One of the most interesting verses of scripture found in the Bible is the description of Enoch and his “Rapture” to heaven in Genesis chapter 5, verse 24:
This is the Third Prophecy Found in the Bible:
Genesis 5:24 “…And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.“
This event in the Old Testament is intended by the Holy Spirit to typify or illustrate for us a similar event that will occur in the last days just before the beginning of the seven year Tribulation. Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica and revealed that “The Lord would descend from heaven…the dead in Christ will be raised…we who are alive will be caught up (Raptured) to meet the Lord in the air…”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.“
In this third prophecy found in the Bible, where the Rapture is illustrated, we are directed to chapter 5 of Genesis where at first glance, one of the most un interesting descriptions imaginable is found. The Genealogy of Adam.
Genesis 5:1-40 includes a list of 10 names describing the descendants of Adam:
Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahaalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah.
When a son was given a name in the Old Testament, there was a particular meaning behind that name. When we take the original Hebrew translation of these 10 names as found in Genesis 5, we find something truly amazing:
Adam: “Man”
Seth: “Appointed”
Enosh: “Mortal”
Kenan: “Sorrow”
Mahaalel: “The Blessed God”
Jared: “Shall Come Down”
Enoch: “Teaching”
Methuselah: “His Death Shall Bring”.
Lamech: “The Despairing”
Noah: “Rest”
“Man, Appointed, Mortal, Sorrow, (But the) Blessed God, Shall Come Down, Teaching, (That) His Death Shall Bring, The Despairing, Rest.”
What are the chances that the Christian Gospel of Jesus Christ would be found in the 5th Chapter of the 1st book of the Bible? Of course there is absolutely no possibility that this Genealogy with these exact names, could have occurred by accident. They are there by design, God placed them there.
What is the 7th name in this Geneology? Enoch, the one whom God Raptured and took to heaven. What is the illustration that the Holy Spirit is making? That located in the Old Testament Book of Genesis, is hidden The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of Enoch being Raptured, That message is:
That man was appointed mortal sorrow, but the blessed God came down from heaven in the form of Jesus Christ to teach the entire world that Jesus death will bring rest to the souls of everyone who trust in Him.
In other words, there is a promise in this third Prophecy of the Bible, that Jesus Christ will redeem man and fulfill the promise of the Rapture that is illustrated by Enoch in Genesis 5:24.
Paul wrote that when Jesus rose from the dead, He was fulfilling the prophecy of “The First Fruits”. An Old Testament Feast in which those who went out to harvest their crops gave back the first part, the best part of their crops, back to the Lord.
The Fulfillment of this 3rd Old Testament Prophecy is found in:
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man (Adam) came death, by Man (Jesus) also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
Clearly Paul is referring to the fact that when Jesus comes for His church at the Rapture, He will be fulfilling the prophecy of Enoch found in Genesis chapter 5, and that of 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.
