BIBLICAL ASTRONOMY

September 2000

 

Editor – Robert Scott Wadsworth <> P.O. Box 2272, Oregon City, OR 97045

Phone (503) 655-7430 <> e-mail – starguy1@comcast.net <> Website – www.atlbible.org/astronomy.htm

 

 


NEW MOON REPORT

 

                The following is the New Moon Report compiled by Nehemia Gordon of Jerusalem, Israel for the month of Elul. 

            “On Wednesday August 30, 2000 the moon was seen from Jerusalem by Nehemia Gordon at 19:20 (sunset was observed at 19:01) and by Hen-el Brill and Bruce Brill from Tekoa at 19:25.  Since the moon was easily visible, New Moon Day will be the evening of August 30 and the day of August 31.

            It is worth noting that the Rabbinates are not observing the beginning of the month until the evening of August 31, a full 24 hours AFTER THE MOON WAS SEEN!!!  This is a clear-cut example, which proves that rabbinical astronomical calculations do not accurately predict the visibility of the New Moon!  Usually the Rabbinate calculations give New Moon Day a day or two before the moon is visible, but this month they gave it a day after the moon was visible.”

            The next new moon should become visible from Jerusalem near sunset on September 29, though there is a very slight possibility that it will be visible near sunset on September 28.  The Feast of Trumpets should begin near sunset on September 29.  This is the only God chosen feast that begins when no man can predict the day or the hour that it will begin.  The trumpets are blown after two witnesses see and report the first crescent light of the new moon, no matter what time of the day it is seen.  Until then, only the Father knows the day and hour that the trumpets will be blown.

 

            Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

            But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the father.       Mark 14:30-32

 

CELESTIAL EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 2000

 

            Saturn will become stationary at 10:00 p.m. Jerusalem Standard Time on September 12.  When a planet becomes stationary, it does not appear to be moving against the background stars.  This occurs just before a planet goes into retrograde motion.  For example, a planet moving in a forward direction will appear to slow down and then stop before it starts moving in the opposite (backward) direction.  It will then move in the opposite direction (against the background stars) for a period of time before it slows again and stops before returning to the forward direction.  It is the faster orbit of the earth around the sun that makes the outer planets appear to move forward and backward against the background stars. 

            To the naked eye, Saturn will appear motionless against the background stars for about 5 days starting on September 10.  It is interesting that Saturn (Satan) will be at its most stationary position on the eve of the proposed declaration of the Palestinian state on September 13.  Of course, it remains to be seen if the Palestinians will actually declare a state at this time.

            Mars (Michael) will come into a close conjunction with the star Regulus in the constellation Arieh (Leo – the lion) on September 16.  The name Regulus means treading under foot.  This is in reference to the lion treading under foot the serpent that is seen in the constellation Hydra that is just below Arieh.

            Venus (the bright and morning star) will be in conjunction with the star Tsemech (Spica) in the constellation Bethulah (Virgo) on September 18.  Tsemech means the Branch.

 

Behold, the days come saith the LORD, That I will raise unto David a righteous BRANCH (i.e., a Son), and a KING shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth.  In 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.

Jeremiah 23:5-6

 

The Sun will reach the Autumnal Equinox point at 7:27 p.m. Jerusalem Standard Time on September 22.  This will occur at 1:27 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.  This is the first day of Autumn.

 

Jupiter (TzedeqTHE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS) will become stationary (stop moving) at 4:00 p.m. Jerusalem Standard Time on September 29.  Jupiter will appear stationary to the naked eye from September 27 to October 1.  Then it will begin its retrograde motion through the constellation Taurus.  The theme of the constellation Taurus is Messiah, the coming Judge of all the earth. 

Sunset will occur at 5:25 p.m. Jerusalem Standard Time on September 29.  This is the most likely date that the first crescent light of the new moon will be seen from Jerusalem.  If so, it will most likely be seen very close to the time that Jupiter becomes stationary.  It is possible to spot a new moon an hour or two before sunset.

 

The Crescent New Moon will pass 5 degrees north of Venus (the bright and morning star) at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September 29.  This celestial event will be easily seen in the United States.  As seen from Jerusalem, The 4% illuminated crescent of the new moon and the bright star Venus will be seen side by side on September 29, and will be highly visible at 6:00 p.m. JST, or about 35 minutes after sunset.  Venus will be lined up near the center of the crescent as such:  + represents Venus,  ) represents Moon.    +   )      The duo will appear somewhat different in the U.S.

 

All of that and we haven’t even gotten to the charts yet.  No, I didn’t forget.  Heaven forbid I should forget the charts.

 

Chart 169 shows Bethulah, the woman clothed with the sun and the moon beneath her feet at five minutes after sunset as seen from Jerusalem on September 30, 2000.  This chart shows the galactic view of the constellation, as viewed far above the earth’s surface. The moon is the very dim gray crescent.  If it does not show up on the copies, the moon is just to the left of the word Moon.

Chart 170 shows the local view of the same event as seen from Jerusalem at five minutes after sunset on September 30, 2000.  The gray area in the bottom of the chart is the earth (ground) and western horizon.  The planets Venus and Mercury (Gabriel) are also close to the feet of the woman.

 

And there appeared a great wonder (sign) in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.   Revelation 12:1-2

 

Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness.  Alas! For that day is great that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.      Jer. 30:6-7

 

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But ye, brethern, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.               I Thes. 5:3-4

 

Chart 171 shows the position of the constellation Draco, the dragon at 5:56 p.m JST on September 30, 2000 looking north from Jerusalem.  Throughout the evening and next morning, the dragon descends to the earth.  Chart 172 shows the position of the dragon at 5:06 a.m. JST on October 1, 2000.  Draco is seen here with his head plunged to the earth.  This is a clear portrayal of the casting down of the dragon.

 

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him…  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.  Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!  for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.    Revelation 12:7-9, 12

 

Chart 173 shows the constellation Cetus, the beast from the sea as seen looking west-southwest from Jerusalem at 5:06 a.m. JST on October 1, 2000.  This is toward the Mediterranean Sea as seen from Jerusalem.  Cetus also represents the dragon as well as the beast from the sea.  Again the gray area at the bottom of the chart is the earth (ground) and the horizon.

 

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.  And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.  Rev. 12:17 - 13:1a (NIV)

 

Chart 174 shows the constellation Hydra (the water serpent) as seen looking east-southeast from Jerusalem at 5:06 a.m. JST on October 1, 2000.  This is off toward the Dead Sea looking from Jerusalem.  The stars are rising in the east, with the serpent rising (seemingly) out of the Dead Sea.

 

And I saw a beast coming out of the sea… The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority…  Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast?  Who can make war against him?”…

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty two months… excerpts from Revelation 13:1b - 13:5a  (NIV)

 

Though the appearance of this beast according to John resembles a leopard with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion, and not a serpent, the serpent here is representing this beast as rising out of the sea.  The serpent gives the beast his power.  “That old serpent” and the dragon are one in the same, and the beast is part of the same family.

The portrayals of Charts 171 to 174 are also seen on the evening of September 29 and morning of September 30, though the times for all events are four minutes later as seen on the charts.

 

 

QUAKES, AND MORE QUAKES

 

            The following is an article from Weekend News Today, September 1, 2000, source USGS –

            “Besides the major earthquakes of late, many various areas are joining in, with moderate size quakes lately.  Just from yesterday to this morning, Philippines had two quakes of magnitudes 5.6 and 5.2.  Alaska and the Aleutian Islands continue to have many quakes near the 5 range.  Along with Carlsberg Ridge, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Southern Greece, Easter Island area, and Mariana Islands area (5.5), and the list goes on.  Also, just in, there was a magnitude 6.0 off the West Coast of N. Sumatra today.  As reported this past week, America has had several smaller to moderate size quakes scattered through different states.  Today, there was a 3.2 in Southern Nevada.  With all the various areas of quakes lately, add to that the incredible number of volcanoes that are all coming back to life and erupting this very year, that equals lots of pressure underground that needs to find some way to get out.  Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia can attest to that lately.”

 

            Some quakes that occurred since the above article:

 

            September 3    5.2            Northern California

            September 6    5.4            Western India

            September 6    5.3            Sumatra

            September 8    3.2            State of Maine

 

 

PLO TO DELAY STATE DECLARATION

 

            The following is a September 10, 2000 news release from Arutz-7:

 

            “The PLO Central Council convened today to vote on the postponement of the declaration of a Palestinian state.  In light of the objections of most of the world to a unilateral declaration, Yasser Arafat will tell the Council that ‘another chance should be given for peace with Israel.’  The probable next target date for the declaration: November 15.  Council Chairman Sal’im Za’nun says that a date no later than January 1, 2001 must be chosen, for if not, ‘this will mean the permanent perpetuation of the autonomy.’

            Correspondent Huberman reports that Arafat always likes to choose meaningful dates for his deadlines:  September 13, the original date for the declaration, is the 7th anniversary of the first Rabin-Arafat handshake on the White House lawn and the signing of the first Oslo Agreement; November 15 will be the 12th anniversary of the PLO’s declaration of a state-in-exile in Algiers; while January 1 is the 35th anniversary of the first Fatah terrorist attack in 1965.”

 

            May the wisdom, grace, mercy and love of Yahshuah HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) be with you always in all situations.