An imaginative expansion on the story of the Sons of God and the daughters of men in Gen 6:1,2.

A group of 200 angels (led by archangels Shemihazah and Azazel)         descend to the earth where they take human wives and father a race of giants, or Titans. For this sin the angels are bound in Tartarus to await judgment for 70 generations. The angels ask Enoch to intercede for them, but Enoch’s requests are refused. The angels’ children cause havoc on the earth, but then are drowned in the flood. But the spirits of the giants survive to torment mankind, becoming a new class of beings — the demons. The giants’ human mothers also survive and become Sirens.

In Christ’s day the Book of Enoch was a “bestseller”, spawning a small library of derivative literature: Jubilees, Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs, 2 Enoch, 3 Enoch, etc. (There is a possible reference to this by Christ in Mar 12:25.)

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The information presented below is drawn from AH Boulton: “The Book of Enoch” (Tes, July 1932); NActs; WSSE; and Bill Davison: “The Devil and Demons — A New Approach”.

Since the discovery of the Greek manuscript at Qumran in 1946 it is no longer possible to claim the book is an Ethiopian forgery. Enoch was obviously well known to both Peter and Jude, and there are anything up to 50 references to Enoch in their epistles to prove it beyond any doubt.

The argument:

A. Peter and Jude were opposing serious heresies (2Pe 2:1), including:

1. myths and fables (contrasted with inspiration);
2. the blaspheming of angels (contrasted with angels who do not even rebuke);

3. denying the coming of the Lord (“all things continue since creation”);

4. denying the intercessor role of Christ (Enoch not Christ goes to heaven to beg for the sheep);

5. financial exploitation (2Pe 2:3);
6. lasciviousness (2Pe 2:7,18; Jud 1:4).

B. Peter and Jude “have the more sure word of prophecy”:

More sure than what? More sure than their “cunningly devised fables”. Note that 2Pe 1:16-19 gives a lengthy description of the Transfiguration, a deliberate contrast of Peter’s real experience as a witness of Christ and hearer of God’s words “on the mountain”, with that of Enoch: “And they took and brought me to a place in which those who were there were like flaming fire, and, when they wished, they appeared as men, and they brought me to the place of darkness, and to a mountain the point of whose summit reached to heaven” (17:1,2). The point of Peter raising this as his first point in the argument is because of the contrast between the first person witness of Peter who WAS with Christ on the mountain and was shown the Kingdom, and the false teachers who were NOT on any mountain with Enoch when Enoch was shown the heavens. Cp 2Pe 3:2; Jud 1:17.

C. The teachers taught “cunningly devised fables” (2Pe 1:16; 2:12; 3:16; Jud 1:10). Both the context of 2:12 and Jude 1:10 are speaking evil of angels. The things they understand not are angels.

D. The false teachers accused angels of sin (2Pe 2:10; Jud 1:8).

E. The Book of Enoch accuses angels of sin (2Pe 2:4,9; Jud 1:5-7).

F. Peter and Jude use the book’s own illogicalities to undermine those who use it (just as Christ used Pharisee’s ideas to expose them in Luke 16):

Jude 1:14: “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, (‘Enoch the seventh from Adam’ is a quote from the Book of Enoch, not from the Bible)         prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 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.” Cp the Book of Enoch 1:9. The idea of using Enoch as a source to condemn the Enochites is rejected by many. But why? In Luke 16 the Pharisees’ ideas of Abraham’s Bosom are used to ridicule them. The ridicule of pagan gods and demons goes back at least to Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

Another point: According to the grammar of the Greek Enoch did not prophecy “of these” (AV)         or “about these men” (NIV)         but “to these”; the Greek has PROEFHTEUSEN DE KAI TOUTOIS (dative), wheras if AV and NIV are right it should be PROEFHTEUSEN PERI TOUTWN (genitive). The difference can be illustrated by two exchanges between Christ and the Pharisees: Mat 26:68 has “prophesy to us!” — PROFHTEUSON HMIN (dative)         and Mat 15:7 has “prophesied well concerning you” — KALWS EPROFHTEUSEN PERI UMWN (genitive).

So Enoch prophesied to those who “speak evil of those things which they know not”. How did he do this? Through the pages of their own book. As Boulton wrote concerning Jude and Enoch: “the writers of the NT were ready to use legend and folklore as Jesus was ready to use superstitious beliefs in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus”. The parallel with Luke 16 is quite telling because Christ used the Pharisees’ fantasies about Hades to attack Caiaphas (and his five brother-in-law high priests dressed in purple and linen), Jude uses the Enochites’ fantasies about angels to attack them.

G. Peter and Jude use the book’s own language to reject the teachers (2Pe 1:9; 2:17).

Also, 2Pe 2:17 and Jud 1:12,13: All the imagery and several verbatim phrases regarding the false teachers are quotes referring to the fallen angels Stars and ‘Shepherds’ in Enoch (cf. all of Enoch 96~100).

“I saw the winds on the earth carrying the clouds: I saw the paths of the angels” (Enoch 18:5,6). “I saw from whence they proceed in that place and from whence they saturate the dusty earth. And there I saw closed chambers out of which the winds are divided, the chamber of the hail and winds, the chamber of the mist, and of the clouds, and the cloud thereof hovers over the earth from the beginning of the world” (41:4,5). “And the fourth quarter, named the north, is divided into three parts: the first of them is for the dwelling of men: and the second contains seas of water, and the abysses and forests and rivers, and darkness and clouds; and the third part contains the garden of righteousness” (77:3).

“Observe and see how (in the winter)         all the trees seem as though they had withered and shed all their leaves, except fourteen trees, which do not lose their foliage but retain the old foliage from two to three years till the new comes” (3:1)         “And he said unto me: ‘Enoch, why dost thou ask me regarding the fragrance of the tree, and why dost thou wish to learn the truth?’ Then I answered him saying: ‘I wish to know about everything, but especially about this tree.’ And he answered saying: ‘This high mountain which thou hast seen, whose summit is like the throne of God, is His throne, where the Holy Great One, the Lord of Glory, the Eternal King, will sit, when He shall come down to visit the earth with goodness. And as for this fragrant tree no mortal is permitted to touch it till the great judgement, when He shall take vengeance on all and bring (everything)         to its consummation for ever. It shall then be given to the righteous and holy. Its fruit shall be for food to the elect: it shall be transplanted to the holy place, to the temple of the Lord, the Eternal King” (25:1-6). “And in those times the fruits of the earth shall be backward, And shall not grow in their time, And the fruits of the trees shall be withheld in their time” (80:3). “And high trees were rent 5 from their stems, and hurled down and sunk in the abyss” (83:4,5).

“And if He sends His anger upon you because of your deeds, ye cannot petition Him; for ye spake proud and insolent words against His righteousness: therefore ye shall have no peace. And see ye not the sailors of the ships, how their ships are tossed to and fro by the waves, and are shaken by the winds, and are in sore trouble?” (101:3-5).

H. The real heresy is the denial of Christ for Enoch (Jud 1:18,19; 2Pe 3:3,4).

The Enochites denied the second coming of Christ by referring to Jewish cosmology: “From the creation of the world and unto eternity… and through that oath are the depths made fast, and abide and stir not from their place from eternity to eternity” (69:18,19).

Worse, they made Enoch the intercessor calling for judgement (2Pe 2:1): “And this one who wrote the book carried it up, and showed it and read it before the Lord of the sheep, and implored Him on their account, and besought Him on their account as he showed Him all the doings of the shepherds, and gave testimony before Him against all the shepherds” (Enoch 89:76,77).

As one last sober point. If Peter and Jude were so opposed to those who “spoke evil of dignitaries” we also should be careful what we say of angels “who are ALL ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Heb 1:14 — written by a Jew who must also have heard of the Book of Enoch).

The fact remains is that out of 300+ other references to angels in OT and NT all (meaning ALL including Psa 78:49)         are unanimously describing obedient angels who are ALL ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.

Conclusion

We have shown that the treatment of the Book of Enoch in 2Pe and Jude shows it to be a “cunningly devised fable” of those who “speak evil about things they know not” and “slander celestial beings”.

We have shown that the language used to describe the Enochites is drawn from the Book of Enoch’s own description of the “angels that sinned”, “wandering stars” and “shepherds”.

We have shown that Enoch did not prophesy to the believers “concerning” these “wandering stars” but prophesied to the false teachers present at the love feasts in the church. The false teachers, not the believers, were those who recognized the book’s authority and to whom Enoch prophesied.

We have shown that the references to the Apostles’ vision on the mountain are the answer to Enoch’s vision on the mountain, and that the Apostles had a “more sure word of prophecy” and were “dreamers” (visionaries)         in fulfillment of Joel at Pentecost, not “[filthy] dreamers” like the Enochites.

We have shown that in Enoch “all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” and that not only did the Enochites mock the coming, they also denied the Lord that bought them, having Enoch intercede “for the sheep”.

Most importantly we have Peter’s own testimony about angels which contradicts that of the Enochites:

1Pe 1:10-21: Even angels long to look into the things spoken by the Spirit of Christ in the OT prophets.

1Pe 3:22: Angels (AGGELOI), authorities (EXOUSIAI), and powers (DUNAMOI)         are in submission to Jesus Christ who has gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God.

2Pe 2:11: Angels, even though they are stronger and more powerful than those who slander celestial beings, do not bring slanderous accusations against them (the slanderers)         in the presence of the Lord.

These three mentions show the doctrine taught by Peter and Jude: a doctrine of obedient angels, giving honor to the Spirit of Christ even before he was born, of all classes of angel in submission to Christ now, and not slandering even the worst of mankind.

The contrast with the teachings of the Enochites is only too clear on each point. We now have to make a choice as to whom to believe: the Apostles or the Enochites? We cannot believe both.

(JB).

See also (1)         Lesson, Zec 3 and Enoch, and (2)         Lesson, Enoch and spirits in prison.

The fate of Enoch (Gen 5:24):

Enoch testified against the “ungodly” (Jud 1:14,15), ie Lamech, his counterpart in Cain’s line: a man of violence (Gen 4:23,24). Perhaps Lamech sought to slay Enoch, and God removed him from harm — hidden in Garden of Eden, to walk with God in even closer fellowship, as a “reward” (Heb 11:5,6). (BS 10:152,153).

What happened to Enoch? In both Gen and Heb 11:5 Enoch is treated differently than his contemporaries. Did he die? Prob “Yes!”: 1Co 15:22: “as in Adam all die”; and Rom 5:14: “death reigned from Adam to Moses.” Also, Heb 11:13: “these all died in faith”, and the five people mentioned earlier included Enoch.

If so, then what about the statement: “he was not, for God took him”? This suggests disappearance or removal, as does Heb 11:5 and the word “translated” (= transferred, or changed as to status: ie Heb 7:12). Possibly Enoch was taken away from a potential life-threatening disaster to another place to live out his life. Heb 11:4,5 sets Enoch alongside Abel who died by the hand of an assassin; both experienced God’s overshadowing care, yet one suffered and the other was delivered.

God’s care for His people is beautifully expressed in His words to Israel: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how l carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” (Exo 19:4).

Bible writers were much impressed with the swift, swooping flight of the eagle, the largest bird known in Israel. In modern times the eagle has been observed catching its young in flight, as mentioned in the Bible: “Like an eagle that stirs up Its nest and hovers over Its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on Its pinions” (Deu 32:11).

The young eaglet might be afraid to fly, but the parent forces it out of the nest. It may flutter and fall, unable yet to fly properly. Then the parent eagle can dive and spread its saving wings underneath the falling young one. This is the imagery of that famous line from the Bible which promises God’s sustaining presence in time of trouble: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deu 33:27).

In the long history of God’s people, they have been sustained by the faith and confidence that God cares for them. This has been equally true with all the saints of the Old and New Testaments. God cares for all His creatures, but He is particularly concerned for those whom He has called and who have responded to be His people. This does not mean that they will be spared the hazards of life. It does mean that God’s people can endure and survive many perils because they know that the LORD cares for them, that they are borne on “eagles’ wings”, and that underneath are the “everlasting arms”.

A Greek philosopher who observed second-century believers was profoundly impressed by their “pure religion”, especially their compassion and concern for the needy. He wrote, “They love one another. They do not overlook the widow, and they save the orphan. When they see strangers, they take them under their own roof… they do not call themselves brothers according to the flesh but according to the spirit. And whenever one of their poor has died, each of them according to his ability contributes ungrudgingly, and they bury him. And if they hear that some are condemned or imprisoned on account of the name of their Lord, they contribute… and send to them what they need, and if it is possible, they redeem them. And if there is any that is a slave or a poor man, they fast two or three days, and what they were going to set before themselves they send to them.”

These words are quoted from the Lord Jesus as recorded in his Olivet prophecy:

“There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11; cp Mat 24:7; Mark 13:8).

The context of Jesus’ words tell us several things:

a. “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ ” (Mat 24:3). Great earthquakes will be one of the signs of Christ’s coming and the end of the age.

b. “Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down’ ” (Luke 21:5,6). This suggests that at least some of the “great earthquakes” will cause the “throwing down” of the great and beautiful stones of the temple mount in Jerusalem. That is what great earthquakes do! Although the stones of Herod’s temple itself were torn down and scattered by the Romans, the foundation stones of the Wailing Wall remain in place since the days of Jesus. Therefore, we could expect that there will be a “Last Days” earthquake in Jerusalem to finish the job.

California Shaking!

Recently [January 1990] an earthquake of more than moderate intensity struck the Los Angeles area. Local mountains rose as much as one foot. Nine highway overpasses snapped like twigs. An oil main and 250 gas lines ruptured, igniting untold numbers of fires. Over 3 million people were plunged into total darkness. 5,900 were injured. Twenty thousand were left homeless.

The toll in lost life (55 at last count)         has been quite small in comparison to other great quakes, due in large part to modern building codes. But the property damage (variously estimated at up to 30 billion dollars)         has been enormous, because the southern California area is one of the world’s richest and most developed. This quake follows by just over four years an earthquake of comparable intensity, and comparable loss of life and property, in San Francisco.

The scientists, called “seismologists”, who study earthquakes were quick to point out, in both cases, that these recent quakes — and aftershocks — were in no way “The Big One”. This, they warn, is still coming… any time within the next 25 years, give or take a few! “The Big One”, when it does strike, will be of an intensity many times greater than the most recent quakes. (An 8 on the Richter scale, by no means out of the question, would be 125 times more powerful than the recent 6.6!)         The consequent loss of life and property will be — probably — exponentially higher!

Such moderate earthquakes (although it is doubtful that they seem “moderate” to those who suffer through them!)         remind us of a couple of things: Firstly, that the very earth on which we stand, and which we take so much for granted, is a living, moving thing… controlled by a Power greater than man! And, secondly, that Jesus warned that “great earthquakes” will be a sign of the nearness of his return.

The causes of earthquakes

As a result of thermal energy within the earth’s interior, the outer layers are subjected to various elastic stresses and pressures which build over periods of years or even of centuries. When these stresses exceed some local breaking point there is a sudden deformation in the earth’s crust, accompanied by the release of vast amounts of stored-up energy. A fracture or rift occurs as portions of the earth’s surface move one against another. Shock waves, of great intensity and causing enormous damage, emanate from the seismic center and radiate in all directions. These tremors are recorded in observation stations all over the world. By collating this information, seismologists can determine the focus and intensity of the earthquake.

Volcanic eruptions are sometimes associated with earthquakes, and these can add a further horror.

There is nothing new in the phenomena of earthquakes. They have been going on all through history, and form a part of the natural processes by which the surface of the earth is changed and molded through the centuries. Thus mountain ranges are raised up, river courses and coastlines changed, islands created or destroyed, and — where human populations are involved — many lives may be lost or irrevocably altered.

Quakes in earlier times, and even now in other parts of the world where modern building codes are primitive or non-existent, have resulted in enormous loss of life, in contrast to those earthquakes which have occurred virtually under the eye of the camera in California. Some examples:

Year	Country	Estimated lives lost
856	Greece	45,000
1268	Asia Minor	60,000
1290	China	100,000
1556	China	830,000
1693	Italy	93,000
1737	India	300,000
1868	Peru	25,000
1898	Japan	22,000
1908	Italy	160,000
1962	Iran	12,000

These few examples demonstrate the worldwide distribution of earthquakes, and give some indication of the extent of damage and suffering that can result.

Are there more earthquakes today?

Some statistics indicate a sizeable increase in earthquakes in recent years.

The US Department of the Interior makes available publications such as Earthquakes and Volcanoes (bimonthly)         and Preliminary Determination of Epicenters (monthly). The latter publication lists all earthquakes recorded by some 350 centers throughout the world, listing details such as location and duration. These records show that up to 1948 (!)         the highest number of quakes reported in one year was 905. However, thereafter the annual totals (of all earthquakes of magnitude 3 or greater on the Richter scale)         have increased markedly.

Year	Earthquakes recorded
1948	620
1948	1,152
1950	2,023
1959	3,186
1961	4,740
1964	5,134
1965	6,686
1975	7,190
1988	Over 13,000

It is possible, however, that some part of this perceived increase may be just that: a perception, caused by the continuing development and increasingly wider use of more sophisticated detection instruments.

While the increase of earthquakes worldwide, and the observation of earthquakes close at hand, may be serious reminders to us of the nearness of Christ’s coming, surely the greatest signs — including those involving earthquakes — are to be seen in the Middle East.

Earthquakes in Israel: Rev 6

It has been pointed out that there are very many parallels between the Olivet prophecy and the Seals of Rev 6. In the sixth seal (Rev 6:12-17), there is a “great earthquake”, bringing about signs in the sun, moon, and stars (cp Mat 24:29), and causing the “figs” to fall from the “fig tree” (cp Mat 24:32)         — surely an indicator that this prophecy has to do with Israel — just as does the Olivet prophecy! And the result of the sixth seal is… “the great day” of the “wrath of the Lamb… who can stand?”

Isaiah 2-4

“The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted… for all the cedars of Lebanon… all the oaks of Bashan… Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from dread of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth” (Isa 2:12,13,19).

That this great shaking is centered upon Israel is clear from Isa 3:1,8 (part of the same prophetic section, despite the chapter break), where Jerusalem (compared to wicked Sodom in v 9; note the parallel in Rev 11:8)         will stagger, and Judah will fall. It is the Israelis whose great pride will be brought down by this divine shaking!

But, after Israel’s pride is abased, then Jerusalem (with its survivors, by faith!)         will be made “holy” again (Isa 4:2-6).

Isaiah 24

This is one of those passages, quite common in the Old Testament, where the Hebrew eretz should be translated “land” (ie, of Israel)         rather than “earth”:

“See, the LORD is going to lay waste the Land (eretz)         and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants — it will be the same for priest as for people… The Land (eretz)         will be completely laid waste and totally plundered… The Land (eretz)         dries up and withers… the exalted of the Land (eretz)         languish. The Land (eretz)         is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant” (Isa 24:1-5).

That such severe devastation is to be visited upon Israel is proven by v 5: what land in all the earth is special home to the people who have broken God’s everlasting covenant?

How is the devastation wrought? By a severe earthquake:

“The foundations of the Land (eretz)         shake. The Land (eretz)         is broken up, the Land (eretz)         is split asunder, the Land (eretz)         is thoroughly shaken. The Land (eretz)         reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind” (Isa 24:18-20).

But, once again, the final outcome, when the proud of Israel have been abased, is that the LORD Almighty will reign in His city, Jerusalem, in the presence of the holy ones of old (v 23).

Ezekiel 38

But the divine wrath of earthquake will be directed not just against God’s own nation Israel, but also and foremost against the enemies of Israel, led by “Gog”:

“When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground” (Eze 38:18-20).

Joel 3

Once again, the prophet Joel sees Arab nations (Tyre, Sidon, Philistia, Edom, Egypt: vv 4,19)         gathered into the Valley of Jehoshaphat (near Jerusalem)         in the Last Days (vv 2,14). But they will fall!

“The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble… But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel” (v 16).

Habakkuk 3

The language of this prophet is graphic, reminiscent of the pictures in Exodus, when God came down upon Mount Sinai in a cloud, with fire and lightning and thunder. In Habakkuk, God manifests Himself in judgment against the enemies of Israel and on behalf of His faithful people:

“He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed… the mountains saw you and writhed…” (vv 6-10).

Haggai 2

“In a little while,” promises God, “I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations — and… THEN… the desired (one)         of all nations will come, and I will fill this house (the temple on mount Zion in Jerusalem)         with glory” (vv 6,7). A great shaking in the Last Days, which will affect all nations, but which will also usher in the Day of the Desired One, who will return to his city and his temple, and will fill it with Divine glory!

Zechariah 14

And when he returns, that “Desired One”, he will confront a city that is captive, in Gentile hands. His feet will stand upon the mount of Olives, to the east of the Holy City, and there will be a “great earthquake”, causing the mount of Olives to be split in two from east to west (vv 3,4). And Jerusalem will be, literally, “raised up” (v 10), and figuratively exalted above all other “mountains” (cp Isa 2:2-4; Psa 48:2).

Revelation 16

Just as Jesus himself said, in the Olivet prophecy, the greatest of all earthquakes will be the prelude to the appearance of Israel’s King, who will come to rule over Israel and all nations in the Kingdom of God:

“Behold, I come like a thief!… Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon… Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake… and the cities of the nations collapsed” (vv 15-19).

Acknowledgements

1. Allan Dangerfield, “There will be great earthquakes”, The Christadelphian, Nov 1990, pp 412,413.

2. F. Russell, “The Bible and Earthquakes”, The Australian Christadelphian Shield, Nov 1993, pp 8-11.

3. Tony Benson, Stormy Winds Fulfilling His Will, pp 85-89,108-122.

4. Harry Whittaker, Revelation: A Biblical Approach, pp 85-89.