Enoch
Gen. 5:24.
The brief story of Enoch raises several points worth noting. First of
all we are told that he "Walked with God". This is an expression
which is developed further on in Scripture, i.e. Amos 3:3. It has a specific
meaning and should not be passed over lightly.
Secondly, we are told that he "was not", another very specific
expression found in Scripture which Scripture itself explains in several
different ways.
The third thing to look at is the word “translated”.
Heb. 11:5
"Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not
found, because God translated him: for before his translation he
had this testimony, that he pleased God."
"translated" = caught up,
or, transferred. Gr: metatithemi = to transfer to another place. Nowhere are we
told that Enoch went to heaven, though many assume this. It is a
traditional teaching in the Mainline church that when godly people (Old
testament) or Christians (New Testament) die, they go immediately to heaven.
(See my article on ‘A Matter of Life and Death’) Such is not taught directly
from the Bible, but inferred by interpretation. A much stronger case can be
made for the alternative – a sleep of death until the day of resurrection.
" . . .that he should not see death . . .".
"See" = to know, or, to be aquainted with. The word denotes a bodily
vision, with mental thought about the object. This means that Enoch was spared
old age, which was part of the curse on creation. He died instantly, at the age
of 365 yrs. Moses too, was killed by God, and buried, before the 'natural'
event of death came to him.
"And Enoch walked with God, and he was not. . ." The
expression "'was not" or "was no more" means "is
dead". Scripture always explains Scripture. For proof of this, see:
Gen. 37: 30 'the lad is not..." or, "is no more"
Gen. 42:13 "and one is not..." or, "is no more"
Job 27:19 "and he is not..." or "is no more"
Ps. 37:36 "yet he passed away, and behold, he was not" or
"was no more"
Ps. 39:13 "before I go away and am no more."
Prov. 12:7 'The wicked are overthrown and are no more."
Is. 17:14 "and before the morning he is not" or, "he is
no more"
Jer. 10:20 "and they are not" or, "and they are no more"
Jer. 31:15 "because they are not." or "because they are
no more."
Jer. 49:10 "and he is not" or, 'and he is no more"
Lam. 5:7 "our fathers sinned and are no more."
Mat. 2:18 "because they were no more." Quoted from Jer. 31:15.
It is of course a nice thought
to imagine Enoch being so godly, and so pleasing to God that God took him to
heaven, but Enoch was a sinner like all humans, and not substantially better
than any other human. Take Mary, the mother of Jesus – she called God her
“saviour”. God repeatedly says that it is only through Christ that anyone can
be saved, so Enoch could not have been an exception.
Jesus was the “firstfruits of
them that slept” and in John we are told that all the dead remain in their
graves until the Lord Jesus descends and calls them out. (For more details, see
my article).