The Sin of the Watchers and the Apocalypse
Parts of this chapter are drawn substantially from my book, The Unseen Realm, chapters 40 and 41.
- Watchers and their giants with sins hinted at in scriptures like Genesis 6:1-4, Deuteronomy 32:7/8-9, Psalm 82:1-7, Numbers 13:32-33, Job 1:6/12, Job 2:1-6, Job 38:4-7, Daniel 10:13-21, and Zechariah 3:1-10 paint a picture of invasion and violence more akin to Lord of the Rings and Mordor than the brief blips and marginalization's we have generally been taught.
SEE ALSO:
1 Enoch 6-8, 1 Enoch 10, 1 Enoch 12-16, Jubilees 4:15-26, Jubilees 5:1-11, Jubilees 10:1-14, Assumption of Moses 1:12-15, Assumption of Moses 4:1-6, Assumption of Moses 10:1-8, Assumption of Moses 8:all.
REMEMBER: It is not that 1 Enoch, Jubilees, and Assumption of Moses are "scripture" in the same sense as our canonical bible. However, they are critical history that shaped not only the minds of ancient Jews, but of Jewish first century converts and apostles of Jesus, the Christ (our Lord) in Gospel Allegiance.
Such materials may have been more involved "as scripture" if we consider ancient Jewish views of scripture as being a larger contextual package of writings, where canonical texts were the premium and others are supporting them as critical backstory, history, and commentary. Therefore, such works a 1 Enoch would help to shape both historical content and exegetical interpretation.
The message of the cross was not merely that Jesus was the only hope for resolving humanity’s estrangement from God caused by events in Eden, but for reversing the effects of the transgression of the Watchers as a major contributor to human corruption. It’s no surprise then that what the New Testament says about the return of Jesus would also be in part framed by the need to finally overturn the impact of the supernatural rebellion of Genesis 6:1–4. In this final chapter, our focus will be on certain features of apocalyptic events in the book of Revelation that have some connection back to the fallen Watchers and their giant progeny.
Release of
the Watchers
The releasing of the Watchers (Revelation 9) is companion to the imprisonment of the Watchers (1 Enoch 10:4-6); 1 Enoch 10:11-13).
- When does this take place? Note the following:
- AD 2023 - 3500 years = 1475 BCE; Early date for Solomon's Temple; approx. end-date for imprisonment of Watchers?
- 5873 AM (AD 1948) - 6000 AM (AD 2075) = 120 years per Genesis 6:3, including 7 years Tribulation
- AD 2025 - AD 2075 (5950 - 6000 AM) or Final Jubilee, including 7 years Tribulation.
QUESTION(S):
- When is the release found in Revelation 9?
- When is the release found in Revelation 20?
- Are they the same event? Why or why not?
- If they are different, then how are the different?
THOUGHTS: The first event (Revelation 9) is part of the series of trumpet judgments that precede the second coming of Christ, while the second event is part of the millennial reign of Christ and the final judgment that follow his second coming. The first event occurs before the seventh trumpet, which announces the kingdom of God and the wrath of God, while the second event occurs after the battle of Armageddon (battle for Jerusalem, not Megiddo), which marks the end of the great tribulation and the defeat of the beast and the false prophet.
Why 500 years for a generation?
There is a passage in the 1 Enoch Book of Giants that mentions the lifespan of giants being about 500 years. It is found in fragment 4Q530, column 2, lines 1-6, which reads as follows:
> And they (the giants) began to kill each other, and to kill the wild beasts. And the wild beasts multiplied over them. And they began to sin against the birds, and against all that moves upon the earth. And they devoured their flesh among themselves, and drank the blood from it. Then the earth complained about the lawless ones. And Azazel taught men to make swords, and daggers, and shields, and breastplates. And he showed them the things after these, and the art of making them; bracelets, and ornaments, and the art of making up the eyes, and of beautifying the eyelids, and the most precious and choice stones, and all kinds of coloured dyes. And the world was changed. And there was great impiety, and much fornication, and they went astray, and all their ways became corrupt. And Michael, and Gabriel, and Raphael, and Phanuel saw it and testified against them all. And they bound all the sons of the watchers who had wronged them. And they brought them before the Lord of Spirits. And the Lord of Spirits said to the watchers who had wronged them: "You were in heaven, but its secrets had not yet been revealed to you; and a worthless mystery you knew. This you made known to women, in the hardness of your hearts. And through this mystery the women and the men cause evil to increase on the earth." Say to them therefore: "You will not have peace." And they took and brought them to the abyss, and left them in the darkness. And they were filled with great pain. And they wrote down the names of their children. And their names were written in the book of the watchers. And he said to them: "In the days of their lives, and in their lifetimes, their children will die. And they will see the destruction of their beloved ones, and they will lament over the destruction of their children. And they will all beg, and petition, and pray for mercy, but they will not receive it." And the Lord of Spirits said to Raphael: "Bind Azazel by his hands and his feet, and throw him into the darkness. And split open the desert, which is in Dudael, and throw him there. And throw on him jagged and sharp stones, and cover him with darkness. And let him stay there forever. And cover his face, that he may not see the light. And that, on the great day of judgement, he may be hurled into the fire. And heal the earth which the watchers have ruined, and announce the healing of the earth, that they may heal the plague, and that all the children of men may not perish through all the secret things that the watchers have disclosed and have taught their sons. And the whole earth has been corrupted through the works that were taught by Azazel: to him ascribe all sin." And to Gabriel the Lord of Spirits said: "Go to the bastards, and to the reprobates, and to the children of fornication, and destroy the children of fornication, and the children of the watchers, from among men. And send them out, and send them against one another, and let them destroy themselves in battle; for they will not have length of days. And they will petition you, but the petitioners will gain nothing in respect of them, for they hope for eternal life, and that each of them will live five hundred years." ³
As you can see, the passage states that the children of the watchers, the giants, will not have length of days, and that they hope for eternal life, and that each of them will live five hundred years. This implies that their lifespan is limited to 500 years, which is much shorter than the lifespan of their fathers, the watchers, who were immortal angels. The passage also explains why the giants were violent and destructive, and how they were punished by God and his angels.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/6/2023
(1) The Book of Giants - d1fdloi71mui9q.cloudfront.net. https://d1fdloi71mui9q.cloudfront.net/YvXMR8pTzKSe8TwYoOlH_The%20Book%20of%20Giants.pdf.
(2) The Book of Giants - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Giants.
(3) Nephilim - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephilim.
(4) The Book of Giants - Biblioteca Pleyades. https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/gigantes/esp_gigantes_3.htm.
(5) Enoch - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enoch.
ALSO: The ANE materials, such as 1 Enoch and the Zadokite calendar, are examples of Jewish apocalyptic literature that tried to interpret the seasons in eschatology based on their understanding of the Scriptures and their historical context. They used various concepts and symbols, such as ages, onahs, weeks, and so on, to describe the periods and events that would lead to the final judgment and the restoration of God’s kingdom. For instance, 1 Enoch divides the history of the world into ten weeks, each lasting seven jubilees (49 years), and predicts the coming of the Messiah and the resurrection of the righteous in the seventh week (1 Enoch 91:12-17). The Zadokite calendar, also known as the Book of Jubilees, follows a similar scheme, but adds more details and calculations based on the solar year and the lunar month (Jubilees 6:23-38).
- ALSO: Consistent with 2nd Peter 2 and Jude 1:6 "angels that sinned"
- ALSO: Consistent with "put in chains" in Tartarus and "gloomy darkness"
- The release of dark forces to terrorize earth dwellers
- Referent scriptures (as a package): 1 Enoch 10:4–14; 18:11–16; 19:1; 21:7; 54:1–6; 88:1–3; 90:23–26; Jubilees 5:6–14; 2 Peter 2:4; cf. 4 Ezra 7:36; Prayer of Manasseh 3
SUMMING THE ABOVE: The texts listed are part of a complex and diverse tradition that deals with the origin and fate of the fallen angels, or watchers, who rebelled against God by cohabiting with human women and producing hybrid offspring, the giants or Nephilim. These texts also reflect on the consequences of this angelic sin for the earth and humanity, and the role of Noah and his family in preserving the righteous seed and the divine plan.
The earliest and most influential text in this tradition is 1 Enoch, a collection of Jewish apocalyptic writings that date from the third century BCE to the first century CE. The first part of 1 Enoch, known as the Book of the Watchers, narrates the story of the watchers’ descent to earth, their teaching of forbidden knowledge to their wives and children, and their judgment by God and the archangels. The Book of the Watchers also describes the cosmic and terrestrial effects of the watchers’ sin, such as the corruption of the natural order, the violence and oppression of the giants, and the spread of evil and idolatry among humans. The Book of the Watchers also introduces the figure of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, who is chosen by God to be a mediator and a scribe of the heavenly secrets. Enoch is taken up to heaven and shown various visions of the past, present, and future, including the place of punishment of the watchers and their children, the abyss.
The Book of the Watchers influenced other Jewish and Christian texts that expanded, modified, or reinterpreted its themes and motifs. One of these texts is Jubilees, a rewritten version of Genesis and Exodus that dates from the second century BCE. Jubilees incorporates the story of the watchers and the giants into its chronological framework, and emphasizes the role of Noah and his sons in preserving the purity of the human race and the covenant with God. Jubilees also adds some details to the story, such as the names of some of the watchers and their wives, and the involvement of the archangel Mastema in instigating the watchers’ sin and supporting the giants.
Another text that is related to the Book of the Watchers is 2 Peter, a Christian epistle that dates from the late first or early second century CE. 2 Peter refers to the punishment of the angels who sinned by being cast into Tartarus, a Greek term for the abyss, where they are kept in chains of darkness until the day of judgment. 2 Peter also compares the angels who sinned with the people of Noah’s time, who were destroyed by the flood, and with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were destroyed by fire. 2 Peter uses these examples to warn its readers about the false teachers who deny the second coming of Christ and indulge in immoral behavior.
Other texts that mention the watchers and the giants, but are not directly dependent on the Book of the Watchers, are 4 Ezra and the Prayer of Manasseh. 4 Ezra is a Jewish apocalyptic work that dates from the late first century CE, and contains a series of visions and revelations given to Ezra, a scribe of the law. In one of the visions, Ezra sees a pit of fire and a pit of water, and he is told that these are the places where the souls of the wicked and the righteous are tested until the day of judgment. He is also told that the pit of fire is the place where the angels who sinned and their children are tormented. The Prayer of Manasseh is a Christian penitential prayer that dates from the second or third century CE, and is attributed to Manasseh, the king of Judah who repented from his idolatry. In the prayer, Manasseh asks for God’s mercy and forgiveness, and he mentions that God has not destroyed the angels who sinned, but has reserved them for the day of judgment.
These texts show that the story of the watchers and the giants was a popular and influential tradition in Jewish and Christian literature, and that it was used to address various theological and ethical issues, such as the origin and nature of evil, the role and responsibility of humans in God’s plan, the criteria and consequences of divine judgment, and the hope and expectation of eschatological salvation.
If one wishes to understand Revelation 9 in its ancient literary context, the passage describes the release of the fallen Watchers before their ultimate destruction with Satan.
In other words, to impose modern war machinery on the passage violates the contextualized intention of the writer. Below I argue that Gog is best identified as an evil supernatural being, perhaps even Satan. As such, he is not the human Antichrist, but the being personified by or empowering the Antichrist. Since the final battle in Revelation and Second-Temple Jewish sources (e.g., 1QM, the Qumran War Scroll) has both divine and human combatants on either side, I consider the released Watchers to be part of the enemies described as “Gog and Magog” in league with Satan.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Given the material above, the Enochian connection (as well as other Pseudepigrapha), it might be interesting to put the following into our view. This lines up with a number of other thoughts, such as the final 50 Year Jubilee (2025 to 2075), which would then climax with 7 years of Jacob's Trouble.
144,000 as
Mirror
Basic story—the 144,000 are the anti-Watchers and male virgins not defiled with women like fallen Watchers.
4 And I heard the number of the sealed,
144,000, sealed from every tribe of
the sons of Israel:
5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher,
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.
The key for linking these 144,000 males to the Watchers if found in chapter 14, verses 1-5 ...
1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as first-fruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.
The basic argument here for the 144K being the counter to the fallen sons of God (Watchers) is to be found in the facts listed above, especially that of the male sons of God being virgins before the Lord juxtaposed against the Watchers.
QUESTION: So—are these males human men or are they angelic heavenly host divine spirits? That they are of a particular human Israelite tribe a clue to them being human or are they like Michael, where they are sons of God protectors or princes given charge over each tribe?
An Aside ...
- Standing on Mount Zion: Dr. Mike (and others) want to see this as taking place in heavenly Zion, but that is not what the text states. It clearly states Mount Zion.
- Jesus + 144K + Mount Zion + John: The entire entourage is on Mount Zion (at Jerusalem) and hears a voice from heaven sounding like many waters.
- Mount Zion + Heavenly Realms: What follows next seems to be a combined chorus of a heavenly voiced crowd plus the 144K virgin men.
- 144K on Earth + New Song: So, the heavenly chorus learns the song, but the only earthlings who know it are the 144K.
NOTE: If Mount Zion is Har Megiddo in Revelation 19-20, then why is it not in Revelation 14? I propose that it is precisely the same and that John is not seeing 144,000 Jewish virgin men in the heavenly realms, but located physically at Jerusalem in Israel on Mount Zion and the Throne of the Lamb set up there by Jesus, the Christ (anointed King).
Here is a summary of Dr. Michael S. Heiser's argument for Jerusalem being the site of the battle of Armageddon based on a reinterpretation of Har Megiddo or Har MGD:
- Heiser claims that the traditional identification of Armageddon with the mountain of Megiddo is incorrect, because Megiddo is not a mountain, but a tell (a small mound formed by successive layers of ancient settlements) ¹.
- Heiser argues that the word Armageddon should be understood as Har Magedon, which means "mountain of assembly" or "mountain of the divine council" ². He bases this on the similarity of the word Magedon with the Hebrew word moʿed (מוֹעֵד), which means "appointed time, place, or meeting" ².
- Heiser points out that the phrase "mountain of assembly" or "mountain of the divine council" occurs in Isaiah 14:13, where it refers to the cosmic mountain where God and his heavenly host convene ². Heiser identifies this mountain with Zion or Jerusalem, which is also called the "city of the great King" and the "holy mountain" in the Psalms ².
- Heiser supports his interpretation by showing that the context of Revelation 16, where Armageddon is mentioned, is related to the prophecy of Zechariah 12-14, where Jerusalem is the place where the final battle against the nations will take place ¹, ². He also notes that Revelation 19-20 depicts the descent of the heavenly Jerusalem to the earth after the defeat of the beast and the false prophet ².
- Heiser concludes that Armageddon is not a geographical location, but a theological symbol of the cosmic conflict between God and his enemies, which will culminate in the victory of the Lamb and the establishment of his kingdom in the new Jerusalem ².
(1) Where Will the Battle of Armageddon Be Fought?
(2) How To Argue From the Biblical Text for a Local ... - Dr. Michael Heiser.
(3) Review: The Unseen Realm by Michael S. Heiser - Logos Bible Study Platform.
(4) An Overview of Michael Heiser - Let Us Reason.
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The theological point is that the 144,000 holy ones who fight the Beast (Antichrist) are counterpoints to the holy ones who rebelled and defiled themselves with human women. John telegraphs that these holy ones will help their earthly compatriots defeat the Beast and rectify the impurity brought to earth by the Watchers.
Antichrist as
tribe of Dan?
- The assertion of Revelation 7:4 is transparently inaccurate. A careful read shows that Dan is missing from the list.
- OT tribal lists generally do not have Joseph, but "two half-tribes" of Ephraim and Manasseh.
- Revelation 7 has Joseph and Manasseh, but Ephraim is missing.
- The most intriguing omission is that of the tribe of Dan.
- Forsook their allotted land in the south and took to the north (Judges 19:40-48 ; Judges 18 )
- They appropriated Micah the Levite and his house of idols.
- Laish becomes a cult center to Baal until the northern tribes of Israel are taken by the Assyrians.
The statement in the (?) popover note is partially correct, but it could be improved by adding some more details and clarifications. Here are some suggestions:
- Laish was indeed renamed Dan after being conquered by the tribe of Dan, but this happened much later than the time of Jeroboam I. According to the Bible, the tribe of Dan migrated from their original territory in the south to the northern region of Laish, after failing to conquer the land of the Amorites (Judges 18:1-31). This event is dated to the period of the judges, which is generally considered to be between the 13th and 11th centuries BCE. Jeroboam I, on the other hand, was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who reigned in the 10th century BCE, after the division of the united monarchy of David and Solomon (1 Kings 11:26-40; 12:1-20). Therefore, it is not accurate to say that Laish was a center for the golden calf cult instituted by Jeroboam I, since the city was not under his control or influence at that time.
- The golden calf cult was not the only form of idolatrous worship that Jeroboam I established in the northern kingdom of Israel. He also built high places, appointed priests from all sorts of people, and made a feast in the eighth month, which he called a festival for the Israelites (1 Kings 12:31-33). These actions were condemned by the biblical writers as a sin that led the Israelites astray from the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Moreover, Jeroboam I did not set up the golden calves in Laish/Dan and Bethel as alternative gods, but as symbols or representations of Yahweh, who had brought the Israelites out of Egypt (1 Kings 12:28). Therefore, it is not entirely correct to say that Jeroboam I introduced a new religion or a new god to the Israelites, but rather that he modified and corrupted the existing worship of Yahweh.
- Baal worship may have occurred in Laish/Dan, but it was not the primary religious focus of the city. Baal was a common name for various local deities in the ancient Near East, especially those associated with storms, fertility, and warfare. Baal worship was widespread among the Canaanites, the original inhabitants of the land of Canaan, before the Israelites entered and settled there. The Bible records several instances of conflict and confrontation between the worshipers of Yahweh and the worshipers of Baal, such as the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:1-40). However, there is no direct evidence that Laish/Dan was a cult center for Baal, or that Baal worship was prevalent or dominant in the city. On the contrary, the archaeological evidence suggests that Laish/Dan was a cult center for the god El, the chief deity of the Canaanite pantheon, who was also regarded as the father of Baal. A large stone stele, dating to the 9th century BCE, was discovered in the site of Laish/Dan, which bears an inscription mentioning the "God of Dan" and the "House of David". The inscription also refers to a king of Israel and a king of Aram (Syria), who were defeated by a king of the Aramean city of Damascus. Scholars have identified the "God of Dan" as El, based on the similarity of the name with the Ugaritic term for El, ilu dani, meaning "El is my judge". The stele also shows that Laish/Dan was involved in the political and military affairs of the region, and that it had a close connection with the dynasty of David, the founder of the united monarchy of Israel and Judah¹²³.
Therefore, a more accurate and nuanced statement would be:
QUERY: Was Laish a later cult center for Baal?
RESPONSE: Laish, renamed Dan after being conquered by the tribe of Dan in the period of the judges, had a reputation for idolatrous worship. However, it was not a center for the golden calf cult instituted by Jeroboam I, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who reigned in the 10th century BCE, since the city was not under his jurisdiction or influence. The golden calf cult was one of the forms of idolatrous worship that Jeroboam I established in the northern kingdom, but it was not a new religion or a new god, but a modification and corruption of the existing worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Baal worship may have occurred in Laish/Dan, but it was not the primary religious focus of the city. Laish/Dan was a cult center for the god El, the chief deity of the Canaanite pantheon, who was also regarded as the father of Baal. Laish/Dan was also involved in the political and military affairs of the region, and had a close connection with the dynasty of David, the founder of the united monarchy of Israel and Judah. Source: Bible, Book of Judges 18:1-31; Bible, First Book of Kings 11:26-40; 12:1-33; 18:1-40; Archaeological evidence from Laish/Dan¹²³..
(1) Baal and the Amorite Hegemony (Chapter One) - Yahweh and the Origins of .... https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/yahweh-and-the-origins-of-ancient-israel/baal-and-the-amorite-hegemony/315DAF3C37D4BD296F908F9998A4E82C.
(2) The Cult at Kiriath Yearim: Implications from the Biblical Record - JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20504429.
(3) Caesarea Philippi - Bible Odyssey. https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/caesarea-philippi/.
(4) undefined. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009314770.004.
(5) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal.
- Dan is cursed rather than blessed by Jacob (Israel) with "Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper in the path, the bites the horse's heel so that his rider falls backward." (Genesis 49:17)
- Dan is a lions cub that leaps from Bashan (Deuteronomy 33:22)
- Dan is portrayed as a relative failure with some successes (see prior Deuteronomy 33 note above).
- Dan's name in Canaanite would have been bathan ("serpent").
- Dan is located in Bashan at the foot of Mount Hermon.
- Early church would have seen the transparent reason for Dan not being in the 144,000 tribal list is because the antichrist would come from the tribe of Dan.
- First Jewish antichrist mention is from Irenaeus.
- Irenaeus pegs Dan as the source of the antichrist.
- The antichrist army against Judah comes from the north out of Dan.
- The Hippolytus version is much more detailed.
Antichrist from the tribe of Dan…makes his first known appearance in Irenaeus, but it is in Hippolytus that he finds his most scrupulous and eloquent biographer. Hippolytus’ copious description proceeds on the principle that “the deceiver seeks to liken himself in all things to the Son of God.” As Jesus was the lion from the tribe of Judah—referring to Jacob's blessing on Judah in Genesis 49:9—Antichrist will be the lion from the tribe of Dan—referring to Moses’ blessing on the tribe of Dan in Deut[eronomy] 33:22.[271]
- Not from Dan, but through Dan's territory (see above).
PRESENT DAY REFERENCE:
Because we are studying the biblical story from a future-view, it seems appropriate here to inject the current situation in Israel into the mix. This seems especially relevant given the Zadokite DSS calendar and the AD 1948 to AD 2075 (120 year) timeframe, which matches Genesis 6:1-4, especially verse 3, where God gives humanity 120 years of living and time to repent before the flood.
I have searched the web for information about the threats to Israel from its neighboring countries. Based on the results, I can summarize the main sources of danger as follows:
- Lebanon: The Shiite militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, poses a serious threat to Israel's northern border. Hezbollah has a large arsenal of rockets and missiles that can reach deep into Israel, and has fought several wars with Israel in the past⁴. Israel also fears that Hezbollah could launch attacks in response to Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in Syria¹.
- Syria: Israel and Syria are technically at war since 1948, and Israel occupies the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau that Syria claims as its own. Syria is also a close ally of Iran, and hosts Iranian forces and proxies, such as Hezbollah, that Israel considers a national security threat. Israel regularly bombs Iranian-linked targets in Syria, sometimes triggering Syrian air defense fire or retaliation¹.
- Iraq: Iraq does not share a border with Israel, but it is another base for Iranian influence and activities in the region. Iran-backed militias in Iraq have threatened to attack Israel in the past, and Israel has reportedly carried out airstrikes on some of their weapons depots and bases¹. Iraq is also a potential source of instability and violence that could spill over to neighboring countries.
- Iran: Iran is Israel's arch-enemy, and the main sponsor of Hezbollah and other anti-Israel groups in the region. Iran has repeatedly vowed to destroy Israel, and is pursuing a nuclear program that Israel views as an existential threat. Iran also has ballistic missiles that can reach Israel, and has been accused of orchestrating attacks on Israeli targets abroad¹.
- Turkey: Turkey and Israel used to have close diplomatic and military ties, but their relations have deteriorated in recent years due to political and ideological differences. Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, and has condemned Israel's actions in Gaza and Jerusalem. Turkey also has a growing presence and influence in the eastern Mediterranean, where it competes with Israel and other countries over natural gas resources and maritime boundaries².
I have also tried to create a map of the Middle East showing the threats to Israel from these countries graphically. I hope you find it useful..
Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/6/2023
(1) The 5 Major Threats Facing Israel | IDF - את"צ. https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/security-threats/the-5-major-threats-facing-israel/.
(2) Israel Security Officials Reveal the Top Threats They Face ... - Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/israel-security-officials-reveal-top-threats-four-borders-1562840.
(3) Israel-Hamas war: where do surrounding countries stand?. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/21/israel-hamas-war-where-do-surrounding-countries-stand.
(4) How the Israel-Hamas war is affecting neighboring countries - MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/how-the-israel-hamas-war-is-affecting-neighboring-countries/ar-AA1iCaiJ.
(5) Climate Change and Israel's National Security | INSS. https://www.inss.org.il/publication/climate-change-and-israel/.
Gog: Pitfalls
- Gog of Megog has no direct exegetical link to the Watchers and Watcher-spirits (demons) and so on.
- However, it is in a matrix of ideas that does include all of these ideas (Watcher, giants, Mt. Hermon, et al).
- City prince Gâgi mentioned in the annals of Ashurbanipal (Cylinder B iv 2)
- Gog is identified with Gyges (Gûgu in the Rassam-Cylinder, II 95), king of Lydia.
Gyges, referred to as Gûgu in the Rassam Cylinder, was a historical figure and the founder of the Mermnad dynasty of Lydia, an ancient kingdom in western Anatolia. He ruled from around 680 to 644 BCE. The Rassam Cylinder is an Assyrian document discovered by Hormuzd Rassam, which contains inscriptions by the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. In this document, Gyges is mentioned under the name Gûgu of Luddu (Luddu being an Assyrian name for Lydia).
The Rassam Cylinder, dating from the 7th century BCE, records the diplomatic relations between Gyges and the Assyrian empire. According to the cylinder, Gyges sent tributes to Ashurbanipal, seeking his support against the encroaching threat of the Cimmerians, a nomadic people who had been making incursions into his territory.
The story of Gyges is also famously recounted by the Greek historian Herodotus, who included a tale about Gyges's rise to power involving a magical ring that could make him invisible, and the philosopher Plato later used the story of Gyges's ring to examine questions of justice in his work "The Republic."
- Evidence says Gyges is not Gog.
- Gog as a country:
Gaga or Gagaia, allegedly mentioned in the El Amarna Letters (El Amarna 1:38). It has become clear, however, that the writing ištēn kurGa-ga-ya is erroneous for ištēn kurGa-ašga-ya, ‘one Kashkaean’, so this identification must be abandoned as well.[274]
This interpretive strategy is based, in part, on an effort to associate the geographic places named in Ezekiel 38–39 (e.g., Meshech) and then combing historical sources for “tyrant candidates.”
- Creating false linguistic connections by playing with the Hebrew words.
Septuagint renders the phrase נְשִׂיא רֹאשׁ )nesiʾ rōʾsh) as archonta Rōs (“commander of Ros”), and so modern readers can easily mistake the phrase as pointing to Russia.[275]
NOTE: Of course this is wrong-headed and poor handling of the Hebrew (also in light of the LXX) as shown in the quote below:
An equation with Russia is exegetically indefensible and incoherent. Of its many problems, [276] the most lethal is its violation of Hebrew grammar. There are two possible readings allowed by Hebrew syntax for the phrase nesiʾ rōʾsh: (1) “Gog, the prince, the chief” (of Meshech and Tubal), and (2) “Gog, chief prince” (of Meshech and Tubal). Both options translate rōʾsh as “chief” and thus eliminate understanding it as a place name. Consequently, “Russia” has no exegetical basis according to Hebrew grammar. [277]
- LXX translator(s) get nesiʾ rōʾsh wrong as well, leading to several mistakes:
- Balaam Oracle (Numbers 24:7) from Masoretic has "[Jacob's] king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted."
- But LXX makes this error: Instead of “than Agag” (Hebrew: mʾgg) the Septuagint has “his kingdom shall be higher than Gog.”
- The effect is to transform the passage into an end-times prophecy pitting Gog against a Davidic Messiah, instead of a simple statement of David having victory over Agag.
- The LXX translator blunders elsewhere, such as Amos 7:1 (see graphic below)
And it doesn't stop there ...
- Deuteronomy 3:1,13; 4:47: Og of Bashan becomes Gog in the errant LXX translators eyes.
- NOTE: Below is another take on the matter to consider and study out:
According to some sources, Og of Bashan was the grandson of Shemhazai, one of the fallen angels that descended to Earth and mated with human women, producing a race of giants called the Nephilim². Og was the only survivor of the Great Flood, and later became the king of Bashan, a land of giants². Some scholars have suggested that Og was the original source of the name Gog, and that his land of Bashan was the origin of the name Magog¹,³. [It is suggested that] these names were later used by the prophets Ezekiel and John to describe the enemies of God and Israel in the end times¹,⁵. Thus, Og of Bashan became linked to Gog of Magog as a symbol of evil and opposition to God's plan.
NOTE: Which may account for why an apparent scribal error is actually an on-purpose theological statement?
(1) The Amazing Story of Og, the Giant King of Bashan. https://www.mayimachronim.com/the-giant-og-king-of-bashan/.
(2) Gog and Magog - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gog_and_Magog.
(3) The Gog and Magog people are gone and it is time now for Isaiah's .... https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-gog-and-magog-people-are-gone-and-it-is-time-now-for-isaiahs-visions/.
(4) Gog and Magog | Biblical Prophecy, Mythology & History. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gog.
(5) Who is Og King of Bashan? - The Gospel Coalition | Canada. https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/detrinitate/who-is-og-king-of-bashan/.
One certainty arises out of this messiness: At least some Second Temple Jews were comfortable associating Gog with the giant of Bashan/Hermon and the great eschatological enemy. The question is: Why?
Gog: the Mythic
In terms of physical geography, the region of Bashan constituted the northern limits of the Promised Land. Biblical people of course knew there were enemy cities and peoples beyond Hermon. It is of no small consequence that when enemies from these northern regions invaded the land of Israel, they came “from the north.” [280] The physical north, therefore, was associated with the terror of tyrants bent on Israel’s destruction.
- Antiochus IV is the prototypical antichrist during Second Temple Era.
- Antiochus IV career tracks closely with Daniel 8-11
- Antiochus IV is the invader from the north during Second Temple that forces sacrifice of unclean animals and sees himself as a god.
- Gog, the invader from “the uttermost parts of the north” (Ezekiel 38:6 , 15; 39:2 ) is viewed by scholars as a foreshadowing of Antiochus.
- More to see: Bashan + Rephaim + gateway to the dead + Dan + Baal (lord of the underworld) + Hermon and all that happened there from Enochic backstory.
- More than "the north" as a point of direction: For ancient Jews, the north represented otherworldly supernatural evil power and destruction.
- North is the home of giant clans and populations, which were in Enochic/pseudepigraphal materials the source of violence against humanity from the unseen realms (think hordes of Mordor).
- Ties to Genesis 6:1-4 and 10/11 are transparently in view here!
- Northern places (including Tyre, Sidon, Ugarit) tied to gods and specifically Baal as a mountain-god at Jebel Al-Aqra, north of Ugarit.
- Tsaphon (“north”; Tsapanu in Ugaritic) was a divine mountain, the place where Baal held council as he ruled the gods of the Canaanite pantheon.
- The God vs Baal (Baal is “prince, lord of the underworld” (zbl baʿal ʾarts) or Beelzebul (Beelzebub)) is now firmly fixed.
- See: Matthew 10:25 ; 12:24-27 ; Mark 3:22 ; Luke 11:15-19
An ancient reader would therefore not only have feared the north because of the threat of invading tyranny, but for supernatural-theological reasons. This is the conceptual grid through which Gog of Magog must be understood.
- Missing the historical referent (person) for God has led to an outcome of dark supernatural-powers instead, which is far more coherent!
- Meaning of the Sumerian gûg (“darkness”) [282]; not main-stream accepted [283] but it is the right direction! Why?
A supernatural figure of darkness actually comports well with Revelation 20:7–10, which mentions Gog and Magog along with Satan and human armies arrayed against Jerusalem (the “holy city”). It would also certainly fit with some sort of “Baal personified” figure from the cosmic north, Zaphon.
- The descriptive, associative, and geographical aspects of both Gog of Megog, Jewish antichrist, and aspects of Antiochus IV serve to build a matrix patchwork of well-fitting puzzle parts.
- In the end, we have plenty of relevant data to support Gog of Megog as both the supernatural force and personified Christian antichrist.
Gog: Typhon
Thus far, we’ve not seen a specific connection between Gog and the Watchers or the giants. There is certainly data that will connect Gog to Bashan/Hermon and the Satan figure, Baal, but these other elements are wanting. What’s needed is an evil, Satan-like figure who is also a Titan-giant in Second Temple Jewish thinking that can also readily be connected to crucial Antichrist passages like Daniel 7–12. Amazingly, such a figure is well known from ancient texts: Typhon.
- Typhon appears in Greek myths as the opponent of Zeus or even of all gods.
- Typhon is the youngest son of Tartaros and Gaia.
- The name Typhon resembles Zaphon and there seem to have been connections between Typhon and Baal-zaphon.
- According to Apollodorus, Bib. 1.41, Typhon flees to Mount Kasios, the mountain of Baal-zaphon.
- Hesiod describes the struggle between Zeus and Typhon for the rule over gods and men after the defeat of the Titans.
- Zeus eliminates Typhon with his lightning and throws him into the Tartaros (Theog. 820–868).
- Gradually Typhon became associated with the Giants (Hyginus, Fab. 151; cf. Pindar, Pyth. 8.17–18).
- From the sixth or fifth century BCE onwards Typhon is identified with the Egyptian god **Seth** (possibly already Pherecydes according to Origen, Contra Cels. 6.42; Herodotus 2.144; 156; 3.5; Diodorus Siculus, Bibl. hist. 1.21–22; 88; passim in Plutarch, De Iside).
- Although Typhon is not mentioned in Daniel 7–12 or Revelation, it is quite possible that the typhonic type which was taken from Greek and Egyptian mythology was incorporated into passages of these apocalyptic writings in order to emphasize the appearance of foreign rulers as the tyrannical eschatological adversary.
- The vision in Daniel 7 shows not only correspondences with Canaanite mythology, but also with texts on Seth-Typhon (especially concerning the eleventh horn).
- The battle against heaven and the stars in Daniel 8:10–12 and Revelation 12:4; 7–9; 13:6 of the little horn, the dragon and the first beast corresponds with the role of Typhon, who according to Apollodorus, Bib. 1.39–40, touches the stars with his head and attacks heaven.
- Scholars have established secure textual and conceptual links between:
| This and ... | This |
|---|---|
| Typhon, Daniel 7–12, a central section of the Old Testament for Antichrist typology | Antiochus IV, whom all scholars of biblical eschatology recognize as the prototype for the Antichrist. |
- Primary source is van Henten.
- In Greek mythology, early authors such as Hesiod and Pindar, up to and including Nonnus of Panopolis who wrote in the fifth century A.D., depict Typhon as an appalling giant raving at gods and men.
- In many texts from this group, the struggle between Typhon and Zeus is the central theme.
- Typhon, in his hubris, launches an attack on the Olympic gods, whose uncontested leader is Zeus.
- The literary character of Daniel 7 is vastly different from the mythological texts of this group.
- Despite the differences, striking similarities can be found between the characterization of Typhon and the typification of the eleventh horn and its actions (Daniel 7)
Henten's primary points:
- Typhon’s insolent words against Zeus and the little horn’s against God (Daniel 11:36–37)
- Typhon’s war against the entourage of Zeus for supremacy of heaven and the little horn’s assault on God and His holy ones (Daniel 7:21–27; 11:36–37)
- The mutual contempt for existing laws (Daniel 7:25)
- The fact that Typhon, like the eleventh horn, has both human and animal features (Daniel 7:8, 20–21; 8:5–9, 21)
The point of all this is that, for Second Temple Jews, the notion that the great end-times enemy would be either the personification or the manifestation of supernatural evil associated with Bashan/Hermon and the giant offspring of the Watchers would not have sounded strange. Second Temple Period Jews would have recognized that the nature of the end-times enemy of the Messiah derived from a complex set of ideas that included these elements. Consequently, the defeat of the Antichrist signaled the final victory over the Watchers and their spawn.
FOOTNOTE: Typhon, also known as Typhoeus, Typhaon, or Typhos, is a monstrous serpentine giant and one of the deadliest creatures in Greek mythology¹. He was first mentioned in Homer’s Iliad, which was written around the 8th century BCE³.
According to Hesiod's Theogony, Typhon was the son of Gaia (Earth) and Tartarus¹. However, other sources suggest that Typhon was the son of Hera alone, or the offspring of Cronus¹. Typhon and his mate Echidna were the progenitors of many famous monsters¹.
Typhon attempted to overthrow Zeus for the supremacy of the cosmos. The two fought a cataclysmic battle, which Zeus finally won with the aid of his thunderbolts¹. Defeated, Typhon was cast into Tartarus, or buried underneath Mount Etna, or in later accounts, the island of Ischia¹.
Typhon's mythology is part of the Greek succession myth, which explained how Zeus came to rule the gods¹. His story is also connected with that of Python, the serpent killed by Apollo¹. Typhon was also identified with the Egyptian god of destruction Set and also with Yahweh by Antiochus IV Epiphanes¹. In later accounts, Typhon was often confused with the Giants¹..
Source: Conversation with Bing, 12/8/2023
(1) Typhon - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhon.
(2) Typhon (Greek Mythology) - Monstrous Serpentine Giant | Mythology.net. https://mythology.net/greek/greek-creatures/typhon/.
(3) Typhon | Mythology & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Typhon.
(4) Typhoon - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon.
(5) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhon.
Lake of Fire
The End of the Watchers!
Matthew 25:41 tells us that the lake of fire was “prepared for the devil and his angels.” The statement is unique in the New Testament. Similar passages confirm the devil ends up in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10) and that others for whom it was not prepared end up there (Revelation 19:20; 21:8). But the idea that the lake of fire was seemingly intended or created for the devil and his angels has no apparent precedent in either the Old or New Testament.
The lake of fire is an excellent example of how New Testament writers on occasion get their theology from 1 Enoch and other Enochian texts. While the Old Testament has no account of angels being cast into the lake of fire, or that their destiny is such, 1 Enoch does. Not surprisingly, the concept is linked to the transgression of the Watchers: ...
- The Most High, the Great and Holy One, gives directives to his angels.
- Raphael is instructed to bind the fallen angel Azazyel.
- Azazyel is to be cast into darkness in the desert of Dudael.
- Azazyel is to be covered with hurled and pointed stones.
- Azazyel is to remain there forever, covered in darkness, until the great day of judgment.
- On the day of judgment, Azazyel will be cast into the fire.
- The earth, which has been corrupted by the angels, is to be restored.
- Life is to be announced to the earth.
- Gabriel is instructed to destroy the offspring of the Watchers, the fallen angels.
- Gabriel is to incite the fallen angels to mutually destroy each other.
- Michael is told to announce the crime of Samyaza and the others who have been associated with women.
- The association of the fallen angels with women has led to their impurity.
- The narrative in 1 Enoch 21:1-10 reveals the divine omnipotence and omniscience.
- Nothing can hide from the divine gaze.
- The passage recounts the deeds of Azazel and Shemjaza.
- Azazel and Shemjaza have corrupted the earth with wickedness and sorcery.
- They have cohabited with human women, defiling themselves and teaching these women sins.
- These unions have resulted in the birth of giants.
- The birth of giants has led to an increase in bloodshed and wickedness on earth.
- The souls of those who have died due to this wickedness cry out and lament to the gates of heaven.
- Their groans ascend, unable to escape the wickedness committed on earth.
- Despite knowing all these circumstances before they occur, the divine entity remains silent.
- Assertions/Statements:
- The Watchers are bound in the Abyss until the end of days.
- The Watchers are released and then recaptured to be thrown into the lake of fire.
- Some Enochian texts single out the leader of the Watchers for special mention in judgment texts.
- Certain Christian thinkers consider Satan to be the leader of the Watchers.
- No biblical text says that Satan is the leader of the Watchers.
- 1 Enoch never identifies the leader of the Watchers as the original rebel of Eden.
- Facts:
- The leader of the Watchers goes by various names: Asael, Azazel, Shemhazah.
- The scene of Satan’s judgment in Revelation 20:7–10 is a very close parallel to New Testament statements.
- Citations:
- The Enochian texts reference (e.g., 1 Enoch 10:4–6).
- The New Testament reference (Revelation 20:7–10).
Conclusion
In the introduction, I stated, “This book is about the important influence that the story of the sin of the Watchers in 1 Enoch 6–16 had on the thinking of New Testament authors,” and that, “My task in this book is to remove the scales of our own tradition from our eyes, at least as it relates to the importance of the Watcher story of 1 Enoch for understanding portions of the New Testament.” My hope is that the initial objective has been accomplished and that readers, now able to see parts of the New Testament more clearly for the effort, will be encouraged to learn more about 1 Enoch and other Second Temple Jewish texts.
In short, if we want to be serious about interpreting the New Testament in context, this is the sort of enterprise in which we must engage.
Personal
Note ...
For anyone reading this and the other notes from Reversing Hermon (as well as The Unseen Realm)—I can personally attest to the reality of having the scales removed from my own eyes. The journey of this last year has been a stunning reversal in my own life—changing the failures of forty years into a mountain of success by the very power of God working towards me, in me, and through me. I prayed for this time, this outcome, and this work of God. Now, it is here. Now, I am called to persevere. His love and power is what carries me across the finish line. Thanks be to Jesus, the Christ (anointed King)—my Friend of friends, Savior above all, and ruling King who is 1000% loyal to me and empowering me to be loyal to him and all of you in loving return!