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Gen.
5:24.
The
brief story of Enoch raises several points worth noting. Irst 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).