What comes to your mind when the word "Heavens" is mentioned? I feel that most people would say, "Well, the sun - certainly most prominent and then there is the moon...stars perhaps come next."

On this chapter our attention is given to the SUN and the MOON. (We have already spent some time discussing the stars.)

A SUB TITLE WOULD BE:

You will understand later when we mention that the moon only reflects the sun.

Genesis 1:16 makes it very clear that on the fourth day: God created the sun.

Genesis 1:3 God's first act denotes that He said, "Let there be light." It is not until vs. 16 (the fourth day) that He created the sun. If this be so, then the last 3 days of the "creation" were governed or controlled by the sun. In vs. 16:

To review:
(vs. 14-19)

The Genesis account used the word "lights". That comes from a root word meaning "aluminous" i.e. the "break of day" or "glorious" or "bright" or "clear". The words "set on fire" and "shine" all fit in.

In 1:16 the word is "luminous body" - "brightness" like "chandelier"

The first recorded remarks using the word "sun" is found in Genesis 15:12, which according to some takes place in the year 3,091 years later.

I like the words in Psalm 19:4b-6 "In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from hit's heat."

Look first, if you will, at the NAMES of the SUN

• Called light - Job 31:26
• Called heat - Isaiah 24:23
• Called house of the sun-brilliant
• Called blister or burning heat

References:

• Sun dial
• Sun darkened 5 times in future
• Sun goes down - Gen. 15:12-17; Ex. 17:12
• Sun rises - Gen. 19:23, Ex. 22:3,26
• Sun rules the day - Psalm l36:8
• Light from sun will be increased 7 times in Millennium - Isa. 30:26
• Face shines as the sun - Matthew 17:2
• One glory of the sun - 1 Cor. 15:41
• Let not sun go down upon your wrath - Exodus. 4:26
• Woman clothed with the sun - Rev. 12:1
• City have no need of the sun - Rev. 21:23; 22:5

Few would doubt that the sun sets forth a great power and sets forth, also, great benefits from God. In relation to that power, the prophet Malachi (4:2) indicates the parallel:

In regard to God (Psalm 72:5,17)

Then there is that reference in Psalm 121:6,7 "the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you...."

What is this thing called the SUN? I am told that the sun rotates on its axis, making a complete turn in about 25 days, and a circuit of the entire heavens once each year in conjunction with all other fixed stars or suns, which move through space at a speed of 12 miles a second or 43,200 miles an hour. The movement of these is at such a vast distance from us that they appear almost at rest.

The Psalmist reminds us (19:1-7), "The sun goes forth as a bridegroom and as a strong man to run a race from one part of heaven to the other." That rapid speed not known to David - (but by inspiration)- was a fact in his mind. It is now known to us to be as we mentioned above to be 43,200 miles an hour.

• Called "white"
• Called "wandering"
• Called "new moon"
• Called "lunation"

• Part of the symbol of Israel - Gen. 37:9 Rev. 12:1
• David's kingdom is eternal as the moon - Psalm 89:37
• Moon and the stars rule by night - Psalm 136:9
• Moon light in the Millennium as the present sunlight - Isa. 30:26
• Moon darkened at the 2nd advent - Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15 ;Matt. 24:29; Acts 2:20
• Moon to be darkened during tribulation - Rev. 6:12; 8:12; 9:2; 16:10
• Other prophecies of the moon include: Psalm 72:5-7; 89:37; Isa. 13:10; 24:23; 60:19-20; 66:23; Ezekiel 32:7; Luke 21:25; Revelation 21:23
• New moon and Sabbaths abolished - Isa. l:13-14; Hosea 2:11; Col. 2:14-17

In the New Testament 2 times this body is mentioned. l. as moon and 2. as new moon.

It is called the "lesser light". Now the purpose of the moon according to the Genesis account is to govern the night. The moon is artificial light But what else do we know about this wonderful body that God placed (with his hand) in the solar system?

Yes, it is an earth's satellite and it does revolve around the earth. It is a dark opaque body; and the ruler of night (Gen. 1:14-18); Psalm 136:9) and ruler of the seasons (Psalm 104:19).

The half turned toward the sun is always bright and the other half unilluminated and therefore not visible.

While the moon is going once completely around the earth, different regions of the illuminated half are turned toward us, causing the different phases of the moon.

It rises 50 minutes later from day to day in the months cycle. It travels toward the east among the stars and makes a complete circle each month. It is about 221,000 miles at the farthest point of its monthly cycle around the earth.

Let's look at the Sun as it STOOD STILL and when the sun WENT BACKWARDS.

The Day The Sun Stood Still

Joshua 10:12-13
2 Chronicles 32:31

It is in God's power to stop movement!!! In this case Ahaz's "time piece" went 10 degrees (not ten hours) because the sun dial was divided into 10 divisions.

Did this actually happen? Well, without a doubt, this writer says yes and yes. Others are not so sure. One person wrote, "To account for this miracle and to ascertain the manner in which it was wrought has employed the pens of the abliest divines and astronomers, especially in the last two centuries." Today, I just accept it and I believe that most Bible believing individuals agree that it was a most extraordinary event in the history of the world.

As a matter of fact history records such coming from a number of different countries. For example, Greece, Egypt, China and Mexico records of a LONG day corresponding to the time of Joshua. By counting the equinoxes, eclipses and transits backward from present day to Joshua, a whole day is missing. By no possible mathematics can such a conclusion be avoided. Yes, the sun did, indeed, stand still..

Look at these observations. This is the first time man commanded the solar system to stand still, and it obeyed. At another time - which we will look at further in this chapter - God hearkened to Hezekial and turned the solar system backward 10 degrees.

vs. 12 has the phrase, "stand still" or actually "be dumb", "be silent", "stop", "cease", "hold", "quiet self", "rest", "tarry" and/or "wait".

Now the sun and moon doing this caused the earth to stop revolving, indicating they either stopped their influences on the earth and continued exercising their influences on other planets or all of them stood still for a whole day. Wow.

Historically we have a man who prayed to his God, showing that we can cooperate with God. God tells his man, "Joshua, fear them not. For I have delivered them into your hand. There shall not a man of them stand before you." (10:8)

The Day the Sun Went Backward

2 Kings 20:8-11
(2 Chronicles 32:31)
(Isaiah 38:8-21)

In the context one will remember that King Hezekiah's illness was due to the fact that his heart had been lifted up in pride. He does humble himself and he does repent. God responds by giving him 15 years extra to live. This is the only time I know of when God tells a man how long he would live.

Just to insert some facts regarding the larger scripture from which we noted above. The real reason for Hezekiah's prayer was that he had no heir to the throne. He did remember God's word to David...and yes, three years later Manasseh was born.

The use of the plaster of figs was for cleansing purposes only. It was used to draw out the corruption from the boil NOT to cause him to live, because the 15 years had already been added.

What it seems to imply is that he wishes to be fully convinced and asks for a sign. He seeks one miracle to prove the truths of another.

Reader, prayer does change things. Yes, it does change people. And, blessed is that man, woman or young person who submits to the will of God. That one will never be unhappy.

In Conclusion:

The sun and the moon. View these bodies in the universe in this way. I use the words "Father" Son, "Church" moon.

The Father IS the light (of the world). and the Church is the reflection (in the world). The moon has of itself no illumination, so in like manner the church in itself is powerless, lightness and useless UNTIL the church reflects that which the SON can provide. The reflection becomes the illumination to the world which indeed is in the dark night of time and dark night of sin..

God will keep his promise and God will be the God, "I Am" to we who are the spiritual Israel. As long as the sun shines and the moon reflects - or as long as the Church is faithful to keep the truths from the Father, men will be blessed and blessed and blessed.

"The moon (church) will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflected." - Jeremiah (31:35)

David's kingdom according to Psalm 89:3 will be eternal as the moon.

Remember, dear reader, "In Him was life, and that life was the LIGHT of men. The LIGHT shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it....He himself (John) was not the light, he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

Praise the Lord He has come - and is in residence in the heart house of every believer.

Let it be said that not only can one speak of the Sun and Moon in the Father - Church relationship, but there is another wonderful example.

In the home there is the father, the mother and the children. May I suggest to you, as it was suggested to me, that in that there is the sun, moon and the stars. The Father is the sun. The mother reflects the sun. And then there are the children who are the stars. Think about it in your home/earthly orbit!

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