God and Stars

Post 145


Anytime we talk about stars and constellations in religion, we need to address the fear and confusion that today goes with the topic for many Christians.

In my last post about the Bethlehem star, we used signs of the zodiac as part of the cosmic message we claim scripture prophesied.
Yet we know the signs of the Zodiak are used for wickedness, How then do we reconcile the scripture using these signs?

Here is where we need to again distinguish between what the LORD has said, and what we wrongly ADD to what he said.

The words Zodiac or Ziggurat, are not found in scripture, though scripture and history shows the beginning of this Paganized use began in Babylon as Astrology. *1
The word astrologer(s) is used 9 times in scripture, and is combined with star gazers, sooth-sayers, monthly prognosticators, magicians, and wise men.

According to Daniel 1:20 astrologers practiced in all matters of wisdom and understanding, though when coupled with these other arts, we see the meaning is specifically wisdom of the mystical.

Strong’s:
Astrologer(s) 826 ashshaph; (Chaldean) corresponding to 825
825 ashshaph; from an unused root (probably meaning to lisp, i.e. practice enchantment)
1895 (Hebrew) habar; a prime root of uncertain (perhaps foreign) derivative; to be a horoscopist.
8064 (Hebrew) shamayim; dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)

Clearly an astrologer practiced the art of understanding mystical enchantments found in the stars of the horoscope. This falls in the same category of Tarot cards, palm and tea reading, etc.

So why would God use signs in the stars to send messages? Is this not Pagan and forbidden?

To answer this we have to distinguish between Astrology and Astronomy.
The best was to make the distinction easy to understand, is by the hands on a clock.

Astronomy is understanding and using the hands on the clock to learn what time it is.
This is what scripture means by “signs”.

Astrology is believing the hands on the clock determine what time it is.
This is giving mystical attributes to the stars, which God does not give.

God encourages the first while forbidding the second.

* * *

So lets take a moment and learn what God has to say about the stars:

Genesis 1:1 tells us; “In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth.”
Then goes into a surprising detail regarding the heavens;
“And God 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:” Genesis 1:14
Right off the bat, God boldly takes credit for the creation of the Sun and Moon and stars, and one of the very first bits of instructional wisdom God offers, is that these bodies have a purpose: that is to identify the passage of time as a calendar, for the making of seasons, and for signs.
This he did on the 4th day of creation.
But what signs?
Time will tell!

“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26
Unlike our present day assumption that there was a Big Bang and the stars were suddenly scattered across the sky like Strawn marbles.
God said he brings them out in an orderly fashion with mathematical plan.

Job tells us that it was God who made the constellations:
“Which alone spreadeth out the heavens…Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades…” Job 9:8-9
and it is God who takes full credit:
“Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?” Job 38:31
Not to get off topic, but what do you suppose God meant by inferring he could, and therefore perhaps would, loose the bands of Orion? Might this be a sign we have yet to see fulfilled?
“Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? Or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38:32
God appears to take pleasure in being the one who both made and controls the constellations.
Now we know God was speaking to Job at the time, but I rather think this was a shadow of his really speaking to the Antichrist, whom will think to change times and seasons.
“And he shall speak great words against the most high, and shall wear out the saints of the most high, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of times.” (3-1/2 years) Daniel 7:25

I used to think it was the times and laws that would be given into the hand of the Antichrist, but with this declaration of God in Job, that only God can do this, I now read this verse to mean the saints will be given into his hand. The Antichrist will only THINK to change times, and by application, laws of the universe, suggesting nature.
The stars are a clock to show us the time. IF the Antichrist is to change the times, he would have to alter the clock as well.
And now we can see why today’s saints have no fear of man made global warming.
Who is man to think he has the power of God to change what only God can do?
Man may think he can change the weather, but can do nothing more than THINK it, it is God who retains for himself the power to change times and laws.
Revelation 6 shows us that when He does, men will have no problem recognizing who it was that did it!
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair; and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind….” Revelation 6:12-14

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:15-17
But again I digress.

Psalm 19:1-7 tells us: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night after night sheweth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the ends of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul:…”

How do the heavens declare his glory?
We are only just now beginning to see a portion of that glory as we use technology such as Hubble to see that the billions of tiny dots of light we once thought were stars in the great expanse, are actually entire solar systems with billions of stars in each!
If you want to be thrilled by what we are finding out there, I urge you to pick up two DVDs by Louie Giglio, *2 and to Google “Hubble images”.

What do they say in the daytime? And what knowledge to they show at night?
Volumes if we are intentionally listening and observing!
I have shown in my last post a single message the stars gave in a point in time.
This passage says the heavens are declaring and showing information every day and every night!
I love this passage as it makes so obvious that what they say easily overcomes the language barrier to provide its information to all men!

Romans 10 Speaks of the faith in Jesus all men are to gain, and especially focuses on the Jews;
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Romans 10:1
Then 10:17 explains that this “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”...
Now understand what they are supposed to hear!
...“But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” 10:18

Who’s sound? Who’s words?
This is a quote from Psalm 19:1-7 we just read!
The stars are who the Jews (and all men) are to be listening to in order to learn that Jesus was and is the Messiah!
How do you get more real than the very stars in our temporal reality that speak to all men of all languages on the entire planet?!

* * *
So are the heavens done speaking now?
HARDLY!
They have just barley begun to speak yet!

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;… Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: (that the heavens have shown them)…” Luke 21:25-26

I will not now go into the many signs the scripture prophesies will come in the heavens, they will be great, and significant.
But one I would like to note here:

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his head.” Revelation 12:3

We Christians have long read this as poetry regarding the Devil as he fell from heaven, or the Antichrist who will soon rise to world power. And so he did and shall. But we have missed the prophecy here, that we sould see this event as a sign in the heavens just as was shown at the conception of Jesus the Messiah! (Revelation 12;1-2)

What we need to know is that this prophecy is here for a reason!
We need to be cranking the star charts to find this event in history.
But I imagine that like Johannes Kepler, this mystery in the stars may be hidden from us until the right time.

* * * * * * *

*1 Beginning of Astrology - Isaiah 47:13, Daniel 1:20, 2:20,10,27, 4:7, 5:7, 5:11, 5:15

*2 “Indescribable” and “How Great Is Our God” are both by Louie Giglio and can be found at: www.268generation.com - these are must have DVDs!