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"There shall
be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars." - Jesus Christ, Luke 21:25
The Bible is filled with
references to astrology. This is because
astrology was widely accepted as truth in Biblical times. Christians who
believe that astrology is Satanic would be surprised to learn that the Bible
is filled with astrology and even Jesus himself made numerous references to
astrology.
People believed in the study
of the stars in Biblical times. Everyone knew the influence of the sun on
the Earth, and the sun was a star. It certainly made a pattern, so far as
life on Earth was concerned - it shaped everything, or at least nourished
everything - and the shape had to be such as to allow the sun to give life
to it.
One of the great astrological stories in the Bible is the story of the
star
of Bethlehem. It is written that the star was a sign from God signaling
the birth of the Messiah into the world. The three
Magi,
Persian astrologer-kings, determined the time of this birth by the position
of this star. In 1600,
Johannes
Kepler hypothesized that this star was actually a conjunction of Jupiter
and Saturn. Confirmed by modern astrology, this symbolism ties in with the
prophecies of that era concerning a Messiah amongst the Jews. The
conjunctions occurred at the end of Pisces, ruled by Jupiter. Jupiter is the
planet of kings. Saturn is the planet that rules the Jews, thereby giving
the king of the Jews. This was a very infrequent triple conjunction of
Jupiter and Saturn and it occurred in the year 7 B.C.
The following are some of the
most interesting Biblical references to astrology.
"I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was
caught up to the THIRD HEAVEN. Whether it was in the body or out of the body
I do not know - God knows. And I know that this person - whether in the body
or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows - was caught up to
paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that humans are not
permitted to tell." (2 Cor. 12:1-4)
The phrase, "I know a person," is a euphemism people used in those days to
refer to themselves in a humble manner. Paul explained that he was taken to
the "third heaven." The phrase, "third heaven," is a reference to the
multi-level realms of the afterlife. This is an astrological/religious
concept believed by Jews, Christians, Gnostic
Christians, Platonists, and other people in those days. A correlation
with Paul's third heaven can be found in the Gnostic book entitled "The
Apocalypse of Paul."
The Apocalypse of Paul also describes Paul's afterlife visit to the third
heaven. It also describes how Paul travels through a hierarchy of heavenly
realms all the way to the "tenth heaven."
According to
Flavius Josephus, the famed Jewish historian, the Jewish temple at
Jerusalem had the twelve signs of the zodiac inlaid in its floor. Josephus
also stated that the twelve loaves of showbread in the temple was a
reference to the zodiac. In modern times, Israel issued stamps with the
zodiac signs identified with the twelve tribes of Israel and the
astrological symbolism of the temple.
The Bible states that God made the heavenly bodies to show us "signs" of his
intentions. These signs can be read by anyone who knows how to interpret
them. Astrology is about interpreting these signs in the motions of the sun,
moon, planets, and stars.
"And
God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day
from the night, and let them serve as SIGNS to mark seasons and days and
years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the
Earth." And it was so." (Gen. 1:14-15)
"And there shall be SIGNS in the sun, and in the moon,
and in the stars; and upon the Earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for
looking after those things which are coming on the Earth: for the powers of
heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a
cloud with power and great glory." (Luke 21:25-27)
In the verse above, Christ uses astrology to reveal the "signs" in the sky
of his coming.
The Bible states that the first communication from God came from the stars.
David writes in his Psalm:
"The HEAVENS declare the glory of God, and the
firmament shows his handiwork. Day after day utters his speech and night
after night shows his knowledge. There is no tongue or language where their
voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the Earth and their
words to the ends of the world. In them (the heavens) he has set a
tabernacle for the sun." (Psalm 19:1-4)
"Can you bring forth the
Mazzaroth (the zodiac) in their seasons or lead out the Bear with
its cubs? (an astrological constellation)" (Job 38:32)
This Bible verse shows God using astrology to answer Job.
The Bible also describes an astrological sign called the "Morning
Star" which is a reference to the planet Venus. The Morning Star, also
known as the "light bringer", is also an astrological symbol that functions
as a sign for the onset of dawn. It appears as a brilliant "star" at night
just before the sun rises and brings light each morning to Earth. The
greatest function of this "light bringer" is as a symbolic reference to the
Messiah who brings the light of God to the people. The Bible also uses the
term "Morning Star" as a reference to all sons of God including Lucifer, the
"light bearer".
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this
testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and
the bright MORNING STAR." (Rev. 22:16)
"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do
well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until
the day dawns and the MORNING STAR rises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1:19)
"Just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the
MORNING STAR." (Rev. 2:27-29)
"How you have fallen from heaven, O MORNING STAR, son of the dawn! You have
been cast down to the Earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in
your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars
of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights
of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will
make myself like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:12-14)
"After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. He said:
"May the day of my birth perish ... May its MORNING STARS become dark; may
it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn, for it did
not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes." (Job
3:1-10)
"Where were you when I laid the Earth's foundation? ... On what were its
footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the MORNING STARS sang
together and all the angels shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7)
In one of the prophetic dreams of Joseph, he saw eleven stars bowing down to
his star. The interpretation of this dream was obvious and that was that
Joseph's brothers will bow down to him.
"Then he (Joseph) had another dream, and he
told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this
time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." When he told
his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What
is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually
come and bow down to the ground before you?" (Gen. 37:9-11)
Of course, we all know the rest of the story that they indeed had to bow
down to Joseph when Pharaoh made him a prince because of his ability to
interpret dreams.
Here is an excellent Bible
passage that describes the astrological influences on humanity:
"There is a time for everything, and a season for
every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to
plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to
tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to
mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather
them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time
to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a
time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a
time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." (Eccl. 3:1-8)
Astrology refers to every 2160 years as a new "AGE"
which is a different sign of the zodiac that comes into position to
influence the Earth. The Bible describes events that will occur according to
the signs of the astrological "ages".
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the AGE.” (Matt. 28:20)
“Anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in
this AGE or in the AGE to come.” (Matt. 12:32)
“The harvest is the end of the AGE, and the harvesters are angels. As the
weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the
AGE.” (Matt. 13:39-40)
“What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the AGE?” (Matt.
24:3)
“No one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the
sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this
AGE and, in the AGE to come, eternal life.” (Luke 18:29-30)
“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the
wisdom of this AGE or of the rulers of this AGE ... None of the rulers of
this AGE understood it.” (1 Cor. 3:6-8)
“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings
for us, on whom the fulfillment of the AGES has come.” (1 Cor. 10:11)
"[Christ was raised] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,
and every title that can be given, not only in the present AGE but also in
the one to come.” (Eph. 1:21)
“... who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the
coming AGE.” (Heb. 6:5)
“Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the
world. But now he has appeared once for all at the AGE of the ages.”
(Heb. 9:26)
“Just and true are your ways, King of the AGES.” (Rev. 15:3)
All these Bible verses are referring to the end of the AGE of Pisces (the
fish, the Church age) and the beginning of the AGE of Aquarius (the
water-bearer, Christ).
Jesus was born under the end of the age of Aries (the ram or lamb)
and this may explain why he called himself the "lamb of God." By the time
Jesus began his ministry, it was the beginning of the age of Pisces (the
fish, the Church age). The sign of the fish has special significance to
Christianity because the sign of the fish has been known throughout the
millennia to be the sign of Christianity. Jesus recruited "fishermen" as
disciples to make them "fishers of men." He fed the masses with a miraculous
draft of fishes. His followers were know in Latin as "pisciculi",
the "little fishes." A commonly used icon in Christian churches is the "Vesica
Piscis", which is Latin for "mouth of the fish". Its shape resembles a
fish without a tail. It can be seen in the shape of stained glass windows in
many churches and cathedrals. The Pope wears a ceremonial hat in the shape
of a fish head.
Around the year 2300 A.D., the end of the age of Pisces will occur. The
world will then enter a new age, the age of Aquarius (the Water-Bearer).
It should be obvious to Christians that the identity of this
"Water-Bearer" is the one who (1) came from the waters of Galilee
(2) baptized with water (3) changed water into wine (4)
walked on the water (5) washed the feet of others with water (6)
calmed the ocean waters (7) gives living water (8) says we
must be born of water (9) drank the cup from the Father.
Sometime before the age of Aquarius arrives, major Earth changes were
foretold by Jesus and Cayce to occur. Jesus said that before this happens,
there will be wonders in the sun, moon, and stars signaling this coming age
of the Christ consciousness. This is a good reason why every Christian
should study astrology so that these heavenly signs can be interpreted.
Another astrological reference concerning Christianity deals with the winter
solstice which begins on December 21. It is the day of the year when the
night is longest and the daytime shortest. The ancient Egyptians noticed
that on the autumn equinox, the sun does not set farther south and sets in
the same place on the horizon for three days. This is an astrological
reference to when the sun (Son) goes down for three days (dies)
and then begins to rise again (resurrection). Using the crude
instruments available, ancient astronomers were able to detect by December
25th of each year that the daytime had become noticeably longer. This date
was chosen, and remains, the traditional date for followers of many
different religions to celebrate the "rebirth" of the sun. Following the
equinox, each succeeding day has slightly more sunlight than the previous
day. It was seen as a promise that warmth would return once more to the
Earth. Numerous pre-Christian religions honored their gods' birth or rebirth
on or about that day.
The ancient Egyptians knew
that as long as the sun rose in the morning, life would continue on the
Earth. This explains why the Egyptians used the sun as their symbol for the
eternal life of the cycle of the seasons. In many Christian churches today,
the symbol of the cross with a circle in the center of it appears on church
steeples. This icon of the circle as representing the sun, comes from the
Egyptian belief that the sun represents eternal life.
In the Book of Revelation, the following
symbolism is used to describe the appearance of the Son:
“Behold, he comes with clouds and every eye shall see
him.” (Rev. 1:7) The Son (sun) is the “light of the world” and
is seen by everyone.
“The Son (sun) of righteousness arises with healing in his wings.”
(Malachi 4:2)
The Egyptian religion held that the Sun of God, Horus, was killed under the
sign of Virgo (the virgin) but was resurrected in the age of Leo
(the lion). This is why the Egyptians built the Sphinx with the head of
a woman (Virgo) and the body of a lion (Leo).
During the days of Moses, the Hebrews were subject to the religion of Egypt.
Before the worship of Amen-Ra (God) was instituted, Egyptians
worshipped Isis (the Mother of God). When the Hebrews left Egypt and
arrived in Canaan, their religion was influenced by the Canaanite religion
whose God was named El (the planet of Saturn). The Star of David is a
symbol which comes from the “star” of Saturn (El) which is the planet
the ancients used to refer to the Hebrews.
With the influence of the religions of Isis, Ra and El, or:
Is(is) Ra El(Elohim-Lord) or
Mother Father Son(Sun)
The Hebrews named their
nation Is-Ra-El, or Israel. The Hebrews adopted Saturday (from Saturn's
day) as their day of worship. Christians, whose astrological influence
was the sun (also from Egyptian origin), worshipped on Sunday (or
the sun's day).
The story of Jonah (Semetic for "sun") is about a man who is
swallowed by a whale (death) and remains in it's belly for three days
at which time the man is freed (resurrection). This story is another
symbolic of the astrological account of how the sun remains still for three
days during the winter equinox. It is also symbolic of the resurrection of
Christ.
When Moses came down from the mountain, he saw the people worshipping a
golden calf. This idol came from the Egyptians astrological worship of the
sun. Golden represents the color of the sun. The calf (Taurus the bull)
represents the age in which the Moses lived when he wrote the Torah. When
history moved into the next sign (Aries the ram), the Hebrews
celebrated the approach of their Messiah by blowing rams horns. The sign of
Aries influenced many religions to adopt the “lamb of God” concept.
The concept of the zodiac is very ancient, with roots in the early cited
cultures of Mesopotamia. Astrology is, more than likely, the oldest religion
created by humans. The first twelve-sign zodiacs were named after the gods
of these cultures. The Greeks adopted astrology from the Babylonians, and
the Romans, in turn, adopted astrology from the Greeks. These cultures
renamed the signs of the Mesopotamian zodiac to symbols of their own
mythologies. This is why the familiar zodiac of the contemporary West bears
names out of Mediterranean mythology.
The concept of reincarnation is a necessary tenet of astrology. The notions
of reincarnation and karma together explain why some people are born into
lucky circumstances and others into unfortunate conditions. For astrologers
concerned with the question of why some people are born into a life of
hardship written large across their horoscopes and other people seem to be
born under a lucky star, reincarnation and karma prove important explanatory
tools to understand divine justice. Reincarnation also provides a framework
for explaining why a person has certain personality traits. They are
carryovers from past lifetimes.
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"There shall be signs in
the sun, the moon, and the stars." - Jesus Christ,
Luke 21:25 |
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Copyright © 2007 Near-Death
Experiences & the Afterlife
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