The Zodiac and the Bible

"Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season?"

(Job 38: 32, KJV)

 

In the last blog, I dealt with the Mayan prophecy about the end of the world happening on Friday December 21, 2012. There was included in the Mayan Long-Count Calendar the zodiac. Since the Mayans were pagan. It follows that their use of the zodiac would be also pagan. However, what a lot of people are not aware of is the true origin of the Zodiac. Most people think the Zodiac and its twelve signs originated from pagan sources, but this is not at all true.  

As you can see from today's text, the term "Zodiac" is called the "Mazzaroth" in the oldest book in the Bible, Job. The name Mazzaroth in the above text refers to the twelve signs. The Zodiac signs and their true meaning has on the most part been lost. The Zodiac we see in books and magazines and other sources today is the corrupt pagan versions. Nevertheless what is interesting is that such authors as Henry M. Morris and Ken Fleming as well as others were still able to decipher and reconstruct from the twelve signs of the paganized Zodiac the true and original meaning of the Mazzaroth.  

So there are two primary versions of the Zodiac, the pagan zodiac and the Zodiac that originated from God. According to Genesis 1: 14, which reads, "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." (KJV). Does this not sound familiar? This is exactly what the zodiac was used for by the ancient Mayans in their calendars. To measure time, such as "signs, seasons, days, and years." It is important to note that there are two other terms that the zodiac goes by. Astrology and Horoscopes. Christian Apologists, Robert Morey defines the term "Astrology" as follows: 

"Astrology is the belief that the destinies of nations and individuals are determined by relative positions of the stars. These destinies can be discovered by a detailed examination of horoscopes which have been drawn by professional astrologers."[1] 

In other words, the pagan form of the zodiac was used for divination purposes which the Bible condemns (see Deut. 18: 9-10; 2 Kings 17: 17). For it is known among the ancients that many pagans worship the stars and planets in the heavens, even naming them their gods such as Astarte, Moloch, and Baal and all the starry hosts. For example, Mr. Morey makes this comment: 

"King Rehoboam of Judah not only erected images of Taurus but also of Aries the goat (2 Chron. 11:15; Lev. 17:7). The god Molech (Milchom, Moloch, Malcham) to whom human sacrifices were made was another astrological god who was worshipped (Lev. 18:21; 20:1-6). It represented the sun and was worshipped by casting live children into the fire in its belly. 

The worship of Moloch and "Rephan" or Saturn is condemned in Acts 7:43: "You have lifted up the shrine of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore, I will send you into exile beyond Babylon." When godly kings such as Josiah arose in Israel, they cleansed the nation of the elements of astrology. Several astrological deities are mentioned in the following account: 

"The king [Josiah] ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the Lord 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 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. He took the Asherah pole from the temple of the Lord to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem and burned it there. He ground it to powder and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people. He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes, which were in the temple of the Lord and where women did weaving for Asherah (2 Kings 23:4-7)." 

The Old Testament refers to Israel's frequent involvement in Baal worship nearly one hundred times. Baal was the Phoenician sun-god. Apostate Israel went so far as to build houses dedicated to the worship of the sun (Baal) and even to install horses and chariots dedicated to sun worship (2 Kings 23:11)."[2] 

Mr. Morey then goes on in more detail about these pagan gods in the starry heavens. Indeed, not only does Israel have a sad history of worshipping false gods, but North America has its own sad commentary both historically and at present in also worshipping false gods. Oh, that the people in my country (myself included) would make it a point to warn others against worshipping the false gods of materialism, hedonism, false religions, and many other things that become idols in our lives. Oh that we would be wise like righteous Josiah who removed the false images and false gods from his land.  

“With appropriate reservations, therefore, a narrative such as the following might be inferred from the 12 main signs and their respective decans. 

Virgo. “A Deliverer will come into the human family someday, born as a man, yet supernaturally conceived of a virgin, seed of a woman, yet Son of God.” 

Libra. “Since man is a sinner and under the curse, an adequate price must be paid to redeem him and balance the scales of divine justice.” 

Scorpio. “The price of redemption must be the death of the Deliverer, since man is under the condemnation of death, and yet, in dying, He must also destroy the Serpent who led man into sin.” 

Sagittarius. “To prevent the coming of the Deliverer in the human family, the great dragon will seek to corrupt mankind into a race of demon-possessed monsters and murderers.” 

Capricornus. “Man will finally become so sinful as to leave no remedy but complete inundation in his entire world.” 

Aquarius. “The floodgates of heaven will pour forth waters to cleanse an evil world, but representatives of the land animals will survive to fill the earth again.” 

Pisces. “From the waters will emerge the true people of God, as God retains His kingly throne despite all the attacks of Satan.” 

Aries. “In the fullness of time, the seed of the woman will come, ready to die as the sacrifice for man’s sins, paying the great price to redeem His bride and destroy the works of the dragon.” 

Taurus. “Having paid the price, the slain Ram will rise as the mighty Bull, to execute judgment on all ungodliness and to rule supreme.” 

Gemini. “As both Son of God and Son of Man, the second Adam will claim His bride as did the first Adam, taking her to himself forever.” 

Cancer. “All the redeemed will come to Him from all times and places, secure eternally in His presence, enjoying His love and fellowship.” 

Leo. “As eternal king and Lord of lords, He will utterly vanquish and destroy the serpent and all his followers, reigning forever and ever.” 

This suggested original message of Mazzaroth is only a suggestion, of course, but in view of all the unkown factors involved, seems to be a reasonable reconstruction, consistent both with what is known of primeval revelation and with later Scripture. In any case, there seems to be sufficient correlation to indicate the primeval divine origin of this “gospel in the stars,” but later corrupted into the pagan tales and symbols of astrology.”[3]

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[1] Robert A. Morey, Horoscopes and the Christian, (Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1981), pg. 7.

[2] Robert A. Morey, Ibid., page 9.

[3] Henry M. Morris, Henry M. Morris III,  Many Infallible Proofs: Evidences for the Christian Faith, (Master Books, Inc., Green Forest, AR, 1996), pgs. 374-376.