A question often posed is this: How do those who lived from Adam to Abraham have an opportunity to be saved? The Bible emphatically answers this, informing us that humanity was never left without the witness of the triune God. First, Adam’s testimony for the necessity of sacrifice in Eden’s garden was obviously effective in the life of Abel. In the days of Seth, men began to call upon the Lord. Furthermore, Psalm 19 declares the universe as evidence to the eternal power of God. Any person has to admit that we are governed by time, and the fact that scientists purport “billions” of years verifies they appreciate the universe had a beginning. Everything within is on a known countdown. The sun burning in our sky has an energy output leading to a loss in the sun’s mass of over 350 billion tonnes each day. The Bible declares that the eternal God, who initiated and controls the stopwatch of this universe, gave personal testimony of Himself through the creation of mankind. Made in the image of God, the human being uniquely has the innate ability to know God (Rom 1:19), recognise sin (2:15) and comprehend eternity (Ecc 3:11 NKJV). Leaving man without excuse (Rom 1:20), God sovereignly decreed that those who seek Him will find Him (Jer 29:13; Mat 7:7). Additionally, as we see with the following persons, those who trust God are further rewarded with spiritual revelation (Heb 11:6).
Job
Although our Bible opens with the Genesis record by Moses, it’s probable that Job was the earliest book to be written. Job was likely in excess of 200 years old when he died. The book begins by informing us that he had seven grown children (this could easily place him over 50). He spent an unspecified period of time being sick before recovering and fathering a further seven children. He watched these children grow to a mature age, where his daughters would receive their inheritance among his sons. The Holy Spirit then states, “After this Job lived an hundred and forty years” (Job 42:16). These calculations, added to the suggestion of scholars that the book was written approximately 400 years before Moses, could place Job even before the patriarch Abraham. This would fit with the fact that in the book of Job there is no mention of the Abrahamic covenant, Melchisedec, the Law of Moses, the priesthood or Levitical offerings. No reference is made to the Israelite people or the Promised Land, yet what’s incredible is that this man had such insight into future events. Within three short verses of chapter 19 (vv25-27), we note something of Job’s spiritual intelligence. He knew the forgiveness of sins and that he was indeed redeemed. He understood that his “redeemer” was none less than God Himself. By the usage of this word, he doctrinally grasped that God’s salvation had come at a cost (sacrifice – see Job 1:5). He also appreciated that upon death, as a believer, his body would be buried (not burnt as was prevalent in ancient cultures of the east), referring to its decomposition in the ground. In the same light, he was confident of resurrection, understanding that his body, having been sown in the earth (not strewn on the wind), would be raised in the great day of harvest. Moreover, Job looked forward to the day of future millennial glory, absolutely confident that in his own resurrected body, he would behold his Redeemer (Christ) standing upon the earth.
Enoch
This, however, was not the first revelation concerning the coming Christ and His glorious kingdom. Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah who walked with God (Gen 5:24), was given revelation. Like us, he looked to be translated out of this scene, living in expectation of the coming kingdom. According to Jude 14-15, Enoch exhorts us to grasp that the coming righteous One is none less than the Lord Himself. Enoch (himself a picture of the Church) foresaw our part with the Lord. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Col 3:4 KJV).
Noah
Undoubtedly, the narrative of Noah and the ark is a tremendous preview of future events. The ark, a beautiful figure of Christ, is made of gopher wood, indicating His incorruptible humanity. That world, so similar to ours, was encumbered with corruption and violence, teetering on the precipice of damnation and fully ripe for the judgment of God. In Noah and his family, we can see the Jewish remnant that will find safety in Christ during the global judgment to come. The innumerable mass of animals could symbolise Gentiles that will be saved in tribulation days (Rev 7:9-17). Genesis 7:14 informs us that four classes of animals went into the ark. The Lord uses these animal groups in teaching Peter that they represent Gentiles (Act 10:12).
Having arrived on the other side of the flood to a cleansed earth, Noah and his descendants are instructed by the Lord to be “fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” The word “multiply” is used by the Spirit to speak of flood waters covering the earth (Gen 7:17-18). We recognise God’s intention that the whole world be blessed, fruitful and re-populated – a wonderful preview of the millennial reign of Christ! How sad that men soon rebelled against the expressed will of God. The people set about building a kingdom in defiance against God (Gen 10:8-10), refusing to be spread abroad (11:1-4). We quickly realise that in spite of God’s desire, the government of that world was anything but righteous and peaceful.
Melchisedec
Another Old Testament character pointing to the Millennium is Melchisedec. What it must have been for the inhabitants of (Jeru) Salem in his day! His name meant “king of righteousness” and the city obtained its name because he was a “king of peace.” He blessed “uncircumcised” Abram (Gen 14:18-20), and in turn Abram gave him of the spoils he had obtained. Gentiles, likewise, shall bring of their treasures to the ultimate King in millennial days (Isa 60:6; Psa 72:10-15).
In closing, we acknowledge that while so many Old Testament saints will come into blessing in millennial days, God has something better for us (Heb 11:40). These saints raised at the commencement of the Millennium (Job 19:25-26; Isa 26:20; Dan 12:1-2) are invited to the marriage supper in the kingdom. The Lord Himself said, “Many shall come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 8:11 KJV). As the bride, we are brought into greater blessing as joint-heirs with Christ. They await the day when we will be manifested as the sons of God (Rom 8:17-19). The writer to the Hebrews announces that only then will they be made perfect and inherit the glorious promises, they’d seen so far off (11:40). “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”
