The Blessings of the Redeemed Consummated and Enjoyed.
This Second Book began with the Goat dying in sacrifice, and it ends with the Lamb living again, “as it had been slain.” The goat had the tail of a fish, indicating that his death was for a multitude of [pg 105] the redeemed. In the two middle Signs we have had these fishes presented to us in grace, and in their conflict. We come now to the last chapter of the book: and, as we have seen, like each of the other books, it ends up with victory and triumph. Here we are first shown the foundation on which that victory rests, namely, Atonement. Hence we are taken back and reminded of the “blood of the Lamb.”
This is pictured by a ram, or lamb, full of vigour and life; not falling in death as Capricornus is.
Plate 24: ARIES (the Ram)
In the Denderah Zodiac its name is Tametouris Ammon, which means the reign, dominion, or government of Ammon. The lamb's head is without horns, and is crowned with a circle.
The Hebrew name is Taleh, the lamb. The Arabic name is Al Hamal, the sheep, gentle, merciful. This name has been mistakenly given by some to the principal star, α. The Syriac name is Amroo, as in the Syriac New Testament in John i. 29: “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” The ancient Akkadian name was Bara-ziggar. Bar means altar, or sacrifice; and ziggar means right making; so that the full name would be the sacrifice of righteousness.
There are 66 stars in this sign, one being of the 2nd magnitude, two of the 4th, etc.
Its chief star, α (in the forehead), is named El Nath,[54] or El Natik, which means wounded, slain. The next, β (in the left horn), is called Al Sheratan, [pg 106] the bruised, the wounded. The next, γ (near to β), is called Mesartim (Hebrew), the bound.
How is it there is no conflicting voice? How is it that all the stars unite in one harmonious voice in testifying of the Lamb of God, slain, and bruised, but yet living for evermore, singing together, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. v. 12)?