“The real practical magic contained in the Sohar and other kabalistic works, is only of use to those who read within. The Christian apostles – at least, those who are said to have produced “miracles” at will – had to be acquainted with the science. It ill-behooves a Christian to look with horror or derision upon “magic” gems, amulets, and other talismans against the “evil eye”, which serve as charms to exercise a mysterious influence, either on the possessor, or the person whom the magician desires to control. There are still extant a number of such charmed amulets in public and private collections of antiquities.
Illustrations of convex gems, with mysterious legends – the meaning of which baffles all scientific inquiry – are given by many collectors. King shows several such in his Gnostics, and he describes a white carnelian (chalcedony), covered on both sides with interminable legends, to interpret which would ever prove a failure; yes, in every case, perhaps, but that of a Hermetic student or adept. But we refer the reader to his interesting work, and the talismans described in his plates, to show that even the “Seer of Patmos” himself was well-versed in this kabalistic science of talismans and gems.
St. John clearly alludes to the potent “white carnelian” – a gem well-known among adepts, as the “alba petra”, or the stone of initiation, on which the word “prize” is generally found engraved, as it was given to the candidate who had successfully passed through all the preliminary trials of a neophyte. The fact is, that no less than the Book of Job, the whole Revelation, is simply an allegorical narrative of the Mysteries and initiation therein of a candidate, who is John himself. No high Mason, well-versed in the different degrees, can fail to see it.
The numbers seven, twelve, and others are all so many lights thrown over the obscurity of the work. Paracelsus maintained the same some centuries ago. And when we find the “one like unto the Son of man” saying, Chapter ii., 17: “To him that over-cometh, will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a WHITE STONE, and in the stone a new name written” – the word – which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it, what Master Mason can doubt but it refers to the last headline of this chapter?
In the pre-Christian Mithraic Mysteries, the candidate who fearlessly overcame the “twelve Tortures”, which preceded the final initiation, received a small round cake or wafer of unleavened bread, symbolizing in one of its meanings, the solar disk and known as the heavenly bread of “manna”, and having figures traced on it. A lamb, or a bull was killed, and with the blood the candidate had to be sprinkled, as in the case of the Emperor Julian’s initiation. The seven rules or mysteries were then delivered to the “newly born” that are represented in the Revelation as the seven seals which are opened “in order”, (see chapters 5 and 6). There can be no doubt that the Seer of Patmos referred to this ceremony.”
H. P. Blavatsky
The Mark Of God: Understanding Your "I AM Presence" 