Page 241 - Foundations

in an element of human works. Bullinger further contends that the three decans associated with Libra
fit more naturally with the symbol of the altar. These decans are Crux (The Cross), Lupus, or Victima
(The Victim) which depicts an animal that has been slain, and Corona (The Crown). The message of
this set of constellations is that the price for mankind is paid by Christ upon the altar. Christ, by
bearing the cross, an instrument of death, surrenders His life as an innocent victim and substitutionary
sacrifice, and subsequently receives the crown of life. Bullinger sums the matter up in this manner.

There can be but little doubt, therefore, that the first sign of the Zodiac was Virgo, the second was
the Altar, and the third was the Scorpion. The lesson which they teach is clear: The Seed of the
woman (Virgo), who was to come as a child, should be a sacrifice (the Altar) for the sins of His
people; endure a great conflict with the enemy (Scorpio), in which He should be wounded in the heel;
but should in the end crush and tread the enemy under foot.

Scorpio

It has been previously mentioned that there are numerous constellations that serve as signs of the great
adversary Satan. He is pictured in the constellation Draco the dragon. He is seen in Serpens, the
serpent in the hands of Ophiuchus. He is displayed in Hydra and Cetus. Some have objected to the
interpretation of the zodiac as a celestial prophecy of the fall and redemption of man because there
is no image of a serpent present in any of the central twelve figures. The serpent figures are all found
in the decans associated with the main signs. Previously I cited Dr. Danny Faulkner who wrote an
article critical of Frances Rolleston and other Christian authors who have expounded on the gospel
message in the stars. One of Faulkner’s objections has to do with the fact that a scorpion is not the
same thing as a snake. He writes:

[Rolleston] also notes that in some mythologies Orion was stung to death by a scorpion. Some of
those stories have Orion stung on the foot, but others do not specify where the scorpion stung Orion.
One tradition is that the scorpion in question is Scorpius (a variant of Scorpio)...

There are several problems with Rolleston’s connection of Orion and Jesus Christ. First is
Rolleston’s parallel between Orion dying by means of a scorpion and Christ’s heel being bruised by