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This is interesting.

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This verse might also lead us to believe that we can lose our Salvation.

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God does not want us to presumptuously fall into carelessness regarding our Salvation.

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Hence the Bible is filled with warnings and threats regarding disobedience and presumptuousness.

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CROWN SYMBOLIC OF GOD’S PEOPLE

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“You shall also be A CROWN OF GLORY

in the hand of the LORD,

and a ROYAL DIADEM in the hand of thy God.”

Isaiah 62:3.

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This passage says that God’s people are that royal crown in the hand of our God.

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ABOVE PICTURE – summer constellations – Revelation 12 woman (aka Ursa Major, including The Big Dipper) & The Ark (aka Sagittarius)

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ARCTURUS AND HIS SONS

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“…or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven?”

Job 38:31-33 

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So, as the Book of Job states… “Can you guide Arcturus with his sons?”

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And these two constellations (the 7 Stars & the Glorious Crown) give us a picture of God’s people, as they follow Jesus on the spiritual pilgrimage that Jesus bids each and every member of the human family…

…”Come follow Me,

and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 4:19 & Mark 1:17.

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Now this Revelation 12 Woman also represents God’s people.

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And that is why this 7-Stars Constellation is part of this Revelation 12 Woman.

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They represent the same concept: God’s people.

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The 7 Stars represent the 7 churches of Asia, found in Revelation Chapters 2 & 3.

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KINGS AND PRIESTS

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“And (Christ) hast made us unto our God kings and priests:

and we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:10

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God has chosen for Himself a nation of kings and priests.

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Yes, every true worshiper of God has been elected to be a king and a royal priest for God and the Lamb.

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And this starry crown in the heavens reminds us of our calling and of our obligation to fulfill our most high and holy calling! To be kingly priests.

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CROWN: NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS

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But this Crown in the heavens not only represents the 12 Tribes of Israel, but also represents Christ and His 12 Apostles (including Paul and without Judas Iscariot, the traitor).

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So, both the Church of the Old Testament and the Church of the New Testament are seen in this heavenly Crown.

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But just why does it matter what these 12 stars represent?

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It’s all the same concept: Christ and His True Worshippers.

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Contrary to the opinions of some, God’s Church will be one Church, someday.

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When this earthly conflict is over, then all those who truly loved Jesus throughout time (Old Testament Believers too) will become one.

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And though we gentile Believers are merely grafted into the olive tree (i.e., Israel), we nevertheless will all be part of the “Bride of Christ” in that day.

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INCREDIBLE PROPHECY FULFILLMENT:

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THE GLORIOUS CROWN & THE 7 STARS

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“And the LORD their God shall save them

in that day as the flock of His people:

for they shall be as the stones of a crown ,

lifted up as an ensign upon His land.”

Zechariah 9:16

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This verse in particular seems to be dramatically speaking of the two constellations, “Crown of Revelation 12” (Corona Borealis), and the “7 Stars” (Big Dipper))

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This is not the spiritual fulfillment of Zechariah 9:16.

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But it is a sign in the heavens, it seems.

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Obviously, the spiritual fulfillment points to God’s Elect.

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God’s people are the real stones in that glorious crown.

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And God’s people are the real ensign lifted up.

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Nevertheless, these two constellations are a beautiful heavenly picture of God’s people, showing us the promise of God that we will “shine as the brightness of the firmament” Daniel 12.

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WHY DO SOME STARS SHINE BRIGHTER?

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ANSWER: THE CHRISTIAN RACE

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SOME STARS HARD TO SEE…   One comment that needs to be made. Some of the ancients pictured this constellation as a broken crown.

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But others have seen it as a full circle.

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You must be away from city lights in order to see all 12 stars (plus 13th in middle).

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And if you have the desire to see this crown with all 13 stars…a good guess is…you will.

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But if you insist there are only 7 stars…and that also works.

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Seven is a very Biblical number.

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Photo of constellation by Perseus astronomy software.

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THE WOMAN GRASPS FOR THIS CROWN

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“And there appeared a great wonder (sign) in heaven;

a woman clothed with the sun,

and the moon under her feet,

and upon (or, “over”) her head a crown of twelve stars: 

And she being with child cried, travailing in birth,

and pained to be delivered.”  

Revelation 12:1, 2 

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The above passage from Revelation 12, is about “a great wonder (sign) in Heaven”.

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It speaks of a woman with child.

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Notice it says she has a crown of 12 stars over her head.

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But though this constellation is of a woman who is with child, the crown however is not yet upon her head.

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But this Revelation 12 Woman Constellation (a.k.a. Ursa Major) appears to reach out her hand southward to grasp this Crown of 12 Stars (13 counting a star in the center).

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This reminds us of that well-known passage in Philippians which states…

…”Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize

of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13, 14.

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So here we have the concept that the Christian is to run the race to achieve this crown.

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THE CHRISTIAN RACE

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SOME FOLLOWERS SHINE BRIGHTLY… 

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This photo appears to have perhaps all 13 stars.

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But some of them are very faint in the photo.

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But this is also in harmony with Scripture.

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There are 12 apostles of God (This includes the Apostle Paul, but not Judas (who betrayed Jesus)).

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Of those twelve, there were 7 apostles who shone brighter than the other 5…James, Philip, John, Peter, Matthew, Andrew, and…Paul.

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The others, Barthelemew, Judas (not Iscariat), Simon Zealotus, Thomas, and the other James were just not as shiny in their ministries. 

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer constellation – Five Wise Virgins Stars & The Glorious Crown – Corona Borealis – signsofheaven.org – Not for profit uses!

Photo of constellation by Perseus astronomy software.

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PAUL, AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO WIN A RACE

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Paul, of course, was the epitome of someone who ran the Christian Race.

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Paul didn’t let any earthly consideration slow him down.

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And Paul is our role-model. God raised him up to be an encouragement to the Church of how we should…

“…and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…”

Hebrews 12:2

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So, Paul was constantly encouraging us to go forward.

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And this concept of the Christian Race was just one way which God encourages Christians. 

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“Henceforth there is laid up for me a CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

which the Lord, the righteous Judge,

shall give me at that day:

and not to me only,

but unto all them also that love His appearing.”

2nd Timothy 4:8.

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Paul ran the race in order to win the crown which is laid up for him.

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And so should we!

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So, this 7 star+1 star Victor’s Wreath seems to be very fitting for those who really dedicate themselves to running that Christian Race.

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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44- www.lavistachurchofchrist.org –public domain

Photo of Victor’s Wreath (Corona Borealis) constellation by Perseus astronomy software.

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THE END

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A HEAVENLY HOBBY

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“Lift up your eyes on high,

and behold Who hath created these things;

that brings out their host by number:

He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might,

for that He is strong in power;

not one faileth.”

Isaiah 40:26

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped  and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

 

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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…

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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”

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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.

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But having said this, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!

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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.

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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.

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Thus, will the Christian be able to share this message with others.

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Shoppers in Toronto – Wikimedia – share-alike license

Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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“And there shall be signs in the sun,

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and in the moon,

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and in the stars;

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and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;

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the sea and the waves roaring;”

Luke 21:25

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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)

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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS

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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).

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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).

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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.

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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Orion the Soldier and the Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades & Pleiades, etc.) – winter constellations – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial use

ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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