The fasces are a common decoration in and on government buildings, especially those built during the Art Deco period when Fascism was popular, even in America. At the Lincoln Memorial the fronts of the chair's arms are shaped to resemble fasces. The U.S. House of Representatives displays the fasces on either side of the American flag and uses fasces as their Mace. Even a statue of George Washington features him resting on the fasces. The U.S Senate uses the fasces on their seal. The Knights of Columbus and the National Guard both use the fasces in their crests. In America the reverse side of the Mercury dime featured the fasces.

The Arch:

The architectural arch has a wide range of public uses, so the arch also has a wide range of symbolic meanings. As well as their use by the state in military ceremonials, arches have also long been incorporated into the symbolic repertoire of a range of brotherhoods and Occult fraternal organizations such as the Freemasons, trade unions and friendly societies. Masonic and trade union banners and regalia often had an arch as one of the central or dominant symbols. The Holy Royal Arch commonly referred to as a Chapter is an additional degree of Freemasonry. A candidate for Exaltation into a Holy Royal Arch Chapter is required to have been a Master Mason for four weeks or more. In Scotland the candidate must also be a Mark Master Mason, a degree which can be conferred within Chapter if required. Once exalted a candidate becomes a companion. The Royal Arch meetings are described as a convocation. The exact origins of the Holy Royal Arch are unknown except that it dates back to the mid 1700s.

In fraternal organizations, the arch served as a symbol of strength and unity or symbolized the protection of a pagan deity and the fellowship of the brotherhood rather than an expression of martial virtues. Within this frame of meaning of fraternal solidarity and strength through unity, rather than military conquest are being represented. Friendly societies erected floral arches for their parades in the nineteenth century. One can suggest, therefore, that there are two clear but distinct categories of meaning that can be applied to the arch symbol. The triumphal arch is used to honor the victorious military leader, and the arch of brotherhood is used to symbolize unity, equality and protection. Both meanings, of course, can exist simultaneously, and may well do so; an object or symbol, therefore, may convey very differing sentiments to different people. Members of one community may see an arch as a sign of welcome and fraternal solidarity, while those of another may see it as a threat or as a sign of intimidation. In many ways the arch is similar in its meaning to the Roman Fasces.

Throughout history arches have plaid an important part in architecture that can be traced back to the Ishtar gate in ancient Babylon, the classical Roman Arch, and the pointed Gothic Arch. One of the most famous modern day architectural arches is the St. Louis Gateway Arch, which was built to symbolize the Royal Arch Degree of Freemasonry.

The Arch is also sometimes represented as a rainbow. For example, the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the York Rite depicts the arch as rainbow. In Genesis 9:13 God established the rainbow as a sign of His covenant never to destroy the world with a flood again. The New Age Movement has taken the rainbow and adopted it as their own symbol. The rainbow symbolizes the bridge between man and the Great Universal Mind, in the final analysis, Lucifer. Indeed, it is remarkable how frequent the sign of the rainbow has become lately. New Agers will occasionally reverse the colors in a rainbow from their natural order. Reversing images and objects is a common occult practice. Aleister Crowley and Anton La Vey taught their followers what is knows as the "Law of Reversal", which encourages talking, walking, and thinking backwards, as a form of divination. The rainbow appears on promotional gifts, stationeries, clothing and toys. Mcintosh Computers uses a rainbow within the Apple Computer logo as their logo. The Apple Computer logo is itself an Occultic representation of the forbidden fruit (traditionally depicted as an apple) from which Adam and Eve have taken a bite.

The state of Georgia uses an arch inscribed with the word "CONSTITUTION" in its official state seal. This symbolism represents that the people of Georgia are under the protection of the brotherhood created by the state’s Constitution. Tipton Sports Academy and the 2005 Symposium on Architectures for Networking and Communications Systems use the arch as a part of their logos. Some groups like the Children of Alcoholics Foundation and the Homestead Ministries will take their organizations name and display it as an arch on their corporate logo. Arby’s restaurants has taken the arch and stylized it as an arch. Of course, the most famous arch logo is the one used by McDonald’s restaurants. Originally McDonald’s had just a single golden arch, but soon this was replaced by the M stylized into the famous Golden Arches. For McDonalds the arches signify a shelter under which you can get a refuge. A safe place to have your break and eat. Over the years, the golden arches have become a symbol of capitalism and Americanism. It is interesting to note that when rotated 90 degrees, the logos for Arby’s and McDonalds form the number 13, a number with great significance within the Occult.

The Dove, companion of the Mother Goddess:

A white dove is generally considered a sign for peace. Genesis describes the story Noah released a dove after the Great Flood in order to find land. The dove came back carrying an olive branch in its beak, telling Noah that the Great Flood had receded and there was land once again for Man. (Genesis 8:11). Among some Christiana, the dove is used as a symbol of the Holy Ghost, who appears in that form to Jesus at his baptism (Luke 3:22). Biologically doves and pigeons constitute the same family. The terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. In ornithological practice, there is a tendency for "dove" to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones, but this is in no way consistently applied, and historically the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation between the term "dove" and "pigeon." The dove can also represent "hope for peace" and even a peace offering from one man to another, as in the phrase "extend an olive branch". Often, the dove is represented as still in flight to remind the viewer of its role as messenger.

The Egyptians considered the dove extremely pure. In the ancient Syrian temple of Hierapolis, Semiramis is shown with a dove on her head, the prototype of the dove on the head. The Assyrians portrayed Semiramis in the form of a dove, and it was the doves who brought up Semiramis and later changed her into a dove.

According to the Theosophy Dictionary, in the Chaldean version of the Biblical deluge, the dove is a symbol of Venus. Greek mythology also uses the dove as a symbol for Venus. Venus was helped by the nymph Peristera in a flower picking contest with Cupid. When Cupid looses, he retaliates by turning Peristera into a dove, hence the Greek word for a dove or pigeon is peristera. In Rome a dove or pigeon was a legendary spirit, the accompaniment of Venus, the emblem of female procreative energy. The connection of doves and Venus probably originated on Cyprus. According to myth Venus's chariot is drawn by snow-white doves, called the birds of Venus. Venus is said to be followed by a throng of doves. Another legend tells of a girl named Phytia whom the enamored Jove transformed into a dove. In several other nations the dove also symbolizes the soul.

"And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." Luke 3:22 Those who would like to use this verse as a justification to symbolize the Holy Ghost as a dove miss the obvious point of this passage, for the enfaces is not upon the specific form taken by the Holy Ghost, but rather on the actions of the Holy Ghost. In commenting on Luke 3:22 Matthew Henry explains that at this point Jesus receives a greater measure of the Holy Ghost than before to qualify him for the prophetic office of Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound...." When Jesus preaches, it is with the Spirit of the Lord upon him. It has been suggested that the Holy Ghost descends in a bodily form that He might be reviled to be a personal function, and not just a function or moving force of the Godhead. This action makes a proclamation of the trinity at the beginning of the gospel of John. John deals specifically with emphasizing the deity of Jesus. We see the Son being baptized. The Holy Ghost descends upon the Son, and the father declares, "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." God had a purpose for the Holy Ghost to appear "in a bodily shape like a dove."

In all, the Bible makes about fifty references to doves. Many of these deal with the dove as sacrificial animal. The practice of using doves for sacrifices dates at least to the time of Abraham. "And he said unto him, 'Take me a heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon'" (Genesis 15:9). No doubt many of the Hebrews who observed the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus in the bodily shape like a dove would have recalled what they had learned about doves as burnt offerings dating back to the time of Abraham. The burnt offering, as its name implies, was completely burnt before the Lord. It was a total sacrifice. The burnt offering was a general offering of propitiation and consecration to God. This makes it very fitting that Jesus’ ministry would begin with the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove, for this represented the total sacrifice He would make. It also showed that He would be a propitiation for mankind to God and his consecration to God.

The burnt offerings in the Old Testament were of picture of Jesus. The burnt offering was a male, because male animals were thought to be stronger and therefore more valuable. The animal for a burnt offering must not have any obvious defect. God would not accept a defective sacrifice. We have a tendency to always want to give God “second best” - if not our third or fourth best. Yet this principle shows that God would not receive sacrifice marked by defect. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. The use of doves for Burnt offerings was codified in Leviticus 1:14, "And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the Lord be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons."

For the purification of a woman after the birth of a child, pigeons and doves were prescribed as a sin offering. "And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering" (Leviticus 12:6). A examination of the specifics of the Sin Offering form Leviticus 4 reviles some important observations about the Sin Offering in general (specifics are listed for the Sin Offering for the High Priest, the whole congregation, a leader, or a common citizen. The Sin Offering is an offering for a specific sin. The Sin Offering was an offering for a known sin. The Sin Offering was a sacrifice for those sins which were unintentional. The Sin Offering made a different use of the blood and the body of the animal which was offered. When the dove is considered as the Sin Offering, it makes perfect sense that at this point in Jesus’ ministry the Holy Spirit would appear in the bodily form as a dove.

We also find in the law of the Nazarite, in his separation, that pigeons were delineated for sin and burnt offerings.

10 And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
11 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day." Numbers 6:10-11:

The importance of Luke 3:22 is that Jesus had the Holy Spirit descend upon him and that God the father was well pleased with Jesus. While God selected for the Holy Ghost to appear in a bodily form like a dove, this is not the emphasis of this passage. Indeed in Acts 2, the Holy Ghost takes an entirely different form:

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:2-4).

 

Nowhere in the Bible can one find a command to use the dove as a symbol or picture of the Holy Ghost. Nor can one find any command to use anything else as an image or symbol of God. As a matter of fact, such acts are outright prohibited.

2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me (Exodus 20:2-5).

 

As so often is the case, mankind ignores the commands of God and simply begins to take the course of action they think is right in their own minds. Even before the church had reached its first century of existence, this problem had already began to manifest itself in the church:

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

 

The dove has appeared as a symbol in Christian art work throughout the history. Some denominations show the dove in normal flight or with wings spread as if hovering. Others show an upside down or descending dove, like Trinity Broadcasting Network, the United Church in Canada, Brunswick church of the Nazarene, The New Zealand Methodist Conference, and the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

The Ordo Templi Orientis uses the descending dove in its logo. The O.T.O uses the dove as a symbol form kabbalah. The dove in kabbalah is a symbol for Bat Kol (god’s voice). Bat Kol is calling to consciousness from outside the divine world itself. In this sense the O.T.O refers to the dove as a symbol of a "holy spirit." This however is not the Holy Spirit of the Bible. The Bible commands us, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1)

Many in the O.T.O. were fans of Theosophy. Helena Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society, identified the Holy Spirit as Lucifer in her writings. Freemason Albert Pike wrote, "the body of the Holy Spirit, the universal Agent, [is] the Serpent..." A large number of other occultists echo the same message.

Since the 1960’s the dove was also associated with the peace-hippie movement, as is evident in the logo for the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic. Haight Ashbury still serves as a center of the Bohemian lifestyle promoted by hippies during the 1960’s. Later the Occultic activities of areas such as Haight Ashbury mingled with the Jesus Movement. The Jesus People Movement began in 1967 with the opening of a small storefront evangelical mission called the Living Room in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury district.

New Agers promote the heretical teachings of the Bogomils and Cathars that Michael came to earth when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, the Holy Ghost, which was Michael appeared as a dove, and Jesus became the Christ. The Cathars revered the dove and became known as the "Faithful of the Dove." The spirit symbolized by the dove assumes the role of an advocate or comforter, much the genuine Holy Spirit of the Bible. Among other heresies the Cathars preached the Gnostic doctrine of self-fulfillment that had so alarmed the fathers of the early church. While the Cathars, or Albigneses used the New Testament as a basis for their ideas, the heretical ideas that they formulated resembled the dualistic and ascetic ideas of the Gnostic and Manichaean movements. The Albigenses believed that there was an absolute dualism between Christ, the good son of God who made the souls of men, and Satan the bad son, who was given a material body after he was cast out of heaven. Following his expulsion, Satan made the visible world. Historically the teachings of the Cathars can be traced to the Manacheans, an ancient Persian Gnostic religion.

Mani was born sometime between 210-276 AD. Mani first encountered religion in his early youth while living with an ascetic group known as the Elkasites, an ancient Jewish-Christian sect. Mani received a revelation in his youth from a spirit whom he later called the Syzygos or Twin, who taught him the divine truths of the religion. Mani was influenced by Mandaeanism. Mandaeism or Mandaeanism is a monotheistic religion with a strongly dualistic worldview. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, Seth, Enosh, Noah, Shem, Aram, and especially John the Baptist. They describe Abraham, Jesus, Moses, and Muhammad as false Prophets. Mandaeans consider John the Baptist to be God's most honorable messenger. Like certain other Gnostics, they identify the God of the Bible as evil.

In his mid-twenties, Mani decided that salvation is possible through education, self-denial, vegetarianism, fasting and chastity. Mani later claimed to be the Paraclete promised in the New Testament, the Last Prophet or Seal of the Prophets. Mani presented himself as a saviour and an apostle of Jesus Christ. In the fourth century Manichaean Coptic papyri, Mani was identified with the Paraclete-Holy Ghost and he was regarded as the new Jesus. This false holy ghost is what occultist like the O.T.O. mean when they say that the dove represents the holy ghost.

Mani's "paraclete" is no different than the 'spirit' referred to by many occultists. The history of this heretical teaching traces through various countries including Egypt, Eastern Iran, Palestine, Syria, Northern Arabia, North Africa, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Armenia, Gaul, Spain and Italy. The teachings are also traced into China, there having openly survived at least until the 17th century. In fact, in some areas "...only from the 6th century onward does the religion disappear, though continuing to exert its influence under different guises in other sectarian circles.

The dove is a prominent feature on some renditions of the Ace of Cups Tarot Card. Tarot Cards are used by Occultists, such as the O.T.O and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn for divination purposes. In the Occult the Ace of Cups means: love, peace, patience, harmony, assurance, tranquility, compassion, and acceptance. The dove is a common spiritual icon with symbol meanings indicating hope, purity, aspiration, and ascension. In Greco-Roman mythology, the dove is a sacred creature to Aphrodite/Venus, and therefore is a powerful symbol of love. Featured on the ace of cups, it is a promising symbol. Note the dove (in the Rider-Waite version) is pointing down. This is a second-pass message indicating: "whatever goes up, must come down." In other words, fly high, but ground yourself first.

It should come as no surprise that White Dove International, a New Age group selling materials on human potential, higher self and offering stress reduction seminars uses the dove as their logo. Aphrodite's Dove, a New Age and spiritual store, located in Jenkintown, PA, on the outskirts of Philadelphia also uses the dove in its logo. Historians of the occult know of the well established connection between the O.T.O, through the Thule Gesellschaft to the German Nazi movement. It is no mistake that a Nazi propaganda poster makes a direct Christological comparison of Hitler. Just as a dove descended on Christ when he was baptized by John the Baptist, so what looks to be an eagle hovers against the light of heaven over an idealized Hitler.

Clearly Christians should avoid using the dove as a symbol because of its obvious Occult meaning. No doubt many Christian groups use the dove as a symbol without giving much consideration to its actual meaning. However, any group that uses the dove as a symbol or logo should be closely examined. Historical evidence shows that Occultists deliberately use terms such as "Holy Spirit" or "Holy Ghost" when defining the meaning of the dove, when they actually mean something quite different from the Biblical Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. Indeed many Occultists are wolves masquerading in sheep’s clothing as they peddle their New Age teachings under the guise of Christianity. Historically this trend may be traced to almost the very beginning of the Church.

The pentagram is a very widespread sacred symbol used since ancient times in many areas including Egypt, India, Persia and Greece. It is one of the most powerful and popular symbols used by many occultist, including those involved in Wicca and Ceremonial Magic. The symbol is used to decorate magical tools. It represents feminine energy relating to the Goddess. It is worn symbolically for protection and to signify that the wearer is involved in the world of magic and divine wisdom. When pointed upwards it is supposed to indicate positive energy, and when pointed downward it is to present negative energy.

 

Some uses of the Pentagram

 

Constant used the upright pentagram to represent the race of man created by god, while he used the inverted pentagram to represent the demonic race created by the Angel Samael and Lilith. In The Secret Doctrine Helena Petrovna Blavatsky explains that "Lucifer represents...Life...Thought...Progress...Civilization...Liberty...Independance...Lucifer is the Logos...the Serpent, the Savior" (pages 171, 225, 255 of Volume II). In short, she and other occultist view Lucifer as both a good and bad god. This is the god Constant and Freemasons considered as Grand Architect of the universe or the Supreme Being. On the right is Constant’s inverted Pentagram depicting Lucifer as the Bamphomet