De-coding Isaiah Robertson's Symbolism

(quotations on this page are of Isaiah Robertson’s words)

The 25 foot cross Prophet Isaiah built in his driveway was a gift to the community: offering physical and spiritual healing, as well as a final chance for redemption ahead of the imminent Second Coming – to occur at the brink of Niagara Falls on Goat Island.  Many of the symbols in this overview from 2012 are shown more clearly in the detail photographs below.

A: the 144,000 saved souls [from Revelation], 12,000 each from the Twelve Tribes of Israel

B: (three) “circles in circles” symbolizing the universe

C: (three) radial spikes “many mansions in my father’s house”

D: eight-point stars for Jesus flank the cross.

E: a (green) figure representing John of Patmos spreads one large and six smaller stars and bells: the totals of seven symbolize the seven Asian churches to which he was directed to share his vision [Revelation]

F: Holy Spirit emerges from Christ’s body

G: twelve twelve-point stars separated by bells for the Twelve Tribes of Israel

H: about to fly skyward, a dove representing the Holy Spirit perched behind the cross

I: twelve-point stars for the Twelve Tribes of Israel

J: a spontaneous Islamic symbol

K: numerous red-flamed green candles throughout symbolize “the light of the world”

L: the donkey in the stable

M: merged circles represent the covenant of marriage

N: six-point star for the Jews

O: five-point star for the Gentiles

Above: 2012 portraits of Prophet Isaiah

Details from 2012-14

below: At the intersection of the cross, an eight-point star (P) representing the body of Jesus is formed out of eight red radial spokes capped by painted circular cut-outs.  Just above, there is a five-point white star (I) encircled by a yellow twelve-point star on a blue circular ground that represents the Twelve Tribes of Israel. 

above: near the top, a white star-burst (A) on a purple ground symbol – mirrored in larger scale behind – represents the 144,000 souls [12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel] declared as being saved in Revelation 7 & 14. 

Six and five-point stars for the Jews and Gentiles are mixed with the other star shapes scattered throughout the site.  This myriad of stars is meant to invoke a daytime view of the heavens.

above: on a walkway platform behind the cross the archangels Michael and Gabriel, dressed in white for purity, hold candles, “the light of the world,” and display red oval shapes meant to be seen both as buttons and drops of blood.  Gabriel is outlined in purple representing the robe that was given to Jesus prior to the Crucifixion.  The archangels flank a fifteen-point star representing heaven and the universe.  Small white stars between the points represent believers worldwide.

Another spontaneous crescent-shaped symbol (Q) that was later identified by visitors as being Islamic [see (J) in cross overview at top] and (L) represents the donkey in the stable [see also the overview].   An encircled 7 [top center] represents the seven days of creation.

Base of the cross in 2016:

East side of house 2013-14

below left: the Seventh ends the pathway of Seals from the front sidewalk and a triangular symbol (R) that points the way through the Pearly Gates.

below center: ten red stones represent the Ten Commandments, above  the “sun radiates out its beams all over the world, the sun reaches all people.”  An eight-point star represents Jesus, and twelve heart and star symbols over nine stones represent the Twelve Disciples.

above right: a figure representing John of Patmos spreads one large and six smaller stars and bells (E), the totals of seven of each symbolize the seven Asian churches to which he was directed to share his vision.   (S) five stars, and five circles represent the biblical number five which stands for “His grace, His mercy.”   (T) the number five is repeated in rows of five stars and hearts: one row painted on the wall, the other on the four ground stones below.

above left: Prophet Isaiah applies some touch-up work to the enclosed platform area behind the cross.     

above right: the western end of the platform behind the cross displays stars, candles, crosses, and in the back right corner of the platform, a green folded American flag pays tribute to a family member who had recently died while in military service.  Hovering behind on the house, the green figure of John of Patmos sprinkles his vision to seven Asian churches [seven stars, seven bells].

above: Prophet Isaiah in 2012 (left) and 2015 (right)

See also:

• News & Events: Isaiah Robertson 1947-2020
• News & Events: Obituary for Prophet Isaiah Robertson in Raw Vision magazine
• News & Events: Prophet Isaiah Robertson in Folk Art Messenger Magazine