Gen. 5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:22And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:23And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:24And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Note: Gen 42:36 The same Hebrew word is used, yet both Joseph and Simeon were alive. Heb. 11:5 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. There are many who believe Enoch never died a human death and God carried him off to heaven before he died. The belief in “going to heaven” after one dies is an established belief in the Christian community of believers. Consequently they use these two verses about Enoch to “prove” we go to heaven when we die. We will study these verses carefully and we will see they do not say Enoch went to heaven at all.
First we need to understand what happens at human death. Look up and read the CSCOG7 Staff Immortal Soul study for a longer explanation of what happens when a human dies. All humans die a physical death as stated by God and His Biblical authors. Heb. 9:27 “It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgement”. Concerning the “faithful” listed in Hebrews 11 they “all died in faith, not having received the promises…” (Vs. 13). Continuing in verse 39 they all “obtained a good report through faith”, yet “received not the promise.” These are the faithful of God yet they all died and Enoch was one of them. All die (I Cor. 15:22). It is clear Enoch is currently dead. Jesus said, ”And no man hath ascended up to heaven…” (John 3:13a). Only Jesus has been to heaven and back (John 3:13b). Only Jesus has gone to heaven therefore Enoch is clearly in the grave today awaiting his future judgement at the return of Jesus Christ. Look up and read the CSCOG7 Staff Heaven for further info on what happens after death.
We have learned we are all subject to death and no one but Christ has gone to heaven as many believe happens at death. Now what about Enoch and the fact God took him? Where did God take him? The Bible does not say God took him to heaven. Heb. 11:5 says God “translated” him. We need to understand the terms “translated” and “not see death.” 1) Translated as translated in the Greek is “metatithemi” meaning “to change (from one place or position to another), to take away, carried away, removed.” Strong’s #3346. Like God did for Moses when Moses died (Deut. 34:6), God removed the body of Enoch. God moved Enoch from the place of his death to bury him privately. 2) What was meant by “not see death”? Which death? The second death of Rev. 20:6 Enoch will inherit the earth with the rest of God’s saints. At God’s great judgement of mankind Enoch will once again live with the saints in the presence of God. He died the normal physical death of all men but will live the loving eternal life with God in His future Kingdom of God as he has not yet received the “promise” of eternal life (Heb. 11:39). Enoch did die the human death, he did not go to heaven and he is buried (Just like King David is, see Acts 2:29). Enoch was a friend of God and two cannot walk together unless they agree (Amos 3:3). Enoch like all the saints listed in Heb. 11 will eventually receive God’s promise of eternal life (verses 39-40) at the return of Jesus Christ to rule this earth (I Thes. 4:13-18 and I Cor. 15: 50-54).
