Last week we started talking about the importance of signs. Signs are important especially if they designate a change in something. When the patterns of our lives become so routine, we can often miss signs which can lead to catastrophic results. For instance, I missed a speed limit sign in a work-zone recently. Because I was not paying attention and was living my life routinely, I received a $40 citation in the mail for my ignorance. I’ll be sending the “State of Maryland a $40 Christmas gift. If you miss the signs that your body is trying to give you in certain conditions, it can often be too late once you begin to pay attention.
In the scriptures, the Lord uses the prophetic as signs to often signify what the future holds. Last week, we saw that God set up the stars in the heavens as signs to the changing seasons (Genesis 1:14).
I feel that even though in history, sailors used the stars to determine location and direction, the “new age mystical’ movement robbed the church of seeing constellations as no more than decoration. God is much more detailed than that. Everything He has created speaks to His magnificence and glory. The Psalmist described it this way in Psalm 19:1-2 (ESV)
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.”
The Apostle Paul picked up on this theme in Romans 1:18-20 (ESV);
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Joseph A. Seiss goes even further in his book “The Gospel in the Stars” to show that the entire story of the Gospel is seen in all the constellations. It’s a fascinating little book that is a great read. Perhaps the most significant sign in scripture is found in Revelation 12:1-5 (ESV)
“And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne”
Many theologians believe this represents Jesus the Messiah but many others feel there is a deeper prophetic message that might will have a number of interpretations. The woman in the vision is not Israel but the the church. Melissa “Red-pill” wrote a book “QAnon and 1000 Years of Peace”. In her book, Melissa relates several constellational movements and how they relate to many of the events that have taken place historically in the world. When Jesus said this in Luke 2125-28 (ESV),
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The KJV says to “look up for your redemption draweth nigh”. Is has always been my thought that Jesus is telling us to look for His coming which is an entirely reasonable interpretation. However, could it also be possible for Jesus to have meant for us to look up and see and to read the signs in the heavenlies to give us peace of His promised return? Yes, signs are important and will continually grow in their importance as we approach the end of the age.
“God, give us the grace and mercy to not miss the signs and thus miss the very things that you are doing in the earth. Speak to and instruct our spirits to receive truth from you as we gaze into the universe on a starry night. I am so grateful for the people that you have brought to Cornerstone that we may be able to seek the “knowledge of the glory of the Lord in these final days of history. Thank you, Lord for protecting us and we leave our future with You, We join with the Spirit and say “come, Lord Jesus’, come to the remnant that you are preparing for this final great “showdown” in the History of the World!’. In Jesus Name.
I leave you with this great prayer that was released over the church of Ephesus in Ephesians 1:15-22 (ESV)
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[f] toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The Spirit and the bride say “come” Lord Jesus!!!!!