The Book of Enoch, particularly in its "Animal Apocalypse" section (1 Enoch 85–90), presents an allegorical narrative of the northern tribes of the Israelites, symbolised as a flock of sheep under divine care. These sheep are entrusted to a series of seventy shepherds, who represent a succession of foreign powers and spiritual rulers that would oversee the fate of the Israelites and the surrounding nations. The moment of their appointment is depicted in 1 Enoch 89:59: “And He called seventy shepherds, and cast those sheep to them that they might pasture them, and He spake to the shepherds and their companions: ‘Let each individual of you pasture the sheep henceforward, and everything that I shall command you that do ye.’” However, the shepherds quickly fail in their commission, and their rule leads to destruction. In 1 Enoch 89:66–67, it is revealed that the shepherds allow the sheep to be devoured by wild beasts, with each one causing more harm than was ordained: “And the shepherds and their associates delivered those sheep to all the wild beasts to devour them... And each one killed and destroyed many more than was prescribed.” The first of the shepherds sets this destructive pattern in motion, allowing birds of prey to gouge out the sheep's eyes and consume their flesh (1 Enoch 89:70). This misrule mirrors the warnings found in the Book of Hosea, where the northern tribes's apostasy leads to their punishment at the hands of foreign powers, particularly Assyria, which corresponds to the first shepherd in Enoch.
The seventy shepherds' reigns are not confined to a single historical moment but span a long period of foreign domination and spiritual disinheritance. These shepherds, one after another, fail in their duties, and the sheep suffer greatly under their oversight. The narrative of Enoch describes their actions and the increasing devastation they cause, a cycle that ends with their eventual judgment. The seventy shepherds symbolize not just a series of rulers but a long continuum of oppressive powers, beginning with the Assyrians and extending through Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, the Caliphates, European colonialism, and modern-day powers. The narrative culminates in the appearance of the Lord of the Sheep, who intervenes to bring judgment upon the corrupt shepherds and restore the sheep. This divine reckoning marks the end of the cycle of oppression and the beginning of a new era of peace and restoration.
In Revelation, a similar progression of judgment unfolds, particularly in the opening of the seals in Revelation 6. The first seal introduces a rider on a white horse, who sets in motion the judgments and calamities that will unfold in the coming chapters. The events that follow, with wars, famine, and death, bear a strong resemblance to the destruction caused by the seventy shepherds in Enoch. The "wrath of the Lamb" is unleashed upon the earth, and the wicked, represented by the powerful and the mighty, are struck down in divine judgment (Revelation 6:16–17). This corresponds closely to the destruction of the wild beasts and birds of prey in Enoch, who are removed by the Lord of the Sheep as part of the final reckoning.
The overlap between Enoch and Revelation is evident in the cosmic upheaval and the divine judgment that both texts describe. In both, the righteous are vindicated, and the corrupt powers are brought low. Revelation 6:12–17 describes the great day of God's wrath, which could easily align with the judgment of the shepherds in Enoch, who are held accountable for the suffering of the sheep. As the seals are broken and the final judgments are enacted in Revelation, the imagery of divine reckoning, cosmic disturbance, and the subjugation of the wicked mirrors the catastrophic events in Enoch’s vision. The series of judgments in Revelation parallels the destruction and judgment of the seventy shepherds, extending the timeline of divine intervention and wrath to a global scale.
The time of wrath in Revelation is a continuation of the judgment initiated by the Lord of the Sheep in Enoch. In both texts, the ultimate goal is the restoration of divine order and the establishment of God's reign. After the final judgment of the shepherds, a new era of peace and purity is envisioned in Enoch, with the sheep becoming white and pure, free from the oppression of the past. Revelation similarly concludes with the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells with His people, and there is no more death, sorrow, or pain (Revelation 21:1–4). The final victory of God’s kingdom, as described in both texts, underscores the theme of restoration after divine judgment.
The overlap of the final shepherd's term with the events in Revelation suggests that the period of divine wrath and judgment, as described in Revelation 6 onwards, could be seen as the culmination of the period of oppression that began with the shepherds in Enoch. The breaking of the seals, the unfolding of tribulations, and the final battle between good and evil align with the same apocalyptic drama found in Enoch, but with a more detailed and global scope. The last shepherd’s term in Enoch could symbolize the end of the period of foreign rule and oppression, which transitions into the intense tribulation period in Revelation, marking a transition from judgment to the eventual restoration of God's sovereignty.
In conclusion, the seventy shepherds in Enoch, representing a long history of foreign domination and misrule, find their fulfillment in the apocalyptic events of Revelation. The time of wrath in Revelation, beginning with the breaking of the seals, echoes the divine judgment and intervention described in Enoch. Both texts speak of a final reckoning, where the forces of corruption are overthrown, and the righteous are restored. The last shepherd’s reign may well coincide with the early events of Revelation’s tribulation, setting the stage for the ultimate victory of God's kingdom and the fulfillment of His promises of justice and restoration.
Stephen D Green, with ChatGPT, April 2025
Note: It pushes the timescale back ten years; If the end of the 2800 years marks the start of wrath, not the end of it. 2060/70 could be the start of ten years of wrath.