Symbols of Degrees
Emblems and their Explanations
Emblem of the Order and 1st-5th Degrees
In the center of the badge is the mark of Cain as it might well have looked. It dipicts the figure of a man under the tent of the Almighty. "And the LORD said unto Cain, 'Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.” (Gen. 4:15) Therefore, this is a reminder of being under the constant shelter and protection of the Almighty, in spite of our great sins against the Lord and our fellow man.
Encircling the emblem is the symbol of Gold, modified with Twelve rays of sun and light, for the Lord is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 5:7).
Twelve reflects the Old Testament and New Testament for covenant. It is the number of the Apostles, the number of the tribes of Israel, the number upon the Breastplate of Judgment, the number of Gates the faithful will pass through in the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Twelve is comprised of Three Fours (3x4).
- Four elements of creation:
- Earth, Wind, Fire, Water.
- Earth, Wind, Fire, Water.
- Four Corners of the Earth:
- to which the Gospel must be spread.
- to which the Gospel must be spread.
- Four Canonical Gospels:
- to describe the life of Christ.
- to describe the life of Christ.
Three added to the Four is Seven, the number of divine perfection, for God rested upon the Seventh Day.
The Five wounds of Christ added to the number of perfection leaves us again with the Twelve.
Emblem of the 6th Degree
The emblem of the 6th Degree represents the six wings of the Seraphim, and their song which they sing before the Throne, day and night, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev. 4:8)
The Seraphim, being an order of angels, are innately spiritual beings, having no friendship with the world. Even so, the Lord said that in that day, we “shall be as the angels” (Matt.22:30), therefore, since that is to be our final state, we ought to be as spiritual as our flesh will allow, and live as citizens of heaven, though we yet walk the earth. The “spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41), but we shall not side with the weak side of our nature, but with the willing and powerful side.
The Seraphim, being an order of angels, are innately spiritual beings, having no friendship with the world. Even so, the Lord said that in that day, we “shall be as the angels” (Matt.22:30), therefore, since that is to be our final state, we ought to be as spiritual as our flesh will allow, and live as citizens of heaven, though we yet walk the earth. The “spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41), but we shall not side with the weak side of our nature, but with the willing and powerful side.
Emblem of the 7th Degree
The emblem of the 7th degree depicts the revealed name of God, arranged downward as a descension, into the form of a man. This descension is meant to symbolically show the incarnation of God in Christ upon the earth. It also shows man made in God's image.
The number Seven of this degree is the number of divine perfection, being comprised of 3 divine natures (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), and 4 physical elements (earth, wind, fire water). Seven is the unity of these two realities, creating the number of fullness and completion. Christ is the fullness of both physical and spiritual, being fully God and fully man.
The number Seven of this degree is the number of divine perfection, being comprised of 3 divine natures (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), and 4 physical elements (earth, wind, fire water). Seven is the unity of these two realities, creating the number of fullness and completion. Christ is the fullness of both physical and spiritual, being fully God and fully man.
Emblem of the 8th Degree
The emblem of the 8th degree shows an Alpha and Omega, first and last letters of the language of the New Testament, Greek, of which Christ self-identifies, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Rev. 22:13).
This is exalted over the serpent, signifying Christ's conquering victory over all evil.
The letters TGO OTA simply stand for the name of our order, “The Golden Order of the Almighty.”
This is exalted over the serpent, signifying Christ's conquering victory over all evil.
The letters TGO OTA simply stand for the name of our order, “The Golden Order of the Almighty.”
Emblem of the 9th Degree
The center of the emblem of the 9th degree is an illustrated version of Genesis 3:5, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.“ and also of Romans 16:20, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.”
Encircled around the image is a nine-pointed star, representing the nine fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22) and the nine spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-10).
The defeat of Satan and the operations of the Holy Spirit together is not to be missed, for “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (2 Cor. 10:3).
Encircled around the image is a nine-pointed star, representing the nine fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22) and the nine spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-10).
The defeat of Satan and the operations of the Holy Spirit together is not to be missed, for “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (2 Cor. 10:3).
Emblem of the 10th Degree
The emblem of the 10th degree is an evangelical cross with compass points to the four-corners of the earth. In each direction is a symbol representing the marking characteristic of each canonical Gospel: Matthew, with the rune of 'man,' showing Christ's humanity; Mark, with the astrological sign for Leo the Lion, demonstrating His Kingship; Luke, with the sign of the ox, showing his servitude and humility; John, with the Eagle, representing His divinity.