We saw from last month's issue that the Bible has many things to say regarding the heavens. We then looked at Psalm 19:1-4 where we saw that God's Word was written in the heavens long before he had it penned down.
According to historical chronological tables the world was without a written revelation from God for over 2,500 years. According to historical chronological tables the world was without a written revelation from God for over 2,500 years.
Now the question we must ask is was God without witness to mankind? This question is answered in the book of Romans.
Romans 1:19- 20 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Here we see the Father reveals to us that "from the creation of the world the invisible things of God are clearly seen" in other words, His plans, counsels and purposes.
Now, if there was no written revelation from God for over 2,500 years, how were the invisible things of him from the creation of the world clearly seen? The rest of the verse 20 reads, "being understood by the things that are made." According to Genesis chapter 1, one of the "things" that God made in the beginning was stars.
Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Let's look at the book of Romans now.
Romans 10:17-18 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Who wants to take a guess where Romans 10:18 is quoted from? Look at the book of Psalms.
Psalm 19:1- 4 1The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.
Romans 10:18 is a quotation of Psalms 19:4.
The only difference is that in Romans they use the word "sound" instead of the word "line."
Romans 10:18 "Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Psalm 19:4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
The word tabernacle means "tent" or "house." It's interesting to note that the signs of the Zodiac are also called "the houses of the sun." It is in the Zodiac that the sun moves throughout the course of the year. The Zodiac is made up of 12 constellations. These constellations are preserved by names and pictures that date from the most remote antiquity. They are Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo.
Now the Ecliptic is the path that the sun moves through the heavens during the course of a year as it passes through the twelve constellations of the Zodiac.
Psalm 19:4 b… In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, In the heavens he set a tabernacle the zodiac for the sun.
As the sun makes its yearly trip along the ecliptic, it passes through the 12 constellations, or "houses of the zodiac." The cycle then repeats itself every year. However, the astronomical events that occur yearly differ. When considering the birth of Jesus Christ we must understand that the celestial announcements the Magi observed caused them to travel to Jerusalem and seek the one who was born king of the Jews.
Whatever they observed in the heavens they knew it was associated with a Judean's king's birth. Understanding that the ancients call many luminous bodies "stars" we can now begin to consider the possibility that his star was not a fixed star but perhaps a planet. Planets within our solar system move through the sky in their orbits around the sun. The celestial body the Magi observed was in motion in the heavens.
Matthew 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Planets are close enough to the earth that many can be seen with the naked eye. The Magi had no modern telescope therefore that which they saw they saw with their eyes.
Numerous meanings have been assigned to the planets throughout the years. For instance, Mercury has been characterized as the messenger god; the one who delivers messages. In Acts 14:12 Paul is called Mercurius because he was the chief speaker he was delivering a message.
Venus is known as the morning star because of its prominent position and brightness in the dawn sky. Biblically, it's associated with Jesus Christ as the bright and morning star.
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Jupiter, for instance, is known in Greek mythology as "the father of the gods, the ruler, the king who reigned over all else. ruler, the king who reigned over all else." The Hebrew name for the planet Jupiter means righteousness. The coming Messiah would reign as a king and execute righteousness.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 5Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.6In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.NIV Jeremiah 33:15-16 15"In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land.16In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it[a] will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior."
Thus, Jupiter has characteristics that would associate it with the Messiah, the Christ. "Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and associated by the ancients with kings; a royal planet with great significance." according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Now, since Jupiter would have been in the sky every night, there must have been some sort of special activity announcing not only the birth of a king but the birth of a Judean king. In Genesis 49 there is a record of Jacob renaming Israel and some of his last words concerning his children.
Genesis 49:1-2 1And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. 2Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
He then begins to prophesy over his sons. He starts with Ruben, then Simeon and Levi. In verse 8, he begins to prophecy about Judah.
Genesis 49:8-10 8Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. 9Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Here Judah is associated with a lion's whelp or a young lion. Furthermore, it says that the scepter shall not depart from Judah.
A scepter is a staff used as a royal emblem: a ceremonial staff, rod, or wand used as an emblem of royal authority: or imperial power or authority. Young's literal translation offers a wonderful translation of verse 10.
YLT Genesis 49:10 The sceptre turneth not aside from Judah, And a lawgiver from between his feet, Till his Seed come; And his is the obedience of peoples.
Here we have yet again another prophecy of the promised seed Christ the king.
Now, there are 12 constellations of the zodiac. Which one would best be compared to a lions whelp or a young lion? Leo!
One August night in 3 BC, the Magi were faithfully performing their duties of observing the signs in the heavens. What they saw that night was the first of several celestial announcements that would forever change the world and eventually convince them to travel to Jerusalem and ask the one great question of mankind today!
Where is he born King of the Jews?
To be continued…ÿ