The overall writings of The Book of Enoch was lost for a while. It revived when it was found in a jar among the writings that were treasured by (purported Essenes), the scribes of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Discovered along with the others in the mid-1900’s, that Book was supported by other sections attributed to Enoch, which were found in Ethiopia. But only the first “book” of Enoch was found in Qumran—located just south of where John the Baptizer baptized. Notably, in volume 2 of the 1893 series “History of the Jews”, the author concludes that John the Baptist was an Essene—and probably taught among those who studied the Book of Enoch at Qumran.
While the Bible does not contain The Book of Enoch, his writings were known to at least one writer of the New Testament. Jude knew it enough that he could quote from it, “Enoch the 7th from Adam prophesied: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge all ungodly acts and the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him’” (Jude 14-15).
Part of the reason the book(s) of Enoch do(es) not appear in the Tanakh (Old Testament) might be the frequent references given to the “Son of Man”, who sat at the Right Hand of God—he was the “light of the Gentiles…for in whose name they are saved” (Chapter 46: 4-12). Christians know him as Jesus Christ, the Messiah. And they know John the Baptist as the one Jesus said was “the messenger who came before him”: “Elias (Elijah)—if you can accept it—Elias has already come” (Matt. 17:11). Part of the reason Enoch is not included in the New Testament might have to do with the Roman conquest, which is when the Qumran community hid those Dead Sea Scrolls and abandoned their site. The Canon was already Canonized by the time it was found.
The Book of Enoch gives many striking parallels and enhancements to the books of the Bible: the Revelation of John, Daniel, Joel, and many other prophets. For instance, Enoch tells us who were the “sons of God”, which came down to mate with the daughters of men in the beginning generations of time. The Bible implies they were angels (‘Evil’), who descended and begat half-human children with the “daughters of men”—those became “giants; renown men of old”; and specifies them as “Nephilim”, but it is unclear whether this refers to them, their children or both (Gen. 6:2-4).
Interestingly, internet “scholars” have suggested that the early Egyptian pharaohs and the people who built the pyramids were “giants”. The early kings are somewhat of a mystery; and so many people rightly theorize that they, indeed, descended from the heavens—however, others miss the mark when calling them “aliens; or creatures from outer space.” The Sumerian king list wording, from a Scriptural standpoint, agrees that some of these rulers may have “descended from the heavens”—although not as “little green men, or large misshapen men with huge oblong eyes”, rather as the Evil Angels. Were “the kingship (gods) who descended from heaven”, of the Babylonian-Sumerian Kinglist, the same as these evil pro-creating angels?
In Scripture, the “Nephilim” appear first in the notation that Moses scribed, when he referred to God’s reason for the Flood, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever…the (Nephilim/giants) were on Earth in those days, and are, even now dwelling on earth” (Genesis 6:1-8). This statement implies the Evil Angels repeated procreation even after society was reestablished, and lived on into the days of Moses—just as the Sumerian Kinglist implies.
The Sumerian King List reads: “In the beginning, kingship (being) lowered from heaven”… “(Then) the Flood swept over (the Earth). After the Flood had swept over (the earth) (then) when kingship was lowered (again) from heaven…” (AS, No.11). Their first kings, before and just after the Flood were “Lowered from heaven”. Who were these evil ones who again taught mankind war and all sorts of evil? The Evil Angels and their descendants were perhaps the world’s first kings—and if their seed had remained, this might explain the rise of every evil dictator that ever existed. So, were they literally “giants”? Indeed, they left behind descendants who did the same.
Enoch says of their arrival on Earth: “And in the days of Jared they descended upon Mount Hermon—which is how the mountain got its name, since it means “sworn and bound” (Bk.1, 6.6). Mount Hermon sits in the far north of Israel. In the territory given to the tribe of Dan in the time of Joshua. It is sandwiched between Lebanon to its West and Syria to its East. Jared was Enoch’s father, so Enoch witnessed how the evil “Watchers” stayed to wreak havoc upon earth.
Be they evil or good angels, The Book of Enoch collectively calls the sons of God from the heavens, “The Watchers”. Having been in the presence of God and the Watchers, Enoch gives elaborate details; he defines them by classes, and gives a definite distinction whether they were good or evil. Enoch assigned names to the leaders of the Good Angels and counted their leaders by number; and many of them are listed in the Bible. He also listed the names of the Evil Angel leaders. Of the Evil Angels, there were 18 (6+6+6); led by 1, totaling 19. Readers of the Qur’an might find that number, “nineteen” an amazing correlation to Sura 74:30-31—where 19 preside over Hell.
The Book of Enoch names one “Watcher”—an evil leader; and states he taught the world how to make swords, knives, shields, breastplates, and how to work metals. Perhaps that is why it is said that in The End “neither shall they shall learn war any more” (Micah 4:3). The leader of the Evil 18 has the name Shemihaza in the Book of Enoch. This is the one whom the Christians know as Satan—and he taught mankind “enchantments”. (Enoch Bk.1.8:1-4). Maybe that is why there is such an emphasis on staying away from witchcraft, sorcery, and magik.
In short, the first Book of Enoch, leads back to the two judgements which will come upon the earth. The Flood—the first one—came after Enoch was taken up into heaven without dying. The next—and final judgement—will be in the End when all Evil is cast into Hell, from which the Evil Watchers can never return. In the time of The End, Enoch might return as one of the two witnesses (see upcoming posts). The other witness is commonly thought to be Elijah, another man who left the earth without dying. The two will exit the earth before the final three and one-half years leading up to the world’s destruction. John’s Revelation simply referenced two named witnesses, who arrive before the returning Messiah, Jesus (Revelation 11).
Of The End, Enoch wrote: “Open your eyes and gaze up IF you are able to recognize the Elect One. The Lord of Spirits seated him upon the throne…and he will judge exalted; …they (now) see the Son of Man (in) his glory…For from the beginning the Son of Man was hidden and the Most High preserved him…and revealed him to the Elect…but, he will deliver (the unrighteous) to the angels for punishment because they have oppressed his children and his Elect” (Enoch, Ethiopian source books, chapter 62:1-18).
Enoch elaborates on what we already know from the Bible: “(In the beginning) the Son of Man was named in the presence of the Lord of Spirits; yea, before the sun and the signs in the sky were created…I saw in that place the fountain of righteousness, which was never dry. And the thirsty drank” (Enoch 48:1-4). Jesus, in Revelation says: “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’…The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whosoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Rev. 22:13, 17).
Joel, Zechariah, Psalms and John agree with Revelation and Enoch. “A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s House” (Joel 3:18). “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zech. 13:1). Jesus told the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God and who it is who asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10-13).
Jesus said: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37). Come! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. @achadpeace
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