,the ,witness of the ,stars ,by ,the ,rev4 ,ethelbert ,william ,bullinger1 ,d4,d4 8,,he telleth the number of the stars2 ,he giveth them all their names40 7,ps4 cxlvii4 #d4 ,r4,v47 ,published by the ,author ,london #ahic ,,contents ,preface4 ,introduction4 ,the ,first ,book4 ,the ,redeemer4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,sign ,,virgo4 #a4 ,,coma 7,the ,woman and ,child74 #b4 ,,centaurus 7,the ,centaur74 #c4 ,,bo,,tes 7,the ,coming ,one74 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,sign ,,libra4 #a4 ,,crux 7,the ,cross74 #b4 ,,lupus or ,,victima 7,the ,victim74 #c4 ,,corona 7,the ,crown74 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,sign ,,scorpio4 #a and #b4 ,,serpens and ,,ophiuchus4 #c4 ,,hercules 7,the ,mighty ,man74 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,the ,sign ,,sagittarius4 #a4 ,,lyra 7,the ,harp74 #b4 ,,ara 7,the ,altar74 #c4 ,,draco 7,the ,dragon74 ,the ,second ,book4 ,the ,redeemed4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,sign ,,capricornus 7,the ,sea ,goat74 #a4 ,,sagitta 7,the ,arrow74 #b4 ,,aquila 7,the ,eagle74 #c4 ,,delphinus 7,the ,dolphin74 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,sign ,,aquarius 7,the ,water ,bearer74 #a4 ,,piscis ,,australis 7,the ,southern ,fish74 #b4 ,,pegasus 7,the ,winged ,horse74 #c4 ,,cygnus 7,the ,swan74 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,sign ,,pisces 7,the ,fishes74 #a4 ,,the ,,band4 #b4 ,,andromeda 7,the ,chained ,woman74 #c4 ,,cepheus 7,the ,king74 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,the ,sign ,,aries 7,the ,ram or ,lamb74 #a4 ,,cassiopeia 7,the ,enthroned ,woman74 #b4 ,,cetus 7,the ,sea ,monster74 #c4 ,,perseus 78,the ,breaker407 ,the ,third ,book4 ,the ,redeemer4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,sign ,,taurus 7,the ,bull74 #a4 ,,orion 7,the ,coming ,prince74 #b4 ,,eridanus 7,the ,river of the ,judge74 #c4 ,,auriga 7,the ,shepherd74 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,sign ,,gemini 7,the ,twins74 #a4 ,,lepus 7the ,hare71 ,,the ,,enemy4 #b4 ,,canis ,,major 7,the ,dog71 or ,,sirius 7,the ,prince74 #c4 ,,canis ,,minor 7,the ,second ,dog74 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,sign ,,cancer 7,the ,crab74 #a4 ,,ursa ,,minor 7,the ,little ,bear74 #b4 ,,ursa ,,major 7,the ,great ,bear74 #c4 ,,argo 7,the ,ship74 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,the ,sign ,,leo 7,the ,lion74 #a4 ,,hydra 7,the ,serpent74 #b4 ,,crater 7,the ,cup74 #c4 ,,corvus 7,the ,raven74 ,summary4 8,for ,signs ,and ,for ,seasons40 ,appendix4 ,note on the ,sign ,,libra4 ,footnotes ,cover ,art ,transcribers ,note3 ,this ebook contains countless special symbols1 and characters from uncommon character sets4 ,if you see unrenderable characters1 you may need to change to a font that has the needed ,unicode blocks4 ,it uses these uncommon character sets3 ,greek 7,unicode ,u#jcgj through ,u#jc;,,ff71 ,greek ,extended 7,u#a;,f#jj through ,u#a;,,fff71 ,hebrew 7,u#jeij through ,u#je;,,ff71 and ,miscellaneous ,symbols 7,u#bfjj through ,u#bf;,,ff74 ,hebrew pointings and ,greek markings are as provided in the original book1 and some differ from the usual pointings and markings for those words4 ,,preface4 ,some years ago it was my privilege to enjoy the acquaintance of ,miss ,frances ,rolleston1 of ,keswick1 and to carry on a correspondence with her with respect to her work1 ,mazzaroth3 or1 the ,constellations4 ,she was the first to create an interest in this important subject4 ,since then ,dr4 ,seiss1 of ,philadelphia1 has endeavoured to popularize her work on the other side of the ,atlantic2 and brief references have been made to the subject in such books as ,moses and ,geology1 by ,dr4 ,kinns1 and in ,primeval ,man2 but it was felt1 for many reasons1 that it was desirable to make another effort to set forth1 in a more complete form1 the witness of the stars to prophetic truth1 so necessary in these last days4 ,to the late ,miss ,rolleston1 however1 belongs the honour of collecting a mass of information bearing on this subject2 but1 published as it was1 chiefly in the form of notes1 unarranged and unindexed1 it was suited only for1 but was most valuable to1 the student4 ,she it was who performed the drudgery of collecting the facts presented by ,albumazer1 the ,arab astronomer to the ,caliphs of ,grenada1 #hej ,a4,d42 and the ,tables drawn up by ,ulugh ,beigh1 the ,tartar prince and astronomer1 about #adej ,a4,d41 who gives the ,arabian ,astronomy as it had come down from the earliest times4 ,modern astronomers have preserved1 and still have in common use1 the ancient names of over a hundred of the principal stars which have been handed down2 but now these names are used merely as a convenience1 and without any reference to their significance4 ,this work is an attempt to popularize this ancient information1 and to use it in the interests of truth4 ,for the ancient astronomical facts and the names1 with their signification1 ,i am1 from the very nature of the case1 indebted1 of course1 to all who have preserved1 collected1 and handed them down2 but for their interpretation ,i am alone responsible4 ,it is for the readers to judge how far my conclusions are borne out by the evidence2 and how far the foundation of our hopes of coming glory are strengthened by the prophecies which have been written in the stars of heaven1 as well as in the ,scriptures of truth4 ,for the illustrations ,i am greatly indebted to ,jamieson's ,celestial ,atlas1 #ahbj2 ,flammarion's ,l'toiles2 ,sir ,john ,w4 ,lubbock's ,stars in ,six ,maps1 #ahhc2 and to the late ,mr4 ,edward ,j4 ,cooper's ,egyptian ,scenery1 #ahbj4 ,for the general presentation and arrangement of the ,constellations ,i am responsible1 while for the drawings my thanks are due to my friend ,miss ,amy ,manson4 ,it is the possession of 8that blessed hope0 of ,christ's speedy return from ,heaven which will give true interest in the great subject of this book4 ,no one can dispute the antiquity of the ,signs of the ,zodiac1 or of the ,constellations4 ,no one can question the accuracy of the ancient starnames which have come down to us1 for they are still preserved in every good celestial atlas4 ,and we hope that no one will be able to resist the cumulative evidence that1 apart from ,god's grace in ,christ there is no hope for sinners now3 and apart from ,god's glory1 as it will be manifested in the return of ,christ from ,heaven1 there is no hope for the ,church1 no hope for ,israel1 no hope for the world1 no hope for a groaning creation4 ,in spite of all the vaunted promises of a religious ,world1 and of a worldly ,church1 to remove the effects of the curse by a ,social ,gospel of ,sanitation1 we are more and more shut up to the prophecy of ,gen4 iii4 #ae1 which we wait and long to see fulfilled in ,christ as our only hope4 ,this is beautifully expressed by the late ,dr4 ,william ,leask3-- ,and is there none before8 ,no perfect peace ,unbroken by the storms and cares of life1 ,until the time of waiting for ,him cease1 ,by ,his appearing to destroy the strife8 ,no1 none before4 ,do we not hear that through the flag of grace ,by faithful messengers of ,god unfurled1 ,all men will be converted1 and the place ,of man's rebellion be a holy world8 ,yes1 so we hear4 ,is it not true that to the ,church is given ,the holy honour of dispelling night1 ,and bringing back the human race to heaven1 ,by kindling everywhere the ,gospel light8 ,it is not true4 ,is this the hope--that ,christ the ,lord will come1 ,in all the glory of ,his royal right1 ,redeemer and ,avenger1 taking home ,his saints1 and crushing the usurper's might8 ,this is the hope4 ,may the ,god of all grace accept and bless this effort to show forth ,his glory1 and use it to strengthen ,his people in waiting for ,his ,son from ,heaven1 even ,jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come4 ,ethelbert ,w4 ,bullinger4 ,august #cast1 #ahic4 ,,introduction4 ,for more than two thousand five hundred years the world was without a written revelation from ,god4 ,the question is1 ,did ,god leave ,himself without a witness8 ,the question is answered very positively by the written ,word that ,he did not4 ,in ,rom4 i4 #ai it is declared that1 8that which may be known of ,god is manifest in them2 for ,god hath showed it unto them4 ,for the invisible things of ,him from the creation of the world are clearly seen1 being understood by the things that are made1 even ,his eternal power and ,godhead2 so that they are without excuse40 ,but how was ,god known8 ,how were ,his 8invisible things10 i4e41 ,his plans1 ,his purposes1 and ,his counsels1 known since the creation of the world8 ,we are told by the ,holy ,spirit in ,rom4 x4 #ah4 ,having stated in v4 #ag that 8,faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the ,word 71 the thing spoken1 sayings7 of ,god10 ,he asks1 8,but ,i say1 ,have they not heard8 ,yes1 verily40 ,and we may ask1 ,how have they heard8 ,the answer follows--8,their sound went into all the earth 77 and their words 71 their teaching1 message1 instruction7 unto the ends of the world 7740 ,what words8 ,what instruction8 ,whose message8 ,whose teaching8 ,there is only one answer1 and that is1 ,,the ,,heavens6 ,this is settled by the fact that the passage is quoted from ,ps4 xix41 the first part of which is occupied with the ,revelation of ,god written in the ,heavens1 and the latter part with the ,revelation of ,god written in the ,word4 ,this is the simple explanation of this beautiful ,psalm4 ,this is why its two subjects are brought together4 ,it has often perplexed many why there should be that abrupt departure in verse #g--8,the law of the ,lord is perfect1 converting the soul40 ,the fact is1 there is nothing abrupt in it1 and it is no departure4 ,it is simply the transition to the second of the two great ,revelations which are thus placed in juxtaposition4 ,the first is the ,revelation of the ,creator1 ,el1 1 in ,his works1 while the second is the ,revelation of the ,covenant ,jehovah1 1 in ,his ,word4 ,and it is noteworthy that while in the first half of the ,psalm1 ,el is named only once1 in the latter half ,jehovah is named seven times1 the last being threefold 7,jehovah1 ,rock1 and ,redeemer71 concluding the ,psalm4 ,let us then turn to ,ps4 xix41 and note first-- ,the ,structure7#a7 of the ,psalm as a whole4 ,a #ad4 ,the ,heavens4 ,b #df4 8,in them0 77 the ,sun4 ,a #gaj4 ,the ,scriptures4 ,b #aaad4 8,in them0 77 ,thy ,servant4 ,in the ,key to the ,psalms1 p4 #ag1 it is pointed out that the terms employed in ,a and ,b are astronomical17#b7 while in ,a and ,b they are literary4 ,thus the two parts are significantly connected and united4 ,ewald and others imagine that this ,psalm is made up of two fragments of separate ,psalms composed at different periods and brought together by a later editor6 ,but this is disproved not only by what has been said concerning the structure of the ,psalm as a whole1 and the interlacing of the astronomical and the literary terms in the two parts1 but it is also shown by more minute details4 ,each half consists of two portions which correspond the one to the other1 ,a answering to ,a1 and ,b to ,b4 ,moreover1 each half1 as well as each corresponding member1 consists of the same number of lines2 those in the first half being1 by the csura1 short1 while those in the last half are long 7or double74 ,a #ad4 ,eight lines ,b #df4 ,six lines ,a #gaj4 ,eight lines ,b #aaad4 ,six lines ,if we confine ourselves to the first half of the ,psalm7#c7 7,a and ,b1 verses #af71 with which we are now alone concerned1 we see a still more minute proof of ,divine order and perfection4 ,the ,structure of ,a and ,b4 ,a ,b ,c #a4 ,the heavens4 ,d #b4 ,their testimony3 incessant4 7,pos47 ,e #c4 ,their words inaudible4 7,neg47 ,d #d4 ,their testimony3 universal4 7,pos47 ,c #df4 ,the heavens4 ,here we have an introversion1 in which the extremes 7,c and ,c7 are occupied with the heavens2 while the means 7,d1 ,e and ,d7 are occupied with their testimony4 ,the following is the full expansion of the above1 with original emendations which preserve the order of the ,hebrew words and thus indicate the nature of the structure3-- ,c a ,the heavens b are telling7#d7 c the glory7#e7 of ,god3 c and the work of his hands b is setting forth7#f7 a the firmament4 ,d d ,day after day7#g7 e uttereth7#h7 speech1 d ,and night after night e sheweth knowledge4 ,e f ,there is no speech 7what is articulate7 g and there are no words 7what is audible72 g and without being audible1 f is their voice 7what is articulate74 ,d h ,into all the earth 7as created7 i is their line7#i7 gone forth2 h ,and into the ends of the world 7as inhabited7 i ,their sayings4 ,c j ,for the sun ,he hath set a tent 7an abode7 in them2 k l and he as a bridegroom 7comparison7 m is going forth from his canopy1 7motion3 its rising7 l he rejoiceth as a mighty one 7comparison7 m to run his course4 7,motion3 its rapid course47 k n from the end of the heavens 7egress7 o is his going forth 7egress7 o and his revolution 7regress7 n unto their ends 7regress73 j and there is nothing hid from his heat 7i4e41 from him77#aj7 ,surely there is something more referred to here than a mere wonder excited by the works of the ,creator6 ,when we read the whole passage and mark its structure1 and note the words employed1 we are emphatically told that the heavens contain a revelation from ,god2 they prophesy1 they show knowledge1 they tell of ,god's glory1 and set forth ,his purposes and counsels4 ,it is a remarkable fact that it is in the ,book of ,job1 which is generally allowed to be the oldest book in the ,bible17#aa7 if not in the world1 that we have references to this ,stellar ,revelation4 ,this would be at least #b1jjj years before ,christ4 ,in that book the signs of the ,zodiac and the names of several stars and constellations are mentioned1 as being ancient and wellknown4 ,in ,isa4 xl4 #bf 7,r4,v47 we read3-- 8,lift up your eyes on high1 ,and see who hath created these1 ,that bringeth out their host by number3 ,he calleth them all by name2 ,by the greatness of ,his might1 ,and for that ,he is strong in power1 ,not one is lacking40 ,we have the same evidence in ,psalm cxlvii4 #d4 7,r4,v47 8,he telleth the number of the stars2 ,he giveth them all their names40 ,here is a distinct and ,divine declaration that the great ,creator both numbered as well as named the stars of ,heaven4 ,the question is1 ,has he revealed any of these names8 ,have any of them been handed down to us8 ,the answer is ,yes2 and that in the ,bible itself we have the names 7so ancient that their meaning is a little obscure7 of ,ash 71 a name still connected with the ,great ,bear71 ,cesil 771 and ,cimah 774 ,they occur in ,job ix4 #i3 8,which maketh ,arcturus 7,r4,v4 the ,bear71 ,orion1 and ,pleiades1 and the chambers of the south40 7,marg41 ,heb41 ,ash1 ,cesil1 and ,cimah47 ,job xxxviii4 #ca1 #cb3 8,canst thou bind the sweet influences 7,r4,v4 cluster7 of the ,pleiades 7marg41 the seven stars1 ,heb4 ,cimah71 or loose the bands of ,orion 7marg4 ,heb4 ,cesil78 ,canst thou bring forth ,mazzaroth 7marg41 the twelve signs4 ,r4,v41 #8the twelve signs'3 and marg41 the signs of the ,zodiac7 in his season8 or canst thou guide ,arcturus with his sons 7,r4,v41 the ,bear with her train2 and marg41 ,heb41 sons7407#ab7 ,isa4 xiii4 #aj3 444 8,the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof40 444 ,amos v4 #h3 8,seek him that maketh the seven stars 7,r4,v41 the ,pleiades7 and ,orion40 ,then we have the term 8,mazzaroth10 ,job xxxviii4 #cb1 and 8,mazzaloth10 #b ,kings xxiii4 #e4 ,the former in both versions is referred to the ,twelve ,signs of the ,zodiac1 while the latter is rendered 8planets10 and in margin1 the twelve signs or constellations4 ,others are referred to by name4 ,the sign of 8,gemini10 or the ,twins1 is given as the name of a ship3 ,acts xxviii4 #aa1 1 7i4e4 ,castor ,pollux74 ,most commentators agree that the constellation of 8,draco10 or the ,dragon 7between the ,great and ,little ,bear71 is referred to in ,job xxvi4 #ac3 8,by ,his ,spirit ,he hath garnished the heavens2 ,his hand hath formed the crooked serpent 7,r4,v4 swift4 ,marg4 fleeing or gliding4 ,see ,is4 xxvii4 #a2 xliii4 #ad740 ,this word 8garnished0 is peculiar4 ,the ,r4,v4 puts in the margin1 beauty4 ,in ,ps4 xvi4 #f1 it is rendered goodly4 8,i have a goodly heritage40 ,in ,dan4 iv4 #b1 it is rendered1 8,i thought it good to show10 referring to 8the signs and wonders0 with which ,god had visited ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,it appears from this that ,god 8thought it good to show0 by these signs written in the heavens the wonders of ,his purposes and counsels1 and it was by ,his ,spirit that ,he made it known2 it was ,his hand that coiled 77 the crooked serpent among the stars of heaven4 ,thus we see that the ,scriptures are not silent as to the great antiquity of the signs and constellations4 ,if we turn to history and tradition1 we are at once met with the fact that the ,twelve ,signs are the same1 both as to the meaning of their names and as to their order in all the ancient nations of the world4 ,the ,chinese1 ,chaldean1 and ,egyptian records go back to more than #b1jjj years ,b4,c4 ,indeed1 the ,zodiacs in the ,temples of ,denderah and ,esnh1 in ,egypt1 are doubtless copies of ,zodiacs still more ancient1 which1 from internal evidence1 must be placed nearly #d1jjj ,b4,c41 when the summer solstice was in ,leo4 ,josephus hands down to us what he gives as the traditions of his own nation1 corroborated by his reference to eight ancient ,gentile authorities1 whose works are lost4 ,he says that they all assert that 8,god gave the antediluvians such long life that they might perfect those things which they had invented in astronomy40 ,cassini commences his ,history of ,astronomy by saying 8,it is impossible to doubt that astronomy was invented from the beginning of the world2 history1 profane as well as sacred1 testifies to this truth40 ,nouet1 a ,french astronomer1 infers that the ,egyptian ,astronomy must have arisen #e1djj ,b4,c46 ,ancient ,persian and ,arabian traditions ascribe its invention to ,adam1 ,seth1 and ,enoch4 ,josephus asserts that it originated in the family of ,seth2 and he says that the children of ,seth1 and especially ,adam1 ,seth1 and ,enoch1 that their revelation might not be lost as to the two coming judgments of ,water and ,fire1 made two pillars 7one of brick1 the other of stone71 describing the whole of the predictions of the stars upon them1 and in case the brick pillar should be destroyed by the flood1 the stone would preserve the revelation 7,book i4 chs4 #ac74 ,this is what is doubtless meant by ,gen4 xi4 #d1 8,and they said1 ,go to1 let us build us a city and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven40 ,the words 8may reach0 are in italics4 ,there is nothing in the verse which relates to the height of this tower4 ,it merely says 1 and his top with the heavens1 i4e4 with the pictures and the stars1 just as we find them in the ancient temples of ,denderah and ,esnh in ,egypt4 ,this tower1 with its planisphere and pictures of the signs and constellations1 was to be erected like those temples were afterwards1 in order to preserve the revelation1 8lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth40 ,this is corroborated by ,lieut4,gen4 ,chesney1 well known for his learned researches and excavations among the ruins of ,babylon1 who1 after describing his various discoveries1 says17#ac7 8,about five miles ,s4,w4 of ,hillah1 the most remarkable of all the ruins1 the ,birs ,nimroud of the ,arabs1 rises to a height of #aec feet above the plain from a base covering a square of #djj feet1 or almost four acres4 ,it was constructed of kiln dried bricks in seven stages to correspond with the planets to which they were dedicated3 the lowermost black1 the colour of ,saturn2 the next orange1 for ,jupiter2 the third red1 for ,mars2 and so on47#ad7 ,these stages were surmounted by a lofty tower on the summit of which1 we are told1 were the signs of the ,zodiac and other astronomical figures2 thus having 7as it should have been translated7 a representation of the heavens1 instead of #8a top which reached unto heaven4' 0 ,this ,biblical evidence carries us at once right back to the ,flood1 or about #b1ejj years ,b4,c4 ,this tower or temple1 or both1 was also called 8,the ,seven ,spheres10 according to some2 and 8,the ,seven ,lights10 according to others4 ,it is thus clear that the popular idea of its height and purpose must be abandoned1 and its astronomical reference to revelation must be admitted4 ,the tower was an attempt to preserve and hand down the antediluvian traditions2 their sin was in keeping together instead of scattering themselves over the earth4 ,another important statement is made by ,dr4 ,budge1 of the ,british ,museum47#ae7 ,he says1 8,it must never be forgotten that the ,babylonians were a nation of stargazers1 and that they kept a body of men to do nothing else but report eclipses1 appearances of the moon1 sunspots1 etc41 etc40 8,astronomy1 mixed with astrology1 occupied a large number of tablets in the ,babylonian libraries1 and ,isaiah1 xlvii4 #ac1 refers to this when he says to ,babylon1 #8,thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels4 ,let now thy astrologers 7marg4 viewers of the heavens71 the stargazers1 the monthly prognosticators stand up4' ,the largest astrological work of the ,babylonians contained seventy tablets1 and was compiled by the command of ,sargon of ,agade thirtyeight hundred years before ,christ6 ,it was called the #8,illumination of ,bel4' 0 8,their observations were made in towers called #8ziggurats' 0 7p4 #ajf74 8,they built observatories in all the great cities1 and reports like the above which ,dr4 ,budge gives in full were regularly sent to the ,king0 7p4 #aaj74 8,they were able to calculate eclipses1 and had long lists of them40 8,they found out that the sun was spotted1 and they knew of comets40 8,they were the inventors of the ,zodiac0 7874 ,there are fragments of two 7ancient ,babylonian7 planispheres in the ,british ,museum with figures and calculations inscribed upon them4 8,the months were called after the signs of the ,zodiac0 7p4 #aji74 ,we may form some idea of what this 8representation of the heavens0 was from the fifth 8,creation ,tablet10 now in the ,british ,museum4 ,it reads as follows3-- 8,anu the ,creator made excellent the mansions i4e4 the celestial houses of the great gods twelve in number i4e4 the twelve signs or mansions of the sun4 ,the stars he placed in them4 ,the lumasi i4e4 groups of stars or figures he fixed4 ,he arranged the year according to the bounds i4e4 the twelve signs which he defined4 ,for each of the twelve months three rows of stars i4e4 constellations he fixed4 ,from the day when the year issues forth unto the close1 he marked the mansions i4e4 the ,zodiacal ,signs of the wandering stars i4e4 planets to know their courses that they might not err or deflect at all40 ,coming down to less ancient records3 ,,eudoxos1 an astronomer of ,cnidus 7#djc to #cej ,b4,c471 wrote a work on ,astronomy which he called ,phainomena4 ,,antigonus ,,gonatas1 ,king of ,macedonia 7#bgcbci ,b4,c471 requested the ,poet ,,aratus to put the work of ,,eudoxus into the form of a poem1 which he did about the year #bgj ,b4,c4 ,,aratus called his work ,diosemeia 7the ,divine ,signs74 ,he was a native of ,tarsus1 and it is interesting for us to note that his poem was known to1 and1 indeed1 must have been read by1 the ,apostle ,paul1 for he quotes it in his address at ,athens on ,mars' ,hill4 ,he says 7,acts xvii4 #bh71 8,for in ,him we live1 and move1 and have our being2 as certain also of your own poets have said1 ,for we are also his offspring407#af7 ,several translations of this poem have been made1 both by ,,cicero and others1 into ,latin1 and in recent times into ,english by ,e4 ,poste1 ,j4 ,lamb1 and others4 ,the following is the opening from the translation of ,robert ,brown1 jun43-- 8,from ,zeus we lead the strain2 he whom mankind ,ne'er leave unhymned3 of ,zeus all public ways1 ,all haunts of men1 are full2 and full the sea1 ,and harbours2 and of ,zeus all stand in need4 ,we are his offspring37#ag7 and he1 ever good and mild to man1 ,gives favouring signs1 and rouses us to toil4 ,calling to mind life's wants3 when clods are best ,for plough and mattock3 when the time is ripe ,for planting vines and sowing seeds1 he tells1 ,since he himself hath fixed in heaven these ,signs1 ,the stars dividing3 and throughout the year ,stars he provides to indicate to man ,the seasons' course1 that all things duly grow10 etc41 etc4 ,then ,,aratus proceeds to describe and explain all the ,signs and ,constellations as the ,greeks in his day understood1 or rather misunderstood1 them1 after their true meaning and testimony had been forgotten4 ,moreover1 ,,aratus describes them1 not as they were seen in his day1 but as they were seen some #d1jjj years before4 ,the stars were not seen from ,tarsus as he describes them1 and he must therefore have written from a then ancient ,zodiac4 ,for notwithstanding that we speak of 8fixed stars10 there is a constant1 though slow1 change taking place amongst them4 ,there is also another change taking place owing to the slow recession of the pole of the heavens 7about #ej in the year72 so that while ,alpha in the constellation of ,draco was the ,polar ,star when the ,zodiac was first formed1 the ,polar ,star is now ,alpha in what is called ,ursa ,minor4 ,this change alone carries us back at least #e1jjj years4 ,the same movement which has changed the relative position of these two stars has also caused the constellation of the ,southern ,cross to become invisible in northern latitudes4 ,when the constellations were formed the ,southern ,cross was visible in ,n4 latitude #dj1 and was included in their number4 ,but1 though known by tradition1 it had not been seen in that latitude for some twenty centuries1 until the ,cape of ,good ,hope had been discovered4 ,then was seen again ,the ,southern ,cross depicted by the ,patriarchs4 ,here is another indisputable proof as to the antiquity of the formation of the ,zodiac4 ,,ptolemy 7#aej ,a4,d47 transmits them from ,h,,pparchus 7#acj ,b4,c47 8as of unquestioned authority1 unknown origin1 and unsearchable antiquity40 ,sir ,william ,drummond says that 8the traditions of the ,chaldean ,astronomy seem the fragments of a mighty system fallen into ruins40 ,the word ,zodiac itself is from the ,greek 1 which is not from 1 to live1 but from a primitive root through the ,hebrew ,sodi1 which in ,sanscrit means a way4 ,its etymology has no connection with living creatures1 but denotes a way1 or step1 and is used of the way or path in which the sun appears to move amongst the stars in the course of the year4 ,to an observer on the earth the whole firmament1 together with the sun1 appears to revolve in a circle once in twentyfour hours4 ,but the time occupied by the stars in going round1 differs from the time occupied by the sun4 ,this difference amounts to about onetwelfth part of the whole circle in each month1 so that when the circle of the heavens is divided up into twelve parts1 the sun appears to move each month through one of them4 ,this path which the sun thus makes amongst the stars is called the ,ecliptic47#ah7 ,each of these twelve parts 7consisting each of about #cj degrees7 is distinguished1 not by numbers or by letters1 but by pictures and names1 and this1 as we have seen1 from the very earliest times4 ,they are preserved to the present day in our almanacs1 and we are taught their order in the familiar rhymes3-- 8,the ,,ram1 the ,,bull1 the heavenly ,,twins1 ,and next the ,,crab1 the ,,lion shines1 ,the ,,virgin and the ,,scales2 ,the ,,scorpion1 ,,archer1 and ,,sea,,goat1 ,the ,,man that carries the ,waterpot1 ,and ,,fish with glittering scales40 ,these signs have always and everywhere been preserved in this order1 and have begun with ,,aries4 ,they have been known amongst all nations1 and in all ages1 thus proving their common origin from one source4 ,the figures themselves are perfectly arbitrary4 ,there is nothing in the groups of stars to even suggest the figures4 ,this is the first thing which is noticed by every one who looks at the constellations4 ,take for example the sign of ,,virgo1 and look at the stars4 ,there is nothing whatever to suggest a human form2 still less is there anything to show whether that form is a man or a woman4 ,and so with all the others4 ,the picture1 therefore1 is the original1 and must have been drawn around or connected with certain stars1 simply in order that it might be identified and associated with them2 and that it might thus be remembered and handed down to posterity4 ,there can be no doubt1 as the learned ,authoress of ,mazzaroth conclusively proves1 that these signs were afterwards identified with the twelve sons of ,jacob4 ,joseph sees the sun and moon and eleven stars bowing down to him1 he himself being the twelfth 7,gen4 xxxvii4 #i74 ,the blessing of ,jacob 7,gen4 xlix47 and the blessing of ,moses 7,deut4 xxxiii47 both bear witness to the existence of these signs in their day4 ,and it is more than probable that each of the ,twelve ,tribes bore one of them on its standard4 ,we read in ,num4 ii4 #b1 8,every man of the children of ,israel shall pitch by his own ,,standard1 with the ,,ensign of their father's house0 7,r4,v4 8with the ensigns of their fathers' houses074 ,this 8,standard0 was the ,degel 77 on which the 8,sign0 71 ,oth7 was depicted4 ,hence it was called the 8,ensign40 ,ancient ,jewish authorities declare that each tribe had one of the signs as its own1 and it is highly probable1 even from ,scripture1 that four of the tribes carried its 8,sign02 and that these four were placed at the four sides of the camp4 ,if the ,lion were appropriated to ,judah1 then the other three would be thus fixed1 and would be the same four that equally divide the ,zodiac at its four cardinal points4 ,according to ,num4 ii4 the camp was thus formed3-- ,in the ,north1 from ,north,west to ,north,east3 ,,asher 7,sagittarius74 ,,dan1 ,the ,scorpion 7,scorpio74 ,,nephtali 7,capricornus74 ,in the ,east1 from ,north,east to ,south,east3 ,,issachar 7,cancer74 ,,judah1 ,the ,lion 7,leo74 ,,zebulon 7,virgo74 ,in the ,south1 from ,south,east to ,south,west3 ,,simeon 7,pisces74 ,,reuben1 ,the ,man 7,aquarius74 ,,gad 7,aries74 ,in the ,west1 from ,south,west to ,north,west3 ,,ephraim and ,,manasseh1 ,the ,bull 7the two horns of ,taurus74 ,,benjamin 7,gemini74 ,in the ,center3 ,,levi1 ,the ,scales 7,libra74 ,if the reader compares the above with the blessings of ,israel and ,moses1 and compares the meanings and descriptions given below with those blessings1 the connection will be clearly seen4 ,levi1 for example1 had no standard1 and he needed none1 for he kept 8the balance of the ,sanctuary10 and had the charge of that brazen altar on which the atoning blood outweighed the nation's sins4 ,the four great signs which thus marked the four sides of the camp1 and the four quarters of the ,zodiac1 are the same four which form the ,cherubim 7the ,eagle1 the ,scorpion's enemy1 being substituted for the ,scorpion74 ,the ,cherubim thus form a compendious expression of the hope of ,creation1 which1 from the very first1 has been bound up with the ,coming ,one1 who alone should cause its groanings to cease4 ,but this brings us to the ,signs themselves and their interpretation4 ,these pictures were designed to preserve1 expound1 and perpetuate the one first great promise and prophecy of ,gen4 iii4 #ae1 that all hope for ,man1 all hope for ,creation1 was bound up in a coming ,redeemer2 ,one who should be born of a woman2 who should first suffer1 and afterwards gloriously triumph2 ,one who should first be wounded by that great enemy who was the cause of all sin and sorrow and death1 but who should finally crush the head of 8that ,old ,serpent the ,devil40 ,these ancient starpictures reveal this ,coming ,one4 ,they set forth 8the sufferings of ,christ and the glory that should follow40 ,altogether there are fortyeight of them1 made up of twelve ,,signs1 each sign containing three ,,constellations4 ,these may be divided into three great books1 each book containing four chapters 7or ,signs72 and each chapter containing three sections 7or ,constellations74 ,each book 7like the four ,gospels7 sets forth its peculiar aspect of the ,coming ,one2 beginning with the promise of ,his coming1 and ending with the destruction of the enemy4 ,but where are we to begin to read this wondrous ,heavenly ,scroll8 ,a circle has proverbially neither beginning nor end4 ,in what order then are we to consider these signs8 ,in the heavens they form a neverending circle4 ,where is the beginning and where is the end of this circle through which the sun is constantly moving8 ,where are we to break into this circle8 and say1 ,this is the commencement4 ,it is clear that unless we can determine this original starting point we can never read this wondrous book aright4 ,as ,i have said1 the popular beginning today is with ,,aries1 the ,ram4 ,but comparing this ,revelation with that which was afterwards written 8in the ,volume of the ,book10 ,,virgo is the only point where we can intelligently begin1 and ,,leo is the only point where we can logically conclude4 ,is not this what is spoken of as the unknown and insoluble mystery--8,the riddle of the ,,sphinx08 ,the word 8,sphinx0 is from 1 to bind closely together4 ,it was therefore designed to show where the two ends of the ,zodiac were to be joined together1 and where the great circle of the heavens begins and ends4 ,ceiling of ,portico of ,temple of ,esneh ,signs of ,leo and ,virgo1 from the ceiling of the ,portico of the ,temple of ,esneh1 showing the ,sphinx between1 uniting the beginning and end of the ,zodiac4 ,the ,,sphinx is a figure with the head of a woman and the body of a lion6 ,what is this but a neverceasing monitor1 telling us to begin with ,virgo and to end with ,leo6 ,in the ,zodiac in the ,temple of ,esnh1 in ,egypt1 a ,sphinx is actually placed between the ,signs of ,virgo and ,leo1 as shown in the illustration on the preceding page4 ,it is a tracing from the drawing of ,signor ,bossi1 executed on the spot1 under the direction of the late ,mr4 ,edward ,j4 ,cooper1 in #ahbj4 ,beginning1 then1 with ,,virgo1 let us now spread out the contents of this ,heavenly ,volume1 so that the eye can take them in at a glance4 ,of course we are greatly hindered in this1 in having to use the modern ,latin names which the ,constellations bear today47#ai7 ,some of these names are mistakes1 others are gross perversions of the truth1 as proved by the pictures themselves1 which are far more ancient1 and have come down to us from primitive times4 ,after the ,revelation came to be written down in the ,scriptures1 there was not the same need for the preservation of the ,heavenly ,volume4 ,and after the nations had lost the original meaning of the pictures1 they invented a meaning out of the vain imagination of the thoughts of their hearts4 ,the ,greek ,mythology is an interpretation of 7only some of7 the signs and constellations after their true meaning had been forgotten4 ,it is popularly believed that ,bible truth is an evolution from1 or development of1 the ancient religions of the world4 ,but the fact is that they themselves are a corruption and perversion of primitive truth6 ,we will now give the contents of this ,heavenly ,volume of ,divine ,revelation1 and afterwards proceed to develope it1 explain it in detail1 and compare it with the same truth which was afterwards written down in the ,scriptures4 ,the ,first ,book4 ,,the ,,redeemer4 7,,his ,,first ,,coming47 8,the ,sufferings of ,christ40 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,prophecy ,,of ,,the ,,promised ,,seed ,,of ,,the ,,woman4 ,,virgo 7,the ,virgin4 ,a woman bearing a branch in her right hand and an ear of corn in her left74 ,the ,promised ,seed of the woman4 #a4 ,,coma 7,the ,desired4 ,the woman and child74 ,the ,desired of all nations4 #b4 ,,centaurus 7,the ,centaur with two natures1 holding a spear piercing a victim74 ,the despised sin offering4 #c4 ,,bo,,tes 7a man walking bearing a branch called ,,arcturus1 meaning the same74 ,he cometh4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,redeemer',s ,,atoning ,,work4 ,,libra 7,the ,scales74 ,the price deficient balanced by the price which covers4 #a4 ,,crux1 ,the ,cross endured4 #b4 ,,lupus1 or ,,victima1 ,the ,victim slain4 #c4 ,,corona1 ,the ,crown bestowed4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,redeemer',s ,,conflict4 ,,scorpio 7,the ,scorpion7 seeking to wound1 but itself trodden under foot4 #a4 ,,serpens 7,the ,serpent struggling with the man74 #b4 ,o,,phi,u,,chus 7,the man grasping the serpent74 ,the struggle with the enemy4 #c4 ,,hercules 7,the mighty man4 ,a man kneeling on one knee1 humbled in the conflict1 but holding aloft the tokens of victory1 with his foot on the head of the ,dragon74 ,the mighty ,vanquisher seeming to sink in the conflict4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,redeemer',s ,,triumph4 ,,sagittarius 7,the ,archer74 ,the ,twonatured ,conqueror going forth 8,conquering and to conquer40 #a4 ,,lyra 7,the ,harp74 ,praise prepared for the ,conqueror4 #b4 ,,ara 7,the ,altar74 ,consuming fire prepared for ,his enemies4 #c4 ,,draco 7,the ,dragon74 ,the ,old ,serpent--the ,devil1 cast down from heaven4 ,the ,second ,book4 ,,the ,,redeemed4 ,,the ,,result ,,of ,,the ,,redeemer',s ,,sufferings4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,their ,,blessings ,,procured4 ,,capricornus 7,the fishgoat74 ,the goat of ,atonement slain for the ,redeemed4 #a4 ,,sagitta 7,the ,arrow74 ,the arrow of ,god sent forth4 #b4 ,,aquila 7,the ,eagle74 ,the smitten ,one falling4 #c4 ,,delphinus 7,the ,dolphin74 ,the dead ,one rising again4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,their ,,blessings ,,ensured4 ,,aquarius 7,the ,water,bearer73 ,the living waters of blessing poured forth for the ,redeemed4 #a4 ,,piscis ,,australis 7,the ,southern ,fish74 ,the blessings bestowed4 #b4 ,,pegasus 7,the ,winged ,horse74 ,the blessings quickly coming4 #c4 ,,cygnus 7,the ,swan74 ,the ,blesser surely returning4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,their ,,blessings ,,in ,,abeyance4 ,,pisces 7,the ,fishes74 ,the ,redeemed blessed though bound4 #a4 ,,the ,,band--bound1 but binding their great enemy ,cetus1 the sea monster4 #b4 ,,andromeda 7,the ,chained ,woman74 ,the ,redeemed in their bondage and affliction4 #c4 ,,cepheus 7,the ,king74 ,their ,redeemer coming to rule4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,their ,,blessings ,,consummated ,,and ,,enjoyed4 ,,aries 7,the ,ram or ,lamb74 ,the ,lamb that was slain1 prepared for the victory4 #a4 ,,cassiopeia 7,the ,enthroned ,woman74 ,the captive delivered1 and preparing for her husband1 the ,redeemer4 #b4 ,,cetus 7,the ,sea ,monster74 ,the great enemy bound4 #c4 ,,perseus 7,the ,breaker74 ,delivering ,his redeemed4 ,the ,third ,book4 ,,the ,,redeemer4 7,,his ,,second ,,coming47 8,the glory that should follow40 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,messiah1 ,,the ,,coming ,,judge ,,of ,,all ,,the ,,earth4 ,,taurus 7,the ,bull74 ,messiah coming to rule4 #a4 ,,orion1 ,light breaking forth in the person of the ,redeemer4 #b4 ,,eridanus 7,the ,river of the ,judge74 ,wrath breaking forth for ,his enemies4 #c4 ,,auriga 7,the ,shepherd74 ,safety for the ,redeemed in the day of that wrath4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,messiah',s ,,reign ,,as ,,prince ,,of ,,peace4 ,,gemini 7,the ,twins74 ,the twofold nature of the ,king4 #a4 ,,lepus 7,the ,hare71 or ,,the ,,enemy trodden under foot4 #b4 ,,canis ,,major 7,the ,dog71 or ,,sirius1 the coming glorious ,prince of ,princes4 #c4 ,,canis ,,minor 7,the ,second ,dog71 or ,,procyon1 the exalted ,redeemer4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,messiah',s ,,redeemed ,,possessions4 ,,cancer 7,the ,crab74 ,the possessions held fast4 #a4 ,,ursa ,,minor 7,the ,lesser ,bear74 ,the lesser sheepfold4 #b4 ,,ursa ,,major 7,the ,great ,bear74 ,the fold and the flock4 #c4 ,,argo 7,the ,ship74 ,the redeemed pilgrims safe at home4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,messiah',s ,,consummated ,,triumph4 ,,leo 7,the ,lion74 ,the ,lion of the ,tribe of ,judah aroused for the rending of the ,enemy4 #a4 ,,hydra 7,the ,serpent74 ,that old ,serpent--the ,devil1 destroyed4 #b4 ,,crater 7,the ,cup74 ,the cup of ,divine wrath poured out upon him4 #c4 ,,corvus 7,the ,crow1 or ,raven74 ,birds of prey devouring him4 ,such are the contents of this wondrous book that is written in the heavens4 ,thus has ,god been speaking and emphasizing and developing ,his first great prophetic promise of ,gen4 iii4 #ae4 ,though for more than #b1ejj years ,his people had not this ,revelation written in a book as we now have it in the ,bible1 they were not left in ignorance and darkness as to ,god's purposes and counsels2 nor were they without hope as to ultimate deliverance from all evil and from the ,evil ,one4 ,adam1 who first heard that wondrous promise1 repeated it1 and gave it to his posterity as a most precious heritage--the ground of all their faith1 the substance of all their hope1 the object of all their desire4 ,seth and ,enoch took it up4 ,enoch1 we know1 prophesied of the ,lord's coming1 saying1 8,behold the ,lord cometh with ten thousands of ,his saints to execute judgment upon all0 7,jude #ad74 ,how could these 8holy prophets1 since the world began10 have recorded their prophecies better1 or more effectually1 or more truthfully and powerfully1 than in these starpictures and their interpretation8 ,this becomes a certainty when we remember the words of the ,holy ,spirit by ,zacharias 7,luke i4 #fggj73-- 8,blessed be the ,lord ,god of ,israel2 ,for ,he hath visited and redeemed ,his people1 ,and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us ,in the house of ,his servant ,david2 ,as ,he spake by the mouth of ,,his ,,holy ,,prophets ,,which ,,have ,,been ,,since ,,the ,,world ,,began40 ,the same truth is revealed through ,peter1 in ,acts iii4 #bj1 #ba3--8;,he shall send ,jesus ,christ1 which before was preached unto you2 whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things1 which ,god hath spoken by the mouth of all ,,his ,,holy ,,prophets ,,since ,,the ,,world ,,began40 ,these words have new meaning for us1 if we see the things which were spoken 8since the world began10 thus written in the heavens1 which utter speech 7i4e4 prophecy71 and show forth this knowledge day after day and night after night1 the heritage of all the earth1 and their words reaching unto the ends of the world4 ,this ,revelation1 coinciding as it does in all its facts and truths with that afterwards recorded 8in the ,volume of the ,book10 must have had the same ,divine origin1 must have been made known by the inspiration of the same ,holy ,spirit4 ,we now proceed to compare the two1 and we shall see how they agree at every point1 proving that the source and origin of this ,divine ,revelation is one and the same4 ,,the ,,first ,,book4 ,,the ,,redeemer4 7,his ,first ,coming47 8,the ,sufferings of ,christ40 ,the ,first ,book is occupied with the ,,person of the ,coming ,one4 ,it covers the whole ground1 and includes the conflict and the victory of the ,promised ,seed1 but with special emphasis on ,his ,coming4 ,the book opens with the promise of ,his coming1 and it closes with the ,dragon cast down from heaven4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,sign ,,virgo4 ,the ,promised ,seed of the ,woman4 ,illustration ,plate #a3 ,virgo 7the ,virgin7 ,here is the commencement of all prophecy in ,gen4 iii4 #ae1 spoken to the serpent3--8,i will put enmity between thee and the woman1 and between thy seed and her seed3 it shall bruise thy head1 and thou shalt bruise ,his heel40 ,this is the prophetic announcement which the ,revelation in the heavens and in the ,book is designed to unfold and develope4 ,it lies at the root of all the ancient traditions and mythologies1 which are simply the perversion and corruption of primitive truth4 ,,virgo is represented as a woman with a branch in her right hand1 and some ears of corn in her left hand4 ,thus giving a twofold testimony of the ,coming ,one4 ,the name of this sign in the ,hebrew is ,bethulah1 which means a virgin1 and in the ,arabic a branch4 ,the two words are connected1 as in ,latin--,virgo1 which means a virgin2 and virga1 which means a branch 7,vulg4 ,isa4 xi4 #a74 ,another name is ,sunbul1 ,arabic1 an ear of corn4 ,in ,gen4 iii4 #ae she is presented only as a woman2 but in later prophecies her nationality is defined as being of the stock of ,israel1 the seed of ,abraham1 the line of ,david2 and1 further1 she is to be a virgin4 ,there are two prominent prophecies of her and her seed3 one is connected with the first coming in incarnation1 ,isa4 vii4 #ad 7quoted in ,matt4 i4 #bc47 8,behold1 a virgin shall conceive and bear a son1 ,and shall call his name ,immanuel40 ,the other is connected with ,his second coming1 leaping over the sufferings and this present interval of ,his rejection1 and looking forward to ,his coming in glory and judgment1 ,isa4 ix4 #f1 #g 7quoted in ,luke ii4 #aa and i4 #cb1 #cc7-- 8,for unto us a child is born1 ,unto us a son is given27#bj7 ,and the government shall be upon ,his shoulder2 ,and ,his name shall be called ,wonderful1 ,counsellor1 ,the ,mighty ,god1 ,the ,everlasting ,father1 ,the ,prince of ,peace4 ,of the increase of ,his government there shall be no end4 ,upon the throne of ,david1 and upon ,his kingdom1 ,to order it1 and to establish it ,with judgment and with justice ,from henceforth even for ever4 ,the zeal of the ,,lord of hosts will perform this40 ,it is difficult to separate the ,virgin and her ,seed in the prophecy1 and so1 here1 we have first the sign ,,virgo1 where the name points to her as the prominent subject2 while in the first of the three constellations of this sign1 where the woman appears again1 the name ,,coma points to the child as the great subject4 ,virgo contains #aaj stars1 viz41 one of the #ast magnitude1 six of the #crd1 ten of the #dth1 etc4 ,,aratus thus sings of them3-- 8,beneath ,botes feet the ,virgin seek1 ,who carries in her hand a glittering spike4444 ,over her shoulder there revolves a star ,in the right wing1 superlatively bright27#ba7 ,it rolls beneath the tail1 and may compare ,with the bright stars that deck the ,greater ,bear4 ,upon her shoulder one bright star is borne17#bb7 ,one clasps the circling girdle of her loins17#bc7 ,one at her bending knee27#bd7 and in her hand ,glitters that bright and golden ,ear of ,corn47#be7 ,thus the brightest star in ,virgo 777#bf7 has an ancient name1 handed down to us in all the starmaps1 in which the ,hebrew word 77 ,tsemech is preserved4 ,it is called in ,arabic ,al ,zimach1 which means the branch4 ,this star is in the ear of corn which she holds in her left hand4 ,hence the star has a modern ,latin name1 which has almost superseded the ancient one1 ,spica1 which means1 an ear of corn4 ,but this hides the great truth revealed by its name ,al ,zimach4 ,it foretold the coming of ,him who should bear this name4 ,the same ,divine inspiration has1 in the written ,word1 four times connected it with ,him4 ,there are twenty ,hebrew words translated 8,branch10 but only one of them 7,tsemech7 is used exclusively of the ,messiah1 and this word only four times47#bg7;,each of these further connects ,him with one special account of ,him1 given in the ,gospels4 7#a47 ,jer4 xxiii4 #e1 #f-- 8,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,,lord1 ,that ,i will raise unto ,david a righteous ,,branch 7i4e41 a ,son71 ,and a ,,king shall reign and prosper40 ,the account of ,his coming as ,king is written in the ,gospel according to ,matthew1 where ,jehovah says to ,israel1 8,behold thy ,,king40 7,zech4 ix4 #i2 ,matt4 xxi4 #i47 7#b47 ,zech4 iii4 #h4--8;,behold ,i will bring forth my ,,servant the ,,branch40 ,in the ,gospel according to ,mark we find the record of ,jehovah's servant and ,his service1 and we hear ,jehovah's voice saying1 8,behold my ,,servant40 7,isa4 xlii4 #a47 7#c47 ,zech4 vi4 #ab4--8,thus speaketh the ,,lord of hosts1 saying1 ,behold the ,,man whose name is the ,,branch40 ,in the ,gospel according to ,luke we behold ,him1 presented in 8the ,,man ,christ ,jesus40 7#d47 ,isa4 iv4 #b4--8;,in that day shall the ,,branch of ,,jehovah be beautiful and glorious40 ,so that this ,branch1 this ,son1 is ,jehovah ,himself2 and as we read the record of ,john we hear the voice from heaven saying1 8,behold your ,,god40 7,isa4 xl4 #i47 ,this is the ,branch foretold by the star ,al ,zimach in the ear of corn4 ,the star is called ,zavijaveh1 which means the gloriously beautiful1 as in ,isa4 iv4 #b4 ,the star 1 in the arm bearing the branch1 is called ,al ,mureddin1 which means who shall come down 7as in ,ps4 lxxii4 #h71 or who shall have dominion4 ,it is also known as ,vindemiatrix1 a ,chaldee word which means the son1 or branch1 who cometh4 ,other names of stars in the sign1 not identified1 are-- ,subilah1 who carries4 7,isa4 xlvi4 #d47 ,al ,azal1 the ,branch4 7,as in ,isa4 xviii4 #e47 ,subilon1 a spike of corn4 7,as in ,isa4 xvii4 #e47 ,the ,greeks1 ignorant of the ,divine origin and teaching of the sign1 represented ,virgo as ,ceres1 with ears of corn in her hand4 ,in the ,zodiac in the ,temple of ,denderah1 in ,egypt1 about #bjjj ,b4,c4 7now in ,paris71 she is likewise represented with a branch in her hand1 but ignorantly explained by a false religion to represent ,isis6 ,her name is called ,aspolia1 which means ears of corn1 or the seed1 which shows that though the woman is seen1 it is her ,seed who is the great subject of the prophecy4 ,passing to the three constellations anciently assigned to the sign ,virgo1 we come to what may be compared to three sections of the chapter1 each giving some further detail as to the interpretation of its teaching4 #a4 ,,coma 7,the ,woman and ,child74 ,the ,desired of all ,nations4 ,the first constellation in ,virgo explains that this coming 8,branch0 will be a child1 and that ,he should be the 8,desire of all nations40 ,the ancient name of this constellation is ,comah17#bh7 the desired1 or the longed for4 ,we have the word used by the ,holy ,spirit in this very connection1 in ,hag4 ii4 #g3 8,the ,,desire of all nations shall come40 ,illustration ,plate #b3 ,coma 7the ,desired7 ,the ancient ,zodiacs pictured this constellation as a woman with a child in her arms4 ,,albumazar7#bi7 7or ,,abu ,,masher71 an ,arabian astronomer of the eighth century1 says1 8,there arises in the first ,decan17#cj7 as the ,persians1 ,chaldeans1 and ,egyptians1 and the two ,,hermes and ,,ascalius teach1 a young woman1 whose ,persian name denotes a pure virgin1 sitting on a throne1 nourishing an infant boy 7the boy1 ,i say71 having a ,hebrew name1 by some nations called ,,ihesu1 with the signification ,,ieza1 which in ,greek is called ,,christos40 ,but this picture is not found in any of the modern maps of the stars4 ,there we find today a woman's wig6 ,it appears that ,,berenice1 the wife of ,,euergetes 7,,ptolemy ,,iii471 king of ,egypt in the third century ,b4,c41 when her husband once went on a dangerous expedition1 vowed to consecrate her fine head of hair to ,venus if he returned in safety4 ,her hair1 which was hung up in the ,temple of ,venus1 was subsequently stolen1 and to comfort ,,berenice1 ,,conon1 an astronomer of ,alexandria 7,b4,c4 #bhcbbb71 gave it out that ,jupiter had taken it and made it a constellation6 ,this is a good example of how the meaning of other constellations have been perverted 7ignorantly or intentionally74 ,in this case1 as in others1 the transition from ancient to more modern languages helped to hide the meaning4 ,the ,hebrew name was ,,coma 7desired74 ,but the ,greeks had a word for hair1 ,cme4 ,this again is transferred to the ,latin coma1 and thus 8,coma ,berenic0 7the hair of ,berenice7 comes down to us today as the name of this constellation1 and gives us a woman's wig instead of that ,blessed ,one1 8the ,desire of all ,nations40 ,in this case1 however1 we are able to give absolute proof that this is a perversion4 ,the ancient ,egyptian name for this constellation was ,shesnu1 the desired son6 ,the ,zodiac in the ,temple of ,denderah1 in ,egypt1 going back at least #b1jjj years ,b4,c41 has no trace of any hair1 but it has the figure of a woman and child4 ,in our illustration we have given a copy of this very ancient picture1 and not the wig of hair6 ,we have been permitted to trace it from a work on ,egyptian ,scenery by the late eminent astronomer1 ,edward ,j4 ,cooper1 of ,markree ,castle1 co4 ,sligo1 who visited that ,temple in the year #ahbj with an ,italian artist1 ,signor ,bossi4 ,the original drawing from which our tracing is made 7and enlarged7 was drawn by ,signor ,bossi on the spot1 before it was taken to ,paris in #ahba47ca7 ,we thus have before us the exact representations of one of these starpictures at least #d1jjj years old4 ,even ,shakespeare understood the truth about this constellation picture1 which has been so long covered by modern inventions4 ,in his ,titus ,andronicus7#cb7 he speaks of an arrow being shot up to heaven to the 8,good boy in ,virgo's lap40 ,the constellation itself is very remarkable4 ,others contain one or two stars of the first or second magnitude1 and then a greater or less variety of lesser stars2 but this is peculiar from having no one very bright star1 but contains so many stars of the #dth and #eth magnitudes4 ,it contains #dc stars altogether1 ten being of the #dth magnitude1 and the remainder of the #eth1 #fth1 etc4 ,it was in all probability the constellation of ,coma in which 8the ,star of ,bethlehem0 appeared4 ,there was a traditional prophecy1 wellknown in the ,east1 carefully preserved and handed down1 that a new star would appear in this sign when ,he whom it foretold should be born4 ,this was1 doubtless1 referred to in the prophecy of ,balaam1 which would thus receive a double fulfilment1 first of the literal 8,star10 and also of the person to whom it referred4 ,the ,lord said by ,balaam 7,num4 xxiv4 #ag71 8,there shall come7#cc7 a star out of ,jacob1 ,and a sceptre shall rise out of ,israel40 ,thomas ,hyde1 an eminent ,orientalist 7#afcfagjc71 writing on the ancient religion of the ,persians1 quotes from ,,abulfaragius 7an ,arab ,christian ,historian1 #abbfabhf71 who says that ,,zoroaster1 or ,,zerdusht1 the ,persian1 was a pupil of ,daniel the ,prophet1 and that he predicted to the ,magians 7who were the astronomers of ,persia71 that when they should see a new star appear it would notify the birth of a mysterious child1 whom they were to adore4 ,it is further stated in the ,zend ,avesta that this new star was to appear in the sign of the ,virgin4 ,some have supposed that this passage is not genuine4 ,but whether it was interpolated before or after the event1 it is equally good evidence for our purpose here4 ,for if it was written before the event1 it is evidence of the prophetic announcement2 and if it was interpolated after the event it is evidence of the historic fact4 ,the ,book of ,job shows us how ,astronomy flourished in ,idumea2 and the ,gospel according to ,matthew shows that the ,persian ,magi1 as well as others1 were looking for 8the ,desire of all nations40 ,new stars have appeared again and again4 ,it was in #abe ,b4,c4 that a star1 so bright as to be seen in the daytime1 suddenly appeared4 ,it was this that caused ,,hipparchus to draw up his catalogue of stars1 which has been handed down to us by ,,ptolemy 7#aej ,a4,d474 ,this new star would show the latitude1 passing at that time immediately overhead at midnight1 every twentyfour hours2 while the prophecy would give the longitude as the land of ,jacob4 ,having these two factors1 it would be only a matter of observation1 and easy for the ,magi to find the place where it would be vertical1 and thus to locate the very spot of the birth of ,him of whom it was the sign1 for they emphatically called it 8,his ,star40 ,there is a beautiful tradition which relates how1 in their difficulty1 on their way from ,jerusalem to find the actual spot under the ,zenith of this star1 these ,magi sat down beside ,david's 8,well of ,bethlehem0 to refresh themselves4 ,there they saw the star reflected in the clear water of the well4 ,hence it is written that 8when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding joy10 for they knew they were at the very spot and place of ,his appearing whence ,he was to 8come forth40 ,there can be little doubt that it was a new star4 ,in the first place a new star is no unusual phenomenon4 ,in the second place the tradition is well supported by ancient ,christian writers4 ,one speaks of its 8surpassing brightness40 ,another 7,,ignatius1 ,bp4 of ,antioch1 ,a4,d4 #fi7 says1 8,at the appearance of the ,lord a star shone forth brighter than all the other stars40 ,,ignatius1 doubtless1 had this from those who had actually seen it6 ,,prudentius 7#dth cent4 ,a4,d47 says that not even the morning star was so fair4 ,archbishop ,trench1 who quotes these authorities1 says 8,this star1 ,i conceive1 as so many ancients and moderns have done1 to have been a new star in the heavens40 ,one step more places this new star in the constellation of ,,coma1 and with new force makes it indeed 8,his star0--the 8,sign0 of ,his 8coming forth from ,bethlehem40 ,will it be 8the sign of the ,son of ,man in heaven0 7,matt4 xxiv4 #cj7 when ,he shall 8come unto0 this world again to complete the wondrous prophecies written of ,him in the heavenly and earthly ,revelations87#cd7 ,thus does the constellation of ,,coma reveal that the coming 8,seed of the woman0 was to be a child born1 a son given4 ,but ,he was to be more3 ,he was to be ,god and man--two natures in one person6 ,this is the lesson of the next picture4 #b4 ,,centaurus 7,the ,centaur74 ,the ,despised ,sinoffering4 ,it is the figure of a being with two natures4 ,jamieson1 in his ,celestial ,atlas1 #ahbb1 says1 8,on the authority of the most accomplished ,orientalist of our own times1 the ,arabic and ,chaldaic name of this constellation is 40 ,now this ,hebrew word ,bezeh 7and the ,arabic ,al ,beze7 means the despised4 ,it is the very word used of this ,divine sufferer in ,isa4 liii4 #c1 8,he is ,,despised 77 and rejected of men40 ,illustration ,plate #c3 ,centaurus 7the ,centaur7 ,the constellation contains thirtyfive stars4 ,two of the #ast magnitude1 one of the #bnd1 six of the #crd1 nine of the #dth1 etc41 which1 together with the four bright stars in the ,cross make a brilliant show in southern latitudes4 ,the brightest star1 7in the horse's forefoot71 has come down to us with the ancient name of ,toliman1 which means the heretofore and hereafter1 marking ,him as the one 8which is1 and which was1 and which is to come--the ,almighty0 7,rev4 i4 #h74 ,sir ,john ,herschell observed this star to be growing rapidly brighter4 ,it may be1 therefore1 one of the changeable stars1 and its name may be taken as an indication of the fact that it was known to the ancients4 ,another name for the constellation was in ,hebrew1 ,asmeath1 which means a sinoffering 7as in ,isa4 liii4 #aj74 ,the ,greek name was ,cheiron1 which means the pierced1 or who pierces4 ,in the ,greek fables ,cheiron was renowned for his skill in hunting1 medicine1 music1 athletics1 and prophecy4 ,all the most distinguished heroes of ,greece are described as his pupils4 ,he was supposed to be immortal1 but he voluntarily agreed to die2 and1 wounded by a poisoned arrow 7not intended for him7 while in conflict with a wild boar1 he transferred his immortality to ,prometheus2 whereupon he was placed amongst the stars4 ,we can easily see how this fable is the ignorant perversion of the primitive ,revelation4 ,the true tradition can be seen dimly through it1 and we can discern ,him of whom it spoke1--the allwise1 allpowerful ,teacher and ,prophet1 who 8went about doing good10 yet 8despised and rejected of men10 laying down ,his life that others might live4 ,it is one of the lowest of the constellations1 i4e4 the farthest south from the northern centre4 ,it is situated immediately over the ,cross1 which bespeaks ,his own death2 ,he is seen in the act of destroying the enemy4 ,thus these starpictures tell us that it would be as a child that the ,promised ,seed should come forth and grow and wax strong in spirit and be filled with wisdom 7,luke ii4 #dj72 and that as a man having two natures ,he should suffer and die4 ,then the third and last section in this first chapter of this ,first ,book goes on to tell of ,his second coming in glory4 #c4 ,,bo,,tes 7,the ,coming ,one74 ,he cometh4 ,this constellation still further develops this wondrous personage4 ,he is pictured as a man walking rapidly1 with a spear in his right hand and a sickle in his left hand4 ,illustration ,plate #d3 ,botes 7the ,coming ,one7 ,the ,greeks called him ,botes1 which is from the ,hebrew root ,bo 71 to come71 meaning the coming4 ,it is referred to in ,ps4 xcvi4 #ac3-- 8,for ,he cometh1 ,for ,he cometh to judge the earth2 ,he shall judge the world in righteousness1 ,and the people with ,his truth40 ,it it probable that his ancient name was ,arcturus7#ce7 7as referred to in ,job ix4 #i71 for this is the name of the brightest star1 7in the left knee74 ,arcturus means ,he cometh47#cf7 ,the ancient ,egyptians called him ,smat1 which means one who rules1 subdues1 and governs4 ,they also called him ,bau 7a reminiscence of the more ancient ,bo71 which means also the coming one4 ,the star 7in the spearhead7 is named ,al ,katurops1 which means the branch1 treading under foot4 ,the star 7just below the waist on his right side7 is called ,mirac1 or ,mizar1 or ,izar4 ,mirac means the coming forth as an arrow2 ,mizar1 or ,izar1 means the preserver1 guarding4 ,the star is called ,muphride1 i4e4 who separates4 ,the star 7in the head7 is named ,nekkar1 i4e4 the pierced 7,zech4 xii4 #aj71 which tells us that this coming judge is the ,one who was pierced4 ,another ,hebrew name is ,merga1 who bruises47#cg7 ,this brings us back again to ,gen4 iii4 #ae1 and closes up this first chapter of the ,first ,book 7,,virgo74 ,it shows us the ,person of the ,promised ,seed from the beginning to the end1 from the first promise of the birth of the ,child in ,bethlehem1 to the final coming of the great ,judge and ,harvester to reap the harvest of the earth4 ,this was the vision which was afterwards shown to ,john 7,rev4 xiv4 #ae1 #af71 when he says1 8,i looked2 and behold a white cloud1 and upon the cloud one sat like unto the ,son of ,man1 having on ,his head a golden crown1 and in ,his hand a sharp sickle4 ,and another angel came out of the temple1 crying with a loud voice to ,him that sat on the cloud1 ,thrust in thy sickle and reap2 for the time is come for ,thee to reap2 for the harvest of the earth is ripe4 ,and ,he that sat on the cloud thrust in ,his sickle on the earth2 and the earth was reaped40 ,this is the conclusion of the first chapter of this ,first ,book4 ,here we see the woman whose ,seed is to bruise the serpent's head1 the ,virgin,born1 the ,branch of ,jehovah1 perfect man and perfect ,god1 ,immanuel1 8,god with us10 yet despised and rejected of men1 and yielding up ,his life that others may have life for evermore4 ,but we see ,him coming afterwards in triumphant power to judge the earth4 ,this is only one chapter of this ,first ,book1 but it contains the outline of the whole volume1 complete in itself1 so far as it regards the ,person of the ,coming ,one4 ,like the ,book of ,genesis1 it is the seedplot which contains the whole1 all the rest being merely the development of the many grand details which are included and shut up within it4 ,it is only one chapter out of twelve1 but it distinctly foreshadows the end--even 8the sufferings of ,christ and the glory which should follow40 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,sign ,,libra4 ,the ,redeemer's ,atoning ,work2 or ,the ,price deficient balanced by the ,price which covers4 ,in the first chapter of this book we saw that this ,coming ,seed of the woman was1 among other things1 to give up ,his life for others4 ,the second chapter is going to define and develope the manner and object of this death4 ,the name of the ,sign1 together with its three constellations and the names of the stars composing them1 give the complete picture of this ,redemption4 ,illustration ,plate #e3 ,libra 7the ,scales7 ,the ,sign contains #ea stars1 two of which are of the #bnd magnitude1 one of the #crd1 eight of the #dth1 etc4 ,the ,hebrew name is ,mozanaim1 the ,scales1 weighing4 ,its name in ,arabic is ,al ,zubena1 purchase1 or redemption4 ,in ,coptic1 it is ,lambadia1 station of propitiation 7from ,lam1 graciousness1 and badia1 branch74 ,the name by which it has come down to us is the ,latin1 ,libra1 which means weighing1 as used in the ,vulgate 7,isa4 xl4 #ab74 ,libra contains three bright stars whose names supply us with the whole matter4 ,the brightest1 7in the lower scale71 is named ,zuben al ,genubi1 which means the purchase1 or price which is deficient4 ,this points to the fact that man has been utterly ruined4 ,he is 8weighed in the balances and found wanting40 8,none of them can by any means redeem his brother1 ,nor give to ,god a ransom for him2 ,for the redemption of their soul is costly1 ,and must be let alone for ever40 7,ps4 xlix4 #g1 ,r4,v47 8,surely men of low degree are vanity 7,heb4 a breath71 ,and men of high degree are a lie2 ,in the balances they go up2 ,they are altogether lighter than vanity0 7,heb4 a breath74 7,ps4 lxii4 #i1 ,r4,v47 ,this is the verdict pronounced and recorded by this star ,zuben al ,genubi4 ,is there then no hope8 ,is there no one who can pay the price8 ,yes2 there is 8the ,seed of the woman40 ,he is not merely coming as a child1 but ,he is coming as an atoning sacrifice4 ,he is coming for the purpose of ,redemption6 ,he can pay the price which covers6 ,hence in the upper scale we have another bright star with this very name ,zuben al ,chemali--,,the ,,price ,,which ,,covers6 ,praised be ,god6 8,they sang a new song1 saying1 ,thou art worthy 444 for ,thou wast slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood40 7,rev4 v4 #i47 ,this is the testimony of 1 the second brightest star6 ,it has another name1 al ,gubi1 heaped up1 or high1 telling of the infinite value of this redemption price4 ,but there is a third star1 1 below1 towards ,centaurus and the ,victim slain1 telling1 by that and by its name1 of the conflict by which that redemption would be accomplished4 ,it is called ,zuben ,akrabi or ,zuben al ,akrab1 which means the price of the conflict6 ,there is1 however1 some reason to suppose that ,libra is a very ancient ,egyptian corruption1 bringing in human merit instead of ,divine righteousness2 8the way of ,cain0 instead of the way of ,god4 ,in the more ancient ,akkadian the months were called after the names of the signs17#ch7 and the sign of the seventh month is the sign that we now call ,libra4 ,the ,akkadian name for it was ,tulku4 ,tul means mound 7like dhul and dul71 and ku means sacred2 hence1 ,tulku means the sacred mound1 or the holy altar47#ci7 ,not only is the name and its meaning different1 but the teaching is infinitely greater and more important1 if we may believe that the original picture of this sign was not a pair of scales1 but the representation of a holy altar4 ,this would agree still better with the three constellations which follow4 ,the names of the stars would also be more appropriate1 for it is the ,sacrifice of ,christ which they foreshadowed1 and here it was that the price which covered was paid1 and outweighed the price which was deficient4 ,what that price was to be1 and how it was to be paid1 and what was to be the result in the ,person of the ,redeemer1 is set forth in detail in the three sections of this chapter by the constellations of ,the ,cross endured1 ,the ,victim slain1 and ,the ,crown bestowed4 #a4 ,,crux 7,the ,cross74 ,the ,cross ,endured4 ,the ,hebrew name was ,adom1 which means cutting off1 as in ,dan4 ix4 #bf3--8;,after threescore and two weeks shall ,messiah be cut off40 ,the last letter of the ,hebrew alphabet was called ,tau1 which was anciently made in the form of a cross4 ,the ancient ,phnician was ,symbol3 righttilted cross2 the ancient ,hebrew1 as found on coins1 was ,symbol3 righttilted cross and ,symbol3 vertical cross2 the ,aramaic1 as found on ,egyptian monuments1 was a transition ,symbol3 tilted cross or ,symbol3 stretched cross1 which passed into the present square ,hebrew character 4 ,this letter is called ,tau1 and means a mark2 especially a boundarymark1 a limit or finish4 ,and it is the last letter1 which finishes the ,hebrew alphabet to this day4 ,illustration ,plate #f3 ,crux 7the ,cross7 ,the ,southern ,cross was just visible in the latitude of ,jerusalem at the time of the first coming of our ,lord to die4 ,since then1 through the gradual recession of the ,polar ,star1 it has not been seen in northern latitudes4 ,it gradually disappeared and became invisible at ,jerusalem when the ,real ,sacrifice was offered there2 and tradition1 which preserved its memory1 assured travellers that if they could go far enough south it would be again seen4 ,dante sang of 8the four stars never beheld but by the early race of men40 ,it was not until the sixteenth century had dawned that missionaries and voyagers1 doubling the ,cape for the first time1 and visiting the tropics and southern seas1 brought back the news of 8a wonderful cross more glorious than all the constellations of the heavens40 ,it is a small asterism1 containing only about five stars1 viz41 one of the #ast magnitude1 two of the #bnd1 one of the #crd1 and one of the #dth4 ,four of these are in the form of a cross4 ,long before the ,christian ,era this sign of the ,cross had lost its true meaning1 and had been perverted in ,babylon and ,egypt as it has since been desecrated by ,rome4 ,the ,persians and ,egyptians worshipped it4 ,the cakes made and eaten in honour of the ,queen of ,heaven were marked with it4 ,this heathen custom ,rome has adopted and adapted in her ,good ,friday cakes1 which are thus stamped4 ,but all are alike ignorant of what it means1 viz41 8,,it ,,is ,,finished40 ,in ,egypt1 and in the earliest times1 it was the sign and symbol of life4 ,today1 ,romanists use it as the symbol of death6 ,but it means life6 ,natural life given up1 and eternal life procured4 ,atonement1 finished1 perfect1 and complete2 never to be repeated1 or added to4 ,all who partake of its benefits in ,christ now1 in grace1 by faith 8,,are made nigh by the blood of ,christ0 7,eph4 ii4 #ac71 and of them ,jesus says1 8,he that heareth my voice1 and believeth on ,him that sent me ,,hath everlasting life1 and shall not come into judgment2 but ,,is ,,passed from death unto life0 7,john v4 #bd74 ,so perfect and complete is the work which ,jesus finished on the ,cross that we cannot seek to add even our repentance1 faith1 tears1 or prayers1 without practically asserting that the work of ,christ is not finished1 and is not sufficient6 ,the ,hebrew names of this constellation--,adom and ,tau--rebuke our ,pharisaic spirit1 which is the relic and essence of all false religions1 and points to the blessed fact that the ,sacrifice was offered 8once for all10 and the atoning work of ,redemption completely finished on ,calvary4 8',tis finished6 the ,messiah dies6 ,cut off for sins1 but not ,his own2 ,accomplished is the sacrifice1 ,the great redeeming work is done40 ,in the ancient ,egyptian ,zodiac of ,denderah this first ,decan of ,,libra is represented as a lion with his tongue hanging out of his mouth1 as if in thirst1 and a female figure holding a cup out to him4 ,under his fore feet is the hieroglyphic symbol of running water4 ,what is all this but 8the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah0 brought down 8into the dust of death10 and saying 8,i am poured out like water 444 my strength is dried up0 7,ps4 xxii4 #acah73 8,i thirst0 7,john xix4 #bh73 8and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink0 7,ps4 lxix4 #ba78 ,the ,egyptian name of this ,lion1 however1 points to his ultimate triumph1 for it is called ,sera1 that is1 victory6 ,this brings us to-- #b4 ,,lupus or ,,victima 7,the ,victim74 ,the ,victim ,slain4 ,its modern name is ,lupus 7a wolf71 because it looks like one4 ,it may be any animal4 ,the great point of this ancient constellation is that the animal has been slain1 and is in the act of falling down dead4 ,illustration ,plate #g3 ,lupus or ,victima the ,,victim ,slain ,its ,greek name is ,thera1 a beast1 and ,lycos1 a wolf4 ,its ,latin name is ,victima1 or ,bestia 7,vulg4 ,gen4 viii4 #ag71 which sufficiently indicates the great lesson4 ,this is confirmed by its ancient ,hebrew name1 ,asedah1 and ,arabic ,asedaton1 which both mean to be slain4 ,more than #bb of its stars have been catalogued4 ,none of them are higher than the #dth magnitude2 most of them are of the #eth or #fth4 ,true1 ,he was 8by wicked hands crucified and slain10 but ,he is slain here by the ,centaur1 i4e4 by ,himself6 ,to make it perfectly clear that it was ,his own act 7without which ,his death would lose all merit71 ,he uttered those solemn words3 8,i lay down my life for the sheep4444 ,no man taketh it from me1 but ,i lay it down of myself4 ,i have power to lay it down1 and ,i have power to take it again0 7,john x4 #aeah74 ,he 8offered ,himself without spot to ,god40 8,he put away sin by the sacrifice of ,himself0 7,heb4 ix4 #aa1 #bf74 ,in the ancient ,zodiac of ,denderah ,he is pictured as a little child with its finger on its lips1 and ,he is called ,sura1 a lamb6 ,in other pictures ,he has1 besides1 the horn of a goat on one side of ,his head4 ,all this pointed to one and the same great fact1 viz41 the development and explanation of what was meant by the bruising of ,his heel6 ,it meant that this ,promised ,seed of the woman should come as a child1 that ,he should suffer1 and die upon the ,cross1 for 8,he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter2 ,and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb2 ,,so ,,he opened not his mouth40 7,isa4 liii4 #g47 ,hence1 the constellation prefigures a silent1 willing sacrifice--,christ ,jesus1 who1 8being found in fashion as a man1 humbled ,himself1 and became obedient unto death1 even the death of the ,cross0 7,phil4 ii4 #eh74 #c4 ,,corona 7,the ,crown74 ,the ,crown ,bestowed4 8,wherefore ,god also hath highly exalted ,him1 and given ,him a name which is above every name1 that at the name of ,jesus every knee should bow40 ,this is what is foreshown by this concluding section of the second chapter4 ,each chapter ends with glory4 ,as in the written ,word of ,god1 we frequently have the glory of the ,second ,coming mentioned without any allusions to the sufferings of the ,first ,coming1 but we never have the ,first ,coming in humiliation mentioned without an immediate reference to the glory of the ,second ,coming4 ,so here1 the ,,cross is closely followed by the ,,crown6 ,true1 8we see not yet all things put under ,him1 but we see ,jesus 444 for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour0 7,heb4 ii4 #i74 ,yes1 8the crowning day is coming10 and all heaven shall soon resound with the triumphant song1 8,thou art worthy1 444 for ,thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to ,god by ,thy blood0 7,rev4 v4 #i74 ,the shameful ,cross will be followed by a glorious crown1 and 8every tongue shall confess that ,jesus4 ,christ is ,lord1 to the glory of ,god the ,father40 8,mighty ,victor1 reign for ever1 ,wear the crown so dearly won2 ,never shall ,thy people1 never ,cease to sing what ,thou hast done4 ,thou hast fought ,thy people's foes2 ,thou wilt heal ,thy people's woes60 ,the ,hebrew name for the constellation is ,atarah1 a royal crown1 and its stars are known today in the ,east by the plural1 ,ataroth6 ,its ,arabic name is ,al ,iclil1 an ornament1 or jewel4 ,illustration ,plate #h3 ,,corona 7the ,crown7 ,it has #ba stars3 one of the #bnd magnitude and six of the #dth4 ,it is easily known by the stars 1 1 1 1 1 and 1 which form a crescent4 ,its brightest star1 1 has the ,arabic name of ,al ,phecca1 the shining4 ,thus ends this solemn chapter of ,,libra1 which describes the great work of ,redemption1 beginning with the ,cross and ending with the ,crown4 ,the ,redeemer's work of ,atonement is most blessedly set forth1 and ,he alone is seen as the substitute for lost sinners4 8,what wondrous love1 what mysteries ,in this appointment shine6 ,my breaches of the law are ,his1 ,and ,his obedience mine40 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,sign ,,scorpio4 ,the ,redeemer's ,conflict4 ,we come now right into the heart of the conflict4 ,the starpicture brings before us a gigantic scorpion endeavouring to sting in the heel a mighty man who is struggling with a serpent1 but is crushed by the man1 who has his foot placed right on the scorpion's heart4 ,the ,hebrew name is ,akrab1 which is the name of a scorpion1 but also means the conflict1 or war4 ,it is this that is referred to in ,ps4 xci4 #ac3 8,thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder4 ,the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet40 ,david uses the very word in ,ps4 cxliv4 #a1 where he blesses ,god for teaching his hands to war4 ,the ,coptic name is ,isidis1 which means the attack of the enemy1 or oppression2 referring to 8the wicked that oppress me1 my deadly enemies who compass me about0 7,ps4 xvii4 #i74 ,the ,arabic name is ,al ,akrab1 which means wounding him that cometh4 ,illustration ,plate #i3 ,,scorpio 7the ,scorpion7 ,there are #dd stars altogether in this sign4 ,one is of the #ast magnitude1 one of the #bnd1 eleven of the #crd1 eight of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7in the heart71 bears the ancient ,arabic name of ,antares1 which means the wounding4 ,it is called by the ,latins ,cor ,scorpii1 because it marks the scorpion's heart4 ,it shines ominously with a deep red light4 ,the sting is called in ,hebrew ,lesath 7,chaldee1 ,lesha71 which means the perverse4 ,the stars in the tail are also known as ,leshaa1 or ,leshat47#dj7 ,the scorpion is a deadly enemy 7as we learn from ,rev4 ix71 with poison in its sting1 and all the names associated with the sign combine to set forth the malignant enmity which is 8set0 between the serpent and the woman's ,seed4 ,that enmity is shown more fully in the written ,word1 where we see the attempt of the enemy 7in ,exod4 i47 to destroy every male of the seed of ,abraham1 and how it was defeated4 ,we see his effort repeated when he used ,athaliah to destroy 8all the seed royal0 7#b ,kings xi471 and how 8the king's son0 was rescued 8from among0 the slain4 ,we see his hand again instigating ,haman1 8the ,jews' enemy10 to compass the destruction of the whole nation1 but defeated in his designs4 ,when the woman's ,seed1 the virgin's ,son1 was born1 we are shown the same great enemy inciting ,herod to slay all the babes in ,bethlehem 7,matt4 ii471 but again he is defeated4 ,in the wilderness of ,juda1 and in the ,garden of ,gethsemane the great conflict is renewed4 8,this is your hour and the power of darkness107#da7 ,he said to ,his enemies4 ,the real wounding in the heel was received at the ,cross4 ,it was there the scorpion struck the woman's seed4 ,he died1 but was raised again from the dead 8to destroy the works of the devil40 ,to show us this2 to prevent any mistake2 to set forth the fact that this conflict only apparently ended in defeat1 and that it did not really so end1 we have the first two constellations belonging to this sign presented in one picture6 ,indeed1 the picture is threefold1 for it includes the sign itself 7as shown on the cover76 ,if these pictures had been separated1 then the conflict would have been separated from the victory2 the deadly wound of the serpent's head from the temporary wound in the ,victor's heel4 ,hence1 three pictures are required1 in which the scorpion1 the serpent1 and the man1 are all involved1 in order to present at the same time the triumphant issue of the conflict4 ,hence1 we must present1 and consider together1 the first two sections of this mysterious chapter4 #a and #b4 ,,serpens and ,,ophiuchus4 ,the ,struggle with the ,enemy4 ,here1 ,serpens1 the serpent1 is seen struggling vainly in the powerful grasp of the man who is named ,ophiuchus4 ,in ,latin he is called ,serpentarius4 ,he is at one and the same moment shown to be seizing the serpent with his two hands1 and treading on the very heart of the scorpion1 marked by the deep red star ,antares 7wounding74 ,just as we read the first constellation of the woman and child ,coma1 as expounding the first sign ,,virgo1 so we have to read this first constellation as expounding the second sign ,,libra4 ,hence1 we have here a further picture1 showing the object of this conflict on the part of the scorpion4 ,in ,scorpio we see merely the effort to wound ,ophiuchus in the heel2 but here we see the effort of the serpent to seize ,,the ,,crown1 which is situated immediately over the serpent's head1 and to which he is looking up and reaching forth4 ,the contest is for ,dominion6 ,it was the ,devil1 in the form of a serpent1 that robbed the first man of his crown2 but in vain he struggled to wrest it from the sure possession of the ,second ,man4 ,not only does he fail in the attempt1 but is himself utterly defeated and trodden under foot4 ,illustration ,plate #aj3 ,,serpens 7the ,serpent7 and ,,ophiuchus 7the ,serpent ,holder7 ,there are no less than #acd stars in these two constellations4 ,two are of the #bnd magnitude1 fourteen of the #crd1 thirteen of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star in the ,serpent1 7in the neck71 is named ,unuk1 which means encompassing4 ,another ,hebrew name is ,alyah1 the accursed4 ,from this is ,al ,hay 7,arabic71 the reptile4 ,the next brightest star is 7in the jaw71 named1 in ,arabic1 ,cheleb1 or ,chelbalrai1 the serpent enfolding4 ,the ,greek name1 ,ophiuchus1 is itself from the ,hebrew and ,arabic name ,afeichus1 which means the serpent held4 ,the brightest star in ,ophiuchus1 7in the head71 is called ,ras al ,hagus 7,arabic71 the head of him who holds4 ,other ,hebrew names of stars1 not identified1 are ,triophas1 treading under foot2 ,saiph 7in the foot7#db7 of ,ophiuchus71 bruised2 ,carnebus1 the wounding2 ,megeros1 contending47#dc7 ,in the ,zodiac of ,denderah we have a throned human figure1 called ,apibau1 the chief who cometh4 ,he has a hawk's head to show that he is the enemy of the serpent1 which is called ,khu1 and means ruled or enemy4 ,all these combine to set before us in detail the nature of the conflict and its final issue4 ,that final issue is1 however1 exhibited by the last of the three constellations of this chapter4 ,the ,victor ,himself requires a whole picture to fully set forth the glorious victory4 ,this brings us to-- #c4 ,,hercules 7,the ,mighty ,man74 ,the ,mighty ,vanquisher4 ,here the mighty one1 who occupies a large portion of the heavens1 is seen bending on one knee1 with his right heel lifted up as if it had been wounded1 while his left foot is set directly over the head of the great dragon4 ,in his right hand he wields a great club1 and in his left hand he grasps a tripleheaded monster 7,cerberus74 ,and he has the skin of a lion1 which he has slain1 thrown around him47#dd7 ,in the ,zodiac of ,denderah we have a human figure1 likewise with a club4 ,his name is ,bau1 which means who cometh1 and is evidently intended for ,him who cometh to crush the serpent's head1 and 8destroy the works of the devil40 ,in ,arabic he is called ,al ,giscale1 the strong one4 ,illustration ,plate #aa3 ,,hercules 7the ,mighty ,one7 ,there are #aac stars in this constellation4 ,seven are of the #crd magnitude1 seventeen of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7in his head71 is named ,ras al ,gethi1 and means the head of him who bruises4 ,the next1 7in the right armpit71 is named ,kornephorus1 and means the branch1 kneeling4 ,the star 7in the right elbow7 is called ,marsic1 the wounding4 ,the star 7in the upper part of the left arm7 is named ,ma'asyn1 the sinoffering4 ,while 7in the lower part of the right arm7 is ,caiam1 or ,guiam1 punishing2 and in ,arabic1 treading under foot4 ,thus does everything in the picture combine to set forth the mighty works of this stronger than the strong man armed6 ,we can easily see how the perversion of the truth by the ,greeks came about1 and how1 when the true foreshadowings of this ,mighty ,one had been lost1 the many fables were invented to supply their place4 ,the wiser sort of ,greeks knew this perfectly well4 ,,aristotle 7in his ,metaphysics1 x4 #h7 admits1 with regard to ,greek mythology1 that religion and philosophy had been lost1 and that much had been 8added after the mythical style10 while much had come down1 and 8may have been preserved to our times as the remains of ancient wisdom40 ,religion1 such as it was 7,,polybius confesses71 was recognised as a 8necessary means to political ends40 ,,neander says that it was 8the fragments of a tradition1 which transmitted the knowledge of divine things possessed in the earliest times40 ,,aratus shews the same uncertainty as to the meaning of this ,constellation of ,hercules4 ,he says3 8,near this1 and like a toiling man1 revolves ,a form4 ,of it can no one clearly speak1 ,nor what he labours at4 ,they call him simply #8,the man upon his knees'3 ,in desperate struggle ,like one who sinks1 he seems4 ,from both his shoulders ,his arms are highuplifted and outstretched ,as far as he can reach2 and his right foot ,is planted on the coild ,dragon's head40 ,ancient authorities differ as to the personality of ,hercules1 and they disagree as to the number1 nature1 and order of what are sometimes called 8the twelve labours of ,hercules40 ,but there is no doubt as to the mighty foretold works which the woman's ,seed should perform4 ,from first to last ,hercules is seen engaged in destroying some malignant foe3 now it is the ,nemean lion2 then it is the slaying of the boar of ,erymanthus2 again1 it is the conquest of the bull of ,crete2 then the killing of the threeheaded hydra1 by whose venom ,hercules afterwards died4 ,in the belly of the sea monster he is said to have remained 8three days and three nights40 ,this was1 doubtless1 a perversion of the type of ,jonah1 introduced by ,,lycophron1 who 7living at the court of ,,ptolemy ,,philadelphus1 under whose auspices the ,hebrew ,scriptures were translated into ,greek7 would have known of that ,divine miracle1 and of its application to the ,coming ,one4 ,bishop ,horsley believed that the fables of the ,greek mythology could be traced back to the prophecies of the ,messiah1 of which they were a perversion from ignorance or design4 ,this is specially true of ,hercules4 ,in his apparently impossible tasks of overthrowing gigantic enemies and delivering captives1 we can see through the shadow1 and discern the pure light of the truth4 ,we can understand how the original starpicture must have been a prophetic representation of ,him who shall destroy the ,old ,serpent and open the way again1 not to fabled 8apples of gold10 but to the 8tree of life0 itself4 ,he it is who though suffering in the mighty conflict1 and brought to ,his knee1 going down even to 8the dust of death10 shall yet1 in resurrection and advent glory1 wield ,his victorious club1 subdue all ,his enemies1 and plant ,his foot on the ,dragon's head4 ,for of ,him it is written3-- 8,thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder2 ,the young lion and the dragon shalt ,thou trample under foot40 7,ps4 xci4 #ac47 8,come1 ,lord1 and burst the captives' chains1 ,and set the prisoners free2 ,come1 cleanse this earth from all its stains1 ,and make it meet for ,thee6 ,oh1 come and end ,creation's groans-- ,its sighs1 its tears1 its blood1 ,and make this blighted world again ,the dwellingplace of ,god40 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,the ,sign ,,sagittarius4 ,the ,redeemer's ,triumph4 ,this is the concluding chapter of the first great book of this ,heavenly ,revelation2 and it is occupied wholly with the triumph of the ,coming ,one1 who is represented as going forth 8conquering and to conquer40 ,the subject is beautifully set forth in the written ,word 7,ps4 xlv4 #ce73-- 8,gird ,thy sword upon ,thy thigh1 ,o most mighty1 ,gird ,thyself with ,thy glory and ,thy majesty1 ,and in ,thy majesty ride prosperously1 ,because of truth1 and meekness1 and righteousness2 ,and ,thy right hand shall teach ,thee terrible things4 ,thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the ,king's enemies2 ,whereby the people fall under ,thee40 ,john1 in his apocalyptic vision1 sees the same mighty ,conqueror going forth4 8,i saw 7he says7 a white horse1 and ,he that sat on him had a bow1 444 and ,he went forth conquering and to conquer0 7,rev4 vi4 #b74 ,this is precisely what is foreshadowed in the starpictured sign now called by the modern ,latin name ,sagittarius1 which means the ,archer4 ,the ,hebrew and ,syriac name of the sign is ,kesith1 which means the ,archer 7as in ,gen4 xxi4 #bj74 ,the ,arabic name is ,al ,kaus1 the arrow4 ,in ,coptic it is ,pimacre1 the graciousness1 or beauty of the coming forth4 ,in ,greek it is ,toxotes1 the archer1 and in ,latin ,sagittarius4 ,illustration ,plate #ab3 ,,sagittarius 7the ,archer7 ,there are #fi stars in the sign1 viz41 five of the #crd magnitude 7all in the bow71 nine of the #dth1 etc4 ,the names of the brightest stars are significant3-- ,hebrew1 ,naim1 which means the gracious one4 ,this is exactly what is said of this ,victor in the same ,psalm 7xlv471 in the words immediately preceding the quotation above 7verse #b73 8,,grace is poured into ,thy lips2 ,therefore ,god hath blessed ,thee for ever40 ,hebrew1 ,nehushta1 the going or sending forth4 ,we see the same in the ,arabic names which have come down to us3 ,al ,naim1 the gracious one2 ,al ,shaula1 the dart2 ,al ,warida1 who comes forth2 ,ruchba er rami1 the riding of the bowman4 ,an ancient ,akkadian name in the sign is ,nunki1 which means ,prince of the ,earth4 ,again we have the picture of a ,centaur as to his outward form1 i4e4 a being with two natures4 ,not now far down in the south1 or connected with ,his sufferings and sacrifice as man2 but high up1 as a sign of the ,zodiac itself1 on the ecliptic1 i4e4 in the very path in which the sun 8rejoiceth in his going forth as a strong man40 ,according to ,grecian fable1 this ,sagittarius is ,cheiron1 the chief ,centaur2 noble in character1 righteous in his dealings1 divine in his power4 ,such will be the coming ,seed of the woman in ,his power and glory3-- 8,the sceptre of ,thy kingdom is a right sceptre4 ,thou lovest righteousness1 and hatest wickedness2 ,therefore ,god1 ,thy ,god1 hath anointed ,thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows40 7,ps4 xlv4 #f1 #g47 ,in the ancient ,zodiac of ,denderah he is called 7as in ,coptic7 ,pimacre1 i4e4 graciousness1 beauty of the appearing or coming forth4 ,the characters under the hind foot read ,knem1 which means ,he conquers4 ,this is ,he who shall come forth like as an arrow from the bow1 8full of grace10 but 8conquering and to conquer40 ,in all the pictures he is similarly represented1 and the arrow in his bow is aimed directly at the heart of the ,scorpion4 ,thus ,,aratus sang of ,cheiron3-- 8',midst golden stars he stands refulgent now1 ,and thrusts the scorpion with his bended bow40 ,in this ,archer we see a faint reflection of ,him who shall presently come forth1 all gracious1 all wise1 all powerful2 whose arrows shall be 8sharp in the heart of the ,king's enemies40 8,god shall shoot at them with an arrow2 ,suddenly shall they be wounded4 ,so they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves2 ,all that see them shall flee away4 ,and all men shall fear1 and shall declare the work of ,god2 ,for they shall wisely consider of ,his doing4 ,the righteous shall be glad in the ,lord1 and shall trust in ,him2 ,and all the upright in heart shall glory40 7,ps4 lxiv4 #gaj47 8,christ is coming6 let ,creation ,from her groans and travail cease2 ,let the glorious proclamation ,hope restore1 and faith increase4 ,christ is coming1 ,come1 thou blessed ,prince of peace40 ,this brings us to the first of the three constellations or sections of this chapter1 which takes up this subject of praise to the ,conqueror4 #a4 ,,lyra 7,the ,harp74 ,praise prepared for the ,conqueror4 8,praise waiteth for thee1 ,o ,god1 in ,zion0 7,ps4 lxv4 #a74 ,and when the waiting time is over1 and the ,redeemer comes forth1 then the praise shall be given4 8,we give ,thee thanks1 ,o ,lord ,god1 the ,almighty1 which art1 and which wast1 because thou hast taken to ,thee ,thy great power1 and didst reign0 7,rev4 xi4 #ag1 ,r4,v474 8,let us be glad and rejoice and give honour unto ,him0 7,rev4 xix4 #g74 ,the ,twentyfirst ,psalm should be read here1 as it tells of the bursting forth of praise on the going forth of this all gracious ,conqueror4 8,the ,king shall rejoice in ,thy strength1 ,o ,,lord2 ,and in ,thy salvation how greatly shall ,he rejoice6444 ,thine hand shall find out all ,thine enemies2 ,thy right hand shall find out all that hate thee4444 ,their fruit shalt ,thou destroy from the earth2 ,and their seed from among the children of men4 ,for they intended evil against ,thee2 ,they imagined a mischievous device which they are not able to perform1 ,therefore shalt thou make them turn their back 7,heb4 ,margin1 8set them as a butt071 ,when ,thou shalt make ready ,thine arrows upon ,thy strings ,and shoot them against the face of them4 ,be thou exalted1 ,,lord1 in thine own strength2 ,,so ,,will ,,we ,,sing ,,and ,,praise ,,thy ,,power40 7,ps4 xxi4 #a1 #h1 #ajac47 ,beautifully1 then1 does the harp come in here1 following upon the going forth of this victorious ,horseman4 ,this ,song of the ,lamb follows as naturally as does the ,song of ,moses in ,ex4 xv4 #a3 8,i will sing unto the ,,lord1 for ,he hath triumphed gloriously40 ,illustration ,plate #ac3 ,,lyra 7the ,harp7 ,its brightest star1 1 is one of the most glorious in the heavens1 and by it this constellation may be easily known4 ,it shines with a splendid white lustre4 ,it is called ,vega1 which means ,he shall be exalted4 ,its root occurs in the opening of the ,song of ,moses1 quoted above4 ,is not this wonderfully expressive8 ,its other stars1 and 1 are also conspicuous stars1 of the #bnd and #dth magnitude4 is called ,shelyuk1 which means an eagle 7as does the ,arabic1 ,al ,nesr72 is called ,sulaphat1 springing up1 or ascending1 as praise4 ,in the ,zodiac of ,denderah1 this constellation is figured as a hawk or an eagle 7the enemy of the serpent7 in triumph4 ,its name is ,fentkar1 which means the serpent ruled4 ,there may be some confusion between the ,hebrew 1 ,nesher1 an eagle1 and 1 ,gnasor1 a harp27#de7 but there can be no doubt about the grand central truth1 that praise shall ascend up 8as an eagle toward heaven10 when 8every creature which is in heaven1 and on the earth1 and such as are in the sea1 and all that is in them10 shall send up their universal song of praise3 8,blessing1 and honour1 and glory1 and power1 be unto ,him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the ,lamb for ever and ever4 ,amen0 7,rev4 v4 #ac1 #ad74 ,and for what is all this wondrous anthem of ,praise8 ,listen once again4 8,alleluia37#df7 ,salvation1 and glory1 and honour1 and power1 unto the ,lord our ,god2 for ,,true ,,and ,,righteous ,,are ,,his ,,judgments4444 ,and again they said ,alleluia0 7,rev4 xix4 #ac74 ,with 8that blessed hope0 before us1 ,let no ,,harp remain unstrung1 ,let the coming advent chorus ,onward roll from tongue to tongue1 ,hallelujah1 8,come1 ,lord ,jesus10 quickly come4 ,this brings us to-- #b4 ,,ara 7,the ,altar74 ,consuming ,fire ,prepared for ,his ,enemies4 ,here we have an altar or burning pyre1 placed significantly and ominously upside down6 with its fires burning and pointing downwards towards the lower regions1 called ,tartarus1 or the abyss1 or 8outerdarkness40 ,illustration ,plate #ad3 ,,ara 7the ,altar7 ,it is an asterism with nine stars1 of which three are of the #crd magnitude1 four of the #dth1 etc4 ,it is south of the ,scorpion's tail1 and when these constellations were first formed it was visible only on the very lowest horizon of the south1 pointing to the completion of all judgment in the lake of fire4 ,in the ,zodiac of ,denderah we have a different picture1 giving us another aspect of the same judgment4 ,it is a man enthroned1 with a flail in his hand4 ,his name is ,bau1 the same name as ,hercules has1 and means ,he cometh4 ,it is from the ,hebrew 7,bh71 to come1 as in ,isa4 lxiii4 #a3 8,who is this that cometh from ,edom1 ,with dyed garments from ,bozrah40 ,this is a coming in judgment1 as is clear from reason given in verse #d3 8,for the day of vengeance is in ,mine heart1 ,and the year of ,my redeemed is come4 ,and ,i looked1 and there was none to help2 ,and ,i wondered that there was none to uphold2 ,therefore ,mine own arm brought salvation1 ,and ,my fury1 it upheld ,me40 7,isa4 lxiii4 #d1 #e47 ,the completion of judgment1 therefore1 is what is pictured both by the burning pyre and the ,coming ,one enthroned1 with his threshing instrument4 ,in ,arabic it is called ,al ,mugamra1 which means the completing1 or finishing4 ,the ,greeks used the word ,ara sometimes in the sense of praying1 but more frequently in the sense of imprecation or cursing4 ,this is the curse pronounced against the great enemy4 ,this is the burning fire1 pointing to the completion of that curse1 when he shall be cast into that everlasting fire 8prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,this is the allusion to it written in the midst of the very ,scripture from which we have already quoted 7p4 #ff71 ,ps4 xxi41 where we read in verse #i 7which we then omitted73-- 8,thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of ,thine anger3 ,the ,lord shall swallow them up in ,his wrath2 ,and the fire shall devour them40 ,this brings us to the final scene1 closing up this first great book of the ,heavens4 #c4 ,,draco 7,the ,dragon74 ,the ,old ,serpent1 or the ,devil1 cast down from ,heaven4 ,each of the three great books concludes with this same foreshowing of ,apocalyptic truth4 ,the same great enemy is referred to in all these pictures4 ,he is the ,serpent2 he is the ,dragon2 8the great dragon1 that old serpent1 called the ,devil and ,satan0 7,rev4 xii4 #i74 ,the ,serpent represents him as the ,deceiver2 the ,dragon1 as the ,destroyer4 ,this ,first ,book concludes with the ,dragon being cast down from heaven4 ,the ,second ,book concludes with ,cetus1 the ,sea ,monster1 ,leviathan1 bound4 ,the ,third ,book concludes with ,hydra1 the ,old ,serpent1 destroyed4 ,here1 at the close of the ,first ,book1 we see not merely a dragon1 but the ,dragon cast down6 ,that is the point of this great starpicture4 ,no one has ever seen a dragon2 but among all nations 7especially in ,china and ,japan71 and in all ages1 we find it described and depicted in legend and in art4 ,both ,old and ,new ,testaments refer to it1 and all unite in connecting with it one and the same great enemy of ,god and man4 ,it is against him that the ,god,man--8the ,son of ,god--goes forth to war40 ,it is for him that the eternal fires are prepared4 ,it is he who shall shortly be cast down from the heavens preparatory to his completed judgment4 ,it is of him we read1 8,the great dragon was cast out1 that old serpent1 called the ,devil1 and ,satan1 which deceiveth the whole world3 he was cast out and his angels with him4 ,and ,i heard a loud voice saying in heaven1 ,now is come salvation1 and strength1 and the kingdom of our ,god1 and the power of ,his ,christ2 for the accuser of our brethren is cast down0 7,rev4 xii4 #i1 #aj74 ,it is of him that ,david sings3-- 8,god is my king of old1 ,working salvation in the midst of the earth 444 ,thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters4 ,thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces40 7,ps4 lxxiv4 #abad47 ,of him also the ,spirit causes ,isaiah to say1 8,in that day1 shall this song be sung in the land of ,judah02-- 8,in that day the ,lord1 with his sore1 and great1 and strong sword1 ,shall punish leviathan the piercing 7,r4,v4 swift7 serpent1 ,even leviathan that crooked serpent2 ,and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea40 7,isa4 xxvi4 #a2 xxvii4 #a47 ,this is exactly what is foreshadowed by this constellation of ,draco4 ,its name is from the ,greek1 and means trodden on1 as in the ,septuagint of ,ps4 xci4 #ac3 8,the dragon shalt thou trample under feet10 from the ,hebrew 1 ,dahrach1 to tread4 ,illustration ,plate #ae3 ,,draco 7the ,dragon ,cast down7 ,in the ,zodiac of ,denderah it is shown as a serpent under the forefeet of ,sagittarius1 and is named ,herfent1 which means the serpent accursed6 ,there are #hj stars in the constellation2 four of the #bnd magnitude1 seven of the #crd magnitude1 ten of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7in one of the latter coils71 is named ,thuban 7,heb471 the subtle4 ,some #d1fbj years ago it was the ,polar ,star4 ,it is manifest1 therefore1 that the ,greeks could not have invented this constellation1 as is confessed by all modern astronomers4 ,it is still a very important star in nautical reckonings1 guiding the commerce of the seas1 and thus 8the god of this world0 is represented as winding in his contortions round the pole of the world1 as if to indicate his subtle influence in all worldly affairs4 ,the next star1 7in the head71 is called by the ,hebrew name ,rastaban1 and means the head of the subtle 7serpent74 ,in the ,arabic it is still called ,al ,waid1 which means who is to be destroyed4 ,the next star1 7also in the head71 is called ,ethanin1 i4e41 the long serpent1 or dragon4 ,the ,hebrew names of other stars1 not identified1 are ,grumian1 the subtle2 ,giansar1 the punished enemy4 ,other 7,arabic7 names are ,al ,dib1 the reptile2 ,el ,athik1 the fraudful2 ,el ,asieh1 the bowed down4 ,and thus the combined testimony of every star 7without a single exception7 of each constellation1 and the constellations of each sign1 accords with the testimony of the ,word of ,god concerning the coming ,seed of the woman1 the bruising of ,his heel1 the crushing of the serpent's head1 8the sufferings of ,christ1 and the glory which should follow40 8,from far ,i see the glorious day1 ,when ,he who bore our sins away1 ,will all ,his majesty display4 ,a ,man of ,sorrows once ,he was1 ,no friend was found to plead ,his cause1 ,as all preferred the world's applause4 ,he groaned beneath sin's awful load1 ,for in the sinner's place ,he stood1 ,and died to bring him back to ,god4 ,but now ,he waits1 with glory crowned4 ,while angel hosts ,his throne surround1 ,and still ,his lofty praises sound4 ,to few on earth ,his name is dear1 ,and they who in ,his cause appear1 ,the world's reproach and scorn must bear ,jesus1 ,thy name is all my boast1 ,and though by waves of trouble tossed1 ,thou wilt not let my soul be lost4 ,come then1 come quickly from above1 ,my soul impatient longs to prove1 ,the depths of everlasting love40 ,,the ,,second ,,book4 ,,the ,,redeemed4 ,the ,result of the ,redeemer's ,sufferings4 ,in the ,first ,book we have had before us the work of the ,redeemer set forth as it concerned ,his own glorious person4 ,in this ,second ,book it is presented to us as it affects others4 ,here we see the results of ,his humiliation1 and conflict1 and victory--8,the sufferings of ,christ0 and the blessings they procured for ,his redeemed people4 ,in ,chapter ,i4 we have the ,blessings procured4 ,in ,chapter ,,ii4 their ,blessings ensured4 ,in ,chapter ,,iii4 their ,blessings in abeyance4 ,in ,chapter ,,iv4 their ,blessings enjoyed4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,sign ,,capricornus 7,the ,sea ,goat74 ,the ,goat of ,atonement ,slain for the ,redeemed4 ,it is most noteworthy that this ,second ,book opens with the ,goat1 and closes with the ,ram3 two animals of sacrifice2 while the two middle chapters are both connected with fishes47#dg7 ,the reason for this we shall see as we proceed4 ,both are combined in the first chapter1 or 8,sign0 of ,capricornus4 ,in all the ancient ,zodiacs1 or ,planispheres1 we find a goat with a fish's tail4 ,in the ,zodiacs of ,denderah and ,esneh1 in ,egypt1 it is halfgoat and halffish1 and it is there called ,hupenius1 which means the place of the sacrifice4 ,in the ,indian ,zodiac it is a goat passant traversed by a fish4 ,there can be no doubt as to the significance of this sign4 ,in the ,goat we have the ,atoning ,sacrifice1 in the ,fish we have the people for whom the atonement is made4 ,when we come to the sign 8,,pisces0 we shall see more clearly that it points to the multitudes of the redeemed host4 ,the ,goat is bowing its head as though falling down in death4 ,the right leg is folded underneath the body1 and he seems unable to rise with the left4 ,the tail of the fish1 on the other hand1 seems to be full of vigour and life4 ,the ,hebrew name of the sign is ,gedi1 the kid or cut off1 the same as the ,arabic ,al ,gedi4 ,,capricornus is merely the modern 7,latin7 name of the sign1 and means goat4 ,illustration ,plate #af3 ,,capricornus 7the ,goat7 ,there are #ea stars in the sign1 three of which are of the #crd magnitude1 three of the #dth1 etc4 ,five are remarkable stars1 and in the horn and head1 and the remaining three1 1 1 and 1 in the fishy tail4 ,the star is named ,al ,gedi1 the kid or goat1 while the star is called ,deneb ,al ,gedi1 the sacrifice cometh4 ,other starnames in the sign1 not identified1 are ,dabih 7,syriac71 the sacrifice slain2 ,al ,dabik and ,al ,dehabeh 7,arabic7 have the same meaning2 ,ma'asad1 the slaying2 ,sa'ad al ,naschira1 the record of the cutting off4 ,is not this exactly in accord with the ,scriptures of truth8 ,there were two goats6 ,of 8the goat of the sinoffering0 it is written1 8,god hath given it to you to bear the iniquity of the congregation1 to make atonement for them before the ,,lord0 7,lev4 x4 #af1 #ag73 of the other goat1 which was not slain1 8he shall let it go into the wilderness0 7,lev4 xvi4 #bb74 ,here is death and resurrection4 ,christ was 8wounded for our transgressions1 and bruised for our iniquities40 8,for the transgression of ,,my ,,people was ,he stricken0 7,isa4 liii474 ,he laid down ,his life for the sheep4 ,in the first chapter of the ,first ,book we had the same ,blessed ,one presented as 8a corn of wheat40 ,here we see ,him come to 8die10 and hence not abiding alone1 but bringing forth 8much fruit0 7,john xii4 #bd74 ,the living fish proceeds from the dying goat1 and yet they form only one body4 ,that picture1 which has no parallel in nature1 has a perfectly true counterpart in grace2 and 8a great multitude1 which no man can number10 have been redeemed and shall obtain eternal life through the death of their ,redeemer4 ,it is1 however1 not merely the actual death which is set before us here4 ,the first chapter in each book has for its great subject the ,person of the ,redeemer in prophecy and promise4 ,the last chapter in each book has for its subject the fulfilment of that prophecy in victory and triumph1 in the ,person of the ,redeemer3 while the two central chapters in each book are occupied with the work which is the accomplishment of the promise1 presented in two aspects--the former connected with grace1 the latter with conflict4 ,thus the structure of each of the three books is an epanodos1 having for its first and last members the ,person of the ,redeemer 7in 8,a0 in ,prophecy2 in 8,a0 in ,fulfilment71 while in the two central members we have the work and its accomplishment 7in 8,b0 in grace2 and in 8,b0 in conflict74 ,it may be thus presented to the eye3-- ,the ,first ,book4 ,a ,,virgo4 ,the ,prophecy of the ,bruised ,seed4 ,b ,,libra4 ,the work accomplished 7in grace74 ,b ,,scorpio4 ,the work accomplished 7in conflict47 ,a ,,sagittarius4 ,the fulfillment of the promised victory4 ,the ,second ,book4 ,c ,,capricornus4 ,the ,prophecy of the ,promised ,deliverance4 ,d ,,aquarius4 ,results of the work bestowed 7in grace74 ,d ,,pisces4 ,results of the work enjoyed 7in conflict74 ,c ,,aries4 ,the ,fulfilment of the ,promised ,deliverance4 ,the ,third ,book4 ,e ,,taurus4 ,the ,prophecy of the coming ,judge of all the earth4 ,f ,,gemini4 ,the ,redeemer's reign4 7,grace and ,glory74 ,f ,,cancer4 ,the ,redeemer's possession 7safe from all conflict74 ,e ,,leo4 ,the fulfilment of the promised ,triumph4 ,hence in ,,capricornus we must look for the prophecy of this ,coming ,sacrifice4 ,as a matter of fact it did actually point out the time when the ,sun of ,righteousness should arise1 and 8the ,light of the ,world0 appear4 ,for when this ,promised ,seed was born the ,sun was actually in this sign of ,capricornus6 8,the fulness of time was come10 and 8,god sent forth ,his ,son ,,to ,,redeem them that were under the ,law0 7,gal4 iv4 #d74 ,the ,sun was really amongst those very stars--,al ,gedi1 the kid1 and ,deneb ,al ,gedi1 the sacrifice cometh--when this willing ,sacrifice said1 8,lo ,i come to do ,thy will1 ,o ,god40 ,the nights were at their darkest and their longest when ,jesus was born4 ,the days began immediately to lengthen when ,he1 8the true light10 had come into the world47#dh7 ,astronomers confess that the perverted legends of the ,greeks give but 8a lame account0 of this sign1 8and it offers no illustration of its ancient origin40 ,its ancient origin reveals a prophetic knowledge1 which only ,he possessed who knew that in 8the fulness of time0 ,he would send forth ,his ,son4 ,we now come to the three constellations which give us three pictures setting forth the death of this ,sacrifice and of ,his living again4 #a4 ,,sagitta 7,the ,arrow74 ,the ,arrow of ,god sent forth4 ,it is not the ,arrow of ,sagittarius1 for that has not left his bow4 ,that arrow is for the enemies of ,god4 ,this is for the ,son of ,god4 ,it was of this that ,he spoke when ,he said1 in ,ps4 xxxviii4 #b3 8,thine arrows stick fast in me1 ,and ,thy hand presseth me sore40 ,he was 8stricken1 smitten of ,god1 and afflicted1 ,he was wounded for our transgressions0 7,isa4 liii4 #d1 #e74 ,he was 8pierced10 when ,he could say with ,job1 8,the arrows of the ,almighty are within me0 7vi4 #d74 ,illustration ,plate #ag3 ,,sagitta 7the ,arrow71 ,,aquila 7the ,eagle71 ,,delphinus 7the ,dolphin7 ,here the arrow is pictured to us in midheaven1 alone1 as having been shot forth by an invisible hand4 ,it is seen in its flight through the heavens4 ,it is the arrow of ,god1 showing that ,redemption is all of ,god4 ,it was 8the will of ,god0 which ,jesus came to do4 ,not a mere work of mercy for miserable sinners1 but a work ordained in eternity past1 for the glory of ,god in eternity future4 ,this is the record of the ,word1 and this is what is pictured for us here4 ,the work which the arrow accomplishes is seen in the dying ,goat1 and in the falling ,eagle4 ,there are many other stars in the heavens in a straighter line1 which would better serve for an arrow4 ,why are these stars chosen8 ,why is the arrow placed here8 ,what explanation can be given1 except that the ,revelation in the stars and in the ,book are both from the inspiration of the same ,spirit8 ,there are about #ah stars1 of which four are of the #dth magnitude4 ,only and are in the same line1 while the shaft passes between and 4 ,the ,hebrew name is ,sham1 destroying1 or desolate4 #b4 ,,aquila 7,the ,eagle74 ,the ,smitten ,one ,falling4 ,here we have an additional picture of the effect of this arrow1 in the pierced1 wounded1 and falling ,eagle1 gasping in its dying struggle4 ,and that pierced1 wounded1 and dying ,saviour whom it represents1 after saying1 in ,ps4 xxxviii4 #b1 8,thine arrows stick fast in ,me10 added1 in verse #aj3 8,my heart panteth1 ,my strength faileth ,me1 ,as for the light of ,mine eyes it is gone from ,me40 7,see also ,zech4 xiii4 #f47 ,the names of the stars1 all of them1 bear out this representation4 ,the constellation contains #gd stars4 ,the brightest of them1 7in the ,eagle's neck71 is a notable star of the #ast magnitude1 called ,al ,tair 7,arabic71 the wounding4 ,the star 7in the throat7 is called ,al ,shain 7,arabic71 the bright1 from a ,hebrew root meaning scarlet coloured1 as in ,josh4 ii4 #ah4 ,the star 7in the back7 is called ,tarared1 wounded1 or torn4 7in the lower wing7 is named ,alcair1 which means the piercing1 and 7in the tail71 ,al ,okal1 has the significant meaning wounded in the heel4 ,how can the united testimony of these names be explained except by acknowledging a ,divine origin8 even that of ,him who afterwards foretold of the bruising of the ,virgin's ,son in the written ,word2 yea1 of ,him 8who telleth the number of the stars and giveth them all their names40 #c4 ,,delphinus 7,the ,dolphin74 ,the ,dead ,one ,rising again4 ,this is a bright cluster of #ah stars1 five of which are of the #crd magnitude4 ,it is easily distinguished by the four brightest1 which are in the head4 ,it is always figured as a fish full of life1 and always with the head upwards1 just as the eagle is always with the head downwards4 ,the great peculiar characteristic of the dolphin is its rising up1 leaping1 and springing out of the sea4 ,when we compare this with the dying goat and falling eagle1 what conclusion can we come to but that we have here the filling in of the picture1 and the completion of the whole truth set forth in ,capricornus8 ,jesus 8died and rose again40 ,apart from ,his resurrection ,his death is without result4 ,in ,his conflict with the enemy it is only ,his coming again in glory which is shown forth4 ,but here1 in connection with ,his people1 with the multitudes of ,his redeemed1 ,resurrection is the great and important truth4 ,he is 8the firstfruits of them that slept02 then ,he1 too1 is here represented as a fish4 ,he who went down into the waters of death for ,his people2 ,he who could say 8,all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me0 7,ps4 xlii4 #g71 ,he it is who rises up again from the dead1 having died on account of the sins of ,his redeemed1 and risen again on account of their justification 7,rom4 iv4 #be74 ,this is the picture here4 ,in the ,persian planisphere there seems to be a fish and a stream of water4 ,the ,egyptian has a vessel pouring out water4 ,the ancient names connected with this constellation are ,dalaph 7,hebrew71 pouring out of water2 ,dalaph 7,arabic71 coming quickly2 ,scalooin 7,arabic71 swift 7as the flow of water72 ,rotaneb or ,rotaneu 7,syriac and ,chaldee71 swiftly running4 ,thus1 in this first chapter of the ,second ,book we see the great truth of ,revelation set forth2 and we learn how the great ,blessings of ,redemption were procured4 ,this truth cannot be more eloquently or powerfully presented than in the language of ,dr4 ,seiss3-- 8,this strange goatfish1 dying in its head1 but living in its afterpart--falling as an eagle pierced and wounded by the arrow of death1 but springing up from the dark waves with the matchless vigour and beauty of the dolphin--sinking under sin's condemnation1 but rising again as sin's conqueror--developing new life out of death1 and heralding a new springtime out of ,december's long drear nights--was framed by no blind chance of man4 ,the story which it tells is the old1 old story on which hangs the only availing hope that ever came1 or ever can come1 to ,adam's race4 ,to what it signifies we are for ever shut up as the only saving faith4 ,in that dying ,seed of the woman we must see our sinbearer and the atonement for our guilt1 or die ourselves unpardoned and unsanctified4 ,through ,his death and bloodshedding we must find our life1 or the true life1 which alone is life1 we never can have40 8,complete atonement ,thou hast made1 ,and to the utmost farthing paid ,whate'er ,thy people owed3 ,nor can ,his wrath on me take place1 ,if sheltered in ,his righteousness1 ,and sprinkled with the blood4 ,if my discharge ,thou hast procured1 ,and freely in my room endured ,the whole of wrath divine1 ,payment ,god cannot twice demand1 ,first at my bleeding ,surety's hand1 ,and then again at mine4 ,turn1 then1 my soul1 unto ,thy rest2 ,the merits of ,thy great ,high ,priest ,have bought thy liberty2 ,trust in ,his efficacious blood1 ,nor fear thy banishment from ,god1 ,since ,jesus died for thee40 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,sign ,,aquarius 7,the ,water ,bearer74 ,their ,blessings ,ensured1 or the ,living ,waters of ,blessing ,poured ,forth for the ,redeemed4 ,the ,atonement being made1 the blessings have been procured1 and now they can be bestowed and poured forth upon the ,redeemed4 ,this is the truth1 whether we think of ,abel's lamb1 of patriarchal sacrifices1 the offerings under the ,law1 or of that great ,sacrifice of which they all testified4 ,they all with one voice tell us that atonement made is the only foundation of blessing4 ,this was pictured and foreshown in the heavens from the beginning1 by a man pouring forth water from an urn which seems to have an inexhaustible supply1 and which flows forth downwards into the mouth of a fish1 which receives it and drinks it all up4 ,in the ancient ,zodiac of ,denderah it is the same idea1 though the man holds two urns1 and the fish below seems to have come out of the urn4 ,the man is called ,hupei ,tirion1 which means the place of him coming down or poured forth4 ,in some eastern ,zodiacs the ,urn alone appears4 ,illustration ,plate #ah3 ,,aquarius 7the ,water ,bearer7 ,,piscis ,,australis 7the ,southern ,fish7 ,this agrees with its other names--,hebrew1 ,deli1 the waterurn1 or bucket 7as in ,num4 xxiv4 #g72 the ,arabic ,delu is the same4 ,there are #ajh stars in this ,sign1 four of which are of the #crd magnitude4 ,their names1 as far as they have come down to us1 are significant4 ,the star 7in the right shoulder7 is called ,sa'ad al ,melik1 which means the record of the pouring forth4 ,the star 7in the other shoulder7 is called ,saad al ,sund1 who goeth and returneth1 or the pourer out4 ,the bright star 7in the lower part of the right leg7 is wellknown to day by its ,hebrew name ,scheat1 which means who goeth and returneth4 ,the bright star in the urn has an ,egyptian name--,mon or ,meon1 which means simply an urn4 ,aquarius is the modern ,latin name by which the sign is known4 ,it has the same meaning1 the pourer forth of water4 ,can we doubt what is the interpretation of this sign8 ,the ,greeks1 not knowing ,him of whom it testified1 were1 like the woman of ,samaria1 destitute of that living water which ,he alone can give4 ,they therefore invented some story about ,deucalion1 the son of ,prometheus2 and another1 saying he is ,ganymede1 ,jove's cupbearer6 ,but1 as an astronomer says1 8,we must account otherwise for the origin of this name2 for it is not possible to reconcile the symbols of the eleventh7#di7 sign with ,grecian mythology40 ,no6 we must go further back than that1 and not cramp our vision1 and distort the ,scriptures1 by confining our thoughts to 8the ,church40 ,the ,church is nowhere seen in these ,signs1 as she is nowhere revealed in the ,old ,testament4 ,this we shall enlarge on when we come to the sign ,pisces4 ,meanwhile we must read the witness of the stars as if there had been no ,church6 ,christ is first4 ,yea1 ,he is all in all4 ,the ,scriptures testify of ,him2 and the very stars in this ,sign tell of ,his going away and ,his coming again4 ,these prophetic signs have to do with ,him1 with the ,atonement ,he wrought1 with the conflict ,he endured1 with the blessings ,he secured1 with the victory ,he shall win1 and the triumph ,he shall have4 ,for it is written3 8,he shall pour the water out of ,his buckets1 ,and ,his seed shall be in many waters1 ,and ,his king shall be higher than ,agag1 ,and ,his kingdom shall be exalted40 7,num4 xxiv4 #g47 ,it tells of that glorious day when 8,a ,king shall reign in righteousness2 ,and princes shall rule in judgment2 ,and a ,,man shall be as an hiding place from the wind1 ,and a covert from the tempest2 ,as ,,rivers of ,,water in a dry place40 7,isa4 xxxii4 #a1 #b74 ,it speaks of that glorious time when ,israel shall be restored1 and their 8eyes shall see the ,king in ,his beauty02 when the peace of ,zion shall be no more disturbed1 8but there the glorious ,,lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams0 7,isa4 xxxiii4 #ag1 #bj1 #ba74 ,then 8,the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them2 ,and the desert shall rejoice1 and blossom as the rose1 ,for in the wilderness shall waters break out1 ,and streams in the desert40 7,isa4 xxxv4 #a1 #f47 8,i will open rivers in high places1 ,and fountains in the midst of the valleys2 ,i will make the wilderness a pool of water1 ,and the dry land springs of water40 7,isa4 xli4 #ah47 8,fear not1 ,o ,jacob1 ,my servant2 ,and thou1 ,jesurun1 whom ,i have chosen1 ,for ,i will ,,pour ,,water upon him that is thirsty1 ,and floods upon the dry ground2 ,i will pour ,my ,spirit upon thy seed1 ,and ,my blessing upon thy offspring4 ,thus saith the ,,lord the ,king of ,israel1 ,and his ,redeemer the ,,lord of hosts40 7,isa4 xliv4 #b1 #c1 #f47 ,this is the meaning of the ,sign4 ,the ,,man ,christ ,jesus1 who was humbled in death will yet be seen to be the pourer forth of every blessing4 ,physically pouring forth literal waters1 removing the curse1 and turning this world into a paradise3 8,making her wilderness like ,eden1 ,and her desert like the garden of the ,,lord40 7,isa4 li4 #c47 ,and morally pouring forth ,his ,spirit in such abundance as to fill the whole earth with peace1 and blessing1 and glory1 8as the waters cover the sea40 ,upon ,israel restored ,he will pour out ,his blessing4 ,they will be sprinkled with clean water1 and possess a new heart and a new spirit 7,ezek4 xxxvi4 #bdbh2 ,joel ii4 #bhcb74 ,such are some of the ,scriptures which tell of this glorious ,waterpourer4 ,we need not rob ,christ of ,his glory1 or ,israel of her blessing1 in order to see in all this ,pentecost or the ,church4 ,these are quite independent of the great line of prophetic truth4 ,they are parenthetical1 and distinct1 and true1 quite apart from the glorious prophecies of ,israel's scattering and gathering4 ,the physical marvels referred to in the texts above can never be satisfied or exhausted by any spiritual fulfilment4 ,we may make an application of them as far as is consistent with the teaching of the epistles2 but the interpretation of them belongs to the ,person of ,christ1 and the nation of ,israel4 ,that interpretation is pictured for us in the ,sign1 and in its three constellations4 #a4 ,,piscis ,,australis 7,the ,southern ,fish74 ,the ,blessings ,bestowed4 ,this first constellation is one of high antiquity17#ej7 and its brilliant star of the first magnitude was a subject of great study by the ,egyptians and ,ethiopians4 ,it is named in ,arabic ,fom al ,haut1 the mouth of the fish4 ,there are #bb other stars4 ,the constellation is inseparable from ,aquarius1 in connection with which we have shown it in ,plate ,,xviii4 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac it is called ,aar1 a stream4 ,it sets forth the simple truth that the blessings procured by the ,,man--the coming ,seed of the woman1 will be surely bestowed and received by those for whom they are intended4 ,there will be no failure in their communication1 or in their reception4 ,what has been purchased shall be secured and possessed4 #b4 ,,pegasus 7,the ,winged ,horse74 ,the ,blessings ,quickly ,coming4 ,not only shall they be received1 but they shall be brought near4 ,they will not have to be fetched1 but they will be caused to come to those for whom they are procured1 and will yet be brought by ,him who has procured them4 ,illustration ,plate #ai3 ,,pegasus 7the ,winged ,horse7 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac there are two characters immediately below the horse1 ,pe and ka4 ,peka or ,pega1 is in ,hebrew the chief1 and ,sus is horse4 ,so that the very word 7,pegasus7 has come down to us and has been preserved through all the languages4 ,the names of the stars in this constellation declare to us its meaning4 ,there are #hi altogether2 one of the #ast magnitude1 two of the #bnd1 three of the #crd1 nine of the #dth1 etc4 ,and1 as astronomers testify1 8they render ,pegasus peculiarly remarkable40 ,the brightest1 7on the neck of the horse at the junction of the wing71 comes down to us with the ancient ,hebrew name of ,markab1 which means returning from afar4 ,the star 7in the near shoulder7 is called ,scheat1 i4e41 who goeth and returneth4 ,the star 7at the tip of the wing7 bears an ,arabic name--,al ,genib1 who carries4 ,the star 7in the nostril7 is called ,enif 7,arabic71 the water4 ,the star 7in the near leg7 is called ,matar 7,arabic71 who causes to overflow4 ,these names show us that we have to do with no mere horse4 ,a winged horse is unknown to nature4 ,it must therefore be used as a figure2 and it can be a figure only of a person1 even of ,him who is 8the ,branch10 as the star ,enif shows1 who said1 8,if ,i go away ,i will come again10 as the star ,scheat testifies4 ,he who procured these blessings for the redeemed by ,his ,atonement1 is quickly coming to bring them2 and is soon returning to pour them forth upon a groaning creation4 ,this is the lesson of ,pegasus4 8,come1 blessed ,lord1 bid every shore ,and answering island sing ,the praises of ,thy royal ,name1 ,and own ,thee as their ,king4 ,lord1 ,lord6 ,thy fair creation groans-- ,the earth1 the air1 the sea-- ,in unison with all our hearts1 ,and calls aloud for ,thee4 ,thine was the ,cross with all its fruits ,of grace and peace divine3 ,be ,thine the ,crown of glory now1 ,the palm of victory ,thine40 #c4 ,,cygnus 7,the ,swan74 ,the ,blesser surely ,returning4 ,this constellation repeats1 emphasises1 and affirms this glorious truth4 ,it has to do with the ,great ,blesser and ,his speedy return1 as is testified by all the ancient names connected with it4 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac it is named ,tesark1 which means this from afar4 ,illustration ,plate #bj3 ,,cygnus 7the ,swan7 ,it is a most brilliant and gorgeous asterism of #ha stars2 one of the #ast or #bnd1 six of the #crd1 twelve of the #dth magnitude1 etc4 ,it contains variable stars1 five double stars1 and one quadruple4 ,the star marked 8#fa ,cygni0 is known as one of the most wonderful in the whole heavens4 ,it consists of two stars which revolve about each other1 and yet have a progressive motion common to each6 ,this mighty bird is not falling dead1 like ,aquila1 but it is flying swiftly in midheaven4 ,it is coming to the earth1 for it is not so much a bird of the air1 but a bird peculiarly belonging to both the earth and the waters4 ,its brightest star1 7between the body and the tail71 is called ,deneb 7like another in ,capricornus71 and means the judge4 ,it is also called ,adige1 flying swiftly1 and thus at once it is connected with ,him who cometh to judge the earth in righteousness4 ,the star 7in the beak7 is named ,al ,bireo 7,arabic71 flying quickly4 ,the star 7in the body7 is called ,sadr 7,hebrew71 who returns as in a circle4 ,the two stars in the tail1 now marked in the maps as #a and #b1 are named ,azel1 who goes and returns quickly2 and ,fafage1 gloriously shining forth4 ,the teaching1 then1 of the whole sign of ,,aquarius is clear and complete4 ,the names of the stars explain the constellations1 and the names of the constellations explain the sign1 so that we are left in no doubt4 ,by ,his atoning death 7as set forth in ,,capricornus7 ,he has purchased and procured unspeakable blessings for ,his redeemed4 ,this sign 7,,aquarius7 tells of those blessings being poured forth1 and of the speedy return of ,him who is to bring 8rivers of blessing10 and to fill this earth with blessing and glory 8as the waters cover the sea40 8,then take1 ,,lord1 thy kingdom1 and come in ,thy glory2 ,make the scene of ,thy sorrows the place of ,thy throne1 ,complete all the blessing which ages in story ,have told of the triumphs so justly ,thine own40 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,sign ,,pisces 7,the ,fishes74 ,the ,blessings of the ,redeemed in abeyance4 ,in this third chapter of the ,second ,book we come to the results of the ,redeemer's work enjoyed1 but in connection with conflict1 as is seen in the last of the three sections 7the constellation of ,andromeda1 the chained woman71 which leads up to the last chapter of the book1 and ends it in triumph over every enemy4 ,illustration ,plate #ba3 ,,pisces 7the ,fish7 and the ,band ,the ,sign is pictured as two large fishes bound together by a ,band1 the ends of which are fastened separately to their tails4 ,one fish is represented with its head pointing upwards towards the ,north ,polar ,star1 the other is shown at right angles1 swimming along the line of the ecliptic1 or path of the sun4 ,the ancient ,egyptian name1 as shown on the ,denderah ,zodiac1 is ,picot ,orion1 or ,pisces ,hori1 which means the fishes of ,him that cometh4 ,the ,hebrew name is ,dagim1 the ,fishes1 which is closely connected with multitudes1 as in ,gen4 xlviii4 #bf1 where ,jacob blesses ,joseph's sons1 and says1 8,let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth40 ,the margin says1 8,let them grow as fishes do increase40 ,it refers to the fulfilment of ,gen4 i4 #bh1 8,be fruitful and multiply40 ,the multitude of ,abraham's seed is prominent in the pronouncement of the blessings1 where ,god compared his future posterity to the stars of the sky1 and the sand upon the sea shore4 8,a very great multitude of fish10 as in ,ezek4 xlvii4 #i4 ,the ,syriac name is ,nuno1 the fish1 lengthened out 7as in posterity74 ,the sign1 then1 speaks of the multitudes who should enjoy the blessings of the ,redeemer's work4 ,and here we must maintain that 8the ,church10 which is 8the ,body of ,christ10 was a subject that was never revealed to man until it was made known to the ,apostle ,paul by a special revelation4 ,the ,holy ,spirit declares 7,rom4 xvi4 #be7 that it 8was kept secret since the world began40 ,in ,eph4 iii4 #i he declares that it 8from the beginning of the world hath been hid in ,god02 and in ,col4 i4 #bf1 that it 8hath been hid from ages and from generations1 but now is made manifest to ,his saints40 ,in each scripture which speaks of it as 8now made manifest10 or 8now made known10 it is distinctly stated that it was 8a mystery10 i4e41 a secret1 and had1 up to that moment1 been hidden from mankind1 hidden 8in ,god40 ,how1 then1 we ask1 can 8the ,church10 which was a subsequent revelation1 be read into the previous prophecies1 whether written in the ,old ,testament ,scriptures1 or made known in the ,heavens8 ,if the ,church was revealed in prophecy1 then it could not have been said to be hidden or kept secret4 ,if the first revelation of it was made known to ,paul1 as he distinctly affirms it was1 then it could not have been revealed before4 ,unless we see this very clearly1 we cannot 8rightly divide the word of truth0 7#b ,tim4 ii4 #ae74 ,and if we do not rightly divide the word of truth1 in its subjects1 and times1 and dispensations1 we must inevitably be landed in confusion and darkness1 interpreting of the ,church1 scriptures which belong only to ,israel4 ,the ,church1 or ,body of ,christ1 is totally distinct from every class of persons who are made the subject of prophecy4 ,not that the ,church of ,god was an afterthought4 ,no1 it was a ,divine secret1 kept as only ,god ,himself could keep it4 ,the ,bible therefore would have been complete 7so far as the ,old ,testament prophecies are concerned7 if the ,epistles 7which belong only to the ,church7 were taken out4 ,the ,old ,testament would then give us the kingdom prophesied2 the ,gospels and ,acts1 the ,king and the kingdom offered and rejected2 then the ,apocalypse would follow1 showing how that promised kingdom will yet be set up with ,divine judgment1 power1 and glory4 ,if these ,signs and these starpictures be the results of inspired patriarchs1 then this ,sign of ,,pisces can refer to 8,his seed10 prophesied of in ,isa4 liii43 8,he shall see ,his seed40 ,it must refer to 8,the nation whose ,god is the ,,lord1 ,and the people whom ,he hath chosen for ,his own inheritance40 7,ps4 xxxiii4 #ab47 8,such as be blessed of ,him shall inherit the earth40 7,ps4 xxxvii4 #bb47 8,the ,,lord shall increase you more and more1 ,you and your children1 ,ye are blessed of the ,,lord40 7,ps4 cxv4 #ad1 #ae47 8,their seed shall be known among the ,gentiles4 ,and their offspring among the people2 ,all that see them shall acknowledge them1 ,that they are the seed which the ,,lord hath blessed40 7,isa4 lxi4 #i47 8,they are the seed of the blessed of the ,,lord1 ,and their offspring with them40 7,isa4 lxv4 #bc47 ,the prophecy of this ,sign was afterwards written in the words of ,isa4 xxvi4 #ae--the song which shall yet be sung in the land of ,judah3 8,thou hast increased the nation1 ,o ,,lord1 ,thou hast increased the nation40 ,and in ,isa4 ix4 #c 7,r4,v471 speaking of the glorious time when the government shall be upon the shoulder of the coming ,king3 8,thou hast multiplied the nation1 ,thou hast increased their joy40 ,of that longedfor day ,jeremiah sings 7xxx4 #ai73 8,i will multiply them ,and they shall not be few2 ,i will also glorify them1 ,and they shall not be small40 ,ezekiel also is inspired to say3 8,i will multiply men upon you1 ,all the house of ,israel1 even all of it3 ,and the cities shall be inhabited1 ,and the wastes shall be builded2 ,and ,i will multiply upon you man and beast1 ,and they shall increase and bring fruit40 7,ezek4 xxxvi4 #aj1 #aa47 8,moreover ,i will make a covenant of peace with them2 ,it shall be an everlasting covenant with them6 ,and ,i will place them1 and multiply them1 ,and will set ,my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore40 7,ezek4 xxxvii4 #bf47 ,indeed1 this ,sign of ,,pisces has always been interpreted of ,israel4 ,both ,jews and ,gentiles have agreed in this4 ,,abarbanel1 a ,jewish commentator1 writing on ,daniel1 affirms that the ,sign ,,pisces always refers to the people of ,israel4 ,he gives five reasons for this belief1 and also affirms that a conjunction of the planets ,jupiter and ,saturn always betokens a crisis in the affairs of ,israel4 ,because such a conjunction took place in his day 7about #adhj ,a4,d47 he looked for the coming of ,messiah47#ea7 ,certain it is1 that when the sun is in ,,pisces all the constellations which are considered noxious1 are seen above the horizon4 ,what is true in astronomical observation is true also in historical fact4 ,when ,god's favour is shown to ,israel1 8the ,jew's enemy0 puts forth his malignant powers4 ,when they increased and multiplied in ,egypt1 he endeavoured to compass the destruction of the nation by destroying the male children2 but their great ,deliverer remembered ,his covenant1 defeated the designs of the enemy1 and brought the counsel of the heathen to nought4 ,so it was in ,persia2 and so it will yet be again when the hour of ,israel's final deliverance has come4 ,there can be no doubt that we have in this ,sign the foreshowing of the multiplication and blessing of the children of promise1 and a token of their coming deliverance from all the power of the enemy4 ,but why two fishes8 and why is one horizontal and the other perpendicular8 ,the answer is1 that not only in ,israel1 but in the seed of ,seth and ,shem there were always those who looked for a heavenly portion1 and were 8partakers of a heavenly calling40 ,in ,heb4 xi4 we are distinctly told that ,abraham 8looked for a city which hath foundations1 whose builder and maker is ,god0 7v4 #aj74 ,they were 8strangers and pilgrims on the earth0 7v4 #ac74 ,strangers are those without a home1 and pilgrims are those who are journeying home3 8they seek a country0 7v4 #ad74 ,they desired 8a better country1 that is1 an ,,heavenly3 wherefore ,god is not ashamed7#eb7 to be called their ,god2 for ,he hath prepared for them a city0 7v4 #af74 ,it is clear1 therefore1 that what are called the 8,old ,testament ,saints0 were 8partakers of ,,the ,,heavenly ,,calling0 7,heb4 iii4 #a71 which included a heavenly portion and a heavenly home2 and all through the ages there have been 8partakers of the heavenly calling40 ,this is quite distinct from the calling of the ,church1 which is from both ,jews and ,gentiles to form 8one body10 a 8new man0 in ,christ 7,eph4 ii4 #ae74 ,it must be distinct1 for it is expressly stated at the end of that chapter 7,heb4 xi4 #dj7 that ,god has 8,,provided 7marg4 forseen7 ,,some ,,better ,,thing ,,for ,,us40 ,how can this be a 8better thing10 if it is the same thing8 ,there must be two separate things if one is 8better0 than the other6 ,our calling in ,christ is the 8better thing40 ,the ,old ,testament saints had1 and will have1 a good thing4 ,they will have a heavenly blessing1 and a heavenly portion1 for ,god has 8prepared for them a city10 and we see that prepared city1 even 8the holy city1 new ,jerusalem1 coming down from ,god out of ,,heaven1 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband0 7,rev4 xxi4 #b74 ,this is the 8heavenly0 portion of the ,old ,testament saints1 the ,bride of ,christ4 ,the ,church will have a still 8better0 portion1 for 8they without us should not be made perfect0 7,heb4 xi4 #dj74 ,the fish1 shooting upwards to the ,polar ,star1 exquisitely pictures this 8heavenly calling02 while the other fish1 keeping on the horizontal line1 answers to those who were content with an earthly portion4 ,but both alike were divinely called1 and chosen1 and upheld4 ,the names of two of the stars in the sign 7not identified7 are ,okda 7,hebrew71 the united1 and ,al ,samaca 7,arabic71 the upheld47#ec7 ,these again speak of the redeemed seed1 of whom1 and to whom1 ,jehovah speaks in that coming day of glory in ,isa4 xli4 #haj 7,r4,v473-- 8,but thou1 ,israel1 ,my servant1 ,jacob1 whom ,i have chosen1 ,the seed of ,abraham ,my friend2 ,thou whom ,i have taken hold of from the ends of the earth1 ,and called thee from the corners thereof1 ,and said unto thee1 ,thou art ,my servant2 ,i have chosen thee1 and not cast thee away2 ,fear thou not1 for ,i am with thee2 ,be not dismayed1 for ,i am thy ,god6 ,i will strengthen thee2 ,yea1 ,i will help thee2 ,yea1 ,i will ,,uphold thee with the right hand of ,my righteousness40 ,this is the teaching of the ,sign2 and the first constellation takes up this thought and emphasises it4 #a4 ,,the ,,band4 ,the ,redeemed ,bound1 but binding their ,enemy4 ,the band that unites these two fishes has always formed a separate constellation4 ,it is shown in ,plate ,,xxi4 ,the ,arabian poems of ,,antarah frequently mention it as distinct from the ,sign with which it is so closely connected4 ,,antarah was an ,arabian poet of the sixth century4 ,its ancient ,egyptian name was ,uor1 which means ,he cometh4 ,its ,arabic name is ,al ,risha1 the band1 or bridle4 ,it speaks of the ,coming ,one1 not in ,his relation to ,himself1 or to ,his enemies1 but in ,his relation to the ,redeemed4 ,it speaks of ,him who says3 8,i drew them with cords of a man1 ,with bands of love2 ,and ,i was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws40 7,hosea xi4 #d1 ,r4,v47 ,but it speaks also of ,his unloosing the bands with which they have been so long bound4 ,in the picture these fishes are bound4 ,one end of the band is fastened securely round the tail of one fish1 and it is the same with the other4 ,moreover1 this band is fastened to the neck of ,cetus1 the sea monster1 while immediately above is seen a woman chained as a captive4 ,these both tell the same story1 and1 indeed1 all are required to set forth the whole truth4 ,the fishes are bound to ,cetus2 the woman 7,andromeda7 is chained2 but the ,deliverer of both is near4 ,cepheus1 the ,crowned ,king1 the ,redeemer1 8the ,breaker10 the ,branch1 is seen coming quickly for the deliverance of ,his redeemed4 ,these are the three constellations of this sign1 and all three are required to set forth the story4 ,israel now is bound4 ,the great enemy still oppresses1 but deliverance is sure4 ,,aries1 the ,ram1 is seen with his paws on this band1 as though about to loosen the bands and set the captives free1 and to fast bind their great oppressor4 #b4 ,,andromeda 7,the ,chained ,woman74 ,the ,redeemed in their ,bondage and ,affliction4 ,this is a peculiar picture to set in the heavens4 ,a woman with chains fastened to her feet and arms1 in misery and trouble2 and bound1 helpless1 to the sky4 ,yet this is the ancient foreshowing of the truth4 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac her name is ,set1 which means set1 set up as a queen4 ,in ,hebrew it is ,sirra1 the chained1 and ,persea1 the stretched out4 ,illustration ,plate #bb3 ,,andromeda 7the ,chained ,woman7 ,there are #fc stars in this constellation1 three of which are of the #bnd magnitude1 two of the #crd1 twelve of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7in the head71 is called ,al ,phiratz 7,arabic71 the broken down4 ,the star 7in the body7 is called ,mirach 7,hebrew71 the weak4 ,the star 7in the left foot7 is called ,al ,maach1 or ,al ,amak 7,arabic71 struck down4 ,the names of other stars1 not identified1 are ,adhil1 the afflicted2 ,mizar1 the weak2 ,al ,mara 7,arabic71 the afflicted4 ,,aratus speaks of ,desma1 which means the bound1 and says-- 8,her feet point to her bridegroom ,perseus1 on whose shoulder they rest40 ,thus1 with one voice1 the stars of ,andromeda speak to us of the captive daughter of ,zion4 ,and her coming ,deliverer thus addresses her3-- 8,o thou afflicted1 tossed with tempest1 and not comforted1 ,behold1 444 in righteousness shalt thou be established3 ,thou shalt be far from oppression2 for thou shalt not fear3 ,and from terror2 for it shall not come nigh thee40 7,isa4 liv4 #aaad47 8,hear now this1 thou afflicted4444 ,awake1 awake2 put on thy strength1 ,o ,zion2 ,put on thy beautiful garments1 ,o ,jerusalem4444 ,shake thyself from the dust2 ,arise1 and sit down1 ,o ,jerusalem3 ,loose thyself from the bands of thy neck1 ,o captive daughter of ,zion4 ,for thus saith the ,,lord1 ,ye have sold yourselves for nought2 ,and ye shall be redeemed without money40 7,isa4 li4 #balii4 #c47 8,the virgin daughter of ,my people is broken with a great breach1 with a very grievous blow0 7,jer4 xiv4 #ag74 ,the picture which sets forth her deliverance is reserved for the next chapter 7or ,sign71 where it comes in its proper place and order4 ,we are first shown her glorious ,deliverer2 for we never1 in the heavens or in the ,word1 have a reference to the sufferings without an immediate reference to the glory4 #c4 ,,cepheus 7,the ,king74 ,their ,redeemer ,coming to ,rule4 ,here we have the presentation of a glorious king1 crowned1 and enthroned in the highest heaven1 with a sceptre in his hand1 and his foot planted on the very ,polar ,star itself4 ,his name in the ,denderah ,zodiac is ,pekuhor1 which means this one cometh to rule4 ,illustration ,plate #bc3 ,,cepheus 7the ,crowned ,king7 ,the ,greek name by which he is now known1 ,cepheus1 is from the ,hebrew1 and means the branch1 and is called by ,,euripides the king4 ,an old ,ethiopian name was ,hyk1 a king4 ,there are #ce stars1 viz41 three of the #crd magnitude1 seven of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7in the left shoulder71 is called ,al ,deramin1 which means coming quickly4 ,the next1 7in the girdle71 is named ,al ,phirk 7,arabic71 the ,redeemer4 ,the next1 7in the left knee71 is called ,al ,rai1 which means who bruises or breaks4 ,it is impossible to mistake the truth which these names teach4 ,the ,greeks1 though they had lost it1 yet preserved a trace of it1 even in their perversion of it2 for they held that ,cepheus was the father of ,andromeda1 and that ,perseus was her husband4 ,yes2 this is the glorious ,king of ,israel1 the 8,king of kings1 and ,lord of lords40 ,it is ,he who calls ,israel ,his 8son10 and will yet manifest it to all the world4 ,in ,jer4 xxxi41 after speaking of ,israel's restoration1 ,jehovah says 7v4 #a73-- 8,at the same time1 saith the ,,lord1 will ,i be the ,god of all the families of ,israel1 ,and they shall be ,my people4444 ,for ,i am a father to ,israel1 ,and ,ephraim is ,my firstborn0 7v4 #i74 ,as ,he said to ,moses3 8,thus saith the ,,lord1 ,israel is my son1 even my firstborn0 7,exod4 iv4 #bb74 ,here is the foundation of ,israel's blessing4 ,true1 it is now in abeyance1 but 8the ,,lord reigneth10 and will in due time make good ,his ,word1 for 8,the counsel of the ,,lord standeth for ever4 ,the thoughts of ,his heart to all generations40 7,ps4 xxxiii4 #aa47 ,this leads us up to the last chapter of the ,second ,book1 which shows us the fulfilment of all the prophecies concerning the ,redeemed and the sure foundation on which their great hope of glory is based4 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,the ,sign ,,aries 7,the ,ram or ,lamb74 ,the ,blessings of the ,redeemed ,consummated and ,enjoyed4 ,this ,second ,book began with the ,goat dying in sacrifice1 and it ends with the ,lamb living again1 8as it had been slain40 ,the goat had the tail of a fish1 indicating that his death was for a multitude of the redeemed4 ,in the two middle ,signs we have had these fishes presented to us in grace1 and in their conflict4 ,we come now to the last chapter of the book3 and1 as we have seen1 like each of the other books1 it ends up with victory and triumph4 ,here we are first shown the foundation on which that victory rests1 namely1 ,atonement4 ,hence we are taken back and reminded of the 8blood of the ,lamb40 ,this is pictured by a ram1 or lamb1 full of vigour and life2 not falling in death as ,capricornus is4 ,illustration ,plate #bd3 ,,aries 7the ,ram7 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac its name is ,tametouris ,ammon1 which means the reign1 dominion1 or government of ,ammon4 ,the lamb's head is without horns1 and is crowned with a circle4 ,the ,hebrew name is ,taleh1 the lamb4 ,the ,arabic name is ,al ,hamal1 the sheep1 gentle1 merciful4 ,this name has been mistakenly given by some to the principal star1 4 ,the ,syriac name is ,amroo1 as in the ,syriac ,new ,testament in ,john i4 #bi3 8,behold the ,lamb of ,god which taketh away the sin of the world40 ,the ancient ,akkadian name was ,baraziggar4 ,bar means altar1 or sacrifice2 and ziggar means right making2 so that the full name would be the sacrifice of righteousness4 ,there are #ff stars in this sign1 one being of the #bnd magnitude1 two of the #dth1 etc4 ,its chief star1 7in the forehead71 is named ,el ,nath17#ed7 or ,el ,natik1 which means wounded1 slain4 ,the next1 7in the left horn71 is called ,al ,sheratan1 the bruised1 the wounded4 ,the next1 7near to 71 is called ,mesartim 7,hebrew71 the bound4 ,how is it there is no conflicting voice8 ,how is it that all the stars unite in one harmonious voice in testifying of the ,lamb of ,god1 slain1 and bruised1 but yet living for evermore1 singing together1 8,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain to receive power and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honour1 and glory1 and blessing0 7,rev4 v4 #ab78 ,this rejoicing connected with the ,lamb shines faintly through the heathen perversions and myths3 for ,,herodotus tells us how the ancient ,egyptians1 once a year1 when it opened by the entrance of the sun into ,,aries17#ee7 slew a ,ram1 at the festival of ,jupiter ,ammon2 branches were placed over the doors1 the ,ram was garlanded with wreaths of flowers and carried in procession4 ,now the sun entered ,,aries on the #adth of the ,jewish month ,nisan1 and another lamb was then ordered to be slain1 even 8the ,,lord',s passover0--the type of that ,lamb that should in the fulness of time be offered without blemish and without spot4 ,owing to the precession of the equinoxes1 the sun1 at the time of the ,exodus1 had receded into this sign of ,,aries1 which then marked the ,spring ,equinox4 ,but by the time that the antitype--the ,lamb of ,god1 was slain1 the sun had still further receded1 and on the #adth of ,nisan1 in the year of the ,crucifixion1 stood at the very spot marked by the stars 1 ,el ,nath1 the pierced1 the wounded or slain1 and 1 ,al ,sheratan1 the bruised or wounded6 ,god so ordained 8the times and seasons0 that during that noonday darkness the sun was seen near those stars which had spoken for so many centuries of this bruising of the woman's ,seed--the ,lamb of ,god4 ,was this design8 or was it chance8 ,it is far easier to believe the former4 ,it makes a smaller demand upon our faith2 yes1 we are compelled to believe that ,he who created the sun and the stars 8for signs and for cycles10 ordained also the times and the seasons1 and it is ,he who tells us that 8,,when ,,the ,,fulness ,,of ,,time ,,was ,,come1 ,god sent forth ,his ,son0 7,gal4 iv4 #d71 and that 8in due time ,christ died for the ungodly0 7,rom4 v4 #f74 #a4 ,,cassiopeia 7,the ,enthroned ,woman74 ,the ,captive ,delivered1 and ,preparing for her ,husband1 the ,redeemer4 ,in the last chapter we saw the woman bound2 here we see the same woman freed1 delivered1 and enthroned4 ,,ulugh ,,bey says its ,arabic name is ,el ,seder1 which means the freed4 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac her name is ,set1 which means set1 set up as ,queen4 ,,albumazer says this constellation was anciently called 8the daughter of splendour40 ,this appears to be the meaning of the word ,cassiopeia1 the enthroned1 the beautiful4 ,the ,arabic name is ,ruchba1 the enthroned4 ,this is also the meaning of its ,chaldee name1 ,dat al cursa4 ,there are #ee stars in this constellation1 of which five are of the #crd magnitude1 five of the #dth1 etc4 ,this beautiful constellation passes vertically over ,great ,britain every day1 and is easily distinguished by its five brightest stars1 forming an irregular ,w4 ,illustration ,illustration showing the ,w of ,cassiopeia ,this brilliant constellation contains one binary star1 a triple star1 a double star1 a quadruple star1 and a large number of nebul4 ,illustration ,plate #be3 ,,cassiopeia 7the ,enthroned ,woman7 ,in the year #aegb ,tycho ,brahe discovered in this constellation1 and very near the star 7under the arm of the chair71 a new star1 which shone more brightly than ,venus4 ,it was observed for nearly two years1 and disappeared entirely in #aegd4 ,the brightest star1 7in the left breast71 is named ,schedir 7,hebrew71 which means the freed4 ,the next1 7in the top of the chair71 likewise bears a ,hebrew name--,caph1 which means the branch2 it is evidently given on account of the branch of victory which she bears in her hand4 ,she is indeed highly exalted1 and making herself ready4 ,her hands1 no longer bound1 are engaged in this happy work4 ,with her right hand she is arranging her robes1 while with her left she is adorning her hair4 ,she is seated upon the ,arctic circle1 and close by the side of ,cepheus1 the ,king4 ,this is 8the ,bride1 the ,lamb's wife1 the heavenly city1 the new ,jerusalem10 the 8partakers of the heavenly calling40 ,he who has redeemed her is 8the ,lamb that was slain10 and ,he addresses her thus3 8,thy ,maker is thine husband2 ,the ,,lord of ,hosts is ,his name2 ,and the ,holy ,one of ,israel is thy ,redeemer2 ,the ,god of the whole earth shall ,he be called4 ,for the ,,lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit1 ,even a wife of youth when she is cast off1 saith thy ,god4 ,for a small moment have ,i forsaken thee2 ,but with great mercies will ,i gather thee4 ,in overflowing wrath ,i hid my face from thee for a moment2 ,but with everlasting kindness will ,i have mercy on thee1 saith the ,,lord thy ,redeemer40 7,isa4 liv4 #eh4 ,r4,v47 8,thou shalt be a crown of beauty in the hand of the ,,lord1 ,and a royal diadem in the hand of thy ,god1 ,thou shalt no more be termed ,forsaken2 ,neither shall thy land any more be termed ,desolate2 ,but thou shalt be called ,hephzibah 7i4e41 my delight is in her71 ,and thy land ,beulah 7i4e41 married72 ,for the ,,lord delighteth in thee1 ,and thy land shall be married4 ,for as a young man marrieth a virgin1 ,so shall thy sons 7,heb4 thy ,restorer7 marry thee3 ,and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride1 8,so shall thy ,god rejoice over thee4 7,isa4 lxii4 #ce1 ,r4,v47 8,the ,,lord hath appeared of old 7or from afar7 unto me1 saying1 ,yea1 ,i have loved thee with an everlasting love2 ,therefore with loving kindness have ,i drawn thee4 ,again will ,i build thee1 and thou shalt be built1 ,o ,virgin of ,israel4444 ,he that scattered ,israel will gather him1 ,and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock1 ,for the ,,lord hath ransomed ,jacob1 ,and redeemed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he40 7,jer4 xxxi4 #cab1 ,r4,v47 ,can we close our eyes to the testimony of these scriptures--that ,israel is the ,bride of the ,lamb8 ,when we have all these1 and more1 why should we read 8the ,church0 into these ancient prophecies1 which was the subject of a longsubsequent revelation1 merely because 7in ,eph4 v4 #be7 ,christ's love to ,his ,church is compared to a husband's love for his wife8 8,husbands1 love your wives1 even ,,as ,christ also loved the ,church40 ,there is not a word here about the ,church being ,his wife4 ,on the contrary1 it reveals the secret that the ,church of ,christ is to be the mystical 8,body of ,christ10 part of the ,husband in fact1 8,one new man0 7,eph4 ii4 #ae76 whereas restored ,israel is to be the ,bride of this 8,new ,man10 the ,bride of ,christ1 the ,lamb's wife6 ,blessed indeed it is to be united to ,christ as a wife to a husband1 but glorious beyond all description to be 8one0 with ,christ ,himself1 part of ,his mystical ,body4 ,if men had only realised the wondrous glory of this mystery1 they would never have so wrongly divided the ,word of ,truth by interpreting ,psalm xlv4 of this ,mystical ,christ4 ,if we 8rightly divide0 it1 we see at once that this ,psalm is in harmony with all the ,old ,testament scriptures1 which must be interpreted alike1 and can be interpreted only of ,israel however they may be applied4 ,having spoken of the ,godhead and glory of this ,king 7faintly and in part foreshown by ,cepheus71 the ,holy ,spirit goes on in the latter part of the ,psalm to speak of the ,bride--the ,queen3 8,at ,thy right hand doth stand the ,queen in gold of ,ophir1 ,hearken1 ,o daughter1 and consider1 incline thine ear2 ,forget also thine own people1 and thy father's house2 ,so shall the ,king desire thy beauty27#ef7 ,for ,he is thy ,lord2 and worship thou ,him4444 ,the ,king's daughter within the palace is all glorious2 ,her clothing is inwrought with gold1 ,she shall be led unto the ,king in broidered work2 ,the virgins her companions7#eg7 that follow her shall be brought unto thee10 etc4 7,ps4 xlv4 #iag1 ,r4,v47 ,then shall she sing her ,magnificat3 8,i will greatly rejoice in the ,,lord1 ,my soul shall be joyful in my ,god2 ,for ,he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation1 ,he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness1 ,as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments1 ,and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels4 ,for as the earth bringeth forth her bud1 ,and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth2 ,so the ,lord ,,god ,adonai ,jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations40 7,isa4 lxi4 #aj1 #aa47 ,this1 then1 is the truth set forth by this enthroned woman4 ,the blessing founded on ,atonement1 and the ,redemption wrought by the ,lamb that was slain1 result in a glorious answer to ,israel's prayer1 8,turn our captivity1 ,o ,,lord0 7,ps4 cxxvi4 #d73 when they that have 8sown in tears shall reap in joy10 and the ,,lord shall loosen her bonds1 and place her enthroned by ,his side4 ,this1 however1 involves the destruction of her enemy1 and this is what we see in the next section4 #b4 ,,cetus 7,the ,sea ,monster74 ,the ,great ,enemy ,bound4 ,when ,john sees the ,new ,jerusalem1 the ,bride1 the ,lamb's wife 7,rev4 xxi4 #aj1 #b71 ,satan has been bound already3 for we read1 a few verses before 7xx4 #ac73 8,i saw an angel come down from heaven1 having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand4 ,and he laid hold of the dragon1 that ,old ,serpent1 which is the ,devil1 and ,satan1 and bound him and kept him bound a thousand years1 and cast him into the bottomless pit1 and shut him up1 and set a seal upon him1 that he should deceive the nations no more1 till the thousand years should be fulfilled40 ,this is what we see in the second section of this chapter--the second constellation in ,,aries4 ,illustration ,plate #bf3 ,,cetus 7the ,sea ,monster7 ,the picture is that of a great ,seamonster1 the largest of all the constellations4 ,it is the natural enemy of fishes1 hence it is placed here in connection with this last chapter1 in which fishes are so prominent4 ,it is situated very low down among the constellations--far away towards the south or lower regions of the sky4 ,its name in the ,denderah ,zodiac is ,knem1 which means subdued4 ,it is pictured as a monstrous head1 trodden under foot by the swine1 the natural enemy of the serpent4 ,the hawk also 7another enemy of the serpent7 is over this figure1 crowned with a mortar1 denoting bruising4 ,it consists of #ig stars1 of which two are of the #bnd magnitude1 eight of the #crd1 nine of the #dth1 etc4 ,the names of the stars interpret for us infallibly the meaning of the picture4 ,the brightest star1 7in the upper mandible71 is named ,menkar1 and means the bound or chained enemy4 ,the next1 7in the tail71 is called ,diphda1 or ,deneb ,kaitos1 overthrown1 or thrust down4 ,the star 7in the neck7 is named ,mira1 which means ,,the ,,rebel4 ,its name is ominous1 for the star is one of the most remarkable4 ,it is very bright1 but it was not till #aeif that it was discovered to be variable4 ,it disappears periodically seven times in six years6 ,it continues at its brightest for fifteen days together4 ,m4 ,bade says that during #ccd days it shines with its greatest light1 then it diminishes1 till it entirely disappears for some time 7to the naked eye74 ,in fact1 during that period it passes through several degrees of magnitude1 both increasing and diminishing4 ,indeed its variableness is so great as to make it appear unsteady6 ,here1 then1 is the picture of the ,great ,rebel as shown in the heavens4 ,what is it1 as written in the ,word8 ,the ,almighty asks man3-- 8,canst thou draw out ,leviathan with a fish hook8 ,or press down his tongue with a cord8 ,canst thou put a rope into his nose8 ,or pierce his jaw through with a hook8444 ,shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him8 ,none is so fierce that he dare stir him up40 7,job xli4 #aaj1 ,r4,v47 ,but he whom man cannot bind can be bound by the ,lamb1 and ,he is seen with 8the ,band0 that has bound the fishes1 now in ,his hands1 which he has fastened with a bright star to his neck1 saying1-- 8,behold1 ,i have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling1 ,even the dregs of the cup of ,my fury2 ,thou shalt no more drink it again1 ,but ,i will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee40 7,isa4 li4 #bb1 #bc47 8,behold1 the ,,lord cometh forth out of ,his place ,to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity4444 ,in that day the ,,lord1 with ,his sore1 and great1 and strong sword1 ,shall punish ,leviathan1 the piercing serpent1 ,and ,leviathan1 the crooked serpent2 ,and ,he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea40 7,isa4 xxvi4 #baxxvii4 #a47 8,for ,god is my king of old1 ,working salvation in the midst of the earth4 ,thou didst divide 7marg4 ,heb41 break7 the sea by ,thy strength1 ,thou brakest the heads of the dragons 7,r4,v4 marg41 sea monsters7 in the waters4 ,thou brakest the heads of ,leviathan in pieces40 7,ps4 lxxiv4 #abad47 ,and this ,second ,book closes by revealing to us this glorious 8,breaker40 #c4 ,,perseus 78,the ,breaker407 8,the ,breaker0 delivering ,his ,redeemed4 ,here we have set before us a mighty man1 called in the ,hebrew ,peretz1 from which we have the ,greek form ,perses1 or ,perseus 7,rom4 xvi4 #ac74 ,it is the same word which is used of ,christ in ,micah ii4 #ac4 ,when ,he shall surely 8gather the remnant of ,israel0 7v4 #ab71 it is written-- 8,,the ,,breaker is gone up before them4444 ,their ,king is passed on before them1 ,and the ,,lord at the head of them40 ,this is what is pictured to us here4 ,we see a glorious 8,breaker0 taking ,his place before ,his redeemed1 breaking forth at their head1 breaking down all barriers1 and breaking the heads of ,leviathan and all his hosts4 ,in ,his right hand ,he has ,his 8sore1 and great1 and strong sword0 lifted up to smite and break down the enemy4 ,he has wings on ,his feet1 which tell us that ,he is coming very swiftly4 ,in ,his left hand ,he carries the head of the enemy1 whom he has slain4 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac ,his name is ,kar ,knem1 he who fights and subdues4 ,illustration ,plate #bg3 ,,perseus 7the ,breaker7 ,it is a beautiful constellation of #ei stars1 two of which are of the #bnd magnitude1 four of the #crd1 twelve of the #dth1 etc4 ,their names supply us with the key to the interpretation of the picture4 ,the star 7in the waist7 is called ,mirfak1 who helps4 ,the next1 7in the right shoulder71 is named ,al ,genib1 which means who carries away4 ,the bright star in the left foot is called ,athik1 who breaks6 ,in his left hand he carries a head1 which1 by perversion1 the ,greeks called the head of ,medusa1 being ignorant that its ,hebrew root meant the trodden under foot47#eh7 ,it is also called ,rosh ,satan 7,hebrew71 the head of the adversary1 and ,al ,oneh 7,arabic71 the subdued1 or ,al ,ghoul1 the evil spirit4 ,the bright star1 7in this head71 has come down to us with the name ,al ,gol1 which means rolling round4 ,it is a most remarkable phenomenon that so many of these enemies should be characterised by variable stars6 ,but this head of ,medusa1 like the neck of ,cetus1 has one4 ,al ,gol is continually changing4 ,in about #fi hours it changes from the #dth magnitude to the #bnd4 ,during four hours of this period it gradually diminishes in brightness1 which it recovers in the succeeding four hours2 and in the remaining part of the time invariably preserves its greatest lustre4 ,after the expiration of this time its brightness begins to decrease again4 ,fit emblem of our great enemy1 who1 8like a roaring lion1 goeth about seeking whom he may devour0 7#a ,pet4 v4 #h472 then changing into a subtle serpent 7,gen4 iii4 #h472 then changing again into 8an angel of light0 7#b ,cor4 xi4 #ad474 8,transforming himself0 continually1 to devour1 deceive1 and destroy4 ,this brings us to the conclusion of the ,second ,book1 in which we have seen the ,redeemed blessed with all blessings1 delivered out of all conflict1 saved from all enemies4 ,we have seen their ,redeemer1 8the ,lamb slain from the foundation of the world10 8the ,conqueror10 8the ,king of ,kings and ,lord of ,lords40 ,this is the ,revelation recorded in the heavens4 ,this is the prophetic testimony inspired in the ,book4 ,and this is the heartcry prompted by both3-- 8,come1 ,lord1 and tarry not1 ,bring the longlookedfor day2 ,oh1 why these years of waiting here1 ,these ages of delay8 ,come1 for ,thy saints still wait2 ,daily ascends their cry3 #8,the ,spirit and the ,bride say1 ,come'2 ,dost ,thou not hear their cry8 ,come1 for creation groans1 ,impatient of ,thy stay2 ,worn out with these long years of ill1 ,these ages of delay4 ,come1 for ,thine ,israel pines1 ,an exile from ,thy fold2 ,oh1 call to mind ,thy faithful word1 ,and bless them as of old4 ,come1 for ,thy foes are strong2 ,with taunting lips they say1 #8,where is the promised advent now1 ,and where the dreaded day8' ,come1 for the good are few2 ,they lift the voice in vain2 ,faith waxes fainter on the earth1 ,and love is on the wane4 ,come1 in ,thy glorious might2 ,come1 with ,thine iron rod2 ,disperse ,thy foes before ,thy face1 ,most mighty ,son of ,god4 ,come1 and make all things new1 ,build up this ruined earth2 ,restore our faded paradise1 ,creation's second birth4 ,come1 and begin ,thy reign ,of everlasting peace2 ,come1 take the kingdom to ,thyself1 ,great ,king of ,righteousness40 ,dr4 ,horatius ,bonar4 ,,the ,,third ,,book4 ,,the ,,redeemer4 ,,his ,,second ,,coming4 ,in this ,third and ,last ,book we come to the concluding portion of this ,heavenly ,revelation4 ,its subject is ,redemption completed1 and consummated in triumph4 ,no more sorrow1 suffering1 or conflict2 no more the bruising of the heel of the ,redeemer4 ,we have now done with the prophecies of 8the sufferings of ,christ10 and have come to those that relate to 8the glory that should follow40 ,no more reference now to ,his first coming in humiliation4 ,no more coming 8forth0 to suffer and die1 a sacrifice for sins2 the reference now is only to ,his second coming in glory2 ,his coming 8unto0 this earth is not to suffer for sin 7,heb4 ix4 #bh471 but it will be a coming in power to judge the earth in righteousness1 and to subdue all enemies under ,his feet4 ,like the other two books1 it consists of four chapters4 ,the first chapter is the prophecy of the coming ,judge of all the earth4 ,the second sets before us the twofold nature of the coming ,ruler4 ,the third shows us ,messiah's redeemed possessions--the ,redeemed brought safely home1 all conflict over4 ,the fourth describes ,messiah's consummated triumph4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,sign ,,taurus 7,the ,bull74 ,messiah1 the coming ,judge of all the ,earth4 ,the picture is that of a ,bull rushing forward with mighty energy and fierce wrath1 his horns set so as to push his enemies1 and pierce them through and destroy them4 ,it is a prophecy of ,christ1 the coming ,judge1 and ,ruler1 and 8,lord of all the earth40 ,illustration ,plate #bh3 ,,taurus 7the ,bull7 ,the ,egyptian ,zodiac of ,denderah already1 #d1jjj years ago1 had forgotten the truth to which the prophecy had referred1 and called him ,isis1 i4e41 who saves or delivers1 and ,apis1 i4e41 the head or chief4 ,the ,bull is clearly represented1 and in all the zodiacs which have come down to us is always in the act of pushing1 or rushing4 ,the name of the sign in ,chaldee is 1 ,tor4 ,hence1 ,arabic1 ,al ,thaur2 ,greek1 ,tauros2 ,latin1 ,taurus1 etc4 ,the more common ,hebrew name was 1 ,shur1 which is from a root which means both coming and ruling4 ,there are several ,hebrew words for bulls and oxen1 etc4 ,but the common poetical term for all is 1 ,reem1 conveying the idea of loftiness1 exaltation1 power1 and preeminence4 ,we find the root in other kindred languages 7,etruscan1 ,sanscrit1 etc471 and it can be traced in the name of ,abram1 which means preeminent or high father2 ,ramah1 high place1 etc4 ,the stars in ,taurus present a brilliant sight4 ,there are at least #ada stars1 besides two important groups of stars1 which both form integral parts of the sign4 ,the brightest star1 7in the bull's eye71 has a ,chaldee name--,al ,debaran1 and means the leader or governor4 ,the star 7at the tip of the left horn7 has an ,arabic name--,el ,nath1 meaning wounded or slain4 ,another prophetic intimation that this coming ,lord should be first slain as a sacrifice4 ,then there is the cluster of stars known as the ,pleiades4 ,this word1 which means the congregation of the judge or ruler1 comes to us through the ,greek ,septuagint as the translation of the ,hebrew 1 ,chima1 which means the heap or accumulation1 and occurs in ,job ix4 #i2 xxxviii4 #ca1 #cb1 and ,amos v4 #h4 ,it consists of a number of stars 7in the neck of ,taurus7 which appear to be near together4 ,the brightest of them1 marked in all the maps17#ei7 has come down to us with an ,arabic name--,al ,cyone1 which means the centre1 and has given the idea to some astronomers that it is the centre of the whole universe4 ,the ,syriac name for the ,pleiades is ,succoth1 which means booths4 ,another group of stars 7on the face of the ,bull7 is known as ,the ,hyades17#fj7 which has the similar meaning of the congregated4 ,other stars1 not identified1 are named ,palilicium 7,hebrew71 belonging to the judge2 ,wasat 7,arabic71 centre or foundation2 ,al ,thuraiya 7,arabic71 the abundance2 ,vergili 7,latin71 the centre 7,arabic1 vertex7 turned on1 rolled round4 ,every thing points to the important truth1 and all turns on the fact that the ,lord is ,,coming ,,to ,,rule6 ,this is the central truth of all prophecy4 8,the testimony of ,jesus is the spirit of prophecy40 ,all hope for ,creation1 all hope for the world1 all hope for ,israel1 all hope for the ,church1 turns on this1 that 8,jesus is coming again10 and that when ,he comes ,his saints1 8the daughters of the ,king0 7like the ,pleiades and ,hyades71 will be with ,him4 ,there is nothing of 8the ,church0 revealed here4 ,the ,church will be caught up to meet the ,lord in the air1 to be for ever with the ,lord 7#a ,thess4 iv4 #ag7 before ,he thus comes unto the world in judgment4 ,he will come forth to receive the members of ,his ,body unto ,himself1 before ,he thus comes with them to destroy all ,his enemies and 8judge 7or rule7 the world in righteousness40 ,when we read this ,sign of ,taurus1 therefore1 we are to understand that ,his ,church will be with ,him1 safe from all judgment4 ,there is very much in the ,scripture of the ,book1 7as there is in the prophecies in the heavens7 about the coming of the ,lord in judgment2 and about this time of ,his indignation4 ,for ,enoch1 who doubtless was used in arranging these prophetic signs1 uttered the prophetic words1 8,behold the ,lord cometh with ten thousands of ,his saints to execute judgment upon all and to convict all that are ungodly0 7,jude #ad1 #ae74 ,we have said 7pages #ag1 etc47 that at a very early period these signs were appropriated to the ,twelve ,tribes of ,israel1 and borne upon their 8standards40 ,this may be traced in the ,blessing of ,jacob 7,gen4 xlix471 and in the ,blessing of ,moses 7,deut4 xxxiii474 ,taurus was assigned to ,joseph1 or rather to his two tribes of ,ephraim and ,manasseh1 like the two powerful horns3 8,the firstling of his bullock 7marg4 his firstling bullock7--majesty is his1 ,and his horns are the horns of the wildox 7,reem74 ,with them he shall ,,push 7marg4 gore7 the peoples1 all of them1 even the ends of the earth4 ,and they are the ten thousands of ,ephraim1 ,and they are the thousands of ,manasseh40 7,deut4 xxxiii1 #ag1 ,r4,v47 ,it is not1 however1 merely by men alone that this will be done1 for ,david sings3 8,thou art my ,king1 ,o ,,god4444 ,through ,thee will we ,,push down our enemies2 ,through ,thy ,name will we tread them under that rise up against us40 7,ps4 xliv4 #e47 8,i will punish the world for their evil1 ,and the wicked for their iniquity2 ,i will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease1 ,and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible4444 ,every one that is found shall be ,,thrust ,,through40 7,isa4 xiii4 #aaae47 ,speaking of that day1 the ,holy ,spirit says by ,isaiah3 ,for the ,,lord hath indignation against all the nations10 ,and fury against all their host3 ,he hath utterly destroyed them1 ,he hath delivered them to the slaughter4444 ,the ,,lord hath a sacrifice in ,bozrah1 ,and a great slaughter in the land of ,edom1 ,and the wild oxen ,reem shall come down with them1 ,and the bullocks with the bulls2 ,and their land shall be drunken with blood1 ,and their dust made fat with fatness4 ,for it is the day of the ,,lord',s vengeance1 ,the year of recompense in the controversy of ,zion40 7,isa4 xxxiv4 #bh1 ,r4,v47 8,behold1 the ,,lord cometh forth out of ,his place ,to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity3 ,the earth also shall disclose her blood1 ,and shall no more cover her slain40 7,isa4 xxvi4 #ba47 ,this is the united testimony of the two ,revelations4 ,it is pictured in the heavens1 and it is written in the ,book4 ,it is the prophecy of a coming ,judge1 and of a coming judgment4 ,it is1 however1 no mere ,bull that is coming4 ,it is a man1 a glorious man1 even 8the ,son of ,man40 ,this is the first development1 shown in the first of the three constellations belonging to the sign4 #a4 ,,orion 7,the ,coming ,prince74 ,light ,breaking ,forth in the ,redeemer4 ,illustration ,plate #bi3 ,,orion 7the ,glorious ,one7 ,this picture is to show that the coming one is no mere animal1 but a man3 a mighty1 triumphant1 glorious prince4 ,he is so pictured in the ancient ,denderah ,zodiac1 where we see a man coming forth pointing to the three bright stars 7,rigel1 ,bellatrix1 and ,betelguez7 as his4 ,his name is given as ,hagat1 which means this is he who triumphs4 ,the hieroglyphic characters below read ,oar4 ,orion was anciently spelt ,oarion1 from the ,hebrew root1 which means light4 ,so that ,orion means coming forth as light4 ,the ancient ,akkadian was ,ur ana1 the light of heaven4 ,orion is the most brilliant of all the constellations1 and when he comes to the meridian he is accompanied by several adjacent constellations of great splendour4 ,there is then above the horizon the most glorious view of the celestial bodies that the starry firmament affords2 and this magnificent view is visible to all the habitable world1 because the equinoctial line 7or solstitial colure7 passes nearly through the middle of ,orion4 ,,aratus thus sings of him3-- 8,eastward1 beyond the region of the ,bull1 ,stands great ,orion4 ,and who1 when night is clear1 ,beholds him gleaming bright1 shall cast his eyes in vain ,to find a ,sign more glorious in all heaven40 ,the constellation is mentioned by name1 as being perfectly well known both by name and appearance1 in the time of ,job2 and as being an object of familiar knowledge at that early period of the world's history4 ,see ,job ix4 #i2 xxxviii4 #ca1 and ,amos v4 #h 7,heb4 1 ,chesil1 which means a strong one1 a hero1 or giant74 ,it contains #gh stars1 two being of the #ast magnitude1 four of the #bnd1 four of the #crd1 sixteen of the #dth1 etc4 ,a little way below 7in the sword7 is a very remarkable nebulous star4 ,a common telescope will show that it is a beautiful nebula4 ,a powerful telescope reveals it as consisting of collections of nebulous stars1 these again being surrounded by faint luminous points1 which still more powerful telescopes would resolve into separate stars4 ,thus beautifully is set forth the brilliancy and glory of that ,light which shall break forth when the moment comes for it to be said1 8,arise1 shine1 for thy light is come40 ,the picture presents us with 8the ,light of the world40 ,his left foot is significantly placed upon the head of the enemy4 ,he is girded with a glorious girdle1 studded with three brilliant stars2 and upon this girdle is hung a sharp sword4 ,its handle proves that this mighty ,prince is come forth in a new character4 ,he is again proved to be 8the ,lamb that was slain10 for the hilt of this sword is in the form of the head and body of a lamb4 ,in his right hand he lifts on high his mighty club2 while in his left he holds forth the token of his victory--the head and skin of the 8roaring lion40 ,we ask in wonder1 8,who is this807#fa7 and the names of the stars give us the answer4 ,the brightest1 7in the right shoulder71 is named ,betelgeuz1 which means the coming 7,mal4 iii4 #b7 of the branch4 ,the next1 7in the left foot71 is named ,rigel1 or ,rigol1 which means the foot that crusheth4 ,the foot is lifted up1 and placed immediately over the head of the enemy1 as though in the very act of crushing it4 ,thus1 the name of the star bespeaks the act4 ,the next star1 7in the left shoulder71 is called ,bellatrix1 which means quickly coming1 or swiftly destroying4 ,the name of the fourth star1 7one of the three in the belt71 carries us back to the old1 old story1 that this glorious ,one was once humbled2 that ,his heel was once bruised4 ,its name is ,al ,nitak1 the wounded ,one47#fb7 ,similarly the star 7in the right leg7 is called ,saiph1 bruised1 which is the very word used in ,gen4 iii4 #ae1 thus connecting ,orion with the primeval prophecy4 ,like ,ophiuchus1 he has one leg bruised2 while1 with the other1 he is crushing the enemy under foot4 ,this is betokened by other stars1 not identified1 named ,al ,rai1 who bruises1 who breaks 7as in ,cepheus72 and ,thabit 7,hebrew71 treading on4 ,other 7,arabic7 names relate to ,his ,person3 ,al ,giauz1 the branch2 ,al ,gebor1 the mighty2 ,al ,mirzam1 the ruler2 ,al ,nagjed1 the prince2 ,niphla 7,chaldee71 the mighty2 ,nux 7,hebrew71 the strong4 ,some names relate to ,his coming1 as ,betelgeuse and ,bellatrix1 as above2 ,heka 7,chaldee71 coming2 and ,meissa 7,hebrew71 coming forth4 ,such is the cumulative testimony of ,orion's stars1 which1 day after day1 and night after night1 show forth this knowledge4 ,that testimony was afterwards written in the ,book4 ,the ,prince of ,glory1 who was once wounded for the sins of ,his redeemed1 is about to rise up and shine forth for their deliverance4 ,their redemption draweth nigh2 for-- 8,the ,,lord shall go forth as a mighty man1 ,he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war2 ,he shall cry1 yea1 roar2 ,he shall prevail against ,his enemies4 ,i have ,he says long time holden my peace2 ,i have been still1 and refrained myself3 ,now will ,i cry like a travailing woman2 ,i will destroy and devour at once40 7,isa4 xlii4 #ac1 #ad47 ,then it will be said to ,his people 7and the setting of the prophecy in its beautiful introverted structure shows us the beauty and glory of the truth it reveals737#fc7 a ,arise1 b ,shine2 for thy light is come1 c ,and the glory of the ,,lord is risen upon thee4 d ,for1 behold1 the darkness shall cover the earth1 d ,and gross darkness the people2 c ,but the ,,lord shall arise upon thee1 and ,his glory shall be seen upon thee4 b ,and the ,gentiles shall come to thy light1 a ,and kings to the brightness of thy rising4 7,isa4 lx4 #ac47 ,this is 8the glory of ,god0 which the heavens constantly declare 7,ps4 xix4 #a74 ,they tell of that blessed time when the whole earth shall be filled with ,his glory 7,num4 xiv4 #ba2 ,isa4 xi4 #i72 when 8the glory of the ,,lord shall be revealed1 and all flesh shall see it together0 7,isa4 xl4 #e71 as all see now the beauty of ,orion's glory4 ,but side by side with the glory which the coming ,light of the world shall bring for ,his people1 there is 8that wicked10 whom the ,lord 8shall destroy with the brightness of ,his coming40 ,hence1 as in the concluding chapter 7,,iv47 of the ,first ,book 7of which this ,third ,book is the expansion7 we had in ,,lyra 7the harp71 as #a1 ,praise prepared for the ,conqueror2 and in ,,ara 7the burning pyre71 as #b1 ,consuming fire prepared for ,his enemies3 so in the first chapter of this book1 we have in ,,orion1 as #a1 ,glory prepared for the ,conqueror2 and in ,,eridanus1 as #b1 the ,river of wrath prepared for ,his enemies4 ,this brings us to-- #b4 ,,eridanus 7,the ,river of the ,judge74 ,the ,river of ,wrath ,breaking ,forth for ,his ,enemies4 ,it issues forth1 in all the pictures1 from the downcoming foot of ,orion4 ,while others see in it1 from the ignorance of fabled story1 only 8the ,river ,po10 or the 8,river ,euphrates10 we see in it1 from the meaning of its name1 and from the significance of its position1 the river of the ,judge4 ,illustration ,plate #cj3 ,,eridanus 7the ,river7 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac it is a river under the feet of ,orion4 ,it is named ,pehtat1 which means the mouth of the river4 ,it is an immense constellation1 and our diagram is on a smaller scale than the others 7which are all in relative proportion1 except where otherwise noted74 ,according to the ,britannic catalogue1 it consists of #hd stars2 one of the #ast magnitude1 one of the #bnd1 eight of the #crd1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7at the mouth of the river71 bears the ancient name of ,achernar1 which is in1 as its name means1 the after part of the river4 ,the next star1 7at the source of the river71 is named ,cursa1 which means bent down4 ,the next1 7at the second bend in the river71 is called ,zourac 7,arabic71 flowing4 ,other stars1 not identified1 are ,pheat1 mouth 7of the river72 and ,ozha1 the going forth4 ,here1 then1 we have a river flowing forth from before the glorious ,orion4 ,it runs in a serpentine course towards the lower regions1 down1 down1 out of sight4 ,in vain the sea monster1 ,cetus1 strives to stop its flow4 ,it is 8the river of the ,judge10 and speaks of that final judgment in which the wicked will be cast into the lake of fire4 ,it was evidently originally associated with fire2 for the ,greek myths1 though gross perversions1 still so connect it4 ,according to their fables1 something went wrong with the chariot of the sun1 and a universal conflagration was threatened4 ,in the trouble1 ,phaeton 7probably a reference to the star ,pheat7 was killed and hurled into this river1 in which he was consumed with its fire4 ,the whole earth suffered from such a burning heat that great disasters ensued4 ,we see from this myth two great facts preserved in the perverted tradition1 viz41 judgment and fire4 ,,aratus also preserves the connection1-- 8,for yonder1 trod by heavenly feet1 ,wind the scorched waters of ,eridanus' tearswollen flood1 ,welling beneath ,orion's uplifted foot40 ,is not this the testimony afterwards written in the ,book8 ,daniel sees this very river in his vision of that coming day1 when the true ,orion shall come forth in ,his glory4 ,he says1 8,i beheld till the thrones were placed1 and one that was ancient of days did sit3444 ,his throne was fiery flames1 and the wheels thereof burning fire4 ,a ,,fiery ,,stream ,,issued ,,and ,,came ,,forth ,,from ,,before ,,him40 ,this is the ,river of the ,judge2 for he goes on to say1 8the judgment was set1 and the books were opened0 7,dan4 vii4 #iaa1 ,r4,v474 ,we have the same in ,ps4 xcvii4 #ce 7,r4,v471 which describes the scene when the ,lord shall reign3 8,a ,,fire ,,goeth ,,before ,,him1 ,and burneth up ,his adversaries round about4 ,his lightnings lightened the world3 ,the earth saw and trembled1 ,the hills melted like wax at the presence of the ,,lord1 ,at the presence of the ,lord of the whole earth40 ,so again in ,ps4 l4 #c1 we read3 8,our ,god shall come1 and shall not keep silence1 ,a ,,fire ,,shall ,,devour ,,before ,,him1 ,and it shall be very tempestuous round about ,him40 ,by ,habakkuk the coming of the ,lord is described2 and it is written3 8,his brightness was as the light1 444 ,before ,him went the pestilence1 ,and burning coals went forth at ,his feet40 7,hab4 iii4 #e47 ,what is this but ,orion and ,eridanus6 ,again1 it is written in ,isaiah xxx4 #bgcc 7,r4,v473 8,behold1 the name of the ,,lord cometh from far1 ,burning with ,his anger1 and in thick rising smoke3 ,his lips are full of indignation1 ,and ,his tongue is as a ,,devouring ,,fire3 ,and ,his breath is as ,,an ,,overflowing ,,stream of fire4444 ,for a ,topheth is prepared of old2 ,yea1 for the king ,moloch it is made ready2 ,he hath made it deep and large2 ,the pile thereof is ,,fire and much wood2 ,the breath of the ,,lord1 ,,like ,a ,,stream ,,of ,,brimstone1 doth kindle it40 ,so1 again1 we read in ,nahum i4 #e1 #f3 8,the mountains quake at ,him1 ,and the hills melt2 ,and the earth is burned up at ,his presence1 ,yea1 the world and all that dwell therein4 ,who can stand before ,his indignation8 ,and who can abide in the fierceness of ,his anger8 ,his fury is ,,poured ,,out ,,like ,,fire40 ,in ,isa4 lxvi4 #ae1 #af1 we read3 8,for1 behold1 the ,,lord will come with fire1 ,and with ,his chariots like a whirlwind1 ,to render ,his anger with fury1 ,and ,his rebuke with ,,flames ,,of ,,fire1 ,for ,,by ,,fire1 and by ,his sword1 will the ,,lord plead with all flesh40 ,with this agree the ,new ,testament scriptures1 which speak of 8the ,day of the ,lord10 8when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven with ,his mighty angels1 ,,in ,,flaming ,,fire taking vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and that obey not the ,gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ0 7#b ,thess4 i4 #g1 #h74 ,this is the true ,eridanus4 ,it is no mere 8picture40 ,it is a dread reality6 ,it is written in stars of fire1 and words of truth1 that men may heed the solemn warning and 8flee from the wrath to come06 ,but we ask1 8,who may abide the day of ,his coming8 and who shall stand when ,he appeareth0 7,mal4 iii4 #b78 8,who can stand before ,his indignation10 when 8,his fury is poured out like fire0 7,nah4 i4 #f78 ,the answer is given in the next picture6 #c4 ,,auriga 7,the ,shepherd74 ,safety for the ,redeemed in the ,day of ,wrath4 ,here is presented to us the answer to the question1 8,who may abide the day of ,his coming80 8,behold1 the ,lord ,,god 7,adonai ,jehovah7 will come as a mighty one1 ,and ,his arm shall rule for ,him3 ,behold1 ,his reward is with ,him1 ,and ,his recompense before ,him4 ,he shall feed ,his flock like a shepherd1 ,he shall gather the lambs in ,his arm1 ,and carry them in ,his bosom1 ,and shall gently lead those that give suck40 7,isa4 xl4 #aj1 #aa4 ,r4,v47 ,this is exactly what is presented before us in this last section of the chapter1 which tells of the coming judgment4 ,we have had the picture of a mighty ,bull rushing forth2 then the fiery river of the ,judge2 and now we see a ,great ,shepherd4 ,he is seated upon 8the milky way10 holding up on his left shoulder a she goat4 ,she clings to his neck1 and is looking down affrighted at the terrible onrushing ,bull4 ,in his left hand he supports two little kids1 apparently just born1 and bleating1 and trembling with fear4 ,,aratus says1-- 8,she is both large and bright1 but they--the kids-- ,shine somewhat feebly on ,auriga's wrist40 ,is not this the ,great ,shepherd gathering the lambs in ,his arm8 and carrying them in ,his bosom8 ,is ,he not saying3 8,i will save ,my flock1 ,and they shall no more be a prey40 7,ezek4 xxxiv4 #bb47 8,and ,david my servant shall be king over them1 ,and they shall have one shepherd40 7ib4 xxxvii4 #bd47 8,and they shall fear no more1 ,nor be dismayed1 ,neither shall they be lacking1 saith the ,,lord40 7,jer4 xxiii4 #d47 ,illustration ,plate #ca3 ,,auriga 7the ,shepherd7 ,,auriga is from a ,hebrew root which means a shepherd4 ,it is a beautiful constellation of #ff stars2 one of the #ast magnitude1 two of the #bnd1 nine of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7in the body of the goat71 points her out as the prominent feature of the constellation1 for its name ,alioth 7,hebrew7 means a she goat4 ,it is known by the modern ,latin name ,capella1 which has the same meaning4 ,the next star1 7in the shepherd's right arm71 is called ,menkilinon1 and means the band1 or chain of the goats1 and points out the truth that they are never more to be lost again1 but to be bound1 with the bands of love1 to the ,shepherd for evermore4 ,the name of another star is ,maaz1 which means a flock of goats4 ,can there be any mistake as to who this ,shepherd is8 for the bright star in his right foot is called ,el ,nath7#fd7 7like another in ,,aries71 which means wounded or slain4 ,this is ,he1 then1 who was once bruised or wounded in the heel4 ,he is 8the ,,good ,shepherd10 who gave ,his life for the sheep 7,john x4 #aa71 but ,he was 8the ,,great ,shepherd0 brought again from the dead 7,heb4 xiii4 #bj72 and is now the ,,chief ,shepherd 7#a ,pet4 v4 #d7 seen in the day of ,his coming glory4 ,another star emphasises this truth1 for it is named ,aiyuk1 which also means wounded in the foot47#fe7 ,the star marking the kids is called ,gedi 7,hebrew71 kids4 ,in ,latin1 the word ,auriga means a coachman or charioteer1 the band in his right hand being taken as his reins4 ,but the incongruity of a charioteer carrying a shegoat1 and nursing two little kids1 never struck them2 nor did the fact that he has no chariot and no horses6 ,when man blunders in the things of ,god1 he does it thoroughly6 ,in the ,zodiac of ,denderah the same truth was revealed more than #d1jjj years ago2 but the ,man1 instead of carrying the sheep1 is carrying a sceptre1 and is called ,trun1 which means sceptre or power4 ,but this is a strange sceptre1 for at the top it has the head of a goat1 and at the bottom1 below the hand that holds it1 it ends in a cross6 ,with the ,egyptians the cross was a sign of life4 ,they knew nothing of 8the death of the cross40 ,here1 then1 we see life and salvation for the sheep of ,his flock when ,he comes to reign and rule in judgment4 ,the truth is precisely the same1 though the presentation of it is somewhat varied4 ,the connected teaching of the two constellations1 ,eridanus and ,auriga1 is solemnly set forth in ,mal4 iv4 #ac 7,r4,v473 8,behold1 the day cometh1 ,it burneth as a furnace2 ,and all the proud1 and all that work wickedness1 shall be stubble3 ,and the day that cometh shall burn them up1 saith the ,,lord of hosts1 ,that it shall leave them neither root nor branch4 ,,but ,,unto ,,you that fear ,my name shall the ,sun of ,righteousness arise with healing in ,his wings2 ,and ye shall go forth and gambol as calves of the stall4 ,and ye shall tread down the wicked2 ,for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet ,in the day that ,i do make 7marg4 do this71 saith the ,,lord of hosts40 ,in ,psalm xxxvii4 this day is repeatedly referred to1 the day when 8the wicked shall be cut off02 and it concludes by summarizing the same great truth 7vv4 #chdj1 ,r4,v473 8,as for transgressors1 they shall be destroyed together2 ,the latter end of the wicked shall be cut off1 ,but the salvation of the righteous is of the ,,lord3 ,he is their stronghold in the time of trouble1 ,and the ,,lord helpeth them1 and rescueth them2 ,he rescueth them from the wicked and saveth them1 ,because they have taken refuge in ,him40 ,oh1 that all who read these pages may heed the solemn warning1 and flee for refuge to ,him who now1 in this day of grace1 is crying1 8,look unto me1 and be ye saved1 ,o all ye ends of the earth0 7,isa4 xlv4 #bb74 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,sign ,,gemini 7,the ,twins74 ,messiah's ,reign as ,prince of ,peace4 ,all the pictures of this sign are confused4 ,the ,greeks claimed to have invented them1 and they called them ,apollo and ,hercules4 ,they are given in our illustration4 ,the ,latins called the ,castor and ,pollux2 and the name of a vessel in which ,paul sailed is so called in ,acts xxviii4 #aa1 4 ,the name in the ancient ,denderah ,zodiac is ,clusus1 or ,claustrum ,hori1 which means the place of ,him who cometh4 ,it is represented by two human figures walking1 or coming4 ,the second appears to be a woman4 ,the other appears to be a man4 ,it is a tailed figure1 the tail signifying ,he cometh4 ,illustration ,plate #cb3 ,,gemini 7the ,twins7 ,the old ,coptic name was ,pi,mahi1 the united1 as in brotherhood4 ,not necessarily united by being born at the same time1 but united in one fellowship or brotherhood4 ,the ,hebrew name is ,thaumim1 which means united4 ,the root is used in ,exod4 xxvi4 #bd3 8,they 7the two boards7 shall be coupled together beneath40 ,in the margin we read1 8,heb4 twinned0 7,r4,v4 double74 ,the ,arabic ,al ,tauman means the same4 ,we need not trouble ourselves with the ,grecian myths1 even though we can see through them the original and ancient truth4 ,the two were both heroes of peculiar and extraordinary birth--sons of ,jupiter4 ,they were supposed to appear at the head of armies2 and as they had cleared the seas of pirates1 they were looked upon as the patron saints of navigation4 7,hence the name of the ship in ,acts xxviii4 #aa47 ,they were held in high esteem both by ,greeks and ,romans2 and the common practice of taking oaths and of swearing by their names has descended even to our own day in the still surviving vulgar habit of swearing 8,by ,gemini60 ,the more ancient starnames help us to see through all these and many other myths1 and to discern ,him of whom they testify2 even ,him in ,his twofold nature--,god and ,man--and ,his twofold work of suffering and glory1 and ,his twofold coming in humiliation and in triumph4 ,there are #he stars in the sign3 two of the #bnd magnitude1 four of the #crd1 six of the #dth1 etc4 ,the name of 7in the head of the one at our right hand7 is called ,apollo1 which means ruler1 or judge2 while 7in the head of the other7 is called ,hercules1 who cometh to labour1 or suffer4 ,another star1 7in his left foot71 is called ,al ,henah1 which means hurt1 wounded1 or afflicted4 ,can we have a doubt as to what is the meaning of this double presentation8 ,in ,ophiuchus we have the two in one person3 the crushed enemy1 and the wounded heel4 ,but here the two great primeval truths are presented in two persons2 for ,he was 8two persons in one ,god10 8,god and man in one ,christ40 ,as man1 suffering for our redemption2 as ,god1 glorified for our complete salvation and final triumph4 ,a star1 7in the centre of his body71 is called ,waset1 which means set1 and tells of ,him who 8set ,his face like a flint0 to accomplish this mighty ,herculean work2 and1 when the time was come1 8steadfastly set ,his face to go0 to complete it4 ,he bears in his right hand 7in some pictures7 a palm branch4 ,in the one from which our illustration is taken1 it is a club2 but both the club of this one and the bow of the other are in repose6 ,these united ones are neither in action nor are they preparing for action1 but they are at rest and in peace after victory won4 ,the star 7in the knee of the other1 8,apollo07 is called ,mebsuta1 which means treading under feet4 ,the names of other stars1 which are not identified1 have come down to us with the same testimony4 ,one is called ,propus 7,hebrew71 the branch1 spreading2 another is called ,al ,giauz 7,arabic71 the palm branch2 another is named ,al ,dir 7,arabic71 the seed1 or branch4 ,the day has here come to fulfil the prophecies concerning ,him who is 8the ,branch10 8the ,branch of ,jehovah10 8the man whose name is the ,branch40 8,in that day shall the ,branch of ,jehovah be beautiful and glorious2 ,and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely ,for them that are escaped of ,israel40 7,isa4 iv4 #b47 8,behold1 a king shall reign in righteousness1 ,and princes shall rule in judgment2 ,and a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind40 7,isa4 xxxii4 #a1 #b47 8,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,,lord1 ,that ,i will raise unto ,david a righteous ,branch1 ,and ,he shall reign as ,king and deal wisely1 ,and shall execute judgment and justice in the land4 ,in ,his days ,judah shall be saved1 ,and ,israel shall dwell safely3 ,and this is ,his name whereby ,he shall be called1 ,the ,,lord is our ,righteousness40 7,jer4 xxiii4 #e1 #f1 ,r4,v47 8,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,,lord1 ,that ,i will perform that good word which ,i have spoken ,concerning the house of ,israel and concerning the house of ,judah4 ,in those days1 and at that time4 ,will ,i cause a ,branch of ,righteousness to grow up unto ,david2 ,and ,he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land40 7,jer4 xxxiii4 #ad1 #ae1 ,r4,v47 ,this is what we see in this sign--,messiah's peaceful reign4 ,all is rest and repose4 ,we see 8,his days10 in which 8the righteous shall flourish2 and abundance of peace1 so long as the moon endureth0 7,ps4 lxxii474 ,but1 for this blessed time to come1 there must be no enemy6 ,all enemies must be subdued4 ,this brings us to the first section of this book4 #a4 ,,lepus 7the ,hare71 ,,the ,,enemy4 ,the ,enemy ,trodden under ,foot4 ,the names of the three constellations of this ,sign1 as well as the pictures1 are all more or less modern1 as is manifest from the names being in ,latin1 and having no relation to the ancient names of their stars4 ,to learn their real meaning1 therefore1 we must have recourse to the ancient ,zodiacs4 ,in the ,persian planisphere the first constellation was pictured by a serpent4 ,in the ,denderah 7,egyptian7 ,zodiac it is an unclean bird standing on the serpent1 which is under the feet of ,orion4 ,its name there is given as ,bashtibeki4 ,bashti means confounded1 and ,beki means failing4 ,illustration ,plate #cc3 ,,lepus 7the ,hare7 or ,,enemy ,,aratus says1-- 8,below ,orion's feet1 the ,hare ,is chased eternally40 ,it is a small constellation of #ai stars 7all small71 three of which are of the #crd magnitude1 seven of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest1 7in the body71 has a ,hebrew name1 ,arnebo1 which means the enemy of ,him that cometh4 ,the ,arabic1 ,arnebeth1 means the same4 ,other stars1 not identified1 are ,nibal1 the mad2 ,rakis1 the bound 7,arabic1 with a chain72 ,sugia1 the deceiver4 ,there can be no mistaking the voice of this united testimony4 ,for this enemy is under the downcoming foot of ,orion1 and it tells of the blessed fact that when the true ,orion1 8the ,sun of ,righteousness1 shall arise10 and 8the true light0 shall shine over all the earth1 ,he 8shall tread down the wicked0 7,mal4 iv471 and every enemy will be subdued under ,his feet4 8,it is ,he that shall tread down our enemies0 7,ps4 lx4 #ab71 as ,he has said3 8,i will tread them in ,mine anger1 ,and trample them in ,my fury 444 ,for the day of vengeance is in ,mine heart1 ,and the year of ,my redeemed is come40 7,isa4 lxiii4 #c1 #d47 #b4 ,,canis ,,major 7,the ,dog71 or ,,sirius 7,the ,prince74 ,the coming ,glorious ,prince of ,princes 7,sirius74 ,this second constellation carries on the teaching1 and tells of the glorious ,prince who will thus subdue and reign4 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac he is called ,apes1 which means the head4 ,he is pictured as a hawk 7,naz1 1 caused to come forth1 coming swiftly down74 ,the hawk is the natural enemy of the serpent1 and here it has on its head a pestle and mortar1 indicating the fact that he shall crush the head of the enemy4 ,in the ,persian planisphere it is pictured as a wolf1 and is called ,zeeb1 which in ,hebrew 77 has the same meaning4 ,plutarch translates it 1 ,leader4 ,in ,arabic it means coming quickly4 ,illustration ,plate #cd3 ,,canis ,,major 7the ,dog7 and ,,canis ,,minor 7the ,second ,dog7 ,its ancient name and meaning must be obtained from the names of its stars which have come down to us4 ,there are #fd altogether4 ,two are of the #ast magnitude1 two of the #bnd1 four of the #crd1 four of the #dth1 etc4 ,of these 7in the head7 is the brightest in the whole heavens6 ,it is called ,sirius1 the ,prince 71 ,sar71 as in ,isa4 ix4 #f4 ,sirius7#ff7 was1 by the ancients1 always associated with great heat4 ,and the hottest part of the year we still call 8the dog days10 though1 through the variation as observed in different latitudes1 and the precession of the equinoxes1 its rising has long ceased to have any relation to those days4 ,virgil says that ,sirius 8,with pestilential heat infects the sky40 ,homer spoke of it as a star 8,whose burning breath ,taints the red air with fevers1 plagues1 and death40 ,it is not1 however1 of its heat that its name speaks1 but of the fact that it is the brightest of all the stars1 as ,he of whom it witnesses is the 8,prince of princes10 8the ,prince of the ,kings of the earth40 ,though this 8,dog,star0 came to have an illomened association1 it was not so in more ancient times4 ,in the ancient ,akkadian it is called ,kaita1 which means the ,leader and ,prince of the heavenly host4 ,while 7as ,mr4 ,robert ,brown1 ,junr41 points out7 8the ,sacred ,books of ,persia contain many praises of the star ,tistrya or ,tistar 7,sirius71 #8the chieftain of the ,east4' 07#fg7 ,the next star1 7in the left fore foot71 speaks the same truth4 ,it is named ,mirzam1 and means the prince or ruler4 ,the star 7in the body7 is called ,wesen1 the bright1 the shining4 ,the star 7in the right hind leg7 is called ,adhara1 the glorious4 ,other stars1 not identified1 bear their witness to the same fact4 ,their names are--,aschere 7,hebrew71 who shall come2 ,al ,shira ,al ,jemeniya 7,arabic71 the ,prince or chief of the right hand6 ,seir 7,egyptian71 the ,prince2 ,abur 7,hebrew71 the mighty2 ,al ,habor 7,arabic71 the mighty2 ,muliphen 7,arabic71 the leader1 the chief4 ,here there is no conflicting voice2 no discord in the harmonious testimony to ,him whose name is called 8,wonderful1 ,counsellor1 the ,mighty ,god 444 the ,prince of ,peace0 7,isa4 ix4 #f74 ,the names of the stars have no meaning whatever as applied to an ,egyptian ,hawk1 or a ,greek ,dog4 ,but they are full of significance when we apply them to ,him of whom ,jehovah says3 8,behold1 ,i have given ,him for a witness to the people1 ,a ,,leader and commander to the people40 7,isa4 lv4 #d47 ,this is 8the ,prince of princes0 7,dan4 viii4 #bc1 #be7 against whom1 8when transgressors are come to the full1 a king of fierce countenance 444 shall stand up10 8but he shall be broken without hand10 for he shall be destroyed 8with the brightness of ,his coming0 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #h74 ,this is ,he who shall come forth 8,king of kings and ,lord of ,lords0 7,rev4 xix4 #af74 ,but ,sirius has a companion1 and this brings us to-- #c4 ,,canis ,,minor 7,the ,second ,dog74 ,the ,exalted ,redeemer 7,procyon74 ,the same facts are to be remembered concerning the ,greek picture1 and ,latin name of this constellation4 ,the ,egyptian name in the ,denderah ,zodiac is ,sebak1 which means conquering1 victorious4 ,it is represented as a human figure with a hawk's head and the appendage of a tail4 ,this small constellation has only #ad stars according to the ,britannic catalogue4 ,one of the #ast magnitude1 one of the #bnd1 one of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7in the body71 is named ,procyon1 which means ,,redeemer1 and it tells us that this glorious ,prince is none other than the one who was slain4 ,just as this chapter begins with two persons in one in the ,sign 7,gemini71 one victorious1 the other wounded2 so it ends with a representation of two princes1 one of whom is seen triumphant and the other as the ,redeemer4 ,this is confirmed by the next star1 7in the neck71 which is named ,al ,gomeisa 7,arabic71 the burthened1 loaded1 bearing for others4 ,the names of the other stars1 not identified1 still further confirm the great truth2 viz41 ,al ,shira1 or ,al ,shemeliya 7,arabic71 the prince or chief of the left hand1 answering to the star in ,sirius4 ,one right1 the other left1 as the two united youths are placed4 ,al ,mirzam1 the prince or ruler2 and ,al ,gomeyra1 who completes or perfects4 ,this does1 indeed1 complete and perfect the presentation of this chapter3 ,messiah's reign as ,prince of ,peace2 the enemy trodden under foot by the glorious 8,prince of princes10 who is none other than the glorified ,redeemer4 ,this is also what is written in the ,book3 8,shall the prey be taken from the mighty1 ,or the lawful captives7#fh7 be delivered8 ,but thus saith the ,,lord1 ,even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away1 ,and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered3 ,for ,i will contend with him that contendeth with thee1 ,and ,i will save thy children4 ,and ,i will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh2 ,and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine2 ,and all flesh shall know that ,i the ,,lord am thy ,saviour1 ,and thy ,,redeemer--the ,mighty ,one of ,jacob40 7,isa4 xlix4 #bdbf1 ,r4,v47 8,when the enemy shall come in like a flood1 ,the ,spirit of the ,,lord shall lift up a standard against him1 ,and the ,,redeemer shall come to ,zion40 7,isa4 lix1 #ai1 #bj47 8,and ,he shall divide the spoil with the strong1 ,because ,he hath poured out ,his soul unto death40 7,isa4 liii4 #ab47 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,sign ,,cancer 7,the ,crab74 ,messiah's ,redeemed ,possessions held fast4 ,with regard to the sign of ,,cancer1 one thing is certain1 that we have not got the original picture1 or anything like it4 ,it does not agree with the names either of its three constellations which have come down to us1 or of its stars4 ,in the ancient ,denderah ,zodiac it is represented as a ,scarabus1 or sacred beetle47#fi7 ,in the ,zodiac of ,esneh and in a ,hindu ,zodiac 7#djj ,b4,c47 it is the same4 ,illustration ,plate #ce3 ,,cancer 7the ,crab7 ,according to the ,greeks1 ,jupiter placed this ,crab amongst the signs of the ,zodiac4 ,in ,sir ,william ,jones's ,oriental ,zodiac we meet with a crab1 and an ,egyptian ,zodiac found at ,rome bears also the crab in this sign4 ,the more ancient ,egyptians placed ,hermanubis1 or ,hermes1 with the head of an ibis or hawk1 as the symbol of the sign now allotted to ,cancer4 ,the ,denderah name is ,klaria1 or the cattlefolds1 and in this name we have the key to the meaning of the sign1 and to the subject of this chapter4 ,the ,arabic name is ,al ,sartan1 which means who holds or binds1 and may be from the ,hebrew 1 to bind together 7,gen4 xlix4 #aa74 ,there is no ancient ,hebrew word known for the crab4 ,it was classed with many other unclean creatures1 and would be included in the general term 8vermin40 ,the ,syriac1 ,sartano1 means the same4 ,the ,greek name is ,karkinos1 which means holding or encircling1 as does the ,latin1 ,cancer1 and hence is applied to the crab4 ,in the word ,khan1 we have the traveller's rest or inn2 while ,ker or ,cer is the ,arabic for encircling4 ,the ancient ,akkadian name of the month is ,sukulna1 the seizer or possessor of seed4 ,the sign contains #hc stars1 one of which is of the #crd magnitude1 and seven are of the #dth magnitude1 and the remainder of inferior magnitudes4 ,in the centre of the ,sign there is a remarkably bright cluster of stars1 so bright that they can be sometimes seen with the naked eye4 ,it looks like a comet1 and is made up of a great multitude of stars4 ,modern astronomers have called it the ,beehive4 ,but its ancient name has come down to us as ,praesepe1 which means a multitude1 offspring4 ,the brightest star1 7in the head71 is called ,tegmine1 holding4 ,the star 7or #a and #b71 in the lower large claw1 is called ,acubene1 which1 in ,hebrew and ,arabic1 means the sheltering or hidingplace4 ,another is named ,ma'alaph 7,arabic71 assembled thousands2 ,al ,himarein 7,arabic71 the kids or lambs4 ,north and south of the nebula ,praesepe are two stars1 which ,orientalists speak of by a name evidently of some antiquity4 ,asellus means an ,ass1 and one was called ,asellus ,boreas1 the northern ,ass2 while the other1 ,asellus ,australis1 is the southern ,ass4 ,the sign was afterwards known by the symbol 1 which stands for these two asses47#gj7 ,this connects it with the ,tribe of ,issachar1 who is said to have borne upon the ,tribal standard the sign of two asses4 ,this is doubtless the reference in ,jacob's blessing 7,gen4 xlix4 #aa1 ,r4,v473-- 8,issachar is a strong ass1 ,couching down between the sheepfolds2 ,and he saw a restingplace that it was good2 ,and the land that it was pleasant2 ,and he bowed his shoulder to bear1 ,and became a servant under task work40 ,have we not here the gathering up of the teaching of this sign-- ,messiah's redeemed possessions held fast4 ,here we come to the completion of ,his work4 ,in ,,cancer we see it with reference to ,his redeemed1 and in the next 7the last7 ,sign1 ,,leo1 with reference to ,his enemies4 ,the three constellations develope the truth4 ,what is now called ,ursa ,minor is the ,lesser ,flock2 ,ursa ,major gives us ,the ,sheepfold and the ,sheep2 while ,argo1 ,the ,ship1 shows the travellers and the pilgrims brought safely home--all conflict over4 ,to accomplish this1 we see the true ,issachar bowing his shoulder to bear4 ,he could say1 8,my soul is bowed down0 7,ps4 lvii4 #f74 ,,he became a servant1 and humbled ,himself to death4 ,,he undertook the mighty task of saving ,his people from their sins4 8,their ,redeemer is strong0 7,jer4 l4 #cd72 for help was laid on 8,one that was mighty0 7,ps4 lxxxix4 #ai74 ,and ,his redeemed shall come to a restingplace that is good1 and to a land that is pleasant4 ,no earthly ,khan on earth affords them a home4 ,they look for a heavenly home1 and in the many mansions of the ,father's house they shall find eternal rest4 ,here we see that sheltering home to which the names of these stars point2 where the assembled thousands 7,ma'alaph7 shall be received into the true ,klaria1 even the 8everlasting habitations40 ,these are now to be shown to us4 #a4 ,,ursa ,,minor 7,the ,little ,bear74 ,the ,lesser ,sheepfold4 ,here we come to another grievous mistake1 or ignorant perversion of primitive truth1 as shown in the ancient names of these two constellations4 ,it is sufficient to point to the fact that no ,bear is found in any ,chaldean1 ,egyptian1 ,persian1 or ,indian ,zodiacs1 and that no bear was ever seen with such a tail6 ,no one who had ever seen a bear would have called attention to a tail1 such as no bear ever had1 by placing in its very tip the most important1 wondrous1 and mysterious ,polar ,star1 the central star of the heavens1 round which all others revolve4 ,the patriarchal astronomers1 we may be sure1 committed no such folly as this4 ,the primitive truth that there were two1 or a pair of constellations is preserved2 and that of these two1 one is larger1 and the other smaller4 ,but what were they8 ,we have the clue to the answer in the name of the brightest star of the larger constellation1 which is called ,dubheh4 ,now ,dubheh means a herd of animals4 ,in ,arabic1 ,dubah means cattle4 ,in ,hebrew1 1 ,dhver1 is a fold2 and hence in ,chaldee it meant wealth4 ,the ,hebrew 1 ,dhveh1 means rest or security2 and certainly there is not much of either to be found or enjoyed with bears6 ,the word occurs in ,deut4 xxxiii4 #be3 8,as thy days so shall thy strength be40 ,the ,revised ,version gives in the margin1 8,so shall thy rest or security be40 ,this accords with what we have already seen under 8,,cancer03 8,couching down between the sheepfolds17#ga7 he saw a resting place that it was good40 ,here are the two ,sheepfolds1 then2 the ,greater fold1 and ,lesser2 and here is the rest and security which the flocks will find therein4 ,but in ,hebrew there is a word very similar in sound1 though not in spelling-- or 1 dhv1 which means a bear6 ,so we find in ,arabic dub2 ,persian1 deeb and dob4 ,we can see1 therefore1 how the ,hebrew ,dhver1 a fold1 and ,dhv1 a bear1 were confused2 and how the ,arabic ,dubah1 cattle1 might easily have been mistaken by the ,greeks1 and understood as a bear4 ,illustration ,plate #cf3 ,,ursa ,,minor ,the constellation1 which we must therefore call ,,the ,,lesser ,,sheepfold1 contains #bd stars1 viz41 one of the #bnd magnitude1 two of the #crd1 four of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7at the point of the tail71 is the most important in the whole heavens4 ,it is named ,al ,ruccaba1 which means the turned or ridden on1 and is today the ,polar or central star1 which does not revolve in a circle as does every other star1 but remains1 apparently1 fixed in its position4 ,but though the star does not revolve like the others1 the central point in the heavens is very slowly but steadily moving4 ,when these constellations were formed the ,dragon possessed this important point1 and the star 1 in ,draco1 marked this central point4 ,but1 by its gradual recession1 that point is sufficiently near this star ,ruccaba1 in the ,lesser ,sheepfold1 for it to be what is called 8the ,polar ,star40 ,but1 how could this have been known five or six thousand years ago8 ,how could it have been known when it received its name1 which means the turned or ridden on8 ,that it was known is clear3 so likewise was it made known in the written ,word that the original blessing included not merely the multiplication of the seed of faithful ,abraham1 but it was then added1 8,and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies0 7,gen4 xxii4 #ag74 ,this star was called by the ,greeks 1 the 8,cynosure40 ,,aratus seems to apply this term to the whole of the seven stars of the ,lesser ,bear4 ,mr4 ,robert ,brown1 ,junr41 shows7#gb7 that 1 once supposed to be ,hellenic1 is non,hellenic1 and possibly ,euphratean in origin1 from a word which he transliterates ,annassurra1 and renders it1 8as it literally means1 high in rising1 i4e41 in heavenly position40 ,is not this the primitive truth of the ,revelation8 ,will not this ,lesser ,fold be high1 yea1 the highest in heavenly position8 ,the ,polar ,star has been removed from the ,dragon1 and is now in the ,lesser ,fold2 and when the ,dragon shall be cast down from the heavens1 the heavenly seed will be safely folded there4 ,but this is the ,lesser ,sheepfold4 ,these are they who all through the ages have been 8partakers of the heavenly calling10 who desired a better country1 that is1 a heavenly2 wherefore ,god 8hath prepared for them a city10 the city for which ,abraham himself 8looked40 ,this was no earthly city1 but a city 8whose builder and maker is ,god0 7,heb4 xi4 #ajaf74 ,these have always been a smaller company1 a 8little flock10 but the kingdom shall be theirs1 even the kingdom of ,god1 for which they now look and wait4 ,they have not yet 8received the promises2 but1 having seen them afar off0 by faith1 they 8were persuaded of them1 and embraced them1 and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth0 7,heb4 xi4 #ac74 ,their ,messiah has accomplished 8the redemption of the purchased possession10 and in due time the redeemed will inherit it1 8unto the praise of ,his glory0 7,eph4 i4 #ac74 ,the bright star is named ,kochab1 which means waiting ,him who cometh4 ,other stars1 not identified1 are named ,al ,pherkadain 7,arabic71 which means the calves1 or the young 7as in ,deut4 xxii4 #f71 the redeemed assembly4 ,another1 ,al ,gedi1 means the kid4 ,another is ,al ,kaid1 the assembled2 while ,arcas1 or ,arctos 7from which we derive the term ,arctic regions71 means1 according to one interpreter1 a travelling company2 or1 according to another1 the stronghold of the saved4 ,but there is not only the heavenly seed1 which is compared 8to the stars of heaven10 but there is the seed that is compared to 8the sand of the sea0--the larger flock or company1 who will enjoy the earthly blessing4 ,this brings us to-- #b4 ,,ursa ,,major 7,the ,great ,bear74 ,the ,fold and the ,flock4 ,of these it is written3-- 8,but in ,mount ,zion there shall be those that escape1 ,and it shall be holy3 ,and the house of ,jacob shall possess their possessions40 7,obad4 #agai1 ,r4,v47 ,it is a large and important constellation1 containing #hg stars1 of which one is of the #ast magnitude1 four of the #bnd1 three of the #crd1 ten of the #dth1 etc4 ,it always presents a splendid appearance1 and is perhaps1 therefore1 the best known of all the constellations4 ,in the ,book of ,job 7ix4 #i1 and xxxviii4 #ca1 #cb7 it is mentioned under the name of ,ash4 8,canst thou guide ,ash and her offspring80 which is rendered in the ,a4,v41 8,arcturus and his sons10 and in the ,r4,v41 8,the ,bear with her train0 7marg41 8sons074 ,the ,arabs still call it ,al ,naish1 or ,annaish1 the assembled together1 as sheep in a fold4 ,the ancient ,jewish commentators interpreted ,ash as the seven stars of this constellation4 ,they are called by others ,septentriones1 which thus became the ,latin word for ,north4 ,illustration ,plate #cg3 ,,ursa ,,major ,the brightest star1 7in the back71 is named ,dubhe1 which1 as we have seen1 means a herd of animals1 or a flock1 and gives its name to the whole constellation4 ,the star 7below it7 is named ,merach 7,hebrew71 the flock 7,arabic1 purchased74 ,the star 7on the left of ,greek3 beta7 is called ,phaeda1 or ,phacda1 meaning visited1 guarded1 or numbered1 as a flock2 for ,his sheep1 like the stars1 are both numbered and named4 7,see ,psalm cxlvii4 #d47 ,the star is called ,alioth1 a name we have had in ,auriga1 meaning a she goat4 ,the star 7in the middle of the tail7 is called ,mizar1 separate or small1 and close to it ,al ,cor1 the ,lamb 7known as 8g074 ,the star 7at the end of the socalled tail7 is named ,benet ,naish 7,arabic71 the daughters of the assembly4 ,it is also called ,al ,kaid1 the assembled4 ,the star 7in its right foot7 is called ,talitha4 ,the names of other stars1 not identified1 all give the same testimony3 ,el ,alcola 7,arabic71 the sheepfold 7as in ,ps4 xcv4 #g2 and c4 #c72 ,cab'd al ,asad1 multitude1 many assembled2 ,annaish1 the assembled2 ,megrez1 separated1 as the flock in the fold2 ,el ,kaphrah1 protected1 covered 7,heb4 redeemed and ransomed72 ,dubheh ,lachar 7,arabic71 the latter herd or flock2 ,helike 7so called by ,,homer in the ,iliad71 company of travellers2 ,amaza 7,greek71 coming and going2 ,calisto1 the sheepfold set or appointed4 ,there is not one discordant voice in the rich abundance of this testimony4 ,we have nothing to do here with the ,grecian myths about bears or wild boars4 ,we see only the innumerable seed gathered by ,him who scattered 7,jer4 xxxi4 #aj74 ,many are the ,scriptures we might quote which speak of this gathering and assembling of the longscattered flock4 ,it is written as plainly in the ,book1 as it is in the heavens4 ,the prophecies of this gathering are as conspicuous in the ,word of ,god as the 8,seven ,stars0 are in the sky4 ,it is difficult even to make a selection from the wealth of such promises2 but few are more beautiful than that in ,ezek4 xxxiv4 #abaf3 8,as a shepherd seeketh out his flock ,in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered2 ,so will ,i seek out my sheep1 ,and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day4 ,and ,i will bring them out from the people1 ,and gather them from the countries1 ,and will bring them to their own land1 ,and feed them upon the mountains of ,israel by the rivers ,and in all the inhabited places of the country4 ,i will feed them in a good pasture1 ,and upon the high mountains of ,israel shall their fold be3 ,there shall they lie in a good fold1 ,and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of ,israel4 ,i will feed my flock1 ,and ,i will cause them to lie down1 saith the ,lord ,,god4 7,adonai ,jehovah74 ,i will seek that which was lost1 ,and bring again that which was driven away1 ,and will bind up that which was broken1 ,and will strengthen that which was sick3 ,but ,i will destroy the fat and the strong2 ,i will feed them with judgment40 ,it is of this judgment with which this book1 and indeed the whole ,revelation1 ends1 in the next and final chapter4 ,but before we come to that we have one more picture in the third constellation of this ,sign1 which combines the first two in one4 #c4 ,,argo 7,the ,ship74 ,the ,pilgrims safe at ,home4 ,this is the celebrated ship of the ,argonauts1 which ,,homer sung nearly ten centuries before ,christ4 ,sir ,isaac ,newton puts the expedition of the ,argonauts shortly after the death of ,solomon 7about #ige ,b4,c474 ,while ,dr4 ,blair's chronology puts it #abcf ,b4,c4 ,whatever fables have gathered round the story there can be no doubt as to its great antiquity4 ,some think that the story had its origin in name1 as well as in fact1 from the ,ark of ,noah and its mysterious journey4 ,all that is clear1 when divested of mythic details1 is that the sailors in that ship1 after all their dangers1 and toils1 and battles were over1 came back victorious to their own shores4 ,the 8golden fleece10 for which the ,argonauts went in search1 tells of a treasure that had been lost4 8,jason10 the great captain1 tells of ,him who recovered it from the ,serpent1 which guarded it with everwatchful eye1 when none else was able to approach it4 ,and thus1 through the fables and myths of the ,greeks1 we can see the light primeval shine2 and this light1 once seen1 lights up this ,sign and its constellations1 so that their teaching cannot be misunderstood4 ,,aratus sings of ,argo3-- 8,sternforemost hauled2 no mark of onwardspeeding ship4 ,sternward she comes1 as vessels do ,when sailors turn the helm ,on entering harbour3 all the oars backwater1 ,and gliding backward1 to an anchor comes40 ,it tells of that blessed homecoming1 when-- 8,the ransomed of the ,,lord shall return ,and come to ,zion with songs1 ,and everlasting joy upon their heads2 ,they shall obtain joy and gladness1 ,and sorrow and sighing shall flee away40 7,isa4 xxxv4 #aj47 ,it tells of the glorious ,jason17#gc7 of whom it is asked3 8,art thou not it which hath cut ,rahab1 ,and wounded the dragon8 ,art thou not it which hath dried the sea1 the waters of the great deep2 ,that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over8 ,therefore the redeemed of the ,,lord shall return1 ,and come with singing unto ,zion10 etc4 7,isa4 li4 #iaa47 8,for the ,,lord hath redeemed ,jacob1 ,and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he4 ,therefore they shall come and sing in the height of ,zion ,and shall flow together to the goodness of the ,,lord40 7,jer4 xxxi4 #aa1 #ab47 ,this is the return of the great emigrantship 7,argo7 and all its company of travellers 7for this is the meaning of the word ,argo74 ,illustration ,plate #ch3 ,,argo 7the ,ship7 ,in ,kircher's ,egyptian ,planisphere ,argo is represented by two galleys 7as we have two sheepfolds71 whose prows are surmounted by rams' heads2 and the stern of one of them ends in a fish's tail4 ,one of the two occupies four segments of the sphere 7from ,taurus to ,virgo71 while the other occupies the four from ,leo to ,capricorn4 ,one half of the southern meridians is occupied with these galleys and their construction and decorations4 ,astronomers tell us that they carry us back1 the one to the period when the ,bull opened the year 7to which time ,,virgil refers72 and the other to the same epoch1 when the summer solstice was in ,leo--8an era greatly antecedent to the ,argonautic expedition4 ,how else1 they ask1 do we account for the one ship having her prow in the first ,decan of ,taurus1 and her poop in the last ,decan of ,leo8 or for one galley being freighted with the installed ,bull1 and the other with the solstitial ,lion807#gd7 ,these are the words of an astronomer who knows nothing whatever of our interpretation of the heavens which is set forth in this work4 ,it will indeed be a large vessel1 the true ,argo1 with its company of travellers1 8a great multitude which no man can number40 ,all this is indicated by the immense size of the ,constellation1 as well as by the large number of its stars4 ,there are #fd stars in ,argo 7reckoning by the ,britannic catalogue72 one of the #ast magnitude1 six of the #bnd1 nine of the #crd1 nine of the #dth1 etc4 ,only a small part of the ship's poop is visible in ,britain4 ,its brightest star1 7near the keel71 is called ,canopus or ,canobus1 which means the possession of ,him who cometh4 ,other starnames1 not identified1 are--,sephina1 the multitude or abundance2 ,tureis1 the possession2 ,asmidiska1 the released who travel2 ,soheil 7,arabic71 the desired2 and ,subilon1 the ,branch4 ,is not all this exactly in harmony with the rest of this sign8 ,and is not this what is written in the ,book8 8,therefore1 fear thou not1 ,o ,my servant ,jacob1 saith the ,,lord2 ,neither be dismayed1 ,o ,israel3 ,for1 lo1 ,i will save thee from afar1 ,and thy seed from the land of their captivity2 ,and ,jacob shall return and be in rest1 ,and be quiet1 and none shall make him afraid1 ,for ,i am with thee1 saith the ,,lord1 to save thee40 7,jer4 xxx4 #aj1 #aa47 8,lift up thine eyes round about1 and see2 ,all they gather themselves together1 they come to thee2 ,thy sons shall come from far1 ,and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side1 ,then thou shalt see1 and flow together1 ,and thine heart shall fear and be enlarged2 ,because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee4444 ,who are these that fly as a cloud8 ,and as doves to their windows8 ,surely the isles shall wait for me1 ,and the ,,ships of ,tarshish first1 to bring thy sons from far40 7,isa4 lx4 #d1 #e1 #h1 #i47 ,the whole chapter 7,isa4 lx47 should be read if we wish to understand the great teaching of this ,sign1 which tells of ,messiah's secured possessions1 the safe folding of ,his bloodbought flock1 the blessed return of ,his pilgrims1 and their abundant entrance into everlasting rest4 8,there is a blessed home ,beyond this land of woe1 ,where trials never come1 ,nor tears of sorrow flow2 ,where faith is lost in sight1 ,and patient love is crowned1 ,and everlasting light ,its glory throws around4 ,o joy1 all joys beyond1 ,to see the ,lamb who died1 ,and count each sacred wound ,in hands1 and feet1 and side2 ,to give to ,him the praise ,of every triumph won1 ,and sing through endless days ,the great things ,he hath done4 ,look up1 ye saints of ,god1 ,nor fear to tread below ,the path your ,saviour trod ,of daily toil and woe2 ,wait but a little while ,in uncomplaining love1 ,his own most gracious smile ,shall welcome you above40 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,the ,sign ,,leo 7,the ,lion74 ,messiah's ,consummated ,triumph4 ,here we come to the end of the circle4 ,we began with ,virgo1 and we end with ,leo4 ,no one who has followed our interpretation can doubt that we have here the solving of the ,riddle of the ,sphinx4 ,for its ,head is ,virgo and its ,tail is ,leo6 ,in ,leo we reach the end of the ,revelation as inspired in the ,word of ,god2 and it is the end as written in the heavens4 ,,bailly 7,astronomy7 says1 8the ,zodiac must have been first divided when the sun at the summer solstice was in #a ,virgo1 where the woman's head joins the ,lion's tail40 ,as to its antiquity there can be no doubt4 ,,jamieson says1 8the ,lion does not seem to have been placed among the ,zodiacal symbols1 because ,hercules was fabled to have slain the ,nemean ,lion4 ,it would seem1 on the contrary1 that ,hercules1 who represented the ,sun1 was said to have slain the ,nemean ,lion1 because ,leo was already a ,zodiacal sign4 ,hercules flourished #c1jjj years ago1 and consequently posterior to the period when the summer solstice accorded with ,leo40 7,celestial ,atlas1 p4 #dj74 ,there is no confusion about this sign4 ,in the ancient ,zodiacs of ,egypt 7,denderah1 ,esneh7 and ,india we find the ,lion4 ,the same occurs on the ,mithraic monuments1 where ,leo is passant1 as he is in ,moor's ,hindu1 and ,sir ,william ,jones's ,oriental ,zodiacs4 ,in ,kircher's ,zodiacs he is courrant2 in the ,egyptian ,zodiacs he is couchant4 ,in the ,denderah ,zodiac he is treading upon a serpent1 as shown in ,mr4 ,edward ,cooper's ,egyptian ,scenery4 ,illustration ,plate #ci3 ,,leo 7the ,lion7 ,its ,egyptian name is ,pi ,mentekeon1 which means the pouring out4 ,this is no pouring out or inundation of the ,nile1 but it is the pouring out of the cup of ,divine wrath on that ,old ,serpent4 ,this is the one great truth of the closing chapter of this last ,book4 ,it is ,,the ,,lion ,,of ,,the ,,tribe ,,of ,,judah ,,aroused ,,for ,,the ,,rending ,,of ,,the ,,prey4 ,his feet are over the head of ,hydra1 the great ,serpent1 and just about to descend upon it and crush it4 ,the three constellations of the ,sign complete this final picture3 #a4 ,hydra1 the old ,serpent destroyed4 #b4 ,crater1 the ,cup of ,divine wrath poured out upon him4 #c4 ,corvus1 the ,bird of prey devouring him4 ,the ,denderah picture exhibits all four in one4 ,the ,lion is presented treading down the ,serpent4 ,the ,bird of prey is also perched upon it1 while below is a plumed female figure holding out two cups1 answering to ,crater1 the cup of wrath4 ,the hieroglyphics read ,knem1 and are placed underneath4 ,knem means who conquers1 or is conquered1 referring to the victory over the serpent4 ,the woman's name is ,herua1 great enemy1 referring to the great enemy for which her two cups are prepared and intended4 ,the ,hebrew name of the sign is ,arieh1 which means the ,lion4 ,there are six ,hebrew words for ,lion17#ge7 and this one is used of the ,lion hunting down his prey4 ,the ,syriac name is ,aryo1 the rending ,lion1 and the ,arabic is ,al ,asad2 both mean a lion coming vehemently1 leaping forth as a flame6 ,it is a beautiful constellation of #ie stars1 two of which are of the #ast magnitude1 two of the #bnd1 six of the #crd1 thirteen of the #dth4 ,the brightest star1 7on the ,ecliptic71 marks the heart of the ,lion 7hence sometimes called by the moderns1 ,cor ,leonis1 the heart of the ,lion74 ,its ancient name is ,regulus1 which means treading under foot4 ,the next star1 1 also of the #ast magnitude 7in the tip of the tail71 is named ,denebola1 the ,judge or ,lord who cometh4 ,the star 7in the mane7 is called ,al ,giebha 7,arabic71 the exaltation4 ,the star 7on the hinder part of the back7 is called ,zosma1 shining forth4 ,other stars1 not identified1 are named ,sarcam 7,hebrew71 the joining2 intimating that here is the point where the two ends of the ,zodiacal circle have their joining4 ,another star has the name of ,minchir al ,asad 7,arabic71 the punishing or tearing of the ,lion4 ,another is ,deneb ,aleced1 the judge cometh who seizes4 ,and another is ,al ,dafera 7,arabic71 the enemy put down4 ,what can be more expressive8 ,what can be more eloquent8 ,all is harmony1 and all the names unite in pointing us to what is written of 8the ,lion of the ,tribe of ,judah40 ,and why is ,messiah thus called8 ,because it is applied to ,him in ,rev4 v4 #e in connection with ,his rising up for judgment3 and because the ,lion is known to have been always borne upon the standard of ,judah1 whether in the wilderness 7,num4 ii47 or in aftertimes4 ,in ,israel's dying blessing the prophetic words foretold of ,judah3 8,thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies2 444 ,judah is a lion's whelp2 ,from the prey1 my son1 thou art gone up4 ,he stooped down1 he couched as a lion1 ,and as an old lion2 who shall rouse him up80 7,gen4 xlix4 #h1 #i47 ,in the prophecy of ,balaam 7,num4 xxiv4 #h1 #i71 we read3 8,he shall eat up the nations his enemies1 ,and shall break their bones1 ,and pierce them through with his arrows1 ,he couched1 he lay down as a lion1 ,and as a great lion2 who shall stir him up80 ,the same testimony is borne by the ,prophet ,amos3 8,will a lion roar in the forest when he hath no prey8 ,will a young lion cry out of his den1 if he hath taken nothing8444 ,the lion hath roared1 who will not fear80 7,amos iii4 #d1 #h47 ,when 8the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah0 is roused up for the rending1 the ,spirit describes the scene in ,isa4 xlii4 #ac3 8,the ,,lord shall go forth as a mighty man1 ,he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war2 ,he shall cry1 yea1 roar2 ,he shall prevail against ,his enemies40 ,and this is what is meant and included when the ,elder says for ,john's comfort1 8the ,lion of the ,tribe of ,judah hath prevailed10 and hence1 is 8worthy 444 to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honour1 and glory1 and blessing0 7,rev4 v474 ,whether we look1 therefore1 at the primeval ,revelation in the heavens1 or at the later ,revelation in the ,word1 the story is one and the same4 ,and what we see of ,leo and his work in both1 we find developed and described in the three constellations of the ,sign4 #a4 ,,hydra 7,the ,serpent74 ,the ,old ,serpent ,destroyed4 ,the time has at length come for the fulfilment of the many prophecies pictured in the heavens3 and in its three final constellations we see the consummation of them all in the complete destruction of the ,old ,serpent1 and all his seed1 and all his works4 ,illustration ,plate #dj3 ,,hydra 7the ,serpent71 ,,crater 7the ,cup71 ,,corvus 7the ,raven7 ,it is the special work of the ,messiah1 as 8the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah10 to trample it under foot4 ,it is pictured as the female serpent 7,hydra71 the mother and author of all evil4 ,hydra has the significant meaning1 he is abhorred6 ,it is an immense constellation extending for above #ajj degrees from east to west1 beneath the ,virgin1 the ,lion1 and the ,crab4 ,it is composed of #fj stars2 one of the #bnd magnitude1 three of the #crd1 twelve of the #dth1 etc4 ,the brightest star1 7in the heart of the ,serpent71 is sometimes called by the moderns ,cor ,hydr on that account4 ,its ancient name is ,al ,phard 7,arabic71 which means the separated1 put away4 ,another is called ,al ,drian1 the abhorred4 ,another star is named ,minchar al ,sugia1 the piercing of the deceiver4 ,there can be no doubt as to what is taught by the constellation of ,hydra1 nor is it necessary to quote the ,scriptures concerning the destruction of the ,serpent4 ,we pass on to consider the second4 #b4 ,,crater 7,the ,cup74 ,the ,cup of ,divine wrath ,poured out upon ,him4 8,god is the ,judge4 ,he putteth down one1 and setteth up another1 ,,for ,,in ,,the ,,hand ,,of ,,the ,,lord ,,there ,,is ,a ,,cup1 ,and the wine is red2 it is full of mixture1 ,and ,he poureth out of the same3 ,but the dregs thereof1 all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out and drink them40 7,ps4 lxxv4 #h47 8,upon the wicked he shall rain snares1 ,fire and brimstone1 and a horrible tempest3 ,,this ,,shall ,,be ,,the ,,portion ,,of ,,their ,,cup40 7,ps4 xi4 #f47 ,this is no fabled winecup of ,bacchus2 but it is 8,the cup of ,his indignation0 7,rev4 xiv4 #aj72 8,the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath0 7,rev4 xvi4 #ai74 ,this is what we see set forth in this constellation4 ,the ,cup is wide and deep1 and fastened on by the stars to the very body of the writhing serpent4 ,the same stars which are in the foot of the ,cup form part of the body of ,hydra1 and are reckoned as belonging to both constellations4 ,this ,cup has the significant number of thirteen stars 7the number of ,apostacy74 ,the two--,al ,ches 771 which means the ,cup1 and 77--determine the bottom of the ,cup4 #c4 ,,corvus 7,the ,raven74 ,the ,birds of ,prey devouring the ,serpent4 ,here is the final scene of judgment4 ,we have had ,zeeb2 the ,wolf2 now we have ,oreb1 the ,raven4 ,herna is its name in the ,denderah ,zodiac4 ,her1 means the enemy2 and ,na1 means breaking up or failing4 ,that is to say1 this scene represents the breaking up of the enemy4 ,there are nine stars 7the number of judgment7 in this constellation4 ,the bright star 7in the eye7 is called ,al ,chibar 7,arabic71 joining together1 from the ,hebrew ,chiba 7,num4 xxiii4 #h71 which means accursed4 ,this star1 then1 tells of the curse inflicted4 ,the star 7in the right wing7 is called ,al ,goreb 7,arabic71 from ,hebrew ,oreb1 the ,raven4 ,a third star is named ,minchar al ,gorab 7,arabic71 and means the ,raven tearing to pieces4 ,this brings us to the end4 ,there is nothing beyond this4 ,nothing remains to be told4 ,we know from the ,word of ,god that-- 8,the eye that mocketh at his father1 ,and despiseth to obey his mother1 ,the ravens of the valley shall pick it out40 7,prov4 xxx4 #ag47 ,we remember how ,david said to the ,giant ,goliah--a type of this enemy of ,god's people--8,i will smite thee1 and take thy head from thee2 and ,i will give the carcases of the host of the ,philistines this day unto the fowls of the air1 and to the wild beasts of the earth0 7#a ,sam4 xvii4 #df74 ,when the great day of this judgment comes1 an angel standing in the sun will cry 8to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven1 ,come1 and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great ,god2 that ye may eat the flesh of kings1 and the flesh of captains1 and the flesh of mighty men1 and the flesh of horses1 and of them that sit on them1 and the flesh of all men1 both free and bond1 both small and great0 7,rev4 xix4 #ag1 #ah74 ,and after these awful words shall be fulfilled1 in the closing words of the prophecy of ,isaiah1 ,jehovah foretells us how-- 8,they shall go forth1 and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against ,me2 ,for their worm shall not die1 ,neither shall their fire be quenched2 ,and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh40 ,this is the teaching of the whole ,sign of ,,leo6 ,it is all summed up in ,jer4 xxv4 #cjcc3-- 8,therefore prophesy against them all these words1 and say unto them1 ,the ,,lord shall roar from on high1 ,and utter ,his voice from ,his holy habitation2 ,he shall mightily roar upon ,his habitation2 ,he shall give a shout1 as they that tread the grapes1 ,against all the inhabitants of the earth4 ,a noise shall come even to the ends of the earth2 ,for the ,,lord hath a controversy with the nations1 ,he will plead with all flesh2 ,he will give them that are wicked to the sword1 saith the ,,lord4 ,thus saith the ,,lord of hosts1 ,behold1 evil shall go forth from nation to nation1 ,and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth4 ,and the slain of the ,,lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth ,even to the other end of the earth2 ,they shall not be lamented1 neither gathered1 nor buried2 ,they shall be dung upon the ground40 ,here is the conclusion of the whole matter6 ,here is the final triumph of the ,son of ,man in the consummated victory of the ,seed of the woman3 8,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honour1 and glory1 and blessing0 7,rev4 v4 #ab74 8,o what a bright and blessed world ,this groaning earth of ours will be1 ,when from its throne the tempter hurled1 ,shall leave it all1 ,o ,lord1 to ,thee6 ,but brighter far that world above1 ,where we1 as we are known1 shall know2 ,and1 in the sweet embrace of love1 ,reign o'er this ransomed earth below4 ,o blessed ,lord6 with longing eyes ,that blissful hour we wait to see2 ,while every worm or leaf that dies ,tells of the curse1 and calls for ,thee4 ,come1 ,saviour6 ,then o'er all below ,shine brightly from ,thy throne above1 ,bid heaven and earth ,thy glory know1 ,and all creation feel ,thy love40 ,,summary4 ,man has ever sought to rob ,christ of ,his glory4 ,he has long since done his best to obliterate ,his name and ,his work from the ,revelation which had been written in the stars of light4 ,when ,he humbled ,himself1 and came as the promised ,seed of the woman1 men 8saw no beauty in ,him that they should desire ,him40 ,and these were religious men4 ,it was religious men1 not the common rabble1 whom the ,old ,serpent made use of to wound ,him in the heel4 ,the ,devil could not touch ,him himself2 he must use them as his instruments2 and it was only religious men that could be so used4 ,it was the 8chief priests and scribes10 men learned in the ,scriptures1 whose very knowledge of the ,word was used to compass ,his death amongst the babes at ,bethlehem 7,matt4 ii4 #df74 ,it was the same priests and scribes who were used to put ,him to death1 and give the longprophesied wound in the heel4 ,religion without ,christ is enmity against ,god6 ,knowledge of the ,scriptures where the heart is not subject to ,christ1 and where ,christ is not seen in them1 is powerless and lifeless4 ,it is true of the ,scriptures1 as it will be of the heavenly ,jerusalem--8,,the ,,lamb ,,is ,,the ,,light ,,thereof0 7,rev4 xxi4 #bc74 ,the ,church of ,rome has been used of the great enemy to rob the ,lamb of ,god of ,his promised glory4 ,,jerome1 in his ,latin translation of the ,bible 7#dje ,a4,d471 wrote 8ipse10 ,,he1 in ,gen4 iii4 #ae1 as the 8bruiser of the serpent's head40 ,and1 in spite of the fact that ,,jerome himself so quotes it in his commentary1 and that it is masculine in all the other ancient translations of the ,bible1 ,rome has first corrupted ,,jerome',s ,vulgate by changing the 8e0 into 8a10 and putting 8ipsa0 7she7 instead of 8ipse0 7,he72 then she has so translated this corruption and perpetuated this perversion in various languages6 ,so that in all her versions1 in her pictures and statues1 in the decree of ,pope ,pius ,,ix41 which promulgated the dogma of the 8immaculate conception of the ,virgin ,mary10 this lie of the ,old ,serpent has been foisted on unnumbered thousands of deluded souls1 who have thereby been deceived into putting ,mary in the place of ,jesus2 the 8co,redemptress0 in the place of the ,redeemer2 the creature in the place of the ,creator2 the woman in the place of the woman's ,seed2--until the outcome is reached by emblazoning1 in huge gilt letters1 on the outside of a large church in ,rathmines1 ,dublin1 8,,mari ,,peccatorum ,,refugium10 to ,mary the ,refuge of ,sinners6 ,so complete has been the success of the subtlety of the ,serpent1 that he has beguiled thousands of ,protestants to unite in circulating these corrupted versions as the ,word of ,god1 thus giving currency to the ,devil's lie4 ,this is done on the plea of expediency1 in order that these versions might come to many as ,protestant truth instead of ,popish error2 but thus misleading those who were seeking for light1 while confirming ,papists in their darkness4 ,but through all the 8wisdom of the ,serpent0 we can detect his lie4 ,it is very thinly veiled1 and the ,old ,serpent has not succeeded in blinding the eyes which the ,spirit of ,god has opened4 ,true1 we see in all ,rome's pictures and statues the foot of ,mary1 on the ,serpent's head1 but the foot is not coming down1 nor is the head crushed6 ,rather is the woman's foot resting on its head2 and the woman herself supported by the ,serpent4 ,the whole system of ,maryanity is thus seen to be the outcome of the ,serpent's wisdom in opposition to the true ,christianity4 ,how different are the primeval starpictures of the heavens4 ,there1 the club is lifted up1 the foot is coming down1 yea1 the foot is actually planted upon the enemy1 treading the ,scorpion under foot4 ,rome may corrupt the words of the ,book1 but she cannot touch the stars of heaven6 ,the ,devil himself cannot move them from their places4 ,he may choose and use his servants and agents for corrupting the ,scriptures written in the ,book1 but he cannot change the ,revelation of the stars4 ,there1--no woman's foot is seen upon the ,serpent's head6 ,there1--no woman usurps the place of the allglorious ,redeemer6 ,in ,ophiuchus we see ,,him in dread conflict with the ,serpent1 and we see ,,his foot upon the ,scorpion's heart 7,,scorpio74 ,we see ,,him1 the ,risen ,lamb 7,,aries71 binding ,cetus1 the great ,monster of the ,deep2 we see ,,him in the glorious ,orion1 whose foot is coming down on the enemy's head 7,lepus72 we see ,,him in the ,lion of the ,tribe of ,judah 7,,leo71 about to tread down that ,old ,serpent 7,hydra7 the ,devil2 we see ,,him in the mighty ,hercules1 who has his foot on the head of the ,dragon 7,draco71 and his uplifted club about to inflict the longthreatened blow2 we see ,,him crowned in ,cepheus1 with all ,his enemies subdued1 and ,his right foot planted upon the ,polar ,star6 ,true1 we do see a ,,woman in this heavenly and ,divine revelation2 for there are four women4 ,two are connected with the ,,redeemer1 and two with the ,,redeemed4 ,the ,redeemer is seen in the one 7,,virgo7 as the 8promised ,seed02 in the other 7,coma71 ,he is seen as the child born1 the ,son given4 ,the ,redeemed are represented in one as a captive chained 7,andromeda71 with no power to wage conflict with an enemy1 but a prey to every foe2 in the other 7,cassiopeia71 she is enthroned1 with no necessity for conflict4 ,for with one hand she waves the palm of a victory which another 7,perseus7 has wrought on her behalf1 while with her right hand she is preparing and making herself ready for 8the marriage of the ,lamb40 ,thus pure and undefiled is this primeval fountain of ,divine truth4 ,thus harmonious is it with the written ,word of ,god4 ,and ,he who gave them both to enlighten a dark world which lieth in the power of this wicked one1 has filled both with one subject--8,the sufferings of ,christ and the glory that should follow40 ,these are set forth by the ,holy ,spirit in a double sevenfold expansion of the prophetic promise of ,gen4 iii4 #ae1 giving seven steps in ,his humiliation and seven in ,his glorification 7,phil4 ii4 #eaa7gf774 ,,christ ,,jesus1 #a4 ,who1 being in the form of ,god1 thought it not robbery 7a thing to be grasped at and held7 to be equal with ,god2 #b4 ,but made ,himself of no reputation 7,gr4 emptied ,himself71 #c4 ,and took upon ,him the form of a servant1 #d4 ,and was made in the likeness of men3 #e4 ,and being found in fashion as a man4 ,he humbled ,himself4 #f4 ,and became obedient unto death1 #g4 ,even the death of the cross4 ,,wherefore #a4 ,god also hath highly exalted ,him1 #b4 ,and given ,him a name which is above every name3 #c4 ,that at the name of ,jesus every knee should bow1 #d4 ,of things in heaven1 #e4 ,and things on earth1 #f4 ,and things under the earth2 #g4 ,and that every tongue shall confess that ,jesus ,christ is ,lord1 to the glory of ,god the ,father4 ,amen4 8,come1 then1 and1 added to ,thy many crowns1 ,receive yet one1 the crown of all the earth1 ,thou who alone art worthy6 ,it was thine ,by ancient covenant1 ere ,nature's birth2 ,and ,thou hast made it ,thine by purchase since1 ,and overpaid its value with ,thy blood4 ,thy saints proclaim ,thee king2 and in their hearts ,thy title is engraven with a pen ,dipp'd in the fountain of eternal love4 ,thy saints proclaim ,thee king2 and ,thy delay ,gives courage to their foes1 who1 could they see ,the dawn of ,thy last advent1 long desired1 ,would creep into the bowels of the hills1 ,and flee for safety to the falling rocks40 8,come1 then1 and1 added to ,thy many crowns1 ,receive yet one1 as radiant as the rest1 ,due to ,thy last and most effectual work1 ,thy ,word fulfilled1 the conquest of a world40 7,cowper47 8,,for ,,signs ,,and ,,for ,,seasons40 ,we have seen the great truths which are taught from the position1 and forms1 and names of the heavenly bodies4 ,there are also truths to be learnt from their motions4 ,when ,god created them and set them in the firmament of heaven1 ,he said1 in ,gen4 i4 #ad-- 8,let them be for signs and for seasons40 ,here the word 8signs0 is othoth 71 plural of 1 oth1 from the root 1 to come74 ,hence1 a sign of something or some ,one to come4 ,in ,jer4 x4 #b ,jehovah says1 8,and be not dismayed at the signs 77 of the heavens1 for the heathen are dismayed at them40 ,the word 8seasons0 does not denote merely what we call the four seasons of the year1 but cycles of time4 ,it is 1 appointed time 7from the verb 1 to point out1 appoint74 ,it occurs three more times in ,genesis1 each time in connection with the promised ,seed-- ,gen4 xvii4 #ba1 8,at this set time in the next year02 ,gen4 xviii4 #ad1 8,at the time appointed ,i will return02 and ,gen4 xxi4 #b1 8,at the set time of which ,god had spoken40 ,gen4 i4 #ad is therefore1 8,they 7the sun1 moon1 and stars7 shall be for signs 7things to come7 and for cycles 7appointed times740 ,here1 then1 we have a distinct declaration from ,god1 that the heavens contain not only a ,revelation concerning things to come in the 8,signs10 but also concerning appointed times in the wondrous movements of the sun1 and moon1 and stars4 ,the motions of the sun and moon are so arranged that at the end of a given interval of time they return into almost precisely the same position1 with regard to each other and to the earth1 as they held at the beginning of that interval4 8,almost precisely10 but not quite precisely4 ,there will be a slight outstanding difference1 which will gradually increase in successive intervals1 and finally destroy the possibility of the combination recurring1 or else lead to combinations of a different character4 ,thus the daily difference between the movement of the sun and of the stars leads the sun back very nearly to conjunction with the same star as it was twelve months earlier1 and gives us the cycle of the year4 ,the slight difference in the sun's position relative to the stars at the end of the year1 finally leads the sun back to the same star at the same time of the year1 viz41 at the spring equinox1 and gives us the great precessional cycle of #be1hjj years4 ,so1 too1 with eclipses4 ,since the circumstances of any given eclipse are reproduced almost exactly #ah years and #aa days later1 this period is called an ,eclipse ,cycle1 to which the ancient astronomers gave the name of ,saros27#gg7 and eclipses separated from each other by an exact cycle1 and1 therefore1 corresponding closely in their conditions1 are spoken of as being one and the same eclipse4 ,each ,saros contains1 on the average1 about #gj eclipses4 ,of these1 on the average1 #db are solar and #bh are lunar4 ,since the ,saros is #aa days 7or1 more correctly1 #aj4if days7 longer than #ah years1 the successive recurrences of each eclipse fall #aa days later in the year each time1 and in #cc ,sari will have travelled on through the year and come round very nearly to the original date4 ,but as the ,saros does not reproduce the conditions of an eclipse with absolute exactness1 and as the difference increases with every successive return1 a time comes when the return of the ,saros fails to bring about an eclipse at all4 ,if the eclipse be a solar one before this takes place1 a new eclipse begins to form a month later in the year than the old one1 and becomes the first eclipse of a new series4 ,this is the history of one such eclipse3 ,on ,may #ae 7,julian71 #hej ,a4,d41 there was a 7new7 eclipse of the sun1 and it occurred as a partial eclipse4 ,on ,august #bj 7,julian71 #ajab ,a4,d41 this new eclipse became total4 ,from that time it has been an annular eclipse1 the latitude of the central shadow gradually shifting southward from the north1 until on ,december #ag 7,julian71 #abaj1 it had reached ,n4 ,lat4 #bd4 ,it turned northward again after #abaj1 until ,march #ad 7,julian71 #acee1 when it fell in ,n4 ,lat4 #dc4 ,then it turned south1 and has moved steadily in that direction1 until on ,march #ah 7,greg471 #aiej1 its last appearance as an annular eclipse will take place4 ,on ,may #bb 7,greg471 #bjeh1 it will fall so far from the node that a new eclipse will follow it on ,june #ba4 ,it will make three more appearances as an everdiminishing partial eclipse1 and be last seen on ,june #bd 7,greg471 #baab4 ,its total lifehistory1 therefore1 will have been #a1bfb years and #cf days1 and will have occupied #gj ,sari4 ,in the above lifehistory of an eclipse7#gh7 there is not the slightest difficulty as to its identification4 ,the ,saros shows no break1 and no interruption2 nor does the character of the eclipse suffer any abrupt change4 ,the district over which it is visible moves in a slow and orderly fashion from occurrence to occurrence over the earth's surface4 ,now the important point is this1 that if we take the prophetic reckoning of #cfj days to the year1 we have the following significant ,biblical numbers3-- ,in the first place1 we already have the #gj ,sari divided into two portions of #cc #cg4 ,a perfect cycle is accomplished in #cc ,sari1 or #eie years1 when the eclipse1 by a series of unbroken ,sari1 has accomplished a passage through the year of #cfj days2 or1 if we reckon only the whole numbers1 i4e41 the #ah completed years1 we have for the #cc ,sari the period of #eid years1 while the remaining portion of #cg ,sari makes #fff years 7#cg x #ah7 2 and the whole #gj ,sari makes #a1bfj years 7#eid #fff747gi7 ,we have then the following figures3-- #ah x #cc #eid years4 #ah x #cg #fff years4 #ah x #gj #abfj years4 ,independently of this1 we also know that #a1bfj years is a solilunar cycle1 so exact that its epact1 or difference1 is only #f hours6 ,there must1 therefore1 be something significant in these numbers1 e4g41 #gj2 in the number #a1bfj1 with its divisions1 not into two equal parts1 but into #eid and #fff2 as also in its double1 #b1ebj4 ,there must be something to be learned in the occurrence and repetition of these heavenly cycles1 which for nearly #f1jjj years have been constantly repeated in the heavens1 especially when we find these same numbers very prominently presented in the ,word of ,god in connection with the fulfilment of prophecy4 ,we have the great 8seven times0 7#b1ebj7 connected with the duration of ,israel's punishment1 and of the ,gentiles' power4 ,we have in ,daniel and the ,apocalypse the half of this great period presented as 8days0 7#a1bfj71 as 8months0 7#db71 and as 8times10 or years 7#c74 ,futurists believe that these 8days0 and 8months10 etc41 interpret for us the purposes and counsels of ,god as connected with 8the time of the end10 and as meaning literal 8days0 and 8months10 etc4 ,historicists take these terms and themselves interpret the numbers1 in the sense of a 8day0 being put for a year1 and they believe that these 8#a1bfj days0 will be fulfilled as #a1bfj years4 ,one party boldly and ungraciously charges the other with teaching 8,the ,fallacies of ,futurism02 while the other might well retort with a reference to the ,heresies of ,historicism4 ,but is there any necessity for the existence of two hostile camps8 ,is it not possible that there may be what we may call a long fulfilment in years8 ,and is it not more than probable that in the time of the end1 the crisis1 there will also be a short and literal fulfilment in days8 ,we firmly believe that there will be this literal and short fulfilment4 ,we believe that when ,god says 8days10 ,he means days2 and that when ,he says 8#db months10 ,he means months1 and not #a1bfj years4 ,in all of the passages referred to by historicists in support of what is called 8the yearday theory10 the ,holy ,spirit uses these words 8days0 and 8years0 in the sense of days and years4 ,in the two particular instances of ,israel's wanderings 7,num4 xiv4 #cd71 and ,ezekiel's prophesying 7,ezek4 iv4 #f71 ,he chooses to take the number of days as denoting the same number of years2 but ,he does not tell us that we are to do the same in other cases6 ,he only asserts ,his sovereignty by thus acting1 while we only show our presumption in taking ,his sovereign act as a general principle4 ,but while fully believing in the short fulfilment1 we are quite prepared to admit that there may be a long fulfilment as well2 and that1 owing to the wondrous harmony1 and marvellous correspondence1 and infinite wisdom of all the works and ways of ,god1 there may be a fulfilment1 or rather a 8filment10 if we may coin the word1 in years1 which will be only a foreshadowing of the literal fulfilment afterwards to take place in days4 ,if historicists will allow us this liberty as to interpretation1 and permit us to believe that ,god means what ,he says1 we will give them some remarkable evidence in support of their views1 by way of application4 ,in other words1 if they will allow us to interpret 8days0 as meaning days1 we will gladly allow them1 and be at one with them1 in applying them to years4 ,so that while we believe the interpretation to mean 8days10 and to teach a short fulfilment at the time of the end1 we will thankfully admit an application which shall take these days as foreshowing a long fulfilment in years4 ,in applying1 then1 these significant numbers 7#db1 #gj1 #eid1 #fff1 #a1bfj1 and #b1ebj7 to years1 from what point or date shall we begin to reckon the 8times of the ,gentiles0 7,luke xxi4 #bd78 ,that there are such definite 8times0 the words of the ,lord ,jesus show1 when ,he says1 8,jerusalem shall be trodden down of the ,gentiles1 until the times of the ,gentiles be fulfilled40 7,luke xxi4 #bd74 ,that there are 8seven times0 of ,gentile dominion is more than intimated by the symbolic episode in the life of ,nebuchadnezzar as recorded in ,dan4 iv42 and that there are 8seven times0 of ,israel's punishment is clearly stated in ,lev4 xxvi4 #ah4 8,seven times10 according to the ,historicist school of interpreters1 are equal to #b1ebj years4 ,instead of asking where they begin1 let us first note the fact that it is duration which is emphasised in the ,scriptures rather than chronology2 and look at the duration of these years independently of1 and before we attempt to fix1 their beginning and ending4 ,in ,daniel ii4 and vii4 it is shown first to ,nebuchadnezzar in a 8dream10 and afterwards to ,god's servant the prophet in a 8vision10 that ,israel was to be put on one side and become 8,lo,ammi0 7not ,my people71 while government was to be put into the hands of the ,gentiles4 ,jerusalem was the central point of both these great and solemn facts4 ,that is to say1 during #b1ebj years1 while ,jerusalem should remain in the power of the ,gentiles1 ,israel could be 8no more a nation0 in possession of their land and city4 ,we know1 as a matter of fact1 that today ,jerusalem is in the hands of the ,turks1 and that it is still 8trodden down of the ,gentiles40 ,if we ask how long it shall continue to be 8trodden down08 how long it will be before ,israel shall again possess their city and their land8--the answer brings us at once to the heart of our subject4 ,in seeking to determine both duration and chronology1 it is necessary to plant our feet on sure ground4 ,to do this1 let us take a point on which all are agreed4 ,there is one date which is universally accepted2 and concerning which the evidence is unquestioned4 ,,abu ,,obeida1 the ,mahommedan ,general1 laid siege to ,jerusalem towards the close of #fcf ,a4,d4 ,the city was then occupied by the ,romans1 who held out for four months4 ,when they capitulated1 the ,patriarch ,,sophronius obtained a clause in the treaty giving security to the inhabitants1 and requiring the ratification of ,,omar himself4 ,,omar1 who had therefore to be sent for1 arrived some six months afterwards1 and the delay caused the actual delivering up of the city to take place early in the autumn of ,a4,d4 #fcg47hj7 ,the year ,a4,d4 #fcfg is therefore the accepted date of the passing over of ,jerusalem from the ,romans to the ,turks4 ,,omar seems to have stayed in the city only about ten days1 during which he must have given his instructions for the erection of the ,mosque on the site of the ,temple4 ,this ,mosque1 therefore1 stands as the sign and the symbol of the treading down of ,jerusalem1 and while it remains1 those times of treading down cannot be considered as fulfilled4 ,how steady was ,israel's decadence from ,nebuchadnezzar to ,,omar6 ,nothing would exceed that darkest moment in ,israel's history1 when ,israel was well nigh obliterated in the mighty struggles of her enemies who fought over her inheritance4 ,thus ,,omar becomes the great central point of the #b1ebj years1 whether reckoned as ,lunar1 ,zodiacal1 or ,solar1 dividing them equally into two portions of #a1bfj years47#ha7 ,having thus fixed the central date1 which already points forward to the end1 let us go back and find the starting point1 that we may the better understand the end4 ,when ,daniel was explaining to ,nebuchadnezzar his mysterious dream1 he said1 8,thou art this head of gold06 7,dan4 ii4 #ch74 ,this moment is popularly1 but erroneously1 supposed to mark the commencement of the ,babylonian kingdom--the first of these four great ,gentile powers4 ,but ,daniel spoke of what ,,already existed1 and was explaining the then condition of things4 ,he said1 8,god hath given thee a kingdom1 power1 and strength1 and glory0 7,dan4 ii4 #cg74 ,the kingdom of ,babylon had already been in existence for more than thirty years1 for its king had destroyed ,jerusalem and burnt the ,temple with fire1 and brought away many captives1 amongst whom was ,daniel and his companions4 ,the opening words of the book make this very clear4 ,the monumental history of ,babylon1 as now dug up1 shows that before this it had been sometimes tributary to1 and sometimes almost independent of1 ,assyria4 ,in ,a4,m4 #cceb1 after a severe struggle with ,assurbanipal1 the ,assyrian king1 ,babylon was once more subdued1 and its king setting fire to his palace perished in the flames4 ,after that there was peace for twenty two years1 during which time ,kandalanu governed ,babylon in succession to ,sumassumukin1 a son of ,assurbanipal4 ,in ,a4,m4 #ccge 7i4e4 ,b4,c4 #fbg717hb7 another revolt broke out1 and the ,assyrian king sent a general of great ability to quell it4 ,his name was ,nabupaluser 7which means ,nebo protects his son74 ,he put down the rebellion with so much skill that ,assurbanipal made him governor of ,babylon4 ,he shortly afterwards1 in ,a4,m4 #ccgf1 himself rebelled1 and made himself ,king of ,babylon4 ,associating with him his son ,nebuchadnezzar1 they commenced a campaign against ,assurbanipal1 which ended in the fall of ,nineveh and the complete subjugation of ,assyria4 ,the kingdom of ,babylon1 thus commencing in ,b4,c4 #fbe17hc7 became the first great ,gentile kingdom as foretold in ,daniel4 ,there is practically no question1 now1 as to this date4 ,the actual duration of the three kingdoms that followed--,babylon1 ,medo ,persia1 and ,greece1 may not perhaps be so accurately determined4 ,their total duration is known1 because it is fixed by a known date at the other end1 but it might introduce controversial matter if we attempted to assign to them their exact relative duration4 ,probably they were1 roughly3--,babylon about #ij years2 ,medo,persia about #bjj years2 ,greece about #cjd years4 ,we believe these to be fairly proportionate17#hd7 but whether they are or not1 their total amount must have been #eid years1 because the undisputed date of the battle of ,,actium by which ,augustus became the head of the ,roman ,empire1 was ,september ,b4,c4 #ca4 ,from this date ,jerusalem passed permanently under the power of ,rome until the ,mahommedan conquest in ,a4,d4 #fcfg4 ,we have1 therefore1 three fixed dates1 and these decide for us the duration of the intervening periods2 dividing them into the two great ,eclipse ,cycles of #eid years and #fff years6 ,jerusalem under the ,gentiles4 ,babylon 7the #ast ,kingdom7 commenced ,b4,c4 #fbe4 ,battle of ,actium1 ending the possession of the #crd ,kingdom1 ,b4,c4 #ca4 ,duration of the three ,kingdoms1 ,babylon1 ,medo,persia1 and ,greece1 together 7#ast ,eclipse ,cycle71 #eid years4 ,rome 7the #dth ,kingdom7 became the possessor of ,jerusalem1 ,b4,c4 #ca4 ,mahommedan conquest of ,jerusalem1 ending the possession of ,rome1 ,a4,d4 #fcf4 ,duration of ,rome's possession of ,jerusalem 7#bnd ,eclipse ,cycle71 #fff7he7 years4 ,,first ,,half ,,of 8,,the ,,times ,,of ,,the ,,gentiles01 #abfj years4 ,date of ,mahommedan conquest of ,jerusalem1 ,a4,d4 #fcfg4 ,,second ,,half ,,of 8,,the ,,times ,,of ,,the ,,gentiles0 and ,duration of ,mahommedan possession of ,jerusalem1 ,a4,d4 #abfj1 and #abfj years4 ,end and 8fulness0 of 8the times of the ,gentiles01 ,a4,d4 #ahifg1 and #bebj years4 ,from this it appears that #ahifg ,a4,d4 would mark the fulfilment1 and complete the duration1 of 8times of the ,gentiles40 ,the above reckoning has the following advantages over all previous historicist interpretations3-- #a4 ,controverted dates are excluded4 #b4 ,the whole period of #bebj years is dealt with1 instead of only the latter half 7#abfj71 as is usually the case4 #c4 ,it confines these 8times0 to the one place where the ,lord ,himself put them1 viz41 8,,jerusalem40 ,he said1 8,jerusalem shall be trodden down of the ,gentiles1 till the times of the ,gentiles be fulfilled40 ,these 8times10 therefore1 are confined to ,jerusalem4 ,this 8treading down0 is confined to ,jerusalem4 ,it is not the city of ,rome that is to be trodden down for #abfj years4 ,why1 then1 should these 8times0 be separated from what is characteristic of their duration1 and applied to ,rome1 papal or imperial8 ,why should historicists search for some act of emperors or popes in the early part of the seventh century in order to add it to #abfj1 so as to find some terminal date in or near our own times67#hf7 ,we claim that the ,lord ,himself has joined these 8times of the ,gentiles0 with the city of 8,jerusalem10 and we say1 8,what1 therefore1 ,god hath joined together1 let not man put asunder0 7,matt4 xix4 #f74 ,when ,jesus spoke of this treading down1 it looks as though it were then still future2 for ,he said1 8,jerusalem shall be trodden down10 etc41 ,the occupation of ,jerusalem by ,babylon1 ,medo,persia1 ,greece1 and ,rome1 was for purposes of government rather than for a wanton treading down4 ,government on the earth was committed unto them4 ,but when ,jerusalem passed from the government of the ,roman ,empire into the hands of the ,turks1 it could then be said1 in a very special sense1 to be 8trodden down40 ,for of any government worthy of the name there has been none2 and of desolation and desecration the city has been full4 ,under the feeble rule of the ,turks1 all the ,gentiles seem to have combined in laying waste the holy city4 ,though ,jews are returning thither in everincreasing numbers1 they are only strangers there4 ,they have as yet no independent position1 nor can they make any treaties4 ,but when these 8times0 shall end1 it means that they will have a position of sufficient independence to be able to make a treaty or league with the coming ,prince 7,dan4 ix4 #bg72 and then the course of events will bring on another treading down of #abfj literal 8days0 which will thus have had a foreshadowing fulfilment in years6 ,this is written in ,rev4 xi4 #b4 ,and to save us from any misunderstanding1 the time is given1 not in days1 but in 8months40 ,the angel1 after directing ,john to measure the ,temple of ,god and the altar1 adds1 8but the court which is without the ,temple leave out1 and measure it not2 for it is given unto the ,gentiles2 and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months40 ,this refers to a future treading down1 which will be limited to the brief period of 8forty two0 literal 8months10 during the time of the coming ,prince2 and 8in the midst0 of the last week1 when he shall break ,his covenant with the ,jews17#hg7 set up the 8abomination of desolation0 7,dan ix4 #bg2 which is still future in ,matt4 xxiv4 #ae71 and 8tread down the holy city40 ,we now desire to specially emphasize the fact that all these dates1 and their termination in a rapidly approaching fulfilment1 refer ,,only ,,to ,,jerusalem1 ,,and ,,the ,,gentiles1 ,,and ,,the ,,jews6 ,they refer only to the end of the ,gentile possession of ,jerusalem1 and to the settlement of the ,jews in their own city and land4 ,these 8times and seasons0 have nothing whatever to do with 8the ,church of ,god0 7#a ,thess4 v4 #a74 ,the mystical ,body of ,christ1 whenever its members are complete1 8will be taken up to meet the ,lord--the ,head of the ,body--in the air1 so to be ever with the ,lord0 7#a ,thess4 iv4 #aeag74 ,this glorious event has nothing to do with any earthly sign or circumstance1 so far as the members of this mystical ,body are concerned4 ,therefore we are not dealing here with the coming of the ,lord2 either for ,his saints1 or with them4 ,we are not referring to what is commonly and erroneously called 8the end of the world40 ,we are merely pointing out that the end of ,gentile dominion over ,jerusalem is drawing near6 ,and we cannot close our eyes to the marvellous manner in which the veil is being removed from ,jewish hearts3 to the change which has come over the ,jewish nation in its attitude towards ,christ and ,christianity1 chiefly1 under ,god1 through the unparalleled circulation of more than a quarter of a million copies of a new translation of the ,new ,testament into ,hebrew1 by the late ,isaac ,salkinson1 published by the ,trinitarian ,bible ,society1 and freely distributed by the ,mildmay ,mission to the ,jews3 to the ,palestine literature which has sprung up amongst the ,jews in recent years3 to the persecutions in various countries which are stirring their nest1 and setting the nation in motion3 to the organized emigration to ,argentina1 which its promoters avowedly speak of as 8a nursery ground for ,palestine0 7,daily ,graphic1 ,march #ajth1 #ahib73 to the railways completed and in course of construction in the ,holy ,land3 to the numerous ,societies and their branches which have permeated the whole nation1 which1 while having various names1 have only one object--8the colonisation of ,palestine40 ,when we put these events side by side with the teaching of the heavens as to the 8cycles0 or appointed times1 we are merely showing how wonderfully they agree with what is written in the ,book1 and witnessed to by great and uncontested historic dates4 ,nor are we absolutely naming a definite year or day even for these ,palestine events4 ,after all1 they can be only approximate1 for man has so misused every gift that ,god has ever given him1 that even with such wondrous heavenly timekeepers he cannot really tell you what year it is6 ,and1 besides this loss of reckoning1 there is confusion as to the commencement of the ,a4,d4 era1 which makes absolute accuracy between the ,a4,m41 ,b4,c41 and ,a4,d4 dates impossible4 ,added to this1 there is another point to be borne in mind1 viz41 that when the 8times of the ,gentiles0 shall end1 ,jewish independence need not be either immediate or complete6 ,for when ,nebuchadnezzar began his kingdom of ,babylon in ,a4,m4 #ccgf 7,b4,c4 #fbe71 the ,jews1 though in their land and city1 were not independent4 ,nebuchadnezzar went to and fro to ,jerusalem1 and put down and set up whom he would2 and it was not till some thirty years afterwards that he destroyed the ,city and ,temple and made the people captives4 ,so1 likewise1 in the time of the end1 there may be an epanodos4 ,there may be a similar period of possession without independence1 a quasi independence guaranteed by the ,great ,powers2 and1 for ought we know1 it may be that1 in order to gain complete independence1 they may ultimately make that fatal league with the coming ,prince4 ,so that while we name the dates #ahifg as being significant1 we are not 8fixing dates0 in the ordinary sense of the term1 but merely pointing out some of 8the signs of the times10 concerning which we ought not to be ignorant4 ,the true interpretation will in any case still remain1 and will surely be literally fulfilled in its own time4 ,the ,word of ,god will be vindicated2 its prophetic truth will be verified2 ,god ,himself will be glorified2 and ,his people saved with an everlasting salvation4 ,meanwhile the members of ,his ,body will 8wait for ,his ,son from heaven1 whom ,he raised from the dead1 even ,jesus1 which delivered us from the wrath to come0 7#a ,thess4 i4 #aj74 ,they will live 8looking for that blessed hope1 and the glorious appearing of the great ,god and our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 who gave ,himself for us1 that ,he might redeem us from all iniquity1 and purify unto ,himself a peculiar people 7,r4,v41 a people for ,his own possession7 zealous of good works0 7,titus ii4 #ac1 #ad74 ,they will 8look for the ,saviour1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ10 from heaven1 believing that there is no hope either for 8the ,jew1 the ,gentile1 or the ,church of ,god10 or for a groaning creation1 until 8the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the ,lord2 and ,he shall send ,jesus ,christ1 whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things1 which ,god hath spoken by the mouth of ,,all ,,his ,,holy ,,prophets ,,since ,,the ,,world ,,began0 7,acts iii4 #aiba74 8,the world is sick1 and yet not unto death2 ,there is for it a day of health in store2 ,from lips of love there comes the healing breath1-- ,the breath of ,him who all its sickness bore1 ,and bids it rise to strength and beauty evermore4 ,evil still reigns2 and deep within we feel ,the fever1 and the palsy1 and the pain ,of life's perpetual heartaches1 that reveal ,the rooted poison1 which1 from heart and brain1 ,we labour to extract1 but labour all in vain4 ,our skill avails not2 ages come and go1 ,yet bring with them no respite and no cure2 ,the hidden wound1 the sigh of pentup woe1 ,the sting we smother1 but must still endure1 ,the worthless remedies which no relief procure1-- ,all these cry out for something more divine1 ,which the worst woes of earth may not withstand2 ,medicine that cannot fail--the oil and wine1 ,the balm and myrrh1 growth of no earthly land1 ,and the allskilful touch of the great ,healer's hand4 ,man needs a prophet3 ,heavenly ,prophet1 speak1 ,and teach him what he is too proud to hear4 ,man needs a priest3 ,true ,priest1 ,thy silence break1 ,and speak the words of pardon in his ear4 ,man needs a king3 ,o ,king1 at length in peace appear40 ,,appendix4 ,,note ,,on ,,the ,,sign ,,libra4 ,on page #dg we called attention to the point that in all probability the ,sign ,,libra was a very ancient corruption4 ,the ancient ,akkadian name for the seventh month1 which was the month when the sun was in the ,sign now called ,,libra1 was ,tulku1 which means the sacred mound1 or altar4 ,the ,akkadian name for this ,sign was ,bir1 which means the ,light1 hence1 the ,lamp with its light1 or the ,altar with its fire4 ,illustration ,fig4 #a--,the ,circular ,altar1 in the ,sign now called ,libra4 ,its most ancient form was a circular altar47#hh7 ,in ,figure #a we have reproduced this17#hi7 and it will be at once seen that we have the original of the disc now preserved in the two circular scales which form the ,sign of ,,libra4 ,the next stage of the corruption is shown in the ,akkadian name of ,scorpio 7the ,scorpion7--the ,sign immediately to the left of the ,altar4 ,it was called ,girtab1 which means the ,seizer and ,stinger1 and the next ,figure 7#b71 taken from an ,euphratean boundary stone17#ij7 shows the two ,signs combined1 for the ,scorpion is stretching out its claws in order to seize the ,lamp or ,altar4 ,illustration ,fig4 #b--,the ,scorpion and the ,lamp4 7,from a ,euphratean ,boundary ,stone47 ,thus the meaning of its name is exemplified4 ,it is called the ,seizer and ,stinger4 ,and just as in the constellation above it1 the ,serpent is struggling with the man1 while at the same time it is stretching out its neck to seize the crown17#ia7 so here the ,scorpion1 while trying to sting the same man in the heel1 is stretching out its claws to seize the altar4 ,a seal on a contract1 nearly #gjj ,b4,c41 shows this ,circular ,altar actually in the grasp of the ,scorpion4 ,illustration ,fig4 #c--,scorpion and ,lamp4 7,from an ,euphratean ,seal47 ,figure #c is a picture of this ,euphratean ,seal1 preserved on a contract made on the #hth day of the month ,tisri1 i4e41 this same seventh month67#ib7 ,this then is the next stage4 ,but ,mr4 ,robert ,brown1 junr41 observes1 8,the ,circle or other representation of an ,altar not unnaturally disappeared as the use of the ,sign advanced westward2 whether by sea1 or across ,asia ,minor1 or both1 and the ,chelai alone remained when the shores of the gean were reached407#ic7 ,this is quite true1 for the ,greek name for the ,sign was ,chelai1 which means simply the ,claws4 ,and thus the ,scorpion monopolised two ,signs2 its body one1 and its claws the other4 ,this led to the mistake of ,,servius1 the intelligent commentator on ,,virgil17#id7 that 8the ,chaldean ,zodiac consisted of but eleven constellations40 ,we now know that there were twelve ,signs1 and the mistake is thus explained4 ,illustration ,fig4 #d--,the ,constellation of the ,claws4 ,formerly the ,circular ,altar1 now ,libra4 ,mr4 ,brown quotes ,,achilles ,,tatius1 about #dge ,a4,d41 in a ,fragment on the ,phainomena1 who says1 47#ie7 ,,aratus says that 8some few stars of the ,claws are in the 7,celestial7 ,equator40 ,and ,,ptolemy describes the stars1 now reckoned in ,,libra1 as being in what he calls 8,the ,constellation of the ,claws40 ,we have reproduced them so that his description of them may be readily traced4 ,he speaks of-- 8,the bright one of those at the end of the southern ,claw40 7,it is named ,zuben el ,genubi and now marked 74 8,the one more northerly than it1 and dimmer0 7now marked 74 8,the bright one of those at the end of the northern ,claw0 7named ,zuben el ,chemali1 and now marked 74 8,the one in front of it and dim0 774 8,the one in the middle of the southern ,claw0 7#a i74 8,the one in the middle of the northern ,claw0 7now marked 74 8,the one behind it in the same ,claw0 774 8,the foremost of the three more northerly than the northern ,claws0 7#a f74 8,the southern one of the two hindmost0 774 8,the hindmost of the three between the ,claws0 7one of the stars now marked or 74 8,the northern of the two remaining and preceding ones0 774 8,the southern one of them0 7n74 ,this is how the stars formerly in the ,sign of the 7,circular7 ,,altar1 came to be reckoned in the ,claws of the ,scorpion2 and this is how the circular scales of ,,libra came to be substituted for the ancient ,circular ,,altar4 ,this corruption of the primitive teaching of the ,,altar1 shows how the enemy attempted to seize on the ,atonement1 bring in 8the way of ,cain10 and substitute human merit for the atoning sacrifice of ,christ2 thus perverting the truth at its fountain head4 ,just as in ,gen4 iii4 we have the woman's promised ,seed in conflict with the ,enemy1 so in ,gen4 iv4 we see the ,scorpion's claws--8the way of ,cain0 in conflict with 8the way of ,god40 ,there can be but little doubt1 therefore1 that the first ,sign of the ,zodiac was ,,virgo1 the second was the ,,altar1 and the third was the ,,scorpion4 ,the lesson which they teach is clear3 ,the ,seed of the woman 7,,virgo71 who was to come as a child1 should be a sacrifice 7the ,,altar7 for the sins of ,his people2 endure a great conflict with the enemy 7,,scorpio71 in which ,he should be wounded in the heel2 but should in the end crush and tread the enemy under foot4 ,,footnotes #a ,for what is meant by 8,structure10 see ,a ,key to the ,psalms1 by the late ,rev4 ,thos4 ,boys1 edited by the present author1 #g1 ,st4 ,paul's ,churchyard4 ,price ,five shillings4 #b ,viz41 in ,a 7verses #g1 #h71-- 8,converting10 from 1 to return1 as the sun in the heavens4 8,testimony10 from 1 to repeat1 hence1 a witness1 spoken of the sun in ,ps4 lxxxix4 #cg4 8,sure10 1 faithful1 as the sun4 7,ps4 lxxxix4 #cg47 8,enlightening10 from 1 to give light1 as the sun4 7,gen4 i4 #ae1 #ag1 #ah2 ,isa4 lx4 #ai2 ,ezek4 xxxii4 #g47 ,in ,b 7verses #aa1 #ab1 #ac71-- 8,warned10 from 1 to make light1 hence1 to teach1 admonish4 8,keeping10 from 1 to keep1 observe1 as the heavens4 7,ps4 cxxx4 #f2 ,isa4 xxi4 #aa47 ,or as the heavenly bodies observe ,god's ordinances4 8,errors10 from 1 to wander1 as the planets4 8,keep back10 1 to hold back1 restrain4 8,have dominion over10 from 1 to rule4 ,spoken of the sun and moon in ,gen4 i4 #ah4 8,the sun to rule the day10 c4 7,ps4 cxxxvi4 #h1 #i47 #c ,the other half of the ,psalm is just as perfectly arranged4 ,for example1 there are six words used 7verses #gi7 to describe the fulness of the ,word of ,god1 and they are thus placed1 alternately3-- ,f ,two feminine singulars4 7,law and ,testimony47 ,g ,one masculine plural4 7,statutes47 ,f ,two feminine singulars4 7,commandment and ,fear47 ,g ,one masculine plural4 7,judgments47 #d ,from 1 to cut into1 or grave1 hence1 to write4 ,it has the two senses of our ,english verb tell1 which means to count1 and also to narrate4 ,the first occurrence is ,gen4 xv4 #e1 8,tell 77 the stars1 if thou be able to number 77 them40 ,gen4 xxiv4 #ff1 8,the servant told ,isaac all things that he had done40 ,ps4 lxxi4 #ae1 8,my mouth shall show forth 71 tell of1 ,r4,v47 thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day2 for ,i know not the numbers 71 i4e41 the accounts7 of them10 i4e41 all the particulars4 #e ,from 1 to be heavy1 weight1 the context determining whether the weight spoken of is advantageous or not4 ,the first occurrence is ,gen4 xii4 #aj1 8,the famine was grievous 77 in the land40 ,the next1 xiii4 #b1 8,abram was very rich 7740 ,it is often applied to persons who are of weight and importance1 hence1 glorious and honourable4 ,it is used of the glory of the ,lord1 and of ,god ,himself1 as we use ,majesty of a person4 ,see ,isa4 iii4 #h2 iv4 #b2 xi4 #aj2 xliii4 #bj2 ,hag4 ii4 #h2 ,ex4 xvi4 #g2 xxiv4 #ag2 #a ,sam4 iv4 #ba2 ,pss4 xxvi4 #h 7honour72 lxiii4 #c4 #f ,from 1 to set before1 to set forth1 to shew4 ,first occurrence1 ,gen4 iii4 #aa1 8,who told thee that thou wast naked40 ,ps4 xcvii4 #f1 8,the heavens declare ,his righteousness02 cxi4 #f1 8,he hath shewed his people the power of his works40 #g ,this is the ,english idiom for the ,hebrew 8,day to day40 ,the is used in its sense of adding or superadding to1 as in ,isa4 xxviii4 #aj1 1 8precept to precept20 i4e41 precept after precept1 line after line4 ,gen4 xlvi4 #bf1 8,all the souls that came with ,jacob0 71 to ,jacob2 i4e41 in addition to ,jacob4 ,so here1 8,day to day20 i4e41 ,day in addition to day1 or1 as we say1 ,day after day74 #h ,from 1 to tell forth1 akin to 1 to prophesy1 from root to pour forth4 ,lit41 here1 poureth forth discourse4 ,ps4 cxlv4 #i1 8abundantly utter40 #i ,their line1 1 i4e41 their measuring line4 ,by the figure of metonymy the line which measures is put for the portion or heritage which is measured1 as in many other places4 ,see ,ps4 xvi4 #f1 8,the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places2 yea1 ,i have a goodly heritage40 7,see also ,ps4 lxxviii4 #ee1 c47 ,here1 it means that 8,their measuring line has gone forth unto all the earth 7702 i4e41 ,all the earth inherits this their testimony 7i4e41 has this testimony for its heritage71 and to the ends of the world 71 the inhabited world7 their instruction has gone forth4 ,with this agrees1 in sense1 the ,,lxx4 here1 and ,rom4 x4 #af1 which each has 1 a sound1 or voice2 i4e41 a sound in relation to the hearer1 rather than to that which causes it4 ,the meaning of the passage is1 8,all the earth has their sound or testimony as its heritage1 and the ends of the world hear their words40 ,symmachus has 1 a sound1 or report4 #aj means that which is hot1 and is a poetical name of the sun itself4 #aa ,job is thought by some to be the ,jobab mentioned in ,gen4 x4 #bi1 the third in descent from ,eber4 #ab ,note the structure of this verse3-- ,a ,the seven stars1 ,b ,orion1 ,a ,the twelve signs1 ,b ,arcturus4 #ac ,general ,chesney allowed the late ,dean ,goode to copy the passage1 among other matters1 from his private ,,ms4 ,the ,dean quotes it in his ,warburtonian ,lectures 7#bnd ,ed41 ,note ,i4 to ,sermon ,,iv41 p4 #agja47 #ad ,fragments of these coloured glazed bricks are to be seen in the ,british ,museum4 #ae ,babylonian ,life and ,history1 p4 #cf4 #af 4 #ag 4 #ah ,besides this monthly difference1 there is an annual difference2 for at the end of twelve months the sun does not come back to exactly the same point in the sign which commenced the year1 but is a little behind it4 ,but this difference1 though it occurs every year1 is so small that it will take #be1egi years for the sun to complete this vast cycle1 which is called ,the precession of the ,equinoxes2 i4e41 about one degree in every #ga years4 ,if the sun came back to the precise point at which it began the year1 each sign would correspond1 always and regularly1 exactly with a particular month2 but1 owing to this constant regression1 the sun 7while it goes through the whole twelve signs every year7 commences the year in one sign for only about #b1aca years4 ,in point of fact1 since the ,creation the commencement of the year has changed to the extent of nearly three of the signs4 ,when ,virgil sings-- 8,the ,white ,bull with golden horns opens the year10 he does not record what took place in his own day4 ,this is another proof of the antiquity of these signs4 ,the ,ecliptic1 or path of the sun1 if it could be viewed from immediately beneath the ,polar ,star1 would form a complete and perfect circle1 would be concentric with the ,equator1 and all the stars and the sun would appear to move in this circle1 never rising or setting4 ,to a person north or south of the ,equator the stars therefore rise and set obliquely2 while to a person on the ,equator they rise and set perpendicularly1 each star being twelve hours above and twelve below the horizon4 ,the points where the two circles 7the ,ecliptic and the ,equator7 intersect each other are called the ,equinoctial points4 ,it is the movement of these points 7which are now moving from ,aries to ,pisces7 which gives rise to the term1 8the precession of the ,equinoxes40 #ai ,it is exactly the same with the books of the ,bible4 ,their order and their names1 as we have them in the ,english ,bible1 are those which man has given them1 copied from the ,septuagint and ,vulgate1 and in many cases are not the ,divine names according to the ,hebrew ,canon4 #bj ,here1 the fact of ,his humiliation1 together with this long period of ,his rejection1 is leaped over1 and the prophecy passes on at once--over at least a period of #ahic years--to this 8glory which should follow40 #ba 1 ,al ,mureddin4 #bb 1 ,zavijavah4 #bc ,the star now marked 4 #bd ,the star 4 #be ,the star 1 ,al ,zimach4 #bf ,the stars are known by ,greek letters and sometimes by numbers1 c4 ,alpha 77 denotes a star of the first magnitude2 ,beta 771 the second1 and so on4 ,this plan was originated by ,bayer in his ,uranometria1 #afjc4 ,the star ,alpha1 as seen in the ,new ,great ,equatorial ,telescope recently set up at ,greenwich1 is now discovered to be really a double star1 though it had hitherto always appeared to be one4 #bg ,jer4 xxxiii4 #ae being only a repetition of ,jer4 xxiii4 #e4 #bh ,from which occurs only in ,ps4 lxiii4 #a1 8my flesh longeth for thee40 ,it is akin to 1 to desire4 ,ps4 xix4 #aj2 ,is4 liii4 #b2 ,hag4 ii4 #g2 etc4 #bi ,a ,latin translation of his work is in the ,british ,museum ,library4 ,he says the ,persians understood these signs1 but that the ,indians perverted them with inventions4 #cj ,the constellations are called ,decans4 ,the word means a part1 and is used of the three parts into which each sign is divided1 each of which is occupied by a constellation4 #ca ,it appears that ,,mm4 ,saulnier1 fils1 and ,lelorrain arrived while ,signor ,bossi was engaged in copying it1 but concealed their design to remove it4 ,the ,king of ,france paid #f1bej sterling for it4 ,it has since been copied1 and lithographs have been published4 #cb ,act ,,iv41 ,scene #c4 #cc ,i4e41 come forth 7as in the ,r4,v474 ,at1 as the preposition is rendered in ,gen4 iii4 #bd4 8,there shall come forth a star at or over the inheritance or possessions of ,jacob10 thus indicating the locality which would be on the meridian of this star4 #cd ,it ought also to be noted that in the preceding year there were three conjunctions of the planets ,jupiter and ,saturn1 at the end of ,may and ,october1 and at the beginning of ,december4 ,kepler 7#aegaafca7 was the first to point this out1 and his calculations have been confirmed by the highest authorities4 ,these conjunctions occurred in the sign of ,,pisces3 and this sign1 according to all the ancient ,jewish authorities 7,josephus1 ,abarbanel1 ,eliezer1 and others71 has special reference to ,israel4 ,the conjunction of ,jupiter and ,saturn1 they hold1 always marked the occurrence of some event favourable to ,israel2 while ,kepler1 calculating backwards1 found that this astronomical phenomenon always coincided with some great historical crisis1 viz43 the ,revelation to ,adam1 the birth of ,enoch1 the ,revelation to ,noah1 the birth of ,moses1 the birth of ,cyrus1 the birth of ,christ1 the birth of ,charlemagne1 and the birth of ,luther4 #ce ,the ancient name could not have been ,botes6 though it is derived from1 and may be a reminiscence of the ,hebrew4 #cf ,,aratus calls him ,arctophylax1 i4e41 the guardian of ,arctos1 the flock of the greater fold1 called today the ,great ,bear3-- 8,behind1 and seeming to urge on the ,bear1 ,arctophylax1 on earth ,botes named1 ,sheds o'er the ,arctic car his silver light40 ,by some moderns he is mistakenly called ,the ,waggoner4 ,hence the allusion of ,thompson3-- 8,wide o'er the spacious regions of the ,north1 ,botes urges on his tardy wain40 ,this perversion scarcely does justice even to human common sense1 as waggoners do not use a sickle for a whip6 #cg ,the constellation is a very brilliant one1 having #ed stars1 viz41 one of the #ast magnitude1 six of the #crd1 eleven of the #dth1 etc4 ,the constellation of the ,canes ,venatici 7the ,greyhounds71 i4e41 the two dogs 7,asterion and ,chara71 which ,botes holds by a leash1 is quite a modern invention1 being added by ,hevelius 7#afaaafhg74 ,the bright star of the #crd magnitude in the neck of ,chara1 was named 8,cor ,caroli0 7the heart of ,charles7 by ,sir ,charles ,scarborough1 physician to ,charles ,,ii41 in honour of ,charles ,i41 in #afdi4 ,this is a good example of the almost infinite distance between the ancient and modern names4 ,the former are full of mysterious significance and grandeur1 while the latter are puerile in the extreme1 almost approaching to the comic6 e4g41 the ,air ,pump1 the ,painter's ,easel1 the ,telescope1 the ,triangle1 the ,fly1 the ,microscope1 the ,indian1 the ,fox and ,goose1 the ,balloon1 the ,toucan 7or ,american ,goose71 the ,compasses1 ,charles's ,oak1 the ,cat1 the ,clock1 the ,unicorn1 c4 ,the vast difference can be at once seen between those designed by the ancients and those added by astronomers in more recent times4 ,these new constellations were added1 #bb by ,hevelius 7#afaaafhg72 and #ae by ,halley 7#afefagdb74 ,they were formed for the purpose of embracing those stars which were not included in the ancient constellations4 ,this shows that the old constellations were not designed1 like the modern ones1 merely for the sake of enabling astronomers to identify the positions of particular stars4 ,in this case all the stars would have been included4 ,the object was exactly the opposite6 ,instead of the pictures being designed to serve to identify the stars1 only certain stars were used for the purpose of helping to identify the pictures6 ,this is another important proof of the truth of our whole argument4 #ch ,see quotation from ,dr4 ,budge1 on page #ab4 #ci ,and certainly the symbol by which it is still known is more like the top of an altar 7,see ,ara1 ,plate ,,xiv47 than a pair of balances1 to which we can trace no resemblance whatever4 ,see ,note in the ,appendix4 #dj ,antares seems also to have been known as ,lesath4 #da ,luke xxii4 #ec3 comp4 ,col4 i4 #ac and ,eph4 vi4 #ab4 #db ,in #afjd a new star appeared in the eastern foot of ,ophiuchus1 but disappeared again in #afje4 #dc ,there is an ancient ,greek fable which calls ,ophiuchus sculapius1 the son of ,apollo4 ,having restored ,hippolytus to life1 he was everywhere worshipped as the god of health1 and hence the serpent entwined around him is1 to this day1 the symbol of the medical art6 ,this1 however1 is1 doubtless1 another perversion of the primitive truth that the ,coming ,one in overcoming the serpent1 should become the great healer of all the sorrows of the world1 and cause all its groanings to cease4 #dd ,cerberus1 or the serpent with three heads1 was placed by ,hevelius 7#afaaafhg7 by the side of ,hercules4 ,bayer had previously placed the apple branch in his hand4 ,this was symbolical of the golden apples of ,hesperides1 which he obtained by killing the threeheaded hydra1 by whom they were guarded4 ,in our picture these are combined1 and a bow and quiver added from other ancient authorities4 #de ,in our picture we have combined the two great thoughts1 taking the harp from a picture dug up at ,herculaneum1 and adding an eagle soaring up with it4 #df ,this is the first time that the word 8,alleluia0 occurs in the ,new ,testament1 and it is praise for judgment executed4 ,where is its first occurrence in the ,old ,testament8 ,in ,ps4 civ4 #ce1 where we have the very same solemn and significant connection3-- 8,let the sinners be consumed out of the earth1 ,and let the wicked be no more4 ,bless thou the ,,lord1 ,o my soul1 ,,hallelujah 7,praise ye the ,,lord740 #dg ,there is a fish tail here4 ,the third ,decan of ,,capricornus is a fish 7,delphinus74 ,there is again a fish 7,piscis ,australis7 in the next sign 7,,aquarius71 and then the following sign is ,,pisces1 or the ,fishes4 ,so that the ,redeemed ,multitudes are presented throughout this ,second ,book4 #dh ,when we come to the last chapter of this book we shall see that the ,sun was in the sign of the other sacrificial animal1 ,,aries1 at the very hour of the ,crucifixion4 ,and ,,aries sets before us the victory of 8the ,lamb that was slain40 #di ,the eleventh1 because everyone begins to reckon from ,,aries1 and not as we have done from ,,virgo1 as shown by the riddle of the ,sphinx4 ,see page #bj4 #ej ,and in great contrast with several modern ones near it1 e4g41 the ,balloon1 the ,sculptor's ,apparatus1 the ,microscope1 ,euclid's ,square1 the ,telescope1 etc41 etc4 #ea ,how inconsistent when there were three such conjunctions in one year1 all in the same sign of ,,pisces1 immediately preceding the birth of the woman's ,seed2 and in addition to this the new star which had been foretold4 ,see under ,coma1 ,pages #cf1 #cg1 #ch4 #eb ,the figure of ,tapeinosis1 which calls our attention to that fact that ,he was delighted thus to be called4 #ec ,there are #aac stars in this sign1 none of any great importance2 only one of the #crd magnitude1 five of the #dth1 etc4 #ed 8,el ,nath0 is used by ,chaucer as the name of a spring star4 #ee ,,taurus then marked the ,spring ,equinox4 #ef 8,thy beauty2 for it was perfect through ,my comeliness1 which ,i put upon thee 7,jerusalem71 saith the ,,lord0 7,ezek4 xvi4 #ad74 #eg ,those who interpret the ,queen here of the ,church as the ,bride1 interpret the 8,virgins0 in ,matt4 xxv4 of the ,bride also4 ,but how inconsistent6 ,if the 8,virgins0 be the ,church in ,matt4 xxv41 then where is the ,bride8 ,if the ,queen is the ,bride 7the ,church7 in ,ps4 xlv41 then who are the 8virgins her companions08 ,both cannot be the correct interpretation4 ,in fact1 both are wrong1 and hence the confusion4 ,the ,bride must be interpreted by the ,old ,testament scriptures1 and the ,prophecies which belong to ,israel must not be robbed and given to the ,church4 ,they cannot be thus diverted without bringing confusion into the ,scripture1 and causing loss to our souls4 #eh ,see ,job xxxix4 #ad1 #ae1 where it is said1 the ostrich 8leaveth her eggs in the dust1 forgetting that the foot may crush them1 or that the wild beast may break them40 #ei ,the others have names1 but they were given by the ,greeks from the names of the seven daughters of ,atlas and ,pleione4 ,the ,hyades were their sisters4 ,together they tell us that the saints will be secure with this mighty ,lord when he comes to rule4 #fj ,the ,pleiades and ,hyades are sometimes spoken of as constellations1 but this is a mistake2 they are integral parts of ,taurus4 #fa ,see ,jer4 xxx4 #ba2 and ,matt4 xxi4 #aj4 #fb ,the star 7in the belt7 is called ,mintaka1 dividing1 as a sacrifice4 7,lev4 viii4 #b47 #fc ,note1 that-- ,in a and a1 we have the rising of ,israel2 ,in b and b1 the light that is come upon her2 ,in c and c1 the glory of the ,,lord2 and ,in d and d1 the darkness of the world4 #fd ,it is also reckoned in the horn of ,taurus4 #fe ,the same as in #b ,sam4 iv4 #a4 #ff ,our ,english 8,sir0 is derived from this word4 #fg ,euphratean ,stellar ,researches4 #fh ,marg41 8the captives of the just10 or1 as read by the ,vulg4 and ,syr41 8the captives of the terrible40 #fi ,the ,scarabus1 passing its early existence as a worm of the earth1 and thence issuing as a winged denizen of heaven1 was held sacred by the ,egyptians as an emblem of the resurrection of the body4 #gj ,the ,ass was the emblem of ,typhon1 the king who smites or is smitten4 #ga ,the word is so rendered in ,judges v4 #af1 in ,a4,v4 #gb ,euphratean ,stellar ,researches1 pp4 #h1 #i4 #gc ,the ,grco,judean equivalent of ,joshua or ,jesus4 #gd ,jamieson's ,scientific ,display1 c41 p4 #eh4 #ge 7#a7 ,gor1 a lion's whelp4 7#b7 ,ciphir1 a young lion when first hunting for himself4 7#c7 ,sachal1 a mature lion in full strength4 7#d7 ,laish1 a fierce lion4 7#e7 ,labia1 a lioness2 and 7#f7 ,arieh1 an adult lion1 having paired1 in search of his prey 7,nah4 ii4 #ab2 #b ,sam4 xvii4 #aj2 ,num4 xxiii4 #bd74 #gf ,the passage consists really of two members1 each of which is arranged as an introversion1 where the subject of #a corresponds to #g2 #b corresponds to #f2 etc4 #gg ,general ,vallancey spells ,saros 1 which amounts to #fff by ,gematria6 ,viz41 #cjj #gj #bjj #f #ij #fff4 #gh ,these facts are kindly supplied by ,mr4 ,e4 ,w4 ,maunder1 of the ,royal ,observatory1 ,greenwich1 who gives another example1 as follows3-- ,in ,a4,d4 #ehf there were two solar eclipses3 on ,june #bb 7,julian7 the old and dying eclipse1 and on ,july #bb 7,julian7 another 7the new one74 ,a ,saros 7viz41 #ah years and #aa days7 earlier there was only one1 viz4 on ,june #aa 7,julian71 ,a4,d4 #efh1 there being no eclipse on ,july #aa of that year4 ,the last appearance of this new eclipse1 which first appeared on ,july #bb1 #ehf1 was on ,august #bh 7,greg471 #ahdh1 so that it had a life history of #gj ,sari1 amounting to #a1bfb years #cf days 7after the ,julian dates have been corrected to correspond to the ,gregorian74 ,thus the eclipse that died1 so to speak1 on ,august #bh 7,greg471 #ahdh1 first appeared on ,july #bb 7,julian7 in ,a4,d4 #ehf4 ,see an important article on ,eclipses by ,mr4 ,e4 ,w4 ,maunder in ,knowledge1 for ,october #ahic1 where other lifehistories of eclipses are given1 and the whole subject of eclipses clearly explained4 #gi ,the relations between #eie years and #a1bfb years #cf days1 are the same as the relations between #eid years and #a1bfj years4 ,the difference of the #b years #cf days is due to the excess of #aj4if days over the #ah completed years in each ,saros4 #hj ,this is the date which concerns only the ,city of ,jerusalem4 ,the ,romans were not completely driven out from the land until ,csarea had fallen in #fch1 when the conquest was finally completed4 ,see ,gibbon's ,decline and ,fall4 #ha ,this date #fcfg is a great and important central date1 whether we reckon backwards or forwards2 whether we reckon them as ,lunar1 ,zodiacal 7#cfj days71 or ,solar 7#cfe days7 years4 7#a47 ,if we take ,lunar years 7 #abbba_/b ,solar7-- 7a47 reckoning backward1 we get to #ehg ,b4,c41 the very date of the destruction of the ,temple by ,nebuchadnezzar4 7b47 reckoning forward1 we get to #ahfj ,a4,d41 the very date of the ,european intervention in the ,lebanon1 which has brought the ,eastern ,question into its present prominent position4 7#b47 ,if we take ,zodiacal years 7 #abdb ,solar7-- 7a47 reckoning backward we get to #fjh ,b4,c41 the date of the battle of ,carchemish 7#b ,chron4 xxxv4 #bj71 when ,babylon completed the conquest of ,assyria1 and became supreme2 utterly shattering all the hope which ,israel had in ,egypt4 7b47 reckoning forward brings us to #ahgi ,a4,d41 when1 by the ,treaty of ,berlin1 ,ottoman power received a blow from which it has never recovered1 and which has prepared the way for its extinction4 7#c47 ,if we take ,solar years1 then-- 7a47 reckoning backward1 we get to ,b4,c4 #fbd 7,a4,m4 #ccgf71 the beginning of the ,babylonian kingdom1 the 8head of gold40 7b47 reckoning forward we get to #ahifg ,a4,d41 which is yet future4 ,these reckonings in their beginnings and endings form an introversion1 or ,epanodos1 thus3-- #ehg ,b4,c4 444 #fjf ,b4,c4 444 #fbd ,b4,c4 444 dates increasing4 #ahfj ,a4,d4 444 #ahgi ,a4,d4 444 #ahifg ,a4,d4 444 dates increasing4 ,the ,solar reckonings are the more important dates2 the ,lunar are next in significance2 while ,zodiacal reckonings furnish us with dates which1 to say the least1 fit neatly into their places4 #hb ,these dates are those furnished by the ,monuments1 as given by ,dr4 ,budge1 of the ,british ,museum1 in his ,babylonian ,life and ,history1 ,r4,t4,s41 #ahhe4 ,they also agree with the dates dug up by ,sir ,henry ,rawlinson in #ahfb1 consisting of fragments of seven copies of the famous 8,eponym ,canon of ,assyria10 by which the ,assyrian chronology has been definitely settled4 ,before this1 historians had to be content with inferences and conjectures4 #hc ,in adjusting the ,a4,m4 and ,b4,c4 dates1 the latter are always apparently one year in advance of the former1 because ,b4,c4 #djjj was ,a4,m4 #a1 and ,b4,c4 #ciii was ,a4,m4 #b4 ,hence ,a4,m4 #ccgf is not ,b4,c4 #fbd1 but it is ,b4,c4 #fbe4 #hd ,cyrus took ,babylon1 according to the ,monuments1 in the #agth year of ,nabonidus1 ,b4,c4 #eci4 #a ,maccabees i4 begins the first of ,alexander from the death of ,darius ,codomannus in ,a4,m4 #cfgb4 ,this would slightly vary the above distribution of the years of separate duration4 #he ,in passing from ,b4,c4 dates to ,a4,d4 dates1 one year must always be deducted1 e4g41 from ,b4,c4 #b to ,a4,d4 #b is only three years1 not four6 ,thus-- ,from ,jan4 #a ,b4,c4 #b to ,jan4 #a ,b4,c4 #a is one year4 ,from ,jan4 #a ,b4,c4 #a to ,jan4 #a ,a4,d4 #a is one year4 ,from ,jan4 #a ,a4,d4 #a to ,jan4 #a ,a4,d4 #b is one year4 ,these make only three years4 ,hence1 ,b4,c4 #ca to ,a4,d4 #fcf is #fff years1 not #ffg4 #hf ,while the premisses of the ,historicist school are thus strengthened1 their conclusions are shown to be erroneous4 #hg ,and cause sacrifice and oblation to cease 7,dan4 ix4 #bg74 ,we know that is referred1 by historicists1 to the ,messiah4 ,but they are not entitled to so interpret this passage unless they take with it viii4 #aa1 xi4 #ca1 and xii4 #aa1 where the same event is distinctly referred to1 and is spoken1 not of ,christ1 but of ,antichrist4 #hh ,see ,,aratos1 line #ddj4 #hi ,as proved by ,mr4 ,robt4 ,brown1 junr41 in his ,remarks on the ,euphratean ,astronomical ,names of the ,signs of the ,zodiac 7p4 #af74 #ij ,by the kind permission of ,mr4 ,robt4 ,brown1 junr41 ,the ,celestial ,equator of ,aratos1 p4 #dff4 #ia ,see this shown on the cover of this book4 #ib ,menant1 ,empreintes de ,cachets ,assyro,chaldens1 #i4 8,sur un contrat dat du #h ,tisri1 de l'anne de ,bintakkilani1 #fij ou #fde avant ,j4,c40 #ic ,researches on the ,euphratean ,astronomical ,names of the ,signs of the ,zodiac1 p4 #ag4 #id ,in ,georgica1 i4 #cc4 #ie ,,ap ,,petavius1 ,uranologion1 #afh1 8,the claws1 called by the ,egyptians ,zugon10 i4e41 the yoke that joins any two things together4