The teaching of the Essene was known as THE WAY. The Way became the final interpretation of the Law and the Prophets, as revealed by Yeshua Messiah. The Way also became the enlightened transitional teaching of the early church.
Enoch rides from the heavens to dispense God’s righteousness. Enoch is known as the first true prophet, Recorder of Israel, and recipient of heavenly knowledge.
Enoch was righteous and his eyes were open, meaning he was awake and enlightened into the higher principles of God. It is known that his grandfather, Mahalaleel, was his teacher, which designates Mahalaleel as a thread of the Righteous Remnant. Enoch becomes the recipient of the ‘branches of knowledge’ handed down from Adam and Eve, now unto the seventh generation. The revealed holy vision given to Enoch brings with it a holy commission, indicated by, “The word of the blessing of Enoch, how he blessed the elect and the righteous.” For Enoch, his revelation is broad, he is knowledgable, and his commission will course into deep waters.
“The time of trouble” relates to a time of spiritual confusion, enough confusion that the wicked had to be separated from those who had remained godly. It is also the seventh generation of Cain, producing the murderer and robber, Lamech. It is in this world Enoch begins his ministry. Turmoil roils upon the planet. During this period a new and disturbing element appears on the Earth scene.
THE WATCHERS
The early chapters of Enoch introduce those who oversee the heavens and the beauty of the earth. Chapter six of the Book of Enoch begins with an introduction portraying the fruitfulness of the earth, then by contrast, we come to those souls whom we know as the Watchers:
(4) “But you endure not patiently, nor fulfill the commandments of the Lord, but you transgress and calumniate His greatness; and malignant are the words in your polluted mouths against His Majesty. (10) But you, ye unholy, shall be accursed.”
It is in chapter seven that the trouble begins. Next, we find out why these Watchers have become cursed, En. 7.2: “And when the angels, the sons (children) of heaven, beheld them, they became enamored of them, saying to each other, Come, from the progeny of men let us select for ourselves wives, and let us beget children.”
Who are the Watchers? In the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar mentions that in his second dream (4.13), “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a Watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.” “Holy one, coming down from heaven” indicates ‘angel’ as the identity of the Watchers, or “angels, the sons of heaven.”
Jeremiah 4.16, “Yes, proclaim against Jerusalem, that Watchers come from a far country and raise their voices against the cities of Judah. (17) Because she has been rebellious against Me, says the Lord.” Not all angels are Watchers, but all Watchers seem to be angels. Watchers have a specific task as opposed to angels carrying on other tasks.
From the Book of Jubilees, 4.15: “For in his days the angels of the Lord descended on earth those who are named the Watchers, that they should instruct the children of men, and they should do judgment and uprightness on the earth.”
“Angels of the Lord descended,” this version seems to infer that the Watchers entered into flesh, but the descent may have been more of an appearance. The Watcher’s mission was to instruct humans for soul development, as noted in the chronicle of Enosh and the Book of Jasher. “…Angels of the Lord descended on earth,” does not necessarily mean they entered into flesh, at least at this time. In the beginning, entering into the body (flesh) may not have been their intent. To be clear, the watching angels may have been instructing humans but remained outside the body, that is, spirit-to-human contact for purposes of human soul development. Further, Jubilees 5.1-2 recounts the same story as Enoch 7.2: that the angels then later fell to lust even as they instructed men and women.
This fall into the flesh offers some difficulties for explanation. It is hard to understand why angels who had entered the flesh would have produced giants. That is, other means might have been used to effectuate giants, and that the women were fair might also describe the desirability for the experiment later to be conducted. The word “lust” is interpreted as “enamored” from Enoch 7.2, Richard Laurence’s translation. As well, the change from ‘lust” to “enamored” shifts meaning and diminishes the Sethian Sons of God argument, addressed later in this text.
Jub. 5.1-2, “And it came to pass when the children of men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them, that the angels of God saw them on this certain year of jubilee, that they were beautiful to look upon; and they took wives of them all whom they chose, and they bear unto them sons and they were giants. (2) And lawlessness increased on the earth and corrupted its way, alike men and cattle and beasts and birds and everything that walks upon the earth—all of them corrupted their ways and their orders [species], and they began to devour each other, and lawlessness increased on the earth and every imagination of the thoughts of all men (was) thus evil continually.” Note: most of Jasher, the Book of Giants, and Jubilees were found in the DSS.
The Damascus Document of the Dead Sea Scrolls recounts the Watchers, which reveals this belief in the Watchers as ancient angelic beings.
“Because they walked in the stubbornness of their heart the Heavenly Watchers fell; they were caught because they did not keep the commandments of God. And their sons also fell who were tall as cedar trees and whose bodies were like mountains. All flesh on dry land perished; they were as though they had never been because they did their own will and did not keep the commandment of their Maker so that His wrath was kindled against them” (Exhortations II).*
*”Tall as cedar trees” is usually accepted as hyperbole. For example, Goliath, of the people called Raphia of the Philistine tribe, measured 9′ 9″, six cubits (18″), and one span (9″). The average man was 5’2″ to 5’4″. Some, however, may have been much taller.
Book of Jasher
Chapter four of Jasher, v. 16-18: (16) “And the sons of men departed from the ways of the Lord in those days as they multiplied upon the face of the earth with their sons and daughters, and they taught one another in their evil practices and they continued sinning against the Lord.
(17) And every man unto himself a god, and they robbed and plundered every man his neighbor as well as his relative, and they corrupted the earth, and the earth was filled with violence.
(18) And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the men in those days took from the cattle of the earth, from the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of animals one species with the other, in order therewith to provoke the Lord; and God saw the whole earth and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth, all men and all animals.”
“Judges and rulers” is considered a term for the Watchers. Note that v. 18 is written in one continuous sentence. Human men would have no scientific knowledge to mix the animal species. It is unlikely this mixing deals with crossbreeding, for that process, would not corrupt all flesh—”all men and all animals”. This reference clues us into the meaning of the phrase “judges and rulers,” that it was the Watchers who uncovered the “secrets of heaven”, ergo reproduction, DNA, or the process of gene splicing. Many orthodox teachings use the above reference, “judges and rulers,” in the context of the lineage of Seth; most other scholars do not. Thus the line of Seth would not be considered the Watchers.
Angels are not known to incarnate, yet these angels “descended,” or there would be no way of later producing children. Even so, should angels enter the flesh, the rabbinical teaching requires that to do so the angels would have to leave an aspect of their holiness behind. They not only leave an aspect of holiness behind, but they are committed to a certain kind of evil, a usurpation of God’s creation and God’s plan for humanity. As such, there seems no explanation for the physical bodies they assume, nor are they noted as having powers to create new bodies for themselves.
Regardless of specific interpretations, the descent into flesh now exposes what will become the furtherance of their sinful plan: enamored of their earthly powers or influence, revealing the secrets of the heavens, and with continued associations with women, they effectuate progeny. They knew beforehand such a trespass would not be condoned. The Watchers, in effect, initiate a rebellion.
As we move from the introduction of Enoch and into the litany of events concerning the Watchers, it is clear that the Watchers have connived a plot or plan. It is also clear that the intent is not only toward the appeal of women, but the final goal seems to entail having children. In other
words, children that the Watchers will create. Their children, they presume, and as with all children, will have a continuing effect concerning life on earth. It seems they are about establishing a new kingdom, their kingdom, devoid of God’s presence or His permission. Essentially, they are disrupting God’s creation singularly for their purposes.
Just as an order exists in the heavens and the souls who abide in heaven, an ascribed order exists in every soul’s life. The life plan, or God’s plan for your life, is an important principle in understanding the Way. The same might be said for the evolution of a planet. The Watchers have severely altered the Order of Events on planet Earth.
Relative to life experience, moving out of season can cause momentous problems, either immediately or later. Most people have had the experience of ‘too soon’ or ‘too much’, or even both combined. The story of Adam and Eve reflects this principle. The Watchers break from the proper order of events by no longer just observing or teaching man but participating with man.* They also break the order of the natural world. The definitive line between the heavenly and earthly realms, which includes the revealing of secrets kept in heaven, will later be broken as well.
*The Zohar associates Naamah as the seductress. She is one of the daughters of Eve. Through seduction, she initiates the action in the Zohar storyline. The result births the Nephilim. There seems very little discussion concerning this idea.
The Watchers may have considered a plan of reincarnation, wherein they would continue to incarnate, therefore becoming their own children. Even though mixed with earthly women they would always be of superior intellect, thus ruling upon the earth—pure speculation takes us to wondrous places, no doubt. Yet, there has to be intent and purpose in this action. Clearly, the Watchers leave their angelic realm and status. They are now mixing two completely different essences. They are tampering with secrets not yet to be revealed.
The 2nd Book of Enoch, Wikipedia, “Chapter 18 presents the Grigori as countless soldiers of human appearance, ‘Their size being greater than that of great giants.” They are located in the fifth heaven and identified as “the Grigori, who with their prince Santaniel rejected the Lord of light.” This rebellion against the Lord of Light is exercised on planet Earth. Further, “One version of 2 Enoch adds that their number was 200 myriads (2 million).”* Such a number of incarnated souls would give a good explanation for the widespread confusion and upheaval brought upon the land, although this number is not accepted by most investigators and the number 200 is usually presented.
*Wikipedia, Watcher (angel).
Considering their angelic status, why would they be devising such a plan, except for a rebellion of magnitude? Why are they attempting to alter God’s order? There is more involved here than just a lust for women or sex. The bearing of offspring is the clear intent. The generic history of Earth may not be the full story of what has occurred on this planet. The Watcher’s participation soon brings about serious confusion on Earth.
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THE WATCHERS REBEL
For this rebellion to be successful, preparations must now commence. Enoch, chapter seven, verses 3, 4 & 5: “Then their leader Samyaza [Santaniel?] said to them; I fear that you may perhaps be indisposed to the performance of this enterprise; (4) And that I alone shall suffer so grievous a crime. (5) But they all answered him and said; We all swear; …and that we will not change our intention, but execute our projected undertaking.” That Samyaza alone might suffer, “That I alone shall become the payer,”* indicates a knowledge of the consequences. “They all swore together and bound one another by it (the curse).”
*OT Pseudepigrapha, Charlesworth.
Primarily, one soul pushes for these events, Samyaza, who is at the head of the Watchers. It is also just as clear that those who undertake this venture have given some thought and discussion to participation in the physical, and readily agree to the undertaking; even further, their progeny will be intended to elevate man after their fashion. That they should refashion the world is not only a serious crime against God but will lead to horrendous and long-lasting consequences.*
*See Numbers 13. 32-33, Anakites; Gn. 6.4, giants before and after.
Are they trying to subsume God’s creation? Enoch Ch. 10.11 answers this question: “And the Lord said unto Michael: Go, bind Semjâzâ and
his associates who have united themselves with women to have defiled themselves with them in all their uncleanness.”* The uncleanness refers to the women defiled by the angels, hence giants.
Angels are defiling the order of God’s creation concerning man, improperly mixing heavenly and earthly. They violate the divine order of creation. They produced unholy children who were reckless and destructive.**
*R.H. Charles
**Nephilim, see Dr. Peter Gentry, Southern Seminary, YouTube, for a succinct but good explanation.
Finally destroyed, the Watchers and their demon progeny are released from the body and upon the earth as evil spirits, En. 15.8-12: “But now the giants who are born from the (union of) spirits and the flesh shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, for their dwelling shall be upon the earth and inside the earth.”*
*Charlesworth
There seems to be no other explanation for the Watcher’s rebellion but that they are overwhelmed by a lust for power. Familiarity with women will produce this conduit to power, which will become their children and thence to the continuation of their race. It seems clear the women were assaulted in some fashion, and the Nephilim seem the by-product. What seductions occurred on either side would be hard to determine. However, the Garden story weaves a similar tale, with grandiose promises of special knowledge and the wisdom that would emerge from such teachings, epitomized in the Satan-serpent.
From the Enoch scripture, it seems clear that a new creature, the Nephilim, has been created. This creature is some strange confluence of spirit and flesh, but not mankind. But certainly, these angels had an understanding of initiating such forces. Their creation wreaks havoc.
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THE WAY
Why would this information be pertinent to those who walk in the Way?
The Watchers raise moral and ethical questions that run deep into the soul. The first issue is one of leaving their station. Your station, or ‘place’, at any one time is from where you must operate. Changes always begin at this starting point. Yet, they removed themselves from their own will, not seeking guidance nor appealing to the Authority they were already under. This action amounts to rebellion and is not a wise choice, much like a lower-level manager initiating actions reserved for the CEO of a company. Obedience within your station is a prime consideration; rebellion creates chaos.
The Watchers knew their behavior was out of God’s order. If so, why did they persist? The rejection of the Lord of Light and the consummate lust for power seems the obvious reason. Yet, lusting does not exist in a vacuum. Whether called the ego, or the fleshly self, it becomes that portion of “I” willing to break any rule regardless of consequences. It presumes recklessness. Even amidst a direct knowledge of God, their lust for power prevailed. The question of obedience and lust for power mimics the Garden narrative, the creation of this new ‘Self’.
There remains a second problem. By bringing forth knowledge out of season they inadvertently introduce a bent pathway of knowledge, also a similar comparison to the Garden. Previously men learned as they went and as a natural consequence of observance and experiences. From this angelic interference, man confronts knowledge combined with rapid change. It is not a change any man or woman could be prepared for. This change infers carelessness.
Assuming the pathway of knowledge is an important step for mankind. The Watchers introduce knowledge without a connection to God. They reveal secrets for which man is not prepared. In effect, knowledge is given power but not under God’s authority. It is within these times we will meet Tubal-Cain (Cain-Aftermath). Man’s knowledge replaces God—Men become Self-gods (“men of renown,” Gn. 6.4), much as the Watchers have presumed themselves to do.
To be clear, man is to attribute God first and thus recognize a relationship and a fundamental Unity. Adam and Eve, for instance, listened to an alternative voice and thus perpetrated a separation. The Watchers have done much the same, only they listen to the counsel of each other. The argument echoes like the Satan-Serpent, “Why should you be denied these things?” Perhaps that is what spurred the rebellion. Harboring a certain kind of lust for power that is hard to grasp, the Watchers continue to focus there. They then enter in, not only the pact but the execution of it.
The approach to God can never be based on the knowledge you may possess but proceeds from a contrite spirit and obedience reflecting committed will or faith. This basic conversion message resounds throughout the Hebrew Bible, then illustrated by whether each man comes forth or does not—a certain belief is accepted, and then Faith initiates the new soul journey. The Child of God is only then meant to be united with knowledge teaching and the wisdom pathway. Knowledge may have its sufficiencies, but Truth claims its place, and it is this lesson the Watchers seemed to have forgotten.
From reading the previous scriptures, each person can observe pitfalls and difficulties upon entering divergent pathways. Thus, from time to time everyone should seriously self-inspect. Often simple reflection keeps a person’s pathway cohesive, well-directed, and purposeful.
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SONS of GOD
For the sake of balance, a more conventional version needs to be presented.* It goes like this: Pious men, represented as the descendants of Seth (as opposed to angels who left their heavenly estate) designate the priesthood of Watchers as those who oversee, those entrusted to watch over society. This explanation emphasizes the reference to “sons of God” (Gn. 6.4), a subject discussed in the article, Noah. Sons of God is a term used to indicate a level of understanding, perhaps awakening, within the priesthood. These men, the Watchers, considered trustworthy, worshippers, and beneficiaries of God, ended up removing themselves from their station.
*Judaic view, although others also accept this view.
Within this scenario, the belief that these men accepted the notion of taking any woman they wanted seems credible. Their pollutions begat a ‘race’ or lineage that became arbitrary and oppressive, consuming all possessions and otherwise corrupting everything. The central theme of taking pagan women into marriage, even multiple partners, and the trouble this causes becomes recurrent within the Hebrew Bible. The women whom the Watchers (priests) were supposed to be assisting, developing upon the pathway toward the One God, suggests a mixing, even a syncretism with paganism, with all of the resultant afflictions societies then suffer.
This group of souls, those who ‘watch over’, would have been in the line of Seth. In this version, the lineage of Seth now falls into polluted behavior (Seth & Enosh). The situation becomes hopeless, for this is the godly line of the race, now mixing with Cain’s lineage. The leadership of the priesthood and the priests themselves no longer oversee or protect but by lust enter into rebellion.
Those entering darkness never want to be alone, and those who rebel always seek company. Hence, this priestly company sought counsel among themselves to indulge their lust for women and power. These confluent lusts would later become exercised as autocratic and brutal. It is their children in great numbers who will inherit, with the intent toward continued rule.
This does not explain how physical giants appeared, however. In this much more conventional interpretation, the angels mentioned in the Book of Enoch would remain messengers and thus would not
have the will to rebel. Therefore, the described rebellion remains among men or priests.
However, the mention of giants also seems literal. Several scriptures refer to giants, among them Deut. 3.11, describing Og, the king of Bashan, the last of the giants, and measuring nine cubits (13′ 6″).
Earlier giant progeny may have been taller, and are found in W. Virginia, Kentucky, and other parts of the world.
Order of Events
The intent of the Watchers remains out of season and fundamentally wrong at the root, regardless of any other considerations. In some fashion, they have lost their convicting conscience. “And lawlessness increased on the earth and all flesh corrupted its way,” (Jub. 5.2). With the risk involved, this grasp for power appears unreasonable, yet they selfishly pursue their proscribed order of events.
Their intention to ‘create’ must include some fascination with sex and the assumption of godlike control, as opposed to the natural course of events or God’s plan. Carried into the New Testament, Jude 6 states, “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.” “Keep their proper domain” indicates an order to souls, even groups of souls, and a structure each soul operates within; that different orders of souls specialize in various functions, much as we see with the Watchers. This lends some credibility that angelic beings did enter the flesh. Jude, at least, believed so during the time he wrote.
As mentioned throughout this series, there is a proper order for all events. Further, an order of the very creation of souls exists, that souls operate or belong to groups with specific intents and purposes. A proper order to each soul’s development exists as well. All of these factors entail lessons for the Way. Concerning each person’s life mission, inspection of his order of events, and how a person proceeds, can offer a great deal of illumination. Many people proceed without any thought as to how their life is ordered. This neglect can create many difficulties and is one reason the sowing of good seeds is accentuated in different parts of this work.
A person can sow seeds for a more properly ordered life as well as any other seed, and this should be seen as most useful. The spirit within may convict, prompt, or ‘speak’, or guide a person toward this better life, and is a good place to start when considering walking in the Way.
In I Corinthians 15.23, Paul writes, “But each after his order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at his coming.” Man lives “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4.4), not by man’s designs. The Watchers tamper with God’s plan for soul progression, which becomes the root of the evil.
Secret Things
In Chapter IX of Enoch, the crux of how the Watchers proceed is exposed. Mankind is educated out of season, outside the proper order of events, especially concerning “the secret things which are done in the heavens.” Verse five tells us much: “Thou has seen what Azazel has done, how he has taught every species of iniquity on earth and has disclosed to the world all the secret things which are done in the heavens.”
“Secret things which are done in the heavens” does not infer a negative slant toward heaven. Secret things may be methods used to assist soul development, fulfill a worthy plan, even assist someone in establishing faithfulness, or perhaps execute duties. That Azazyal revealed these secrets before man was prepared becomes the issue, and further that these secrets were used to skew mankind and the earth into a new and destructive mold. Further, Azazyal “taught every species of inequity on earth,” which means ‘kinds of inequities’.
Samyaza and those who follow him are moving past God’s plan and substituting their own, much as we see in the Garden narrative. The Way teaches that responsibly following assigned duties is critical to soul expression and growth.* Within this context, the ‘bringing down of heaven to earth’, the Watchers have caused a massive imbalance.
*Mt. 6.1-4, “Do good to please God but do not do good to please men.”
Certain heavenly knowledge seems not best for man to know, or the application of the knowledge kept restrained to heaven. Such knowledge should arrive only in the proper season. Jesus teaches in the Way when he explains in Lk. 12.42, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season.” The steward has his station or place. If he is wise and faithful he will eventually rule the household and in the proper season receive his fair portion. This scripture deals with the faithful servant as opposed to the evil servant, from verses 35-48, and conveys very well to the Watchers, no longer considered faithful servants.
Man can become overwhelmed by knowledge out of season. The Way teaches daily progress.
En. 8.9: “And men, being destroyed, cried out; and their voice reached to heaven.” Abuse and destruction are now being wrought upon the earth. En. 9.6, “Samyaza also has taught sorcery, to whom thou hast given authority over those who are associated with him. They have gone together to the daughters of men; have lain with them… (7) And have discovered crimes to them.” “Crimes” might be likened to knowledge out of season, or perhaps worse, revealing knowledge and actions (sorcery) contributing to rebellion.
Whether seen as earthly or angelic, once the lust for sex, progeny, and earthly power binds them, the Watchers essentially begin to run after themselves, forsaking the true light but more than willing to follow the light of their lusts and desires. They believe in their notions and what they suppose will transpire out of them. Yet, they cannot foresee the exact details of how events might unfold. The machinations become more convoluted and entrapping. They live in their imaginations, and as the calumny proceeds, for them course corrections become no longer available.
The Watchers oversee but do not hold the power and majesty of the archangels or God Himself. Were the Watchers content with their position? What were the Watchers truly after? Or, by the assertion of their creative powers were they wanting to overthrow the order of the heavens? What did they consider their more rightful place? The resolutions to these questions lie in their offspring. Their offspring will initiate evil events upon planet Earth.
An end to the plague of the Watchers will soon arrive, detailed in our next presentation, Noah.
En. 10.6: “And heal the earth which the angels have corrupted, and proclaim 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.”*
*R. H. Charles
God Bless!
It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks