by Moe | Mar 5, 2014 | History of the Brotherhood, Meaning of Words
“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was 
hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” – Revelation 12:9
(This is Part 1 in a series of articles on The Great Dragon) – Some theologians say it is not the devil or demons who created evil, but that they were cast forth from heaven by the orders of good angels for their pride. There are many cultures such as the Hebrew, Assyrian, Greek, Egyptian and Arabian which agree with these theologians. Pherecides the Syrian describes the fall of the devils, and that Ophion, that is the devilish serpent was the head of the rebelling army.
An army whose origins are from Athens and the island of Crete in Greece.
The connection of the devilish serpent who ruled the rebelling armies can be traced back to the time before Rome had became a super power, when Greece had ruled much of the world. The first law giving king that held the office of Archon in the Capital of Greece at Athens was named Draco. He had given the Athenians their first written laws in blood, and this is the time when ‘draconian laws” were introduced to the world. From this same name of Draco, we get the modern English word ‘dragon.’ A name that means a “large serpent.”
WORSHIP OF THE SERPENT AND DRAGON
The Ancient Greeks and Egyptians like many other cultures around the world had venerated the serpent, and in particular, a serpent god that I believe to be the Great Dragon found in the bible. In the book of Ezekiel, the Bible calls the king of Egypt ‘the great dragon that lie in the midst of his rivers’. In ancient Greek mythology, there was a Dragon King known by the Latin name of ‘Ophion.’ The meaning of Ophion is serpent, and in Hebrew: נחש, nachash. He was known as one of the five builders of Thebes and the first Titan Kings who ruled over the whole world from the Sacred Mountain called today, Mount Ida (Dicte), and in mythology, Mount Olympus located on the Holy Island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea.
The whole race of Titans were subject to the Serpent-King and Great Dragon who is known as Ophion.
It was said that Ophion had enlightened Man. In Egypt, serpents were called Agathodemones. A name that means “Good Demons.” From Crete, Greece and into Egypt, these were the lands where the great dragon Ophion had ruled with his Queen of the Titans, Eurynome. The meaning of his queen’s name Eurynome is “wide ruling.” Hence, together with his queen, “the serpent Ophion and Dragon is wide ruling.”
THE GREAT DRAGON OF CRETE AND GREECE
Not many people today are aware that Crete was at one time, the most important and sacred islands in all the world. Crete was once called Arcadia and the people, the Arcadians (Children of the Ark of the Covenant). Crete was known as Keftiu by the Ancient Egyptians who called them also by the name of the Sea Peoples. In the bible, this island is known under the Hebrew “Kaftor or Caphtor”, and the Arabs had called it Kerith. The Latins changed the name to Cappadocia, and later the Europeans had named it Candia. However, after the Turks conquered the island, they changed the name of the island to its current name ‘Kriti’, which is Greek for the English word Crete. In the bible, they are known as the Canaanites, Amorites and Philistines. In myth they are known as the Minoans, and in history books they are often called the Phoenicians.
For thousands of years, the Cretans with their serpent God had played a huge role in forming the world we see today. They invented maritime commerce and international trade through their mastery of arts, crafts, and the sea as the first true Navy that had operated through their vast network of cities around the world such as Knossus, Athens, Thebes, Rome and Sicily. After all, the name Crete is derived from the Greek word Kriti (Kri-ti), which means ‘creation.’ The meaning of the English word Cre’ate, is “to form out of nothing, to creo, creatum – cause to exist.” Hence, FIAT LUX.
Crete is also well known in myth as the birthplace and home to the greatest of all Gods, Zeus (Jove or Jupiter) who was hidden there 
in a cave on Mount Ida (Zion) by his mother Rhea. It was here, where the infant Zeus was entrusted to the care of the Priesthood of Jupiter. Pliny had mentioned, they were called the Curetes (Kuretes, Kri’ti). The Curetes were also known by several names such as the Priest of Pan, Priests of Cybcle, Luperci, Corybantes, Dactyls, Cabiri, and Telchines.
In myth, Crete is home to the mythical king Minos and the Minoans. The meaning of the name Minos, is “Son of Zeus.” Several Cretan kings were known to have taken the name Minos. The Minoans would be the children of Zeus, who are also known mythologically as the Titans.
In Greek mythology, the Titans (Greek: Τιτάν—Ti-tan; plural: Τιτᾶνες—Ti-tânes) were a primeval race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia (Earth or Rhea) and Jupiter (Lord and Soul of the World), that ruled during the legendary Golden Age. They were immortal giants of incredible strength and were also the first pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses. The whole race of Titans were subject to the Serpent-King and Great Dragon who is known as Ophion.
These were who the Ancient Greeks had called Gods, Goddesses, Daemons, and in mythology, Titans. Both Ophion and Eurynome are who some people would call today in English, ‘demons.’ To the Greeks of old, these demons were not all evil or all bad. If you research the true meaning of the English word demon, you will find that it comes from the Latinized version, dæmon and daimôn which is derived from the original Greek δαίμων. According to Plato, in his Cratylus, the etymology of daimôn/daēmones (δαίμονες: deity/daêmôn δαήμονες) means “knowing, wise or intelligent.”
Manly P. Hall wrote about these demons and the views of the Christian Church in his book, “The Secret Teachings of all Ages;”
The Christian Church gathered all the elemental entities together under the title of demon. This is a misnomer with far-reaching consequences, for to the average mind the word demon means an evil thing, and the Nature spirits are essentially no more malevolent than are the minerals, plants, and animals. Many of the early Church Fathers asserted that they had met and debated with the elementals.
Some of these good wise demons were considered as Gods to the ancient Titans, whom they had venerated such as Ophion and Eurynome. According to Plutarch, “that according to a divine nature and justice, the souls of virtuous men are advanced to the rank of daemons; and that from demons, if they are properly purified, they are exalted into gods, not by any political institution, but according to right reason.” Hesiod had said, “when those happy men of the first and golden age of the world were departed from this life, great Jupiter promoted them to be demons, that is, keepers and protectors, or patrons, of earthly mortals, and overseers of their good and evil works.” Plato had said this about these demons, “that when the great leader Jupiter drives his chariot swiftly in the heavens, he marches first, as disposing and taking care of all things, a vast host of gods and demons then follow, distributed into twelve parties, but that Vesta alone remains in the mansion of the gods.”
They had ruled the world from Crete until they were eventually dethroned by the God Kronos (Saturn) and Goddess Rhea (Discharge or Flow) who had banished the Titans to the darkness of the earth-encircling river Oceanus. This event is described in the mythology of Apollonius of Rhodes, in his Argonautica (1.495f) summarizes a song of Orpheus:
He sang how the earth, the heaven and the sea, once mingled together in one form, after deadly strife were separated each from other; and how the stars and the moon and the paths of the sun ever keep their fixed place in the sky; and how the mountains rose, and how the resounding rivers with their nymphs came into being and all creeping things. And he sang how first of all Ophion and Eurynome, daughter of Oceanus, held the sway of snowy Olympus, and how through strength of arm one yielded his prerogative to Cronos and the other to Rhea, and how they fell into the waves of Oceanus; but the other two meanwhile ruled over the blessed Titan-gods, while Zeus, still a child and with the thoughts of a child, dwelt in the Dictaean cave; and the earthborn Cyclopes had not yet armed him with the bolt, with thunder and lightning; for these things give renown to Zeus.
DID THE GOOD DRAGONS JOIN THE CHURCH TO DO BATTLE WITH THE REBELLING DRAGONS
Crete is the same holy island and sacred mountain where the god Zeus (Jove or Jupiter) was hidden in a cave by his mother who was also the goddess of the earth, Rhea. She had hid him there in order to protect Zeus from his vengeful father Cronos (Saturn). It was here on the island of Crete where Rhea had entrusted the care and education of the infant Zeus to the Priesthood of Jupiter, who were also known by many other names such as the Priests of Pan, Ophites, Idaean Dactyli, Luperci, Curetes and Telchines, to name a few. After they were conquered and banished by the Romans, these same priests eventually had become part of the Roman Empire as the Levites. The 7th Century Doctor of the Catholic Church and Father to English History, the Venerable Saint Bede (Beda) had written on the Levites being connected to the Catholic Church in his book, “On Ezra and Nehemiah;” “Allegorically, the Levites represent those attached to the Catholic Church.”
In Egypt, the Levites were the only tribe that remained committed to God. During the Exodus, the Levite tribes were particularly 
zealous in protecting the Mosaic law in the face of those worshipping the Golden Calf, which may have been a reason for their priestly status.
In the Book of Malachi, God explains why he chose the Levites to be his priests. This would make sense, since the high priests for judgment of the New Testament are the Levites. The root in Hebrew means “to join,” to “‘ bind ” (see Lui-than “snaky-monster “). When the land of Israel was apportioned among the tribes in the days of Joshua, the Tribe of Levi, being chosen as priests, did not receive land (Joshua 13:33, (14:3). However, the tribe of Levi were given cities. Six cities were given to the tribe as refuge cities for all men of Israel, which were to be controlled by the Levites. Three of these cities were located on each side of the Jordan River. In addition, 42 other cities (and their respective open spaces), totaling 48 cities were given to the Tribe of Levi. (Numbers 35).
The Levites would now be part of a new Roman army under their messiah of the New Testament (New Law), Jesus Christ. The other tribes of Israel and various serpent cults ruled by the dragon would be the rebelling army, whom under Roman Law would be subject to the Levitical priesthood and brotherhood who hold the keys of Saint Peter.
Revelation 20:2 – Satan Bound the Thousand Years: Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
by Moe | Mar 1, 2014 | Freemasonry, History of the Brotherhood
(Source: Midnight Freemasons Contributors Noble Brian Schimian & Todd E. Creason, 33°) 
Todd Creason: Some time ago I wrote a piece about whether President Obama was a Freemason or not. There was a photo circulating at the time of what was purportedly the President’s hands, and the right hand was clearly wearing a Masonic ring. All the photo showed was two hands holding the Presidential Seal. There was a lot of buzz at the time that this was evidence that President Obama was a Freemason. However, the President is not a Freemason–the photo wasn’t of the President’s hands. It was posed by a photographer for a magazine piece. Some years ago, the President was speaking for an audience, and suddenly, the Presidential seal fell off the podium and crashed to the floor. The President took it in stride, walked around the podium, picked it up off the floor and rehung it on the podium to the amusement of the people in the audience. The piece was written about that funny incident, and the photo was taken later for the piece–the hands belonged to a stand-in.
But I made a mistake in the piece–I questioned whether the stand-in was a Mason, because (at least according to me) he was wearing his ring upside-down. I got over a hundred emails on the subject. As I quickly learned, the custom for wearing a Masonic rings varies a great deal by locale. I was dead wrong on that point. As it was quickly pointed out to me, many Masons wear their rings with the points out. Live and learn.
A couple weeks ago, the subject came up again–on Facebook. I posted a picture of a friend of mine, the Illustrious Brother William J. Hussey, Jr. 33°, and one of the Midnight Freemasons, Brother Brian Schimian, asked why he was wearing his ring upside-down. Bill Hussey was wearing his ring the same way I wear mine. I thought to myself “oh boy, here we go again!” There were a number of comments on that post–over 90 in an hour–including comments from Midnight Freemason Bill Hosler and our newest member Aaron Gardner. Brian Schimian and I later talked on the phone and decided this would be an excellent topic for a piece on the Midnight Freemasons. Since he was taught to wear his ring points out, and I was instructed to wear mine points in, we decided to write the piece together and compare the reasons why we wear our rings the way we do.
Points In?
In my part of the world, Masons wear their rings with the points down–towards your wrist. When I was a new Mason I didn’t know it mattered. Ever since the day I was raised a Master Mason, I wear my ring each and every day, and in the beginning, I wore it which ever way I happened to put it on that morning. I was at a degree one evening, and afterwards, we’re sitting around a table in the dining hall, and a Brother noticed how I had my ring on and told me I was wearing it upside-down. That particular day, I’d put it on points up. I looked around the table and noticed everyone at that table was wearing it points down. We had a discussion about it. The explanation is that the points of the compass should point towards your heart, to remind you of your obligation. That ring, according to our local custom, is a reminder to the wearer of those tenants we honor, and the Fraternity we represent. I’ve worn it that way since. I thought it was Universal at the time–as I learned later, it certainly is not. There are those that wear it points down.
Like Brother Brian Schimian.
Points Out?
Brian Schimian: For as long as I can remember while I was growing up, I wanted to wear my father’s Masonic ring. It represented everything that he was and what I strove to be. As I moved my way through Masonic education, that ring and the symbolism therein came to mean more. The typical Masonic ring is a combination of Masonic symbols. The Square, or earthly perfection, and Compasses, or heavenly perfection. Frequently, the letter G is incorporated into the center. Along my journey of enlightenment, I came to understand that the ends of the Square point up to show ones aspirations toward God and the points of the Compasses point down to represent heavenly qualities coming down to earth from God. The ring, as all Masonic symbols are displayed in the same manner, to show others that I know what my obligations are and to show the rest of the world I am a Mason. The ring exemplifies how I live my life: upright & on the level. If someone asks what that ring represents, it is easier for them to see the design as you show it to them and describe the different points if it is worn points down.
I remember one Brother explaining it like this as he showed me his ring: “Sharing the light of Masonry or advertising, if you will, being a mason is being “Upright” and “On The Level” as so should be the emblem of a Mason. By displaying the ring points out, a Mason makes the statement that as others see his actions, so will they gain a upright perception of the Craft.” This Brother wore an old Masonic Signet ring that was older than both of our ages combined. He continued, “The original Masonic signet rings had to face this direction to ensure that when the wearer pressed the ring into warm wax to validate and seal an authentic Masonic document, the legs of the compass pointed down on the resulting wax seal.”
Todd Creason: Well there you have it–two different ring customs, and two different philosophies on how Masonic rings should be worn. And I’m sure if our readers would chip in, you’d find there is a lot more diversity than just these two we’ve presented here, and I hope our readers will share those with us.
Brian Schimian: Should it look right side up to Him, you or them? In the end it may not matter how one chooses to wear the Points, as long as you act upon them and remember what it means to be able to wear them. Probably the most encompassing explanation I have found is this: “You are supposed to wear the ring with the Compasses pointed into yourself. Until such a time that you become a Past Master of your Lodge. At which time, you can turn the points out to the rest of the world, as spiritually speaking, you have reached the point of Master, and have mastered the art of the Quadrant, and you may now share your wisdom with others.”
Another answer to this question can be found in a new style of Masonic ring that is beginning to make itself around the market. The laser etched Square & Compasses are placed in both directions around the ring. So there you go, the free market has solved the dilemma for us.
~BJS/TEC
SOURCE: Midnight Freemasons Blog
Todd E. Creason, 33° is the founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and continues to be a regular contributor. He is the author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. He is member of Homer Lodge No. 199, and a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL). He is a member the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, the York Rite Bodies of Champaign/Urbana (IL), the Ansar Shrine (IL), Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees, and Charter President of the Illini High Twelve in Champaign-Urbana (IL). You can contact him at: [email protected]
Bro. Brian Schimian is a life member of A.O. Fay #676 in Highland Park Illinois and the Medinah Shriners – Lake County Shrine Club. He was also the Past Master Counselor of DeMolay – Lakes Chapter in 1995. Brian is a father of two Children. He is also the lead contributor to the Brothers In Arms blog, a pro 2nd Amendment blog page. “Start Square, Finish Level” You can contact him at: [email protected]
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
you to believe differently. Until the time that you become aware of your own power you will drift through life at the whim of others. YOU have the power to create your dreams as you desire. – 24 Year US Navy SEAL Chief, Michael Jaco
