The Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid has probably attracted more attention over the years than any other building in the world, not only for its immense size, but also for its alignment on the earth’s surface, the skill manifested in its construction, the amount of scientific data which it enshrines and also for the mystery which surrounds the purpose for which it was built.

It was one, in fact the oldest and most important of the seven ancient wonders of the world and over twice the size of the Empire State Building although there is enough masonry in its construction to build more than 30 Empire State Buildings. The building covers about 13 acres of ground, each of the four sides having an area of 5 and a half acres, rises nearly 500 feet and was originally encased with highly polished limestone blocks, reflecting light which could be seen for miles. Strabo, the ancient Greek geographer exclaimed "It seemed like a building let down from heaven, untouched by human hands."

As to the method of construction many ingenious suggestions have been made, but apart from the use of ramps we have to confess that we do not know. The limestone blocks used mainly for the core masonry were quarried in the Mokattam Hills miles away on the opposite side of the river Nile, the gigantic granite stones used for the King’s Chamber were brought from the Syene Quarries, Aswan, a distance of about 500 miles away. When we recall that one of these stones is 27 feet long, 5 feet wide and 7 feet deep and weighs nearly 70 tons, we might ask, "How did these men of ancient time have the know‑how to lift such stones to a height of 150 feet and place them, and in fact all the stones in the Pyramid, with such accuracy equal to that of a modern optician’s instrument. Herodotus wrote that 100,000 men were employed for over 30 years quarrying and erecting the Pyramid. Sir Flinders Petrie, the famous Egyptologist, states "How…they could fill with cement a vertical joint only averaging 1/50th of an inch is a mystery."

When was it built? The Akbar‑Ezzeman Manuscript (MS) which contains the ancient Egyptian records states that it was built in accordance with a vision given 300 years before the Flood. But apart from that the building itself provides clues. Above the King’s Chamber are five chambers, on the walls of which are to be found hieroglyphics exhibiting the cartouche of Khufu (Cheops) as the Egyptian King in whose reign the Pyramid was built. Khufu was a king of the 4th Egyptian Dynasty, so the Great Pyramid is therefore over 4,500 years old. The MS also states that the Pyramid contains "The wisdom and acquirements in the different arts and sciences…the sciences of arithmetic and geometry…the positions of the stars and the cycles: together with the history and chronicle of time past, of which is to come."

This information alone should at least make one pause and consider carefully the validity of the theory held for so long, namely that the Great Pyramid was, like the other pyramids merely a tomb for a Pharaoh. The Great Pyramid is the only one that has ascending passages leading to chambers up in the body of the masonry, the only one that has air channels or ventilators indicating some other purpose than that of burial chambers.

In 1859 John Taylor wrote a book entitled "The Great Pyramid: Why was it built–And Who Built It?" in which evidence was produced supporting the theory of some other purpose than a tomb, which aroused such interest that at the author’s request, Prof. Piazzi Smyth the then Astronomer Royal for Scotland undertook a detailed examination during the winter of 1864‑5 which confirmed the main elements of the theory, and also the statements of the Egyptian MSS.

Just a few words about this scientific aspect is necessary without going into the mass of scientific data which the Pyramid reveals.

All matter in the universe is in the form of spheres: the sun, moon and stars and also the tiny atoms of which all substances on this earth are constituted. But all these are controlled by forces acting in straight lines, so that the actual motions of these bodies are either circular or elliptical (oval). Hence the geometric basis upon which the Universe is constructed is the straight line and the circle or ellipse, and the ratio between them the all‑important and fundamental geometric value. This ratio between the circumference of a circle and the straight line through its centre is termed "pi" which is usually quoted as 3.14159 although often 3‑1/7. Now this geometric ratio "pi" which pervades the Universe also pervades the Pyramid in its entirety inside and out. For instance, if the height of the Pyramid to the apex be taken as the radius of a circle the distance round the Pyramid is found to be equal to the circumference of that circle.

In regard to the unit of measurement used in the Pyramid it is now realized that for construction purposes the unit used was the Royal cubit (20.629 British inches). N.B. The chronology of the ages is revealed by both this Royal cubit and the Sacred Hebrew Cubit (25.027 inches).

Another mathematical value which permeates the whole Pyramid is the length of the year, and of the three different years known to astronomers the one used here is the ‘mean solar tropical year’ of 365.2422 days. Now the length of each side of the base of the Pyramid according to the original design is precisely 365.2422 Pyramid cubits, henceforth referred to as ‘y’. All measurements of the principal features of the Pyramid are simple functions of the Year Circle, that is a circle of 365.2422 inches or ‘y’ and the ratio between the diameter and circumference is ‘pi’.

We live in a scientific age, and often hear there is a great conflict between science and religion. But it is suggested that there is complete harmony between true science and true religion, for the God of the one is also the God of the other, and an appreciation of the Great Pyramid does much to enhance this view. It reveals a preconceived and purposeful Plan of the Ages which is in complete harmony with the same plan God has enshrined in the Bible so that the former has been called the "Bible in stone" and history as such is but the fulfilment of "His story" as concealed in the Bible.

Where does the Bible refer to the Great Pyramid? Isaiah 19:19‑20 says "In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and He shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them."

This is the Authorised Version translation of the original which was in Hebrew. In the Hebrew alphabet every letter has a numeric value, and the total value of all the letters in the original Hebrew of these two verses is 5,449. The actual height of the Pyramid as left by the ancient builders is 5,449 Pyramid inches. Can this be dismissed as mere coincidence?

Isaiah tells us that this altar shall be "in the midst of the land of Egypt" yet "at the border thereof." How can this be? In ancient time Egypt was in two parts, Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt, often each having its own king. The Pyramid is built on the borders of the two, yet in the centre of Egypt as a whole, and in fact the full official name of the Pyramid is "The Great Pyramid of Giza" which means in English "The Great Pyramid of the Border."

Now to look inside the Pyramid and consider some of the symbolism and prophetic truth which it is suggested the building was meant to reveal as the book of Daniel puts it in "the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (12:4) that time, is now present.

All the Great Pyramid passages are in one vertical plane on the North‑South axis about 24 feet to the East of Centre and all the chambers extend westward from the passage system. The corridors and passages represent means of transit to the chambers and fittingly symbolise the ages and dispensations which must be transversed before reaching the final destinies represented by the chambers. Constructed to scale, the length of the various corridors etc, are proportionate to the length of the ages they represent, space in linear distance represents space in time, and the unit of length represents the unit of time.

As before mentioned the unit of length for the sloping passages is the Pyramid inch, and of time, the year, and this scale of 1 inch to the year has been proved by the fact so much of the Pyramid’s chronological prophecy has now become actual history.

But the question is where should one start measuring from? If the passages do constitute a Divine prophecy concerning ages and events that were future, one would naturally expect that the Entrance would mark the date of the building of the Pyramid. But Egyptology, at least until recently, provided very little information regarding its age, apart from the fact that it was built during the reign of Khufu, and there again there was general confusion as to the precise date of his reign.

Recourse was therefore made to astronomy, seeing that the Pyramid was astronomically built, that is to say its various planes and angles aligned with the positions of heavenly bodies relative to the earth. Now at a certain time the Dragon star (a Draconis) and the Entrance Passage were in alignment, or in the same inclined plane, called the plane of the Dragon Star. Some distance down this passage are two absolute straight knife‑edge grooves cut from roof to floor on each wall opposite each other. Prof. Smyth calculated back in time to ascertain the star indicated by this plane, which he found to be that commonly known as Alcyone, the chief star of that beautiful stellar cluster, the Pleiades. This has been called the plane of the Pleiades, and the point of time corresponding to its intersection with the Plane of the Dragon Star has been geometrically and astronomically fixed at 2,141 B.C. thus fixing the date and the point from which measurements should be taken. This has been called the Scored Line. (Measurements in inches from this Scored Line represents years before or after the date 2,141 B.C.)

This Descending Passage continues downward into the natural rock finally entering a great underground cavity termed the Subterranean Chamber in the bottom of which is a deep shaft known as the "Bottomless Pit." The whole seems to symbolize a sinister condition, and the Dragon star, when it was the Pole Star in ancient time, shone directly down the long bore of the passage. Remember the premise that the Pyramid is the symbolic form of the story of the Bible, namely that it was the Devil, "the god of this world" who tempted our first parents and subjected the whole future human race to his sovereignty. Thus, this passage symbolises the course of the nations in general during what the Bible calls "this evil world."

But there are also in this Pyramid upward passages leading to ventilated chambers high above ground level, and these symbolise some uplifting influence leading to life and liberty. These chambers have no exits, hence they are finalities and symbolise great and wonderful destinies.

The entrance to the First Ascending Passage is thrust through the roof of the Descending Passage; at the lower end of this aperture the floor of the upward passage commences. By measurement two dates are arrived at here, 1453 BC on the floor of the First Ascending Passage and 1573 BC, on the floor of the Descending Passage. This symbolises that by 1453 BC the beginning of the Ascending Passage, some class, race or nation found themselves lifted up above the other nations of the world. Very briefly referring to history we find that it was precisely at that time that the Israelites came through an experience which lifted them up out of the nations of the world. The Egyptian oppression of the Israelites caused them to turn to God for deliverance and from the Bible we know that from the birth of Moses to his death just before the Israelites entered the Promised land was 120 years (1573‑1453 BC)

Whilst the Israelites were chosen by God as part of His plan and purpose, they now had to be trained. They were given very strict laws to keep, so strict in fact that they found it impossible to keep them, and this bondage under the yoke of the Law is symbolized by great girdles which encircle the passage at intervals and the fact that the ceiling of the passage is low. The Israelites, in whole or in part, occupied the Holy Land and endured the bondage of the Law for nearly fifteen centuries until Christ came.

The coming of Christ inaugurated a great change. He condemned the apostate system and fulfilled the Law nailing it to His cross and inaugurated an entirely new age with universal scope. (Matt.5:17; Col.2:14)

This great change, as well as the precise time when it was effected, is accurately portrayed in the Great Pyramid. The restricted First Ascending Passage is followed by a much more spacious and lofty passage known as the Grand Gallery, and by the usual unit of measurement the junction of the two passages marks the date 33 A.D. which is the precise year of the Crucifixion of Christ. The Day of Pentecost, which followed in the same year marked the inauguration of the new age in the religious sphere. Incidentally this date is also confirmed by the Great Olympiads which records a mysterious darkening of the sun accompanied by an earthquake.

At this point, the junction of the two passages, on the right‑hand side is a replica of an Eastern shaft‑tomb, the mouth having been blown open from within as if by a violent internal explosion. Could one imagine a more vivid portrayal of resurrection from the dead. Moreover, detailed measurements at this point clearly mark the length of our Lord’s life, namely baptism at 30 and crucifixion at 33½.

Now for a very important point in connection with the Pyramid’s revelation concerning Jesus of Nazareth. In 1925, further survey of the base in 2015, the Egyptian Government carefully surveyed the exterior of the Pyramid, during which survey they found the original setting out marks for the Pyramid. Strange to relate the builders never conformed to these setting out lines but built inside them, so that the base is in fact 286 Pyramid inches short of the perfect design, in spite of the exquisite skill and accuracy manifested, all showing evidence of deliberate intent. Furthermore, this identical figure of 286 inches is manifest elsewhere in departure from the norm. For instance, the entrance of the North side is offset from the centre by 286 pyramid inches. The astronomer, Prof. Lagrange named this "The Displacement Factor" and the evidence is overwhelming that the intention is to symbolise that which is out of tune with the Almighty.

All this intentional mistake in building meant that the original top piece was never placed in position as it would have overlapped. The ancient historian Diodorus, who saw the building as left by the builders said that it terminated in a flat platform.

Does this not strike one as extraordinary? However, if a purposeful "mistake" of 286 inches carries the symbolism of that which is out of harmony with the Almighty, then somewhere one would expect to find the rectification for this. This is just what one does find, and that in only one place—right over the well‑shaft featuring the resurrection of Christ. For here the roof of the Grand Gallery is lifted up through 286 inches seven tiers of stone, making this a Grand Gallery of enlargement and uplift.

The Great Pyramid, in harmony with the Bible, thus reveals that the power to rectify the displacement and so bring the world into complete harmony with the Creator, is vested in Jesus Christ, as He himself declared after his resurrection, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matt.28:18) He has not yet manifested His power, although world events today indicate that the time when He will do so draws very near, and then will also be fulfilled those words in Psalm 118:22 "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the Corner." (Matt.21:42)

Naturally, like our Lord’s disciples, for they were human beings no different from us wanting to know when this will come about. They asked Him "What will be the sign of thy presence (or Second Advent) and of the consummation (end) of the Age?" (Matt.24:3 Diaglott) Part of his reply was "This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt.24:14) and today the Gospel of the Kingdom has indeed been preached in all the world as a witness.

Does the Pyramid indicate anything about the end of the age? If one continues on up the Grand Gallery one comes to a series of small, short horizontal passages leading to a great chamber, commonly known as the King’s Chamber. This shows that at the end of this age there is not suddenly ushered in a new era, but there is first a troublous transition period before the old order is brought to an end.

Since the date 33 AD marks the beginning of the Grand Gallery so the end thereof marks 1914 AD (1881 pyramid inches) as the date when the transition period was due. Looking back over the years we can see how true that has proved to be.

As before stated the scale used for the chronograph of the ages is consistently a Pyramid inch to a year at the gradient of the Messianic Angle throughout. Entering the horizontal passage, however, in order to symbolise the epoch‑making events and changes that would take place over so short a time since 1914 the Great Architect of the Pyramid has adopted a larger scale similar to what one finds on maps of the present day. This larger scale is one Pyramid inch to a year on the horizontal, found by projecting the general scale on the slope on to the horizontal.

The first section of the Transition Passage system consists of a short low contracted passage. The date arrived at for the beginning is 1914. It should be emphasized that this was known before the Great War began, for in 1909 William Reeve of Toronto published a book entitled History Fulfilling Prophecy in which he stated that this short passage represented a period of trouble lasting 4 years 4 months during which the British would be involved in war but not defeated.

Here then once again can be seen the accuracy of these Pyramid dating’s all showing the wonderful foresight and predetermination of our Great God, who, we are told in the Scriptures "knoweth the end from the beginning" and whose "might carries out in everything the design of His own will." (Eph.1:11 Weymouth)

I believe, therefore, that all this calls for great respect. It is not like an Old Moore’s Almanac, or some fortune telling chart. Every change of level in the Pyramid such as a step, projection or corner, etc… by measurement seems to mark a date; what that date was intended to indicate may not be seen till long afterwards. It has suffered somewhat at the hands of its best friends through forecasting what is to take place on a certain date.

The Great Step at the end of the Grand Gallery is a very important feature as it defines the E‑W Axis and therefore the latitude of the Pyramid and the date 1845. About this time was witnessed the completion of the U.S.A. with the annexation of New Mexico and other States, and when the boundary between the U.S.A. and Canada was fixed. It is significant that the latitude at which the Pyramid is built is also the mean latitude of southern boundary of the U.S.A. significant too, that on the reverse side of the official Great Seal of the U.S.A. there is portrayed the Pyramid with the rejected Top Stone raised up separately above it.

There is no doubt that in spite of our vastly increased knowledge in these latter days there is still a lot of knowledge that man has lost, therefore with many things we are still groping in the dark. Egyptology for instance, has had to revise many times its dates for events in ancient history and in fact the historians, too. This can be seen quite clearly from exhibits at the British Museum.

I believe there are three witnesses left in this world to the Author and Designer of this Universe proclaiming forth His great plan and purpose for the redemption of man. The first is the Bible, given we are told by the inspiration of God and the other two are in a sense tied back to the first. These are, the Pyramid as we have before stated and the third is the stars. This is shown in Psalm 19 and Psalm 147:4. Beginning with the zodiacal sign of Virgo and following the path which the sun makes amongst the stars and which is called the ecliptic, we can read the same story enshrined in the Bible, namely that all hope for man, all hope for creation, was and is bound up in a coming Redeemer. One who should be born of a virgin, who should suffer and afterwards gloriously triumph; one who should first be wounded by that great enemy who was the cause of all sin and sorrow and death, but who should finally crush the head of that Old Serpent the Devil.

It can be said that measurements and calculations from the Pyramid regarding the dimensions of our planet correspond as precisely as we have been able to determine them since the 1970s with satellite surveys from space and surely that is marvellous enough.

JS