John McHugh - The Celestial Code of Scripture: The Astral Cipher Underlying the Miracle Stories of the Bible and Quran

The Celestial Code of Scripture: The Astral Cipher Underlying the Miracle Stories of the Bible and Quran 2021 by John McHugh

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Paperback ISBN 978-1-948626-51-4

eBook ISBN 978-1-948626-52-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: McHugh, John, 1964- author.

Title: The celestial code of scripture : the astral cipher underlying the

miracle stories of the Bible and Quran / John McHugh.

Description: Rhinebeck, New York : Monkfish Book Publishing Company, [2021]

| Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021039966 (print) | LCCN 2021039967 (ebook) | ISBN

9781948626514 (paperback) | ISBN 9781948626521 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Biblical cosmology. | Islamic cosmology. |

Cosmology--Cross-cultural studies. | Miracles. | Miracles (Islam) |

Cosmogony, Ancient.

Classification: LCC BS651 .M3965 2021 (print) | LCC BS651 (ebook) | DDC

231.7/65--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021039966

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021039967

Book and cover design by Colin Rolfe

Front cover image by Wesley Armstrong

Monkfish Book Publishing Company

22 East Market Street, Suite 304

Rhinebeck, NY 12572

(845) 876-4861

monkfishpublishing.com

Contents

Acknowledgments

This book has been an arduous, two-decade-long endeavor. Its completion in large part depended on the insight and guidance of numerous colleagues and friends. I must begin by thanking Damian Nash, whose scores of shrewd observationsespecially when this book was in its infancyestablished the resulting vision of this manuscript. Hats off to Roger Jellinek, whose editorial comments and prodding have sculpted the layout for practically every chapter. Thanks also to astronomer Alexander Gurshtein, whose imparted kindness and wisdom back in 2009 charted the direction of my research. Thanks indeed to my research partner, archaeoastronomer Dr. John Knight Lundwall, whose skilled eye, ear, and encouraging comments continue to enhance our joint collaborations and my own research. Kudos to the fantastic artwork of Ashley McCurdy, whose template drawings served as the foundation for the artwork throughout this book. A big thanks to Michael Lyon for the use of Figures I.7 and 2.5. Merci beaucoup to Kealey Johnson for her French translations and insight into all things French. Kudos to Bella Franco for her hard work in composing the templates images for Figures 2.3 and 9.10.

Much gratitude goes to retired Brigham Young University Near Eastern Languages Professor, Dr. Paul Hoskisson, whose patience with me at the outset of my studies in Semitic languages has resulted in the book you are holding. Warm-felt thanks to retired BYU professor, Joel Janetski, who taught me much about dirt archaeology and always had a wonderful sense of humor.

Eternal thanks go to my departed parents, Mary Elizabeth Boylan and John (Jack) Joseph McHugh, whose enduring supportive love and prayers remain with me daily. Gratitude to my daughter, Emeline, the star of my heart. Finally, all my love to my angelic wife, Kirsten Kibildis-McHugh, whose unending patience, humor, and love provided a cocoon of peace from which this book emerged.

Despite the best efforts of all of the aforementioned personages, all mistakes are my own.

Prologue

While studying the relationship between celestial mythology and astronomical knowledge as a graduate student at Brigham Young University, I stumbled upon an arcane celestial code. According to this secret code, the stars and constellations embodied divinities, and their titles and images depicted Heavenly Writing. Cryptic messages enciphered in this celestial script divulged monumental scenes that had once taken place on earth. Elite astrologer-magicianswhich included the magi who followed the star of Bethlehem to baby Jesustranslated these encoded communiqus into stories that became the pagan, Judaic, Christian, and Islamic scriptures we know today.

Although this astral code arose in Mesopotamia, it was eventually disseminated into other cultures throughout Syria-Palestine, Arabia, and Greeceincluding the monotheistic societies that would eventually produce the Hebrew Bible, the Christian New Testament, and the Quran. The code reveals the paradigm underlying the miraculous events recounted in those scriptures, and explains how those supernatural incidents came to be reported as hallowed history.

In the following pages, I show precisely how this celestial cipher was used to produce many of the miraculous stories reported in Mesopotamian, Greco-Roman, Biblical, and Quranic religious mythologynarratives that include Gilgameshs epic battle with the zodiacal Bull, the story of an eagle who carried a handsome shepherd-boy into heaven, the Garden of Eden and Noahs Ark, Jonahs three-day confinement in the belly of a sea-monster, Samsons slaughter of a thousand Philistines with the mere jawbone of an ass, Jesus virgin birth and walk across the Sea of Galilee, as well as Muhammads preternatural encounter with the angel Gabriel.

The rediscovery of this secret celestial code would not have been possible without the accumulated archeological and linguistic research of more than a century of world-class scholars. Ironically, a tacit century-old proscription against investigating the relationship between Mesopotamian astronomical knowledge and Biblical and Quranic religious mythology has prevented modern scholars from seeing that this stellar cipher was the basis for the Biblical and Quranic miracle narratives.

Until now.

John McHugh

Introduction:

The Mystery Emerges

Raised in a devoutly Catholic family in the suburbs of Philadelphia, my earliest household recollections consisted of crucifixes adorned with palm leaves in every room, pictures of Saint Jude, Mom saying the rosary once a day, and Dadon special occasionsreciting prayers in Latin. There was no doubt about it, Jesus loved me and I was to inherit this earth and the one in the afterlife just like He promised me in the Bible.

The religious beliefs cultivated at home were reinforced and expanded at Notre Dame de Lourdes elementary school. During my formative grade-school years the stories of the Garden of Eden, Noahs Flood, Mosess parting the Red Sea and receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and Jesus walking on water, his crucifixion and resurrectionwere all as real to me as the bullfrogs, snakes, and crayfish I caught at the nearby creek.