Category: Planetary Conjunctions

Purim Blood Moon on March 23rd, 2016

History of Biblical Astronomy

Purim Penumbral Lunar Eclipse on March 23rd, 2016

As a follow-up to our initial March blog post regarding “The Blood Moon Bombshell of 2016?“, we have noted that since the Barley Harvest in Israel was NOT found to be Aviv Barley, or ripe, that the extra 13th Month of Second Adar was added to the Hebrew Calendar. This puts the Passover on April 22nd of 2016, instead of aligning with the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse on March 23rd, but this eclipse now lines up with the Feast of Purim in 2016.

The key heavenly signs in March of 2016 began with a Total Solar Eclipse on March 9th. However, had the Barley harvest been ripe, the March 9th New Moon/Total Solar Eclipse, would have made March 9th-align with Nisan 1, followed only 2 weeks later by a Nisan 14 Passover Lunar Eclipse on March 23rd! Even though we won’t have a Blood Moon Sextet 2014-2016, we will still have a fifth Lunar Eclipse falling on the key Hebrew Feast Day of Purim. This is no small matter because it follows the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015, giving us the first ever Blood Moon Quintet of 2014-2016! Purim on the Hebrew calendar also occurs before the Transit of Mercury, May 9th 2016.

What is unique about this Jubilee Year of 2016 is that Purim is on March 23, the exact time a Lunar Eclipse occurs, although its a Penumbral eclipse, so not all the lunar surface will be eclipsed. It falls 120 days after the Super Blood Moon of September 28, 2015. Specifically, Purim begins on the Hebrew Calendar on Wednesday evening, March 23, 2016 continuing through Thursday night, March 24th. It will also be the first full Moon after the Spring Equinox. There is some confusion about the numerics and operation of the Jubilee Cycle. Jubilee Years are based on the Shemitah Years occurring every 7th year. Seven Shemitahs (7×7=49 years is Shemitah of Shemitah’s).  The year following the 7th Shemitah is a Jubilee. The Jubilee Year follows the 7th Shemitah becoming the 50th year. However, if the Shemitah cycle continues every 7 years, then the next Jubilee year becomes the first of the next Shemitah cycle, where the next Jubilee follows 49 years after the first. However, if you start the next Shemitah cycle after the Jubilee then you have Jubilee years occurring every 50 years, but, this breaks the 7 year cycle. Bible scholars remain in disagreement as to which version is right. There is a method based on a 49 year cycle that keeps the 7 year cycle intact, which makes the most sense.
It is this method that we are using to calculate the current Jubilee cycle which is being witnessed this year 5776 on the Hebrew Calendar.

As a result of the lack of Aviv Barley this month in Israel, the Nisan 14 Passover did not fall on March 23rd aligning with the Penumbral Lunar eclipse, [Levi. 23:5]. However, this potential correlation with Nisan 14, still holds in the Christian world linked with the commemoration of Easter celebrations this weekend!



The great majority of traditional Christendom celebrates Easter weekend from “Good Friday” to Easter Sunday morning, yet [Matt. 12:40] tells us:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

This refers to 3/24 hour periods which does not match the time period from Good Friday to Easter Sunday! Also, Sunday was not the Sabbath on the Hebrew Calendar, only on pagan calendars. Saturday was however the Sabbath in Israel and when we back-track 3 days from Nisan 17, the weekly Sabbath will link with Jesus’ resurrection. Nisan 14 ties to the Crucifixion of Jesus, on Passover “Good Wednesday” in 28 AD. This gives us the proper date and timing that lines up with the Biblical record of three days and nights in the heart of the earth. As a result, we have a dual correlation of both Hebrew/Christian Holy days of Purim and Christ’s Crucifixion marked on Nisan 14, with a fifth Lunar Eclipse event in 2014-2016! Can we find significance for this in God’s Word? The Epistle of Ephesians is enlightening on this subject;

Ephesians 2:10-17
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Jesus as the Prince of Peace has provided peace to both the Jews and Gentles in His spiritual body of the Church. He has removed the obstacles of the Law and the Temple ordinances between Israel and Christian believers, unifying us in one new spiritual man, his spiritual body, nailing those obstacles in the Law, to the Cross.

Ephesians 3:3-6 

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

This revolutionary accomplishment of Jesus Christ resulting from his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead, taking the sins of mankind upon him and unifying the Jews and Gentiles in one spiritual Body in Christ, is called a “mystery” or a secret of the Heavenly Father which was not revealed until the writings of the Church epistles by the Apostle Paul. Clearly, Christ is the unifying force for all humanity at every level of life, Body, Soul, and Spirit. [I Thess. 5:23] This monumental work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is emphasized by the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse aligning with both Purim for Israel and the Crucifixion of Christ leading to Easter and Resurrection weekend in Christianity! Is the Heavenly Father working to get our attention, to prepare us for our soon coming reality where Christians and Jews will be united in one spiritual body in Christ, at the right Hand of God? This will certainly be the result of the victorious Return of the our Lord Jesus Christ.

purim: Homemade cookies with poppy seed filling for Purim (Hamantaschen) Stock Photo

Purim is a story of both deliverance and a sudden destruction. Purim is a Hebrew holiday and has been incorporated much like Hanukkah into the list of Feasts that have been added to the 7 major Feasts of Jehovah. Can we find elements of Christ’s work foreshadowed in the Feast of Purim?

The meaningof the Feast of Purim is disclosed only in the Bible’s book of Esther. The beginning of the Book of Esther starts off with a 6-month feast of the King. As Purim amazingly aligns with a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, when we consider the context of Hebrew Calendar and the Blood Moon Tetrad of 2014-2015  what is the message we can glean from a fifth lunar eclipse, 2 days following the Spring Equinox? The record of the history and origin of the Feast of Purim in the Book of Esther, is significant today for a number of reasons. Even as the evil Haman was bent on his genocidal plan against the Jews in the ancient Persian World Empire, so today there is a group of Islamic and other Nations conspiring to “wipe Israel off the map.” Purim is prophetic as it relates to the deliverance of God’s People from those enemies that seek to destroy the heritage of the Almighty, and Redeemer’s bl0od-line. The Biblical record of Esther not only shows the history and inception of the Feast of Purim, but also shares the elements of how the Heavenly Father saved His people, exhibiting His undying Love for Israel. God Saved His people not only so they could enjoy their lives, but also so He could bring them back to the Promised Land of Israel and the Holy city of Jerusalem. We can see this long-standing purpose of God because after nearly 2000 years of being dispersed among the Gentile Nations, in 1948-50 Israel was reformed as a nation-state, also marked by a Blood Moon Tetrad, and the Jews have been returning to their homeland ever since. But there is another over-riding purpose found in Esther, and that is the preservation of the Christ-line. Numerous times in history the enemy attempted to wipe the Hebrew Race from the face of the Earth because he knew it would bear man’s Redeemer. During the birth of Moses, the Egyptians killed the male Hebrew infants for this purpose. During the time of the Christ’s birth, Herod also had the male infants murdered around Bethlehem, for the same reason.

So we see the efforts of Haman to exterminate the nation of Israel along these lines. The setting for Esther was ancient Persia-modern-day Iran. Even as Daniel who also served under this 2nd world Empire following Babylon from their capital city of Susa, Queen Esther, decided to stand up for the nation of Israel against Haman’s evil plot, she received favor from her King and Husband Xerxes I. Esther enjoyed the favor of the King’s Sceptre when she risked her life by entering the conference of the King. It is Interesting to note that; Biblically “a Sceptre can also be symbolic of a person!” In Numbers, we read;

(Numbers 24:17)”I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Seth.”

That Sceptre embodied the prophesied return of the Promised Seed, who came first over 1,900 years ago and by his sacrifice, provided redemption for all mankind. All who believe in Him, and follow Him, have a pathway back to God, who alone is able to deliver them from bloodthirsty hatred of the modern Haman’s. Our website study on the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude covers the significance of this Numbers 24 record regarding the Sceptre, in the context of the heavenly signs surrounding the birth of Christ. The heavenly birth signs for Christ are set to rewind in 2017, with a prominent role for Jupiter, the King Planet and Royal Sceptre of the King of Kings.

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The following dates, show 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

The two brightest planets – Venus and Jupiter – teamed up to provide the closest planetary conjunction of 2014, and it has been the closest Venus- Jupiter conjunction during the Blood Moon Quintet of 2014-2016, until August 27, 2016, when Jupiter enters Virgo to be “birthed” in 2017.

God is teaching us through His Hebrew Calendar providing focused attention on His final plan of redemption with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. God first instituted the Biblical Calendar of annual Festivals through Moses (Levi. 23), which included the yearly counting of days and weeks, so that His people might rehearse the 50 days between His Passover, death and resurrection, and Pentecost with the power of the Holy Spirit. Finally these end-time events leading up to the Jubilee and Day of the LORD. He also gave us the signs of the Sun, Moon and Stars in Biblical Astronomy, relating to His Feasts and Holy days so that we would be ready and forewarned of the times wherein we reside.

As Iran, at that time was the world superpower, so too does Iran now seek to recapture their previous position over Israel once again. Amalek was one preventing the Jews from passing through his land on their Exodus to the Promised Land under Moses. Haman’s bloodline came from Amalek’s, the traditional enemies of the Israel. This parallel bloodline has and continues to contest God’s people for the inheritance of the Promised Land-the city of Jerusalem and coming Temple on the Mount. The conspiracy in the time of Esther was that a descendant of Amalek-Haman plotted to trick the King, Xerxes I or Ahasuerus to murder all the Jews and rid the empire of them as Amalek desried.

This conspiracy is alive and well in modern Iran who is already a major partner with Russia comprising a confederacy of Muslim nations that will attack Israel during the first Gog-Magog invasion. This plot was revealed to Mordecai, a relative of Esther who raised her. At the Queen’s own peril, Esther interceded on behalf of God’s People. Because of their sacrificial and selfless acts, God worked in Esther and Mordecai to overt a genocide. The Christian genocide currently being waged by the modern Haman’s in the Muslim world primarily, will one day see a sudden destruction come upon them. Even as the effect of Haman’s plot was exercised upon his own head and all his family, the modern nations plotting against Israel, and the Church body of Christ will experience a similar more awesome destruction.

With this week’s Penumbral Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse on the Feast of Purim, taking place during a Hebrew Jubilee Year, it should get our attention for the following reasons.

One can not help, but be struck by the unique and very rare occurrence of the Tetrad of four Blood Moons during the Shemitah of Shemitah’s, and now the Jubilee comes with yet another Lunar eclipse on Purim, forming a Quintet of Blood Moons on Hebrew Holidays from 2014-2016. This is not the first Lunar Eclipse to fall on Purim. According to our Biblical Blood Moon Calendar, back on March 4th of 71 AD, soon after the Romans had destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, prophesied  by Jesus Christ, a Partial Lunar Eclipse took place. This marked the removal of God from His Temple in stages, and the dispersion of the Jews among the Gentile Nations. With this fifth Blood Moon on Purim, we may be witnessing an indicator of God’s gradual return in stages to a New Temple on the Mount, the natural outcome of forming of the State of Israel, and the Restoration of Jerusalem to Israel’s control, both marked by Blood Moon Tetrads in 1949-50 and 1967-68.   

Let’s stay vigilant as we continue to watch the skies for the heavenly signs that align with Scripture to tell us what time it is…


Footnotes

1. “Blood Moon Bombshell of 2016?” [blog.try-god.org] March 2016
2. Ephesians 2:10-17 KJV
3. Ephesians 3:3-6 KJV
4. Numbers 24:17  KJV
5. “The General Sign of the Celestial Prelude” [www.try-god.com]
6. Biblical Blood Moon Calendar [blog.try-god.org] Aug. 2014

 

Biblical Astronomy of the January-February 2016 Planetary Alignment

Birth of Jesus Christ
Biblical Astronomy of the Birth of Christ

Biblical Astronomy of the January-February 2016 Planetary Alignment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sources

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

Biblical Astronomy of the Venus-Saturn Conjunctions of 2016

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Biblical Astronomy of the Venus-Saturn Conjunctions of 2016

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

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

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

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

Four Blood Moons

Joel 2:31-32

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

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

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

The Planet Saturn

Saturn’s Rings tilted-reflecting a brighter Surface

Saturn’s Ring Cycle

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

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

Job 3:4-5

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

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

The Celestial Prelude of 7 BC to 5 BC

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

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

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

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

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

Birth of Jesus Christ

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

Our previous blog post on the Coma Supernova marking the Birth of Christ as the General Sign of The Celestial Prelude was visible for a period of about 275 years, as it has been documented in history. The Second part of these heavenly signs that allowed the Magi to recognize the celestial markers of the birth of Jesus Christ are the Specific Signs of the Celestial Prelude. These signs revolve around the triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7-6 BC, that gave the Magi the stellar keys to breaking the code that sent them on their 800 mile journey to Jerusalem and Bethlehem to pay homage to the young king of kings. A major departure from the confusion around the “Star of Bethlehem,” bringing a new perspective to the celestial signs surrounding the birth of Christ involves a fresh look at the triple planetary Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces, in 7-6 BC. Historically, this series of unions has been taken for Jesus’ actual time of birth by some, and also accepted as just too early to mark his birth by others. The debate between these two major camps continues today. This study will show, among other things, that while this celestial pageantry does not literally mark the actual time of the birth of the infant Jesus, we cannot discount the impact of these signs on the Magi in their search for the revelation of the promised seed. How did the Magi know what to look for in this search? What if God left a series of clues for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, making provision so they wouldn’t miss this momentous occasion? This is precisely the proposal of this study that herein lies the true significance of these rare unions of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces in 7-6BC. Based on the details of this specific set of preliminary signs, the Magi were alerted to the series of planetary Conjunctions and heavenly signs announcing the actual birth of Christ.

Caravan of the Magi

The time frame we will be looking at for this Celestial Prelude is from 7-5 BC and the first thing that we will notice is that the signs marking the birth of Christ are astronomical in nature. They were not some miraculous manifestation only visible to the Magi, as some have said. The details of this study make this obvious. Secondly, the type of sign we’ve found is a series of planetary Conjunctions. This is a departure from the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude, which was a supernova in the head of the infant in the decan Coma. This is the initial clue as to what the Magi were prompted to look for, not a comet, like Halley’s Comet which some have attempted to make a case for. The dates for Halley’s Comet are too early, to coincide with the birth of Christ, although it does fall within the time-frame of the General Sign of the Celestial Prelude, about 5 years before this triple union of Jupiter-Saturn. The foregoing and concurrent supernova in Coma was meant to draw the peoples attention to this general time-frame of the birth of the promised seed, and the specific signs revealed its inherent details to the Magi. The Charts below compare the signs of 7-5BC, with those of 3-1BC, in greater detail. For our purposes here, we will focus mainly on the triple planetary Conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn from 7-5 BC in comparison with the triple planetary Conjunction of Jupiter and Regulus in 3-2 BC. We will add a few other signs to more fully sketch out and establish this comparison. The Summary of the Celestial Prelude below wraps up the indicators provided by the heavenly signs involved with these Jupiter-Saturn unions, pointing to the signs of 3-2BC marking the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Celestial Prelude of 7 BC to 5 BC

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

 This series of planetary Conjunctions involving Jupiter certainly drew the focus of the Magi to the king planet, which they recognized as “his star.” They would have noted Jupiter’s triple planetary union with Saturn, and we know today that this union was caused by Jupiter’s retrograde motion. The Magi would have noted these triple unions involving Jupiter in both 7-5 and 3-2 BC. Therefore, the Magi would have been watchful not only of Jupiter’s motion, but vigilant also for a triple union associated with its motion. Perhaps we can begin to see the wisdom of the Heavenly Father’s choice of stellar signs, which make up this celestial epistle of introduction, for the Magi to mark the signs surrounding Jesus’ birth. These clues alone would have provided the Magi much on their way to finding the Messiah, but God had a lot more in store. After these Jupiter-Saturn triple Conjunctions, there was a massing of planets including Mars, after which followed a key Conjunction involving Mars. Finally, on the heels of this Conjunction including Mars, in the next month came a remarkable series of lunar occultations, followed by two total lunar eclipses in 5 BC. These preliminary signs not only provided the Magi with the blueprints they would need to recognize the celestial signs identifying the time frame of the birth of Christ in 3-2 BC, but they also set the pattern of Total Blood Moon Lunar eclipses, marking the victorious return of Christ. The fact that the signs of this dress rehearsal unfolded over a period in excess of two years was also a clue of what to expect, when the curtain actually arose on the celestial pageantry of the birth of Christ. With a period of exactly 2 years from Sept, 15th of 7 BC to Sept. 15th of 5 BC as seen in the chart above, setting the stage for two Jupiter-Venus Conjunctions bracketing the heavenly signs marking the actual birth of Christ between August 31st, 3BC and Aug. 21st of 1 BC, we can see how the Magi would recognize these specific markers leading them to the promised seed-Jesus Christ. Also, the fact that these signs almost all occur in Pisces, is interesting due in part to an ancient eastern tradition, that the influence of the sign of Pisces, the fishes presided over the land surrounding and including Israel. Others believed that Pisces symbolized the House of Jacob, and with the obvious presence of the King planet Jupiter, would spell out why the Magi came to Jerusalem looking for the King of Israel. This relationship of Jupiter-Saturn heavenly signs related to Israel stretched back in history even to include the births of Abraham and Moses. In the following reference to Jupiter-Saturn unions related to the birth of Moses, R.H. Allen has probably isolated a quote from Abrabanel referenced by Kepler;

“The Rabbis held a tradition, recorded by Abrabanel in the 15th Century, that a similar Conjunction took place three years previous to the birth of Moses, and they anticipated another at their Messiah’s advent.”7 [emphasis mine]

The Triple Planetary Conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn in 7 -6 BC

A major contemporary proponent of the 7-6 BC triple Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn marking the actual time of Jesus’ birth is David Hughes. He is convinced that Jesus was born September 15th of 7BC, based on this series of unions of Jupiter and Saturn. He has taken note of how these conjunctions point to the birth of Christ, following a modified version of Kepler’s view. However, he admits a feeling of uncertainty about the final summaries of his hypothesis, because Jupiter could never have been seen as one star, as their closest approach was only 0.98 degrees. Hughes confusion is typical of that surrounding the view of the “Star of Bethlehem,” which at least in part is based on the lack of recognition and separation of the general and specific signs marking Jesus’ birth. As we can see, the specific signs of the Celestial Prelude, and their corroboration of the signs from 3-2 BC, meet all the provisions of the genuine signs marking the birth of the Messiah. With the 7-6 BC triple union of Jupiter and Saturn setting the pattern of the Specific signs of Celestial Prelude, let’s take a more detailed look these preliminary signs in the triple Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

i. May 27th, 7BC Jupiter and Saturn in Conjunction in Pisces, with the Sun and Mercury in Gemini, Venus in Cancer, Mars in Virgo and Moon in Pisces. [Fig. i.]

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

birth of jesus

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

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

Isaiah 14:12

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Draco at the North Pole

     The demise of Lucifer is indicated in the astronomical mechanism known as the precession of the poles, with the star Thuban: alpha draconis, the brightest star in Draco the dragon, as the original pole star. The precession of the poles indicates Lucifer’s demise, because the pole star has moved from Draco and now resides near Polaris, or Al Ruccaba of the “little flock” of Ursa Minor. The pole star between the feet of the crowned king Cepheus, depicts Jesus Christ in at least two ways. First, as the prominent king, and new Chief Cornerstone, since Cepheus is the crowned king, even as Regulus the king star, is between the feet of Leo, the Lion king of Judah; [Gen.49:8-10]. Cepheus also means ” the branch” and is depicted as a king holding a branch/sceptre at the north pole, [Jer. 23:5, 33:15]. Secondly, and with spiritual hindsight, he is the head of his spiritual body, the Church. God put all things under Christ’s feet, indicating his seven-fold lordship over all Creation; [Eph. 1:20-23]. The exception to this, of course is God Himself, Who Christ ultimately subjects himself to [I Cor. 15:27-28], avoiding the pitfall of Lucifer’s egomaniac demise. The Decan of Cepheus depicts the Royal king and redeemer coming quickly to rule, enthroned in the highest, at the northern polar reaches of the heavens. With his scepter in hand and the Northern Pole Star symbolizing all things in Creation under his feet, as seen in the capstone of the Great Pyramid, we have powerful imagery of the Authority and Dominion of the King of Kings. As the principles of Biblical Astronomy tell us, the star names relate the narrative of each constellation they appear in. There are 19 main stars in Cepheus, 3 of which we focus on here.

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

Here we see the promised seed of the woman clothed in the celestial royalty of absolute dominion over all Creation. The name “Cepheus” has possible Egyptian linguistic roots in “Cheops” or Khufu the Pharoah whose Dynasty saw the construction of the Great Pyramid. In the Dendera Zodiac, Cepheus is known as Pe-Ku-hor; meaning “one coming to rule” which is a consistent theme of the star names below. The 3 primary stars of Cepheus are as follows;

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

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

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

These signs and constellations at the North Pole or circumpolar stars were reflective of the “Royal Family” since they never set, and their narratives are some of the most popular in the mythology of the  Ages. Perseus’ deliverance of Andromeda from the dread Sea Monster Typhon/Cracken, is a good example. Even in this veiled mythology we can see the light of the narrative of the returning redeemer shining through to deliver his flocks. Bullinger refers to this precession of the North pole and Al Ruccaba specifically as follows:

     “Although the star does not revolve like the others, the central point in the heavens is very slowly but steadily moving. When these constellations were formed the Dragon possessed this important point, and the star alpha, in Draco, marked this central point. But by its gradual recession, that point is sufficiently near this star Ruccaba, in the Lesser Sheepfold, (Ursa Minor) for it to be what is called “the Polar Star.” But how could it have been known five or six thousand years ago? How could it have been known when it received its name, which means the turned or ridden on? That it was known is clear: so likewise was it made known in the written Word that the original blessing included not merely the multiplication of the seed of the faithful Abraham, but it was then added, “And thy seed shall possess the gate of thy enemies,”1 [Gen. 22:17].

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

   This stellar transition of the pole star reflects an aspect of the transition of power from the fallen Morning star, who presided over ten categories of precious stones, representing angels [Ezek. 28:14], to the Risen Morning Star [Rev. 22:16], presiding over 12 categories of precious stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 signs of the zodiac, and later the 12 apostles at the foundations of the Age of Grace and the New Jerusalem.

Following the triple Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the specific signs of the Celestial Prelude was a unique triangular massing of planets. Kepler referred to the Feb. 25th, 6BC triangular massing of planets; Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, as the “decisive Conjunction of 6 BC that opened our precessional age of Pisces.” As we have noted, Kepler also advanced the idea that the Magi were guided to Judea by the appearance of this series of Conjunctions. This could make him a larger presence in the history of Astronomy, even more than what he is already accredited with, because of the spiritual nature of this insight. And there are other historical figures who should be recognized for their input on this subject. The famous Roman poet Virgil is worthy of consideration here from some of his early work in his Eclogues-10 volumes of his pastoral verses. Virgil’s, good reputation in the ancient astronomical community, was seen  in the honorary title of a “prophet of Christianity” given by his peers, for declaring that a great new order of centuries was now being born during the period of this Jupiter-Saturn triple union. In his Fourth Eclogue, he declared the return of the Golden Age, showing the influence of the traditional prophecy of the coming redeemer in Greece at the time: “Now the Virgin returns, now a new generation descends from heaven on high. Only thou pure Lucina, smile on the birth of the child, under whom the iron brood shall first cease, and a golden race spring up throughout the world.”6 (emphasis mine)

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

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

As the first born of the Church-the Spiritual Body of Christ, Jesus is certainly the Head of a new and everlasting “golden race” of Saints who will cast the serpent’s seed under foot. [Gen. 3:15] It is however the Magi that belong at the top of this list as the only Gentile Astronomer-kings to accurately recognize and act on what they believed concerning the birth of the king of kings. Their role in this historic and epic saga of the long awaited promised seed cannot be overlooked as they brought powerful recognition of the birth of Christ to the world and the local powers in Jerusalem. As we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, our sins will be forgiven and we will be saved, joining that golden race of Saints and inheriting all the everlasting benefits that go along with this honor.

Footnotes

1. Witness of the Stars E.W. Bullinger, p. 152
2.  Virgil’s Fourth Eclogue
3. R.H.Allen, Star Names their Lore and Meaning, p. 341