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Pisces: The Conflict With the Enemy
Chapter Three: The Church in Conflict

In this third chapter of the second book we come to the results of Christ’s sacrifice enjoyed by the Church, but in the midst of conflict. It is as if the full measure of her joy has been temporarily set aside until her Husband returns and Satan is in the abyss for a thousand years. We must always remember that we live in two worlds. Before we were saved, we had a sin nature and were spiritually dead. After being saved, we are alive in the Messiah, but we still have a sin nature within us. This is because this world is not our home. The Church is the Bride of Christ and we desire to be with the Bridegroom. We must be ready, for when He returns for us (Matthew 25:1-13) we will go with Him. Then we will not only be spiritually alive, but we will have perfect resurrection bodies. But in the mean time, our enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (First Peter 5:8). Thus, we have one foot in this world and one in the next. We are in conflict. However, by the time we get to the third book in the messianic Kingdom, we will see that all conflict is over for the Church.

Pisces, or the fishes, is pictured as two large fishes bound together by a Band, the ends of which are fastened separately to their tails. In the ancient Egyptian zodiac, it is named Pi-cot,or Pisces Hori that means the fishes of Him that comes.The Hebrew name is Dagim, the fishes, which is closely connected with the concept of increasing greatly, as in 48:16, where Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons, and says: May they increase greatly upon the earth. The phrase a fish is derived from the phrase to increase because of the remarkable speed with which they multiply.834 This is the fulfillment of 1:28 that says: Be fruitful and multiply. The Seed of the woman (see the commentary on Genesis, to see link click Be – He Will Crush Your Head, and You Will Strike His Heel) will eventually become the fishes of Him that comes.

But why two fishes? The human race today is made up of either Jews or Gentiles. Before Christ, the channel of blessing went through Isra’el, but after the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah the channel of blessing now flows through the Church, which are primarily Gentiles. God has said, however, that there will always be a believing remnant, the righteous of the TaNaKh. But for those in Christ, the only identity that matters is their identity in Him. There are no Jewish or Gentile believers, black, white, brown or any other color believers, male or female believers. There are only those who love the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Our one Lord has one Body.835 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14). Therefore, Jews and Gentiles, the two fishes are bound together as one.

1. The Band: The band that unites these two fishes has always formed a separate constellation. Its ancient Egyptian name was U-or, which means he comes. The Arabic name is Al Risha, or the band. In the picture of this constellation the fishes are bound together. The two ends are fastened to the neck of Cetus, the sea monster, while immediately above is seen a woman chained as a captive; but the deliverer is near both. Chephes, the crowned King is seen coming quickly. Satan is still in conflict with the Church, but deliverance is guaranteed.

2. Andromeda (The Chained Woman): This is a strange scene in the heavens, a woman with chains fastened to her feet and arms. In the Egyptian zodiac her name is Set which means set up as a queen. In Hebrew it is Sirra, the chained. There are 63 stars in this constellation, three of which are of the second magnitude and two of the third. The brightest star alpha (in the head), is called Al Phiratz (Arabic), the broken down. The star gamma (in the left foot) is called Al Amak (Arabic), struck down. But the star beta (in the body) is called Mirach (Hebrew), the weak. We need to remember where our strength lays. It is only when we come to the end of ourselves and get out of the way, that the power of the Lord can be seen. Rabbi Sha’ul said: I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. For when I am weak, then I am strong (Second Corinthians 11:9-10). Until the return of Messiah, the Church will be in conflict with the enemy, Satan. Yes, the two fishes are bound by sin, and yes the woman is seen in the chains of sin, but the King is coming.

3. Cepheus (The Crowned King): What we see here is a glorious King, crowned and seated on a throne in the highest heavens, with a scepter in His hand and His foot planted on the very Polar Star itself. His name in the Egyptian zodiac is Pek-ku-hor, which means this one comes to rule. The Greek name, by which He is now known, Cepheus, is from the Hebrew and means the branch and is called by Euripides the king; there is also an old Ethiopian name, Hyk, meaning a king. There are 35 stars in this constellation with three of the third magnitude and seven of the fourth. The brightest star alpha (in the right shoulder), is called Al Deramin, which means coming quickly. The beta star (at the waist) is named Al Phirk (Arabic), the Redeemer, and the gamma star, signified by the letter g at the left knee is called Al Rai, which means he who bruises or breaks. This can be no other than the Branch of David (Jeremiah 23:5) and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).

This leads us to the last chapter of the second book, which shows us the fulfillment of all the prophecies about the Church and the sure foundation upon which her hope is based. We wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). He is coming quickly.