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Chapter IV. The Sign SAGITTARIUS

The Redeemer’s Triumph.

This is the concluding chapter of the first great book of this Heavenly Revelation; and it is occupied wholly with the triumph of the Coming One, who is represented as going forth “conquering and to conquer.”

The subject is beautifully set forth in the written Word (Ps. xlv. 3-5):—

John, in his apocalyptic vision, sees the same mighty Conqueror going forth. “I saw (he says) a white horse, and He that sat on him had a bow, … and He went forth conquering and to conquer” (Rev. vi. 2).

This is precisely what is foreshadowed in the star-pictured sign now called by the modern Latin name Sagittarius, which means the Archer.

The Hebrew and Syriac name of the sign is Kesith, which means the Archer (as in Gen. xxi. 20). The Arabic name is Al Kaus, the arrow. In Coptic it is Pimacre, the graciousness, or beauty of the coming forth. In Greek it is Toxotes, the archer, and in Latin Sagittarius.

There are 69 stars in the sign, viz., five of the 3rd magnitude (all in the bow), nine of the 4th, etc.

The names of the brightest stars are significant: —

Hebrew, Naim, which means the gracious one. This is exactly what is said of this Victor in the same Psalm (xlv.), in the words immediately preceding the quotation above (verse 2):

Hebrew, Nehushta, the going or sending forth.

We see the same in the Arabic names which have come down to us: Al Naim, the gracious one; Al Shaula, the dart; Al Warida, who comes forth; Ruchba er rami, the riding of the bowman.

An ancient Akkadian name in the sign is Nun-ki, which means Prince of the Earth.

Again, we have the picture of a Centaur as to his outward form, i.e. a being with two natures. Not now far down in the south or connected with His sufferings and sacrifice as man; but high up, as a sign of the Zodiac itself, on the ecliptic, i.e. in the very path in which the sun “rejoiceth in his going forth as a strong man.”

According to Grecian fable, this Sagittarius is Cheiron, the chief Centaur; noble in character, righteous in his dealings, divine in his power.

Such will be the coming Seed of the woman in His power and glory:—

In the ancient Zodiac of Denderah he is called (as in Coptic) Pi-macre, i.e. graciousness, beauty of the appearing or coming forth. The characters under the hind foot read Knem, which means He conquers.

This is He who shall come forth like as an arrow from the bow, “full of grace,” but “conquering and to conquer.”

In all the pictures he is similarly represented, and the arrow in his bow is aimed directly at the heart of the Scorpion.

Thus Aratus sang of Cheiron:—

In this Archer we see a faint reflection of Him who shall presently come forth, all gracious, all wise, all powerful; whose arrows shall be “sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies.”

This brings us to the first of the three constellations or sections of this chapter, which takes up this subject of praise to the Conqueror.