Ever wanted to be whisked away?
Did Enoch & Elijah really die?
By Mark Seay
www.LighthousePrayerLine.org
... or have we been taught this because it’s easy to disregard portions of God’s Word?
Let’s face it. Whether it’s an unintentional misrepresentation or simply tradition (remember Santa?); the truth is, nevertheless, the truth!
Christ had to die on a cross!!
Some may not see the character of God in such a statement, but God, although capable of any supernatural miracle/work, doesn’t allow for the flesh to pass from one realm to the next without the resurrecting of the dead. Garments must be washed to enter into God’s presence!! For He is HOLY!!
Sure, God could’ve washed them – in the same way that He could’ve whisked away Elijah or translated Enoch. God could’ve saved His Son from the cross. BUT HE NEVER WOULD because a Holy God is bound to His own governance. It was prophesied that Christ would die; and therefore, he had to die. And yet, He is God!!
Prophecy and scripture binds up God’s truths and the realities that dare result from them. The Jewish New Testament lists 52 prophecies fulfilled in Christ's birth, life and death as stated in 81 passages in the Old Testament. In many ways the Old Testament points forward to Christ's first and second comings. All of the Messianic Prophecies of the Bible discusses, not only hundreds of specific prophecies, but many events, people, rituals and sacrifices recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures. These prophecies have foreshadowed the life, death, ministry and return of Jesus Christ.
What were some of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled? Well, here is just a few:
• He would be a descendant of King David (Isaiah 11:1-5; Matthew 1:1, 6).
• He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1).
• One would precede Him who would announce His coming (Isaiah 40:3, 5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3).
• His own people would reject Him (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11).
• A friend would betray Him (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18-30).
• The price for His betrayal would be 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15).
• The 30 pieces of silver would buy a potter's field (Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:3-10).
• Wicked people would pierce His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Luke 23:33; 24:38-40).
• He would suffer execution but without the breaking of any of His bones (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33-36).
• Others would cast lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24).
• He would be buried with the wealthy (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60).
• God would resurrect Him from the grave (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:30-32).
Jesus, Himself, couldn't have controlled how these prophecies were fulfilled. No one can control the circumstances of His own birth, who his ancestors are and where he is born. Nor could He control the actions of others in betraying Him, putting Him to death and laying His body in the unused tomb of a wealthy man. Yet the prophets had written these remarkable details in advance up to 1,000 years earlier. King David even predicted details of Christ's death by crucifixion hundreds of years before the practice of crucifixion became a common method of execution.
It was prophesied that all of these events would happen; and therefore, they had to happen in order for God to remain holy and true to His Word. Once again, prophecy and scripture have captured the trustworthy nature of our faithful Father.
But don’t take my word for it. Let’s take a look at what God’s Word (Bible) says about this:
Did Enoch die?
"And Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and was not found, because God translated him" (Genesis 5:24).
Note: Translate means: to change; transfer; transport; to depart. Enoch was translated, but this does not mean that he did not die physically. According to Romans 5:14 and 1 Corinthians 15:22, Enoch died or the Bible is in error.
“Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come” (Romans 5:14 - NIV).
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22 – NIV).
"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth" (Hebrews 11:13 - NIV).
Hebrews 11:13 and Romans 5:14 both include Enoch. There are no exceptions that can be found in the Bible to exclude Enoch. Ones misunderstanding of the meaning of Hebrews 11:5 is the problem, not the Bible.
“By faith Enoch was translated not to see death, and was not found, because God translated him. For before his translation, he had obtained witness to have been pleasing to God” (Hebrews 11:5).
Could it be that the death that Enoch did not 'see' was the prolonged death in the grave?
Did Elijah die?
“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11).
Note: The word, heaven, is a correct translation; but the meaning for this word is sky, not God’s abode as many assume and believe. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that Elijah did not die when he departed.
Enoch and Elijah were men. Did they die as all men do? Is the argument that Enoch and Elijah did not experience a physical death contrary to the scriptures?
Neither Enoch or Elijah ascended to the dwelling place of God. The Bible is clear when it states: “And no man hath ascended up to heaven” (John 3:13).
You see, God’s provisional wisdom always allows for a refiner’s fire, so to speak. We all are “born once & die twice” or “born twice & die once”.
"And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence the earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged, everyone of them according to their deeds... and death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).
That being said, Could it be that it has been a fable and a tradition that Enoch and Elijah did not die?
By Mark Seay
www.LighthousePrayerLine.org
... or have we been taught this because it’s easy to disregard portions of God’s Word?
Let’s face it. Whether it’s an unintentional misrepresentation or simply tradition (remember Santa?); the truth is, nevertheless, the truth!
Christ had to die on a cross!!
Some may not see the character of God in such a statement, but God, although capable of any supernatural miracle/work, doesn’t allow for the flesh to pass from one realm to the next without the resurrecting of the dead. Garments must be washed to enter into God’s presence!! For He is HOLY!!
Sure, God could’ve washed them – in the same way that He could’ve whisked away Elijah or translated Enoch. God could’ve saved His Son from the cross. BUT HE NEVER WOULD because a Holy God is bound to His own governance. It was prophesied that Christ would die; and therefore, he had to die. And yet, He is God!!
Prophecy and scripture binds up God’s truths and the realities that dare result from them. The Jewish New Testament lists 52 prophecies fulfilled in Christ's birth, life and death as stated in 81 passages in the Old Testament. In many ways the Old Testament points forward to Christ's first and second comings. All of the Messianic Prophecies of the Bible discusses, not only hundreds of specific prophecies, but many events, people, rituals and sacrifices recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures. These prophecies have foreshadowed the life, death, ministry and return of Jesus Christ.
What were some of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled? Well, here is just a few:
• He would be a descendant of King David (Isaiah 11:1-5; Matthew 1:1, 6).
• He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1).
• One would precede Him who would announce His coming (Isaiah 40:3, 5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3).
• His own people would reject Him (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11).
• A friend would betray Him (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18-30).
• The price for His betrayal would be 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15).
• The 30 pieces of silver would buy a potter's field (Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:3-10).
• Wicked people would pierce His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Luke 23:33; 24:38-40).
• He would suffer execution but without the breaking of any of His bones (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33-36).
• Others would cast lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24).
• He would be buried with the wealthy (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60).
• God would resurrect Him from the grave (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:30-32).
Jesus, Himself, couldn't have controlled how these prophecies were fulfilled. No one can control the circumstances of His own birth, who his ancestors are and where he is born. Nor could He control the actions of others in betraying Him, putting Him to death and laying His body in the unused tomb of a wealthy man. Yet the prophets had written these remarkable details in advance up to 1,000 years earlier. King David even predicted details of Christ's death by crucifixion hundreds of years before the practice of crucifixion became a common method of execution.
It was prophesied that all of these events would happen; and therefore, they had to happen in order for God to remain holy and true to His Word. Once again, prophecy and scripture have captured the trustworthy nature of our faithful Father.
But don’t take my word for it. Let’s take a look at what God’s Word (Bible) says about this:
Did Enoch die?
"And Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and was not found, because God translated him" (Genesis 5:24).
Note: Translate means: to change; transfer; transport; to depart. Enoch was translated, but this does not mean that he did not die physically. According to Romans 5:14 and 1 Corinthians 15:22, Enoch died or the Bible is in error.
“Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come” (Romans 5:14 - NIV).
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22 – NIV).
"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth" (Hebrews 11:13 - NIV).
Hebrews 11:13 and Romans 5:14 both include Enoch. There are no exceptions that can be found in the Bible to exclude Enoch. Ones misunderstanding of the meaning of Hebrews 11:5 is the problem, not the Bible.
“By faith Enoch was translated not to see death, and was not found, because God translated him. For before his translation, he had obtained witness to have been pleasing to God” (Hebrews 11:5).
Could it be that the death that Enoch did not 'see' was the prolonged death in the grave?
Did Elijah die?
“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11).
Note: The word, heaven, is a correct translation; but the meaning for this word is sky, not God’s abode as many assume and believe. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that Elijah did not die when he departed.
Enoch and Elijah were men. Did they die as all men do? Is the argument that Enoch and Elijah did not experience a physical death contrary to the scriptures?
Neither Enoch or Elijah ascended to the dwelling place of God. The Bible is clear when it states: “And no man hath ascended up to heaven” (John 3:13).
You see, God’s provisional wisdom always allows for a refiner’s fire, so to speak. We all are “born once & die twice” or “born twice & die once”.
"And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence the earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged, everyone of them according to their deeds... and death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).
That being said, Could it be that it has been a fable and a tradition that Enoch and Elijah did not die?
Comment
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Comment by Eric Hancock on February 11, 2009 at 6:04pm
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you need to dig deeper ,,get the lost books of ENOCH ,,I have the dead sea scrolls and it tells me different,I have debated with Jahovehs witnesses that see out the same eye that you do,,and they created there own bible..the Bible says clearly that ENOCH walked with God and he saw death not..now I understand john 3:13 but who wrote the book of JOHN?and who wrote the book of Genesis,,you see where I am going?now the torah and the quaran Co-signs that enoch did not die..we are not born twice or die twice your talking reincarnation..I learned that it is best to ask God to give you the wisdom to understand because you can comprehend something the wrong way and the enemy will confuse you..I believe that when you get the dead sea scroll on ENOCH your eyes will be opened to a lot,,his book alone is amazing but he still spoke on YASHUA
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