Get more fascinating insights into the scriptures withThe Pearl of Great Price: A Verse-by-Verse Commentary. The motif of the ascent of the community to the heavenly realm, although perhaps not as well known as the great stories of individual ascenders, is not as difficult to find as it may initially appear. Tbingen, Germany: Mohr Siebeck, 2016. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325807703_The_Book_of_Giants_tradition_in_the_Chinese_Manichaica. . Although other such accounts that parallel the book of Moses narrative may exist, the remainder of this article will focus not on attempting to identify further parallels of this nature but on highlighting examples in early Jewish and early Christian literature that depict this motif in a different way. James R. Davila, Heavenly Ascents in the Qumran Scrolls, in The Dead Sea Scrolls after Fifty Years: A Comprehensive Assessment, ed. Noel Reynolds (Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1997), 32374, an expanded and updated version of The Narrative of Zosimus and the Book of Mormon, BYU Studies 22, no. And (as for) this fragrant tree, no flesh has the right to touch it until the great judgment, in which there will be vengeance on all and a consummation forever. There, the speaker states that after God had taught him the wondrous mysteries and shown himself to him, God then illumined the faces of many through him. 3 (1982): 31132. Enoch preached repentance to "all the people" except the Caananites because of their wickedness (Moses 7:12). 29. Fortunately, the scriptures, especially the Pearl of Great Price, provide details about the divine destiny and history of the City of Enoch. Afterwards my spirit was concealed, ascending into the heavens. The Story of Archangel Haniel Taking Enoch to Heaven. 12. Because of this, it is most likely Enoch did not travel to the land of Canaan. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Company, 1983. For example, newly analyzed passages from the Book of Giants confirm the Latter-day Saint account of Enochs gathering of Zion and the eventual ascent of his people to heaven. Elijah was taken up in both a chariot of fire (2Ki. We are then told that Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven (Moses 7:21). Cf. [32] Church History Library, MS 2567. Another common element is that of the priesthood, and specifically the priesthood of Melchizedek. Carol Newsom, one of the foremost authorities on the Songs, suggests that the recitation of these Sabbath songs was a major vehicle for the experience of communion with the angels18 and is intended as a communal experience of the human worshipping community that gives the participants a sense of being in the heavenly sanctuary and in the presence of angelic priests and worshippers.19 Davila argues that these songs were meant for liturgical use and refers to them as part of a weekly cultic drama.20 Crispin Fletcher-Louis sees the Songs as a conductors score for not merely a descriptive heavenly tour but a more concrete ritualized heavenly ascent. She is the author of the book "Wake Up to Wonder.". Not only is Haniel "a prince of angels who takes Enoch up to heaven in a fiery chariot in 3 Enoch," but Haniel "also holds the keys to the palaces of heaven," writes Julia Cresswell in her book The Watkins Dictionary of Angels. When the people of God were attacked, their enemies fled to "a land out of the depth of the sea, and so great was the fear of the enemies of the people of God, that they fled and stood afar off and went upon the land which came up out of the depth of the sea" (Moses 7:14), which could have been anisland or a peninsula in the general region of the City of Enoch. So it is possible the City of Enoch could have been around these biblical regions. Zion as heavenly Jerusalem was taken up by the early church when they read Ps2 together with Ps110 as applying to Jesus.2 Psalm 110:4 is, of course, one of only two passages in the Hebrew Bible that make mention of Melchizedek. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! They are the only ones in recorded history to skip death. 26. Vol. [28] G. W. E. Nickelsburg et al., 1 Enoch 2, 45:45, p. 148. In The Angel Bible: The Definitive Guide to Angel Wisdom, Hazel Raven says that Haniel was one of the seven angels Enoch saw come together in a glorious way: "Enoch saw the seven angels before the throne of God as alike (they were also composite rather than single beings and represent countless others). Bradshaw, Jeffrey M., and David J. Larsen. Son confers family membership on community (they are his siblings)Behold I and the children which God hath given me bringing many sons unto glorynot ashamed to call them brethren (2:1015). See, for example, Philip S. Alexander, The Mystical Texts: Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice and Related Manuscripts, JSPSupp 61, Companion to the Qumran Scrolls 7 (London: Continuum, 2006), 129; Israel Knohl, Between Voice and Silence: The Relationship between Prayer and Temple Cult, Journal of Biblical Literature 115, no. 3 Enoch 6:1-18 records: It's interesting to note that the angels who encountered Enoch when he arrived in heaven detected the fact that he was a living human being by his scent and were upset about his presence there among the angels until God explained why he chose Enoch to come to heaven without dying first. 22 And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy; I hope no one will take this as a hidden prophecy that President Nelson is soon to be translated. Jim Davila has noted that in 2 Enoch (7172) we find the unusual tale of Melchizedek being taken away to paradise during the Flood so that he may serve later as a high priest.3 Additionally, in the Qumran texts known as 11QMelchizedek and the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice, Melchizedek appears to be depicted as a high priest who serves in the heavenly temple.4 Davila describes the trajectory of the figure of Melchizedek in ancient literature as moving from Melchizedek the priest-king to Melchizedek the god.5. Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 26vols. The story from the Bible of Enoch: a man who pleased God by his faith in Him, and who walked with God, and was taken up into Heaven without dying. Upon entry into the heavens, the Christian community hears the declaration, Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant (Heb. This latter-day city is described in modern scripture in close connection with descriptions of Enochs ancient city (see, for example, Doctrine and Covenants 45:1114). Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2001. Wright, Nicholas Thomas. I seek you, and as sure as dawn, you appear to me (lines 67).25 He later goes on to say, For you have made me understand your wonderful mysteries (lines 2829).26 In another place, he exclaims, I thank [you, O Lord], that you have instructed me in your truth, and made known to me your wondrous mysteries.27, We can glimpse the motif of the individual being called to teach the mysteries in 1QHodayota XII, 2829. [14] G. L. Mitton, Book of Mormon As a Resurrected Book, p. 131. Enoch and the people of Zion became so righteous that the Lord translated them and took their city to heaven after 365 years (Moses 7:69). While there are many theories about where the City of Enoch could have been, there's not enough evidence to give an exact location of where it was built. George Nickelsburg and James VanderKam see this passage as a compelling reference to resurrection (ibid., p. 268). Enoch and His People Are Taken Up to God (City of Zion Translated or City of Zion Is Taken Up), by Del Parson; GAK 120; GAB 6; Primary manual 6-06; Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5; Moses 7:18-19, 69. 11:1316). What we see in these texts should be considered the ritual ascension of the human community to heaven, where they experience a vision of Gods throne and are temporarily transformed into an angelified or deified state.21 Scott Mackie and Philip Alexander specifically refer to the Songs as implying a communal heavenly ascent. I will not go into an in-depth description of the content of the Songs but quote here from Alexanders analysis: The communal chanting of these numinous hymns on successive Sabbaths was apparently deemed sufficient to carry the earthly worshippers up to the courts of the celestial Temple, through the nave and into the sanctuary, and to set them before the throne of God. In the Parables of Enoch 45:45 we read:[28] On that day, I shall make my Chosen One dwell among them, and I shall transform heaven and make it a blessing and a light forever; and I shall transform the earth and make it a blessing. Who was Enoch in the Bible? - CompellingTruth.org He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (NIV). The Book of Mormon and Other Hidden Books. Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote: "After those in the City of Holiness were translated and taken up into heaven without tasting death, so . The author contrasts the experience of the Israelites under Moses and how they were not able to even touch Mount Sinai with that of the followers of Jesus Christ, who were given full access to Mount Zion. 2 (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book; Provo, Utah: FARMS), 25253. Discourse by President Brigham Young, delivered in the Third Ward Meeting HOuse, Salt Lake City, Sunday evening, June 23, 1874. When I first saw the photo that accompanied the inspiring New Years message and invitation for 2022 from President Nelson,[1] I could not help but think of the following verses from the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis about the city of Enoch (JST Genesis 9:2122): 21 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself. [26] The Lord and Enoch's City will Receive the Righteous (7:63) N. T. Wright, the well-known Anglican bishop and New Testament scholar, described the uniting of heaven and earth as follows: [27] God made heaven and earth; at last he will remake both and join them together forever. 1 Enoch 1: A Commentary on the Book of 1 Enoch, Chapters 1-36; 81-108. * In the last days, the city and its people will return to earth and be part of the New Jerusalem. We can see the parallel here between Enoch and Melchizedek of the Joseph Smith revelations, Jesus in Hebrews, and the leader of the Sabbath Songs: in each the leader gains access to the heavenly temple through his faithfulness and is then able to lead his followers in that same path of ascent. (NIV) Genesis 5:24. However, these are all narratives of the ascension of a single exceptional individual allowed to partake in, generally, a single exceptional experience. . The Brill Reference Library of Judaism 18. Whereas the idea of Enoch, as an individual, ascending to heaven is common in the ancient religious literature regarding the patriarch, parallels to the notion of his entire community being translated and taken up as well are not so apparent. Haniel may have joined some other archangels to give Enoch a spectacular display of angelic power and unity on his heavenly tour. Not only is Haniel "a prince of angels who takes Enoch up to heaven in a fiery chariot in 3 Enoch," but Haniel "also holds the keys to the palaces of heaven," writes Julia Cresswell . Similarly, Moses 7:69 states, And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, ZION IS FLED. Because we are informed that God came and dwelled in Zion, it is probably safe to assume that Enochs city had a temple. When there was corruption in the earthly temple, peoplesuch as the Qumran community and the early Christianswere striving for the heavenly temple located in the heavenly city. And he answered me and said, this high mountain that you saw, whose peak is like the throne of God, is the seat where the Great Holy One, the Lord of glory, the King of eternity, will sit, when he descends to visit the earth in goodness. . The Joseph Smith Papers, Histories 1, ed. Though many Latter-day Saints will remember Hugh Nibleys remarkable discoveries in ancient documents relating to the Book of Moses story of Enoch that were published nearly fifty years ago, they may not be aware of exciting new findings. 404405 n. 2836. Thus, in the MCP depiction of BG, in the Book of Moses, and in the envisioned latter-day City of Zion, God dwelt in the midst, literally and symbolically central in the eyes of His people. As the evangelist told the story, when the son was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him (Luke 15:20).. I will briefly outline the pattern that I have been able to piece together, drawing on an array of different texts within these collections. . The Pearl of Great Price: Verse by Verse Commentary. that he might take his place with the host of the holy ones and enter into community with the congregation of the children of heaven (1QHa XI, 2023).24, The second point, regarding the idea that the individual is, while in the heavenly realm, taught the mysteries of heaven, can be seen in columnXII of 1QHodayota. It's unclear where the City of Enoch was located. In chapter 7 of the book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith provides us with an extensive account of how Enoch built a city "called the City of Holiness, even ZION" (Moses 7:19). The book of 3 Enoch features archangel Metatron (who had originally been the prophet Enoch before becoming an angel in heaven) reflecting on what happened when archangel Haniel came to take him on a trip from Earth to heaven. and have ceased to cast down their faces. Scott D. Mackie, Heavenly Sanctuary Mysticism in the Epistle to the Hebrews, The Journal of Theological Studies 62 (April 2011): 78. Even after Zion was taken off the earth, there were still those taking up residence in the city. Speaking to a community of Christian believers, the author declares, But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, . The text reads that Enoch "walked with God: and he was no more; for God took him" (Gen 5:21-24), which is interpreted . They were then miraculously freed from prison by angels who came from heaven in a brilliant light and were lifted up to dwell in Paradise. Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice implies a communal ascent: if one makes the ascent then one does so in a group. Translation of Hebrews 2:9 is Mackies. The LDS Story of Enoch as the Culminating Episode of a Temple Text, Mitt Romney and I Mormoni: A 2012 Analysis of ItalysPrintMedia, Teaching Correct Principles: The Experience of TheChurch of JesusChrist of Latter-daySaints Responding to Widespread SocialAcceptance of ElectiveAbortion, Gender Distribution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Worldwide, Deconstruction, Abjection, and Meaning in Contemporary Art: World Trends and the BYUMuseumofArt, Sacred Borders: Continuing Revelation and CanonicalRestraint in EarlyAmerica, Mormon Yankees: Giants on and off the Court, Significant Textual Changes in the Book of Mormon: The First Printed Edition Compared to theManuscripts and to theSubsequent Major LDS English PrintedEditions, Peculiar Portrayals: Mormons on the Page, Stage, andScreen, City of Joseph: A Historical Musical ofNauvoo, The Mormon Quest for Glory: The Religious World of the Latter-daySaints. Enoch, the Watchtower, and rightly handling Scripture | carm.org It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain [veil], where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. The religion itself reminds me of an apocryphal book; there are wonderful gems inside as well as interpolations. All the homesgone. The presence of these themes in a variety of documents leads us to speculate that the concept of communal ascent to heaven was widespread at Qumran. "And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; . , And I looked and beheld a tree; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty. An Impossible Challenge Turned into Hope for the Children of the Leprosy Colonies in Bihar, Latter-day Saint Fiction: A Step Into Another Time, Food for Your 120 Hour Kits that Youll Actually Eat, Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families: Joseph SmithMatthew 1; Matthew 25; Mark 1213; Luke 21, Photo Essay: Saratoga Springs Utah Temple Begins Public Open House, https://latterdaysaintmag.com/a-new-biography-of-enoch-and-an-excellent-tool-for-the-book-of-moses/, Great Tribulations for Some; Preservation for the Lords People (7:61), The Lord Will Gather the Righteous (7:62), The Earth Shall Rest, and Enoch Receives a Fulness of Joy (7:67), https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/the-past-and-future-of-the-temple-lot-in-independence-jackson-county-missouri/, https://www.marquette.edu/maqom/slavonicenoch.html, https://archive.org/download/131203ImageAndLikeness2ReadingS, https://www.academia.edu/28945654/_Introduction_to_MANI_S_PICTURES_The_Didactic_Images_of_the_Manichaeans_from_Sasanian_Mesopotamia_to_Uygur_Central_Asia_and_Tang_Ming_China_Leiden_Brill_2015_pp_1_19, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325807703_The_Book_of_Giants_tradition_in_the_Chinese_Manichaica, https://archive.org/details/1enochcommentary0002nick, http://archive.atsjats.org/Paulien_-__Resurrection.pdf, https://scriptures.byu.edu/tpjs/STPJS.pdf, https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-01-01/president-russell-m-nelson-suggests-3-resolutions-in-his-first-message-of-2022-238652, How I Know Podcast: When Your Children Are Young You Never Dream Whats Ahead On the Journey, Medical Training, Computers Enhance Education, and Service in Flooded Communities: Service from Latter-day Saints Around the World, Come, Follow Me Podcast #17, Rejoice with Me for I Have Found My Sheep Which Was Lost, Luke 12-17, John 11.