I love the Holy Scriptures of the Bible, and believe God can (and will) keep His Words. I believe, too, that bad Shepherds have stolen God's words from us, yet God has spoken regarding this. In Jeremiah 23:30 God says, "Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour."
Today's traditional Bible has been whittled down to 66 books. 66. Add one more '6' - the number of a man, and you have a beastly mark. God warned men of influence - Shepherds - of robbing His people of His words, and of bringing harm upon the sheep under His care. In Malachi 2:7-9 God says, "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts. "So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction."
God has brought forth a remedy against bad Shepherds and the loss of His words. First, God has given us Jesus Christ, the Living Word, and the Good Shepherd, who existed with God before the creation of this world, and was present at the creation. John 1:3 tells us that, "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." Remember creation was spoken into existence.
Second, God has made some promises - set things in place to preserve His words for His people! In Jeremiah 31:33-34 God says, "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." This scripture is reiterated in Hebrews 8:10-11, "For This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their GOD, and they shall be My people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them."
This brings me to certain books that were removed from scripture - specifically the Book of Enoch for the purpose of this blog. An individual asked a question on Quora regarding the Book of Enoch. I will submit his question here on this blog, and an answer I found reasonable, sound, and informative.
[Question: Why are the books of Jasher, Enoch, and Jubilee excluded from the Bible Canon but their teachings are referenced in the Bible?
What books were removed from the Bible and why? Where might I find them?
Answer: What is the book of Enoch and should it be in the Bible?
How authentic is the Book of Enoch? Is it a fable-like the one's that Paul warned us about in his epistle to Timothy? Is there history that verifies its authenticity? Did Enoch write it and why was it not included in the 66 books Canon of scriptures?
These are questions I see daily and for good reason. When it comes to scriptures we should be protective of what we allow to influence our understanding and more importantly our relationship with God. We shouldn't be like Clement of Alexandria and just accept any book as scripture just because it claims itself to be.
But we also shouldn't be like Irenaeus and claim that's there are only 4 Scriptures in the New Testament Canon (Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John)
Also, its important to remember that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)
So then what is the history behind the Book of Enoch?
Well, the oldest accounts that we have say it existed, and go as far as to claim that Enoch wrote it.
When Jude in his epistle quoted from Enoch 1:9 he did not shy away from giving credit to Enoch being the source of the prophecy. (Jude 1:14)
Alexander the Great around 300 BC also referenced a book that was in India which had been handed down since the flood. The Book strongly resembled the Book of Enoch that the Ethiopians had preserved in their Bible.
And there were scrolls among the Caves of Qumran aka Dead Sea Scrolls which stated that Enoch had written a book and that it had been handed down to Abraham and eventually kept in Levi's possession.
So if the oldest sources are confirmation then we have strong reasons to believe that a Book was preserved prior to the great deluge.
If this is true then what happened to this Book and why did only the Ethiopians preserve it?
Well, the oldest source that I have been able to find of someone rejecting Enoch came from a man named Rabbi Simeon. Simeon was a disciple of Akiba in the early 2nd century. Like Akiba, Simeon desired to preserve what was Judaism by managing the books that the Jews called Scripture. With the growing sect of Christianity, anything embraced by Christians became less favorable which ultimately lead to the Book of Enoch's rejection.
Simeon had claimed that Genesis 6 was no longer about Angel's and utilized this belief to reject the book of Enoch from its scriptural status.
"The theme of the Book of Enoch dealing with the nature and deeds of the fallen angels so infuriated the later Church fathers that one, Filastrius, actually condemned it openly as heresy (Filastrius, Liber de Haeresibus, no. 108). Nor did the rabbis deign to give credence to the book's teaching about angels. Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai in the second century A.D. pronounced a curse upon those who believed it" (Delitzsch, p. 223).
In the 4th century, Christians then began to take on similar beliefs as these 2nd century Jews.
First, they embraced their later Hebrew Manuscripts which had been a deviation from the Greek translation that was made by the Jews 280 years before the physical birth of Christ. In doing so they also started to limit their accepted scriptures which also later lead to the Protestant's 66 book Bible.
Secondly, Christians started to embrace these 2nd-century Jewish interpretations. One of these interpretations being that Angels were no longer the sons of God in Genesis 6. Proof of this can be seen in the quotation above when Filastrius made his comment during the council of Laodicea. Augustine also made a similar comment when he rejected the book of Enoch for the same reason as Simeon.
This lead to the Book of Enoch being lost to most of the known world. There's no exact date as to when this happened or who encouraged the book to be destroyed, but ultimately the book was completely lost... or so most would think.
Around the late 1700s, Scottish explorer James Bruce had traveled to Ethiopia. There were rumors about a Book of Enoch being in Ethiopia which inevitably sparked James Bruce to investigate these claims. Around 1773 he would bring with him 3 Geez copies of the Book of Enoch. The Book of Enoch wouldn't be translated into English until the early 1800s. It was at this time that Enoch was considered a Christian forgery because of all the New Testament passages and Christ prophecies found all throughout the Book.
But things would change between the years 1946-1947 when several copies of Enoch were found in the Caves of Qumran or as we often refer to them as the Dead Sea Scrolls. These findings were extremely significant for several reasons.
#1 It proved that the Book of Enoch predated Christianity by at least 300 years.
#2 It proved that the Ethiopians had preserved a fairly accurate/uncorrupted copy.
#3 These scrolls proved that the ancient Jews did in fact have a Book of Enoch in their possession.
So did Enoch write this book? And is the Book of Enoch Scripture?
Well according to our Lord and Savior the Book of Enoch is an inspired work by God.
In Mathew 22:29 Christ rebuked the Sadducees for not "Knowing the Scriptures"
Then in Mathew 22:30, Christ said that in the Resurrection we would be made like the Angels of God in Heaven who does not marry
Matthew 22:29-30
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
There are three very interesting points we need to make here.
First Christ specified that the Sadducees did not know the scriptures indicating that there was a source to His teaching.
Secondly, Christ specified that Angels of God in Heaven do not marry... He could have said Angels in general but His statement indicates that there were Angels who had disobeyed this command or left their first estate which is the primary topic in the Book of Enoch.
And then lastly He taught that Angels of God in Heaven do not marry. This teaching is not found anywhere in the Old Testament but can only be found in the Book of Enoch.
Enoch 15:4-7 R.H. Charles
And though ye were holy, spiritual, living the eternal life, you have defiled yourselves with the blood of women, and have begotten children with the blood of flesh, and, as the children of men have lusted after flesh and blood as those also do who die and perish. Therefore have I given them wives also that they might impregnate them, and beget children by them, that thus nothing might be wanting to them on earth. 6But you were formerly spiritual, living the eternal life, and immortal for all generations of the world. And, therefore, I have not appointed wives for you; for as for the spiritual ones (Angel's) of the heaven, in heaven is their dwelling.
The last point is extremely important, by this one single verse we have our Lord and Savior calling the Book of Enoch Scripture and rebuking the Sadducees for not knowing it.
This now leads me to my final conclusion on all of this.
Over two thousand years ago this book had a prophecy saying that the Book of Enoch would be used among believers who will live during the days of the tribulation. Seventy-five years ago this prophecy would have seemed completely impossible. Now with its growing resurgence, we are now able to see this prophecy slowly becoming true.
Enoch 1:1 R.H. Charles
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.
I will leave this final prophecy for those who say God would never allow corruption to occur with His God-inspired Scriptures
Enoch 104:10-13 R.H. Charles
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. But when they write down truthfully all my words in their languages, and do not change or minish ought from my words but write them all down truthfully -all that I first testified concerning them. Then, I know another mystery, that books will be given to the righteous and the wise to become a cause of joy and uprightness and much wisdom. And to them shall the books be given, and they shall believe in them and rejoice over them, and then shall all the righteous who have learnt therefrom all the paths of uprightness be recompensed.'
Enoch 105:1 George Schodde Translation
And in those days, says the Lord, "they will call and testify over the sons of the earth concerning their wisdom: show it to them, for ye are their leaders and the rewards over all the earth.]
Having submitted the question and then the answer I will follow up by saying that it is up to each individual to diligently and earnestly SEEK the Lord God, and to be taught by Him. Seek! Keep seeking! Seek and He WILL be found!
We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Assumptions are deadly. Pray for God's counsel regarding ALL things - of knowledge, and even daily living. We must fear God and try to learn what is pleasing to the Him (Ephesians 5:10). Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is our High Priest and Teacher. He will NEVER lead us astray into a lie. Ever. Pray. Pray. And pray again. Pray without ceasing. Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will not sink in the stormy waters. If you stumble and begin to sink cry out to Jesus and He WILL save you! Always, always, turn and return and return to Jesus. In Him, alone, is salvation.
Now, I will post some scripture from the Book of Enoch, chapters 61, 62, and 63. Please pardon punctuation issues. I would ask you to critique it against the scripture we are given in the 66 books of our present Holy Bible. Does it sound like the voice of our Shepherd, or the imposter? Pray on it. Be a Berean.
[Thus the Lord commanded the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who dwell on earth, saying, Open your eyes, and lift up your horns, if you are capable of comprehending the Elect One. The Lord of spirits sat upon the throne of his glory and the spirit of righteousness was poured out over him. The word of his mouth shall destroy all the sinners and all the ungodly, who shall perish at his presence. In that day shall all the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who possess the earth, stand up, behold, and perceive, that he is sitting on the throne of his glory; that before him the saints shall be judged in righteousness; and that nothing, which shall be spoken before him, shall be spoken in vain. Trouble shall come upon them, as upon a woman in travail, whose labour is severe, when her child comes to the mouth of the womb, and she finds it difficult to bring forth. One portion of them shall look upon another. They shall be astonished, and shall humble their countenance; and trouble shall seize them, when they shall behold this Son of woman sitting upon the throne of his glory. Then shall the kings, the princes, and all who possess the earth, glorify him who has dominion over all things, him who was concealed; for from the beginning the Son of man existed in secret, whom the Most High preserved in the presence of his power, and revealed to the elect. He shall sow the congregation of the saints, and of the elect; and all the elect shall stand before him in that day. All the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who rule over the earth, shall fall down on their faces before him, and shall worship him. They shall fix their hopes on this Son of man, shall pray to him, and petition him for mercy. Then shall the Lord of spirits hasten to expel them from his presence. Their faces shall be full of confusion, and their faces shall darkness cover. The angels shall take them to punishment, that vengeance may be inflicted on those who have oppressed his children and his elect. And they shall become an example to the saints and to his elect. Through them shall these be made joyful; for the anger of the Lord of spirits shall rest upon them. Then the sword of the Lord of spirits shall be drunk with their blood; but the saints and elect shall be safe in that day; nor the face of the sinners and the ungodly shall they thenceforwards behold. The Lord of spirits shall remain over them: and with this Son of man shall they dwell, eat, lie down, and rise up, for ever and ever. The saints and the elect have arisen from the earth, have left off to depress their countenances, and have been clothed with the garment of life. That garment of life is with the Lord of spirits, in whose presence your garment shall not wax old, nor shall your glory diminish. In those days the kings who possess the earth shall be punished by the angels of his wrath, wheresoever they shall be delivered up, that he may give rest for a short period; and that they may fall down and worship before the Lord of spirits, confessing their sins before him. They shall bless and glorify the Lord of spirits, saying, Blessed is the Lord of spirits, the Lord of kings, the Lord of princes, the Lord of the rich, the Lord of glory, and the Lord of wisdom. He shall enlighten every secret thing. Thy power is from generation to generation; and thy glory for ever and ever. Deep are all thy secrets, and numberless; and thy righteousness cannot be computed. Now we know, that we should glorify and bless the Lord of kings, him who is King over all things. They shall also say, Who has granted us rest to glorify, laud, bless, and confess in the presence of his glory? And now small is the rest we desire; but we do not find it; we reject, and do not possess it. Light has passed away from before us; and darkness has covered our thrones for ever. For we have not confessed before him; we have not glorified the name of the Lord of kings; we have not glorified the Lord in all his works; but we have trusted in the sceptre of our dominion and of our glory. In the day of our suffering and of our trouble he will not save us, neither shall we find rest. We confess that our Lord is faithful in all his works, in all his judgments, and in his righteousness. In his judgments he pays no respect to persons; and we must depart from his presence, on account of our evil deeds. All our sins are truly without number. Then shall they say to themselves, Our souls are satiated with the instruments of crime; but that prevents us not from descending to the flaming womb of hell. Afterwards, their countenances shall be filled with darkness and confusion before the Son of man; from whose presence they shall be expelled, and before whom the sword shall remain to expel them. Thus saith the Lord of spirits, This is the decree and the judgment against the princes, the kings, the exalted, and those who possess the earth, in the presence of the Lord of spirits. I saw also other countenances in that secret place. I heard the voice of an angel, saying, These are the angels who have descended from heaven to earth, and have revealed secrets to the sons of men, and have seduced the sons of men to the commission of sin.]
May the Lord God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ keep His children, as He is able and willing to do, and lead us into all truth. Amen.
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