Seth and Enoch
39
The Lord opened more fully to Enoch the plan of salvation, and by
the spirit of prophecy carried him down through the generations which
should live after the flood, and showed him the great events connected
with the second coming of Christ and the end of the world.
Enoch was troubled in regard to the dead. It seemed to him that
the righteous and the wicked would go to the dust together, and that
would be their end. He could not clearly see the life of the just beyond
the grave. In prophetic vision he was instructed in regard to the Son of
God, who was to die man’s sacrifice, and was shown the coming of
Christ in the clouds of Heaven, attended by the angelic host, to give
life to the righteous dead, and ransom them from their graves. He
also saw the corrupt state of the world at the time when Christ should
appear the second time—that there would be a boastful, presumptuous,
self-willed generation arrayed in rebellion against the law of God, and
denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ, and trampling
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upon his blood, and despising his atonement. He saw the righteous
crowned with glory and honor, while the wicked were separated from
the presence of the Lord, and consumed with fire.
Enoch faithfully rehearsed to the people all that God had revealed
to him by the spirit of prophecy. Some believed his words, and turned
from their wickedness to fear and worship God. Such often sought
Enoch in his places of retirement, and he instructed them and prayed
for them, that God would give them a knowledge of his will. At length
he chose certain periods for retirement, and would not suffer the people
to find him, for they interrupted his holy meditation and communion
with God. He did not exclude himself at all times from the society
of those who loved him and listened to his words of wisdom; neither
did he separate himself wholly from the corrupt. He met with the
good and bad at stated times, and labored to turn the ungodly from
their evil course, and instruct them in the knowledge and fear of God.
He taught those who had the knowledge of God to serve him more
perfectly. He would remain with them as long as he could benefit them
by his godly conversation and holy example, and then would withdraw
himself from all society—from the just, the scoffing and idolatrous, to
remain in solitude hungering and thirsting for communion with God,
and that divine knowledge which he alone could give him.
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Enoch continued to grow more heavenly while communing with
God. His face was radiant with a holy light which would remain upon