Post by morningstar on Apr 14, 2018 17:31:27 GMT
The Heavens Declare The Glory of God
In Defense of the Faith
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor
Long before there were any written Scriptures of which we are aware, men still needed to know about God and man's relationship to Him, and in particular, about His plans for their salvation.
There were no written Scriptures, so far as is known, that predate the Flood, but there were prediluvian prophets; (Abel, Lamech, Enoch) and there were post-diluvian prophets of God prior to Moses; (Melchizidek, Abraham, Joseph).
So it is clear that God revealed Himself to men in various ways long before Moses wrote the Pentateuch. There are prophecies that predate the Flood; Genesis 3:15 contains the prophecy of a Redeemer Who would be the "seed of a woman."
There are prediluvian prophecies still awaiting fulfillment to this present time, as well: "Enoch, seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints."
It is interesting to observe that most ancient religions also have some similar promise of a Redeemer and an eventual Divine judgment, just as there are variations of both the story of Creation and the Flood.
They vary from one belief system to another, but share the same basic elements. Skeptics are fond of pointing to these as evidence the Bible is really based in ancient mythology.
Let's try on a more logical explanation: They share the same basic characteristics because they're based in primeval Divine revelation that was shared to some degree by all ancient people, at least up to the time of the Tower of Babel.
The Babel story is all about man's effort to circumvent God's will -- God was no stranger to them.
So it is altogether possible -- and perhaps even likely -- that there were other revelations and prophecies that were not written down and preserved for us, but were important to those who lived in ancient times.
The various divisions within the Book of Genesis suggest it could well be the product of earlier, Patriarchal records edited into one Book by Moses.
After all, what ABOUT God's interaction with men before the introduction of the Scriptures? We know that God DID interact with men prior to the delivery of the Scripture; just a partial list includes Adam, Lamech, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and, of course, Moses.
It is not logical to assume that God STARTED loving the world at some point after the Flood, or about the time of The Prophets, or at some other time.
"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6) If God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and if He loves me now, then He loved those who lived in the time of Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Joseph just as much.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the ancients is their fascination with the stars. Historians still scratch their heads at the mysteries of ancient structures like Stonehenge, the Pyramid of Giza and the various Mayan temples.
The Bible speaks of men like Joseph, Moses and Daniel as being highly educated men. Joseph and Moses were educated by the Egyptians, who used their knowledge of astrology to construct the pyramids with such precision that we probably couldn't replicate such a feat even today.
The Prophet Daniel was numbered among the Babylonian Magi and astrologers:
"And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." (Daniel 1:20)
The Jewish historian Josephus reports of an ancient Jewish tradition that says that Seth and Enoch took it upon themselves to "inscribe revelation in the heavens" using the movement of star groupings in the heavens as a sort of hieroglyphics.
It is equally possible (and I believe, probable) that God Himself was the Author of this ancient form of revelation. According to Genesis 1:14, one of the purposes for the stars and the heavenly bodies was to indicate "signs and seasons".
Both the Psalmist and the Prophet Isaiah say that God named each star individually. The Scriptures actually make reference to some of the constellations by name.
Job, (the oldest Book of Scripture chronologically) mentions the constellation "Arturus with his sons" (38:32) the "sweet influences of Pleiades (38:11) the "bands of Orion" (38:31) and so on.
The most interesting reference to astrology comes during Job's reference to the constellation Arturus: "Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?"
In context, God is answering Job's question, "Why me?" with a blistering comparison between the omnipotence of God and Job's helpless estate, reminding Job which one of them is God.
God is the One Who can bring forth 'Mazzaroth in his season' and 'guides Arcturus with his sons.' Not Job.
That is the lesson, but there is a sub-lesson here as well.
The "Mazzaroth" refers to the twelve signs of the Zodiac and their associated constellations.
I said the Book of Job is chronologically the oldest book in the Bible. It is also probably the oldest book in the world, dating from around the time of the Flood.
Yet the constellations were already not only well-known to Job, they already bore the names by which we now know them.
Job sat around with his three friends, commiserating his fate, which his friends ascribed to a Divine judgment for sin. God was no stranger to Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.
"And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job."
Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite didn't say, "What? You want us to do what? Who did You say you were, again?" Nope.
Instead, "Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them." (Job 42:7-9)
Job, (whom I remind you, predates pretty much everybody else) knew of God's plan for his eventual redemption -- in detail: "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."
Job not only knows of his Redeemer, Job speaks of Him 'living' -- in the present tense -- and yet Job says that He will 'stand at the latter day upon the earth.' These details predate Genesis 3:15 by hundreds of years.
Moreover; "And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." (Job 19:25-27)
Not only does Job know about the plan of Redemption, he also makes reference to his 'resurrection in the latter days' -- concepts that aren't identified (chronologically) by Scripture for another thousand years.
Job is firm in his conviction that he will again be in his own flesh when he sees God, that he will see Him through his own eyes, and not through someone else -- these are all advanced theological positions yet to even be developed in Scripture.
I would go with 'God told him' -- but that doesn't explain the fact that Job's friends were evidently from other countries, didn't need to have God explained to them, or that, when God spoke through Job, they unquestioningly went scurrying to find a herd of sheep and a herd of bullocks to sacrifice.
So it is no stretch to believe the various star groupings and their movements across the sky were originally used, and perhaps even so designed by God, for the purposes of conveying a continuing message to all peoples of all times, of God's plan for mankind and His promise of eventual redemption.
Make no mistake: astrology and the signs of the Zodiac have been corrupted over the ages; the Scriptures prohibit astrology as worship of the host of heaven. I know only enough to know I don't know enough to fool with it.
Modern astrology is profoundly pagan in its interpretation, and we have the Scriptures to guide us. My intent isn't to introduce astrology as a worship system.
My intent is to point out that it contains the entire plan of God for the redemption of mankind as a form of evidence, not an additional form of worship. Don't let the enemy side-track you from the point.
All the ancients, (the Chinese, Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, etc.), used the Zodiac, and all used the same twelve signs; Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo. Each of the twelve signs is represented by a more or less universal symbol and interpretation.
Virgo: Virgo is the symbol associated with virginity. It corresponds with Genesis 3:15's "seed of a woman."
Libra: Libra is associated with the scales of justice. It corresponds with the Genesis story of the fall of man and his need for redemption.
Scorpio: The scorpion is symbolic of evil bringing death. It corresponds with the Genesis story of sin being responsible for death.
Saggitarius: The symbol is the archer and corresponds with the Genesis story of Nimrod, King of the Nephilim, whom Genesis refers to as the 'hunter of men's souls'.
Capricorn: is symbolized by the goat-fish and tells the story of the corruption of the earth.
Aquarius: The symbol is the water-pourer and tells the story of the Flood.
Aries: Aries is depicted as a ram and is symbolic of sacrifice. It tells the story of the Crucifixion.
Taurus: Taurus is depicted as a bull, a universal symbol of power and life, and it tells the story of the Resurrection.
Gemini: The symbol for Gemini is 'the twins' and it symbolizes the dual nature of Christ as truly God and truly man.
Cancer:Cancer is symbolized by the crab and it tells the story of the Rapture, or the gathering of the Redeemed.
Leo: Leo is depicted as a lion and is symbolic of a king. It tells the story of Christ's triumphant return at His Second Coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So, to summarize, the entire plan of God, from the Promise of a Redeemer to His triumphant Second Advent -- covering every single major point of Christian doctrine, I might add -- is written in the stars.
The zodiac predates Moses, it predates Abraham, and as far as we know historically, it predates the written word. It tells the entire Gospel story, from the Genesis promise of a Redeemer to His Triumphant Return at the end of days.
Job 19:25-27 relates the Gospel message in almost exactly the same terms expressed by the Zodiac.
And since the symbols aren't Jewish or Christian and they predate the written word, only a dedicated unbeliever could argue that they were co-opted later and made to fit the Gospel message.
The Gospel message, as it unfolded, corresponded the signs of the Zodiac, not the other way around.
You don't need to take my word for it. You can take His:
"The heavens declare the Glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." (Psalms 19:1-3)
This isn't simply beautiful poetry dedicated to the worship of God -- although it certainly is that as well. It categorically states that God's plan is written in the firmament (the stars).
It states that the Gospel message is there, day after day, night after night, and that "there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard."
It is a declarative statement of fact, one well-supported by historical, natural and logical evidence.
And as such, a powerful reason to believe.
Link to Article
Fair Use for Discussion Purposes
In Defense of the Faith
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor
Long before there were any written Scriptures of which we are aware, men still needed to know about God and man's relationship to Him, and in particular, about His plans for their salvation.
There were no written Scriptures, so far as is known, that predate the Flood, but there were prediluvian prophets; (Abel, Lamech, Enoch) and there were post-diluvian prophets of God prior to Moses; (Melchizidek, Abraham, Joseph).
So it is clear that God revealed Himself to men in various ways long before Moses wrote the Pentateuch. There are prophecies that predate the Flood; Genesis 3:15 contains the prophecy of a Redeemer Who would be the "seed of a woman."
There are prediluvian prophecies still awaiting fulfillment to this present time, as well: "Enoch, seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints."
It is interesting to observe that most ancient religions also have some similar promise of a Redeemer and an eventual Divine judgment, just as there are variations of both the story of Creation and the Flood.
They vary from one belief system to another, but share the same basic elements. Skeptics are fond of pointing to these as evidence the Bible is really based in ancient mythology.
Let's try on a more logical explanation: They share the same basic characteristics because they're based in primeval Divine revelation that was shared to some degree by all ancient people, at least up to the time of the Tower of Babel.
The Babel story is all about man's effort to circumvent God's will -- God was no stranger to them.
So it is altogether possible -- and perhaps even likely -- that there were other revelations and prophecies that were not written down and preserved for us, but were important to those who lived in ancient times.
The various divisions within the Book of Genesis suggest it could well be the product of earlier, Patriarchal records edited into one Book by Moses.
After all, what ABOUT God's interaction with men before the introduction of the Scriptures? We know that God DID interact with men prior to the delivery of the Scripture; just a partial list includes Adam, Lamech, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and, of course, Moses.
It is not logical to assume that God STARTED loving the world at some point after the Flood, or about the time of The Prophets, or at some other time.
"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6) If God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and if He loves me now, then He loved those who lived in the time of Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Joseph just as much.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the ancients is their fascination with the stars. Historians still scratch their heads at the mysteries of ancient structures like Stonehenge, the Pyramid of Giza and the various Mayan temples.
The Bible speaks of men like Joseph, Moses and Daniel as being highly educated men. Joseph and Moses were educated by the Egyptians, who used their knowledge of astrology to construct the pyramids with such precision that we probably couldn't replicate such a feat even today.
The Prophet Daniel was numbered among the Babylonian Magi and astrologers:
"And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." (Daniel 1:20)
The Jewish historian Josephus reports of an ancient Jewish tradition that says that Seth and Enoch took it upon themselves to "inscribe revelation in the heavens" using the movement of star groupings in the heavens as a sort of hieroglyphics.
It is equally possible (and I believe, probable) that God Himself was the Author of this ancient form of revelation. According to Genesis 1:14, one of the purposes for the stars and the heavenly bodies was to indicate "signs and seasons".
Both the Psalmist and the Prophet Isaiah say that God named each star individually. The Scriptures actually make reference to some of the constellations by name.
Job, (the oldest Book of Scripture chronologically) mentions the constellation "Arturus with his sons" (38:32) the "sweet influences of Pleiades (38:11) the "bands of Orion" (38:31) and so on.
The most interesting reference to astrology comes during Job's reference to the constellation Arturus: "Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?"
In context, God is answering Job's question, "Why me?" with a blistering comparison between the omnipotence of God and Job's helpless estate, reminding Job which one of them is God.
God is the One Who can bring forth 'Mazzaroth in his season' and 'guides Arcturus with his sons.' Not Job.
That is the lesson, but there is a sub-lesson here as well.
The "Mazzaroth" refers to the twelve signs of the Zodiac and their associated constellations.
I said the Book of Job is chronologically the oldest book in the Bible. It is also probably the oldest book in the world, dating from around the time of the Flood.
Yet the constellations were already not only well-known to Job, they already bore the names by which we now know them.
Job sat around with his three friends, commiserating his fate, which his friends ascribed to a Divine judgment for sin. God was no stranger to Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.
"And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job."
Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite didn't say, "What? You want us to do what? Who did You say you were, again?" Nope.
Instead, "Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them." (Job 42:7-9)
Job, (whom I remind you, predates pretty much everybody else) knew of God's plan for his eventual redemption -- in detail: "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."
Job not only knows of his Redeemer, Job speaks of Him 'living' -- in the present tense -- and yet Job says that He will 'stand at the latter day upon the earth.' These details predate Genesis 3:15 by hundreds of years.
Moreover; "And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." (Job 19:25-27)
Not only does Job know about the plan of Redemption, he also makes reference to his 'resurrection in the latter days' -- concepts that aren't identified (chronologically) by Scripture for another thousand years.
Job is firm in his conviction that he will again be in his own flesh when he sees God, that he will see Him through his own eyes, and not through someone else -- these are all advanced theological positions yet to even be developed in Scripture.
I would go with 'God told him' -- but that doesn't explain the fact that Job's friends were evidently from other countries, didn't need to have God explained to them, or that, when God spoke through Job, they unquestioningly went scurrying to find a herd of sheep and a herd of bullocks to sacrifice.
So it is no stretch to believe the various star groupings and their movements across the sky were originally used, and perhaps even so designed by God, for the purposes of conveying a continuing message to all peoples of all times, of God's plan for mankind and His promise of eventual redemption.
Make no mistake: astrology and the signs of the Zodiac have been corrupted over the ages; the Scriptures prohibit astrology as worship of the host of heaven. I know only enough to know I don't know enough to fool with it.
Modern astrology is profoundly pagan in its interpretation, and we have the Scriptures to guide us. My intent isn't to introduce astrology as a worship system.
My intent is to point out that it contains the entire plan of God for the redemption of mankind as a form of evidence, not an additional form of worship. Don't let the enemy side-track you from the point.
All the ancients, (the Chinese, Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, etc.), used the Zodiac, and all used the same twelve signs; Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo. Each of the twelve signs is represented by a more or less universal symbol and interpretation.
Virgo: Virgo is the symbol associated with virginity. It corresponds with Genesis 3:15's "seed of a woman."
Libra: Libra is associated with the scales of justice. It corresponds with the Genesis story of the fall of man and his need for redemption.
Scorpio: The scorpion is symbolic of evil bringing death. It corresponds with the Genesis story of sin being responsible for death.
Saggitarius: The symbol is the archer and corresponds with the Genesis story of Nimrod, King of the Nephilim, whom Genesis refers to as the 'hunter of men's souls'.
Capricorn: is symbolized by the goat-fish and tells the story of the corruption of the earth.
Aquarius: The symbol is the water-pourer and tells the story of the Flood.
Aries: Aries is depicted as a ram and is symbolic of sacrifice. It tells the story of the Crucifixion.
Taurus: Taurus is depicted as a bull, a universal symbol of power and life, and it tells the story of the Resurrection.
Gemini: The symbol for Gemini is 'the twins' and it symbolizes the dual nature of Christ as truly God and truly man.
Cancer:Cancer is symbolized by the crab and it tells the story of the Rapture, or the gathering of the Redeemed.
Leo: Leo is depicted as a lion and is symbolic of a king. It tells the story of Christ's triumphant return at His Second Coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So, to summarize, the entire plan of God, from the Promise of a Redeemer to His triumphant Second Advent -- covering every single major point of Christian doctrine, I might add -- is written in the stars.
The zodiac predates Moses, it predates Abraham, and as far as we know historically, it predates the written word. It tells the entire Gospel story, from the Genesis promise of a Redeemer to His Triumphant Return at the end of days.
Job 19:25-27 relates the Gospel message in almost exactly the same terms expressed by the Zodiac.
And since the symbols aren't Jewish or Christian and they predate the written word, only a dedicated unbeliever could argue that they were co-opted later and made to fit the Gospel message.
The Gospel message, as it unfolded, corresponded the signs of the Zodiac, not the other way around.
You don't need to take my word for it. You can take His:
"The heavens declare the Glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." (Psalms 19:1-3)
This isn't simply beautiful poetry dedicated to the worship of God -- although it certainly is that as well. It categorically states that God's plan is written in the firmament (the stars).
It states that the Gospel message is there, day after day, night after night, and that "there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard."
It is a declarative statement of fact, one well-supported by historical, natural and logical evidence.
And as such, a powerful reason to believe.
Link to Article
Fair Use for Discussion Purposes
