III. Testimony of “Jubilees,” “Patriarchs,” and “Assumption”
1. “JUBILEES” INJECTS INNATE IMMORTALITY CONCEPT
Another book to consider in this connection is the Book of Jubilees, or the Little Genesis as it is sometimes called. It was written in Palestine (c. 109-105 B.C.), probably in Hebrew rather than in Aramaic, by someone who based his knowledge largely on earlier books or traditions The author, probably a Pharisee, upholds many of the stricter tenets of the Pharisees regarding the law, and makes a strong appeal for stricter Sabbathkeeping as a special privilege for Israel, but not for the Gentiles. (Bk. Jub. 2:17-33.) He emphasizes the precept that forbids eating of blood (Bk. Jub. 6:7-10), and absolutely forbids mixed marriages (Bk. Jub. 20:4, 5). Despite its strong legalistic tendency, we find a number of passages referring to the Messiah and the Messianic kingdom. The righteous alone shall take part in the kingdom, where Satan will have no access. Thus:PFF1 190.4
“And the days shall begin to grow many and increase among those children of men till their days grow nigh to one thousand years .... And there shall be no old man nor one who is satisfied with days, for all shall be children and youths. And all their days they shall complete and live in peace and joy, and there shall be no Satan nor any evil destroyer; for all their days shall be blessing and healing.” Bk. Jub. 23:27-29.PFF1 191.1
The life portrayed seems to be more of a spiritual nature, separated from the body, because in verse 31 the author states, “And their bones shall rest in the earth, and their spirits shall have much joy, and they shall know that it is the Lord who executes judgment, and shows mercy to hundreds and thousands and to all that love Him.”PFF1 191.2
This idea of the immortality of the souls of the blessed is the earliest attested instance of this expectation in the two centuries before Christ’s first advent. And we also find different categories of angels—angels of the winds, of fire, of the waters, and so forth, somewhat similar to those mentioned in the Revelation. Guardian angels for individuals are mentioned for the first time in the Book of Jubilees 35:17, where the assertion is made that the guardian of Jacob was more powerful and honored than the guardian of Esau.PFF1 191.3
According to the Book of Jubilees 31:18, 19, the Messiah will come from Judah, but before the Messianic kingdom appears, great tribulation, war, and pestilence will visit the nation. All will fight against all, but they will turn with special fury against Israel. The earth, it declares, will be devastated to a large extent, but there is no salvation. Then the people will begin to study the law anew, and gradually the glorious kingdom will be established. (Bk. Jub. 23:13-26.)PFF1 191.4
2. “TWELVE PATRIARCHS” HINTS AT 70 WEEKS, AND PARADISE
The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (written between 109 and 106 B.C.) contains high ethical teaching and anticipates many New Testament ideas. For a long time the only available manuscripts were in Greek, Armenian, and Slavonic, but through the investigations of different scholars it has become evident `that the book was originally written in Hebrew by a Pharisee of the early type. He was an upholder of the law and the sacrifices, but looked for the Messianic kingdom and the resurrection of the body, and a new life therein. There are some later Jewish and certain Christian additions to the work. PFF1 192.1
In the Christian Era the use of the book speedily declined, until it was rediscovered in the West by Robert Grosseteste, bishop of Lincoln (13th century). He first took it to be the genuine writings of the twelve patriarchs, but this was disclaimed by the Reformers. Only in the twentieth century has the book come into its own again.PFF1 192.2
It contains many statements like the following: “And if any one seeketh to do evil unto you, do well unto him, and pray for him, and ye shall be redeemed of the Lord from all evil.” T. Joseph 18:2. Although the writer lived at the same time as the writer of the Book of Jubilees, a completely different spirit appears in this book—a spirit of wide universalism, to such an extent that the best Gentiles are taken as a measuring rod for the Israelites: “And He shall convict Israel through the chosen ones of the Gentiles, even as He reproved Esau through the Midianites, who deceived their brethren.” T. Benjamin 10:10.PFF1 192.3
From an eschatological point of view we do not find much. However, there is a hint of the seventy weeks:PFF1 193.1
“And now I have learnt that for seventy weeks ye shall go astray, and profane the priesthood, and pollute the sacrifices. And ye shall make void the law, and set at nought the words of the prophets by evil perverseness .... And your holy places shall be laid waste even to the ground because of him. And ye shall have no place that is clean; but ye shall be among the Gentiles a curse and a dispersion until He shall again visit you, and in pity shall receive you.” T. Leviticus 16:1-5.PFF1 193.2
And in T. Leviticus 17:1 the writer continues, and speaks of a new priesthood: “And whereas ye have heard concerning the seventy weeks, hear also concerning the priesthood.” In each jubilee shall be a priest, and in the seventh, pollution of everything holy will reach its apex. Priests will become idolaters, lawless, and lascivious. But after this terrible period we read of the Messiah:PFF1 193.3
“Then shall the Lord raise up a new priest, and to him all the words of the Lord shall be revealed; and he shall execute a righteous judgement upon the earth for a multitude of days.” “And there shall none succeed him for all generations for ever. And in his priesthood the Gentiles shall be multiplied in knowledge upon the earth, and enlightened through the grace of the Lord: in his priesthood shall sin come to an end .... And he shall open the gates of paradise, and shall remove the threatening sword against Adam. And he shall give to the saints to eat from the tree of life, and the spirit of holiness shall be on them. And Beliar shall be bound by him, and he shall give power to his children to tread upon the evil spirits.” T. Leviticus 18:2, 8-14.PFF1 193.4
The Testament of Dan asserts likewise that there shall arise from the tribe of Levi the salvation of the Lord; and he shall make war against Behar, and execute an everlasting vengeance on our enemies. And the captivity shall he take from Beliar, and turn disobedient hearts ‘unto the Lord, and give eternal peace to them that call upon him. And the saints shall rest in Eden, and in the New Jerusalem shall the righteous rejoice, and it shall be unto the glory of God forever. No longer shall Jerusalem endure desolation, or Israel be led captive; for the Lord shall be in the midst of it and the Holy One of Israel shall reign over it. (T. Daniel 5:10-13.)PFF1 193.5
Concerning the resurrection, the Testaments teach a general bodily resurrection—at first Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob shall rise, then the twelve patriarchs, and finally all men, either to glory or to shame. (T. Benjamin 10:6-8.)PFF1 194.1
3. “ASSUMPTION” PREDICTS TIME of MESSIAH
Another little book, the Assumption of Moses, is especially interesting, as it was evidently written during the time of the early life of our Lord, or possibly contemporaneously with His public ministry. Its date is between A.D. 7 and 29. It was written in Hebrew, but was soon translated into Greek and later into Latin—a large fragment of the latter translation being discovered by Ceriani in a sixth-century manuscript in Milan. PFF1 194.2
This author looks forward to the return of the ten tribes and the establishment of a theocratic kingdom. It will come, however, not by the force of arms but by the intervention of God. This book contains an interesting time prediction. Moses is supposed to state, “For from my death [assumption] until His advent—there shall be CCL times.” Asmp. Matthew 10:12. Two hundred and fifty times, here evidently, says Charles, meaning year-weeks, would make 1,750 years till the Messianic kingdom. Strange to record, this book describes the establishment of the kingdom without a Messiah, but by God Himself.PFF1 194.3
“And then His kingdom shall appear throughout all His creation, and then Satan shall be no more, and sorrow shall depart with him. And the hands of the angel shall be filled who has been appointed chief, and he shall forthwith avenge them of their enemies .... And the earth shall tremble: to its confines shall it be shaken: and the high mountains shall be made low and the hills shall be shaken and fall. And the horns of the sun shall be broken and he shall be turned into darkness; and the moon shall not give her light, and be turned wholly into blood. And the circle of the stars shall be disturbed .... For the Most High will arise, the Eternal God alone, and He will appear to punish the Gentiles, and He will destroy all their idols. Then thou, O Israel, shalt be happy.” Verses 1-8.PFF1 194.4