The figure of Enoch appears only briefly in the Old Testament, but he is described in great detail in apocryphal texts. These are writings that were not included in the official biblical canon but play an important role in various religious traditions. Apocryphal texts are often considered additional sources for religious teachings or spiritual explanations that found no place in the Bible. In particular, the 1st Book of Enoch, an apocryphal text from Jewish tradition, places Enoch at the center, detailing his heavenly journeys and visions. These writings likely originated in the 3rd century BCE and are considered part of Jewish apocalyptic literature, a literary movement that provided comfort through divine revelations during times of political and social crises.
Apocalypticism developed particularly in the period after the Babylonian captivity when many Jews lived in the diaspora. The experience of exile and foreign rule deeply shaped Jewish thought, and texts like the Book of Enoch reflected the hope for divine intervention and the salvation of the righteous. Although the 1st Book of Enoch was not included in the Old Testament canon, it had a significant influence on Jewish and early Christian thought, particularly concerning the ideas of angels, demons, and the structure of the heavens.
Religious Interpretations
The religious interpretations of Enoch’s heavenly visions can be divided into two main strands: the literal and the symbolic interpretations.
Literal Interpretation
The literal interpretation, especially upheld by devout Jews and Christians, views Enoch’s journeys as actual events. Adherents of this view believe that Enoch was physically, or at least spiritually, taken up to heaven, where he saw God and the heavenly realms. This ascension is seen as a precursor to the Christian concept of eternal life, where the righteous will come into the presence of God after death. This interpretation emphasizes the absolute reality of the heavenly visions and the divine revelation experienced by Enoch.
From this perspective, Enoch is a unique example of how humans can gain direct access to divine knowledge. The visions are considered a supernatural gift from God and are not questioned. The 1st Book of Enoch is therefore regarded as a kind of divine prophecy, predicting the future fate of humanity and God’s final judgment.
Symbolic Interpretation
The symbolic interpretation suggests that the story of Enoch should not be understood literally but rather as a literary allegory. Enoch’s heavenly journey and the revelations he receives are meant to convey spiritual truths, not describe historical or physical events. In this reading, Enoch represents the ideal believer, who, through his righteousness and closeness to God, attains special wisdom and enlightenment.
The cosmic visions can be seen as symbolic representations of divine order and the struggle between good and evil. The punishment of the fallen angels described in the Book of Enoch is an allegory for moral decline and divine justice. Enoch’s journey into heaven is a spiritual ascent, showing the path for all believers who live in harmony with divine principles. The text serves primarily as a guide for reflection on life and the relationship between humanity and God.
Erich von Däniken’s Theory
Erich von Däniken, known for his theories about extraterrestrial influences on human history, sees more than just a spiritual message in the 1st Book of Enoch. For him, Enoch’s visions are not religious revelations but accounts of encounters with alien technology. Von Däniken interprets the angels described in the text as extraterrestrial visitors who took Enoch aboard a spaceship and gave him access to advanced technology.
For example, the 1st Book of Enoch in chapter 14 describes a crystal structure that Enoch enters:
I saw a great and high house with a roof of crystals, whose walls and floor were like a sea of flames and sparks of lightning emanated from it.
Von Däniken interprets this as a description of a spaceship made of futuristic materials and energy sources. For him, the sparks of lightning
represent some kind of energy source or perhaps a plasma propulsion system used by the extraterrestrial visitors. The angels who guide Enoch are, in his view, not divine beings but advanced entities from another planet who influenced humanity.
Although von Däniken’s theory sounds fascinating, there is no solid scientific or historical evidence to support it. The 1st Book of Enoch comes from a time when religious visions and cosmological speculations were widespread. The text is deeply rooted in the religious and cultural context of ancient Judaism. The detailed cosmic and heavenly descriptions are typical of Jewish apocalyptic literature and can also be found in other contemporary writings, such as the Book of Daniel or later in the Book of Revelation.
The assumption that these texts describe alien technology is a projection of modern ideas onto ancient texts. Von Däniken ignores the symbolic and spiritual significance of these visions. Moreover, there is no archaeological or textual evidence of extraterrestrial contact in Jewish literature of the time. The crystal structures and heavenly lightning described in the text are allegorical representations of divine power and majesty, as found in many ancient religions.
Rational Explanations
There are also rational explanations for the causes of visions like those reported by Enoch. First, it must be emphasized that the 1st Book of Enoch was written in a specific historical and cultural context. Jewish apocalypticism developed in a time of political and social crises, especially after the Babylonian captivity in the 6th century BCE. This experience of exile and foreign rule shaped Jewish ideas of divine justice and hope for redemption.
Such ideas can be found not only in Judaism but also in Sumerian, Babylonian, and Egyptian myths, which often describe cosmic journeys and encounters with gods. There is nothing unique about the Bible in this regard. The Bible is a literary product of a particular time and culture, often incorporating motifs from other sources. These motifs were copied and integrated into its own texts.
It is also known that mystical experiences can be induced through meditation, fasting, or trance states, which were widespread in the ancient world. Additionally, Enoch’s experience could be explained by neurological phenomena like temporal lobe epilepsy, which often triggers intense spiritual and visionary experiences.
There may be no explicit indications or evidence within the text itself that it was written under the influence of drugs, but what about the historical context of the culture in which such texts originated? It is possible that the text is based on earlier traditions created in altered states of consciousness induced by substances such as opiates, hashish, or khat. These substances were well known in the region and were used in both ritual and everyday contexts. The use of drugs, especially plant-based intoxicants, was common in many ancient cultures and could have played a role in the creation of texts describing intense visions and mystical experiences.
The Old Testament and its apocryphal writings are ultimately a collection of texts produced in a cultural and historical context. They reflect the contemporary ideas of the cosmos, God, and the fate of humanity without requiring divine explanation. These texts are products of their time, addressing the fears, hopes, and myths of the people who wrote them. Their content stems from cultural and social circumstances and must be understood within the context of the society and religion of the time.
Nothing in the Bible or its apocryphal writings is unique. They are part of a broader literary and mythical heritage of the ancient Near East. Motifs like heavenly journeys or encounters with divine beings are neither original nor exclusive to the biblical texts. These motifs were copied, adapted, and integrated into various religious contexts over centuries, according to the needs of the societies involved.
Examples of such adaptations can be found in older Mesopotamian myths, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, which tells of the journeys and deeds of a legendary king. Similarly, in Egyptian funerary literature, particularly the Book of the Dead, cosmic journeys and encounters with supernatural powers are described, aiming to explain the fate of humans in the afterlife. Jewish writings, including the Book of Enoch, took up these ancient myths and symbols and incorporated them into their own religious concepts to offer a deeper understanding of God, divine order, and the fate of humanity.
Modern science can offer plausible explanations for many of these mystical experiences. As previously mentioned, neurological conditions such as temporal lobe epilepsy could account for some of the described visions. Additionally, the use of mind-altering substances may have played a role. In many ancient Near Eastern cultures, the use of drugs in religious or ritual contexts was widespread. Substances like opiates, hashish, and khat were used to induce trance states and enhance spiritual experiences. These intoxicants could have contributed to the creation of texts like the Book of Enoch by helping authors experience intense visions and spiritual journeys.
Although there is no direct evidence in the text itself that Enoch or the authors of the Book of Enoch were under the influence of drugs, the cultural context cannot be ignored. In the region where these texts were produced, such substances were known and available. The use of these substances in ritual and spiritual practices could have influenced the creation of the visions and narratives. Many ancient societies used plants and drugs to achieve mystical states, and it is likely that similar practices
existed in the Jewish culture from which the Book of Enoch emerged.
When we view the Book of Enoch in its historical context, it becomes clear that divine inspiration is not necessary to explain such narratives. They are the result of the cultural and religious currents of their time. Like many other writings, they are literary products reflecting the worldview and spiritual concerns of the people who created them. There is no reason to interpret these texts as supernatural revelations.
Rather, we should view the biblical and apocryphal writings for what they are: cultural artifacts that provide valuable insights into the beliefs and thoughts of past civilizations. They tell stories that reflect the fears and hopes of the people, using motifs deeply rooted in the myths and symbols of the ancient Near East. While often regarded as sacred, these narratives make no claim to truth or divine origin.