Chapter I. The Sign CAPRICORNUS (The Sea Goat).

_The Goat of Atonement Slain for the Redeemed._

It is most noteworthy that this Second Book opens with the Goat, and closes with the Ram: two animals of sacrifice; while the two middle chapters are both connected with fishes.(47) The reason for this we shall see as we proceed.

Both are combined in the first chapter, or “Sign” of Capricornus.

In all the ancient Zodiacs, or Planispheres, we find a goat with a fish’s tail. In the Zodiacs of Denderah and Esneh, in Egypt, it is half‐goat and half‐fish, and it is there called _Hu‐penius_, which means _the place of the sacrifice_.

In the Indian Zodiac it is a goat _passant_ traversed by a fish.

There can be no doubt as to the significance of this sign.

In the Goat we have the Atoning Sacrifice, in the Fish we have the people for whom the atonement is made. When we come to the sign “PISCES” we shall see more clearly that it points to the _multitudes_ of the redeemed host.

The Goat is bowing its head as though falling down in death. The right leg is folded underneath the body, and he seems unable to rise with the left. The tail of the fish, on the other hand, seems to be full of vigour and life.

The Hebrew name of the sign is _Gedi_, _the kid_ or _cut off_, the same as the Arabic _Al Gedi_. CAPRICORNUS is merely the modern (Latin) name of the sign, and means _goat_.

Plate 16: CAPRICORNUS (the Goat)

There are 51 stars in the sign, three of which are of the 3rd magnitude, three of the 4th, etc. Five are remarkable stars, α and β in the horn and head, and the remaining three, γ, δ, and ε, in the fishy tail. The star α is named _Al Gedi_, _the kid_ or _goat_, while the star δ is called _Deneb Al Gedi_, _the sacrifice cometh_.

Other star‐names in the sign, not identified, are _Dabih_ (Syriac), _the sacrifice slain_; _Al Dabik_ and _Al Dehabeh_ (Arabic) have the same meaning; _Ma’asad_, _the slaying_; _Sa’ad al Naschira_, _the record of the cutting off_.

Is not this exactly in accord with the Scriptures of truth? There were two goats! Of “the _goat_ of the sin‐offering” it is written, “God hath given it to you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD” (Lev. x. 16, 17): of the other goat, which was not slain, “he shall let it go into the wilderness” (Lev. xvi. 22). Here is death and resurrection. Christ was “wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities.” “For the transgression of MY PEOPLE was He stricken” (Isa. liii.). He laid down His life for the sheep.

In the first chapter of the _First_ Book we had the same Blessed One presented as “a corn of wheat.” Here we see Him come to “die,” and hence not abiding alone, but bringing forth “much fruit” (John xii. 24). The living fish proceeds from the dying goat, and yet they form only one body. That picture, which has no parallel in nature, has a perfectly true counterpart in grace; and “a great multitude, which no man can number,” have been redeemed and shall obtain eternal life through the death of their Redeemer.

It is, however, not merely the actual death which is set before us here. The _first_ chapter _in each book_ has for its great subject _the Person_ of the Redeemer in _prophecy_ and promise. The _last_ chapter in each book has for its subject the fulfilment of that prophecy in victory and triumph, in the Person of the Redeemer: while the two _central_ chapters _in each_ book are occupied with _the work_ which is the accomplishment of the promise, presented in two aspects—the former connected with _grace_, the latter with _conflict_.

Thus the _structure_ of each of the three books is an _epanodos_, having for its first and last members the Person of the Redeemer (in “A” in _Prophecy_; in “_A_” in _Fulfilment_), while in the two central members we have the work and its accomplishment (in “B” _in grace_; and in “_B_” _in conflict_).

It may be thus presented to the eye:—

_The First Book._

A | VIRGO. The Prophecy of the Bruised Seed. B | LIBRA. The work accomplished (in _grace_). _B_ | SCORPIO. The work accomplished (in _conflict_.) _A_ | SAGITTARIUS. The fulfillment of the promised victory.

_The Second Book._

C | CAPRICORNUS. The Prophecy of the Promised Deliverance. D | AQUARIUS. Results of the work bestowed (in grace). _D_ | PISCES. Results of the work enjoyed (in conflict). _C_ | ARIES. The Fulfilment of the Promised Deliverance.

_The Third Book._

E | TAURUS. The Prophecy of the coming Judge of all the earth. F | GEMINI. The Redeemer’s reign. (Grace and Glory). _F_ | CANCER. The Redeemer’s possession (safe from all conflict). _E_ | LEO. The fulfilment of the promised Triumph.

Hence in CAPRICORNUS we must look for the _prophecy_ of this Coming Sacrifice. As a matter of fact it did actually point out the time when the Sun of Righteousness should arise, and “the Light of the World” appear. For when this Promised Seed was born the Sun _was actually in this sign of Capricornus_! “The fulness of time was come,” and “God sent forth His Son TO REDEEM them that were under the Law” (Gal. iv. 4). The Sun was really amongst those very stars—_Al Gedi_, _the kid_, and _Deneb Al Gedi_, _the sacrifice cometh_—when this willing Sacrifice said, “Lo I come to do Thy will, O God.” The nights were at their darkest and their longest when Jesus was born. The days began immediately to lengthen when He, “the true light,” had come into the world.(48)

Astronomers confess that the perverted legends of the Greeks give but “a lame account” of this sign, “and it offers no illustration of _its ancient origin_.”

Its ancient origin reveals a prophetic knowledge, which only He possessed who knew that in “the fulness of time” He would send forth His Son.

We now come to the three constellations which give us three pictures setting forth the death of this Sacrifice and of His living again.

1. SAGITTA (The Arrow).

_The Arrow of God sent forth_.

It is not the Arrow of Sagittarius, for that has not left his bow. That arrow is for the enemies of God. This is for the Son of God. It was of this that He spoke when He said, in Ps. xxxviii. 2:

“Thine arrows stick fast in me, And Thy hand presseth me sore.”

He was “stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted, He was wounded for our transgressions” (Isa. liii. 4, 5). He was “pierced,” when He could say with Job, “The arrows of the Almighty are within me” (vi. 4).

Plate 17: SAGITTA (the Arrow), AQUILA (the Eagle), DELPHINUS (the Dolphin)

Here the arrow is pictured to us in mid‐heaven, alone, as having been shot forth by an invisible hand. It is seen in its flight through the heavens. It is the arrow of God, showing that Redemption is all of God. It was “the will of God” which Jesus came to do. Not a mere work of mercy for miserable sinners, but a work ordained in eternity past, for the glory of God in eternity future.

This is the record of the Word, and this is what is pictured for us here. The work which the arrow accomplishes is seen in the dying Goat, and in the falling Eagle.

There are many other stars in the heavens in a straighter line, which would better serve for an arrow. Why are these stars chosen? Why is the arrow placed here? What explanation can be given, except that the Revelation in the stars and in the Book are both from the inspiration of the same Spirit?

There are about 18 stars, of which four are of the 4th magnitude. Only γ and δ are in the same line, while the shaft passes between α and β.

The Hebrew name is _Sham_, _destroying_, or _desolate_.

2. AQUILA (The Eagle).

_The Smitten One Falling._

Here we have an additional picture of the effect of this arrow, in the pierced, wounded, and falling Eagle, gasping in its dying struggle. And that pierced, wounded, and dying Saviour whom it represents, after saying, in Ps. xxxviii. 2, “Thine arrows stick fast in Me,” added, in verse 10:

“My heart panteth, My strength faileth Me, As for the light of Mine eyes it is gone from Me.”

(See also Zech. xiii. 6.)

The names of the stars, all of them, bear out this representation. The constellation contains 74 stars. The brightest of them, α (in the Eagle’s neck), is a notable star of the 1st magnitude, called _Al Tair_ (Arabic), _the wounding_. The star β (in the throat) is called _Al Shain_ (Arabic), _the bright_, from a Hebrew root meaning _scarlet coloured_, as in Josh. ii. 18. The star γ (in the back) is called _Tarared_, _wounded_, or _torn_. δ (in the lower wing) is named _Alcair_, which means _the piercing_, and ε (in the tail), _Al Okal_, has the significant meaning _wounded in the heel_.

How can the united testimony of these names be explained except by acknowledging a Divine origin? even that of Him who afterwards foretold of the bruising of the Virgin’s Son in the written Word; yea, of Him “who telleth the number of the stars and giveth them all their names.”

3. DELPHINUS (The Dolphin).

_The Dead One Rising again._

This is a bright cluster of 18 stars, five of which are of the 3rd magnitude. It is easily distinguished by the four brightest, which are in the head.

It is always figured as a fish full of life, and always with the head upwards, just as the eagle is always with the head downwards. The great peculiar characteristic of the dolphin is its rising up, leaping, and springing out of the sea.

When we compare this with the dying goat and falling eagle, what conclusion can we come to but that we have here the filling in of the picture, and the completion of the whole truth set forth in Capricornus?

Jesus “died and rose again.” Apart from His resurrection His death is without result. In His conflict with the enemy it is only His coming again in glory which is shown forth. But here, in connection with His people, with the multitudes of His redeemed, Resurrection is the great and important truth. He is “the first‐fruits of them that slept”; then He, too, is here represented as a fish. He who went down into the waters of death for His people; He who could say “All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me” (Ps. xlii. 7), He it is who rises up again from the dead, having died on account of the sins of His redeemed, and risen again on account of their justification (Rom. iv. 25).

This is the picture here. In the Persian planisphere there seems to be a fish and a stream of water. The Egyptian has a vessel pouring out water.

The ancient names connected with this constellation are _Dalaph_ (Hebrew), _pouring out of water_; _Dalaph_ (Arabic), _coming quickly;_ _Scalooin_ (Arabic), _swift (as the flow of water); Rotaneb_ or _Rotaneu_ (Syriac and Chaldee), _swiftly running_.

Thus, in this first chapter of the Second Book we see the great truth of Revelation set forth; and we learn how the great Blessings of Redemption were procured. This truth cannot be more eloquently or powerfully presented than in the language of Dr. Seiss:—

“This strange goat‐fish, dying in its head, but living in its afterpart—falling as an eagle pierced and wounded by the arrow of death, but springing up from the dark waves with the matchless vigour and beauty of the dolphin—sinking under sin’s condemnation, but rising again as sin’s conqueror—developing new life out of death, and heralding a new springtime out of December’s long drear nights—was framed by no blind chance of man. The story which it tells is the old, old story on which hangs the only availing hope that ever came, or ever can come, to Adam’s race. To what it signifies we are for ever shut up as the only saving faith. In that dying Seed of the woman we must see our sin‐bearer and the atonement for our guilt, or die ourselves unpardoned and unsanctified. Through His death and bloodshedding we must find our life, or the true life, which alone is life, we never can have.”

“Complete atonement Thou hast made, And to the utmost farthing paid Whate’er Thy people owed: Nor can His wrath on me take place, If sheltered in His righteousness, And sprinkled with the blood.

If my discharge Thou hast procured, And freely in my room endured The whole of wrath divine, Payment God cannot twice demand, First at my bleeding Surety’s hand, And then again at mine.

Turn, then, my soul, unto Thy rest; The merits of Thy great High Priest Have bought thy liberty; Trust in His efficacious blood, Nor fear thy banishment from God, Since Jesus died for thee.”