Occult Teaching: Mysticism

Jewish mysticism:

Towards the end of the 1st century CE, two types of Jewish mysticism emerged: one characterized by speculations about the book of Genesis (ma’aseh bereshit), and the other (ma’aseh merkavah or “work of the chariot”) relies on the description of the heavenly chariot (merkavah) that carries the throne of God in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel.

The mysticism of the Throne or Chariot (merkavah) in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel represents a particular genre of visionary literature; its earliest constitutive elements already appear around the 2nd century BCE. Generally, the merkavah is contemplated at the end of a journey through seven palaces (hekhalot) inhabited by celestial beings. It is precisely here that we sometimes find the famous angel Metatron, who is none other than the biblical character Enoch (Gen 5:18-24) elevated to the rank of an angel.

The literature related to ma’aseh merkavah can be found in:

1. Book of Ezekiel: Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 8.
2. Book of Isaiah: Chapter 6.
3. 2 Kings: Chapter 2, in relation to the ascension of Elijah.
4. Apocalyptic literature, also called hekhalotic literature.

Jewish apocalyptic literature:

From the 3rd century BCE onward, Jewish religion became enriched with numerous apocalyptic texts that describe both ascensions to heaven (such as the Enoch cycle) and the coming of a new eon (such as 4 Esdras and 2 Baruch), or a combination of celestial ascent (vertical) and eschatological prophecy (horizontal).

Jewish apocalyptic literature is generally extra-biblical, with the exception of the book of Daniel. “Apocalypse” means “revelation.” These are indeed accounts of revelations obtained in various ways, the most important of which are: the journey to the afterlife, the vision, the dialogue, and the “celestial book.”

Apocalypses have a historical dimension, “horizontal,” concerning the end of times, and a visionary dimension, “vertical,” concerning the structure of the universe and the dwelling place of God. Among the oldest Jewish apocalyptic writings are:

1. 1 Enoch, whose only complete version is the Ethiopian one.
2. Book of Jubilees (2nd century BCE), influenced by 1 Enoch.
3. Book of Daniel, consisting of several narratives within a common narrative framework in the 2nd century BCE.
4. Sibylline Oracles, which gather Jewish and Christian compositions from different periods.
5. Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (2nd century BCE).
6. Life of Adam and Eve.
7. Apocalypse of Abraham.
8. 2 Enoch, or Slavonic Enoch.
9. 4 Esdras.
10. 2 Baruch, or Syriac Baruch.
11. 3 Enoch, or Hebrew Enoch, a book written during the second half of the 3rd century CE.

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External Links: Jewish apocalyptic literature / Jewish mysticism