The Witness of the StarsBullinger, E. W. (Ethelbert William)
Religion
The Witness of the Stars
Bullinger, E. W. (Ethelbert William)
Astronomy; Astronomy in the Bible; Bible and science; Constellations
The brightest star, α (at the point of the tail), is the most important in
the whole heavens. It is named _Al Ruccaba_, which means _the turned_ or
_ridden on_, and is to‐day the Polar or central star, which does not
revolve in a circle as does every other star, but remains, apparently,
fixed in its position. But though the star does not revolve like the
others, the central point in the heavens is very slowly but steadily
moving. When these constellations were formed the Dragon possessed this
important point, and the star α, in _Draco_, marked this central point.
But, by its gradual recession, that point is sufficiently near this star
_Ruccaba_, in the _Lesser Sheepfold_, for it to be what is called “the
Polar Star.” But, how could this have been known five or six thousand
years ago? How could it have been known when it received its name, which
means _the turned_ or _ridden on_? That it was known is clear: so likewise
was it made known in the written Word that the original blessing included
not merely the multiplication of the seed of faithful Abraham, but it was
then added, “And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies” (Gen.
xxii. 17).
This star was called by the Greeks Κυνόσουρα, the “_Cynosure_.” ARATUS
seems to apply this term to the whole of the seven stars of the _Lesser
Bear_. Mr. Robert Brown, Junr., shows(72) that Κυνόσουρα, once supposed to
be Hellenic, is non‐Hellenic, and possibly Euphratean in origin, from a
word which he transliterates _An‐nas‐sur‐ra_, and renders it, “as it
literally means, _high in_ rising, _i.e._, in heavenly position.” Is not
this the primitive truth of the Revelation? Will not this Lesser Fold be
high, yea, the highest in heavenly position?
The Polar Star has been removed from the Dragon, and is now in _the Lesser
Fold_; and when the Dragon shall be cast down from the heavens, the
heavenly seed will be safely folded there. But this is _the Lesser
Sheepfold_. These are they who all through the ages have been “partakers
of the heavenly calling,” who desired a better country, that is, a
_heavenly_; wherefore God “hath prepared for them a city,” the city for
which Abraham himself “looked.” This was no earthly city, but a city
“whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. xi. 10‐16). These have always been
a smaller company, a “little flock,” but the kingdom shall be theirs, even
the kingdom of God, for which they now look and wait. They have not yet
“received the promises; but, having seen them afar off” by faith, they
“were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. xi. 13). Their Messiah has
accomplished “the redemption of the purchased possession,” and in due time
the redeemed will inherit it, “unto the praise of His glory” (Eph. i. 13).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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