A New Christian Novel Based On Book of Enoch Writings.

[wise_steward]

Hi all,
A little while back I came across a christian forum where some guy had posted a book he claimed God gave him that includes the pseudoepigraphic writings of Enoch and some others. I cut and paste the link for anyone interested.

THE CALLED" - by Rahman Reuben - Chapters 1 to 3 - http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2289&forum=35&29

I read the three chapters and found them so interesting. This guy got a lot of heat from some on that forum for mixing the Bible with these other books but what I read made me want to read the rest so I bought the book off Amazon -
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1597814644/002-9770760-7320839?_encoding=UTF8&s=books&v=glance

All I can say is I have read Genesis before but after reading this book it makes a lot more sense now. I also did some more research on Wickepedia about the Enoch book and found that it is included as canon in the ethiopian church but not in the western church.The Enoch book was tossed out in 326 a.d. by a Catholic counsel at Laodicea. It also says that the book of Jude was almost not included in the Bible because it quoted from this book. Kinda weird to me why a book that seems to fill in the blanks of the first couple of chapters of Genesis so well is so rejected. It has sure made me wonder why since it talks about hell so much. More rings true to me in this book of Enoch than not. I hope this guys book really takes off just for the controversy of discussion it could cause in our western church. I ran it past my pastor an boy did it get him twisted. Has anyone else read Enoch or Jubilees? What do you think of them?

[wyltk75]

So, this is like a historical fiction, based on the book of Enoch and other biblical writings? Sounds interesting.

[wise_steward]

Hi wyltk75,

Yeah it's concidered fiction but I've not read it as such. I checked it out on the Xulon Press website and thats what its under. Its actually based on the Bible itself but the Enoch book is like interwoven into it and man does it tell a story!
I'm totally fascinated by this book and haven't been able to stop thinking about the glory of God since. It's full of so much description that it fires the imagination. I keep imagining heaven and angels and how satan must have been before he sinned. I'm imagining what Eden must have been like and Adam and Eve and the fall. So much to imagine if a person has any awe and wonder about God - which I guess I got an over abundance of. Honestly I've never read anything like it and it sent me on a mission to read the apochrapha books.

But what I'm finding is that theres not to much interest in this in my circle of fellow christians. I'm so glad for the internet because if its being discussed it can be found. I also noticed over on the other forum that the author caught some major flack from an English Bible scholar for mixing the Bible with these other books. Call me foolish but I found the novel very faith inspiring and informative. And I really like how the author tied his novel into a witness tool toward bringing unsaved readers to Christ with a prayer and explanation via the epilog and prolog. As far as I'm concerned Star Wars, The Matrix or Narnia has nothing on this novel.

Blessings!

[wyltk75]

While I am wary of accepting apochraphal writings at face value, I have no doubt that there is much truth to be found within some if not many of them. I'm not familliar with the book of Enoch, so I would have to take a look.

I personally like the idea of writing historical fiction from the scriptures, and supplementing writing with apochrapha. I have no problem with that at all. I have been studying (a little bit) some of the legends and apochrapha surounding Noah and the ark. Some of that would make a great story I think.

I may check out the book you are talking about.

[wise_steward]

Hi wyltk75,

You wrote;
I may check out the book you are talking about.

I hope you do and then we'll have a mutual point of discussion. Also I'd like to know if you think it's as good a story as I do. I love Star Wars - Narnia and the like - but I don't think any of them outshine this story. This would make a great movie with all the special effects that can be done now-a-days.

As I posted first I found the first 3 chapters posted by the writer on another forum. That's what got me hooked.I listed the link to Sermon Index and Amazon in my first post.

Here are some research links I found -


INFO ON THE BOOK OF ENOCH - WICKEPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Enoch

The Book of Enoch Translated by R.H. Charles [1917]
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/boe/index.htm
http://reluctant-messenger.com/1enoch01-60.htm

The Book of the Secrets of Enoch
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/fbe/index.htm#section_002

The Pseudepigrapha - Cutting Edge Ministries
http://pws.prserv.net/cuttingedge/Psuedo.htm

The Book of Jubilees
translated by R. H. Charles
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jub/index.htm

THE BOOK OF ADAM & EVE
http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/apo/adamnev.htm

Blessings!