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The Book of Enoch
with Commentary
by Michael D. Fortner
Chapters 83-90
Book 4: Dreams and Visions
83:1 I lifted up my hands in righteousness, and blessed the holy, and the Great One. I spoke with the breath of my mouth, and with a tongue of flesh, which God has formed for all the sons of mortal men, that with it they may speak; giving them breath, a mouth, and a tongue to converse with.
2 Blessed are you, O Lord, the King, great and powerful in your greatness, Lord of all the creatures of heaven, King of kings, God of the whole world, whose reign, whose kingdom, and whose majesty endure for ever and ever.
3 From generation to generation shall your dominion exist. All the heavens are your throne for ever, and all the earth your footstool for ever and for ever.
4 For you have made them, and over all you reign. No act whatsoever exceeds your power. With your wisdom is unchangeable; nor from your throne and from your presence is it ever averted. You know all things, see and hear them; nor is anything concealed from you; for you perceive all things.
5 The angels of your heavens have transgressed; and on mortal flesh shall your wrath remain, until the day of the great judgment.
6 Now then, O God, Lord and mighty King, I entreat you, and beseech you to grant my prayer, that a posterity may be left to me on earth, and that the whole human race may not perish;
7 That the earth may not be left destitute, and destruction take place for ever.
8 O my Lord, let the race perish from off the earth which has offended you, but a righteous and upright race establish for a posterity for ever. Hide not your face, O Lord, from the prayer of your servant.
For a posterity-- Literally, "for the plant of a seed" (Laurence).
The next vision of Enoch appears to detail the whole history of the world, from Adam to the Messianic Kingdom. It includes details not found in the Bible which increases the credibility of the Book of Enoch.
84:1 After this I saw another dream, and explained it all to you, my son. Enoch arose and said to his son Mathusala, To you, my son, will I speak. Hear my word; and incline your ear to the visionary dream of your father. Before I married your mother Edna, I saw a vision on my bed;
2 And behold, a cow sprung forth from the earth;
3 And this cow was white.
4 Afterwards a female heifer sprung forth; and with it another heifer: one of them was black, and one was red.
Another heifer-- The sense seems to require that the passage should read, "two other heifers" (Laurence).
Black, red-- Cain and Abel.
5 The black heifer then struck the red one, and pursued it over the earth.
Cain killed Able.
6 From that period I could see nothing more of the red heifer; but the black one increased in bulk, and a female heifer came with him.
7 After this I saw that many cows proceeded forth, resembling him, and following after him.
8 The first female young one also went out in the presence of the first cow; and sought the red heifer, but found him not.
9 And she lamented with a great lamentation, while she was seeking him.
10 Then I looked until that first cow came to her, from which time she became silent, and ceased to lament.
11 Afterwards she calved another white cow.
12 And again calved many cows and black heifers.
13 In my sleep also I perceived a white bull, which in like manner grew, and became a large white bull.
14 After him many white cows came forth, resembling him.
15 And they began to calve many other white cows, which resembled them and followed each other.
85:1 Again I looked attentively, while sleeping, and surveyed heaven above.
2 And behold a single star fell from heaven.
3 Which being raised up, ate and fed among those cows.
This appears to say that an angel fell from heaven and lived among men. This angel cannot be the original fall because the fall of Lucifer took place well before Cain killed Able.
4 After that I perceived other large and black cows; and behold all of them changed their stalls and pastures, while their young began to lament one with another. Again I looked in my vision, and surveyed heaven; when behold I saw many stars which descended, and projected themselves from heaven to where the first star was,
Here we see that many other angels fell from heaven and joined Lucifer.
5 Into the midst of those young ones; while the cows were with them, feeding in the midst of them.
6 I looked at and observed them; when behold, they all acted after the manner of horses, and began to approach the young cows, all of whom became pregnant, and brought forth elephants, camels, and asses.
Here is the fallen angels having sex with the daughters of men and giving birth to giants.
7 At these all the cows were alarmed and terrified; when they began biting with their teeth, swallowing, and striking with their horns.
8 They began also to devour the cows; and behold all the children of the earth trembled, shook with terror at them, and suddenly fled away.
86:1 Again I perceived them, when they began to strike and to swallow each other; and the earth cried out. Then I raised my eyes a second time towards heaven, and saw in a vision, that, behold, there came forth from heaven as it were the likeness of white men. One came forth from thence, and three with him.
2 Those three, who came forth last, seized me by my hand; and raising me up from the generations of the earth, elevated me to a high station.
3 Then they showed me a lofty tower on the earth, while every hill became diminished. And they said, Remain here, until you perceive what shall come upon those elephants, camels, and asses, upon the stars, and upon all the cows.
87:1 Then I looked at that one of the four white men, who came forth first.
2 He seized the first star which fell down from heaven.
3 And, binding it hand and foot, he cast it into a valley; a valley narrow, deep, stupendous, and gloomy.
4 Then one of them drew his sword, and gave it to the elephants, camels, and asses, who began to strike each other. And the whole earth shook on account of them.
5 And when I looked in the vision, behold, one of those four angels, who came forth, hurled from heaven, collected together, and took all the great stars, whose form partly resembles that of horses; and binding them all hand and foot, cast them into the cavities of the earth.
This passage describes the judgment that came upon the fallen angels.
88:1 Then one of those four went to the white cows, and taught them a mystery. While the cow was trembling, it was born, and became a man, and fabricated for himself a large ship. In this he dwelt, and three cows dwelt with him in that ship, which covered them.
A man-- Noah.
Three cows-- Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
2 Again I lifted up my eyes towards heaven, and saw a lofty roof. Above it were seven cataracts, which poured fourth on a certain village much water.
Many people today are surprised to learn that the main definition of "cataract" is, "A large or high waterfall.
A great downpour; a deluge."
3 Again I looked, and behold there were fountains open on the earth in that large village.
4 The water began to boil up, and rose over the earth; so that the village was not seen, while its whole soil was covered with water.
5 Much water was over it, darkness, and clouds. Then I surveyed the height of this water; and it was elevated above the village.
6 It flowed over the village, and stood higher than the earth.
7 Then all the cows which were collected there, while I looked on them, were drowned, swallowed up, and destroyed in the water.
8 But the ship floated above it. All the cows, the elephants, the camels, and the asses, were drowned on the earth, and all cattle. Nor could I perceive them. Neither were they able to get out, but perished, and sunk into the deep.
9 Again I looked in the vision until those cataracts from that lofty roof were removed, and the fountains of the earth became equalized, while other depths were opened;
10 Into which the water began to descend, until the dry ground appeared.
11 The ship remained on the earth; the darkness receded; and it became light.
12 Then the white cow, which became a man, went out of the ship, and the three cows with him.
13 One of the three cows was white, resembling that cow; one of them was red as blood; and one of them was black. And the white cow left them.
This probably means that the descendants of the three cows were white people, red people, and black people. Genesis says that one of Noah's sons was cursed so that his offspring would become slaves.
14 Then began wild beasts and birds to bring forth.
15 Of all these the different kinds assembled together, lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, wild boars, foxes, rabbits, and the hanzar.
16 The siset, the avest, kites, the phonkas, and ravens.
17 Then the white cow was born in the midst of them.
The various animals represent different people, that is, ethnic groups. The last white cow represents Abraham.
18 And they began to bite each other; when the white cow, which was born in the midst of them, brought forth a wild ass and a white cow at the same time, and after that many wild asses. Then the white cow, which was born, brought forth a black wild sow and a white sheep.
The wild ass is Ishmael, the second white cow is Isaac. Many wild asses are the descendants of Ishmael. The wild sow and white sheep are Esau and Jacob.
19 That wild sow also brought forth many swine.
20 And that sheep brought forth twelve sheep.
The twelve sheep are the twelve sons of Jacob.
21 When those twelve sheep grew up, they delivered one of them to the asses.
Joseph was sold Midianites.
22 Again those asses delivered that sheep to the wolves,
Wolves, the Egyptians.
23 And he grew up in the midst of them.
24 Then the Lord brought the eleven other sheep, that they might dwell and feed with him in the midst of the wolves.
25 They multiplied, and there was abundance of pasture for them.
26 But the wolves began to frighten and oppress them, while they destroyed their young ones.
27 And they left their young in torrents of deep water.
28 Now the sheep began to cry out on account of their young, and fled for refuge to their Lord. One however, which was saved, escaped, and went away to the wild asses.
One, is Moses.
29 I beheld the sheep moaning, crying, and petitioning their Lord.
30 With all their might, until the Lord of the sheep descended at their voice from his lofty habitation; went to them; and inspected them.
31 He called to that sheep which had secretly stolen away from the wolves, and told him to make the wolves understand that they were not to touch the sheep.
32 Then that sheep went to the wolves with the word of the Lord, when another met him, and proceeded with him.
The other one that met him is his brother Aaron.
33 Both of them together entered the dwelling of the wolves; and conversing with them made them understand, that thenceforwards they were not to touch the sheep.
34 Afterwards I perceived the wolves greatly prevailing over the sheep with their whole force. The sheep cried out; and their Lord came to them.
35 He began to strike the wolves, who commenced a grievous lamentation; but the sheep were silent, nor from that time did they cry out.
36 I then looked at them, until they departed from the wolves. The eyes of the wolves were blind, who went out and followed them with all their might. But the Lord of the sheep proceeded with them, and conducted them.
37 All his sheep followed him.
38 His countenance was terrific and splendid, and glorious was his aspect. Yet the wolves began to follow the sheep, until they overtook them in a certain lake of water.
39 Then that lake became divided; the water standing up on both sides before their face.
40 And while their Lord was conducting them, he placed himself between them and the wolves.
41 The wolves however perceived not the sheep, but went into the midst of the lake, following them, and running after them into the lake of water.
42 But when they saw the Lord of the sheep, they turned to fly from before his face.
43 Then the water of the lake returned, and that suddenly, according to its nature. It became full, and was raised up, until it covered the wolves. And I saw that all of them which had followed the sheep perished, and were drowned.
44 But the sheep passed over this water, proceeding to a wilderness, which was without both water and grass. And they began to open their eyes and to see.
45 Then I beheld the Lord of the sheep inspecting them, and giving them water and grass.
46 The sheep already mentioned was proceeding with them, and conducting them.
47 And when he had ascended the top of the lofty rock, the Lord of the sheep sent him to them.
48 Afterwards I perceived their Lord standing before them, with an aspect terrific and severe.
49 And when they all beheld him, they were frightened at his countenance.
50 All of them were alarmed, and trembled. They cried out after that sheep; and to the other sheep who had been with him, and who was in the midst of them, saying, We are not able to stand before our Lord, or to look upon him.
51 Then that sheep who conducted them went away, and ascended the top of the rock;
52 When the rest of the sheep began to grow blind, and to wander from the path which he had shown them; but he knew it not.
53 Their Lord however was moved with great indignation against them; and when that sheep had learned what had happened,
54 He descended from the top of the rock, and coming to them, found that there were many,
55 Which had become blind;
56 And had wandered from his path. As soon as they beheld him, they feared, and trembled at his presence;
57 And became desirous of returning to their fold,
58 Then that sheep, taking with him other sheep, went to those which had wandered.
59 And afterwards began to kill them. They were terrified at his countenance. Then he caused those which had wandered to return; who went back to their fold.
60 I likewise saw there in the vision, that this sheep became a man, built a house for the Lord of the sheep, and made them all stand in the house.
The house is probably the Tabernacle of Moses.
61 I perceived also that the sheep which proceeded to meet this sheep, their conductor, died. I saw, too, that all the great sheep perished, while smaller ones rose up in their place, entered into a pasture, and approached a river of water.
This verse says that Moses died, and so did all those who came out of Egypt, only their children went into the Promised Land.
62 Then that sheep, their conductor, who became a man, was separated from them, and died.
63 All the sheep sought after him, and cried for him with bitter lamentation.
64 I saw likewise that they ceased to cry after that sheep, and passed over the river of water.
65 And that there arose other sheep, all of whom conducted them, instead of those who were dead, and who had previously conducted them.
66 Then I saw that the sheep entered into a goodly place, and a territory delectable and glorious.
67 I saw also that they became satiated [fully satisfied]; that their house was in the midst of a delectable territory; and that sometimes their eyes were opened, and that sometimes they were blind; until another sheep arose and conducted them. He brought them all back; and their eyes were opened.
Another sheep is Samuel. The "delectable territory" is the Promised Land which flowed with milk and honey.
68 Then dogs, foxes, and wild boars began to devour them, until again another sheep arose, the master of the flock, one of themselves, a ram, to conduct them. This ram began to butt on every side those dogs, foxes, and wild boars, until they all perished.
The next sheep to arise was Saul. Saul made war against the enemies of Israel and defeated them.
69 But the former sheep opened his eyes, and saw the ram in the midst of them, who had laid aside his glory.
Samuel declared to Saul that God had rejected him as king and departed from him.
70 And he began to strike the sheep, treading upon them, and behaving himself without dignity.
71 Then their Lord sent the former sheep again to a still different sheep, and raised him up to be a ram, and to conduct them instead of that sheep who had laid aside his glory.
This sheep is David.
72 Going therefore to him, and conversing with him alone, he raised up that ram, and made him a prince and leader of the flock. All the time that the dogs troubled the sheep,
The dogs are the Philistines.
73 The first ram paid respect to this latter ram.
74 Then the latter ram arose, and fled away from before his face. And I saw that those dogs caused the first ram to fall.
David fled from Saul, then Saul was killed in battle.
75 But the latter ram arose, and conducted the smaller sheep.
76 That ram likewise begat many sheep, and died.
77 Then there was a smaller sheep, a ram, instead of him, which became a prince and leader, conducting the flock.
This sheep is Solomon.
78 And the sheep increased in size, and multiplied.
79 And all the dogs, foxes, and wild boars feared, and fled away from him.
80 That ram also struck and killed all the wild beasts, so that they could not again prevail in the midst of the sheep, nor at any time ever snatch them away.
81 And that house was made large and wide; a lofty tower being built upon it by the sheep, for the Lord of the sheep.
82 The house was low, but the tower was elevated and very high.
83 Then the Lord of the sheep stood upon that tower, and caused a full table to approach before him.
84 Again I saw that those sheep wandered, and went various ways, forsaking that their house;
85 And that their Lord called to some among them, whom he sent to them.
God sent prophets to the Israelites who began to worship idols.
86 But these the sheep began to kill. And when one of them was saved from slaughter he leaped, and cried out against those who were desirous of killing him.
This fellow is Elijah who escaped being killed by Jezebel.
87 But the Lord of the sheep delivered him from their hands, and made him ascend to him, and remain with him.
88 He sent also many others to them, to testify, and with lamentations to exclaim against them.
89 Again I saw, when some of them forsook the house of their Lord, and his tower; wandering on all sides, and growing blind,
90 I saw that the Lord of the sheep made a great slaughter among them in their pasture, until they cried out to him in consequence of that slaughter. Then he departed from the place of his habitation, and left them in the power of lions, tigers, wolves, and the zeebt, and in the power of foxes, and of every beast.
Zeebt-- Hyenas. (Knibb, p. 209).
91 And the wild beasts began to tear them.
92 I saw, too, that he forsook the house of their fathers, and their tower; giving them all into the power of lions to tear and devour them; into the power of every beast.
93 Then I began to cry out with all my might, imploring the Lord of the sheep, and showing him how the sheep were devoured by all the beasts of prey.
94 But he looked on in silence, rejoicing that they were devoured, swallowed up, and carried off; and leaving them in the power of every beast for food. He called also seventy shepherds, and resigned to them the care of the sheep, that they might overlook them;
95 Saying to them and to their associates, Every one of you henceforwards overlook the sheep, and whatsoever I command you, do; and I will deliver them to you numbered.
96 I will tell you which of them shall be slain; these destroy. And he delivered the sheep to them.
97 Then he called to another, and said, Understand, and watch everything which the shepherds shall do to these sheep; for many more of them shall perish than I have commanded.
98 Of every excess and slaughter, which the shepherds shall commit, there shall be an account; as, how many may have perished by my command, and how many they may have destroyed of their own heads.
99 Of all the destruction brought about by each of the shepherds there shall be an account; and according to the number I will cause a recital to be made before me, how many they have destroyed of their own heads, and how many they have delivered up to destruction, that I may have this testimony against them; that I may know all their proceedings; and that, delivering the sheep to them, I may see what they will do; whether they will act as I have commanded them, or not.
100 Of this, however, they shall be ignorant; neither shall you make any explanation to them, neither shall you reprove them; but there shall be an account of all the destruction done by them in their respective seasons. Then they began to kill, and destroy more than it was commanded them.
101 And they left the sheep in the power of the lions, so that very many of them were devoured and swallowed up by lions and tigers; and wild boars preyed upon them. That tower they burnt, and overthrew that house.
102 Then I grieved extremely on account of the tower, and because the house of the sheep was overthrown.
103 Neither was I afterwards able to perceive whether they again entered that house.
104 The shepherds likewise, and their associates, delivered them to all the wild beasts, that they might devour them. Each of them in his season, according to his number, was delivered up; each of them, one with another, was described in a book, how many of them, one with another, were destroyed, in a book.
105 More, however, than was ordered, every shepherd killed and destroyed.
106 Then I began to weep, and was greatly indignant, on account of the sheep.
107 In like manner also I saw in the vision him who wrote, how he wrote down one, destroyed by the shepherds, every day. He ascended, remained, and exhibited each of his books to the Lord of the sheep, containing all which they had done, and all which each of them had made away with;
108 And all which they had delivered up to destruction.
109 He took the book up in his hands, read it, sealed it, and deposited it.
110 After this, I saw shepherds overlooking for twelve hours.
111 And behold three of the sheep departed, arrived, went in; and began building all which was fallen down of that house.
The three sheep are Zerubbabel, Joshua, and Nehemiah.
112 But the wild boars hindered them, although they prevailed not.
113 Again they began to build as before, and raised up that tower, which was called a lofty tower.
114 And again they began to place before the tower a table, with every impure and unclean kind of bread upon it.
115 Moreover also all the sheep were blind, and could not see, as were the shepherds likewise.
116 Thus were they delivered up to the shepherds for a great destruction, who trod them under foot, and devoured them.
117 Yet was their Lord silent, until all the sheep in the field were destroyed. The shepherds and the sheep were all mixed together; but they did not save them from the power of the beasts.
118 Then he who wrote the book ascended, exhibited it, and read it at the residence of the Lord of the sheep. He petitioned him for them, and prayed, pointing out every act of the shepherds, and testifying before him against them all. Then taking the book, he deposited it with him, and departed.
89:1 And I observed during the time, that thus thirty-seven shepherds were overlooking, all of whom finished in their respective periods as the first. Others then received them into their hands, that they might overlook them in their respective periods, every shepherd in his own period.
Thirty-seven-- An apparent error for thirty-five (see verse 7). The kings of Judah and Israel (Laurence).
2 Afterwards I saw in the vision, that all the birds of heaven arrived; eagles, the avest, kites and ravens. The eagle instructed them all.
3 They began to devour the sheep, to peck out their eyes, and to eat up their bodies.
4 The sheep then cried out; for their bodies were devoured by the birds.
5 I also cried out, and groaned in my sleep against the shepherd which overlooked the flock.
6 And I looked, while the sheep were eaten up by the dogs, by the eagles, and by the kites. They neither left them their body, nor their skin, nor their muscles, until their bones alone remained; until their bones fell upon the ground. And the sheep became diminished.
7 I observed likewise during the time, that twenty-tree shepherds were overlooking; who completed in their respective periods fifty-eight periods.
The kings of Babylon, etc., during and after the captivity. The numbers thirty-five and twenty-three make fifty-eight; and not thirty-seven, as erroneously put in the first verse (Laurence).
8 Then were small lambs born of those white sheep; who began to open their eyes and to see, crying out to the sheep.
9 The sheep, however, cried not out to them, neither did they hear what they uttered to them; but were deaf, blind, and obdurate in the greatest degrees.
10 I saw in the vision that ravens flew down upon those lambs;
11 That they seized one of them; and that tearing the sheep in pieces, they devoured them.
12 I saw also, that the horns grew upon those lambs; and that the ravens lighted down upon their horns.
13 I saw, too, that a large horn sprouted out on an animal among the sheep, and that their eyes were opened.
14 He looked at them. Their eyes were wide open; and he cried out to them.
15 Then the dabela saw him; all of whom ran to him.
Dabela-- The ibex, probably symbolizing Alexander the Great (Laurence).
16 And besides this, all the eagles, the avest, the ravens and the kites, were still carrying off the sheep, flying down upon them, and devouring them. The sheep were silent, but the dabela lamented and cried out.
17 Then the ravens contended, and struggled with them.
18 They wished among them to break his horn; but they prevailed not over him.
19 I looked on them, until the shepherds, the eagles, the avest, and the kites came.
20 Who cried out to the ravens to break the horn of the dabela; to contend with him; and to kill him. But he struggled with them, and cried out, that help might come to him.
21 Then I perceived that the man came who had written down the names of the shepherds, and who ascended up before the Lord of the sheep.
22 He brought assistance, and caused every one to see him descending to the help of the dabela.
23 I perceived likewise that the Lord of the sheep came to them in wrath, while all those who saw him fled away; all fell down in his tabernacle before his face; while all the eagles, the avest, ravens, and kites assembled, and brought with them all the sheep of the field.
24 All came together, and strove to break the horn of the dabela.
25 Then I saw, that the man, who wrote the book at the word of the Lord, opened the book of destruction, of that destruction which the last twelve shepherds wrought; and pointed out before the Lord of the sheep, that they destroyed more than those who preceded them.
The native princes of Judah after its delivery from the Syrian yoke (Laurence).
26 I saw also that the Lord of the sheep came to them, and taking in his hand the sceptre of his wrath seized the earth, which became rent asunder; while all the beasts and birds of heaven fell from the sheep, and sunk into the earth, which closed over them.
27 I saw, too, that a large sword was given to the sheep, who went forth against all the beasts of the field to slay them.
28 But all the beasts and birds of heaven fled away from before their face.
29 And I saw a throne erected in a delectable land;
30 Upon this sat the Lord of the sheep, who received all the sealed books;
31 Which were open before him.
32 Then the Lord called the first seven white ones, and commanded them to bring before him the first of the first stars, which preceded the stars whose form partly resembled that of horses; the first star, which fell down first; and they brought them all before him.
33 And he spoke to the man who wrote in his presence, who was one of the seven white ones, saying, Take those seventy shepherds, to whom I delivered up the sheep, and who receiving them killed more of them than I commanded. Behold, I saw them all bound, and standing before him. First came on the trial of the stars, which, being judged, and found guilty, went to the place of punishment. They thrust them into a place, deep, and full of flaming fire, and full of pillars of fire. Then the seventy shepherds were judged, and being found guilty, were thrust into the flaming abyss.
34 At that time likewise I perceived, that one abyss was thus opened in the midst of the earth, which was full of fire.
35 And to this were brought the blind sheep; which being judged, and found guilty, were all thrust into that abyss of fire on the earth, and burnt.
36 The abyss was on the right of that house.
37 And I saw the sheep burning, and their bones consuming.
38 I stood beholding him immerge that ancient house, while they brought out its pillars, every plant in it, and the ivory infolding it. They brought it out, and deposited it in a place on the right side of the earth.
39 I also saw, that the Lord of the sheep produced a new house, great, and loftier than the former, which he bound by the former circular spot. All its pillars were new, and its ivory new, as well as more abundant than the former ancient ivory, which he had brought out.
40 And while all the sheep which were left were in the midst of it, all the beasts of the earth, and all the birds of heaven, fell down and worshipped them, petitioning them, and obeying them in everything.
41 Then those three, who were clothed in white, and who, holding me by my hand, had before caused me to ascend, while the hand of him who spoke held me; raised me up, and placed me in the midst of the sheep, before the judgment took place.
42 The sheep were all white, with wool long and pure. Then all who had perished, and had been destroyed, every beast of the field, and every bird of heaven, assembled in that house: while the Lord of the sheep rejoiced with great joy, because all were good, and had come back again to his dwelling.
43 And I saw that they laid down the sword which had been given to the sheep, and returned it to his house, sealing it up in the presence of the Lord.
44 All the sheep would have been inclosed in that house, had it been capable of containing them; and the eyes of all were open, gazing on the good One; nor was there one among them who did not behold him.
45 I likewise perceived that the house was large, wide, and extremely full. I saw, too, that a white cow was born, whose horns were great; and that all the beasts of the field, and all the birds of heaven, were alarmed at him, and entreated him at all times.
46 Then I saw that the nature of all of them was changed, and that they became white cows;
47 And that the first, who was in the midst of them, spoke, when that word became a large beast, upon the head of which were great and black horns;
Spoke, when that word came-- Or "was a wild-ox, and that wild-ox was " (Knibb, p. 216).
48 While the Lord of the sheep rejoiced over them, and over all the cows.
49 I lay down in the midst of them: I awoke; and saw the whole. This is the vision which I saw, lying down and waking. Then I blessed the Lord of righteousness, and gave glory to Him.
50 Afterwards I wept abundantly, nor did my tears cease, so that I became incapable of enduring it. While I was looking on, they flowed on account of what I saw; for all was come and gone by; every individual circumstance respecting the conduct of mankind was seen by me.
51 In that night I remembered my former dream; and therefore wept and was troubled, because I had seen that vision.
The fact that many events described in the above chapter are unidentifiable is evidence that the Book of Enoch is authenitc, rather than false. If someone set out to write the history of the Jews in symbolic form they would follow the events as given us in the Old Testament and other books such as Maccabees.
90:1 And now, my son Mathusala, call to me all your brethren, and assemble for me all the children of your mother; for a voice calls me, and the spirit is poured out upon me, that I may show you everything which shall happen to you for ever.
This passage indicates that Enoch saw visions of events all the way up to the end of the next age, possibly even the end of the world.
2 Then Mathusala went, called to him all his brethren, and assembled his kindred.
Notice that the first verse is written in the first person of Enoch, but the chapter appears to have been written by someone else, probably by one of Enoch's offspring.
3 And conversing with all his children in truth,
4 Enoch said, Hear, my children, every word of your father, and listen in uprightness to the voice of my mouth; for I would gain your attention, while I address you. My beloved, be attached to integrity, and walk in it.
5 Approach not integrity with a double heart; nor be associated with double-minded men: but walk, my children, in righteousness, which will conduct you in good paths; and be truth your companion.
6 For I know, that oppression will exist and prevail on earth; that on earth great punishment shall in the end take place; and that there shall be a consummation of all iniquity, which shall be cut off from its root, and every fabric raised by it shall pass away. Iniquity, however, shall again be renewed, and consummated on earth. Every act of crime, and every act of oppression and impiety, shall be a second time embraced.
7 When therefore iniquity, sin, blasphemy, tyranny, and every evil work, shall increase, and when transgression, impiety, and uncleanness also shall increase, then upon them all shall great punishment be inflicted from heaven.
Here Enoch speaks of two judgments.
8 The holy Lord shall go forth in wrath, and upon them all shall great punishment from heaven be inflicted.
9 The holy Lord shall go forth in wrath, and with punishment, that he may execute judgment upon earth.
10 In those days oppression shall be cut off from its roots, and iniquity with fraud shall be eradicated, perishing from under heaven.
11 Every place of strength shall be surrendered with its inhabitants; with fire shall it be burnt. They shall be brought from every part of the earth, and be cast into a judgment of fire. They shall perish in wrath, and by a judgment overpowering them for ever.
Every place of strength-- Or, "all the idols of the nations" (Knibb, p. 218). Being "brought from every part of the earth" infers that nations will gather in one place, there to have the wrath of God poured out upon them-- Armageddon? The next verse could refer to the Millennial rule of Christ:
12 Righteousness shall be raised up from slumber; and wisdom shall be raised up, and conferred upon them.
13 Then shall the roots of iniquity be cut off; sinners perish by the sword; and blasphemers be annihilated everywhere.
14 Those who meditate oppression, and those who blaspheme, by the sword shall perish.
15 And now, my children, I will describe and point out to you the path of righteousness and the path of oppression.
16 I will again point them out to you, that you may know what is to come.
17 Hear now, my children, and walk in the path of righteousness, but shun that of oppression; for all who walk in the path of iniquity shall perish for ever.
