Seraphim, the Shining Watchers: From Biblical Visions to Ancient Solar Deities

In Scripture and ancient lore, we find fiery beings of dazzling glory who bridge the gap between heaven and earth. The Bible calls them seraphim, meaning “burning ones”, yet they have also been envisioned as shining ones – celestial watchers who fell from grace. This deep exploration will follow these mysterious beings from their many appearances in the Bible to their echoes in Mesopotamian and Egyptian myth. We will see them in the prophet Ezekiel’s vision of angelic creatures with four faces, in Saint John’s Apocalypse around God’s throne, and even in the mythic lamassu of Assyria and the solar gods Ra and Shamash of antiquity. Along the way, we will uncover how these entities – once ministers of the Divine – may have become the fallen Watchers who brought forbidden knowledge to mankind, much like the serpent in Eden promising “ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5)Their influence seems to shine behind the symbols of sun worship, the zodiac’s beasts, and the cosmic serpent winding through the stars – an interdimensional power in rebellion against the Most High. From the ancient rod-and-ring of divine kingship to modern religious iconography like the Vatican’s giant pine cone and peacocks, the fingerprints of these shining ones remain. Are the world’s spiritual elites unknowingly (or knowingly) empowered by these fallen seraphim? Do they even carry the hybrid bloodline of the Nephilim – the offspring of those Watchers who “left their first estate” to take human wives (cf. Jude 1:6)? In contrast to these deceivers, Christ stands as the true “door” to salvation (Matthew 7:14 ). Join us as we journey through Scripture, apocrypha, and myth to unravel the identity of the seraphim, their ancient cosmic rebellion, and the grand spiritual drama behind history’s symbols.

Ezekiel’s Vision: Four-Faced Seraphim as the Fallen Watchers?

The prophet Ezekiel, in exile by the River Chebar, beheld a stormy cloud from the north flashing fire – and within it four living creatures of astonishing appearance (Ezekiel 1). Each had the “likeness of a man” but also four faces: “the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side… the face of an ox on the left side; [and] the face of an eagle”. Each had four wings and limbs like burnished brass, darting to and fro like lightning. These were later identified as cherubim (Ezekiel 10:20), but many have noted that their description overlaps with the seraphim (“burning ones”) that the prophet Isaiah saw attending God’s throne with six wings and crying “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:2-3). In Revelation, the Apostle John likewise beheld “four beasts” around God’s throne, each with one of the same four faces (lion, calf/ox, man, eagle) and with six wings covered in eyes. These consistency of imagery – human and animal features combined – suggests a purposeful symbolism.

Traditionally, "Christian" interpreters saw the four faces as representations of God’s creation or the four Gospel themes—a view first developed by the early Church Fathers and carried forward through Catholic, Orthodox, and many mainline Protestant traditions…which may well shed light on why yet another supposedly Christian house of worship—Adderbury Church in Oxfordshire—brazenly displays the unmistakable five-pointed pentagram, a symbol long entwined with Luciferian imagery, carved directly into its sacred architecture.

The pentagram etched into Adderbury Church—a so-called Christian sanctuary—stands as a silent testament to the same ancient deception seen in the zodiac mosaics of the Roman Catholic Church: a celestial gathering where Christ was never invited. The architecture speaks, and it does not speak of Him.

The symbolic assignment of the four faces to the Gospels was first introduced by Irenaeus of Lyons in the 2nd century, who interpreted the living creatures of Ezekiel and Revelation as prophetic representations of the four Evangelists:

• Man – the Gospel of Matthew, highlighting Christ’s humanity and incarnation

• Lion – the Gospel of Mark, representing royal might and fearless proclamation

• Ox – the Gospel of Luke, embodying service and sacrificial devotion

• Eagle – the Gospel of John, soaring in mystical contemplation and divine insight

This interpretation was taken up and expanded by Church Fathers such as Jerome and Augustine, and in time, it saturated the art and liturgy of Christendom—illuminated in manuscripts, etched into cathedral walls, and preached from pulpits. Eventually, it became dogma, enshrined in the architecture and symbolism of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, later absorbed into the framework of many Protestant denominations.

It appears to many that the true seraphim and cherubim—those loyal, radiant beings who still encircle and guard the throne of God—have been subtly co-opted as avatars for deception, their likenesses used to displace Christ’s appointed apostles within the iconography of the Church. The majestic creatures seen in Ezekiel’s vision—bearing the faces of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle—were never meant to stand in place of the twelve who walked with Christ, suffered for Him, and carried His gospel to the ends of the earth.

What the Church has sanctified as divine symbolism is, in my opinion, a mask—one drawn not from the ranks of heaven’s faithful host, but from the fallen seraphim who rebelled, those who appeared in ages past as winged lions, eagle-headed deities, and radiant beings of light. These are the same entities once venerated as sun gods and celestial rulers in Babylon, Egypt, and Assyria—now repackaged under the guise of "Christian" orthodoxy. This is no harmless theological metaphor. It is a quiet coup, an inversion, whereby the messengers of the true gospel have been overshadowed by the very beings who once sought to elevate themselves above the stars of God.

To enshrine them as Gospel icons is not a tribute to God—it is a spiritual bait-and-switch. The places once consecrated by the blood of martyrs have become galleries of deception, replacing the disciples with the very entities that corrupted mankind with forbidden knowledge. This is not the innocent work of theological reflection—it is an abomination masquerading as orthodoxy.

And it continues—unquestioned, unchallenged—carved into sacred stone and etched into the minds of generations.

It is my conviction that behind the ecclesiastical symbolism, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, lies a deeper, hidden allegiance: not to Christ alone, but to the very shining ones—the seraphim or Watchers—who fell. The lion, ox, eagle, and man are not Gospel metaphors, but ancient cosmic archetypes, faces worn by interdimensional beings who masqueraded as gods among men. The same beings whose images adorned the ziggurats of Babylon and the temples of Egypt have reemerged, subtly re-codified in Christian art and liturgy—especially where sun worship, solar iconography, and hierarchical power structures dominate. The sun god, under many names—Ra, Shamash, Mithras, Sol Invictus—was once openly worshipped; now, I believe, he is honoured in secret, cloaked behind saintly halos, sunbursts in Eucharistic monstrances, and the "all-seeing eye" of divine providence.

This alternate lens invites us to look again at the four-faced cherubim and seraphim—not merely as theological abstractions, but as the very Watchers who “left their first estate” (Jude 1:6), the same powers that the religious elite have continued to venerate under veiled names and symbols.

What if these “burning ones”—the seraphim—were not all faithful, but among those heavenly Watchers who later fell?

The Hebrew word seraph means “burning” or “fiery one,” but it also appears in contexts describing venomous serpents, such as the “fiery serpents” sent among the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 21:6). This dual meaning has led some to speculate whether the serpent in Eden—who deceived Eve and offered forbidden knowledge—was not merely a snake, but a radiant, intelligent being, possibly a seraphic creature in a more exalted form. After all, it was only after the fall that God cursed the serpent to crawl on its belly (Genesis 3:14), implying it once moved upright—perhaps with a human-like or even angelic stature.

In both Hebrew and Egyptian traditions, the word seraph or serf is linked to fiery or divine serpents, sometimes winged, often associated with judgment or illumination. These were not lowly creatures, but beings of terrifying beauty and brilliance. This aligns descriptions from the Book of Enoch, where the Watchers—angelic beings who descended to earth—are depicted as shining ones, star-like in appearance before their fall.

If the seraphim are among the highest orders of angels attending God’s throne, is it unthinkable that some of these exalted beings joined in Lucifer’s rebellion? That they came down not as monsters, but as luminous beings clothed in glory—masters of knowledge, symbols, and form? Their composite imagery—faces of lion, ox, eagle, and man—mirrors the very deities of pagan antiquity, suggesting that their forms were co-opted by the nations, or perhaps willingly revealed by these same fallen ones, masquerading as gods.

The Fiery Flying Serpent: The Return of the Seraph in Rebellion

“Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.”—Isaiah 14:29

This is no idle metaphor, no poetic flourish. Isaiah is not speaking of animals or allegories, but of spiritual bloodlines, of beings and empires birthed from ancient rebellion. The “rod” that is broken may signify a fallen earthly power—perhaps a king, a nation, or a failed dominion—but Isaiah warns that from the very root of the serpent, something far worse will arise. Not peace. Not liberty. But a cockatrice—a twisted hybrid, venomous, mythic, and lethal. And not even that is the end of it. The cockatrice gives way to something more ancient, more elevated: the fiery flying serpent.

This phrase—fiery flying serpent—is unique. In Hebrew, it reads saraph me‘opheph, literally: “burning, flying one.” The same term saraph is used in Numbers 21 to describe the serpents sent to judge Israel in the wilderness. But it also names the highest class of throne-room angels in Isaiah 6—the seraphim, the burning ones, those who cry “Holy, Holy, Holy” and veil themselves in the presence of God. Herein lies the terrifying truth: the fiery flying serpent is not a mere snake, but a fallen seraph, a once-holy guardian who now soars in rebellion.

This is a being that once stood in the innermost courts of the Almighty, whose wings covered the ark, whose fire sanctified—but whose fall transformed that sacred fire into consuming destruction. Like Lucifer—“O Lucifer, son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12)—this entity now carries a false light, drawing nations not into covenant, but into delusion.

“The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent…”—Isaiah 30:6

In this second warning, Isaiah turns to Judah, cautioning them against seeking help from Egypt—a land soaked in the blood of sorcery and sun worship, a kingdom whose gods were not metaphors but fallen powers masquerading as divine. “The beasts of the south” are not only the literal dangers of the wilderness, but the spiritual rulers behind Egypt’s ancient thrones. The young and old lion point to strength in all its stages—kings and conquerors in their prime and in decline. The viper, like Eden’s deceiver, is cunning, venomous. But the final warning, again, is of the fiery flying serpent—a being elevated above earthly beasts, who rules not from below, but from the skies, from the air.

This is no animal. This is the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), the same spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. This is an interdimensional throne guardian, once holy, now corrupted—no longer a minister of the flame before God’s throne, but a manipulator of nations, whispering through kings, priests, and prophets who serve a different master.

So why would the very pope—who aligned the so-called Christian Roman Catholic Church with the pagan calendar of Julius Caesar, ensuring its harmony with solar equinoxes by instituting the leap year instead of restoring God’s original calendar—bear a winged serpent on his coat of arms?

Is it coincidence, or a sign? That the man who restructured time itself according to pagan celestial rhythms, rather than the sacred timings ordained by God, would also carry as his heraldic emblem a dragon with wings—a symbol long associated with the serpent of old, the fiery flying adversary who once said, “Ye shall be as gods”?

This coin minted under Pope Gregory XIII tells a story few dare to read aloud. On one side, the pontiff who restructured time with the Gregorian calendar—aligning Christian worship to solar equinoxes. On the other, a winged serpent, unmistakably echoing the “fiery flying serpent” of Isaiah’s prophecy—symbol of fallen seraphim, celestial rebels who once stood before God’s throne. Beside it, a Caduceus-like staff, ancient emblem of hidden knowledge and dual serpents, a Gnostic sign of enlightenment through rebellion. And above it all, the inscription “NOVAE PRAES”—a “new presence.” Not Christ enthroned, but a new spirit governing time and power. This is not Christian iconography. This is the dragon’s signature, etched into the currency of the Church.

Unsurprisingly, the very pope who professed Christianity while altering God’s appointed times through the Gregorian calendar—Pope Gregory XIII—also founded the Church of Sant'Atanasio dei Greci in 1577. Fittingly, its clock bears a disturbing mark: clock hands shaped like a dragon, a subtle yet unmistakable symbol of the same spiritual power that seems to have guided his reforms.

Church of Sant'Atanasio dei Greci: Founded by Gregory XIII in 1577

In Egypt, he was worshipped as Ra, sailing across the sky in his solar barque, crowned with the sun disc and serpent. In Mesopotamia, he was Shamash, the shining one, the sun deity who “granted” law and kingship to Hammurabi. In Mesoamerica, he was Quetzalcoatl—the feathered serpent, bringer of knowledge, architect of civilization.

He is the one who “was, and is not, and yet is” (Revelation 17:8). The same presence behind Mystery Babylon, still speaking through the mouths of religious empires. His wings may be hidden now in stained glass and frescoes. His fire veiled in the language of mysticism and ritual. But he still flies. Not in myth, but in influence. Not as symbol, but as spirit.

What Isaiah reveals is staggering: this serpent flies because he is not of this earth. He is not chained to soil and stone like mortal creatures. He is a being of air and fire, a false seraph, still attempting to ascend the heavens, still striving to “exalt his throne above the stars of God” (Isaiah 14:13).

• A fallen throne guardian, no longer crying “Holy,” but demanding worship

• A seraphic traitor, once part of the heavenly host, now architect of empire and religion

• A dragon of false enlightenment, whose fire no longer purifies, but blinds

• A master of interdimensional dominion, not bound by earth but dwelling in the air, moving through nations, and embedding himself in sacred architecture, in solar symbols, in the very rituals that claim to honour God

He is not a thing of the past. He is not buried in legend.He flies still—under different names, on ancient wings.

Lamassu and Cherubim: Hybrid Beings of Heaven and Earth

Lamassu from Dur-Sharrukin. University of Chicago Oriental Institute. Syrian limestone Neo-Assyrian Period, c. 721–705 BCE

An Assyrian lamassu – a deity with human head, bull body, and eagle’s wings – from the palace of King Sargon II (8th century BC). This composite being closely mirrors the cherubim/seraphim described by Ezekiel with faces of man, bull, lion, and eagle. Such hybrid iconography spans cultures, hinting at a common source of divine inspiration or influence.

Ezekiel’s cherubim with four faces find startling parallels in ancient Mesopotamia. The lamassu (or shedu) of Assyria is a monumental figure, famously sculpted as a winged bull or lion with a human head. One such lamassu from the palace of Sargon II is described as “a composite being with the head of a human, the body and ears of a bull, and the wings of a bird” – essentially the same combination of man, bull, and eagle featured among the cherubim’s faces. Often these lamassu statues even had five legs (so that they looked stationary from the front but walking from the side), adding to their otherworldly aura. In Babylon, similar hybrid guardians flanked royal thrones and city gates, just as the cherubim guarded the way to Eden after the Fall (Genesis 3:24).

But if these beings were merely artistic echoes of heaven’s true guardians, why do we find them actively conferring power and kingship, as in the famed Stele of Hammurabi—where the sun-god Shamash, a radiant, throned figure bearing solar rays, is shown handing the rod and ring of authority to the king? This is not just symbolic—it is an image of divine endorsement. Yet in Scripture, no seraphim or cherubim ever anoint God’s chosen, unless commanded directly by the Most High—and even then, it is never by their own initiative. Anointing belongs to God alone, executed through His prophets by divine instruction—not through celestial beings.

So why would a “fiery one”—a burning, shining being like Shamash—be depicted anointing Hammurabi? If this act of empowerment came not from the God of Israel, then the question must be asked: was this one of the fallen? A Watcher, a rebel seraph, masquerading as the divine, counterfeiting the holy act of anointing in order to elevate kings who would rule in defiance of God? The symbolism is too precise to ignore. What the ancient world called gods, Scripture calls principalities and powers, rulers of darkness in high places (Ephesians 6:12)—fallen ones who still grant authority, but not on behalf of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ancient Egypt too was replete with composite deities. The sphinx – a lion’s body with a human head – calls to mind the cherub’s lion and man. Egyptian gods were often shown with human bodies and animal heads: Ra (or Amun-Ra), the great sun god, typically had a human form with the head of a falcon crowned by the solar disk. Sometimes Ra merged with Horus, another falcon-headed god, or appeared as the scarab beetle Khepri – but always as a solar deity, radiant with light. Interestingly, one of Ezekiel’s four creatures was the eagle; in many Near Eastern iconographies the eagle or falcon is a symbol of the sun or the sky god. Shamash, the Mesopotamian sun-god of justice, was typically depicted as a man with sun-rays emanating from his shoulders, or seated on a throne holding symbols of power. It is on the famous Stele of Hammurabi (18th century BC) that we see Shamash bestowing upon King Hammurabi the rod and ring of divine authority. The relief at the top of that stele shows the king standing before the enthroned Shamash, receiving a ring and a staff. This rod-and-ring symbol, often interpreted as a coiled measuring cord and a scepter, signified the "god’s" covenant and authority being passed to the king. In effect, Hammurabi is presented not just as a servant of Shamash (the sun god) but almost as an image of Shamash on earth, ruling by the sun god’s power. Let it be remembered: the mark of the beast is none other than the ancient solar cross—its geometry aligning with the sun’s path, its numeric value encoded as 666 upon the solar grid.

This ancient solar magic square reveals the hidden mathematics of power: each row, column, and diagonal adds to 111—while the full grid totals 666. Represented by the solar cross, this configuration is more than geometry—it is the mark of the Beast, the emblem of the fallen seraph who once stood before God’s throne and now mimics divine authority through counterfeit light. The cross, once a symbol of redemption, is here inverted—recast as a sigil of cosmic rebellion and solar dominion.

Here the lines begin to blur between holy angelic beings and pagan gods. The Bible itself hints that the pagan gods are actually demonic beings (Deuteronomy 32:17, 1 Corinthians 10:20). It is possible that the very real seraphim/watchers, once loyal to God, were worshipped by men after their fall, remembered as shining winged deities of sky and sun. The lamassu guarding an Assyrian palace and the cherubim guarding God’s throne might share an origin, one benevolent and one corrupted. Indeed, in later Jewish tradition, the Watchers (fallen angels) were sometimes equated with the pagan gods of the nations. The Book of Enoch goes so far as to name some of these fallen angels and their spheres of influence – some of which overlap with celestial bodies and knowledge.

The Shining Ones and Forbidden Knowledge: Enoch’s Watchers

Long before Moses wrote Genesis, an oral tradition and later extra-biblical texts like 1 Enoch expanded on the cryptic story of Genesis 6: “the sons of God” (bene Elohim) who took human wives and fathered the Nephilim giants. According to the Book of Enoch, 200 heavenly Watchers led by Azazel and Shemyaza “left their first estate” (cf. Jude 1:6) – abandoning their heavenly station – and descended to earth on Mount Hermon in the days of Jared. Their aim was twofold: to gratify their lust on the “daughters of men” and to enlighten humanity with heavenly knowledge, in effect making mankind more like the gods. Enoch describes how each leading Watcher taught humans different arts and sciences that had been forbidden for mankind. Azazel, for instance, “taught men to forge swords and make shields and breastplates” and showed women how to use cosmetics and jewelry to beguile. Other Watchers taught the cutting of roots and plants for sorcery and medicine, enchantments and astrology. One named Baraqijal taught the signs of the lightning and the weather; Kokabiel taught the constellations; Chazaqiel taught the knowledge of the clouds; Shamsiel (notably, his name means “sun of God”) taught the course of the sun and the signs of the zodiac. In this account, virtually every advanced skill – from metallurgy and weaponry to makeup, from astronomy to herbology – was bestowed by these rebel angels. The result, says Enoch, was chaos: “And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways” (1 Enoch 8:2). Humanity was “enlightened” in a way that led to violence and depravity, echoing the serpent’s promise to Eve that “your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5)

In giving this knowledge, the Watchers sought to elevate mankind to god-like status, usurping the role of the Creator. It was the same sin as Lucifer’s: prideful ambition to undermine God’s plan. The Watchers, as shining ones, pretended to be benefactors bringing civilization and wisdom, but in reality they were sowing the seeds of idolatry and occultism. In fact, later Jewish legend considered many pagan gods as deified humans who were taught by or even offspring of these Watchers. Enoch reveals that God sent the Flood to purge the rampant corruption spread by the Watchers and their half-breed titan progeny, the Nephilim. The Watchers themselves were bound in the earth for seventy generations until the day of judgment (1 Enoch 10:12-15), but their legacy lived on among men. After the Flood, the forbidden lore re-emerged in Babylon, Egypt, Rome and elsewhere, guided by the principalities and powers – the same fallen seraphim behind the scenes.

The serpent in Eden can thus be seen as the archetype of the shining Watcher: a rebel angel appearing as a wise, illuminating creature, offering divine secrets in defiance of God’s command. Lucifer is described as having been in Eden (Ezekiel 28:13-17) and called the “anointed cherub” before their fall. The shining ones ever since have sought to make man “like gods” on their terms – through occult knowledge, sun worship, star divination, and ultimately through worship of themselves.

Solar Symbolism: Sun, Zodiac, and the Serpent of the Sky

One of the most pervasive symbols connected with these beings is the Sun. Virtually every ancient culture ended up worshiping the sun in one form or another. It is the most visible source of light – a natural symbol for God’s glory – and thus ripe for corruption by Lucifer, the “Light-Bringer.” The Bible frequently warns against sun worship (e.g. Deuteronomy 4:19, Ezekiel 8:16) precisely because Israel was tempted by the cults of neighboring nations who equated the sun with the supreme deity.

"ye shall be as gods"

The New York Catholic Catechism, under: Pope, says, "The Pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth...by divine right the pope has supreme and full power in faith and morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the true Vicar of Christ, the head of the entire church, the father and teacher of all Christians He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by one, God himself on earth."

The Borgia Apartments (Appartamento Borgia) are a suite of rooms in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican. The theme is deeply astrological: the ceiling panels, adorned with planets, zodiac signs, and constellations, are believed to depict Leo’s cosmic destiny—heralding the return of a Golden Age under his papal reign.

In Mesopotamia the sun-god Shamash was called Judge of Heaven and Earth, seeing all with his all-seeing light. In Egypt, Ra was not only the sun but often merged with Aten, the sun disk itself, and with Horus. Pharaoh Akhenaten’s hymn to the Aten sun describes it as the giver of life and sustainer of all – language strikingly close to how one would praise the true God. We might recall that Enoch’s Watcher Shamsiel (perhaps the origin of Shamash’s name) taught men the “signs of the sun” and astrology. The zodiac – the belt of twelve constellations through which the sun and planets appear to move – became a sort of corrupted clock and Bible in the sky for the pagans.

In the cherubim’s four faces, many scholars have noticed a link to the four fixed signs of the zodiac: Lion (Leo), Ox or bull (Taurus), Eagle (often associated with Scorpio, whose constellation was seen as either a scorpion or eagle), and Man (Aquarius, the water-bearer, depicted as a human). In other words, the living creatures around God’s throne encapsulate the whole cosmos giving glory to God – every corner of the zodiac bowing to its Maker. But when fallen mankind worshipped the creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25), these four signs became the cornerstones of pagan astrology and occult symbolism.

Ye shall be as gods

"All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Said the serpent

Will pagans inherit the kingdom of God?

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind..."

— 1 Corinthians 6:9 (KJV)

What is the monstrance, if not a gilded idol—no different in essence from the golden calf? Encased in gold, shaped like the sun, it is lifted high as the people bow—not to Christ, but to a solar image rooted in ancient paganism. Roman Catholics who truly seek to follow Christ, hear this: you are not worshipping the Son of God, but unknowingly venerating the sun god and embracing the doctrines of devils.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

— 1 Timothy 4:1

The doctrine of devils is the teaching of the fallen seraphim—once angels of fire and glory, now twisted into devils, spreading deception in the guise of light.

To Roman Catholics who sincerely love Christ: you are being led astray. The Roman Catholic Church is not true Christianity—it is a counterfeit system, clothed in the name of Christ but built on traditions and teachings that oppose Him.

Anyway for those with eyes to see.......

The Sphinx in Egypt, with its human head and lion’s body, possibly symbolized the union of Leo and Aquarius (and with the bull and eagle implicitly included, all four fixed signs). In esoteric circles, a popular motif is the winged solar disk with twin serpents – found in Egyptian and Mesopotamian art – symbolizing the sun flanked by two uraei (cobras), representing divine kingship and the protective gods (demons). This image eerily echoes the idea of the radiant seraphim (perhaps serpent-like) attending the glory of the sun. The ancients observed a great serpent in the sky as well: the constellation Draco winds around the North Pole, and the Milky Way itself was often likened to a celestial river or serpent. The ouroboros – a serpent biting its tail, forming a circle – became a symbol of the cosmic cycle and eternity, often drawn encircling the zodiac. These patterns suggest that the rebellious seraphim left their stamp on the very mythology of the stars. The dragon in the sky was no longer seen as the defeated chaos monster of God’s creation, but as a power to be venerated or a secret to be understood.

From a biblical perspective, this “solar serpent” is none other than the Dragon of Revelation – Satan – who “deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9) and gives authority to the Beast (the final Antichrist). The devil’s agents, the fallen Watchers, masqueraded as sun gods and nature deities throughout history, opposing God’s plan at every turn. They craved worship and drew humanity into idolatrous systems – from Babylon’s Marduk to Persia’s Mithra to Greece’s Apollo. Even Israel fell prey: in the wilderness they worshiped the bronze serpent Nehushtan until King Hezekiah destroyed it (2 Kings 18:4). And at the end of the age, prophecy says a final Antichrist figure will arise with all the power of Satan, appearing as a messianic “light” to the world. This man is described as one “who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God… so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). In other words, he will claim the very authority of God – just as many ancient kings and popes claimed divine right from the sun – and the world will accept it.

The Rod and Ring: Divine Authority Usurped

In ancient Mesopotamia, the legitimacy of a king was often shown by images of the gods handing him the instruments of power. The rod and ring (or rod and circle) was one such symbol, interpreted as measuring tools or a shepherd’s crook and a coronet – signifying the god granting the king the right to rule and “measure out” justice. On Hammurabi’s stele, as we saw, “the god [Shamash] extends to him a rod and a ring – symbols of authority”. Similar imagery is found in Persian, Hittite, and Neo-Assyrian art. To the people of the time, this meant the king was chosen by the sun-god and ruled as his representative on earth. It conflated religious authority with political power under the aura of divine sanction.

The Bible provides a stark counterpoint: only God can truly delegate authority, and when He does, it is in righteousness – as when He gave Israel the Law, or anointed Davidic kings. The Antichrist described in the New Testament is essentially a usurper of this divine delegation. He will set himself up in God’s temple and proclaim himself above all gods. We might call to mind Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who erected a golden statue and demanded all to bow – an act of self-deification that foreshadows the Beast’s image in Revelation 13. Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by God, driven to madness until he acknowledged “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:32). But the pattern of exalting oneself as a god, with the help of those old shining ones behind the scenes, continued through history. In the Roman Empire, the cult of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) and the Imperial Cult eventually merged, so that by the late 3rd century, Emperor Aurelian could claim the sun’s title and Constantine could synchronize Christ’s birth with the sun god’s feast on December 25. The line of the Caesars, and later certain popes and emperors, often took on a quasi-divine status.

Consider the imagery of Louis XIV of France, the “Sun King,” who explicitly styled himself after Apollo. In more recent times, totalitarians from Hitler to North Korea’s Kim dynasty have used cult-of-personality radiance – essentially stealing the aura of divinity. All of these are antichrist precursors, exalting themselves and often using solar emblems (swastikas, sun wheels, etc.) to signal their allegiance to the false light. According to Christian prophecy, the final Antichrist will be empowered directly by Satan (the Dragon) and will receive from him a kind of infernal “rod and ring” – a crown (diadem) and great authority (Revelation 13:2). In fact, Revelation 13:4 says the world will worship both the Beast and the Dragon who gave him authority, showing that ultimately it is the ancient sun-serpent being worshiped through the Beast. This brings us to a sobering thought: Could the venerable institutions we see as holy today be unwittingly carrying on the legacy of those fallen watchers?

The Sun in the Church: Pinecones, Peacocks, and a Broken Covenant

In the heart of Vatican City, within the Vatican Museums, stands an incongruous monument: a 13-foot tall bronze pine cone statue, known as the Pigna. This ancient sculpture, dating to about the 2nd century A.D., was originally a fountain that stood in the Temple of Isis (the Egyptian mother goddess) in Rome. Today it sits in the Cortile della Pigna (Pinecone Courtyard), flanked by two peacock statues. The peacock in classical symbolism represents immortality (its flesh was thought incorruptible) and was sacred to Juno; in Christian art it was later adopted as a sign of resurrection. The pine cone, however, has an even deeper esoteric meaning: it is often associated with the pineal gland of the human brain – the so-called “third eye” – and thus with spiritual illumination or mystical insight. Throughout many cultures, pinecones appear as symbols of enlightenment and eternal life. The staff of the Greco-Roman god Dionysus, for instance, was topped with a pine cone, and ancient Assyrian winged genies are often depicted holding a pine cone aloft, as if an offering of mystical wisdom. That the Vatican prominently displays this symbol from a Temple of Isis is telling. It hints that syncretism – the blending of pagan symbols into Church decor – has a long and ongoing history.

The peacock and pinecone ensemble at the Vatican can be read as a subtle monument to those shining ones. The pinecone’s implied “third eye” alludes to hidden knowledge and inner vision – reminiscent of the Watchers’ promise of secret wisdom and the serpent’s promise of opened eyes:

"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

— Genesis 3:5 .

The peacocks, creatures of the sun (their tail feathers were said to have the “eyes” of the stars), flank this mystical pine cone as if guarding the gateway to higher knowledge. Is this merely fanciful art, or do such symbols betray an influence? High-ranking clergy have often been drawn to esoteric imagery. The papal staff (ferula) of some popes in the past featured a pine cone motif. The Vatican’s very layout, with the Egyptian obelisk (a sun-ray symbol and relic of sun-worship) at the center of St. Peter’s Square, aligns with the rising sun on certain days. Inside St. Peter’s, the canopy over the altar (the baldacchino by Bernini) is decorated with laurel leaves and bees, but also hides subtle sun motifs. The “Keys of Solomon” symbol and hexagrams appear in churches; even the halo in Christian art, while signifying holiness, resembles the solar disk behind the head of pagan deities. All these may be benign or reinterpreted usages – but they underscore how persistently the iconography of the ancient solar religion has merged into Christian settings.

More gravely, consider the covenant of Sabbath. In the Hebrew Bible, the Sabbath (seventh-day rest) is called “a perpetual covenant” and a sign forever between God and His people (Exodus 31:16-17). Yet in the early centuries of Christianity, the Church, now dominated by Gentile leadership, changed the primary day of worship to Sunday – because Sunday was the day of the sun, already venerated by Roman pagans. In doing so, some argue, they fulfilled the prophecy in Daniel of the blasphemous power who would “think to change times and laws” – the sacred time (Sabbath) and the divine law. The Emperor Constantine’s famous Sunday law of 321 AD explicitly honoured the “venerable Day of the Sun.” Later, the Church at the Council of Laodicea (4th century) forbade rest on the Sabbath for Christians, urging rest on Sunday. The result over centuries was the trampling of the Sabbath – a commandment given at creation – under the feet of an institution that claimed authority to alter God’s law. Many theologians see the “times and laws” of Daniel 7:25 as pointing to this very change, identifying the “little horn” power with the medieval Church that exalted itself. The shift from Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday can be seen as exalting a symbol of the sun over a symbol of God’s creation ordinance.

Now, connecting the dots: if the Vatican and other religious elites indeed harbor symbols of pagan enlightenment and solar worship, could it be that they are under the sway of those same shining fallen powers? This does not mean individual clergymen knowingly worship Lucifer. Rather, the institutional momentum and historical syncretism could be viewed as the shining ones gradually steering the Church away from pure apostolic truth into a hybrid mystery religion – one foot in the Bible, one foot in Babylon. The “Mystery Babylon” of Revelation 17 is depicted as a harlot arrayed in purple and scarlet (colours of Roman ecclesiastical power), holding a golden cup of abominations, and drunk with the blood of saints, and their own desire to be worshipped as gods on earth in place of Christ.

She has a name: “Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.” Many Protestant interpreters have identified this symbol with the Roman Church, which indeed absorbed Babylonian, Egyptian, and Roman pagan rites (from miters to vestments to processions) in order to create a universal religion. If so, then the religious elites – popes and those following in their train – may have become unwitting vessels for the very same Watchers who once taught mankind idolatries. The boastful words of the papacy in claiming to act in God’s stead, to forgive sins, even to adjust divine precepts, align with the pride of the Watchers. Jesus accused the Pharisees of making void God’s commandment by their tradition (Mark 7:9), and in latter times, it appears a similar dynamic has played out on a larger scale.

Hybrids, the Third Eye, and the Mark of the Sun

One provocative question arises from the Genesis 6 narrative: Did the offspring of Watchers (the Nephilim) have descendants that survived beyond the Flood? Genesis 6:4 hints, “There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that…”, implying some form of the Nephilim returned. The Israelites encountered giants (Anakim, Rephaim) in Canaan (Numbers 13:33). Some interpreters theorize that the lineage of secret “knowledge-bearers” – possibly even carrying fallen angel DNA – persisted through certain bloodlines, especially among the mighty rulers of the ancient world. Medieval lore, echoed in modern conspiracy, suggests that some royal families, religious leaders from noble lineages or secret societies claim descent from gods or angels. For instance, the Merovingian kings of France traced their line to a sea beast; Japanese emperors to the sun goddess Amaterasu. While such claims were political mythology, could there be a kernel of truth that some elites are genetic or spiritual hybrids of a sort? The “seed of the serpent” at enmity with the “seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15) might point to not only a spiritual lineage (those who follow Satan vs those who follow God) but perhaps an actual lineage of corrupted flesh and blood.

The notion of leaders drawing power from the “unseen realms” through the third eye is another way of saying they practice occultism – communication with spirits, esoteric rituals, and enlightenment techniques to gain advantage. Many secret societies (Freemasons, Rosicrucians, etc.) use the eye symbol and sun motifs liberally. The All-Seeing Eye atop a pyramid (as on the US dollar bill) is often interpreted as the Eye of Lucifer or the Watchers overseeing the enlightened few. High-ranking occultists speak of contacting ascended masters or illumined beings (reminiscent of the Watchers). Is it far-fetched that some of the world’s influential figures might knowingly be in league with fallen principalities? Scripture certainly acknowledges that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against… the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). The “high places” are precisely where the shining ones operate, behind thrones and altars.

One striking biblical clue tying these threads together is the number 666, the “number of the beast” in Revelation 13:18 – famously enigmatic. While 666 has many layers of meaning, one intriguing aspect is its connection to the sun. In occult numerology, 6 is the number of the sun (as 7 is of the moon, etc.). There is an ancient magic square of the Sun (see above) a 6×6 grid of numbers 1 through 36 arranged so that each row, column, and diagonal sums to 111, and the entire grid sums to 666. This solar talisman was known in antiquity and associated with the sun-god’s intelligence. The Babylonians used a sexagesimal (base-60) system, and the chief god Marduk was assigned 50, whereas the sun Shamash was 20 – but the underlying mathematical mystique of 6’s persisted. Some scholars note that the dimensions of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue were 60 cubits high and 6 cubits broad (Daniel 3:1), possibly a foreshadowing 66, and the Greeks used 600, 60, and 6 (in their letters chi, xi, stigma) to notate 666 in Revelation. All that to say: 666 carries a solar and imperial connotation – the zenith of human kingship asserting itself as divine. It is the number of a man, yet it reflects a beastly nature when man is empowered by the dragon. The “solar cross”, a symbol consisting of an equal-armed cross within a circle (representing the sun’s path through the four seasons), is an emblem found in many cultures – and some variants of it appear in ecclesiastical decorations and vestments. If the final Beast system is a marriage of false religion (the harlot) and political power (the beast), then the solar worship motif – the very religion of the fallen shining ones – will likely dominate.

Revelation describes the Beast’s kingdom as having power over all nations and being object of worship: “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Rev 13:4). It’s the ultimate culmination of humanism and occult enlightenment: man enthroned as god, empowered by Satan, marked by the ancient sun number 666.

One cannot help but see parallels today: a push for a unified world system, a New Age spirituality that venerates the “god within”, often using solar and light terminology, and a rejection of the humble worship of the true God. In some strains of New Age thought, Christ is reduced to an “ascended master” or solar avatar, and Lucifer is praised as a misunderstood liberator – literally the serpent’s gospel from Eden. The shining ones are still at work, and their ultimate aim is to deceive even the very elect (Matthew 24:24) if possible, by offering a counterfeit kingdom of light.

Christ: The Narrow Gate of True Light

Against this panoramic backdrop of cosmic deception stands Jesus Christ, the Light of the World (John 8:12) – the true Light which the darkness cannot comprehend. Whereas the shining ones offer a broad way laden with esoteric splendor, ancient symbolism, and promises of godhood, Christ offers a “strait gate” and a “narrow… way, which leadeth unto life”, which sadly “few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). He calls Himself “the door” of the sheep; “by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9). There is no secret knowledge required, no initiation into cosmic mysteries – only faith and repentance, which the worldly wise often consider “foolish.”

The early Christians, armed with the gospel, confronted a Roman world saturated with the legacy of those shining false gods. By holding up Christ crucified (a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles), they overcame demons and idols not by power or secret wisdom, but by the testimony of truth and the blood of the Lamb. In a very real sense, Christ as the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2) far outshines the counterfeit sun deities. He is the true Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) who holds the seven stars in His hand – in contrast to Lucifer who fell from heaven like a star. The path Christ lays is humility, self-denial, love of God and neighbour, and obedience to God’s commands (including His Sabbath rest, as some would note). This path is narrow because it refuses the enticements offered by the shining ones: pride, forbidden knowledge, tyrannical power, and lust.

In the end, the seraphim that remained loyal continue to cry “Holy, Holy, Holy” around God’s throne (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8), while the fallen seraphim (the dragon and his angels) will be cast down and destroyed, alongside their misguided worshippers. The Book of Revelation dramatically pictures a war in heaven between Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels, resulting in Satan’s permanent expulsion (Revelation 12:7-9). The Watchers’ dream of making man as gods will be exposed as a nightmare. Isaiah prophesied of Lucifer’s downfall in terms of a reversal of his shining imagery: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! … For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15). This is the fate that awaits all the antichrist figures who imitated that pride, from ancient kings to the final man of sin.

Meanwhile, those who follow the Lamb, keeping the faith of Jesus, shine with a different light – the reflected glory of God, not their own. They reject the broad way of the shining ones. They do not bow to the image of the Beast nor receive his mark (Revelation 20:4). They may seem obscure or “few” in the eyes of the world, but they are known by name by God’s holy angels. For every pinecone courtyard that celebrates occult knowledge, there are humble prayer gatherings that invoke the Holy Spirit. For every rod-and-ring bestowed by a false god, there is a staff and crown awaiting the overcomers from the hand of Christ, the Good Shepherd and King of Kings (1 Peter 5:4, 2 Timothy 4:8).

The saga of the seraphim and the shining ones is ultimately a tale of two kinds of light. One is the created light – beautiful and powerful, meant to serve – which went astray and tried to eclipse the Source. The other is the Uncreated Light of God that entered our world in the person of Jesus, full of grace and truth. The former light exalts itself, taking on the faces of lions, eagles, and bulls, demanding worship through fear and awe. The latter light humbles itself, taking on the face of a servant, and is worshiped through love and free devotion. The ancient watchers fell because they left their ordained station; Christ descended without losing His station – He remained obedient to the Father. Where the shining ones brought sin and knowledge that corrupts, Christ brings holiness and knowledge of God that redeems.

Thus, we must choose our source of enlightenment carefully. The world’s secret societies, power structures, and even compromised religious institutions may dazzle us with pomp, mystery, and grandeur rooted in ages past. They may trace lineages to gods and boast of authority from the sun and stars. But if those roots lead back to the fallen seraphim, their end is darkness. On the other hand, the ancient path of faith – walked by Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the apostles – leads to the City of God, illuminated not by the sun or moon, “for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23).

The seraphim, the burning ones, were created to shine in worship of the Creator. Some fell and misused their splendor to become false gods; others remain ministering flames of fire (Hebrews 1:7) serving the Almighty. In the fullness of time, the fallen watchers and their master will be judged. Until then, their many masks – serpent, sun, king, beast – will continue to beguile those who walk in the broad way. But for those with eyes open by the Holy Spirit, these deceptions are unveiled by Scripture and sound history. We see the lamassu and know a cherubim lookalike when we see it; we hear of gods giving knowledge and recall the Watchers’ tales. Forewarned by prophecy, we recognize the Antichrist spirit in any power that exalts itself above God and “thinks to change” His law.

In these last days, the call is to “come out of Babylon” – out of false religion and occult entanglements – and walk in the light of Christ. He alone is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). All the shining impostors, no matter how many wings or faces, must bow to Him. Let us therefore seek the true enlightenment that comes from the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), rather than the forbidden fire offered by the seraphic rebels. By doing so, we align ourselves with the winning side of this cosmic conflict. As Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate” – it may not be as flashy as the broad gate, but it alone leads to the eternal kingdom of our God, where no counterfeit light is needed, “for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:5).

I fully respect the gift of free will—every soul must choose whom they will serve. But as a follower of Christ, what I cannot remain silent about is this: a vast and powerful institution, drenched in wealth and worldly prestige, exalting men as gods, allowing them to be worshipped as such. Through an unbiblical priesthood and hierarchy, they lead over a billion souls astray—not in the name of truth, but in pursuit of their own greed, power, and spiritual dominance.