Creation and Redemption-IV

Preacher: Albert Sinyigaya | Series: Creation and Redemption

This teaching is the fourth in a series on creation and redemption series. It follows the third in these series and looks at death as the most serious consequence of the fall. The difference with the previous one is that in this we see that even though "all men died" there are exceptions. There are 2 men who never tasted death. Who are they ? These series are a comprehensive teaching on the fall, sin, redemption, and glory.

EXCEPTIONS TO DEATH

1.       We continue our creation and redemption studies. We saw that the fall was the time "sin entered into the world “and that death was the most significant consequence of that. Thankfully, Jesus made a way for resurrection.
2.       While Paul informs us that "death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned"- Romans 5:12 we must take note that there are 2 exceptions to this rule of the consequences of the fall. Enoch and Elijah are 2 men who entered heaven's glory without dying.
3.       Genesis 5:21-24 says little about Enoch. But we are told that "He walked with God and he was not" In Hebrews 11:5 we read:  By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: "He could not be found, because God had taken him away."
4.       So in the first Bible instance where the rule of "death for everyone" as a consequence has an exception is someone who was translated from earth to heaven without dying- mainly on the basis of his faith in God and fellowship with Him.
5.       Based on this account of Enoch, we can learn that broken fellowship with God adds to the existence of sin in humanity to further separate people from God and therefore this compounds the consequences of the fall, including death. Where fellowship was restored, death was overridden.
6.       While Enoch is an antediluvian patriarch in whom we read little about, the second to be taken to heaven without dying has quite a lot of information written about him. We see that this is Elijah, whom 1 Kings and 2 Kings writes quite a lot about:

• Faith
• Zeal 
• Holiness

7.       While the long story of Elijah can make us miss the "fellowship" part, when we read carefully about his life, we see that this is also definitely there. Elijah also walked in communion with God. We see him receive divine instructions of where to hide, where to get food, what to do...
8.       What may be encouraging however, is that fellowship with God does not mean sinlessness. Otherwise that could sound out of reach for most of us. James says "Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are..." -James 5:17. To indicate that he was an imperfect man.
9.       We could conclude that though this walking with God may have had the same effect on Enoch, he also may not have reached sinless perfection- but God was pleased with him (Hebrews 11:5). This rather seems to be the more realistic goal of our walk-in communion with God- pleasing Him.
10.   But what does it mean that Enoch was taken up by God? Where did he go? What about Elijah? On the day he was taken he was with his disciple Elisha and chariots of fire were seen coming and took him. Where exactly were these holy men taken? And is it accessible to us?
11. While the book of Revelation gives us an architectural impression of heaven- about the throne, the elders, the Lamb on the throne, etc., etc., it is good to also think that often the Bible portrays heaven as a place that is not necessarily geographically millions of light years away
12.       In Acts 1:9 when Jesus ascends to heaven we read "He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight."  
13.       So, in one moment they could see Jesus and in another moment they could not see Him. He was hidden before their eyes by a cloud.
14.       In Matthew 17:4-5 we read:  Peter said..."Lord, it is good for us to be here...I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah...a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased..."
15.       So in one moment, they were there and Jesus was praying and fellowshipping with the Father and they could not see or hear anything, just Jesus praying and suddenly, a cloud appeared, they saw Moses and Elijah and heard the voice from the Father speak from the cloud. Heaven appeared.
16.       So these 2 passages-the one in Acts 1:9 of Jesus ascension and the one in Matthew 17:4-5 of Jesus prayer on mountain with the cloud veiling and unveiling the glory of the Lord can give us clues to what happened to Enoch and Elijah when they were taken in the cloud and disappeared
17.       Often, we hear Christians say they are praying for breakthrough. You will hear someone say, this year 2020 is my year for breakthrough-to get this or that from God.  I would say what Enoch and Elijah got here is the ultimate breakthrough-smashing through this cloud to enter glory.
18.       We understand that though we walk in this world and the air we walk in is quite transparent and we can see with unveiled eyes what is happening before us- what we actually see is not the whole story. It is just one realm or one layer of the visible things- the invisible hidden.
19.       So while God wants us "to have a breakthrough" that is to have the prayers we have answered in terms of material things and "blessings" that we ask of Him-ultimately, His greatest desire is that we breakthrough like Enoch and Elijah did. Can people in New Testament go to heaven?
20.   Next time, we shall look into the possibility or what the Bible says about New Testament saints being able to breakthrough- if it is possible at all for them to go to heaven without dying or even if they die if it is possible to enter into this realm of glory now. 

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