Enoch, a Type of Christ
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
5/20 Reading Portions: Numbers 29; Psalm 73; Isaiah 21; 2 Peter 2
Genesis 5:23-24
Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
FAITH
In his Bible commentary, Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921) presents this account as “a type of those saints who are to be translated before the apocalyptic judgments.” He then cites 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. Now, when I’ve stated that I don’t agree with Mr. Scofield’s assertions, a missionary whose only biblical education came from a school that exclusively teaches dispensationalism asked me with alarm: “Don’t you believe in the rapture?” Of course, I do. What he failed to understand was that historically, there have been four legitimate, orthodox Christian views of the end times, and each one of them believe in the saints who are alive at the return of Christ “will be caught up together” with the dead in Christ who have already been raised (1 Thess 4:14-17).
I won’t go into the four different views, but if you are interested in getting a basic grip upon each one, I had written articles on each one of them and you can find them here: dispensationalism, post-millennialism, amillennialism, and historical pre-millennialism.
Now, maybe these verses are a type of rapture (I just don’t see it here, and perhaps I’m wrong); but I believe that there are two greater prophetic pictures here from Enoch’s life and active faith as a recipient of God’s grace. Let’s take a look at the first picture—Enoch, as a type of Christ.
The New Testament tells us that these verses are a testimony of Enoch not dying physically, as his six forefathers did before him. It is written:
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. Hebrews 11:5
This is important because it tells us that, first and foremost, Enoch was a prophetic foreshadow of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Messiah, the Christ who was never unpleasing to the heavenly Father. It is written:
and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
And again,
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
Jesus is the only Son who was pleasing to His Father in all things at all times, even while receiving the heavenly Father’s wrath as He hung upon the tree. Christ’s faith, as sinless Man never fumbled, faltered, or failed, even when He was forsaken of God (Psa 22:1; Isa 53:10; Matt 27:46).
Our faith is often frail. Even Enoch’s faith, over 300 years of his life since his conversion, fumbled, faltered, and failed in its depraved frailty. But Christ’s propitiation is powerful and eternal, reaching back in righteousness to atone for all of Enoch’s sins (Rom 3:25).
It is by the doctrinal truth of imputation that we may thank the heavenly Father for the holy Son. Christ’s faith has been placed upon our account. It is in that truth we must ruminate upon and rejoice in daily. This should cause us to shout with joy along with the psalmist, who penned one of my favorite portions of the Hebrew Scriptures:
Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:15-16
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
I mentioned two important things that Genesis 5:23-24 presents to us. We’ll take a look at the other tomorrow.