TIMELINE of TERROR: Part 1: Ancient Origins of Secret Societies...
From the Creation to the Second Coming? When may suggest Why.
COVER NOTES
THIS IS AN EDITORIAL. IF YOU FIND AN ERROR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I’ll CHECK FOR ACCURACY AND MAKE ANY NEEDED, PUBLIC CORRECTION. THANK YOU.
Cover 1: YouTube Video, KKK - The Invisible Empire, Part 2, from Free Documentary Channel; 2023. This video focuses on behavior during the Civil Rights Era and forward. How many secret societies behave like this?
Cover 2: Cover for James Jackson’s fascinating book, “The World’s Most Dangerous Secret Societies.” Image: Amazon.com. Note that Mr. Jackson includes the Illuminati, the Freemasons, the Bilderberg Group, and the Jesuits. Note that he does not even mention the certainly dangerous KKK! But why are they so dangerous? Are they working to help their members? Influence Society? Both? Or more? Read on…
THESIS
Secret societies, some known as Mystery Schools, have existed in various forms from numerous civilizations going back into the earliest recorded history. But why did they form? Why must they be secret? What do they want to achieve? Are any of them a danger to the public? Some, but not all answers are easily discerned. Early in ancient times, power groups formed to protect Kings and Pharaohs; other groups formed to combat government. Both needed secrecy perhaps to protect members from reprisals. But secrecy could also protect evil behavior. And all of them seemed to desperately seek hidden knowledge; once acquired, they generally withheld it from the public - sometimes for countless generations.
PREFACE
So, why have secret societies and secret schools existed throughout recorded history? To help mankind? To Control mankind? To destroy mankind? These questions deserve answers and sometimes a Timeline, which begins in this article, helps to suggest possible answers.
Let’s dig in for answers:
INTRODUCTION
On the Ancient Mysteries:
The earliest known Mystery Schools, often regarded as the first Secret Societies, were the Mystery Schools of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt (c2700 - 2200 BC). Other such schools also existed in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.
Figure 1: A “Happy Camper’s” take on the Mystery Schools; May 2023 YouTube video from Daniel Hall; the video suggests that The Ancient Egyptian Mystery Schools taught about the Human Spirit, the Law of Attraction, and methods to achieve Self Manifestation that could drive success and happiness.
Figure 2: Another Happy Camper’s take on such schools; YouTube video from Rebecca Campbell; October 2023. The hostess explains these schools helped to establish art, philosophy, science; they explored nature through symbolism, folklore, and ritual. Very positive perspective. But still…
From Google AI Generative;
“The Egyptian Mystery System, also known as the Kemetic Mystery System, was a closed society of mystery schools that focused on understanding the universe through ancient spiritual texts and practices. Membership and initiation were not open to everyone, and initiates had to commit to difficult study and training that could last for decades. The system was based on a wide range of human knowledge, including math, writing, physical science, religion, and the supernatural. Tutors were required to be both priests and scholars. The system implied that the only way to understand the mysteries of the universe was to develop one's reason and intuition.”
WELL, ALL THAT STILL DOESN’T SEEM SO VERY BAD, DOES IT?…
It adds, “The mystery schools of Greco-Roman antiquity were places of initiation and worship for divinities from other cultures. Some examples of these schools include: Eleusinian Mysteries, Dionysian Mysteries, Orphic Mysteries, and Mithraic Mysteries.” - Google AI
So, what were the Eleusinian Mysteries? It seems they were an Ancient Greek practice involving a neophyte’s solemn march from the Greek city of Athens to Eleusis, a city visited by the goddess Demeter. Once in the temple or hall, the candidate would undergo rituals, purification, baths, followed by fasting, a final rite, and a ;promise of an afterlife.
… And this still doesn’t seem so outrageous, right? So, why are folks worked up over secret societies and mystery schools?
Well, some were, uh, problematic…WARNING: Don’t watch this if you upset easily:
Figure 3: YouTube video, Mystery Religions: The Cult of Dionysus; from Heaven Sent Honey Channel, March 25, 2022. This is a report on some truly sick and disgusting behavior. The cult dated to about 1350 BC; much is mythical. We do know though that these were some nasty fellows; animalistic, chimeric, twisted, debauched; dismemberment rituals, even cannibalism; destruction! booze and drugs helped the theatre “process.” How many secret societies in the past and now, behave like this?
Figure 4: YouTube video from the 4biddenknowledge Channel, featuring the Preview and episode from Instructor Billy Carson regarding the Ancient Egyptian Mysteries; first episode discusses the rings of Saturn, possible communications from Titan, and possible structures on the Moon. What did the Ancients know and when did they know it? Will their successors use such knowledge for and against humanity?
So, as we’ve seen, from the earliest time of recorded history right up into the present, secret societies and related power groups have arguably had an inordinate and at times troubling - if hidden - impact on civilizations. But, again, are any of them truly dangerous to the general public? What does history have to tell us?
Figure 5: YouTube video from Origins Explained Channel. Casual coverage of the most known “secret societies,” starting with the well known but little understood Freemasons. The infamous Skull and Bones is also explored from early days in the Opium industry to the 2004 US Presidential Election, in which BOTH major Candidates (George Bush nd John Kerry) were Members! Was it critical for a “bonesman” to succeed to the Presidency that year?
Did the Ancient Mystery Schools function to ensure the power and prestige of the state as measure to control and guide the general populous into ensured compliance? And could others have functions to fight against State Power?
To be more specific, did an early Hebrew Cabal (or Kabbalah) develop that honored God and sought to find a closer relationship with Him for the benefit of all society? Many writers attest to this view.
Google’s AI captures key points from several encyclopedias to develop this description below:
“Kabbalah is a collection of Jewish mystical practices, ideas, and texts that are a central part of Jewish history and religion. It originated in medieval Judaism, but has also been adapted in Western esotericism, such as Christian Kabbalah and Hermetic Qabalah. Kabbalah's teachings are meant to explain the relationship between God and the universe, and how the finite human mind can come to know God through faith and devotion. — Google Generative AI Response
This description implies two distinct Kabbalahs - Christian and Hermetic — developed from the original. Still, other researchers assert the Kabbalah, Godly or Occultic, is actually just two foci of the same study; consider the quote below from Reform Judiasm’s Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis:
“Kabbalah (also spelled Kabalah, Cabala, Qabala) — sometimes translated as “mysticism” or “occult knowledge" — is a part of Jewish tradition that deals with the essence of God. Whether a sacred text, an experience, or the way things work, Kabbalists believe that God moves in mysterious ways. However, Kabbalists also believe that true knowledge and understanding of that inner, mysterious process is obtainable, and through that knowledge, the greatest intimacy with God can be attained…. “The Zohar, a collection of written, mystical commentaries on the Torah, is considered to be the underpinning of Kabbalah. Written in medieval Aramaic and medieval Hebrew, the Zohar is intended to guide Kabbalists in their spiritual journey, helping them attain the connectedness with God that they desire.” - from Reformjudiasm.org
Figure 6: Kabbalah’s Symbol with a Yoga-friendly addition? Are they reconcilable? Or is someone just goofing around? And how would we know? See: Yoga & Kabbalah: The Mystical Connection,” at: https://integralyogamagazine.org/yoga-kabbalah-the-mystical-connection/
Did an alternative and dangerous Cabal - a sort of ‘magical cabal,; - also develop, which survives to this day in some esoteric form? Research writer and noted author Nesta Helen Webster says absolutely “Yes!” But why, if it happened, did it happen? What is its purpose? The Hermetic Kabbalah, discussed above, is actually that “magical” or some might say, Occult Kabbalah.
Figure 7: Cover Page for Nesta H. Webster’s seminal work, “Secret Societies and Subversive Movements,” in which she traces many secret histories and suggests a common theme of some such societies is the introduction of revolution and socialist thought as a pagan based corruption of Jewish Cabalistic thinking. Webster is generally critical of Jews in this book - which I find unfair and generalizing - but some noted Jewish thinkers and cabalists were involved. Nevertheless, just from a view to study history, it is a useful and intriguing reference. Image: Amazon.com
And Britannica Encyclopedia, in its “Secret Society” article, generally writes in agreement on the ancient and significant origin of secret societies/mystery schools:
““Among the earliest secret societies of which historical evidence exists were the mystery religions of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, which had secret rites, initiations, and revelations of still more ancient wisdom. Among these were the cult of Dionysus, the keepers of the Eleusinian and Orphic mysteries, and the Pythagorean brotherhood. Whereas the mysteries employed secrecy to guard religious truths, other groups have been forced to adopt secrecy to escape or survive suppression and persecution. This was the case of the early Christians in pagan Rome and, in their turn, of various groups deemed heretical by the Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. So widespread were these groups that the church created the Inquisition to hunt them down and prosecute their members.” - Britannica
Figure 8: The Spread of Christianity. Note it didn’t truly expand until the early 4th Century AD. Being a Christian in the empire prior to that time was extremely dangerous - and illegal! They had to hide; if captured, they and their families could be ruthlessly murdered by the state! Source and image: Historyshistories.com.
So, going back a bit to the early Christians in the Roman Empire again, Google AI report there were “no more than 1,000 before 100 CE.” So, since they had to hide, they were often regarded as a secret cult or secret society. But clearly, they were not dangerous nor debauched. And it is important to note that some secret societies were beneficial to civilization.
FREEMASONS AND RELATED SOCIETIES: DEDICATED CITIZENRY, FOOLISH PRANKSTERS, OR RADICAL REVOLUTIONARIES?
Did the Freemasons, of whom almost all of the US Founding Fathers belonged, instigate the American Revolution and the Revolutionary War of 1775? Were the Masons corrupted by elements of Adam Weishaupt’s Bavarian Illuminati beginning shortly after its founding in 1776? Were the Freemasons instrumental in forming Jacobin clubs that in turn fostered the French Revolution of 1789? And moving forward a bit, did they help fake the Moon Landing? (If it was faked.) Many researchers believe the Freemasons were involved in all these events, at least to some notable degree. Members included Winston Churchill, John Wayne, Mark Twain…and many US Presidents. Harmless fraternity of brotherhood, or ruthless power and control group?…
Google’s AI opined: Freemasonry has had a significant influence on radical politics and social movements, even though mainstream English-speaking Freemasonry prohibits discussion of religion and politics. For example, many radical groups, such as the United Irishmen, adopted masonic organizational forms and included many Freemasons. Freemasons have also been active in labor history, including Ben Tillett and Arthur Greenwood.
From Britannica:
“Secret society, any of a large range of membership organizations or associations that utilize secret initiations or other rituals and whose members often employ unique oaths, grips (handshakes), or other signs of recognition. Elements of secrecy may vary from a mere password to elaborate rituals, private languages, costumes, and symbols. The term may be applied to such widely divergent groups as U.S. college fraternities and sororities, the Ku Klux Klan, and international Freemasonry as well as to similar phenomena in ancient or precolonial cultures.”
“Among the earliest secret societies of which historical evidence exists were the mystery religions of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, which had secret rites, initiations, and revelations of still more ancient wisdom. Among these were the cult of Dionysus, the keepers of the Eleusinian and Orphic mysteries, and the Pythagorean brotherhood. Whereas the mysteries employed secrecy to guard religious truths, other groups have been forced to adopt secrecy to escape or survive suppression and persecution. This was the case of the early Christians in pagan Rome and, in their turn, of various groups deemed heretical by the Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. So widespread were these groups that the church created the Inquisition to hunt them down and prosecute their members.”
Finally, sometimes, knowing WHEN something happened can help explain WHY it happened. And timelines are an excellent way to develop possible relationships between events and between the people involved in such events. So, let’s do a timeline…
TIMELINE
Note: One of the great projects of many early secret societies was to develop a fuller understanding of Metaphysical issues like those involved in ORIGINS. How did God come into being? What is the universe? Why are we here? These are the questions the elites of times past pondered. Why? Perhaps because Knowledge is power; it enables new ideas, fosters invention and facilities control over nations and kings.
PRIMORDIAL:
God
Angels (aka Messengers)
Who are they really? Why did God create them? Why did some, under Lucifer, reportedly rebel? If God knew they would rebel, why did He make them anyway? Secret societies want to know…and maybe some do1
Universe. 13.71 bya
Galaxies 13 bya
Milky Way Galaxy, 4.6 bya
Our star, Sol. 4.7 bya
The Solar System 4.7 bya
Nibiru? (Sitchin’s 12th Planet?) (See Britiannica’s article, “The 9 Ghostly Planets,” for more details).
Taimat?
Collision?
Early Earth and Moon system 4.56 bya
Impact event on Mars? Perhaps this would explain the vast differences between its northern and southern hemispheres.
(how this occurred over time is still debated. Did another world, like Theia slam into Earth, releasing debris that became the Moon? Is the Moon a ‘captured satellite’"? We don’t really know.)
Antediluvian Time
War in Heaven?
A Wikipedia article discusses this with some accuracy since it relies heavily on the account actually given in the Book of Revelation:
“ … Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 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 12:7–10 (NIV) angels
Figure 9: From Still Waters Ministry: depiction of the Fallen Angels being cast to Earth after the war in heaven; see Rev. 12 - 7.
Secret cabalists might have wanted to know WHY such a war would occur. They might ask, “Could such a war happen again?” “What is there to prevent it?” Etc.
Geologic time begins for Earth 4.56 bya
c 3.1 bya, Earliest life forms?
CAMBRIAN Period 541 mya - 490 mya
Species diversification
Mesozoic Era 252 mya, Age of Reptiles
Jurassic period
Extinction event 66 mya, dinosaurs die off
Cenozoic Era 65 mya
Birds
Advanced mammals 60 mya Eocene epoch
Earliest Primates 55 mya Eocene epoch
Human ancestor species:
Ramapithecus 14 mya
Sivapithecus was slightly larger than
Ramapithecus, which was only
small-to-medium-sized. Africa
Australopithecus 4.8 - 2 mya
S. Africa
Animism?
Homo Habillus 2.8 mya, archaic human
Proto language
Old Stone Age, 2.6 mya to 10,000 ya
Tools 2.6 mya
Pleistocene
Homo Erectus, 2 mya
Peking Man c 400,000 ya
Heidelbergensis 600,000 - 300,000 ya
True language
Fire. 300,000 ya or earlier
Neanderthal c 200,000 ya Europe, Asia
Anunnaki visit Earth?
*** Creation and fall of Homo Sapiens (man), c300,000 ya
CONCLUSION FOR PART 1:
Even a cursory review of the Mystery Schools and Secret Societies through history reveal conflicting pictures; many say they were generally favorable to the public’s welfare, or at worst, indifferent. These often maintain such societies existed primarily to learn new wisdom through art, nature study, ritual, mathematics, etc. Others maintain that at least some of these societies were pronouncedly wicked and very dangerous indeed. The “dangerous ones” extend from at least 1300 BC up into the present. The Cult of Dionysus and the more modern societies like the Freemasons, Bilderberg Group, and Illuminati, as discussed by James Jackson’s book, might be included here. These last societies are often seen as trying to bring about a New World Order - tyrannical one at that! (See the work of the late Jim Marrs for extensive coverage of this question).
It is important going forward to learn especially what the newer, and arguably far more powerful, elite and secret societies are really trying to achieve and who will be affected by their actions. Stay tuned…