Read Genesis 29 and 30 carefully and you'll notice most of the time each child's birth is preceded by an account of that child's conception. But Chapter 30 has two exceptions to this, Asher in verses 12-13 and Dinah in verse 21.
Now with Dinah it's tempting to say the patriarchal bias of the culture was less interested in detailing her birth, but why record her birth at all given I feel there is later evidence she wasn't Jacob's only daughter? It could be because she's important later to chapter 34 but David's daughter Tamar didn't need a prior account of her birth.
So I think Gad and Asher the sons of Zilpah were twins, and later so were Zebulun and Dinah who were borne by Leah.
Why not detail their twin births the way Jacob and Esau or Pharez and Zarah were? Those are narratives about issues complicating who would qualify as the first born. None of these were eligible to be a paternal first born. With Zebuln and Dinah we're dealing with possibly Leah's last children, and Zilpah's were going to be kind of counted among Leah's so wouldn't have likely had even a Maternal first born status. The significance of being a Maternal firstborn isn't about any kind of inheritance. And regardless if there was no ambiguity on who came out first it wasn't an issue.
Similar logic to what I just argued can be used to say Cain and Abel were twins. Which of course is a claim that gets used by Serpent Seed theorists but with the intent of saying they didn't have the same father. The text of Genesis 4:1-2 is if anything the opposite of them on who was definitely fathered by Adam, it directly attributed Cain to Adam more then it does Abel. I'm certain Abel was also Adam's son however. I've already refuted the Two Seedline theory.
The births of Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim are not recorded in a similar manner to these two chapters at all.
Apparently the odds of conceiving twins if you are a twin yourself are not higher for identical twins but are for fraternal twins. Jacob we know was a Fraternal Twin. And some rabbinic traditions suggest Leah and Rachel were also twins.
When Mazzaroth theorists are trying to align the Zodiac constellations to the Tribes of Israel, different models get proposed.
The first version I stumbled upon identified Levi and Simeon with Gemini not because of any evidence they were twins but because their role in Genesis 34 can be compared to Castor and Pollux killing Theseus over his abduction of Helen, and because of that incident Levi and Simeon are grouped together in Genesis 49, and Levi had no land allotment or camp surrounding the Tabernacle since Levi had The Tabernacle itself (and Simeon is mysteriously absent from Deuteronomy 33). If it's Dinah who was a twin that would be interesting, given how Helen is said to be a twin of Clytemnestra. I have argued for possibly linking Clytemnestra to Athaliah who was a daughter of the house of Omri. The Tribal identity of the Omrids is never clearly stated in Scripture, but Jezreel was in land originally allotted to Issachar who's often grouped with Zebulun. Also Omri first appears in the narrative as an army commander of the Issacharite House of Baasha.
I have not seen a version make any of the three sons I have argued could be Twins the Gemini, it seems sometimes Benjamin is Gemeni which I don't get at all.
Showing posts with label Gospel in The Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gospel in The Stars. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Monday, December 4, 2017
Ephraim Ben Joseph is the Horse-Rider of Jacob's Prophecy about Dan
Genesis 49:16-17
It is commonly speculated that the reason Dan and Ephraim are left out of the 144,000 in Revelation 7 is how it was through them that Idolatry entered Israel, in Judges 17-18 and then with Jeroboam, an Ephraimite who built Golden Calves at Dan and Bethel in Ephraim.
It is often assumed that the difference with Ephraim is Ephraim is still represented by the name of Joseph, since Manasseh is named separately Joseph here must be only Ephraim. But Numbers 13 doesn't remind us of Joseph when it identifies Ephraim's Spy, but calls it's Manasseh spy of Joseph. Manasseh himself as a Firstborn was kind of split in two, the two sides of the Jordan, called Machir and Gilead in the Song of Deborah, and this is needed to justify Jeroboam getting Ten Tribes, attempts to justify saying he also got Simeon will not hold up. Maybe the two tribes left out of the Sealing are involved with The Mark, Satan's counterfeit of the Seal?
Now, both that Judges narrative and the Jeroboam situation may make you think Ephraim lead the way and Dan followed. But Ephaim's major spiritual problems don't start till Judges 17, while a Danite has an issue already in Leviticus 24. But I also think that the mother of Micah in Judges 17 was Delilah and that Delilah was not a philistine.
Jacob's blessing on Joseph in Genesis 49 says he has a Bow and depicted him as an Archer, Zechariah 9 also depicted Ephraim as an Archer. Isaiah 28 says Ephraim has a Crown. Isaiah 63 represents Israel as a Horse. The rider on the White Horse in Revelation 6 has a Bow and a Crown, and is often speculated to possibly be The Antichrist while others have wanted to make him a more positive figure.
It is interesting to note that Jehu wielded a Bow and Arrow when he overthrew Jehoram while riding a horse drawn chariot. Jehu is someone a Messiah Ben-Joseph claimant may seek to model themselves after.
Maybe the False Prophet is from Dan and The Antichrist from Ephraim? When I look at the Prophetic model lots of Rabbinic Jews are expecting, it's easy to see Messiah Ben-Joseph who is Mortally Wounded by Armilus as the Beast, and the False Prophet as Messiah Ben-David who resurrects him. There is also a view proposed in Rabbinic writings that Messiah Ben-David's mother will be from Dan.
I feel like I've made a solid case already, but for those who believe in Mazzaroth/Gospel in The Stars theories, I have one more factor to add.
The most popular constellations to identify Joseph/Ephraim with are Aquarius and Taurus (and if Manasseh needs a separate one it's one right next to one of those). I see no Biblical basis for Aquarius. Taurus is justifiable by Joseph's blessing in Deuteronomy 33 where he's called a Cow and an Aurochus (Re'em translated Unicorn in the KJV), but in that context Leo is no longer Judah but either Gad or Dan.
In Genesis 49 Joseph is an Archer, the Archer constellation is Sagittarius, who is also a Horseman and has but isn't wearing a Crown, the Corona Australis. People looking for astronomical references in Revelation tend to see the White Horseman as Sagittarius for these reasons. And Sagittarius is right next to Scorpio, which gets identified with Dan based on Genesis 49.
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.This passage is frequently the beginning of attempts to say The Antichrist will come from Dan, along with a reference to Dan in Jeremiah that also mentions Horses. But who/what are this Horse and it's Rider?
It is commonly speculated that the reason Dan and Ephraim are left out of the 144,000 in Revelation 7 is how it was through them that Idolatry entered Israel, in Judges 17-18 and then with Jeroboam, an Ephraimite who built Golden Calves at Dan and Bethel in Ephraim.
It is often assumed that the difference with Ephraim is Ephraim is still represented by the name of Joseph, since Manasseh is named separately Joseph here must be only Ephraim. But Numbers 13 doesn't remind us of Joseph when it identifies Ephraim's Spy, but calls it's Manasseh spy of Joseph. Manasseh himself as a Firstborn was kind of split in two, the two sides of the Jordan, called Machir and Gilead in the Song of Deborah, and this is needed to justify Jeroboam getting Ten Tribes, attempts to justify saying he also got Simeon will not hold up. Maybe the two tribes left out of the Sealing are involved with The Mark, Satan's counterfeit of the Seal?
Now, both that Judges narrative and the Jeroboam situation may make you think Ephraim lead the way and Dan followed. But Ephaim's major spiritual problems don't start till Judges 17, while a Danite has an issue already in Leviticus 24. But I also think that the mother of Micah in Judges 17 was Delilah and that Delilah was not a philistine.
Jacob's blessing on Joseph in Genesis 49 says he has a Bow and depicted him as an Archer, Zechariah 9 also depicted Ephraim as an Archer. Isaiah 28 says Ephraim has a Crown. Isaiah 63 represents Israel as a Horse. The rider on the White Horse in Revelation 6 has a Bow and a Crown, and is often speculated to possibly be The Antichrist while others have wanted to make him a more positive figure.
It is interesting to note that Jehu wielded a Bow and Arrow when he overthrew Jehoram while riding a horse drawn chariot. Jehu is someone a Messiah Ben-Joseph claimant may seek to model themselves after.
Maybe the False Prophet is from Dan and The Antichrist from Ephraim? When I look at the Prophetic model lots of Rabbinic Jews are expecting, it's easy to see Messiah Ben-Joseph who is Mortally Wounded by Armilus as the Beast, and the False Prophet as Messiah Ben-David who resurrects him. There is also a view proposed in Rabbinic writings that Messiah Ben-David's mother will be from Dan.
I feel like I've made a solid case already, but for those who believe in Mazzaroth/Gospel in The Stars theories, I have one more factor to add.
The most popular constellations to identify Joseph/Ephraim with are Aquarius and Taurus (and if Manasseh needs a separate one it's one right next to one of those). I see no Biblical basis for Aquarius. Taurus is justifiable by Joseph's blessing in Deuteronomy 33 where he's called a Cow and an Aurochus (Re'em translated Unicorn in the KJV), but in that context Leo is no longer Judah but either Gad or Dan.
In Genesis 49 Joseph is an Archer, the Archer constellation is Sagittarius, who is also a Horseman and has but isn't wearing a Crown, the Corona Australis. People looking for astronomical references in Revelation tend to see the White Horseman as Sagittarius for these reasons. And Sagittarius is right next to Scorpio, which gets identified with Dan based on Genesis 49.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
September 23 2017 is apporaching.
Awhile ago I talked about why I don't think the alignment involving Virgo, Leo and 4 of the Planets is significant. But now the time for it is approaching I better remind people.
Also recently was this AnswerInGenesis Article on it.
That somewhat overlaps with my refuting the September 11th 3 BC Birth of Jesus theory.
Rob Skiba has kinda gone off the deep end, in a recent radio show saying Revelation 12 can only be about either something astronomical or some sort of cloned rebirth of Jesus who immediately dies.
I feel like I have firmly Biblically proven that The Woman is Israel, and The Man-Child is The Church, especially thanks to Isaiah 66.
For those who still think The Church can only be represented by a woman, I recommend this Song of Solomon post of mine.
The only thing Biblically significant about this September is that as it often does the Month of Tishri and thus the Fall Feasts will begin.
Also recently was this AnswerInGenesis Article on it.
That somewhat overlaps with my refuting the September 11th 3 BC Birth of Jesus theory.
Rob Skiba has kinda gone off the deep end, in a recent radio show saying Revelation 12 can only be about either something astronomical or some sort of cloned rebirth of Jesus who immediately dies.
I feel like I have firmly Biblically proven that The Woman is Israel, and The Man-Child is The Church, especially thanks to Isaiah 66.
For those who still think The Church can only be represented by a woman, I recommend this Song of Solomon post of mine.
The only thing Biblically significant about this September is that as it often does the Month of Tishri and thus the Fall Feasts will begin.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Venus could be the Star of Bethlehem
One of the earliest Christmas related posts on this blog was an argument for Jupiter being the Star of Bethlehem. It was made back when I still favored the September 11th 3 BC birth-date that I now reject, as I now believe Jesus was born near December 25th, (but I've been rethinking my exact chronology). Even after that change I stuck by the basic Star of Bethlehem theory since it still fit, it brought the Magi to Jerusalem on December 25th 2 BC.
I remain strongly convinced that the terminology of "We have seen (Observed) His Star" implies a Star that was always there and always considered His. And that logically as one that moves around it would be a planet.
But I have since considered that given my belief in using Scripture to interpret Scripture. To note that when The Bible associates Jesus with a star, it associates Him with the Morning Stat/Light Bringer. Something I talked about in my post on why it's incorrect to associate The Morning Star with Satan in Isaiah 14.
The New Testament refers to Jesus as the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) and the Day Star (2 Peter 1:19). The Day Star reference used a poetic name for Venus "Phosphorus" which refers to the same thing Heosphorus does, and has the same meaning Lucifer has in Latin. Phos=Lux=Light and Phorus=Ferus=Bearer/Bringer.
The Morning Star is a title of Venus, the closest Planet to Earth. Also 1 John 4:7-16 twice says that God is Love.
I still don't know exactly what movements of Venus Matthew refers to. Many existing theories revolving around Jupiter also involve interesting movements of Venus. If I come to a solid theory I'll make a follow up post.
People who believe in the Gospel in The Stars/Mazzaroth theory, believe naturally that (at least some of) the Pagan associations of the stars and constellations are corruptions of their original meanings. But they desire to see some logic in how that happened. Which combined with patriarchal biases of mainstream Christianity makes them uncomfortable with the idea of the main star to represent Jesus being the one that most commonly becomes Feminine.
The Planet Venus was not universally Feminine. The Canaanites also had a male deity for that Planet, Ashtar, who I mentioned in the other post. Even in the Greco-Roman tradition there is a paradox, where it is associated with Venus/Aphrodite, but yet the star itself is viewed as a male offspring of the Dawn Goddess, also a subject of that post. Interestingly Quetzacoatl was also associated with the Planet Venus, (maybe that's the basis for the Anime Dragon-Maid making him a woman). Another male mythological personification of Venus is the Egyptian Sopdu, often associated with Horus (though this star name referring to Venus may be spurious). In Japanese mythology there is Amatsu-Mikaboshi, which seems inconsistent on if it refers to Venus or the Pole-Star, Ame-No is also associated with the Pole-Star. The Journey to The West also features Taibai Jinxing (The Gold Star of Venus). And then there is the Norse Aurvandil who helped inspire Tolkien's Earendil.
But I also want to talk about the fact that while Jesus did incarnate as a Male, He is ultimately God/Yahuah and so ultimately gender-less. In fact the Tetragramaton itself is arguably a Grammatically feminine name since it ends with a Heh, as are Elah and Eloah.
When Haggai calls Jesus the Desire of the Nations, the word for Desire there appears in it's Feminine form. Most places where you see "Salvation" in the KJV, the Hebrew word is Yeshua, but in it's Feminine form, Yeshuah. Chuck Missler argues Jesus is the Wisdom of the book of Proverbs, all three Hebrew words for Wisdom used there are grammatically feminine, and even the English Translation shows that feminine pronouns were used.
But most interestingly is that I on another blog argued for a reversal of the usual Typological Interpretation of The Song of Solomon, and argued that Shulamith is the type of Christ and The Beloved as Israel/The Church. Chapter 2 calls Shulamith both a Rose and a Lily, both those plants have also been used to represent Aphrodite/Venus, as have Pomegranates.
I have also argued that the Biblical significance of The Lily could be where the Six Pointed Star of David came from. And I've argued that Bethlehem is The City of David, so it fits for the Star of David to be the Star of Bethlehem.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher site was a Temple to Venus built by Hadrian. Many doubt that is the actual site of Golgotha, but there is evidence Christians venerated it before the time of Constantine.
Update March 2018: Stuff I confirmed using Stelarium.
I believe Jesus rose from the Dead at Sunrise on Sunday Morning. The day I believe that happened, April 9th 30 AD, was a day that Venus was visible in Israel in the morning as a Morning Star.
And my current 12 BC Nativity model has Venus visible in Israel as an Evening Star through when Hanukkah probably happened in December of 12 BC.
Update October 2018: Venus was also visible as an Evening Star during the early part of Hanukkah, and again for awhile after Hanukkah, in December of 26 BC. And was specifically in the leg of Ophiuchus that is stepping on Antares the head of Scorpio. A pretty ideal circumstance for the birth of the Seed of The Woman.
I remain strongly convinced that the terminology of "We have seen (Observed) His Star" implies a Star that was always there and always considered His. And that logically as one that moves around it would be a planet.
But I have since considered that given my belief in using Scripture to interpret Scripture. To note that when The Bible associates Jesus with a star, it associates Him with the Morning Stat/Light Bringer. Something I talked about in my post on why it's incorrect to associate The Morning Star with Satan in Isaiah 14.
The New Testament refers to Jesus as the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) and the Day Star (2 Peter 1:19). The Day Star reference used a poetic name for Venus "Phosphorus" which refers to the same thing Heosphorus does, and has the same meaning Lucifer has in Latin. Phos=Lux=Light and Phorus=Ferus=Bearer/Bringer.
The Morning Star is a title of Venus, the closest Planet to Earth. Also 1 John 4:7-16 twice says that God is Love.
I still don't know exactly what movements of Venus Matthew refers to. Many existing theories revolving around Jupiter also involve interesting movements of Venus. If I come to a solid theory I'll make a follow up post.
People who believe in the Gospel in The Stars/Mazzaroth theory, believe naturally that (at least some of) the Pagan associations of the stars and constellations are corruptions of their original meanings. But they desire to see some logic in how that happened. Which combined with patriarchal biases of mainstream Christianity makes them uncomfortable with the idea of the main star to represent Jesus being the one that most commonly becomes Feminine.
The Planet Venus was not universally Feminine. The Canaanites also had a male deity for that Planet, Ashtar, who I mentioned in the other post. Even in the Greco-Roman tradition there is a paradox, where it is associated with Venus/Aphrodite, but yet the star itself is viewed as a male offspring of the Dawn Goddess, also a subject of that post. Interestingly Quetzacoatl was also associated with the Planet Venus, (maybe that's the basis for the Anime Dragon-Maid making him a woman). Another male mythological personification of Venus is the Egyptian Sopdu, often associated with Horus (though this star name referring to Venus may be spurious). In Japanese mythology there is Amatsu-Mikaboshi, which seems inconsistent on if it refers to Venus or the Pole-Star, Ame-No is also associated with the Pole-Star. The Journey to The West also features Taibai Jinxing (The Gold Star of Venus). And then there is the Norse Aurvandil who helped inspire Tolkien's Earendil.
But I also want to talk about the fact that while Jesus did incarnate as a Male, He is ultimately God/Yahuah and so ultimately gender-less. In fact the Tetragramaton itself is arguably a Grammatically feminine name since it ends with a Heh, as are Elah and Eloah.
When Haggai calls Jesus the Desire of the Nations, the word for Desire there appears in it's Feminine form. Most places where you see "Salvation" in the KJV, the Hebrew word is Yeshua, but in it's Feminine form, Yeshuah. Chuck Missler argues Jesus is the Wisdom of the book of Proverbs, all three Hebrew words for Wisdom used there are grammatically feminine, and even the English Translation shows that feminine pronouns were used.
But most interestingly is that I on another blog argued for a reversal of the usual Typological Interpretation of The Song of Solomon, and argued that Shulamith is the type of Christ and The Beloved as Israel/The Church. Chapter 2 calls Shulamith both a Rose and a Lily, both those plants have also been used to represent Aphrodite/Venus, as have Pomegranates.
I have also argued that the Biblical significance of The Lily could be where the Six Pointed Star of David came from. And I've argued that Bethlehem is The City of David, so it fits for the Star of David to be the Star of Bethlehem.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher site was a Temple to Venus built by Hadrian. Many doubt that is the actual site of Golgotha, but there is evidence Christians venerated it before the time of Constantine.
Update March 2018: Stuff I confirmed using Stelarium.
I believe Jesus rose from the Dead at Sunrise on Sunday Morning. The day I believe that happened, April 9th 30 AD, was a day that Venus was visible in Israel in the morning as a Morning Star.
And my current 12 BC Nativity model has Venus visible in Israel as an Evening Star through when Hanukkah probably happened in December of 12 BC.
Update October 2018: Venus was also visible as an Evening Star during the early part of Hanukkah, and again for awhile after Hanukkah, in December of 26 BC. And was specifically in the leg of Ophiuchus that is stepping on Antares the head of Scorpio. A pretty ideal circumstance for the birth of the Seed of The Woman.
Monday, April 4, 2016
The Biblical Significance of The Ram, are Rams mentioned more often then we think?
Deuteronomy 14 is one of a couple of chapters of The Torah dealing with what animals are and aren't considered okay to eat. In the KJV almost all animals cited elsewhere as animals offered in sacrifices to Yahuah are included here, Lambs, Goats, Bulls, Oxen, Pigeons and Doves. And many additional animals too including multiple words taken as referring to Deer and similar animals, and multiple types of Poultry that leave me with little doubt a traditional Thanksgiving meal is Kosher.
But one of the known sacrificial animals seems absent, the Ram. We know they would be okay to eat because of the broader instructions given here and in Leviticus 11 that tell how to tell the Levitical Cleanses even of Land Mammals the Bible never mentions at all. But I still find it odd that as a clearly well known animal in The Bible, Rams are seemingly not mentioned. In facts Rams seem to be mentioned only once in all of Deuteronomy, and that's in the Song of Moses in chapter 32.
The Hebrew word for Ram is Strongs number 352, Ayil. The word first appears in Genesis 15:9, it's the word for Ram used in Genesis 22 of the one offered in place of Isaac, and in Exodus 29 which I'll bring up again later. It's used throughout Leviticus where Rams are refereed to. And in Numbers 28-29 where they are specified to be offered on most of the Leviticus 23 Holy Days. And in Daniel 8 of the Ram that represents the Medo-Persian Empire. And almost every time you see "ram" in the Old Testament of the KJV.
What's interesting is that according to the Strongs there are two Hebrew words spelled the exact same way as this word, AYL, but are pronounced differently thanks to the Aramaic derived vowel indicators that developed after the captivity.
One is Strongs number 353, Eyal. Which is used only once, in Psalm 88 verse 4 where the KJV translates it "strength". Not the only time "strength" is used to translate a rarely used and thus harder to define word.
The other is Strongs number 354, Ayal. This is consistently translated by the KJV as "Hart" (or Harts when plural) and is in fact the word used every time you see "Hart". It first occurs in Deuteronomy 12, but is also listed as an okay to eat Animal in Deuteronomy 14:5. Indisputably the animal we call in English harts are Levitically clean, but plenty other animals listed here are basically the same kind, deer.
So what I'm thinking is maybe Ayal was not a separate word originally, but some confusion began probably during the captivity. A Hart is a type of Dear, the idea of a Hebrew word for Ram becoming later misunderstood as a word for Dear could be relevant to my Japan and the Lost Tribes post.
Also strong number 355, Ayalah, is the feminine form of Ayal. The KJV always translates this "Hind" or "Hinds". It is used to describe Naphtali in Genesis 49:21 which I've argued could have significance for the Ram of Daniel 8. That there is a lack of a feminine equivalent for Ayil I think could be further evidence it was meant to be the same word as Ayal.
Both "Hind" and "Hart" are used in the Song of Songs by Shulamith and the Beloved to refer to each other. The Song also uses (sometimes in the same verses) "Roe" in both masculine and feminine form, a word elsewhere translated Roe, Buck and Roebuck, and also used in Deuteronomy 12&14. I think they make sense as referring to different animals rather then two words for basically the same animal, but the other reading could work too. Maybe these words for Ram and Deer being used together like this in the song is the origin of the confusion. I think a lot of things about the Song of Solomon have confused people.
Now I shall move to The New Testament.
The KJV of the Book of Revelation uses the word "Lamb" 29 times, all but once of Jesus. All of them are the same Greek word (Strongs number 721), but in 3 different forms. Arnion/Arniou/ArniO.
This word however appears only once in the NT outside Revelation, in John 21:15. There however it is a form distinct from any of the 3 used in Revelation, Arnia. I'm not sure but I think that could qualify as a feminine form, while the 3 in Revelation clearly do not. There it is used of Believers not of Jesus. But unlike in English translations the Greek text doesn't seem plural there, like Jesus is calling The Church as a whole His Arnia.
The suggestion has been made before that "Lamb" is not an accurate translation of this word, and even been suggested before that it should be "Ram". It's controversial because this word is rare even in Ancient Greek usage outside Revelation. Other Greek words are known to have existed for both Lambs and Rams, the other words for Ram aren't used in the New Testament however (I give no credence to the Septuagint). The main one would be Krios, the Greek name for the constellation Aries, The Ram.
When John, this same Author, in his Gospel quotes in Greek John The Baptist calling Jesus "The Lamb of God" in 1:29&36 he uses Amnos (Strongs number 286). Likewise Acts 8:32 and 1 Peter 1:19 when alluding to Isaiah 53:7 and the Passover Lamb also use Amnos, though Peter spelled it Amnou. In Hebrew also Isaiah 53:7's "Lamb to the Slaughter" uses the same word used of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12, Strongs number 7716, Seh.
Aries, the name of the Ram constellation, is it's Latin rather then Greek name, but Latin and Greek have some similar words due to their common Indo-European origin. That Aries and Arnios begin with the same sound is interesting.
If you are curious how Arnion is used in the Septuagint, it's iffy. It's in 4 verses, none of which use Seh in the Hebrew. Psalm 114 in verses 4 and 6, and in Jeremiah in 11:19 and 50:45. In three of those you will see Lamb in the KJV but for the Psalm the Hebrew is using a word for flock, that is also used in Jeremiah 50:45 and translated "flock". Tsone, Strongs number 6629, in the Septuagint that is the word rendered Arnia, it uses the John 21 version which fits the context.
In Jeremiah 11:19 it's Kebes which the KJV always renders Lamb or Sheep but the Strongs (where it's number is 3532) defines it as being a Ram of a certain age, and it's also used in Exodus 29 as possibly a synonym for Ayil, Seh isn't used in Exodus 29. In the Septuagint of Jeremiah (It's chapter 29 there, some are numbered differently in the LXX) that is clearly the word translated Arnion.
Ayil is used in both Psalm 114 verses but not in the Jeremiah ones. In the Septuagint it's Psalm 113 and Ayil is Krios while Tsone is Arnia in both verses. I feel like all four of those examples together point to this word never being used not for Ayil but for other words used as synonyms for Ayil.
Upon further study of the usage of Kebes it is used in many verses where Ayil or Ayal is used clearly as distinct, and in Deuteronomy 14 Seh is used as a prefix of both Kebes and Goat. So interpreting Arnion as Ram not Lamb is still dependent on the Septuagint being wrong (as I feel it often is) in at least the Jeremiah 11 verse..
Replacing Lamb with Ram when you see it in Revelation arguably takes nothing away from the significance, both were sacrificial animals. The most unique attribute of the Lamb was as the Passover Sacrifice, Revelation is more about the fulfillment of the Fall Feasts. But it can potentially add a lot when you study the significance of the Ram. A Lamb was mentioned in Genesis 22 but it was a Ram that was provided, both Isaac and the Ram represent Jesus, The Lamb of God.
One reason to support seeing the Arnion of Revelation as a Ram rather then a Lamb is that Lambs are usually gentile animals while Rams are more aggressive in nature, hence Aries is similar to Ares the name of the Greek god of War. Revelation 6 refers to the Wrath of the Arnion.
The Arnion of Revelation can arguably be viewed as Jesus serving as The High Priest. Exodus 29 specifies that Ram's Blood is to be shed to consecrate a new High Priest.
Revelation 5 tells us the Arnion has seven horns. Revelation 13:11 tells us the Beast out of The Earth has 2 horns like an ArniO. While lambs do have horns they're very small and not too noticeable, and so outside Revelation no Biblical references to Lambs mention that they have horns.
But their Horns are a big part of the Ram's Biblical significance. Starting in Genesis 22 where it was the Ram's horns caught in the thicket. And the Shofar (one of two Hebrew words translated Trumpet) was specifically a Trumpet made from a Ram's horn. It's the Shofar sounded on the Yom Kippur proceeding the Jubilee Year in Leviticus 25:9. And traditionally Rams horns are sounded on Yom Teruah, though the Biblicalness of that is debated by Kariates and others.
In the Book of Joshua chapter 6 at the fall of Jericho seven Shofars were sounded. If Arnion means Ram then it would be natural to speculate a connection between the seven horns of the Arnion in Revelation 5, and the seven trumpets sounded by the seven angels later. Other have argued those seven angels are also the seven spirits refereed to, though I've disagreed with that in the past, but I've now updated that post. And Jesus is described as having a voice like a Trumpet.
I've talked before about the significance of the fact that the Second Beast/False Prophet has two "Horns like a Lamb". My argument there is no less valid, it's still the same word and still an animal linked to Jesus right from The Torah. What can be added to that is a potential connection to Daniel 8, we all know the first Beast is connected to the beasts of Daniel 7. If ArniO means Ram then the second beast could be connected to Daniel 8.
But the Earth Beast isn't a real Ram, it has horns "like a Ram". Alexander The Great, the notable Horn of the He-Goat, after he defeated Darius III started ruling like a Persian King. Because of this there are coins depicting him as a two horned Ram. And that imagery is why in the Arabic world he became known as Dhul-Qarnain, which means Two-Horned. Maybe none of that is relevant, I certainly don't think Alexander is the False Prophet, but there could be a new Rabbit hole there to chase down.
I've also hear that some of the Herodian Monarchs like Herod Agirppa (of Acts 12) used a Ram as one of their Royal Symbols. I've yet to actual verify this though so I'm reserving judgment on it.
Now what could my above Hart/Hind theory add to Arnion speculation?
This is why I considered their usage in the Song of Songs notable. Among other things the Song of Songs has a typological application about Christ and his Bride. In Revelation 19:7-9 the Marriage Supper is of the Arniou, not any other title of Christ that Revelation uses. And in 21:9 New Jerusalem is called the Arniou's Wife. And I already suggested that in his Gospel this same author used the word's feminine form of The Bride, John 21. What if Ayalah is what Jesus actually said in Hebrew?
The Song of Solomon calls The Beloved an Ayal in the very last verse.
The Mazaroth and the Gospel in The Stars
I've grown more skeptical of that theory then I used to be. But I've talked about it in the past, and many people I converse with still hold to it. And I already mentioned Aries in this study anyway.
The Book of Jubilies (17:15 and 18:3) and some other traditions imply that around Passover was when the offering of Isaac happened, the Samaritans also commemorate it during Unleavened Bread.. According to Stelarium on the day I believe Jesus was Crucified, April 6th 30 AD, the Sun was in Aries. Josephus also linked the beginning of the Hebrew Year to the month the Greeks called Aries.
Over the last two thousand years the ecliptic have moved about a month. So where the Sun was at Passover in the days of Christ it wold be at for Second Passover now. Which could be interesting for theories of an eschatological significance for Second Passover.
The Greek myth affiliated with Aries does seem like a corruption of the story of Genesis 22, possibly another influence of Edomites and Danites who traveled to Greece/Javan (Ezekiel 27).
Adding a twin sister who dies is the darkest corruption of it. But theologically what matters most is how the Monotheism is removed.
Traditions have speculated that the first two Shofars were the horns of the Genesis 22 Ram and continued to be used all the way down to the Temple of Solomon, so the idea of remains of this Ram becoming a sacred relic also maybe has a basis.
I should note that there is also speculation that some of the ancient inhabitants of Cholchis may have been descendants of Calcol son of Zerah son of Judah and Tamar. According to some ancient secular pagan pre-christian Greek writers like Herodotus and Diodorus Sicilus they apparently practiced circumcision, and some even used that to speculate they had a common origin with the Jews and Dannus as descendants of foreigners kicked out of Egypt.
There were other Israelites named Calcol. The British Israelites are in denial that the Chalcol son of Mahol who's Wisdom was compared to Solomon's can't be the same person. So I don't doubt that the Cholchins were Danites.
Or maybe it's possible descends of Laban's son moved the Cholchis region at some point? Since Aeetes is kind of taking the Laban role, Laban in Genesis 24 plays the role that is traditionally the role of the Father of the Bride, though he's actually Rebekah's brother. And we're told gifts were given to Laban and to their mother.
[Update: I may have to retract this, the Ayil part explained here and the Arnion part explained here.]
But one of the known sacrificial animals seems absent, the Ram. We know they would be okay to eat because of the broader instructions given here and in Leviticus 11 that tell how to tell the Levitical Cleanses even of Land Mammals the Bible never mentions at all. But I still find it odd that as a clearly well known animal in The Bible, Rams are seemingly not mentioned. In facts Rams seem to be mentioned only once in all of Deuteronomy, and that's in the Song of Moses in chapter 32.
The Hebrew word for Ram is Strongs number 352, Ayil. The word first appears in Genesis 15:9, it's the word for Ram used in Genesis 22 of the one offered in place of Isaac, and in Exodus 29 which I'll bring up again later. It's used throughout Leviticus where Rams are refereed to. And in Numbers 28-29 where they are specified to be offered on most of the Leviticus 23 Holy Days. And in Daniel 8 of the Ram that represents the Medo-Persian Empire. And almost every time you see "ram" in the Old Testament of the KJV.
What's interesting is that according to the Strongs there are two Hebrew words spelled the exact same way as this word, AYL, but are pronounced differently thanks to the Aramaic derived vowel indicators that developed after the captivity.
One is Strongs number 353, Eyal. Which is used only once, in Psalm 88 verse 4 where the KJV translates it "strength". Not the only time "strength" is used to translate a rarely used and thus harder to define word.
The other is Strongs number 354, Ayal. This is consistently translated by the KJV as "Hart" (or Harts when plural) and is in fact the word used every time you see "Hart". It first occurs in Deuteronomy 12, but is also listed as an okay to eat Animal in Deuteronomy 14:5. Indisputably the animal we call in English harts are Levitically clean, but plenty other animals listed here are basically the same kind, deer.
So what I'm thinking is maybe Ayal was not a separate word originally, but some confusion began probably during the captivity. A Hart is a type of Dear, the idea of a Hebrew word for Ram becoming later misunderstood as a word for Dear could be relevant to my Japan and the Lost Tribes post.
Also strong number 355, Ayalah, is the feminine form of Ayal. The KJV always translates this "Hind" or "Hinds". It is used to describe Naphtali in Genesis 49:21 which I've argued could have significance for the Ram of Daniel 8. That there is a lack of a feminine equivalent for Ayil I think could be further evidence it was meant to be the same word as Ayal.
Both "Hind" and "Hart" are used in the Song of Songs by Shulamith and the Beloved to refer to each other. The Song also uses (sometimes in the same verses) "Roe" in both masculine and feminine form, a word elsewhere translated Roe, Buck and Roebuck, and also used in Deuteronomy 12&14. I think they make sense as referring to different animals rather then two words for basically the same animal, but the other reading could work too. Maybe these words for Ram and Deer being used together like this in the song is the origin of the confusion. I think a lot of things about the Song of Solomon have confused people.
Now I shall move to The New Testament.
The KJV of the Book of Revelation uses the word "Lamb" 29 times, all but once of Jesus. All of them are the same Greek word (Strongs number 721), but in 3 different forms. Arnion/Arniou/ArniO.
This word however appears only once in the NT outside Revelation, in John 21:15. There however it is a form distinct from any of the 3 used in Revelation, Arnia. I'm not sure but I think that could qualify as a feminine form, while the 3 in Revelation clearly do not. There it is used of Believers not of Jesus. But unlike in English translations the Greek text doesn't seem plural there, like Jesus is calling The Church as a whole His Arnia.
The suggestion has been made before that "Lamb" is not an accurate translation of this word, and even been suggested before that it should be "Ram". It's controversial because this word is rare even in Ancient Greek usage outside Revelation. Other Greek words are known to have existed for both Lambs and Rams, the other words for Ram aren't used in the New Testament however (I give no credence to the Septuagint). The main one would be Krios, the Greek name for the constellation Aries, The Ram.
When John, this same Author, in his Gospel quotes in Greek John The Baptist calling Jesus "The Lamb of God" in 1:29&36 he uses Amnos (Strongs number 286). Likewise Acts 8:32 and 1 Peter 1:19 when alluding to Isaiah 53:7 and the Passover Lamb also use Amnos, though Peter spelled it Amnou. In Hebrew also Isaiah 53:7's "Lamb to the Slaughter" uses the same word used of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12, Strongs number 7716, Seh.
Aries, the name of the Ram constellation, is it's Latin rather then Greek name, but Latin and Greek have some similar words due to their common Indo-European origin. That Aries and Arnios begin with the same sound is interesting.
If you are curious how Arnion is used in the Septuagint, it's iffy. It's in 4 verses, none of which use Seh in the Hebrew. Psalm 114 in verses 4 and 6, and in Jeremiah in 11:19 and 50:45. In three of those you will see Lamb in the KJV but for the Psalm the Hebrew is using a word for flock, that is also used in Jeremiah 50:45 and translated "flock". Tsone, Strongs number 6629, in the Septuagint that is the word rendered Arnia, it uses the John 21 version which fits the context.
In Jeremiah 11:19 it's Kebes which the KJV always renders Lamb or Sheep but the Strongs (where it's number is 3532) defines it as being a Ram of a certain age, and it's also used in Exodus 29 as possibly a synonym for Ayil, Seh isn't used in Exodus 29. In the Septuagint of Jeremiah (It's chapter 29 there, some are numbered differently in the LXX) that is clearly the word translated Arnion.
Ayil is used in both Psalm 114 verses but not in the Jeremiah ones. In the Septuagint it's Psalm 113 and Ayil is Krios while Tsone is Arnia in both verses. I feel like all four of those examples together point to this word never being used not for Ayil but for other words used as synonyms for Ayil.
Upon further study of the usage of Kebes it is used in many verses where Ayil or Ayal is used clearly as distinct, and in Deuteronomy 14 Seh is used as a prefix of both Kebes and Goat. So interpreting Arnion as Ram not Lamb is still dependent on the Septuagint being wrong (as I feel it often is) in at least the Jeremiah 11 verse..
Replacing Lamb with Ram when you see it in Revelation arguably takes nothing away from the significance, both were sacrificial animals. The most unique attribute of the Lamb was as the Passover Sacrifice, Revelation is more about the fulfillment of the Fall Feasts. But it can potentially add a lot when you study the significance of the Ram. A Lamb was mentioned in Genesis 22 but it was a Ram that was provided, both Isaac and the Ram represent Jesus, The Lamb of God.
One reason to support seeing the Arnion of Revelation as a Ram rather then a Lamb is that Lambs are usually gentile animals while Rams are more aggressive in nature, hence Aries is similar to Ares the name of the Greek god of War. Revelation 6 refers to the Wrath of the Arnion.
The Arnion of Revelation can arguably be viewed as Jesus serving as The High Priest. Exodus 29 specifies that Ram's Blood is to be shed to consecrate a new High Priest.
Revelation 5 tells us the Arnion has seven horns. Revelation 13:11 tells us the Beast out of The Earth has 2 horns like an ArniO. While lambs do have horns they're very small and not too noticeable, and so outside Revelation no Biblical references to Lambs mention that they have horns.
But their Horns are a big part of the Ram's Biblical significance. Starting in Genesis 22 where it was the Ram's horns caught in the thicket. And the Shofar (one of two Hebrew words translated Trumpet) was specifically a Trumpet made from a Ram's horn. It's the Shofar sounded on the Yom Kippur proceeding the Jubilee Year in Leviticus 25:9. And traditionally Rams horns are sounded on Yom Teruah, though the Biblicalness of that is debated by Kariates and others.
In the Book of Joshua chapter 6 at the fall of Jericho seven Shofars were sounded. If Arnion means Ram then it would be natural to speculate a connection between the seven horns of the Arnion in Revelation 5, and the seven trumpets sounded by the seven angels later. Other have argued those seven angels are also the seven spirits refereed to, though I've disagreed with that in the past, but I've now updated that post. And Jesus is described as having a voice like a Trumpet.
I've talked before about the significance of the fact that the Second Beast/False Prophet has two "Horns like a Lamb". My argument there is no less valid, it's still the same word and still an animal linked to Jesus right from The Torah. What can be added to that is a potential connection to Daniel 8, we all know the first Beast is connected to the beasts of Daniel 7. If ArniO means Ram then the second beast could be connected to Daniel 8.
But the Earth Beast isn't a real Ram, it has horns "like a Ram". Alexander The Great, the notable Horn of the He-Goat, after he defeated Darius III started ruling like a Persian King. Because of this there are coins depicting him as a two horned Ram. And that imagery is why in the Arabic world he became known as Dhul-Qarnain, which means Two-Horned. Maybe none of that is relevant, I certainly don't think Alexander is the False Prophet, but there could be a new Rabbit hole there to chase down.
I've also hear that some of the Herodian Monarchs like Herod Agirppa (of Acts 12) used a Ram as one of their Royal Symbols. I've yet to actual verify this though so I'm reserving judgment on it.
Now what could my above Hart/Hind theory add to Arnion speculation?
This is why I considered their usage in the Song of Songs notable. Among other things the Song of Songs has a typological application about Christ and his Bride. In Revelation 19:7-9 the Marriage Supper is of the Arniou, not any other title of Christ that Revelation uses. And in 21:9 New Jerusalem is called the Arniou's Wife. And I already suggested that in his Gospel this same author used the word's feminine form of The Bride, John 21. What if Ayalah is what Jesus actually said in Hebrew?
The Song of Solomon calls The Beloved an Ayal in the very last verse.
The Mazaroth and the Gospel in The Stars
I've grown more skeptical of that theory then I used to be. But I've talked about it in the past, and many people I converse with still hold to it. And I already mentioned Aries in this study anyway.
The Book of Jubilies (17:15 and 18:3) and some other traditions imply that around Passover was when the offering of Isaac happened, the Samaritans also commemorate it during Unleavened Bread.. According to Stelarium on the day I believe Jesus was Crucified, April 6th 30 AD, the Sun was in Aries. Josephus also linked the beginning of the Hebrew Year to the month the Greeks called Aries.
Over the last two thousand years the ecliptic have moved about a month. So where the Sun was at Passover in the days of Christ it wold be at for Second Passover now. Which could be interesting for theories of an eschatological significance for Second Passover.
The Greek myth affiliated with Aries does seem like a corruption of the story of Genesis 22, possibly another influence of Edomites and Danites who traveled to Greece/Javan (Ezekiel 27).
In Greek mythology, Athamas (/ˈæθəməs/; Ancient Greek: Ἀθάμας) was a Boeotian king.
Phrixus and Helle (his twin son and daughter) were hated by their stepmother, Ino. Ino hatched a devious plot to get rid of the twins, roasting all the town's crop seeds so they would not grow. The local farmers, frightened of famine, asked a nearby oracle for assistance. Ino bribed the men sent to the oracle to lie and tell the others that the oracle required the sacrifice of Phrixus. Athamas reluctantly agreed. Before he was killed, though, Phrixus and Helle were rescued by a flying golden ram sent by Nephele, their natural mother. Helle fell off the ram into the Hellespont (which was named after her) and died, but Phrixus survived all the way to Colchis, where King Aeëtes took him in and treated him kindly, giving Phrixus his daughter Chalciope in marriage. In gratitude, Phrixus gave the king the golden fleece of the ram, which Aeëtes hung in a tree in his kingdom.What could I say that isn't obvious? The parallel possibly carries over into Genesis 24, with Chalcioe as Rebekah.
Adding a twin sister who dies is the darkest corruption of it. But theologically what matters most is how the Monotheism is removed.
Traditions have speculated that the first two Shofars were the horns of the Genesis 22 Ram and continued to be used all the way down to the Temple of Solomon, so the idea of remains of this Ram becoming a sacred relic also maybe has a basis.
I should note that there is also speculation that some of the ancient inhabitants of Cholchis may have been descendants of Calcol son of Zerah son of Judah and Tamar. According to some ancient secular pagan pre-christian Greek writers like Herodotus and Diodorus Sicilus they apparently practiced circumcision, and some even used that to speculate they had a common origin with the Jews and Dannus as descendants of foreigners kicked out of Egypt.
There were other Israelites named Calcol. The British Israelites are in denial that the Chalcol son of Mahol who's Wisdom was compared to Solomon's can't be the same person. So I don't doubt that the Cholchins were Danites.
Or maybe it's possible descends of Laban's son moved the Cholchis region at some point? Since Aeetes is kind of taking the Laban role, Laban in Genesis 24 plays the role that is traditionally the role of the Father of the Bride, though he's actually Rebekah's brother. And we're told gifts were given to Laban and to their mother.
[Update: I may have to retract this, the Ayil part explained here and the Arnion part explained here.]
Saturday, September 26, 2015
September 11th 3 BC Birth-Date Theory
What happened on this date with Jupiter and Regulus I still view as vital to understanding the Star of Bethlehem.
There are people out there however obsessed with thinking the vision seen in Revelation 12 is about this date and the Birth of Jesus. There are major problems with that.
First off regardless of if the Birth of Jesus is what Revelation 12 symbolically represents, those signs are not seen in the Heavens until after the Seventh Trumpet is sounded. These signs I believe are what Jesus meant by "Signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars" in Luke 21 and "Sign of the Son of Man" in the Olivite Discourse.
But I have shown that I don't think Revelation 12 is depicting the Birth of Jesus at all, but the Resurrection and Rapture of The Church.
As far as thinking Virgo has something to with Revelation 12. I am definitively convinced the Seventh Trumpet sounds on Yom Teruah, and I'm very compelled by the Gospel in The Stars theory. So I have looked into speculation about Virgo and Revelation 12.
But there is still no Biblical proof it has anything to do with Virgo. And even if it does I still think it may be futile to look for it on Stellerium. I think this is probably ultimately a completely supernatural occurrence, like what God did with the Sun for Joshua or Hezekiah.
The Moon being under Virgo's feet while the Sun is in Virgo happens every year, sometimes twice a year. The requirements for this vision are not rare in any way.
Rob Skiba likes to say it has to be a New Moon to fit this so he can say September 11th 3 BC was the only 80 Minutes in history this happened. But nothing in the text of Revelation 12 says it has to be the New Moon, I have other reasons for believing on or near the New Moon is when this happens, but the Greek text does not say that, it's just the standard Greek word for Moon. Exact same word used in Revelation 6, which I believe will happen on or soon after a Full Moon.
At any-rate I think there might be a New Moon under Virgo's Feet on October 7th 21 AD.
But I no longer favor that End Times model. I now have a theory Revelation 12 could be fulfilled on September 26th 2033 AD.
The Romans would not have made all of Judea have to travel longs distances to their family homes only two weeks before Tabernacles. Tabernacles was a pilgrimage festival were all the Jews had to be in Jerusalem for the entire week. Preparations for that would have to begin more then 2 weeks in advance. So I'm sorry but Jesus simply could not have been born on one of the Leviticus 23 Holy Days.
I have shown elsewhere that Jesus was born on December 25th after all.
And all his talk about all the Sun gods being born on December 25th is wrong. The Winter Solstice was affiliated by Sun worshipers with Death and Resurrection not birth. Apollo and Dionysus Birthdays were originally in Spring. But Augustus changed it to his Birthday September 23rd which happened to be near the Autumul Equinox.
There are people out there however obsessed with thinking the vision seen in Revelation 12 is about this date and the Birth of Jesus. There are major problems with that.
First off regardless of if the Birth of Jesus is what Revelation 12 symbolically represents, those signs are not seen in the Heavens until after the Seventh Trumpet is sounded. These signs I believe are what Jesus meant by "Signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars" in Luke 21 and "Sign of the Son of Man" in the Olivite Discourse.
But I have shown that I don't think Revelation 12 is depicting the Birth of Jesus at all, but the Resurrection and Rapture of The Church.
As far as thinking Virgo has something to with Revelation 12. I am definitively convinced the Seventh Trumpet sounds on Yom Teruah, and I'm very compelled by the Gospel in The Stars theory. So I have looked into speculation about Virgo and Revelation 12.
But there is still no Biblical proof it has anything to do with Virgo. And even if it does I still think it may be futile to look for it on Stellerium. I think this is probably ultimately a completely supernatural occurrence, like what God did with the Sun for Joshua or Hezekiah.
The Moon being under Virgo's feet while the Sun is in Virgo happens every year, sometimes twice a year. The requirements for this vision are not rare in any way.
Rob Skiba likes to say it has to be a New Moon to fit this so he can say September 11th 3 BC was the only 80 Minutes in history this happened. But nothing in the text of Revelation 12 says it has to be the New Moon, I have other reasons for believing on or near the New Moon is when this happens, but the Greek text does not say that, it's just the standard Greek word for Moon. Exact same word used in Revelation 6, which I believe will happen on or soon after a Full Moon.
At any-rate I think there might be a New Moon under Virgo's Feet on October 7th 21 AD.
But I no longer favor that End Times model. I now have a theory Revelation 12 could be fulfilled on September 26th 2033 AD.
The Romans would not have made all of Judea have to travel longs distances to their family homes only two weeks before Tabernacles. Tabernacles was a pilgrimage festival were all the Jews had to be in Jerusalem for the entire week. Preparations for that would have to begin more then 2 weeks in advance. So I'm sorry but Jesus simply could not have been born on one of the Leviticus 23 Holy Days.
I have shown elsewhere that Jesus was born on December 25th after all.
And all his talk about all the Sun gods being born on December 25th is wrong. The Winter Solstice was affiliated by Sun worshipers with Death and Resurrection not birth. Apollo and Dionysus Birthdays were originally in Spring. But Augustus changed it to his Birthday September 23rd which happened to be near the Autumul Equinox.
Monday, November 17, 2014
The Star of Bethlehem was not something never seen before
Chuck Missler and many others like to dismiss the idea of looking for the Star of Bethlehem in actual astronomical events, insisting it's supposed to be entirely Supernatural.
Problem is, this ignores what Matthew clearly says.
Some will try to argue "Planetes Aster" would have been used if it was a planet. First I believe the ancient traditions that Matthew was originally in Hebrew which had no distinct term for Planet. The Magi also may not have been speaking in Greek as they inquired about this, but in Hebrew, the native language of the King they were seeking. Second, a Planetes is a type of star in terms of what star meant to ancient Greeks, it being a specific kind of star doesn't make it inaccurate to simply call one a star. The New Testament does not use Planetes when calling Jesus the morning star, which is a title of Venus.
Now some think Matthew 2:9 says that Star appeared again and hadn't been visible before that. That is reading something into it that isn't there.
It being seen "in the east" does not tell us anything about where in the night sky the star was visible, it only refers to the Magi having been in the east when they observed it.
And it was Micah's prophecy that sent them to Bethlehem. That Star's additional behavior just helped them determine where in Bethlehem.
Jupiter is the brightest planet and so I think it's the most likely candidate. It also was a Planet constantly linked with Kingship. Just as Regulus was the stationary Star linked with Kingship.
I am a supporter of viewing it as the September 11th 3 BC Jupiter-Reuglus conjunctions marking the birth of Jesus. ([Update]I no longer am, I have changed my view on Jesus Birthrate, but still hold the same view of the Star of Bethlehem.)
Studying Jupiter's movements in 3-2 BC places the arrival of the Magi in Jerusalem on December 25th 2 BC
Jupiter being in Leo happens for about a year every twelve years. It doesn't always have a conjunction with Regulus but it's not uncommon. What is uncommon is Jupiter's retrograde going through where Regulus is, and even other times that does happen it's not a conjunction all three times. A triple conjunction between Jupiter and Regulus is rare, and the first conjunction beginning on Yom Teruah is interesting.
Jupiter being in Conjunction with Venus is not super rare either, but that this rare tipple conjunction had Jupiter-Venus conjurations both before and after is interesting. Now people placing the birth of Jesus in September of 3 BC haves gone and described that the June 17th Jupiter-Venus looks kind of like Jupiter and Venus are getting married. Now that I've decided I do place the Birth of Jesus on December 25th 2 BC, I also place the birth of John The Baptist on June 24th, which was possibly Tammuz 17 on the Hebrew Calendar. Mary left Elizabeth to return to Nazareth a little before that, which is when the events of Matthew 1 took place culminating in the marriage of Mary and Joseph.
The Star that Astonished the World book does make a lot of mistakes. I don't think it Astonished the word, I don't think most pagans or astrologists saw any significance to it. By secular standards the previous time Jupiter was in Leo around 26 BC was more impressive, Jupiter, Saturn and Regulus had a triple conjunction, on the Summer Solstice.
I think these were a special subgroup within the Magi responding to a sign Daniel had taught them to look for. I think he told them that when you see Jupiter conjunction with Regulus 3 times in less then a year (possibly also mentioning the Venus conjunctions before and after), a little after the following winter solstice (or if they were using a Lunar calendar then during the last week of Tevet) they should arrive in Jerusalem looking for the one who is "Born King of The Jews". I also think it's possible this specific group of Magi could have had Ephraimite ancestry.
And it got what day on the Hebrew calendar December 25th of 2 BC fell on wrong. Which is odd since it got September 11th of 3 BC right (it was Yom Teruah) counting the New Moons from there puts us in Tevet for most of December of 2 BC. The Solar Eclipse on December 26th 2 BC makes that evening that New Moon of Shevat.
I also disagree with bringing Revelation 12 into this. The signs in the Heavens in Revelation 12 are yet future, they follow the Last Trump.
This is the first in a series of Christmas themed posts I intend to do.
Problem is, this ignores what Matthew clearly says.
"Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."The word for "seen" here means to observe. It's not a Star that was brand new in the night sky. It's a star (a planet clearly since it moves) that was always there and that they always thought of as "His Star".
Some will try to argue "Planetes Aster" would have been used if it was a planet. First I believe the ancient traditions that Matthew was originally in Hebrew which had no distinct term for Planet. The Magi also may not have been speaking in Greek as they inquired about this, but in Hebrew, the native language of the King they were seeking. Second, a Planetes is a type of star in terms of what star meant to ancient Greeks, it being a specific kind of star doesn't make it inaccurate to simply call one a star. The New Testament does not use Planetes when calling Jesus the morning star, which is a title of Venus.
Now some think Matthew 2:9 says that Star appeared again and hadn't been visible before that. That is reading something into it that isn't there.
It being seen "in the east" does not tell us anything about where in the night sky the star was visible, it only refers to the Magi having been in the east when they observed it.
And it was Micah's prophecy that sent them to Bethlehem. That Star's additional behavior just helped them determine where in Bethlehem.
Jupiter is the brightest planet and so I think it's the most likely candidate. It also was a Planet constantly linked with Kingship. Just as Regulus was the stationary Star linked with Kingship.
I am a supporter of viewing it as the September 11th 3 BC Jupiter-Reuglus conjunctions marking the birth of Jesus. ([Update]I no longer am, I have changed my view on Jesus Birthrate, but still hold the same view of the Star of Bethlehem.)
Studying Jupiter's movements in 3-2 BC places the arrival of the Magi in Jerusalem on December 25th 2 BC
Jupiter being in Leo happens for about a year every twelve years. It doesn't always have a conjunction with Regulus but it's not uncommon. What is uncommon is Jupiter's retrograde going through where Regulus is, and even other times that does happen it's not a conjunction all three times. A triple conjunction between Jupiter and Regulus is rare, and the first conjunction beginning on Yom Teruah is interesting.
Jupiter being in Conjunction with Venus is not super rare either, but that this rare tipple conjunction had Jupiter-Venus conjurations both before and after is interesting. Now people placing the birth of Jesus in September of 3 BC haves gone and described that the June 17th Jupiter-Venus looks kind of like Jupiter and Venus are getting married. Now that I've decided I do place the Birth of Jesus on December 25th 2 BC, I also place the birth of John The Baptist on June 24th, which was possibly Tammuz 17 on the Hebrew Calendar. Mary left Elizabeth to return to Nazareth a little before that, which is when the events of Matthew 1 took place culminating in the marriage of Mary and Joseph.
The Star that Astonished the World book does make a lot of mistakes. I don't think it Astonished the word, I don't think most pagans or astrologists saw any significance to it. By secular standards the previous time Jupiter was in Leo around 26 BC was more impressive, Jupiter, Saturn and Regulus had a triple conjunction, on the Summer Solstice.
I think these were a special subgroup within the Magi responding to a sign Daniel had taught them to look for. I think he told them that when you see Jupiter conjunction with Regulus 3 times in less then a year (possibly also mentioning the Venus conjunctions before and after), a little after the following winter solstice (or if they were using a Lunar calendar then during the last week of Tevet) they should arrive in Jerusalem looking for the one who is "Born King of The Jews". I also think it's possible this specific group of Magi could have had Ephraimite ancestry.
And it got what day on the Hebrew calendar December 25th of 2 BC fell on wrong. Which is odd since it got September 11th of 3 BC right (it was Yom Teruah) counting the New Moons from there puts us in Tevet for most of December of 2 BC. The Solar Eclipse on December 26th 2 BC makes that evening that New Moon of Shevat.
I also disagree with bringing Revelation 12 into this. The signs in the Heavens in Revelation 12 are yet future, they follow the Last Trump.
This is the first in a series of Christmas themed posts I intend to do.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Conjecturing on a possible secondary Astronomical significance to Revelation 12.
First and Foremost Revelation 12 is a symbolic summery of all History, where The Woman is Israel, the Man Child is Jesus and/or The Church, and The Dragon is Satan. And the third of the stars The Dragon caused to fall to The Earth I don't think accounts for all Fallen Angels, but specifically those from Genesis 6. Because the Angels fighting with The Dragon latter haven't fallen form Heaven yet, they're still up there with the Dragon.
But it's also possible, When John Says he saw a Wonder in heaven, that it could be referring to signs seen in the Heavens at this time. The Greek Texts has no Chapter breaks, this is still the outcome of the Seventh Trumpet.
Kai (Strong# 2532) the Greek for "and" used at the start of Verse one, can also mean "also", even" "then" and so on. This is a Wonder seen right after or during all the events of the Seventh Trumpet.
I'm well aware there are a lot of dangerous ideas linked to the Mazzaroth and Gospel in The Stars theories. But I still think they're worthy of study. And I think Jupiter's conjunction with Regulus on September 11th 3 B.C. was the Star of Bethlehem.
Thing is, unlike a lot of people delving into the possible Astronomical implications of Revelation 12, I don't think there is anything here sufficient to tell us what year it happens, just the time of year.
First question, why choose Virgo for The Woman? Yes being a Virgin fits other Biblical themes but Revelation 12 itself uses no word for Virgin, and there are other Constellation that are represented as female personages.
The main reason is that Virgo is the only female one that is part of the Zodiac, so only she can have the Sun and Moon pass through her, that is what makes the Zodiac Constellations different from the others, they're the ones the Sun, Moon and Planets pass through.
The Sun and Moon both being in some way in the same constellation means it's an event on or near a New Moon, because the New Moon is when the Moon is as close as it gets that monthly cycle to The Sun, that is why Solar Eclipses always happen on New Moons. Virgo is the longest Constellation, so generally two New Moons happen in Virgo every year. The Moon being specifically under Virgo's Feet places it right at the end of the Moon's travel through Virgo, so generally 1 or 2, or maybe 3 days after the New Moon.
Almost always, the New Moon of Tishri (The Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah) occurs while they are in Virgo. That fits with this following the Seventh Trumpet, because the First of Tishri is also affiliated with the Last Trump.
A day or two after the First of Tishri is interesting, this could be Tzom Gedalya, the Third of Tishri. One of Four major Fast Days of the Jewish Calendar. Zachariah 8:18-19 foretells that all four major Fast Days will become Joyous celebrations. Maybe one of those will be the day of The Rapture. Tishri is in the Seventh Month here, because God uses the Holy Calendar which begins with Nisan.
You may be thinking, "Virgo isn't even visible in the Night Sky when the Sun is in her". Normally yes, but if we're at the time of the Rapture for this particular New Moon or soon after, Jesus said in Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:". Contrary to Pre-Wrath conjecture this is incompatible with the Sixth Seal. But Stars fall from Heaven in Revelation 12 as well. And if the Sun and Moon are darkened, then perhaps unlike normal circumstances the Constellations will be visible during Daytime hours.
Full Moons, as an interesting side note, are the opposite, they are when the Moon is farthest from the Sun, the other side of the Earth. Why Lunar Eclipses are always on Full Moons. The Full Moon that begins Tabernacles in Tishri generally happens while the Sun is in Virgo and the Moon in Aries, The Ram. The Full Moon linked to Passover is while the Sun is in Aries and the Moon in Virgo, usually under her Feet. I looked and the Passover of 30 AD when I believe the Crucifixion happened is no exception. Rams are a Levitically clean animal, used in Temple Sacrifices. They're related to Lambs, and I bet some less well known forms of the Zodiac have used a Lamb instead of a Ram for that Constellation. So it's an interesting one to be linked to Passover.
Now one thing considered necessary to narrow this down is one of the Planets being in her (usually Jupiter is the favored one) and probably about to leave. To represent the Man Child in her Womb. But this isn't really rare at all, a planet (sometimes more then one) is almost always there when this happens. This years (2014) Yom Teruah (which begins at Sunset September 24th), Mercury and Venus will both be there. Venus will go through it rather quickly, Mercury will stay awhile.
Jupiter is favored because it's the Planet of Kingship. The star that was in Conjunction with Regulus of Leo to be the Star of Bethlehem in one popular theory. And it usually spends 9 months to a year in roughly the womb area of Virgo, depending on how you define when it enters and exits. But Jupiter leaves Virgo every 12 years. A lot of attention is paid to when Jupiter will leave Virgo in September of 2017. But it will happen again 12 years later, only lacking certain details of the 2017 event deemed important by it's proponents, mainly Leo having 3 extra stars.
Leo is directly above the head of Virgo, and linked to Royalty. But is today viewed as a 9 star Constellation, so the assumption tends to be that you need to add 3 planets to make it fit being Virgos 12 star Crown. The overlooked historical detail is that Coma Berneicis was part of Leo in Ancient Times. Though it was already refereed to sometimes as a distinct sub portion of the Constellation, like Orion's Belt, it was not separated from Leo until Renaissance times.
The Coma is 3 stars as defined by Ptolemy. One of it's stars is even named Diadem, meaning Crown. So in Fact Virgo's 12 Star Crown is always there, you don't need any other more distinct event.
As attractive as the September 2017 event may look. I view The Seventh Trumpet as the middle of the 70th week. And I believe The 70th Week can't begin until The Temple is fully reconstructed. So it's too late now. Still I will pay attention as we approach that date, I'm prepared to be wrong.
October 9th/10th 2029 fits equally as many valid qualifications. I don't want to Date set on it either, but what's interesting is it's during the time when we will be living exactly 2000 years since the roughly year long ministry of Jesus Christ. The Tishri of 2029 will be the 2000 year anniversary of John 7.
Thing is, I don't think Jupiter or any Star being in Virgo is required at all to fit what this describes. The Man Child I don't think needs to be represented specifically by an astronomical object. It's simply that from the Christian view of the stars, the Woman is always inherently pregnant with The Man Child. In most views of the Mazzaroth, Spica is the Seed of The Woman.
So as I said before, these signs tell us the time of year, but not what year. Once The Week begins we'll be able to calculate what year, but not yet.
Update September 26th 2015: My thoughts have Revelation 12 have been adjusted quite a bit. Read this.
But it's also possible, When John Says he saw a Wonder in heaven, that it could be referring to signs seen in the Heavens at this time. The Greek Texts has no Chapter breaks, this is still the outcome of the Seventh Trumpet.
Kai (Strong# 2532) the Greek for "and" used at the start of Verse one, can also mean "also", even" "then" and so on. This is a Wonder seen right after or during all the events of the Seventh Trumpet.
I'm well aware there are a lot of dangerous ideas linked to the Mazzaroth and Gospel in The Stars theories. But I still think they're worthy of study. And I think Jupiter's conjunction with Regulus on September 11th 3 B.C. was the Star of Bethlehem.
Thing is, unlike a lot of people delving into the possible Astronomical implications of Revelation 12, I don't think there is anything here sufficient to tell us what year it happens, just the time of year.
First question, why choose Virgo for The Woman? Yes being a Virgin fits other Biblical themes but Revelation 12 itself uses no word for Virgin, and there are other Constellation that are represented as female personages.
The main reason is that Virgo is the only female one that is part of the Zodiac, so only she can have the Sun and Moon pass through her, that is what makes the Zodiac Constellations different from the others, they're the ones the Sun, Moon and Planets pass through.
The Sun and Moon both being in some way in the same constellation means it's an event on or near a New Moon, because the New Moon is when the Moon is as close as it gets that monthly cycle to The Sun, that is why Solar Eclipses always happen on New Moons. Virgo is the longest Constellation, so generally two New Moons happen in Virgo every year. The Moon being specifically under Virgo's Feet places it right at the end of the Moon's travel through Virgo, so generally 1 or 2, or maybe 3 days after the New Moon.
Almost always, the New Moon of Tishri (The Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah) occurs while they are in Virgo. That fits with this following the Seventh Trumpet, because the First of Tishri is also affiliated with the Last Trump.
A day or two after the First of Tishri is interesting, this could be Tzom Gedalya, the Third of Tishri. One of Four major Fast Days of the Jewish Calendar. Zachariah 8:18-19 foretells that all four major Fast Days will become Joyous celebrations. Maybe one of those will be the day of The Rapture. Tishri is in the Seventh Month here, because God uses the Holy Calendar which begins with Nisan.
You may be thinking, "Virgo isn't even visible in the Night Sky when the Sun is in her". Normally yes, but if we're at the time of the Rapture for this particular New Moon or soon after, Jesus said in Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:". Contrary to Pre-Wrath conjecture this is incompatible with the Sixth Seal. But Stars fall from Heaven in Revelation 12 as well. And if the Sun and Moon are darkened, then perhaps unlike normal circumstances the Constellations will be visible during Daytime hours.
Full Moons, as an interesting side note, are the opposite, they are when the Moon is farthest from the Sun, the other side of the Earth. Why Lunar Eclipses are always on Full Moons. The Full Moon that begins Tabernacles in Tishri generally happens while the Sun is in Virgo and the Moon in Aries, The Ram. The Full Moon linked to Passover is while the Sun is in Aries and the Moon in Virgo, usually under her Feet. I looked and the Passover of 30 AD when I believe the Crucifixion happened is no exception. Rams are a Levitically clean animal, used in Temple Sacrifices. They're related to Lambs, and I bet some less well known forms of the Zodiac have used a Lamb instead of a Ram for that Constellation. So it's an interesting one to be linked to Passover.
Now one thing considered necessary to narrow this down is one of the Planets being in her (usually Jupiter is the favored one) and probably about to leave. To represent the Man Child in her Womb. But this isn't really rare at all, a planet (sometimes more then one) is almost always there when this happens. This years (2014) Yom Teruah (which begins at Sunset September 24th), Mercury and Venus will both be there. Venus will go through it rather quickly, Mercury will stay awhile.
Jupiter is favored because it's the Planet of Kingship. The star that was in Conjunction with Regulus of Leo to be the Star of Bethlehem in one popular theory. And it usually spends 9 months to a year in roughly the womb area of Virgo, depending on how you define when it enters and exits. But Jupiter leaves Virgo every 12 years. A lot of attention is paid to when Jupiter will leave Virgo in September of 2017. But it will happen again 12 years later, only lacking certain details of the 2017 event deemed important by it's proponents, mainly Leo having 3 extra stars.
Leo is directly above the head of Virgo, and linked to Royalty. But is today viewed as a 9 star Constellation, so the assumption tends to be that you need to add 3 planets to make it fit being Virgos 12 star Crown. The overlooked historical detail is that Coma Berneicis was part of Leo in Ancient Times. Though it was already refereed to sometimes as a distinct sub portion of the Constellation, like Orion's Belt, it was not separated from Leo until Renaissance times.
The Coma is 3 stars as defined by Ptolemy. One of it's stars is even named Diadem, meaning Crown. So in Fact Virgo's 12 Star Crown is always there, you don't need any other more distinct event.
As attractive as the September 2017 event may look. I view The Seventh Trumpet as the middle of the 70th week. And I believe The 70th Week can't begin until The Temple is fully reconstructed. So it's too late now. Still I will pay attention as we approach that date, I'm prepared to be wrong.
October 9th/10th 2029 fits equally as many valid qualifications. I don't want to Date set on it either, but what's interesting is it's during the time when we will be living exactly 2000 years since the roughly year long ministry of Jesus Christ. The Tishri of 2029 will be the 2000 year anniversary of John 7.
Thing is, I don't think Jupiter or any Star being in Virgo is required at all to fit what this describes. The Man Child I don't think needs to be represented specifically by an astronomical object. It's simply that from the Christian view of the stars, the Woman is always inherently pregnant with The Man Child. In most views of the Mazzaroth, Spica is the Seed of The Woman.
So as I said before, these signs tell us the time of year, but not what year. Once The Week begins we'll be able to calculate what year, but not yet.
Update September 26th 2015: My thoughts have Revelation 12 have been adjusted quite a bit. Read this.
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