"And behold, lambs were born of those white sheep" (1 ENOCH 90:6) the color white and eschatological expectation in the animal apocalypse

The color white gives prominence to the historical and eschatological view of the Animal Apocalypse and its underlying theological tendencies. According to this view, the radiant and glorious heavenly element embodied in the color white, the proximity to God, the sanctity and sinless purity, the promise of triumph over death and resurrection at the End of Days, the privilege of entry into Eden and the Kingdom of God, will be attained by a new group of redeemed, featured as "the white sheep" whose appearance inaugurates the vision's End Time. This group replaces the historical people of Israel who, at birth, were detached from the heavenly eschatological spark embedded in the color white, became blind and are fated to perish in the flaming abyss at the judgment held in the End days. This group, represented by the white sheep, the elect remnant of righteous, whose eyes are open in comprehension of God's miraculous intervention at the End Time and His eschatological plan, will gain entry into the heavenly Jerusalem, symbolizing the kingdom of God, which was established in place of the earthly Jerusalem and its defiled Temple (89:73). From this group will arise the heroes and mes-siahs who will lead it to "an everlasting height" - the prince of the congregation likened to a homed ram and the white bull symbolizing the messiah (or two messiahs) of the Jatter days. In view of the conceptual affinity binding this vision with the Qumran scrolls, this group may conceivably be identified with the Qumran sect or similar reformist group.