Enemy of the Church; the Monsters Trying to Devour Pisces

The called out are in conflict with the enemy of darkness. The story of monsters and dragons in mythical battles may have had their origin in the stars. If we remember, Pisces is the two fish united by the decan the Band.  The star names signify redemption for those who were looking ahead to Christ’s coming, and those looking behind to when Christ came.  Both fish represent the redeemed in Christ. The star pictures also tell us more of the story of what we face today as believers in Christ.  I have to credit Helena Lehman with pointing out this subject in her book The Language of God in the Universe (pg 290) and I thought it was a worthy subject to expound on. What we see is the story of an enemy whose time is running out and who one day will be eternally bound in the lake of fire. 

In the night sky during the time the sun moves through the house of Pisces there are five monsters visible.  Most of the time we can only see three of the five, but at the time of Pisces we can see all five.  This may have scared the ancients and caused them to dislike the time the sun moved through Pisces. However these five tell us a story we can learn from.  This is the story Adam read and told his children, but like people today some will keep these things in their remembrance and some will not. As we use computer programs to read the star stories, we can look at the sky at any given time in history or the future. Day unto day and night unto night the stars utter their speech and with the aid of computers we can read these stories during daylight hours. Thankfully this information, which was worked by several scholars over one hundred years ago, was not lost.  As I pointed out last week, we think we are so very smart in this age, yet we don’t even know what was taught just one hundred years ago.  Instead our Christian education has been sorely lacking.

Ps 19:1-3 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.KJV

Our first monster is Serpens, the serpent that Ophiuchus is holding while crushing the scorpion under foot.  For a closer look at Ophiuchus I have a previous blog that can be referenced, The Mazzaroth and Ophiuchus, http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/03/mazzaroth-and-ophiuchus.html  Let’s look at Serpens from EW Bullingers Witness of the Stars:

i AND 2. SERPENS AND OPHIUCHUS. The Struggle with the Enemy.

Here, Serpens, the serpent, is seen struggling vainly in the powerful grasp of the man who is named 0-phi-u-chus. In Latin he is called Serpentarius. * Luke xxii. 53 : comp. Col. i. 13 and Eph. vi. 12. He is at one and the same moment shown to be seizing the serpent with his two hands, and treading on the very heart of the scorpion, marked by the deep red star Antares (wounding).

In Scorpio we see merely the effort to wound Ophiuchus in the heel ; but here we see the effort of the serpent to seize THE CROWN, which is situated immediately over the serpents head, and to which he is looking up and reaching forth.

The contest is for Dominion! It was the Devil, in the form of a serpent, that robbed the first man of his crown; but in vain he struggled to wrest it from the sure possession of the Second Man. Not only does he fail in the attempt, but is himself utterly defeated and trodden under foot.

There are no less than 134 stars in these two constellations. Two are of the 2nd magnitude, fourteen of the 3rd, thirteen of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star in the Serpent, a (in the neck), is named Unuk, which means encompassing. Another Hebrew name is Alyah, the accursed. From this is Al Hay (Arabic), the reptile. The next brightest star is (in the jaw), named, in Arabic, Cheleb, or Chelbalrai, the serpent enfolding. The Greek name, Ophiuchus, is itself from the Hebrew and Arabic name Afeichus, which means the serpent held. The brightest star in Ophiuchus, a (in the head), is called Ras al Hagus (Arabic), the head of him who holds. http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt

We see this enemy who comes against the called out wanting dominion.  As we previously studied, dominion is a tactic of witchcraft, see King and Queen Manipulators, http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/05/witchcraft-part-2-ahab-jezebel.html  

The serpent in the garden came to take dominion over Adam and to steal his crown.  As we read from scripture there are crowns given to the believer and the Philadelphian Church was warned not to let anyone steal their crown, see Evangelizing  into the Sheepfold http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/08/philadelphia-evangelizing-into-sheepfold.html 

Logically, if a crown can be stolen, then the primary form of attack is stealing.  That is not to say that someone would not turn over their crown willingly, but this act of taking a crown infers that it was not earned by the one stealing it.  That is what the devil did in the garden and that is what he wants to do to us today.  Any time we turn aside in an area of false doctrine, or harden our hearts to habitual sin, or we rationalize our methods instead of doing what the bible tells us, the devil is ready to seize one of our crowns. I’m sure it gives the devil a big belly laugh every time he steals one, as we humans are so vulnerable to his schemes. 

As a side note, alongside the shepherd, there isn’t one special appointed person in the sheepfold that is to protect the sheep, we all are charged with guarding the sheepfold.  We are to have each others’ backs, and yet the devil makes us think that there is a special way of confronting or warning each other. Baloney! If someone is about to be run over by a car, we are not to wait around and make an appointment to talk to the driver, or contact our superior sheep on behalf of the crazy driver, or form a committee to discuss the repercussions of a driver plowing down the sheep.  No, we are to yell, “Watch Out”, possibly even throwing ourselves at the sheep about to be run over to get them out of the way.  That is laying down our lives for the sheep/brethren.  Instead we form rules on “how to” rather than simply just doing.  If the driver of the car is attempting to injure someone, either intentionally or unknowingly, we should be taking away the drivers’ car and license.  The devil has built a whole earthly system on dealing with people who do something wrong that has entered the church.  This is how the devil has given himself plenty of time to steal one’s crown.  While others watch but feel powerless to step in, the devil is twisting and spinning someone’s mind until he can grab that crown.  Instead of being placid sheep we can be Rams, using our heads to keep the devil at bay. 

The next enemy we see is Scorpio, who shows up at the end of the time the sun moves through Pisces.  We see the left claw of the scorpion which is wounding the heel of Ophiuchus.   This is the prophecy given in the beginning of Genesis.

Gen 3:14-15 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.KJV

Again from Witness of the Stars we see further information on Scorpio.

IX. SCORPIO (the Scorpion)

The brightest star, a (in the heart), bears the ancient Arabic name of Antares, which means the wounding. It is called by the Latins Cor Scorpii, be cause it marks the scorpion s heart. It shines ominously with a deep red light. The sting is called in Hebrew Lesath (Chaldee, Lesha), which means the perverse. The stars in the tail are also known as Leshaa, or Leshat*

To show us this; to prevent any mistake; to set forth the fact that this conflict only apparently ended in defeat, and that it did not really so end, we have the first two constellations belonging to this sign presented in one picture!  Indeed, the picture is threefold, for it includes the sign itself (as shown on the cover)!

If these pictures had been separated, then the conflict would have been separated from the victory; the deadly wound of the serpents head from the temporary wound in the Victor s heel. Hence, three pictures are required, in which the scorpion, the serpent, and the man, are all involved, in order to present at the same time the triumphant issue of the conflict. http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt

Again we may remember from our previous blog on Ophiuchus that the sun is only in Scorpio for about 6 days, by day seven the sun moves on.  This tells us that the devil has tried to lengthen his time line out to an entire sun cycle rather than the six short days.  He is a deceiver. Reading from Witness of the Stars:

DRACO (The Dragon). The Old Serpent, or the Devil, cast down from Heaven. 

Each of the three great books concludes with this same foreshowing of Apocalyptic truth. The same great enemy is referred to in all these pictures. He is the Serpent; he is the Dragon; "the great dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan " (Rev. xii. 9). The Serpent represents him as the Deceiver; the Dragon, as the Destroyer. 

This First Book concludes with the Dragon being cast down from heaven. The Second Book concludes with Cetus, the Sea Monster, Leviathan, bound. The Third Book concludes with Hydra, the Old Serpent, destroyed. 

Here, at the close of the First Book, we see not merely a dragon, but the Dragon cast down! That is the point of this great star-picture. 

It is against him that the God-Man " the Son of God goes forth to war." It is for him that the eternal fires are prepared. It is he who shall shortly be cast down from the heavens preparatory to his completed judgment. It is of him we read, " The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world : he was cast out and his angels with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down " (Rev. xii. 9, 10). 

It is of him that David sings : " God is my king 1 of old, Working 1 salvation in the midst of the earth . . . Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces." (Ps. Ixxiv. 12-14.) 

Of him also the Spirit causes Isaiah to say, "In that day, shall this song be sung in the land of Judah"; " In that day the LORD, with his sore, and great, and strong sword, Shall punish leviathan the piercing (R.V. swift) serpent, Even leviathan that crooked serpent; And he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea." (Isa. xxvi. i ; xxvii. i.) 

This is exactly what is foreshadowed by this constellation of Draco. Its name is from the Greek, and means trodden on, as in the Septuagint of Ps. xci. 13 : " The dragon shalt thou trample under feet," from the Hebrew Tt, Dahrach, to tread. 

In the Zodiac of Denderah it is shown as a serpent under the fore-feet of Sagittarius, and is named Hcrfent, which means the serpent accursed! 

The brightest star, a (in one of the latter coils), is named Thuban (Heb.), the subtle. Some 4,620 years ago it was the Polar Star. It is manifest, therefore, that the Greeks could not have invented this constellation, as is confessed by all modern astronomers. It is still a very important star in nautical reckonings, guiding the commerce of the seas, and thus " the god of this world " is represented as winding in his contortions round the pole of the world, as if to indicate his subtle influence in all worldly affairs. 

The next star, /3 (in the head), is called by the Hebrew name Rastaban, and means the head of the subtle (serpent}. In the Arabic it is still called A I Waid, which means who is to be destroyed. 

The next star, y (also in the head), is called Ethanin, i.e., the long serpent, or dragon. 

The Hebrew names of other stars, not identified, are Grumian, the subtle; Giansar, the punished enemy. Other (Arabic) names are Al Dib, the -reptile; El Atkik, the fraudful ; El Asieh, the bowed down. http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt

As we looked at the story of the circle in the heavens in a prior blog we saw that the polestar is now in Ursa Minor and is on its way out of Ursa Minor and into Cephus the King. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/02/lucifers-story-is-ending-meaning-of.html

The enemy Draco the dragon will be cast down, out of the heavens as in Revelation 12.  We know that that has not happened yet as there has not been a time of rejoicing in the heavens. 

Rev 12:7-10 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.KJV

Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.KJV

Let’s compare Revelation with this section in Isaiah.

Isa 26:20-27:1 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation [2195] be overpast.21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity [5771]: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.27:1 In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan [3882] the piercing [1281] serpent [5175], even leviathan that crooked [6129] serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.KJV

Indignation OT:2195 za`am (zah'-am); from OT:2194; strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively) fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin):KJV - angry, indignation, rage.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Iniquity OT:5771`avon (aw-vone'); or `avown (2 Kings 7:9; Ps 51:5 [OT:7]) (aw-vone'); from OT:5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:KJV - fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Leviathan OT:3882 livyathan (liv-yaw-thawn'); from OT:3867; a wreathed animal, i.e. a serpent (especially the crocodile or some other large seamonster); figuratively, the constellation of the dragon; also as a symbol of Bab.:KJV - leviathan, mourning.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Serpent OT:5175nachash (naw-khawsh'); from OT:5172; a snake (from its hiss):KJV - serpent.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Piercing OT:1281 bariyach (baw-ree'-akh); or (shortened) bariach (baw-ree'-akh); from OT:1272; a fugitive, i.e. the serpent (as fleeing), and the constellation by that name:KJV - crooked, noble, piercing.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Crooked OT:6129 `aqallathown (ak-al-law-thone'); from OT:6127; tortuous:KJV - crooked.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Shall slay OT:2026 harag (haw-rag'); a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent:KJV - destroy, out of hand, kill, murder (-er), put to [death], make [slaughter], slay (-er),  surely.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

We have looked at this verse before.  There seems to be a divine order listed here.  First God’s people will enter chambers while some sort of fury is going on regarding God’s displeasure with earthly perversity, possibly the Parousia (the wrath of the Lamb) or the Wrath of God.  When the Lord comes to judge Jerusalem, which is the wrath of the Lamb, during the first three and one half years of the tribulation and then the wrath of God the second three and one half years of the tribulation, the serpent will be thrown out of heaven and bound to earth only. That is when the heavens shall rejoice but earth will mourn.   Today we know that the devil still has access to heaven as he did in Job, nothing has changed his access to the meetings at the mount of the congregation.  We also know heaven has not rejoiced because the devil hasn’t been thrown out yet.  So it would seem that during the tribulation while fury is raging on earth, the body of Christ is hidden away; the judgment on earth will take place, and the devil will be cast out of heaven. 

If we remember the previous blog on Rahab we can see that the possible place of satan’s prior habitation, the planet Rahab was broken in pieces, and remains part of what we call the asteroid belt.  Is it possible that satan’s destroyed planet is just the beginning of heavenly changes that effect us, and our view from earth since we know that more punishment is on the way.  See Rahab, and God’s Circled Picture in the Heavens.  http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/02/rahab-gods-circled-picture-in-heavens.html  Here again in Isaiah we see the wounded dragon.

Isa 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? KJV

 The sea monster Cetus is the enemy that the fish are bound to via the constellation the band.  While we see the fish are always going to have this enemy around, the fish also are pulling away from Cetus, choking him.  This would tell us that we should be on offense rather than on defense so that we continue to hold Cetus back. Also if we take note of the perspective, the fish are small, the sea monster is very large.  What a humiliation for the big sea monster to be held back by guppies.  And again E W Bullinger has more insight:

2. CETUS (The Sea Monster). The Great Enemy Bound. 

The picture is that of a great Sea-monster, the largest of all the constellations. It is the natural enemy of fishes, hence it is placed here in connection with this last chapter, in which fishes are so prominent. 

It is situated very low down among the constelations far away towards the south or lower regions of the sky. 

Its name in the Denderah Zodiac is Knem, which means subdued. It is pictured as a monstrous head, trodden under foot by the swine, the natural enemy of the serpent. The hawk also (another enemy of the serpent) is over this figure, crowned with a mortar, denoting bruising. 

The names of the stars interpret for us infallibly the meaning of the picture. 

The brightest star, a (in the upper mandible), is named Menkar, and means the bound or chained enemy. The next, (in the tail), is called Diphda, or Deneb Kaitos, overthrown, or thrust down. The star o (in the neck) is named Mira, which means THE REBEL. Its name is ominous, for the star is one of the most remarkable. It is very bright, but it was not till 1596 that it was discovered to be variable. It disappears periodically seven times in six years ! It continues at its brightest for fifteen days together. M. Bade says that during 334 days it shines with its greatest light, then it diminishes, till it entirely disappears for some time (to the naked eye). In fact, during that period it passes through several degrees of magnitude, both increasing and diminishing. In deed its variableness is so great as to make it appear unsteady! http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt

While the called out are on earth, the devil cannot do all that he wants to do. When the called out are taken away into their chambers the devil will not be held back by the called out. He will go wild for a short time and then he will be bound by the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Then the enemy will be bound for one thousand years.

Job 41:1-5 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? KJV

We cannot tame this monster; we cannot convert him, get him saved, or teach him to be nice to others. We can’t even simply catch him like any other fish. He’s a big giant sea monster. The translation in the message makes me laugh.  Pet goldfish?

Job 41:3-5 Will he beg you over and over for mercy, or flatter you with flowery speech? 4 Will he apply for a job with you to run errands and serve you the rest of your life? 5 Will you play with him as if he were a pet goldfish? Will you make him the mascot of the neighborhood children? (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Let’s go on.

Job 41:24-34 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.KJV

Cetus is strong, and he is not easily taken down, so truly then subduing of this rebel is in a spiritual sense. Again I know I’ve mentioned it before, but we should be on offense not on defense, we are holding him back. Cetus must be confident in his own abilities, making him prideful, and the king of the children of pride. Pride is like a sea monster.

Rev 20:2-3 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.KJV

The last monster in the heavens is Hydra.  Hydra is very long and its head and three fourths of its body is easily visible in the season of Pisces.  Hydra actually reaches across three or four constellations.  Again from Witness of the Stars:

i. HYDRA (The Serpent). The Old Serpent Destroyed. 

The time has at length come for the fulfilment of the many prophecies pictured in the heavens : and in its three final constellations we see the consummation of them all in the complete destruction of the Old Serpent, and all his seed, and all his works. It is the special work of the Messiah, as " the Lion of the tribe of Judah," to trample it under foot. It is pictured as the female serpent (Hydra), the mother and author of all evil. Hydra has the significant meaning, he is abhorred! 

It is an immense constellation extending for above 100 degrees from east to west, beneath the Virgin, the Lion, and the Crab. It is composed of 60 stars ; one of the 2nd magnitude, three of the 3rd, twelve of the 4th, etc. 

The brightest star, a (in the heart of the Serpent), is sometimes called by the moderns Cor Hydra on that account. Its ancient name is Al Phard (Arabic), which means the separated, put away. Another is called Al Drian, the abhorred. Another star is named Minchar al Sugia, the piercing of the deceiver. 

There can be no doubt as to what is taught by the constellation of Hydra, nor is it necessary to quote the Scriptures concerning the destruction of the Serpent. http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt

According to some pictures there are four constellations that Hydra encompasses from Cancer to Libra, one third part of the stars. Hence the portion of Revelation 12 regarding one third part of the stars may refer to Hydra.  While most of these verses regarding the devil are interchangeable as he is one being. Each of these constellations tell us of different aspects and time periods of the enemy. And while the devil stole Adam’s crown, he still tries to steal ours.  While he is filled with pride, he “pastors” the children of pride, coaching and nurturing them to become more evil. 

Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.KJV

Ps 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.KJV

What a great picture of Jesus’ victory over the enemy. Hydra appears as a decan of Leo, the lion of the tribe of Judah.  It is the last constellation as Virgo is the first, and sums up the story of victory in the heavens.  

Let’s recap these constellations.  Serpens means dominion, the devil wanted and wants dominion as he tried and tries to steal crowns.  Scorpio means the conflict, wounding the heel of him who comes.  Draco means deceiver and destroyer who is cast down.  Cetus means the rebel who is bound.  Hydra is the abhorred that Jesus destroys.  It is a wonderful picture told through the ages of who our enemy is and the etymology of the star names can prove to anyone that the bible is true and should be taken as our only rule for faith and practice.  We have an enemy but we also have victory through Jesus. And as is my need for balance, we will next look at our heroes in the star gospel.  

End Notes

http://www.theoi.com/Text/AratusPhaenomena.html

The Age of Pisces Not Aquarius

What does the symbol of the ichthys have to do with our age or time period?  It’s a good question and there is a link.  Let’s review these recent topics and why I am looking into them.  If our father Abraham brought the knowledge of Astronomy to Egypt, and he had come from Babylon, then there is something we should look into regarding Abraham’s knowledge.  In Adamic times the knowledge of the stars were given to Adam, passed down to all his children.  But the knowledge was kept alive in and moved through Seth’s line, further through Shem’s line.  The ancient stories are reveled to us from the etymology of the star names.  The pictures were later created to be able to tell the story of the star names.  As time went on some distortions entered into the knowledge of the stars such as astrology.  We know that Daniel taught the Magi the knowledge of the stars but when Babylon fell and people were not bound to stay in Babylon, some Magi moved west to Israel, now creating two different branches of Magi, the Eastern Magi and the Western Magi.  The Eastern Magi kept true to the knowledge while the Western Magi lost the original knowledge and created a superstitious religion of fortune telling.  This is why when Jesus was born, the Eastern Magi came to worship Him, but the Western Magi didn’t know anything about the King that was born.  If the message of our redeemer is the story written in the stars, then it is to our advantage to learn this story, as the stars and bible teach us.  The stars are pure, and cannot be changed by men.  Therefore what the stars tell us should be taught so that we understand what it is God wants us to know rather than the made up religious practices of people.  With that in mind we have looked at the congregation, the assembly, the sheepfold and the mystery.  To add to our knowledge of the sheepfold and who we are in Christ, we are looking into the constellation of Pisces. 

What is an astronomical age? That is a good question.  It is a time period where the sun resides in a constellation during the equinox or the solstice.  Also depending on your hemisphere, it will be the opposite start to a season from the opposing hemisphere. At some point in time people thought the start of the spring season was important and in turn decided to count the astronomical age as important.  Really there is no concrete evidence as to the significance of the equinoxes but mystic ones, such as the time of leaving the darkness of winter and entering into new life. Or the time for planting (depending on where you live as planting where I live doesn’t happen until almost summer solstice, which is like new birth or beginnings. In 45 BC Julius Caesar set March 25^th as the date for the vernal equinox, and due to precession, Pope Gregory 13^th adjusted that date.  If we remember our previous blogs on precession, we will understand that the rewind is what affects the ages.  While the sun moves clockwise through the constellations the ages move counter clockwise. 

Today we are in the age of Pisces. In the year 495 BC we were just breaching the perimeter of Pisces from Aries. We will be in the age of Pisces from 495 BC through to 2600 AD. This tells us something very specific to our time, and while we are in the age of Pisces a bit longer, this is the age of the redeemed being blessed but still bound.  That means while this time period continues on we have people being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.   Whether in foresight, believing in the Messiah to come, or in hindsight, believing in the Messiah that came.  One fish position upward to the heavenly calling, one to the earthly calling, both held together by the decan the band.

I am more of a literalist than a figurative-ist, I find that taking the bible literally teaches us more and that those who take the bible more figurative don’t reach the depths of understanding. Also those who are figurative-ists tend to waver on meanings and definitions in the bible and one figurative-ist will accuse another figurative-ist of wrongly dividing the bible.  Literalists get more literal as time goes on, and figurative-ists change ideas with the times.  I bring this up to point out that some like to divide the ages equally into 2000 year time periods and then decide what age we are in accordingly.  This is a little sketchy to me, a literalist.  If the sun is in a constellation on the vernal equinox, that is what we should be looking at, not the made up time frame by men.  I’ve read the arguments for the figurative-ists, and I know by human nature, everyone wants to be “special”.  We want to be the “special ones” who live in a “special” time but that is simply not supported by the heavens.  It is simply the plan of satan to try to tell us we are in a different age so that we will not fulfill the call of this age and sleep through it. 

We all remember the song from the 1960’s, but the Fifth Dimension must have been looking ahead 700 years as the dawning of Aquarius can be found and determined by any free or paid for astronomy program.  Astrologers still use out dated charts for their business, and no astrologer is giving their readings away for free, yet they are all wrong.  In other words don’t waste money on books telling you that we are in the age of Aquarius, just download a free astronomy program and look for yourself.  The age of Aquarius will occur long after our lifetime.  In 2600 AD the sun starts to breach the boundary of Aquarius on the spring equinox, this is the dawning of Aquarius.  No new dawning or enlightenment on December 21, 2012.  The sun will move out of Aquarius in the year 4300 AD.  If we remember the precession, the backward spin, and understand that each constellation is different in length, we will make sense of the variations of time.  One age slightly longer, one slightly shorter.  The opposite side of the wheel is the fall equinox, September 22, 2012, where the sun will be in Virgo.  This is the spring equinox in the southern hemisphere.   

At the time of Adam the vernal equinox was in the constellation of Aries.  At about 4,500 BC the sun moved out of Taurus and into Aries, and by 4,100 BC clearly inside of the Aries boundary.  If Adam was created around 4,000 BC then the understanding would be that there had to be need of a sacrifice.  If Lucifer fell prior to Adam on earth, and the earth (not the heavens) had to be re-created, then we can see that God knew and was intentional about the age man was created in, and the stars would tell man to look ahead to a coming Messiah.  He also knew and was intentional about the mystery of the Jew and Gentile being of one body and displayed that in Pisces.  Remember the mysteries were hid from before the foundation of the earth, so even though Lucifer was important before his fall he could not change or rearrange the heavens to say something different.  Lucifer is the prince of the power of the air by stealing stewardship from Adam, he has no power over the heavens (there is no air to sustain life ,as on earth, in the heavens).  While the magnificence of God shines from the heavenly luminaries, it is simply his wisdom and knowledge that calls out to us today for us to understand His plan.  Therefore if satan could trick you into believing we are in an age of enlightenment instead of the church age, he can get people to forget the mission of the times and search for new light among different man made religions.

The Mayans believed in the winter solstice as a point of demarcation, hence their calendar end date/start date for a new age.  However astronomically during the winter solstice of 2012, we will still be in the constellation of Sagittarius, with about 300 years to exit Sagittarius and enter Ophiuchus.  The opposite side of the wheel is June 20, 2012, where the sun is in Taurus.   Now this does not mean there isn’t anything going on in the heavens on December 21, 2012.  There are some very interesting astronomical events on that date, but it is just not a start or end to the age. So what does it mean that we are in the age of Pisces? Why are people anxious to be in the age of Aquarius? 

On a historical mythological note, fish in and of themselves were not a popular food source for Egypt.  As the myth is told their beloved King was chopped into pieces and thrown in the Nile, and the fish ate his private parts, which was the only part of Osiris not recovered and pieced back together.  Therefore people did not eat fish.  It is similar to today, aside from television and internet, where people are told something is bad to eat and people change their eating habits.  Other cultures did eat fish but a strong dislike from Egypt shed a bad light on fish during the first century.  These ages were important to previous cultures, which we can now understand from hindsight the symbolism and why certain sculptures and artwork exist. 

If there is something to understand about Pisces it is that Pisces represents the church.  Two fish bound together with a band show us the redeemed, those who looked ahead to the coming Messiah, and those who look behind to the Messiah’s coming.  The band that holds the fish together tells us we are one in Christ.  But the interesting thing is, this band, which is the first decan of Pisces, is sometimes held by the Left front leg of the Lamb, Aries.  The Lamb of sacrifice, Christ, holds the band of the fish.  While pictures show us the band that attaches to the fish is also connected to cetus the sea monster. If you look at this picture we have the church bound to the sea monster, we are like a noose around his neck and at the same time we are held back by the sea monster, yet the lamb steps in, in between the fish and the sea monster.  One thing we can pick up from this is that we the church should be on the offense not the defense, the harder and faster we swim the more choking the devil gets.  Another thing we can see is that we are stuck with the devil, he isn’t going anywhere, so no matter what we do we are bound here with him.  This age has made the church enemies of evil.  We the church hold back the enemy, but once the band is cut, the devil has free reign.  While specifically the Holy Spirit does the holding back of the enemy, the Holy Spirit resides in us, the church.  The church is the natural enemy of the devil, and as such we should be on the offense with our personal walk. 

Culturally the body of Christ has always been enemies to manmade religions.  The body of Christ has been and still is persecuted.  It is simply the way it is; there is no “heaven on earth” for us.  Any illusion to life being wonderful after we become Christians is another setup by the devil to discourage us from a Christian walk.  This is one of the ploys of the devil, instead of hard times for us, we are told Aquarius will be a joyous time for a central religion. Sounds a little like the season of the beast and the false prophet.  The body of Christ may be persecuted here on earth but we can overcome as we saw in the previous blogs on the Seven Churches of Revelation. And when we do we will be rewarded.

Let’s look at the star names from E W Bullinger’s Witness of the Stars.

The ancient Egyptian name, as shown on the Denderah Zodiac, is Pi-cot Orion, or Pisces Hori, which means the fishes of Him that cometh.

The Hebrew name is Dagim, the Fishes, which is closely connected with multitudes, as in Gen. xlviii. 26, where Jacob blesses Joseph s sons, and says, " Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." The margin says, " Let them grow as fishes do increase " It refers to the fulfilment of Gen. i. 28, " Be fruitful and multiply." The multitude of Abrahams seed is prominent in the pronouncement of the blessings, where God compared his future posterity to the stars of the sky, and the sand upon the sea shore. " A very great multitude of fish," as in Ezek. xlvii. 9.

The Syriac name is Nuno, the fish, lengthened out (as in posterity).

The sign, then, speaks of the multitudes who should enjoy the blessings of the Redeemer s work.

http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt

And From Joseph A Seiss, The Gospel in the Stars

The names of this sign in Hebrew and Arabic, as in the Greek and Latin, mean the same as in English — the Fishes. In Syriac it is called Nuno, the Fish prolonged, the fish with the idea of posterity or successive generations. In Coptic its name is Pi-cot Orion, the Fish, congregation, or company of the coming Prince. Two prominent names in the sign are Okda, the United, and Al Samaca, the Upheld. And all the indications connected with Pisces tend to the conclusion that in these two great fishes we are to see and read precisely what was symbolized by Christ in the miracle to which the text refers ; namely, a pictorial representation of the Church. 

http://archive.org/stream/gospelinstarsorp00seis/gospelinstarsorp00seis_djvu.txt

And again from The Gospel in the Stars

These Fishes are two in number. The general idea thus expressed is the idea of multitude, which is characteristic of all the sacred promises relating to the success of the Messianic work among men. The Church, in comparison with the great unsanctified world around it, is always a " little flock " — a special elect called out from among the great body of mankind outside of itself — just as the fishes enclosed in a net are but a small portion of the myriads that are in the sea. But, in itself considered, multitudinousness is always one of its characteristics. To Abraham it was figured as the stars of the sky and as the sand on the seashore for multitude. To Ezekiel the sacred waters embraced " a very great multitude of fish." Every symbolic casting of the net at Christ's command took a great multitude of fishes. The very name carries in it the idea of multitude, and the duplication of the symbol gives the still further idea of outspread multiplication — a glorious company of Apostles, a goodly fellowship of Prophets, a noble army of Martyrs, a holy Church throughout all the world. 

But, beyond this, the Church, in historical fact and development, is twofold. There was a Church before Christ, and there is a Church since Christ; and whilst these two make up the one universal Church, they are still quite distinct in character. The patriarchal Church, which was more definitely organized under the institutes given by Moses, was one. It is a singular fact that the ancient rabbis always considered the people of Israel as denoted by this sign. The Sethites and Shemites, and all adherents to the true God and His promises and worship, were by both themselves and the heathen astronomically associated with these Fishes. They are certainly one set of the great Saviour's fishes. The Christian Church, organized under the institutes of Jesus Christ, was the other of these Fishes. Though in some sense the same old Church reformed, it was still in many respects quite another — so much so that it became apostasy to turn from it to "the beggarly elements" of the former dispensation. Here, then, are the two great branches or departments of the one great universal Church of the promised Seed of the woman. To the one His coming was future, and so it dealt in types, shadows, symbols, and figures of the true. To the other the ancient anticipations have passed into actual fact, and exist as living realities, already far on the way toward the final consummation. The faith of both is the same, and the spiritual life of both is the same. Hence both are mystic Fishes. But the stage of development, the historical place and condition, and the entire external economy, are different, as type and antitype are different, though in interior substance one and the same. The Fish in its multitudinousness symbolizes both. The old Church was the Fish arising out of the slain sacrifice believed in in advance, and signified in the old ordinances ; and the new Church, organized under Christ, is the Fish arising afresh out of the same, which has now become an accomplished and existing reality. Hence the whole thing- was fore-signified in the stars under the image of two Fishes, which are indeed two under one method of conception, and yet one and the same in another method of conception. It is the one Fish in both, yet two Fishes in historic presentation and external dispensation. 

http://archive.org/stream/gospelinstarsorp00seis/gospelinstarsorp00seis_djvu.txt

The Hebrew word for fish is dagah, as E W Bullinger pointed out to us.  Here is the usage of dagah fron Genesis and Ezekiel. Speaking of multitudes of fish, increasing in population.

Gen 48:16 The Angel which redeemed [1350] me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude [1711] in the midst of the earth.KJV

Ezek 47:9-10 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish[1710], because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish[1710] shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.KJV

OT:1710 dagah (daw-gaw'); feminine of OT:1709, and meaning the same:KJV - fish.

OT:1711 dagah (daw-gaw'); a primitive root; to move rapidly; used only as a denominative from OT:1709; to spawn, i.e. become numerous:KJV - grow.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:1350 ga'al (gaw-al'); a primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), i.e. to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.):KJV -  in any wise,  at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk (-man), purchase, ransom, redeem (-er), revenger.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

From the Old Testament we see Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons.  He prophesies that they will grow into a multitude, like spawning fish. After the day of Pentecost, the body of Christ grew quickly.  Ezekiel says multitudes of fish of every kind, which sounds like Revelation saying they come from every tribe tongue and nation.  This is why after the day of Pentecost the disciples were to move out into all nations teaching and preaching.  We need to look at the redeemed in the New Testament, those who Christ redeems.  In the book of Luke we see Zacharias prophesies as well as the people on the road to Emaus wondering about redeeming Israel. 

Luke 1:67-75 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed [3084] his people,69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.KJV

Luke 24:19-24 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed [3085] Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.KJV

NT:3083 lutron (loo'-tron); from NT:3089; something to loose with, i.e. a redemption price (figuratively, atonement):KJV - ransom.

NT:3084 lutroo (loo-tro'-o); from NT:3083; to ransom (literally or figuratively):KJV - redeem.

NT:3085 lutrosis (loo'-tro-sis); from NT:3084; a ransoming (figuratively):KJV -  redeemed, redemption.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

For someone who was struck dumb and now speaks his first words, Zacharias has a lot of important things to say. They were looking to the Messiah to come and now we know John will be the one who prepares the way of the redeemer. These are the people who were redeemed before Jesus came, those faithfully looking for him. Then after Jesus’ death, we see the believers were questioning what was going on as they believed Jesus was the one who would redeem Israel.  If we look back at Ezekiel, we see many different kinds of fish, not just one type.  The believers didn’t quite understand that others would be redeemed as well as Israel.  Remember Peter’s vision of all kinds of animals, clean and unclean?  What the people understood was that the redemption would come to Israel, but really it was to come to all people.  The interesting thing is that Pisces lumps us all together, there is no Jew or Gentile any longer, we are one in Christ.

The Lamb is worthy to open the book and the seals. And by redeeming us Jesus has made people from every kindred, tongue, tribe, and nation to be kings and priests unto God.  Again all one, in Christ.

Rev 5:8-10And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed [59] us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.KJV

NT:59 agorazo (ag-or-ad'-zo); from NT:58; properly, to go to market, i.e. (by implication) to purchase; specially, to redeem:KJV - buy, redeem.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

You and I were bought with a price, we were ransomed by the blood of Jesus.  That is why there is no longer separation between Jew and Gentile.  Blood covered it all. 

Gal 3:13-14 Christ hath redeemed [1805] us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.KJV

NT:1805 exagorazo (ex-ag-or-ad'-zo); from NT:1537 and NT:59; to buy up, i.e. ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss (improve opportunity):KJV - redeem.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Jesus said he would make us fishers of men, if the constellation name means the fishes of Him that cometh we then understand that we are the fish, the multitude the progeny of Abraham. 

Matt 4:18-20 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.KJV

Let’s look at the band also from Witness of the Stars.

 THE BAND. 

 The Redeemed Bound, but binding their Enemy. 

The band that unites these two fishes has always formed a separate constellation. It is shown in Plate XXI. The Arabian poems of ANTARAH frequently mention it as distinct from the Sign with which it is so closely connected. ANTARAH was an Arabian poet of the sixth century. 

 Its ancient Egyptian name was U-or, which means He cometh. Its Arabic name is A I Risha, the band, or bridle. 

 It speaks of the Coming One, not in His relation to Himself, or to His enemies, but in His relation to the Redeemed. It speaks of Him who says : " I drew them with cords of a man, With bands of love ; And I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws." (Hosea xi. 4, R.V.) 

 But it speaks also of His unloosing the bands with which they have been so long bound. 

http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt

And Again from The Gospel in the Stars

The Decans of this sign serve to bring out this idea with great clearness. The first Decan is a very long waving Ribbon or Band. The ancient name of it is Al Risha, the Band or bridle. It is one, continuous, unbroken piece, and so doubled that one of its ends goes out to the northern Fish, and is tightly bound around its tail ; whilst the other end goes out to the other Fish, and is fastened to it in the same way. By this Band these two Fishes are inseparably tied together, so that the one cannot get on without the other. And so the fact is. The patriarchal Church is really tied to the Christian Church. The Epistle to the Hebrews tells us that the ancient saints, from Adam onward, could not be made perfect without us (chap, n : 40). The consummation of all they hoped for was inevitably tied up with what was to be subsequently achieved by Christ, much of which is still a matter of promise and hope. And so the Christian Church is really tied to the; patriarchal Church. All the necessary preparations and foundations for Christianity were vouchsafed through the Old Testament. What was then testified, believed, and looked for we must needs also accept, believe, and take in. The Christian does not stand just ' where the ancient believer stood, but the old was the bridge by which the new was reached. Christ came not to destroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfil them, and to complete what they looked to and anticipated. There could be no Christian Church without the patriarchal going before it, just as there could be no patriarchal Church without the Christian coming after it to complete and fulfil what the old was meant to prepare for And here is the Band of connection unalterably binding them together in a unity which still is dual. 

http://archive.org/stream/gospelinstarsorp00seis/gospelinstarsorp00seis_djvu.txt

The first decan of Pisces is the Band, it holds the fish together and connected to the sea monster. It means He cometh. Again we see this as a weapon of offense, choking or pulling, or holding back cetus. How do we strangle the devil? When we are fishers of men as well as telling others about the blood of Jesus.

Eph 1:7-14 In whom we have redemption [629] through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption [629] of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.KJV

NT:629 apolutrosis (ap-ol-oo'-tro-sis); from a compound of NT:575 and NT:3083; (the act) ransom in full, i.e. (figuratively) riddance, or (specially) Christian salvation:KJV - deliverance, redemption.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Jesus tells us about the sheepfold, as we have previously looked at. Both fish the ones looking forward to the Messiah and those looking backward to the Messiah are gathered together into one fold, both drawn in by what Jesus accomplishes on the cross. This is why Jesus came.  Pisces tells us the story of how the redeemed are joined and held together and how it was because of the Lamb who was slain who brings them together.

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.KJV

John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.KJV

That Jesus was and is the redeemer, there is no question to those who believe.  But to those who haven’t been taught, the questions remain.  Job, the first one to record his look ahead to the coming redeemer, says that he knows his redeemer lives.  We know Jesus wasn’t on earth yet, but Job knew he was alive and ready to come.  In the latter days Jesus will come again and stand on the earth, to rule.  This is the faith and confidence Job had in what was written in the stars.  How do I know that? Job lived before Moses, and there was no written torah at that time. Job read the story of the redeemer in the stars and believed it. 

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.KJV

This is the age we live in, the age of Pisces.  Many may think that Aquarius is better, because of new enlightenment, but I would venture to say, as I have quoted men from the 1800’s, and studied star charts from the 1600’s, I would say that we are re-learning things forgotten. This is similar to new enlightenment in that we are learning the very things Job knew. The things he believed so strongly in which were passed down from the Sethites.  This is a better age by far as it is the time of redemption for all nations, tribes, and tongues.  It is the time to gather all the fish into the nets, it’s about all people, not individual enlightenment for self promotion.  As Jesus pointed out being a great leader means we are to be great servants that is the age we live in.  If we were in the age of enlightenment we would see all kinds of people promoting themselves as gurus for today.  Yet none of the people that do that now have the very simple knowledge that people had even 100 years ago. Time to learn about the age we are at the time of the vernal equinox, for the northern hemisphere it is Pisces, for the southern hemisphere it is Virgo.  This is why the redeemed are hated among the heathen, the heathens are in an age they have to continually reject the redeemer in order to stay unsaved. That means they swim with the “fishes” but are not transformed like the fish.  It must be hard swimming and holding one’s breath all the time, instead of being transformed into fish where swimming is easy.  And there we have the reason for the hatred. Notwithstanding, the age of Pisces has its enemies, which we will explore next time.

End Notes

Christian Fish Symbol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthys

Equinox

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120320-spring-equinox-first-day-2012-vernal-science/

Age of Aquarius or Pisces?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Aquarius

http://pseudoastro.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/astrologers-take-note-we-are-nowhere-near-the-dawning-of-the-age-of-aquarius/#comments

http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Sprecess.htm

http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/02/13/age-of-aquarius-are-we-there-yet/

http://365daysofastronomy.org/2009/02/27/february-27th-the-dawning-of-the-age-of-aquarius-or-is-it-astrology-part-1/

http://365daysofastronomy.org/2012/07/31/july-31st-astronomy-word-of-the-week-zodiac/

Laodicea, Educating the Sheepfold

Between various languages we can have a few mistranslations.  One of which is: Matt 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a [camel] to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.KJV Which also appears in Mark 10:25 and Luke 18:25.  The word for camel is mistranslated.  The word according to George M Lamsa is rope, gamla in the Aramaic.  Remember we reviewed last week that the spoken language of the time of the New Testament was Aramaic.  There is a bit of a difference between a rope and a camel going through a needle.  When someone translated this they used the word for camel instead of rope.  When I was in Israel I asked someone about this and they gave me the same made up story we hear all over about the city gate being called the eye of the needle.  That may be well and good but the word here should be rope.  If I was trying to sew, I would not use a huge needle or I would tear the fabric.  Understanding that the word should have been rope makes this clearer.  It also makes the understanding of the Laodicean church clearer to us.  They were well off and not passionate about God because they were comfortable.  We have to realize they were in the Church; these are not necessarily heathens in the Church, but people who probably confessed Jesus as Lord but didn’t live for Him. 

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

The second part of this verse is better written as: the Amen, the faithful and true, the witness, the beginning, the creation, the God.  The sometimes untranslated word, strongs # 3588 appears before these statements of Jesus’ character. We should take special note of these.

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Simply said, they were in the middle; comfortably warm. The majority of the people in this area were comfortable, similar to the country I live in.  The Majority of people living in the USA are comfortable.  They have worked to become comfortable, they have been proselytized by sales and marketing companies regarding every new gadget and product to make life easy and comfortable.   They have been fed images of the perfect home, garden, car, and family.  Everyone strives to look and be like those images.  We have believed a sales pitch and we live the role. I might point out that we do not have to, but we have bought into the “image” of the American Dream.

Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Spue NT:1692 emeo (em-eh'-o); of uncertain affinity; to vomit:KJV - (will) spue.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Mouth NT:4750 stoma (stom'-a); probably strengthened from a presumed derivative of the base of NT:5114; the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specifically, the front or edge (of a weapon):KJV - edge, face, mouth.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Jesus really is going to vomit them out of (ek) his mouth.  But why? When we read a little further, we find out that the Laodiceans do not hear his voice, so while he speaks they cannot hear him. 

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Rich NT:4145 plousios (ploo'-see-os); from NT:4149; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with:KJV - rich.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Increased with goods NT:4147 plouteo (ploo-teh'-o); from NT:4148; to be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively):KJV - be increased with goods, (be made, wax) rich.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Need NT:5532 chreia (khri'-ah); from the base of NT:5530 or NT:5534; employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution:KJV - business, lack, necessary (-ity), need (-ful), use, want.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Wretched NT:5005 talaiporos (tal-ah'-ee-po-ros); from the base of NT:5007 and a derivative of the base of NT:3984; enduring trial, i.e. miserable: KJV - wretched.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Miserable NT:1652 eleeinos (el-eh-i-nos'); from NT:1656; pitiable:KJV - miserable.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Poor NT:4434 ptochos (pto-khos'); from ptosso (to crouch; akin to NT:4422 and the alternate of NT:4098); a beggar (as cringing), i.e. pauper (strictly denoting absolute or public mendicancy, although also used in a qualified or relative sense; whereas NT:3993 properly means only straitened circumstances in private), literally (often as noun) or figuratively (distressed):KJV - beggar (-ly), poor.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Look at how strong these words are, the Laodiceans thought they were abounding in wealth without needing employment and they may very well have been.  They may have had many wealthy people, employing servants and employees to work for them.  Yet Jesus says they are the opposite.  Simply, to be naked may infer that we earn garments as rewards, as we will see in verse 18.  Their comfortable lifestyle may have kept them from pursuing the ministry of God, thinking they could be self sufficient without being troubled with working for God.   Yet they are also blind and miserable. Just to clarify, wealth isn’t bad, it’s the attitude that people can have when they are wealthy that is bad. This is why Jesus thought it was harder for a rope to be threaded through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. There would be a lot of pushing and squeezing to get the fibers of a rope into the opening of a sewing needle, which is a picture of those who live comfortably.  They are self sufficient, and they did it on their own, why do they need God?  Jesus spoke of the children of the world being wiser than the children of God in the parable of the wicked steward, Luke 16:1:13, let’s look at the Messages’ translation.

Luke 16:8-9 "Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. 9 I want you to be smart in the same way — but for what is right — using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior." (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

There is a commendation for being smart in business, or streetwise; but there is another issue at stake.  What if your streetwise behavior makes you wealthy?  What will your attitude be like then?  Using wealth to build the kingdom is laying up treasure in heaven, but using wealth to fulfill the lust of the flesh, is not wise.  An example to consider is your vehicle.  Everyone needs transportation but what you use for transportation is the issue. Compare a Rolls Royce to a Prius.  Compare a suburban home to a mansion on multiple acres. Within reason, what you need and what you want are two different things.  

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Shame NT:152 aischune (ahee-skhoo'-nay); from NT:153; shame or disgrace (abstractly or concretely):KJV - dishonesty, shame.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Eye salve NT:2854 kollourion (kol-loo'-ree-on); neuter of a presumed derivative of kollura (a cake; prob akin to the base of NT:2853); properly, a poultice (as made of or in the form of crackers), i.e. (by analogy) a plaster: KJV - eyesalve.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Anoint NT:1472 egchrio (eng-khree'-o); from NT:1722 and NT:5548; to rub in (oil), i.e. besmear:KJV - anoint.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Mayest see NT:991 blepo (blep'-o); a primary verb; to look at (literally or figuratively):KJV - behold, beware, lie, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed. Compare NT:3700.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Jesus advises them to purchase or redeem gold kindled out of the fire so that they may be increased with goods and dress in white clothes so that they cover their disgrace.  This may allude to the fact that these people in Laodicea were investors.  We tend to think the stock market was a recent invention; however we see Jesus using the parable of investing, referring to banking and gaining interest, Luke 19:11-27. Let’s view the Message again.

Luke 19:23-26 Why didn't you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?'24 "Then he said to those standing there, 'Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.' 25 "They said, 'But Master, he already has double . . .'  26 "He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Bank NT:5132 trapeza (trap'-ed-zah); probably contracted from NT:5064 and NT:3979; a table or stool (as being four-legged), usually for food (figuratively, a meal); also a counter for money (figuratively, a broker's office for loans at interest):KJV - bank, meat, table.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

He also says to them to rub a poultice on their eyes, not something smooth like oil but in other words ‘rub your eyes with crackers’. Ouch.  ‘Scrape out the gunk so you can truly see’.  Jesus was pointing out that their comfortable lives would cost them dearly if they didn’t instead do something for Him.  They were to buy gold that has come out of the fire, which would mean they were to put themselves in service to others.  Remember Jesus washing the feet of the disciples, that act is a service of gold that becomes purer by putting off pride and haughtiness. 

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Love NT:5368 phileo (fil-eh'-o); from NT:5384; to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while NT:25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as NT:2309 and NT:1014, or as NT:2372 and NT:3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specifically, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness):KJV - kiss, love.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Rebuke NT:1651 elegcho (el-eng'-kho); of uncertain affinity; to confute, admonish:KJV - convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Chasten  NT:3811 paideuo (pahee-dyoo'-o); from NT:3816; to train up a child, i.e. educate, or (by implication) discipline (by punishment):KJV - chasten (-ise), instruct, learn, teach.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Zelous NT:2206 zeloo (dzay-lo'-o) or zeleuo (dzay-loo'-o); from NT:2205; to have warmth of feeling for or against:KJV - affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over, (be) zealous (-ly affect).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

 But all I have affection for, those I admonish and educate. Be zealous and change your thinking.  At least if he loves us he educates and corrects us.  If he didn’t he would be very unfair, how would we know if we were not living correctly? This is why we have the word of God for doctrine, reproof, and correction, which is instruction in right living.  This is a very good reason for the bible to be our only rule for faith and practice.  We have this book as a life manual for a correct way to live.  Sadly many people either don’t bother reading it or change it to suit themselves.  But here, the Laodiceans were in need of educating and Jesus was correcting them.  Again let’s remember from our last blog that there was about 1100 years where the bible was not in the common language and not available to everyone, but only to church officials.  Those were very dark years.  

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Stand NT:2476 histemi (his'-tay-mee); a prolonged form of a primary stao (stah'-o) (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively): KJV - abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare NT:5087.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Voice NT:5456 phone (fo-nay'); probably akin to NT:5316 through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language:KJV - noise, sound, voice.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

I will come in NT:455anoigo (an-oy'-go); from NT:303 and oigo (to open); to open up (literally or figuratively, in various applications):KJV - open.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Will sup NT:1172 deipneo (dipe-neh'-o); from NT:1173; to dine, i.e. take the principle (or evening) meal:KJV - sup (X -er).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Jesus is knocking on each individual person’s door; this is not to the group as a whole but to each person who is the ekklesia, the church.  He is going to knock at the door outside your house and for those who hear he will open the door and will come in and dine together with you.  This is for every individual person to hear him and dine with him, not just the rich or the elders or the leaders, but for everyone.  If you hear the knocking it would be wise to invite him in. If we think about this, we could actually be sitting next to someone every week at church who cannot hear his voice. It may be that they are wealthy in this world but truly they are wretched and poor.

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Sit NT:2523 kathizo (kath-id'-zo); another (active) form for NT:2516; to seat down, i.e. set (figuratively, appoint); intransitively, to sit (down); figuratively, to settle (hover, dwell):KJV - continue, set, sit (down), tarry.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Throne NT:2362 thronos (thron'-os); from thrao (to sit); a stately seat ("throne"); by implication, power or (concretely) a potentate:KJV - seat, throne.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Father NT:3962 pater (pat-ayr'); apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):KJV - father, parent.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Here the word “in” is properly supplied.  To the overcomer he will give to sit in His throne just as he sits “in” His Father’s throne.  Those people will have a dwelling in the center of His throne.  Jesus says he has a dwelling in the center of His Fathers’ throne as well. 

Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Again this is written to all the churches not just one.  This admonition is for everyone, if you hear his voice, he will open the door and come in and eat with you.  We can understand that worldly wealth can keep us from hearing His voice and that would be a terrible condition for eternity.  If we keep our focus on eternity we will use our worldly wealth to add to the kingdom, and that is a better position to be in than the Laodiceans.

End notes

LAODICEA[LAY ah duh SEE uh] — a city in the fertile Lycus Valley of the province of PHRYGIA  where one of the seven churches of Asia Minor was situated (Rev 3:14). About 65 kilometers (40 miles) east of Ephesus and about 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of Colossae, Laodicea was built on the banks of the river Lycus, a tributary of the Maeander River.

The words of the risen Christ to Laodicea in Rev 3:14-22 contain allusions to the economic prosperity and social prominence of the city. Founded by the SELEUCIDS and named for Laodice, the wife of Antiochus II (261 B.C. - 247 B.C.), Laodicea became extremely wealthy during the Roman period. For example, in 62 B.C. Flaccus siezed the annual contribution of the Jews of Laodicea for Jerusalem amounting to 20 pounds of gold. Moreover, when the city was destroyed by an earthquake in  A.D. 60 (along with Colossae and Hierapolis), it alone refused aid from Rome for rebuilding (compare the self-sufficient attitude of the church of Laodicea in Rev 3:17). Laodicea was known for its black wool industry; it manufactured garments from the raven-black wool produced by the sheep of the surrounding area.

The apostle Paul does not seem to have visited Laodicea at the time he wrote Col 2:1. Epaphras, Tychicus, Onesimus, and Mark seem to have been the early messengers of the gospel there (Col 1:7; 4:7-15). A letter addressed to the Laodiceans by Paul (Col 4:16) has apparently been lost; some consider it to be a copy of the Ephesian letter. A church council was supposedly held at Laodicea ( A.D. 344-363), but all that has come down to us are statements from other councils.

The site of Laodicea is now a deserted heap of ruins that the Turks call Eski Hisar, or "old castle."

According to the comments about the church at Laodicea in the Book of Revelation, this congregation consisted of lukewarm Christians (Rev 3:14-22). The living Lord demands enthusiasm and total commitment from those who worship Him.

(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)