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Chevalier pulls out all (OK, many of) the stops in his Postmodern Revelation: Signs of Astrology and the Apocalypse.

Malina’s social science commentary on Revelation has only two passing references to the constellation.įortunately, Jacques M. He acknowledges that the seven stars might allude to the Pleiades, but notes only that “It was a basic sky sign for planting, hence for fertility and human survival.” Malina’s analysis begins in earnest with the throne-scene of Revelation 4 he doesn’t recognize that the star journey has actually begin as soon as John sees Jesus holding stars in His hand. That’s not bad, but it’s not a lot.īruce Malina’s fascinating study of Revelation’s Star Visions and Sky Journeys is thinner. David Chilton of course notes that the seven stars are the Pleiades, but after summing up some of the astronomical biblical information about the constellation (used in Job 9:5-9 38:31-33 Amos 5:8), he notes: “The sun with with Taurus in Spring (Easter), and the Pleiades are thus a fitting symbol in connection with the coming of Christ: He holds the stars that announce the rebirth and flowering of the world” ( ​Days of Vengeance, 75). Might we push a bit further to suggest that the seven stars are also seven Spirit-eyes of the Lamb, and hence, like the Spirit, doves? When one looks for help from the commentators, one doesn’t find much. John, we know, thinks of the churches as “sisters” (2 John 13 see my discussion in ​From Behind the Veil). In mythology, the Pleiades are the seven daughters of Atlas, sisters changed first into pigeons ( peleiades) and then to stars to escape some pursuer or other, probably a god. You can do what I did: Google to find an ancient depiction of the Pleiades then Google to find a map of the seven churches note the resemblance. For ancient readers and hearers, “seven stars” would evoke a number of associations – the seven planets, the seven stars of Ursa Major, and the seven stars that make up the Pleiades. They are the angels of the seven churches (Revelation 1:20).