Quotes from the Book of Enoch On Heaven

Quotes from the Book of Enoch On Heaven

Chapter 14

8A vision thus appeared to me.

9Behold, 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.

10They elevated me aloft to heaven. I proceeded, until I arrived at a wall built with stones of crystal. A vibrating flame surrounded it, which began to strike me with terror.

11Into this vibrating flame I entered;

12And 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. Its roof had the appearance of agitated stars and flashes of lightning; and among them were cherubim of fire in a stormy sky. A flame burned around its walls; and its portal blazed with fire. 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.

13Violently agitated and trembling, I fell upon my face. In the vision I looked.

14And 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.

15So 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.

16Its floor was on fire; above were lightnings and agitated stars, while its roof exhibited a blazing fire.

17Attentively I surveyed it, and saw that it contained an exalted throne;

18The 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.

19From underneath this mighty throne rivers of flaming fire issued.

20To look upon it was impossible.

21One great in glory sat upon it:

22Whose robe was brighter than the sun, and whiter than snow.

23No angel was capable of penetrating to view the face of Him, the Glorious and the Effulgent; nor could any mortal behold Him. A fire was flaming around Him.

24A 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 who were before Him. To Him holy consultation was needless. 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. 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.

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

 

Chapter 39

3A cloud then snatched me up, and the wind raised me above the surface of the earth, placing me at the extremity of the heavens.

4There I saw another vision; I saw the habitations and resting places of the saints. There my eyes beheld their habitations with the angels, and their resting places with the holy ones. They were entreating, supplicating, and praying for the sons of men; while righteousness like water flowed before them, and mercy like dew was scattered over the earth. And thus shall it be with them for ever and for ever.

5At that time my eyes beheld the dwelling of the elect, of truth, faith, and righteousness.

6Countless shall be the number of the holy and the elect, in the presence of God for ever and for ever.

7Their residence I beheld under the wings of the Lord of spirits. All the holy and the elect sung before him, in appearance like a blaze of fire; their mouths being full of blessings, and their lips glorifying the name of the Lord of spirits. And righteousness incessantly dwelt before him.

8There was I desirous of remaining, and my soul longed for that habitation. There was my antecedent inheritance; for thus had I prevailed before the Lord of spirits.

9At that time I glorified and extolled the name of the Lord of spirits with blessing and with praise; for he has established it with blessing and with praise, according to his own good pleasure.

10That place long did my eyes contemplate. I blessed and said, Blessed be he, blessed from the beginning for ever. In the beginning, before the world was created, and without end is his knowledge.

11What is this world? Of every existing generation those shall bless you who do not spiritually sleep but stand before your glory, blessing, glorifying, exalting you, and saying, The holy, holy, Lord of spirits, fills the whole world of spirits.

12There my eyes beheld all who, without sleeping, stand before him and bless him, saying, Blessed be you, and blessed be the name of God for ever and for ever. Then my countenance became changed, until I was incapable of seeing.

 

Chapter 40

1After this I beheld thousands of thousands, and myriads of myriads, and an infinite number of people, standing before the Lord of spirits.

2On the four wings likewise of the Lord of spirits, on the four sides, I perceived others, besides those who were standing before him. Their names, too, I know; because the angel, who proceeded with me, declared them to me, discovering to me every secret thing.

3Then I heard the voices of those upon the four sides magnifying the Lord of glory.

4The first voice blessed the Lord of spirits for ever and for ever.

5The second voice I heard blessing the Elect One, and the elect who suffer on account of the Lord of spirits.

6The third voice I heard petitioning and praying for those who dwell upon earth, and supplicate the name of the Lord of spirits.

7The fourth voice I heard expelling the impious angels, (the satans) and prohibiting them from entering into the presence of the Lord of spirits, to accuse the inhabitants of the earth.