Book of Enoch & Nephilim: Exposing the End-Times Resurgence of the Nephilim
From the primordial days of Genesis to the prophetic revelations of Daniel and Revelation, you cannot help but encounter the Nephilim.
Described as giants, fallen ones, or mighty men, these enigmatic characters loom like colossal shadows over the biblical landscape, leaving us to question who they were and what role they played in history. However, the most perplexing query is: could these same Nephilim have some connection to the antichrist and the end times?
Genesis Nephilim
In the pre-diluvian world, recorded in the early chapters of the Book of Genesis, we have our first glimpse of what were later termed the Nephilim. Genesis 6:1-2 (NIV) states:
When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.
Some proposed that the sons of God were simply godly males from the line of Seth, while others more accurately suggest they were celestial beings—angels, who somehow were able to procreate with human women. The text itself alludes to something extraordinary by stating that the progeny of these unions were called the Nephilim: “heroes of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:4 NIV).
What were the Nephilim precisely? The term Nephilim is frequently translated as “giants,” and these entities were indeed described as unusually large and strong. However, the word derives from the Hebrew root naphal, which means “to fall.” Could these beings be “the fallen ones”? There is no reason to believe that godly males from the line of Seth would produce a race of giants.
The Watchers and Their Offspring in the Book of Enoch
Although the Book of Enoch is not part of the canonical Scriptures, it does provide a detailed account of the Nephilim. This archaic text delves deeply into the wayward angels who mated with human women to produce the race of giants. The narrative portrays a vivid picture of their skills, influence, and ultimate judgment.
Nonetheless, it is essential to consider the Book of Enoch with skepticism. The text is excluded from the canon of Scripture for a variety of theological and historical reasons, which we will examine in greater detail. Therefore, despite the fact that the Book of Enoch is intriguing and provides a more detailed account of these mysterious entities, its veracity and applicability to Christian doctrine are debatable.
What About the Book of Enoch?
A subject as convoluted and mysterious as the Book of Enoch can be as hard to untangle as an ancient serpent. The Book of Enoch isn’t just any ordinary document; it’s classified as “pseudepigrapha,” which means it’s professing to be something it’s not. “Why exactly is this a pseudepigrapha, and why should I care?” It’s a valid question. The term refers to writings that falsely claim to be the work of a biblical figure, in this case Enoch. The label casts a shadow over the text, a shadow that dates back hundreds of years.
How does the Christian community as a whole view the Book of Enoch, and why is it deemed significant to investigate? It obviously appeals to our innate curiosity and our ceaseless desire for something new.
The renowned Dead Sea Scrolls include six fragments of the Book of Enoch dating back to approximately 300 B.C. The discovery of these artifacts offers a rare glimpse into a long-lost era. This is where we can all agree that the Book of Enoch has value. However, even in the first century, this book was the topic of passionate debate. Some thought this book had merit while others, such as Origen and Jerome, did not recognize its value.
As fascinating as this book may be, we must be cautious. How we approach it could determine how we view the inspiration of scripture in the future. One of the greatest battles of the next decade will be over the infallibility of the Word of God. If we become too loosy-goosey in our understanding of this subject, we may open the door to something far more damaging than we could have imagined. The Book of Enoch is a fascinating historical curiosity, but should it be trusted? We must be like the Bereans in Acts 17, who daily examined the Scriptures to confirm the apostles’ message.
Absence in the Hebrew Bible & Jesus’ Teachings
The Book of Enoch deserves a healthy dose of suspicion. There is no mention of the Book of Enoch in the Old Testament. Why would this be the situation? The Old Testament prophets would have made reference to the book if it were a source of divine insight. When instructed to place the Word of God in the Ark of the Covenant, the Israelites placed the writings of Moses but not those of Enoch (which would have preceded Moses’ writings).
Jesus, the personification of God’s Word, encounters His disciples on the road to Emmaus and begins to explain the references to Himself in scripture. Notably, Jesus began with Moses instead (not Enoch):
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:25-27 NKJV).
Jude’s Bibliography
Some suggest that Jude is quoting Enoch and that this alone should verify its importance. Non-biblical passages are frequently cited in the New Testament. Paul cited a worldly poet in Acts 17:28, and Titus did the same in Titus 1:12. Even if a biblical author cites a book, that provides no evidence that the book is inspired.
What was Jude referring to in Jude 1:14-15 (NIV)?
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Let’s be careful not to read into the passage and hear something Jude is not saying. Jude alludes to a prophetic proclamation made by Enoch without citing a specific book. Moses did not specifically cite a book when he mentioned Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He spoke under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is entirely conceivable that this is also how Jude obtained his information. Even if he cited a genuine book in circulation, this would not imply that he endorsed it. Jude could have also been referring to oral tradition passed down through the generations or an entirely different book. Alleged writings from Enoch come in many different forms and translations. We just don’t know.
We do know that there are some strange things in those writings.
Errors in Enoch’s Teachings
There are more questions than answers in the Book of Enoch. As we delve deeper into the teachings’ substance, we find a minefield of contradictions and inaccuracies.
The command to offer sacrifices to the sun, moon, and stars can be found in Pseudo-Enoch 100:10-12. This is a radical departure from what the Bible teaches.
According to Pseudo-Enoch 67:1-3, angels constructed the Ark. However, the Bible makes it quite clear that Noah built it.
In Pseudo-Enoch 9:1-4, the author seems to endorse prayer to angels suggesting that the angels served as some kind of intercessory intermediaries. I don’t need to tell you that we pray only to God, not to intermediaries in heaven.
Pseudo-Enoch also attempts to invoke sympathy for fallen angels (Pseudo-Enoch 13:1-7 and 15:1-2).
Pseudo-Enoch 69 goes on to attribute Eve’s deception to an entity named “Gadreel” and not to satan.
Pseudo-Enoch 10:8-9 attributes the origin of human sin to an entity named Azazel. Where does satan fit into this?
First Enoch 7:2 claims that the giants were 3,000 cubits tall (4,500 feet or 0.86 miles; conservative estimates are 450 feet).
These fallacies in the Book of Enoch contradict biblical doctrine and introduce ambiguity where clarity should exist. Proceed with caution when exploring the Book of Enoch, recognizing its cultural and historical value while rejecting its doctrinal inconsistencies. The ultimate foundation of our faith must be the Word of God, not the shifting sediments of human legends.
When asked about this book, I often reply with two key questions:
What scriptural evidence do we have that this is true?
What practical difference does it make in the average Christian’s life?
I often resort to these two questions when exploring a variety of contentious topics, such as the nature of the Nephilim or the genesis of demons.
The Book of Enoch provides an enthralling glimpse into the thoughts and worldviews of centuries past through its vivid legends and fantastical stories. The Book of Enoch is a literary work as opposed to an authoritative text. Yes, we can certainly learn from it. We can see how individuals struggled with spiritual truths and attempted to fathom their surroundings. Nonetheless, we must always maintain perspective and recognize the distinction between human speculation and divine revelation.
This is a question of both spiritual and theological precision. If non-canonical writings like the Book of Enoch were elevated to the status of authoritative scripture, our entire faith would be compromised. Therefore, let us approach the Book of Enoch with historical and theological foresight. Accept it for what it is, but never elevate it to a position of authority. The Bible must be the basis for our faith, hope, and manner of life. We find our firm foundation there. There, we discover our absolute truth. Our faith and confidence in God are grounded in the Bible.
Always remember that everything you need to know about any biblical subject or character can be found in the Bible itself. Everything you need to know about Enoch is in the Bible.
