PDF Summary:Reversing Hermon, by Michael S. Heiser

In Reversing Hermon, Michael S. Heiser delves into the ancient scriptures and their connection to Mesopotamian mythology—specifically, the narrative of the Watchers and their offspring, the Nephilim. He explores how this Jewish account, expanded upon in the Book of Enoch, portrays celestial beings engaging in illicit relationships with humans and sharing forbidden knowledge—shaping writings on demons, the Antichrist, and apocalyptic events in the New Testament.

The author connects these celestial misdeeds to biblical themes—Jesus' origins and role in restoring the divine order, the conquering of giants, and prophetic visions. Heiser argues that understanding this ancient Watcher lore provides vital context for interpreting New Testament theology and the culmination of human events.

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During the era of Second Temple Judaism, beliefs about a formidable end-times opponent, often identified as the Antichrist, were connected to the transgressions of the Watchers and their offspring, the giants.

In Jewish tradition predating Christianity, there was a conviction that a powerful antagonist of the Messiah was linked to the Watchers. The adversary was seen as a mortal tyrant fated to engage in conflict with the anointed savior. Jewish theological beliefs attributed the main source of human depravity to the actions of the Watchers. Scholars from the early church, such as Irenaeus, frequently made comparisons between the notion of the Antichrist and immense entities reminiscent of the Titans. Nimrod and Gog were often depicted by Jewish writers as archetypal foes, associated with the formidable giants who challenged the heavenly order.

The phrase "antichrists" is used to describe despotic human leaders who are thought to gain their authority from the malevolent celestial beings referred to as the Watchers.

Heiser emphasizes that linking the Antichrist with the Watchers and Nephilim does not suggest that the Antichrist was of enormous stature. The term "antichrists" symbolizes formidable human beings who have aligned themselves with and gained strength from the nefarious Watcher entities. He ultimately serves malevolent forces, which numerous Jews consider to be dominated by Satan/Belial, who is seen as the provocateur of the Watcher rebellion. Heiser highlights the mention of a human-like entity referred to as "Beliar" in writings like the Sibylline Oracles 3.63-70, recognized as a significant opponent in the end times.

Jesus' origins, lineage, and religious service.

Heiser demonstrates how the accounts of Jesus' life and work in the Gospels are intricately linked to the broader objective of correcting the transgressions and their impact on humanity committed by the Watchers.

The Gospels present the nativity of Jesus as an occasion intended to mend the harm inflicted by the Watchers' sins.

Heiser argues that the accounts of Jesus' birth in the Gospels deliberately connect to the misdeeds of the Watchers, indicating that the arrival of the Messiah marked the restoration of celestial order and the reversal of the enduring curse that had defiled humanity. The interpretation of the celestial events in Revelation 12 significantly shapes our comprehension of the timing of Jesus's birth. The hypothesis suggests that Jesus' birth, which is believed to have occurred on Tishri 1, corresponds with the celebration of Noah's entry into the world. Noah, frequently called the "second Adam," survived the flood that eradicated the Nephilim and faced the immediate aftermath of the Watchers' sins, but the malevolent impact of these occurrences persisted. Jesus' relationship with Noah emphasizes the theological point that the Messiah surpasses Noah by coming to fully eradicate the consequences that arose due to the transgressions of the Watchers.

The lineage of Jesus incorporates females linked to the transgressions of the Watchers, underscoring his purpose to nullify their enduring impact.

The lineage of Jesus is notably marked by the inclusion of four notable women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah. Heiser emphasizes the deep-seated connection between the tales of the Watchers and the themes of sexual misconduct, allure, arcane rituals, and strife. Heiser draws on Richter's work regarding connections to the Watchers' misconduct to bolster his claim that Matthew deliberately mentioned women associated with such misdeeds in the genealogy of Jesus, indicating that the purpose of Jesus' coming was to rectify the fallout from their sins.

Jesus' confrontation with demonic forces and his teachings on the kingdom of God are framed as defeating the Watchers' cosmic rebellion.

Heiser portrays Jesus' ministry as occurring against the backdrop of the Watchers' misdeeds. The choice of the region at the foot of Mount Hermon for his stay, a location known for its association with the origin of the Watchers' plot, was not coincidental. Heiser views the reference to the "gates of hell" made by Jesus as a significant proclamation that the church is fated to prevail against the forces of darkness and their sovereign. Jesus chose Mount Hermon as the place to reveal His divine splendor and power, signifying His intention to restore that region to the realm of the divine, not long after the events that were discussed earlier. Heiser emphasizes the similarities between Jesus casting out Legion in Mark 5 and the stories related to the Watchers. The term "Son of the Most High" used by Legion to address Jesus reflects the Old Testament's portrayal of God's supreme authority over all nations and their deities. Jesus' mission was not limited to merely expelling evil spirits from individuals; it also encompassed reclaiming regions that had been surrendered to celestial entities, thus harmonizing the realms of heaven and earth in line with the Creator's initial design.

Other Perspectives

• The connection between the Watchers narrative and New Testament theology is not universally accepted among scholars; some argue that the influence of the Watchers on New Testament writers is overstated or speculative.
• The identification of demons with the souls of the Nephilim is not a doctrine held across all Christian denominations and is subject to various interpretations within biblical scholarship.
• The concept of the Antichrist and its association with the Watchers is a matter of theological debate, with some traditions interpreting the Antichrist differently or not emphasizing this figure as much.
• The interpretation of Jesus' lineage and its connection to the Watchers' transgressions is not a universally held view and is open to alternative theological and historical interpretations.
• The framing of Jesus' mission as a direct response to the Watchers' rebellion is a specific interpretative lens that may not be shared by all readers or scholars of the New Testament.

The connection between the Watchers' misdeeds and biblical narratives, along with associated prophecies regarding the apocalypse.

The passage explores how the narrative of the Watchers shapes the portrayal of biblical giants and its significance for the symbolism associated with eschatological events.

In the Bible, the Nephilim are frequently referred to as "giants."

Michael S. Heiser presents the idea that the Nephilim referenced in Genesis 6:4 were the ancestors of the giant clans whom the Israelites subsequently defeated in their quest to dominate the land of Canaan. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the connection that originates from the story of the Watchers to fully comprehend the themes of conquest and the broader biblical motifs associated with the divine denunciation of wickedness.

The Nephilim, offspring of the Watchers, were considered the ancestors of the great tribes that later became a menace to Israel.

The passage from Numbers 13:33 unequivocally states that the Anakim, the sizable offspring of Anak, are progeny of the Nephilim. Heiser investigates how the Anakim, Emim, and Zamzummin in the Old Testament are descendants of these ancient hybrid beings. The command given to the Israelites was to utterly destroy these formidable beings. The motivation for the destruction of these large tribes stemmed from their connection to the ongoing corruption that began with the Watchers, disrupting the celestial order initially set by God.

The mission of the Messiah also encompassed cleansing the world from the presence of giants, which served as a method to reverse the decay instigated by the Watchers.

Heiser suggests that the accounts of conquest are not only records of history but also carry deep theological meaning. The victory of the Israelites over the giant clans foreshadows the greater victory that the Messiah will achieve against the forces of evil. The victory symbolizes not merely an earthly achievement but also the restoration of cosmic balance and governance. The genuine "Son of the Most High," in his capacity as the Messiah, comes to bridge the gap between humanity and God and to purify the earth of both spiritual and physical threats that have arisen as a consequence of the transgressions committed by the Watchers and their offspring.

Occurrences and imagery linked to the final epoch.

The final part of "Reversing Hermon" reveals the deep connection between the narrative of the Watchers and their sins and the portrayal of the apocalypse in the book of Revelation. The understanding gained from texts of the Second Temple Period, especially the First Book of Enoch, illuminates the way New Testament writers formed their anticipations of forthcoming occurrences.

The story depicted in the Book of Revelation intertwines with the Watchers' saga, culminating in the ultimate defeat of the Antichrist.

The transgressions of the Watchers lend a more profound layer of meaning to the symbols presented in the Book of Revelation. The opening of the Abyss in the ninth chapter of the Book of Revelation is intricately linked to the imprisonment of the fallen angels, a story recorded in Second Temple Jewish literature like 1 Enoch. The arrival of malevolent beings signifies a more intense stage in the cosmic battle of virtue against malevolence. While the Antichrist isn't directly connected to the Watcher story, the demonic hordes released from the Abyss in Revelation 9 would be understood by Jews as Watcher spirits, who were then identified with the demons that would fight for the Antichrist in the final battle. The narrative of the Messiah establishing His dominion, which reverses the celestial rebellion initiated by the Watchers, concludes with the ultimate victory of God and His faithful followers.

The concept of a terrifying chasm reserved for Satan and his followers stems from the story that describes the punishment of the Watchers in 1 Enoch.

The lore surrounding the Watchers sheds light on several enigmatic passages found within the Book of Revelation. Heiser underscores the connection between Satan's destiny and the ultimate demise of the Antichrist, underscoring their shared end in the fiery lake as described in Revelation 19-20, along with the repercussions experienced by the Watchers, as told in 1 Enoch. The Old Testament does not include this particular depiction; however, in 1 Enoch, it is depicted that the Watchers are confined within a blazing chasm, awaiting the day of judgment when they will face their ultimate fate in the flames. The New Testament's eschatological perspectives were enhanced by concepts from Enoch, providing the allegorical structure for the prophesied collapse of the Watchers and their malevolent associates.

Jewish traditions associate the invasion of "Gog and Magog" described in Revelation 20 with the stories involving the Watchers and their offspring, known as the Nephilim.

Heiser sheds light on the enigmatic figure of Gog from Magog, illustrating the being's nuanced associations with the beliefs about the Watchers during the Second Temple era. The phrase "from the uttermost parts of the north," as mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 concerning Gog of Magog, carries deep theological meaning, marking him as an adversary in the narrative of the end times. Mount Hermon, situated in the region of Bashan, represented the utmost limit pledged to the Israelites and became associated with the existence of giants and concepts related to the underworld. The stories link the wrongdoings of the Watchers to Mount Hermon. In the spiritual customs of antiquity, the domain of the insurgent stars extended beyond Bashan, encompassing the northernmost region of Zaphon, where Baal, the deity worshiped by the Canaanites, held sway, a realm linked with notions of life after death. The portrayal of Gog's emergence from the "far north" would have immediately suggested ties to earthly tyranny and a realm linked with otherworldly beings, particularly a residence connected to the underworld. Gog symbolizes widespread rebellion and is often equated with the global tyrant who derives power from Satan, known as the Antichrist. The climactic battle between evil entities and the realm of the sacred is depicted through the clash with Gog and Magog as described in Revelation's twentieth chapter. The battle to overcome the enduring consequences of Hermon continues. The Messiah's victory signifies the definitive judgment of human wickedness and the complete subjugation of the insubordinate heavenly entities that have misled humanity since the dawn of time.

Other Perspectives

• The connection between the Watchers, Nephilim, and biblical giants is largely interpretative, with various scholars proposing different theories about these entities and their roles in biblical texts.
• The identification of the Nephilim with the giant clans defeated by the Israelites is not universally accepted; some scholars argue that the biblical text is not clear about the lineage of these giants.
• The concept of the Messiah's mission involving the cleansing of the world from the presence of giants is not explicitly stated in the canonical biblical texts and is subject to theological interpretation.
• The idea that the victory over the giant clans foreshadows the Messiah's victory over evil forces is a theological interpretation that may not be shared by all denominations or religious scholars.
• The intertwining of the Book of Revelation with the Watchers' saga is based on interpretations of apocalyptic literature and is not a direct narrative link found within the biblical text itself.
• The link between the opening of the Abyss in Revelation and the imprisonment of the fallen angels in 1 Enoch is speculative and relies on non-canonical texts, which are not recognized by all religious traditions.
• The association of the "Gog and Magog" invasion with the Watchers and Nephilim is an interpretation that is not explicitly supported by the text of Revelation and relies on extra-biblical sources for context.
• Some scholars argue that the Book of Revelation and other apocalyptic literature should be understood metaphorically rather than as literal prophecy or historical prediction.