By both Liaf and Morfessa
We are still on the constellation of Virgo, sort of. Actually, each and every constellation has three others associated with it. And each of these groups of four total have a theme to tell, like a chapter in a book. There is no need to elaborate on the meaning of Virgo with her constellations. They tell of the coming Redeemer! The idea is the same as Genesis 3:15--- the first promise after the fall of man. The other three constellations with each zodiac constellation are called decans and connotes levels or "decks" if you want to think of it that way. With this being said, we'll look at the next three constellations starting with
Modern day times has perverted the meaning of this constellation. Today it is see as "Coma Berenices" or the wig of Berenice, who was the wife of Ptolomy III king of Egypt in the 3rd century B.C. Her hair was hung in the temple of Venus and then stolen, so the astronomer of Alexandria in order to appease her said that Jupiter took her wig and made it into a constellation. But the original depiction of the constellation was that of a woman holding a child. Even Shakespeare knew the original and actual meaning of this constellation when in one of his plays he referred to it as the "Good boy in Virgo's lap". The ancient temple in Denderah Egypt has a figure of a woman with a child as does the records indicating the Chaldees, Persians, and Egyptians (according to Almumazar the Arabian astronomer of the 8th century). The Persian account claims this is a young woman who is nourishing a young baby boy. The ancient name for this constellation was Comah , which actually means desired or longed for. The best Scripture for this constellation name is Psalms 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. Others see this as Jesus who is the "desire of all nations". Although we teach on this site that the "desire of all nations" was in reference to a better temple to come while it was being built from the return from the captivity, still we must understand that the glory of the Lord will fill that end-time temple where Ezekiel says, And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. Therefore, it is synonymous with Jesus being the "desire of all nations" from the perspective of the temple when he (the Desire) shall come again and fill the temple with glory. The ancient Egyptian name for this constellation was Shes-nu, i.e., the desired son.
It was from this constellation that Abulfaragius, the Arab Christian historian, claimed that Daniel the captive prophet in Babylon predicted a new star at the birth of Messiah (see our main star index page for more details). If this was true, then that explains how the "magi" got the idea regarding a new star representing the birth of a new King. As we stated before, the Hebrews knew something of stellar prophecy, and indeed there are apocryphal stories regarding Benjamin using them to reveal (unbeknownst to his other brothers) the identity of Joseph in Egypt when they went through some calculations together. However, the wise and learned people of Israel (as Daniel would have been) continued this tradition and taught others willing to learn. Indeed, in Christ's time, as new star in Coma would have at some point during the day or night would have passed directly over Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:9). This brings us to our next constellation
Centaurus is a dual natured creature, half man and half horse. The Arabic/Chaldaic/Hebraic name for this means the despised. We know Isaiah 53:3 spoke of Jesus as the "despised and rejected of men". Another name in Hebrew is Asmeath, which means "sin offering". The Greek name was Cheiron, which means the pierced or who pierces. The arrow that the centaur holds is aimed right at the heart of the constellation Lupus (explained later). The brightest star is Alpha Centauri otherwise known as Toliman which means the heretofore and hereafter. (c.f. Revelation 1:8). This is a variable star because it is actually a binary star system with "Alpha Centauri A" similar to our sun. There is a possibility of a third star distantly bound to this system (Proxima Centauri). However, the two closer stars cause variation in the visible output of light depending on their positions relative to each other (e.g. eclipsing). We do not think it takes an Einstein to put all these names together so that you have One who is "despised and rejected of men" who is "pierced" as a "sin-offering". This same One would be the "Alpha and Omega". Lastly, the dual nature of the constellation tells of the same dual nature of Christ. This brings us to the last constellation of the Virgo decan
Bootes is a hurried man with a spear in his right hand and a sickle in his left. The Greeks called him Bootes (Bo-oh-tees) stemming from the Hebrew word "Bo", which means to come. The brightest star in this constellation, Arcturus, (and the one Liaf believes is the most beautiful one in the heavens) is mentioned in Job 9:9 and probably was the original name of the constellation. It can be found by extending an imaginary arc from the end of the handle of the Big Dipper about 30 degrees. Again, Arcturus means He Comes. The ancient Egyptians called Bootes Smat, which means one who rules or governs. They also called him Bau, which means the "coming one". The star in the spearhead is named Al Katurops, which means "the branch, treading under foot". The star just below his waist is (Mirac or Mizar or Izar). Mirac means "the coming forth as an arrow" and Mizar (Izar) means "preserver" or "guarding". The star in his head called Nekkar means "the pierced" and another Hebrew name is Merga meaning, "who bruises".
Thus, this constellation, and all of the associated ones speak of the personage of Christ. Again, one does not have to be a rocket scientist to see the significance of these names in Bootes. It speaks of a Coming One who judges by treading under foot and bruises (Genesis 3:15). He is identified again as "the branch" and as one who comes quickly to rule.
In the next message of this series, we will discuss LIBRA and the associated constellations.