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The Book of Enoch, Not!

[Quotes from the Book of Enoch are taken from The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, H. R. Charles, Oxford: The Clarendon Press, www.ccel.org/c/charles/otpseudepig/enoch/ENOCH_1.HTM, hard copy on file]

I. Introduction

Do a simple search on the internet and it should soon be apparent there are those who claim that Jude 14-15 is a quote taken from the Book of Enoch 1:9. It is also purported that other concepts found in the New Testament were taken from what is today called the Book of Enoch. Further, it is asserted by some that this Book of Enoch was written before the time of Christ, and thus, it is assumed that certain concepts found in the New Testament were retrieved from this Book of Enoch. But, all of this is nothing more than assumption. None of it resides in solid fact.

Nobody alive today was alive back then. Nobody alive today was either there at the writing of the New Testament books to know, nor have they spoken to those who wrote them. It is pure presumption.

To begin with, the basic assertion of this book is a lie. The book itself claims to be written by Enoch, the seventh from Adam. The very first verse reads,

The words of the blessing of Enoch, wherewith he blessed the elect and righteous, who will be living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked and godless are to be removed. (1:1)

Chapter 37 notes,

The second vision which he saw, the vision of wisdom - which Enoch the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, saw. (37:1)

Clearly, the claim is that Enoch, the Enoch of Genesis 5:18-24, wrote this book. But, the book itself testifies that he did not.

II. History That Should Not Be History

Mathematically, according to the genealogy of Genesis 5:3-18, Enoch was born in the year 622. At the age of 65 Enoch begot Methuselah (Genesis 5:21). Enoch walked with God for 300 years, and then was taken from the earth at the age of 365 years old (Genesis 5:23-24). Mathematically, this brings the time of Enoch's departure to the year of 987. Mathematically, this is 69 years before Noah is born (Genesis 5:25-29). Yet, the writer of this "Book of Enoch" historically writes of the events of Genesis 6 and the account of Noah.

Chapter 6 of the Book of Enoch begins with a mythical account of the events of Genesis 6. Chapter 6 reads,

And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: "Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children." And Semjaza, who was their leader, said unto them: "I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin." And they all answered him and said: "Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing." They sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And these are the names of their leaders: Samlazaz, their leader, Araklba, Rameel, Kokablel, Tamlel, Ramlel, Danel, Ezeqeel, Baraqijal, Asael, Armaros, Batarel, Ananel, Zaqiel, Samsapeel, Satarel, Turel, Jomjael, Sariel. These are their chiefs of tens. (6:1-8, entire chapter, bold added)

According to this account, this happened "in the days of Jared," Enoch's father. Mathematically, according to Genesis 5 Jared died when Noah was 366 years old, 234 years before the flood (Genesis 7:11). So, according to this account, these things happened sometime before Noah was 366 years old (234 years before the flood).

Biblically, it is not certain when the sons of God took the daughters of men as wives (Genesis 6:1-2), but in the context in which they are said to have done so, God immediately declares to give man only 120 years (Genesis 6:3). This appears to be a time setting for the soon coming judgment of the deluge, which gives the appearance that the events of Genesis 6:1-2 took place more like in the days of Noah, rather in the days of Jared.

Nevertheless, whenever these events took place, this chapter 6 of the Book of Enoch is the beginning of a historically written account. With this historical context flowing all the way to chapter 10 (they are short chapters), in chapter 10 the author clearly writes of events he would have no knowledge of, if he truly were the Biblical Enoch, son of Jared.

In chapter 10 of the Book of Enoch, this pseudo-writer gives a fictitious historical account of Noah being warned of the coming judgment of God.

Then said the Most High, the Holy and Great One spake, and sent Uriel to the son of Lamech, and said to him, "Go to Noah and tell him in my name, 'Hide thyself!' and reveal to him the end that is approaching: that the whole earth will be destroyed, and a deluge is about to come upon the whole earth, and will destroy all that is on it. And now instruct him that he may escape and his seed may be preserved for all the generations of the world.'" (10:1-4, bold added)

Uriel is listed in chapter 9 verse 1 with Michael, "Raphael, and Gabriel" who look down from heaven. So, Uriel is apparently an angel that supposedly told Noah of the coming flood. The real Enoch, of course, would have no such knowledge, being that he was gone from the earth 65 years before Noah even existed!

Someone may argue that this historical section is supposed to be prophetic (foretelling the future), but it is not written prophetically. It is written historically ("and it came to pass," past tense). The first part of the Book of Enoch is indeed written prophetically (e.g. 1:3 "The Holy Great One will come forth . . ."). This section, chapters 6 through the first part of chapter 10, is not.

Nevertheless the book of Enoch indicates Enoch obtained this information after he left the earth, as chapter 12 states:

Before these things Enoch was hidden, and no one of the children of men knew where he was hidden, and where he abode, and what had become of him. And his activities had to do with the Watchers, and his days were with the holy ones. (12:1-3)

So, Enoch was not on the earth, yet this book of his, with historical information after Enoch is gone, somehow got on the earth.

Scripture says,

Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:24)

The Bible says Enoch was not. This "Book of Enoch" claims he was, when he was not.

III. Enoch Found When He Isn't

Hebrews 11:5 says,

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him;" for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Scripture is clear. It declares both that Enoch was not, and that he was not found. This bogus Book of Enoch claims Enoch both was, and was found.

Near the end of the book, in chapter 106 a tall tale is told of Lamech and his son, Noah.

And after some days my son Methuselah took a wife for his son Lamech, and she became pregnant by him and bore a son. And his body was white as snow and red as the blooming of a rose, and the hair of his head and his long locks were white as wool, and his eyes beautiful. And when he opened his eyes, he lighted up the whole house like the sun, and the whole house was very bright. And thereupon he arose in the hands of the midwife, opened his mouth, and conversed with the Lord of righteousness. And his father Lamech was afraid of him and fled, and came to his father Methuselah. And he said unto him: "I have begotten a strange son, diverse from and unlike man, and resembling the sons of the God of heaven; and his nature is different and he is not like us, and his eyes are as the rays of the sun, and his countenance is glorious. And it seems to me that he is not sprung from me but from the angels, and I fear that in his days a wonder may be wrought on the earth. And now, my father, I am here to petition thee and implore thee that thou mayest go to Enoch, our father, and learn from him the truth, for his dwelling-place is amongst the angels." And when Methuselah heard the words of his son, he came to me to the ends of the earth; for he had heard that I was there, and he cried aloud, and I heard his voice and I came to him. And I said unto him, "Behold, here am I, my son, wherefore hast thou come to me?" (106:1-9)

Even though it is stated that Enoch's "dwelling-place is amongst the angels," nonetheless Methuselah finds his father at "the ends of the earth." This is directly against the Biblical Text (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5).

A few verses after the above quote, the weird son born to Lamech is identified as Noah (see verse 18), and in the next chapter this identification of Noah further speaks against holy writ. It says,

And when Methuselah had heard the words of his father Enoch - for he had shown to him everything in secret - he returned and showed (them) to him and called the name of that son Noah; for he will comfort the earth after all the destruction. (107:3)

Comfort the earth? What earth? Everything on the earth is destroyed. "The world that then existed perished" (2 Peter 3:6).

Genesis 5:29 gives the reason for Noah's name, and it is not what the Book of Enoch claims.

And he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed."

IV. Bad Math

Chapter 60 verse 1 reads,

In the year 500, in the seventh month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the life of Enoch.

Genesis 5:23 reads,

So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.

Now, if this "in the year 500" was not a reference to Enoch's age, but rather "the year 500 since creation," then this is off as well, since Enoch wasn't even born until the year 622.

V. Not In Agreement With Jude

Enoch 1:9 indeed reads like Jude 14-15, but when you get to chapter 10 verse 12 it reads nothing like Jude 6. In declaring judgment upon the angels who had sinned, this imposter, who claims he is Enoch, but is not, writes,

And the Lord said unto Michael: "Go, bind Semjaza and his associates who have united themselves with women so as to have defiled themselves with them in all their uncleanness. And when their sons have slain one another, and they have seen the destruction of their beloved ones, bind them fast for seventy generations in the valleys of the earth, till the day of their judgement and of their consummation, till the judgement that is for ever and ever is consummated. In those days they shall be led off to the abyss of fire: and to the torment and the prison in which they shall be confined for ever. (10:11-14, bold added)

First of all, biblically, the angels who did sin where not put "in the valleys on the earth." Such a place would have light. Jude 6 records God has put them "under darkness," and 2 Peter 2:4 reveals God,

cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.

Secondly, this imposter claims these angels were to be held in the valleys of the earth "for seventy generations . . . till the day of their judgement." Seventy generations has already gone by, and the day of judgement has not yet come.

It is forty two generations from Christ to Abraham (Matthew 1:17). It is another ten generations from Abraham to Noah (not counting Noah, Luke 3:34-36). That leaves 18 generations left of the "seventy." Even if a generous one hundred years is given for each generation, that's still 1800 years since Christ. Times up, and the day of judgment has not yet come.

If someone were to argue this day of judgment is particular somehow only to these angels and thus it has already past, that is not consistent with Scripture either: One, because the saints are to judge the angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). This obviously is yet future. And two, because these angels are "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6). Scripture depicts the "great day" of judgment to be yet future (see Revelation 20).

VI. Azazel

Biblically, Azazel is the Hebrew word found only in Leviticus 16 for the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:8, 10 (2x), and 26. In the Book of Enoch, it is the name of two fallen angels (see 69:2-3), one of which is attributed to revealing heavenly secrets to men (9:6-7), and who,

taught men to make swords, knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all colouring tinctures. (8:1-2, bold added)

Genesis 4:22 reveals it was Tubal-Cain who was "an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron." But, the real fallacy is found in this next statement, supposedly by the Lord (10:4):

"And the whole earth has been corrupted through the works that were taught by Azazel: to him ascribe all sin."

God says "all sin" goes back to Adam, not some angel named Azazel, as it is written,

For by one man's disobedience many were made sinners. (Romans 5:19)

Romans 5:12 and following reveals this one man was Adam.

In an attempt to justfy this statement in the Book of Enoch someone may argue "Enoch" was referring to Satan, as if "Azazel" was a reference to the Devil. So, perhaps this is a reference to the temptation of Eve by the Serpent?

No. First, Satan is mentioned by name in chapter 53 verse 3 and there is no hint of him being called Azazel. Secondly, according to the Book of Enoch, Gadreel was the one who tempted Eve. Speaking in the context of fallen angels, it says,

And the third was named Gadreel: he it is who showed the children of men all the blows of death, and he led astray Eve, and showed [the weapons of death to the sons of men] the shield and the coat of mail, and the sword for battle, and all the weapons of death to the children of men. (69:6-7, bold added)

Please see Genesis 3 for the truth.

VII. No Pen & Ink

Just a couple verses after the above quote, there is a really silly claim. Speaking of another angel it says,

And the fourth was named Penemue: he taught the children of men the bitter and the sweet, and he taught them all the secrets of their wisdom. And he instructed mankind in writing with ink and paper, and thereby many sinned from eternity to eternity and until this day. For men were not created for such a purpose, to give confirmation to their good faith with pen and ink. For men were created exactly like the angels, to the intent that they should continue pure and righteous, and death, which destroys everything, could not have taken hold of them, but through this their knowledge they are perishing, and through this power it is consuming me. (69:8-12)

Then why are you writing? This is foolish. Several times over God commands men to write, and it is never depicted as a bad thing to use pen and ink, unless it is done for evil (Isaiah 10:1; Jeremiah 8:8). For examples of God commanding to write, see Exodus 17:14; 34:27; Numbers 5:23; 17:2-3; Deuteronomy 6:9; 11:20; 17:18; 27:3, 8; 31:19; Isaiah 8:1; 30:8; Jeremiah 22:30; 30:2; 36:2, 28; Ezekiel 24:2; 37:16; 43:11; Habakkuk 2:2; Revelation 1:11, 19; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 12, 14; 14:13; 19:9; 21:5.

VIII. No Dwelling Place

Chaper 42 begins with,

Wisdom found no place where she might dwell; Then a dwelling-place was assigned her in the heavens. Wisdom went forth to make her dwelling among the children of men, and found no dwelling place: Wisdom returned to her place, And took her seat among the angels. (42:1-2)

Compare these words with Proverbs:

Wisdom has built her house, she has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, "Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding." (Proverbs 9:1-6, see also Proverbs 8:1-6, 14-17)

IX. A Free Will Baptist?

Chapter 98 reveals Arminian type of theology. This impersonator writes,

I have sworn unto you, ye sinners, as a mountain has not become a slave, and a hill does not become the handmaid of a woman, even so sin has not been sent upon the earth, but man of himself has created it, and under a great curse shall they fall who commit it. And barrenness has not been given to the woman, but on account of the deeds of her own hands she dies without children. (98:4-5)

This is a denial of Romans 11:36 (see also Isaiah 45:7; Proverbs 16:4, 9; 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23).

X. Not The Tree of Wisdom

The Enoch faker, who claims his wife is "Edna" (85:1-3) writes,

I said: "How beautiful is the tree, and how attractive is its look!" Then Raphael the holy angel, who was with me, answered me and said: "This is the tree of wisdom, of which thy father old (in years) and thy aged mother, who were before thee, have eaten, and they learnt wisdom and their eyes were opened, and they knew that they were naked and they were driven out of the garden." (32:6)

This is a lie. Wisdom is a tree of life (Proverbs 3:18). The tree of the knowledge of good and evil proved to be just the opposite for Adam and Eve and all their descendents (Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 5:12).

XI. In Vain

According to the Book of Enoch, God destroyed the world in vain. Speaking in the context of after the flood, he writes,

And after that the Head of Days repented and said: "In vain have I destroyed all who dwell on the earth." (55:1-2)

Scripture dictates no such thing (Proverbs 30:5-6), and this is from the pen of a liar.

XII. Conclusion

And now I know this mystery, that sinners will alter and pervert the words of righteousness in many ways, and will speak wicked words, and lie, and practice great deceits, and write books concerning their words. (104:10)

This is what this impostor did. He should have taken heed to his own words:

Woe to you who write down lying and godless words; (98:15)

No doubt, he knows well the truth of these words now.

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