Biblical Astronomy

September/October 2008

 

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

Phone (503) 655-7430 <> e-mail – starguy1@comcast.net <> Website – www.biblicalastronomy.com

 

 

NEW MOON REPORT

 

Nehemia Gordon from Jerusalem, Israel compiled the following New Moon Report for the month of September and the first day of the Sixth Biblical Month also known as Elul.

 

“On Monday September 1, 2008 the new moon was sighted from Israel.  The moon was sighted from Ashdod by Magdi Shamuel and Eli Shamuel  at 19:24.”

 

The next new moon is expected to be clearly visible from Jerusalem near sunset on October 1, 2008, which is the end of the 30th day of Elul.  The moon will be 5% illuminated and 8o above the horizon at five minutes past sunset at that time.  When the moon is sighted the Feast of Trumpets or Day of Shouting will begin.  The dates for the Feasts of the Seventh Month and the Day of Atonement are listed below.

 

Feast of Trumpets – October 1/2

 

Day of Atonement – October 10/11

 

Feast of Tabernacles – Oct. 15/16 to Oct. 21/22

 

Last Great Day – October 22/23

 

As I have previously written and stated, I strongly believe that Y’shua was born on Tishri 1, the Feast of Trumpets, in the year 3 B.C., not the Feast of Tabernacles.  Revelation 12:1-2 pinpoints the birth of Messiah to within 81 minutes on the Day of Trumpets (depending on when the first crescent light of the new moon was seen) and other astronomical and historical data pinpoints it to the year 3 B.C. 

 

I cannot get into all the details surrounding the birth of Messiah in this newsletter but I can recommend two real good books on the subject, which cover everything in great detail.  The first book is Dr. Earnest L. Martin’s The Star of Bethlehem: The Star that Astonished the World.  I have a link to a free online version of this book on the Biblical Astronomy website in the Links section.  The link is www.askelm.com/star/index.asp   If you do not have internet access you can purchase the book from ASK for $18.95 at:  Associates for Scriptural Knowledge, P.O. Box 25000, Portland, Oregon 97298-0990 – Telephone 503-292-4351.

 

The second book is Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille’s Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed.  This book is now hard to find.  Used paperback versions are available at Amazon.com from $20.23 to $125.00.  I didn’t know that it was published in paperback form.

 

Both of the above authors are now asleep in the Lord.  These are the best works that I have read on the subject of the birth of Jesus Christ.  The thousands of hours of astronomical research that I have done using astronomy programs backs up the facts given in both books. 

 

Getting back to Revelation 12:1-2, it is written (NKJV) – “1Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.  2Then being with child, she cried in labor and in pain to give birth.”

 

This woman is portrayed in the heavens in the Sign and constellation Bethulah (Virgo).  When she is clothed with the sun that means the sun is in Bethulah.  The moon in this sign of Revelation 12:1 is under her feet.  The twelve stars represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel (Jacob).  The twelve stars are the twelve constellation signs of the Mazzaroth or Zodiac.  The story of the signs starts with Bethulah (just above her head), and ends with Arieh (Leo), just behind the tail of the lion and above the head of Bethulah.  The twelve stars include Bethulah.

 

The story of Messiah starts with his birth.  The sign of his birth is in the first Sign of the Twelve, which is Bethulah.  When she is clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, it is during the time of the new moon.  In the circa of 2,000 years ago, this almost always occurred on Tishri 1 or the Day of Trumpets, though very rarely it would occur on Elul 1.

 

All of the twelve signs each have a major theme and also secondary themes.  Just as some scriptures of prophecy are two-fold in nature.  The major theme of Bethulah is the birth of the promised Seed, the Messiah who was to come out of Jacob, specifically out of the Tribe of Judah (there were also many signs going on in the Sign Arieh (Leo) at the time of His birth).   Bethulah (Virgo) also represents the Twelve faithful tribes of Israel and the 144,000 of Revelation who are all “virgins” (Rev. 14:4).  The sign used in Revelation 12:1 is two-fold in nature.  It gives the time of when the Messiah was born, and will also be a sign for the beginning of “Jacob’s Trouble” in the last days.  Revelation 12:2 is a figure of speech used for Jacob’s Trouble in previous Scriptures.

 

Revelation 12:2 - "And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered."          

 

Compare this verse with Jeremiah 30:6,7 - "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 to paleness.  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it."    

 

- also 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - "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."  (Jacob is saved out of it, but it appears that whoever "they" are here, shall not escape).

 

The sign of Revelation 12:1 is a sign that occurred when Messiah was born and is also a sign that will occur at the beginning of Jacob’s Trouble and goes along with the figure of speech used for this time in Revelation 12:2.

 

This sign now occurs on Tishri 1 whenever Tishri 1 falls in late September to early October and is seen from Jerusalem on Tishri 1 about every three years or so.  Chart 476 shows Bethulah clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet at the time of Y’shua’s birth on September 11, 3 BC (Julian Calendar).  I have the horizon shown here as translucent so you can see the constellation through it.  The horizon is the gray and brown areas on the chart representing a field and distant hills.  The only part of the constellation visible to the viewer would be above the hills.  Here the sun is in Virgo with the first crescent new moon under her feet.

 

Chart 476 – Bethulah clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet on September 11, 3 B.C.

 

Chart 477 shows the sign of Revelation 12:1 on October 1, 2008.  The moon here is also the first crescent new moon.   Since this sign occurs about every three years, it does not necessarily mean that the tribulation period will begin at this time.  But considering all of the conjunctions and massings of planets that have occurred in Arieh and Bethulah over the past couple of months we should be at an elevated tribulation watch.  There were many signs in Arieh and Bethulah at the time of the birth of Messiah, and there are many now.  Plus the sign of Revelation 12:1 refers to both the birth of Messiah and the beginning of Jacob’s Trouble.

 

Chart 477 – Bethulah clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet on October 1, 2008

 

Also, the constellations Draco, Cetus and Hydra always portray Revelation 12 and 13 at this time of the year where the Dragon is shown being cast down to the earth and the Dragon standing on the seashore with the beast from the sea rising up out of the sea.  See the September/October 2003 issue of Biblical Astronomy for the article and charts of these signs.

 

 It remains to be seen what is yet to come.  The financial situation of the United States and the world may be in grave crisis at this time but that could soon change for the better or for the worse.  

 

In either case, our Messiah and High Priest says that we are not to be troubled by these things (Matt. 24:6).  It is a time to remain steadfast in His will, grace and love and to have confidence toward Him who is able to deliver us from all the darts of the adversary.  Isaiah 41:8-10 (RV):

 

"But thou, Israel, My servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
The seed of Abraham My friend;
Thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth,
And called thee from the corners thereof,
And said unto thee, Thou art My servant;
I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away;
Fear thou not, for I am with thee;
Be not dismayed, for I am thy God!
I will strengthen thee;
Yea, I will help thee;
Yea, I will UPHOLD thee with the right hand of My righteousness."

 

MERCURY PUTS ON BEST PREDAWN SHOW OF 2008

 

Mercury (Catab) will be seen getting higher in predawn sky over the eastern horizon as the month of October progresses.  The chart below shows where the planet can be seen at 30 minutes before sunrise for dates between October 11, and November 12, 2008.  Mercury reaches its greatest elongation or height above the eastern horizon on October 22.  On that date, which happens to be the 7th day of Tabernacles, Mercury will be shinning brightly at a magnitude of –0.5, as bright as the brightest star Sirius. 

 

           

If you are someplace celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles it may be well worth getting up about a half-hour or so before sunset in the crisp air of the predawn morning and look to the east to see Mercury at its brightest.  Since no one invited me to speak at the Feast this year. I will be viewing this event from the front parking lot of my apartment.  This is the first time in many years that I will be home for Tabernacles.  Perhaps there is a good reason why.  So for those of you who will be viewing this event from your homes or elsewhere, I will be watching it around the same time as you, at least for those in my time zone.

 

Mercury (Catab) represents Gabriel the messenger angel.   At the time of its greatest elongation on October 22, the planet will be in the constellation Bethulah as seen in the chart below.  Mercury was also in Bethulah when Y’shua was born.

 

 

The chart above shows the position of Mercury in Bethulah 30 minutes before sunrise on October 22, 2008 as seen from Jerusalem.  I have made the horizon translucent so you can see the full constellation picture trough it..  It looks like she is walking on the earth.  The only part of the constellation that will be visible is the part above the background hills.  And of course in reality you will not see the constellation picture or labels.

 

Besides the sign on October 1, and this predawn show of Mercury there are no other foreseeable signs of great significance for the month of October or November.  I am hoping for an unforeseeable event to occur in November so I will have something new to write about for the November newsletter.

 

I almost forgot, there is a small meteor shower that peaks on October 21 called the Orinid Meteor Shower.  They peak at about 10 meteors per hour.  So if you are up at 2 am on the sixth day of tabernacles, you might keep an eye out on the southeast skies for these.  Below is a chart of the shower with its radiant. 

 

 

 

PISCES (the Fishes) and THE BAND

 

Pisces -The blessings of the redeemed in abeyance

 

The Band – The redeemed bound, but binding their enemy

 

 

Pisces is the main constellation in the Sign Pisces (Dagim).

 

Ancient Names for this constellation

 

Pisces Hori (Denduran) – the fishes of Him that cometh.

 

Dagim (Heb.) – the fishes (closely connected to multitudes as in Genesis 48:16).

 

Nuno (Syriac) – the fish, lengthened out (as in posterity).

 

Complementing scriptures to this constellation picture

 

Genesis 48:16 (KJV) – “The Angel Which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” 

 

The margin in the KJV says, “Let them grow as fishes do increase.”  This is part of the blessing that Jacob gave to Joseph’s two sons Ephraim and Manasseh.

 

Stars in Pisces and the meanings of their names

 

Okda (Heb.) – the united.

 

Al Samaca (Arab.) – the upheld

 

This constellation represents the nation of Israel either going into bondage, in bondage, or coming out of bondage.  E.W. Bullinger wrote on this constellation in his book The Witness of the Stars, pp. 96, 97:  “Indeed, this sign of PISCES has always been interpreted of Israel. Both Jews and Gentiles have agreed in this. ABARBANEL, a Jewish commentator, writing on Daniel, affirms that the Sign PISCES always refers to the people of Israel. He gives five reasons for this belief, and also affirms that a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn always betokens a crisis in the affairs of Israel. Because such a conjunction took place in his day (about 1480 AD) he looked for the coming of Messiah.                                                                                         

 

Certain it is, that when the sun is in PISCES all the constellations which are considered noxious, are seen above the horizon. What is true in astronomical observation is true also in historical fact. When God's favour is shown to Israel, "the Jew's enemy" puts forth his malignant powers. When they increased and multiplied in Egypt, he endeavoured to compass the destruction of the nation by destroying the male children; but their great Deliverer remembered His covenant, defeated the designs of the enemy, and brought the counsel of the heathen to nought. So it was in Persia; and so it will yet be again when the hour of Israel's final deliverance has come.                 

 

There can be no doubt that we have in this Sign the foreshowing of the multiplication and blessing of the children of promise, and a token of their coming deliverance from all the power of the enemy.”

 

These two fish also represent the Two Houses of Israel – The House of Ephraim or the ten northern tribes of the old kingdom and The House of Judah or the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin.  I wrote an article on this in the July 2002 issue of Biblical Astronomy where I have a chart of the constellation picture of the bound fish overlaid onto a map of the ancient Mid-East.  The fish that is perpendicular and heading north represents the ten northern tribes during their captivity to Assyria around 722 BC, and the horizontal fish represents the captivity of the House of Judah into Babylon around 586 B.C.  The URL to the July 2002 issue of Biblical Astronomy is www.biblicalastronomy.com/02jul.htm

 

The Band is a decan constellation to the Sign Pisces.

 

Ancient Names for this constellation

 

U-or (Egypt.) – He cometh.

 

Al Risha (Arab.) – the band, or bridle.

 

Any star names that may have existed for this constellation have been lost to antiquity.

 

From The Witness of the Stars, pp. 100, 101 – “One end of the band is fastened securely round the tail of one fish, and it is the same with the other. Moreover, this band is fastened to the neck of Cetus, the sea monster, while immediately above is seen a woman chained as a captive. These both tell the same story, and, indeed, all are required to set forth the whole truth. The fishes are bound to Cetus; the woman (Andromeda) is chained; but the Deliverer of both is near. Cepheus, the Crowned King, the Redeemer, "the Breaker," the Branch, is seen coming quickly for the deliverance of His redeemed. These are the three constellations of this sign, and all three are required to set forth the story.                                                                                                  

 

Israel now is bound. The great enemy still oppresses, but deliverance is sure. ARIES, the Ram, is seen with his paws on this band, as though about to loosen the bands and set the captives free, and to fast bind their great oppressor.”

 

This sea monster or the beast from the sea is the enemy of Israel.  In ancient times it was Egypt at one time, and Assyria and Babylon later on.  It is now the confederacy of ten nations that will come against Israel in the last days.  This confederacy is mentioned and the ten nations named in Psalm 83.  See the July 1996 issue of Biblical Astronomy for further details at www.biblicalastronomy.com/96jul.htm