Watchtower Symbols Similar to Freemasons

We are responding a video on Youtube entitled, "JW.ORG Watchtower Symbols Similar To Freemasons". Please note that we are associated with JW.ORG, and we are not responding to defend the JW organization. Since the video has much to do with Charles Taze Russell, however, we believe that all Bible Students should be concerned about what is being said about him. 

Bohnet's drawing,
reproduced from the 1919
Bible Students Convention Report

We are first presented with what is siad to be a picture of "Charles Taze Russell's pyramid." The picture displayed is NOT actually Charles Taze Russell's "pyramid", but rather it is the drawing of J. A. Bohnet which he presented to Joseph Rutherford a few years after Russell died. It was claimed that Brother Russell had authorized the construction of this pyramid in the lots owned by the Watch Tower Society in the United Rosemont Cemetery. However, in all the writings of Brother Russell, we have found no reference that speaks of the construction of a pyramid in the Rosemont Cemetery, nor has any written authorization by Russell ever been produced. See the 1919 Bible Students Convention Report.

The video refers to the Knights Templar. To be a member of the Knights Templar, one has to not only be a member of the Freemasons, but one has to profess to be a Christian. One has to also accept man's trinitarian creeds. Nevertheless, since the video is looking for similarities, the very fact that the  Knights Templar professes to be Christian and uses the Bible would produce similarities with works of all Christians. 

At any rate, the pyramid that was constructed in the Rosemont Cemetery was officially authorized by Joseph Rutherford, thus we refer the pyramid as Rutherford's pyramid, not Russell's pyramid. It should be obvious, however, the pyramid was constructed in connection with Russell's study of God's Witness in Egypt. Indeed, Rutherford's pyramid monument is a replica of the God's witness in Egypt, generally referred to as the "Great Pyramid", and that monument was definitely built to honor that "witness" in Egypt. Spaces were left for many names to be inscribed on that monument and a few were inscribed. However, since a very few years later Rutherford rejected the Great Pyramid as being God's witness in Egypt, most of the spaces for names were left blank.

Nevertheless, the fact that the Knights Templar used any "symbols" similar to that which Russell used does not mean that Russell used such symbolism to represent anything related to the Knights Templar or the Masons. Brother Russell used symbolism to represent many various scriptural truths, not to give support to the Knight Templar or the Freemasons. The Knights Templar claim to be Christian, and thus much of their symbolism also reflects Biblical symbolism.

Watch Tower   

The video presents a picture, evidently used by the Knight Templar, with has towers on the top front corners of the building, which could be referred to as towers. These resemble the towers that were found on many castles that were constructed in what is often called the "Middle Ages" in many alleged "Christian" countries. 

Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, England

Nevertheless, Russell's usage of such a tower was to illustrate what is in the Bible; there is no genuine evidence of any connection with the Knights Templar, or the Freemasons. Indeed, anything that could be considered as "evidence" would have to be what is imagined and assumed, and then what is imagined and assumed would have to be further imagined and assumed to be fact.

The Cross and Crown Symbol

The video presents the following picture of a Knights Templar cross and crown illustration, and then falsely claims that the Watch Tower uses "the exact same image".  Here a copy of the picture presented in the video:

Nowhere is the Watch Tower or any of the publications of Russell's day have we found this exact same image. The cross and crown illustrations found on the Watch Tower were like this:

One should be able to see that while they are similar to that used by the Knights Templar, they are not exactly the same.

Nevertheless, Russell's usage of cross and crown imagery is simply based on the Bible. Similar cross and crown imagery has been used by many Christian denominations. At times, one can find pins or jewelry in Christian bookstores that contain similar cross and crown imagery. One can search the internet and find that various cross and crown images haves been used by almost all the major denominations of Christendom. Brother Russell's usage of a cross and crown is based on the Bible, not the Freemasons. Nevertheless, we do not know of any time that Brother Russell used the "exact same symbol" as shown of a Knights Templar pin.

Lamp Illustration of God's Word

The video next presents a picture taken from the cover of the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, which we reproduce below:

Even this picture appears to show the Bible below the lamp, thus signifying God's Word as being the lamp. However, we have not found anyplace that Russell used the exact same image, but he did use a similar "lamp" illustration of Psalm 119:106.

Nevertheless, Brother Russell's usage of such a symbol is simply based on the Bible, not the Freemasons.

Picture of lamp over a Bible
as found on the stem of Russell's books

***below needs to be edited

Armor of God   

This video presents a picture of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) illustration that appeared on the top right corner of Russell's Watch Tower. We reproduce this below:

It is claimed that this is also a Masonic symbol, as some of the Freemasons use such a symbol. We can find many different images sued by various Freemasons that have some kind of amory in it, but we have not found anything that is exactly the same as what appeared the Watch Tower illustration. At any rate, Russell's symbolism is based on the Bible, not the Freemasons or anyone else who may have used any similar illustration.

Of course, symbolism can mean different things to different people; such symbolism, of itself, is not necessarily "pagan"; otherwise one would have to claim the Bible itself is "pagan" because of the symbolism expressed therein. Furthermore, the usage of any symbol, of itself, does not necessarily represent "idol worship".

It would be silly to think that any and every floor that is checkered in design must be a "Masonic symbol."

Jehovah's Eye

Since the symbolism of Jehovah's eye is used in the Bible, then if one is to find fault with the usage of such, and if one is consistent, one should fault the Bible for using such symbolism. -- Psalm 33:18; see also Deuteronomy 11:12; 2 Chronicles 7:16; 16:9; Psalms 11:4; 32:8; 34:15; 94:9; Proverbs 5:21; 15:3; 22:12; Ezekiel 7:4,9; Amos 9:8; Zechariah 2:8.

Jehovah's Witness in Egypt

There is nothing at all wrong with the scriptural realization of Jehovah's "witness" in Egypt (Isaiah 19:19,20), known generally as the "Great Pyramid" of Egypt, nor is there anything wrong of providing an illustration of the pyramid passages and one's beliefs concerning what these passages symbolize, in agreement with the Bible. The evidence that the Great Pyramid is indeed Jehovah's "witness" in the land of Egypt is extraordinary, to say the least.

A picture is presented of Paul preaching to the Athenians (9:13) and the focus is placed on an "owl" in that picture. I do not know who drew the picture, but Brother Russell stated that the pictures he used came from many different sources. Nevertheless, the picture of an "owl" is not out of place in Athens, as this was a common symbol used especially throughout the city of Athens to represent the goddess Athena. Whoever drew the picture probably had this in mind, as related to the worship of many idol gods. -- Acts 17:16,22,23.

See also our resource page on Charles Taze Russell and the Freemasons.

Satan's Illuminatii Bloodline

Relative to Charles Taze Russell, we hear a lot of people talking about “Illuminati Bloodlines”; often this is associated with terms such as “Satanic bloodlines”,“Serpentine bloodlines”, “Luciferian bloodlines”, “Reptilian bloodlines.” The idea is being promoted that Charles Taze Russell was of such a bloodline.

The Bible itself never speaks of any such bloodlines. For the idea have any real meaning, however, it would have to assume that Satan has bloodlines of people who cannot be saved, who are outside the realm of being saved through the blood of Jesus, although this thought is not usually presented in the accusations of those who tell us of such “bloodlines”. In the context, however, of how the “bloodlines” are presented, that is, as alleged to be proof of some kind of covert agenda to rule the world, such an application could only make sense if it would mean that those of such “bloodlines” cannot, by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, become sons of God. In other words, by the manner of presentation, their arguments related to such bloodlines only make sense if those of such bloodlines could not become a believer in Jesus through active faith.

There are those who evidently believe that some bloodlines existing today are of Cain, alleged to be the offspring of Satan. The theory is formulated beyond what is written by calling upon the spirit of human imagination so as to assume that when Eve was “beguiled”, that this means that the serpent had sexual relations with Eve, and that Cain was the offspring of such sexual relations. If this is applied to Brother Russell, apparently, it is supposed to make Russell to be of a “serpentine” bloodline, one of the bloodlines planted by Satan to in a conspiracy to rule the world.

Such theories, however, are contrary to the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, the central doctrine that Russell spent most of his life defending. Fritz Springmeier gives credence to such bloodlines in his books, but the acceptance of the existence of any such bloodline means to contradict what is written in the Bible.

Most of these who make claims that Russell was of such a Satanic bloodline know very little about the true Satanic “Illuminati bloodline” as shown in the Bible. The whole basis of the “Illuminati bloodline”, of which Russell is supposed to be of, from what we have seen presented, appears to be the claim that there are people who belong to certain Luciferian bloodlines who evidently cannot help but be servants of Satan, and that the people of these bloodlines have created a secret and elusive organization called the “Illuminati”, which organization plans to take over the world -- evidently some ‘old order” -- in order to rule as the “New World Order”.

There was an organization formed in 1776 by some freethinkers that was called the “Bavarian Illuminati” It is reported that this “secret society” was patterned after the Freemasons, and that much of its membership came from the Freemasons, and thus, in the minds of many, the “Illuminati” is closely associated with the Freemasons. Most of the history of the “Illuminati”, however, comes from what appears to generally be that of the various opinions of authors, and what is told depends on what the writer’s views might be of the Illuminati. It appears that the goal of the Illuminati, according to many who advance such an “Illuminati” conspiracy theory, may be to infiltrate various offices of the government in order to promote and try to impose a freethought type of philosophy upon all society.

In this regard, we do believe that the Bible reveals that there is a world conspiracy, backed by Satan, that has been in existence since the Garden of Eden. This began when Satan claimed that by eating of tree of the knowledge of good and bad, Eve would become “wise” as as the ELOHIM. -- Genesis 3:5,6.

Satan's efforts have been to keep as many as possible from being children of God, not only by means advancement of man’s knowledge of “sciences” with an accompaniment of all kinds of theories, often presented as fact, but also by means of spiritism, idolatry, demonic occultism, sorcery, witchcraft, etc. The true overall conspiracy has been around for a long time, and includes more, however, than just an illuminati secret organization. As to the Illuminati organization, some claim that it no longer exists, while others claim that it still exists. There is a large number of claims being made concerning the alleged present-day Illuminati, much of it regarding witchcraft, paganism, Satanic occult practices, etc. These claims would seem to be conflict with the goal of the Enlightenment that is attributed to the Illuminati, since all of these claims would call for faith in some sort of deity, rather than “rational” scientific reasoning and thought. At any rate, ritualistic Satanism, occultism, spiritism, witchcraft, and paganism have become in the minds of many closely associated with “the Illuminati”. Indeed, most Christians do not even realize how insidiously such things are being palmed off under the banner of being “Christian”.

Of course, anything that would discredit faith in God and Jesus would certainly be in service of Satan; atheism is in service of the devil, even though atheists claim that they do not believe in, nor that they worship, the devil. Likewise, witchcraft (crafty wisdom) is also of the devil, even though most of the believers in witchcraft claim that they do not believe in, nor worship, the devil. Witchcraft has influenced many professed Christian writers, so that, while they do not openly profess such, what they write about is actually witchcraft, or mimicks witchcraft and/or forms of heathen occultism, being used under the banner of being “Christian”.

Usually associated with the claims that there is an Illuminati organization are also claims that there are certain “bloodlines”, which are often referred as “Illuminati bloodlines”, “Satanic bloodlines”, “Luciferian bloodlines”, “serpentine bloodlines”, etc. These bloodlines are evidently being promoted as being so evil, so much the offspring of Satan, that anyone who is of the bloodlines must be servants of Satan, and thus they cannot be saved through faith in the blood of Jesus. Although the proponents of this "bloodlines" theory often claim to be Christian, and, as best as we can determine, they do not come right out and state that the people of these bloodlines cannot be saved, many of their statements lead to that conclusion. Indeed, the very fact that there is a belief in such Satanic bloodlines would lead to that conclusion, else there would be no need to even think of such “bloodlines”, or to judge anyone as allegedly being of any such "bloodline".

Many who claim to be Christian do not realize that belief in such “bloodlines” actually would lead one to deny the basis of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus as taught in the Bible. It would promote serpentine “bloodlines” other than that which has come upon the whole world through the disobedience of Adam. What does the Bible say?

Let us examine the real conspiracy of a “new world order” as presented in the Bible.

Acts 17:26 World English

He [Jehovah] made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation. -- Acts 17:26.

Actually, the word “blood” does not appear in the Greek; but we do have the expression “ex henos”, which means “out of one male”, or “out of one man”. Who is the “one man” that Paul spoke concerning? Was Paul saying that sin entered the world through Cain? Obviously not; Paul wrote: “the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation”; “by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one”; “through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men”; and “through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners.” (Romans 5:12-19, New American Standard) Elsewhere, Paul wrote concerning this “one man”: “through one man sin entered into the world.” (Romans 5:12) and “in [by means of] Adam all die.” (1 Corinthians 15:21,22) and “death reigned from Adam” (Romans 5:14) Obviously, the one man who was given the command and who transgressed against the command was Adam (Genesis 2:16,17; 3:17-19), and all of us, absolutely every descendant of Adam, are of this cursed bloodline of Adam.

The method by which this “one man” was led into disobedience could be called a conspiracy, since it was the result of a conspiracy between the serpent and the woman, by which the woman was deceived into thinking that through disobedience, she would become wise. Paul wrote of this conspiracy in Romans 1:18-31. Therefore, the real “new world order” conspiracy began around 6,000 years ago. God had created the first man and woman, and had given them the “order” of obedience to their creator (Genesis 2:16,17); such obedience would call upon Adam and Eve to recognize who was their head, who was their creator, their benefactor, and to whom they should give supreme love. Such obedience would also have been to man’s benefit, for it would have kept man in line with righteousness, that which is right - just, straight, and it would have promoted peace and harmony on the earth. God did not put man on the earth in the crooked condition as he found today, but man was originally “good”, “upright” -- just. (Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 7:9) As part of the original old order, man was given a dominion, a kingdom, in that all things were made subject to man, and man was given an “order” concerning that dominion. (Genesis 1:26,28; Psalm 8:4-8) The subjection of all things to man, however, does not mean that everything in the universe was subjected to man, but it pertains to all things upon the earth. Disobedience to the Creator would upset the order and harmony of God’s arrangement and had a distinct punishment, that is, not death. -- Genesis 1:17; Romans 6:23.

But something happened that interfered with that first order of man. The serpent, who is identified in Revelation 12:9 as the one who was later called Satan and Devil, promoted his crafty wisdom to entice Eve to disobey the Creator. (Genesis 3:1-6; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:14) Eve, rather than putting the thoughts of Satan out of her mind, entertained the thoughts, and actually believed what the serpent told her, that eating of the forbidden fruit would make her wise, and thus was fooled by Satan. (Romans 1:22) This could be indeed be considered an illuminati conspiracy plot conceived by Satan with the idea of promoting a “new world order”, with Satan as its prince. (John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2) Adam, rather than obeying his creator, obeyed his wife (Genesis 3:6,12), and thus joined her in this disobedience, and the first illuminati conspiracy had been formed, and Satan has continued to seek ways to promote his “new world order” on mankind ever since, deceiving the entire habitation of the earth with his lies. -- Revelation 12:9.

While the Creator of man allowed man to carry out his own devices, and the punishment of death was proclaimed upon man, Jehovah also gave a promise that gave hope of the restoration of man back to that which he had lost. God said: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15) “The woman” here is not referring to Eve, but as Paul later wrote, a woman represents a covenant or promise. (Galatians 4:24,25) These matters were written in somewhat cryptic language so that they would remain hidden until the time came for them to be understood by the saints. (Luke 10:21; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:9) Eventually, these things will also be revealed to the whole world. -- Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14.

Genesis 3:15 refers to the seed of the serpent, which also indicates figuratively that the serpent has a woman covenant by which he produces a seed, offspring. The result of man’s original disobedience was that all of Adam’s descendants became of this condemned serpentine seed. This means that all of us are of this condemned Satanic bloodline through Adam, being so before we are even born into this world. This is the ONLY serpentine bloodline that exists to this day. The Bible says nothing about Satan creating any other serpentine bloodlines that, if one follows the logic, must mean that those of such bloodlines cannot be redeemed through the blood of Jesus. On the other hand, Paul tells us that all who are of the one serpentine bloodline through Adam are redeemed through the offering of Jesus.

If there are, however, other serpentine bloodlines than that of Adam, such would mean that all the nations of men did not come from one. (Acts 17:26) It would mean that all men were not condemned in Adam. (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22) It would mean that Jesus did not die for all men. In short, it would deny the purpose for which Jesus came in the flesh. -- 1 John 2:2; 4:2,3,9,14.

As a result of the first man’s disobedience, therefore, God subjected the whole creation of mankind to futility and a bondage of corruption, and a bondage to be of an unjust, crooked condition, under the present sun of vanity. (Ecclesiastes 1:2,14; 2:11,17; 3:19; 4:7,16; 8:14; 11:8; 12:8; Romans 1:24-32;8:20-22) All of the descendants of Adam, which includes you and me, are all born into this world as being of the seed of the serpent, which could be called a Satanic bloodline. (Romans 5:12-17) Jesus was not of this seed because he was not born of Adamic stock, but his body of flesh was created separately from world. (Matthew 1:20; Hebrews 10:5) Only as having been justified by an active faith does anyone in this age become accounted as being of the seed of woman, and no longer as being of the seed of the serpent. -- Romans 4:2; 5:1; 8:1; Hebrews 11:4-40; .James 2:17-24.

No man could bring forth a new creation (Ecclesiastes 1:9) that would not be under the bondage of corruption common to all men condemned in Adam, for no man born under the condemnation of God could make himself straight, just, incorrupt.. Man, however, being proud and haughty, does not realize the bondage of corruption that he is under, and has indeed sought many ways to remedy his condition, all of which has and is still proving to end up in failure. Thus, one form of government after another form of government has endeavored to better man’s lot; none have brought the desired haven for which mankind has been seeking, but which haven God eventually provides through his own way. -- Psalm 107:30; Romans 8:21.

It is therefore, shown that man can be released from the condemned bloodline in which he has been born. How is such accomplished, and if man is made crooked so that he cannot be made straight, what would be the basis of making such straight? God could not be true to Himself (Psalm 119:37; Proverbs 6:16-19; Romans 3:26), if He simply released people from that condemnation; if he did, then his “justice” -- his righteousness -- would not be upheld, and His “word” confirmed by his name could not be trusted. (Psalm 138:2) How could God remain just and yet bring man out of the unjust, crooked, condition, into which he had subjected man?

While man could not bring forth a new creation, God could. This he did when he sanctified and sent his son into the condemned world. (John 10:36; 1 John 4:9,10,14) Jesus was not born into the world under its present condemnation. God Himself prepared the body of Jesus (Hebrews 10:5), and Jesus was begotten by means of God’s holy spirit in the womb of a virgin. (Matthew 1:20-23) Thus, Jesus, being a new creation, was not of the world that is condemned through Adam (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22); he was not “of the world” (John 8:23), nor of the whole creation under bondage concerning which Paul wrote. (Romans 8:20-23) The flesh of Jesus was without having the condemnation of being made a sinner from his conception, but at the same time he came for the purpose of taking that condemnation upon himself. --- Isaiah 53:4,5; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24.

In this we see God’s wisdom in that he condemned all as sinners in one man; thus, to rectify matters, only one righteous, sinless, obedient man would be needed to satisfy justice (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22); by this means God remains just, while at the same time justifying the sinner. -- Romans 3:26.

Links to research related to Fritz Springmeier

Russell's Creepy Pyramid Tomb?

This is in response to a video that has been posted on YouTube (and on a site) about Charles Taze Russell.

Practically everything said in the video, however, is in error. 

When Was the Jehovah's Witnesses' Organization Created?

Did Charles Taze Russell Deny Hell?

A Great Battle in the Ecclesiastical Heavens

Miracle Wheat - A Brief Summary

The Miracle Wheat Story

-- Russell and the Alleged Occult Connection

-- Alleged Expose

Russell and the One True Catholic Church

* Sources For Russell's Imagery Requested

Can The Ethiopian Change the Color of His Skin?

Russell's Refutation of "The Negro a Beast"

Volunteer Racism?