Crackpot Prophet On Praying To The East

God's most favorite self-proclaimed prophet, the Great Bwana Bob Thiel, steeped in Mithraic and pseudo-Catholic beliefs, is once again railing against churches that pray facing east. As usual, his annual tirade is filled with Armstrongist myths and proof-texting, decrying the practice as rooted in Mithraism. He conveniently ignores that early Christians prayed facing east in anticipation of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, based on biblical passages like Matthew 24:27, which likens the Son of Man’s return to lightning from the east. This eastward orientation symbolized hope in Christ’s return. Furthermore, early Christian churches were often aligned toward Jerusalem—where Jesus lived, died, and resurrected—which, in many regions, was roughly eastward, reinforcing the tradition of praying toward the holy city.

Ironically, the Great Bwana Bob overlooks that Herbert W. Armstrong, a key figure in his mythology, had the Ambassador Auditorium built facing east. Church members prayed and worshiped facing eastward, while Herbert himself turned his back to the east—and, symbolically, to the risen Lord—while emphasizing legalism and adherence to the law.

The Ambassador Auditorium, often called the "House of God," is also rife with Masonic symbolism. A man who helped construct the building, during a tour I gave him after the church’s collapse when the auditorium stood empty, pointed out its symbolic features. He noted the building’s cubic shape (excluding the lobby), which aligns with Masonic and Qabalistic symbolism, where the cube represents the universe’s ordered structure and the pursuit of divine wisdom. 

The auditorium’s use of purple, a color Herbert W. Armstrong favored for its association with royalty (reflecting the belief that believers would become kings in the future), aligns with Masonic symbolism, where purple represents divine wisdom. Likewise, the extensive use of gold in the auditorium’s design echoes Masonry’s view of gold as a symbol of the perfected soul, illuminated by divine truth, complementing the cube-shaped building’s polished surfaces. Notably, gold leaf adorned the underside of the stairs from the lower level (symbolizing hell) and extended to the upper level, representing light and enlightenment. Additional features, such as the specific number of columns and a hidden room in the auditorium’s ceiling, further suggest intentional Masonic influences in the design.

The auditorium incidentally has 26 columns. 

In Masonry, it is a connection to YHWH. In Qabalistic tradition, which influences some Masonic symbolism, the number 26 is significant because it is the numerical value of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH, the Hebrew name of God) in Gematria: Y (Yod) = 10, H (Heh) = 5, W (Vav) = 6, H (Heh) = 5, totaling 10 + 5 + 6 + 5 = 26. This name represents divine essence, creation, and the ineffable nature of God, which aligns with Freemasonry’s focus on the Great Architect of the Universe (G.A.O.T.U.).

The Tetragrammaton is referenced in certain Masonic degrees, particularly in the Royal Arch (York Rite), where the "Lost Word" and the divine name are central themes. The number 26, while not explicitly highlighted in rituals, could symbolize the divine presence or the sacred knowledge Masons seek, connecting to the spiritual perfection represented by the cube (Perfect Ashlar) as a symbol of the completed self aligned with divine order.

The cube, as the Perfect Ashlar, symbolizes the perfected universe or the Mason’s spiritual temple. In Qabalistic thought, the cube represents the "Cube of Space," a model of creation encompassing all directions and aspects of existence. The number 26, tied to YHWH, could be seen as underpinning the cube’s divine structure, reflecting the divine blueprint of creation within the lodge.

In numerology, 26 reduces to 8 (2 + 6 = 8). The number 8 is not as prominent in Freemasonry as numbers like 3, 5, or 7, but it can symbolize infinity, regeneration, or cosmic balance (due to the shape of the infinity symbol, ∞). In some esoteric traditions, 8 represents a new beginning or spiritual rebirth, which aligns with the Masonic journey of self-improvement and enlightenment.

Masonic Context: This interpretation could connect to the Mason’s transformation from the Rough Ashlar to the Perfect Ashlar, a process of spiritual renewal akin to the cube’s perfected form. While 26 itself is not ritualistically emphasized, its reduction to 8 supports themes of eternal growth and moral perfection. 

In biblical numerology, 26 is less prominent than numbers like 7 or 12, but its connection to the Tetragrammaton makes it significant in Judeo-Christian contexts. For example, the 26th chapter of Leviticus discusses covenant blessings and curses, emphasizing obedience to divine law, which resonates with Freemasonry’s moral teachings.

The number 26 in Freemasonry likely holds symbolic significance through its Qabalistic association with the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), representing divine presence, creation, and spiritual wisdom. It connects to the cube (Perfect Ashlar) as a symbol of the perfected self and the lodge as a divine temple, and to Masonic colors like blue and gold, which evoke divine truth and illumination. While not a primary number in Masonic ritual, 26’s esoteric ties to the divine name align with the lodge’s spiritual goals, paralleling the eastward orientation of churches seeking divine light.

The cube is a significant symbol in Masonic lodges due to its deep symbolic meanings, which connect to both philosophical and spiritual concepts central to Freemasonry. Here are the key reasons for its importance, based on its use as the "Perfect Ashlar" and other symbolic interpretations:

Symbol of Perfection and Completion: The cube, often referred to as the Perfect Ashlar in Freemasonry, represents a stone that has been shaped and polished to perfection, symbolizing the ideal state of a Mason’s moral and spiritual development. The Rough Ashlar, in contrast, represents the unrefined, natural state of a person before Masonic teachings. The transformation from Rough to Perfect Ashlar signifies the Mason’s journey toward self-improvement, virtue, and enlightenment through discipline and education.

Representation of Stability and Order: The cube’s geometric properties—equal sides and perfect symmetry—symbolize stability, balance, and order. In Masonic teachings, these qualities reflect the ideal character of a Mason, who strives to live a balanced, upright life. The cube’s ability to "fill space perfectly" mirrors the stability of the earth, as noted in Plato’s association of the cube with the element of earth in his Timaeus (c. 360 BCE).

Connection to Sacred Architecture: The cube is linked to sacred spaces in various traditions, such as the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple, which was a perfect cube, and the Kaaba in Islam, meaning "cube" in Arabic. In Freemasonry, the cube symbolizes the ideal temple—a spiritual edifice that Masons aim to build within themselves. The lodge itself, sometimes described as a double cube (with length twice its breadth and height), represents the universe or a perfected space for Masonic work.

Qabalistic and Esoteric Meanings: The cube is significant in Qabalistic thought, which influenced early Masonic rituals. It represents the physical world, with its six faces corresponding to the cardinal directions (North, South, East, West, Zenith, Nadir), symbolizing the totality of space and creation. The "Cube of Space" in Qabalah models the processes of creation, aligning with Freemasonry’s focus on building a moral and spiritual life.

Transformation into the Cross: In some Masonic interpretations, particularly in the York Rite, the cube is seen as transforming into a cross when unfolded, symbolizing a spiritual progression from the physical (cube) to the divine (cross). This reflects the Mason’s journey from earthly concerns to spiritual enlightenment, especially in Christian-oriented Masonic degrees.

Historical and Ritualistic Context: The cube appears in Masonic rituals and symbols, such as the Perfect Ashlar on the Junior and Senior Warden’s pedestals, representing the Mason’s progress. In some traditions, a pointed cubic stone (a cube with a pyramidal top) is used, symbolizing the "Opera Maestra" or masterpiece a Mason must achieve. The cube’s presence in lodge furnishings and rituals reinforces its role as a teaching tool for moral and intellectual development.

Connection to Churches Facing East: While the cube’s significance in Freemasonry is distinct, it shares symbolic parallels with the Christian tradition of churches facing east. Both draw on the idea of orientation toward divine light or truth—churches face east to symbolize Christ’s return, while the cube’s six faces, including the eastward direction, represent universal harmony and connection to the divine. Additionally, the cube’s association with Solomon’s Temple aligns with the eastward orientation of sacred spaces in both traditions, as the Temple’s Holy of Holies was a cubic space oriented toward spiritual significance.

The Great Bwana Bob needs to stop casting his hypocritical stones at everyone around him and look at his own mess he is entrenched in.