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The canonical Scriptures contain but scant information about Enoch. In a few brief passages we learn that he was of the line of Cain, the son of Jared, and the father of Methuselah. His name signifies one. who is disciplined and dedicated, and his translation to heaven without passing through the gates of death indicates that he had attained consciousness of immortality while still functioning in an earthly body. "By faith," writes Paul, "Enoch was translated," and "before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." In the words of the Genesis account, "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."
When Enoch had lived "sixty and five years he begat Methuselah, the wise;" and thereafter, it is stated, "Enoch walked with God." The age of Enoch at this time is significant since it holds the numerological key to his attainment. Sixty-five contains the powers of the master number eleven. The Masons hold this to be the most important of all numbers because, according to their teachings, anyone possessing two units (11) within, may come into possession of all things. It means the attainment of equilibrium between the two poles of spirit, after which wisdom is begotten and a union with the divine self realized. Such an one becomes, like Enoch, a seer and a prophet announcing the coming of the Cosmic Christ to the world, and the birth of His consciousness in individuals.
Enoch's prophecy appears in the apochryphal Book bearing his name. In it he refers to the Christ as the Messenger who descended "through all the heavens" down to Earth to "free it from the fetters of darkness." Enoch, the seventh from Adam, beheld in the seventh heaven the glory of that coming event. In the account of his elevation to that exalted realm where past, present and future are one, the patriarchal seer described successive steps of ascending consciousness that culminate in Initiation and union with God. Enoch's ascent through the seven spheres which took him to the throne of God is a variation of the initiatory work recorded in the Seven Days of Creation, at the end of which God rests; also, as revealed in the Seven Visions of John, the last of which closes on "a new heaven and a new earth."
The following excerpt from the Book of Enoch describes the prophet's ascent through the heavenly spheres under the guidance of an Angel until, reaching the seventh and highest, he beholds the coming to Earth of the greatest of all divine Messengers, the Christ, the fulfillment of His mission, and His reascent into the presence of the Great Glory.
The Angel:
From the Seventh Heaven above I descended into this sphere. that I may raise thee before the Face of Him whom the universe delights to look upon.
Enoch:
Then we arose into the ether. We saw the dwellers in that place. In many things it corresponded with the earth of mortals for all that is beneath is a counterpart of what is on high.
Then we arose farther into the First Heaven. There I beheld a throne in the midst and spirits were upon the right hand and left, and they glorified Him who sat upon the throne. And I looked if I could behold any sitting there, but a splendor of light was over and about it and I could not see any form, but I heard the music of those who glorified. Then I said unto the angel, 'To whom is this praise addressed?' He answered, 'To the Splendor that is in the Seventh Heaven. He is here, but He is not visible. And also unto the Beloved One who hath sent me unto thee.'
Then he raised me higher still, into the Second Heaven, separated from the First Heaven as far as the earth also is separated from it. There I beheld a throne. Beautiful spirits were on the right and on the left and a Splendor, dazzling to behold, wrapped the throne in star clouds. Great was the majesty of the Second Heaven and the splendor of its angels, tenfold. And I fell upon my face to worship the Splendor, but the angel suffered me not, saying: 'Worship not the visible nor the throne though of celestial brightness; reserve thy worship for Him alone Whom thou shalt see in the time to come. For above all the heavens and their angels that throne is placed; there is its veil and crown; these, with thine eyes, shalt thou behold. Think not that thou shalt not see Him face to face, for they who love Him rise up in His presence. The Holy Spirit, the loved One, beareth them even in her bosom before the Supreme Lord.'
Then he raised me higher still into the Third Heaven of all beauteous light. There also were innumerable angels upon the right and upon the left. They raised hymns of beauty before the Lord of Beauty whom they worshiped. Invisible was He amidst the splendor. I saw only light immeasurable. No record of earthly things, or remembrance of bodily ills were there. It is a pure Heaven of Chrysolite. It is a world of immortal splendor. Then did he say unto me: 'When thou shalt come into the Seventh Heaven, there shalt thou know that there is nothing hidden from the thrones and from the celestial messengers.'
Then he lifted me up, upward still, until we stood in the Fourth Heaven of the sphere. It was as far above the Third Heaven as the first was far above the earth. There also I saw divine ones upon the right and the left of the throne. They sang, they glorified the invisible Presence who veiled the throne in glory.
After that he uplifted me into the Fifth Heaven. The angels were more beautiful than all the others. But the splendor and the throne exceeded that of the angels as much as they exceeded mere men. Then did I glorify Him who hath no name, the Almighty in the high heavens, who transmits His Glory from heaven to heaven, clothing His angels in splendor.
Then he raised me into the Sixth Heaven where I saw an ether brightest of all. The radiance that was in the heaven I had last seen, was night compared with this. Here the angels shine with lustre. A Holy Splendor and a throne also were here ... He answered and said: 'I am appointed to conduct thee... that thou mightest behold the majesty of the King. For beyond this place lives He who is never named, with His Spirit whose Name is unrevealed, with His Messenger who goeth forth and of whom the universe knoweth not. GOD alone is thy Lord. His Voice, the heaven of heavens, the powers do obey...'
Then he raised me into the Seventh Heaven, where I saw spirits in a Paradise of splendor. They were all the Holy ones of God, spirit unclothed in flesh. I viewed them in their celestial garments assembled in splendor and divineness. And while gazing upon them, one of the beautiful spirits who was anigh, came unto me and showed me books, but they were not as the books of men. And he opened the books before me and they contained writings, but unlike the writings of earth. And he read the institutes of heavenly truth and the records of holy things.
Then I beheld One standing whose Glory exceeded the Glory of all the others; and all the saints and spirits of the place advanced toward this One with reverent awe. Then this One became changed and appeared like a divine being, and the angel said, 'Venerate.' And I venerated, and beheld the type of many wonderful things revealed.
And while I venerated this Spirit, behold I saw another Glorious Being more Beautiful and Divine than the first, whose Glory. suffered no transfiguration. And all the angels approached and worshipped and venerated not the first Spirit when the Lord was nigh.
A cloud of radiance was interposed through which my dazzled eyes beheld. Had I seen the Lord of Brightness my spirit itself had been consumed.
Then on my face I fell and worshiped for this was as the Supreme. Seventy thousand veils He wore to hide the brightness of seventy thousand suns. And lo! An Ocean of Light.
And the angel said to me: 'Who is this that sitteth on the right of God? 'And I answered, 'Sir, thou knowest.'Then he spake: 'This is the Beloved; this is the Holy Spirit who speaks in the Prophets, Queen of the Ocean of Light.'
But on the left stood a Spirit, clothed as the son of thunders. And I said unto the angel, 'Who is He?' And he said: 'It is the Messenger.'
Then mine eyes were opened and I beheld a most mysterious glory. Darkness from excess of light seized me and drowned my understanding. And I heard the tongues of thousand thousands glorifying, venerating and chanting Him whose Presence was too bright for me to behold, whose effulgence had stricken me blind.
And the hymns ascend from the six heavens into the Seventh Heaven of the most High; and I knew then why they sang around the thrones whose splendor was an invisible Mystery.
— Corinne Heline
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