NEW MOON REPORT
Nehemia Gordon from Jerusalem, Israel compiled the
following New Moon Report for the Fifth month on the Hebrew calendar, the month
of Av.
“On Wednesday July 30, 2003 the New Moon was sighted by observers across Israel. The moon was sighted from Jerusalem by Nehemia Gordon and Devorah Gordon at 19:43, by Kadishiel Ben Rockameen at 19:48, and by Melekh ben Yaaqov, Yehuda H. Cohane, and Helayay Cohane at 19:52. The moon was also sighted from Beit Ezra (near Ashdod) by Magdi Shamuel at 19:40, and from Arad by Isaac Sergani at 1948.
This month we were joined by a delegation of “KOY” members from Dimona led by Yehuda H. Cohane who expressed a desire to share information about New Moon sightings. We look forward to a productive cooperation.”
The next New Moon is expected to be visible from Jerusalem around sunset on August 28. This will be somewhat borderline, so we will have to wait to see what the New Moon Report will be for that date. That will begin the 6th month of the Hebrew calendar, the month of Elul.
THE RETURN OF THE PERSEIDS
It is that time of the year again for the popular summer astronomical treat, the Perseid Meteor Shower. This is the most popular of meteor showers because of the usually warm summer nights that it occurs. Most rather be looking into the heavens on a warm evening than a cold evening in November when the Leonid Meteor Shower occurs.
The Perseids occur from early to late August with its peak usually on August 12. This year the peak of the shower will be on August 13, at 1:00 am Eastern Daylight Time. At its peak, observers can see 60 or more meteors per hour in dark skies. This year, however, there will be the full moon to contend with during the peak days, which will block out the fainter meteors. The best time to observe the shower is usually between 1 am and 5 am local Daylight savings time.
Below is a chart from Sky
& Telescope that shows the radiant of the shower (where the meteors appear
to come from) above the head of Perseus.
The radiant is above the blade of the sword that Perseus is
holding above his head (see a picture of this in the August 2002
newsletter. It is as sparks flying off
the sword.
The Hebrew name for this
constellation is Peretz, which means, the Breaker. This ties in with Micah 2:12, 13 –
I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the
remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock
in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. THE
BREAKER (parats) is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed
through the gate and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them and
the LORD
on the head of them. (KJV)
Peretz portrays Messiah
rescuing His bride (Andromeda or
Sirra in the Heb. which means the chained) from the beast from the sea (Cetus).
And the sparks will fly.
A UNIQUE RENDESVOUS IN THE
HEAVENS
Starting around August 21, the Sun, Jupiter and Venus will be closing
in on a rendezvous with the star Regulus in the constellation Leo (Arieh, the lion). Continuing on through August 26, there will be
various massings and conjunctions of the above- mentioned heavenly bodies.
Chart 324 below shows
the close grouping of the above-mentioned bodies for August 22, 2003. The planet Jupiter is the large dot above the
sun, and the star Regulus is the smaller dot below Venus. The bodies are too close together here to
show the labels of all.
Chart
324 – Massing of the Sun, Jupiter, Venus and Regulus on August 22, 2003
Chart 325 below
shows a zoomed in view of this grouping.
Of course this grouping and other events to shortly follow will not be
visible to the naked eye due to their closeness to the sun, but nonetheless,
this is a very unique massing of these particular heavenly bodies.
Chart
325 – Zoomed in view of massing of the Sun, Jupiter, Venus and Regulus on
8/27/03
Before getting into the events, I will give a review of the Biblical
meanings of the constellation Leo
(Arieh), the star Regulus, the planets Jupiter and Venus, and the Sun.
The constellation Leo
(Arieh, the lion) represents
not only Messiah crushing the enemy, but also the Tribe of Judah and the House
of Judah.
The star Regulus in the
constellation Leo (Arieh) is the brightest star in that
constellation and the chief or king star (the king star of
Yehudah). All ancient civilizations recognized Regulus as the king
star, the one and only king star in the zodiac. Regulus means
kingly in Latin. The Arabic word regel means foot and
is identical in meaning to the Aramaic word regla and the Hebrew word regel. Thus
the brightest star in the constellation of Arieh, has the Biblical
connotation of the foot, tying in with the "from between his feet,"
of Genesis 49:10 ("the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver
from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of
the people be") represented by the king star, Regulus.
The planet Jupiter or Tzedeq in
Hebrew is the chief or king planet of all the planets. Its Hebrew name Tzedeq
is the root of Melchizedek. Jupiter has long been recognized
as a messianic star and associated with the Messiah. Tzedeq
means righteousness. The Messiah who would come from David's
genetic line was to be the righteous Branch, according to Jeremiah
23:5, who would reign as a king and execute righteousness. His name would
be called the Lord our Righteousness (Jer. 23 5, 6 and Jer 33:15,
16). Thus Jupiter has characteristics that would associate it with the
Messiah. Yahshua is made an high priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec (Heb. 6:20).
Venus is the bright and morning star. This is
also associated with Yahshua HaMashiach, "the bright and morning
star" in Rev. 22:16.
The Sun represents the going forth
of the bridegroom (Psalm 19:5, 6)
Celestial Events
August 17 – Sun and Venus in conjunction.
August 21 – Jupiter and Venus in conjunction.
August 22 – Venus and Regulus in conjunction.
Sun and Jupiter in conjunction.
August 23 – Sun and Regulus in conjunction.
August 26 – Jupiter and Regulus in conjunction.
August 27 – Mars at its closest approach to Earth in the last
59,000 plus years.
August 28 – Mars at opposition.
Sighting of New Moon (Elul 1 begins).
Chart 326 below shows the position of the New Moon in Arieh
in the early evening of August 28 (the beginning of Elul 1) as viewed from
Jerusalem.
Chart
326 – Position of the New Moon in Arieh (the Lion) shortly after sunset
as seen from Jerusalem on August 28, 2003
It was during Messiah's first appearance on Earth
that there was much activity in the constellation Arieh involving
Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Mercury (Gabriel), and Regulus between the summer of 3 BC
and the summer of 2 BC, finalizing with a massing of all four of the above
mentioned planets on August 27, 2 BC. If the activity in late August of
this year is a sign of the "imminent" reappearing of Messiah, we will
soon know. There will not be any "above the ordinary" signs
after these that I can determine until the year 2040, unless there are unknown
comets that are on the way in that will be large and very bright or a
super-nova (these are possibilities).
MARS AT ITS BRIGHTEST
As mentioned in former newsletters, Mars will be closer to the earth and brighter to the naked eye than at any other time in human history on August 27, 2003. Mars will reach its closest approach to the earth, 34,646,418 miles, at 5:51 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The best time for viewing Mars for those in the continental United States will be around 1:30 a.m. Local Daylight Savings Time and through the early morning of August 27. The west coast will get to view Mars when it is at its closest approach at 2:51 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Mars reaches its zenith (highest point in the sky) around 1:20 a.m., the better time to view it, as it is high in a dark sky and due south. Since it is near the New Moon, the sky will be very dark and Mars will be the brightest object in the heavens.
Mars has certain cycles of close approaches (for
Mars, 35 million miles is a close approach) in which it appears large in
the sky and very bright. Such was the case in 729 BC and again in 586 BC.
On June 27, 729 BC, Mars shined at a magnitude –2.84
as compared to a magnitude –2.88 that it will reach on August 27, 2003.
It was seven years later that the ten northern tribes, the House of Israel (or
Ephrayim), were taken captive by the Assyrians.
On August 2, 586 BC Mars shined at a magnitude –2.78. It was at that time that the House of Judah
(Yehudah) was taken captive into Babylon.
It doesn't mean that anything will happen such as in the case
of the captivities, but this is something to be aware of and to be at an
alert stage.
Chart 327, below, shows the position of
Mars in the constellation Aquarius (Deli) in the upper thigh of the
right leg, at its closest approach on August 27, 2003. Mars was also in Aquarius during its closest
approach in 586 BC. The picture below
Chart 327 shows the position of Mars in Aquarius on August 2, 586 BC.
Chart
327 – The position of Mars in Aquarius during its closest approach to the earth
on 8/27/03
Mars in Aquarius on August
2, 586 BC
The theme of the constellation Aquarius is the
living waters of blessing poured forth for the redeemed. Yehudah may have thought twice at that
particular theme during that time. It
may have been a sign to them to give them hope at and during their captivity in
Yahuweh’s promises that would bring them out of captivity at some future date
and poor forth His blessings upon them once more. These blessings were poured forth during and
shortly after Messiah’s first appearance to both Houses, as many as believed
that Yahshua is the son of Elohim and the promised Messiah. The living waters of blessing will again be
poured forth at the time that all things are restored. Is this a sign that it is now the season for
this to occur?
Ancient Names for Mars
Hebrew Adom - red, bloodshedding
Madim – made like blood, Arab. sense
Arabic Melekh, as Melokh
Persian Azar – blood flowing, Arab. sense
Coptic Melokh – broken, bruised
Or
Egypt. Khons – wounded
Sanscr. Angareka - wounded
Mangala
- wounded
Greek Pirois – bruising or
Puroeois – fire color
Ares – as Mars
Latin Mars – bruised, or
breaker
Mars reaches opposition on August 28, which will be
the beginning of Elul 1 at sunset, and, the beginning of the 40 days of
repentance to Yom Kippur. Mars will slowly fade to a magnitude of –1.87 on The Day of Atonement, but this is
still bright, though about 2.5 times less bright than the evening/early morning
of August 27. Though it is less bright,
it will appear a deeper red color.
Mars represents Michael the warrior angel, who wars
against Satan (the dragon and serpent). This red planet also represents
blood and war.
The Hebrew name of Mars is Adon, which here
means red, blood shedding and represents the blood of atonement
that was shed by Messiah. This coming forty-day season of
repentance, which ends on The Day of Atonement, is marked with this great sign.
It will definitely do no harm during this season of
repentance for individuals and assemblies to seek Yahuweh’s heart through His
son Yahshua and to search ones own heart and way of life to see if it aligns
with Yahuweh’s way and good pleasure.
And to turn away from those things that are not of Yahuweh Elohim, and
turn toward, face, and grasp a hold of His way though His living word, Yahshua,
our commander and chief. Speaking for
myself, I feel a need to do this at this time.
Though others may not have that need.
REPENT:
FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR; EVEN AT YOUR VERY DOOR (KNOCK, KNOCK)
And that is not a knock- knock joke. One knock is from the Father and the other from the Son. Open your door and let them come into your heart and sup with you.
It was ten years ago almost to the day that I started this particular journey in Biblical Astronomy, though I have been a student of this subject since 1976. It was then (1993) that I became aware of great signs that were to take place between 1996 and 2003. Even though at that time I was not aware of the two bright comets (Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp) on their way in, I was real excited, because of the other rare events with most of them occurring on Biblical feast days, and occurring in constellations pertaining to Messiah’s return. Now I am looking from almost the other side with most of those signs now far behind us instead of ahead of us, and with only one more left to go (two counting the massing in Arieh).
In 1993, I really didn’t think that all of these signs would come and go without Messiah’s return. I believed at that time that the tribulation would begin in 1996 as it was so plainly marked out in the heavens, and that the end of that tribulation would occur either in the spring of 2000 or the autumn of 2003. After thousands of hours of research, I know for certain that these were and are the greatest signs ever to occur marking the Return of Messiah. In the last 6,000 years and for at least 5,000 years to come, there was and will not be an array of such fine signs as we were witness to over these past 7 years (saving when the sun turns black and the moon blood red after the tribulation of those days). There will be one great sign that stands all on its own on Tishri 1, 2040. I will get into this more when, or, if we get past this autumn without major events unfolding on Earth.
Could it be that Yahuweh Elohim has shown us these great signs over the last 7 years to get us prepared, and after the final sign, the actual seven-year tribulation will begin? I do not know. I do know these are His signs (That’s a fact Jack). He will do things all in His good time. Yahuweh Elohim is not in a hurry to let the tribulation begin, but has great patience for He wishes all to be saved. However, that time will come. It is up to Him when. We hope in the Return of Messiah when we can see Him face to face. Though we should not hope for the Tribulation and the wrath to follow, for that will be a dark day indeed. This planet needs our prayers, whether we are weeks away from the Tribulation unfolding, or 37 years.
To those who have read or subscribed to Biblical Astronomy over the past seven years, and to those who are new to this, thank you for your prayers and support. You made it available for me to share what I learned with many others. It would have been a shame to have kept all of this to myself. I have no regrets, and would do it all again the same way.
Yahuweh Elohim richly bless
you and your families in His super-abundance of grace, mercy and love through
His son Yahushua HaMashiach.
Yahuweh Elohim watch over
you.