Enoch 40
1 And after that I saw thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand, I saw a multitude beyond number and reckoning, who stood before the Lord of Spirits.
2 And on the four sides of the Lord of Spirits I saw four presences, different from those that sleep not, and I learnt their names: for the angel that went with me made known to me their names, and showed me all the hidden things.
3 And I heard the voices of those four presences as they uttered praises before the Lord of glory.
4 The first voice blesses the Lord of Spirits for ever and ever.
5 And the second voice I heard blessing the Elect One and the elect ones who hang upon the Lord of Spirits.
6 And the third voice I heard pray and intercede for those who dwell on the earth and supplicate in the name of the Lord of Spirits.
7 And I heard the fourth voice fending off the Satans and forbidding them to come before the Lord of Spirits to accuse them who dwell on the earth.
8 After that I asked the angel of peace who went with me, who showed me everything that is hidden: 'Who are these four presences which I have seen and whose words I have heard and written down?'
9 And he said to me: 'This first is Michael, the merciful and long-suffering: and the second, who is set over all the diseases and all the wounds of the children of men, is Raphael: and the third, who is set over all the powers, is Gabriel: and the fourth, who is set over the repentance unto hope of those who inherit eternal life, is named Phanuel.' And these are the four angels of the Lord of Spirits and the four voices I heard in those days.
Common Questions About Enoch 40
What does Enoch see surrounding the Lord of Spirits in chapter 40?
He sees an uncountable multitude standing before the Lord of Spirits, along with four distinct heavenly presences positioned on the four sides of God's throne, each with a different role: blessing God, blessing the Elect One and the elect, interceding for those on earth, and holding back the 'Satans' from bringing accusations against humanity before the Lord.
Which four archangels are identified with these four presences?
The angel of peace identifies them as Michael, the merciful and long-suffering; Raphael, who oversees the diseases and wounds of humanity; Gabriel, who is set over all the powers; and Phanuel, who is set over repentance leading to the hope of eternal life.
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Questions to Think About
- One of the four archangels is specifically tasked with fending off accusations against humanity before God. How does knowing that heaven actively intercedes on your behalf change how you handle guilt or shame over past failures?
- Phanuel's role is tied specifically to 'repentance unto hope.' How do you personally hold together honest repentance for wrongdoing with genuine hope, rather than letting guilt turn into despair?
Ask the Bible Chat Bot below if you'd like to talk through any of these.
