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11 July 09 Our latest publication, The Star Over Bethlehem, Signs in the Heavens, Part 1 of 2 presents an intriguing historical account that narrows down the birth date of Jesus to within 1-1/2 hours on a certain date. The birth date is derived from certain clues left by John in the Book of Revelation. In Genesis 1:14-19 God made the great light givers that we see in our sky. The Sun and Moon are the prominent light sources for the earth. Then, almost as an afterthought, "He made the stars also." Besides being used to provide light, the Sun, Moon, and stars were for signs, for seasons, and for time keeping (Genesis 1:14-19). God caused a written record to be made which contained the origin and history of mankind, the calling of a special people to carry His message, and prophecies of things to come until the end of the world. Moses penned the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) about 1,500 BC, approximately 2,500 years after creation. E.W. Bullinger poses the question that since the world for more than 2,500 years was without a written revelation from God, "Did God leave Himself without a witness?" The Bible affirms that He did not. For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,
who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest
in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation
of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:18-20
In Psalm 19:1 we find that
the heavens declare (are telling) the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory
of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Psalm 19:1
Did the original meaning of the Zodiac once declare the glory of God? This cannot be proven with total satisfaction, but the symbolism depicted and various ancient names for the stars in the constellations are intriguing. Some reading this will consider that since we have God's Word we do not need to contemplate further how he reveals Himself to mankind. We know that many of the tribes of the world, even some in remote areas today, used memory techniques to relate their history to future generations. Is it beyond possibility that early man received a revelation from God that outlined the complete plan of our redemption? Perhaps early man devised a method to remember this revelation by using the fixed signs he saw in the sky? Possibly, God showed him the design in the heavens? No one can know for sure. One thing we do know for certain is that early man did devise a mythological meaning to what we call the Zodiac. What concerns some, as they consider whether the so-called "Gospel in the stars" was the original meaning of the Zodiac, is the occultic future telling system the Zodiac has become. For this reason many shy away from learning about it. Some that did not shy away from telling the story are Bible teachers, theologians, and authors, Joseph A. Seiss, E. W. Bullinger, Henry M. Morris, D. James Kennedy and J. R. Church. In a recent Prophecy in the News article, Jupiter and Venus in Conjunction, J. R. Church had this to say: God intended for the night sky to tell the story of the Gospel. It was His first Bible laid out for mankind. It tells the story of the seed of the woman, as seen in Virgo, defeating the seed of the serpent, as seen in Scorpio. In the newsletter article we will discuss some aspects of the "Gospel in the Stars" while presenting an intriguing historical study regarding the birth date of Jesus. If the evidence presented is correct, it is possible that John gave us the birth date of Jesus on a certain date and year with an accuracy of 1-1/2 hours. THE BLESSING OF THE SUN - A Sign of the End? On Wednesday 8 April 2009 (14 Nisan, year 5769) the Jews celebrated a recurring festival known as the Blessing of the Sun (Birchat HaChama). This festival was last celebrated on 8 April 1981 (8 Nisan, year 5741). This blessing follows a twenty-eight year cycle that always occurs on "a Wednesday which begins at the vernal equinox at 6 pm on Tuesday, when the Sun is in the exact alignment it was at the moment of creation. Note that the Jewish day runs from 6 pm to 6 pm. The Jews have "a tradition that the Sun was created at the vernal equinox position (when day and night have equal length), at the beginning of the night of our fourth day, in year one of our counting. They realized that… once in every twenty-eight years the equinox should be at the same time on the fourth day of the week, at the same hour." This year (2009) has special significance, Birchat HaChama falls on Wednesday, Erev Pesech (Passover), Seder night. This same alignment with Passover first occurred when Moses led Israel out from the bondage of Egypt. In this second article we will explore the intriguing possibility that this festival in 2009 has a significant role in end time events that may portend the onset of the Tribulation as described in the book of Revelation as well as the soon return of Jesus Christ. To view both articles, click
on this link - The Star Over Bethlehem, Signs in the Heavens, Part 1 of 2.
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