Over one-hundred years ago, E. W. Bullinger wrote The Witness of the Stars. In this book Bullinger showed how the stars witness to the accuracy of Biblical prophetic truths. Later, Kenneth C. Fleming wrote God's Voice in the Stars. Fleming wrote "God Himself is responsible for the names of the stars. He did not entrust this task to Adam." The following information was compiled by Brother J. R. Church and published in 1994.

While Adam was given the privilege of naming the animals, God named the stars (Psalms 147:4, Isaiah 40:26, Genesis 1:14). In astrology, Aries is the first sign and Pisces is the last. But astrology is a counterfeit. In reality Virgo is the first sign and Leo is the last. The order of signs from Virgo through Leo is confirmed by the ancient Egyptian Sphinx, which portrays the head of a woman (Virgo) and the body of a lion (Leo). The Story in the Stars has nothing to do with events of your life, and everything to do with Salvation.

Satan is the great counterfeiter. He has taken something created by the Lord and twisted it for his own use. The constellations and stars tell the story of Jesus. There are those who do not wish the story to be known. So, to hide the story in the stars, the order was changed.

You can see that the astrological order varies from the created order prescribed by the Lord. Aries, while in the eighth position, became first.

Here is the Story in the Stars (names in Bold are ancient names given to stars and constellations):

I - VIRGO

Depicted as a woman with a shock of wheat in one hand and a branch in the other. The brightest star is in the seed of the wheat (Spica - "the branch"). Isaiah and Zechariah prophesied about the Messiah as "the Branch". This "sign" tells of Mary and the Virgin Birth of Jesus.

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Coma -"the desired" (the desired of all nations", Haggai 2:7). Depicted as a virgin with a newborn baby on her lap.

2) Bootes - "the coming one". Depicted as a shepherd with a staff or as a harvester with a sickle. In the left knee of the shepherd is Arcturus - "he comes".

3) Centaurus - "two natures". Depicted as half man, half horse. Represents the physical and spiritual nature of Jesus.

II - LIBRA

Depicted as a lampstand which Scorpio is trying to seize; or as scales representing justice and the condition of man after The Fall. ("You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting." - Daniel 5:27) On one side of the balance is Zuben Al Chemali - "the price which covers" indicating the sufficient price paid by the seed of the Virgin (Jesus).

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Crux - "cross"; also known as The Southern Cross. The sufficient payment was by way of the Cross.

2) Lupus - (in Latin Victima - "the victim"). The Son of the Virgin was a victim of our sins, not His own.

3) Corona Borealis - "the northern crown". The Son of the Virgin became a victim on the Cross so the He could attain the heavenly crown.

III - SCORPIO

Depicted as a scorpion. In early cultures this constellation was pictured as a dragon or a serpent (Revelation 20:2). In the seventh century before Christ, Scorpio was shown trying to seize the lamp of Libra. Scorpio (Satan, the usurper) wants to be the light of the world. Satan was the brightest angel (Lucifer).

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) The Serpent (or Serpens). Depicted trying to grab the Northern Crown, but is restrained by Ophiuchus. The North represents Heaven.

2) Ophiuchus - Depicted with his heel being attacked by Scorpio, while he is bruising the head of The Serpent (Genesis 3:15).

3) Hercules - Depicted as beating a snake in the branches of a tree (the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil?).

IV - SAGITTARIUS

Depicted as a centaur, indicating the two natures of Jesus (spiritual and physical), with a bow and arrow aimed at the heart of Scorpio. Jesus will be victorious over Satan.

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Lyra - Depicted as a harp (indicating praise). The brightest star in Lyra is Vega - "he shall be exalted".

2) Ara - "it is finished". Depicted as an altar upside down, with its fire pouring over the South Pole, or "the regions of darkness". Represents no more sacrifice for sin.

3) Draco - "the dragon". Four-thousand, seven-hundred years ago, Thuban, the brightest star, was the Polar star. Through astronomical precession, Polaris is now the Polar star. Thuban has been displaced or "kicked out" of its heavenly position, just as Satan will be (Revelation 12:9).

V - CAPRICORN

Depicted as a goat with the tail of a fish. There are two stars in the head: Daneb Algedi - "the sacrifice comes" and Dabih - "the sacrifice slain". In Old Testament times the sins of the people were placed on a goat, just as Jesus bears our sin. A fish has been the symbol of Christianity for 2000 years. Both the goat and the fish remind us of the sacrifice of Jesus.

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Sagitta - "the arrow of God's judgment"

2) Aquila - "the falling eagle". The brightest star Al Okal - "wounded in the heel". (Gen. 3:15)

3) Delphinus - "dolphin" - a creature born of water.

VI - AQUARIUS

"The water bearer". "Whosoever drinks of my water shall never thirst", John 4:14. Water is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Pisces Australis - "the southern fish". Aquarius is depicted pouring water (the spirit) on the fish, symbolizing the Church.

2) Cygnus - "the swan of the northern cross". The constellation is a swan, but the stars form a cross.

3) Pegasus - depicted as a winged, white horse. The brightest star is Markab - "returning from afar". Pegasus reminds us of Jesus returning on a white horse in Revelation 19.

VII - PISCES

Depicted as two fish and has been the symbol of Christianity for 2000 years.

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) The Band - a band which binds the two fish together (bound by sin??).

2) Andromeda - "the assembly". Depicted as a chained woman (the Bride of Christ bound by sin??).

3) Cepheus - "the royal branch, the king". Depicted as a king with a robe and crown. Two of the stars in this constellation are: Al Phirk - "the redeemer", Al Rai - " the shepherd". This must be King Jesus, our shepherd and redeemer.

VIII - ARIES

"Chief or Head". Depicted as a ram. The brightest star is Elnath - "the wounded or slain".

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Cassiopeia - Depicted as a woman sitting on a throne, fixing her hair and adjusting her robes, preparing herself for the king (Cepheus?? – see Pisces above).

2) Perseus - "the breaker". Depicted as a soldier with helmet and sword. In his left hand is the head of Medusa - "trodden under foot". The principal star in the head of Medusa is Al Ghoul - "the evil spirit". Also, there is Rosh Satan - " the head of Satan". Medusa's hair is snakes. Perseus broke the chains of Andromeda and she became Cassiopeia.

3) Cetus - Depicted as a sea monster in the southern sky (representative of Hell). The star in the neck is Mira - " the rebel". The brightest star is Menkar - "the bound or chained enemy".

Taken together, Pisces and Aries show the Church, the Bride of Christ, bound by sin, released by "the breaker", the Messiah (see Micah 2:13) and preparing for marriage to the king (Jesus). It also shows the victory of Jesus over Satan.

IX - TAURUS

Shown as a raging, charging bull. Only the front half is depicted. Where the back should be, is Aries, as if the bull is coming out of Aries. A wild bull was the symbol of power and rule. Taurus means governor, captain or leader. On the shoulder of Taurus are the Pleiades - "the congregation of the judge".

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Auriga - Depicted as the great shepherd holding a she-goat and kids in his lap. In the center of the goat is Capella - "she-goat". In the foot of the shepherd is Elnath - "the wounded". Our shepherd, Jesus, was wounded in the heel.

2) Orion - "coming forth as light". The brightest star is Betelgeuse - " the coming of the branch". Jesus is the Branch. In Orion's foot is Rigel - "the foot that crushes". In the shoulder is Bellatrix - "quickly coming". In the leg is Saiph - "bruised". Again, our shepherd was wounded (symbolically) in the heel, and He is quickly coming.

3) Eridanus - "river of fire". This constellation runs across the heavens toward the south. In the river are Archernar - "the afterpart of the river", Cursa - "bent down" and Zourac - "flowing". Does this river feed the Lake of Fire?

X - GEMINI

In the ancient Denderah Zodiac of Egypt, Gemini is depicted as a man and a woman. In Coptic (an Egyptian language) Gemini is Pimahi - "the united". Is this a bride and groom? Two stars mark the two heads, Castor and Pollux. Castor - "ruler" or "judge"; Pollux - "wounded, hurt, afflicted".

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Canis Major - The major star in this constellation is Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, - "the prince".

2) Canis Minor - the brightest star is Procyon - "redeemer" or "savior". The Egyptians called it Sebak - "the conquering" or "victorious".

3) Lepus - originally, a snake. It is located under the feet of Orion, who crushes the head of Lepus, the snake. (Rigel - the foot that crushes. See Orion above). The brightest star is Arneb - "the enemy of him who comes". Also, Nihal - "the mad", and Sulya - "the deceiver". Satan is the enemy of Jesus and is the deceiver (Gen. 3:13).

XI - CANCER

Depicted as a crab (born of water) - "to hold or encircle". In some ancient Zodiacs Cancer was known as Klaria - "cattlefolds". (Where the shepherd keeps his sheep?) The brightest star is Tegmine - "holding". Also, Acubene - "sheltering or hiding place" (Heaven?); Ma'Alaph - "assembled thousands"; and Al Himarean - "kids or lambs". It also contains a cluster of stars called Praesepe - "multitude". A picture of the multitudes of the Saved in Heaven.

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Ursa Minor - the Little Dipper. In ancient Zodiac of Chaldea, Persia, Egypt and India, it was depicted as a sheepfold. Ursa Minor has seven bright stars and twenty-four in the entire constellation (the seven bright lamps before the Throne of God and the twenty-four elders who serve Him?). The most significant star is Polaris - the North Star, representing Heaven if the south represents Hell. The Greeks called it Arcas - "bear", but the root meaning is "the stronghold of the saved". Also, Ursa Minor contains Kochab - "waiting for the coming"; Alkaid - "the assembled"; and Alpherkdain - "the redeemed assembly".

2) Ursa Major - "the Big Dipper". Originally "the assembled flock". The brightest star is Dubeh - "a herd or flock"; Merach - "the flock purchased"; Phaeda - "visited, guarded or numbered"; and Benet Naish - "daughters of the assembly".

3) Argo - a ship. The brightest star is Canopus - "the possession of him who cometh". Also, Sephina - "the multitude".

XII - LEO

Leo - "the Lion" is depicted as jumping on Hydra. This constellation depicts the final battle and is the last celestial sign. As noted earlier, the Sphinx has a head of a woman (Virgo) and the body of a lion (Leo). Revelation 5:5 describes Jesus as the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah". First, He came as a lamb. His Second Coming will be as a lion.

Sidereal (related) Constellations:

1) Hydra - "he who is abhorred". Depicted as a giant serpent extending about one-third of the circumference of the heavens. (Satan, the great dragon, took one-third of the stars with him - Revelation 12:4.) Hydra is composed of sixty stars.

2) Crater - a cup or bowl (vial? as in King James Version). This constellation is composed of thirteen stars.

3) Corvus - depicted as a bird eating the flesh of Hydra. (Birds eating flesh after the Battle of Armageddon?)

The entire panorama of the stars and their ancient names display the coming Savior, the deceiver Satan, and the multitudes of the sheltered flock. It also shows the victory of Jesus over Satan. It is there in the sky and has been since Creation.