Saturday, December 19, 2009

Gemini

Gemini (The Twins)

The twofold nature of the King


   



Gemini - Messiah's Reign as Prince of Peace


      


The tenth zodiac constellation is Gemini, the Twins, with one usually being considered immortal and the other mortal - the Immortal One who comes at the Second Coming is the same as the mortal Son of Man who came at the First Coming. So, Gemini symbolizes the dual nature of the Messiah (that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human): Suffering Servant and Conquering King.


The Scriptures teach that Jesus was fully God while also being fully human. Paul declared in Colossians 2:9, For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. The word "incarnation" does not occur in the Bible. It is derived from the Latin in and caro (flesh), meaning clothed in flesh, the act of assuming flesh. Its only use in theology is in reference to that gracious, voluntary act of the Son of God in which He assumed a human body. In Christian doctrine the Incarnation, briefly stated, is that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became a man. It is one of the greatest events to occur in the history of the universe. It is without parallel.


John 1:1-2,14: In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.


One bears in his right hand (in some pictures) a palm branch. Some pictures show a club; but both the club or bow are at rest! The other one holds a harp in one hand, and a bow and arrow in the other. They are at rest and in peace after victory won. This is what we see in this sign - Messiah's peaceful reign. All is rest and in peace. We see "His days," in which "the righteous shall flourish; and abundance of peace, so long as the moon endureth" (Psalm 72). But, for this blessed time to come, there must be no enemy!


Gemini is easy to find high overhead in mid-winter, above and to the left of Orion. The Romans called the twins Castor and Pollux, which are the names of the two brightest stars. These are the Latin equivalents of Hercules and Apollo from the Greeks.


Romans called the stars the "Twin Brethren" and associated them with the principle of brotherhood considered to lie at the foundation of their empire. In Egypt they became Horus the Elder and Horus the Younger. In Babylon they were the "Great Twins," and they were viewed as twins in Arabia as well. In China they were Yin and Yang, representing eternal dualism, the two halves of a circle, and contrasting principles of existence.


Names:



  • The Hebrew name is Thaumim, which means united. In fact, that is the same word used in Exodus 26:24 pertaining to the coupling or "twinning" of the boards together in the tabernacle, thus showing the idea of being closely united.

  • The Arabic Al Tauman means the same.

  • The name in the ancient Denderah Zodiac is Clusus, which means the place of Him who cometh. It is represented by two human figures walking, or coming. One appears to be a woman. The other appears to be a man. It is a tailed figure, the tail signifying He cometh.

  • The old Coptic name was Pi-Mahi, the united, as in brotherhood.


Main Stars:



  • The name of α (in the head of one) is called Apollo (Pollux), which means ruler, or judge. Pollux is the brighter of the twins. It's an orange-giant star that's about 35 light-years from Earth.

  • b (in the head of the other) is called Hercules (Castor), who comes to labor, or suffer. Astronomers have found that Castor is actually a complex system of six stars linked by gravity, although to the eye they appear as one.

  • Another star, g (in his left foot), is called Al Henah, which means hurt, wounded, or afflicted.

    • Can we have a doubt as to what is the meaning of this double presentation? In Ophiuchus we have the two in one person: the crushed enemy, and the wounded heel. But here the two great primeval truths are presented in two persons; for the two natures were one Person, "God and man in one Christ." As man, suffering for our redemption; as God, glorified for our complete salvation and final triumph.



  • A star, e (in the center of his body), is called Waset, which means set, and tells of Him who "set His face like a flint" to accomplish this mighty Herculean work; and, when the time was come, "steadfastly set His face to go" to complete it.

  • The star e (in the knee of the other, "Apollo") is called Mebsuta, which means treading under feet.

  • The names of other stars have come down to us with the same testimony. One is called Propus (Hebrew), the branch, spreading; another is called Al Giauza (Arabic), the palm branch; another is named Al Dira (Arabic), the seed, or branch.


Verses:



  • Acts 28:11: And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. (KJV)


Mythology: In classical Greece the stars were named Castor and Pollux, legendary twins born of immortal Zeus and the mortal Leda, wife of the king of Sparta. Thus, Pollux was immortal and Castor mortal. They were brothers of beautiful Helen of Troy, for whom the Trojan War was fought. The Twins were known as well educated, strong and daring, yet gentle lads, who became healers, physicians and protectors of humankind. They were among Jason's crew of argonauts in quest of the Golden Fleece. On that voyage, a fierce storm threatened the mission, but abated as a pair of stars appeared over the heads of Castor and Pollux. Since that time seamen have called upon the brothers for protection from peril, and the eerie lightning phenomenon, sometimes called St. Elmo's Fire, has been thought of as the spirits of the twins playing in the sails, a good omen for sailors. Castor, a horseman, and Pollux, a boxer, fell in love with beautiful sisters who were already betrothed to suitors. The Twins challenged and slew their rivals, but Castor was mortally wounded. Overcome with grief, the immortal Pollux would have committed suicide in order to be with his brother, but this was impossible. In the end, Zeus placed both their immortal souls together in the sky as symbols of brotherly love, the precept they had so gallantly demonstrated throughout their lives on earth. Greeks and Romans invoked Gemini in storms and wars, leading to the expression "O Gemini," corrupted in later generations to become "By Jiminy" perverted to "Jiminy Cricket", a euphemism for "Jesus Christ", like "jeepers creepers" and so many others. Most people are totally unaware that they are blaspheming God with their exclamations.



The three decans are Lepus, Canis Major and Canis Minor


I. LEPUS (The Hare), The enemy trodden under foot


   


The first decan of Gemini is Lepus. The names of the three decans of Gemini, as well as the pictures, are all more or less modern, as is clear from the names being in Latin, and having no relation to the ancient names of their stars. To learn their real meaning, therefore, we must have recourse to the ancient Zodiacs. In the Persian planisphere the first decan was pictured by a serpent. In the Denderah (Egyptian) Zodiac it is an unclean bird standing on the serpent, which is under the feet of Orion. Its name there is given as Bashti-beki. Bashti means confounded, and Beki means failing.


It is shown under the foot of Orion (the foot that contains the star Rigel "The Foot That Crushes"), as if being crushed even as the various other dragons, serpents, and scorpions. Thus, it is identified with evil and with the enemy. The Persians showed it as a serpent, and the Egyptians showed Orion (Osiris) standing on a serpent with a bird on the serpent's back. But to the Greeks, this was the Hare which the Hunter is pursuing.


Stars:



  • The brightest, α (in the body), has a Hebrew name, Arnebo, which means the enemy of Him that cometh. The Arabic, Arnebeth, means the same.

  • Other stars are Nibal, the mad;

  • Rakis, the bound (Arabic, with a chain);

  • Sugia, the deceiver.


There can be no mistaking the voice of this united testimony. For this enemy is under the down-coming foot of Orion, and it tells that when the true Orion, "the Sun of Righteousness, shall arise," and "the true light" shall shine over all the earth, He "shall tread down the wicked" (Malachi 4), and every enemy will be subdued under His feet. Hence we have Satan defeated.


Verses:



  • Isaiah 63:3-4: “I have been treading the winepress alone; no one was there to help me. In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes. In my fury I have trampled my foes. Their blood has stained my clothes. For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors.

  • Psalm 60:12: With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.


Greek Mythology: Lepus is an ancient constellation found under the feet of Orion, the Hunter. The creature is associated with the Moon in mythology. Some say that the dark regions on the surface of the Moon are a rabbit, originally Lepus. The rabbit was the favorite prey of Orion and his hunting dogs. The Arabs saw it as the "throne of the central one" (Orion).



II. CANIS MAJOR (The Dog), or SIRIUS (The Prince) - The coming glorious Prince of Princes (Sirius)


   


The next decan is Canis Major (Sirius)



  • This second constellation carries on the teaching, and tells of the glorious Prince who will thus subdue and reign.


Names:



  • In the Denderah Zodiac he is called Apes, which means the head. He is pictured as a hawk (Naz, caused to come forth, coming swiftly down). The hawk is the natural enemy of the serpent, and there it has on its head a pestle and mortar, indicating the fact that he shall crush the head of the enemy.

  • In the Persian planisphere it is pictured as a wolf, and is called Zeeb, which in Hebrew has the same meaning.

  • Plutarch translates it Leader.

  • In Arabic it means coming quickly.


Stars:



  • α (in the head) is the brightest star in the whole heavens! It is called Sirius, the Prince as in Isaiah 9:6.

    • If we draw an imaginary line left of Orion's belt, we find in the southern skies the brightest star in the heavens (next to that of the sun), Sirius (pronounced 'serious').

    • Sirius (our English "Sir" is derived from this word) was, by the ancients, always associated with great heat. And the hottest part of the year we still call "the dog days," though, through the variation as observed in different latitudes, and the precession of the equinoxes, its rising has long ceased to have any relation to those days. The name Sirius may come from the Greek meaning "scorching." Nowadays the star is mostly thought of as a winter star, accompanying Orion, rather than as the summer home of the sun.

    • Though this "Dog-Star" came to have an ill-omened association, it was not so in more ancient times. In the ancient Akkadian it is called Kasista, which means the Leader and Prince of the heavenly host. In ancient Persia, it was called Tistar (Sirius), the chieftain of the East.



  • The next star, β (in the left fore foot), speaks the same truth. It is named Mirzam, and means the prince or ruler.

  • The star δ (in the body) is called Wesen, the bright, the shining.

  • The star ε (in the right hind leg) is called Adhara, the glorious.

  • Other stars bear their witness to the same fact. Their names are--Aschere (Hebrew), who shall come; Al Shira Al Jemeniya (Arabic), the Prince or chief of the right hand! Seir (Egyptian), the Prince; Abur (Hebrew), the mighty; Al Habor (Arabic), the mighty; Muliphen (Arabic), the leader, the chief.

  • The names of the stars have no meaning whatever as applied to an Egyptian Hawk, or a Greek Dog. But they are full of significance when we apply them to Him of whom Yahweh says: Isaiah 55:4: See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations.


Verses:



  • Isaiah 9:6: For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

  • This is "the Prince of princes" (Daniel 8:23,25) against whom, "when transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance...shall stand up," "but he shall be broken without hand," for he shall be destroyed "by the splendor of his coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:8). This is He who shall come forth "King of kings and Lord of Lords" (Revelation 19:16).


Greek Mythology: Canis Major, the largest of Orion's two hunting dogs, might be chasing Lepus, the Rabbit, who is just in front of him. Or perhaps he is ready to help Orion battle the great bull.



III. CANIS MINOR (The Second Dog) - The exalted Redeemer


      


The last decan is Canis Minor


Names:



  • The Egyptian name in the Denderah Zodiac is Sebak, which means conquering, victorious. It is represented as a human figure with a hawk's head and the appendage of a tail.


Stars:



  • The brightest star, α (in the body), is named Procyon, which means Redeemer, and it tells us that this glorious Prince is none other than the one who was slain. Just as this chapter begins with two persons in one in the Sign (Gemini), one victorious, the other wounded; so it ends with a representation of two princes, one of whom is seen triumphant and the other as the Redeemer.

  • This is confirmed by the next star, β (in the neck), which is named Al Gomeisa (Arabic), the burdened, loaded, bearing for others. The names of the other stars still further confirm the great truth; viz., Al Shira or Al Shemeliya (Arabic), the prince or chief of the left hand, answering to the star in Sirius. One right, the other left, as the two united youths are placed. Al Mirzam, the prince or ruler; and Al Gomeyra, who completes or perfects.


Are not the Big and Little Dog the same as the two Twins, indicating that one twin is the Little Dog who represents the Savior at the First Coming (in meekness), whereas the Big Dog (a brilliant constellation) is the Savior at the Second Coming, when he comes in power to destroy the enemy? The two dogs correlate well to the two twins.


This does, indeed, complete and perfect the presentation of this chapter: Messiah's reign as Prince of Peace; the enemy trodden under foot by the glorious "Prince of princes," who is none other than the glorified Redeemer.



Here is the story the Mazzaroth has presented to us so far:



  1. The seed of the woman shall come.

  2. There shall be a price paid by Him for a purchased possession.

  3. The price shall be a conflict with the serpent-foe, and a wound in the conqueror's heel.

  4. He shall be sent forth swiftly, surely, as an arrow from a bow.

  5. He shall be slain as a sacrifice.

  6. He shall rise again and pour out blessings on His people.

  7. His people shall be multitudes, and held in union with each other and Himself

  8. He who was slain, whose heel was bruised, shall rule, and shall tread His enemy under foot.

  9. He shall come in power, triumphant, and have dominion.

  10. He shall be the Son of God and the son of man, the victim and the ruler.

  11. He shall hold fast His purchased possession, the reward of His work.

  12. He shall finally put all enemies under His feet, coming with ten thousand of His saints to execute judgment upon all, separating the evil from the good



   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation of the Bible.



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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Capricornus

2nd Book -The Redeemed (Capricornus)



   The result of the Redeemer's work, the blessings to the
redeemed are shown by the second book.

   The constellations include:



  1. capricornus - The Atoning Sacrifice and Resurrection

  2. Aquarius - The Holy Spirit Poured
    Upon the Redeemed

  3. Pisces - The Redeemed Blessed Though Bound

  4. Aries - The Crowned Lamb and His Bride.



Capricornus:

Their Blessings Procured -

He shall
be slain as a sacrifice.


 


   


   In the First Book, we had the work of the Redeemer set
forth as it concerned His own glorious person. The first chapter in the Book of The Redeemed is capricornus (the goat
of atonement slain for the redeemed).


   Here in the Second Book, we see the results of His
humiliation, and conflict, and victory - "The sufferings of Christ"
and the blessings they procured for His redeemed people. This Second Book opens with the Goat, and
closes with the Ram: two animals of sacrifice; while the two middle chapters
are both connected with fish. The third Decan of CAPRICORNUS is a fish
(Delphinus). There is again a fish (Piscis Australis) in the next sign
(AQUARIUS), and then the following sign is PISCES, or the Fishes. So that
the Redeemed Multitudes are presented throughout this Second Book.



  1. In Chapter I, we have the Blessings procured.


  2. In Chapter II, their Blessings ensured.


  3. In Chapter III, their Blessings in abeyance.


  4. In Chapter IV, their Blessings enjoyed.


   In all the ancient Zodiacs, we find a goat with a fish's
tail. In the Zodiacs of Denderah and Esneh, in Egypt, it is half-goat
and half-fish, and it is there called Hu-penius, which means the place
of the sacrifice. In the Indian Zodiac, it is a walking goat traversed by a fish.  The Hebrew name for the constellation Capricornus is Gedi, which means "A Kid; A Goat"; it also means "The Cut-Off"--- the meaning of atonement.


   The Sea-Goat Capricorn (from Latin Capricornus: caper, capr-, goat + cornu, horn) is second only to Cancer as the least visible constellation of the zodiac. Depictions of a goat, or of a goat-fish, have been found on Babylonian tablets around 3,000 years old (1000 B.C.).


    Capricornus is a strange creature, the front half of which is a goat and the rear half a fish! The goat is in a fallen position with one leg doubled under his body; the head is bent forward and is in a dying situation. On the other hand the tail of the fish is vigorous and living. This represents Christ coming forth out of His death. In the Goat we have the Atoning Sacrifice, in the Fish we have the people
for whom the atonement is made. When we come to the sign PISCES we shall
see more clearly that it points to the multitudes of the redeemed host. The Goat is bowing its head as though falling down in death. The right
leg is folded underneath the body, and he seems unable to rise with the
left. The tail of the fish, on the other hand, seems to be full of vigor
and life.


   There are 51 stars in the sign. Five are remarkable stars, a and b in the horn
and head, and the remaining three g, d and e, in the fishy tail. The star
a is named Al Gedi, the kid or goat, while the star d is called Deneb
Al Gedi, the sacrifice cometh. Other star-names in the sign are Dabih (Syriac), the sacrifice slain;
Al Dabik and Al Dehabeh (Arabic) have the same meaning; Ma'asad, the slaying;
Sa'ad al Naschira, the record of the cutting off.


  There were
two goats in the Old Testament, typifying death and resurrection:




  • Of "the goat of the sin-offering", it is written in Leviticus 10:16-17: "Moses then asked them what had happened to the goat of the sin offering. When he discovered it had been burned up, he became very angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons. “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sacred area?” he demanded. “It is a holy offering! The Lord has given it to you to remove the guilt of the community and to purify the people, making them right with the Lord."

  • Of the other goat, which was not slain, it is written in Leviticus 16:22: "As the goat goes into the wilderness, it will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land."


  It is in the Sign Capricornus with its decan constellations that the
crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah is portrayed:



  • Life out of Death

  • The Arrow of God

  • Pierced and falling

  • Springing up again in abundant life


The three decans are Sagitta, Aquila and Delphinus.


I. SAGITTA (The Arrow). The arrow of God sent forth.



  It is not the Arrow of Sagittarius, for that has not left his bow. That
arrow is for the enemies of God. This is for the Son of God. Here the arrow is pictured to us in mid-heaven, alone, as having been
shot forth by an invisible hand. It is seen in its flight through the
heavens. It is the arrow of God, showing that Redemption is all of God.
It was "the will of God" which Jesus came to do. Not a mere
work of mercy for miserable sinners, but a work ordained in eternity past,
for the glory of God in eternity future. It was of
this that He spoke in the O.T.:



  • Psalm 38:2: Your arrows have struck deep, and your blows are crushing me.

  • Isaiah 53:4-5: Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

  • Job 6:4: For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spirit. God’s terrors are lined up against me.

  • Zechariah 13:6: And if someone asks, ‘Then what about those wounds on your chest?’ he will say, ‘I was wounded at my friends’ house!’


  This is what is pictured for us here.
The work which the arrow accomplishes is seen in the dying Goat, and in
the falling Eagle.


  The Hebrew name is Sham, destroying, or desolate. This sign refers to the
pierced and wounded Redeemer, giving up his life for mankind.


II. AQUILA (The Eagle). The smitten One falling.



  Here we have an additional picture of the effect of this arrow, in the
pierced, wounded, and falling Eagle, gasping in its dying struggle. It is always depicted
with its head downward.


  The names of the stars, all of them, bear out this representation. The
constellation contains 74 stars. The
star names give a clear message of the wounded and dying Redeemer:



  • The brightest of them, a (in the Eagle's neck), is of the 1st magnitude, called Al Tair (Arabic), the wounding.

  • The star b (in the throat) is called Al Shain (Arabic), the bright, from a Hebrew root meaning scarlet colored, covered with blood.

  • The star g (in the back) is called Tarared, wounded, or torn.

  • d (in the lower wing) is named Alcair, which means the piercing.

  • e (in the tail), Al Okal, has the significant meaning wounded in the heel.


III. DELPHINUS (The Dolphin). The dead One rising again.



  This is a bright cluster of 18 stars, five of which are of the 3rd magnitude.
It is easily distinguished by the four brightest, which are in the head. It is always figured as a fish full of life, and always with the head
upwards, just as the eagle is always with the head downwards. The great
peculiar characteristic of the dolphin is its rising up, leaping, and
springing out of the sea. When we compare this with the dying goat and falling eagle, what conclusion
can we come to but that we have here the filling in of the picture, and
the completion of the whole truth set forth in CAPRICORNUS?


  Jesus "died and rose again." Without from His resurrection, His
death is without result. In His conflict with the enemy, it is only His
coming again in glory which is shown forth. But here, in connection with
His people, with the multitudes of His redeemed, Resurrection is the great
and important truth. He is "the first-fruits of them that slept";
then He, too, is here represented as a fish. He who went down into the
waters of death for His people:



  • Psalm 42:7: "I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me."

  • Romans 4:25: He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.


  In the Persian planisphere, there seems to be
a fish and a stream of water. The Egyptian has a vessel pouring out water.
The ancient names connected with this constellation are



  • Dalaph (Hebrew),
    pouring out of water.

  • Dalaph (Arabic), coming quickly.

  • Scalooin (Arabic),
    swift (as the flow of water).

  • Rotaneb (Syriac and Chaldee),
    swiftly running.


  This decan would indicate that the tail of the Sea Goat is that of
a dolphin. It is shown jumping out of the water, and very much alive.
Anciently, the dolphin was a symbol of life and resurrection. The Dead One Rising Again - This is a dolphin that is full of life,
with his head up and leaping out of the sea. This shows resurrection
from death.


   So, in this ‘chapter’ we have the
sin offering who partakes of life (Capricorn); we have the arrow
of affliction (Sagitta), the royal soarer pierced in the heel (Aquila),
and the poured-out, swiftly coming, life possessing One (Delphinus).


Thus, in this first chapter of the Second Book we see the great truth
of Revelation set forth; and we learn how the great Blessings of Redemption
were procured. This truth cannot be more eloquently or powerfully presented
than in the language of Dr. Seiss (Joseph A. Seiss, The Gospel in the
Stars):


   This strange goat-fish, dying in its head, but living in its afterpart--falling
as an eagle pierced and wounded by the arrow of death, but springing up
from the dark waves with the matchless vigor and beauty of the dolphin--sinking
under sin's condemnation, but rising again as sin's conqueror--developing
new life out of death, and heralding a new springtime out of December's
long dreary nights--was framed by no blind chance of man. The story which
it tells is the old, old story on which hangs the only availing hope that
ever came, or ever can come, to Adam's race. To what it signifies we are
for ever shut up as the only saving faith. In that dying Seed of the woman
we must see our sin-bearer and the atonement for our guilt, or die ourselves
unpardoned and unsanctified. Through His death and bloodshedding we must
find our life, or the true life, which alone is life, we never can have."



Here is the story the Mazzaroth has presented to us so far:


* The First Book - The Redeemer: (His First Coming) "The sufferings of Christ"


  • Chapter I - FIRST - The Prophecy of the Promised Seed of the Woman

    • VIRGO (The Virgin. A woman bearing a branch in her right hand and an ear of corn in her left). The Promised Seed of the woman.




      • COMA (The Desired. The woman and child). The Desired of all nations.

      • CENTAURUS (The Centaur with two natures, holding a spear piercing a victim). The despised sin offering.

      • BOOTES (a man walking bearing a branch called ARCTURUS, meaning the same). He cometh.





    • Chapter II - SECOND - The Redeemer's Atoning Work: There shall be a price paid by Him for a purchased possession.

      • LIBRA (The Scales). The price deficient balanced by the price which covers.

        • CRUX, The Cross endured.

        • LUPUS, or VICTIMA, The Victim slain.

        • CORONA, The Crown bestowed.





    • Chapter III - THIRD - The Redeemer's Conflict:
      The price shall be a conflict with the serpent-foe, and a wound in the conqueror's heel.

      • SCORPIO (The Scorpion) seeking to wound, but itself trodden under foot.

        • SERPENS (The Serpent struggling with the man).

        • O-PHI-U-CHUS (The man grasping the serpent). The struggle with the enemy.

        • HERCULES (The mighty man. A man kneeling on one knee, humbled in the conflict, but holding aloft the tokens of victory, with his foot on the head of the Dragon). The mighty Vanquisher seeming to sink in the conflict.





    • Chapter IV - FOURTH - The Redeemer's Triumph: He shall be sent forth swiftly, surely, as an arrow from a bow.


      • SAGITTARIUS (The Archer). The two-natured Conqueror going forth "Conquering and to conquer."


        • LYRA (The Harp). Praise prepared for the Conqueror.

        • ARA (The Altar). Consuming fire prepared for His enemies.

        • DRACO (The Dragon). The Old Serpent— Devil, cast down from heaven.






    * The Second Book -The Redeemed "The result of the Redeemer's sufferings"



    • Chapter I - FIFTH - Their Blessings Procured: He shall be slain as a sacrifice.

      • CAPRICORNUS (The fish-goat). The goat of Atonement slain for the Redeemed.

        • SAGITTA (The Arrow). The arrow of God sent forth.

        • AQUILA (The Eagle). The smitten One falling.

        • DELPHINUS (The Dolphin). The dead One rising again.








       Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation of the Bible.



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    Pisces

       


       The result of the Redeemer's work, the blessings to the
    redeemed are shown by the second book.

       The constellations in the second book include:



    1. Capricornus - The Atoning Sacrifice and Resurrection

    2. Aquarius - The Holy Spirit Poured
      Upon the Redeemed

    3. Pisces - The Redeemed Blessed Though Bound, Deliverance Out of Bondage

    4. Aries - The Crowned Lamb and His Bride.



    Pisces:

    The Redeemed Blessed Though Bound


    Deliverance Out of Bondage


       



    • Hebrew name: Dagim, the fishes

    • Arabic: Al Haut, the fish

    • Syriac: Nuno, the fish, lengthened out (as posterity)

    • Coptic: Pi-cot Orion, fish of him that cometh

    • Greek: Ichthues, fish. Sept. Eze 47:9

    • Latin, Pisces, fish, multiplying. Vulg. Eze 47:9

    • Chinese: Shang Yu,
      two fishes

    • Sanscrit: Mina, fish


    Names in the Sign :



    • Heb., Okda, the united

    • Arab., Al Samaca, the upheld


    PISCES the location of the Vernal Equinox in today’s age.


    The fishes in Pisces had, in some Eastern zodiacs, the heads of women. The band of Pisces is often mentioned in the Arabian poem of Antar as a separate constellation. The Greek sphere has Cepheus and Andromeda.


    The fishes, of multitudes. Luke 5:6; John 21:6; Matt 4:19


    The third "chapter" in the Book of the Redeemed is Pisces, or Dagim (H. "the fishes"), a word closely connected with "multi­tudes", as in Gen 48:26, which can be rendered "let them grow as fish­es do increase" (cf. Eze 47:9, Gen 1:28, Jn 21:6). The fish are depic­ted as joined by a band at the tail; one fish is facing the North Star, and the other swims against the path of the sun. The Egyp­tians called this sign Pi-cot Orion or Pisces Hori ("the fishes of Him that cometh"), and the Syriac name is Nuno ("the fish, leng­thened out", i.e., having a poster­ity) — as the chosen heirs of Abra­ham would rival the stars in number. One of the stars of this sign is Okda (H. "the united"), and another is Al Samaca (A. "the up­held", cf. Is 41:10, "I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righ­teous­ness"). This con­stel­lation was origi­nally composed of only 4 or so stars.


    Myth would have these fish as the metamorphosed di­vinities, Venus and Cupid, who changed thus to escape from the rampaging Typhon. But bibli­cally, these "fish" are the heirs of the covenant of the faith of Abra­ham, and we have two fish because there are two groups who are saved: the Old and the New Testament saints, those for whom the Crucifixion was future, and those for whom it is past. Abarbanel, a 15th century Jewish explica­tor of Dan­iel, de­clares that Pisces always refers to Israel, al­though we must include all the ancient saints, from Adam and Enoch to John the baptizer; indeed, those saved during the years of the Trib­ula­tion should also be includ­ed here, but that is anoth­er topic entire­ly. We may con­sider one of the fish as a symbol for Israel proper, and the other fish as the justi­fied gentiles. To the pagans, Pisces was the most unfavorable of the signs, its influence reckoned as malig­nant, bringing violence and death. The Egyptian hieroglyph for hatred and odiousness was the picture of a fish. And this is just how the unrestrained world responds to the Church.


    We are now at the seventh constellation of this series, and halfway done. Pisces is best understood when we see that Israel encompasses more than just the Jew, for the constellation depicts both the Earthly people of God and the heavenly people. What amazes us is that the "Jew" is seen as rejecting Christ and therefore the spiritual promises to the Gentiles come first, then the physical promises to the Earthly people later at the Second Coming of Christ, if some even believe in His Second Coming. That order is asteroid backwards (to put our cussing in astronomical terms). Even Paul clearly taught the order of that which is physical, and that which is spiritual: The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. Of course Paul was talking about the natural man vs. the regenerate man, however the same principal applies to a congregation first as a holy nation, and then the spiritual church. One is a type of the other, yet both are wholly separate. Indeed, Israel in their land was once a great empire under Solomon before the revealing of Christ. And again, the prophecies demanded they would become a commonwealth of nations before the spiritual reunion of Israel when the Victorious Christ would return again to unite the two sticks under one banner, and one national, spiritual and holy nation again.


    After Aquarius comes Pisces the fish. There are two fish in this constellation--- one is pointing upward toward the pole and the other is horizontal along both the ecliptic and equator. We've already discussed and almost beaten to death the meaning of fish--- it's about procreation and God's people. However, why two of them? Well, the one pointing to the pole are the spiritual people of God heeding that call, and the horizontal fish represents the Earthly people of God. Again, as much as we love Bullinger, he does not acknowledge the existence of Lost Tribes, and as such this constellation would not make any sense regarding "heavenly" and "Earthly" people if one just has the Jew in mind (as much as Bullinger tried to make sense of it). After all, as he rightly pointed out, there was NO CHURCH (i.e. including Gentiles) back before it was revealed to Paul. The idea of "God's people" had Israel in mind and this is agreed upon if we turn to Capt's book. Since the Jew never became populous (as represented by the horizontal fish), then we have to look elsewhere for this prophecy to be fulfilled and this is where Lost Tribe theology fits quite well. For that reason, we will expand on Capt's interpretation detail with this constellation.


    Pisces is fastened together by a band and is considered a separate constellation. However, this band really gives us additional detail about the two fish especially when we note that the band is fastened to the neck of Cetus, the sea monster.


    The ancient Egyptian name for this constellation was Pi-Cot Orion or Pisces Hori which means, "the fish prolonged". This suggested the idea of many successive generations and posterity. The Hebrew name is Dagim, meaning, "the fishes". Other languages give the same meaning to this constellation--- so the theme of fish is unquestionably the case. The horizontal fish as we pointed out are the people who are inheritors of the physical blessings to Abraham as summed up in the Scripture: The Angel which redeemed 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 [marginal note---"as fishes"] in the midst of the earth. This was Jacob's blessing on Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh.


    The upward fish is the heavenly calling of Israel, something which the Jew has not fulfilled if one were to believe ALL of Israel is just the Jew. Rather, these are the spiritually called of the house of Israel (along with the Old Testament Saints) who, when re-covenanted in Christ would be the gospel light-bearers to the fallen world and their seed would be known amongst the Gentiles (many nations). As Capt pointed out, the gospel is compared to a net catching many fish. Before we think this is just the Gentiles, think again. We did Lost Tribe messages before where the Lord would send fishers (the gospel message) for the Lost Tribes, and then hunters later on (See Jeremiah 16:16). That's what Jesus meant when he'd make his disciples "fishers of men" (to the house of Israel). Therefore, the spiritual aspect of Pisces can be applied to Israel in this age, now! We do not have to do as Bullinger did and only apply it to a few select Old Testament Saints, or wait until the millennium occurs to fulfill this portion, which obviously must have a present counterpart (until all generations) along with the horizontal fish.


    This constellation ties the two fish together and in turn, is fastened to the neck of Cetus, the sea monster. The Arabic name, Al Risha, means, "the band" or "bridle". It has a negative connotation in that being its attached to Cetus portrays Israel being bound and oppressed by her enemies and will not be remedied until the glorious and victorious return of Jesus Christ. We want to add one other thought of our own here. In spite of its negative connotation, notice that this band ties the fish together showing a present and ongoing existence with each other and inseparably tied to each other. That much is common sense. In spite of Israel's many blessings and age of Gospel enlightenment, she had to constantly endure many enemies throughout history and at times God punished her with slavery and exile. We had a preview of being freed from the band with the glorious gospel message along with our blessings, but an even greater liberation is yet to come in the millennium. That idea can be best summed up in Jeremiah 31:11 dealing with the end-time captivity (again) of Israel but her liberation when Christ returns: For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

     


    Two fishes swimming in different directions, tied together at the tails with a band, the band is also tied to Cetus the sea monster. Aries has his leg crossing the band, between the fishes and the monster. Again we have a type of the Church in the fishes. The fish has always been associated with the Church and early believers were called "Pisces". Some of the star names are Okda, The United; Al Samaca, The Upheld. In Syriac, it is Nuno, the fish prolonged, the idea of posterity or successive generations. In Coptic, it is Pi-Cot Orion, the fish, congregation, the Company of the Coming Prince. These fish are none other than the pictorial representation of the True Church. The "Two" fishes could represent just the multitudes of fishes, but, more probably represent the Church before and after Christ. Both Stuck in Satan's domain, but both protected by Aries. They are both God's chosen ones and members of the great sheepfold.


    Pisces contains that point in the sky occupied by the Sun during Vernal Equinox, the day on which the hours of daylight and night are equal, which falls about March 21. So Pisces claims the number one position of importance among the twelve constellations of the Zodiac.

    bullet According to Greek myth, there was a monstrous god named Typhon, who was determined to overthrow Zeus and his entire group of gods. So terrifying and powerful was the evil god that he caused the immortal followers of Zeus to flee into Egypt in exile. Zeus alone remained behind to do battle and eventually conquer Typhon. We are told that one day Aphrodite and her son Eros were walking along a riverbank when they sensed the presence of the monstrous god Typhon. Quickly they plunged into the river where they took the form of fishes and escaped. To this day we see them as the Northern Fish and the Western Fish of Pisces.

    bullet Pisces was known by the Babylonians as Nunu, by the Persians as Mahik, and the Turks as Balik, all meaning "Fish."

    bullet The Arabs also knew Pisces as Al Samakatain, or "the Two Fishes."

    bullet The Syrians regarded fish as holy animals and so refused to eat them.

    bullet The Chinese called Pisces at various times the Dark Warrior, the Northern Emperor, and the Pig. But after missionaries were established in that country the constellation became known popularly as the Two Fishes.


    The seventh zodiac constellation is the Fishes (Pisces). The mythology is that Venus and Cupid jumped into the river to escape a monster and were saved by being changed into fishes. As mentioned above, the fish is a symbol of the Christian Church. The mythology is not far from being saved by being turned into Christians when baptized in water. So the two Fishes seem to represent two different groups of followers of Christ. The role of Christ symbolized by the Fishes would be that of being the Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14).


    But what two groups? The Christian commentators tend to agree that the two are probably the church before Christ and the Church afterward, referring to the patriarchal church of Israel led by Moses, and then to the Christians headed by Christ.


    Pisces is pictured as two fish that are tied together with a band (one of the associated constellations) to Cetus, the sea monster (a constellation of Aries). The fish, a symbol of God's people, are restrained from freedom and blessing by being tied to the sea monster. Another of the associated constellations shows a chained woman (God's people) and the third associated constellation shows the Deliverer near by. The Egyptian name from the zodiac of Dendereh is Picot Orion or Pisces Hori (The Fishes of Him That Cometh).


     


    VII.


    A) PISCES, The Fishes (Note: Throughout recorded history, Pisces has been an odious sign to astrologers. So much so that Assyarian & Babylonian astrologers would not eat fish. For 2000 years we have been in the 'sign' of Pisces)


    Deliverance Out of Bondage – This sign foretells of God’s deliverance for all believers from the slavery of sin through the preaching of the Gospel. (Matt. 4:18-19)


    Egyptian: Pi Cot Orion = The Fish of Him Who Comes


    B) Description: Two fish united by a band tied around their tails. Band is attached to back of head of Cetus,The Sea Monster. Aries the Ram has his paw across the band


    C) Brightest Stars: Al Samaca = The Upheld (The fish are upheld by Christ Isa 41:10)


    Okda = The United


    D) Decan:

    1) a) Name: THE BAND


    b) Description: Band is attached to back of head of Cetus, The Sea Monster. Aries the Ram has His paw across the band


    c) Bright Star: *****


    2) a) Name: ANDROMEDA = The Man ruler


    b) Description: A woman chained


    c) Brightest Star: Andromeda is a galaxy which is moving towards us, it means, the weak, the afflicted, the chained.


    3) a) Name: CEPHEUS = The Crowned King, The Royal Branch


    Egyptian: Per Ku Hor = This One Cometh To Rule


    b) Description: Man on throne, right foot on Pole Star


    c) Brightest Stars: Al Deramin = Coming Quickly


    Al Phirk = The Redeemer


    Alrai = He Who Bruises or Breaks


    two star names in this sign have come down to us, the first is OKDA (H) meaning ‘the united’ and SAMACA (A) ‘the upheld’. These refer to the redeemed seed of the houses of Judah and Israel (the ten tribes) finally united under one king, the Messiah.



    The three decans are The Band, Cepheus
    and Andromeda


    I. The Band - xxx.



        The first decan
    is


    Arab., Al Risha, the band (bridle)


    Egyptian: U-OR:
    A tailed human figure walking


    The Band or Ribbon,attached to Pisces, is the first decan. It is attached to both fishes tails, and to Cetus the sea monster's back. The Patriarchal Saints are tied to the Christian Saints. The saints before Christ could not be made perfect without us. But, we wouldn't have a Christ if it wasn't for that preparation for him through the Old Testament Saints. Both are bound to this world and Satan's domain, but the arm of Aries protects them both, and we will see why coming up.


    The first decan is the Bands (part of Pisces). The two Fishes are tied by their tails with Bands to the great Sea Monster (Cetus). Moreover, the leg of the Ram (Aries) is apparently breaking the Bands. That feature is not mentioned in Greek myth, but it is important to understanding the symbolism. A common theme in the scriptures is that Christ will break the bands of death. Here we apparently have a perfect figure of this prophecy. The Ram, which is an adult male Lamb, is seen breaking the bands which tie the two groups of the followers of Christ to the monster. Thus, the monster could well represent Death, the Ram being Jesus Christ, and the Bands are the bands of death.


    Figure 2. Two Fishes (Churches) at two times.

    So what do the two fish each represent? When the Savior resurrected, many of the righteous saints did also. One of the slowly moving hands on the great celestial clock is the vernal equinox, the position of the sun in the sky on the first day of spring. It moves one degree every 72 years, and thus can be used to indicate dates. The numbers on the scale in Figure 2 are the years indicated by that "clock hand." It crossed the star which is the knot in the tail of the fish nearest the Ram precisely on Sun 3 Apr AD 33, the most likely day of the Savior's resurrection.[30] Thus, not only is the symbolism of breaking the bands of death portrayed vividly in the heavens, even the date is indicated. If the size of the fish also refers to this timeline then the first fish represents the early church of Jesus Christ, which lasted until about AD 300.


    What about the second fish? Figure 2 shows that the equinox crosses the first and last star in the second fish about the years 1800 and 2800. If this reasoning is correct, then the second fish could represent the saints of a latter-day church of Jesus Christ.


    The Band, The Redeemed Bound, But Binding Their Enemy. This is the band that connects the two fish and the sea monster (Cetus, a decan of Aries). Its Egyptian name was U-or (He Cometh). In Arabic it was called Al Risha (The Band or Bridle).


    The first decan is the band which unites the fish, called Al Risha (A. "the band" or "brid­al"); it was called U-or ("He cometh") by the Egyptians. This bond is held, as it were, by the extended limb of Aries the Lamb. It is a leash as well, which collars the hideous Cetus, as we will see. In the sea which is the world, only those who are lost accept no restraint, following their own ungov­erned impulses; those who are chosen for salvation are con­strained — this is the meaning of the parable of the net (Mt 13:47). Remem­ber also Hos 11:4, “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.” This decan origi­nally had about 5 dim stars.


    This constellation does not appear in current Zodiacs or star charts showing constellations. Antarah, an Arabian poet of the sixth century refers to it as a separate sign from PISCES. An old Egyptian name U-OR means ‘he cometh’. An Arabic name AL RISHA means ‘the band’ or *'the bridle’. Hosea may well be referring to this in chapter 11:4:


    “I (God) drew them (Israel) with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws...”


    The message on this sign alone is obscure and needs to be considered with PISCES and the next DECAN.



    II. Cepheus, a human figure holding a branch - The Crowned King


       


    Heb., Cepheus, the branch


    — Cheicus, Caucus, comes as in a circle


    — Regulus, treading under foot Sept. Isa 32:20


    Arab., a Al Deramin, coming quickly, as in a circle


    — Al Derab, Al Deraf, coming in a circle


    — b Al Phirk, the redeemer


    — Al Rai, and Errai, who bruises, breaks

    This name has by the Arabs been taken as shepherd, by the Latins vociferator, &c.


    Gr., Cepheus, the Branch, called by Euripides the king


    Cepheus, the branch, as the king is firmly standing crowned on high.


    Egyptian: Pe-ku-hor, this (B.), to rule (B.), cometh (B. and Heb.)


    The second decan is Cepheus, the Crowned King. Symbolic of Christ seated at the right hand of God. He is holding a scepter in his left hand and still symbolically holding the ribbon of the fishes in his right hand. Still tending his fishes, protecting them from the Evil one. This Cepheus wears a crown of stars, (remember Corona?) he is a glorious king, One foot on the pole star, he is at the true north watching over us. Heaven is spoken of as being in the "North". Some of the star names are, Al Deramin, the quickly returning; Al Phirk, "The Redeemer"; another means "The Shepherd". The Egyptians called him, Pe-ku-hor, the Ruler that Cometh. Cepheus means "The Royal Branch, the King". Who else but Christ could this be, he is the Branch, the Redeemer, and he Cometh Quickly.


    The second decan is the King (Cepheus). This meaning is less clear, but seems to represent the enthronement of Christ as King. He is often pictured holding ribbons, which could correspond to the broken bands of the fishes.


    Cepheus (the Crowned King), Their Redeemer Coming to Rule. Cepheus is a glorious king, crowned, enthroned with a scepter in his hand. Cepheus means "the Branch". It is also called Hyk (The King). In the zodiac of Dendereh it was called Pekahor (This One Cometh to Rule). Its stars include Al Deramin (Coming Quickly), Al Phirk (The Redeemer) and Al Rai (Who Bruises or Breaks).


    Andromeda is primarily a "V"-shaped appendage to the "Great Square" (Pegasus) constellation. This is a chained woman, yet in the Denderah Zodiac her name means, "set". The idea of that word is "set up as a queen". If you are wondering how one arrives at that conclusion, may we draw the analogy by saying someone is "enthroned" or "crowned". By definition of the word it implies this person is either a king or queen. However, in Hebrew, she is Sirra, which means, "chained" and Persea, or, "stretched out". Other names of the stars in that constellation are Al Phiratz in Arabic meaning, "the broken down", Mirach (Hebrew), or, "the weak", and the Arabic Al Maach or Al Amak, meaning, "struck down". In addition, other names connote weakness or a state of being bound.


    This constellation speaks of the captive daughter of Zion (read all of Isaiah 52), the Lord's captive bride (people) who were meant to be enthroned (as we shall see later in the constellation Cassiopeia) but for a time were oppressed. This is the same theme as the band tying the fish together. As the Isaiah passage indicates, these same people would be redeemed without money, first (by the context) during the gospel age as a forerunner and ultimately as a people nationally when Christ returns.


    Capt further expands on this constellation past the traditional "Jewish plight" interpretation to include all of us people as the lost house of Israel. He claimed that as the house of Israel we are still bound economically (Boy! do we know that!) and spiritually. In addition, enemies of the house of Israel are jealous of her material wealth and constantly threaten her destruction. Morfessa and I find all that quite insightful when we as the nations of Israel are abandoning the faith, and turning to worry and despair over the economy, our safety from terrorists, and our security. However, the next constellation speaks of the coming King.


    he next sign is the woman An­dromeda. But here she is chained hand and foot, menaced at her feet by the serpents of Medusa. This is the woman sym­bolizing Isra­el in Rev 12:1. She is called Sirra (H. "the chained"). The Egyptians called her Set, in this case meaning "estab­lished" as queen. In her head shines Al Phi­ratz (A. "the broken down"); at the hip is Mirach (H. "the weak"); next in brightness is Al Maach (A. "struck down"), lo­cat­ed in the left foot. Other stars share names meaning "the af­flict­ed" and "the bound". In Isaiah 52:2-3, we read “arise, and sit down, O Jeru­salem: loose thy­self from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourself for nought, and ye shall be redeemed without mon­ey.” Again, in Is 54:11,14, “O thou af­flict­ed, tossed with tempest, and not comforted . . . . in righ­teousness shalt thou be estab­lished . . .” In mythology, Andromeda was the innocent victim of jealousy, chained to a rock near Joppa in Palestine, left to be devoured by a raging sea-monster; she was rescued and wed to the heroic Perseus, whom we shall learn to be a type of Christ. Andromeda means "man-ruler", and though she is in the Promised land, she is chained; the image foreshadows the time when saints will rule creation (cf. Mt 19:28, 1Cor 6:2, Rev 1:5,6). Only a little thought will reveal how well this pagan version describes the fate of mankind since Adam's Fall. This decan now contains 63 stars, but the ori­ginal had just 17.


    Today this sign is called the Princess of Ethiopia. The picture shows a seated woman with chains holding feet and arms. The Hebrew name is SIRRA ‘the chained’. An Egyptian name is SET ‘set up as a queen’. The brightest star in the head is ALPHIRATZ (A) meaning ‘the broken down’. A star at the lower left side of the body is MIRACH (H) ‘the weak’. The star in her left foot is called AL MARACH (A) or AL AMAK K (A) which means ‘struck down’. Other unidentified stars are MIZAR meaning ‘the weak’, and AL MARA (A) ‘the afflicted’. This sign represents Israel captive and afflicted as they were in the last few centuries before the birth of Jesus and afterwards. The next DECAN has a message of deliverance.


    The picture behind CYGNUS, shows a kingly figure with crown and sceptre enthroned with his left foot on the present Polar star AL RUCCABA in the constellation URSA MINOR. An Egyptian name for this sign is PE-KU-HOR meaning ‘this one cometh to rule’. CEPHEUS (G) means ‘the branch’. An ancient Ethiopian name was HYK ‘a king’. The brightest star in the left shoulder is AL DERAMIN meaning ‘coming quickly’.. In the centre of the body is AL PHIRK (A) ‘the redeemer’. In the left knee is AL RAI meaning ‘who bruises or breaks’. Here the message becomes clear, CEPHEUS represents the Messiah King, King of Israel, redeemer of all mankind. Scripture has many well known references to confirm this message.


    But this one is a Northern circumpolar constellation commonly perceived as being shaped like a child's stick figure 'house'. Cepheus is a glorious and enthroned King. The Denderah Zodiac calls his name Pe-ku-hor, or, "this one comes to rule". The name Cepheus is the Hebrew name which means, "the branch". The Old Ethiopian name was Hyk, "a king".


    The brightest star alpha, Al Deramin, means, "coming quickly". The star beta Cepheus is called Al Phirk (Arabic) or, "the Redeemer". The star gamma is called Al Rai, or, "who bruises and breaks". Obviously, the redundant theme is about the quickly coming King; one enthroned and executing justice. It will be this King, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will save captive Zion.


    The final decan of Pisces is Cepheus, from a Hebrew word for "branch". In Egypt he was called Pe-ku-hor ("this one cometh to rule"), and in Ethio­pia, simply Hyk ("a king"). He sits in royal robes, offering a scepter to Cassiopeia and wearing a crown of stars, with the Pole Star as his footstool. He waits to break the chains of the woman. The Greeks called Cepheus the father of Andromeda — a pagan­ized version of God's being the father of Israel (cf. Jer 31:9). From Dendera, we have the image of a small sheep mirroring the repose of Aries, but with a huge front leg; we may interpret this as signifying the "mighty arm of the Lord": “Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, 'Thou art my servant'; fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” The chief star, in the right shoulder, as Al Deramin (once more, a name meaning "coming quick­ly"). At the waist, the next star in bright­ness is called Al Phirk ("the Redeem­er"). In the left knee shines Al Rai ("who bruises"). Of its 35 visible stars, 10 were originally visible.



    III. Andromeda, The Chained Woman.



    Heb., Sirra, the chained


    — Persea, the stretched out


    — Adhil, the afflicted


    — b Mirach, the weak



    — Mizar, the bound


    Arab., Al Mara, the afflicted


    — Al Moselsalah, from the grave, Sheol, Hades


    delivered


    — a Al Phiratz, the broken down


    — Al Maach, Al Amak, struck down


    — Misam al Thuraiya, (nebula), the assembled, the abundance


    Gr., Andromedia, the set free
    from death — Desma, the bound, (Aratus)


    The chained woman is being liberated from her bonds.


    Egyptian: SET:
    A female figure, either that in the circle holding a victim, or that holding the band of Pisces, under which are the characters, S-r, as of Sirra, one name of Andromeda, which therefore seems most likely.


    The last decan in Pisces is Andromeda, The Chained Woman. Again symbolic of the bound church to this world, awaiting her redeemer, Perseus, the breaker, to free her from her bondage. She is the mystic woman called and appointed to rule and in guardianship over men. The Church will Rule and Reign with Christ for the thousand year millennium, right after the great tribulation period. Some star names mean, The Broken Down, the Weak, The Afflicted, The Chained. The true church has been persecuted and afflicted since it's birth. Christ said that we would have tribulation. If you are not being persecuted and in tribulation at times, you better take a good look at yourself because Christ said that if they hated him that they would hate us. The whole world is in a mad rush to consolidate, to unify, and to bring in the New World Order. Satan's tactics exactly. Just take God out of the picture and exalt yourself as god's over your own world.


    The third decan is the Chained Princess (Andromeda). The other common symbol of the church of Christ is the woman or bride, whereas Christ is the bridegroom who marries the church. This princess is chained to a cliff and is being offered as a sacrifice to the very same Sea Monster to whom the Fishes are bound. So here we have another figure representing the church being bound. But there could be slight difference in interpretation. The scriptures speak of "the bands of death, and the chains of hell" as distinct from each other (Alma 5:7-10; see also 2 Peter 2:4, 2 Nephi 1:13, 28:22; Alma 12:11, 13:30; D&C 121:44, 123:8, 138:23). Note that the scriptures rarely vary from that imagery of the "bands (or cords) of death" and the "chains of hell." Christ did two things for us. First, he broke the bands of death, so that someday all of us will resurrect. He also loosed the chains of hell, so that someday those who follow his commandments can escape bondage to Satan. Thus, the Fishes and Bands represent breaking the bands of death, whereas the story of Andromeda represents loosing the chains of hell. This nuance of detail in interpretation seems to have escaped earlier commentators, but is being proposed here because the symbolism is so consistent in scripture.


    Andromeda (the Chained Woman), The Redeemed in Their Bondage and Affliction. Andromeda is a picture of a woman whose arms and feet are chained, in misery and trouble. The chained woman represents Christ's church in bondage to sin. In Hebrew it is called Sirra (The Chained). The names of its stars are: Alpheratz (The Broken Down), Adhil (The Afflicted), Mirach (The Weak), and Al Mara (The Afflicted). The Deliverer (Cepheus) will free her, as in Isaiah 52:1-3: "...loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money."(KJV)


     


     


     


     


    Summary of Associated Stars and Constellations

    Alsamaca The Uphold

    Okda The United

    The Band Band that connects two fish with Sea Monster

    Andromeda The Chained Woman

    Alpheratz The Broken Down

    Adhil The Afflicted

    Mirach The Weak

    Al Mara The Afflicted

    Cepheus Crowned King, Enthroned with a scepter in His hand

    Al Deramin Coming quickly

    Al Phirk The Redeemer

    Al Ral Who Bruises or Breaks


     


     


     


     


     


    So in Pisces and its decans you have the miraculous picture of the saints of all ages, bound to this world, but watched over and cared for buy our King and Shepherd.


    The story of Pisces, then, is of a multi­tude, bound yet sustained (Band), promised a heritage by Him who comes. We find the chained woman, broken, weak, smitten (An­drome­da) — awaiting the coming king (Cepheus). The link with Simeon ("hearing and obeying") is found in the binding of the two fish, compared with the binding together in cruelty, fierce anger, will­fulness and wrath of Simeon and Levi (Gen 49:5-7); just as God will "divide" them (v. 7), so the restraints of the fish will be severed when they have learned mercy.


     


    PISCES



    The Fishes: the figures of two large fishes in the act of swimming, one to the northward, the other with the ecliptic.



    Swimming in the heavenly waters


    Upheld and governed by the Lamb


    Head over all things to the Church


    The intended Bride bound and exposed on earth





    VII. THE DECANS OF PISCES



    1. The Band, holding up the Fishes, and held by the Lamb, its doubled end fast to the neck of Cetus, the Sea-Monster;



    2. Cepheus, a crowned king, holding a band and sceptre, with his foot planted on the polestar as the great Victor and Lord;



    3. Andromeda, a woman in chains, and threatened by the serpents of Medusa's head.



    Here is the story the Mazzaroth has presented to us so far:


    * The First Book - The Redeemer: (His First Coming) "The sufferings of Christ"


  • Chapter I - FIRST - The Prophecy of the Promised Seed of the Woman

    • VIRGO (The Virgin. A woman bearing a branch in her right hand and an ear of corn in her left). The Promised Seed of the woman.




      • COMA (The Desired. The woman and child). The Desired of all nations.

      • CENTAURUS (The Centaur with two natures, holding a spear piercing a victim). The despised sin offering.

      • BOOTES (a man walking bearing a branch called ARCTURUS, meaning the same). He cometh.





    • Chapter II - SECOND - The Redeemer's Atoning Work: There shall be a price paid by Him for a purchased possession.

      • LIBRA (The Scales). The price deficient balanced by the price which covers.

        • CRUX, The Cross endured.

        • LUPUS, or VICTIMA, The Victim slain.

        • CORONA, The Crown bestowed.





    • Chapter III - THIRD - The Redeemer's Conflict:
      The price shall be a conflict with the serpent-foe, and a wound in the conqueror's heel.

      • SCORPIO (The Scorpion) seeking to wound, but itself trodden under foot.

        • SERPENS (The Serpent struggling with the man).

        • O-PHI-U-CHUS (The man grasping the serpent). The struggle with the enemy.

        • HERCULES (The mighty man. A man kneeling on one knee, humbled in the conflict, but holding aloft the tokens of victory, with his foot on the head of the Dragon). The mighty Vanquisher seeming to sink in the conflict.





    • Chapter IV - FOURTH - The Redeemer's Triumph: He shall be sent forth swiftly, surely, as an arrow from a bow.


      • SAGITTARIUS (The Archer). The two-natured Conqueror going forth "Conquering and to conquer."


        • LYRA (The Harp). Praise prepared for the Conqueror.

        • ARA (The Altar). Consuming fire prepared for His enemies.

        • DRACO (The Dragon). The Old Serpent— Devil, cast down from heaven.






    * The Second Book -The Redeemed "The result of the Redeemer's sufferings"



    • Chapter I - FIFTH - Their Blessings Procured: He shall be slain as a sacrifice.

      • CAPRICORNUS (The fish-goat). The goat of Atonement slain for the Redeemed.

        • SAGITTA (The Arrow). The arrow of God sent forth.

        • AQUILA (The Eagle). The smitten One falling.

        • DELPHINUS (The Dolphin). The dead One rising again.





    • Chapter II - SIXTH -Their Blessings Ensured: He shall rise again and pour out blessings on His people.

      • AQUARIUS (The Water-Bearer). The living waters of blessing poured forth for the Redeemed.

        • PISCIS AUSTRALIS (The Southern Fish). The blessings bestowed.

        • PEGASUS (The Winged Horse). The blessings quickly coming.

        • CYGNUS (The Swan). The Blesser surely returning.








       Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation of the Bible.



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