Asteroids
and comets have a uniqueness to them. Unlike planets that circle the sun around
the ecliptic, asteroids and comets can fly by in any direction. The path they move is not the same as the
ecliptic, and they usually fly through the decans of constellations on their
approach towards earth. Asteroid 1998 QE2 will come close to earth
this week but not close enough to be seen with the naked eye. We can see its
path on the JPL site.
Since
God gave us the stories of the constellations we can read a different story for
each asteroid or comet. This asteroid starts coming close to earth while in the
constellation of Centaurus. When at its
closest, 1998 QE2 will be in the constellation of Libra. Let’s look at what these constellations mean.
On 5/28/13 asteroid 1998 QE2 will be in Centaurus. EW Bullinger tells us about
Centaurus in Witness of the Stars.
CENTAURUS (The Centaur). The Despised
Sin-offering.
It is the figure of a being with two natures.
Jamieson, in his Celestial Atlas, 1822, says, "On the authority of the
most accomplished Orientalist of our own times, the Arabic and Chaldaic name of
this constellation is HD." Now this Hebrew word Bezeh (and the Arabic A I
Beze) means the despised. It is the very word used of this Divine sufferer in
Isa. liii. 3, " He is DESPISED (i"!p3) and rejected of men."
The constellation contains thirty-five stars.
Two of the 1st magnitude, one of the 2nd, six of the 3rd, nine of the 4th,
etc., which, together with the four bright stars in the Cross make a brilliant
show in southern latitudes.
The brightest star, a (in the horses fore-foot),
has come down to us with the ancient name of Toliman, which means the
heretofore and hereafter, marking Him as the one "which is, and which was,
and which is to come the Almighty" (Rev. i. 8). Sir John Herschell
observed this star to be growing rapidly brighter. It may be, therefore, one of
the changeable stars, and its name may be taken as an indication of the fact
that it was known to the ancients.
Another name for the constellation was in
Hebrew, Asmeath, which means a sin-offering (as in Isa. liii. 10).
The Greek name was C/iciron, which means the
pierced, or who pierces. In the Greek fables Cheiron was renowned for his skill
in hunting, medicine, music, athletics, and prophecy. All the most
distinguished heroes of Greece are described as his pupils. He was supposed to
be immortal, but he voluntarily agreed to die; and, wounded by a poisoned arrow
(not intended for him) while in conflict with a wild boar, he transferred his
immortality to Prometheus; whereupon he was placed amongst the stars.
We can easily see how this fable is the ignorant
perversion of the primitive Revelation. The true tradition can be seen dimly
through it, and we can discern Him of whom it spoke, the all-wise, all-
powerful Teacher and Prophet, who "went about doing good," yet "
despised and rejected of men," laying down His life that others might
live.
It is one of the lowest of the constellations,
i.e. the farthest south from the northern centre. It is situated immediately
over the Cross, which bespeaks His own death; He is seen in the act of
destroying the enemy.
Thus these star-pictures tell us that it would
be as a child that the Promised Seed should come forth and grow and wax strong
in spirit and be filled with wisdom (Luke ii. 40) ; and that as a man having
two natures He should suffer and die. Then the third and last section in this
first chapter of this First Book goes on to tell of His second coming in glory.
Joseph Seiss gives us a little more insight to
Centaurus in The Gospel in the Stars.
It is part of the faith, and a very vital part, that the Seed of the woman is the true and only-begotten Son of God, true God and true man in one and the same person. " For the right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man ; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds, and man, of the substance of His mother, born in the world : perfect God and perfect man." It is a great mystery, but so the Scriptures teach, and so the whole orthodox Church believes. In other words, we teach and hold that Christ, our Saviour, possessed a double nature, "not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into God," in the unity of one Person, who accordingly is Immanuel, God with us, the Christ, who suffered for our salvation. And all this is signified in the constellation of Centaurus.
Very curious are the pagan myths concerning the centaurs. Fable represents them as the great bull-killers. They are said to have been heaven-begotten, born of the clouds, sons of God, but hated and abhorred by both gods and men, combated, driven to the mountains, and finally exterminated. Their form in the most ancient art is a composite of man and horse — man from the head down to the front feet, and the rest horse. There was no beauty or comeliness, that any should desire them. Some classical scholars have tried to account for the grotesque conception by imagining a race of Thessalian mountaineers who rode on horses, whom the neighboring tribes viewed with horror, supposing each horse and his rider to be one being. The conceit is without the slightest foundation in fact. The ancient Egyptians had the figure of the centaur lone before the times of the Greeks.
The most noted of the centaurs of classic fable is Cheiron. To him are ascribed great wisdom and righteousness. "He was renowned for his skill in hunting, medicine, music, gymnastics, and the art of prophecy. All the most distinguished heroes in Grecian story are, like Achilles, described as his pupils in these arts." He was the friend of the Argonauts on their voyage, and the friend of Hercules, though he died from one of the poisoned arrows of this divine hero whilst engaged in a struggle with the Erymanthean boar. He was immortal, but he voluntarily aoreed to die, and transferred his immortality to Prometheus ; whereupon the great God took him up and placed him among the stars.
It is easy to see how this whole idea of the centaurs, particularly of Cheiron, connects with the primeval astronomy and related traditions. Strikingly also does it set forth the nature and earthly career of the divine Seed of the woman, as narrated in the Scriptures. Christ had two natures in one person ; and such was the figure of the centaur. Christ was a wise, just, good, and powerful Healer, Instructor, and Prophet; and such is the character everywhere ascribed to the chief centaur. Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil, and spent His energies in relieving men's ills, combating the powers of evil, teaching the ways of truth and righteousness, and driving away afflictions, as the centaurs hunted and destroyed the wild bulls and the wild boars, and as Cheiron helped and taught the Grecian heroes, minstrels, and sages. Nevertheless, He was despised and rejected of men, hated, persecuted, and deemed unfit to live, just as fabled of the centaurs. Cheiron was fatally wounded whilst engaged in his good work — wounded by a poisoned arrow from heaven not intended for him. And, though immortal in himself, he chose to die from that wound, that another might live. And so it was with Christ in His conflict with the Destroyer. And a vivid picture of the same appears in the figure of this constellation, which is also one of the very lowest and farthest down of all the signs belonging to the ancient astronomy.
Here is a double-natured beino-, to men repulsive and hateful, yet really great, powerful, and beneficent, pushing with his lance at the heart of some victim, and moving the while right over the constellation of the Cross.
The name of this Decan in Arabic and Hebrew means the despised. The brightest star in it the Greeks called Cheiron, a word which has a Hebrew root signifying" the pierced; also Pho/as, likewise from a Hebrew root signifying the making of prayer, the mediation. Sir John Herschel has observed that this star is growing brighter, and so belongs to the class of changeable stars. Ulu°di Beigh gives its name as Tollman, which means the heretofore and the hereafter — brighter once, and to be brighter again, as the divine glory of Christ was much hidden during His earthly life, in which He made himself of no reputation, even lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, but was again glorified with the glory which He had with the Father before the world was. Thus, this sign, and the traditions and names connected with it, strikingly accord with the facts of Christ's earthly life and fate, and set forth some of the highest mysteries of His Person, character, and mediatorial work.
http://archive.org/stream/gospelinstarsorp00seis/gospelinstarsorp00seis_djvu.txt
Jesus was
despised and pierced for us. 1998 QE2
reminds us of what Jesus endured for you and I.
It also reminds us that Jesus was, and is, and is to come. This is the heavenly “TV show” God is giving
us, today. From 5/29/13-5/30/13 19998 QE2 moves into Hydra,
one of the longest constellations in our sky.
EW Bullinger teaches us that hydra will be destroyed.
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. An other is called Al Drian, the abhorred. Another star is named Minchar al Sugia, the piercing of the deceiver.
The
Bible tells us that Jesus will destroy the serpent and all his seed. The works of the deceiver will be eliminated
by the one with the double nature, the one who was, and is, and is to come. On 5/31/13-6/2/13
when 1998 QE2 is closest to earth, it will be passing through the constellation
of Libra. Libra is a picture of scales,
symbolizing the price required for our freedom was deficient until Jesus could
lay his live down as payment for us. Again EW Bullinger, in Witness of the
Stars, tells us about this constellation.
THE SIGN LIBRA. The Redeemer s Atoning Work; or The Price deficient balanced by the Price which covers.
IN the first chapter of this book we saw that this Coming Seed of the woman was, among other things, to give up His life for others.
The second chapter is going to define and develope the manner and object of this death.
The name of the Sign, together with its three constellations and the names of the stars composing them, give the complete picture of this Redemption.
The Sign contains 51 stars, two of which are of the 2nd magnitude, one of the 3rd, eight of the 4th, etc.
The Hebrew name is Mozanaim, the Scales, weighing. Its name in Arabic is A I Zubena, purchase, or redemption. In Coptic, it is Lambadia, station of propitiation (from Lam, graciousness, and badia, branch}. The name by which it has come down to us is the Latin, Libra, which means weighing, as used in the Vulgate (Isa. xl. 12).
Libra contains three bright stars whose names supply us with the whole matter. The brightest, a (in the lower scale), is named Zuben al Genubi, which means the purchase, or price which is deficient. This points to the fact that man has been utterly ruined. He is "weighed in the balances and found wanting."
" None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him ; For the redemption of their soul is costly, And must be let alone for ever/ (Ps. xlix. 7, R.V.)
"Surely men of low degree are vanity (Heb. a IreatK], And men of high degree are a lie ; In the balances they go up; They are altogether lighter than vanity " (Heb. a breath}. (Ps. Ixii. 9, R.V.)
This is the verdict pronounced and recorded by this star Zuben al Genubi.
Is there then no hope? Is there no one who can pay the price?
Yes ; there is " the Seed of the woman." He is not merely coming as a child, but He is coming as an atoning sacrifice.
He is coming for the purpose of Redemption ! He can pay the price which covers ! Hence in the upper scale we have another bright star with this very name Zuben al Chemali THE PRICE WHICH COVERS! Praised be God ! "They sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy ... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood." (Rev. v. g.) This is the testimony of $, the second brightest star ! It has another name, al Gubi, heaped up, or high, telling of the infinite value of this redemption price. But there is a third star, y, below, towards Centaurus and the Victim slain, telling, by that and by its name, of the conflict by which that redemption would be accomplished. It is called Zuben Akrabi or Zuben al Akrab, which means the price of the conflict !
There is, however, some reason to suppose that Libra is a very ancient Egyptian corruption, bringing in human merit instead of Divine righteousness ; " the way of Cain " instead of the way of God. In the more ancient Akkadian the months were called after the names of the signs,* and the sign of the seventh month is 1 the sign that we now call Libra. The Akkadian name for it was Tulku. Tul means mound (like dhul and duty, and ku means sacred; hence, Tulku means the sacred mound, or the holy altar, f
Not only is the name and its meaning different, but the teaching is infinitely greater and more important, if we may believe that the original picture of this sign was not a pair of scales, but the representation of a holy altar. This would agree still better with the three constellations which follow.
The names of the stars would also be more appropriate, for it is the Sacrifice of Christ which they foreshadowed, and here it was that the price which covered was paid, and outweighed the price which was deficient. What that price was to be, and how it was to be paid, and what was to be the result in the Person of the Redeemer, is set forth in detail in the three sections of this chapter by the constellations of The Cross endured, The Victim slain, and The Crown bestowed.
http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt
This constellation of Libra is a great story of our hope in Christ. On 6/3/13 1998 QE2 moves through Ophiuchus, the one who is stepping on the scorpion and holding back the serpent from stealing the crown.
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).
Just as we read the first constellation of the woman and child Coma, as expounding the first sign VIRGO, so we have to read this first constellation as expounding the second sign LIBRA. Hence, we have here a further picture, showing the object of this conflict on the part of the scorpion.
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 serpent s 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, four teen 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.
Other Hebrew names of stars, not identified, are Triophas, treading under foot; Saiph (in the foot* of Ophiuchus), bruised; Carnebus, the wounding ; Megeros, contending. \ In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a throned human figure, called Api-bau, the chief who cometh. He has a hawk s head to show that he is the enemy of the serpent, which is called Khu, and means ruled or enemy.
All these combine to set before us in detail the nature of the conflict and its final issue. That final issue is, however, exhibited by the last of the three constellations of this chapter. The Victor Himself requires a whole picture to fully set forth the glorious victory. This brings us to
http://archive.org/stream/witnessofthestar00bulluoft/witnessofthestar00bulluoft_djvu.txt
The story that this Asteroid, 1998 QE2, tells us as is passes near to us is that the man who was and is and is to come, who left heaven, is going to destroy the works of the serpent. He is the one who paid the price for us to set us free, the required price paid in full. Jesus is the one who steps on the scorpion and holds back the serpent from stealing the eternal crown. The devil has a short time here, and this asteroid reminds us that even though the devil is the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air, he is not going to be in charge forever. Our reminder is that Jesus who set us free by his blood, is coming!
