Enoch’s Prophecy
Today I joined about two hundred people a the “Prime-Timers” potluck at Timberline Church. It was a great meal and a program with a focus on Veteran’s Day. Jerry and Virginia Pippin did an outstanding job. Debbie and I will be speaking at this event in February.
With the cold weather and feeling a little fatigue, I did not venture out to the fitness center. I did make some calls about some possible work at the Capitol coming up in this next legislative session. I will see how that develops in coming weeks.
We are looking forward to Stephanie flying in tomorrow with McKenzie for a brief visit. Christian and Bridget will come up with their kids for a couple of days was well. It should be a “crazy, but good time.”
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “….Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 14,15
It is interesting to find a reference to a more obscure early descendent of Adam in one of the last New Testament books. In the genealogy the leads up to Noah, scripture references twice that “Enoch walked with God…” His life was shorter than his son Methuselah, grandson Lamech and great grandson Noah. It appears his departure from this world was a supernatural one. The Bible simply says, “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24)
As you look at the timeline established in Genesis 5, it appears that Enoch’s son Methuselah outlived Lamech by five years meaning he was still living when Noah’s sons were born. Undoubtedly the life and character of Enoch was passed on the the succeeding generations even to the point that a grandfather could share first hand with his grandson Noah about his godly ancestor.
While the number of years of lifespan have significantly shortened, the opportunity exists even today. That is the opportunity for parents and grandparents to share about the faith of “fore-fathers and mothers”. To consider Noah the “preacher of righteousness” and his connection to this great family tree reveals the faith being passed from generation to generation.
At the same time it appears that Methuselah would have seen the beginning of the moral decay that brought about the flood of Noah’s day. Perhaps just as in the New Testament church as Jude writes there were those who should have been defending the faith, but in reality were destroying faith in God. And when faith in God is destroyed, when God is not honored above all, moral decay is sure to set in.
It appears that the Lord allowed Enoch to see ahead, not just to the days of his great grandson (Noah) but down through the ages to a time when “…the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God….” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and a time when “…the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8) the Anti-Christ and all those who oppose the Lord. Perhaps he saw what John saw, “…I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war….And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.” (Revelation 19:11-14)
As in Peter’s letters, so in Jude we find a warning about not just those “in the world” but those who are in the “church but of the world.” The danger is the same. Scoffers, those who encourage and practice sin and promote a lifestyle contrary to God’s plan. These individuals find themselves opposing the Lord in their words and their actions.
That is why Jude warns believers to “contend for the faith” and to “build yourselves up in the most holy faith…” That battle of faith can be exactly that….a battle. It may be from the circumstances of life, it may be from the words and actions of those used by spiritual darkness. This is a battle that must be won. Contend for the faith, build yourselves up, keep your focus, love people but hate the sin. That is our call and challenge. Just as Enoch prophesied we can trust the Lord to take care of the final battle.