The Book of Enoch is contested all over the place either for or against. Should it still be included in the Christian Bible? Well it use to be.
Either way, it’s a fascinating read, and I believe is a great pre-flood historical reference to what was going on in the earth at that time, which the Bible says relatively little about it.
What’s in the Book of Enoch?
So what is the book of Enoch all about? Enoch himself is described in the book sporting his name, as a man whose eyes God had opened. This caused for Enoch to have several visions which we can find recorded in the book.
He took some incredible journeys with the angels of God showing him different places on the earth, in the earth, above the earth, and even the Lake of Fire itself. All the while, angels accompanying him explained what he was looking at, and what God made these different places for.
Is Jesus in the Book of Enoch?
Enoch Chapter 46:
1 There I beheld the Ancient of days whose head was like white wool, and with him another, whose countenance resembled that of a man. His countenance was full of grace, like that of one of the holy angels.
Then I inquired of one of the angels, who went with me, and who showed me every secret thing, concerning this Son of man; who he was; whence he was; and why he accompanied the Ancient of days.
2 He answered and said to me, This is the Son of man, to whom righteousness belongs; with whom righteousness has dwelt; and who will reveal all the treasures of that which is concealed: for the Lord of spirits has chosen him; and his portion has surpassed all before the Lord of spirits in everlasting uprightness.
There are several other allusions to Christ Jesus found in the book as well, and amazingly enough, end time prophecy actually uttered before the flood! In many ways, these prophecies reflect what we can find in the Bible about the end of days, and the day of the Lord. Much of the terminology that is used in the Book of Enoch would remind you of the terms that we’ve become familiar with in the Bible.
Aligning with Scripture
There are particular similarities in any given section where either Enoch, Angels, or both, are offering up praise and worship to the Lord. Very reminiscent to what we find in Revelation when John was taken up and brought to God’s throne room.
But the scene was a bit different in Enoch. Instead of the place being filled with Saints and Angels, it appeared to me anyways, that it was all Angels.
But, that is also consistent with the Bible, as Jesus had not yet come preaching the Kingdom of Heaven. Before Christ, Heaven was not available to people. There was a Paradise side to Sheol, which is also covered in a strange way in Enoch.
Jesus had explained the two different sides to Sheol in the parable of the rich man and the beggar found in Luke 16. But as far as Heaven goes, back in Enoch’s day the human population was zero, and while Jesus was walking the earth the human population was exactly two. Elijah and Enoch.
Enoch the Scribe
Back to Enoch himself, he was referred to as Enoch the scribe by the Watchers that dwelt on the earth in those days, which can be found in the book as well. It’s strange reading about what’s going on back then.
There was all kinds of ugliness going on across the face of the earth, involving beings with supernatural abilities and incredible size, committing shameful acts and inventing all practices of sin into existence. But it seems that they all had one thing in common. They all seemed to fear and respect Enoch the man of God.
In fact it is recorded that they even called upon Enoch to offer up supplication to the Lord on their behalf, because they dared not to because of their shame. It didn’t work out too well for them. Even their request was found to be cause for rebuke and in no way helped them out.
Enoch in the Bible
First off, let’s see what the Bible has to say about Enoch himself. We’ll start with his father Jared (Who was 6th from Adam).
I do that because that is the point where the Angels came down and took wives of the daughters of men. A huge deal in the pre-flood world and is still a huge deal today. No pun intended with the usage of the word huge.
Genesis 5:18-25 King James Bible
18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: 19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. 25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech.
And I would also like to add, Lamech is Noah’s Father (should give us a good beat on where all this is going on it the timeline of things – pre-flood).
The Lord Took Him
Enoch was a special guy in his time, special enough for the Lord to take him. Enoch did not die. There is only one other person in the Bible who was also taken by God, and that was Elijah.
And we have a good record of the awesome power that God displayed through Elijah’s service and ministry in the Bible. But there are only few references in the Word concerning Enoch himself.
New Testament Quotes from Enoch
Hebrews 11: King James Bible
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Jude 1: King James Bible
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
What I’m trying to build a case for is this… Both Paul and Jude knew allot more than we do about Enoch, and they learned it from somewhere. There are verses where it’s argued that Jesus quoted from the 1 Book of Enoch concerning himself.
As far as I’ve seen and heard about this book, 1 Enoch or the Ethiopic version, is the most likely to be the closest copy of the original text, that Enoch’s grandson Noah took with him on the Ark.
Anywhere I’ve looked into it, this particular version seems to be the least messed with over time. Any original work has of course been lost to time.
It seems that there’s much to learn from that little book; expanding and providing insight into what was going on in Genesis chapter six. As far as that topic goes, Enoch doesn’t in any way go crosswise with God’s Word at all.
History, Prophecy, and Reference
These are the reasons I’ve found myself using the book of Enoch to make a couple of references, particularly in the “Are Demons Real Series” and also for the book, “Kingdom of Darkness in a Fallen World.”
The Book of the Giants (part of the Book of Enoch), gives us insight into precisely what forced God’s hand into destroying the world via the flood. This is also covered in detail in the book.
I’ve always found it important to discover the exact reasoning behind the flood. Since Jesus uttered the phrase “as in the days of Noah,” relating those days to the days leading up to his return, it’s best for us to get the most thorough understanding that the Lord is willing to provide.
Despite all of this, I would not promote reading or studying this book (or any other extra-biblical text for that matter), without first having a firm grasp and understanding of God’s Word itself. We all need eyes to see deception, and when it comes to texts from of old, measure all things through the lens of God’s Word. It is truly our measuring stick for truth.
Just because a book is ancient, doesn’t make it right, accurate, or honest. If archaeologists found a copy of a Star Wars book thousands of years from now, after a history erasing cataclysmic event, would it rightly reflect real life of the mid to late 1970’s?
My Personal Theory Concerning the Book of Enoch
My Personal Theory Concerning the Book of EnochMy personal thoughts concerning the Book of Enoch is the following. I believe that the Lord had kept this preserved, in order to give us insight into a world that was washed away.
Why would we care? Well Genesis six fills us in concerning the Giants or Nephilim in the land in those days, and also after. Nephilim or Giants in the land was recorded well after the flood, and if studied carefully, is the reason for all the clearing out of tribes and the destruction of cities when Joshua was clearing out the land of Canaan.
Those tribes were either Nephilim or people who had been contaminated by them and their practices that were related to their previously flooded brethren. So when reading the first several chapters, it’s clear that (if you know your Bible) there are obscure references in Genesis that the book of Enoch explained in much greater detail.
It is clear to me that Satan, all of his fallen Angels (that didn’t wind up being chained for all eternity as some had apparently), have pulled the blocks out in these days. The information given to us in the preserved Ethiopic version of the Book of Enoch, gives us parallels to different things we can see at work in this very day and age. Also, it explains the huge technology surge that we’ve experienced since the late 1800’s.
I say that because some that have taken the time to have done the math, and have calculated that the seventy generations the majority of the fallen angels were to be imprisoned (since the time that it was supposed to have been recorded), falls into a window of time landing between late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
Why is this important? Well, just take a look at some of the technological advancements that have skyrocketed since that period of time.
In the event you are prompted to check it out, take a look at what the Fallen Angels were doing in those days, and take a look at the things that are going on since the early 1900’s. Actually, there may be a time I’ll dive in deeper to compare then and now.
There seems to be enough there to create a couple pages on, so I won’t dominate this one with the details of how the same characteristics that applied in the pre-flood world, are back in the limelight today. I truly believe that God is bringing this book up to the forefront, to give us an explanation to what Jesus said in Matthew 24:
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
What better reason could we have, to try and comprehend exactly how the days of Noah were, in order to discern when they come back? Right? Jesus said that for a good reason, and I don’t think it simply has anything to strictly do with man sinning to a great extent. That’s been going on ever since, albeit getting worse, but it’s always been there.
Here is some commentary with some great facts about the Book of Enoch and lays out the groundwork concerning the debates and controversy behind this ancient writing. Timothy Alberino from GenSix Productions
So, to conclude I’ll say this:
First and foremost, get to know the Word of God, nothing on this earth can compare to it in it’s truth, riches, revelation, and blessings! Stay in God’s Word, and if you don’t have your own personal copy of the Word of God, you can get one HERE!
He has it prepared so that you can read it for the rest of your life, and learn something new, and will constantly wash you and rejuvenate your spirit. The Word of God is food for your spirit. Man doesn’t live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Has the World tampered with your prayer life?
If you’ve never buckled down to feast on God’s word, you haven’t lived! All that being said, the Book which bears the name of Enoch is not anywhere near the spiritual standard of the Bible, but is an excellent reference source, and fills in a couple of gaps left behind in Genesis.
I’ve had a few different copies of the book of Enoch in the past, but like I’ve said earlier, you need to be careful, particularly concerning whether or not the author covering the book is allowing it to either speak for itself, or (in the case of one of the copies I wound up with) coming from an occult perspective. There are several groups out there that take this book and use it for their own purposes, chief among these groups are the Masons.
If you want to really get deep into study concerning the matters brought up here, and want to get your hands on a copy of the Book of Enoch & much more, I would highly suggest getting a copy from Tom Horn. Chances are pretty good that you may have caught him on Prophecy in the News, Prophecy Watchers, Skywatch News, Hagmann & Hagmann, and the Jim Baker Show.
He is a Christian through and through and I trust him with the raw information that he gives concerning this book of Enoch as well as other Apocryphal books.
The Researchers Library of Ancient Texts is second to none (Click the picture to read more about the book), and is a must have for the serious researcher. What I like is that he completely acknowledges that the Bible is second to none, and that these are only to supplement historical context concerning the corresponding events we find in the Bible.
So what is your opinion about the Book of Enoch?
Would you think it should stay in the category of a historical document?
Or do you believe that we should be taking a closer look into the strange writings of this Old Testament, pre-flood Prophet?
Leave your comments below.
Please feel free to share if you feel compelled to do so, I would certainly appreciate it! Also comment if you’ve got one! Thank you for reading this page (more like an editorial) about the Book of Enoch, and I hope you continue on to some of the other pages that are geared toward biblical study on this site!
I recently purchased the Book of Enoch. While I didn’t expect to consider them equal to the Holy Bible I thought it might be helpful in understanding the history and setting of the pre-Flood world more. I had heard that it could be a good supplemental reading. The two things that struck me within the first hour of reading it were a prophecy detailing the seasons, contrasting the summer from the winter, and repeated references to geographical locations like Mt. Hermon, Mt. Sinai, etc. If the Book of Enoch, or at least the Book of Watchers, is somewhat valid as a historical source, why would there be stark seasons in a pre-Flood world and why would there be locations that couldn’t have existed until after the Flood? This has bothered me since reading through it and causes me to doubt it’s legitimacy at all. What are your thoughts? I’ve tried searching for answers but I either encounter those who have an occultic devotion to this book or those who are so against it, they consider it completely Satanic. I can’t seem to find a rational explanation for this from anyone except those who claim it’s a complete hoax.
Hi there Rob,
Great question and observations.
I’ll tackle the questions in the order that you wrote them.
Why would there be seasons in a pre-flood world?
Seasons were incorporated since the beginning. Actually, before the Lord created Man, he created seasons or at least made reference to them.
Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
The harshness of seasons was probably exacerbated after the fall of man let alone after the flood, but that’s just conjecture on my part. Don’t forget, prior to the fall, Adam was not like we are today, and it’s possible (or even probable) that he wasn’t negatively affected by the heat or the cold as we are.
Why would there be locations that couldn’t have existed until after the Flood?
Don’t forget about the family that survived the flood. Noah and his family all entered and exited the ark with all of the same information that they had before the flood. Personally, I believe that one of them had a copy (whatever form it would have been) of Enoch’s testimony and other writings of that era. Either for posterity’s sake or just to pass the time. The Lord never instructed them to enter the ark naked and without any belongings, so that is one possibility why some locations remained with the name pre and post-flood.
Also, in Genesis, we’re given specific locations that share the same name as they did post-flood. What comes to mind are the four rivers that sprung out of the land of Eden- the Euphrates, Gihon, Pison, and the Hiddekel. Of the four, two of them are still identifiable (Tigris and Euphrates), and the other two aren’t so clearly recognized.
Above all, don’t forget who’s in charge. The same God Almighty who created the earth along with all of its landscapes like Mt. Sinai and Mt. Hermon is the same God of our post-flood planet. If he called a mountain by name before the flood, he’d likely call it by the same name post.
I hope that this helps you out in some way.
Thank you for the questions, the comment, and for the visit!
Thanks. Very well writen. In my opinion, accurate and supported. After decades of only reading the bible I prayed for God to give me understanding about everything, as much as He wanted me to know and that my little brain could absorb. I began reading other books. They didn’t seem inspired but interesting in that they expanded on things. The book of Enoch I clarified some important things to me; what are demons, ghosts, evil spirits, etc. I could better grasp what was happening when Jesus and the disciples dealt with them. Besides mankind’s evil, why did God bring the flood? Why did God command Joshua to wipe out so many peoples. No trace of them left. More info on the angels who interbred with with women. More information on why Enoch did not die, (we know about Elijah). More information on that which we can not see and the association with that which we can see. I learned a lot. A new follower of Jesus the Christ should stick to the bible and let the Holy Spirit teach them until it is fully ingrained into their being before reading other historical books so that they can discern the truth of all things. This could take decades and the bible has plenty to keep you busy for decades.
Hi there Henry!
Thanks for your comment & kind words.
I couldn’t agree more about having a well oiled & working knowledge of the Bible as a whole, long before diving into any extra-biblical work. I believe that the book of Enoch can’t be properly put into context or understood as it’s meant to be, without first being Biblically grounded. That’s why there are so many cults and false religions that have shot off the pages of the book of Enoch, being fuel for wicked doctrine. Oddly enough, the same has happened with the Bible as well. Basing an entire sect off of a verse or two, rather than contextualizing the whole. Snake-Handlers are my go-to example of that.
Well said through and through Henry, thanks again for the comment, & God bless you in Jesus name!
I’d be interested in hearing more about the technology surge. Are you saying that the demons were locked up UNTILL the late 1800’s?
If we’re living in day like it was as in the days of noah, do you think nephilim are walking the Earth again?
Hi Nooma,
That’s what I think anyways. We go thousands of years with the horse and buggy as the major mode of transportation, then shoot from that to the moon within such a small space of time.
There are some who believe that the Nephilim are living deep underground. There are many different inner-earth theories that would walk in hand with that idea. Also, the alien phenomenon in another avenue that dives deep into where the next outbreak of Nephilim are going to reamurge.
The most recent thing that has been brought to the forefront is the Kandahar Giant. Check out L.A. Marzulli or Steve Quayle’s work concerning that. Modern day military account of a middle east Nephilim, whom after killing an entire squad of troops with a spear, was taken out by a different squad, and hauled away to an unknown location.
I do believe that they are walking the earth in one form or another, and that society will slowly be acclimated to the reality of this. We’ll see what happens I’m sure. We are for certain living in the last days.
Thank you for the comment, nad for checking out the site! God bless!
In Christ,
Brian