sacrifice

October 11, 2023October 11, 2023

THE GOSPEL IN THE STARS: LIBRA

The next constellation we get to in the Gospel in the Stars is Libra, which are the scales and refer to Daniel 5:27 “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.”

The three brightest stars are Zuben al genubi meaning “the purchase or price that is deficient”, Zuben al Chemali meaning “the price which covers” and Zuben Akrabi or Zuben Al Akrab which mean “the price of the conflict” and so in this sign we see that although we were weighed on the scales and found wanting that Jesus paid the price that covered that we might be redeemed.

Crux – The Southern Cross

The next decan in this constellation is that of Crux, or the Southern Cross, the interesting thing about this sign is that it has gradually been moving South and the last time it was seen in the Northern Hemisphere was at the time of Jesus’ death on the cross. The cross is the image of the last Hebrew letter that means ‘it is finished’ and this is what Jesus said when He died on the cross, ‘it is He finished’, He has accomplished our salvation. The Hebrew name for this constellation is Adom meaning ‘to cut off’ and means that Jesus’ sacrifice was made once for all.

In the Denderah zodiac crux is shown not as a cross but as a thirsty lion being given something to drink by a woman. This refers to the verse Ps 22:13-18 “I am poured out like water…my strength is dried up” and Ps 69:21 which says “in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”. The Egyptian name of this sign is Sera meaning victory and what a great victory was accomplished at the cross!

Lupus or Victima

The second decan in this sign is Lupus or Victima. It’s name in ancient Hebrew was Asedah and in Arabic Asedaton, both of these words meaning “to be slain”. Another ancient name for this sign was Sura meaning a sheep or lamb and so in this sign we see Is 53:7 “He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb; so He opened not His mouth.” This sign represents Jesus laying down His life for our sins so that He could pay the price that covers.

Corona

The last decan in this sign is Corona or the Crown, it is the crown for which Jesus endured the cross. In Greek it’s name was Ariadne meaning “who comes to reign”.

So in this sign we see Jesus, first slain as the victim on the cross, but coming again to receive the crown and rule and reign forever. We see that although we were weighed on the scales and found wanting that He paid the price to cover our sins so that one day we may live for eternity with Him.

April 29, 2022May 9, 2022

DAY OF ATONEMENT

The Day of Atonement, also known as Yom Kippur, was an annual festival where an animal would be slain for the complete forgiveness of the Israelites and was the day the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies. This was held on the tenth day of Tishri each year and can be found in Leviticus 16:1-34.

The first thing Aaron would do was to take a bull for his own sin offering and then two goats, he would cast lots to decide which goat would live and which would die. The goat that was to die would be sacrificed and then the other goat was the scapegoat who would live but would be sent off into the wilderness as a sign that he was carrying away the sins of Israel.

He was to put incense to burn on the altar of incense so that the incense would conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant of the law and then Aaron or his descendent could go in and sprinkle the blood of the bull and of the goat on the atonement cover. He was also to take blood and put it on the horns of the altar seven times.

April 18, 2022April 24, 2022

THE FEAST OF PASSOVER

Today we start our series on the Feasts of Israel and their prophetic and applicational meaning. We are going to start by looking at Passover. Passover was the first feast in the Jewish calendar with Passover preparations beginning on the 10^th of Nissan (about March or April) and the actual Passover occurring on the 14^th of Nissan and then the Feast of unleavened Bread began on the 15^th Nissan, the day after Passover.

April 15, 2022April 24, 2022

THE HOLY OF HOLIES, THE ARK OF THE COVENANT AND THE MERCY SEAT

In this last post in this series we are going to be looking at the Holy of Holies, the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat. It can be found in Exodus 25:10-22:

“Have them make an ark of acacia wood – two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you. Make an atonement cover of pure gold – two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make on cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.”

April 4, 2022April 24, 2022

THE BRAZEN ALTAR

The first piece of furniture we come to in the Old Testament tabernacle is the brazen altar. This was the altar at which sacrifices were made and it is described in Ex 27:1-8.

“Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. Make all its utensils of bronze – its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners. Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried. Make the altar hollow, out of boards, it is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.”

March 14, 2022March 14, 2022

TYPOLOGY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

One of my favourite studies in the Bible is that of typology, how the Old Testament is really a shadow of the New Testament. There are many stories in the Old Testament that are not only true in themselves but are also meant to teach us something about the New Testament. One of these is the Old Testament tabernacle.