By Tim McGovern Nov 2011
© Ascending Age of Soaring Wolf
www.SoaringWolf.com
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Does the Bible Condemn Astrology? By Tim McGovern Nov 2011 © Ascending Age of Soaring Wolf |
www.SoaringWolf.com |
One of the most dangerous influences used today in modern society to affect people’s way of thinking is the misinterpretation of the Bible. The danger lies in using scripture to only support personal viewpoints, instead of researching fully the entire truth of a subject. Without studying the full context of everything, it's easy to misconstrue scripture. If you do not believe in the Bible, or Astrology does not interest you, this article may be of little importance to you. Before reading the next few paragraphs, please take a moment to clear your head. Keep an open mind and ask yourself this question: Why did God create the planets, constellations, and stars?
An important question was asked to me one day, “does the Bible condemn Astrology?” Anyone can Google that question and very easily find website after website that says yes. As a matter of fact, the first five sites will probably all say yes to that question. They will use passages such as Isaiah 47:13-14 and Deuteronomy 18:10-14 that quote how stargazers, observer of times, the monthly prognosticators and diviners were evil and an abomination to the Lord. However, are these being taking out of context? Let’s look at the passage of Deuteronomy 18. This is a perfect example of taking a passage out of context about divine inspiration. The passage says:
Deuteronomy 18:10-15However, if we keep on reading the same passage, look at verse 15:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.
14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;Isn’t a prophet the same thing as a diviner? The difference is where the message is coming from. Any tool itself cannot be evil. It is the person or spirit wielding the tool that can make it evil or not. God used prophets or seers to send all kinds of different messages of God to the people. He also used dream interpreters such as Daniel to divine and predict the future as well. Seventeen of the 39 books in the Old Testament are called the “Prophetic Books” from Isaiah to Malachi. However, those people that called upon evil spirits to get these same types of “gifts,” are what made them evil. It was not the tools or the gifts themselves that were evil.
In the first book of the Bible, the first chapter, the Bible tells us specifically why God made the stars, planets, and other celestial bodies.
Genesis 1:14-18The “lights” (stars, constellations and planets) were for several things; but first and foremost, for SIGNS, then for seasons, and then for timekeeping (days and years). Most people have it the other way around, and say that it is truly only for timekeeping purposes. It also says that the two great lights ruled day and night. It’s interesting how in astrology the Sun and Moon sign of a person are the two most important aspects of a person’s birth chart, and personality. The sun sign is where the sun was when you were born and rules the logical and conscious side of you. Your moon sign is where the moon was when you were born and rules the emotional and subconscious drives.14 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:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
We also see, in the book of Job, God asking several questions regarding his majestic works to his humble servant.
Job 38:31-33:This says the celestial constellations like Pleiades and Orion have “influences.” The word Mazzaroth literally means the 12 signs of the zodiac. Many interpreters avoid interpreting that word because it means just that in Hebrew. God brings forth the signs of the zodiac in their seasons. And lastly, there are “ordinances of heaven” that rule or have dominion here on Earth. Celestial bodies influence us here on Earth, according to the Bible. We also see a correlation between the twelve signs of the zodiac with the twelve tribes of Israel. This is shown in Genesis 49 when Jacob blesses the tribes, and also again in Deuteronomy 33 when Moses performs his blessing. God ordered Moses to have the twelve tribes of Israel camp around the holy tabernacle in the order of the zodiac. The entrance to the camp had four gateways, Judea, Rueben, Ephraim, and Dan. These four tribes represented each a different element of the zodiac, earth, air, fire, and water. These four tribes also correlate to the vision that Ezekiel had in Ezekiel chapter 1 about the four animals and four elements.31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Another important aspect of astrology the Bible talks about is an Age. Astrologers and scientists both have never been able to determine exactly how long an age is, but it is approximately around 2,000 years. For us who have lived in this generation, we have had an extraordinary and unique opportunity. Not only have we experienced a cross over into a centennial year (every 100 years), and not just a millennial (1000 years, when 1999-2000 occurred) but also an AGE. I personally believe December 21, 2012 was the end of the age, The Age of Pisces, and the beginning of the new age we are in, the Age of Aquarius!
Many believe that God created Adam and Eve during the Age of Gemini, which some theorists have dated to be around 6380 BC. Since Gemini is the sign of writing, communication and travel, this is when communication and languages flourished. God spoke directly to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the fall of man, and after the fall, that direct line was severed. So communication was the theme that ruled that age. Genesis chapter 11 tells of the story of the Tower of Babel and how many languages were formed. Some people have depicted the sign of the twins as Adam and Eve, the first two people created. Adam and Eve’s first children, Cain and Abel, are also believed to be twins. Abel was favored, and Cain was not, illustrating the two fold personality that Gemini represents. During this time in other Ancient religions, many people worshipped TWO gods instead of just one. It is interesting that Mercury is the first planet (closest to the Sun) in our solar system; Mercury is the ruling planet for Gemini and is known as the planet of communication and travel. Mercury is also known in Mythology as Hermes, the messenger of the gods.
It is because the rotation of the Earth and the “wobble” affect that the Earth has (like a spinning top) that we progress through the ages backwards. So after the Age of Gemini, we entered the age of Taurus, the bull. Again, it is interesting that Venus, the second planet in our Solar System, is the ruling planet for Taurus. Hindu religion was formed during this time and to this day still clings to its cattle worship, from this age. As with the zodiac, each age influences the world and takes on certain aspects of influence of that zodiac sign. Since Taurus also rules the second house of the zodiac, the house of material possessions and values, we see many cultures that focused on material things, like the Egyptians for one. Even in their death rituals, Egyptians were buried with several valuable items to aid them in their life beyond the physical world. As an earth sign, the Age of Taurus was also an agricultural revolution where agriculture flourished.
As the Age of Taurus gave way to the Age of Aries, bull sacrifices gave way to the sacrifice of the ram. The famous story of faith that Abraham demonstrated in Genesis 22 tells us the story of God providing a ram in the thicket, to replace Abraham’s son as a sacrifice. Also, the people of Israel were commanded to offer a burnt sacrifice of a ram without blemish, once a year as atonement for their sins. God was given a new name during this era and became known as Jehovah, the warrior god. This illustrated the epitome of the Aries sign: the warrior, mercenary, explorer, and leader. It was a militant time during this Age. Mars, the next planet after Earth, is the planet that rules Aries. Mars is also known as the planet of war, action, ambition and fiery energy. Are we seeing a pattern yet in the physical anatomy of our solar system? Before Neptune was discovered on September 23, 1846, Jupiter was said to be the ruling planet of Pisces, which just happens to be the next planet in our solar system’s alignment.
The transition of the Age of Aries to the Age of Pisces was a significant one. This was around the time that Jesus was born. Jesus said in Revelation:
1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.As Jesus quotes in Revelation, Jesus linked the first sign of the zodiac (Aries) with the last sign of the Zodiac (Pisces), the beginning with the end, the Alpha and the Omega. In the previous age, fire (the element of Aries) was sacred and used in all sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now suddenly water became holy (the element of Pisces), and baptisms by water were introduced. Christianity became the most popular religion and has been for the past two thousand years. The symbol of Christianity is commonly known as the fish. Jesus called his disciples fishers of men. They were known for drawing fish in the sand. As the sign of Pisces is naturally romantic and creative, we have seen some of the most talented artists in the Age of Pisces: Da Vinci, Van Gough, Raphael, Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Mozart, Beethoven, even Walt Disney who drew all of his first cartoons entirely by hand; and the list goes on and on. All of these people were blessed with natural talent of creating art, music, tales, etc.21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end...
As we are entering in the Age of Aquarius, the personality of this sign will take on the theme in the world. Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet of humankind, revolution, freedom, and going against the flow. This sign/planet also favors new, original, ideas and therefore rules inventions, and new technology. We have already see the huge jump in many things becoming digitalized and more advanced. Jesus foretold of the Age of Aquarius in his gospels.
Mark 14:13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.The man bearing the pitcher of water represents Aquarius, and what was to come. Aquarius is depicted as the manly water bearer, pouring its water out to the world. Aquarians are usually very human people, and love to help humankind. This is the age that we are in now. Aquarians usually look at the big picture; so likewise, there may be a few that fall by the way side now, or a small minority of hurts, but as long as the majority thrive and are helped, then this is okay.
It is very evident that in the Bible, over and over, we see mentions of celestial bodies, signs, ages, the zodiac and their influences on our lives. Today, most people will tell you what I have just mentioned is heretical and blasphemy. The truth is people fear what they don’t understand, and will always try to discredit it. However, if we learn to research things fully for ourselves, ask questions, and trust our gut instinct, we will eventually find the truth for ourselves. This article may provoke you to make your own decision and decide if in fact the Bible does condemn Astrology. If you still believe the answer to be yes, we return to the original question: why did God create the planets, constellations, and stars?
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