Ursa Minor is the Little Flock, the people of God, Israel. Around it coils the Dragon — the image of Satan, who throughout history sought to destroy the people through whom the Savior was to come. But within the Little Flock itself lies the North Star — the image of Christ, who shone forth from Israel and became the guiding Light for the whole world. Therefore this heavenly picture shows Israel, surrounded by the ancient serpent, but preserved by God for the sake of the promised Seed: a star rises from Jacob, the Lord shines forth from the tribe of Judah.
Full interpretation
Verifiable historical, etymological and topographical statements are accompanied by sources. The theological conclusions are the project’s interpretation according to its published methodology.
Ursa Minor depicts Israel — the Little Flock of God. Like the Virgin, it represents the same people of God, but reveals another side of its purpose. The Virgin shows Israel as the Woman from whom the promised Seed is to be born; the Little Flock shows Israel as a small people surrounded by enemies, within whom God preserves His plan of salvation for the world.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
It is very interesting that the pastoral image indeed survived in the ancient Arabic star tradition. Two bright stars of Ursa Minor — β and γ — were called al-farqadān — 'two calves'. The modern name Pherkad comes precisely from this name. The present North Star was called al-jady — 'kid' by the Arabs. Thus the ancient Arabic map of this region indeed preserves the image of young animals of a little flock.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Even earlier in Mesopotamia, the seven stars of the Little Dipper formed MAR.GÍD.DA.AN.NA — 'Heavenly Wagon'. This confirms the antiquity of the seven-star figure itself, although the Babylonian image was different.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN][Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The main feature of the Little Flock is its position relative to the Dragon. The long body of the Dragon coils around the northern region of the sky and loops around Ursa Minor. In the biblical picture, this is the ancient serpent, the devil and Satan, who pursues God's people and tries to destroy the Seed promised by God.
This is exactly the picture shown in Revelation 12. The Dragon stands before the Woman to devour her Child as soon as He is born. But the Child is born and is destined to rule the nations with a rod of iron. This practically explains the celestial composition: the Dragon surrounds the people, but within that people already is the One for whose sake God preserves them.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
In Ursa Minor, this central image becomes the North Star. Today it serves as the main guide of the northern sky: the other stars seem to revolve around it, and the traveller determines direction by it. In antiquity, due to precession, it was not always so close to the celestial pole; for example, in the time of the New Testament it was significantly farther from it. Therefore the prophetic meaning lies not in that at the time of Christ's birth it already occupied its modern position, but in the final heavenly picture itself: from the Little Flock comes forth a Star that becomes a guide for the nations.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
And this literally corresponds to Balaam's prophecy:[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
'A star shall rise from Jacob.'
Christ does not appear outside Israel. He comes from it. 'Our Lord has shone forth from the tribe of Judah.' Paul also says of the Israelites: 'from them is Christ according to the flesh.' Therefore the position of the North Star inside the Little Flock is especially expressive: the Light of the world arises from Israel.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
But this Light is no longer intended only for Israel. Through Israel, God gives the Savior to all nations. Therefore the North Star becomes an image of the guiding Light for a lost world: the constant compass by which man can find his way to God.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
An astonishingly coherent picture emerges:
Little Flock — Israel. Dragon — Satan, surrounding and persecuting Israel. North Star inside the Little Flock — Christ. The Star rises from Jacob and becomes the Light of the nations.
Satan tried to destroy the people because through this people the promised Seed was to come. But precisely in the midst of the Little Flock surrounded by the Dragon shone the One who in the end will crush the Dragon himself.
