Lessons from 'Saints of the Past' Saturday, Bi-Monthly Series; 'Enoch', Post 3 of 3, September 29, 2018​

Welcome my Friends. 

Please come in and have a seat.  Over the past few days I have been remembering and studying - different 'persons' of the Holy Bible.  And, the Lord, I believe has laid on my heart to do a a 'new' 'bi-monthly'  'Saturday Series', 'Characters of the Holy Bible'.

Remember, as I am always remembering, that what is written at 1 Corinthians 10:11, to wit: 'Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.'  We can learn from 'Characters of the Holy Bible'.

So, let us start with - 'Enoch', A 'Saint'. [Genesis 4:17; 5:18]  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

Post 1 of 3; Saturday, September 1, 2018; An Overview
Post 2 of 3, Saturday, September 15, 2018; What was the nature of his religion and the scope and tenor of his conversation, or life?
Post 3 of 3, Saturday, September 29, 2018; His glorious removal to a better world. Our final post in the Series.

Enoch's glorious removal to a better world. As he did not live like the rest, so he did not die like the rest [verse 24]; He was not, for God took him; that is, as it is explained Hebrews 11:5.  He was translated that he should not see death, and was not found, because God had translated him. Observe, carefully, therefore,

1. What time of life was it, when he was thus translated?

Enoch was translated when he had lived but three hundred and sixty-five years (a year of years), which, as men's ages went then, was in the midst of his days; for there was none of the patriarchs before the flood that did not more than double that age. But why did God take him so soon? Surely, because the world, which had now grown corrupt, was not worthy of him, or because he was so much above the world, and so weary of it, as to desire a speedy removal out of it, or because his work was done, and done the sooner for his minding it so closely.  We do not know. But, carefully note. 

God often takes those soonest whom he loves best, and the time they lose on earth is gained in heaven, to their unspeakable advantage!

2. What time and what was going on in the world? It was when all the patriarchs mentioned in this chapter were living, except Adam, who died fifty-seven years before, and Noah, who was born sixty-nine years after; those two had sensible confirmations to their faith other ways, but to all the rest, who were or might have been witnesses of Enoch's translation, it was a sensible encouragement to their faith and hope concerning a future state.  Further, for us, it is a mighty lesson to ever be ready. [Matthew 25:13]

audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

3. How his removal is expressed: He was not, for God took him. He was not any longer in this world; it was not the period of his being, but of his being here: he was not found, as explained like when Elijah later on in the Scriptures was not found by his friends, who sought him as the sons of the prophets sought Elijah (2 Kings 2:17); not found by his enemies, who, some think, were in quest of him, to put him to death in their rage against him for his eminent piety. It appears by his prophecy that there were then many ungodly sinners, who spoke hard speeches, and probably did hard things too, against God's people (Jude 15), but God hid Enoch from them, not under heaven, but in heaven.  [Some think this is the way it will be for believers upon the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.]

4. Further, God took him body and soul to himself in the heavenly paradise, by the ministry of angels, as afterwards he took Elijah. He was changed, as those saints will be that shall be found alive at Christ's second coming. [1 Corinthians 15:52] Whenever a good man dies God takes him, fetches him hence, and receives him to himself. [See Luke 16:19-31] The Scripture adds concerning Enoch that, before his translation, he had this testimony, that he pleased God, and this was the good report he obtained. [Hebrews 11:5]

audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

Please notice that walking with God pleases God. And, we cannot walk with God so as to please him, but by faith [John 6:44; 14:6] God himself will put an honour upon those that by faith walk with him so as to please him. He will own them now, and witness for them before angels and men at the great day. [Matthew 10:32; John 6:37] Those that have not this testimony before the translation, yet shall have it afterwards. [Revelation 19:6] Those whose conversation in the world is truly holy shall find their removal out of it truly happy. Enoch's translation was not only an evidence to faith of the reality of a future state, and of the possibility of the body's existing in glory in that state; but it was an encouragement to the hope of all that walk with God that they shall be for ever with him: signal piety shall be crowned with signal honours. [Study Hebrews 11]

audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

As we conclude our first study 'Saints of the Past', again, let us do some 'self-examinations', [2 Corinthians 13:5-7], considering as we have gone through these three posts over the past six [6] weeks, our own walk with God.  As we learn about Enoch, let us be asking of our selves this one question, 'Am I walking faithfully with God, pleasing Him with my faith and obedience, because I love Him?' 'Am I walking by faith'?  For truly '11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.' [Romans 13:11-14] 

Be not deceived.  If you are not 'in Jesus', you will 'never' be 'pleasing God'. 'No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.' [John 6:44]   Amen. Amen.

As the Lord wills, on Saturday, October 13, 2018, a new 'Saint of the Past' Series shall begin to post.  Please, return.  Amen. Amen.​

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