Yeah that is the thing - they have their symbols but they never tell us what they mean. That in itself makes me think that the symbols are from an unseen culture - since its mostly symbols of power - it would be that of the governing class by logic - who really knows what the symbols mean. But they are in essence alien by their nature i.e., we have no common way to interpret them part from at the surface level.
thanks!
RE: Symbols; person in shaft of light, eclipse etc., doomsday