Andromeda,
bound and chained, is the story of the church.
We were born into the middle of a story that started about 6,000 years
ago. We enter into a world of confusion
because we are never told the back story of why the world functions the way
that it does. From 6,000 years ago until
now, we have had a few interventions to help humankind, but even when humankind
has been lent a hand, the swirling darkness makes us confused as to our real
story. During times of natural disaster,
I hear questions being asked as to how God could let this happen. I have some questions as well. My first question
is: one, who is your God, and two, didn’t you read the book? There is a “god”
of this world, and a God who is the Creator.
Which one are people attributing things to? The Creator gave us a book
and wrote our story in the stars, but the one who rules the world is the one
causing the problems for humans. What is
worse is that many only think there is one god and blame the Creator for the
corrupt world rulers’ actions.
What’s
more, the increase in bad human behavior makes the evil world ruler stronger. More
people are doing his evil will, rather than the will of our Creator God. There
are many stories written in fantasy form of evil strengthening over a period of
time and a group of rebels working to defeat that evil. Whether the fantasy story takes place in the
outer galaxies or in the middle earth, the battle is always good versus evil,
and it is patterned after our own story.
We were born into a battle that people forgot to tell us about. Some people are lucky enough to be taught
about good and evil but many are not.
That is what brings the confusion.
Adam and Eve learned about good and evil, which was not part of their
original world view.
Our
world is a living hell because the devil usurped dominion from Adam in the
garden. Adam was told to tend and keep
the garden before Eve was created. We have to ask, what in the garden did he have
to keep in subjection; what was he to tend and guard. Eve wasn’t around, so he
did not have to protect her from the garden or vice versa. Adam was to protect the garden, but from what
or who? Animals were not aggressive. We
know there were Angels, good and evil, as well as satan, who was removed from
his duties in the heavens where he had sanctuaries and merchandised his
followers. He wanted to sit as a judge
in the mount of the congregation which was not his job. Adam, being given more authority on earth
than satan, was to guard the garden from anything that would change it. Satan,
in his jealousy, found a way to take Adam’s rule on earth. One thing we should ponder is, if satan was
merchandising people, what does that look like in our world today? How is satan
merchandising human kind? Is he using humans in a financial world system that
draws people to worship him in order to get ahead? Just a few things to ponder.
Gen
1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply,
and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon
the earth.KJV
SubdueOT:3533 kabash
(kaw-bash'); a primitive root; to tread down; hence, negatively, to disregard;
positively, to conquer, subjugate, violate:KJV - bring into bondage, force,
keep under, subdue, bring into subjection.(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.)
Gen
2:15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to
dress it and to keep it.KJV
Dress OT:5647`abad
(aw-bad'); a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve,
till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:KJV -
be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,
execute, husbandman, keep, labour (-ing
man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ingself,), (be, become) servant
(-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be
wrought, worshipper,(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.)
And to keep it OT:8104 shamar
(shaw-mar'); a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e.
guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:KJV - beward, be circumspect,
take heed (toself), keep (-erself,), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve,
regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).(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.)
Gen
2:15 And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend
and guard and keep it.AMP
Elohim,
the Creator, announced hope, a recovery mission. Someone would come to rescue
humans. Elohim even wrote it in the heavens; and every day and every night the
heavens tell the same story.
Gen
3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your
offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and
you will lie in wait and bruise His heel. [Gal 4:4.] AMP
After
satan deceived Adam, Elohim said that Adam and Eve had become like Elohim
knowing the difference between good and evil. That was not the knowledge
mankind was supposed to have. That
sounds odd but if we were never exposed to evil we would not understand there
was a difference between good and evil, all we would know is good, but we would
understand it as the way it is. No hurt no pain, no deliberate or intentional
hurtful behaviors against us.
Gen
3:22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us [the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit], to know [how to distinguish between] good and
evil and blessing and calamity; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take
also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever — AMP
But
Elohim made man a little lower than Elohim, not angels. Therefore mankind had more abilities and
attributes of authority than angels, including satan.
Ps
8:5 For thou hast made him but little lower than God, and crownest him with
glory and honor.ASV
This
tells us that spirit beings, including Elohim, all understand good and evil;
yet man was created in the garden without the knowledge of good and evil. Compare this to the millennial reign when
satan has to be loosed again at the end of Jesus’ kingship to deceive the
nations. The millennial reign will be
similar to the time of Adam and Eve, pre-fall; everyone’s needs will be met and
Jesus, and those ruling with Him (with their new spiritual bodies), will be the
ones who know of good and evil. Yet the
people on earth will only know good,
which comes from King Jesus.
Adam
and Eve suffered for their disobedience, as their son Abel was murdered by
their oldest son Cain. How heartbreaking;
but for evil to have entered into the world through Adam and Eve’s actions must
have been truly heart wrenching.
Remember, before that time they knew nothing of evil, they knew nothing
of heartache. What a shock to recognize they messed up for every human
being. Now the story of Andromeda has to
be told.
Every
baby is born into affliction. Some people choose to side with evil, and for
their time on earth, they seem set free or prosperous. Some choose to side with the creator, yet
they have to spend their time on earth in bondage because the ruler of this
earth views these people as rebels. Jesus
came and gave us an option; the law was one option that gave guidance until the
Messiah, and when he came he gave us power to be overcomers. Isaiah tells us of those who suffer.
Isa
54:11-14 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I
will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.12
And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy
borders of pleasant stones.13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
and great shall be the peace of thy children.14 In righteousness shalt thou be
established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and
from terror; for it shall not come near thee.KJV
Compare
Revelation 20, the New Jerusalem, to Isaiah 54, the precious stones that
decorate the city. He makes a way for us to overcome, but some did not receive
Jesus as Messiah. They suffer,
struggling under the law to do what is right without the Holy Spirit. In the new heaven and new earth evil will be
abolished. This should be our life goal, to attain to the new world Elohim is
creating. Job’s friend Eliphaz makes an interesting point.
Job
5:6-7 For affliction comes not forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring
forth out of the ground. 7 But man is born to trouble as the sparks and the
flames fly upward. AMP
Affliction OT:205 'aven (aw-ven');
from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence, to exert oneself,
usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble.
vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol:KJV - affliction, evil, false, idol,
iniquity, mischief, mourners (-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain
vanity, wicked (-ness). Compare OT:369.(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.)
Man
is born into trouble. Life seems like an effort, yet, before Jesus came people
didn’t fully understand that there is an evil ruler of the earth, oppressing
those who want to live for the creator. They knew there was a devil, but did
not understand his plans. They knew
there was an 8,000 year time period, and one day the Messiah would reign on
earth, and there would be peace. But
they may have thought the Messiah’s first coming would be his only coming, not
realizing Jesus would die and come back again.
Ps
102:1-28A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his
complaint before the Lord. 1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto
thee.2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine
ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.3 For my days are
consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.4 My heart is
smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.5 By reason
of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.6 I am like a pelican of
the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone
upon the house top.8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are
mad against me are sworn against me 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and
mingled my drink with weeping,10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath:
for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.11 My days are like a shadow that
declineth; and I am withered like grass.
Here
the afflicted cry out to Jehovah, but they remember Jehovah’s promises for the
future. Again we see stones as in
Revelation, the new heaven and new earth. When Jesus reigns for one thousand
years the heathen will fear him. He will appear in glory.
12
But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all
generations.13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to
favour her, yea, the set time, is come.14 For thy servants take pleasure in her
stones, and favour the dust thereof.15 So the heathen shall fear the name of
the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.16 When the Lord shall build
up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.17 He will regard the prayer of the
destitute, and not despise their prayer.
Zion
is a wonderful place in the millennial kingdom, and Jesus’ people will be free
from the chains of our world today.
18
This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be
created shall praise the Lord.19 For he hath looked down from the height of his
sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;20 To hear the groaning of
the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;21 To declare the name
of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;22 When the people are
gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
If
we remember from studying the Mazzaroth, Jesus comes as Cepheus, the King, to
rule. Perseus, the breaker, rescues
Andromeda and then she becomes Cepheus’ Queen, Cassiopeia. Jesus saved the chained and those appointed
to death.
23
He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.24 I said, O my God, take
me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all
generations.25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the
heavens are the work of thy hands.26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure:
yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change
them, and they shall be changed:27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall
have no end.28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed
shall be established before thee.KJV
Again
we see the ancients understood the eight thousand year plan, the new heaven and
new earth. The one who laid the
foundation of the earth will establish a new heaven and earth, and the evil
ruler satan, will be sentenced to the lake of fire forever. The idea of
affliction in the New Testament is pressure or burden.
James
4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye
sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.9 Be afflicted, and mourn,
and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.KJV
Affliction NT:2347 thlipsis
(thlip'-sis); from NT:2346; pressure (literally or figuratively):KJV -
afflicted (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation,
trouble.(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.)
What
is different for those who accept Jesus as Lord is that the inside of the
believer changes and becomes new. Even though we are physically perishing day
by day, we are looking to eternity; we are not done once our bodies die. For this short time we are bound to living
on earth as rebels with a cause.
2
Cor 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by day.17 For our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;18
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not
seen are eternal.KJV
Again our goal is to attain to the new heaven
and new earth, our cause is to bring as many people with us as possible and our
state, or condition, is that we are bound to earth, yet redeemed. Therefore we
are rebels for our cause and we are eventually victorious. Joseph Seiss tells
us of Andromeda and how this constellation represents the church. As always the Greeks came up with their
stories but the star names give this constellation its definition.
Andromeda.
A still further representation of the Church is
supplied in the third Decan of this sign. This is the picture of a beautiful
woman, with fetters upon her wrists and ankles, and fastened down so as to be
unable to rise. This woman in the Decan is the same as the Fishes in the sign.
The change of the image argues no change in the subject. The Church is often a
woman, and oftener than it is a net full of fishes ; but it is both — sometimes
the one, and sometimes the other — in the representations of the Scriptures.
Besides, in some of the ancient planispheres these Fishes were pictured with
the heads of women, thus identifying them with the woman.
Greek mythology calls this woman Andromeda
(andro-medo), man-ruler, but with what idea, or for what reason, does not
appear in the myths. The name is perhaps derived from some ancient designation
of similar significance, which has no meaning in the Greek fables, but which
covers a most important and inspiring biblical representation respecting the Church.
Here we discover the true Andromeda — the mystic woman called and appointed to
rule and guardianship over men. When Peter wished to know what he and his
fellow disciples should have by way of compensation for having forsaken
everything for Christ, the blessed Master said : " Ye which have followed
Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His
glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel" (Matt. 19:28). Hence Paul spoke to the Corinthians as of a
well-understood fact, " Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the
world ?" (i Cor. 6:2). Hence the enraptured John ascribes everlasting
glory and dominion to the divine Christ, not only for washing us from our sins
in His own blood, but that He" hath made us kings and priests unto
God" (Rev. 1 : 5, 6). The true people of God, the real Church, are the
elect kings of the future ages. Even now already they are embodiments and
bearers of the heavenly kingdom and dominion upon earth. Through them the word
goes forth for the governing of men, and the regulation of their hearts and lives,
and the bringing of them under a new spiritual dominion, so that none ever come
to forgiveness and glory except as they come into submission to the truth and
the teachings of the Church. The great All-Ruler has so united the Church to
himself, and so embodied himself in it, that by its word, testimonies, and
ordinances He rules, governs, tutors, and guards men, and brings them under His
saving dominion. The Prophets, Apostles, Confessors, Pastors, and Teachers
which He has raised up in the Chinch, with those associated with them in the
fellowship of the same faith and work, are the true kings and guardians of men,
who have been ruling from their spiritual thrones for all these ages, and will
continue to rule more and more for ever as the spiritual and eternal kingdom is
more and more revealed and enforced. Most significantly, therefore, may the
Church be called Andromeda; and the fact that the mystic woman in this
constellation is so called, with no other known reason for it, goes far to
identify her as verily intended to be a prophetic picture of the Church, which
she truly represents beyond anything else that has ever been in fable or in
fact.
Andrpmeda's Chains.
But this woman is in chains, bound hand and
foot. The names in the sign mean the Broken-down, the Weak, the Afflicted, the Chained. The fables say that she was
the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, promised to her uncle Phineus in
marriage, when Neptune sent a flood and a sea-monster to ravage the country in
answer to the resentful clamors of his favorite nymphs against Cassiopeia,
because she boasted herself fairer than Juno and the Nereides. Nor would the
incensed god be pacified until, at the instance of Jupiter Ammon, the beautiful
Andromeda was exposed to the sea-monster, chained to a rock near Joppa in
Palestine, and left to be devoured. But Perseus, on returning from the conquest
of the Gorgons, rescued her and made her his bride.
Here, then, was a case of malignant jealousy and
persecution resulting in the disability, exposure, and intended destruction of
an innocent person. And thus, again, we have a striking picture of the
unfavorable side of the Church's condition in this world. Jealous rivals hate
her and clamor against her. The world-powers in their selfishness fail to
protect her, and lend themselves for her exposure and destruction. Innocently
she is made to suffer. Though a lovely and influential princess, she is
hindered by personal disabilities and bonds. It will not be so always. The time
will come when those bonds shall be broken and that exposure ended. There is
One engaged in a war with the powers of darkness and the children of hell who
will presently come this way to rescue and deliver the fair maiden and to make
her His glorious bride. But for the present affliction and hardship are
appointed to her. She cannot move as she would, or enjoy what pertains to her
royal character, her innocence, and her beauty. She is bound to the hard, cold,
and ponderous rock of this earthly life,
Born to reign with her redeeming Lord, Apostles
can only wish that she did reign, that they might reign with her. She is within
the sacred territory, but it is as yet a place of captivity and bonds. She
never can be truly herself in this mortal life. Nor is she completely free from
the oppressive Phineus until the victorious Perseus comes. The whole picture is
true to the life, and shows with what profound prophetic foresight and
knowledge the makers of these signs were endowed.
When Jesus spoke in the temple and recited part
of this section in Isaiah, he stopped halfway through verse 2 because the day of
vengeance would be later, not during his first time on earth. But if we look at
this closely we see the picture of Andromeda.
Isa 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon
me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he
hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;2 To proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort
all that mourn;3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the
planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.KJV
Once again preaching liberty to the captives and
opening the prison to the bound. Since
Andromeda is bound, Jesus brought the understanding of hope and freedom to the
redeemed.
Gal 4:3-7 Even so we, when we were children,
were in bondage under the elements of the world:4 But when the fulness of the
time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,5 To
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons.6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a
son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.KJV
We are now sons, yet in a world that considers
us rebels and enemies to the ruler of this world. There is simply no easy Christianity; once we
become saved we will have to overcome every day. Our total victory is in abeyance until Jesus
comes with the armies of heaven. But we ensure our place of victory being born
of God the Creator.
1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith.5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that
Jesus is the Son of God? KJV
When Jesus was on earth he told his disciples
that they would suffer here, but ultimately he conquered the world for us. Now
that we associate with Jesus as our Lord, we have become rebels.
John 16:33-17:3 I have told you these things, so
that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have
tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take
courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I
have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] 1 WHEN
JESUS had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said,
Father, the hour has come. Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your Son, so
that Your Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify You. 2 [Just as] You
have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now
glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. 3
And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become
acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and
[likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah),
Whom You have sent. AMP
Even though Jesus came, there are many people
who either don’t believe in what he accomplished, or they don’t jump whole
heartedly into life in Jesus. Some
people try to live as the world does and “say” they are followers of Jesus. What they don’t realize is that playing in the
world binds them to the world and makes them slaves. An example would be someone who uses
manipulation, intimidation, or domination to get ahead in business. That is playing with the world’s ways instead
of being honest, kind, and truthful. If
someone who claims “Jesus as Lord”, dabbles in the world’s ways and uses the
devil’s techniques on Christians, he then has become the slave of the devil, as
Peter tells us. It is like a dog that eats his own vomit.
2 Peter 2:19-22 They promise them liberty, when
they themselves are the slaves of depravity and defilement — for by whatever
anyone is made inferior or worse or is overcome, to that [person or thing] he
is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through [the full, personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
they again become entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition is
worse [for them] than the first. 21 For never to have obtained a [full,
personal] knowledge of the way of righteousness would have been better for them
than, having obtained [such knowledge], to turn back from the holy commandment
which was [verbally] delivered to them. 22 There has befallen them the thing
spoken of in the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and, The
sow is washed only to wallow again in the mire. [Prov 26:11.] AMP
The better way to handle ourselves in business
is God’s way, especially when the alternative is compared to our last condition
being worse than before we were even saved. Also, the way we behave when
someone offends us exposes our allegiance to either the evil one or to the
Creator God.
Rom 12:19-21 Beloved, never avenge yourselves,
but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine,
I will repay (requite), says the Lord. [Deut 32:35.] 20 But if your enemy is
hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will
heap burning coals upon his head. [Prov 25:21,22.] 21 Do not let yourself be
overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good. AMP
Paul tells us the way we change ourselves so
that we do not become like the world.
Rom 12:2 Do not be
conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its
external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire]
renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may
prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God,
even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
AMP
Being friends with the world is being an enemy
with God the Creator.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know
ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore
will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.KJV
But Jesus says if we overcome we will inherit
all things.
Rev 21:6-7 And he said unto me, It is done. I am
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is
athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.7 He that overcometh shall
inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.KJV
Andromeda
may be bound to the world for a season, but she is not helpless. Some days we may feel that way, but we have
offensive weapons that we can use even while chained. Those weapons keep the devil chained, just
like Cetus is bound by the fish, Pisces. Some people may think that the devil is
planning some great takeover, but he can do nothing other than what is already
written. We know his whole story from
start to finish. So what is he really
trying to gain, since we can read all about it?
I think he is simply trying to get more people to deny Jesus as Lord,
and send as many people to hell as possible.
Yet, it is our goal to fill up heaven and keep hell empty. We need to look at intercession and our weapons
of warfare next.
