You might have read about an evangelical charismatic who used astrological signs to predict the end of the world on September 9 (it didn’t happen). Another says it’s actually September 23. Guess what…Roman Catholics are falling for the astrological omen-interpretation prophecies as well. It seems that the only ones immune to such superstitious silliness are those holding to Sola Scriptura.
A national Roman Catholic magazine called The Remnant – founded in 1967 – ran an article written by Patrick Archbold, a Roman Catholic columnist who has previously written for the Roman Catholic Register, and he has made some bold prophetic predictions based off of the astrological alignments of certain constellations. His theory is nearly identical in substance to that of Steve Fletcher, who made the September 9 prediction. Ironically, the fact that Fletcher’s prophecy failed or that Archbold wrote the article back in October of 2015 has thwarted Roman Catholics around the world from frantically posting the omen prediction in warning to others that the end of the world is nigh.
Archbald writes…
On September 23, 2017, we will see the constellation Virgo with the sun rise directly behind it (the woman clothed with the sun). These events transpire during the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of “the woman clothed in the sun,” Our Lady at Fatima in 1917. What does it mean?
Nothing. It means nothing.
“Our Lady of Fatima” is referring to an event in 1917 in which three (probably) demon-possessed children claimed to have visions of the “Virgin” Mary and developed some following in Portugal. But according to this Papist, it means something.
As with every superstitious astrological prophetic prediction and omen interpretation ever, the Catholic-Charismatic prophet cites the Scripture’s reference to “signs in the Heaven” to support the prediction he’s about to pull straight out of his backside. He cites Revelation 12:1-5, the Star of Bethlehem, and Psalm 19:4.
Of course, eschatological heavenly signs (like those in Revelation 12 or Joel 2) are pretty clearly not predictable meterological events, but sudden, catastrophic meterological anamoles that will pretty much kill everyone (it will be hard to miss). The Star of Bethlehem was only known by the Magi, who were apparently guarding a very specific prophecy given them by Daniel, when he was made the prince of the Magi in Daniel 2. And in terms of Psalm 19, I think we can all agree that the Heavens declare the glory of God. This doesn’t mean we should be looking to occultic horoscopes to determine the future.
Astrology is defined as “the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world” (link).
Astrology is mentioned in Isaiah 47:13-15 as a part of the occult, that which is not of God, but that which is of Satan. Those who practice astrology will be consumed by the fire of God, according to this passage. “Divining” is a term that in its fullest sense means, “divining the heavens,” or trying to determine the future by meteorological events and it is forbidden in Leviticus 19:6. Interpreting “omens” (signs in the natural world, supposedly foretelling future events) is expressly forbidden in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, and is called “detestable” to God.
Aside from interpreting omens from the stars, Roman Catholics have also been making much in social media of two recent hurricanes being named “Jose” (Joseph) and “Maria” (Mary).
For a full explanation of why this constellation interpretation of omens is also scientific nonsense, click here for an explanation from Answers in Genesis.
