| (Copyright 05-21-2024) by James Steinle (Swanville, Minnesota) |
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| Some believe Enoch was translated and never died per Genesis 5:24. That he did not die is not true; that Enoch was ‘translated’ is true. For an example of what happened to Enoch, we will examine what happened to Elijah which I believe cannot be any different in essence. 2 Kings 2:11 is used to supposedly prove that Elijah was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind, and so that is where he has been ever since; “And it came to pass, as they (Elijah and Elisha) 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.” The evidence that Elijah did not stay in heaven (which heaven?) is found in 2 Chronicles 21:12 where it says, “And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,…(it goes on in verses 13-20)” The writing from Elijah was about 7 years after being taken up into the “heavens”. The seven years is determined by comparing 2 Kings 3:1; 1 Kings 22:42 and 2 Kings 8:16; see also Ezekiel 3:12-15. But which heaven of the three was he taken up into? The first (earth’s atmosphere), the second (outer space) or the third (where the Heavenly Beings reside)? Not the third heaven where the Father’s Throne is. “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13) Also 2 Corinthians 12:2, “I knew a man in Messiah above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” So, if Elijah or Enoch had been up to, or are up currently, in the third heaven, then our Savior’s words are not true; which of course they are true. Hebrews 11 adds more information. Verse 5 says, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” ‘Translated” is G3346 which literally means ‘transported’. In Acts 7:16 we find, “And were carried over (G3346 =transported, i.e. translated) into Sychem, and laid in the sepulcher that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.” Hebrews 11:13 is concrete proof no one is now in the Heaven where the Father and the Son are now. “These ALL (which includes Enoch & Elijah) DIED in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” What about Colossians 1:13? “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated (G.3179) us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” G.3179 can have the meaning of transferred, or removed (as in 1 Corinthians 13:2 ‘remove mountains’). How were we delivered from the power of darkness as Colossians 1:13 says? Upon conversion and following our Leader the Messiah, we are no longer the children of the devil anymore, but have now become the children of our Heavenly Father and brothers and sisters of Yayshua the Anointed One (Galatians 3:26). We no longer have to remain in or be in the power of Satan; we now have the power from on High, Yayshua living in our hearts and minds! We have been translated in that way. Of course we do fall at times, but because of our Heavenly High Priest, we can have our sins forgiven when we turn our hearts back and confess our sins. We receive mercy from on High. ——————————————————————————————————– See James Steinle’s other articles at: Steinle, James – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) ——————————————————————————————————– |
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