In our last discussion about the return of the Lion of Judah we shared this scripture:
- 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.
- Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
- Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
- His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Psalms19:1-5)
Verse four uses the line “As a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. God in this case is compared to a bridegroom which throughout the scriptures is coupled with the “Bride” meaning the Church. These descriptions in the scriptures, and in these sky pictures incorporate what we call “icons,” describing attributes of each character. Taken together they are called the iconography of the heavens. So the goal of this paper is to investigate the icons and match them to their natural counterparts in the scriptures. In this way the reader will “see” that these icons in the heavens naturally testify of Christ. When one considers the “strong man” and the Lion of the tribe of Judah one needs to ask “do these two descriptions show up in the Heavens?” They do.
My favorite constellation is Orion. Of all the constellations this one, looks nearly like the drawn depiction, easy to see in the night sky. His left arm is raised, holding aloft a lion’s skin. From our previous essay we learn that the Lion skin identifies him as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. In his right hand he wields a club, this club is from an olive branch where the redeeming work of the savior occurred in an orchard of olive trees and the adversary’s work was frustrated. Three stars mark his waist or the belt of Orion, and below it his sword in it’s sheath. Lupus had originally been a serpent clutched in the talons of the lion that has been replaced by Canis Major (also a corrupted constellation). Remember the excerpt from Hinckley’s book: And long before him Spenser had, in the Faerie Queen:
And now in Ocean deepe Orion
flying fast from hissing snake,
His flaming head did hasten for to steepe.
This hissing snake has been replaced by a rabbit named Lupis. That snake or serpent’s head was under Orion’s left foot, in the act of being crushed, and Orion’s right leg is in the attitude as if wounded, bent back awkwardly. All put together we have the Lion of the tribe of Judah in the act of crushing the head of a serpent while himself being wounded in the heel.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, (Amos 5:8)
A straight line can be drawn across a planisphere (map of the heavens) lining up to stars in the heels of the feet of four constellations (Orion, Auriga, Hercules, and Ophiuchus) portraying the bruised heel! There must be a significant reason the heavens were organized to portray this enmity between the woman and the serpent to be drawn from one end of heaven to the other.
In Greek mythology Orion is a giant huntsman, the son of Euryale and Poseidon, he is also said to be the son of Gaia (Mother Earth). His father Poseidon gave him the gift of walking on water! To the Jews he was known as “Chesil” the giant, a hero, or the strong one.
In the Egyptian Denderah, Orion is shown as a man wearing the crown of Lower Egypt with a staff and beater. Under his feet he appears to be treading on a serpent and under that in Hieroglyphs, is the name Oar. In Hebrew the root oor, or or, means “lighting”[1]. Orion means coming forth as light. The Akkadian Ur-ana, means the “light of heaven.” The sword at his side has several nebulae reflecting the glory and brilliancy of his coming. In all cases Nebulae that can be seen with the naked eye seem to be strategically placed. This one is in the sword. Two others are also found lower in the blade of the sword, suggesting blood spilled.
The name Orion comes from the Latin “Ori” to rise, beginning, source, founder, morning light, where we get the word origin, and same as the 1st Greek letter[2] and beginning of the Greek dictionary Alpha! In Hebrew “Or”[3] means to shine gloriously. This Constellation surely is the Alpha and Omega of the Heavens! See Orion below by Johann Bayer, 1603 in the standing position, where his wounded heel is more natural looking. Some of the stars in this constellation are as follows:
“Meissa” at the head meaning shining, or coming forth[4] (Hebrew) A similar word “Messiah” means “The anointed one,” as one is anointed on the head.
“Betelgeuz” right shoulder “Geuz” and “Giauza” [5]were thought to be the like names to “Gibbor” to the Hebrews meaning Giant, but originally these words expressed one who was in the center of the heavens, as a central figure. The other part of the word “Bet-el” [6]is the Hebrew for temple, or house of God. Could this star name that we in the west pronounce Beetle-juice, in reality mean the house of God in the midst of Heaven? (Hebrew) “Bellatrix” means the female conqueror, But the Arabic title from Ulugh Beg is“Al Murzim al Najid meaning the Prince who roars[7] identified by the lion skin held aloft in his left arm (Arabic)
“Rigel” at left ankle, meaning foot[8] (Arabic) maybe also known as “Thabit” to kick, treading on?[9] (Hebrew)
“Al Nitak” one of three stars at belt and above the Diffused Nebula meaning “the wounded one”(Arabic) “makka”[10] (Hebrew)
“Al Nilam” the middle belt star meaning string or belt of pearls [11](Arabic)
“Mintaka” belt star, unknown meaning, possibly to cut or divide as with his sword [12]
“Saiph” or “Nair Al Saif” on the sword meaning sword [13](Arabic)
“Al Giebba” or “Al Gebor” in the midst[14] (Arabic)
Another constellation in the heavens also wearing a lion skin is Hercules; like Orion he is positioned exactly the same, his left foot is coming down upon the head of Draco the dragon, so that he treads down the serpent. His right foot turned back so that he is in the kneeling position as if his foot has been wounded. Draco’s tongue is extended pointing to the left foot, as if he were the cause of the wounding.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. (Psalms 91:13)
In Greek mythology Hercules is part man and part God. His Father was Zeus, and his ‘mortal’ mother called Alcmene. Likewise Heavenly Father is the Father to Jesus with a mortal Mother by the name of Mary. In his right hand he wields a club (fashioned from an olive tree)[15] to crush his enemy, and in his left, he grasps a branch that has apple-like fruit. He is dressed in the skin of a lion identifying Him as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This heavenly depiction shows Hercules holding a branch with apples and serpents intertwined.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim , and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3: 15, 21-24)
The “It,” in verse 15 did not refer to Adam, but to the seed of the woman (Christ) who would come later to bruise the head of the serpent.
Among the latter feats of Hercules was to travel to the far western extremity of the world to a garden protected by the Hesperides[16] and retrieve a “branch of golden apples.” The Hesperides were three Nymphs of the evening, the daughters of Atlas, who were sent to the garden to protect the way of a fabled tree that grew golden apples which was guarded by a fierce serpent. Some stories have it that these golden fruits were Citroen (Oranges). This golden fruit was only for the gods, for to partake of it insured the recipient of immortality. Hercules unable to get past the Hesperides went to their father Atlas, asking to trade tasks. Hercules would carry the heavens on his shoulders if Atlas would get past his daughters and return with a branch. Atlas went, and returned successfully branch in hand, but had no intention of re-taking the burden of the heavens. Hercules then asked him to trade places just long enough to get a cushion for his shoulders, as he was unaccustomed to the great weight. Atlas laid down the branch and took his place while Hercules picked up the branch and escaped. In other accounts[17] Hercules did not need to call on Atlas for help but killed the dragon (snake) of the Hesperides himself and took possession of the fruit. The Hesperides in despair turned into trees- Elm, willow, and poplar. The dragon was transported to the sky where it became the constellation Draco the dragon. The Greeks also believed the Hesperides were also placed in the heavens as the seven stars of the constellation Ursa Minor[18], which we see guarding the way with Draco the dragon wrapped around them.
The Hesperides replace the cherubim who guard the way into the garden, the snake matches the serpent of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. Christ took on the weight (sins) of the world and retrieved a branch with fruit from the tree that restores the partaker of eternal life. In fact, Christ is that branch.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Once again we have here the idea of a “branch” who is identified as “The Lord our Righteousness.” However, this representation of the tree is none other than the tree of life, where the only one who could lead us back to eternal life is Christ. Hercules had at least twelve labors to perform before he could dwell with the gods. They portray in story many shadows and pictures of the mission of Jesus the prophet of Nazareth. It is this picture in mind that convinces me that Hercules is a picture of the 1st and 2ndAdam; Adam in the Garden with a wound at his heel (creating a fall), then Christ (the 2nd Adam) who receives a piercing through his heel, but then crushes the serpents head with his foot defeating his enemy, like Hercules pictured in the heavens. The very nature of his club coming from an olive tree, where Satan’s purposes were frustrated by the redeeming work that happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, an olive orchard! Interesting also that the Old Testament had twelve tribes represented by twelve Captains identified in the book of Numbers chapter two, and the New Testament had twelve representatives (Apostles), like unto the 12 labors of Hercules.
Hercules first labor[19] was to kill the Nemean Lion, whose skin could not be penetrated by any sword or spear. Because of this Hercules had to kill the lion with his bare hands. After having strangled the lion, he tried in vain to skin the beast with his knife, but it could not penetrate the skin. He then took one of the claws of the lion, which he found was the only thing that could penetrate through the thick skin, and he dressed the hide. He was then able to use this covering for his own. He is seen in the heavens wearing this garment to cover his nakedness and as a protection (it was impenetrable). Our first parents were dressed in coats of skins that were said to be associated with priestly or kingly vestiture’s[20]. We have the details of what King David wore as he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. (1 Chronicles 15:27)
In another story he threatened Oceanus with his arrows because of the tempest and boisterous sea. Oceanus becomes frightened and immediately the waves became smooth, yet another reference to a deed of Christ[21].
In Arabic he is called “Al Giscale”[22] the strong one[23]. Another name “Jasi ala rakbatihi” the kneeling one[24] (Arabic)
Some star names are:
“Ras al Gethi” at the face meaning “the head of him who brusies” (Arabic)
“Maasim” at club hand meaning wrist[25] (Arabic)
“Caiam” or “Cujam” or “Guiam” club [26](Arabic)
I warn those who have read this far, that the next page or so a lot of information will be thrown at you, the likes I have never done before. If I could show a full astronomy program for each piece, it would blow your mind. I advise much pondering and savoring of this information, It is mine alone, as a simple believer as I see a great witness in the Heavens of a divine creation. A chapter of my book “Pattern of the Heavens” called “other events” only touches on this information.
Another portrait in the Heavens, in fact another Zodiac sign called Sagittarius fits perfectly with the tribe of Asher. Asher comes from the Hebrew root meaning “Archer”. This heavenly sign is also a corruption of the original in that this sign is part Man and part Horse or a Centaur. On his back appears to be a loose cape, but most depictions show this is no mere cape, but a coat of skin. The earliest depictions show him wearing a coat of skin, including Albumazer’s block print description where a lion’s skin is clearly shown.
Taking the horns off of the centaur, and moving the man upward so as to sit upon his horse, and once again wearing the coat of a lion skin, we have the Lion of Judah fighting for his people.
And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. (Deuteronomy 33:24-27
Moses is referred to as the King of Jeshurun, so then the God of Moses is he who rideth upon the Heavens. Make note: The signs of the zodiac are the ensigns of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the blessings of both Israel to his sons, and Moses to the tribes, the blessings articulate to each tribe an individual blessing. However each zodiac sign also portray elements of God himself, as well of his organized church upon the earth. The eternal God is our refuge protected by his everlasting arms.
And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. (Psalms 45:4-5[27])
Speaking of the sharp arrows of the King, you may find it interesting to note, that this constellation’s point of the arrow is located at the Lagoon nebula, an orangish red nebula that appoears as blood. This arrow travels through the Heel of Ophiuchus, and on through the head of Scorpio. Scorpio is the constellation for the tribe of Dan.
Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. (Genesis 49:17)
Dan is portrayed both as a serpent, and by an eagle rending a serpent. The scorpion is a latter addition, placed by the Egyptians. This God who rideth high in the heavens shoots an arrow that passes through the Heel of Ophiuchus the thirteenth sign of the zodiac, in that his heel drops down into the path of the sun. Following past the foot the arrow buries itself into the head of the serpent. This is I believe where the beginning of the clock started as we measured time as Adam fell in the Garden of Eden the sun (in the Fall time of year) was at the heel on the clock and the adversary was thrust out of the garden, mortally wounded (in that he did not receive mortality as he lost his first estate). The signs of the zodiac are the twelve positions as our modern clocks are organized one through twelve. You may find it interesting to know that just below the tip of the Archers Arrow we have the very center of our Galaxy! This next photo is the latest picture we have of the great lights where (I believe) God dwells as the Book of Abraham describes:
And I saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of God; and there were many great ones which were near unto it;
And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.
And the Lord said unto me, by the Urim and Thummim, that Kolob was after the manner of the Lord, according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord’s time, according to the reckoning of Kolob. (Abraham 3:2-4)
Over 80% of all matter in the universe is made up of material scientists have never seen. It’s called dark matter and we only assume it exists because without it, the behavior of stars, planets and galaxies simply wouldn’t make sense. Here is what we know about it, or rather, what we think we know. Dark matter is completely invisible. It emits no light or energy and thus cannot be detected by conventional sensors and detectors. The key to its elusive nature must lie in its composition, scientists think. (From Space.com)
Here is what scientist think they know; they think, but they do not know. In other words they need to lean on theory. Think of dark matter (and dark energy) as a form of space dust, on a somewhat level plain between us and the center of our galaxy. Without dark matter scientist believe that the light from the center is enough to consume all life as we know it, here, where we live on the outer edge of our galaxy. Dark matter acts in a way as a sort of temporal veil between us and GOD. Many, but not all scientists, mock that God even exist; let alone that Abraham had any idea about what he was talking about. Science does not favor the scriptures, because they themselves do not have clear answers. I think science and prophets are both right about some things, but I defer to the prophets. Some of our newer telescopes help us see around all that space gunk, to see light that is emitted from the clouds of gas and light from the center. Newer telescopes have the ability to discern between different gases. As I understand it these colors of light are assigned to different groupings of gas, so that the color picture we have above may not be the actual colors. Yet these color combinations together make up the colors of refracted light. And so we have this scripture in Revelation:
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. (Revelation 4:3)
As you will recall the Lord placed the rainbow in the sky as a sign that he would no more flood the earth and kill man. So he covenanted with Noah:
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting Covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.(Genesis 9: 13-16)
In our latter days, our Prophet that restored the latter-day gospel Joseph Smith said:
“I have asked of the Lord concerning His coming; and while asking the Lord, He gave a sign and said, ‘In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time and harvest during that year: but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations, and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant.’”
(History of the Church, 6:254; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Mar. 10, 1844, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Wilford Woodruff; see also appendix, page 562, item 3.
Interesting that the rainbow is used as a token covenant for man, and that we have references to a bow in the heavens and that the color spectrum of theses gases may in like fashion mirror the place where God dwells. It is highly likely that Jehovah understands the true science and that man and his speculative theories (mine included) may fall short. But what I do have that others may lack is a true testimony of Jesus the Christ and his divine mission, His workings both on the earth and in the Heavens above.” Tim Adams
Footnotes
[1] Websters New World Hebrew Dictionary, Hayim Baltsan, published by Wiley Publishing inc. 1992 Cleveland Ohio
[2] James Strong, The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Greek dictionary, Grand Rapids, Michigan USA, Zondervan, 2001 p1587 word 1
[3] Ibid. Hebrew-Aramaic dictionary P 1469 words 215-219
[4] Steven J. Gibson, Star name list, Astronomer at Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico
[5] Richard Hinckley Allen, Star names Their Lore and Meaning, Dover Publications Inc New York USA 1963 p 307, 309
[6] James Strong, The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Hebrew-Aramaic dictionary, Grand Rapids, Michigan USA, Zondervan, 2001 p 1480 word 1008
[7] Allenop.cit. p 313
[8] Hayim Baltsan, Webster’s New World Hebrew Dictionary, Cleveland, Ohio, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 1992 p 583
[9] Ibid. 632
[10] Strongop.cit. p 1525 word 4347
[11] Allenop.cit. p 314
[12] Frances Rolleston, Mazzaroth, Whitefish, Montana USA, Kessinger Publishing, 2009 part 2 p 10
[13] Awde/Smith, Arabic Practical Dictionary, New York, USA Hippocrene Books Inc, 2004 p 401
[14] Allenop.cit. p 306-307
[15] Pierre Grimal, The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Malden, Massachusetts USA, Blackwell Publishers Inc. 2001 p 196 2nd paragraph
[16] Pierre Grimal, The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Malden, Massachusetts USA, Blackwell Publishers Inc. 2001 p201-201, 213
[17] Pierre Grimal, The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, 108 Cowley Road, Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishers Ltd, (pages 201-202)
[18] Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia, article “Hesperides” mythology
[19] Pierre Grimal, The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Malden, Massachusetts USA, Blackwell Publishers Inc. 2001 p 196
[20] Genesis 3:21, Isaiah 22:20-25
[21] Mark 4: 35-41
[22] Frances Rolleston, Mazzaroth, Whitefish, Montana USA, Kessinger Publishing, 2009 part 2 p 19
[23] Ps. 19: 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
[24] Ulugh Beg’s Catalogue of Stars, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Gibson Bros. Press, 1916 p 98
[25] Awde/Smith, Arabic Practical Dictionary, New York, USA Hippocrene Books Inc, 2004 p 428
[26] Richard Hinckley Allen, Star names Their Lore and Meaning, Dover Publications Inc New York USA 1963 p 246
[27] Ps 64:7 also Rev 6:2
Tim Adams- Husband, Father, Author, Iconology Expert
Tim Adams is first and foremost a father of six children and married to the love of his life Katy Ann MacArthur. Raised and lived around the US spending middle and High school years in Upstate New York. I remember well camping as a boy scout on the backside of the Hill Cumorah. Sneaking out at night as our leaders slept, digging with sticks looking for that stone box that held the plates. Professors hadn’t taught me yet that New York’s Hill was the wrong one. Nonetheless we moved there when I was 13; and I identified strongly with the boy prophet. My Father became a professor of Art History working on organizing an iconographical index for the Cathedral of Chartres. Having read a few of my Fathers papers and having him as a Seminary teacher trained me to “see” what the scriptures looked like in stone. Latter served a mission in the Netherlands Amsterdam mission, where I had fun with my companions seeing if they could identify the apostles and prophets in the large Catholic churches.
Tim attended Ricks College as it was then known; and found his girlfriend Katy MacAurthur (and yes; she is related to that famous General), and married her in the Washington DC Temple.
Tim attended a meeting in Portland Oregon where he lives; where a Christian man gave a presentation on the constellations, and how they testified of Christ. Having an acute interest in Greek mythology, I thought how strange that he fears using the icons that are Greek to testify of Christ’s godliness. Someone should write a book about it that understands iconology. So “Pattern of the Heavens” became my first book written in 2009. This year in March I completed a second book called “Similitude’s”. One could call it the iconology of Old Testament stories. This new book is a twist on a topic about typology, taking it to new places it has yet to go.
Tim graduated from Ricks College earning an associate degree in general education. He has not gone on to further his studies in any direction. No masters degree, no PHD, preferring instead to be a self made man; husband, Father, follower of Christ, and yes a dreamer.
Purchase Tim’s new book today: Similitudes: Typology of our Day
