I’m sorry I should not have politicized the discussion, we went off topic there. For the record I am supportive of aforementioned aspects of Bush’s conservatism, most especially his hostility to abortion. I say he makes me think of the devil, not for poltical reasons, but moreso because he somehow manages to present himself as a saintly christian man, the prodigal son even, despite the fact he appears to lie, misconstrue and mislead so very often, and he is the most powerful person walking this Earth; my image of the devil is likewise a powerful man who presents himself as pure or innocent despite the fact he is a rampant sinner.
I could be mistaken though.
But back on topic.
I found the quotation from the book of Enoch I mentionedfor consideration in our current discussion to whom it may interest:
Background on Enoch (for those unfamiliar): In the book of Genesis Enoch is the seventh generation from Adam and it says in that book he was taken up into heaven. Tradition holds that he was a prophet who read a sentence against the sinful Earth, that had been corrupted by the angels falling from heaven, before the flood came, and he is also along with Elijah sometimes thought to be one of the two witnesses mentioned in the book of revelations. The book of Enoch was I think written in the 1st century BC, and was part of the canon until sometime or another the church fathers or some such authority took it out of the bible. It is now regarded to be simply a historical work, and not inspired scripture; although in the Ethiopian church if I am not mistaken they still hold Enoch to be part of the canon. It might also be interesting to know that the letter of Jude takes a direct quotation from the book of Enoch.
Here is the quote (note: Azazel, the leader, is often interpreted to be Satan):
CHAPTER XII.
- Before these things Enoch was hidden, and no one of the children of men knew where he was hidden, and where he abode, and what had become of him. 2. And his activities had to do with the Watchers, and his days were with the holy ones.
- And I, Enoch was blessing the Lord of majesty and the King of the ages, and lo! the Watchers called me–Enoch the scribe–and said to me: 4. ‘Enoch, thou scribe of righteousness, go, †declare† to the Watchers of the heaven who have left the high heaven, the holy eternal place, and have defiled themselves with women, and have done as the children of earth do, and have taken unto themselves wives: “Ye have wrought great destruction on the earth: 5. And ye shall have no peace nor forgiveness of sin: and inasmuch as †they† delight themselves in †their† children, 6. The murder of †their† beloved ones shall †they† see, and over the destruction of †their† children shall †they† lament, and shall make supplication unto eternity, but mercy and peace shall ye not attain.”’
CHAPTER XIII.
- And Enoch went and said: 'Azâzêl,
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thou shalt have no peace: a severe sentence has gone forth against thee to put thee in bonds: 2. And thou shalt not have toleration nor †request† granted to thee, because of the unrighteousness which thou hast taught, and because of all the works of godlessness and unrighteousness and sin which thou hast shown to men.’ 3. Then I went and spoke to them all together, and they were all afraid, and fear and trembling seized them. 4. And they besought me to draw up a petition for them that they might find forgiveness, and to read their petition in the presence of the Lord of heaven. 5. For from thenceforward they could not speak (with Him) nor lift up their eyes to heaven for shame of their sins for which they had been condemned. 6. Then I wrote out their petition, and the prayer in regard to their spirits and their deeds individually and in regard to their requests that they should have forgiveness and length 〈of days〉†. 7. And I went off and sat down at the waters of Dan, in the land of Dan, to the south of the west of Hermon: I read their petition till I fell asleep. 8. And behold a dream came to me, and visions fell down upon me, and I saw visions of chastisement, ⌈and a voice came bidding (me)⌉ I to tell it to the sons of heaven, and reprimand them. 9. And when I awaked, I came unto them, and they were all sitting gathered together, weeping in ’Abelsjâîl, which is between Lebanon and Sênêsêr, with their faces covered. 10. And I recounted before them all the visions which I had seen in sleep, and I began to speak the words of righteousness, and to reprimand the heavenly Watchers
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