Los Inicios de la All-India Hindu Mahasabha

The Heavens declare His handywork: as depicted from the Bible

Robert R. Jones II of the Horizon Energy Corporation gives us the following interpretations of the heavens, constellations and stars, with a beautiful illustration of the constellation Orion. As the thesis aims to be comprehensive, it is felt necessary that the biblical point of view should also be put forth.

"Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." (Gen 1:14-15).

The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. (Isaiah 13:10).

Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? (Job 38:31-32)

In ancient times, signs were used as a witness of a special covenant either between God and mankind or between different peoples on the earth. In Genesis 9:12-13, God put a special sign in the sky.

And God said; “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth”.

Observing the Sabbath was a sign of the covenant relationship between Israel and God (Exodus 31:16-17). On several occasions, a stone was a sign or witness of a promise (see Joshua 24:25-27; 1 Samuel 7:12).

The constellations are also referred to as signs. (See Gen. 1:14-15, above.) They are somewhat abstract in form. In other words, they don't look exactly like what they represent. For example, the rainbow after a rain is a sign that God promises to not destroy the world again by water. In like manner, the constellations bring to mind God's wonderful promises concerning the Messiah, His redeeming work, and his Bride, the Church.

The Ancient Constellations

The ancient constellations (48 in all) are picture prophecies of Jesus, the Word or Logos, and are in harmony with the written Word of God. In fact, many individual star names are recorded in the Bible as appellations or attributes of Jesus. Just to get us started, here are a few: Arm of the Lord, Isa. 51:9,10; Chief Shepherd, 1 Pet. 5:4; Desired of all nations, Hag. 2:7; Governor, Matt. 2:6; Great shepherd of the sheep, Heb. 13:20, 27:24; King, Matt. 21:5; Lamb, Rev. 5:6,8; 6:16; 7:9,10,17; Light, John 8:12; Lion of the tribe of Judah, Rev. 5:5; Prince, Acts 5:31; Redeemer, Isa. 59:20; Scepter, Num. 24:17; Shepherd, Mark 14:27. These names are components of larger pictures or constellations which tell a story.

- 112 - The Meaning Of The Constellations

There are 12 major constellations. Their modern names, which tell us nothing of their original meanings, are in parenthesis. Each major constellation has three other constellations associated with it which modify or complete its meaning. They are called decans.

The Incarnate Son (Virgo) Isaiah 7:14 The Redeemer (Libra) 1 Cor. 6:20 The Sufferer (Scorpio) 1 Cor. 15:55-56 The Conqueror (Sagittarius) Rev. 6:2 The Sacrifice (Capricornus) Romans 3:25 The Living Water (Aquarius) John 7:38 The Liberator (Pisces) Gen. 48:19; Mark 1:17 The Crowned Lamb (Aries) Rev. 5:6

The Judge (Taurus) John 5:22 The King (Gemini) Romans 1:3 The Protector (Cancer) Isaiah 4:5-6 The Victor (Leo) Rev. 5:5

As mentioned previously, the names of the stars themselves give definition to each of the constellations. These names are preserved from the most ancient of times. In world history, we find the major signs of the constellations are the same in the meaning of their names and their procession in the major civilizations of the world. These 12 major constellations (or Mazzaroth, Job 38:32 KJ) mark a continuous circle (ecliptic) or line around the earth which today is called Zodiac, from the Greek word zoad and meaning The Way or A Path (John 14:6; Psalm 119:105).

A Closer Look

Robert R. Jones has chosen to illustrate Orion, Taurus and Eridanus. Orion is well known and can be identified by most people. It is visible in North America from October through March and dominates the evening sky with its brilliance. Since Orion and Eridanus are decans of Taurus and work as a group, we will look at all three.

The illustration below depicts Orion as a mighty man with a club in his raised right hand and the skin of a slain lion in his left hand. His left foot is crushing the enemy. He wears a girdle around his waist from which hangs a sword. In the oldest illustrations of Orion, the hilt and handle of the sword are drawn as the head and body of a lamb. From his raised foot flows a river (of fire).

Orion means The Coming Light (John 8:12; John 1:4-5; Isaiah 9:2). The brilliant star in his right shoulder is Betelgeuse and means The Coming Branch (Isaiah 11:1; Jer. 23:5). The star in his left shoulder is Bellatrix and means swiftly coming or suddenly destroying (Rev. 22:7). Rigel, the star in his raised foot means the foot that crusheth (Psalm 91:13-15; Romans. 16:20). A star in his belt means The Wounded One (Isaiah 53:5). Saiph, in his leg, means Bruised (Isaiah 53:5).

Taurus, The Judge

Taurus is not just a bull, it is the wild ox of long ago, a fierce, mighty and untamable creature (Job 39:9-10). With horns lowered, he is in the act of charging the enemy. Taurus portrays the power and glory of Christ coming as The Judge (Deut. 33:17; John 5:26- 27).The bright, reddish star in the bull's eye is Aldeberan and means The Governor (Psalm 22:28), Captain, or Leader. The bright star at the tip of the left horn is Elnath, The Wounded. Riding on the shoulder of the wild ox is the beautiful Pleiades, a circlet of stars meaning Congregation of the Judge (1 Cor. 6:1-3).

- 114 -

Eridanus, River of The Judge

Issuing from the foot of Orion, is a river of Judgment. This is an immense constellation. Star names include the after part of the river, flowing, and bent down. It has always been associated with fire (Daniel 7:10).

Putting It All Together

Look at the three constellations together and compare it to the following scripture:

His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting (Hab. 3:3-6).