Of Biblical Significance

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." ~ Psalm 19:1 - 3  

 "Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day

from the night;and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;"" ~ Genesis 1:14

SIGNS IN THE SUN, MOON AND STARS

ScreenShot from https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/

JANUARY 1, 2019

INTRIGUING PICTURE OF THE SUN WITH AN APPEARANCE OF A BABY HEAD DOWN READY FOR BIRTH

As Believers of God's holy Word both Tanakh (Old Testament) and B'rit Hadasha (New Testament), there are heavenly events and appointed times we are to watch for. 

We have at least three events unfolding January 20 - 21, 2019

1. Super Wolf Blood Moon
2. Convergence of Venus and Jupiter
3. The Jewish New Year of Trees; one of four Jewish New Years

The importance of these in light of the many other Biblical events unfolding on the earth cannot be overstated.  

I have come to consider a Biblical sign to be an event by itself.  Truly, it would be grand for a fourth event that of The Rapture of Christ's Bride when the LORD will call the Body of Christ (Believers) out from the earth before the Tribulation begins. This will end with the Day of the LORD when ALL evil is destroyed from the earth. Father God knows the best time. May His will be done.

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 What Symmetry!

NOTE: This blood moon is exactly 69 weeks after the September 23, 2017 Revelation 12 Sign. It is of prophetic significance to observe as a 69-week timespan chronicled in Daniel 70 week prophecy.  A period of 69 weeks (each week calculated as seven years) fulfilled at the time of Christ's crucifixion.  This precedes the final week (seven years) set for the time of Tribulation, hence the long-awaited completion of this prophecy or the 70th week Daniel 9:24-27 is about to unfold!

Super Wolf Blood Moon

Photo Credit: Narcity.com

Super Moon:  As the moon's orbit is elliptical around the Earth there are times it closer to the Earth during its cycle. When closest it is at it's perigee, at its furthest would be at its apogee which is about 30,000 miles further from Earth than the perigee. 

Full Wolf Moon: According to Space.com a Wolf Moon is defined as

"Amid the frigid cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. The Full Wolf Moon was also known as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule in other cultures."

Blood Moon: During a full lunar eclipse where the moon is in the perigee of the Earth's shadow sunlight toward the Earths' atmosphere will refract (bend). Where other colors run short the color red is cast onto the moon's surface resulting in turning the dark gray color we normally see in a partial phase of the eclipse to an intriguing reddish-orange color during totality. Depending on viewing location it lasted for as long as one hour and 12 minutes. 

There are two to five super moons each year.  The time between blood moons typically runs about six months to three years with each decade having around one to five super blood moons. Though for this century there will only be three with the last super wolf blood moon being 1/21/37.

 There Is More To This Event

This blood moon occurs in the constellation of Cancer. As explained in English Bible Scholar E.W. Bullinger’s  book “Witness of the Stars, the Mazzaroth (Hebrew) or constellations, embodies God’s plan of redemption for humanity. These constellations and other members of the celestial heavens grant us various star pictures and communicate different parts of the God's immense eternal plan. 

Of note: Consider some of the stars within the Cancer constellation.

• Acubene: meaning the “sheltering or hiding-place”
• Al Himarein: meaning the “kids or lambs”
• Ma’alaph: meaning “assembled thousands”
• Praesepe: known as the Beehive cluster, meaning a “multitude, or offspring”

There there are other nearby stars which complete the picture. We can clearly see the love of God and His tender weaving of all creation with specific significance and purpose.  Nothing is haphazard. His work is specifically related to our redemption through Messiah and our eternal dwelling place in the heavens.

E. W. Bullinger states, “[Cancer illustrates how] His redeemed shall come to a resting-place that is good, and to a land that is pleasant …. In the many mansions of the Father’s house they shall find eternal rest.” 

Note the location of Cancer right next to Leo the Lion!

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The Convergence of Venus and Jupiter

A Celestial Romance

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.

I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” ~ Revelation 22:16

Venus: The bright and "Morning Star", referenced once as a picture of Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation

Jupiter: The King Planet representative of Jesus Christ who is the Head of the Church.  The stripes and piercing of the side is significant with this unique identity. We the believers are the Body of Christ.  Jesus Christ has ascended to heaven, however we have not.  In this particular display we see Venus coming to Jupiter and converging on January 21, 2019!

It is no doubt also divinely related the star convergence of the Bethlehem Star at the time of the Lord’s coming.

A Little Celestial History:

Job 38:32 ~ "Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with is cubs?"

מַזָּרָה mazzârâh (Strongs H4216) The 12 signs of the Zodiac and their 36 associated constellations

The book of Job is considered the oldest book in the Bible. Note here that he first mentions Zodiac (Mazzaroth) as well as identifying the individual constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor; the Great Bear with her cubs.

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens (shamayim) and the earth."

2 Kings 23:5 ~ "Then he removed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Juda had ordained to burn incense on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem, and those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon to the constellations (מַזָּלָה mazzâlâh; an individual sign), and to all the host of heaven (shamayim)."

שָׁמַיִם shâmayim (Strongs H8064) The heavens, visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, Heaven as the abode of God 

Significant to note in Genesis 1:1 the heavens were the first thing created with the earth.  In 2 Kings 23:5 we see how people had come to worship the heavens and all things associated.

We mark season with the heavens as we look at Genesis 1:14 (noted above) not only mark spring, summer, autumn and winter, but God has commanded us to watch for “Appointed Times” that He has set for us.

Leviticus 23:1-2 "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.""

מוֹעֵד môwʻêd (Strongs H4150) Appointed time, sacred season, set feast, appointed: meeting, place, sign or signal, tent of meeting

מִקְרָא miqrâʼ (Strongs H4744) Convocation, sacred assembly. Also from the root word מִקְרָא miqrâʼ, mik-raw'; from H7121; something called out, i.e. a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the place); also a rehearsal:—assembly, calling, convocation, reading. 

 JANUARY 1, 2019 VENUS IN IN LIBRA (Scales of Justice) AND LEAVES TO MEET WITH JUPITER IN SCORPIO

BREAKING FREE AT THE CONVERGENCE JANUARY 21, 2019 

The stars within the constellation of Scorpio also speak of God's redemption for mankind.  

• Akrab, is the Hebrew name of a scorpion however its meaning is “the conflict, or war.”
• The constellations around and including Scorpio illustrate for us; an enormous scorpion poised to sting the heel of Ophiuchus, a mighty man struggling in a battle with Serpens, a serpent. Ophiuchus crushes the heart of Scorpio
• Antares, which means 'the wounding' is the name of the star at Scorpio's heart. 

Other nearby stars are a part of the depiction explained by E. W. Bullinger, though the focal point of this is Scorpio with the neighboring signs Ophiuchus, Serpens, and Hercules, combine giving us story in the heavens of the Redeemer’s conflict and man’s struggle with the adversary, who will be ultimately crushed.

In conclusion: through Scorpio we see the illustration of mankind's struggle with the adversary as well as the evil one defeated.  May it be read as a sign that our 'redemption draws near' and that the LORD will soon put down the enemy.

 What Is The Significance of Tu B'Shvat?

Photo Credit: TimesOfIsrael.com

It is one of four Jewish New Years: 

1) Nisan 1 ~ Marking the departure from Egypt, this begins the Biblical New Year. It is the date from which the Feasts are also initiated; early spring, usually April on the Gregorian calendar.

2) Elul 1 ~ start of the year for tithing cattle for temple sacrifices.  Also preparation for repentance; late summer, usually August on the Gregorian calendar

3) Tishri 1 ~ Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish Civil New Year.  It ends after 10 days with Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), usually in September on the Gregorian calendar

4) Shevat 15 ~ or Tu B'Shvat is "New Year for Trees" and is recognized as the start of spring when the trees awaken from their winter sleep. After the cold and rainy season comes to an end the almond trees are among the first to blossom. 15th of Shevat on the Jewish Calendar arrives in the January/February time frame on the Gregorian calendar.  The Almond symbolizes as a sign:

TO WATCH ~

This begin as a new hope as the root word for "almond" means to 'watch' or 'wake' שָׁקֵד . In Scripture in Jeremiah 1:11-12

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?"

And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree. מַקֵּל שָׁקֵד אֲנִי רֹאֶֽה" Then the Lord said to me,

"You have seen well, for I am ready (watching)כִּֽי־שֹׁקֵד אֲנִי to perform My word."

OF HOPE ~

The Lord told Moses to make a Golden Lampstand, the Menorah, with seven lamps.  It is symbolic of a tree "Tree of Life."

Exodus 25:31-37 and 37:19-20 describe the oil cups on the Menorah in the shape of almond blossoms.  

25:31 “You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. 32 And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. 33 Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almondblossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. 34 On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. 35 And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. 36 Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it.

37:19 There were three bowls made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. 20 And on the lampstand itself were four bowls made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower.

OF GOD'S AUTHORITY ~

Numbers 17:3-9 tells us of a time of rebellion when the children of Israel questions Aaron's leadership after Korah's rebellion. The LORD spoke to Moses for the "the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses—twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod. 3 And you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father’s house. 4 Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you. 5 And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you.”

So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. Ad Moses placed the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.

Now It came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, fo the house of levi had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod." 

NOTE: The rod had been a dead stick, but the Lord caused it to live, to bring forth blossoms and ripe almonds! Our God is the God of the resurrection. He is life, He gives life. He is our righteous branch!