The name of the Sign, together with its three constellations and the names of the stars composing them, give the complete picture of our Redemption.

The Sign contains 51 stars, two of which are of the 2nd magnitude, one of the 3rd, eight of the 4th, etc.

The Hebrew name is Mozanaim, the Scales, weighing. Its name in Arabic is Al Zubena, purchase, or redemption. In Coptic, it is Lambadia, station of propitiation (from Lam, graciousness, and badia, branch). The name by which it has come down to us is the Latin, Libra, which means weighing, as used in the Vulgate (Isa 40:12).

Libra contains three bright stars whose names supply us with the whole matter. The brightest a,(in the lower scale), is named Zuben al Genubi, which means the purchase, or price which is deficient. This points to the fact that man has been utterly ruined. He is "weighed in the balances and found wanting."

"None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him; For the redemption of their soul is costly, And must be let alone for ever." Psalm 49:7, RV "Surely men of low degree are vanity (Heb. a breath), And men of high degree are a lie; In the balances they go up; They are altogether lighter than vanity" (Heb. a breath). Psalm 42:9, RV

Is there then no hope? Is there no one who can pay the price?

Yes; there is "the Seed of the woman." He is not merely coming as a child, but He is coming as an atoning sacrifice.

He is coming for the purpose of Redemption! He can pay the price which covers! Hence in the upper scale we have another bright star with this very name Zuben al Chemali--THE PRICE WHICH COVERS! Praised be God! "They sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy...for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed...to God by thy blood" (Rev 5:9). This is the testimony of b, the second brightest star! It has another name, al Gubi, heaped up, or high, telling of the infinite value of this redemption price. But there is a third star, g, below, towards Centaurus and the Victim slain, telling, by that and by its name, of the conflict by which that redemption would be accomplished. It is called Zuben Akrabi or Zuben al Akrab, which means the price of the conflict!

There is, however, some reason to suppose that Libra is a very ancient Egyptian corruption, bringing in human merit instead of Divine righteousness; "the way of Cain" instead of the way of God. In the more ancient Akkadian the months were called after the names of the signs, and the sign of the seventh month is the sign that we now call Libra. The Akkadian name for it was Tulku. Tul means mound (like dhul and dul), and ku means sacred; hence, Tulku means the sacred mound, or the holy altar.

Not only is the name and its meaning different, but the teaching is infinitely greater and more important, if we may believe that the original picture of this sign was not a pair of scales, but the representation of an holy altar. This would agree still better with the three constellations which follow.

The names of the stars would also be more appropriate, for it is the Sacrifice of Christ which they foreshadowed, and here it was that the price which covered was paid, and outweighed the price which was deficient. What that price was to be, and how it was to be paid, and what was to be the result in the Person of the Redeemer, is set forth in detail in the three sections of this chapter by the constellations of The Cross endured, The Victim slain, and The Crown bestowed.

The Southern Cross was just visible in the latitude of Jerusalem at the time of the first coming of our Lord to die. Since then, through the gradual recession of the Polar Star, it has not been seen in northern latitudes. It gradually disappeared and became invisible at Jerusalem when the Real Sacrifice was offered there; and tradition, which preserved its memory, assured travelers that if they could go far enough south it would be again seen. Dante sang of "the four stars never beheld but by the early race of men." It was not until the sixteenth century had dawned that missionaries and voyagers, doubling the Cape for the first time, and visiting the tropics and southern seas, brought back the news of "a wonderful cross more glorious than all the constellations of the heavens."

It is a small asterism, containing only about five stars, viz., one of the 1st magnitude, two of the 2nd, one of the 3rd, and one of the 4th. Four of these are in the form of a cross.

Long before the Christian Era this sign of the Cross had lost its true meaning, and had been perverted in Babylon and Egypt as it has since been desecrated by Rome. The Persians and Egyptians worshipped it. The cakes made and eaten in honor of the Queen of Heaven were marked with it. This heathen custom Rome has adopted and adapted in her Good Friday cakes, which are thus stamped. But all are alike ignorant of what it means, viz., "IT IS FINISHED."

In Egypt, and in the earliest times, it was the sign and symbol of life. Today, Romanists use it as the symbol of death! But it means life! Natural life given up, and eternal life procured. Atonement, finished, perfect, and complete; never to be repeated, or added to. All who partake of its benefits in Christ now, in grace, by faith "ARE made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph 2:13), and of them Jesus says, "He that heareth my voice, and believeth on Him that sent me HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but IS PASSED from death unto life" (John 5:24). So perfect and complete is the work which Jesus finished on the Cross that we cannot seek to add even our repentance, faith, tears, or prayers, without practically asserting that the work of Christ is not finished, and is not sufficient!

The Hebrew names of this constellation--Adom and Tau--rebuke our Pharisaic spirit, which is the relic and essence of all false religions, and points to the blessed fact that the Sacrifice was offered "once for all," and the atoning work of Redemption completely finished on Calvary.

"Tis finished! the Messiah dies! Cut off for sins, but not His own; Accomplished is the sacrifice, The great redeeming work is done."

The Egyptian name of this Lion, however, points to his ultimate triumph, for it is called Sera, that is, victory!

This brings us to--

LUPUS or VICTIMA (The Victim)

Its Greek name is Thera, a beast, and Lycos, a wolf. Its Latin name is Victima, or Bestia (Vulg. Gen 8:17), which sufficiently indicates the great lesson. This is confirmed by its ancient Hebrew name, Asedah, and Arabic Asedaton, which both mean to be slain.

More than 22 of its stars have been catalogued. None of them are higher than the 4th magnitude; most of them are of the 5th or 6th.

True, He was "by wicked hands crucified and slain," but He is slain here by the Centaur, i.e. by Himself! To make it perfectly clear that it was His own act (without which His death would lose all merit), He uttered those solemn words "I lay down my life for the sheep...No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again" (John 10:15-18). He "offered Himself without spot to God." "He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Heb 9:11,26).

In the ancient Zodiac of Denderah He is pictured as a little child with its finger on its lips, and He is called Sura, a lamb! In other pictures He has, besides, the horn of a goat on one side of His head. All this pointed to one and the same great fact, viz., the development and explanation of what was meant by the bruising of His heel! It meant that this Promised Seed of the woman should come as a child, that He should suffer, and die upon the Cross, for

"He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb; SO HE opened not his mouth." Isaiah 53:7

This is what is foreshown by this concluding section of the second chapter. Each chapter ends with glory. As in the written Word of God, we frequently have the glory of the Second Coming mentioned without any allusions to the sufferings of the First Coming, but we never have the First Coming in humiliaton mentioned without an immediate reference to the glory of the Second Coming.

So here, the CROSS is closely followed by the CROWN! True, "we see not yet all things put under Him, but we see Jesus...for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour" (Heb 2:9).

Yes, "the crowning day is coming," and all heaven shall soon resound with the triumphant song, "Thou art worthy...for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood" (Rev 5:9).

The shameful Cross will be followed by a glorious crown, and "every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

"Mighty Victor, reign for ever, Wear the crown so dearly won; Never shall Thy people, never Cease to sing what Thou hast done. Thou hast fought Thy people's foes; Thou wilt heal Thy people's woes!"

Its Arabic name is Al Iclil, an ornament, or jewel.

It has 21 stars: one of the 2nd magnitude and six of the 4th. It is easily known by the stars J, b, a, g, d and e, which form a crescent.

Its brightest star, a, has the Arabic name of Al Phecca, the shining. Thus ends this solemn chapter of LIBRA, which describes the great work of Redemption, beginning with the Cross and ending with the Crown. The Redeemer's work of Atonement is most blessedly set forth, and He alone is seen as the substitute for lost sinners.

"What wondrous love, what mysteries In this appointment shine! My breaches of the law are His, And His obedience mine."

The Sign Scorpio

We come now right into the heart of the conflict. The star-picture brings before us a gigantic scorpion endeavouring to sting in the heel a mighty man who is struggling with a serpent, but is crushed by the man, who has his foot placed right on the scorpion's heart.

The Hebrew name is Akrab, which is the name of a scorpion, but also means the conflict, or war. It is this that is referred to in Psalm 91:13-- "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder. The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet." David uses the very word in Psalm 144:1, where he blesses God for teaching his hands to war.

The Coptic name is Isidis, which means the attack of the enemy, or oppression: referring to "the wicked that oppress me, my deadly enemies who compass me about" (Psa 17:9).

The Arabic name is Al Akrab, which means wounding him that cometh.

There are 44 stars altogether in this sign. One is of the 1st magnitude, one of the 2nd, eleven of the 3rd, eight of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star, a (in the heart), bears the ancient Arabic name of Antares, which means the wounding. It is called by the Latins Cor Scorpii, because it marks the scorpion's heart. It shines ominously with a deep red light. The sting is called in Hebrew Lesath (Chaldee, Lesha), which means the perverse. The stars in the tail are also known as Leshaa, or Leshat. (Antares seems also to have been known as Lesath).

The scorpion is a deadly enemy (as we learn from Revelation 9), with poison in its sting, and all the names associated with the sign combine to set forth the malignant enmity which is "set" between the serpent and the woman's Seed.

That enmity is shown more fully in the written Word, where we see the attempt of the enemy (in Exodus 1) to destroy every male of the seed of Abraham, and how it was defeated.

We see his effort repeated when he used Athaliah to destroy "all the seed royal" (2 Kings 11), and how "the king's son" was rescued "from among" the slain.

We see his hand again instigating Haman, "the Jews' enemy," to compass the destruction of the whole nation, but defeated in his designs.

When the woman's Seed, the virgin's Son, was born, we are shown the same great enemy inciting Herod to slay all the babes in Bethlehem (Matt 2), but again he is defeated.

In the wilderness of Judea, and in the Garden of Gethsemane the great conflict is renewed. "This is your hour and the power of darkness," He said to His enemies.

The real wounding in the heel was received at the Cross. It was there the scorpion struck the woman's seed. He died, but was raised again from the dead "to destroy the works of the devil."

To show us this; to prevent any mistake; to set forth the fact that this conflict only apparently ended in defeat, and that it did not really so end, we have the first two constellations belonging to this sign presented in one picture! Indeed, the picture is threefold, for it includes the sign itself!

If these pictures had been separated, then the conflict would have been separated from the victory; the deadly wound of the serpent's head from the temporary wound in the Victor's heel. Hence, three pictures are required, in which the scorpion, the serpent, and the man, are all involved, in order to present at the same time the triumphant issue of the conflict.

Hence, we must present, and consider together, the first two sections of this mysterious chapter.

SERPENS and OPHIUCHUS

Here, Serpens, the serpent, is seen struggling vainly in the powerful grasp of the man who is named O-phi-u-chus. In Latin he is called Serpentarius. He is at one and the same moment shown to be seizing the serpent with his two hands, and treading on the very heart of the scorpion, marked by the deep red star Antares (wounding).

Just as we read the first constellation of the woman and child Coma, as expounding the first sign VIRGO, so we have to read this first constellation as expounding the second sign LIBRA. Hence, we have here a further picture, showing the object of this conflict on the part of the scorpion.

In Scorpio we see merely the effort to wound Ophiuchus in the heel; but here we see the effort of the serpent to seize THE CROWN, which is situated immediately over the serpent's head, and to which he is looking up and reaching forth.

The contest is for Dominion! It was the Devil, in the form of a serpent, that robbed the first man of his crown; but in vain he struggled to wrest it from the sure possession of the Second Man. Not only does he fail in the attempt, but is himself utterly defeated and trodden under foot.

There are no less than 134 stars in these two constellations. Two are of the 2nd magnitude, fourteen of the 3rd, thirteen of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star in the Serpent, a (in the neck), is named Unuk, which means encompassing. another Hebrew name is Alyah, the accursed. From this is Al Hay (Arabic), the reptile. The next brightest star is b (in the jaw), named, in Arabic, Cheleb, or Chelbalrai, the serpent enfolding. The Greek name, Ophiuchus, is itself from the Hebrew and Arabic name Afeichus, which means the serpent held. The brightest star in Ophiuchus,a (in the head), is called Ras al Hagus (Arabic), the head of him who holds.

Other Hebrew names of stars, not identified, are Triophas, treading under foot; Saiph (in the foot * of Ophiuchus), bruised; Carnebus, the wounding; Megeros, contending. ** In the Zodiac of Denderah we have a throned human figure, called Api-bau, the chief who cometh. He has a hawk's head to show that he is the enemy of the serpent, which is called Khu, and means ruled or enemy.

* In 1604 a new star appeared in the eastern foot of Ophiuchus, but disappeared again in 1605. ** There is an ancient Greek fable which calls Ophiuchus Aesculapius, the son of Apollo. Having restored Hippolytus to life, he was everywhere worshipped as the god of health, and hence the serpent entwined around him is, to this day, the symbol of the medical art! This, however, is, doubtless, another perversion of the primitive truth that the Coming One in overcoming the serpent, should become the great healer of all the sorrows of the world, and cause all its groanings to cease.

HERCULES (The Mighty One)

Here the mighty one, who occupies a large portion of the heavens, is seen bending on one knee, with his right heel lifted up as if it had been wounded, while his left foot is set directly over the head of the great dragon. In his right hand he wields a great club, and in his left hand he grasps a triple-headed monster (Cerberus). And he has the skin of a lion, which he has slain, thrown around him. *

Cerberus, or the serpent with three heads, was placed by Hevelius (1611-1687) by the side of Hercules. Bayer had previously placed the apple branch in his hand. This was symbolical of the golden apples of Hesperides, which he obtained by killing this three-headed hydra, by whom they were guarded. In our picture these are combined, and a bow and quiver added from other ancient authorities.

In Arabic he is called Al Giscale, the strong one.

There are 113 stars in this constellation. Seven are of the 3rd magnitude, seventeen of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star, a (in his head), is named Ras al Gethi, and means the head of him who bruises.

The next, b (in the right arm-pit, is named Kornephorus, and means the branch, kneeling.

The star k (in the right elbow) is called Marsic, the wounding.

The star l (in the upper part of the left arm) is named Ma'asyn, the sin-offering.

While w (in the lower part of the right arm) is Caiam, or Guiam, punishing; and in Arabic, treading under foot.

Thus does everything in the picture combine to set forth the mighty works of this stronger than the strong man armed!

We can easily see how the perversion of the truth by the Greeks came about, and how, when the true foreshadowings of this Mighty One had been lost, the many fables were invented to supply their place. The wiser sort of Greeks knew this perfectly well. ARISTOTLE (in his Metaphysics, x. 8) admits, with regard to Greek mythology, that religion and philosophy had been lost, and that much had been "added after the mythical style," while much had come down, and "may have been preserved to our times as the remains of ancient wisdom." Religion, such as it was (POLYBIUS confesses), was recognised as a "necessary means to political ends." NEANDER says that it was "the fragments of a tradition, which transmitted the knowledge of divine things possessed in the earliest times."

ARATUS shows the same uncertainty as to the meaning of this constellation of Hercules. He says:

"Near this, and like a toiling man, revolves A form. Of it can no one clearly speak, Nor what he labours at. They call him simply 'The man upon his knees': In desperate struggle Like one who sinks, he seems. From both his shoulders His arms are high-uplifted and out-stretched As far as he can reach; and his right foot Is planted on the coiled Dragon's head."

From first to last Hercules is seen engaged in destroying some malignant foe: now it is the Nemean lion; then it is the slaying of the boar of Erymanthus; again, it is the conquest of the bull of Crete; then the killing of the three-headed hydra, by whose venom Hercules afterwards died. In the belly of the sea monster he is said to have remained "three days and three nights." This was, doubtless a perversion of the type of Jonah, introduced by LYCOPHRON, who (living at the court of PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS, under whose auspices the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek) would have known of that Divine miracle, and of its applicaiton to the Coming One. Bishop Horsley believed that the fables of the Greek mythology could be traced back to the prophecies of the Messiah, of which they were a perversion from ignorance or design. This is specially true of Hercules. In his apparently impossible tasks of overthrowing gigantic enemies and delivering captives, we can see through the shadow, and discern the pure light of the truth. We can understand how the original star-picture must have been a prophetic representation of Him who shall destroy the Old Serpent and open the way again, not to fabled "apples of gold," but to the "tree of life" itself. He it is who though suffering in the mighty conflict, and brought to His knee, going down even to "the dust of death," shall yet, in resurrection and advent glory, wield His victorious club, subdue all His enemies, and plant His foot on the Dragon's head. For of Him it is written—

 
"Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; 
The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot." Psalm 91:13 
"Come, Lord and burst the captives' chains, 
And set the prisoners free; 
Come, cleanse this earth from all its stains, 
And make it meet for Thee!
Oh, come and end Creation's groans-- 
Its sighs, its tears, its blood, 
And make this blighted world again 
The dwelling-place of God." 

The Sign Sagittarius

This is the concluding chapter of the first great book of this Heavenly Revelation; and it is occupied wholly with the triumph of the Coming One,who is represented as going forth "conquering and to conquer."

The subject is beautifully set forth in the written Word (Psa 45:3-5)--

"Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most mighty,

[Gird Thyself] with Thy glory and Thy majesty,

And in Thy majesty ride prosperously,

Because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness;

And Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things.

Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies;

Whereby the people fall under Thee."

This is precisely what is foreshadowed in the star-pictured sign now called by the modern Latin name Sagittarius, which means the Archer.

The Hebrew and Syriac name of the sign is Kesith, which means the Archer (as in Genesis 21:20). The Arabic name is Al Kaus, the arrow. In Coptic it is Pimacre, the graciousness, or beauty of the coming forth. In Greek it is Toxotes, the archer, and in Latin Sagittarius.

There are 69 stars in the sign, viz., five of the 3rd magnitude (all in the bow), nine of the 4th, etc.

The names of the brightest stars are significant:

Hebrew, Naim, which means the gracious one. This is exactly what is said of this Victor in the same Psalm (45), in the words immediately preceding the quotation above:

"GRACE is poured into Thy lips;

Therefore God hath blessed Thee for ever."

We see the same in the Arabic names which have come down to us: Al Naim, the gracious one; Al Shaula, the dart; Al Warida, who comes forth; Ruchba or rami, the riding of the bowman.

An ancient Akkadian name in the sign is Nun-ki, which means Prince of the Earth.

Again we have the picture of a Centaur as to his outward form, i.e. a being with two natures. Not now far down in the south, or connected with His sufferings and sacrifice as man; but high up, as a sign of the Zodiac itself, on the ecliptic, i.e. in the very path in which the sun "rejoiceth in his going forth as a strong man."

According to Grecian fable, this Sagittarius is Cheiron, the chief Centaur; noble in character, righteous in his dealings, divine in his power.

Such will be the coming Seed of the woman in His power and glory:

"The sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness;

Therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." Psalm 45:6, 7

This is He who shall come forth like as an arrow from the bow, "full of grace," but "conquering and to conquer."

In all the pictures he is similarly represented, and the arrow in his bow is aimed directly at the heart of the Scorpion.

Thus ARATUS said of Cheiron:

"'Midst golden stars he stands refulgent now,

And thrusts the scorpion with his bended bow."

"God shall shoot at them with an arrow;

Suddenly shall they be wounded.

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves;

All that see them shall flee away.

And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God;

or they shall wisely consider of His doing.

The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in Him;

And all the upright in heart shall glory." Psalm 64:7-10

Christ is coming! let Creation

From her groans and travail cease;

Let the glorious proclamation

Hope restore, and faith increase.

Christ is coming,

Come, thou blessed Prince of peace."

LYRA (The Harp)

"The King shall rejoice in Thy strength, O LORD; 
And in Thy salvation how greatly shall He rejoice!... 
Thine hand shall find out all Thine enemies; 
Thy right hand shall find out all that hate thee... 
Their fruit shalt Thou destroy from the earth; 
And their seed from among the children of men. 
For they intended evil against Thee; 
They imagined a mischievous device which they are not able to perform, 
Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back 
(Heb. Margin, "set them as a butt"), 
When Thou shalt make ready Thine arrows upon Thy strings 
[And shoot them] against the face of them. 
Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength; 
SO WILL WE SING AND PRAISE THY POWER." 
Psalm 21:1, 8, 10-13 

Beautifully, then, does the harp come in here, following upon the going forth of this victorious Horseman. This Song of the Lamb follows as naturally as does the Song of Moses in Exodus 15:1--"I will sing unto the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously."

Its brightest star, a, is one of the most glorious in the heavens, and by it this constellation may be easily known. It shines with a splendid white lustre. It is called Vega, which means He shall be exalted. Its root occurs in the opening of the Song of Moses, quoted above. Is not this wonderfully expressive?

Its other stars,b, and g, are also conspicuous stars, of the 2nd and 4th magnitude.b,is called Shelyuk, which means an eagle (as does the Arabic Al Nesr);g,is called Sulaphat, springing up, or ascending, as praise.

In the Zodiac of Denderah, this constellation is figured as a hawk or an eagle (the enemy of the serpent) in triumph. Its name is Fent-kar, which means the serpent ruled.

There may be some confusion between the Hebrew Nesher, an eagle, and Gnasor, a harp; but there can be no doubt about the grand central truth, that praise shall ascend up "as an eagle toward heaven," when "every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that is in them," shall send up their universal song of praise: "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen" (Rev 5:13,14).

And for what is all this wondrous anthem of praise? Listen once again. "Alleluia *: Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God; for TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS ARE HIS JUDGMENTS...And again they said Alleluia" (Rev 19:1-3).

With "that blessed hope" before us, 
Let no HARP remain unstrung; 
Let the coming advent chorus 
Onward roll from tongue to tongue, 
Hallelujah, 
"Come, Lord Jesus," quickly come. 

Where is its first occurrence in the Old Testament? In Psalm 104:35, where we have the very same solemn and significant connection:

"Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, 
And let the wicked be no more. 
Bless thou the LORD, O my soul, 
HALLELUJAH (Praise ye the LORD)."

This brings us to--

It is an asterism with nine stars, of which three are of the 3rd magnitude, four of the 4th, etc. It is south of the Scorpion's tail, and when these constellations were first formed it was visible only on the very lowest horizon of the south, pointing to the completion of all judgment in the lake of fire.

"Who is this that cometh from Edom, 
With dyed garments from Bozrah." 

"For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, 
And the year of My redeemed is come. 
And I looked, and there was none to help; 
And I wondered that there was none to uphold; 
Therefore Mine own arm brought salvation, 
And My fury, it upheld Me." 
Isaiah 63:4, 5 

"Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of Thine anger: 
The LORD shall swallow them up in His wrath; 
And the fire shall devour them." 

Each of the three great books concludes with