Eagles and Bees?

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

In our series of articles reviewing some of the background behind Dan Brown's book, The Da Vinci Code, we have explored his deceitful presentation of the so-called "Facts" precedent to the novel itself, the blasphemous heresies regarding Mary Magdalene and the related Merovingian legends, as well as the false representations from the spurious "Gnostic Gospels."

What makes all this disinformation even more disturbing is that there are powerful leaders behind the emergence of the "New Europe" who take these myths seriously.

In this final article, we will explore some of the "codes" that Dan Brown hasn't resorted to (at least not yet!).

One of the curious facets of the Merovingian legends was their apparent obsession with the Tribe of Dan. While this aspect didn't emerge in Dan Brown's novel, it has a high likelihood of coming up in some of the related fanciful speculations that will emerge in the days ahead.

The Tribe of Dan

Although we do not take the myths of the "Ten Lost Tribes" of Israel seriously,¹ it is interesting to examine the strange maneuvers of the Tribe of Dan. Their disappointing performance seems to have been anticipated, enigmatically, by Jacob on his deathbed as he prophesied over each of his sons:

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

Genesis 49:17

This identification with a serpent was changed by Ahiezer, the leader of the Tribe of Dan during the Exodus, to an eagle with a serpent in its mouth as their tribal ensign.²

When the conquest of Canaan was completed and the tribes received their land allocations, the Tribe of Dan was given the land west of Benjamin, placing them between Jerusalem and the Philistines. (Even though Dan was one of the largest tribes, it received one of the smallest - and most troublesome - allocations.)

The primary hero of this tribe is, of course, Samson. Although the subject of several colorful episodes, he actually accomplishes little of practical value. His riddle involving bees resulted in an additional identity idiom for his tribe.³

After Samson's death, the tribe was unable to adequately deal with their Philistine adversaries⁴ and sought an alternative location, which was ultimately found in the North.⁵

It is interesting that in the "Song of Deborah," commemorating the victory over Sisera, Dan is chided for his distancing himself from the perils of the emerging nation:

Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.

Judges 5:17

Dan's descendants apparently became skilled sailors and migrated north and westward to seek their own futures. It is remarkable that Moses had previously anticipated this in his prophetic summary:

And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

Deuteronomy 33:22

How could he "leap from Bashan" (the Golan Heights) if he had been officially allocated the area west of Jerusalem? This prophecy by Moses anticipated his relocating to the North!

Editorial Derision?

The Tribe of Dan was the first to fall into idolatry.⁶ Dan's disconnection from the commonwealth seems to be anticipated by the Holy Spirit in His dealing with the tribe throughout Scripture: the names of his sons are omitted in genealogies;⁷ Dan is either mentioned last,⁸ or his name is blotted out altogether!⁹

His omission from the list of tribes in Revelation 7 is a well-known mystery. Irenaeus explains this omission by suggesting that the Antichrist is to come from the tribe of Dan - a belief which he bases on Jeremiah 8:16 from the Septuagint version ("from Dan shall we hear the noise of his swift horses").¹⁰

The Bee Identity

When the tomb of one of the earliest Merovingian kings was unearthed, a treasure including 300 tiny gold bees was discovered. These bees are regarded as a symbol of the Tribe of Dan, linked with Samson's riddle.¹¹

When Napoleon was crowned, he insisted that his coronation cloak included the 300 bees embroidered into it, apparently evidencing his desiring an identity with the Merovingians and the Tribe of Dan. When he married Marie Louise Habsburg, he insisted that these same bees be embroidered into her wedding gown.

The Merovingian legends - and the Magdalene heresy - are taken seriously by many of the royal families in Europe and among some of the powerful activists behind the European Union today.

(It is also interesting that the Mormon Church accepts the Magdalene heresy and that the state symbol of Utah is the bee.)

The Eagle Identity

It is also worth noting that the ensign of Israel's enemies always seems to be that of an eagle: Herod, the Romans, the Germans, the Czars, et al. (It is interesting that even Sparta and Troy may have links with the Tribe of Dan!¹²)

It disturbs some to note that the symbol of the United States is also, of course, the eagle. The apparent Masonic symbolism on the Great Seal of the United States also disturbs many (look at your dollar bill and consult these images):

The 32 feathers of the right wing are said to represent the 32 degrees of the Freemasonry. The 33 feathers on the left wing include the honorary 33rd degree of the Scottish Rite. The nine tail feathers are said to highlight the Council of Nine when the Illuminati merged with the Freemasons on May 1, 1776.

The ostensible occultic significance seems even more pronounced on the reverse side: the All Seeing Eye (the "Open Eye" of Egypt and the "Mind's Eye" of the Gnostics) and the Latin phrases "Annuit Coeptis" (announcing the birth of) "Novus Ordo Seclorum" (New World Order).

The occult agenda behind world politics should surprise no serious student of Daniel Chapter 10. Satan seems to love symbols.

More Surprises Coming?

Did you know that there appears to be a 151 ft. statue of Mary Magdalene, dressed in a Roman toga, holding the "Holy Grail" as a torch, in one of the most prominent international harbors today? Designed by Auguste Bartholdi, it was privately funded by the French Freemasons and presently adorns New York Harbor.

Are there other occultic surprises around the corner? Will the rise of paganism and apostasy in America bring about a final evil twist as we plunge into the End Times? Will America ultimately join the world in challenging the Abrahamic Covenant by also turning against Israel?

We must not take our Christian heritage for granted. It came at a very high price, paid by those who invested in their posterity. We must take our responsibilities seriously, or we will be disenfranchising our children and grandchildren.