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NASB | Genesis 5:4 Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 5:4 After he became the father of Seth, Adam lived eight hundred years and had other sons and daughters. |
Bible Question: Hank, help me over a hump. I am close to losing faith in the ministers that I am so fond of. My faith must ultimately rest in God and his word, however I depend on my elders to teach and to look toward as an example. The word on the street, from christian mouths, is that the prophet Elijah was taken to heaven. Taken up into the sky in a whirlwind yes, but certainly not into Heaven. Jesus himself spoke that no man has ascended into Heaven...(which brings up another question entirely) but, to the point; later on in 2 chronicles Elijah is seen at work again. How can I have trust or faith in the teachers when I find myself alone. If I can read this account, then surely they can also. Yet I frequently hear from all the popular teachers that Elijah was taken to heaven. The word can be used liberaly. The high walls of jericho were said to be as high as heaven. Nobody would assume that it was meant literaly. The bottom line is that he is seen at work elsewhere, and Jesus himself said no man has ascended into heaven. It feels hard to back talk the popular teachers, and yet I need to worship and look to my elders. Place a good shoe where it needs(gently) and boost me past this mudhole I'm convinced that I'm stuck in |
Bible Answer: Hi Mr. b I'm taking a stab at this at Hank’s request. Let us work through this together. First we read 2 Kings 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. Here is says Elijah is taken to heaven. Taken not ascended. Now you say we see Elijah at work in Chronicles. That is true remember Chronicles is not chronologically after first and second Kings but runs parallel it. Therefore many of the same accounts appear in the both books. If you look at 1 Kings 2:10 So David rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David. We see David dying and yet all through 1 Chronicles we see the deeds of David. So it is with Elijah his life an deeds are recorded both in first and second Kings along with them also recorded in Chronicles. Now lets look at John 3:13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. Jesus stated this verse to contradict other religious systems’ claims to special revelation from God. Jesus insisted that no one has ascended to heaven in such a way as to return and talk about heavenly things MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Jn 3:13). Nashville: Word Pub. Notice also the word here is ascended which implies in that persons power, in other words no man had willfully ascended into heaven on his own initiative. However both Enoch and Elijah were taken into heaven under God’s power and authority. I hope this clears up your question. If not let me know and we can dig deeper. Let me also caution as Hank has already do not put to much faith in any man even your pastor, we are all human and we will fail at times. EdB |