By both Liaf and Morfessa
We are finally up to the constellation of Aries, the one that astrologers normally start with. Aries is a small, thin triangle-like constellation South of Andromeda and Perseus but North of Cetus the Sea Monster (both which we will talk about soon).
We are at the end of the "second book". If you remember, it started with Capricorn the goat dying in a sacrifice. Now this book ends with a ram living again "as it had been slain". Capricorn's tail was that of a fish that we said represented procreation and the purpose of the sacrifice saving many people. Now we have a ram, full of life and vitality. This denotes victory and triumph--- that which victory rests is what the ram was for: atonement.
The Hebrew name is Taleh or, "the lamb". The Arabic is Al Hamal, or, "the sheep, gentle, merciful". The ancient Akkadian name was Baraziggar, the full name literally meaning "the sacrifice of righteousness". The brightest star, El Nath means, "wounded" or "slain". This star actually is the same name as one in Taurus' horn. The second star beta, called Al Sheratan, means the "bruised" or "wounded". Lastly, the star gamma, called Mesartim (that's Hebrew), means, "the bound".
This brings to mind the Scripture in Revelation 5:12: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. By the way, at noontime in Israel during April of 33 AD, this constellation would have been high in the South, almost overhead during Christ's crucifixion.
The last chapter we had the woman chained. This same woman will be enthroned and glorified because of the Lord Jesus Christ. Cassiopeia is a circumpolar constellation well known by most people next in popularity to the Big and Little Dippers. This one looks like a "W". The Arabic name, El Seder, means, "the freed". The Denderah Zodiac her name is "set" as in "set up as a queen". This is the same idea that we've just discussed with the constellation Andromeda in the last message. This constellation was also anciently called, "the daughter of splendor" as is the meaning of Cassiopeia, which means, "the enthroned, the beautiful". Likewise, the Arabic name Ruchba means, "the enthroned". The names of the stars alpha and beta in this constellation have the meanings "freed" and "branch". Since she is a circumpolar constellation, she sits next to Cepheus, the King. Thus, she is the bride, the Lamb's wife of the heavenly calling. In 1572, there was a supernova in Cassiopeia that shone brighter than Venus for about two years before dimming again. A supernova is the symptom of a dying star whose nuclear reactions and outgoing pressure is "too cool" to stop the force of gravity from collapsing all the matter of the star in upon itself. When the force of gravity pulls the matter in, it starts a new nuclear reaction from the extreme pressure and "re-ignites" it for a time with new reactions. The inward force that causes this is so sudden and extreme that the star implodes on itself and the result is an extreme release in energy, brilliant light, and shell matter that gets flung out into space. The explosion is tremendous vaporizing any nearby planets. We won't pretend to know what this event means spiritually. Needless to say, one would be inclined to believe that this would portend something significant to Israel related to the meaning of this constellation.
Cetus is a great sea monster and enemy of the fishes in which the band of Pisces is attached as we said in an earlier message. The Bible calls him Leviathan. It is a large constellation residing in the southern part of our sky. The zodiac of Denderah called him Knem, which means, "subdued". They picture it as a monstrous head trodden by swine's feet (it's enemy). Another enemy of Cetus, and eagle, is over this figure and as Bullinger puts it, is "crowned with a mortar" which denotes bruising.
The brightest star, Merikar means, "the bound" or "chained" enemy. The tail star is called Diphda or Deneb Kaitos meaning, "overthrown" or "thrust down". Another star, called Mira, is an interesting star. This is a periodic variable star (one that changes brightness either due to something intrinsic in its composition or eclipsed by a dimmer companion star). Its period of variability is slightly less than a year in time where it goes from a noticeable star of the third magnitude for several days and then fades out until it cannot be seen at all for a while. Thus, it displays itself as an "unsteady" star. Ironically, the name means "The Rebel". This constellation is a picture of the Great Rebel, Satan, whose bind on Israel (and whom mankind cannot subdue) will nevertheless be bound by the Lamb (Ram) as depicted by the Victorious Aries. As the Bible says of mankind trying to subdue Satan (or Leviathan), Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed iron? or his head with fish spears?
Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? (Job 41:1-10).
Without the power and Spirit of God, one des not even have a ghost of a chance against Satan. But pertaining to the Victorious Lord, the Bible says, In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1). This brings us to another picture of Christ in this decan of Aries, Perseus, the "Breaker".
Perseus is "almost a circumpolar" constellation between Cassiopeia and Auriga that has the bright star Capella (discussed when we get to Taurus). It is recognizable as a loose array of moderately bright stars. This constellation is that of a mighty man, and the Hebrew word Peretz is the same as the Greek form of Perses or Perseus. This in turn is the same word used of Christ in Micah 2:13 that says, The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them. This is He who gathers the remnant of Israel as He breaks down all barriers and subdues Leviathan. In the Zodaic of Denderah, he is Kar Knem, or, "he who fights and subdues", an applicable description of the returning and victorious Christ (see Revelation 19).
The star alpha is called Mirfak, or, "who helps". Another bright star, Athik, means, "who breaks". The star gamma is called Al Genib, which means, "who carries away". In the legend, Perseus is holding the head of Medusa and maybe we have seen fantastic movies about the brave Perseus decapitating Medusa (who had a perpetual 'bad hair' day with all those snakes in her hair). Her gaze would turn men into stone. The Hebrew root word literally meant "the trodden under foot". The bright star, Al Gol in the head of Medusa is also a variable star, which fluctuates from 4th magnitude to 2nd magnitude. This gives it an evil, eerie atmosphere to it as well. Al Gol literally means, "rolling around". The Bible portrays Satan as variable in one instance as a "roaring lion" (I Peter 5:8) and yet "subtle" in another instance depending on his agenda (Genesis 3:1).
This concludes our decan of Aries and this particular book. The next zodiac opens another book starting with Taurus, the bull.