Enoch

AMK LEADERSHIP STUDIES

Enoch

Reference Synthesis:

In about 3200 B.C. a man named Enoch journeyed in the land and he heard a voice from heaven saying, "Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people . . . for their ears are dull of hearing and they cannot see afar off . . . And [Enoch] spake before the Lord saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

"And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee . . . Open thy mouth and it shall be filled . . . Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you . . . and it came to pass when they heard him [Enoch], no man laid hands on him, for fear came on all them that heard him; for he walked with God . . .

"And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him." (Moses 6:26‑39; 7:13; see also Genesis 5:22‑24)

Commentary:

When good people are given challenging leadership assignments they often feel inadequate. Enoch was concerned about his age, popularity, and communication ability. The Lord told him not to doubt or worry and assured him that if he would go ahead he would be given whatever help he needed. Enoch exercised his faith and did the best he could. The Lord supported Enoch and gave him the extra power necessary to fulfill his assignment. The overall result was that Enoch became one of the greatest and most powerful leaders the world has ever known. An important process of leadership development is illustrated by the way the Lord worked with Enoch.

Reference:

"And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

"And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion . . .

"And after that Zion was taken up into heaven, Enoch beheld, and lo, all the nations of the earth were before him; and there came generation upon generation; and Enoch was high and lifted up, even in the bosom of the Father, and of the Son of Man; and behold, the power of Satan was upon all the face of the earth.

"And he saw angels descending out of heaven; and he heard a loud voice saying: Wo, wo be unto the inhabitants of the earth. And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.

"And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.

"And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept . . . And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?

"The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; and unto thy brethren have I said and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood . . . and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?" (Moses 7:18‑19, 23‑37)

Commentary:

Enoch and his people established a community known as Zion. These people worked together and helped each other to the extent that they were all prosperous. Eventually Enoch and his people advanced to the point that they were physically taken off the earth and translated to a higher level of existence.

Enoch was allowed to enter the presence of the Lord and was shown the earth from their standpoint. He saw angels going down to the earth and he heard lamenting for the wicked ones who were left on earth. Enoch saw Satan and his angels rejoicing over their domination of mankind.

Enoch observed the Lord weeping and was surprised. The Lord explained that he was sorrowing because of the suffering and destruction that was coming upon his children. These people were miserable because they had rejected good leadership and degenerated until they were filled with selfishness and hate.

Reference:

After many things had been shown unto Enoch, including the great flood, and also the suffering of the Son of Man, the Lord said unto him, ". . . the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve.

"And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare . . .

"And it came to pass that Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, in the last days, to dwell on the earth in righteousness for the space of a thousand years; But before that day he saw great tribulations among the wicked; and he also saw the sea, that it was troubled, and men's hearts failing them, looking forth with fear for the judgments of the Almighty God, which should come upon the wicked.

"And the Lord showed Enoch all things, even unto the end of the world; and he saw the day of the righteous, the hour of their redemption, and received a fulness of joy . . ." (Moses 7:61‑67)

Commentary:

Enoch saw many great and terrible things pertaining to the future of the world. One of the greatest

things he saw was that the Lord would eventually gather all those who choose to follow him and lead them into a millennium of peace and happiness.