THE WITNESS
OF THE STARS
by Ethelbert W Bullinger
Kregel Publications;
Grand Rapids, MI. 49501 published 1967
(1893 reproduction); 204 pages
THE HEAVENS DECLARE
by Maurice T Brackbill Moody Press,
Chicago copyright 1959; 128 pages
Book Review
by Leroy Gardenier
"If the stars would appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown. But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their smile." Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Olympics with their own peculiar brand of "stars" are finally over. By the time this article goes to press the spectacular Perseid meteor showers of mid-August will all have passed. But any cloudless evening provides us at least a partial view of the most magnificent domed cathedral ever erected - the night sky It is my hope that a brief review of the above books will increase our readers' interest in and appreciation of, not only the natural beauty of the universe, but of the deeper reality of the spiritual revelations, even the Gospel truths, that are contained therein. These two books, written more than half a century apart, curiously complement one another. The first, The Witness of the Stars, was written by an eminent scripture scholar, whose interest in the significance of the stars was sparked by a contemporary English lady's book on the mazzaroth - the Hebrew word for the constellations. The second book, The Heavens Declare, was written by an American astronomy teacher. Professor Brackbill was brought up in the Mennonite branch of the Amish (Pennsylvania Dutch) tradition. As a young man he heard a lecture about the biblical references to the stars which encouraged him to make the study and teaching of astronomy his life's work.
Let me make it very clear from the outset that both of these writings are totally concerned with astronomy and have nothing at all to do with that terrible perversion; that damnable pseudo-science and travesty of the truth called astrology. Although I have had the first book, The Witness of the Stars, in my possession for nearly twenty years and have privately read, re-read and referred to it many times, I hesitated to review it publicly lest someone might get the mistaken notion that I was in any way dabbling in astrology -a practice that is an abomination to God and to all true Christians. In verse 16 of the opening chapter of Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, the Holy Ghost makes it abundantly clear just Who created and Who controls all the heavenly bodies. The Scriptures plainly state: "He (God) made the stars also." On page nine of the June 1996 issue of The Christian Spirit, in an article entitled "The Battles of the Lord", I devoted a paragraph to the Tower of Babel and its probable connection with "the witness of the stars" - the twelve constellations astronomically and accurately depicting the biblically confirmed story of the Coming One, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Bullinger's book is an expansion of and a detailed explanation of this plausible premise. A brilliant introduction analyses Psalm 19 showing the contrasting yet complementary aspects of the two-fold witness to the Word of God: the witness of the stars in the heavens and the witness of His written word here on earth. The author also provides a brief history of ancient astronomy as well as a summation of astronomical references in the Scriptures. The introduction ends with the bold warning that both astrology and Greek mythology are "a corruption and perversion of primitive truth!"
The principle material of Witness is divided into three books, each one having three chapters. Each chapter concentrates on a separate sign of the zodiac which, in turn, is made up of three constellations. The first book tells the story of the first coming of the Redeemer and begins with Virgo, the sign of the Virgin. The second book depicts the story of the redeemed and all the blessings accrued by their Redeemer. The third book explains the second coming of the Redeemer. It fittingly ends with Leo, the sign of "the Lion of the tribe of Judah aroused for the rending of the Enemy." Bullinger's book is filled with fascinating illustrations and comes with a map of the constellations clearly outlined and placed in their relative positions in the sky.
The Heavens Declare was written by a scientist, an astronomer who was not only outstanding in his profession but who was also a devout and dedicated Christian. Since it was written almost a generation ago the reader will find no mention of the Hubble Space Telescope, Hawaii's Keck Telescope, the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory or the New Technology Telescope both of which are in Chile. Such sophisticated equipment and international scientific projects were still in the dim future when Dr. Brackbill's career was at its zenith. Science was not yet on the brink of intimately examining starbursts, which indicate the generation of young galaxies or the collision of older ones. A satellite called COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer) was yet to be launched and the apparent double nucleus of the Andromeda galaxy was not even discovered much less wondered at. Nevertheless Brackbill's book is full of accurate astronomical information presented by a learned scientist but explained in a popular, down-to-earth manner. The chapter, "Fingerprinting the Stars" could be used as a primer for anyone interested in the fundamentals of this fascinating subject. You might say that The Heavens Declare is a link between the ancient but no less accurate astronomical knowledge expounded by Bullinger and the most recent information acquired by astronomers using their ultra-modern, state-of-the-art tools.
The Heavens Declare is composed of eighteen chapters with intriguing titles like: "The Bible and Physical Science"; "Seasonal Skyscape"; "The Bethlehem Star" and "Seeing God in Nature". Here are a few samples of what he says and how he writes. "It would be a large order to ask the Bible to be modern in its scientific inferences and still be intelligible in its day as well as in our day if we did not recognize supernatural aid in its production. Imagine writing today a book anticipating science only fifty years from now, not knowing what fantastic instruments scientists yet unborn will invent and use, and with no idea what discoveries they will make or what new words they will coin. The Bible is just such a book, but amazingly it bridges a gap of not fifty years but upward of fifty centuries!" He concludes the chapter "Fingerprinting the Stars" by saying: "The story of the spectroscope I have just begun, and barely hinted at its tremendous usefulness to the astronomer, and the vast contribution it has made to our knowledge of the stars. I hope it has given you an idea of the nature of modern astronomy and the marvelous complexity of work in astrophysics, and you can also imagine the fascination it holds for those who pursue it."
Very few astronomers achieve lasting notoriety. How many can you name besides Galileo, Newton and Halley? Like most of us, scientists just plug away at their jobs doing the best they can. Newsworthy discoveries or world-changing inventions are limited to very few. True Christians always strive to do their best at whatever task or calling they choose, but they put very little stock in that kind of fame. The Scriptures promise that one day "all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." We would be wise if we take Dr. Brackbill's advice and learn to appreciate more fully the powerful hint of that magnificent glory that is now manifest for us in the canopy of the heavens. All the fame we'll ever need derives from our real and intimate union with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. "We who look for Christ's return", the author concludes, "and frequently con the skies for the pleasure it affords, may some clear night be rewarded with a sight better than the Wise Men saw. Scanning the heavens we may see a new star. Perhaps it is in the constellation Cepheus, the king. A new star, a nova. A greatening light, a sun. Yes, a Son, Son of God, Celestial Sovereign and Bridegroom, coming in glory, the glory of Heaven! What a thought for every hour of stargazing! Some evening as we look at Cepheus almost overhead, we may say with John of Revelation: 'Come, Lord Jesus!'"
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