ENOCH
622 years after Adam was created, Enoch was born. Jude said, “Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 1:14). Jude mentions that Enoch was the seventh from Adam because there were two men named Enoch who lived before the Flood. The Enoch that Jude wrote about was a prophet. He probably knew his ancestor Adam who lived 930 years. The Lord coming forHis saints refers to the Rapture. The Lord coming with His saints refers to the Second Coming. Enoch prophesied the Second Coming before the Flood (more than 5,000 years ago).
JUDE
Notice, that it was Jude, a half-brother of Jesus and a full brother of James that said Enoch, prophesied the Second Coming before the Flood. This reveals that at least one of the half-brothers of Jesus believed in the Second Coming and he taught it in the early Church.
THE BOOK OF ENOCH
Jude 14 is a quote from the Book of Enoch. Many scholars knew that there was a Book of Enoch at one time because they learned about it from some of the writings of early Church leaders. But for hundreds of years, they didn’t have a copy so they thought it had been lost or perhaps destroyed in the Flood. Then, in the 1700’s three complete copies were found in a church in Ethiopia. Also, in 1947, fragments of the Book of Enoch were found with the Dead Sea Scrolls.
THE BOOK OF JUBILEES
Fragments of The Book of Jubilees were also found with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Concerning Enoch, this ancient book says, “He (Enoch) was the first among men that are born on earth who learned writing.” If The Book of Jubilees is right, the first human being to learn how to write wrote about the Second Coming.
TWO INTRIGUING POSSIBILITIES
Someone might ask, “How did Enoch know about the Second Coming before the Flood? One possibility concerns the fact that Enoch walked with God for 300 years (Gen. 5:22). During that time, God could have told him. Another possibility concerns the fact that Enoch and Adam were related and they lived on earth at the same time for more than 300 years. God could have told Adam and then Adam could have told Enoch.
THE RAPTURE
God was so pleased with Enoch that He took him to heaven without dying (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5). This shows that Enoch not only prophesied the Second Coming before the Flood, he was also raptured before the Flood.
The Second Coming and Rapture are both older than the Flood.
SCOFFERS
The fact that the Second Coming is older than the Flood may be why Peter linked scoffers who come in the last days mocking the Second Coming to those who make themselves willingly ignorant of the fact that God created all things and sent the Flood (II Pet. 3:1-6). Admitting that God created all things and sent the Flood, is the same thing as admitting that there is a God and all of us are accountable to Him. Some deny the Creation, Flood and Second Coming because they don’t want to admit that those who reject Jesus must account to God for their sins.
ANOTHER INTRIGUING POSSIBILITY
Someone might ask, “How could we have a book that was written before the Flood?” The answer is that Noah probably put more than animals on the Ark. Enoch was Noah’s great grandfather. Noah had 120 years to gather personal belongings that he wanted to save. He probably put a copy of the Book of Enoch on the Ark because his great grandfather wrote it.
METHUSELAH
687 years after Adam was created, Enoch had a son that he named Methuselah. Methuselah’s name meant “When he is dead, it (the Flood) shall be sent.” So Enoch gave his son a name that actually prophesied the coming Flood. Methuselah lived 969 years. By naming his son “Methuselah” Enoch, who walked with God, prophesied the Flood at least 969 years before the first drop of rain fell on the earth.
NOAH
When Methuselah was 369 years old his grandson Noah was born.The two men lived on earth at the same time for 600 years. During those 600 years, Methuselah could have told his grandson Noah about the Rapture of Enoch, the meaning of his name, that he would need a large boat to survive the Flood and more. Noah probably believed his grandfather. Noah became a prophet just like his great grandfather Enoch who walked with God. Noah even prophesied the Flood for 120 years while he built the Ark.
DON’T MISUNDERSTAND GOD
When Peter said, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Pet. 3:9), he was using the Flood as an example of the Second Coming. Methuselah lived 969 years. He lived longer than anyone else on earth because God didn’t want to destroy the world with a Flood. The reason why the Second Coming hasn’t happened in the last 5,000 yrs. isn’t because Jesus won’t come back. The Second Coming hasn’t happened because God doesn’t want to send the Tribulation Period. It’s not because the Bible is wrong or God is slack concerning His promises. It’s the love and patience of God not wanting people to perish.
THE RECORD
God said the Seed of Woman would bruise Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15). It didn’t happen for about 4,000 years. But the fact that God waited about 4,000 years didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen. God told the Jews He would put them off the land if they didn’t let it rest.They stopped letting the land rest and it was hundreds of years before He put them off. But the fact that God waited hundreds of years didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen. What Enoch was told aboutthe Flood at least 969 years before it rained was right. And we would be wise to believe that what God told Enoch about the Second Coming is right. Thinking the Rapture and the Second Coming won’t happen could be one of the biggest mistakes we have ever made.
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck