1. The word "mystery" comes from
Greek word meaning "one who keeps quiet"
a. implies an "initiate," a person introduced to the secret
rites of a mystery.
2. Mystery religions & secret
societies
a. Existed in Babylon, Egypt, India, Persia, Rome, Greece and
many other
countries
b. Typically polytheistic (worshiping more than one god)
c. Some were pantheistic (embracing the gods of all religions)
d. Most were esoteric (secret truths reserved for adepts or
priests)
e. Typically:
i. restricted membership
ii. required secret initiation ceremonies
iii. promised spiritual benefits to their members.
iv. initiates sworn to secrecy & allegiance
f. Many had 2 sets of doctrines:
i. public doctrine
(1) was socially acceptable, gave the group good public image
(2) lured initiates
ii. secret/esoteric doctrine
(1) real purpose for the society
(2) As initiates qualify for higher levels in the secret society,
they
were gradually introduced to the esoteric doctrine.
3. Gen 3:1-6
Now the
serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had
made. He said to the woman, "Did God
really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in
the garden'?"
The woman
said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from
the tree that is in the middle of the
garden, and you must not touch it, or you
will die.'"
"You will
not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that
when you eat of it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good
and evil."
When the
woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to
the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom,
she took some and ate it. She also gave
some to her husband, who was with her, and
he ate it.
a. Key points of Satan's approach:
i. question God's word or his motive.
ii. take responsibility for yourself, instead of submitting to God;
this leads
to disobedience.
iii. elevate or exalt yourself by gaining knowledge and/or power.
b. Every human has a desire for a god-like state
i. wants to be in control in life.
ii. wants to achieve a higher state.
iii. "religion" has been defined as man's attempt to reach God or become
like God.
c. These are the same lures used by mystery religions &
secret societies.
Babylonian Religion
1. Bible always portrays Babylon as evil, both religiously & morally.
2. Religious beliefs
a. Changes in nature and events of people's lives are determined
by events
occurring among
the gods.
i. Babylonians never rejected any earlier gods, so they acknowledged
thousands of gods -- definitely polytheistic.
b. Heavenly bodies represented the gods.
c. Scientifically observed the sky, to identify actions of
the gods.
d. Prayed to various gods believed to be in control.
e. Practiced magic.
f. This combination soon led to astrology.
3. Astrology
a. People practice astrology to gain power through their knowledge
of heavenly
events:
i. reduce impact of "bad" event.
ii. increase benefit of "good" event.
b. Same lures as used by Satan in Eden:
i. question the gods' motives (plural); some gods were kind,
some were
evil/harmful.
ii. take responsibility for yourself; don't be a victim of circumstances.
iii. improve your situation by gaining knowledge; power results from using
knowledge for own benefit.
Cabalism
1. Cabalism originated with oral
occult traditions of a minority of Jews in ancient
Palestine and Egypt.
a. It gave occult counter-explanations of prophetic revelations
and an occult
interpretation
of Israel's history.
b. It interprets scriptures in an esoteric and symbolic sense,
reading its own
doctrines into
the Torah.
c. The word, cabala, comes from a Hebrew word meaning "that
which is
received."
2. It views humanity as the result
of divine sparks settling over matter
a. Implies the potential for humans to be liberated either
through a messianic
redemption or
through individual gnosis.
b. same basic concept
i. question God's words or motives; reinterpret scripture,
prophetic
revelations.
ii. take responsibility for yourself, your own liberation.
iii. knowledge is vital; knowledge gives you power to achieve liberation.
3. Golden age of cabalism from
the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries
a. Very strong in Palestine, Germany, France and Spain.
b. Was esoteric movement from the twelfth century until the
expulsion of the Jews
from Spain in
1492.
4. Cabalism was an occult counterattack
against the Old Testament; the occult
counterattack against the New Testament was
Gnosticism.
Gnosticism
1. Gnostic groups were the first
significant secret societies formed after Christ's
resurrection.
a. Had varying degrees of initiation and the highest level,
or inner circle,
worshiped Lucifer.
b. gnosis: Gk "knowledge"
2. Primary beliefs
a. God's two sons: the older was Satanael or Lucifer
(Bible: Satan), and the
younger was
Jesus.
i. Satan rebelled against God and was ejected from heaven,
so he created
the physical universe patterned after the spiritual one.
ii. Jesus came to earth to show men the way to heaven, but he was
ineffective against Satan and his mission was a failure.
iii. Because of this, Gnosticism included a profound hatred of Jesus and
his
teachings.
b. Satan is the creator and god of this world, and is all-powerful,
so he should be
worshiped.
c. Universe consists of two states.
i. The real world of earth and flesh -- created by Satan.
(1) considered corrupt and imperfect
(2) could only be known through the senses.
ii. The ideal world was the realm of God
(1) could only be approached through gnosis.
iii. Strict separation between these two worlds.
d. Divine Spark
i. Only selected individuals have a divine spark imprisoned
in their
physical bodies.
(1) Through gnosis, liberate divine spark from the evil physical
world and be united with the Supreme Being.
(2) Only way to attain salvation.
ii. Remainder of humanity has no divine spark.
(1) Bound to physical body.
(2) No hope for salvation.
e. Initiates chosen only from those with divine spark.
3. All gnostic groups offer knowledge,
and in a form or degree found only in their
teaching.
a. The lowest forms of gnosticism offer knowledge related simply
to power and
secrets of the
future.
b. The highest forms offer knowledge related to abstract speculation
on such topics
as how good
and evil came into the world.
4. The Gnostics were a closed
society.
a. They carried engraved stones or other proofs of initiation
b. Used passwords and secret handshakes to identify themselves.
5. Same basic concepts:
a. question God's Word
i. reinterpret it based on gnostic doctrine.
ii. have to add to God's Word to get the "truth."
b. take responsibility for yourself; responsible for your own
liberation from evil
world.
c. knowledge is root of gnosticism; the key that secures liberation.
Knights Templar
Twelfth century:
1. Several groups of knights formed
military orders
a. Goals included protection of Christian pilgrims in Holy
Land.
b. Vows of poverty, chastity & obedience.
c. Chartered by the Pope, subject to no one else.
2. Poor Knights of Christ, one
such group
a. Founded in 1119 by French knights
b. Specific goals:
i. protect the Holy Sepulcher
ii. protect pilgrims
iii. fight the infidel
c. King of Jerusalem gave them a house on site of Temple of
Solomon
i. They became known as Knights of the Temple, or Knights Templar.
d. Military order
i. Secret initiation rite, including vow to never retreat &
vow of absolute
obedience.
ii. Most initiates were European nobles.
(1) Considered honorable for a noble to risk his life defending Holy
City, take vow of poverty, etc.
(2) Ranks grew rapidly during 13th century.
e. Material wealth
i. Properties & moneys donated to the Order as rewards
for their exploits.
ii. Began conducting business activities: security deposits
for national
rulers, money transfers to finance military operations in Middle East,
and so on.
iii. Individual knights, vow of poverty; but Order became extremely
wealthy.
iv. By late 13th century, had 20,000 members & owned 9000 valuable
properties in Europe & Middle East.
3. Knights Templar deteriorated
a. Strongly influenced by Gnostics & an Arab sect called
the Assassins.
b. Adopted religious beliefs of gnosticism.
c. Order's focus shifted
i. Already had strong, closed Order.
(1) international membership; offices located all over Europe &
Middle East.
(2) rigid military discipline; not subject to local laws.
ii. Specialized in secrecy: military actions, financial transactions.
iii. Incorporated occult beliefs & practices.
iv. Arena changed from Middle East to the world.
d. Templars became the first large-scale attempt to use wealth
& occult practices to
control the
world.
4. 1307
a. Pope ordered the Templars to relocate their headquarters
from Jerusalem to
France.
b. Later that year, after Templars relocated, King of France
arrested all Templars
in France &
subjected them to years of torture & trials.
i. Probably jealous of their wealth & independence.
ii. Charged Templars with heresy, idolatry, homosexuality.
c. King persuaded Pope in 1312 to abolish the Order.
d. In 1314, King had Templar Grand Master, Jacques de Molay,
burned at the
stake.
e. Surviving Templars went into hiding.
i. Used their existing network to help individual knights.
ii. Already had system of secrecy, including passwords & handshakes.
iii. Became a secret order to help individual knights survive.
f. Not only forsaken, also persecuted by Church & governments;
became strongly
opposed to Christian
church & civil government.
Rosicrucians
1. Surviving Knights Templar either
founded or merged with a secret order
a. Order of the Rose-Croix, or Rosicrucians.
b. Mystic sect that adopted the esoteric structure, rituals
& goals of the Templars.
c. A continuation of Knights Templar without military &
business responsibilities.
d. Goal: establish what they called a New World Order.
2. Needed to enlist more people
to accomplish their goal
a. Took on outer appearance of benevolent organization of good
works.
b. Continued occult traditions in secret.
i. Two doctrines: one public, one esoteric; just like
gnosticism.
c. In 1640's, Rosicrucians infiltrated the stone mason guilds
of Europe.
d. Retained existing 3 categories of stone masons, added several
layers above them
with Rosicrucians
filling the higher levels.
e. Maintained dual doctrines:
i. Publicly & to initiates, organization of masons dedicated
to good works.
ii. Secretly, higher ranks:
(1) specialized in occult practices
(2) worshiped Lucifer,
(3) developed their plan for a New World Order.
f. Birth of Freemasonry.
Freemasonry
1. High gear.
a. To speed their progress, formed an ultra-secret order from
the highest degrees
of Masonic order:
i. the Illuminati, or "enlightened ones."
(1) Remember: in esoteric groups, adepts were considered
enlightened; access to "true" knowledge, translates into power.
ii. specific goal: abolish Christianity, overturn all civil
governments.
iii. Ironic: gained support of Christian leaders by representing
itself as a
Christian organization working to unify the world for Christ.
b. Formed alliance between higher degrees of Freemasonry and
Rothschild
banking network;
about 1780.
i. Gave Masonic Order & Illuminati financial means to advance
world
goals.
c. Illuminati was exposed within 10 years & disbanded.
d. Masonic Order continues.
2. In America
a. In late 1700's, Freemasonry gaining power in America.
b. Many founding fathers were Masons.
c. Masonic order extremely influential in politics, successful
in placing Masons in
highest levels
of government.
d. In 1800's, America became world headquarters of Masonic
Order.
3. Albert Pike (American)
a. A 33rd degree Mason (highest degree attainable).
b. At one time, was head of all the Masonic organizations.
c. Wrote a "bible" of Freemasonry, Morals and Dogma, in 1871;
latest edition
1966?
i. Traces the spread of secret society religions from ancient
Babylon to the
Masonic Order.
ii. Claims Masonic Order is latest in succession of occult orders
that have
guarded this ancient knowledge.
(1) In other words, its members are enlightened by esoteric
knowledge.
iii. Considers Cabalism & Gnosticism very important, roots of modern
Masonic rituals & beliefs.
iv. Quoting Pike, Morals and Dogma: Masonry, like all the religions,
all
the mysteries ... conceals its secrets from all except the adepts and sages
or the elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its
symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be misled, to conceal the
Truth, which it calls Light, from them, and to draw them away from it.
v. Masonic Order is esoteric, uses deception to hide real meanings
of its
symbols.
4. Henry Clausen (American)
a. 33rd degree
b. until recently the Sovereign Grand Master of Freemasonry,
the leader of all
Freemasons in
the United States
c. wrote in his book Emergence of the Mystical: Today we are
at the threshold of a
new era.
All signs point to this fact.... We look toward a transformation
into a
New Age using,
however, the insight and wisdom of the ancient mystics ... and
the mysticism
of Eastern religions.
d. Idea of New Age based on ancient mysticism of Eastern religions.
e. Notice:
i. Pike compared Masonry to all religions;
ii. Clausen anticipated New Age based on Eastern religions.
iii. Masonic Order definitely is religious, in spite of its denials.
5. Manly P. Hall (American)
a. 33rd degree
b. in his book Lost Keys of Freemasonry (1931) reveals the
real god of Masonry:
When a Mason
learns that the Key ... is the proper application of the dynamo of
living power
... the seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands and before he
may step onward
and upward, he must prove his ability to properly apply this
energy.
6. Lucifer is the real god of
Masonry
a. Lower degrees have rigid policy of religious tolerance
b. Higher degrees increasingly occult
c. Highest degrees are Luciferic; worship of Lucifer and none
other.
7. Masonic Order is secretly &
intensely occultic, but instead of publicly promoting occult
practices, spawned Theosophical Society in
1875.
Theosophical Society
1. Influence of Freemasonry on
Theosophical Society
a. Books studying history of Theosophical Society show that
each theosophical
center was founded
by members of the Masonic Order.
b. Doctrines taught by both organizations are virtually identical.
c. Masonic Order not officially responsible for founding Theosophical
Society, but
Masons intimately
involved since it was formed.
2. Purposes of Theosophical Society
a. form a nucleus of a universal brotherhood of humanity
b. study ancient and modern religions, philosophies & sciences
c. investigate the unexplained laws of nature and man's latent
psychical powers.
d. "Theosophy" comes from Gk word theosophia, "divine wisdom."
3. Success
a. Theosophical Society has been major vehicle for bringing
occult wisdom of the
ancients &
the East into 20th century Western civilization.
b. Legitimately considered the forerunner of the New Age movement
in the U.S.
i. hundreds of New Age cults, religions, organizations have
sprung from
it.
c. Theosophist Alice Bailey
i. Extensive writings, based on revelations from two spirit
entities.
ii. Founded the Arcane School in 1923 to promote the teachings of
her
spirit guides.
(1) Graduates of Arcane School are the elite of the New Age.
iii. At direction of her spirit guides, she founded the Lucis Trust, World
Goodwill and Triangles.
Lucis Trust
1. Originally incorporated as the
Lucifer Publishing Company
a. Publishes & promotes writings of Alice Bailey.
b. Reorganized as Lucis Trust — more acceptable name.
c. Now oversees Lucis Publishing Company, World Goodwill, Arcane,
School,
Triangles, Lucis
Trust Libraries, Radio Lucis.
2. Extremely powerful
a. Lucis Trust defines its purpose as establishing a New World
Order.
b. Closely linked with the UN.
i. Until recently was headquartered at United Nations Plaza
in NY.
c. Over 6000 active members including Robert McNamara, Donald
Regan, Arther
Burns, Henry
Kissinger, David Rockefeller, James Baker, Paul Volcker, James
Schlesinger,
Harold Brown, George Schultz
i. leadership of U.S. government, Federal Reserve, World Bank.
ii. power & money
d. Extremely occultic, but operates behind facade of love &
goodwill.
3. World Goodwill
a. Works closely with UN.
b. Political lobby.
c. Goal: promote New World Order and New International
Economic Order (both
terms appear
frequently in UN publications).
d. UN is actively working on both NWO & NIEO.
Point Out:
1. New World Order & New International
Economic Order eventually will require a
world government & world monetary system.
2. These have been goals of esoteric
societies at least since Middle Ages.
a. These groups have developed & promoted their plans very
successfully.
b. Based on worship of Lucifer, occult rites & practices.
c. Today there exists a Constitution of the Federation of Earth
and a World
Parliament.
d. Parliament has passed legislation on range of topics from
ecology to economies.
e. Has not become official world government because needs more
nations to ratify
its constitution.
f. Effects of world government:
i. loss of national sovereignty
ii. loss of leadership's accountability to constituents -- no elections
iii. new layer of taxes on top of federal, state, local.