Stellarium software

[ATP]

Why or how does Stellarium software determine Bible prophecy in the heavens? Such as Rev 12:1 on 9/23/17. I'm confused of how that works, does someone know more about this. I thought we weren't suppose to use astrology to determine Bible prophecy.

 

[liafailrock]

Why or how does Stellarium software determine Bible prophecy in the heavens? Such as Rev 12:1 on 9/23/17. I'm confused of how that works, does someone know more about this. I thought we weren't suppose to use astrology to determine Bible prophecy.

Greetings. I can answer that for you. Some people believe that certain passages in the bible, and I have Revelation 12:1 in mind, are suggestive of an astronomical position. While the woman, the sun, moon and crown of stars have a symbolic significance for sure regarding characters, the timing of that event is also suggested by the fact it mentions the position of the sun and the moon. There's only one woman the sun passes through, and that's Virgo (the other 11 constellations are not a single woman). So the sun is in the midst of Virgo. The moon is under her feet toward the direction of Libra so that's a new crescent moon. This happens at the feast of Trumpets, in September, but not every year. That is because a Jewish year begins with the new moon, which is not exactly 365 days in 12 or 13 lunar months to a year. So sometimes the feast occurs when the sun is a little off from the proper position in Virgo.

Now for the prophecy... so-called. People use programs like Stellarium to find out which years this fits the best. Actually, the position occurs quite often and 2011 was one of those years if I remember correctly. So on candidate years, they make those predictions. My two cents is that this occurred when Christ was born, so using that I came up with my own candidate year Christ was born (amongst other numbers and timings in the bible). I can understand your reservation not to use astrology, as that's Satan's corruption of the signs and timing in the heavens. However, Genesis 1:14 clearly indicate that they are to be used as such for God's timing of the feasts and even prophetic events. Look at it this way: these astronomical positions do not "foretell" anything. They are merely God's "giant clock hands" in which he announces certain events by, just as you use clock hands to tell you when it's time for an appointment. The clock predicted nothing,

 

[ATP]

Greetings. I can answer that for you. Some people believe that certain passages in the bible, and I have Revelation 12:1 in mind, are suggestive of an astronomical position. While the woman, the sun, moon and crown of stars have a symbolic significance for sure regarding characters, the timing of that event is also suggested by the fact it mentions the position of the sun and the moon. There's only one woman the sun passes through, and that's Virgo (the other 11 constellations are not a single woman). So the sun is in the midst of Virgo. The moon is under her feet toward the direction of Libra so that's a new crescent moon. This happens at the feast of Trumpets, in September, but not every year. That is because a Jewish year begins with the new moon, which is not exactly 365 days in 12 or 13 lunar months to a year. So sometimes the feast occurs when the sun is a little off from the proper position in Virgo.

Now for the prophecy... so-called. People use programs like Stellarium to find out which years this fits the best. Actually, the position occurs quite often and 2011 was one of those years if I remember correctly. So on candidate years, they make those predictions. My two cents is that this occurred when Christ was born, so using that I came up with my own candidate year Christ was born (amongst other numbers and timings in the bible). I can understand your reservation not to use astrology, as that's Satan's corruption of the signs and timing in the heavens. However, Genesis 1:14 clearly indicate that they are to be used as such for God's timing of the feasts and even prophetic events. Look at it this way: these astronomical positions do not "foretell" anything. They are merely God's "giant clock hands" in which he announces certain events by, just as you use clock hands to tell you when it's time for an appointment. The clock predicted nothing,

So Rev 12:1 will come to fulfillment on 9/23/17 because Stellarium detected it? I'm confused on the timeline though. If Rev 12:1 is mid-trib and the tribulation is seven years then the great tribulation would have started around 2014, which it hasn't. So what could this sign be?

 

[liafailrock]

So Rev 12:1 will come to fulfillment on 9/23/17 because Stellarium detected it? I'm confused on the timeline though. If Rev 12:1 is mid-trib and the tribulation is seven years then the great tribulation would have started around 2014, which it hasn't. So what could this sign be?

Stellarium just rightly claims the sun and moon are in that position on that date. But there's other dates that fits it as well in September of various years. I won't get into the meaning of it as not everyone agrees Revelation 12:1 is yet future. Also, if nothing happens on that date, there's more, so the predictions will just keep coming. In that case, if something is to happen on such dates of this astronomical position, then all Stellarium can do is say what years it's not going to happen and what years are candidate years if it will happen.

To give an example, if the teacher says that sometimes this month we will have a firedrill at 10AM, then every time 10AM comes of every day someone will probably say it will occur, but if it does not, there's going to be another day. But if it's 9AM or 11AM we know it won't occur. Same concept.

 

[ATP]

Stellarium just rightly claims the sun and moon are in that position on that date. But there's other dates that fits it as well in September of various years. I won't get into the meaning of it as not everyone agrees Revelation 12:1 is yet future. Also, if nothing happens on that date, there's more, so the predictions will just keep coming. In that case, if something is to happen on such dates of this astronomical position, then all Stellarium can do is say what years it's not going to happen and what years are candidate years if it will happen.

To give an example, if the teacher says that sometimes this month we will have a firedrill at 10AM, then every time 10AM comes of every day someone will probably say it will occur, but if it does not, there's going to be another day. But if it's 9AM or 11AM we know it won't occur. Same concept.

Well, let's discuss Rev 12:1. Where do you believe this falls in the tribulation period. Is this what Stellarium is detecting, signs in the heavens? It's very interesting.

Rev 12:1-3 NIV A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.

 

[liafailrock]

Well, let's discuss Rev 12:1. Where do you believe this falls in the tribulation period. Is this what Stellarium is detecting, signs in the heavens? It's very interesting.

Rev 12:1-3 NIV A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.

Well, I don't believe any longer that it's all in the "tribulation period". I believe what is commonly called the Tribulation is really two parts: the Tribulation and the "Day of the Lord" commonly lumped together and not distinguished from each other. But.... if you have to place it in the Tribulation, I would say the start since this takes place at the feast of trumpets. Christ returns at that time 7 years later. So this works for a "seven year tribulation". One interpretation is that the manchild is not only Christ, but also the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel being witnesses during the time of the end (the end chapters of Isaiah also talks about a manchild synonymous with the nation of Israel, namely a select few). They are the ones being "born" by Israel when the Tribulation starts and are the witnesses where the gospel is preached. They are then raptured during the middle and the last half 1260 days the dragon, or Satan persecutes the remaining ones. Again, I don't subscribe to that belief any longer, but maybe you do, so in that case if that helps you then it's worth mentioning. I'm always open-minded to the idea I may be wrong in what I believe and maybe the traditional interpretation I once believed is correct. I now have beliefs similar to the Church of God although they have rough spots I disagree with, so I am not at this point officially affiliated with them.

It's interesting to note that the constellation Draco, the Dragon, encompasses 1/3 of the stars relative to the pole (right ascention lines). This chapter is replete with astronomical overtones.

 

[ATP]

It's interesting to note that the constellation Draco, the Dragon, encompasses 1/3 of the stars relative to the pole (right ascention lines). This chapter is replete with astronomical overtones.

I actually saw a picture of that the other day, the dragon to the right of the lion. What do you think the symbolism is there.