The constellation Taurus depicts Jesus Christ at His Second Coming — the King and Judge of the universe. The Lamb and the Bull show two sides of the ministry of the one Son of God: first Christ comes as the Lamb to offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin, then He returns as the mighty King to judge the earth. The ancient Mesopotamian name of Taurus was GU₄.AN.NA, 'Heavenly Bull'. Inside its figure are the Pleiades — Chimah, the seven stars of the Church of God; before its face are the Hyades. Thus the picture corresponds to Christ's words: at His coming, all nations will be gathered before Him, and the final separation of the righteous and the wicked will take place.
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.
Taurus lies next to the Lamb, and these two constellations reveal two sides of the one Christ.
At His first coming, Jesus appears as the Lamb of God:
'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.'
He comes not to judge the world, but to save it. He allows men to reject Him, accepts suffering, and offers His life as a sacrifice for sin.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
But the Second Coming will be utterly different.
Christ returns no longer as a Lamb led to the slaughter, but as the King and Judge, having authority over nations, earthly kingdoms, and spiritual powers.
Therefore the heavenly sequence reads:
Lamb — Christ, who came to save. Bull — Christ, returning to judge and reign.
Above the region of the Lamb and the Bull lies the Triangle — the image of the Triune God.
A complete picture emerges:
Triune God → Lamb → Bull.
The Son of God first reveals Himself to the world in humility and sacrifice, then appears in glory as the Judge.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The very image of the Bull is extremely ancient. In Mesopotamia, the constellation was called MUL.GU₄.AN.NA — 'Heavenly Bull'. The Bull is an image of immense strength, royal power, and unstoppable advance.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN][Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
This is no longer a defenseless Lamb.
Before us is the mighty Heavenly Bull, moving forward with horns thrust out.
Especially expressive is the star El Nath, located at the tip of one of Taurus's horns. Its Arabic name al-naṭḥ means 'goring', 'striking with the horn'.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
This image fits well with Christ's Second Coming. He returns not to be again delivered into the hands of enemies, but to crush resistance to God's Kingdom and destroy the power of evil.
Pleiades — the Church in the heart of Taurus
Within the figure of Taurus lies one of the most famous star clusters — the Pleiades.
In Mesopotamia they were called MUL.MUL, and in the Bible — Chimah.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN][Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
God says to Job:
'Can you bind the chains of Chimah and loosen the cords of Kesil?'
The Pleiades are a compact gathering of stars bound into one group. In the biblical picture, they represent the Church of God.
Especially important is the traditional number seven of the Pleiades. Seven stars correspond to the seven churches of Revelation, which together represent the fullness of the Church of all ages.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Therefore, inside Taurus is the seven-starred Church.
This is a powerful picture of the Second Coming: when Christ returns as King and Judge, His people are with Him and in Him.
The Pleiades lie in the region of Taurus's shoulder and heart. The Church does not stand before Christ as an object of His wrath — she belongs to Him.
Aldebaran — Follower of the Pleiades
The main star of Taurus is the bright red Aldebaran, located in its eye.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The Arabic name al-dabarān means 'Follower'. The star received this name because on the celestial path it follows the Pleiades.
This detail is especially expressive in our picture.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The Pleiades depict the Church of God, and Taurus — Christ appearing in glory as King and Judge.
Therefore, in the very eye of Taurus is a star whose name says:
'Follower of the Pleiades'.
The Pleiades and Taurus are joined in one heavenly scene.
The Church belongs to Christ, is within His figure, and is connected with His future appearing in glory.
In Revelation, Christ returns as King of kings, and behind Him follow the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.
Therefore the true meaning of Aldebaran — 'Follower' — is much more important than attempts to render it as 'ruler'.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The picture remains simple:
Pleiades — the Church. Aldebaran — Follower of the Pleiades. Taurus — Christ appearing in glory and judgment.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Hyades — nations before the Judge's face
Before the face of Taurus lie the Hyades — a characteristic V-shaped group of stars forming the head and muzzle of the Heavenly Bull.
In the ancient Mesopotamian tradition, this region was associated with the Jaw of the Bull.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN]
In our biblical picture, their position is especially important: the Hyades are before the face of Taurus.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Christ Himself described the Second Coming:
'When the Son of Man comes in His glory... all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.'[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Therefore, inside Taurus and before its face, two different groups are visible.
The Pleiades — God's people, inside Taurus, close to His heart.
The Hyades — the assembly before His face, over whom separation and judgment are carried out.
Thus the heavenly picture recalls Matthew 25: Christ returns, the nations are gathered before Him, and the Judge separates the righteous from the wicked.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Taurus between two angelic rebellions
But around Taurus there takes place another extremely important scene.
From two sides, two forces rise against it.
Perseus is behind Taurus. He represents Satan and the fallen angels of the first wave.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Orion-Kesil is before Taurus. He represents the Watchers — the fallen angels of the second wave, who, already knowing the consequences of the first rebellion, themselves left their appointed place and were bound by God in chains.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Thus Taurus stands between two angelic rebellions:
behind — Perseus; in front — Kesil; in the center — Taurus.
But Taurus does not flee from them.
It is itself directed forward, horns thrust out.
This is the image of Christ's Second Coming, when an end will be put not only to human kingdoms that have rebelled against God, but also to the spiritual rulers and authorities that stand behind them.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Perseus attacks Taurus from behind.
Kesil challenges him from the front.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
But in the center is not a victim, but the coming Judge.
The Lamb and the Bull — one Christ
Taurus completes the story that began with the Lamb.
The One who allowed Himself to be slain returns as King.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
The One whom men judged returns to judge men.
The One against whom fallen angels rebelled comes to put an end to their power.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
And His Church is with Him.
Therefore the Lamb and the Bull are one Christ, revealed in two comings.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Lamb — sacrifice. Bull — authority.
Lamb — first coming. Bull — Second Coming.
Lamb saves. Bull judges and establishes the Kingdom.
Above them is the Triangle — the Triune God.
This forms one of the strongest compositions of the starry sky:
Triangle → Lamb → Bull.
Triune God → Christ the Sacrifice → Christ the Judge.
