Enoch
The Seventh from Adam
(Hebrews 11:5)
The War Between Good and Evil Continues
Part 2
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. (Hebrews 11:5)
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 1:14)
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The Beginning of the Generations of Faith and Grace
Enoch’s testimony begins in Genesis Chapter 5 in the 21st verse. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah. However, his testimony in the word of God does not end until the LAST epistle BEFORE the Revelation of Jesus Christ. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 1:14) In the book of Jude we find that Enoch was the seventh from Adam. This is a marvelous way that the Lord of glory closes the testimony of Enoch by the number seven, the number of perfect fulfillment. There are some wonderful numbers placed around Enoch. We find him in Genesis Chapter 5. This number is the number of God’s grace. Enoch is revealed to us in the 21st verse of Chapter 5. Again, we have numbers, he is the seventh from Adam, and he is in the 5th Chapter of Genesis and revealed in the 21st verse. The number seven is the number of perfect fulfillment. It is interesting in Jude that the Holy Spirit uses the number seven with Enoch as a message to all the ungodly, and in the LAST book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the number seven is the predominant number in the entire book of Revelation. In short, but not complete. The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the FULL revealing of God’s Son in His majesty, in His glory, and in His dominion. So, when Jude tells us that Enoch was the seventh from Adam, the Holy Spirit is preparing us for the fulfillment of the Lord Jesus Christ in His own revelation to the world, to the church, and most of all to those who have overcome the world and have overcome the works of the devil in that more excellent sacrifice and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we see with eyes wide open the number seven is the number of PERFECT fulfillment, the number five is the number of God’s grace and the number twenty-one is the fulfillment of both faith and grace. Three times seven is the combination of the fullness of the Godhead bodily: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. In the fullness and fulfillment of God’s purpose we see the number seven and then three times seven is twenty-one, and after the number twenty-one, one can only say, It is finished.
Chapter 5 of Genesis begins the generations of faith and grace. Although Adam’s name is mentioned first, it is only to show the physical relationship that began the sons of men, however, if we look back to Genesis 4:25, we find that Seth was the seed given to Eve to replace Abel who was the first man of faith. And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. It is Seth who begins this genealogy of faith. He is the focal point of the Spirit of God to show us a genealogy, a path of faith that God would not allow to be removed from the eternal pages of His word. Abel was faithful in his more excellent sacrifice that he offered up to God. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4) As we see in Hebrews Chapter 11 these men not only had faith but each one of these men magnify the characteristics and the purity of God’s faith. That it is FAITH that brings us to the majesty on high through a more excellent sacrifice and the ultimate sacrifice was the death of my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth and in His marvelous love He shed His blood and He became my most excellent sacrifice.
We also have to believe in the purpose of God that each name represented in Chapter 5 is part of the generation of faith IN the more excellent sacrifice. Enoch had to experience the price of his sin in the lamb set aside and the shedding of blood as Abel, this would be according to the command of God. In obedience, Enoch offered up the purity of a lamb without spot, both without and within that represented a purer Lamb that would be made manifested before man in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ . . . the divine Lamb that taketh away the sin of the world. Just to conclude the genealogy of Chapter 5 of the book of Genesis, Noah is the last man, the eighth, which is also the number of resurrection and a new beginning for Noah beheld the new earth. Noah was the first man of FAITH in the new earth, and he sanctified the new earth by offering up EVERY clean beast without spot, without blemish and they were a sweet savor to God.
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (Genesis 8:20) And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. (Genesis 8:21) While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22)
Just so there will be no confusion. God called the CLEAN animals and the fowls by sevens and the UNCLEAN by twos. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that [are] not clean by two, the male and his female. (Genesis 7:2) Again, we have the number seven magnified in the calling of the clean beasts and the clean fowls. This also gets magnified with Noah’s sacrifice because when he took the seventh one from out of ALL the clean beasts and fowls then this magnified the more excellent sacrifice in the Lord Jesus Christ. When you take one of the seven beasts away and one of the seven fowls away on earth then you have the number six which is the number of man. Thus, man still had a need of redemption through sacrifice. This offering of Noah was a preview of ALL the offerings that God would present to the nation of Israel and the number seven would be predominant in those offerings as well.
Now back to the genealogy of Chapter 5. In our day we have been led to believe by the corrupt news agencies and the lies of ‘higher education’ that man in his present state doesn’t know who he is. He has lost his identification; however, God tells us that in the beginning of this genealogy that both male and female were both called Adam in the day that God created them. Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. (Genesis 5:2) I take God at His word although the ungodly do not.
The Holy Ghost KNEW (even in the days of Seth through the genealogy of faith) that the line of Cain would mingle together with the sons of God, the children of the men of faith. The children of Cain also mingled themselves with beasts, thus, corrupting ALL flesh.
God also reminds us in the beginning of Genesis Chapter 5 that both male and female were created, they were not born. This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him. (Genesis 5:1) They were not born of God BUT created in the likeness and in the image of God. This did not make them divine. They were both created to fulfill the will and purposes of God. Only Christ is the Son of the living God. Only Christ has the title and the position of the first born of God and the first born from the dead for He was NOT born in the likeness of Adam, for the Lord Jesus Christ was manifested in the TRUE IMAGE of God, and Adam’s likeness in Genesis was the likeness of the image of the invisible God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The Time Span of Enoch’s Testimony
Now back to Enoch. In verse 22 of Genesis 5, we have the witness of Enoch’s testimony in the number 2 multiplied by 2 as he was a witness to the whole known world of his time. His witness was that Enoch walked with God and then to magnify his walk, the Holy Ghost tells us TWICE that this man of FAITH walked with God. And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: (Genesis 5:22) And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:24)
In Hebrews Chapter 11, verse 5, the Holy Spirit gives more testimony of Enoch’s faith for Enoch PLEASED God. 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. (Hebrews 11:5) In the last epistle in the Bible, in the epistle of Jude, verse 14, the Holy Spirit adds to Enoch’s testimony that he was a PROPHET of God with a message of JUDGMENT to ALL the ungodly. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints. (Jude 1:14) In this epistle we have the Spirit of God exposing ALL of humanity for what they are. They are the UNGODLY. Enoch is brought in to show us the conditions of our OWN END TIMES, for Enoch had the message of JUDGMENT BEFORE.
The consistency of the ungodly is that they will NOT receive the spirit of truth. The ungodly love their lies. Their lies embrace them, so they lose all understanding of truth. Their eyes are closed to the image of the invisible God and their ears are stopped to the voice and the witness of the Spirit of God. Enoch in his day and time was a witness to the ungodly that they had defiled themselves before the Living God. For Enoch’s testimony, for his walk, for his obedience, and for that most excellent sacrifice, Enoch was translated and he was not. God adds that he was not found. 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. (Hebrews 11:5) God knew right where Enoch was. It was the ungodly world that searched for him. As in the Bible’s record of Elijah, when they searched the hills and the valleys for Elijah, he was not found. When they searched for Enoch, they searched the hills and the valleys and Enoch was not found. The word translated is used with Enoch. The word whirlwind was used for Elijah.
● And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2nd Kings 2:11) And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. (2nd Kings 2:12)
● And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. (2nd Kings 2:16) And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. (2nd Kings 2:17)
These two men were prophets AGAINST the ungodly. Enoch was a prophet AGAINST the ungodly world. Elijah was a prophet AGAINST an ungodly nation. Although they differed in many ways, they both had one common factor, their message was AGAINST the ungodly. With Enoch and his translation, we have a witness of the translation of the children of God at the END of the Church Age. As Enoch was translated body, soul and spirit, we who love the Lord Jesus Christ will also be translated body, soul and spirit. As we ascend up to God in a twinkling of an eye, we will be CHANGED as we ascend to the Lord in the air. The world of the ungodly will look for us and we, the children of God, will NOT be found.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1st Thessalonians 4:13)
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1st Thessalonians 4:14)
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1st Thessalonians 4:15)
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: (1st Thessalonians 4:16)
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. (1st Thessalonians 4:17)
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1st Thessalonians 4:18)
Undoubtedly there will be lies from the ungodly FAKE news agencies worldwide. They will announce that aliens abducted the missing ones, or some wild story of their evil imaginations. The ungodly can never face the truth, for the truth condemns them. The marvel of Enoch’s prophecy is that it was in part applied to his present day and time and was far reaching to the coming of the Lord with ten thousands of His saints. Compare Jude verse 14 and Revelation 5:11.
● And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 1:14)
● And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; (Revelation 5:11) (A mighty army indeed.)
After a thousand-year reign of Christ when righteousness reigns on earth, the degenerate souls of men will be once more stirred by Satan when he is released from his prison for a short season. When the thousand years of Christ’s righteous reign is completed, man will have enjoyed more abundance then in any previous time in mankind’s existence. Yet, Satan will once more stir up the nations and this will completely fulfill the truth that there is NO inherent good within man. Man is without goodness. There is none good but God. The armies of the nations will encircle Jerusalem, and as Sodom, fire will descend from heaven and will destroy one and all. The depravity of Adam spans the whole-time frame of mankind to the very end. The last rebellion of nations shows and proves that total depravity of the children of Adam and their propensity to be moved by every evil wind and spirit, especially the spirit of the old serpent, the devil. His venom of sin from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil destroys the entire Adamic race. ONLY God’s GRACE, through FAITH, has plucked a people out of the fires for God Himself through the divine more excellent sacrifice of His Son the Lord Jesus my Savior, the Son of the most high God made higher than the heavens.
Both Enoch and Elijah were removed from the earth in two very distinctly different ways. With Enoch we have a man WALKING with God in God’s presence. Enoch was the FIRST recorded prophet. (Jude 14) and the seventh from Adam. God looked on Enoch as a man of fulfillment, a man that was so obedient that he pleased God. In Enoch we see faithfulness as it is recorded in Hebrews 11:5. Not only did Enoch walk WITH God, but he walked with the responsibility of a prophet. Enoch lived in a society that had totally turned their backs on God. Romans Chapter 1 reveals that society. Let’s think of Romans 1 in this way, the first seventeen verses are the reason for life, the rest of Romans 1 beginning in verse 18 are the reason of death, for sin brings forth death. When Chapter 1 ends it leaves man in his depravity in the first verse of Chapter 2. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. (Romans 2:1) Man is without excuse. His sin leaves man naked before God and nothing that man can do or say can change his depravity. Whether we like to admit it or not, except we are taken out of the way in the new birth in Jesus Christ can we have a presence with God. Man in his rituals, in his vain imaginations, in his sinful heart, soul and spirit can NOT FIND God. God has to reveal Himself to man by the Spirit of God who infuses FAITH in the heart, and man is born of the Spirit of Christ. Man is a being of excuses, but not one of his excuses can give man a standing before the Almighty God.
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Enoch’s Testimony and the Ungodly Through Time
In Romans 1 the ungodly had taken up idols of stone and wood, They had fashioned idols as beasts and creeping things and images of themselves. (Romans 1:18-23) Today man has become so saturated with idols that he is blind to the very ones that he stands beside. All over the world, in every nation, there are idols of beasts and creeping things. There are s statues of man, half man and half beast. There are idols of men of history. These are ALL idols to the tribute of beasts and creeping things, and to man’s senseless quest to be God like, which man can never achieve. These are the statues, the idols as it was in the days of Enoch.
Enoch addressed the ungodly four times in the prophecy recorded in the book of Jude 14 and 15. Enoch condemned the ungodly of his day, but his prophecy also speaks to our age and day. It speaks to the fallacy of a worldwide Church that does not oppose sin but appeases sin, and by not condemning sin they do not see the glorious light and the wonder and majesty of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of sin they refuse to apply the seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 to themselves.
The world of Christendom that we have today is NOT of Christ. They bury themselves in the lusts of the world and in the idols of their hearts. (Ezekiel 14) In Ezekiel Chapter 14 we have a message to Israel concerning their idolatry. God expands His message to ALL men by using the term ‘the idols in their heart.’ in verse 3 and 4 we have the repetition of ‘the idols in their heart.’ And in verse 7, we have not only the house of Israel but the STRANGER or the GENTILE that sojourn among them. They also had set up idols in their heart.
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? (Ezekiel 14:3)
Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; (Ezekiel 14:4)
That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. (Ezekiel 14:5)
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. (Ezekiel 14:6)
For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: (Ezekiel 14:7)
How does this connect us with Enoch? In verse 14 of Ezekiel 14, we read this, Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. By the names Noah, Daniel, and Job we see three different men in three different time periods. It is said of Noah that he was a preacher of righteousness as he prepared the ark and witnessed to the world then of the approaching flood to come. In Daniel, we see not only a man greatly beloved by God, but as Enoch he was given prophecy of the end times. And then Job, God called Job ‘my servant,’ God Himself gave a testimony to the adversary of mankind, Satan, that there is none like Job in the earth, a perfect and upright man one that feareth God and escreweth evil. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8) So, in Noah we have a preacher, in Daniel we have a prophet, and in Job we have a faithful servant, all these characteristics were also found in Enoch. God is showing us that man does not only have outward idols in Ezekiel 14, but he also has inward idols IN HIS HEART. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:34) The Holy Spirit gives us a repetition in Matthew and in Luke of the idols IN THE HEART although they are addressed to two different walks. (In Matthew we have the people of Israel, under the King. In Luke, we have the son of man bringing man through all the generations of Adam.) In Ezekiel 14, Noah, Daniel and Job were delivered by their own righteousness as Abel they received in the more excellent sacrifice who is the Son of the living God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today. Christendom has set up idols in their hearts. They lust after the same pleasures as the ungodly world. They walk hand in hand WITH the world, and not with Christ. They are AFRAID to stand AGAINST the ungodly because there is no love of the truth within them. They love the world, and them who dwell therein. All around us today are idols: fads, personalities, sports celebrities and entertainers because the ungodly have made these useless nothings into idols of their hearts. We are to reverence God and God alone. We are to worship God and God alone. Romans Chapter 1:18 – 24 is very active and alive in the fantasies of mankind. Their fantasies become the reality of sin within. When they exhaust their fantasies, they then turn to mind-bending drugs that tear at their humanity and soul and make them more beastly than man. Their drugs strip ALL viable reasoning and intelligence from their minds. But it all begins with SIN. SIN is the curtain of darkness that blinds the eyes and deafens the ears, and their foolish hearts become dark as in the days of Enoch.
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Enoch and the Ungodly World Around the Generation of Faith
Noah was the next man to WALK with God in God’s recorded word. He was both a preacher of righteousness as well as a prophet of judgment.
● But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8)
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9)
And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 6:10)
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. (Genesis 6:11)
And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. (Genesis 6:12)
● And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; (2nd Peter 2:5)
One point of the world of Noah that very few seem to see, is that Noah’s world was a world of VIOLENCE much like our world today. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:13) Not only are there messages in the numbers of Scripture, but there is also the math of righteous reasoning. Noah’s world as well as the world of Enoch’s was FULL of the UNGODLY, and the UNGODLY brought forth VIOLENCE. This shows us that OUR world today, if not the same, has EXCEEDED the ungodliness and the violence of Noah’s age. We see all these signs around us but the preachers of THIS world do not see that VIOLENCE as one of the signs of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus proclaimed that He would not come until the world filled up its cup of ungodliness as it was in the days of Noah. So lets see what Noah and Enoch saw in their age in Genesis 6:2. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
In Genesis 6:2 we have a principle of obedience. Oh, you didn’t see that? The Spirit of God is instructing us that God had instructed the line of Seth NOT TO MARRY the daughters of the ungodly. This is why the Spirit of God presents this to us. THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DECLINES with these sons of God. Who were these man, these sons of God? They were the offsprings of each one of the men mentioned in the genealogy of faith in Genesis Chapter 5.
Remember Ezekiel 14? That those men Noah, Daniel and Job could only deliver themselves by their own righteousness which they acquired through their more excellent sacrifices (which was Christ). What we see through the generations of faith that FAITH is a GIFT from God and the descendants of these faithful men in Genesis 5 DID NOT HAVE FAITH. They, like Cain, turned their backs on God showing the depravity of man without faith. They offspring of the men of faith in Genesis Chapter 5 took the daughters of Cain and their offsprings became men of renown. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. Notice in Genesis 6:2 the word wives (plural) can we see Lamech in this? And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one [was] Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. (Genesis 4:19)
Lamech was a man with two wives. We see death around Lamech, and we are reminded that in their SIN, the soul that sinneth, it shall die. They were taking the daughters of men from the line of Cain, and MINGLING EVIL and POLLUTING the children of the faithful until the whole head was sick in SIN. In the genealogy of faith God had given them certain instructions as He did with sacrifice and obedience, so He also instructed the line of Seth NOT TO MINGLE with the line of Cain. Later in the history of mankind with Israel, God’s chosen nation, God set a standard for them . . . NOT TO MINGLE and GIVEN IN MARRIAGE to the children from the nations.
When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; (Deuteronomy 7:1)
And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: (Deuteronomy 7:2)
Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. (Deuteronomy 7:3)
For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. (Deuteronomy 7:4)
But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. (Deuteronomy 7:5)
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6)
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Enoch Separated from the Ungodly
We can never forget that the genealogy of Cain is a genealogy of the UNGODLY, and we cannot forget the fatherhood of Cain which was established in 1st John 3:12, Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. The first principle that we see in Scripture is the principle of DIVISION. God created the heaven, and the earth DIVIDED from each other. In Genesis 1:3. God verbally gives His first command of division, DIVIDING the LIGHT from the DARKNESS. In the case of Adam and Eve, a great DIVISION took place at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam was driven out of the garden into a land that was cursed and in Adam’s two sons, Cain and Abel, there was again a GREAT DIVISION. Abel was a man of FAITH and according to 1st John 3, Cain was of that wicked one. When God raised up another seed in Seth, He continued the seed of FAITH, and the seed of FAITH was DIVIDED or SEPARATED from the seed of the wicked one.
As we travel through the genealogy of faith we see the continued WAR of light against darkness, of good versus evil in the satanic battle to destroy the line of FAITH on the earth until God had no choice but to destroy ALL flesh EXCEPT for a preacher of righteousness who found GRACE in God’s sight. And because of this man Noah, God repented of what He was about to do. Noah was then instructed to build an ark to not only save humanity, but the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, and the creeping crawling things of the earth. With the flood, God DIVIDED the ungodly in judgment and preserved Noah AND Noah’s family in Noah’s righteousness. Again, let us examine Ezekiel Chapter 14, and those three men: Noah, Daniel and Job. Noah delivered himself through his righteousness, and God in His preserving power PRESERVED Noah’s life, his wife, his three sons and their wives.
Both Enoch and Noah condemned the ungodly that they were the children of the Wicked One which we have confirmed in 1st John 3:12. To add to this the Lord Jesus condemns the ungodly in the gospel of John 8:44. This is a far-reaching verse in John’s gospel Chapter 8, Christ addressed the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians AND all of the people. Earlier in this same Chapter the people responded to Christ in this way.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (John 8:8)
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8:9)
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? (John 8:10)
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:11)
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. (John 8:13)
Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. (John 8:14)
Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. (John 8:15)
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. (John 8:16)
It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. (John 8:17)
I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. (John 8:18)
Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. (John 8:19)
These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. (John 8:20)
The cloud of Satan’s darkness of verse 44 hung over ALL of the people. Also, this confirms 1st John 3:8, He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. As we consider Adam bringing sin into the world, we need to understand that WE live in a dominion of sin, and this dominion of sin brings forth our death. Now, God is the Creator of ALL things. When He created heaven and earth, it was HIS CHOICE. When He separated the darkness from the light, it was HIS CHOICE to create the light. During His first six days of creation, everything that was made or created was HIS CHOICE. When He created Adam, it was GOD’S CHOICE. When He created Eve, it was GOD’S CHOICE. When God spoke to Adam, He gave Adam a choice of good or evil and of life or death. Adam at the tree of the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil, chose BOTH evil AND death. This is one thing that God DID NOT CREATE: it was Adam who brought SIN into the world, thus, Adam became a child of The Wicked One. Adam set the next stage of the conflict WITH God over good and evil. (The first stage of this conflict was in the UNSEEN Supernatural realm of the heavens of God.) NOW, only through FAITH would God use His power of creation to once again CHOOSE a people out of an ungodly world for Himself.
From Abel onward in the line of FAITH these CHOSEN men, women and children have been called as a heavenly people by the creation of God by HIS CHOICE to make up the inhabitants of heaven, and to FILL up the total society of heaven and to prepare THEM for the new heaven and the new earth where righteous will dwell. Man cannot cleanse himself from the vileness of his own sin. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. (Job 14:4) Man will NOT face his total depravity. He will NOT face his own sin whether it is in the commission of sin or the nature of sin within him. To all the Adamic race, there is NO WAY OUT OF SIN. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. He will die IN his sin, for sin brings forth death. Man has to see SIN as an incurable plague, or unremovable blight. SIN is a deformity of the soul, heart and spirit brought in by Adam. At man’s conception, the soul, the spirit and the flesh are brought into the world THROUGH sin and UNTO sin. The very nature INSIDE of mankind IS SIN.
The very first breath is LIFE, however, the first CRY is SIN and DEATH. The very first CRY is the recognition of sin and its horrible outcome. It is sin that hardens the conscience and corrupts the mind and defiles the heart. The unholy flesh cannot be made holy. There has to be a NEW CREATION of God apart from the will of the flesh. One HAS to be BORN of God.
● But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)
● Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)
Only God by His determinate counsels can CHOOSE His own bride by the work of His divine Spirit in the hearts of man. When God declares in our new birth that ALL things BECOME NEW, we should not doubt that transaction. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2nd Corinthians 5:17) You cannot deny the word of God. God CHOOSES whomever He wills outside of the will of man or we could say, outside of the sinful professing Church. The visible world Church does NOT have the power to create, nor do the ungodly preachers have the power to create. The total power of creation is IN the hands of God. He has created ALL things THROUGH HIS SON, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:2)
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Enoch CHOSEN and SEPARATED by FAITH
Enoch was the seventh from Adam. He was CHOSEN by God through FAITH. That FAITH did not come from the earth that FAITH came from above and descended into the heart of Enoch. Without that FAITH, it is impossible to please God. With that faith the new born creature seeks after God and God’s will. Enoch was embraced by FAITH and walked closely with the will of God. So much so that God in His good pleasure TRANSLATED Enoch out of the world of the ungodly into the heavenly realm of the righteous. Enoch was obedient as Abel, and presented to God the more excellent sacrifice. Enoch condemned the ungodly and walked WITH God.
Noah was a preacher of righteousness and condemned the world with fear. Abel was a testimony to his ungodly brother. Enoch was a prophet to the ungodly history of mankind. Noah was a preacher of righteousness to the ungodly world of his day. And ALL of these men of FAITH still speak to an ungodly world today. If you can embrace this: Genesis Chapter 5 is a whole Chapter of grace. It is a whole Chapter of God’s CHOICE, for each man in the genealogy walked by FAITH. FAITH was IMPUTED unto them from heaven to keep a line of God’s GRACE through FAITH in this ungodly world. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) Genesis Chapter 5 is the evidence that NOT ALL men have faith. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. (2nd Thessalonians 3:2) This verse is in opposition to the current THEORY of FAITH in the world, in the Church, and among almost all of mankind. How many times have you heard ungodly men use the term “my faith?” Man cannot choose FAITH. IT IS FAITH THAT CHOOSES man. FAITH is NOT an earthly substance. FAITH BELONGS to heaven, and to the Faith Giver, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:21)
Today the most used name in the world is ‘Jesus,’ which means Savior, which NONE of the ungodly understand. Many use the name of Jesus but FEW believe IN the Lord Jesus. It is a trait of the ungodly to use this glorious name in blasphemy against a most holy God. They DO NOT believe because of the inherent SIN within them. Let us recognize that Genesis Chapter 5 is God’s record of His men of FAITH in an ungodly world. Our study in Hebrews Chapter 11 confirms this line of FAITH to our present day that we have acknowledged the fulness of time, the fulness of all those who have possessed the FAITH of the Lord Jesus Christ. The list of names in Genesis Chapter 5, although we may not know them, or see all of their names in Scripture, the line of FAITH that began in Genesis Chapter 5 continues to this day and into the future. From Seth to Noah we have the men of FAITH. Remember that God gave the seed of Seth to REPLACE Abel who was slain by Cain. This seed was given to Eve to REPLACE Abel. And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. (Genesis 4:25) The Spirit of God places a meaning to every name in Genesis Chapter 5. Even Adam, as the beginning of generations, is given to show the hope of GRACE to the man who brought sin into the world. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Romans 5:12)
In Adam we have SIN AND DEATH. In Seth we have HOPE, FAITH and LIFE. And in the seventh from Adam, Enoch, born out of ruin, we have the fulfillment of HOPE, FAITH and LIFE that through FAITH Enoch PLEASED GOD. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) In Seth we have the continuation of the most excellent sacrifice of Abel. In Seth’s son, Enos, we have the preaching of God’s GRACE that took hold in the hearts of man, although they were in an ungodly world, they called on the name of the Lord. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:26) Here we have the first application of a specific name of the LORD given the preeminence over the souls of man. Remember that each one of these men of FAITH were born out of ruin in Adam. Their souls were restored, and they walked in the path of righteousness for His name’S sake . . . . a name above all other names.
● He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)
● Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2:9)
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10)
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:11)
● For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26)
The Lord Jesus is made higher than the heavens, and HIS NAME has been made higher than every name for His name’S sake. God uses this title: name’S sake to cover ALL the titles and names that Christ possesses and then magnifies them in ONE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES in heaven, earth and underneath the earth. In the past, in the present, and in the future only ONE NAME, I ONLY AM YOUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, LORD OF ALL, AND KING of ETERNITY. Why does the Almighty KING use THIS wonderful title of recognition throughout Scripture of ‘name’S sake‘ thirty times? . Collectively, as you study each one of these occurrences of ‘name’S sake‘ you will see a building of the Prince of peace, the Almighty God, the everlasting Father, the Counselor and the Fulfillment of God’s determinate counsels in the Person of the Lord Jesus Chris. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. (Acts 2:23) All the titles and names of the GREAT I AM are finalized in the Great Law Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord. He clarified that He was the Law Giver by writing on the pavement, the stones in the Temple, with the finger of God.
● Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? (John 8:5)
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. (John 8:6)
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (John 8:7).
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (John 8:8)
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8:9)
●And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. (Exodus 31:18)
● And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. (Exodus 24:12)
● Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. (Exodus 23:20) Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. (Exodus 23:21)
PAY ATTENTION to verse 21 of Exodus 23, the phrase . . . for my name is in him. THIS identifies the Lord Jesus, the Son of God of Hebrews 1:2 as the Angel of the Lord. Also, the great Law Giver in Exodus 31:18 and John 8:5-9. Again, this name which is above every name, the name of Jesus, and His name’S sake. Even in the New Testament, this title (name’S sake) is used in the four gospels seven times, thus, showing the perfection of the name of Jesus Christ, and the eight mentions which represents resurrection is in Acts 9:16. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. Here is a list of eight of these documentations: Matthew 10:22, 19:23, 24:9; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:12, 21:17; John 15:21; Acts 9:16. A wonderful point in this list, the Spirit of God shows us His name’S sake in Acts 9:16, we have a resurrected man in heaven and He uses His name JESUS as His TITLE in Acts 9:15, and 16, But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (Acts 9:15) For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. (Acts 9:16)
Now let us return to the Damascus Road. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:5) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:6) There on the Damascus Road, the Lord of glory used HIS NAME (JESUS) which is above every name from heaven above. In verse 16 he clarified THAT name (Jesus) is His name’S sake. Eight times, the Lord identifies Himself with the fullness of ALL the nameS that HE has chosen both in the Old Testament and New Testament. Then, in the epistles of John we have the ninth and tenth mention of name’S sake. In John’s first and third epistle: I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. (1st John 2:12) Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. (3rd John 1:7)
In 1st John, the Lord is clarified as OUR SAVIOR because our SINS ARE FORGIVEN for HIS NAME’S SAKE, which is Jesus, Savior. And the Lord Jesus closes the canon of Scripture with ALL authority over His word and His dominion with the words, I JESUS. Only ONE time in the word of God, He addresses Himself as I JESUS. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)
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Enoch Through Faith and Separation was Made Perfect
In 3rd John 1:7, we compare the walk of Enoch with OUR walk today. We go forth taking nothing of the Gentiles which symbolizes the world. Freely we have received, and freely we give for His name’S sake. I have heard ALL the arguments of mammon and I answer them with manna from heaven. Although I cannot explain all the directions that the Lord has led me through, as both my wife and I travel through time, the Angel of His presence, goes before us, for His name’S sake. He led me from sin through the cross to walk with Him and then up to glory, as I patiently wait for His calling. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) It is interesting to know that the Lord uses His title ‘name’S sake’ for Himself in the last book of the Bible. These words are from the lips of the Lord Jesus that we read in Revelation 2:3, And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Although these words were written to the church at Ephesus, by using the title ‘name’S sake’ we have an application to ALL the faithful of ALL time beginning at Abel, then to Seth, and I am sure that Seth picked up the torch of FAITH and the more excellent sacrifice. Not only does God want us to see a list of names all the way to Noah but God wants us to see the evidence of things not SEEN in the more excellent sacrifices that were offered by these men for ‘His name’S sake.’
Noah brought the fire of God from the old world to the new world when out of all the ruin Noah prepared a more excellent sacrifice to sanctify the new world. From Abel all the way to Noah there was a first-born lamb set apart with no blemish within and without. There was an altar of wood and fire, the fire of God. It might amaze you that man did NOT discover, nor did man INVENT fire. The Lord showed the fire of God to both Adam and Eve when HE, the Lord sacrificed the two lambs in the garden and used the skins of those animals to COVER the abomination that man had become. I can use that word (abomination) because they were so defiled that God DROVE then OUT of the garden, and again revealed fire to them in the flaming sword that SHUT the door or entrance to the garden and protected the tree of life. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9)
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. (Genesis 3:23) So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24)
It was the Lord Himself who offered the first sacrifice upon the earth, the two lambs for the two trespassers. It was the Lord Himself who shed the first blood of innocence, the sacrifice, and it was the Lord Himself who shed the LAST blood of sacrifice IN HIS OWN BODY on the TREE. It is finished.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)
The Lord Jesus fulfilled ALL the sacrifices of the Old Testament IN HIS OWN BODY . . . a Body prepared for HIM to be the more excellent sacrifice not only for us at the end of the age, but for ALL the FAITHFUL in Genesis Chapter 5. Throughout the history of man, God has called a people for Himself for His ‘name’S sake,’ which is a name that is above every name: JESUS, SAVIOR.
Genesis Chapter 5 begins or creates the beginning of the generation of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:1) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. The generation of Jesus Christ is based on the SEED of God that holy thing from above. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) The Lord Jesus is the ELECT of God, He is the ELECT SAVIOR, and He bears an ELECT NAME, and He has a CHOSEN GENERATION of the FAITHFUL from Abel throughout the history, past present and future of mankind. This CHOSEN GENERATION has NO finality for each one in this generation has eternal life IN the Lord Jesus Christ. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) When Christ came into this world He declared that HIS Body was prepared for Him. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. (Hebrews 10:5) In this announcement the Lord Jesus declared that He HIMSELF was the most excellent sacrifice which was confirmed by John the Baptist in John Chapter 1 when John proclaimed, Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. So, as Abel, we today of the children of God are also part of that CHOSEN GENERATION. We are a holy nation BOUND together in that most excellent sacrifice. We are a peculiar people for we are born of God and not of man. In heavenly sight, we are of the royal priesthood to offer up PRAISE unto our God for as Abel, He has CALLED US OUT of the darkness, OUT OF THE UNGODLY, OUT OF THE REALM OF SINNERS to enter into His most marvelous light. In1st Peter 2:9, I want you to see that at the close of that verse Genesis 1:3 when God separated the light from the darkness, He has also separated US from the darkness of this world. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. (1st Peter 2:9) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
This ETERNAL GENERATION of the Lord Jesus Christ is directly related to His seed of Galatians 3:16. In Psalm 22, while the Lord was suffering on the cross. He declared to God the Father that thou art He that took me out of the womb. But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. (Psalm 22:9) This verse is directly connected to verses 30 and 31, A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. (Psalm 22:30) They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. (Psalm 22:31) This GENERATION of Psalm 22 is directly connected to Isaiah 53:8. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. This ETERNAL GENERATION is to declare the wonder of the more excellent sacrifice, the majesty of that more excellent sacrifice, and the glory of that more excellent sacrifice of that ONE who WAS and IS our more excellent sacrifice. We, as well as Abel and those yet to come, are all part of the ETERNAL GENERATION of Jesus Christ. We are part of HIM as He is part of us. In His declaration and holy prayer to God the Father in John Chapter 17 He declared HIS will would be that we would be with Him and like Him as He is like the Father. The ONENESS of the GODHEAD would be applied to US through the gift of FAITH from above and the work of GRACE that the Lord Jesus performed on the cross of Calvary. Just as ALL the men of Genesis Chapter 5 throughout that long time span had the vision of the more excellent sacrifice. For they without us could not be made perfect. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40) To see this verse one must see it in the fullness of God’s love for US in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross and that the payment on the cross and His shed blood STRETCHED back to Abel and includes US today. I am going to present another thought which ties this together in Hebrews Chapter 12, verse 22, WE are come unto Mt. Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem to an innumerable company of angels and all the JUST men made perfect in Christ. In verse 23, we are part of the general assembly that dates all the way back to Abel, and we are part of the Church of the first born from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our names are written in heaven, and our spirit has been justified by God, and He has MADE US PERFECT in Christ Jesus. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23).
By the evidence of Scripture, we have established that there is ONE GENERATION of Jesus Christ. It is an ETERNAL GENERATION made up of JUST MEN MADE PERFECT IN JESUS CHRIST. In Hebrews 12 it also established THIS generation of a HEAVENLY GENERATION and is NOT of this earth. Let us now return to the world of Noah . . . .and the new world that He entered into.
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (Genesis 8:20)
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. (Genesis 8:21)
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22)
Scripture reveals that Noah KNEW the full value of the most excellent sacrifice; thus, Noah sanctified the NEW EARTH with one of every clean beast without blemish within or without and a first born. Noah built an altar and placed the wood in order upon the altar, and meticulously took of EVERY clean beast and offered those beasts and fowls to the Lord. This was the continuation of Noah’s FAITH from the old world that had been judged by God. The Lord smelled the offering as a sweet savor and the Lord said in His heart that He would not destroy the earth with a flood again. Let us pause here. Let’s take the calendar of the word of God and go to the fullness of time. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. (Galatians 4:4) This was the FULLNESS of time. It was NOT the beginning, nor the end of time, but the FULLNESS of ALL time had come forth in a Body that was prepared for Him to be the more excellent sacrifice unto the Lord. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2) Notice the difference between Noah’ sacrifice as a sweet savor unto the Lord also all the sacrifices of Israel that are listed in the book of Leviticus were all sweet savors unto the Lord; however, in the FULLNESS of time, God SENT forth HIS SON, the more excellent sacrifice. In Ephesians 5:2, that the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus was a sweetSMELLING savour. Everything around the Lord Jesus Christ is UNIQUE and has no relationship to or with other men or other things. This is the ONLY TIME IN THE BIBLE THAT SWEETSMELLING SAVOUR is used. This is also the ONLY TIME IN THE BIBLE that the offering for sin is addressed in this manner. ONLY THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD, the most UNIQUE Being could be a sweetsmelling savor for His ‘name’S sake.’
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Enoch’s Love for the Truth
Now let us compare Revelation Chapter 2, verses 2 and 3 to the walk and work of Enoch. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (Revelation 2:21) And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. (Revelation 2:3) We see both the WALK and WORK of Enoch; the Lord Jesus commends them of Ephesus for their works and their labor in the gospel. This would only be designated to the overcomer, although the message is to whole Church. Again, we need to once more remember that in the beginning of the Church Age there were those who professed (as Ananias and Sapphira) and there were those who POSSESSED the Spirit of Christ who had both the WALK and the WORK of Enoch.
According to the Lord in the gospel of John. Chapter 14, the Spirit that has been given to us IS here to CONDEMN the world as Enoch condemned the world of their ungodliness.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8)
Of sin, because they believe not on me; (John 16:9)
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (John 16:10)
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:11)
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (John 16:12)
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:14)
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:15)
The message of the Spirit of God today is one of JUDGMENT as Enoch condemned the ungodly, we must do the same. They MUST see the terrible state that they are in before they can cry out to God. The work of the gospel MUST be done with all patience . . . patience in prayer, patience in the work of the Lord, patience in being rejected by the world, and patience, sadly, to those who call themselves our brethren and REJECT us for the love of the truth. Why this patience? As those of Ephesus, it is for HIS ‘name’s sake.’ He tells the faithful of Ephesus NOT TO FAINT as others that our labor MUST be done in the LOVE OF THE TRUTH. According to John 16, the Spirit of Truth will lead us into ALL TRUTH. The phrase, the love of the truth, is only mentioned one time in Scripture. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2nd Thessalonians 2:10) Although this is negative AGAINST the ungodly, it becomes a positive for those who have the love of the truth. Only in this one verse, and in this one Chapter, and in this one book, ONLY ONE TIME in 31,101 verses in the Bible do we read of the love of the truth. Should we not hold the love of the truth deep in our heart as we hold the FAITH that was once delivered to the saints. Look what the Spirit of God is telling us in 2nd Thessalonians 2:10 that the ungodly perish because they will not receive the love of the truth. We are linked to the testimony of Enoch by both the ungodly and Enoch’s love for the truth. Enoch’s testimony was his walk, and his work and His word. In Enoch’s walk he separated himself from sinners. In his work, he followed the Lord and obeyed God’s commands. In his word, he condemned that which was AGAINST God and revealed the judgment to come for ALL the ungodly. The Spirit makes SURE that we understand the testimony of Enoch that in the shadow of the more excellent sacrifice that Enoch pleased God. 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. (Hebrews 11:5) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) Enoch’s preaching and prophecy was to the world of the UNGODLY.
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 1:14) To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 1:15) These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. (Jude 1:16) But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Jude 1:17) How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. (Jude 1:18)
As we speak the word of God today, the judgment of God hangs over every sinner. However, with mercy and grace we reach into the fires of judgment and pull at their heart strings with the love of the truth IN our Lord Jesus Christ.
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21) And of some have compassion, making a difference: (Jude 1:22) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:23)
To the world of the ungodly: REPENT, TURN FROM THE LUSTS OF THIS WORLD, COME WITH YOUR BROKEN HEART, COME with your load of sin, COME to the water of life and drink freely. The Lord is waiting. He KNOWS your name. He KNOWS you better than you know yourself. COME to the Lord Jesus today, this very moment and begin as Enoch to please God.
Amen and Selah.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:15)
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)
© Copyright – Michael Haigh
Published on September 26, 2024 @ 11:50 PM (EST)
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)