The ancient Book of Enoch, a text excluded from most Christian biblical canons, has sparked debate over whether it contains a warning about the Antichrist and the downfall of corrupt rulers. The more than 2,200-year-old text describes a mysterious group known as “the kings and the mighty”, whose wealth, influence and rejection of God lead them towards a final judgment.
What Does the Book of Enoch Say?
The Book of Enoch, specifically the Book of Parables (chapters 46–63), describes a vision in which powerful rulers are judged by the “Son of Man”. While some modern interpreters link this to the Antichrist, the text does not explicitly identify a single individual by that name. Instead, it portrays a pattern of unrighteous power, according to biblical scholar George W. E. Nickelsburg, who identified the “kings and the mighty” as corrupt political and religious rulers rather than Satan or fallen angels.
The interpretation of the passages can be divided into four movements. The first introduces “the kings and the mighty” as wealthy leaders who reject God, persecute the faithful, and trust in their riches. The second describes the arrival of the “Son of Man”, chosen before creation, and the rulers’ realisation they have rejected God’s chosen figure. The third uses imagery of six mountains made from iron, copper, silver, gold, soft metal and lead to symbolise the collapse of earthly power. The final movement describes the rulers standing before the “Son of Man” on judgment day, where their pleas for mercy are rejected.
Why Was the Book of Enoch Excluded from the Bible?
The modern Bible contains 66 books in many Protestant traditions, though the number varies among denominations. Alongside accepted scriptures, more than 70 ancient Jewish and Christian writings circulated among early communities but were not included in later biblical canons. Fragments of the Book of Enoch written in Aramaic were discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran, confirming the text was circulating centuries before Christianity.
Does the Book of Enoch Describe the Antichrist?
The link between the Book of Enoch and the Antichrist comes from later interpretation, not a direct statement. A discussion on the YouTube channel The Hermon Codex suggested the “kings and the mighty” could represent a corrupt system connected to end-times beliefs. Some scholars argue that differences in English translations affect how strongly the rulers are described. Translations by Michael Knibb and Ephraim Isaac render passages literally, describing rulers whose “power rests upon their riches”, who “deny the name of the Lord of Spirits” and persecute the faithful.
According to 1 Enoch 46:7: “These are they who judge the stars of heaven, and raise their hands against the Most High, and tread upon the earth and dwell upon it. All their deeds manifest unrighteousness, and their power rests upon their riches. Their faith is in the gods which they have made with their hands, and they deny the name of the Lord of Spirits, and they persecute the houses of His congregations, and the faithful who hang upon the name of the Lord of Spirits.”
Warning About Earthly Rulers
The first movement begins in chapter 46, where Enoch describes a vision of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. The second movement, in chapter 48, warns that “kings of the Earth” will not save themselves because they denied “the Lord of Spirits and his Messiah”. The third movement, chapters 52–53, describes six mountains that will melt like wax before fire, becoming powerless before the Elect One. The final movement, chapters 62–63, describes rulers gathered for judgment, falling before the Son of Man and asking for mercy, but their pleas are rejected. Chapter 63 includes the rulers admitting: “We have not confessed before him... but we have trusted in the sceptre of our dominion and of our glory.”
Many scholars interpret the passage as a warning that human empires built on wealth, pride and oppression may appear permanent but will ultimately fail.
