Enoch The Prophet

Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 11th August service and hymns are below.

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Our principal verses are:

Jud 1:14  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

Jud 1:15  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.

Jud 1:16  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.

 Enoch The Prophet

Enoch is said to have been seventh from Adam, that is, the seventh generation from Adam. This distinguishes him from another Enoch who was the son of Cain. Enoch was born into the line of Seth, the generations were, as recorded by Moses in Genesis; Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared and Enoch. There is no written-down prophecy of Enoch from this time. Jude may have gotten this prophecy from oral tradition, he mentions Enoch ‘saying’. A later writing bearing Enoch’s name is not authentic.

Foretelling the future

It is clear Enoch was a prophet. He lived before the time of Noah and the flood. He called his son Methuselah which signifies ‘when he dies is the emission’, or the sending out of the waters. The flood did indeed occur the very year Methuselah died. There is no record of Enoch’s death. Like another prophet, Elijah, Enoch was transported into the presence of God without dying. We read in Genesis 5:24, ‘And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him’.

Walking with God

The character of Enoch would make a fine study in itself. He ‘walked with God’ differs from the more usual ascription ‘walked before God’. This is no doubt significant. In the whole of scripture it is said only of Enoch and Noah, who is also called ‘just and perfect’. Walking with God is reminiscent of man’s fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden before the Fall and speaks of perfect communion with God. Jude is not the only New Testament writer to speak highly of Enoch.

Pleasing God

We are told in Hebrews 11:5, ‘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’. The word ‘translated’ suggests a sudden removal into God’s immediate presence. Immortality without tasting death. Enoch is therefore a picture of the saints who shall be caught up ‘to meet the Lord in the air’ when the last trump sounds.

Life beyond the grave

These unusual characteristics in the life of Enoch have long elevated this ancient believer in the minds of those who have carefully studied the scriptures. Enoch’s translation has been regarded as an early indication, and revelation from the Lord, of life after death. This, with the bodily removal of Elijah in the fiery chariot, was evidence to Old Testament believers that our physical bodies, made perfect, would continue to exist in God’s presence.  

Last-day judgment

The prophecy Jude refers to here is Enoch’s verdict on ungodly men who would trouble the church with false doctrine in the last days. We are told the Lord is coming to execute judgment upon all men with special notice taken of the ‘ungodly’ for their works and words. The fourfold repetition of ‘ungodly’ in verse 15 emphasises the contrast between the way of the Lord in Christ, and the way of natural man. From earliest times God’s people were taught to anticipate a final judgment.

Ten thousand saints

It is clear Jude understands the coming Lord to be the Lord Jesus Christ, ‘who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing’. The ten thousand saints could mean the souls of dead believers ready to reunite with their bodies at this time when ‘the dead in Christ shall rise first’ or else, holy angels who are sometimes called saints and whose presence with the Saviour and Judge will heighten the glory of Christ and overawe men and women in the world.

Ungodly speech condemned

The nature of the ungodliness of those judged is specified by Jude. While they commit wicked deeds it seems rather to be their ungodly speech against the Lord God that the apostle takes notice of. They murmur and complain against God, and His church, and His gospel. They brag and boast of themselves. They have ‘men’s persons in admiration because of advantage’. They give pre-eminence to the rich and powerful for personal gain and promote likeminded supporters to positions of influence in order to further their own ends.

A supported argument

Jude has repeatedly employed Old Testament examples, individuals and events to emphasise the dangers facing the church from false teachers. He has made clear that judgment will come on those who subvert true faith, disturb Christ’s Bride and hurt God’s elect. There is little doubt Jude is referring to the false religion of works and freewill that dominates most churches today and masquerades as Christianity. False teachers use Bible words but they deny their scriptural meaning.

The faithful yet speak

Enoch the prophet lived long ago yet his wise sayings continued to be relevant to the Lord’s apostles in their own writings. The Holy Spirit has preserved Enoch’s prophecy, at least in part, as a warning for the church today. Enoch had a message for the antediluvian age but one that still resonates. The grave is not the end for man. God will hold men accountable for what they do and say. Christ is coming to judge the world and fulfil His gospel promises to those for whom He died. The false teachers amongst us will not prevail.

Amen

Our hymns are below.

Hymn 1

Gadsby selection 83

Hope in the Covenant. Heb. 6. 17-19; Isa. 54. 8

I. Watts                                                       L.M.

1
How oft have sin and Satan strove
To rend my soul from thee, my God!
But everlasting is thy love,
And Jesus seals it with his blood.

2
The oath and promise of the Lord
Join to confirm the wondrous grace,
Eternal power performs the word,
And fills all heaven with endless praise.

3
Amidst temptations sharp and long,
My soul to this dear refuge flies;
Hope is my anchor, firm and strong,
While tempests blow and billows rise.

4
The gospel bears my spirit up;
A faithful and unchanging God,
Lays the foundation of my hope,
In oaths, and promises, and blood.

Hymn 2

Gadsby selection 113

The whole need not a physician. Matt. 9. 12

J. Kent                                       L.M.

1
Who but the soul that’s led to know
How just and holy is the law,
Will to the cross of Christ repair,
And seek salvation only there?

2
Jesus, my soul’s compelled to flee
From all its wrath and curse to thee;
Though oft, through pride, my stubborn will
To Sinai feels a cleaving still.

3
Sinner, if thou art taught to see
How great thy guilt and misery,
In every thought and act impure,
The blood of Christ thy soul can cure.

4
Daily to feel thyself undone,
Will make thee haste to kiss the Son,
And on thy knees for pardon sue,
And praise, and bless, and love him too.

5
To feel thy shame and nakedness,
Will make thee love that glorious dress
That sets from condemnation free,
And from the curse delivers thee.

6
Without a seam this garment’s wove,
Bequeathed in everlasting love;
Ere time began, designed to be
A royal robe to cover thee.

7
We seek no other blood or name,
To cleanse our guilt and hide our shame,
But that wrought out by Christ the Son,
Which God imputes, and faith puts on.

Enoch was a prophet of God and a man of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ from before the days of Noah and the flood. His faith is acknowledged in Hebrews where we are told that he pleased God. Enoch was a sinful man as we all are sinful but God was pleased with Enoch for Christ’s sake and justified this old saint by the blood and righteousness of his Saviour. Enoch walked with God and his testimony though small is a precious witness to the grace of God in Christ.

11th August 2024