In the prophecy of Balaam (Num. xxiv. 8, 9), we read: “He shall eat up the nations his enemies, And shall break their bones, And pierce them through with his arrows, He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a great lion; who shall stir him up?” The same testimony is borne by the Prophet Amos: “Will a lion roar in the forest when he hath no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he hath taken nothing?... The lion hath roared, who will not fear?” (Amos iii. 4, 8.) When “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” is roused up for the rending, the Spirit describes the scene in Isa. xlii. 13: “The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war; He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies.” And this is what is meant and included when the Elder says for John’s comfort, “the Lion of the Tribe of Judah _hath prevailed_,” and hence, is “worthy ... to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. v.). Whether we look, therefore, at the primeval Revelation in the heavens, or at the later Revelation in the Word, the story is one and the same. And what we see of Leo and his work in both, we find developed and described in the three constellations of the Sign. 1. HYDRA (The Serpent). _The Old Serpent Destroyed._ The time has at length come for the fulfilment of the many prophecies pictured in the heavens: and in its three final constellations we see the consummation of them all in the complete destruction of the Old Serpent, and all his seed, and all his works. [Illustration] Plate 40: HYDRA (the Serpent), CRATER (the Cup), CORVUS (the Raven) It is the special work of the Messiah, as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” to trample it under foot. It is pictured as _the female serpent (Hydra)_, the mother and author of all evil. _Hydra_ has the significant meaning, _he is abhorred_! It is an immense constellation extending for above 100 degrees from east to west, beneath the Virgin, the Lion, and the Crab. It is composed of 60 stars; one of the 2nd magnitude, three of the 3rd, twelve of the 4th, etc. The brightest star, α (in the heart of the Serpent), is sometimes called by the moderns _Cor Hydræ_ on that account. Its ancient name is _Al Phard_ (Arabic), which means _the separated_, _put away_. Another is called _Al Drian_, _the abhorred_. Another star is named _Minchar al Sugia_, _the piercing of the deceiver_. There can be no doubt as to what is taught by the constellation of Hydra, nor is it necessary to quote the Scriptures concerning the destruction of the Serpent. We pass on to consider the second. 2. CRATER (The Cup). _The Cup of Divine wrath Poured out upon Him._