Gnostic Doctrine

Sunday 30 October 2022

The apocalypse of weeks to book of Enoch

 Chapter 92

1After this, Enoch began to speak from a book [so this indicates another “hidden” scroll somewhere - perhaps this is the Book of Enoch itself]?.

2And Enoch said, Concerning the children of righteousness, concerning the elect of the world [throughout the whole 7,000 year period], and concerning the plant of righteousness and integrity.

3Concerning these things will I speak, and these things will I explain to you, my children: I who am Enoch. In consequence of that which has been shown to me, from my heavenly vision and from the voice of the holy angels (129) have I acquired knowledge; and from the tablet of heaven have I acquired understanding.

(129) Holy angels. A Qumran text reads, "Watchers and Holy Ones," clearly denoting heavenly Watchers who did not fall along with the wicked ones (Milik, p. 264). See also Dan. 4:13, "a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven"; 4:17, "watchers, and…holy ones."

4Enoch then began to speak from a book and said, I have been born the seventh in the first week [It doesn’t give reference as to when this week actually starts, however it appears that each week is a 700 year period for all ten of them to fit into a 7,000 year period.  Interestingly this is like saying a week (7,000 years) ten times of weeks (700 years)! And since it says he was “born the seventh” (and there is a second witness to this in 1:14) I am making the start date of the first week on 3993 BC at the “founding of the world” when Adam sinned as it seems to fit perfectly throughout the whole “ten part” time period (one could use 3992 when Cain was born but in this scope of time it would make little difference] while judgment and righteousness wait with patience [this “waiting with patience” is the time period from Adam and Eve getting new garments of skin to the end of the day of rest that Jehovah had gone into – so from 3993BC to 2993 which would take the “patience” period well into the second of the ten weeks that Enoch describes in great detail with regard to the flood and Noah’s time] 

5But after me [after 3040BC when Enoch is transferred (Hb 11:5)], in the second week [3293 - 2593BC], great wickedness shall arise, and fraud shall spring forth [this marks the time when the fallen angels commit the many grievous crimes upon the earth as recorded in Chapter 9 of Enoch and Genesis 6].

6In that week [the second] the end of the first shall take place [Michael Gabriel, Raphael, Suryal, and Uriel had asked Jehovah (Enoch 9) what they should do to obtain justice for the blood of those have been treated unjustly], in which mankind shall be safe [so during Jehovah’s “day of rest” mankind was safe from His wrath].

7But when the first [week] is completed, iniquity shall grow up; and during the second week he shall execute the decree [the one made in Chapter 14] upon sinners [both angelic and human - the execution of the decree being the deluge on those who do not enter the Ark which occurred from 2371 to 2370BC.  So this too fits in well with the story of Noah and the end of this particular week].

8Afterwards, in the third week [2593 – 1893BC], during its completion, a man of the plant of righteous judgment shall be selected [this “man” being Abraham]; and after him the Plant of righteousness shall come for ever [future event – one who comes from the seed of Abraham - Jesus].

9Subsequently, in the fourth week [1893 – 1193BC], during its completion, the visions of the holy and the righteous shall be seen [the time of Moses and the visions on Mt. Sinai], the order of generation after generation shall take place [Moses’ prophecies concerning the coming Christ (a prophet like him –Dt 18:15)], and a habitation shall be made for them [the Promised Land by covenant].

Then in the fifth week [1193 – 493BC], during its completion [toward the end of the week], the house of glory and of dominion shall be erected for ever [the period of King David and Solomon and the subsequent building of the temple].

10After that, in the sixth week [493BC – 209AD], all those who are in it [the house of dominion] shall be darkened [the Jewish system was one of the darkest under the Mosaic Law at the hands of the Pharisees], the hearts of all of them shall be forgetful of wisdom [they focus on the Law and maintaining a yoke on people instead of listening to the wisdom of God], and in it shall a Man [Immanuel/Jesus] arise and come forth [as the Messiah].

11And during its completion [toward the end of the sixth week] He shall burn the house of dominion with fire [the judgment and consequent destruction of the temple and the fall of Jerusalem (70AD)], and all the race of the elect root shall be dispersed [the Diaspora].

12Afterwards, in the seventh week [209AD – 909AD], a perverse generation shall arise [under the Roman Catholic Church]; abundant shall be its deeds, and all its deeds perverse [intense persecution and death to any “true” Christian who would question their teachings or authority or try to translate the bible in other languages etc…]. During its completion [towards its end], the righteous shall be selected from the everlasting plant of righteousness [those who were of the inner circle of Paul’s group]; and to them shall be given the sevenfold doctrine of his whole creation [the core of researchers who were taught by Paul were the true Gnostics of the time, they had the deepest of understandings in fact Paul related the story of his acquaintance who was snatched away to the third heaven (likely John when he was given the Revelation).  Unfortunately they had to hide this knowledge (both the scrolls and the speech of it) to keep it from being destroyed by the church - the book of Enoch is probably such a scroll too!].

13Afterwards there shall be another week, the eighth [909AD – 1609AD] of righteousness, to which shall be given a sword to execute judgment and justice upon all oppressors [the Lollards movement, Protestant movement (Luther), Wycliffe accomplished translating the bible in English and it was well on its way to being the most published book in the history of the world as it became a global phenomenon – it was the Word of God (the sword) that executed judgment and justice (not physical but spiritual) on anyone who denied the power of the Old Testament and the Gospels].

14Sinners shall be delivered up into the hands of the righteous [the “sinners” of the “middle ages” or “medieval times” were eventually subdued by the rise of the European powers and delivered into their hands], who during its completion [toward the end of the week] shall acquire habitations by their righteousness [although a short lived age of righteousness, the “Renaissance” era brought back a revival of Classical learning and values bringing many Ancient Greek and Latin texts to light, with translations making them more accessible to all. The arts flourished during the Renaissance, with an established system of patrons and artists becoming much more widespread. New techniques in painting, music, poetry, and theater were developed while scientists pondered the nature of the heavens and put forth theories on the basic workings of the world]; and the house [the “body” which is comprised of those who truly tried to bring God back into the everyday lives of men (including the founders of the United States and its constitution which based its laws on the “ten commandments”)] of the great King shall be established for celebrations for ever.

After this, in the ninth week [1609AD – 2309AD], shall the judgment of righteousness be revealed to the whole world [this is the time period we are now in, the two witnesses will reveal the truth by the power of the spirit.  It is the understandings of the scriptures and the power of the Word that judgment is reveled to the whole inhabited earth.  The real “terrifiers” (Is 13) will be exposed by accurate prophetic understandings.  It may also be that the myriads of historical records in secret government archives along with audio and video recordings will be broadcast globally to show the world the truth about the world leaders and the powers that controlled them.  This may be the “…eating the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of the strong, and the flesh of horses and of those sitting on them, and the flesh of all freemen as well as slaves, and of small and of great (Re 19:18)."]

15Every work of the ungodly shall disappear from the whole earth [not the people but the work shall disappear]; the world [Satan’s world, his creation] shall be marked for destruction [those who got the mark of the beast and worshipped it while blaspheming God and His truth are bound for Gehenna]; and all men [both good and evil] shall be on the watch for the path of integrity [all men, even those bound for Gehenna will look for the Christ and His sons for understanding and guidance].  This period must continue for 300 years well into the Kingdom of God on earth under the new heavenly administration]

16And after this, on the seventh day [not “week” - this day being the last 100 years 2909AD-3009AD] of the tenth week [2309 - 3009AD], there shall be an everlasting judgment [on the last day of the tenth week those who remain in Gehenna are brought out to be judged], which shall be executed upon the Watchers [who were the first to go in and last to get out for their crimes were so grievous]; and a spacious eternal heaven shall spring forth in the midst of the angels [for all of them, even Satan will repent and the end of all that is evil will come as death itself is swallowed up forever - Amen!].

Here is a table of the 10 weeks and their approximate periods of time.

Week

Start/End

Events

First

-3993

 Adam sinned (founding of the world - Satan cast into the earth) Enoch born (seventh in line ), judgment and righteousness wait with patience  God is at rest for a day (1,000 Yrs)

 

-3293

Second

-3293

 After me great wickedness shall arise, and fraud shall spring forth, end of the first shall take place, iniquity shall grow up, he shall execute the decree  Rise of the Nephilim and great oppression, Enoch transferred, decree to the fallen angels made and executed by the flood

 

-2593

Third

-2593

 a man of the plant of righteous judgment shall be selected (Noah); and after him the Plant of righteousness (Abraham) shall come for ever Abrahamic covenants made, Seed of righteousness established

 

-1893

Fourth

-1893

 the visions of the holy and the righteous shall be seen, the order of generation after generation shall take place, and a habitation shall be made for them Moses gets Law from Jehovah through Michael, promised land covenant made

 

-1193

Fifth

-1193

 the house of glory and of dominion shall be erected for ever the time of King David, King Solomon and the building of the temple

 

-493

Sixth

-491

all those who are in it shall be darkened, the hearts of all of them shall be forgetful of wisdom, and in it shall a Man arise and come forth, He shall burn the house of dominion with fire, and all the race of the elect root shall be dispersed End of the Law, Intense pharisaical yoke, advent of Christ and the judgment from God, destruction of the temple and the Diaspora.

 

209

Seventh

209

 a perverse generation shall arise; abundant shall be its deeds, and all its deeds perverse, the righteous shall be selected from the everlasting plant of righteousness; and to them shall be given the sevenfold doctrine of his whole creation The rise of the Roman Catholic church, intense persecution of any one seeking the truth, Gnostic revelation and a veil of darkness

 

909

Eighth

909

 of righteousness, to which shall be given a sword to execute judgment and justice upon all oppressors, Sinners shall be delivered up into the hands of the righteous, who during its completion shall acquire habitations by their righteousness; and the house of the great King shall be established for celebrations for ever period of Bible translations in every language and global distribution, becomes the sword of conscience for many who believe in the Christ.

 

1609

Ninth

1609

 shall the judgment of righteousness be revealed to the whole world, Every work of the ungodly shall disappear from the whole earth; the world shall be marked for destruction; and all men shall be on the watch for the path of integrity End of Satan’s system, rise of the true church of the presence, beginning of Kingdom of God and revealing of His sons.

 

2309

Tenth

2309

 on the seventh day of the tenth week, there shall be an everlasting judgment, which shall be executed upon the Watchers; and a spacious eternal heaven shall spring forth in the midst of the angels. End of all sins and the end of death forever.

 

3009


The Holy Hebdomad Isaiah 11:2–3

The Holy Hebdomad Isaiah 11:2–3






We will begin this study with a reading from The Gospel of the Egyptians


And thus the perfect hebdomad, which exists in hidden mysteries, became complete. When she receives the glory, she becomes eleven ogdoads. (The Gospel of the Egyptians)


From Late Latin hebdomada (“number seven; group of seven; seven days”), hebdomas (“number seven; a period of seven days a WEEK; seventh day or Sabbath), from Ancient Greek ἑβδομάς (hebdomás, “group of seven, especially seven days or seven years”), from ἑπτά (heptá, “seven”) + -ᾰ́ς (-ás, suffix forming abstract nouns of number from numerals). The word is cognate with French hebdomadaire, hebdo (“weekly periodical”), hebdomadairement (“weekly”), Portuguese hebdomadário (“weekly periodical”), Spanish hebdomadario (“weekly; weekly periodical; hebdomadary”).



In Orthodox Church
The word hebdomadary in the Roman Catholic Church is a member of a church or monastery appointed for one week to sing the chapter Mass and lead in the recitation of the breviary.

a member of a Roman Catholic chapter or convent appointed for the week to sing the chapter mass and lead the recitation of the canonical hours


Biblical Use

From Ancient Greek ἑβδομάς (hebdomás). Compare Latin hebdomas.


εβδομάδες G1439.1 - Apostolic Bible Polyglot Concordance, Strongs-AB Number G1439.1


Exodus 34:22 εβδομάδων - of a period of sevens 
Leviticus 23:15 εβδομάδας - [2periods of seven 
Leviticus 23:16 εβδομάδος - period of seven 
Leviticus 25:8 εβδομάδες - periods of seven 
Numbers 28:26 εβδομάδων - 4period of sevens], 
Deuteronomy 16:9 εβδομάδας - [2periods of seven 
Deuteronomy 16:9 εβδομάδας - periods of seven. 
Deuteronomy 16:10 εβδομάδων - of the period of sevens 
Deuteronomy 16:16 εβδομάδων - period of sevens, 
2 Chronicles 8:13 εβδομάδων - period of sevens, 
Daniel 9:24 εβδομάδες - periods of seven 
Daniel 9:25 εβδομάδες - [2periods of seven 
Daniel 9:25 εβδομάδες - [2periods of seven 
Daniel 9:26 εβδομάδας - [2periods of seven 
Daniel 9:27 εβδομάς - [2period of sevens 
Daniel 9:27 εβδομάδος - period of seven 
Daniel 10:2 εβδομάδας - periods of seven 
Daniel 10:3 εβδομάδων - period of sevens

Leviticus 25:8 “‘And you must count for yourself seven sabbaths of years, seven times seven years, and the days of the seven sabbaths of years* must amount to forty-nine years for you.

Leviticus 25:8 Καὶ ἐξαριθμήσεις σεαυτῷ ἑπτὰ ἀναπαύσεις αὐτῶν, ἑπτὰ ἔτη ἑπτάκις, καὶ ἔσονταί σοι ἑπτά ἑβδομάδες ἐτῶν ἐννέα καὶ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη. 


“Sabbaths of.” Heb., shabbethoth´; Lat., ebdomades, “weeks.”


“Sabbaths of years.” Greek, hebdomadeseton´, “weeks of years.” Compare Da 9:24 ftn, “Weeks.”
Seven
Seven comes from the Hebrew "SAVAH" meaning to cease (47x), rest (11x), away (3x), fail (2x), celebrate (1x), miscellaneous (7x).

The Hebrew expression yohm hash·shab·bath´ is drawn from the verb shavath´, meaning “rest, cease.” (Ge 2:2; 8:22)


God set the pattern for the whole Sabbath arrangement, from the seven-day week to the Jubilee year that followed the seven-times-seven–year cycle. (Ex 20:10; Le 25:2, 6, 8)


The sabbath is on the seventh day it is a day of rest therefore seven symbolizes rest


The Hebrew word for “week” (shavua`) literally refers to a sevenfold unit or period. The Greek word sabbaton, in turn, is derived from the Hebrew word for Sabbath (shabbath´).


Luke 18:12  I fast twice in the week <4521>, I give tithes of all that I possess.


4521. σάββατον sabbaton sabbaton; of Hebrew origin [07676]; the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension, a se’nnight, i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications: —  sabbath (day), week. 

AV-sabbath day 37, sabbath 22, week 9; 68

The word translated week here in Luke 18:12 refers to other days in the week as well the Sabbath day (its like saying seven days, a week).   

The Jewish Sabbath is from from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Saturday is named after the planet Saturn.


The Romans named Saturday Sāturni diēs ("Saturn's Day") no later than the 2nd century for the planet Saturn, which controlled the first hour of that day, according to Vettius Valens

Seven is so universally used as a mystical number that its basis must be in some fundamental arrangement of the natural world.

Seven indicates the number of days in a week, the number of planetary spheres (sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) in ancient astronomy, and so the number of kings stationed over the spheres of heaven in the Secret Book of John. The seventh or hebdomad refers to the realm of the planetary spheres, over which the Demiurge is stationed.

Because there were seven planets in the sky (the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn),[1] it was commonly agreed that there were seven of these beings ruling as a hebdomad who were called “archontes” (principalities or rulers).[2]


[1.] This dependence upon the number seven is quite common in pre-Christian religion. The Jews, for example, believed that these seven planets were ruled by seven archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel. (Each of which corresponded to the seven days of the week, respectively.)


[2.] In modern Greek, the seven-day week is called an hebdomada.


Hebdomas; The kingdom of the "Seven", referring to the seven Archangels. The seven archangels are name in the First Book of Enoch


Seven Hevens and Seven Archangels

hebdomad: (Greek, “group of seven”) The seventh planetary sphere or seventh heaven, lair of the archons. The chief archon or Demiurge is sometimes considered to reside in the hebdomad and sometimes in the Ogdoad. Hebdomad can also refer to a grouping of seven beings (for instance, archons) in Gnostic texts.

(Proverbs 9:1): Wisdom has built her house, She has carved out her seven pillars;

The seven pillars which wisdom built a house are understood by valentinians to refer to the planetary heavens, the habitation of the Sophia herself was placed above the Hebdomad in the Ogdoad (Extracts from the Works of Theodotus. 8, 47):

47 Now the Saviour became the first universal creator. “But Wisdom,” the second, “built a house for herself and hewed out seven pillars” and first of all she put forth a god, the image of the Father, and through him she made heaven and earth, that is “heavenly things, and the earthly” – the things on the right hand and on the left. (Extracts from the Works of Theodotus)


The Hebdomad is used of the seven seven archangels and the seven heavens

The idea of seven archangels is most explicitly stated in the old testament Apocrypha, Book of Tobit when Raphael reveals himself, declaring: "I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand in the glorious presence of the Lord, ready to serve him." (Tobit 12:15) The other two archangels mentioned by name in the Bible are Michael and Gabriel.

The Book of Enoch (also known as 1 Enoch)

8:4 And as men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven to the holy angels who watch.

20:1 And these are the names of the holy angels who watch.
20:2 Uriel, one of the holy angels, who presides over clamour and terror.
20:3 Raphael, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits of men.
20:4 Raguel, one of the holy angels who takes vengeance on the world of the luminaries.
20:5 Michael, one of the holy angels, who, is set over the best part of mankind and over chaos.
20:6 Saraqael, one of the holy angels, who is set over the spirits, who sin in the spirit.
20:7 Gabriel, one of the holy angels, who is over the Garden of Eden and the serpents and the Cherubs.
20:8 Ramael, one of the holy angels, whom God set over those who rise.

The seven pillars are normally interpreted as seven virtues. The seven virtues are understood to be the seven spirits of Isaiah 11:2–3 wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, godliness, and the fear of Yahweh, here are represented the seven Spirits, which are before the throne of God. The reference to the lamb in Revelation 5:6 relates it to the Seven Spirits which first appear in Revelation 1:4 and are associated with Jesus who holds them along with seven stars

The seven Spirits of God  are mentioned four times in the Book of Revelation, and in the Book of Isaiah it names each Spirit.

Isaiah 11:2 
2  and the Spirit of God shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and godliness shall fill him;
3  the spirit of the fear of God. He shall not judge according to appearance, nor reprove according to report:

Revelation 4:5: And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

In discussing Isaiah 11.2–3 (“And the Spirit of God will rest upon him, a Spirit of wisdom and understanding …”), Irenaeus, like the Valentinians, uses number symbolism to connect the Scripture and the natural world. According to this verse there are seven virtues that come upon the Messiah: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, godliness, and the fear of Yahweh. 

Irenaeus explains that the virtues refer to the seven heavens, the model Moses used for the seven-branched lampstand, in obedience to the command to fashion things as a type of what was revealed to him on the mountain (Exodus 25.40).

Irenaeus The Proof of Apostolic Preaching

9. Now this world is encompassed by seven heavens, [87] in which dwell powers and angels and and angels and archangels, doing service to God, the Almighty and Maker of all things: not as though He was in need, but that they may not be idle and unprofitable and ineffectual. 

88] Wherefore also the Spirit of God is manifold in its indwelling, [89] and in seven forms of service [90] is He reckoned by the prophet Isaiah, as resting on the Son of God, that is the Word, in His coming as man. 

The Spirit of God, he says, shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, (the Spirit of knowledge) [91] and of godliness; the Spirit of the fear of God shall fill him.

 Now the heaven which is first from above, [92] and encompasses the rest, is (that of) wisdom; and the second from it, of understanding; and the third, of counsel; and the fourth, reckoned from above, (is that) of might; and the fifth, of knowledge; and the sixth, of godliness; and the seventh, this firmament of ours, is full of the fear of that Spirit which gives light to the heavens. For, as the pattern (of this), Moses received the seven-branched lampstand, [93] that shined continually in the holy place; for as a pattern of the heavens he received this service, according to that which the Word spake unto him: Thou shalt make (it) according to all the pattern of the things which thou hast seen in the mount. (The Proof of Apostolic Preaching, 9)

The number seven as it pertains to heavens was mentioned by Clement of Alexandria and Origen, who probably were relayed the idea from first century Jewish mysticism (Bereshith Rabba, 19, fol. 19, col. 3 contains a later Jewish presentation of the idea, but being that the seventh heaven contains the Shekinah [Sophia] glory of God, the Jewish mysticism was ironically Gnostic in nature–the Quran also contains a similar reference in Surah 67).

The word Hebdomad occurs also in the Clementine Homilies. The mystery of the Hebdomad there unfolded (Hom. xvii. 10) is an independent exposition of the six days' work of creation, and the seventh day's rest; illustrated by the six directions, into which infinite space extends, viz. up, down, right, left, backward, forward, together with the central point considered as making a seventh.


Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily XVII/Chapter 10

Chapter X.—The Nature and Shape of God.

“This is the mystery of the hebdomad. For He Himself is the rest of the whole who grants Himself as a rest ( “Rest,” of course, points to the number seven the Sabbath Day.) to those who imitate His greatness within their little measure. For He is alone, sometimes comprehensible, sometimes incomprehensible, sometimes limitable, sometimes illimitable, having extensions which proceed from Him into infinity. For thus He is comprehensible and incomprehensible, near and far, being here and there, as being the only existent one, and as giving a share of that mind (the ogdoad) which is infinite on every hand, in consequence of which souls breathe and possess life
and if they be separated from the body and be found with a longing for Him, they are borne along into His bosom, as in the winter time the mists of the mountains, attracted by the rays of the sun, are borne along immortal to it. What affection ought therefore to arise within us if we gaze with our mind on His beautiful shape! But otherwise it is absurd to speak of beauty. For beauty cannot exist apart from shape; nor can one be attracted to the love of God, nor even deem that he can see Him, if God has no form. (Clementine Homilies Chapter 10)





- The Untitled Text in the Bruce Codex also describes the Pleroma as ‘the body’ of the monad, which is like the mother-city “This is the manner in which they are all within the monad : there are twelve monads making a crown upon its head ; each one makes twelve. And there are ten decads surrounding its shoulders. And there are nine enneads surrounding its belly. And there are seven hebdomads at its feet, and each one makes a hebdomad. And to the veil which surrounds it like a tower, there are twelve gates. There are twelve myriad powers at each gate, and they are called archangels and also angels. This is the mother-city of the only-begotten one.” (Untitled Text in the Bruce Codex)


The hebdomad symbolizes rest, but it is surpassed by the ogdoad, wherein is the promise of gnostic perfection.

Clement of Alexandria says that those who reach the highest levels of perfection have not remained in the hebdomad of rest, but have advanced into the inheritance of the benefit of the ogdoad (ὀγδοαδικῆς εὐεργεσιάς).

The material world is a shadowy, flawed version of the Pleroma, the two worlds sometimes being referred to as the Hebdomad (from hebdomas, meaning ‘seven’, a reference to the seven spheres of the material and Ogdoad (from ogdoas, meaning ‘eight’, referring to the eighth heaven), respectively.

Summary
In modern Greek, the seven-day week is called an hebdomada
The Hebdomad is used of the seven archangels and the seven heavens
The Hebdomad refers to seven spirits of virtues  
The Hebdomad refers the seven spirits of God 
The Hebdomad symbolizes rest
The Hebdomad is a copy of the Pleroma

Saturday 29 October 2022

Are Angels Always Divine? Matt. 11:10

A Different View of Angels
Are Angels Always Divine




What are Angels?

The Greek word "aggelos" translated "angel" means "messenger, agent", and is used of both human and divine messengers. It is used of humans in the following places: Matt. 11:10; Luke 7:24, 27; 9:52; and James 2:25.

The phrase "sons of God" also must to humans in Deut. 14:1, R.S.V.; Psa. 82:6, R.S.V.; Hosea 1:10; Luke 3:38; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1.)

In the New Testament, Angel can mean "a heavenly spirit" that is the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides

In view of the first century meanings of heavenly and spirit, we can understand that this phrase refers to a person who has the Christ consciousness.

"In the New Testament, as in the old, the Angel is sometimes no more than another word for a divine communication or divine operation personified."

Our angels are our spiritual perceptive faculties, which ever dwell in the presence of the Father (Matt. 13:49).

angel--A messenger of God; the projection into consciousness of a spiritual idea direct from the Fountainhead, Jehovah. "And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar" (Luke 1:11). The word of Truth, in which is centered the power of God to overcome all limited beliefs and conditions.

angel, of Yahweh--The quickening thought of God appearing in the form of light or divine intelligence, intuition, and understanding.

angels, ascending and descending--The imaging power of the mind receiving divine ideas and reflecting them into the consciousness.

The term 'holy spirit' applies not only to the divine, but also to those of us whose reasoning has reached the perfection of the 
Christ-consciousness. Angels, sons of God, saints, the chosen, the elect, and pneumatics can be spiritual individuals. Gnostic Christians use the term holy spirits to refer to those who have reached the Christ-consciousness.

"The indwelling of the spirit in the Christian makes him a holy temple…[holy also] indicates the sacred character of persons or objects belonging to God



Thursday 27 October 2022

Taking In Life-Giving Knowledge John 17:3

Taking in Knowledge of God and Jesus is Eternal Life
Or
Their Taking in Knowledge of You John 17:3 








John 17:3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. NWT 1983

In the Gospel of John, knowledge is given an importance it has nowhere else in the New Testament. 

From John 8:32, " And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," it appears that Truth alone suffices to liberate from sin. 

It is explicitly declared in John 17:3 that eternal life consists in the knowledge of God: "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ." In several passages the teaching of Jesus brings Salvation (cf. John 6:63, 15:3, 17:17, 26).

Agreeable to this emphasis upon knowledge is the constant repetition of words stressing the importance of Revelation. Such words are "light," "know," "declare," "bear witness," "see," "and" manifest." 


Taking In Life-Giving Knowledge

John 17:3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. NWT 1983


John 17:3 This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. NWT 2013


The right knowledge or teachings of God and Jesus Christ gives endless life. it is also a life of acquaintance with God in Christ leading to a fullness of personal knowledge (Ephesians 4:13 Job 22:21)


It is both a personal relationship with God and the accurate knowledge in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension 


ἐπίγνωσις, εως, ἡ 1922. epignósis


epignosis “precise and correct knowledge.” it means “to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly; to know accurately, know well



epignosis “also denotes exact or full knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1:9)

precise and correct knowledge; used in the N. T. of the knowledge of things ethical and divine: absolutely, with the genitive of the person known; — of God,

Paul also prayed that the believers, who obviously had some knowledge of God’s will, for they had become Christians, “be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension.” (Col 1:9)


Such accurate knowledge should be sought by all Christians (Eph 1:15-17; Php 1:9; 1Ti 2:3, 4), it is important in putting on “the new personality” and in gaining peace.—Col 3:10; 2Pe 1:2. (insight into the scriptures)

Duncan Heaster writes: 

When wisdom enters into your heart and knowledge itself becomes pleasant to your very soul, thinking ability itself will keep guard over you, discernment itself will safeguard you, to deliver you from the bad way.” (Proverbs 2:10-12)

These words imply that we must develop a intense desire for accurate knowledge, which can affect the heart and the very soul. Furthermore, it is a foundation for good thinking ability 

It is having the knowledge of God's ways that makes us responsible to Him for our actions and therefore necessitates our resurrection and appearance at the judgment seat. It should therefore be understood that it is not only the righteous or those baptized who will be resurrected, but all who are responsible to God by reason of their knowledge of Him. This is an oft repeated Scriptural theme:- 

John 15:22 shows that knowledge of the Word brings responsibility: "If I (Jesus) had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke ('excuse', A.V. mg.) for their sin". Romans 1:20-21 likewise says that knowing God leaves men "without excuse".

This knowledge makes men responsible to the judgement seat of Christ, However a person is only associated with the blood of Christ through baptism. (John 3:18-19; John 12:48; Mark 16:16; 2Th 1:8)

responsibility is based upon understanding, and therefore the statement "those who know the revealed will of God" 1 Corinthians 2:10

Salvation is based upon a reasonable and logical understanding of the Truth; those who are foreign to the gospel, who lack the capacity to perceive its responsibilities; or who are unable to comprehend, are outside the sphere of salvation — Acts 8:12.

Also man can not be saved by morality or sincerity, without the gospel.

[Morality and sincerity must be accompanied by an acknowledgement of the gospel for salvation — Acts 10:1-6.]

Knowledge of the gospel alone can not save a person, without the obedience of faith to Christ’s commandments.

 [Obedience to the commandments is a responsibility required of all believers; salvation will be determined upon the application of faith and obedience. Rev. 22:14; Mat. 7:26; 2Pet. 2:21; Mat. 28:20; Gal. 6:2]

Faith in the Gospel of the Kingdom and baptism into Christ is the only way to get into him, and be part of him, and get life through him. We must get into Christ — within him. Outside of him, the one perfect and divinely acceptable Man, we shall inevitably be destroyed by God’s righteous and necessary law of sin and death. Inside of him — covered by him — we are safe. None are his friends — none are truly in him — who do not devote their whole life to knowing and obeying him. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).

In the NT, when the mind is mentioned along with the heart, “mind” refers to the intellect while “heart” refers to the emotions, desires, and feelings of the inner person. For example, Jesus said: “You must love Yahweh your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.” (Mt 22:37) He thus showed that a person’s desires, feelings, and emotions must express his love for God, but he must also express that love by the way he uses his mental faculties, as by taking in knowledge of God and Christ.—John 17:3.



Right thinking leads to right Behaviour
Therefore Gnostic Christianity means being a seeker after accurate knowledge and believing that everything you need to know about God can be found through intellectual reasoning. That is what Gnosticism is

Thus salvation is intellectual knowledge or intellectual knowledge is needed for salvation


It was made very clear that  clarifies this matter. This is in accordance with the Scriptures. “We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ” (2Cor. 5:10). “He that rejecteth me… the Word… shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

Therefore “atheist,” pagans, and all persons who are ignorant or lacking in understanding of the truth, including very young children will not be saved. Psalm 49

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Who is the Demiurge? Hebrews 11:10

Who is the Demiurge?
Or 
What is the Demiurge? 
Hebrews 11:10






The concept of the demiurge originates from the understanding that the Deity is not the immediate creator of the physical universe. 

First it should be noted that Valentinians do not use the term YaldabaothIt should also be noted that Basildians and Valentinians speak about the Demiurge with positive terms unlike the Sethians who speak very negatively about Yaldabaoth:

Basilides: "After this, from the universal Seed and conglomeration of seed-mixture there burst forth and came into existence the Great Ruler, the head of the sensible universe, a beauty and magnitude and potency that naught can destroy." This is the demiurge; but let no mortal think that he can comprehend so great a being, "for he is more ineffable than ineffables, more potent than potencies, wiser than the wise, superior to every excellence that one can name. (
Fragments of a Faith Forgotten, 
p. 253 by G.R.S. Mead )

According to Valentinian tradition, the Demiurge is formed as an "an image of the Father"(Excepts of Theodotus 47:1-3). A similar description occurs in the Tripartite Tractate: "He is the lord of all of them, that is, the countenance which the logos brought forth in his thought as a representation of the Father of the Totalities. Therefore, he is adorned with every name which is a representation of him, since he is characterized by every property and glorious quality. For he too is called 'father' and 'god' and 'demiurge' and 'king' and 'judge' and 'place' and 'dwelling' and 'law'" (Tripartite Tractate 100:21-30). Because he is seem as the image of the true God and Father, Valentinians have no problem using the terms "Father" and "God" to describe him (cf. also Against Heresies 1:5:1, Valentinian Exposition 38).


Is the word demiurge used in the Bible?

Yes in Hebrews 11:10



In Hebrews chapter 11:10 we get the only Biblical reference to the word Demiurge

Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker <1217> is God.

This is used as a prophecy about the Heavenly Jerusalem

The Greek word is used in the apocrypha 

Wisdom 13:1 For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature;
and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists,
nor did they recognize the craftsman while paying heed to his works;

1Clem 20:11
All these things the great Creator and Master of the universe ordered to be in peace and concord, doing good unto all things, but far beyond the rest unto us who have taken refuge in His compassionate mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ

Notice that clement says the creation was "ordered" 

2Mac.4:1 This Simon now, of whom we spake afore, having been a betrayer of the money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as if he ha terrified Heliodorus, and been the worker of these evils.

The language here applied to God as the "architect" or framer of the universe is often used in the classic writers.


Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker <1217> is God.

Fragment 13, on John 2:13-16 The ascent to Jerusalem signifies the ascent of the Lord from material realm things to the animate (psychic) place, which is an image of Jerusalem. (In John 2:14, “In the sanctuary he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business.”) The words, "In the sanctuary, he found” and not "in the temple" are used so that it may not be thought to be the mere “calling” (animate), apart from the Spirit, which elicits help from the Lord. The sanctuary is the Holy of Holies, into which only the High-Priest enters, into which the spiritual go. The temple courtyard, where the Levites also enter, is a symbol of the animate ones who attain a salvation outside the Fullness (Pleroma).

The Demiurge is the maker of the psychic and material realms

Etymology of Demiurge

The word "demiurge" is an English word derived from demiurgus, a Latinised form of the Greek δημιουργός or dēmiourgos. It was originally a common noun meaning "craftsman" or "artisan", but gradually came to mean "producer", and eventually "creator". 

strong's concordance 1217 δημιουργός demiourgos day-me-oor-gos’ 

from 1218 and 2041; n m; TDNT-2:62,149;  {See TDNT 182 } 


AV-maker 1; 1 


1) a workman for the public 


2) the author of any work, an artisan, framer, builder 


dēmiourgós (from 1218 /dḗmos, "a unified group of people" and 2014 /epiphaínō, "work") – properly, someone working on behalf of a group of people (used only in Heb 11:10).

God is called ὁ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ δημιουργός in Plato, rep. 7, p. 530 a.; ὁ δημιουργός τῶν ὅλων in Josephus, Antiquities 1, 7, 1, and often in ecclesiastical writers from Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 20, 11 [ET]; 26, 1 [ET]; 33, 2 [ET] on; (cf. Philo, de mut. nom. § 4; de opif. mund., Muller, edition, p. 133; Piper, Einl. in monument. Theol. § 26; Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word). In the Scriptures, besides, only in 2 Macc. 4:1 κακῶν δημιουργός). (Cf. Trench, § cv.)

The Gospel of John Chapter 1
The Gospel of John 1:1  ¶  Originally (746 ἀρχή), was, the Word, and, the Word, was, with God; and, the Word, was, God.
2  The same, was originally (746 ἀρχή), with God.
3  All things, through him, came into existence, and, without him, came into existence, not even one thing: that which hath come into existence, (Rotherham's Emphasized Bible)

Ptolemy's Commentary on The Gospel of John Prologue:

Now since he is speaking of the first origination, he does well to begin the teaching at the beginning, i.e with the Son and the Word. He speaks as follows: "The Word was in the beginning, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It was in the beginning, with God." [Jn 1:1] First, he distinguishes three things: God; beginning; Word. Then he unites them: (Logos [Word], Theos [God], and Arche [
beginning] are one) this is to show forth both the emanation of the latter two, i.e. the Son and the Word, and their union with one another, and simultaneously with the Father. For the beginning was in the Father and from the Father; and the Word was in the beginning and from the beginning. Well did he say, "The Word was in the beginning", for it was in the Son. "And the Word was with God." So was the beginning. "And the word was God"; reasonably so, for what is engendered from God is God. This shows the order of emanation. "The entirety was made through it, and without it was not anything made." [Jn 1:3] For the Word became the cause of the forming and origination of all the aeons that came after it. 
 (Ptolemy's Commentary on The Gospel of John Prologue)

The Greek term translated "word" is Logos. It signifies the outward form of inward thought or reason, or the spoken word as illustrative of thought, wisdom and doctrine.

John is teaching that in the beginning, God's purpose, wisdom or revelation had been in evidence. It was "with God" in that it emanated from him; it "was God" in that it represented Him to mankind and it became the motive power of all that God did, for all was made with it in mind, and it presented the hope of life to mankind (see John 1: 3-4).


The logos is the cause of the forming and origination of Pleroma not the physical universe this can be seen from Heracleon: Fragments from his Commentary on the Gospel of John 1:3

The Demiurge in Ptolemy's Commentary is the beginning or Arche

Beginning
What does he mean by beginning? You see some can argue that he means beginning as in God forever and eternal past. But if that’s the case, there really is no beginning with God others might argue well beginning in the sense that when God conceived of creating the perfect sons and daughters of God the human beings. Whatever other beings he might have created in the universe that was the beginning and the son was there from the beginning.

The message here is that God has everything in mind from the beginning. Whatever he produces from the beginning and as the Brethren of that beginning Christ is the eternal forever in the past or at the beginning at the time of which he conceived the concept of the son as being part of the story of humankind. This does not really matter because for us humans from our perspective it is the beginning of everything anyway and that’s really all we need to know and we’ll probably likely ever know anyway.

The Greek word ἀρχή arche translated beginning has a connection to the word ruler or Archon

746 ἀρχή arche ar-khay’ 

from 756; n f; TDNT-1:479,81;  {See TDNT 102 } 


AV-beginning 40, principality 8, corner 2, first 2, misc 6; 58 


746. ἀρχή arche ar-khay’; from 756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank): —  beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule. 


BEGINNING: "Archee"; signifying "first in order", from the root "arch, archon" = a ruler. 


strong's concordance 756 ἄρχομαι archomai ar’-khom-ahee middle voice of 757

strong's concordance 757. ἄρχω archo ar’-kho; a primary verb; to be first (in political rank or power): —  reign (rule) over. 

NASB Translation

began (62), begin (7), beginning (8), begins (2), begun (1), proceed (1), rule (1), rulers (1), starting (2). 

This brings us to the next Greek word 758 ἄρχων archon

strong's concordance 758 ἄρχων archon ar’-khone 

present participle of 757; n m; TDNT-1:488,81;  {See TDNT 102 } 


AV-ruler 22, prince 11, chief 2, magistrate 1, chief ruler 1; 37 


1) a ruler, commander, chief, leader 

Archon (historical, Ancient Greece) The title of a magistrate in a number of states of Ancient Greece, and in the city states (poleis) of the Achaean League.

Archon (Greek: ἄρχων, árchon, plural: ἄρχοντες, árchontes) is a Greek word that means "ruler", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem αρχ-, meaning "to rule", derived from the same root as monarch and hierarchy. 

The Greek word Archon is connected to the Greek word Archee (Beginning) 

In the Gospel of John the Demiurge is the first archon from the Greek word Archee translated beginning Archee 746 ἀρχή it is also translated principality or principalities in Eph 1:21 Eph 3:10 Eph 6:12 Col 1:16

Christ the head of all Principalities {#Eph 1:21 Col 1:16 2:10 } 


Demiurge can be translated Architect from Arche (Gr. "beginning") 

Heracleon: Fragments from his Commentary on the Gospel of John: 

John 1:3, “All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made.”) The sentence: "All things were made through him" means the world and what is in it. It excludes what is better than the world. The Aeon (i.e. the Fullness), and the things in it, were not made by the Word; they came into existence before the Word. . . “Without him, nothing was made” of what is in the world and the creation. . . "All things were made through Him," means that it was the Word who caused the Craftsman (Demiurge) to make the world, that is it was not the Word “from whom” or “by whom,” but the one “through whom (all things were made).”. . . It was not the Word who made all things, as if he were energized by another, for "through whom" means that another made them and the Word provided the energy (
Heracleon: Fragments from his 
Commentary on the Gospel of John)

The Demiurge is working on behalf of someone else that is the word or logos 

The Demiurge is a personification of the Elohim

Though Elohim is in the plural, and signifies "mighty ones," it is most frequently used with a verb in the singular number, as in Gen. 1:1. This suggests that the Elohim, though constituting a great number of immortal beings, are being motivated by a single power, "the spirit of God" (Gen. 1:2). The Elohim, therefore, comprise a great company united as one, and obeying in unison the motivating power of the great Increate. The Psalmist declared: "Yahweh hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all. Bless Yahweh, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. Bless ye Yahweh, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless Yahweh, all His works in all places of His dominion" (Psalm 103:19-22).
Yahweh is spirit (John 4:24), and His angels are spirit beings (Psalm 104:4; Heb. 1:7). They are "His family in heaven" (Eph. 3:15), being emanations of Him, and doing His will through His all-pervading spirit (Gen. 1:2). Thus they act as a unit, though being innumerable in number.

The Archangel Michael is the highest of all the angels as stated before, the angels are emanations of the uncreated and eternal spirit or Deity, Michael relays the commandments and orders of the Deity to all the angels below him, being the highest of all. So in a way, he could be seen as Hebraic religious idea of a "Demiurge" who fashioned the world for God.

See the post Yahweh is the head angel in the Old Testament

The Archangel Michael could be seen as the "Demiurge" who fashioned the world for the Deity.
-spiritual nature. In comparison with the true God he is rather "coarse" or "rough" (Excerpts of Theodotus 33:4).


The term "demiurge" does not refer to the One True Deity, though the demiurge may very well be seen as a god, angel or elohim. The Demiurge is simply the craftsman of the universe, but is not the Supreme Intelligence of the universe the Uncreated and Eternal Spirit. In other word, whether the Demiurge is a god or not, it is not God or "THE One True Deity."

The Deity manifests himself through his angels, these angels are ever present, embodiment of the qualities of the Father, and thus manifesting the Father's will and presence in this world, without being the Father Deity themselves. These angels are always serving the Father and creating by his will and collectively are the Demiurge of the world through whom the Father administers his will.



The 
Demiurge is never referred to has Yaldabaoth 


The Demiurge is a real god, not a "false god".


The Demiurge is an elohim or angel

The Demiurge is not Satan, he is not a demon, and he is not an evil spirit or the personification of evil .The Creator or archangel Michael implements the Father's will and administers justice.

After all, he rendered the prophecies and reality of the Saviour.