The mystery of the Great pyramid : traditions concerning it and its connection with the Egyptian Book of the dead : with numerous illustrations

MYSTERY OF THE GREAT PYRAMID

portcullis between them, just as anyone conversant with architectural or engineering drawings can see the designer’s intentions from an outline diagram without having to study the detailed plans such as the contractor requires. The symbolism intended by the architect of the Great Pyramid is to imply that this Ante-chamber is the place of the Screen, or Veil, guarding the Pyramid’s innermost shrine, or “* Holy of Holies”’, exactly analogous to the Veil which divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the Temple.

Revelation regarding the final mystery of all, therefore, is only revealed to the Illuminate by stages, and it is not until he has passed through the last veil that the mystery is made known to him—the Resurrection to Life Eternal.

Such, indeed, is the great truth indicated by the open (and therefore Jidless) coffer in the King’s Chamber, rightly called the ‘‘ Chamber of the Open Tomb”, symbolic of the Resurrection to Life Eternal when the body is raised to immortality, and such is the theme portrayed in chapter cliv of the Ritual, the vignette of which shows Osiris on his bier under the full rays of the life-giving sun (see p. 106), while the text tells us how the body shall not see corruption. ‘‘ This is the mystery of the change in the body of the life that comes from the destruction of life ’ (Adams’ translation). This chapter, in fact, expresses the same concept as St. Paul so sublimely sets forth in the fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians: “ Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed .. . For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. . . . Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory ”’ (verses 51-4).

That the King’s Chamber is not a chamber of the dead, nor was ever built to be the resting-place of any mummy, is also indicated by the presence of the ventilating shafts.

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