Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 110:437 (Jan 1953)
Article: Part 4 The Kingdom of God in 1 Enoch
Author: George E. Ladd

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BSac 110:437 (Jan 53) p. 32

Part 4
The Kingdom of God in 1 Enoch

George E. Ladd

(Continued from the October-December Number, 1952)

The First Book. 1-36

The purpose of the first part of Enoch may be summed up in two phrases: the explanation of the present condition of the world, and the anticipation of the salvation to come.1 Sin has caused such disorder among men that moral and spiritual chaos reigns. This troubled state was brought about by the sin and fall of the angels; but the world will one day be restored to its former condition of peace and prosperity. This will be the day ushering in the kingdom of God.

The concept of the kingdom of God reflected in the first part of Enoch is very similar to that found in Jubilees.2 In the first five chapters, which constitute a sort of introduction to the compilation, the author sets the tone for the entire work. God one day will visit His creation to judge the angels, to save the righteous, and to punish the wicked.

“The Holy Great One will come forth from His dwelling,
And the eternal God will tread upon the earth,
even on Mount Sinai,
And appear from His camp
And appear in the strength of His might
from the heaven of heavens.
And all shall be smitten with fear,
And the Watchers shall quake,3
And great fear and trembling shall seize them
unto the ends of the earth.
And the high mountains shall be shaken,
And the high hills shall be made low,

BSac 110:437 (Jan 53) p. 33

And shall melt like wax before the flame.
And the earth shall be wholly rent in sunder,
And there shall be a judgement upon all men.
But with the righteous He will make peace,
And will protect the elect,
And mercy shall be upon them.
And they shall all belong to God,
And they shall be prospered,
And they shall all be blessed.
And He will help them all,
And light shall appear unto them,
And He will make peace with them.
And behold! He cometh with ten thousands
of His holy ones
To execute judgement upon all,
And to destroy all the ungodly:4
And to convict all flesh
Of all the works of their ungodliness
which they have ungodly committed,
And of all the hard things which ungodly sinners
have spoken against Him” (1:3–9).

This passage portrays the day of judgment in Old Testament terms. As God one day had visited Mt. Sinai as Lawgiver, so will He again visit the e...

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