Signs of the Times!
Does the Bible condemn or encourage astrology?

Before we consider the main theme of this post, we will take a quick look at another of the SAB claims - whether plants were created before or after humans. The objection is stated as follows:

Plants were created before humans.

Plants were created after humans.

Gen.1:11-13, 27-31 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so .... And the evening and the morning were the third day. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them .... And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Gen.2:4-7 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth ... And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground.

It is sufficient to say on this issue that it is exactly the same as the objection dealt with in a previous post, and the answers given there also apply here. For further information on this issue, see here.

Now on to the main theme of this post. The SAB make the following claims:

Let them be for signs"God placed the sun, moon, and stars in the firmament so that they can be used "for signs". This, of course, is exactly what astrologers do: read "the signs" in the Zodiac to predict what will happen on Earth.

And,

Does the Bible condemn astrology?

Yes, the Bible condemns astrology.

No, the Bible approves of astrology.

Lev.19:26 Neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. Dt.18:10-12 There shall not be found among you any ... that useth divination, or an observer of times.... For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD. Is.47:13-14 Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. Jer.10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

Gen.1:14 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: Jg.5:20 The stars in their courses fought against Sisera. Mt.2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Lk.21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.

The first thing to say about this objection is that Moses, Isaiah, and other Old Testament prophets categorically condemned astrology, as seen by the verses cited in the left hand column of the table above. What then do the verses in the right hand column mean? Taking each verse in turn:

Gen.1:14 - 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:

By teaching that the word “signs” here indicates heavenly bodies (planets), given by God as astrological signs, astrologers claim the Bible is affirming astrology. Some astrologers assert that the “signs” here refer to Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc. However, the Hebrew word for signs means "beacons" or "signals" and suggests that the heavenly bodies were set in place to serve as markers to indicate times and seasons, and not for astrological "fortune telling".

Jg.5:20 - The stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

Astrologers claim this is a reference to the influence of the stars on Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army. But to do this, they must interpret a poetic or figurative passage literally. These words occur in the “Song of Deborah,” which is a poetic victory song describing Israel’s victory over her enemies. (See Judges 4:7; 5:20-21; Joshua 10:11-14.). This is actually a poetic way to say that God used these heavenly bodies to help Israel.

Mt.2:1-2 - Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Astrologers claim that this means the Bible supports astrology. But a careful examination of this passage reveals:

• The star actually moved because it preceded the Magi.
• In some unknown manner the star was able to indicate the exact place Jesus and His parents were staying.
• The star apparently was lost from sight for a period of time, and then became visible again.
• The star seems to have been visible only to the Magi.

This was not a normal star but a miracle from God to guide and direct the Magi to Jesus. This was a temporary phenomenon and had no other purpose than stated. Certainly it had no astrological meaning. If the only purpose for the star was to lead the Magi to Christ, this would also explain why they alone appeared to have seen it.
Astrologers have claimed these Magi were astrologers, but their conclusion is not proven. That these men are mentioned favorably, and that God deals with them especially in relationship to His Son, indicates that they were probably not astrologers. The term “magi” primarily means “wise men,” and astrology was part of the practice and interest of some “wise men,” but certainly not of all. Nothing in this passage condones or approves the practice of astrology.

Lk.21:25 - And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.

This is a clear case of wrenching the verse out of context. Astrologers believe that these references prove the Bible supports astrology. But all of these references refer to the day of the Lord, the second coming of Jesus Christ. Other similar verses speaking of the same thing talk of the sun and moon being darkened, not giving their light (turning to blood). These events have nothing to do with astrology. If astrologers claim them for today, it is obvious that the sun and the moon are not darkened and have not turned to blood. Also, Isaiah 13:7 points out that in that day of the Lord the stars and constellations will not show their light. Would any astrologer claim this occurs today?

The SAB have yet again been shown to be less than honest in their use of the scriptures to further their own ends. We'll let God, speaking through the Apostle Peter have the last word on this matter:

"...As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto thier own destruction." (2 Peter 3: 16).

Bye for now.