Question:
Please explain the words of Enoch in Jude 14, ‘Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.’ Who are the ten thousand saints?
Answer:
“Saints” is a term describing the cortege that will accompany Christ when He returns. The various versions use different words: “myriads of holy ones” (Moffatt); “his holy myriads” (RSV); “myriads of angels” (NEB); “thousands of his holy ones” (New Catholic Edition).
Several times when Jesus spoke of His return He mentioned the angels who would accompany Him. He did not state a number but spoke as though there would be many. For example, Matt. 16:27: “For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with His angels …. ” and Mark 8:38 “…when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Hebrews 12 is more specific, that Christ will return with “an innumerable company of angels” (Heb. 12:22).
Christ will not be coming alone. He was taken away by angels, who carried Him to heaven; (Acts l:10-11), and He will come again “in like manner,” though when He returns He will not need to be carried – He will come as the immortal King of the whole earth.