According to Legends of the Jews, Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah, experienced not just one, but two ascensions to heaven!
The first time, Enoch was still living amongst humanity. One night, he was overcome by a deep sorrow in his sleep, a sorrow he couldn't quite understand. Suddenly, two towering figures appeared before him. Their faces shone like the sun, their eyes like burning lamps, and their wings were brighter than gold. Can you imagine the sight?
These heavenly beings told him not to fear, that the everlasting God had sent them to bring him to heaven. They instructed him to say goodbye to his sons and servants, because he would be gone for a while. And with that, they whisked him away on their wings, setting him upon clouds that soared higher and higher.
First, they arrived at the first heaven. Here, Enoch was shown the 200 angels who govern the stars, each performing their celestial duties. He also saw the treasuries of snow, ice, clouds, and dew – imagine the sheer scale of it!
Then they ascended to the second heaven, a far more somber place. Here were imprisoned the fallen angels, those who had disobeyed God's commandments. These fallen beings pleaded with Enoch to pray for them. But Enoch, ever humble, questioned his own worthiness: "Who am I, a mortal man, that I should pray for angels? Who knows whither I go, or what awaits me?"
Next came the third heaven, and what a contrast! Here was Paradise itself, bursting with trees of vibrant colors, laden with ripe and luscious fruit. As Ginzberg recounts in Legends of the Jews, the air was thick with delightful fragrance. And in the midst of it all stood the tree of life, so magnificent it defied description. From its roots flowed four streams of honey, milk, oil, and wine, nourishing the very Paradise of Eden.
Enoch also saw the 300 angels who guard the garden, their voices raised in never-ceasing song, serving the Lord. He learned that this place was prepared for the righteous. But the flip side? A terrible place for sinners awaited in the northern regions of the third heaven, a place of torture, impenetrable gloom, and unyielding fire and ice. A stark reminder of the choices we face.
The journey continued to the fourth heaven, where Enoch witnessed the workings of the sun and moon, the legions of angels attending them, and even strange and wonderful creatures like phoenixes and chalkidri, bringing heat and dew. He saw the gates through which the sun rises and sets, the paths of the moon.
In the fifth heaven, he encountered the Grigori, angels who had rejected the holy Lord. Their appearance was like men, but larger than giants, their faces withered, their lips silent. Enoch, in his righteousness, rebuked them, urging them to return to their duties. And upon hearing the sound of trumpets, they joined in song, their voices filled with sadness and tenderness.
The seventh heaven was the most awe-inspiring of all. Here, Enoch beheld the seven bands of archangels who study the stars, the moon, and the sun, overseeing the world's fortunes. They arrange teachings, instructions, and glorious praise. And amidst them were seven phoenixes, seven cherubim, and seven six-winged creatures, singing in unison.
Overwhelmed by the fiery hosts and incorporeal powers, Enoch trembled in terror. But the angels reassured him, bringing him before the Lord, seated on His lofty throne. There, the heavenly hosts, divided into ten classes, stood on ten steps, each according to their rank, making obeisance. The air was filled with joy, mirth, and boundless light, with songs of praise offered in low and gentle voices.
After witnessing all this, the angels departed, leaving Enoch at the edge of the seventh heaven. But then, Gabriel himself appeared, urging Enoch to stand before the Lord forever. Enoch, still fearful, hesitated, but Gabriel swept him away like a leaf and brought him before God.
And here is where the transformation truly begins. Michael removed Enoch's earthly robe, anointed him with holy oil, and clothed him in glory. Fear and trembling vanished. God then commanded an archangel to bring forth the books of knowledge and instructed Enoch for thirty days and nights, revealing the secrets of heaven and earth, angels and men, even the souls of the unborn. Enoch wrote it all down, creating 366 books!
God revealed to him the creation of the world, the fall of Satan, the sin of Adam, and the future of humanity, including the coming flood. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, God even told him that the world would last seven thousand years, with the eighth millennium being a time beyond reckoning.
Finally, God sent Enoch back to earth for thirty days to instruct his sons, entrusting him with the sacred writings. He warned them of the coming deluge and promised that a righteous man of their lineage would survive, preserving the knowledge for future generations.
When the thirty days were complete, angels returned in darkness and took Enoch to the highest heaven, where the Lord received him. The people below saw the darkness and the light, but didn't understand what had happened. Methuselah and his brothers built an altar in the place where Enoch ascended, celebrating with a three-day festival, praising God for the sign given through Enoch.
So, what does this incredible journey tell us? It's a story of transformation, of divine revelation, and of the enduring power of knowledge. It reminds us that even in the face of fear and uncertainty, we can find courage and purpose. And perhaps, just perhaps, it offers a glimpse of the wonders that await us beyond this earthly realm.