MORE INTERESTING INFO ON THE AUGUST 11, SOLAR ECLIPSE

There are some very interesting factors when comparing the positions of the celestial bodies which form an astrological grand cross on August 11, 1999 at the time of the solar eclipse, and the positions of the same celestial bodies on April 28, 28 (date of the Crucifixion). At the time of the crucifixion, the same celestial bodies were also involved in forming another grand cross.

Charts 107 to 110 show the positions of Uranus, the Sun, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and the Moon at around 1:30 p.m., Jerusalem local time on April 28, 28 A.D. Chart 107 shows the position of Uranus in the constellation Leo at that time. Compare this to the position of the Sun and Moon at the time of the eclipse on August 11, 1999 (Chart 104 in the July issue of Biblical Astronomy). Relative to the position of the Sun and Moon in the constellation Leo at the time of the upcoming eclipse. Uranus was within 2 degrees of that position at the time of the crucifixion.

Chart 108 shows the positions of Saturn and the Sun in the constellation Taurus on April 28, 28. Saturn is actually within 3 degrees of the celestial coordinate that it will be on August 11, 1999. Because of the precessional movement of the Earth, that coordinate which was in Taurus in the year 28, is now in the constellation Aries. (1 degree is the space occupied from one side to the other on the tip of your little finger extended at arms length and held up against the sky).

Chart 109 shows the position of Jupiter in Capricornus/Aquarius on April 28, 28. Although Jupiter is within the borders of Capricornus, it is also in conjunction with the center of the man's head in Aquarius. Jupiter (the King of Righteousness) is also near to conjunction with Deneb Algedi (the sacrifice cometh). Jupiter was in direct conjunction with Deneb Algedi 5 days before the crucifixion, or at the exact time that the Lord entered Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11). The Sacrifice was literally entering Jerusalem at that time.

Chart 110 shows the positions of Mars and the Moon in Scorpius on April 28, 28. The moon passed conjunction with Mars between the 6th and 9th hour at the time of the crucifixion, just as the Moon will pass conjunction with the Sun at the same hours during the upcoming eclipse. Mars, at the time of the crucifixion, was within 2 degrees of the celestial coordinate that it will be on August 11, 1999. Because of the precessional movement of the Earth, this coordinate is now in the constellation of Libra.

Note that all of the above mentioned celestial bodies were in (or in conjunction with) the four constellations which represent the four living creatures which are around the throne of God in Revelation 4:6 - 6:7; the lion, the ox, the man, and the eagle (in ancient planispheres, an eagle is shown descending down on the scorpion in Scorpius). These constellations are equidistantly spaced in the Mazzaroth. The following is from Frances Rolleston's work Mazzaroth (1862) Second Part, p.58, concerning the four creatures.

"The four cherubic forms, as found in the four cardinal signs, are seen by John as separate living creatures, typifying the two comings of Him before whom they stand (Ezekiel saw these joined together as one creature). As the man He had come, as the sacrifice He had made atonement for sin, but He was yet to come, separating good from evil, as the lion rends the prey, descending as the eagle from heaven. When both comings were future, the four symbols were united; when one was past, they were separated."

Chart 111 shows the whole Mazzaroth with the lines drawn between the positions of Mars and Saturn; and Jupiter and Uranus on April 28, 28. I extended the lines to the Celestial Equator. Since the planets are not centered in the four constellations, the cross is a bit awkward. This actually looks more like a Greek cross "X". But if the connecting points were centered in the constellations that the planets were in, then it would form a perfect 90 degree cross. I doubt if four celestial bodies were ever lined up perfectly to from a perfect cross, though it is possible. It is interesting that the intersect point of the two lines falls on the heal of the enthroned King. Genesis 3:15 was partially fulfilled at the very day and hour.

Chart 112 shows the Mazzaroth with the lines drawn between the positions of Mars and Saturn; and Uranus and the Sun/Moon on August 11, 1999. The light line is drawn between Jupiter and Mars. This cross is still somewhat awkward, and a bit different in appearance that the one in 28 A.D.

Using Jewish inclusive reckoning which would include April 28, 28 as day one in counting, then day 720,000 (360 days x 2,000 or 2,000 prophetic years) would fall on August 11, 1999. This is 2,000 prophetic years to the day and hour when the sun is darkened from the sixth to the ninth hour (ancient reckoning) on the first day and the 720,000th day. There is just too much going on for this to be just a coincidence. The following is speculation up to when the celestial events of August 11 actually happen.

Why was the sun darkened from the sixth to the ninth hour at the time of the crucifixion? Could it have been in part a precursor of what was to come when the Messiah returns and a sign in the heavens to mark such a time? Let's take a look at what events occurred when the sun was darkened at the time of the crucifixion.

Luke 23:43-46 - And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Matthew 27:45-47 - Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, Lama sabachthani?

Matthew 27:50-53 - Jesus, when he cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

It was around the ninth hour that:

Jesus cried with a loud voice.

The veil of the temple was rent in twain.
The earth quaked and the rocks rent.
The graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.

In I Thessalonians 4:16-17 it is written:

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The Lord descends with a shout, the voice of an archangel (loud voice). The dead in Christ shall rise from the graves.

Well, there are a few similarities here. I believe that there will be some quaking going on in the earth at this time also. How much time elapses between when the dead in Christ rise and when those who are alive and remain are gathered is not mentioned. It could be within a few minutes, or days, weeks, or months. We may soon know.

Oh, and did I mention that both April 28, 28 and August 11, 1999 fall on a Wednesday. I am sure that there are many other factors that I have not seen yet, but the factors given so far are enough to be excited about. If the Seventh Millennium does begin this Rosh Hashanah, it will be very exciting indeed.

VENUS/MERCURY CONJUNCTION

Venus and Mercury will come into conjunction in the constellation Leo on August 26/27, 1999. This will be the last conjunction between any two planets for the rest of 1999, and well into the year 2000. The next conjunction between two planets will be in mid-March, 2000. That will also be a Venus/Mercury conjunction, but in the constellation Aquarius.

BIBLICAL ASTRONOMY SEMINAR

I will be holding (Lord willing) and 8-hour seminar on Biblical Astronomy in Vancouver, WA in late August. I do not yet have an exact date or location. If anyone is interested in attending this seminar, please call me or e-mail me, and I will get back to you with further information.

BIBLICAL CALENDAR

It was suggested to me by one of the Biblical Astronomy subscribers to put out a monthly Biblical calendar in the newsletter. Since this will take needed space, I decided to give the date for the beginning each calendar month, then anyone who wishes, can mark their calendars (Gregorian) accordingly.

The first day of the Hebrew month Elul begins at sunset on August 12 and ends at sunset August 13. That means that day one should be marked on August 13, day 2 on August 14, etc. There are 30 days in Elul this year, and day 30 is on September 11. Sunset September 11, starts the first day of Tishri. This is all according to when the first crescent light of the new moon will be visible as seen from Jerusalem. Jerusalem time is between 7 and 10 hours ahead of the continental United States, depending on which part of the United States you live.