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by Riding the last galaxy on August 22nd, 2010
There are only two Scriptural passages that mention Enoch by name. The first one is found in Genesis 5:24....."Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." (Genesis 5:24, New International Version Bible)
The second is found in Hebrews 11:5......"By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, 'and was not found, because God had taken him'; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God."
The most significant aspect of these Scriptures is that NONE of them say Enoch went to heaven. The word rendered as "was taken" (or as "translated" in the KJV Bible) comes from the Greek word metatithëmi. It means to transfer, transport, exchange, change sides, carry over, change or remove.
We read in John 3:13 ..... "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. "
According to Scripture, Enoch was taken but not to heaven(God's heaven). I believe that Elijah is the other person that you are referring that supposedly didn't die.
"And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal . . . Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." (2Kings 2:1, 11, NKJV)
One of the rarely taught teachings of the Bible is that there are THREE types or kinds of heaven that scriptures can refer to. The first heaven is the atmosphere or sky that surrounds the earth. The second heaven is the physical universe that has stars, planets and so on. The third heaven is where God and his throne resides. The word translated heaven in the book of 2Kings comes from the Hebrew word shâmayim. It is the plural form of the Hebrew word shameh which means to be lofty, the sky, the visible arch in which the clouds move. This word does not refer to the heaven where God's throne is located.
So if we take Jesus at His word in John 3:13 then neither Enoch or Elijah ascended into the third heaven. So where are they now? When Jesus (John 3:13) and Peter (Acts 2:34) state that "no one" has gone to heaven, the heaven they are referring to is the one where God resides. Therefore, when Hebrews 11:5 states that Enoch was "translated" or moved, it does NOT mean that he was somehow miraculously picked up by God to live forever with him near his heavenly throne. Enoch was moved or taken through the earth's atmosphere or sky (the same sky airplanes fly in) to a physical location on the earth the Bible does not name so that " . . . he should not see death." This is the same thing that happened to Elijah.
by nightcrawler0_2 on August 22nd, 2010
Unlikely as I doubt Enoch is still alive as a human, and there was no heavenly hope at this time, Jesus was the first to mention one (Mt 19:21, 23-28; Lu 12:32; Joh 14:2,3), and it only came into effect after Jesus' death, all those that died before Jesus looked forward to the coming resurrection back to life on earth, Enoch included.
Enoch as a prophet of Jehovah, foretold God’s coming with His holy myriads to execute judgement against the ungodly. (Jude 14,15) Likely persecution was brought against him because of his prophesying. However, God did not permit the opposes to kill Enoch. Instead, Jehovah “took him,” that is, cut short his life at the age of 365, an age far below that of most of his contemporaries.
Enoch was “transferred so as not to see death,” which may mean that God put him in a prophetic trance and then terminated Enoch’s life while he was in the trance so that he did not experience the pangs of death. (Ge 5:24; Heb 11:5,13) However, he was not taken to heaven, in view of Jesus’ clear statement at John 3:13. It appears that, as in the case of Moses’ body, Jehovah disposed of Enoch’s body, for “he was nowhere to be found.” (De 34:5,6; Jude 9)
Not sure who you are referring to as the other supposed one not to have died, but after his death and 40 days before Jesus ascended into heaven, and hence before Pentecost which was 10 days after that ascension, God through Jesus anointed the first members of those who will receive the heavenly resurrection (Ac 1:3; 2:1-4,33)
by canonlytry on August 22nd, 2010
Yes, along with Elijah and since it is a godly principle that all men must die in the flesh, it is these 2 men who are believed to be the witnesses spoken of in the book of Revelations.
by -O-uknow on February 23rd, 2011
One of my favorite names along with Ezekiel or "Zeke", Noah and Elijah.
by seahorse on February 23rd, 2011
The son born to Jared at the age of 162; the seventh man in the genealogical line from Adam. In addition to Methuselah, who was born to him when he was 65 years old, Enoch had other sons and daughters. Enoch was one of the “so great a cloud of witnesses” who were outstanding examples of faith in ancient times. “Enoch kept walking with the true God.” (Ge 5:18, 21-24; Heb 11:5; 12:1) As a prophet of Jehovah, he foretold God’s coming with His holy myriads to execute judgment against the ungodly. (Jude 14, 15) Likely persecution was brought against him because of his prophesying. However, God did not permit the opposers to kill Enoch. Instead, Jehovah “took him,” that is, cut short his life at the age of 365, an age far below that of most of his contemporaries. Enoch was “transferred so as not to see death,” which may mean that God put him in a prophetic trance and then terminated Enoch’s life while he was in the trance so that he did not experience the pangs of death. (Ge 5:24; Heb 11:5, 13) However, he was not taken to heaven, in view of Jesus’ clear statement at John 3:13. It appears that, as in the case of Moses’ body, Jehovah disposed of Enoch’s body, for “he was nowhere to be found.”—De 34:5, 6; Jude 9.
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Comments
Nice answer, though not likely a traditional one.
From the book "Reasoning on the Scriptures":
Is it possible for Christians to be taken to heaven with their physical bodies?
1 Cor. 15:50, RS: “I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”
Does the experience of the prophet Elijah contradict this? Not at all. It must be understood in the light of Jesus’ clear statement centuries later: “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.” (John 3:13, RS) Although Elijah was seen as he “went up by a whirlwind into heaven,” this does not mean that he went into the spirit realm. Why not? Because he is later reported as sending a letter of reproof to the king of Judah. (2 Ki. 2:11, RS; 2 Chron. 21:1, 12-15) Before humans invented airplanes, Jehovah there used his own means (a fiery chariot and a whirlwind) to lift Elijah off the ground into the heaven where the birds fly and to transport him to another place.—Compare Genesis 1:6-8, 20.
(2 Chronicles 21:12) Eventually there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying: “This is what Jehovah the God of David your forefather has said, ‘Due to the fact that you have not walked in the ways of Je‧hosh′a‧phat your father or in the ways of A′sa the king of Judah,
I assume that those in Heaven can't write letters. From your answer, I believe that is your understanding also.
by Texasescimo on August 23rd, 2010
Thank you Tex. Methinks my non-traditional ways have ruffled a few feathers in my lifetime. :)
by Riding the last galaxy on August 23rd, 2010
I can imagine. You should have seen the way my traditionalist friends started treating me when I quit going to bars, drinking, and fighting and started studying the Bible. At that point some of my frineds seemed as if they wanted to shoot me while others started trying to save me.
Is there a Church that teaches your non-traditional views?
by Texasescimo on August 24th, 2010
Just came across this again. I am sure you have ruffled a few feathers. Lol
by Texasescimo on October 27th, 2011