliacal Rising of Jupiter and Saturn foreshadowed the Heliacal Setting of Spica, located between the setting Sun and Moon in Virgo, identifying a 30-minute period when the birth of Christ happened.

As was noted above, Lunar activity, especially Lunar Eclipses were a key element in the heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ. Not only do lunar eclipses frame all the heavenly signs of the birth of Christ between 5-1 BC, but the actual birth of Christ was framed between Sunset and Moonset on September 11th 3 BC  as stated specifically in the 11th key above.  The first key noted above was that the King Planet Jupiter was involved in a triple planetary conjunction, that the Magi understood as the Jupiter-Regulus triple conjunction of 3-2 BC, in Leo.

Figure A. Leo the Lion

Leo The Lion
Leo The Lion of Judah

The major signs marking the birth of Christ on September 11th 3 BC, are not only sealed with this triple union of Jupiter-Regulus in Leo, but also by 3 Jupiter-Venus conjunctions, with the primary one in Leo on June 17th the next year. In addition, the great majority of heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ were bracketed by 2 Jupiter-Venus unions in 3 and 1 BC.  The first Jupiter-Venus Conjunction marking the birth of Christ took place on August 31st, 3 BC, in Leo with the last one occurring on August 21st, 1 BC in Virgo. Here we find an interesting variation on a Celestial Sphinx sign highlighting conjunctions of Jupiter-Venus, that took place following the 1st fulfillment the Rev. 12: 1-2 prophecy relating to the sufferings of Christ in his ministry as the Passover Lamb, to redeem Israel and all mankind. This alerts us that we might look for like Celestial Sphinx signs as a precursor to the Lord’s Second Coming. The fact that there were also 2 Venus-Mars unions framing the central Jupiter-Venus union between  March 31st, and Dec. 9th, 2 BC, marking the birth of Christ, sets a precedent that we find also in 2015, before the glory of the Lord’s Second Coming. In this light, it is with great interest that we discover between the 2 Venus-Mars conjunctions of 2015, 3 Jupiter-Venus unions will occur in Leo, followed by Jupiter-Venus unions in Virgo, in both 2016 and 2017. As we view the heavenly signs marking the birth of Christ from 3 to 1 BC below, we will point out a series of parallels between these signs, and the current period marked by the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015. By focusing on the specific planetary conjunctions that set the pattern in marking the birth of Christ and looking for these signs repeating in the modern context of the Blood Moons, we follow the Magi’s example, that should lead us to the victorious Return of the Lord Jesus Christ.


The Heavenly Signs of 3 BC to 1 BC

May 19th, 3 Before Christ Mercury-Saturn Taurus
June 12th, 3 “ Venus-Saturn Taurus
Aug. 31st, 3 “ Jupiter-Venus Leo
Sept. 9-12, 3 “ Eta-Draconid Meteor Showers [Rev. 12:1-4] Draco
Sept. 14th, 3 “ Jupiter-Regulus Leo
Feb. 17th, 2 “ Jupiter-Regulus Leo
March 31st, 2 “ Triangular massing of Venus, Mars & Saturn Taurus
May 8th, 2 “ Jupiter-Regulus Leo
June 17th, 2 “ Jupiter-Venus Leo
Aug. 27th, 2  Massing of Planets Jupiter, Venus, Mars & Mercury Leo
Aug. 28th, 2 Before Christ Alignment of Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Sun & Moon Leo
Dec. 9th, 2 “ Venus-Mars Scorpius
Dec. 25th, 2 “ “Star of Bethlehem” Virgo
Jan. 9th, 1  Total Lunar Eclipse  Blood Moon in Gemini-Herod’s Death
Aug. 21st, 1 Before Christ Jupiter-Venus Virgo

As we summarize the heavenly signs in the chart above in comparison to the signs of 2014-2016, we highlight the following points of interest:

There are 3 Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions set to take place in 2015, all in Leo, with additional Jupiter-Venus unions occurring in Virgo in 2016-17. Jupiter-the King Planet unites with Venus-the Bright and Morning Star, in Leo the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, [Rev. 5:5]. The following dates depict Jupiter-Venus conjunctions in Leo during the Hebrew Sabbatical/Jubilee year of 2015:

June 30th- July 1, 2015 [Jupiter-Venus]
July 31st, 2015 [Jupiter-Venus]
October 25-26th, 2015 [Jupiter-Venus]
October 28th, 2015 [Jupiter-Venus, Mars unite in a 1 degree triangular massing]

The Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions marking the birth of Christ in the above chart compare to the three Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions of 2015, however there were additional heavenly signs involving JupiterVenus marking his birth. On August 27th and 28th reflected in the chart above and the graphic below, there was a massing of planets including Jupiter-Venus, followed by a planetary alignment of Jupiter, Venus, Mars, with the Sun and Moon. This planetary alignment in Leo, along with the September 11th signs markingthe birth of Christ [Sun clothing Virgo with the Moon at her feet] will be repeated again on September 23rd, 2017!!

 

August 27th Massing of Planets in Leo

Once Again Dr. Martin describes this birth event of the Messiah:

On 27 August, 2 BC, the planet Mars, which had played no active part in the conjunctions, “caught up” with Jupiter and formed a very close union (Mars travels faster in its motion through the stars than Jupiter and overtakes it in a little over 2 years). At this conjunction the two were only 0.09 degrees from each other. Such nearness is not an ordinary occurrence. Besides this, there was also a convergence of Venus and Mercury into the same part of the sky as Jupiter and Mars. This means that four major planets were all positioned around one another in an exceptional longitudinal relationship. An assemblage of planets in such close proximity to one another is called in astrological circles a massing of the planets. And look at the close association they had to each other. The longitude of Jupiter was 142.6 degrees, Mars 142.64, Venus 141.67, and Mercury 143.71. This would have been an interesting sight to behold, but the visible effect would have been diminished because of the rays of dawn, since the four planets were only 8 degrees ahead of the Sun.“2 [emphasis mine]

This Massing of Planets is mirrored on October 28th, 2015 as Mars joins Jupiter and Venus in a 1 degree triangular massing of planets. Also, just as there were two sets of Triple planetary conjunctions marking Christ’s birth, [Jupiter-Regulus/Jupiter-Venus] so, there are two sets of Triple planetary conjunctions [Jupiter-Venus/Mercury-Venus] during the two years of the Blood Moon Tetrad in 2014-2015. The following dates reflect 3 Venus-Mercury planetary unions of 2014. Here Mercury-Gabriel, the Messenger Arch-angel is unified three times with Venus-announcing Jesus Christ the Bright and Morning Star.

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Venus-Mercury Conjunctions of 2014

Jan. 7th, 2014 [1 year prior to central Blood Moon Tetrad date of 2014-2015]
October 17th, 2014
Dec. 30th, 2014

Not only do these three Mercury-Venus unions set the stage for the Jupiter-Venus conjunctions of 2015-2017, but the first union of Mercury-Venus falls 1 year before to the center date of all the celestial activity linked to the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015. In other words, the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015 falls in between two lunar triples, on the Days of Av, starting Dec. 21st, 2010 and finishing Jan. 21st, 2019. As we consider also that the first Blood Moon of this Tetrad on April 15th, 2014, with the last Blood Moon on Sept. 28th, 2015, the mid-date between these Blood Moons is also January 5th, 2015! This depicts not only the rarity of this Blood Moon Tetrad, but also its precision, from two mathematical views. As these Blood Moons of the end days are centered between the saddest days on the Hebrew Calendar, the days of Av in 2010-11 and 2018-19, they commemorate the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple on two key occasions in their history, one of which we have highlighted below, with the 69-70 AD heavenly signs, marking the Romans Destruction of their Temple. In the original work on The Celestial Prelude, I did not include a reference to Mercury-Venus conjunctions in the chart above, but in his book, The Birth of Christ Recalculated, Ernest Martin states; “On the morning of September 1, Venus and Mercury came into conjunction only .35 degrees apart...”3

Dr. Martin goes on to tell us how this Mercury-Venus conjunction set the stage for the Jupiter-Venus conjunctions around the birth of Christ, highlighted by their spectacular  June 17th union:

After the Sept. 1 meeting with Mercury, Venus journeyed back into the light of the Sun, emerging in the West as an evening star about 20 December, 3 BC, and when this happened, an observer would have noticed the planet just after sunset moving progressively higher in the sky (going more easterly) with each succeeding day. This movement placed Venus on a collision course with Jupiter which was moving westward. At the period when Venus had just passed its easternmost elongation from the Sun (the farthest east of the Sun that Venus ever reaches) on 17 June, 2 BC, the two planets “collided”. They were only 0.04 degrees away from each other. This was a most uncommon occurrence. To an observer on Earth, the luminosity that each planet displayed made them look like one gigantic star. It was as if Venus had stretched herself as far eastward as she was able, in order to join with Jupiter as he reached westward to meet her. This conjunction occurred at the exact time of the full Moon. The whole of the evening sky was being illumined from the east by the full light of the Moon, while the western quarter was being adorned with the Jupiter/Venus conjunction. Professor D.C. Morton, Senior Research Astronomer at Princeton University, said this conjunction of 17 June, 2BC, was a notable astronomical event [ZPEB, vol. I, pg. 398]. Such closeness had not been witnessed in generations. Roger W. Sinnott, writing in the astronomical journal Sky and Telescope, December, 1968, ppgs. 384-386, referred to this conjunction as a brilliantdouble star” which finally gave the appearance of fusing together into a single “star” as the planets drew nearer the western horizon. He said that only the sharpest of eyes would have been able to split them and that the twinkling caused by the unsteady horizon atmosphere would have blended them into one gigantic “star” for almost all viewers. “The fusion of two planets would have been a rare and awe-inspiring event” [pg. 386]. Here were the 2 brightest planets in the heavens merging together. This was happening at the period when Venus was approaching her time of greatest brilliance.”4 [emphasis mine]

The following dates, depict similar Jupiter-Venus conjunctions in Virgo in 2016-2017:

July 27th, 2016
Aug. 26-27th, 2016  [Jupiter enters Virgo]
Feb. 26th, 2017
Sept. 23rd, 2017 [Virgo clothed
with the Sun/Moon @ feet]-Rev. 12:1-2 
Nov. 13th, 2017

These two brightest planets – Venus and Jupiter – teamed up to provide the closest planetary conjunction of 2014, and it was the closest Venus- Jupiter conjunction until August 27, 2016, noted above. In the eastern dawn, starting mid-August, these 2 dazzlingly-brilliant planets moved closest together around August 18, 2014. The King Planet and the Bright and Morning Star were only about 1/3 degree apart. This notable Venus- Jupiter union was the only one of 2014, which took place between the first two Blood Moons of the 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad. Interestingly we will see a 2nd Jupiter-Venus union of this Blood Moon Tetrad, on July 1, 2015, between the 3rd and 4th Blood Moons of our 2014-2015 Blood Moon Tetrad. The first Jupiter-Venus union associated with the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015 took place in the Beehive cluster in the Sign of Cancer, the Crab on August 18th, 2014. Since there is no Hebrew word for “crab” we know this is not the original star picture in the Hebrew Mazzaroth for this Zodiacal Sign. There are two prominent stars in this sign called the Northern and Southern Asses, linked to the Hebrew Tribe Issachar, as seen in Genesis 49.

Jupiter and Venus buzz the Beehive
August 18th, 2014 Jupiter-Venus conjunction in Beehive Cluster of Cancer

[Gen. 49:9-12]. Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. 11 Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.

The Beehive Star cluster or nebulae in the sign Cancer, also known as Praesepe, means “multitude or offspring, indicating the redeemed coming into their place of eternal rest.”5  This is an obvious indicator of the return of Christ leading his faithful to their everlasting peaceful rest in the Lord. These modern heavenly signs of the Celestial Sphinx are manifesting before our eyes in the last days leading to the victorious Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, informing us in no uncertain terms that the end is nearDr. Martin provides some fascinating details shedding light on the rewind of the heavenly signs marking the Lord’s Second Coming.

While Jupiter was on its westward journey to link up with Venus for the spectacular 17 June, 2BC reunion, Jupiter was showing some displays of its own. Just 33 days after the first Jupiter/ Venus conjunction (12 August, 3BC), an observer would have seen Jupiter come into juxtaposition with Regulus (the principal star in the constellation of Leo, a star of the 1st magnitude). The conjunction occurred on 14 September, 3BC, and viewed from the Earth the two celestial bodies were 0.67 degrees apart. After that, Jupiter proceeded on his normal course through the heavens, and on 1 December, 3BC, the planet stopped its motion through the fixed stars to begin its annual retrogression. In doing so, it headed once again towards the star Regulus. On the 17th of February, 2BC, the two were reunited (1.19 degrees apart). Jupiter was again side by side with the star, the two bodies being 1.06 degrees from each other (for Jupiter to unite with Regulus 3 times in 1 year is not common. It occurred 12 years earlier in 15/14BC, and before that in 86/85BC. It was not to recur until 69/70AD). After this 3rd conjunction with Regulus, Jupiter continued moving westward for 40 days (in an apparent sense) to reunite with Venus in the rare conjunction of 17 June, 2BC.”7

As we compare these heavenly signs around the birth of Christ with the current signs of the Blood Moon Tetrad leading to 2017, we note that even as Jupiter moves in its annual retrograde motion entering Virgo in August 26-27 2016, for a total of 294 days, taking us into 2017, it only spends 40 days in Virgo’s mid-section, symbolizing the birthing of the Messianic Kingdom. Jupiter marks its entrance into Virgo with the second Jupiter-Venus union of 2016. This is worthy of our attention indicating a key event with the King Planet-Jupiter related to his virgin BrideVirgo/Israel leading to his glorious Second Coming. This alerts us to be watchful of the Sun Clothing Virgo leading us directly to the signs of 9-23-2017! Dr. Martin also mentioned that triple conjunctions of Jupiter-Regulus were uncommon, since the next one did not recur till 69/70 AD. As we may recall, this lead to the Roman’s destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem, prophesied by Christ. Although there were no Blood Moons during this period, there were Lunar and Solar Eclipses taking place on the following Hebrew Feast and Holy days:

 

10-18-69 there was a Partial Lunar Eclipse on the Feast of Tabernacles.
3-30-70 there was a Total Solar Eclipse on Nisan 1. [as we saw on 3-20-2015]
4-14-70 there was a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse at Passover. [similar to 2014 Passover Blood Moon]
9-23-70 there was an Annular Solar Eclipse on Rosh Hashanah. [1947 years before the 9-23-2017 sign to the day!]

As this rewind of heavenly signs marking Christ Jesus’ first appearance on earth occur in the context of the current Blood Moon Tetrad, the celestial warnings of the Second Coming are undeniable to those with eyes to see and ears to hear. All these heavenly signs seem pointed towards September 23rd, 2017, when we will see the Rev. 12 heavenly signs of 9/11/3BC marking the birth of Christ. These signs from [Rev. 12:1-2], that mark the Returning Lord, will replay in a climax of these celestial announcements as they re-appear before our eyes. We will take a closer look at the upcoming heavenly signs of September 23rd, 2017 in a post soon to follow. We are not predicting a specific date for the Lord’s return, but God would not have seeded the heavens with all these awesome signs, if He did not want us to be aware of the signs of the times. Prepare yourself and your loved ones as the end approaches.

Footnotes

1. The Birth of Christ Recalculated, Ernest Martin
2. Ibid
3. Ibid
4. Ibid
5. Witness of the Stars, E.W. Bullinger
6. Picture Credit for M44 Beehive Cluster; Chris Marriott’s SkyMap
7. The Birth of Christ Recalculated, Ernest Martin