The Days of Noah – Part 2 – Enoch

One of my favorite Bible characters is Enoch, the sixth from Adam, who lived only 365 years on earth. Did you know that he is quoted in the Bible? He is the only extrabiblical source mentioned in the Word of God. Jude quotes Enoch, and Peter refers to him.

What is it about Enoch that makes him so special? We’ll take a look, and I hope you’ll come to love Enoch as much as I do.

We learn about Enoch in Genesis 5, a very short chapter, because it just lists genealogy. His father was Jared. Genesis 5 says this:

¹⁸When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. ¹⁹Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁰Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.
²¹When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. ²²Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters.
²³Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. ²⁴Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. ^[1]

Enoch walked with God, and he was not…for God took him. He ascended into heaven without dying. It boggles the mind. But my brain cells light up when I think about all this. He walked with God when others did not. It’s hard for us to imagine a world that’s even more corrupt and evil than it is right now. But we are in the Days of Noah. People are eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, just as they did then. Jesus said they did their daily routines up until the door to the ark was closed by God Himself.

There were giants in the land because of interspecies breeding. That’s hard for us to imagine, too. However, the last post discussed this, and photographic evidence indicates that it is happening now. Enoch interacted with these giants and knew their names; he named them and described their actions.

Can you imagine being shown mysteries in the heavens? Enoch was. He also preached to those hybrid Nephilim to turn from their wicked ways to God. He was so righteous and walked every day so close to God from the time he was 65 that God just took him up to heaven, and he didn’t die. Wow. I recall when I first read about Enoch 25 years ago, during my time in Bible School. I’d really never heard of him before. I came from a denomination that didn’t discuss any of these things.

Why read the Book of Enoch? The Modern Standard Version answers this. “…nearly all of the New Testament writers were influenced by Enoch in their writing of scripture because Enoch is heavily reflected in their work. Even Jesus Christ alludes to images, themes, and ideas from this book. Enoch was part of Jewish tradition at the time and is just one of many outside works alluded to in the Holy Bible … the Book of Enoch brings greater clarity and context to confusing passages and ideas … Most importantly, the Book of Enoch does not bring new revelation to the Holy Bible. It does not alter or recontextualize scripture. Every idea and theme from Enoch is already present in the Bible. This work can be studied to great benefit without fear of tainted doctrine.”[2]

If we know Christ and have given our hearts and lives to Him, we don’t need to be afraid, even if or when the world comes to an end. This past week has seen several contentious events unfold that could instill fear in people’s hearts if they don’t understand the complexities of the times. The one constant thing we can rely on is that God knows everything that is happening now and what will happen in the future.

Jesus said, in Luke 21:28, “Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (NKJV)

Enoch is one of my heroes and is only now enjoying a resurgence of popularity and recognition because we are in the Days of Noah, and in Enoch’s case, before Noah.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 5:18–24.

[2] Kip Farrar, The Book of Enoch MSV: Modern Standard Version (self-published, 2022), 4.