Jude 1:14-15 | Education From Enoch
Intro
Our study in Jude verses 14-15 centered around three questions with regards to this mysterious character of the pre-flood world named Enoch. Of the three questions we only answered the first of those:
- Who is this person Enoch and what is his prophecy about?
During that study we discovered in the two texts found in Jude verses 14-15 and Genesis 5:18-24 that this Enoch was the 7th from Adam on the godly linage of Seth. We also noted that Enoch’s prophetic words in verse 14-15 many have been a part of a greater revelation that not only included the pre-flood civilization but obviously was meant for our generation as well. We spent time looking at the spiritual development of Enoch as it seemed to coincide with the birth of his son Methuselah and continued for 300 years until the Lord called him to be with him. The last thing we noted was the prophetic message found in the godly linage of Seth. This week we will finish our investigation of Enoch by answering the last two questions of:
2. Where did Jude receive the information with regards to the prophecy of Enoch?
3. What does the use of this illustration supposed to be in reference too?
Vs. 14b The seventh from Adam
Vs. 14b Jude writes that Enoch was the 7th from Adam, and that he prophesied about “these men” which is a reference to the false teachers that he had just described in the five-word pictures in verse 12-13. What follows we will discover is the certainty of future judgment upon present false teachers just like the judgment that had occurred upon the pre flood false teachers. We will dig further into this but first we need to answer the question of authenticity with regards to the story that Jude utilizes in these verses. Where did Jude get this prophecy? There is an apocryphal book call by the name of Enoch, and it does contain a prophecy similar to this one given by Jude. This has led to many to assume that Jude has simply copied from this apocryphal book, but this isn’t the case. The apocryphal book is a patchwork of various writings from many different writers written over many different years. It contains fanciful and legendary stories that are very ridiculous. The apocryphal Book of Enoch was known to the church in the 2nd century church, but it was lost for close to a 1000 years with only a few fragments remaining. That was until a book by that name reappeared in its entirety found in a copy of Ethiopic Bible in 1773. The problem is that we have no way of knowing if this was what the 2nd century church fathers had or how much of it they had as there remained no copy of what the 2nd century church fathers had. What we do know is that the 1773 version consists of “false revelations as some of those revelations contradict the scriptures that we do know are true” even though they claim to be from Enoch and his great grandson Noah. What we do know is that the knowledge of Enoch and his calling was an establish truth at the time of Jude’s writing this little letter and is clearly referenced in Genesis 5:18-24 and his information doesn’t necessitate the acceptance of the apocryphal Book of Enoch. Jude information of Enoch fits into the class of Bible authors who Peter described in 2 Peter 1:21 that “spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”. Jude is not the first to deliver his readers information that can’t be found elsewhere in the Bible.
- Moses reached past antiquity when he wrote the story of creation in Genesis.
- Paul in 2 Tim 3:8 named the names of the two Egyptian magicians Jannes and Jambres when Moses records no such names.
- Luke quotes Paul who refers to a statement by Jesus in Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive” even though that quotes is not found in the Gospels.
- Peter tells us that Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” a fact that apart from Peter’s comment we would have been ignorant of.
Jude received this prophecy from information known and recognized as being a fact and that information apart from Jude’s quote has been lost and not it is not necessary to attach his quote to the apocryphal Book of Enoch.
Vs. 15 To Execute judgment upon all
Vs. 15 We can now takeup the third and final question, “What does the use of this illustration supposed to be in reference too?” We find the prophecy as Jude records it as “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken.” The point of reference from Jude in Enoch’s prophecy is obvious that it was fulfilled as the Lord saved only eight and the rest were destroyed in the flood. The warning is set as they those false teachers today will not escape their coming judgment either. But this prophecy came with a visible walking living clock in Enoch, (whose name means teaching) son Methuselah whose name is found in Genesis 5:21 and means his death shall bring! If you put the given ages of those listed in Genesis and figure in the overlapping ages with the succeeding generations and lay that next to Genesis 7:10-11 where we are given the date of the start of the flood which is dated to the age of Noah at the time it started we discover a very important truth that was also a Jewish tradition that Methuselah died the week before the flood began! That means that Methuselah’s earthly life was the living example, the clock to his father’s prophecy that start at 969 years and counted down until it hit zero. Not only did the prophet Enoch escape the judgment but so too did the living clock as well. The life of all humanity hung on Enoch’s prophecy and began with the birth of this baby whose name meant “his death shall bring”. And this baby grew into a man and this man continued year in and year out to live life have family, breathed air into his lungs, enjoyed the life given him for 969 years always knowing that at his death the world would be judged by God. With every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, and year judgment was getting closer to a world that always believed that they had more time to continue to practice their bondage to sin. Methuselah’s 969 years not only speak of pending judgment they also speak God’s glorious grace and patience with a rejecting world. The prophet was gone but his son remained to every moment of the day to remind the world what awaited those that refused to believe God’s word through Enoch. God even extended Methuselah’s life to give the maximin amount of time for the world to head the prophecy. Enoch saw the coming flood 969 years before it happened and warned about the enviable outcome upon a God forsaking world. Listen carefully as this is the only prophecy that remains from the pre-flood world, and it is given us living in a post-flood world….what should we do in light of that fact? I see four things in Enoch’s prophecy that we today should pay close attention too:
- “Behold the Lord comes”: Enoch’s prophecy was given a vision of the future that should cause all who read it to give their hearts and lives over to the only One who hold their future, the Living God. The certainty is laid out for all to understand…“Behold the Lord comes”! Such a statement begs the listener to ask the question to themselves based upon the reality of this, “What and Who and I living for? Is this my heaven, is this what my live should be lived like?” Enoch removed the veil of uncertainty and with his unveiled eyes decided at that revelation to “walk with God” and he continued to do so for the remainder of his 300 years, until the Lord took him home to heaven because he had never lived his life on this earth as if it was heaven he was convinced that of what Hebrews 11:10 “For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” It is no coincidence that this first prophecy ever recorded is like the last in Revelation 22:20. The Lord came for Enoch before he came for judgment, and He will still do the same for all who call upon Him!
- “With ten thousands of His saints”: This reminds us that there will be many who see this vision and respond by walking with God. There are times that we head the prophecy of God in His word only to be impacted by the lies of the enemy and the discouragement of the dying caught up in this fallen world system. Here is an encouragement to all who have chosen to head God’s word the race isn’t won in the beginning or the middle but the end. So run your race to win! The prize is never awarded at any other time then at the end my brothers and sisters! Hey saint, if you don’t like the chapter of the book of your life setting down the book and choosing not to read it any longer only ensures that you will remain in that same chapter. Instead pick up your book and keep reading, you may very well not like the pages ahead, but I promise you that you will love the ending if you keep reading it as God only writes love stories and you my friend are His love story!
- “To execute judgment upon all”: God came the first time to bring the opportunity to all who trust only in Him salvation but when He comes again He will bring only judgment. No believer will ever fall into judgment as we will only appear before Christ to receive our rewards for obedience to His service.
- “To convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken”: Their will be no 2nd chances, no appeal to a higher court as God’s decision is complete it’s the supreme court of all universes. The sentence will be what Jesus said in Matt. 25:41 “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Enoch’s prophecy reminds us that God takes notice of ALL humanities works of ungodliness, He has not forgotten or misplaced any of them. He will not except the WOKE reasoning and excuses for them, Every idle word will be accounted for every second noted and all who have not trusted in Jesus God’s only Son will be judged!