The Horizontal Passage to the Queen’s Chamber

“The Horizontal Passage to the Queen’s Chamber is divided into two parts, the first portion six-sevenths of the total length with a low roof scarcely four feet above the floor, and the terminal portion, one-seventh of the total length, roomier owing to the drop in the floor at this part, by about twenty-one inches. C. T. Russell suggests that the full length of the Horizontal Passage, from the north wall of the Grand Gallery to the north wall of the Queen’s Chamber, represents the total period of seven thousand years from the fall of man to the end of the “Times of Restitution.” From its proximity to the Queen’s Chamber, and the fact that there is more head-room at this portion, the terminal one- seventh of the passage represents the “Millennium,” the last of the seven thousand-year periods from the date of the fall. The first six-sevenths of the passage represents the first six thousand years of the world’s history.

The first portion, as already stated, is only about four feet from floor to ceiling. It well represents the world groaning under the yoke of sin and death, stumbling in the darkness, and going, they know not where. We have seen that the Descending Passage shows much the same thing, but there is a difference between the symbolism’s of the two passages. The Descending Passage, by its downward inclination and its termination at the Pit, is symbolical of the downward course of “this present evil world” (not the people, but the institutions, i.e. systems of government, religious institutions and etc.) toward the destruction which was due to begin, and did begin, in the year 1914 A.D. (the beginning of *The Great Time of Trouble).

The Horizontal Passage, on the contrary, by its horizontal course, its position at the level of the summit of the Well, and its termination at the seven-sided Queen’s Chamber, symbolizes the course of the world toward Human Perfection. It shows that there is a hope beyond “The Great Time of Trouble,” not for the institutions but for the people; for “the creature [the world in general] was made subject to vanity [frailty], not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope“—Rom. 8: 20.

It is because of the Ransom-Sacrifice of Christ, that the world’s salvation will be attained; and as the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world, that is, as God’s purpose in

Christ was planned from the beginning, it is appropriate that the Well, which symbolizes the death and resurrection of Christ, should be at the commencement of the Horizontal Passage, just as it is appropriate that the Queen’s Chamber should be at its termination. God, seeing the end from the beginning, foretold that through Christ the whole creation, now groaning and travailing in pain, would be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God — Rev. 13 : 8; Rom. 8:21, 22

 The “Great Time of Trouble” at the close of the six thousand years from Adam’s fall, is represented in the Horizontal Passage by the sudden drop in the floor at the point six-sevenths of the total length of the passage. A traveler, groping and stumbling along the dark Horizontal Passage with head and shoulders bent and aching, if he were ignorant of this drop ahead of him (a very astute point), he would be met with a very disagreeable experience when he came to it. He would be bruised, and humbled. But after a little, when he rose to his feet, he would find to his joy that there is now no longer any necessity to stoop. The end-portion of the passage is approximately five feet eight inches in height, that is to say, it is the average height of man.

This pictures well the present condition of the world. Bowed down by the yoke of sin and death, the nations are groping in the dark, quite unaware of the fact that a time of humiliation awaits them a few years hence (an event even yet at the doors, the signs becoming all the more apparent every day). They will be taken by surprise, and will fall, and all their earthly hopes and aspirations will be wrecked. ( * )

Then the Psalmist’s prophecy will be fulfilled: “Come; behold the works of the Lord, what desolation’s he hath made in the earth; he breaks the bow, and cutest the spear in sunder; he burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen [nations], I will be exalted in the earth“—Psa. 46:8-10. When the people are raised again, they will find to their joy that they will no longer be compelled to walk with bowed heads. The burden of Adamic condemnation will have fallen from their shoulders, for “in those days it will no more be said, The fathers have eaten a sour grape [of sin] and the children’s teeth are set on edge, but every one [who dies] shall die for his own iniquity; every one that eats the sour grape [sins] his teeth shall be set on edge“—Jer. 31:29, 30. From this point onward, all the humble, obedient ones will progress with comfort toward the Queen’s Chamber, the post-millennial condition of eternal bliss Plate XXX.

Nevertheless, should any one during the Millennium think too highly of himself, he will strike his head against the hard roof; for Christ’s rule will be an iron one, and none will be allowed to think more highly of himself than he ought to think. On the other hand, if any one should think too lowly of himself, he will be encouraged to a more sober appreciation of his abilities, because that will be the time when “whosoever exalted himself shall be abased; and he that humblest himself shall be exalted,” for “God resisted the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble“—Luke 14:11; Jas. 4:6.

( * ) “These words are in the first edition of this volume, and were written in 1909. The time pointed forward to, when the nations would be taken by surprise because of the suddenness of the coming of the Trouble, this was the year 1914-1915 (as mentioned throughout the first edition). This prediction, based upon the clear prophetic testimony of the Scriptures, and abundantly corroborated by the Great Pyramid’s symbolism’s and measurements, was signally fulfilled at the date foretold, namely, 1914 A.D., when the Great War (WWI) was precipitated upon the unsuspecting nations. Formerly strong autocratic Kingdoms are now reduced beyond recovery, and others are weakened and will ultimately lie prostrate as well; for the Scriptures which pointed to the date (1914 A.D.) when the overthrow of “Christendom” would begin, also foretells that the destruction will be complete; for “Thy God reigns,” the Kingdom of Christ is begun—Isa. 52:7.”

*Be it noted the “The Great Time of Trouble” had its beginnings in 1914 A.D., but it is a time or period of trouble not just a single day nor a single event. This period of trouble has steadily progressed all these many years and like birth pangs upon a woman in labor so these troubles (pangs) continue to progress both in frequency and in intensity leading eventually to the birth or climax of the great time of trouble, in this case the Seventh Plague, Armageddon. In the depiction above the drop in the floor indicates the beginning of the Great Time of Trouble, however as stated this is a period of time which will eventually accumulate in Armageddon, the reason the whole period is not shown is because it is a relatively short period of time in comparisons with the full length of the finial or last seventh, the Millennial Age, 1000 years.

(Great Pyramid Passages, Pages 103-106 par. 171-176)

In our next post we will take a closer look at the symbolism’s of the King and the Queens Chambers and how they relate.