The unusual subject of the rapture, or the snatching away of people from earth to heaven, is seen in both the OT (Gen 5:24) and the NT (1Cor 15:23, 51-52; 1Thes 4:13-17). This first episode involves only one living man directly. The NT passages involve every believer in Jesus Christ, whether dead or alive.
In Genesis 3 we see sin entering the world by one man (Rom 5:12, 19-20), orchestrated by the deceiver, Satan. Adam’s consequent disobedience to God brought death upon the whole human race. But certain ones will never die, as we see from this subject.
Enoch’s Progenitors
From Adam to Enoch are just seven generations, all living within a time span of approximately 618 years. All six of the men before Enoch were still alive when he arrived, each living beyond the 895 years of Mahalaleel (Gen 5:1-20).
Enoch’s Privilege
Thus Enoch could have been perfectly acquainted with events from creation by contact and verbal communication with each man. The story of the fall into sin, the coming of the curse, the promise of God to send a man to deal with Satan, the flaming sword barring entrance into Eden, Cain’s stubborn refusal of God’s way and slaying of Abel, Cain’s consequent going away from God’s presence towards the east, would all have left indelible impressions on Enoch. Also, as he looked at God’s wonders in the heavens, as on the earth, with innate knowledge of God (Rom 1:19), he became convinced of the reality and majesty of his Creator. The Spirit of God (Gen 6:3) drew him into the joyous experience of communion, obedience, and a perpetual walk with God at a relatively young age. It was a walk on earth that would last at least 300 years.
Enoch’s Path
This daily walk was done in faith (Heb 11:5-6), to the pleasure of God, and despite the growing ungodliness around him. He saw, with God, that marriages were going seriously wrong (Gen 6:2); that peoples’ minds were wicked (“Every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually” Gen 6:5, KJV); and that humanity’s manner of life was ungodly (“All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth” Gen 6:12, KJV). He was determined that his son would see the truth as well as hear it; that he too might live to bring pleasure to God, and he diligently sought God daily to this end.
Enoch’s Prophecy
Considering humanity’s drift into evil, and undoubtedly prompted by the Holy Spirit, Enoch was moved to prophesy. He said, “Behold, the Lord has come with ten thousands of His myriads, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (Jude 10-15, KJV). God must judge evil.
Enoch Plucked Up (Raptured)
Then it happened. Unannounced, unheard, and unseen, Enoch “was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God translated him” (Gen 6:24, KJV). “He was not,” for God removed him to Himself. He belonged to another world.
Is my reader a personal believer in Jesus Christ, and prepared for this amazing Enoch-like experience that could happen at any moment (John 14:3)?
