This, then, is the truth set forth by this enthroned woman. The blessing founded on Atonement, and the Redemption wrought by the Lamb that was slain, result in a glorious answer to Israel’s prayer, “Turn our captivity, O LORD” (Ps. cxxvi. 4): when they that have “sown in tears shall reap in joy,” and the LORD shall loosen her bonds, and place her enthroned by His side. This, however, involves the destruction of her enemy, and this is what we see in the next section. 2. CETUS (The Sea Monster). _The Great Enemy Bound._ When John sees the New Jerusalem, the Bride, the Lamb’s wife (Rev. xxi. 10, 2), Satan has been bound already: for we read, a few verses before (xx. 1‐3): “I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, that Old Serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him [_and kept him bound_] a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled.” This is what we see in the second section of this chapter—the second constellation in ARIES. [Illustration] Plate 26: CETUS (the Sea Monster) The picture is that of a great Sea‐monster, the largest of all the constellations. It is the natural enemy of fishes, hence it is placed here in connection with this last chapter, in which fishes are so prominent. It is situated very low down among the constellations—far away towards the south or lower regions of the sky. Its name in the Denderah Zodiac is _Knem_, which means _subdued_. It is pictured as a monstrous head, trodden under foot by the swine, the natural enemy of the serpent. The hawk also (another enemy of the serpent) is over this figure, crowned with a mortar, denoting _bruising_. It consists of 97 stars, of which two are of the 2nd magnitude, eight of the 3rd, nine of the 4th, etc. The names of the stars interpret for us infallibly the meaning of the picture. The brightest star, α (in the upper mandible), is named _Menkar_, and means _the bound_ or _chained enemy_. The next, β (in the tail), is called _Diphda_, or _Deneb Kaitos_, _overthrown_, or _thrust down_. The star ο (in the neck) is named _Mira_, which means _THE REBEL_. Its name is ominous, for the star is one of the most remarkable. It is very bright, but it was not till 1596 that it was discovered to be _variable_. It disappears periodically _seven_ times in _six_ years! It continues at its brightest for fifteen days together. M. Bade says that during 334 days it shines with its greatest light, then it diminishes, till it entirely disappears for some time (to the naked eye). In fact, during that period it passes through several degrees of magnitude, both increasing and diminishing. Indeed its variableness is so great as to make it appear _unsteady_!