Enoch 21
1 And I proceeded to where things were chaotic.
2 And I saw there something horrible: I saw neither a heaven above nor a firmly founded earth, but a place chaotic and horrible.
3 And there I saw seven stars of the heaven bound together in it, like great mountains and burning with fire.
4 Then I said: 'For what sin are they bound, and on what account have they been cast in hither?'
5 Then said Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me, and was chief over them, and said: 'Enoch, why dost thou ask, and why art thou eager for the truth?
6 These are of the number of the stars of heaven, which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and are bound here till ten thousand years, the time entailed by their sins, are consummated.'
7 And from thence I went to another place, which was still more horrible than the former, and I saw a horrible thing: a great fire there which burnt and blazed, and the place was cleft as far as the abyss, being full of great descending columns of fire: neither its extent or magnitude could I see, nor could I conjecture.
8 Then I said: 'How fearful is the place and how terrible to look upon!'
9 Then Uriel answered me, one of the holy angels who was with me, and said unto me: 'Enoch, why hast thou such fear and affright?' And I answered: 'Because of this fearful place, and because of the spectacle of the pain.'
10 And he said unto me: 'This place is the prison of the angels, and here they will be imprisoned for ever.'
Common Questions About Enoch 21
What does Enoch see at the chaotic place described in chapter 21?
He sees seven stars of heaven bound together like great burning mountains, which Uriel explains are being punished for transgressing God's commandment and will remain bound there for ten thousand years, the full measure of time required by their sin.
What does Enoch see at the second, more terrifying place in this chapter?
He sees an enormous blazing fire with a chasm reaching to the abyss, filled with great descending columns of fire whose extent he cannot measure; Uriel identifies this as the prison where the fallen angels will be confined forever.
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Questions to Think About
- Enoch openly admits his fear when confronted with the terrifying reality of coming judgment. Is there a truth about accountability or judgment you tend to avoid thinking about because it's uncomfortable, rather than letting it shape how you live?
- The distinction between temporary binding ('ten thousand years') and eternal imprisonment ('for ever') marks two very different outcomes in this vision. How does the idea of degrees or timing in judgment shape how you think about God's justice?
Ask the Bible Chat Bot below if you'd like to talk through any of these.
