So let’s talk conspiracy theories. Over the years there have been so many wild eye, smoke filled room, tin foil hat, black helicopter, alien encounter, conspiracy theories that most reasonable minded observers just tune out the nonsense. Give a conspiracy theorist two or three real facts and they’ll weave 50 more unrelated facts into an intricate salacious tale which has the power to capture the imagination. And that’s the problem with conspiracy theories. Their adherent’s point to a couple of real facts and then the other 50 unprovable facts become the most important part of the story. After all, if all the facts were known, it wouldn’t be a very good conspiracy, would it?
Today, I want to offer for your consideration a grand unified theory on conspiracies. This theory will allow you to take those two or three real facts most conspiracy theories often point to and understand their place in the Biblical world view. I’ll be frank with you here,
I believe there is a conspiracy at work in this world.
It’s a conspiracy first described in the pages of the Bible and it cannot be easily dismissed. One which touches the lives of every single individual on this earth. It’s a conspiracy that must be understood so that it can be effectively challenged and countered.
Before we look at this conspiracy as found in the pages of the Bible, I think it would be helpful to define the word conspiracy. According to the The Free Dictionary online a conspiracy is:
“An agreement between two or more persons to engage jointly in an unlawful or criminal act, or an act that is innocent in itself but becomes unlawful when done by the combination of actors.”
By this definition we realize that the first conspiracy in the Bible was between the serpent and Eve, and shortly thereafter Adam. At the prompting of the serpent (Satan), Adam, and Eve conspired to act in an unlawful manner by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
In my past few articles, The Mother of Harlots, The Religion of the Harlot, and Babylon and the Harlot we have learned that these events introduced into this world the evils of humanism and it is this Satanically inspired philosophy that has given rise to every other false religious practice invented by men.
King David in Psalms 2 provides us another perspective on this conspiracy in the following passage:
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against YHWH, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: YHWH hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:1-7)
In this passage, King David was inspired to write that the kings of the earth take counsel against YHWH and His anointed (David literally & Yeshua prophetically). This evil counsel is a conspiracy to “break their bands” and “cast away their cords”. In other words, these kings of the earth conspire to overthrow YHWH’s laws and His will for mankind. Psalm 2 goes on to explain how and why this conspiracy will fail.
But let’s add another layer to these Biblical conspiracies so that we can see how they are all gathered under one overriding grand conspiracy. The apostle Paul explains:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)
Putting it all together, we can see that there is a grand conspiracy instigated by Satan and his “rulers of the darkness of this world”, which has been encouraging and facilitating mankind’s rebellion against YHWH, His laws, and His redemptive plan for mankind through Yeshua. This rebellion, as we have learned in the past three articles in this series, is facilitated by the philosophy of humanism.
The Conspiracy Today
To describe this conspiracy in terms of past Biblical history is one thing, but many of us have a hard time seeing how those ancient events relate to world around us today. So let’s explore this humanistic conspiracy in terms of the people and events of our own day. To do this I want to look at one of the most influential humanistic organizations of the past three centuries. Most of us know them as the Freemasons or simply Masons. Due their secretive nature, their esoteric symbolism, and impressive number of influential members, the Masonic brotherhood has long been the subject of conspiracy theories.
Let me say at the outset that all Masons are not a bunch of devil worshipping white guys in some smoke filled back room bent on controlling the world. That is simply an invention of those who do not understand the true nature of the conspiracy or its dangers. They are not the conspiracy, but just one face of it. They, like any extra Biblical religious system or philosophy, are simply one of the daughters of Mystery Babylon. The Masons are made up of men (and now women) from all walks of life, religious backgrounds, and races. From a strictly human point of view, most Masons are upstanding decent human beings bent on the betterment of mankind.
Further, Masons are an incredibly influential and generous philanthropic organization, who have done wonderful things through their lodges and especially their Shriner hospitals. Their member’s count has some of the most influential private and public leaders of the past three centuries. Although, traditional Masonic lore claims origins in the ancient antiquity, their present form can only be traced the 1700’s.
To be blunt, the dangers of Masonry do not lie in its obvious good works, but rather the philosophy which binds its members together. One of the most eloquent descriptions of Masonic philosophy comes from William J. Hutchinson (1732-1814), former Master of the Masonic Lodge of Concord. The following quote is from a series of lectures he gave entitled The Spirit of Masonry:
Masonry directs us to divest ourselves of confined and bigoted notions, and teaches us, that Humanity is the soul of Religion. We never suffer any religious disputes in our Lodges, and, as Masons, we only pursue the universal religion, the Religion, of Nature.
Worshipers of the God of Mercy, we believe that in every nation, he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted of Him. All Masons, therefore, whether Christians, Jews, or Mahomedans, who violate not the rule of right, written by the Almighty upon the tables of the heart, who Do fear Him, and WORK righteousness, we are to acknowledge as brethren; and, though we take different roads, we are not to be angry with, or persecute each other on that account.
We mean to travel to the same place; we know that the end of our journey is the same; and we affectionately hope to meet in the Lodge of perfect happiness.
From a secular standpoint, these are noble sentiments indeed, but they are contrary to the teaching found in the Bible. Notice the clearly humanistic focus of the above statement:
• Humanity is the soul of Religion
• Masonry pursues the “universal religion” of nature
• All mankind who “WORK righteousness” are accepted of God
Paul in his letter to the Colossians explains why this Masonic philosophy is false and why Yeshua and his substitory atonement on our behalf is the only way to be accepted by God.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:12-20)
Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians puts an even sharper point on the subject. Notice again how Paul describes the “prince of the power of the air” as the one who works in the “children of disobedience”, who were “fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind”. In other words:
Humanism!
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [Mystery Babylon – the mother of idolaters – Rev. 17-18]
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [Humanism]
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [Yeshua = YHWH’s Salvation]
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. {Heavenly Jerusalem the Mother of believers Gal. 4:26)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:1-9) [Salvation is by the unmerited favor of YHWH – Not Human effort i.e. Humanism]
Before we look at the profound influence Masonry has had on American thought and history lets first briefly look at its history. It is not a little ironic that Masonry’s oldest manuscripts trace its origins back to the Biblical Babel.
Babel
The History of Masonry
Historically speaking, Masonry began as guild of English stonemasons as early as the 14th century. Later, these guilds were organized into “speculative” lodges through which the philosophical tenants of Masonry were developed and expounded. The Matthew Cooke Manuscript (1450 AD) and York Manuscript (1560) written in English doggerel, provide some of the earliest known records of Masonic history. The following comes from Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry vol. 1.
“NIMROD
The Legend of the Craft in the Old Constitutions refers to Nimrod as one of the founders Of Freemasonry. Thus in the York Manuscript. No. 1, we read:
‘At ye makeing of ye Toure of Babell there was Masonrie first much esteemed of, and the King of Babilon yt was called Nimrod was A Mason himself and loved well Masons.”
And the Cooke Manuscript thus repeats the story:
‘And this same Nembroth began the towre of babilon and he taught to his werkemen the craft of Masonrie, and he had with him many Masons more than forty thousand. And he loved and cherished them well” (see line 343).
The idea no doubt sprang out of the Scriptural teaching that Nimrod was the architect of many cities; a statement not so well expressed in the authorized version, as it is in the improved one of Bochart, which says: “From that land Nimrod went forth to Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and Rehoboth city, and Calah and Resen between Nineveh and Calah, that is the great city.”
In the next quote Mackey provides the Masonic reader with the philosophical interpretation of this historical concerning Masonry’s origins:
BABEL
…If the tower of Babel represents the profane world of ignorance and darkness, and the threshing-floor of Oman the Jebusite is the symbol of Freemasonry, because the Solomonic Temple, of which it was the site, is the prototype of the spiritual temple which Freemasons are erecting,
…then we can readily understand how Freemasonry and the true use of language is lost in one and recovered in the other, and how the progress of the candidate in his initiation may properly be compared to the progress of truth from the confusion and ignorance of the Babel builders to the perfection and illumination of the temple builders, which Temple builders all Freemasons are.
So, when, the neophyte, being asked “whence he comes and whither is he traveling,” replies, “from the lofty tower of Babel, where language was confounded and Masonry lost, to the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, where language was restored and Freemasonry found,” the questions and answers become intelligible from this symbolic point of view (see Ornan).”
Rather enlightening, isn’t it? In Mackey’s description above notice the underlying humanistic thrust of Masonry. Speculative masonry seeks to rebuild and regain that which their tradesmen forbearers lost at Babel. Most of you have probably seen the Masonic symbol of the square and compass arranged as a pentagram surrounding the letter G. In the following quote Albert Pike one of Masonry’s most influential and revered scholars describes the meaning of this well-known symbol:
The Pentagram, which you see in the East, called in the Gnostic schools and in Masonry “The Blazing Star,” is the sign of intellectual omnipotence and autocracy.
In the centre of this Blazing Star Freemasons place the letter G. It signifies GNOSIS and GENERATION, the two sacred words of the ancient Kabala; and also the GRAND ARCHITECT; for the Pentagram, whichever way we view it, presents the letter A. (A. Pike, Morals and Dogma)
Interestingly, Pike’s explanation is taken directly from one of the 19th centuries most influential occultists, Eliphas Levi. Levi not only influenced Pike, but also another infamous Satanist and occultist named Aleister Crowley. To get a sense of Eliphas Levis world view, here is a quote from his book Mysteries of Magic,
“Magic is the divinity of man conquered by science in union with faith; the true Magi are Men-Gods, in virtue of their intimate union with the divine principle.” (Wikipedia[19])
Levi’s and Pike’s explanations of Masonry’s most well- known symbol combines both the historical and philosophical underpinnings of Masonry. It shows the tools of the builders surrounding the letter G (Gnosis) which is the Greek word for “knowledge” or in an esoteric sense that “knowledge of spiritual truth held by the ancient Gnostics to be essential to salvation.” (Merriam-Webster online dictionary)
This spiritual truth is in its very essence of the humanistic world view. To the Mason the G represents God, the Great Architect of the Universe, and the Gnostic idea (knowledge) which allows all mankind to attain Godhood.
33 degree Freemason, Dr. J. D. Buck (1838 -1916) in his book Mystic Masonry explains it this way:
“The only personal god Freemasonry accepts is humanity in total. God, the Great Architect of the Universe, personifies himself through man. Humanity, therefore, is the only personal god there is.”
To the Christian this philosophy is anathema to the Biblical teaching that YHWH, the living God of the Bible is the Creator and designer of this world and all of its inhabitants. Mankind, contrary to the humanistic belief, is not evolving into God Men, but rather we fell from our intended state in Eden. Further, that fall in Eden was the result of Satan’s clever humanistic lie that Masonry and other humanistic belief systems have just repackaged over the subsequent centuries. Mankind from a Biblical world view can only regain that which we have lost by the grace of YHWH through the atoning blood of Yeshua who paid the price for our sins. This substitory atonement is the only way for mankind to be restored true fellowship with God and inherit eternal life.
Masonry in America
Today, many Christians wonder how America with such auspicious Judeo-Christian beginnings could have fallen to the secular humanistic condition we now find ourselves. Our journey to ruin began in the early years of our nation’s founding. Like the Biblical parable of the wheat and tares, the humanistic ideas of Masonry were sown into the American wheat of Judeo-Christian principles. Today, we draw near to the harvest and the tares can no longer be ignored.
Before proceeding, I need to make something very clear. I do not believe America, Washington, D.C., or New York City is the Mystery Babylon described in Revelation 17 &18. I could be wrong, but I believe that this title belongs to another. My purpose in exploring Masonry in America is simply meant to demonstrate the insidious nature of Satan’s humanistic lie and show how this philosophy corrupts those who follow its pernicious tenants.
I should also mention that the Masonry of the 18th century America was not the same of Albert Pike’s Luciferian Masonry which so influenced the 19th century. To be sure, speculative Masonry has always had humanistic underpinnings, but that humanism was kept in check to some extent by the predominating Judeo-Christian beliefs of early Americans. By the early 19th century a more pernicious version of Masonry was finding fertile ground in America’s Masonic lodges.
Hints of this transition comes to us from America’s first President and most respected statesman in the following letter written in October of 1798. Consider carefully George Washington’s defense of Masonry to Reverend G. W. Snyder:
Mount Vernon, October 24, 1798.
Revd Sir: I have your favor of the 17th. instant before me; and my only motive to trouble you with the receipt of this letter, is to explain, and correct a mistake which I perceive the hurry in which I am obliged, often, to write letters, have led you into.
It was not my intention to doubt that, the Doctrines of the Illuminati, and principles of Jacobinism had not spread in the United States. On the contrary, no one is more truly satisfied of this fact than I am.
The idea that I meant to convey, was, that I did not believe that the Lodges of Free Masons in this Country had, as Societies, endeavored to propagate the diabolical tenets of the first, or pernicious principles of the latter (if they are susceptible of separation). That Individuals of them may have done it, or that the founder, or instrument employed to found, the Democratic Societies in the United States, may have had these objects; and actually had a separation of the People from their Government in view, is too evident to be questioned.
As author John Daniel explains by late 1799, it became apparent to George Washington that Adam Weishaupt’s Illuminati had become a threat to the republic. I quote Mr. Daniel:
“But, how was George Washington to know this? Although a Mason, he never frequented English lodges, and rarely was active in the reconstituted American Lodges. Yet, he certainly was knowledgeable of the existence of the Illuminati, but obviously ignorant of inroads it had made in our society.
His naiveté did not last long. During the summer or fall of 1799, just months before his death, Washington was informed by John Adams that indeed the Illuminati had infiltrated American Freemasonry, and that his order was a danger to our new Republic.(29) Because of his faith in Adams, our first president immediately warned the whole country to beware of all secret societies – not that he believed secret societies were bad, but rather that he recognized how their structure enabled easy penetration by the Illuminati, who had designs for America not in step with his own.
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams later disagreed over the use of American Freemasonry by the Illuminati. In fact, “John Adams….accused Jefferson of using the lodges that he himself had founded, for subversive Illuminati purposes. The three letters of Adams which deal with this problem are in the Wittenburg Square Liberary in Philadelphia.” (30)
The power struggle amongst early American lodges notwithstanding, Masonry in early 18th century America reached its height of power in the late 1820’s with the murder of Captain William Morgan, a 13 degree Royal Arch Mason. Morgan broke one of the cardinal rules of Masonry and revealed some of their secrets to the general public. Sworn to secrecy on pains of death Morgan’s brother Masons did not take kindly to his revelations. Kidnapping Captain Morgan, they subsequently drowned him and disposed of his body. Thus began what became known as the Morgan Affair.
As the facts of the Morgan Affair became known, there was such a public outcry that an anti-masonic party was formed. Keep in mind here, that Masonry by this point in American history was an incredibly powerful force in American politics and public affairs. Michael Smythe, writing for the The National Educator in December 1996, decribed the events this way:
“Before the publishing of Morgan’s book, the Baptist denomination… had been greatly carried away by Freemasonry. A large proportion of its eldership and membership were Freemasons. A considerable number of ministers and members of other branches of the Christian Church had also fallen into the snare. The murder of Wm. Morgan and the publication of Masonry…broke upon the churches…like a clap of thunder from t a clear sky. The fats where such, the revelations were so clear, that the Baptist denomination backed down, and took the lead in renouncing and denouncing the institution. Their elders and associated churches, almost universally, passed resolutions disfellowshipping adhering Masons…Now its worth of all consideration and remembrance, that God set the seal of His approbation by pouring out His Spirit upon them.
Great revivals immediately followed…In 1830 the greatest revival spread over this [land] that had ever been known in this or any other country. (49)(as quoted in John Daniel’s, Scarlet and the Beast: A History of the War Between English and French Freemasonry p. 358-359)
In 1826, American Masonry had 50,000 members, by 1830, 45,000 members had left Masonry and renounced their oaths of allegiance. This drastic renunciation of Masonry saw the closure of 2000 Masonic lodges. As noted above, it was no coincidence that by 1830 America was in the midst of the second Great Awakening. One of the daughters of Mystery Babylon had lost its death grip on American minds and this resulted in one of the greatest spiritual outpourings in American history.
For those who appreciate a bit American political history, the Anti-masonic party was the first third party in American politics. Eventually they merged with the Whig party and out of their ashes rose what we know today as the Republican Party.
For those hoping for another American spiritual revival, the lessons of the 2nd Great Awakening are important to keep in mind. American revival in the late 1820’s took a great leap forward when the church renounced Masonry and its humanistic doctrines.
Unfortunately, the power of Masonry was hurt, but not broken. With the events of the Civil War, American Masonry saw a resurgence and with this resurgence a new and more dangerous version of Masonry was introduced. Thanks in large part to the efforts of a confederate General named Albert Pike, masonry was reborn in the spirit of Lucifer.
YHWH willing in Part II of Conspiracies of the Harlot, we will continue with our exploration of the influence Masonry’s “god” of secular humanism has had on American Judeo-Christian values and the destiny of America. In closing this week, I leave you with a quote from 33rd degree Mason Leonard A. Wenz who wrote for Freemasonry’s New Age magazine in February, 1968.
“The keynote of Masonic religious thinking is naturalism which sees all life and thought as ever developing and evolutionary…The Bible is not today what it once was. Current higher criticism has made obsolete the idea that the Bible is a unique revelation of supernatural truth.” (Fisher, p.57)
* * *
Authors note:
Part II of Conspiracies of the Harlot may be delayed a week or two. Next week, Winnie and I will be in Kentucky. In April, our daughter Hope won the Skills USA college welding competition for Arizona. She will be competing nationally in Louisville next week.
The Mystery Babylon Series
Part 1 The Mother of Harlots
Part 2 The Religion of the Harlot
Part 3 Babylon and the Harlot
Part 4 Conspiracies of the Harlot – Part I
Part 5 Conspiracies of the Harlot – Part II
Part 6 Symbols of the Harlot – Part I
Part 7 Symbols of the Harlot – Part II
Part 8 Symbols of the Harlot – Part III
Part 9 Symbols of the Harlot – Part IV
Part 10 Symbols of the Harlot – Part V
Part 11 Homo Deus
