Question:

Shalom Sir,

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Saints and family of God over there.

Please sir can you clear this statement that was made by the prophet:

“God wrote three Bibles: one, the Zodiac, one in the pyramids, one on paper. Now, He’s writing His first, the Zodiac. It starts off with a virgin, ends up with Leo the lion: Jesus’ first coming and His second coming” (53-0509, The Pillar Of Fire, Bible Hour Tabernacle, Jonesboro, AR).

The zodiac and the pyramids, predate any written Scripture. As things are, therefore, a disciple of Christ should study not only the Bible, but also astrology and pyramidology. But, what is the standard of God concerning astrology and fortune teller in the light of Scriptures?

Brother X, NIGERIA

Reply:

Shalom brother,

First, it is important to understand that there is astronomy and there is also astrology. The two are not the same although they both make use of symbols of the zodiac.

Astronomy is an ancient science which involved the study of celestial bodies such as stars, the planets and the moon, for purposes of reckoning time and seasons. It is God who had thus established their purpose in the beginning when He said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Gen.1:14). This immediately makes it clear that when God had forbidden Israelites from star-gazing it was not astronomy he was referring to but something else. That something else was astrology and it refers to “the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world” (Oxford Dictionary). To this day thousands of people around the world every day look for horoscope predictions of how their day will be like.

It is worth mentioning here that among ancient civilizations Babylon is credited to have greatly contributed to the development of the science of astronomy. However, as pointed out by scholars, it was also in Babylon that the practice of astrology began. Israelites were admonished to never follow this perversion (Deu.4:19, 18:10-12,  Isa.47:13).

Now, what about the symbols of the Zodiac? Frances Rollestone did extensive work on tracing the origins of the emblems (see her book, Mazzaroth, or the Constellations, published in 1862). Of great note is the fact that the fables (myths and practice of fortune-telling) were invented from the emblems, not the emblems being invented from the fables. The origins of the emblems can be traced way back in very ancient times. 

Ancient writings of Jews, Persians and Arabians refer to the “family of Seth” (i.e. Seth the son of Adam) for having invented astronomy. It follows then that the emblems were also developed by the same people. Hebraic prophecies seem to strongly support this suggestion. But for what purpose were these graphic representations of the constellations? Back to Genesis again – “let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Gen. 1:14). “Seasons”, “days” and “years” clearly are about calendar reckoning of time, but what about “signs”? The Hebrew word is oth and refers to the appearance of a signal or omen, and this is what William Branham must have referred to when he spoke about the Zodiac spelling out the story of redemption. When I came across his statement it prompted me to study the issue. 

To know the Gospel story hidden in the Zodiac will require us to investigate the meaning of the names as conveyed in the earliest language. I am careful to state “as conveyed in the earliest language” because modern usage has corrupted their representation in an attempt to modernize them. And no, it is not a requirement for us to study Astronomy or Pyramidology. It was useful to the ancient people who lived by God’s Spoken Word and were encouraged by the testimony in the heavens (Psa.19:1-3). Later on, Scriptures were given and are today accessible by everyone. And more importantly, God has a ministry which proclaims His Word to enlighten His people for the hour they live in. Even so, allow me to share what I see in the emblems of the Zodiac:

1. Virgo: This is represented by a woman with an ear of corn in her hand. Interestingly, below this image is another illustration showing a woman holding a baby. Does this not point to the seed of the woman who shall come to redeem mankind (Gen. 3)?
2. Libra: This is represented by an emblem of weighing scales. In ancient times a scale  conveyed the idea of purchasing. In the story of redemption what could this mean but that the seed of the woman shall come to purchase back, to redeem, His possession (1 Cor.6:20, Eph.1:7,14)?
3. Scorpio: The emblem is of a man grasping a serpent as in conflict and with his foot on a scorpion. Isn’t this pointing to the means by which the Christ shall pay the price? For our redemption was paid through experiencing the sting of death. However, He emerged victorious and today we can say “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor.15:55).
4. Sagittarius: The emblem is of an arrow coming from the bow. From the time of Adam many years passed before the Messiah arrived. In God’s eyes nothing had delayed for a thousand years is as a day to Him. And even after He has paid the price of redemption, creation still groans waiting for that day when He shall come to claim the possession that He already paid for (Eph.1:14, Rom.8:22-23). We may think He has delayed but like the swiftness of an arrow He shall come just as He promised –  “behold, I come quickly” (Rev.22:12, cf. 2 Pet.3:4-7).
5. Capricornus: The emblem is of a kid or goat sinking low. I believe that after the Lord comes in the Rapture the next important event will be the revelation of Jesus Crhist  to the chosen Jews. They shall realize that He was the sacrifice, like the Old Testament goat that was set apart  to carry the sins of the nation (Lev.16:22). In that moment they will see that their messiah had already come, was crucified and had resurrected.
6. Aquarius:  The emblem is of a man, arising to pour out water as in purifying or sustaining life. Well, during the Seventieth Week of Daniel the Lord shall send the Holy Spirit upon those who will see the revelation of the Truth. Like Joseph of old Jesus had been sold to be crucified. However, all that had been done to “preserve life” (Gen.45:5). And in that time, those who will perceive that the Lord was the sacrifice which had received the wound by piercing shall receive the waters of the Holy Spirit for purification  – “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zec.12:10).
7. Pisces: The emblem is of two fishes joined together by a band. What can this mean but the multitudes of people who will live in unity and peace to repopulate the earth during that period of the Millennial reign of Christ. In Ancient Egypt and other places fish represented fertility (see the word multitudes or many being used with fish in Luk.5:6 and Joh.21:10-11).
8. Aries: The emblem is of a young ram which is alive and on high. Yes, during the Millenium mankind shall once again repopulate the earth and there shall be peace. All man-made kingdoms would have been destroyed and Christ shall rule from Mount Zion (Isa.2:3, Rev.14:1).
9. Taurus: This is symbolized by a bull which is alive and in an attitude of victory. At the end of the Millenium Satan will be released from prison and will deceive and gather a large number of people who will rise against Christ, but the Lord, like a mighty bull, shall destroy all the host with fire (Rev.20:7-10).
10. Gemini: This has an emblem of twins. Did you know that we will have to be transformed into the image of Christ before we can be raptured? “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 Joh. 3:2). We have always spoken of Jesus as being “the begotten son of God”, but let it be known that He is the starting point of what God wants to accomplish in all of His children and it is for this reason that He is described as “the first born among MANY brethren” (Rom.8:29). Jesus was the new Adam. He achieved what the first had not done. When the first had been given Free Will, he ran and continues to ran today to fulfill his will. However, the new Adam surrendered back his Free Will into the care of God’s perfect will so that He said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me” (Joh.4:34), “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (Joh.5:19). But more importantly, at the end of the Millenium when mankind would have all learnt to yield and walk in the will of the Father, then shall all that God is fill all things, so that God shall be “all in all” (1 Cor.15:28) and everything shall be a pure reflection of the Father’s Will.
11. Cancer: This is symbolized by a crab with its claws. Like a crab holding fast what has come in its grasp, the Lord and the saints shall hold on to their reward forever. “And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luk.1:33, Dan.2:44, 7:27, cf. Rev. 2:25-26, 3:11).
12. Leo: This is a lion. In Revelation it had been proclaimed that the Lion of Judah had prevailed to take the book and lose the Seven Seals. However, in looking, John the beloved saw the Lamb. Yes, that was price he had to pay before He could come to rule over this world. After Satan is cast in the Lake of Fire at the end of the Millenium, Christ as a lion shall sit to judge all people, both great and small who had died but now raised to receive their judgment. After this, Time will merge into Eternity.

When we look at all this it should become less surprising why God spoke to Job in the language of the names of constellations, when He asked him, “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? Or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?” (Job 38:31-33). Even those who were under the influence of  Babylonian Astrology were so acquainted with the Messianic prophecies hidden in the constellations that they were able to spot the ‘star’ that guided them to the place where Christ was (Mat.2:1-2).