Timekeeper …
Spanish artist Salvador Dali’s iconic painting, The Persistence of Memory, is quite probably one of the most famous works of art in the entire world, … and certainly, it is the most-recognizable surrealist painting ever created.
This painting of a stark costal vista creating the background to a dead tree and “box” over which are draped melting watches leaves many wondering what the artist was trying to convey. And, what of the ants congregating on the back of a pocket watch while a lone fly adorns the face of another nearby drooping timepiece? These timekeepers, appear functionless, and yet communicate a concept of time.
Keeping time and time keepers seems to be an obsession of our current generation. We live compelled by our electronic calendars to keep our demanding schedules in sync with commitments. In the process, our lives are crammed with a constant clamour to fit as much into life as can be humanly tolerated, only to collapse at the end of a day wondering what has been accomplished - welcome to the rat race!
We live lives of unacknowledged dissatisfaction incessantly wanting to experience more from the constantly enlarging smorgasbord of alluring options which marketers parade before us with ever finely tuned adverts, based on our electronic searching.
We need that … we want that experience … we certainly can’t do without that … that would look good in our …
Timekeepers help us pack more into the transience of living.
When was the last time you checked the sun’s position to know if you were about to be late for an appointment?
Or, for that matter, when was the last time you looked into the sky for a weather forecast?
Our forefathers knew the signs well of impending weather, either through the clouds, the winds and their direction, the action of animals, the cones on trees - all gave indications of what was to come.
They seemed to live lives of quiet acceptance of what came into their experience without the constant hankering/clamouring for what they did not have.
Marketing as a science had yet to be conceived.
Walking through St Stephen’s Square in central Prague, one is periodically roused from their reverie of being submerged in history, when the sounds of clock chiming remind them of the passage of time.
“The Prague astronomical clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still operating. It is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square. The clock mechanism itself is composed of three main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; 'The Walk of the Apostles', a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures—notably a figure of Death (represented by a skeleton) striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months.”
(“https://www.spottinghistory.com/view/5831/prague-astronomical-clock/”)
This ancient timekeeper not only had the familiar large and smaller hands signifying hours and minutes, but also a connection with the celestial timekeepers, the sun and the moon, along with a clear, though subtle, connection with the world of faith history - the Apostles. Perhaps most astonishing is the constant reminder of our personal trip through time with its ultimate end, the coming of the “grim reaper” - death itself.
Today when asked what time it is, most turn to their phones or their electronic watches and give you an answer. Yes, probably accurate but lacking something which those in past cultures understood about the passage of time - the seasons of the years, the orientation of the celestial bodies - all giving the observant, an indication of some facet of time - rooted in the ‘now’.
Digital time keepers, however popular were not always the norm. Railroad conductors had pocket watches which were accurate measures of when to arrive and depart along their assigned route.
In the port of Owen Sound, ON, on weekends, one can be startled by the sounding of an historic whistle signalling the noon hour. Somehow when one hears this for the first time, it seems alarming but upon consideration one realizes it is from a bygone era.
An era when this Kennedy whistle would signal the beginning of the workday at 7 am, the noon lunch hour and the 5 pm ending of the work day. The workforce of some 800 knew the time, by the sound of a whistle.
What time is it? A question we often ask with differing parameters in focus - are we speaking of an Olympic race; the progress of a pregnancy; the time we need to be at an appointment; the days left in the school year; the months until a wedding, an anniversary, birthday or graduation, our years in business or practice?
Timepieces run from mere seasonal awareness, sundials, calendars, community clocks, whistles to signal the start of the workday and its ending, atomic clocks, wrist watches, pocket watches and now electronic watches which work well as long as the battery supplies power, or phones which seem to be the go-to source for information on any and every topic imaginable, including what time it is!
Down through human history, time has been much more casual but in recent times, now, it is more important to carry timepieces with us. In past cultures, time was much less a controlling feature in society’s progress. Now we receive notices that say if we miss an appointment we still have to pay.
Analog or digital time? Like the demise of cursive writing, students today can only print or type on a simulated keyboard! Can they still read an analog clock face?
What price is progress?
Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron, Jacob and Co.,Chopard, Breguet can supply a worthy timepiece for your special interest, of course, with a significant price attached!
But for those of a biblical bent, timepieces merit mention in the earliest pages of Scripture. In fact there is little need to be patient as time-keeping warrants a prominent place in the very first chapter. “God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” Only five verses into the creation account!
By the “fourth day” of this creation chronicle we get a more specific time reference,
“And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.”
“He also made the stars.”
When was the last time you accessed the divine timepiece to orient yourself to what is going on in your world? If you are like most people, you probably live in an urban area where the city glow of lights virtually obliterates the “lights in the vault of the sky”. But regardless of our situation, the ancient astrologers/magi did not have to cope with such progress and were able to read the signs of the times in the heavens.
Down through the millennia of ancient empires, the heavens and its changes were a significant means of determining what was happening, and to happen, with permission of the gods.
The twelve astrological signs have remained largely the same down through history shouting their silent message of God’s message of salvation. It takes the sun 26,000 years to traverse through the 12 signs of the zodiac which means it takes about 2100 years to cross through a single sign. The transitions are not instantaneous but more gradual.
Interesting facts - but how does that influence me in my faith?
According to popular biblical timelines, we are about 6000 years since the genesis of creation. Mathematically, that would signify we are approaching the end of the third and about to enter the fourth celestial time zone. But that raises many questions. Where do we start on this wheel of zodiac houses and in which direction do we proceed, clockwise or otherwise? Thankfully, we have others who can help us with that.
About 6000 years ago would have been the period represented with the sun in Taurus - the Bull. The characteristics of this sign are strength, power which is also characteristic of our Lord. This would have been the time in Scriptural history from the Fall up to Abraham. During this period, bulls were the chosen animal of sacrifice.
Then we entered Aries - the Ram characterized by sacrifice, purity and the crucifixion. Want to guess what the main animal of sacrifice was during the time of Israel? Yes, the lamb or goat. During this approximately 2000 year period, starting with Abraham, we have the majority of the OT until the transition into the house of Pisces - the Fish.
This period biblically comes with the incarnation of Jesus. Pause for a moment and think of how prevalent the mention of fish is after the coming of Jesus - “I will make you fishers of men”; the marvellous catch of fish; the many disciples who were fishermen; feeding 5,000 men plus women and children with five barley buns and two sardines; the fish breakfast barbecue after the resurrection; the early christian symbol of the fish …
The foregoing has begun with Taurus, but prior to that would have been the sign of Gemini, prior to the Fall. During this time we have Adam and Eve living in Paradise, the Garden of Eden. Gemini which is characterized by twins, think of Adam and Eve and their experiencing a perfectly symmetrical relationship - “bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh”. Also, they reflected perfectly the Creator - His image and likeness!
By now you will see that we are progressing in a counter-clockwise direction. But before we move to the next house, lets see another significant piece of information about these signs of the zodiac. Consider the sign and the one directly opposite to it across the chart and see what is uncovered.
Opposite Gemini is Sagittarius, the archer which symbolizes hitting the mark and romantic love. Would this represent Adam and Eve in this age? They were perfect, and they were created to love each other. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24.
What is opposite to Taurus? Scorpio, the scorpion - representing the Fall, death and mortality, leaving behind the immortality of creation and eternal life. The age of Taurus was the age of the Fall of mankind.
As Abraham transitioned the world to Aries, God revealed his Law to humanity shown in the sign across the chart, Libra - the scales of justice. For the next 2000 years, humanity discovered God’s judgments and statutes, primarily through Moses.
Our current age of Pisces is complementary to the sign of Virgo, the virgin woman holding a sheaf of wheat. During the life of the virgin born Son, we encounter the transition to a focus on being “fishers of men”, and the harvest of souls combined with the pure spotless bride. Can we see why the church is often referred to as the Bride of Christ. A scan of the last two thousand years reveals the revelation of this Bride across the globe from every tribe and nation. Hallelujah!
As this 2000 year period draws to a close, we find ourselves once again in a period of transitioning. Such periods are not without their challenges as we saw in the glimpses of change from the Old Covenant rituals and practices to the New Covenant forms of worship and interacting with God - no longer any sacrifices needed; no longer centred on Jerusalem and its Temple; no longer commands on tablets of stone; no longer a Levitical priesthood; no longer the separation from God by veils and curtains; now the inclusion of the goyim, the Gentiles, the very peoples who had been shunned by Israel for the last millennia; now, spiritual reality replaces visible places, practices and restrictions; now the law is written on the heart; now access to the very presence of God, as “in the beginning”!
We stand, as it were, on a mountainous ledge overlooking the future and wondering what all we see, what will unfold as we get a closer look at all that is contained in the vision of Aquarius - the Water Bearer. It is often depicted with a man pouring out water from a clay pot.
How will this represent the era into which we are moving?
Since we venture into the unknown/future here, let’s be gracious as we read.
Water is vital to life. Water forms the greater portion of all living flora and fauna. Every cell requires the purifying flow in, of nutrients, and the flowing out, of wastes, via the transport of water.
From a biblical perspective, the Holy Spirit is characterized by water.
Isaiah 44:3
‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land
And streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring
And My blessing on your descendants;
John 7:37-39
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Will the Age of Aquarius be characterized by a new wave of the Spirit of God being poured across our world? Are we going to see the rivers of living water flowing out of the innermost beings of believers transforming the cultures of the world in never before seen ways? Will believers become the influencers in every facet of our societies - government, education, the economy, the media, entertainment, the family, religion?
As an aside, George Barna’s research has found that the impact of the church on the North American societies has been “negligible”. Perhaps we are on the threshold of seeing that trend changed for the better.
If we look across the chart from Aquarius, we find Leo - the Lion and King. Are we about to enter the period of history when Daniel’s prophecy coupled with John’s revelatory vision, is fulfilled through us? (Please set aside you eschatological biases and let the words speak.)
Daniel 7:27 (please take time to read the fuller context.)
“And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
Revelation 5:9, 10 (please take time to read the fuller context.)
“And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.””
Could we be on the threshold of reigning on the earth after receiving “the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High?
This could be the very thrust of the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
In conclusion, I believe there is evidence, from the celestial timepiece which God gave us at creation, signalling a transition to a new paradigm as has happened previously throughout recorded scriptural history. The parallels with the transitions through the zodiac signs seem uncannily accurate. In each of these there were things left behind and other things and practices which remained the same. The same may be true of our own near future.
Will the world see the “living water” of which Jesus spoke being poured out in new powerful ways as we transition from our accepted practices to engage culture through our ruling dominion granted to us in Genesis 1? Will we exercise our regal assignments in such a God ordained reflection of our King, that the culture is blessed as never before in human history? Will we be the guardians of true human freedom and equality founded on the truth that all are created in the image and likeness of God?
Ponder the Possibilities!