Origins of Horoscope!?

The zodiac (which is derived from the Greek word meaning "circle of animals") is believed to have developed in ancient Egypt and later adopted by the Babylonians. Early astrologers knew it took 12 lunar cycles (months) for the sun to return to its original position. They then identified 12 constellations that they observed were linked to the progression of the seasons and assigned them names of certain animals and persons (in Babylonia, for example, the rainy season was found to occur when the Sun was in a particular constellation which was then named Aquarius, or water bearer). The Babylonians are generally credited with the birth of astrology. Their astrological charts enabled them to predict the recurrence of seasons and certain celestial events. So in the beginning and for more than 2,000 years, astrology and astronomy were the same science. Babylonian astrology was introduced to the Greeks early in the 4th century B.C. and, through the studies of Plato, Aristotle, and others, astrology came to be highly regarded as a science. It was soon embraced by the Romans (the Roman names for the zodiacal signs are still used today) and the Arabs and later spread throughout the entire world. While earliest astrology was used to predict weather patterns, primarily for agricultural purposes. It was eventually broadened to include forecasts of natural disasters and war and other events in the course of human affairs. Amassing successes in these fields, it was a natural progression for astrology to be used as counsel for kings and emperors and, in time, for all of us.

What does the Bible say about astrology?

The Bible has much to say about the stars. Most basic to our understanding of the stars is that God created them. They show His power and majesty. The heavens are God’s “handiwork” (Psalm 8:3; 19:1). He has all the stars numbered and named (Psalm 147:4). The Bible also teaches that God arranged the stars into recognizable groups that we call constellations. The Bible mentions three of these: Orion, the Bear, and Draco in Job 9:9; 26:13; 38:31-32; and Amos 5:8. The same passages also reference the star group Pleiades (the Seven Stars). God is the One Who “fastens the bands” of these constellations; He is the One who brings them forth, “each in its season.”The Bible says that stars, along with the sun and moon, were given for “signs” and “seasons”.

(Genesis 1.14) And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years

That is, they were meant to mark time for us. They are also “signs” in the sense of navigational “indicators,” and all through history men have used the stars to chart their courses around the globe. God used the stars as an illustration of His promise to give Abraham an innumerable seed (Genesis 15:5). Thus, every time Abraham looked up at the night sky, he had a reminder of God’s faithfulness and promise.

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But what does the Bible say about the influence that stars (and planets) exert on our destiny? Bible explicitly forbids divinations and seeking omens!

(Levitcus 19.26) Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft.

God doesn't want us to follow and believe those who practice such witchcrafts:

(Levitcus 20.6) I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.

According to God's law, those who do such things were greatly punished

(Levitcus 20.27) A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.

(Deuteronomy 18.9-13) When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God.

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There once was a Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. One day he had had a troublesome dream which he forgot when woke up. He called his astrologers, priests and other advisors and wiseman to tell him what had he dreamed about and to tell him what does it mean...But:

(Daniel 2.10) The astrologers answered the king, 'There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.

After kings order to kill all his advisors, Daniel (one of his advisors that was brought to Babylon into slavery after the fall of Jerusalem) prayed to God for help, and God heard him. Daniel than said to Nebuchadnezzar:

(Daniel 2.27-28) No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.

I personally don't believe in Horoscope, because there is a higher authority that foretells everyone's future, just as Daniel said. We must all believe in God that dwells in heaven because he is the one who reveals and knows all mysteries.

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