A few years later in the mid-sixties I read a book called Astrology the Space-Age Science, by Joseph Goodavage.  Believe it or not, God our Creator became very real to me for the first time.  I could look up into the heavens and see order in all creation, that God did not put garbage up into the heavens, but everything has a purpose in this universe.  I have studied the subject of Astrology since that time, and have found it helpful as God's big time-clock in the sky, and a road map of our talents we have been given.  The science that the Wise Men from the East followed when they came looking for the Messiah.

        Since many challenged that this study was of the Devil, I studied the subject and the Bible, and the following are some of my conclusions and discoveries.

        I have recently discovered “THE COMPANION BIBLE, King James Version” originally published in 1886, which includes the important readings of Dr. C.D. Ginsburg'sMassoretico-Critical Text of the Hebrew Bible.  This includes the Massorah facts and phenomena, also included are the psychological meanings of some texts.

        In Appendix 9, V. THE INVISIBLE PART OF MAN (Psychological) the meaning of the word Ruach, Spirit is described as: “Given by God at man's formation at birth, and returning to God at his death.”  This describes the teachings of true Astrology, where gifts are given at birth (character).

        In Romans 2:14-15, NEB, “When Gentiles who do not possess the law carry out its precepts by the light of nature, then, although they have no law, they are their own law, for they display the effect of the law described on their hearts.  Their conscience is called as witness, and their own thoughts argue the case on either side, against them or even for them, on that day when God judges the secrets of human hearts through Christ Jesus.  So my gospel declares.”

        The answer  of how they came to God through Nature is also in the Bible. Matthew 2:1-2 NEB “Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of Herod.  After his birth astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who is born to be king of the Jews?  We observed the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage.’”  These wise men of old practiced the age-old "true" science of Astrology, which honors God as Creator, while astronomy does not and teaches evolution.  These wise men studied nature and reasoned from cause to effect.

        Josephus, c. A.D. 37-93, in his Antiquities of the Jews, states that Abraham, “having learned the art in Chaldea, when he sojourned into Egypt, he taught the Egyptians the knowledge of Arithmetic and astrology. . .”

        “Outside of the Jewish nation there were men who foretold the appearance of a divine instructor.  These men were seeking for truth, and to them the Spirit of Inspiration was imparted.” 1

        "For we have seen His star in the  East, and are come to worship Him. . . The wise men from the  East were philosophers. . .  Others were upright men who studied the indications of Providence in nature, and who were honored for their integrity and wisdom.  Of this character were the wise men who came to see Jesus. . . As these Magi studied the starry heavens, and sought to fathom the mystery hidden in their bright paths, they beheld the glory of  the Creator.” 2

    Deuteronomy 18:10-12 KJV.   “There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination (fortuneteller), or an observer of the times (Astrologer, the New English version does not use this term, but instead uses soothsayer or fortuneteller) or an enchanter (Magician), or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familar spirits (medium possessed with a spirit or 'guide'), or a wizard (clairvoyant or psychic), or a necromancer (medium who consults with the dead).  For all who do this thing are an abomination unto the Lord.”

        In the SDA Bible Commentary the word “Astrology” is the Hebrew word “ASHSHAPHIM” a loan word from the Akkadian “ASHIPU” OR “EXORCISER” which is divination, magic, exorcism and fortune telling - this is not the true science of astrology.  In the New English Bible - Concise Readers Guide it states: “ASTROLOGERS - Wise men who interpreted the messages of the gods and dreams from astronomical observations.  The usage broadens to include all who practiced magic arts.”

    Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 NEB “Consider God's handiwork; who can straighten what he has made crooked?  When things go well, be glad; but when things go ill, consider this:  God has set the one alongside the other in such a way that no one can find out what is to happen next.”

    Psalms 19:1-6 KJV.  “The heavens declare the glory of GOD; And the firmament sheweth His handywork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night sheweth knowledge (intelligence, information).  There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard.  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.  In them hath He set a tabernacle (signs of Zodiac, called “houses” of the Sun) for the sun. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.  His going forth is from the ends of the heaven, And his circuit unto the ends of it:  And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.”

        David continues with the parallelism of the Law, the written words of Scripture with the words written in the heavens, and preserved in the names of the signs of the Zodiac and the Constellations.  Each star name and constellation name has meaning, and the whole plan of salvation is written therein. See Appendix 12, “THE STARS ALSO.”  In the American Federation of Astrologers booklet The Basic Principles of Astrology it states:  “Astrology is not clairvoyance, but is based on theories and employs tools and technics which may be studied in textbooks.  Astrologers do not believe the sun moves around the earth, but they plot the sun, moon and planets as they appear from the earth, which is considered as the focal point for astrological purposes.  Astrologers are aware of the phenomenon of precession, and are able to distinguish between the zodiac of the signs and that of the constellations.  Astrology is not fortune-telling nor magic.  It is the study of the correspondences or interactions, between man and his celestial environment,  between the earth itself and its celestial environment. These correspondences are rhythmic and unfold in time.”  The problem is that astrologers do not follow their own code of ethics, but neither do most preachers.

        Our Creator must have considered the New Moon important as it was set up from creation (Genesis 1:14-19) to set their festivals, and the new moon sabbaths were also kept along with the seventh day of sabbath rest.

    Deuteronomy 4:19 NEB.  “Nor must you rise your eyes to the heavens and look up to the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be led on to bow down to them and worship them; the Lord your God assigned these for the worship of the various peoples under heaven.”  I do not understand this text, but it seems that this may be what Paul referred to in Romans 2:14-15 NEB.  “When Gentiles who do not possess the law carry out its precepts by the light of nature, then, although they have no law, they are their own law, for they display the effect of the law inscribed on their hearts.”  Of this class may have come the Wise Men from the East.  Isaiah 47-12-14 NEB.  “Persist in your spells and your monstrous sorceries, maybe you can get help from them, maybe you will yet inspire awe.  But no! in spite of your many wiles you are powerless.  Let your astrologers, your stargazers who foretell your future month by month, persist, and save you!  But look, they are gone like chaff, fire burns them up; they cannot snatch themselves from the flames.”  This text speaks out strongly against the wrong use of astrology.  Of course, its practice is not going to get you to heaven, only Jesus Christ and His Righteousness can do that.  The devil has used and perverted all truth about God since ancient times, he corrupted it into fortune-telling, leading the people to worship the sun-god instead of the Creator the Sun of Righteousness.

    Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NEB.  “All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under Heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die.  A time to plant, and a  time to pluck up that which is planted.  A time to kill, a time to heal.  A time to destroy, and a time to build.  A time to weep, and a time to laugh. . .”

    Revelation 4:7 NEB.  “The first creature was like a lion, the second an ox, the third had a human face, the fourth was like an eagle in flight.”  (See Ezekiel 1:10; 10:14)  This compares to the four fixed elements of the Zodiac or Leo/Lion; Taurus/Ox; Aquarius/human face; and Scorpio/Eagle.  Why are these the symbol around the throne of God?  There are also four fixed forces of creation that hold the universe together.

    Amos 5:6-9 NEB.  “If you would live, resort to the Lord, or he will break out against Joseph like fire, fire which will devour Israel with no one to quench it; He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turned darkness into morning and darkened day into night.  Who summoned the waters of the sea and poured them over the earth, who makes Taurus rise after Capella (20¹  Gemini - Yellow Star) and Taurus set hard on the rising of the Vintager (Scorpio) he who does this, His name is the Lord.”

    Job 38:31-33 NEB. “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades or loose Orion's belt?  Can you bring out the signs of the zodiac in their season or guide Aldebaran and its train?  Did you proclaim the rules that govern the heavens, or determine the laws of nature on earth?”

     ". . .Entire harmony pervades the universe of God. All the heavenly beings are in constant activity; and the Lord Jesus, in His life work, has given an example for every one. He went about 'doing good.'  God has established the law of obedient action. Silent but ceaseless, the objects of His creation do their appointed work. The ocean is in constant motion. The springing grass, which to-day is and to-morrow is cast into the oven, does its errand, clothing the fields with beauty. The leaves are stirred to motion, and yet no hand is seen to touch them. The sun, moon, and stars are useful and glorious in fulfilling their mission." 3

        “The times and seasons God has put in His own power.  And why has not God given us this knowledge? - Because we would not make a right use of it if He did.”4

        “To the heart softened by the grace of God, the sun, the moon, the stars, the trees, the flowers of the field, utter words of counsel.” 5

        “In true science there can be nothing contrary to the teaching of the word of God, for both have the same Author.  A correct understanding of both will always prove them to be in harmony.  Truth, whether in nature or in revelation, is harmonious with itself in all its manifestations.”6

    Acts 7:22 NEB.  “So Moses was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, a powerful speaker and a man of action.”  Revelation 12:1 NEB.  “Next appeared a great portent in heaven, a woman robed with the sun, beneath her feet the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” In Appendix 10 of the Companion  Bible, for the number 12 it states that it, “Denotes Governmental perfection.  It is the number or factor of all numbers connected withgovernment:  whether by Tribes or Apostles (Churches), or in measurements of time, or inthings which have to do with government in the heavens and the earth.”

    In Astrology - A Fascinating History, it states: “The outstanding book in the authorized scriptures to embody astrological thought is the Revelation of St. John the Divine, or, as it is more wisely known, the Apocalypse.  One wonders how this amazing compilation crept into the accepted version of christian writings and has remained there ever since.  It opens with a vision of the Son of Man holding the  Seven Stars, which are the angels of the churches and, in astrological thinking, also the Seven Archangels who are the spirits of the Seven Planets. It goes on to describe a woman clothed with the Sun, the Moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars - that is the Zodiac.  The four great beasts that sit before the throne, the twelve gates to the heavenly Jerusalem, the jewels that tie up each of the signs of the Zodiac, were all orthodox astrological terminology of the times.”

    Genesis 49:3-27 NEB.  In this text when Jacob tells what will happen in days to come.  Each son is given in perfect astrological order - in those days the first sign was Taurus.  When you start with Taurus they continue in perfect order, easily recognized is Dan a viper (another sign for Scorpio) who bites the horse's fetlock (Sagittarius), of course Judah, you lion's whelp (Leo).

        Astrology is a very old symbolic language, in Genesis 1:14 KJV.  “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.’”  In The Companion  Bible, under signs it says,“things to come,” and for seasons, “appointed times.” In Appendix 12, it gives quite a lot of detail on the signs and stars, a few excerpts follow:

        The stars are all named by God (Psalms 147:4).  Most of these names have been lost; but over a 100 are preserved through the Arabic and hebrew, and are still used by astronomers today. Each name has meaning, and the whole plan of salvation is presented in the heavens.  These names and the twelve “signs” go back to the foundation of the world.  In Jewish tradition, preserved by Josephus, assures us that this Bible astronomy was invented by Adam, Seth and Enoch.  By the time of the Babylonians their primitive meaning had been corrupted and lost.

        The Signs and Constellations were first designed and named; then the pictures were drawn around them respectively.  Thus the truth was enshrined and written in the heavens, where no human hand could touch it.  In latter years, when Israel came into the possession of the written “Scriptures of truth,” the writings in the heavens were lost.  The heathen, out of the smattering they had heard by tradition, gradually evolved their cosmogonies and mythologies.