Monday, February 01, 2016

2016, The Chinese Year of the Fire Monkey in Relation to God's Calendar


In this article, I explore the meaning of the Chinese Astrological Sign of the Monkey in relation to the Sacred Astronomy surrounding the Gospel in the Stars, and the Jewish calendar year 5776, or 2016. This is because, even if Chinese Astrology is only based on myths, Chinese Astrological symbols like the Monkey carry powerful meanings that are a part of Chinese, Japanese and broader Asian culture. For this reason, these cultural symbols have many associated meanings that can affect people’s behavior within that culture. In addition, there are some interesting paradoxes and parallels between these two opposing views of the Zodiac that are quite entertaining to explore in relation to 2016, in relation to Christ, and in relation to the Rapture.

The New Moon on February 8th, 2016 marks the beginning of the year of the Fire Monkey in Chinese Astrology, which is very different from Classical Astrology and Sacred Astronomy. For example, although this February marks the year of the Fire Monkey in Asia, the Gospel in the Stars places the Sun and the New Moon in the Sign of Capricorn the dying Goat with a lively Fish tail. The lively Fish Tail of Capricorn signifies the salvation of Noah, his family and thousands of animals that survived the Flood, while the Nephilim and unrepentant humanity that perished in the Flood are signified by the dying goat half of Capricorn.

Unlike Chinese Astrology, Classical Astrology is based on a corruption of the principles of Sacred Astronomy, and Sacred Astronomy was created by godly men to follow, understand, and teach about the Gospel in the Stars found hidden within the symbols of the original 48 constellations of Classical antiquity. Whereas the 12 Classical Astrological Signs and their 36 decan signs were created by Yahshua or Jesus when He created the Universe for His Father (See Colossians 1), Chinese Astrology was created by men based on their own imaginations.

Chinese Astrological symbols include 12 Animals that govern twelve equal portions of the Chinese lunar year, beginning with the Rat, and followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. These animal symbols bear a strong resemblance to Native America Animal Totems, where the perceived nature and personality of the animals largely affects its meaning within the Zodiac, and in everyday cultural applications. For example, a Native American might be assigned an animal totem based on the number of personality traits they have in common with the animal. So a person who is ambitious, sharp-eyed, loyal, a good hunter, and protective of one’s family might be assigned the eagle or mountain lion as a totem, whereas a person who is aggressive, blunt, outspoken, and strong might be assigned the buffalo or bear.

Interestingly, this idea also finds expression within English culture and the English language, which is loaded with expressions that show a connection to the idea that the nature of animals can be applied to humans. Examples of such animal idioms include quite a few referring to monkeys, as well as many other types of animals and insects. Here is a partial list:  “making a monkey out of him (or her)”. “monkey business”, “more fun than a barrel of monkeys”, “monkey see, monkey do”, “stubborn as a billy goat”, “soft as a dove”, “docile as a lamb”, “fighting like cats and dogs”, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, “strong as an ox”, “poor as a church mouse”, “quick as a rabbit”, “when the cat’s away, the mice will play”, “free as a bird”, “eats like a bird”, “bird-brained”, “filthy as a pig”, and “casting pearls before swine” - the last of which has a biblical origin.

So, although we need to keep in mind that Chinese Astrology is not based on the truth of the Gospel originally written into the stars by Christ, it does have deep psychological meaning based on human perception. Therefore, it can affect choices and outcomes. It does so because it holds a powerful sway on the way those who live and work within Asian culture relate to each other and their world. For instance, the Fire Monkey is associated with being creative, passionate and aggressive in accomplishing goals, and taking risks in order to make progress. But it also is a symbol suggesting that taking risks can bring disastrous results in romance, relationships, business and finances if we are not smart, clever, quick or perceptive enough. So we need to be careful when we act, or our efforts could literally go up in smoke as we burn all our bridges.

Since the symbols of Chinese Astrology have a definite meaning based on human perception, it can be interesting to look at how these perceptions relate to the truth found in the divinely given meaning of the Gospel in the Stars hidden within the symbols associated with the constellations and their relationship to one another. Whether believers are aware of it or not, the themes of the Divinely Appointed Feasts within the Jewish Calendar Year have a real spiritual connection to the heavenly symbols that make up the Gospel in the Stars. So let’s take a look at some of these connections.

On God's Calendar, 2016 is a Jubilee year, which means it is the 50th year ending a repeating cycle of seven times seven years or 49 years. Along with the seventh Sabbath year of the 49-year cycle, the adjacent Jubilee year that begins the next Jubilee counting cycle is a time when fortunes can be made and lost, freedoms can be won and lost, and liberty can be won and lost, depending on whether or not an individual, community or nation loves God, desires to please Him, and is following His Moral Laws or not.

For those who love and serve God, the year of Jubilee is meant to be a time of blessing, when debts, restrictions and oppressive obligations can be cancelled or removed. In short, the Jubilee is meant to allow believers more happiness, freedom and liberty. But for those who do not love God, it can be an unpleasant time when fortunes are lost, restrictions increase, and freedom is jeopardized. Thus, the theme of the Jubilee ties in perfectly with the time of the Rapture, when believers will be given true freedom and liberty with Christ in Heaven, while the wicked will suffer great oppression, suffering, restriction, loss, death and ruin.

On the Chinese calendar, 2016 is the Year of the Fire Monkey, which officially begins on the first day of the New Moon falling on February 8th, which is Chinese New Year - also known as the day of the Spring Festival. A New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are next to each other in the sky, and the Moon is dark, but it can only be detected visually when the first visible waxing crescent of the Moon appears. This February, the invisible New Moon will occur in the Sign of Capricorn, the Goat-Fish in the Western Zodiac, while it will be in the month associated with the First Month Sign of the Tiger on the Chinese calendar. Officially, every Chinese agricultural year begins with the Tiger, although the yearly cycle sequentially falls in one of twelve Chinese Zodiac signs, beginning with the Rat or Mouse. 2016 falls on the seventh year in that 12 year cycle, and the Sign of the Monkey is the seventh Sign in the Chinese Zodiac.

The New Moon of February 8th, 2016 marks the official first day of Spring on the Chinese Calendar, and the time of the Spring Festival, which is a joyous time marked by celebrations, monetary gifts to loved ones, and fireworks displays. This is in contrast to the Jewish Calendar, in which the first month is associated with the New Moon closest to the Spring Equinox falling on March 20 or 21st, depending on the year.

This year, the first month of the Jewish Religious Calendar year begins with the sighted crescent of the New Moon on Nissan 1, which falls on April 8th in 2016. On that day, the Sun will rise in conjunction with the planet Uranus in Pisces signifying the Two Houses of Israel. Uranus is invisible to the naked eye, and it has 5 moons. Together, they represent the hidden away or protected Bride of Christ and her 5 Wise Virgin Attendants, just as the New Moon does. Shortly after sunrise, the crescent Moon will be visible just above the western horizon in the Sign of Aries the Ram signifying Yahshua as the Lamb of God, as well as the faithful sheep who follow Him. Meanwhile, Venus representing Christ as the Morning Star will be aligned with the Pisces/2 House Fish signifying the House of Ephraim, or the True Church of Born Again Believers . To see the full Gospel message in the heavens on that day, see the following graphic that I created to reveal most of it:

Heavenly Signs on Nissan 1, April 8th, 2016
Click On Image To Enlarge, Right Click To Open In New Window
In Classical Astrology, Aries the Ram is considered to be the first Sign of the Zodiac, whereas the first Sign in the Gospel in the Stars is Virgo the Virgin, which is generally where the Sun is located at the time of Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles in the autumn months of September or October. However, the Sun is usually located in Aries at the time of Passover in the spring, and this is when Yahshua was offered up as the perfect Passover Lamb that Aries partly represents.

The Monkey is the Seventh sign on the Twelve-Sign Chinese Zodiacal wheel, and so it is connected to the seventh month of the lunar-based Chinese agricultural year, as well as to the 7th year in every Chinese Zodiac series of twelve years. The Chinese 7th month is associated with early August through early September. It is therefore connected to late summer or early autumn - depending on the climate.

Interestingly, each of the twelve Chinese Zodiac signs can have one of five different elements connected to it. For example, the Monkey sign can be assigned to Metal, Water, Wood, Fire or Earth. This year, the playful and mischievous Monkey has been associated with the transforming and destructive power of Fire, and this is considered to be a volatile mix that can bring both good and bad things one's way, depending on one's choices. But since just about anything can happen in a Fire Monkey year because monkeys and fire are both so unpredictable, it is also considered a time to be cautious.

On God's Calendar, the 7th Month is called Tishri, and it is associated with late summer and early autumn - when the Sun is in the Western Zodiac sign of Virgo the Virgin, which can signify both the virgin Jewish mother of Christ, and the virgin Grafted-In Bride of Christ. This seventh month is when all the Autumn Feasts associated with Christ's Second Coming and Millennial Reign are traditionally set to occur, and many believers thematically associate the Rapture with the Feast of Trumpets, which begins with the New Moon heralding the beginning of the Seventh Month. However, the idea of the Rapture bears a strong thematic connection to Pentecost or Shavuot as well, and Yahshua told us that it could occur at any time, since no one knows the day or hour that it will occur on except God the Father.

In ancient times, the Full Moon Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot was always scheduled to fall at the first Full Moon after the Autumn Equinox, but this is not always the case today. The Autumn Equinox occurs on September 20th or 21st today, but in the First Century, it fell around September 23rd or 24th due to the Precession of the Equinoxes. In 2015, for example, Sukkot fell a month early, but in 2016, it will correctly fall at the time of the Full Moon on the evening of October 16th, 2016.

Personally, I do not think we will be here to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles on the Earth in 2016, because I think there is a good likelihood that the Rapture will occur before this Jubilee year ends. Although this Jewish Year 5776 is scheduled to end on the Feast of Trumpets, which begins on the evening of October 2nd, 2016, I believe the Rapture is tied to Pentecost or Shavuot. Intriguingly, the end date in the Antechamber of the Great Pyramid at Giza - the pyramid that depicts the New Jerusalem and the Bride of Christ - corresponds to June 1st, 2016. Intriguingly, this date falls ten days before the Jewish version of Pentecost called the Feast of Shavuot, which begins on the evening of June 11th, 2016.

As recorded in Acts, Yahshua or Jesus ascended to Heaven in view of His Apostles and Disciples ten days before Shavuot, and His ascension was a type of Rapture or divine Catching Away of a person into Heaven. Although no one knows the day or the hour of the Rapture of the Church of Philadelphia, it is possible that the Rapture will happen around the time of Pentecost or Shavuot.

The Christian celebration of Pentecost will fall on Sunday, May 15th, 2016, which is four weeks before the Jewish date for Shavuot on the evening of June 11th. Therefore, the four weeks between these two feasts can be considered to be a high alert Rapture Watch period. However, since no one knows the day or hour of the Rapture, it is important for believers to make sure they are ready to be taken up in the Rapture at any moment by repenting of known sins, making amends for their bad actions whenever possible, seeking and giving forgiveness, and loving one another as Christ loves us - by preaching the Truth of God’s Word or Law to us whenever we will listen!

May we all be ready to fly up into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father and His Son and Spirit when the Rapture comes! MARANATHA!

Your Sister in Yahshua,
Helena Lehman,
Scholar, Author and Artist for
The Language of God Book Series, and
Webmaster for the Pillar of Enoch Ministry Site
Ministry Web Site: http://pillar-of-enoch.com

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