Enoch’s Prayer

Written By G.R.

Featured image photo and all graphics created by Justin Graphics

All quotes from 1 Enoch are from the Literal Standard Version (LSV).

Our last two articles were about the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and their relevance to the End Days.  Among the books in the Dead Sea Scrolls, 1 Enoch (also known as Enoch) contains important prophecies about the future judgment of the Earth and a remnant who will survive. The book opens by saying that it was written for the generation of the righteous ones living in the time of the Tribulation.

1 Enoch 1:1 The words of the blessing of Enoch, with which he blessed the chosen ones and righteous, who will be living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked and godless are to be removed.

Enoch wrote not for his own generation but for one that would come thousands of years later.

1 Enoch 1:2 And he took up his allegory and spoke—Enoch a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens, which the messengers showed me, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which is to come.

The Book of Enoch was written as a gift for our generation! Enoch cared for the righteous people who would be living in the End Days and knew that his prophecies and admonishments would be profitable to them. He was well aware of the bleak time of trial and testing that would come upon the world when the powers of Satan would be in control before the return of Messiah.  He understood the seriousness of worldwide destruction when YHWH would come to judge the Earth.

Enoch’s Dreams and Prayer for the Remnant

Two prophetic dreams were given to Enoch, each recorded with vivid detail. They both occurred at pivotal times in his life: the first when he was learning to write and the second before he married his wife Edna.  At the time of the first dream, he lay down to sleep in the house of his grandfather Mahalalel. The genealogy in Genesis 5 also testifies that Mahalalel was the grandfather of Enoch, and Enoch was the great-grandfather of Noah.

In the dream, Enoch saw a terrible and frightening vision. The Heavens collapsed and fell upon the Earth; the Earth sank and was swallowed by a deep abyss. Mountains and hills crumbled on top of each other, and lofty trees were torn up by the roots.  So alarming was this sight that Enoch cried aloud in his sleep saying, “The Earth is destroyed!” Mahalalel woke him and asked Enoch why he was so disturbed. After Enoch explained the dream, Mahalalel gave his grandson the following advice:

1 Enoch 83:8-9  “Now, my son, arise and make petition to the Lord of Glory, since you are a believer, that a remnant may remain on the earth, and that He may not destroy the whole earth. My son, all this will come on the earth from Heaven, and there will be great destruction on the earth.”

The grave dream struck Enoch and Mahalalel with fear.  It was righteous fear—the fear of YHWH, His wrath, and power. They knew YHWH would indeed destroy the Earth because of sin.  Nothing could be done to prevent it; no prayer could stop it.  Still, there was one thing for which they could pray: the remnant. 

As the night was dawning into a new day, Enoch obeyed his grandfather and went outside.  He saw the sun rising in the east, the moon setting in the west, and the few stars that were still visible.  Lifting his hands, he blessed YHWH and prayed for a remnant.

1 Enoch 84:5-6  “Now, O God, and Lord, and Great King, I exceedingly implore You to fulfill my prayer, to leave me a posterity on earth, and not destroy all the flesh of man, and make the earth without inhabitant, so that there should be a continuous destruction.  And now, my Lord, destroy from the earth the flesh which has aroused Your wrath, but establish the flesh of righteousness and uprightness as a plant of the continuous seed, and do not hide Your face from the prayer of Your servant, O Lord.”

The details of Enoch’s first dream and prayer are recorded in chapters 83 and 84 of 1 Enoch.

Enoch took it upon himself to intercede for the people who would be living during the Earth’s destruction.  Like Moses, he became a mediator between Elohim and man regarding YHWH’s anger and fury.  Like the apostle Shaul (Paul), he felt deeply for the chosen ones and carried them in his heart. In his prayer, Enoch implored YHWH for people he did not know. Like his book, Enoch’s prayer was for a future generation—a generation of righteous and chosen ones who would need YHWH’s deliverance.

Enoch’s second dream is a detailed account of the generations and events from the time of Adam until eternity with specific people depicted as various animals. In it, he saw the great horrors that were to come upon YHWH’s people throughout the ages of the world. Once again, Enoch awoke in distress. He wept in extreme grief. The knowledge of future sin and destruction was hard to bear. It weighed heavily upon him, stirring him to admonish the future generations.

Later, he called his son Methuselah to gather his brothers and relatives.  Enoch warned them of the earth’s destruction and instructed them to walk in the paths of righteousness.

1 Enoch 91:4b-5 Walk in righteousness, my sons. And it will guide you on good paths, and righteousness will be your companion. For I know that violence must increase on the earth, and a great discipline will be executed on the earth. Yes, it will be cut off from its roots, and its whole structure will be destroyed.

Enoch’s second dream and exhortation are recorded in chapters 85 through 91 of 1 Enoch.

Enoch, being the great-grandfather of Noah, saw this vision before Noah’s time. His first dream could have been about the Flood which destroyed the Earth. However, it is just as likely that it is referring to the End Times.  Perhaps it is about both the Flood and the future destruction of the Earth before the Messianic Kingdom.  The description of what Enoch saw is very similar to visions seen by other prophets.

Habakkuk and Nahum Testify

The time when YHWH would appear to utterly destroy the Earth was revealed to many prophets throughout history.  When Habakkuk saw it, he was so overwhelmed by the devastation of his vision that he trembled in fear and hoped he would rest at the time of its fulfillment.  In other words, he did not want to be alive to experience this horrific time.

Habakkuk 3:16 I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness came into my bones. And I trembled within myself that I might rest for the day of distress to come upon the people who would attack us.

Yet, even in fear, Habakkuk interceded for YHWH’s compassion amid wrath.

Habakkuk 3:2 O יהוה, I have heard your report, I was afraid. O יהוה, renew Your work in the midst of the years! Make it known in the midst of the years. In wrath remember compassion.

While proclaiming the utter annihilation at YHWH’s appearance, Habakkuk gave a hopeful prophecy of salvation for a specific group of people at that time.  He called them YHWH’s “Anointed.”  The Anointed are the same people for whom Enoch prayed—the remnant.

Habakkuk 3:12-13 You step through the earth in rage, You thresh the nations in wrath. You shall go forth to save Your people; to save Your Anointed. You shall smite the head from the house of the wrong, by laying bare from foundation to neck.

The prophet Habakkuk lived at the time of the Babylonian captivity.  He foresaw and prophesied Babylon taking over the Earth and destroying many nations.  The vision was terrifying, and Habakkuk went up to a watch tower and waited for YHWH to speak to Him about it.  This is what YHWH said:

Habakkuk 2:2-3 “Write the vision and inscribe it on tablets, so that he who reads it runs. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, and it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it lingers, wait for it, for it shall certainly come, it shall not delay.”

Habakkuk headed this call to flee before destruction.  According to the extra-biblical book Lives of the Prophets, Habakkuk fled to Egypt and did not experience the captivity of his people. Because of this, his life was spared while many others were killed.

The prophets proclaimed a call to flee for the End Days generation (Jeremiah 48:20, Revelation 18:4). YHWH will come to judge the Earth, but in His love and faithfulness toward mankind, He will spare a remnant.

In the Book of Nahum, there is a similar description of devastating destruction upon the Earth.

Nahum 1:1 יהוה is a jealous and revenging Ěl, יהוה is a revenger and a possessor of wrath. יהוה takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He watches for His enemies.

Nahum 1:5-6 Mountains have shaken before Him, and the hills have melted. And the earth is lifted up at His presence, and the world and all who dwell in it. Who does stand before His rage? And who rises up in the heat of His displeasure? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks have been broken by Him.

Again, YHWH promised protection for those who take refuge in Him amid distress.

Nahum 1:7 יהוה is good, as a stronghold in the day of distress. And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

The Anointed of YHWH will gather in a place of safety to take refuge in Him and become the remnant.  Though Habakkuk and Nahum did not specify the location, other prophets gave more information.

Many articles on this website expound on the prophesied place of refuge in the modern country of Jordan.

Enoch’s Prayer Answered!

YHWH has answered Enoch’s prayer. He has promised to save a group of people in the place and way of His choosing. The words have already gone out and cannot be turned back.

Isaiah 55:11 My Word that goes forth from My mouth – it does not return to Me empty, but shall do what I please, and shall certainly accomplish what I sent it for.

YHWH’s prophets come together to tell the story of the End Days.  We should heed their warnings, seek YHWH’s plan of salvation, and put our complete trust in it. This is the only way to be saved in this present generation which is destined for destruction.

Enoch’s prayer was for the continual seed of righteousness.  Our lives are personally affected by the prophets who interceded for our generation. I feel thankful for Enoch and encourage followers of Yahushua to read his book and see what treasures might be found that will enlighten truth in our days.

1 Enoch 1:3-4 Concerning the chosen ones, I spoke and took up my allegory concerning them: The Holy Great One will come out from His dwelling, and the perpetual God will tread on the earth, [even] on Mount Sinai, and appear in the strength of His might from the Heaven of heavens.

1 Enoch 1:5-7 And all will be smitten with fear, and the Watchers will quake, and great fear and trembling will seize them to the ends of the earth. And the high mountains will be shaken, and the high hills will be made low and will melt like wax before the flame, and the earth will be wholly split apart, and all that is on the earth will perish, and there will be a judgment on all [men].

1 Enoch 1:8 But with the righteous He will make peace and will protect the chosen ones, and mercy will be on them. And they will all belong to God, and they will be prospered, and they will all be blessed. And He will help them all, and light will appear to them, and He will make peace with them.

The above quote is from our book The Call to Jordan: An Invitation for Messiah’s Bride.  

In this book, we teach about the message of the prophets who called for the salvation of a remnant in the End Days. 

Click on the above image to learn more.