One of the primary sins of the Watchers was in the taking of wives from the daughters of men- all of whom they chose. Their sins of illicit intercourse produced what is recorded as a race of giants (Nephilim). There are several traditions regarding this race of giants. One tradition being that they were literal giants that produced the likes of Anak and Goliath. Another tradition is that they produced what could be equated with demi-gods who took possession of the earth, creating dynastic empires, and enslaving mankind under a yoke of physical and economic bondage to support their dynastic rules (their many wives, children, and pleasure palaces) with these emperors referring to themselves as "gods". Whatever the case may be, their principle rebellion was in taking that which was not appointed by God to them- in this case wives and having relations outside of appointed covenant bounds. Their rebellion is recorded as follows:
"Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
And the LORD (YHVH) said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:1-5)
This leads us to the fourth key for the binding of the watchers. If one of the principle means by which the rebellious group of Watchers gained dominion on earth was through the taking of women not appointed to them as wives, then another means of binding of the watchers is through embracing the covenant relationship of marriage appointed by God.
In the beginning God designed for man and woman to establish righteous dominion on the earth by replicating his image on earth male and female. As God said to Moses:
“And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them. And I, God, blessed them, and said unto them: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Moses 2:27-28)
The image of the “Only Begotten” is connected with an ancient doctrine in Israel referred to in some Israelite traditions as “Zeir Anpin” which is an Aramaic term meaning “small face” of God. The image or face of God is expressed in both male and female in a state of balanced oneness referred to anciently as Yesod or “The Foundation”. In other words, when man and woman enter into the kind of covenant relationship appointed by God they are then in the image of God. There is much more that could be said regarding this principle, person, and process of the “Only Begotten” or Zeir Anpin but this is outside the scope of this article.
WAS POLYGAMY A SIN OF THE WATCHERS?
The principle of marriage as revealed by God is a principle of dominion. The act of the Watchers taking that which was not given to them and multiplying wives to establish their dominion on earth is expressed in the phrase, “they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.” The result of their illicit intercourse and aberrant version of covenant marriage resulted in a condition where, “wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Overtime the seed/converts of These Watchers continued this principle as they established their dynastic empires and consumed the riches and abundance of the earth.
It appears that these Watchers, who were both before and after the great floods, continued to work their secret plans of dominion through mankind. Interestingly enough the Book of Mormon records that these same secret oaths and covenants did not come from the records in their possession but were revealed to Gadianton by the same being or beings that are referred to in the record of Enoch.
Even the Jaredites were not free from their influence as in Ether 8 it records that the records of the Jaredites contained an account of these secret works:
"Now the daughter of Jared was exceedingly fair. And it came to pass that she did talk with her father, and said unto him: Whereby hath my father so much sorrow? Hath he not read the record which our fathers brought across the great deep? Behold, is there not an account concerning them of old, that they by their secret plans did obtain kingdoms and great glory?" (Ether 8:9)
Here Mormon records that the Jaredites used the same oaths that existed from old. Jared and his brother predated the Nephites and were contemporary with the post flood epic of the Tower of Babel. If these things existed from "old" or ancient times, then these plans came from those beings, The Watchers" who enacted them before the flood whereby they could also obtain power and dominion on the earth. In connection with these secret oaths and combinations, was the implementation of a counterfeit version of covenant marriage whereby their kingdoms and glory could be maintained:
“And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the YHVH, for he did have many wives and concubines, and did lay that upon men’s shoulders which was grievous to be borne; yea, he did tax them with heavy taxes; and with the taxes he did build many spacious buildings. And he did erect him an exceedingly beautiful throne; and he did build many prisons, and whoso would not be subject unto taxes he did cast into prison; and whoso was not able to pay taxes he did cast into prison; and he did cause that they should labor continually for their support; and whoso refused to labor he did cause to be put to death. Wherefore he did obtain all his fine work, yea, even his fine gold he did cause to be refined in prison; and all manner of fine workmanship he did cause to be wrought in prison. And it came to pass that he did afflict the people with his whoredoms and abominations.” (Ether 10:5-7)
This same condition was also experienced by the people of King Noah:
“And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father. For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness. And he laid a tax of one fifth part of all they possessed, a fifth part of their gold and of their silver, and a fifth part of their ziff, and of their copper, and of their brass and their iron; and a fifth part of their fatlings; and also a fifth part of all their grain. And all this did he take to support himself, and his wives and his concubines; and also his priests, and their wives and their concubines; thus he had changed the affairs of the kingdom.” (Mosiah 11:1-4)
Notice the pattern that has been perpetuated since the days of the Watchers:
1. They took that which was not appointed to them to spread their dominion.
2. They multiplied wives and concubines
3. They enslaved and taxed the people to support and perpetuate their dynastic rule.
Israel and Correcting the Sins of the Watchers
When God called Israel he re-established the covenant he made with Enoch with the House of Israel who were also his descendants. Part of this covenant included for the establishment of righteous dominion. The idea of establishing righteous dominion through monogamous and plural marriage is a consistent theme throughout the scriptures, but we must remember that the Watcher’s established a counterfeit system wherein they took the daughters of men that were not appointed to them. We must remember that to be counterfeit is something that is “made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive or defraud” (Webster’s Dictionary).
If the counterfeit system involved the taking of wives that were not appointed by God, the multiplication of wives and concubines, and the enslaving and taxing of people to support and perpetuate dynastic rule then we must consider that there is a righteous pattern of dominion established both with monogamous marriage and plural marriages as many great Patriarchs lived the patterns of righteous dominion: Noah, Abraham (The Friend of God), Jacob (Israel), Moses, Saul, David, Solomon, Boaz, and many Levitical priests, among many others.
IT MUST BE APPOINTED BY GOD:
There are many men both ancient and modern who excuse themselves in the taking of multiple wives because of the Patriarchs engaging in that principle and yet God has not appointed to them this principle of righteous dominion. In contrast to the Watchers who were the Kings, Priests, and Patriarchs to their unrighteous dynasties and Empires, God (YHVH) establishes a principle for the Kings and Patriarchs of Israel the following principle:
“Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.” (Deuteronomy 17:17)
We often think this verse only applies to the kings of Israel, but it must be remembered that Israel was called to be a nation of Kings and Priests to God (YHVH). As such this same law, applied to every man of the House of Israel. In this law the word “multiplying” (rabah in Hebrew) has to do with idea of great numbers for the sake of numbers or in other words the great accumulation of wives and wealth. And yet the Torah given by God to Moses allows for plural marriage. It is in this verse that we find the heart of the issues God has with the likes of King David, King Solomon, Riplakish, and King Noah.
Notice the pattern of “multiplying wives” and “multiplying silver and gold” in the following verses:
“And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the YHVH, for he did have many wives and concubines, and did lay that upon men’s shoulders which was grievous to be borne; yea, he did tax them with heavy taxes; and with the taxes he did build many spacious buildings. And he did erect him an exceedingly beautiful throne; and he did build many prisons, and whoso would not be subject unto taxes he did cast into prison; and whoso was not able to pay taxes he did cast into prison; and he did cause that they should labor continually for their support; and whoso refused to labor he did cause to be put to death. Wherefore he did obtain all his fine work, yea, even his fine gold he did cause to be refined in prison; and all manner of fine workmanship he did cause to be wrought in prison. And it came to pass that he did afflict the people with his whoredoms and abominations.” (Ether 10:5-7)
“And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father. For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness. And he laid a tax of one fifth part of all they possessed, a fifth part of their gold and of their silver, and a fifth part of their ziff, and of their copper, and of their brass and their iron; and a fifth part of their fatlings; and also a fifth part of all their grain. And all this did he take to support himself, and his wives and his concubines; and also his priests, and their wives and their concubines; thus he had changed the affairs of the kingdom.” (Mosiah 11:1-4)
In fact King Solomon himself was described as engaging in the same multiplying of wives:
“But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.” (1 Kings 11:1-2)
He was also discovered to have engaged in the multiplying of gold and silver (i.e. taxing the people) to support his great dynasty as in the case of 1 Kings 12 where Jeroboam and the congregation of Israel came before Rehoboam the son of King Solomon saying, “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you…And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” (1 Kings 12: 3, 11)
This same pattern also existed among the Nephites as they grew in wealth and took upon themselves wives and concubines. The Prophet Jacob in the Book of Mormon declares the principle of righteous dominion and decries its’ abuses:
“Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying: Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the morrow, and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people. And now behold, my brethren, this is the word which I declare unto you, that many of you have begun to search for gold, and for silver, and for all manner of precious ores, in the which this land, which is a land of promise unto you and to your seed, doth abound most plentifully. And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.” (Jacob 2:11-13)
Notice that because of their accumulation of wealth or the “multiplying of Gold and Silver” the Nephites grew in pride thinking themselves better than their brothers. He then goes on to condemn them because they were engaging in a “grosser crime” which can be traced in its origin to that Satan and his band of Merry Watchers:
“And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you. But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.” (Jacob 2:22-24)
The Nephites were growing in lawlessness because they did not understand the things that were written concerning David and Solomon in regard to their taking many wives and concubines. In order to understand why these things are an abomination we need to understand the works of King David and King Solomon that were an abomination. In Israel an abomination is not only that which is utterly detestable to God but in direct rebellion to Torah Law.
THE SINS OF KING DAVID:
The sin of King David was in the taking of another man’s wife. In taking Bathsheba into his bedroom and having illicit sexual intercourse he engaged in a whoredom. In Israel only a married woman who sleeps with another man not appointed to her is considered a whore. This led to Bathsheba becoming pregnant by King David the result of which was the death of Uriah as arranged in a secret combination (similar to those engaged by the Evil Watchers, Cain, the Jaredites, and the Gadianton Robbers) as related in 2 Samuel 11:14:
“In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.” (2 Samuel 11:14-15)
THE SINS OF KING SOLOMON:
As stated before the Sins of King Solomon were the GREAT multiplying of wives and the accumulation of great wealth by taxing the people as cited in 1 Kings 11 & 12.
In the end King David took that Bathsheba, a woman who was not appointed to him. In the end King Solomon multiplied wives (even foreign wives-i.e. Wives not under God’s covenant with Israel) and enslaved his people through heavy burdens and taxes that he so desperately needed to support his dynasty. Both of whom broke the laws God gave to Israel in regard to the taking of multiple wives and the accumulation of gold and silver. And yet the Torah allows for polygamy and gives laws for how it is to be lived.
Again the Book of Mormon also gives us plain and precious insight into the taking of plural wives as a principle of establishing God’s dominion in righteousness:
“Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts. Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes. For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.” (Jacob 2: 25-30)
Every Covenant land grant given by God is given in connection with covenant law that binds the people to both the blessings and cursing of obedience and disobedience. For this Covenant Land Grant of America as given to Lehi the law is as follows:
“For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none… For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.”
To an Israelite the above reference of Jacob 2 is not only packed with instruction but inseparably interwoven with the Torah. First, it is God’s design to raise up a righteous branch (i.e. nation) from the descendants of Joseph. To do so, on this land EVERY MAN WILL ONLY HAVE ONE WIFE and there will be no concubines as he delights in the chastity of women (or in other words men taking an already married woman etc.).
The only caveat to the law of every man having only one wife is IF God commands (i.e. appoints) his people to raise up children to him. In other words it must be appointed by the very voice of God himself for the purpose of raising seed to him. The Israelite idea of establishing a “righteous branch” or “raising up seed” to God carries with it that this seed is raised up in observance of the Covenant and Commandments given in the Torah. Should God’s instructions not be observed, God will come out to war against those polygamists who participate in these holy principles where they are not appointed by his own voice or by the observance of his law (Torah). God’s curse in this matter is clear. This curse will come upon all such polygamists as declared in the usage of the title Lord of Hosts or YHVH Tsavaot –THE LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES. The LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES being a covenant title used by God when he curses, sets apart to destruction, or declares war on another party.
God’s house is a house of Order and not a house of confusion. He will not accept an offering that is not made in his name (Hebrew Idiomatic Expression = in accordance with his law). He will also not receive that which he has not appointed. And he does not appoint unto man except it by his word which is his law.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE LAWS?
“If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. (Exodus 21:10)
I guarantee this law alone will eliminate about 99% of the men in the living of polygamy. (Which is probably why many of those who do engage in it have to chase after the accumulation of wealth or the taxing of their people to support the wives they do take and all the children they have.)
“‘Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.” (Leviticus 18:18)
Here the idea of taking a woman as a rival to her sister is identified in Israelite thought as taking either a biological sister or sister in Israel as another wife to manipulate your first wife through jealousy.
“Neither shall he multiply wives to himself…” (Deuteronomy 17)
The idea of accumulating a large volume of wives for the sake of having a large harem or in having a larger harem than the guy next door.
Over the years as I have come across many in the intermountain west who claim to be appointed by God, yet there are few who subscribe to any of these laws. As such I doubt their “appointment” as they have not practiced his word which is his law—or the instructions in his Torah (the list above being only some of those laws). As for the rest of the .0001% who do, I will leave them in the hands of God to be judged accordingly- either to blessing or cursing. But to those who do I will refer you to God’s condemnation of the Levites who were appointed this principle to maintain a righteous priestly lineage:
“And this is the second thing you do:
You cover the altar of the LORD with tears,
With weeping and crying;
So He does not regard the offering anymore,
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
Yet you say, “For what reason?”
Because the LORD has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.
But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
“For the LORD God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
“Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.”
(Malachi 2:13-16)
GOD’S DOMINION THROUGH FAMILY:
The Book of Mormon Prophets Lehi and Jacob declared that God had led forth people on this continent to raise up a righteous branch to Joseph of Egypt. In doing so the law was established that Every Man Will Have Only One Wife unless otherwise appointed for a specific reason. This command was given to raise up men and women who conformed to the image of the Only Begotten, “And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them. And I, God, blessed them, and said unto them: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Moses 2:27-28)
The sins of the Watchers created a condition of such warring, conspiracy, and evil among the various nations and dynastic empires that God destroyed them all by bringing an end to all their empires through the Great Flood. These same Watchers continued to work after to the Flood to desperately establish their dominion again upon the earth. As a result, the same plans were re-revealed among Nimrod and his people, The Jaredites, Israel, and even the Nephites. Just as God (YHVH) declared war against the watchers, Nimrod, The Jaredites, Israel, and the Nephites he will also declare war on all those who seek to establish or take to themselves honor and glory to themselves by engaging in the same sins of the Watchers.
For this same reason the Prophet Jacob warned the Nephites to observe to keep this observance (halakhic decree) declaring:
"And the time speedily cometh, that except ye repent they shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out from among you. Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.
And now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people.
Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children; and their unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator?" (Jacob 3:4-7)
The binding of the Watchers occurs when men and women engage in those relationships that are appointed by God. This is why to this day we see the sins of the Evil One and the Watchers being overturned in God’s covenant decree:
To men:
“"You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will not have sexual intercourse with any of the opposite sex except your lawful wife or wives who are given you by the holy priesthood."
To Women:
"You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will not have sexual intercourse with any of the opposite sex save your lawful husband, given you by the holy priesthood."
In all our relationships we should ask, are we conforming to the image of God and his word or do we find ourselves in the image of the Watchers.
(Part 5) Kadosh and Binding the Watchers
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