Moses was instructed to build the wilderness tabernacle or Mishkan where the Ark of the Covenant rested, having the Keruvim on its Mercy seat.
Moses and Joshua
It was to be situated in the center of the camp and the 12 tribes laid out their tents around it in the shape of a cross aligned with the 4 points of the compass.
The tabernacle reflects Gods throne surrounded by the 4 Cherubim faces N-Eagle; S-Man; E-Lion; W-Ox; found in Revelation.
Next as food for thought, are some interesting conceptual points of view, many may consider controversial topics; they are included on purpose to make us think. We have forgotten how to think for ourselves. Often taking only what is given by those who have learned from other people, who in turn were taught by people and so on; and limited within the narrow restrictions of academic and doctrinal parameters. So please don’t switch off before considering the context and scriptural references included… remembering the levels of interpretation (PARDES).
CLICK LINK FOR EXPLANATION
https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-rules-of-pardes/
Daniel prophesied that at the time of the end that knowledge would increase and again that is part of the apocalypse/the revealing, of the treasures old, (things forgotten) and new, things hidden until Fathers timing is optimum.
Many may cry heresy and yet the term is defined as: any belief or theory, that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization.
A basic definition of heresy, according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, is “adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma.”
A second definition is “dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice.”
For example, accusations of heresy have been leveled against a group of believers when their beliefs challenged, or were seen to challenge, ‘Church’ authority. Some heresies have also been doctrinally based, in which a teaching was deemed to be inconsistent with the fundamental tenets of orthodox dogma.
Interestingly if we look at the teachings of Jesus/Yeshua in the light of the above definitions, it would seem apply to Him! Just maybe He was a heretic?? Isn’t that what the Pharisees accused Him of as well as blasphemy? Hmmmm! If that’s the case being labeled as such is not entirely a bad thing!
Part 2 includes a look at the possible connection to, and an explanation of, Mazzaroth. The constellations of the stars in the heavens.
Please understand, MMM is NOT in any way advocating or giving an endorsement of new age astrology.
The Definition of astrology is the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.
We are cautioned not to look to them, or their prognostic interpretations by astrologers; and should not use horoscopes to determine our future actions. Instead, we are to look to the Father in the name of Yeshua/Jesus for our destiny is in His Hands. Having said that, lets investigate the theory in light of scripture and how it’s connected to our original topic!
מַזָּרוֹת Mazzārōṯ,
Mazzeroth is the Hebrew zodiac.
There is a theory that each tribe’s symbol parallels a constellation. The stars, created to be “for signs and seasons” (Gen.1:14), do give directional orientation and gauging for harvest. Some, think the Mazzeroth signs may predict the coming of the Messiah.
What does the Bible say?
Psalm 19:1 tells us
The stars were set in place by the Father and He named them one by one.
“He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names” (Psalm 147:4).
“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).
God named the stars to provide prophetic signs ordered according to their appointed times/ 7 Moedim/Feasts (i.e., “seasons”) of fulfillment.
“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 (oth – signifying something to come,) (Laoth – appearing as a signal), and for seasons (moed – a fixed or an appointed time), and for days, and years” (Genesis 1:14). See Romans 10:18.
The message declared by the stars is that The glory of God that is “above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1), as seen in the Person and work of God the Son, Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, the promised Seed of a woman, as foretold in the first Messianic prophecy. Genesis 3:15, declaring that our Savior would eventually defeat Satan (i.e., bruise the serpent’s head), though He would suffer (bruising His own heal) to redeem His people from their sins and take them safely home to heaven.
“And I will put enmity between thee [Satan, embodied in the serpent] and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15).
This is the central theme.
God called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees where astrology, abhorrent to God (Deut. 18:10-12, Isaiah 47:13,14), had flourished. God commanded Abram: “Look toward heaven, and tell (narrate) the stars, if thou be able to number (NAME them one by one) them. And He said, So shall thy Seed be (singular, referring to Christ; see Galatians 3:16). And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:5).
Abram surely knew the star names and the exact location in the sky to start naming them. (Not numbering them as in 1-1billion). Tracing the heavens from right to left, (same direction that Hebrew is read), and beginning with constellation Virgo; he would possibly have recited words such as: “VIRGO, SUBILAH, ZAVIJAVA, SPICA/TSEMECH¹, VINDEMIATRIX, COMA, IHESU, CHRISTOS, BOOTES, ARCTURUS, NEKKAR, AGENA, TOLIMAN,” which translates to: “The virgin who carries the gloriously beautiful Seed, the Branch (Messiah), the Son who comes down to rule, the desired Son, Jesus, the Christ, the coming Shepherd, the Pierced, the despised Sin Offering, the Beginning and the End.”
This was what was ‘counted to him for righteousness’, that he understood the prophetic declaration that the Father had placed in the heavenlies, ‘And he believed in the Lord;’ not simply that he could count the stars in the sky!
Job 38:31 names several specific stars (KJV). Which God Himself acknowledged in the series of questions that He asked Job, indicating that there was common knowledge of the star names among the ancient patriarchs of that age.
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth (the constellations) in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” (Job 38:31,32).
The seven stars, the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, apparently symbolize the Adamic Family. This could suggest a time cycle from the Age of Leo through the Age of Pisces, and the beginning of Aquarius?
The Pleiades.
Taurus is composed of two main groups of stars; the Pleiades and Hyades. The Pleiades are a star cluster with eta (η), Alcyone, as the principal star, situated on the shoulder of the Bull, also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45, or M45.
In Job 38:31, the Lord is speaking directly to Job and challenges him, asking if he can bind the chains of the Pleiades—the implication being that Job cannot, but the Lord can.
Talmud ( Bavli, Berakhot, 58b ) says that it has about 100 stars, understanding the word כימה as כמאה ke’ me-ah, “about one hundred” in Hebrew.
Job 9:9 “[God] alone spreadeth out the heavens…which maketh Arcturus (Bear) and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
The Pleiades (also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45) is an open star cluster in the constellation of Taurus.
Bear:
5906 `Ayish, ah’-yish; or `Ash, awsh; from 5789; the constellation of the Great Bear (perh. from its migration through the heavens):-Arcturus. Ayath. See 5857.
Orion:
3685 Keciyl, kes-eel’; the same as 3684; any notable constellation; spec. Orion (as if a burly one):-constellation, Orion.
Pleiades is the Septuagint translation of:
3598 Kiymah, kee-maw’;
from the same as 3558; a cluster of stars;
i.e. the Pleiades: Pleiades, seven stars.
“By His spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent” (Job 26:13).
-Note: SERPENS and HYDRA are two examples of this.
The prophet Amos also advised, “Seek him that maketh the seven stars (literally, Pleiades) and Orion” (Amos 5:8).
The obvious familiarity of the star names in the book of Job (accepted as the oldest book in the Bible) testifies to the antiquity handed down by Adam to his descendants. Ancient star charts can be found in virtually every civilization as observed in China, India, Babylonia, Persia, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Rome, Scandinavia, and in Central America and are a witness to a single, Divine origin by their phenomenal unity. Its not coincidence.
Psalm 8:3
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon Psalm 148:3
Praise you him, sun and moon: praise him, all you stars of light. Ps 147:4
He who made the Pleiades and Orion And changes deep darkness into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The LORD is His name. Amos 5:8
Bereshit (Genesis) 1:14 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:
The Torah emphasises the importance of time and keeping track of time. Therefore, keep this in mind as we look at them. The astronomical bodies are to serve as:
Signs and for seasons and for days and for years
[If there will arise among you a prophet…] and he gives you a sign
אוֹת
(hebrew [meaning a sign) in the heavens, as it is stated in the case of Gideon [who said to the angel]: “then show me a sign
אוֹת
(Shoftim [Judges] 6:17), and then it says [further], “let it be dry only upon the fleece [and upon all the ground let there be dew]” (Shoftim [Judges] 6:39).
Thus we learn that anytime we see an ot,
אוֹת a sign,
we are looking at a reference to the celestial object.
The very first mitzva, (Commandment/instruction), given to the Israelites, concerned time and it’s calculation: for the Passover Lamb!
And The Name Ha Shem spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month [shall be] unto you the beginning of months: it [shall be] the 1st month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth [day] of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of [their] fathers a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take [it] according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb Shemot Exodus 12:1-4
Showing us the importance of time and the astronomical bodies.
Season:
4150 mow`ed, mo-ade’; or mo`ed, mo-ade’; or (fem.) mow`adah (2 Chron. 8:13), mo-aw-daw’; from 3259; prop. An appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; spec. a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting also a signal (as appointed beforehand):- appointed ( sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).
Years:
8141 shaneh (in plur. only), shaw-neh’; or (fem.) shanah, shaw-naw’; from 8138; a year (as a revolution of time):- whole age, long, plus old, year.
The father is the creator the adversary/hasatan/devil is the one who perverts and steals and copies he never had an original idea and the story in the heavens was perverted so we would miss it because we were told it was all rooted in the occult and forbidden knowledge.
It would seem that it is a correct statement that our destiny is written in the stars. His plan is there and Yeshua refers to the signs in the heavens moon and stars and where we will see the sign of the coming of the son of man, Look up not down when you see all these things for your redemption draws nigh.
The sons of Issachar were able to read and interpret the signs and we know the wise men saw His star in the East and knew it told of the birth of a king.
Interesting note that the scripture records that hasatan was not a fallen angel but was the anointed cherub that covereth.. Ezek. 28:14-16.
The definition of zodiac is: a belt of the heavens within about 8° either side of the ecliptic, including all apparent positions of the sun, moon, and most familiar planets. It is divided into twelve equal divisions or signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces).
Astronomy, (NOT Astrology) is the branch of science which deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. It is the study of the stars and of the heavens and the movements of the heavenly bodies. However the mazzaroth is biblical astronomy Numbers 13:17.
Mazzaroth – The Hebrew Zodiac and the Gospel of Salvation….
and so not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, there are some interesting concepts connected to the cycles in the heavens.
Definitions and explanation.
Mazzaroth meaning prognostications, found only Job 38:32, probably meaning “the twelve signs” (of the zodiac), as in the margin
Mazzaroth is a Biblical Hebrew word (מַזָּרוֹת Mazzārōṯ, LXX Μαζουρωθ, Mazourōth) found in the Book of Job and literally meaning ‘a garland of crowns’. [1] but its context is that of astronomical constellations , and it is often interpreted as a term for the zodiac or the constellations thereof.
Masal (Lamed Shin Mem) in Gen. 1:14 “the task of separating and ruling” (masal) are notably, also a divine role here.
4216 Mazzarah, maz-zaw-raw’; appar. from 5144 in the sense of distinction; some noted constellation (only in the plur.), perh. collect. the zodiac:- Mazzaroth. Comp. 4208.
5144 nazar, naw-zar’; a prim. root; to hold aloof, i.e. (intrans.) abstain (from food and drink, from impuruty, and even from divine worship [i.e. apostatize]); spec. to set apart (to sacred purposes), i.e. devote:- consecrate, separate (-ing, self).
4208 mazzalah, maz-zaw- law’; appar. from 5140 in the sense of raining; a constellation, i.e. Zodiacal sign (perh. as affecting the weather):- planet. Comp. 4216.
Note its’ similarity to Mazzala shown as one of the Hebrew root words for Mazzaroth.
Mazzaroth occurs twice in scripture:
Iyov (Job) 38:31-33 “Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up [God’s] dominion over the earth?
The second time it is in a slightly different form:
2 Melakim (Kings) 23:3-5 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of HaShem to follow HaShem and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of HaShem all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel.
He did away with the pagan priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts.
The pictures found today in the zodiac were not developed by the Greeks, but were in place perhaps as early as 4000 B.C. predating even the civilizations of Sumeria.
These pictures were not merely arranged in haphazard order to aid in the tracking of the star movements, but with the purpose of depicting an epic narrative.
Authors like Bullinger and Seiss have suggested that there is a deeper meaning, one that goes beyond even the most illuminated of hidden/occult interpretations. The zodiac is a pictorial story of God’s plan of salvation on earth. (occult means hidden.)
Below some biblical meanings given to the Main Constellations and the stars within their groupings.
Constellation: Bethulah Meaning……Virgin:
Star…: Tsemech Meaning: Branch. Used exclusively of the M Messiah. Jer 23:5-6, Zech 3:8, Zech 6:12 Isa 4:2.
Star…: Zavijaveh Meaning: Gloriously beautiful. Isa 4:2
Constellation: Mozanaim Meaning……: Scales. Iyov (Job) 31:6, Eze 45:10
In The First group:
The Redeemer. “The sufferings of Christ.”
1 VIRGO The prophecy of the promised seed. THE SEED OF THE WOMAN YESHUA THE INCARNATE SON.
Virgo, is depicted as a virgin in every ancient reference, holding in one hand abranch, and in the other a sheaf of grain, or seed, always associated with a child, “Shesh nu” in Egyptian, the desired son, the symbol of the incarnation of God on earth.
COMA. (= The desired). The woman and child the desired of all nations (in the most ancient Zodiacs).
CENTAURUS (with two natures). The despised sin-offering.
BOOTES. The coming One with branch.
2. LIBRA The Redeemer’s atoning work. THE REQUIRED PRICE PAID YESHUA THE REDEEMER
Libra, the scales or in the earliest zodiacs, an altar. Its meaning is the measuring of a price. One of its stars in Arabic means, “the price which is deficient”, while opposite is a star whose name means, “the price which covers,” or atonement. Libra symbolizes the price of the conflict, the deficient works of man compared to the perfect and finished sacrifice of Jesus accomplished on the cross.
CRUX. The Cross endured.
LUPUS. The Victim slain.
CORONA. The Crown bestowed.
3. SCORPIO The Redeemer’s conflict. THE MORTAL CONFLICT YESHUA THE SUFFERER. SERPENS. Assaulting the man’s heel.
Scorpio,with his claws reaching out to influence the scales, is crushed beneath the foot of
Sagittarius,in the oldest pictures of the zodiac is a cherubim. This symbol is situated 1/3 rd of the way around the zodiacal circle. It had the body of both lion and bull with wings of an eagle and the head of a woman.
OPHIUCHUS. The man grasping the serpent.
HERCULES. The mighty man victorious.
4. SAGITTARIUS The Redeemer’s triumph. THE FINL TRIUMPH YESHUA THE CONQUEROR
Sagittarius is the symbol of the incarnation, both God and man, animals representing the four corners of the heavens and symbolizing the aspects of God’s redemptive work on this earth, he is poised with his arrow drawn and pointed at the heart of the scorpion. Underneath him is the southern cross.
LYRA. Praise prepared for the Conqueror.
ARA. Fire prepared for His enemies.
DRACO. The dragon cast down.
In The Second group: The Redeemed.
5. CAPRICORNUS The result of the Redeemer’s sufferings LIFE OUT OF DEATH YESHUA THE SACRIFICE
Capricorn, the goat with the tail of the fish. To the Hebrews, the goat was the sin offering, Capricorn is posed with his foot under him and his head bowed, as if in death. The second half of this symbol is the tail of a fish, the most prolific creature in nature, the fish lives in the waters, symbol of life and God’s spirit. Out of the son of God’s death, comes everlasting life.
SAGITTA. The arrow of God sent forth.
AQUILA. The smitten One falling.
DELPHINUS. The dead One rising again.
6. AQUARIUS (D) The Blessings assured. BLESSINGS OUT OF VICTORY YESHUA THE LIVING WATER (SUCCOTH WATER LIBATION CEREMONY!)
Aquarius, the water bearer, the one pouring out life giving waters that symbolize God’s spirit, into the mouth of the fish. This may have been a reference to the instructions given to the disciples when you see the man carrying water jar follow him
PISCIS AUSTRALIS. The blessings bestowed.
PEGASUS. The blessings quickly coming.
CYGNUS. The Blesser surely returning.
7. PISCES The Blessings in abeyance. DELIVERANCE OUT OF BONDAGE YESHUA THE LIBERATOR
Pisces, the fishes connected to the neck of the sea monster, one points to the center of heaven the other follows the ecliptic, the path of the earth around the sun. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
THE BAND. The great enemy, “Cetus.”
ANDROMEDA. The redeemed in bondage.
CEPHEUS. The Deliverer coming to loosen.
8. ARIES The Blessings consummated. GLORY OUT OF HUMILIATION YESHU THE CROWNED LAMB.
Aries, the lamb prepared from the foundations of the world, the unblemished sacrifice for mankind. with his foot poised to strike off the tether attaching the fishes to the neck of the sea monster. “He (Jesus Christ), came to set the captives free”.
CASSIOPEIA. The captive delivered.
CETUS. The great enemy bound.
PERSEUS. The “Breaker” delivering.
The Third group. The Redeemer. “The glory that should follow.”
9. TAURUS Messiah coming to rule. HIS GLORIOUS COMING YESHUA THE JUDGE.
Taurus, the Bull. His horns, symbolizing God’s judgment, are pointed to the earth, one stabs the heal of a shepherd “Aquilla”, who holds his flock, Christ the good shepherd, received in our place God’s absolute judgment. In the bull’s neck is the Pleiades, the congregating of the judges, who come back to earth after their resurrection to judge the earth with Christ at his second coming.
ORION. The Redeemer breaking forth as Light.
ERIDANUS. Wrath breaking forth as a flood.
AURIGA. Safety for His redeemed in the day of wrath.
10. GEMINI Messiah as Prince of princes. HIS RULE ON EARTH YESHUA THE KING Gemini, the twins.
Castor is the suffering redeemer, and Pollux is the king. Symbols of the first and second coming of Christ.
LEPUS. The enemy trodden under foot.
CANIS MAJOR. The coming glorious Prince.
CANIS MINOR. The exalted Redeemer.
11. CANCER Messiah’s redeemed possessions. HIS POSSESSIONS HELD SECURE YESHUA THE PROTECTOR.
Cancer, the crab. Originally it was the fortress, the impregnable enclosure of protection. In Egypt it was a scarab, the beetle that hatched from the ground and flew to heaven, the stronghold of the saved.
URSA MINOR. The lesser sheepfold.
URSA MAJOR. The fold and the flock.
ARGO. The pilgrim’s arrival at home.
12 LEO Messiah’s consummated triumph. HIS ENEMIES DESTROYED YESHUA THE VICTOR.
Leo, the great lion. “The conquering lion of Judah”, Jesus Christ, who will come again. The king that the apostle John traced back to that tribe of Israel. In his heart is the star called Regulus.
HYDRA. The old serpent destroyed.
CRATER. The cup of wrath poured put.
CORVUS. The birds of prey devouring.
——
This is the whole story of God’s atonement work on earth, its beginning and ending are symbolized by the sphinx – combining Virgo and Leo.
The lay out of the constellations tell the good news of salvation to mankind. Most people don’t even think about the fact La Crux (the cross) was a constellation before the Romans ever invented crucifixion.
There is apparently a key to understanding the celestial zodiac is found in ancient depictions of a mythical creature called a sphinx. This is maybe because Sphinx were often placed at entrances to palaces or temples of antiquity. Wonder where they got the idea from?!
This positioning implied power, authority and protection. The bodily form of the sphinx combines two to four animals, a lion, bull or eagle with the head of a human. The sphinx has remained an important symbol in our imagination and can be found in today’s fantasy games and literature. The combination of all four creatures in one constitutes what is described in Ezekiel and elsewhere in the Bible as a type of angel.
The keruvim כְּרוּבִים
The word kerubim/ keruvim also has a meaning of “one who prays”, or “one who intercedes.” Cherubim or Kerubim/ keruvim are an order of angel described in the Bible and ancient texts as a combination of two, or more often, four creatures, including that of a human. Both the mythical Sphinx and the scriptural cherubim are “hybrid” beings combining two to four creatures.
As Solomon declared: There is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing of which one might say, see this, it is new? It has already been for the ages which were before. Eccl. 1:10
The path of the sun among the stars is called the ecliptic. The 12 constellations that lie along the ecliptic form the Zodiac. The other constellations are divided into those north of the Zodiac and those south of it.
From one place on the Earth different constellations are seen at different times of the year. This happens because, as well as turning on its axis, the Earth is always moving around the sun, making 1 orbit each year. A star that is visible at night during 1 part of the year may appear close to the sun 6 months later; it would not then be seen at night.
Some constellations can be seen only from the Northern Hemisphere and some only from the Southern Hemisphere. The constellations of the Zodiac can be seen from both hemispheres.
Taking the summer, spring, winter, and fall equinoxes from the zodiac, they correspond to the faces of the four cherubim around His throne. The Bible tells us that the earth is His foot stool and in Isaiah; that there are 2 Seraphim over the throne. Seraphim translates from the Hebrew “fiery flying serpents”. The star sign directly over the North pole is Draco the Dragon.
On the fourth day God created the stars, the sun, and the moon. He created them for signs and for seasons.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The 12 star signs that orbit our equator make up what we call the Zodiac. They also corresponded to the 12 banners that the 12 tribes of Israel carried in the same order around the Tabernacle.
12 is an interesting number. There are 12 constellations for the 12 sons of Jacob. Each tribe in ancient Israel was represented by one of these 12 constellations. The tribe of Levi, for example, was charged with the “balances of the sanctuary,” hence “Libra” typifies them. Judah, no surprise, is represented by “Leo,” the Lion of the tribe of Judah, since Yeshua/Jesus, THE LION of the tribe of Judah, came from that tribe.
The stars, too, were bounded according to the number of the sons of Israel.
Midrash Rabbah – Bamidbar (Numbers) 2:7. ACCORDING TO THE ENSIGNS (II, 2) There were distinguishing signs for each prince; each had a flag and a different color for every flag, corresponding to the precious stones on the breast of Aaron. It was from these that governments learned to provide themselves with flags of various colors. Each tribe had its own prince and its flag whose color corresponded to the color of its stone. [In Aaron’s breast-plate]
Reuben’s stone was ruby and the color of his flag was red; and embroidered thereon were mandrakes.
Simeon’s was topaz and his flag was of a green color; the town of Shechem שכם
was embroidered thereon.
Levi’s was emerald (smaragd) and the color of his flag was 1/3 white, a 1/3 black, and a 1/3 red; embroidered thereon were the Urim and Thummim.
Judah’s was a carbuncle and the color of his flag was something like the heavens; embroidered on it was a lion.
Issachar’s was a sapphire and the color of his flag was black like stibium, (antimony), and embroidered thereon was the sun and moon, in allusion to the text, And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times. (I Chron.12:33).
Zebulun’s was an emerald and the color of his flag was white, with a ship embroidered thereon, in allusion to the text, Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea (Gen. 49:13).
Dan’s was jacinth and the color of his flag was similar to sapphire, and embroidered on it was a serpent, in allusion to the text, Dan shall be a serpent in the way (Gen. 49:17).
Gad’s was an agate and the color of his flag was neither white nor black but a blend of black and white; on it was embroidered a camp, in allusion to the text, Gad, a troop shall troop upon him (Gen. 49:19).
Naphtali’s was an amethyst and the color of his flag was like clarified wine of a not very deep red; on it was embroidered a hind, in allusion to the text, Naphtali is a hind let loose (Gen. 49:21).
Asher’s was a beryl and the color of his flag was like the precious stone with which women adorn themselves; embroidered thereon was an olive-tree, in allusion to the text, As for Asher, his bread shall be fat (Gen. 49:20).
Joseph’s was an onyx and the color of his flag was jet black; the embroidered design thereon for both princes, Ephraim and Manasseh, was Egypt, because they were born in Egypt.
On the flag of Ephraim was embroidered a bullock, in allusion to the text, His firstling bullock (Deut.33:17), which applies to Yahoshua (Joshua) who came from the tribe of Ephraim.
On the flag of the tribe of Manasseh was embroidered a wild ox, in allusion to the text, And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox (Deut.33:17), which alludes to Gideon son of Joash who came from the tribe of Manasseh.
Benjamin’s was jasper and the color of his flag was a combination of all the 12 colors; embroidered thereon was a wolf, in allusion to the text, Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth (Gen. 49:27).
The reason, then, why it is said, ACCORDING TO THE ENSIGNS is because each prince had his own distinguishing sign.
(Note: Some of the pictures above do not contain all the elements described.)
The Months of the Hebrew Year are also connected to the signs.
The sign of Nissan is T’leh / Aries / Ram corresponding to Judah and the faculty of speech. This is the month the Jews overcame the Egyptian deity of the ram. Judah means “thanks”, related to speech and on Passover of this month the Pascal lamb was offered.
IYAR is Shor / Taurus / Bull corresponding to Issachar (Torah scholars) and the faculty of thought.
SIVAN is Te’umim / Gemini / Twins corresponding to Zevulun (Torah supporters) and the faculty of motion.
Tamuz is Sartan / Cancer / Crab corresponding to Reuven (means “see”) and the faculty of sight.
AV is Ari / Leo / Lion corresponding to Shimon (means “hear”) and the faculty of hearing.
ELUL is Bethulah / Virgo / Virgin corresponding to Gad and the faculty of action. This is the month of repenting, to purify our thoughts and deeds in preparation of Rosh Hashana.
TISHRI is Moznaim / Libra / Scales corresponding to Ephraim (fruitful) and the faculty of coition. In this month is Rosh Hashana on which we are judged, and hope to merit a productive new year.
Cheshvan is Akrav / Scorpio / Scorpion corresponding to Menashe and the faculty of smell.
KISLEV is Kashet / Sagittarius / Archer corresponding to Benjamin (warriors) and the faculty of sleep
Tevet is Gedi / Capricorn / Kid corresponding to Dan (judge) and the faculty of anger.
SHEVAT is D’li / Aquarius / Water Drawer corresponding to Asher (wealth) and the faculty of taste.
ADAR is Dagim / Pisces / Fish corresponding to Naftali and the faculty of laughter.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
The true meaning of the celestial zodiac and the symbols of the ecliptic, the course the sun appears to travel the heavens, seems to have been lost to the majority of mankind. The purpose of the zodiac symbols can be understood by connecting the sequence of pictures in story form.
Take the summer, spring, winter, and fall equinoxes from the zodiac and they correspond to the faces of the four cherubim around His throne. The Bible tells us that the earth is His foot stool and in Isaiah; that there are 2 Seraphim over the throne. Seraphim translates from the Hebrew “fiery flying serpents”. The star sign directly over the North pole is Draco the Dragon.
But what is that connection? What point in the circle of heaven is its beginning?
Strangely the Sphinx may hold a key!
Sphinx in Greek means to “connect or bind together“.
A sphinx combines the head of a woman
and the body of a lion.
This fixes the beginning and ending of the celestial narrative beginning with Virgo and ending with Leo!
What about the four creatures of a cherub?
Look to four of the brightest stars in the zodiac;
Fomalhaut in Aquarius (man)
Regulus in Leo (lion)
Antares in Ophiuchus (serpent holder, or eagle) and
Aldebaran in Taurus (the bull).
All four of these stars are arranged three signs apart, in the four corners of the heavens – the four fixed signs of the zodiac. These are the four creatures which combine to form scriptural cherubim.
One final fact about the celestial equator is crucial: namely, that it does not remain fixed, but rather possesses a slow movement known as the “precession of the equinoxes.”
This movement, we know today, is caused by a wobble in the earth’s rotation on its axis. As a result of this wobble, the celestial equator appears to change its position over the course of thousands of years.
This movement is known as the precession of the equinoxes because its most easily observable effect is a change in the positions of the equinoxes, the places where the celestial equator crosses the zodiac.
In particular, the precession results in the equinoxes moving slowly backward along the zodiac, passing through one zodiacal constellation every 2,160 years and through the entire zodiac every 25,788 years.
The infamous account of Ezekiel ‘s wheels, often misinterpreted, is more likely a vision of the hybrid living creatures who populate the celestial narrative. Ezekiel saw four-faced cherubim and the wheels which were assigned to them, the four faces of the cardinal points of the zodiac, and a reference to their movement through the heavens.
Ezek. 1:1 – 1:19
As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire. Within it there were figures resembling four living beings.
And this was their appearance: they had human form. Each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze.[…] As for the form of their faces, had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.
Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another and two covering their bodies And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.
Now as I looked at the living beings ,behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings , for the four of them.The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship as if one wheel were within another. Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions[…]
This is the whole story of God’s atonement work on earth, its beginning and ending are symbolized by the sphinx – combining Virgo and Leo.
Interestingly there has recently been an adjustment to the 12 signs of the zodiac or mazzaroth as apparently there used to be 13. Then it was reduced to 12 when the Babylonians intentionally left out Ophiuchus, (now the “new” zodiac sign,) in order to make a tidy match with their 12-month calendar; ignoring the facts that the sun actually moves through 13 constellations and not 12.
Link to article https://www.today.com/popculture/your-life-lie-zodiac-has-changed-here-s-your-new-t103295
Apparently due to changes in the Earth’s alignment, the dates of many zodiac signs have changed, according to NASA and NBC. In addition, there may be a 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus. between Nov. 29 to Dec. 17 between Scorpio and Sagittarius.
It is called ophiucus and means the serpent holder.
The serpent holder keeps the serpent from getting the crown, while everything hangs in the balance. He is crushing Scorpios head while he is stinging His heal!
Ophiuchus, the serpent holder, who in earliest times was depicted as an eagle. Ophiuchus ‘s foot is stung (wounded foot, like Oedipus) by the upraised tail of the scorpion, his other foot is above the scorpion’s heart. He restrains the serpent coiled around him from taking a crown.
Ophiuchus depicts the earliest prophecy in the Bible, “I will put enmity between the serpent and the offspring of the woman, it will strike at his heel, and he will crush (the serpent’s) head.”
It is to be remembered that 12 tribes were changed as from the original 12 tribes Dan was left out. (See Rev.7) Instead, Josephs 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim were added in and Levi was left out Numbers 1 and then re-added in Rev 7. If Dan had remained there would be 13 tribes! Dan symbol is the serpent being the same as in Ophiuchus..Interesting?!
Wonderful fourfold blending –
sovereignty and humility; humanity and deity!
Ezekiel’s vision is seen again by John Rev. 4:6-8.
Most of us are likely familiar with the parallel which has often been noted between the four Gospel Accounts and the four living creatures in the opening vision of the prophet Ezekiel 1:10.
The lion symbolizes supreme strength, kingship;
the man, highest intelligence;
the ox, lowly service;
the eagle, heavenliness, mystery, divinity.
In Matthew we see the Messiah-King (the lion).
In Mark we see Jehovah’s Servant (the ox).
In Luke we see the Son of Man (the man).
In John we see the Son of God (the eagle).
It needs all four aspects to give the full Truth.
As Sovereign He comes to reign and rule.
As servant He comes to serve and suffer.
As Son of Man He comes to share and sympathize.
As Son of God He comes to reveal and redeem.
Face of a Man – The primary face of each of the four living creatures is that of a man. This typifies the Lord’s normal human life as seen throughout the Gospels. On one hand He performed miracles, on the other hand He was so ordinary that people wondered, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Matt. 13:55).
Face of a Lion – As king of the animals, the lion signifies reigning, victory, boldness, strength, and vigor. To have the face of a lion is to aggressively stand against anything sinful or worldly. Though tender and lowly in His humanity, the Lord also expressed the face of the lion at the appropriate times. the Lord was truly the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5).
Face of an Ox – The lion’s face on the right side is counter-balanced by the ox’s face on the left. The ox is a beast of burden, willing to serve, work, and sacrifice for others. This is the Lord’s Slave-Savior life in us, as seen in the book of Mark. The Lord Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve others by giving His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
Face of an Eagle – Throughout the Bible, the eagle signifies the soaring, transcendent, powerful divine life of God. This fourth face, the face of an eagle, is hidden in the rear. In a sense the eagle’s face is a secret, a mystery to those around us. This was Paul’s secret of sufficiency in Philippians 4:11-12. Perhaps few people may know how we can overcome so many earthly frustrations. But the buoyancy and transcendence is not of ourselves; it is sourced in the hidden divine life within us. The Lord was not suppressed by either persecution or praise. Although the Lord fed the great crowd in John 6, He immediately withdrew to a mountain alone when the people sought to exalt Him and make Him King. This was a manifestation of the face of an eagle, soaring above both tribulations and triumphs.
Summary – The four living creatures in Ezekiel express Messiah in four aspects: as a man, as a lion, as an ox, and as an eagle.
Moreover, these four faces correspond to Christ portrayed in the Gospels:
the Man-Savior in Luke,
the King-Savior in Matthew,
the Slave-Savior in Mark, and
God the Savior in John.
As the four living creatures, we can express Christ in His all-inclusiveness.
