Rapture Part 2, Enoch
To the critic who says, “There is no such thing as a ‘rapture’.” Sorry, that is incorrect. For the very first ‘rapture’, go all the way back to the Book of Genesis. This event takes place before the flood of Noah. Genesis 5:21- 24 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Becoming a father clearly resulted in a changed attitude for Enoch. At that point, the Hebrew grammar suggests Enoch responded to God and “walked with Him”. The name Enoch means “dedicate” per Strong’s Concordance. Enoch dedicated himself to God. Jewish tradition states Enoch was a preacher.
The meaning of the name of Methuselah is a bit of a mystery. Here are a couple of possibilities. One is “man of the dart” per Strong’s Concordance. A second is “when he is dead it shall be sent” per Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names. The issue is the root of the name. Is it “mut” (death) or “mat” (man) in the original Hebrew?
Did Enoch know judgment was coming from God? Something caused Enoch to rethink his attitude. The ages of the people documented in Genesis as time points would suggest the flood began when Methuselah died. Methuselah lived the longest of any man, 969 years (Genesis 5:27). God allowed the greatest amount of time for humanity to repent of their actions before judgment came. But, when the time came He acted swiftly and decisively with a global flood.
Note, Enoch was not around during the course of the flood. He was taken off of the earth before the world wide judgment of God came. He was spared and did not have to go through the tribulation of that time.
… for God took him. The meaning of “took” in Hebrew is “laqach”. Strong’s Concordance defines the word as: to take, take in the hand, carry along, carry away, take away, or to fetch.
Another definition is to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, or accept. The concept of taking in marriage is noted in the Hebrew Old Testament word “laqach” and the Greek New Testament word “harpazo”. Language of a marriage is noted with Christ and His bride the Church throughout the New Testament. Terms for rapture in the Old Testament and the New Testament center around marriage and a groom taking or snatching his bride.
Enoch was not a Jew or citizen of the country Israel. Nations were not in existence before the flood. Is Enoch a type or foreshadowing of the rapture of the bride of Christ, the church? Is there a group of people who will be taken away before a worldwide judgment of God?
Some may say Enoch is just an Old Testament story and fable. The story of Genesis is confirmed in Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
June 26, 2014 at 9:50 AM
But in Matt. 24. Jesus said, “And after these things, you will see the coming of the son of man.” After. So, all of us will be here for the show.
June 26, 2014 at 8:32 PM
Thanks for your time in commenting. Seeking clarification. Are you articulating a post tribulation rapture or the second coming of Christ or something else? Just curious where you are coming from?
June 26, 2014 at 9:14 PM
I’m posting what Jesus said concerning his return, the second coming of Christ and scripture for a post tribulations. You can’t meet or catch up with Christ until he comes back. He tells you thaf you will be killed for his sake. God promised us if you believe, no harm will ckme to you. How’s that working for you? These rewards are in heaven.
June 26, 2014 at 9:36 PM
Thanks for clarifying. Here would be my timeline of events moving forward as of June 2014 in this order. Obviously there is more detail but this is to the context of the discussion.
1) Resurrection of dead believers/Rapture (bride of Christ) to meet Christ in the clouds.
2) Seven year tribulation on Earth.
3) Christ’s second coming and physical return to earth towards the end of the tribulation.
4) 1000 year reign and rule on Earth physically with believers.
There is a series on the “resurrection” in the blog that will clarify some of this. I enjoyed your proclamation of who you are. No offense taken. Please feel free to continue to comment and please feel free to share with others. The time is drawing closer.
June 28, 2014 at 10:55 AM
Could you give me some scripture on the resurrection both dead and alive? Mine is trib. first, then second coming and meeting him in the clouds. Thanks
June 29, 2014 at 8:56 AM
Christ died for sin and took our place. He paid the penalty. He took our judgment or wrath. If that is the case, why would He or the Father allow those in Him to be subjected to judgment again? As believers, we are the “bride of Christ”? Would He allow His bride to be killed and subjected to judgment? That would be spouse abuse. Revelation 3:10 and church of Philadelphia is spared. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 we are not appointed to wrath. John 14. Jewish cultural custom with weddings, marriages…Idiomatic and symbolic language surrounding the Book of Ruth with Boaz (Kinsman Redeemer) and Ruth (Gentile Bride). Those are just a few of many more. I would recommend readings by Tim Lahaye, Thomas Ice, John Walvoord, Dwight Pentecost, Chester McCalley, Renald Showers.
http://www.pre-trib.org/articles/view/imminent-coming-of-christ
This is a good idea for a series of posts…Thanks, I hope this helps.
June 29, 2014 at 4:12 PM
I still go by the word of Jesus and what came out of his mouth, not Paul. And where was God after he died and came back from the dead? Hades is the paradise in Greeks. He told
June 29, 2014 at 9:26 PM
God the Father was in Heaven. God the Holy Spirit was in Heaven and was not to come to earth until Pentecost 50 days later. Jesus is also the one speaking in Revelation 3:10 and states ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.’ It is members of the church who receive crowns and we give them back to Jesus. The crowns (along with white purified and cleansed robes) are on the heads of the elders in Heaven (not on Earth) in Revelation 4 before start of the tribulation. Later in Chapter 4 of Revelation, the crowns are thrown before the throne in Heaven (not on Earth). These events take place in Heaven before the Tribulation. How did the church get into Heaven before the Tribulation? Rapture.
June 30, 2014 at 11:59 AM
Jesus said, after this, you will see the coming of the son of man. He also told the apostles that no man had ascended before Jesus himself did. Jesus was killed on a Friday. Where was he on Saturday before he arose on Sunday? He went to hades, the resting place for paradise and took Noah, Moses and the rest of the martyrs to heaven then ascended to heaven himself. Do you think if you died today, where would you be? In heaven or waiting for the second coming? By your version, you would be in the ground awaiting the second coming. Like I asked before about God saying that no harm will come against you if you believe, how’s that working for you? I believe and yet I am hurt in his name No body get out of this alive. Oh and I thought you believed in the Trinity as 3 beings in 1. If so, why was Jesus talking and praying to himself? He is the son of God. And he said call no one father except Our father.
June 30, 2014 at 9:58 PM
If I died today, my body would go in a box in the ground, a seed. My soul and spirit would be in Heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
My hope at that time, if bodily dead, would be the reunification of my body, soul, and spirit glorified. See 1 Corinthians 15:35-58. I would be waiting for the resurrection of the dead and raised incorruptible.
One generation gets out of this life without death, in the twinkling of an eye. We will not all sleep. Again, see 1 Corinthians 15:35-58. Oh death, where is your sting? That corruptible body will perish but it will be changed instantaneously.
I do believe in the Trinity. Jesus, indwelled with the Spirit after being baptized by John in the Jordan, prays to the Father. “Our Father, who is in Heaven…” The Trinity is three individual personalities (Father, Son, Spirit), one singular God in perfect harmony.
I have hurts, pains, and sufferings in this life as well. I am no different than any one else. But I am exempt from judgment and wrath because of Christ and the cross. Suffering and God’s judgment are different.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The church is told consistently in the New Testament it is not appointed for wrath. Jesus Himself said the Gates of Hell will not have victory of the Church. But Hell will have victory over the Tribulation saints.
On Mon, Jun 30, 2014 at 11:59 AM, PaulthePoke's Blog wrote:
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September 28, 2014 at 7:38 PM
Amazing article, thanks a lot !!
September 27, 2015 at 9:04 AM
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