“And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.”
“All the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.”
“And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.“
“And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.“
“And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.“
“And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.“
“And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.“
“And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.“
“And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.“
What’s So Special about Enoch?
These verses are from Genesis 5. While it’s easy to get distracted by the whopping lifespans of these guys, I hope you notice something else. One of these things is not like the others — and it’s not just the bold type. It doesn’t say that Enoch died; it says that God took him.
Hebrews 11:5 sheds some light on what happened: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
Out of all of these people, only Enoch went to heaven at the end of his life on earth. Enoch’s case was clearly an exception, not the rule.
What’s the Point?
The point is this: Many people — and most Christians — believe that people go to heaven when they die. This belief is not supported by scripture. Instead, it came into mainstream Christian theology by way of mythology and philosophy.
Particularly, it is the notion of the immortal soul that was popularized by Plato. This philosophy purports that a disembodied soul originates in heaven, comes down to earth to inhabit a body for a time, and eventually escapes from the body and returns to heaven.
It is important to know where our beliefs come from and what the Bible actually says. This isn’t the only passage that tells us about death and heaven. Read the Bible from beginning to end, and you will see a clear, consistent, coherent message.
Wondering why the Bible should be trusted?
Good News
Those eight men who died might receive eternal life and go to heaven at some point in the future. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, and He offers Himself to everyone. If we trust Him, here’s what can we look forward to:
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
I hope you do find comfort in these words. The Lord knows we need it.
The Bible says other people will get to go to heaven without dying like Enoch did. I’d like to read your thoughts about that: who? why? when?
Yes! The Bible specifically mentions Elijah (2 Kings 2) and God-trusting people who are living when Jesus returns (1 Thessalonians 4).
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