Pastor Jerry Rockwell ENOCH AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

 

ENOCH AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST

Jude 14-16 (KJV), “14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

 

Introduction: Jude began in vs. 8 discussing the “filthy dreamers” and their desire to distort the word of God and weaken, even bring apostasy to the believers. He brings a great warning to believers of the deceivers and false teachers that have one goal, to distort what God has said and distort what God has said in His word. This brings a challenge to the veracity and inspiration of the Bible. First, the book of Jude and the Epistle of James were challenged early in the process of determining the “canon” of scripture. Martin Luther considered the book of James (in the Bible) an “epistle of straw” although some question whether Luther sought to keep James out of the Bible. The epistle of James and the book of Jude fell under question by some as to whether they should be retained in the canon of scripture. The complaint against Jude was that he quoted from “non-biblical” sources such as his reference to Enoch and his prophecy in Jude 14 (KJV), “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints” about the return of Christ with “ten thousand of his saints.” That would then place the book of Joshua in jeopardy of exclusion since he quotes from the book of “Jasher” about the sun standing still (Joshua 10:13). It should be noted that there is also a quote from “Jasher” in 2 Samuel 1:18. The Apostle Paul quoted from a “secular” source, even a pagan poet in Acts 17:28. Thus, the claim of quoting from a non-biblical source disqualifies a book from being “inspired by God” (2 Tim. 3:16). Two biblical scholars, Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix, have a quote that addresses this matter. They say, “The use of nonbiblical sources should not be thought incongruous with inspiration, since it is to be remembered that ‘all truth is God’s truth.’” The following study is about “Enoch” who is described as the “seventh from Adam” (Jude 14).

It is to be noted that there are two men by the name of “Enoch” in the Bible and both are in Genesis 5. We will explore the contrast between the two and see what God wants us to know about “Enoch.”

 

  1. ENOCH, THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM, Jude 14. The first process of evaluation of this verse is to examine the name “Enoch.” As mentioned above, there are two in the Bible. These two Enochs will be examined later. Right now we want to examine a little “theology.” Genesis 5 is considered the “book of generations of Adam” (Gen. 5:1) and this statement is interesting. A. W. Pink points out that the phrase “the generations of Adam” and “the generation of Jesus Christ” are the only two places this phrase, “this is the book of. . .” is found, in Genesis 5:1 and Matthew 1:1. The word “generations” is found but in a different form like “These are the generations of. . .” (see Gen. 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10, 27; 25:12, 19; 36:1, 9; 37:2; Num. 3:1; Judg. 3:2; Ruth 4:18; 1 Chron. 26:31 and Isa. 51:9). The phrase “the book of the generation(s) of. . .” Makes these two statements unique and important (Gen. 5:1 and Matt. 1:1). Adam is considered to be the source of all the human race being born with a sin nature and these are the “the names of the fallen descendants of the first man.” The New Testament confirms this in Romans 5:12 (KJV), “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Another verse emphasizes the magnitude of the sin of Adam in Romans 5:14 (KJV), “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.” Then we have the “book of the generation of Jesus Christ” which lists the redeemed and saved by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9). Romans 5:15 (KJV), “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” One, “the book of the generations of Adam” (Gen. 5:1) is the book of “death” and the other one, “the book of the generation of Jesus Christ” (Matt. 1:1) is the book of “eternal life.” In Genesis 4:17 we find the first Enoch and he happens to be the child of Cain whom we know was the first person to commit murder (Gen. 4:8). Despite God’s judgment on Cain for this act, he did have a wife and children. The two Enochs are different and worth studying.
  1. Enoch, the offspring of Cain, Genesis 4:17-18. This Enoch was the firstborn of Cain and all we are told about him is that Cain built a city and named it after his firstborn, Enoch (Gen. 4:17). The next piece of information we have about Cain’s Enoch is that he had only one child, Irad (Gen. 4:18). All we know of Cain and his family is found in Genesis 4. Cain is mentioned in Hebrews 11:4 where his sacrifice is not as “excellent” as Seth’s. In 1 John 3:12, we are told that Cain “was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.” Some believe that the phrase “of that wicked one” would be Satan since there was no one else around except Adam to be the progenitor of children. The case could have the same application as found in the statement by Jesus about the harassment dealt to him by the scribes and Pharisees in John 8:44 (KJV), “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” These people demonstrated an attitude antagonistic to Jesus and this brought the words of Jesus about them to be stated. The Enoch born of Cain has no record of his life other than what is read in Genesis 4:17-18. Thus, there is no reason to try and fabricate something that is not accurate. Cain’s attitude was similar which brought about the death of his brother, Abel. The Pharisees and scribes had a similar goal for Jesus Christ, death, which eventually came to pass with one exception. They did not anticipate Him rising from the dead. The offspring of Cain can accurately be considered the “ungodly” descendants of a rebellious man.
  2. Enoch, the offspring of Seth, Genesis 5:18. The Enoch born from the family of Seth is the one in question by Jude. As discussed earlier, some think Jude used some sources that was not biblical. One writer brings up a valid point about the source of the quote in Jude 14. He says, “There is no reason at all why he could not have derived it directly, by divine revelation, from the Holy Spirit Himself.” This is the position we will take. Anything else is speculation and trying to justify spurious and noncanonical documents. Jude mentions that Enoch was the “seventh from Adam” The list of those in the genealogical list starts with “Seth” the son of Adam (Gen. 5:3-4), next is “Enos” the son of Seth (Gen. 5:6), followed by “Cainan” the son of Enos (Gen. 5:9), after Cainan is “Mahalaleel” son of Cainan (Gen. 5:12), next was “Jared” son of Mahalaleel (Gen. 5:15), the last one being “Enoch” the son of Jared (Gen. 5:18). Counting Adam as the first generation, then Enoch was the “seventh” generation from Adam. Another attribute of Enoch is stated in the translation of Enoch stated in Genesis 5:24, which says, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” There is a commentary on this stated in Hebrews 11:5 (KJV), “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.” The explanation in Genesis 5:24 is brief and in Hebrews 11:5 the character of Enoch is known. He was a man of faith, he “walked with God,” and had the testimony that he “pleased God.” How many men do you know who can claim that testimony? This man was an example early in the history of this world. There is another point about Enoch in Genesis 5:22 (KJV), “And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.” He was the father of the one who was significant in the timing of the flood of Noah. The name “Methuselah” has an interesting meaning, “When he is dead it shall be sent.” Most consider this to be a reference to the “flood of Noah.” The son of Methuselah was named Lamech who was the father of Noah (Gen. 5:28-29).
  3. Enoch the Prophet, Jude 14. We must deal with the statement in Jude 14 (KJV), “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.” Jude made a prophecy which is considered the first prophecy spoken by one of God’s creatures, Enoch. It is about the second coming of Jesus Christ. We do not believe Jude used “1 Enoch” as a source but was given to him by revelation from God (2 Tm. 3:16). The writing of “Enoch” that are supposedly written before the coming of Christ are spurious and non-biblical. God did not have Enoch write something in a period prior to Jesus Christ first coming which is dated in 300-200 bc. Enoch could not have written that document because he was taken to heaven before the flood of Noah. Don’t let someone try to convince you that the writings available with the name Enoch could not have been written by the Enoch of the Bible.
  1. EXECUTION OF JUDGMENT, Jude 15. In this verse, Jude gives one of the purposes for the second coming of Jesus Christ to this earth, “to execute judgment upon all.” He gives another reason for the second coming of Jesus Christ in the statement, “. . .and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” When you read this verse it almost takes you to the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. Look at these passages which describe some of the things accompanying the second coming of Christ. Isaiah 64:1-3, 5-6; Revelation 14:1, 7, 10. There is a day of reconning where all will stand before God who will judge them with His righteousness. Not in this verse how the word “ungodly” is used. Jude 15 (KJV), “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Note the things to be accomplished under the matter of “to convince.” (1) He will “convince all that are ungodly.” (2) Convince them of “their ungodly deeds” and (3) the motivation behind it “ungodly.” )4) Convince them of the “motivation” for “hard speeches” which were “spoken against him” [God}. Can you imagine the position of the “ungodly?” What will be their response to Jesus standing in their presence in His resurrected body, telling them all about themselves and their ungodly deeds, speeches, and why they did them? A SERIOUS DAY OF RECONENING. 
  2. EVALUATION OF “THESE” (FALSE TEACHERS), Jude 16. In this verse we have an assessment of these “ungodly” people. Note they are identified as:
  1. Murmurers. In this context, it could be assumed they are “murmurers” against God. Have you ever heard a person say “why did God allow [insert the name] to die?” I know they are not considered “murmurers” in the biblical sense, but it is a form of complaint. Most people who do not know the Lord, or do not want to know the Lord will criticize what they do not understand. But, here God is judging them for what they do understand. Look again at Jude 15 (KJV), “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” [Emphasis added.] Their complaints are against “him” referring to God, the Lord Jesus Christ.    
  2. Complainers. Why do people complain? Because they think things are not the way they would have them. Those who complain have the attitude that if they were in charge, things would be different. They would be pleased the way things are going, or are they? The people of Israel were knowned for their “complaining.” Note: Numbers 11:1 (KJV), “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. [Emphasis added.]
  3. Living lustful lives. The New Testament is filled with how the “flesh” will alter a person’s perspective. Last week we looked at Leviticus and how leprosy was a type of the flesh or carnality. Lust for the wrong things will altar our spiritual direction. Listen again to what Paul said about “carnality” or serving the flesh in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (KJV), “1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? The point Paul is making, as well as the Holy Spirit who inspired Paul, is that carnality will keep us from the spiritual things that are important. It says in Galatians 5:17 (KJV), “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Do you know why a person who allows the flesh to direct their life? Because they want to do the things that please themselves and are not interested in pleasing God. The Bible says in Romans 8:8 (KJV), “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” The point of Jude 16 and these people were “walking after their own lusts.” They were going to live life their way and not God’s way.
  4. Speaking “great swelling words.” The point of this statement is that these people speak “swelling words” or an exaggeration for the sake of taking advantage of someone. Remember these people are apostates who have departed from the faith yet they have the goal of dragging others, especially Christians, into their way of living. These people will exaggerate to get advantage of someone. Peter makes a similar statement in 2 Peter 2:18 (KJV), “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” This verse is a good commentary on what Jude is talking about.
  5. Having men’s persons in admiration for one reason, advantage. Here is the culmination of what the early parts of the verse speaks about. It is somewhat of a normal conclusion to the lifestyle being described.