The Real Meaning of the Zodiac

by D. James Kennedy

God created the lights in the firmament of the heaven “for signs,” says Genesis 1:14, but what do they signify? According to the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, “God gave to all the world a proclamation of the Gospel in the stars,” and he wrote about that proclamation in his book, The Real Meaning of the Zodiac.
Revealed in the names and order of the stars in the great “Mazzaroth” (Hebrew for the constellations of the zodiac) is the marvelous first evangel, the protevangelium, the message that the Seed of the woman would destroy the seed of the serpent.
According to Arabic tradition, the ancient understanding of the signs of the Mazzaroth came from the Christ line of Seth and Enoch, the son and grandson of Adam. By contrast, astrology developed at the Tower of Babel as a satanic corruption to distort the heavenly revelation. In The Real Meaning of the Zodiac, Dr. Kennedy discloses the original message of the constellations, the heavenly proclamation of the Gospel, in all of its detail, its beauty, and its confirmation of the Gospel revealed in Scriptures.
His purpose, he noted, was “To preach the old, old story of the glad tidings with a new voice that resounds from the very vault of Heaven so that in some way I may catch the attention and then the hearts of some hearers whose ears may have become dull to chapter and verse.”

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian

157 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

Dennis James Kennedy was an American Presbyterian pastor, evangelist, Christian broadcaster, and author. He was the senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from 1960 until his death in 2007. Kennedy also founded Evangelism Explosion International, Coral Ridge Ministries (now known as D. James Kennedy Ministries), the Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, the Knox Theological Seminary, radio station WAFG-FM, and the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, a socially conservative political group.
In 1974, he began Coral Ridge Ministries, which produced his weekly religious television program, The Coral Ridge Hour, carried on various networks and syndicated on numerous other stations with a peak audience of three million viewers in 200 countries. He also had a daily radio program, Truths That Transform, from 1984 on. During his lifetime, Coral Ridge Ministries grew to a US$37-million-a-year non-profit corporation.
In 2005, the National Religious Broadcasters association inducted Kennedy into its Hall of Fame.

Reviews

[Anthony Edridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

One might think such a book to be on a par with aliens and horoscopes. But that is not the case. From creation in Genesis, mention of constellations in Job (about 2000 BC) to many ancient cultures, the author shows that the 12 signs of the zodiac have always pointed to a meaning: the gospel message. As Dr. Kennedy points out, the original message has been somewhat distorted over time, even becoming perverted to astrology. This is the opposite of its intended use; instead of pointing to what God was going to do over a long period of time, astrologers use the zodiac to point to what will happen to any given person in the immediate future.

A surprisingly informative investigation of the meaning that so many cultures have ascribed to our constellations in the heavens.

[Michael K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

D. James Kennedy possesses some really good arguments overcoming the assertions that the signs of the zodiac are really paganistic in their historicity. The signs of the zodiac are, by his research and that of others, the biblical prophecies and story written in the heavens. Great arguments, great presentation, including that of his sermons on the subject matter. Worth the time to read and consider what he has to say on the issue. His sermons are on YouTube.

[Caren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informational in providing the real meanings of signs and where they came from, names and where they came from, and finally how it relates to Christ. It includes the early secular distortions that prevail today.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Needs zero stars

[Bethany Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly written exposé, by the esteemed Dr. D. James Kennedy, on the origin of the Zodiac (or Hebrew Mazzaroth).
Each chapter focuses on each house, from Virgo to Leo, while simultaneously reviewing the 3 decans of each house, Coma all the way to Corvus, and the deeper, Biblical meaning for each constellation and star. From the fall of man in Genesis to Christ's ultimate victory over evil in Revelation.
While it is a relatively short book, it is not one to be breezed thru... Each chapter is one to be meditated upon.
A worthwhile read, without a doubt!

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives new meaning and deeper understanding to Romans 1: 18-19, that there is absolutely no excuse to not believing the Gospel message. The placing and the naming of the stars in a manner that describes, repeats, and reinforces this message is astounding. The consistency of the meanings across cultures, despite spiritual differences, strengthens the argument of truth.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Well researched and backed up. All about how god painted the gospel in our stars and how man corrupted the meaning through history.

[Aaron Bruton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Approachable. This is a deep topic and as a starting place this is a good one.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like a lot of speculation and creative connecting of dots, but the Bible says God gave the stars for signs, so maybe this is what He meant.

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a really interesting thesis and a lot of fascinating ideas on how the zodiac really points to the Gospel. While I didn't have time to read through the whole book, the parts that I did read were pretty convincing for the universality of constellations stemming, in part, from a shadowed version of the Gospel. Wasn't necessarily convinced, however, that this is due to God deliberately placing the signs in the stars, rather than humans forming this from the general revelation they already had.

3.5 Stars. (Good)

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so very interesting, I read it in 2 days! I would recommend it to anyone who has ever looked at the stars and thanked the One who made them, or ever wondered what they might have to say. I can s what a corruption modern astrology is of the beautiful promise God wrote in the heavens by twisting into something phoney and self centered. I want to read more on this subject.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome. It is amazing to learn what the Lord truly meant when He said in Genesis 1:14 that the stars were to be "signs". Clear support from the beginning how the "creation declares His glory" from Romans.

[Emerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, I've never looked at the night-sky in the same way. Very interesting book solidifying the creations of God in a reader's mind. The great creator, architector has a purpose for everything - even the Zodiac.

[Leona Atkinson]

Very interesting book on the Zodiac from God's perspective.
This book caused me to realize that God created the signs in the heavens that we call the Zodiac for His purpose and that is to write His story in the sky for us to see, a message that is very much different than we have been taught to believe through Astrology.

His word, the Bible, says in Psalm 19 that:
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line[fn] has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.

I believe that the Signs in the Heavens that we call the Zodiac are really God's Message to us in the sky and His message is made clear in this book by D. James Kennedy and it is much different than we have been led to believe by Astrology.
I recommend that you read it for yourself and see what you think!