The Divine Messiah in 1 Enoch is Jesus Christ

0 downloads 0 Views 171KB Size Report
The Divine Messiah in 1 Enoch is Jesus Christ ... verbatim. Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord ...
The Divine Messiah in 1 Enoch is Jesus Christ The Evidence of God’s Inspiration of this Pre-Christian Book The Book of 1 Enoch is quoted and referenced by several pre-Christian authors. The oldest fragments even date back to the Dead Sea Scrolls, making them as old as any book in the Old Testament. The Jews in the centuries immediately preceding the time of Jesus and the early Christian church accepted the Book of 1 Enoch as inspired Scripture. The Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Jews and Christians still accept it as inspired Scripture today. In fact, the Old and New Testaments are saturated with the ideas and words of 1 Enoch. Most significantly, however, is that Jesus and his half-brother Jude quote from it.

Quoted by Jude In the first chapter, Enoch declares that God himself will come to earth and stand on Mount Sinai. And concerning the chosen I speak now, and concerning them I take up my discourse. The Great Holy One will come forth from his dwelling, and the eternal God will tread from thence upon Mount Sinai. He will appear with his army, he will appear with his mighty host from the heaven of heavens. (1 Enoch 1:3&4, Hermeneia) He concludes the first chapter with the same theme. Again he is referring to God, who comes to earth as a judge. Look, he comes with the myriads of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to destroy all the wicked, and to convict all humanity for all the wicked deeds that they have done, and the proud and hard words that wicked sinners spoke against him. (1 Enoch 1:9, Hermeneia) Jude, the New Testament author and the biological brother of Jesus, quotes this verse almost verbatim. Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “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 against Him.” (Jude 14 & 15, NKJV) There are four things we need to note about this quote. Firstly, Jude verifies that it is authentic prophecy. Secondly, it comes from the first chapter of the book we currently know as 1 Enoch. Thirdly, God will come to earth to judge sinners. Finally, in the light of other New Testament teaching, we can assume was that this was a prediction about Jesus’ Second Coming.

Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



1

Jude either had a copy of the Book of Enoch with him when he wrote his book, or he had learnt this passage off by heart as Scripture and was writing it down from memory. If this passage was divinely inspired Scripture, as Jude confirms, what about the rest of the book of Enoch, as we have it today? The most significant of the book’s contents are the references to a Divine Messiah. Enoch refers to God the Father as ‘the Lord of spirits’, but there is another being with God called the ‘Righteous One’, the ‘Chosen One’ and ‘the Son of Man’. He is referred to by various other descriptions, names, and metaphors that indicate that He is God, yet apart from the Father. Jesus quotes these passages almost verbatim.

The Righteous One The First Parable of Enoch introduces a ‘Righteous One’, “whose chosen works depend on the Lord of Spirits”. God is clearly ‘the Lord of Spirits’, but who is this ‘Righteous One’? He “appears in the presence of the righteous”. When the congregation of the righteous appears, the sinners are judged for their sins, and from the face of the earth they are driven; And when the Righteous One appears in the presence of the righteous, whose chosen works depend on the Lord of Spirits, and light appears to the righteous and chosen who dwell on the earth; Where will be the dwelling place of the sinners, and where will be the resting place of those who have denied the Lord of Spirits? It would have been better for them, if they had not been born. (1 Enoch 38:1&2, Hermeneia) Jesus quotes this passage almost verbatim. And he claims to be the Son of Man. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Matt. 26:24, NKJV) The New Testament book of Hebrews explains who this ‘Righteous One’ actually is. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” (Heb. 1:1-14, NKJV) Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



2

The writer of Hebrews is very clear that this is referring to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is not just another created angel, but He is actually God. He is also the ‘anointed one’, the Messiah.

The Chosen One The book goes on to speak of “the Chosen One of righteousness and faith” who dwells “beneath the wings of the Lord of Spirits”. Who is the “Chosen One? Surely he is the same person as the ‘Righteous One’. And in that place my eyes saw the Chosen One of righteousness and faith, and righteousness will be his days, and the righteous and chosen will be without number before him forever and ever. And I saw his dwelling beneath the wings of the Lord of Spirits, and all the righteous and chosen were mighty before him like fiery lights. And their mouths were full of blessing, and their lips praised the name of the Lord of Spirits. And righteousness did not fail before him, nor did truth fail before him. (1 Enoch 39:6&7, Hermeneia) His qualities indeed include ‘righteousness’ and ‘truth’. This passage is reminiscent of a few other Biblical passages. The Old Testament speaks of God as the Judge of righteousness and truth. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth. (Ps. 96:12&13, NKJV) The New Testament speaks of the Word, the Creator, as God, yet existing apart from God, full of truth. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-5, 14, NKJV) Significantly this “Chosen One will sit on the throne of glory, and he will test their works” and will dwell among His chosen ones. On that day, my Chosen One will sit on the throne of glory, and he will test their works, and their dwelling places will be innumerable. And their souls will be distressed within them, when they see my chosen ones, and those who appeal to my glorious name. On that day, I shall make my Chosen One dwell among them, and I shall transform heaven and make it a blessing and a light forever; and I shall transform the earth and make it a blessing. (1 Enoch 45:2-4, Hermeneia)

Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



3

This Chosen One was chosen to rule, reign and judge with the chosen ones over the sinners, the heavens and the earth. For wisdom has been poured out like water, and glory will not fail in his presence forever and ever. For he is mighty in all the secrets of righteousness; and unrighteousness will vanish like a shadow, and will have no place to stand. For the Chosen One has taken his stand in the presence of the Lord of Spirits; and his glory is forever and ever, and his might, to all generations. And in him dwell the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of insight, and the spirit of instruction and might, and the spirit of those who have fallen asleep in righteousness. And he will judge the things that are secret, and a lying word none will be able to speak in his presence; For he is the Chosen One in the presence of the Lord of Spirits according to his good pleasure. (1 Enoch 49:1-4, Hermeneia) The Chosen One will sit on the throne of God. For in those days, my Chosen One will arise and choose the righteous and holy from among them, for the day on which they will be saved has drawn near. And the Chosen One, in those days, will sit upon my throne, and all the secrets of wisdom will go forth from the counsel of his mouth, for the Lord of Spirits has given (them) to him and glorified him. (1 Enoch 51:1-3, Hermeneia) It is the throne of glory and judgment. Mighty kings who dwell on the earth, you will have to witness my Chosen One, how he will sit on the throne of glory and judge Azazel and all his associates and all his host in the name of the Lord of Spirits. (1 Enoch 55:4, Hermeneia) He will judge and weigh their deeds. And the Lord of Spirits seated the Chosen One upon the throne of glory; and he will judge all the works of the holy ones in the heights of heaven, and in the balance he will weigh their deeds. (1 Enoch 61:8, Hermeneia) The martyrs will be with the Chosen One. And these measurements will reveal all the secrets of the depths of the earth, and those who were destroyed by the desert, and those who were devoured by beasts, and those who were devoured by the fish of the sea; so that they may return and rely on the day of the Chosen One, for no one will be destroyed in the presence of the Lord of Spirits, and no one is able to be destroyed. (1 Enoch 61:5, Hermeneia) The Chosen One will be the judge and ruler of the world. The Book of Enoch also mentions a figure called ‘The Son of Man’, a term that is used in several places in the Bible. Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



4

The Son of Man The term ‘son of man’ is normally and most commonly used to refer to normal human beings in the Bible. “What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:4&5, NKJV). However, the book of Daniel briefly mentions another person who it says is like the Son of Man. He comes in the clouds and is given an everlasting dominion. I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed. (Dan. 7:13&14, NKJV) No other book but the Book of 1 Enoch describes in great detail who this Son of Man is. He looks both like a man and an angel. He is called ‘the son of man’, yet is described as the judge of all mankind. There I saw one who had a head of days, and his head was like white wool. And with him was another, whose face was like the appearance of a man; and his face was full of graciousness like one of the holy angels. And I asked the angel of peace, who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, about that son of man —who he was and whence he was and why he went with the Head of Days. And he answered me and said to me, “This is the son of man who has righteousness, and righteousness dwells with him. and all the treasuries of what is hidden he will reveal; For the Lord of Spirits has chosen him, and his lot has prevailed through truth in the presence of the Lord of Spirits forever. 4 And this son of man whom you have seen— he will raise the kings and the mighty from their couches, and the strong from their thrones. He will loosen the reins of the strong, and he will crush the teeth of the sinners. He will overturn the kings from their thrones and their kingdoms, because they do not exalt him or praise him, or humbly acknowledge whence the kingdom was given to them. The face of the strong he will turn aside, and he will fill them with shame. Darkness will be their dwelling, and worms will be their couch. And they will have no hope to rise from their couches, because they do not exalt the name of the Lord of Spirits. These are they who judge the stars of heaven, and raise their hands against the Most High, and tread upon the earth and dwell on it. All their deeds manifest unrighteousness, and their power (rests) upon their wealth. Their faith is in the gods they have made with their hands, and they deny the name of the Lord of Spirits. And they persecute the houses of his congregation, and the faithful who depend on the name of the Lord of Spirits.” (1 Enoch 46:1–8, Hermeneia) This Son of Man is then named, though we are not told His name. Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



5

2 And in that hour that son of man was named in the presence of the Lord of Spirits, and his name, before the Head of Days. 3 Even before the sun and the constellations were created, before the stars of heaven were made, his name was named before the Lord of Spirits. 4 He will be a staff for the righteous, that they may lean on him and not fall; He will be the light of the nations, and he will be a hope for those who grieve in their hearts. 5 All who dwell on the earth will fall down and worship before him, and they will glorify and bless and sing hymns to the name of the Lord of Spirits. 6 For this reason he was chosen and hidden in his presence, before the world was created and forever. 7 And the wisdom of the Lord of Spirits has revealed him to the holy and the righteous; for he has preserved the lot of the righteous. For they have hated and despised this age of unrighteousness; Indeed, all its deeds and its ways they have hated in the name of the Lord of Spirits. For in his name they are saved, and he is the vindicator of their lives. (1 Enoch 48:2–7, Hermeneia).

Jesus Claimed to be the Son of Man Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man foretold in the Scriptures. “And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head’” (Matt. 8:20, NKJV). “When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Matt. 10:23, NKJV). “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children” (Matt. 11:19). “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Matt. 12:8). “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matt. 12:32). “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:40). “Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead…Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands’” (Matt. 17:9-12). “Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up’” (Matt. 17:22&23). “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matt. 18:11). “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” (Matt. 20:18&19). “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:27&28). Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified” (Matt. 26:1&2). “Then He came to His disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners’”. (Matt. 26:45, NKJV)

Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



6

The Son of Man Sitting on the Throne of Glory and Judgment Enoch describes his taking up to heaven into the presence of the Son of Man. And after this, while he was living, his name was lifted up into the presence of that Son of Man and into the presence of the Lord of Spirits from among those who dwell on the earth. He was lifted up on the chariots of the wind, and his name departed from among them. (1 Enoch 70:1&2 Hermeneia) According to 1 Enoch the Son of Man will ‘sit on the throne of his glory’. And one group of them will look at the other; and they will be terrified and will cast down their faces, and pain will seize them when they see that Son of Man sitting on the throne of his glory. And the kings and the mighty and all who possess the land will bless and glorify and exalt him who rules over all, who was hidden. For from the beginning the Son of Man was hidden, and the Most High preserved him in the presence of his might, and he revealed him to the chosen. And the congregation of the chosen and holy will be sown; and all the chosen will stand in his presence on that day. And all the kings and the mighty and the exalted and those who rule the land will fall on their faces in his presence; and they will worship and set their hope on that Son of Man, and they will supplicate and petition for mercy from him. (1 Enoch 62:5-9, Hermeneia) But the throne is not only one of glory but also one of judgment. He will “make sinners vanish”. 26 And they had great joy, and they blessed and glorified and exalted, because the name of that Son of Man had been revealed to them. 27 And he sat on the throne of his glory, and the whole judgment was given to the Son of Man, and he will make sinners vanish and perish from the face of the earth. 28 And those who led the world astray will be bound in chains, and in the assembly place of their destruction they will be shut up; and all their works will vanish from the face of the earth, 29 And from then on there will be nothing that is corruptible; for that Son of Man has appeared. And he has sat down on the throne of his glory, and all evil will vanish from his presence. And the word of that Son of Man will go forth and will prevail in the presence of the Lord of Spirits. This is the third parable of Enoch. (1 Enoch 69:26-29, Hermeneia) The Son of Man sits on His throne of glory and judgment, and He will make the sinners vanish. The unrighteous will no longer be seen. They will be driven from His presence. And the righteous and the chosen will be saved on that day; and the faces of the sinners and the unrighteous they will henceforth not see. And the Lord of Spirits will abide over them, and with that Son of Man they will eat, and they will lie down and rise up forever and ever. (1 Enoch 62:13&14, Hermeneia)

Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



7

And after that their faces will be filled with darkness and shame in the presence of that Son of Man; and from his presence they will be driven, and a sword will abide before him in their midst. (1 Enoch 63:11, Hermeneia) However, the righteous will live in eternal bliss. And thus there will be length of days with that Son of Man, and there will be peace for the righteous, and the path of truth for the righteous, in the name of the Lord of Spirits forever and ever.” (1 Enoch 71:17 Hermeneia)

The Son of Man, the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, Sitting on the Right Hand Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man with the power to forgive sins, an attribute of God alone. So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, “Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. (Matt. 9:1-7, NKJV) Clearly Jesus believed himself to be that Son of Man spoken of in the Book of 1 Enoch, as well as the promised Messiah, the Christ, and the Son of God. He sits on the right hand of God. But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” (Matt. 26:63-66, NKJV) The High Priest was not only furious because He claimed to be the Christ, the Messiah, and the Son of God. He was furious because He claimed to be the Son of Man from the Book of 1 Enoch. Jesus calls himself the Son of Man to His disciples and Peter acknowledges Him as the Christ, the Messiah, and the Son of God. When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:13-18, NKJV) Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



8

Jesus claimed to be the judge of the earth. So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matt. 19:28, NKJV) Jesus will come after the tribulation. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds. (Matt. 24:27-30, NKJV) Jesus will come unexpectedly. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matt. 24:37-39, NKJV) Jesus emphasizes that His angels “will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend”. Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man” … The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matt. 13:36&37, 41-43, NKJV) Jesus said that He will reward the righteous. For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matt. 16:27&28, NKJV) Jesus urged us to be ready. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matt. 25:13, NKJV). “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44, NKJV). Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



9

Jesus will sit on the throne of His glory. “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matt. 25:31, NKJV).

Conclusion Do you recognize the Chosen One, the Son of Man in the Book of 1 Enoch? He is the promised Divine Messiah. He is Jesus. And thus the Lord commanded the kings and the mighty and the exalted and those who possess the land, and he said, “Open your eyes and lift up your horns, if you are able to recognize the Chosen One.” And the Lord of Spirits seated him upon the throne of his glory, and the spirit of righteousness was poured upon him. (1 Enoch 62:1&2, Hermeneia) The Divine Messiah that we see promised in 1 Enoch before the first coming of Jesus was fulfilled in His pre-existent and earthly life. This demonstrates the Divinity of Christ and the Divine inspiration of 1 Enoch. Can you accept this?

Dr. Dieter Thom

[email protected]



10