by Giles Day

Created on: September 09, 2009   Last Updated: September 11, 2009

The seventh name in the Godly line of Adam through his son, Seth, is that of the Biblical patriarch Enoch. He was the father of Methuselah, and is the great-grandfather of Noah. Although little information is available on the life of Enoch (he lived just three hundred sixty five years in a time in history when many men lived the better part of one thousand years),it is openly obvious that he was a righteous man in a time and place where the world around him was growing increasingly wicked. His personal character was so holy and pure that the Bible states that God took him to heaven without the normal human experience of death. (Genesis 5:24)

There is not much said in Scripture about this Godly man, but the little information which is given is of great import and interest. Genesis 5:21 states that he was the father of Methuselah when he was sixty five, but he did not walk with Gd until after the birth of his son. Perhaps when he looked into the face of his newborn son he was stirred within himself at the wonder of God's handiwork. That would put a lie to the abortion argument that the fetus in the womb is not a living, breathing, functioning human being. Every person, both prior to and following his or her birth is known to the Heavenly Father, and has a specially selected place in his Master plan. In the book of Jude, we find a wealth of information about Enoch as well. Verses fourteen and fifteen tell us that Enoch was a prophet. A theme which runs through both the Old and New testament is the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ (this is mentioned in Isaiah, Jude and Job). The reason we don't have more of Enoch's vision is obvious...Enoch was before the flood. His record would have been destroyed, as the world was covered under water for over a year. God's Holy Spirit only saw fit to preserve this small remnant of in formation regarding Enoch.

Moses is also mentioned in the book of Jude (vs 9). Michael, the archangel, and Satan wrestled over his dead body. This is important to mention here, because this account is mentioned in the Epistle of First Enoch. This book is not in the Canon, and is not accepted as traditional Scripture. This does not mean the information is false, but simply that it is not included in the Old and New Testament's sixty six books. This great man appears again in Matthew 17,after he is taken to heaven. He and Moses are on the Mount of Transfiguration, talking to Christ about His coming death in Jerusalem. While it is true that Enoch never died, Moses certainly did. That clearly points out the truth of the Resurrection. Of course, we take this on faith, but the Bible teaches that the saved are raised from the dead to be with Jesus in heaven. Although Peter, James and John never actually saw these men or met them, they apparently knew who they were.

The life of this wonderful servant of God can serve as an inspiration for Christians even today. Any servant of God should have these words said about them "they were an example for others". It is impossible to know if we will be raptured before death, but we all can look forward to that possibility.

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