What does the Bible say about astrology and the zodiac? | GotQuestions.org

The Bible’s Teaching on the Stars and Constellations

Today's question is, what does the Bible say about astrology and the zodiac? In this video I'll answer that question from a biblical perspective. Then afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the.

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The Bible has much to say about the stars. Most basic to our understanding of the stars is that God created them. They show His power and majesty. The heavens are God's handiwork, Psalm 8, verse 3 and 19, verse 1.

He has all the stars numbered and named, Psalm 147, verse 4. The Bible also teaches that God arranged the stars into recognizable groups that we call constellations. The Bible mentions three of these—Orion, the bear, or Ursa Major, and the crooked serpent, most likely Draco.

In Job 9, verse 9, chapter 26, verse 13, chapter 38, verses 31 -32, and Amos 5, verse 8. God is the one who fastens the bands of these constellations. He is the one who brings them forth, each in its season.

In Job 38, verse 32, God also points to the Mazaroth, or usually translated constellations. This is thought by many to be a reference to the twelve constellations of the zodiac. The constellations have been tracked and studied for millennia.

The Egyptians and Greeks knew of the zodiac and used it to measure the beginning of spring, centuries before Christ. Much has been written of the meaning of the zodiacal constellations, including theories that they comprise an ancient display of God's redemptive plan.

For example, the constellation Leo can be seen as a celestial depiction of the lion of the tribe of Judah, Revelation 5, verse 5, and Virgo could be a reminder of the virgin who bore Christ. However, the Bible does not indicate any hidden meaning for these or other constellations.

Signs, Seasons, and God’s Faithfulness

The Bible says that stars, along with the sun and moon, were given for signs and seasons Genesis 1, verse 14. That is, they were meant to mark time for us. They are also signs in the sense of navigational indicators, and all through history men have used the stars to chart their courses around the globe.

God used the stars as an illustration of His promise to give Abraham innumerable seeds in Genesis 15, verse 5. Thus, every time Abraham looked up at the night sky, he had a reminder of God's faithfulness and goodness.

The final judgment of the earth will be accompanied by astronomical events relating to the stars Isaiah 13, verses 9 -10 and Matthew 24, verse 29. Astrology is the interpretation of an assumed influence the stars and planets exert on human destiny.

According to astrology, the sign you were born under, for example, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, etc., impacts your destiny. This is a false belief. The royal astrologers of the Babylonian court were put to shame by God's prophet Daniel Daniel 1, verse 20 and were powerless to interpret the king's dream Daniel 2, verse 27.

God specifies astrologers as among those who will be burned as stubble in God's judgment Isaiah 47, verses 13 -14. Astrology as a form of divination is expressly forbidden in Scripture Deuteronomy 18, verses 10 -14.

Why Astrology and Star Worship Are Forbidden

God forbade the children of Israel to worship or serve the host of heaven Deuteronomy 4, verse 19. Several times in their history, however, Israel fell into that very sin 2 Kings 17, verse 16 is one example.

Their worship of the stars brought God's judgment each time. The stars should awaken wonder at God's power, wisdom, and infinitude. We should use the stars to keep track of time and place and to remind us of God's faithful, covenant-keeping nature.

All the while, we acknowledge the Creator of the heavens. Our wisdom comes from God, not the stars James 1, verse 5. The Word of God, the Bible, is our guide through life Psalm 119, verse 105. Want to learn more?

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