Indeed, this Sign of PISCES has always been interpreted of Israel. Both Jews and Gentiles have agreed in this. ABARBANEL, a Jewish commentator, writing on Daniel, affirms that the Sign PISCES always refers to the people of Israel. He gives five reasons for this belief, and also affirms that a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn always betokens a crisis in the affairs of Israel. Because such a conjunction took place in his day (about 1480 A.D.) he looked for the coming of Messiah.(51) Certain it is, that when the sun is in PISCES all the constellations which are considered _noxious_, are seen above the horizon. What is true in astronomical observation is true also in historical fact. When God’s favour is shown to Israel, “the Jew’s enemy” puts forth his malignant powers. When they increased and multiplied in Egypt, he endeavoured to compass the destruction of the nation by destroying the male children; but their great Deliverer remembered His covenant, defeated the designs of the enemy, and brought the counsel of the heathen to nought. So it was in Persia; and so it will yet be again when the hour of Israel’s final deliverance has come. There can be no doubt that we have in this Sign the foreshowing of the multiplication and blessing of the children of promise, and a token of their coming deliverance from all the power of the enemy. But why _two_ fishes? and why is one horizontal and the other perpendicular? The answer is, that not only in Israel, but in the seed of Seth and Shem there were always those who looked for a heavenly portion, and were “partakers of a heavenly calling.” In Heb. xi. we are distinctly told that Abraham “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (_v._ 10). They were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (_v._ 13). _Strangers_ are those without a home, and _pilgrims_ are those who are journeying home: “they seek a country” (_v._ 14). They desired “a better country, that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed(52) to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city” (_v._ 16). It is clear, therefore, that what are called the “Old Testament Saints” were “partakers of THE HEAVENLY CALLING” (Heb. iii. 1), which included a heavenly portion and a heavenly home; and all through the ages there have been “partakers of the heavenly calling.” This is quite distinct from the calling of the Church, which is from both Jews and Gentiles to form “one body,” a “new man” in Christ (Eph. ii. 15). It must be distinct, for it is expressly stated at the end of that chapter (Heb. xi. 40) that God has “PROVIDED (marg. _forseen_) SOME BETTER THING FOR US.” How can this be a “better thing,” if it is the _same thing_? There must be two separate things if one is “better” than the other! Our calling in Christ is the “better thing.” The Old Testament saints had, and will have, _a good thing_. They will have a heavenly blessing, and a heavenly