Translate

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Johannes Kepler

1-5 It should not be considered unbelievable that one can retrieve useful knowledge and sacred relics from astrological folly and godlessness. From this filthy mud one can glean even an occasional escargot, oysters or an eel for one's nutrition; in this enormous heap of worm-castings there are silk-worms to be found; and, finally, out of this foul-smelling dung-heap a diligent hen can scratch up an occasional grain-seed -- indeed, even a pearl or a gold nugget.

1-6 I have often expressed what an ill-considered thing it is to reject something completely because of its imperfections; for by this process even the science of medicine would not be spared.

(Tertius Interveniens, 1610. It is important to note here that Kepler is referring to a particular kind of astrology ["this astrology"] and not all of astrology.)

http://cura.free.fr/docum/15kep-en.html

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

[Off] My educated guess about eternal hell


Is Hell (in the sense of torment after life) eternal?


The word translated as eternal or everlasting referring to hell is AIONIOS (αιωνιος or aionos, or aionou, or aioni depending on the case, genre and number).

Aionios that is translated as eternal in some verses is translated as world and century in others. How a word can mean eternal and world and century at the same time? Some translations brings also age but still translates eternal when referring to hell. Here some examples:

1) Matthew 13:22
 ο δε εις τας ακανθας σπαρεις ουτος εστιν ο τον λογον ακουων και η μεριμνα του αιωνος (AIONOS) τουτου και η απατη του πλουτου συμπνιγει τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται

King James Bible
"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."

Can one translate this verse like this? "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this eternity, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
............................................................................................................................................................... 2) Matthew 13:39
 ο δε εχθρος ο σπειρας αυτα εστιν ο διαβολος ο δε θερισμος συντελεια του αιωνος (AIONOS) εστιν οι δε θερισται αγγελοι εισιν

"συντελεια του αιωνος" = END OF ETERNITY
(συντελεια, "sinteleia" means 'end') 

WEB (World English Bible):
 "The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. "
(The King James Version says world instead of age)

END OF ETERNITY: If we insist that AIONIOS mean eternal this phrase make no sense.
................................................................................................................................................................ 3) Matthew 13:40
 ωσπερ ουν συλλεγεται τα ζιζανια και πυρι κατακαιεται ουτως εσται εν τη συντελεια του αιωνος (AIONOS) τουτου

τη συντελεια του αιωνος τουτου = the end of this eternity? 

KJV:
"As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world."
............................................................................................................................................................. 4)  Matthew 13:49
 ουτως εσται εν τη συντελεια του αιωνος εξελευσονται οι αγγελοι και αφοριουσιν τους πονηρους εκ μεσου των δικαιων

KJV:
"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, "
............................................................................................................................................................. 5) Matthew 24:03 καθημενου δε αυτου επι του ορους των ελαιων προσηλθον αυτω οι μαθηται κατ ιδιαν λεγοντες ειπε ημιν ποτε ταυτα εσται και τι το σημειον της σης παρουσιας και της συντελειας του αιωνος

"της συντελειας του αιωνος" = end of the eternity

KJV:
"And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
.......................................................................................................................................................... 6) Matthew 28:20
διδασκοντες αυτους τηρειν παντα οσα ενετειλαμην υμιν και ιδου εγω μεθ υμων ειμι πασας τας ημερας εως της συντελειας του αιωνος αμην

"της συντελειας του αιωνος" eternity has an end again...

KJV:
"eaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
.......................................................................................................................................................... 

And many many other passages, that's only Matthew. (Verses where AIONOS can't mean eternal). AIONOS appears in 165 verses in the Textus Receptus (The text used for the more traditional translations of the Bible)

My educated guess is that Hell exists but it is not a torture chamber and it is not forever. It is planets like our present cursed Earth and maybe some worse planets out there. We are currently in a kind of Hell and by grace, through faith alone, we can be saved.
..............................................................





Monday, August 31, 2009

Books

There is a lot of nonsense written in the name of Astrology so I want to recomend for you two authors that I admire:

Karen Hammaker Zondag
Charles Carter

Also, I would like to say that, by no means, I'm telling you to read the "Astrology" section of newspapers. That is based only in your sun sign and has no value. If you want a daily astrological tip, just monitor which house (of your natal chart) the moon is transiting. Even though it is too little, it would be better than the so called "Solar Astrology" of newspapers and magazines.

Also, if you mix Astrology with all the rest of the practices associated today with what we could call "New Age" (for short), it is easy to prove that the Bible forbids it. But that is not wise. If fact mixing up different things is the recipe for confusion.

I think one important difference is this: Psychic readings can be influenced by spirits, probably Taro readings too. But Astrology cannot. The planets are in a particular position whether the spirits want it or not. Not to mention "channeling" spirits which is assumed to be messages from spirits "that preach another gospel".

Monday, August 10, 2009

Is Astrology forbidden by the Bible?

Deuteronomy 18, Isaiah 47 and Deuteronomy 4 are probably the texts that makes many people to think that Astrology is a forbidden subject.

King James Version - Deuteronomy 18:10-15
10 There shall not be found among you {any one} that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, {or} that useth divination, {or} an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things {are} an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. {perfect: or, upright, or, sincere}
14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so {to do}. {possess: or, inherit}
15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Astrology is not mentioned. The Hebrew word translated as "observer of times" here is מְעֹונֵן ("me-anan", Strong's H6049), and means "observer of clouds" or "gatherer of clouds" (The same word is used in Leviticus 19:26).

Young's Literal Version (1862) Deuteronomy 18:10-15
10 there is not found in thee one causing his son and his daughter to pass over into fire, a user of divinations, an observer of clouds, and an enchanter, and a sorcerer,
11 and a charmer, and one asking at a familiar spirit, and a wizard, and one seeking unto the dead.
12 `For the abomination of Jehovah [is] every one doing these, and because of these abominations is Jehovah thy God dispossessing them from thy presence.
13 Perfect thou art with Jehovah thy God,
14 for these nations whom thou art possessing, unto observers of clouds, and unto diviners, do hearken; and thou -- not so hath Jehovah thy God suffered thee.
15 `A prophet out of thy midst, out of thy brethren, like to me, doth Jehovah thy God raise up to thee -- unto him ye hearken;

comment:
I believe that this refers to rituals to "make rain" that was, probably, common between those agricultural peoples. It could be also try to foretell something by the shape of the clouds, I don't know.
If Moses wanted to refer to astrology with this word, why wouldn't he say it clearly as Isaiah do in Isaiah 47:13? Moses is talking about what there was in Canaan (no astrologers), Isaiah is talkin about Babylon (astrologers).


Astrology is astronomy and psychology, it doesn't involve "spirits", that sort of thing. Astrology is an entire different thing than "divinations, observer of clouds, enchanter, and sorcerer". If Astrology is what God is forbidding here, then someone must explain why there is so much astrological symbolism in the Bible (see some below).

With Astrology alone, it's not possible to foretell anything specific, its indications are generic. For example: Lots of indications on the house 3 can mean more contact with brothers, publications, short trips, more use of the telephone and so on. Astrology is more useful to understand better what you are experiencing now and what you have experienced in the past. It can't tell the future.
.............................................................................................................................................................

Isaiah 47:13 (King James Version)

13 Thou hast been wearied in the multitude of thy counsels, Stand up, I pray thee, and save thee, Let the charmers of the heavens, Those looking on the stars, Those teaching concerning the months, From those things that come on thee!

Isaiah 47:13 (American Standard Version)
Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee.

comment:
In that text it is not said that Astrology is forbidden, that the sin of Babylon was to practice Astrology. What is said is that the Astrologers wouldn't be able to save Babylon.

This prophecy was made about 150 years before Cyrus II conquered Babylon in one night (Daniel 5)

Jeremiah also prophetized that the Babylonian dominium of the region would last for 70 years (and indeed it lasted from 609 BC when the Babylonians defeated the Assirians and the Egiptians in the battle of Harran, until 539 BC when Cyrus II conquered Babylon).

Obs. The word translated as "prognosticators" in the ASV is H3045, different from that used in Deuteronomy 18 (H6049, "gatherer of clouds") and means "knower".
...

Deuteronomy 4:19
19 and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Jehovah thy God hath allotted unto all the peoples under the whole heaven.

Here God is forbidding idolatry, not astrology. The text is clear, but if there is any doubt read the previous verses:

15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of form on the day that Jehovah spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire.
16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
17 the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flieth in the heavens,
18 the likeness of anything that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth;

Would you say that God is forbidding to draw or to paint or to make sculptures or photography of animals and humans? No, he isn't, is he? It's to not adore those figures (to bow to them and serve them as if they were gods).

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Some biblical texts with astrological symbolism

Revelation 4:7 And the first creature [was] like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature [was] like a flying eagle.

comment:
The ancient symbol of Aquarius was the man and of Scorpius was the eagle. So here we have the four fixed signs: Leo, Taurus, Aquarius and Scorpius. And in the correct retrograde order of the fixed cross or the direct order of the elements: fire, earth, air and water.

Ezekiel 1:10
As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle.

Ezekiel 1:15-16
15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold, one wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces thereof.
16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto a beryl: and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.
.....................................................................................
Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom.
.....................................................................................
Job 38:31-33
31 Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?

comment:
Mazzaroth (מַזָּרֹות , Strong's H4216) means "Zodiac signs".

42 16 ?
.....................................................................................
Psalm 19:1-9
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night showeth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language; Their voice is not heard.
4 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,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heavens, And his circuit unto the ends of it; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, [and] righteous altogether.
.....................................................................................
Ecclesiastes 3:1-7
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
.....................................................................................
Judges 5:20
From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera.
.....................................................................................
Luke 21:25
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
.....................................................................................
Revelation 12:1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: {wonder: or, sign}

comment:
A woman, in an astrological context, probably means the sign of Virgo.
.....................................................................................
1 Chronicles 12:32
And of the children of Issachar, {which were men} that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them {were} two hundred; and all their brethren {were} at their commandment.
.....................................................................................
Daniel 5:11
There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom {is} the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, {I say}, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, {and} soothsayers; {father: or, grandfather}

comment:
According to the queen, Daniel was "master of the astrologers". Now, the queen could had mixed up things but the fact is that Daniel was instructed in all science of Babylon which included astrology.
.....................................................................................
Revelation 6:1-8
Sagitarius:
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come.
2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.
Scorpius:
3 And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come.
4 And another [horse] came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Libra:
5 And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand.
6 And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a shilling, and three measures of barley for a shilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.
Virgo:
7 And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come.
8 And I saw, and behold, a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was Death; and Hades followed with him. And there was given unto them authority over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Compare with Zacariah 6:1-8

And again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grizzled strong horses.
Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
[The chariot] wherein are the black horses goeth forth toward the north country; and the white went forth after them; and the grizzled went forth toward the south country.
And the strong went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
Then cried he to me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, they that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
.....................................................................................

Psalms and the signs:

I think there is reasons to believe the bellow, you be the judge...

Psalm 14 - Aries
Psalm 15 - Taurus
Psalm 16 - Gemini
Psalm 17 - Cancer
Psalm 18 - Leo
Psalm 19 - Virgo
Psalm 20 - Libra
Psalm 21 - Scorpius
Psalm 22 - Sagitarius
Psalm 23 - Capricornius
Psalm 24 - Aquarius
Psalm 25 - Pisces

-

Friday, August 7, 2009

From others sites

-

Historians

Flavius Josephus

book: Jewish war

BOOK V

CHARPTER 5

5. When any persons entered into the temple, its floor received them. This part of the temple therefore was in height sixty cubits, and its length the same; whereas its breadth was but twenty cubits: but still that sixty cubits in length was divided again, and the first part of it was cut off at forty cubits, and had in it three things that were very wonderful and famous among all mankind, the candlestick, the table [of shew-bread], and the altar of incense. Now the seven lamps signified the seven planets; for so many there were springing out of the candlestick. Now the twelve loaves that were upon the table signified the circle of the zodiac and the year; but the altar of incense, by its thirteen kinds of sweet-smelling spices with which the sea replenished it, signified that God is the possessor of all things that are both in the uninhabitable and habitable parts of the earth, and that they are all to be dedicated to his use. But the inmost part of the temple of all was of twenty cubits. This was also separated from the outer part by a veil. In this there was nothing at all. It was inaccessible and inviolable, and not to be seen by any; and was called the Holy of Holies.

http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/war-5.htm


Philo of Alexandria (lived probably between 20-15 BC to 45-50 AD)

book: De Vita Mosis II. 102-103 ("On the life of Moses II")

(102) The candlestick was placed on the southern side of the tabernacle, since by it the maker intimates, in a figurative manner, the motions of the stars which give light; for the sun, and the moon, and the rest of the stars, being all at a great distance from the northern parts of the universe, make all their revolutions in the south. And from this candlestick there proceeded six branches, three on each side, projecting from the candlestick in the centre, so as altogether to complete the number of seven; (103) and in all the seven there were seven candles and seven lights, being symbols of those seven stars which are called planets by those men who are versed in natural philosophy; for the sun, like the candlestick, being placed in the middle of the other six, in the fourth rank, gives light to the three planets which are above him, and to those of equal number which are below him, adapting to circumstances the musical and truly divine instrument.

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/yonge/book25.html





The seven churches of Asia are associated with the seven lamps in Revelation 1:11-20 and it is interesting that following the order that they are mentioned, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, one draws a circle.





(image free lisenced from wikipedia).









.........................................................................................................................................................................
My freeware programs for Astrology:
Link: Kronux 1.0 for Windows and for Linux