1 Enoch 14:14

Pseudepigrapha

11 A flaming fire surrounded the walls, and its portals blazed with fire. 12 And I entered into that house, and it was hot as fire and cold as ice: there were no delights of life therein: fear covered me, and trembling got hold upon me. 13 And as I quaked and trembled, I fell upon my face. 14 And I beheld a vision, And lo! there was a second house, greater than the former, and the entire portal stood open before me, and it was built of flames of fire. 15 And in every respect it so excelled in splendour and magnificence and extent that I cannot describe to you its splendour and its extent. 16 And its floor was of fire, and above it were lightnings and the path of the stars, and its ceiling also was flaming fire.

2 Corinthians 12:4

New Testament

1 It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) 4 was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.

 Notes and References

"... The first book of Enoch is composed of five major sections: the book of Watchers (chaps. 1–36), the book of Parables (chaps. 37–71), the book of the Luminaries (chaps. 72–82), the Dream Visions (chaps. 83–90), and the Epistle of Enoch (chaps. 91–105). Though all five major sections are part of one coherent and apocalyptic text, the first two books are the only ones relevant to the heavenly journey. The first depiction regarding the heavenly journey appears in 1 Enoch 14:8–23. According to 1 Enoch 14, the heavenly world is composed of three parts: from the entrance of heaven to the wall, a house beyond the first wall, and another house beyond the first house. Enoch enters the heavens, and he faces a wall built of hailstones (14:9). Beyond the wall, there is a great house also built of hailstones. The ceiling of the house is like shooting stars and lightning flashes (14:11). Passing through the door, Enoch encounters another door. Beyond the door, there is another house which is described as greater than the former one, and this second house is built of tongues of fire (14:15). In the second house, there is a lofty throne that Enoch is not able to see, and not even an angel may enter into the house and look at the face of The Great Glory (14:18–21). All the parts of heaven are glorious and majestic, but God’s dwelling place is the holiest place. From that place, Enoch hears the oracle of God (15:2–16:4), and the content of the oracle is the judgment that he should reiterate to the watchers. With regard to the three parts of heaven and the verbal revelation, one could say that Enoch’s depiction of the heavenly world is similar to Paul’s account in 2 Corinthians 12. However, whereas Paul hears an indescribable sound that no humans can reiterate, Enoch hears words from God that he can and should repeat to the (angelic) watchers—and ultimately to the human readers of the text ..."

Kim, Doosuk Appraisal in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 and Examining Intertextual Relations to Jewish Mystic Texts (pp. 28-29) McMaster Divinity College, 2020

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