Enoch - ENOCH THE PROPHET, 1821

his is the book of the words of righteousness, and of the reproof of the Watchers, who belong to the world, ⁽¹⁸⁾ according to that which He, who is holy and great, commanded in the vision. (18) Who belong to the world. Or, "who (are) from eternity" (Knibb, p. 95).

2. I perceived in my dream, that I was now speaking with a tongue of flesh, and with my breath, which the Mighty One has put into the mouth of men, that they might converse with it.

3. And understand with the heart. As he has created and given to men the power of comprehending the word of understanding, so has he created and given to me the power of reproving the Watchers, the offspring of heaven.

4. I have written your petition; and in my vision it has been shown me, that what you request will not be granted you as long as the world endures. Judgment has been passed upon you: your request will not be granted you.

5. From this time forward, never shall you ascend into heaven; He has said, that on the earth He will bind you, as long as the world endures.

6. But before these things you shall behold the destruction of your beloved sons; you shall not possess them, but they shall fall before you by the sword.

7. Neither shall you entreat for them, not for yourselves; But you shall weep and supplicate in silence. The words of the book which I wrote. ⁽¹⁹⁾ (19) But you shall weep... I wrote. Or, "Likewise despite your tears and prayers you will receive nothing whatever contained in the writing which I have written" (Charles, p. 80).

8. A vision thus appeared to me. Behold, in that vision clouds and a mist invited me; agitated stars and flashes of lightning impelled and pressed me forwards, while winds in the vision assisted my flight, accelerating my progress. They elevated me aloft to heaven. Enoch 39:3

. Enoch 52:1

. Acts. 1:9-11

9. I proceeded, until I arrived at a wall built with stones of crystal. A vibrating flame ⁽²⁰⁾ surrounded it, which began to strike me with terror. (20) Vibrating flame. Literally, "a tongue of fire"

10. Into this vibrating flame I entered; And drew nigh to a spacious habitation built also with stones of crystal. Its walls too, as well as pavement, were formed with stones of crystal, and crystal likewise was the ground.

11. Its roof had the appearance of agitated stars and flashes of lightning; and among them were cherubim of fire in a stormy sky. ⁽²¹⁾ (21) In a stormy sky. Literally, "and their heaven was water" (Charles, p. 81).

12. A flame burned around its walls; and its portal blazed with fire.

13. When I entered into this dwelling, it was hot as fire and cold as ice. No trace of delight or of life was there. Terror overwhelmed me, and a fearful shaking seized me.

14. Violently agitated and trembling, I fell upon my face.

15. In the vision I looked. And behold there was another habitation more spacious than the former, every entrance to which was open before me, erected in the midst of a vibrating flame.

16. So greatly did it excel in all points, in glory, in magnificence, and in magnitude, that it is impossible to describe to you either the splendour or the extent of it.

17. Its floor was on fire; above were lightnings and agitated stars, while its roof exhibited a blazing fire.

18. Attentively I surveyed it, and saw that it contained an exalted throne; The appearance of which was like that of frost; while its circumference resembled the orb of the brilliant sun; and there was the voice of the cherubim.

19. From underneath this mighty throne rivers of flaming fire issued. To look upon it was impossible.

20. One great in glory sat upon it: Whose robe was brighter than the sun, and whiter than snow.

21. No angel was capable of penetrating to view the face of Him, the Glorious and the Effulgent; nor could any mortal behold Him.

22. A fire was flaming around Him. A fire also of great extent continued to rise up before Him; so that not one of those who surrounded Him was capable of approaching Him, among the myriads of myriads ⁽²²⁾ who were before Him. To Him holy consultation was needless. (22) Myriads of myriads. Ten thousand times ten thousands (Knibb, p. 99).

23. Yet did not the sanctified, who were near Him, depart far from Him either by night or by day; nor were they removed from Him.

24. I also was so far advanced, with a veil on my face, and trembling. Then the Lord with his own mouth called me, saying, Approach hither, Enoch, at my holy word.

25. And He raised me up, making me draw near even to the entrance. My eye was directed to the ground.