Significance of Daniel's 1335 days in light of Enoch and Jubilees

[EbioniteRevival]

The commentary on Daniel 12:1 found in "The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges" observes that the first mentions of names being written in the "book of life" are found in the book of Enoch (Enoch 47:3 & 104:1). This prophecy is also reiterated in the book of Revelation (chapter 20:12 & 15). Thus both Daniel and Revelation draw from a prophecy given through Enoch.

This is important, because later in the 12th chapter of Daniel, it mentions a salvific blessing (Hebrew "esher" (אַשְׁרֵי)) that will be received by those who keep waiting and attain to 1335 days. I believe "esher" refers to such a salvific blessing, because in some of the contexts in which this word occurs - including its first use in the entire 66-book Bible, Deuteronomy 33:29 - it is strongly related to salvation:

“Blessed are you, O Israel;
Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD,
Who is the shield of your help
And the sword of your majesty!
So your enemies will cringe before you,
And you will tread upon their high places." (NASB 1995).

It appears that the word "esher" conveys the highest form of blessing possible and implies all that entails. It occurs only 45 times in the entire Tanakh; and this is rather surprising, considering how ubiquitous blessings in general are in the Bible. I believe that this word might also be linked with the Wedding Feast of the Lamb and Matthew 25:1-11, which I believe is speaking of a mid-tribulation rapture. Based on what we know of Galilean wedding customs, a (mid-tribulation) rapture seems to be represented by the chuppah, which was a bridal chamber used to carry the bride to the wedding, the date and time of which was a secret known only by the father of the groom. The bride was fetched the night before the wedding by surprise and hoisted above the ground via the bridal chamber to the home of the groom, where the wedding took place.

The Galilean Wedding

Relatedly, Yeshua hints that he would come in the second of third watch of night. Since the second watch is from 9 PM to midnight, while the fourth watch is from midnight to 3 AM, Yeshua could justifiably say that the day and hour (of his coming) is known only by the Father, even if Yeshua knew the two-day and six-hour window in which it would occur.

I believe this number, 1335, is also based on the teachings found in the book of Enoch: 1335 days is equivalent to exactly 44 Enoch calendar months in addition to the 15 single-day seasonal markers that occur during that length of time ((44 * 30) + 15 = 1335); and it also represents the year the Great Flood occurred (Jubilees 5).

Jubilees 5:20-21 tells us the precise year the Great Flood occurred in relation to Creation:

""And Noah made an ark in every thing as he had commanded him in the [twenty-seventh] jubilee, in the fifth week, in the fifth year. And he entered on the sixth [year] thereof, in the second month, in the new moon of the second month: until the sixteenth thereof he entered and all that we brought to him into the ark, and the Lord locked it from without on the seventeenth, at eve."

26 * 50 = 1300
4 * 7 = 28
(26 * 50) + (4 * 7) + 5 = 1333

1333 years after year 1 would be the 1334th year. Therefore, the Great Flood started in the 1334th year and finished in the 1335th year.

As we saw in Genesis - and will again see in Revelation - in the narrative of the Great Flood, we see the theme of the righteous being "rescued" (cf. Daniel 12:1) to "everlasting life" (cf. Daniel 12:2) (cf. the preservative covenant in Genesis 9); while the wicked are removed. This sort of double-edged judgement will be reiterated when the Messiah returns.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

lol Ebionite Revival! what a name... I often bring up that group up myself, especially concerning the modern Messianic movement and their claims and narrative and not in a positive way.


I guess I will have to study the OP... At the very least looks interesting and different than most other stuff here.

 

[EbioniteRevival]

Thanks for the reply.

In regards to the Ebionites, the one who says to most damning things about them is Epiphanius, whose claims are extremely dubious. Epiphanius believed that anyone who denies that Mary was a perpetual virgin is a heretic.

But based on the evidence from the Hebrew Gospels (e.g. Hebrew manuscripts of Matthew, some of which were quoted by the so-called "Church Fathers"), the Ebionites believed only in a virgin conception, not a virgin birth. The only scriptural evidence for virgin birth dogma is from a fourth century manuscript which claims that Joseph abstained from having intercourse with Mary throughout her pregnancy. I believe this part of the narrative was inserted by those who wished to provide a tenuous justification for Perpetual Virginity of Mary dogma, which would otherwise have no justification at all. The prophecy in Isaiah 9 only speaks of a virgin conception, not a virgin birth.

Epiphanius dubiously claims that the Ebionites are not even aware that their founder is a man named Ebion. That seems highly unlikely. Epiphanius also dubiously claimed that all the Ebionites are Samaritans, and this also seems unlikely that the true Ebionites were all Samaritans. Moreover, Epiphanius dubiously claimed that the Ebionites reject all the prophets except for Moses and Yeshua. I think this is also highly unlikely, because if they prized Yeshua, they would have no reason to reject all the prophets he cited in support of his own declarations. Most likely the Romans or the group associated with Caiaphas created a counterfeit group who called themselves Ebionites in order to divert attention away from the true Ebionites. Eusebius actually said that "the enemy" engaged in mass deception, and I believe there was such a mass disinformation campaign.

The Hebrew "Ebioniym" comes from the Hebrew 'EBYON ( אֲבִיוֹן ), which is derived from Hebrew root "ABaH" (אָבָה), and means "one in the state of wanting, a needy or poor person". The first disciples of Yeshua named themselves Ebioniym in recognition of the Sermon on the Mount, where Yeshua declared "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3). I believe the Ebionites called themselves this name to signify that everyone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness feels impoverished in a world that is so sorely lacking in righteousness and justice.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Thanks.

I guess I'm thinking more of stuff that would be from Eusebius' church history, of the Ebionites as a Jewish group that accepted Jesus as a prophet, and a Messiah, but not really divine. Basically the earliest version of Islam's take on Jesus, but that also comes from early Gnostic sources as well (that he died in appearance only, the Docetic heresy).

Anyway in that account, the poverty was a "poverty of understanding" since that group reputedly also believed in the necessity of keeping the old covenant for salvation etc.

EBIONITES - JewishEncyclopedia.com


Anyway I'm trying to take a look at your stuff. Not really in my wheelhouse of interest. I do however like lots of early church and Jewish stuff though.

 

[EbioniteRevival]

I guess I'm think more of stuff that would be from Eusebius church history, of the Ebionites as a Jewish group that accepted Jesus as a prophet, and a Messiah, not really divine. Basically the earliest version of Islam's take on Jesus, but that also comes from early Gnostic sources like as well (that he died in appearance only, the Docetic heresy).

I believe Epiphanius and other "heresy hunters" were guilty of poisoning the well on many occasions. In order to do this effectively, they had to create a counterfeit Ebionite group that would pretend to believe the doctrines they would attack. I do not believe the true Ebionim would hold to most of those doctrines the heresy hunters found fault with. The fact that hundreds (or thousands) of heretical groups emerged in just a few decades should raise eyebrows. Who was creating these groups? Did they arise organically from intranicene debates all founded on Yeshua's teachings - or were they planted by Rome and groups associated with Caiaphas?

Anyway in that account, the poverty was a "poverty of understanding" since that group reputedly also believed in the necessity of keeping the old covenant for salvation etc.

EBIONITES - JewishEncyclopedia.com

As I mentioned above, there is good reason to believe the genuine Ebionim called themselves Ebionim based on the Hebrew word 'EBYON ( אֲבִיוֹן ), which is derived from Hebrew root "ABaH" (אָבָה). See the attached screenshot from Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.

It is not likely they called themselves this to indicate that they had a poor understanding of the Bible. Probably only a counterfeit group would call themselves this while admitting ignorance of the Bible.

In regards to the belief that keeping the law is necessary for salvation, there is much Biblical support for this belief. Yeshua himself emphatically declared that he didn't come to abolish the law. Also Acts mentions that those under James supervision in Jerusalem were "zealous for the law"; and they even found it necessary to correct Paul on what they felt were his false beliefs: "And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs." (Acts 21:20-21 NASB 1995)

 

[Pavel Mosko]

As I mentioned above, there is good reason to believe the genuine Ebionim called themselves Ebionim based on the Hebrew word 'EBYON ( אֲבִיוֹן ), which is derived from Hebrew root "ABaH" (אָבָה). See the attached screenshot from Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.

Maybe for a few that were following the Essene traditions, but from what I can tell Nazarene/Nasarani and its other derivations was the main name used and Ebionite pretty much became a heretical designation early on.

NAZARENES - JewishEncyclopedia.com



And I say this stuff not just based on Greek and Latin fathers....

I actually have been quite interested in the believers that actually have descended from the Jews of the Diaspora and such from the Silk and Spice routes, as well as those in Africa as well. I'm talking about folks from such groups as the Assyrian Church of the East, Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox Church, Maronite Catholics etc. and all their ancient ancestors including the famous Jewish believer Hegessipius etc.


speaking of all that you might like this online book

East of the Euphrates: Early Christianity in Asia – Religion Online

 

[EbioniteRevival]

Maybe for a few that were following the Essene traditions, but from what I can tell Nazarene/Nasarani and its other derivations was the main name used and Ebionite pretty much became a heretical designation early on.

NAZARENES - JewishEncyclopedia.com

According to Ray Pritz, author of "Nazerene Jewish Christianity" (https://www.amazon.com/Nazarene-Jewish-Christianity-Testament-Disappearance/dp/1590459180), the Ebionites and Nazarenes were originally one group, until around the end of the first century, when the Nazarenes adopted new Christological ideas and split from the Ebionites.

This makes it even more dubious that Epiphanius is talking about the same group as the one which was so closely associated with the Nazarenes.

Epiphanius admits that another early name for this group was "Yessaioi". He says:

For these people did not give themselves the name of Christ or Jesus’ own name, but that of “Nazoraeans.” But at that time all Christians alike were called Nazoraeans. They also came to be called “Jessaeans” for a short while, before the disciples began to be called Christians at Antioch. But they were called Jessaeans because of Jesse, I suppose, since David was descended from Jesse and Mary was a lineal descendant of David. This was in fulfillment of sacred scripture, since in the Old Testament the Lord tells David, “Of the fruit of thy belly shall I set upon thy throne.” Epiphanius’s Panarion, Anacephalaeosis II, Against Nazoraeans, quoted in Williams, The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Book I (Sects 1-46), 123.

 

[EbioniteRevival]

you might like this online book

East of the Euphrates: Early Christianity in Asia – Religion Online

Thanks for the link.

If you are interested in such topics, you might enjoy this video I made about whether there have been Semitic influences on the Korean language: