articlesforchristians

1. HYDRA (The Serpent)
   The Old Serpent Destroyed

The time has at length come for the fulfilment of the many prophecies pictured in the heavens: and in its three final constellations we see the consummation of them all in the complete destruction of the Old Serpent, and all his seed, and all his works.

It is the special work of the Messiah, as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” to trample it under foot.

It is pictured as the female serpent (Hydra), the mother and author of all evil. Hydra has the significant meaning, he is abhorred!

It is an immense constellation extending for above 100 degrees from east to west, beneath the Virgin, the Lion, and the Crab. It is composed of 60 stars; one of the 2nd magnitude, three of the 3rd, twelve of the 4th, etc.

The brightest star, α (in the heart of the Serpent), is sometimes called by the moderns Cor Hydræ on that account. Its ancient name is Al Phard (Arabic), which means the separated, put away. Another is called Al Drian, the abhorred. Another star is named Minchar al Sugia, the piercing of the deceiver.

There can be no doubt as to what is taught by the constellation of Hydra, nor is it necessary to quote the Scriptures concerning the destruction of the Serpent. We pass on to consider the second.

2. CRATER (The Cup).
   The Cup of Divine wrath Poured out upon Him.

“God is the Judge.
He putteth down one, and setteth up another,
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup,
And the wine is red; it is full of mixture,
And He poureth out of the same:
But the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out and drink them.”
(Ps. lxxv. 8.)

“Upon the wicked he shall rain snares,
Fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest:
This shall be the portion of their cup.”
(Ps. xi. 6.)

This is no fabled wine-cup of Bacchus; but it is “The cup of His indignation” (Rev. xiv. 10); “The cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath” (Rev. xvi. 19). This is what we see set forth in this constellation. The Cup is wide and deep, and fastened on by the stars to the very body of the writhing serpent. The same stars which are in the foot of the Cup form part of the body of Hydra, and are reckoned as belonging to both constellations.

This Cup has the significant number of thirteen stars (the number of Apostacy). The two—Al Ches (α), which means the Cup, and (β)—determine the bottom of the Cup.

3. CORVUS (The Raven).
   The Birds of Prey devouring the Serpent.

Here is the final scene of judgment. We have had Zeeb; the Wolf; now we have Oreb, the Raven. Her-na is its name in the Denderah Zodiac. Her, means the enemy; and Na, means breaking up or failing. That is to say, this scene represents the breaking up of the enemy.

There are nine stars (the number of judgment) in this constellation. The bright star α (in the eye) is called Al Chibar (Arabic), joining together, from the Hebrew Chiba (Num. xxiii. 8), which means accursed. This star, then, tells of the curse inflicted. The star β (in the right wing) is called Al Goreb (Arabic), from Hebrew Oreb, the Raven. A third star is named Minchar al Gorab (Arabic), and means the Raven tearing to pieces.

This brings us to the end. There is nothing beyond this. Nothing remains to be told. We know from the Word of God that—

“The eye that mocketh at his father,
And despiseth to obey his mother,
The ravens of the valley shall pick it out.”
(Prov. xxx. 17.)

We remember how David said to the Giant Goliah—a type of this enemy of God’s people—“I will smite thee, and take thy head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth” (1 Sam. xvii. 46).

When the great day of this judgment comes, an angel standing in the sun will cry “to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come, and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great” (Rev. xix. 17, 18).

And after these awful words shall be fulfilled, in the closing words of the prophecy of Isaiah, Jehovah foretells us how—

“They shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against Me;
For their worm shall not die,
Neither shall their fire be quenched;
And they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”
This is the teaching of the whole Sign of Leo! It is all summed up in Jer. xxv. 30-33:—

“Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and say unto them,
The Lord shall roar from on high,
And utter His voice from His holy habitation;
He shall mightily roar upon His habitation;
He shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes,
Against all the inhabitants of the earth.
A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth;
For the Lord hath a controversy with the nations,
He will plead with all flesh;
He will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts,
Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation,
And a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth
Even to the other end of the earth;
They shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried;
They shall be dung upon the ground.”
Here is the conclusion of the whole matter! Here is the final triumph of the Son of Man in the consummated victory of the Seed of the woman: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. v. 12).

“O what a bright and blessed world
This groaning earth of ours will be,
When from its throne the tempter hurled,
Shall leave it all, O Lord, to Thee!
But brighter far that world above,
Where we, as we are known, shall know;
And, in the sweet embrace of love,
Reign o’er this ransomed earth below.
O blessed Lord! with longing eyes
That blissful hour we wait to see;
While every worm or leaf that dies
Tells of the curse, and calls for Thee.
Come, Saviour! Then o’er all below
Shine brightly from Thy throne above,
Bid heaven and earth Thy glory know,
And all creation feel Thy love.”