Download Chereads APP
Chereads App StoreGoogle Play
Chereads

Eschatology

The Book Of Enoch : The Dead Sea Scrolls

Centuries before the common era, in a world grappling with divine mysteries and human fallibility, a profound prophetic work emerged: The Book of Enoch. This ancient text, attributed to Noah's great-grandfather, Enoch, unveils astonishing revelations—from the fall of the Watchers (angels who descended to earth and corrupted humanity) to the detailed workings of the cosmos, vivid prophecies of the Messiah, and the ultimate judgment. Enoch, an antediluvian patriarch who walked with God, acts as our guide through celestial journeys, revealing secrets of creation, the nature of good and evil, and humanity's destiny. His visions paint a stark picture of a pre-flood world overrun by giants and wickedness, but also offer glimpses of divine justice and future redemption. For millennia, The Book of Enoch existed on the fringes of accepted scripture, revered by some early Jewish and Christian communities, yet ultimately excluded from most canonical collections. Its influence, however, resonated deeply, subtly shaping theological thought and apocalyptic literature. Then, in the mid-20th century, a monumental discovery in the caves of Qumran near the Dead Sea brought The Book of Enoch back into the spotlight. Among the thousands of ancient manuscripts unearthed—the Dead Sea Scrolls—were numerous copies of Enochic texts, written in Aramaic and Hebrew. These remarkably preserved scrolls not only confirmed the antiquity and widespread circulation of The Book of Enoch but also illuminated its central role within the Qumran community, believed to be the Essenes, a Jewish sect deeply invested in eschatological beliefs and adherence to divine law. "The Book of Enoch: The Dead Sea Scrolls" weaves together the extraordinary narrative of Enoch's revelations with the thrilling account of the scrolls' discovery and their subsequent impact. It explores how these ancient manuscripts from the Judean Desert provide unprecedented insight into the rich tapestry of Second Temple Judaism, the origins of early Christianity, and the enduring power of apocalyptic vision. By examining the Enochic fragments found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, this book uncovers a vital missing link in our understanding of biblical history, prophecy, and the spiritual yearning for divine truth that transcends generations. It is a journey into an ancient world, a testament to enduring faith, and a thrilling exploration of how buried texts can reshape our perception of the past and our hopes for the future.
studiosbrightminds · 99 Views

The Gospel of Mark

This shortest of all New Testament gospels is likely the first to have been written, yet it often tells of Jesus’ ministry in more detail than either Matthew or Luke. It recounts what Jesus did in a vivid style, where one incident follows directly upon another. In this almost breathless narrative, Mark stresses Jesus’ message about the kingdom of God now breaking into human life as good news and Jesus himself as the gospel of God. Jesus is the Son whom God has sent to rescue humanity by serving and by sacrificing his life. The opening verse about good news in Mark serves as a title for the entire book. The action begins with the appearance of John the Baptist, a messenger of God attested by scripture. But John points to a mightier one, Jesus, at whose baptism God speaks from heaven, declaring Jesus his Son. The Spirit descends upon Jesus, who eventually, it is promised, will baptize “with the holy Spirit.” This presentation of who Jesus really is, rounded out with a brief reference to the temptation of Jesus and how Satan’s attack fails. Jesus as Son of God will be victorious, a point to be remembered as one reads of Jesus’ death and the enigmatic ending to Mark’s Gospel. The key verses at Mark which are programmatic, summarize what Jesus proclaims as gospel: fulfillment, the nearness of the kingdom, and therefore the need for repentance and for faith. After the call of the first four disciples, all fishermen we see Jesus engaged in teaching, preaching, and healing, and exorcising demons. The content of Jesus’ teaching is only rarely stated, and then chiefly in parables about the kingdom. His cures, especially on the sabbath; his claim, like God, to forgive sins; his table fellowship with tax collectors and sinners; and the statement that his followers need not now fast but should rejoice while Jesus is present, all stir up opposition that will lead to Jesus’ death. Jesus’ teaching in exalts the word of God over “the tradition of the elders” and sees defilement as a matter of the heart, not of unclean foods. Yet opposition mounts. Scribes charge that Jesus is possessed by Beelzebul. His relatives think him “out of his mind”. Jesus’ kinship is with those who do the will of God, in a new eschatological family, not even with mother, brothers, or sisters by blood ties. But all too often his own disciples do not understand Jesus. The fate of John the Baptist hints ominously at Jesus’ own passion. Momentarily he is glimpsed in his true identity when he is transfigured before three of the disciples, but by and large Jesus is depicted in Mark as moving obediently along the way to his cross in Jerusalem. Occasionally there are miracles, the only such account in Jerusalem), sometimes teachings, but the greatest concern is with discipleship. For the disciples do not grasp the mystery being revealed. One of them will betray him, Judas; one will deny him, Peter; all eleven men will desert Jesus. The Gospel of Mark ends in the most ancient manuscripts with an abrupt scene at Jesus’ tomb, which the women find empty. His own prophecy of Mk is reiterated, that Jesus goes before the disciples into Galilee; “there you will see him.” These words may imply resurrection appearances there, or Jesus’ parousia there, or the start of Christian mission, or a return to the roots depicted in Galilee. Mark’s Gospel is even more oriented to christology. Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Messiah, the anointed king of Davidic descent, the Greek for which, Christos, has, by the time Mark wrote, become in effect a proper name. Jesus is also seen as Son of Man, a term used in Mark not simply as a substitute for “I” or for humanity in general or with reference to a mighty figure who is to come, but also in connection with Jesus’ predestined, necessary path of suffering and vindication.
Dali098 · 133.1K Views
Related Topics
More