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NASB | John 3:13 "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:13 "No one has gone up into heaven, but there is One who came down from heaven, the Son of Man [Himself--whose home is in heaven]. |
Bible Question:
Dear bothers and sisters, (John 3:13 ESV) No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. This verse clearly says only Jesus went up to the heaven. So, Enoch and Elijah didn't. But many people argue they indeed did. Then, look at the following verse: (John 1:18 ESV) No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. If Enoch and Elijah ascended into the heaven, how come did they not see God? Three possibilities: (1) Enoch and Elijah didn't ascend into the heaven. (2) Enoch and Elijah did ascend into the heaven, but the heaven is a different heaven from the heaven where God resides. (3) Enoch and Elijah did ascend into the heaven, but they were not allowed to see God until the Resurrection Day. Which one of the above (or any other answer) is correct? Please help my understanding. God bless. Daniel |
Bible Answer: Part 3 of 3 parts Enoch’s translation But what about his translation in Hebrews 11:5? Does that mean he didn’t die? That’s what most people carelessly assume without proof. The Bible does not say that Enoch went to heaven when he was translated. Instead, it says he "was not found." According to Strong's, Thayer's and Bullinger's Greek Lexicons, "translate" means "to put or place in another place, to transport, to transfer." Nowhere in the Scripture does ‘translate’ mean to make immortal! The same Greek word is rendered "carried over" in Acts 7:16 where Jacob's body was ‘translated’ or ‘transported’ to Sychem, where he was buried! The Scriptures say Jacob was translated to the place of burial! God took Enoch and buried him somewhere so as not to be found, just as he did with the body of Moses in Deuteronomy 34:6. No man knows where Moses' or Enoch’s grave is. God hid them for reasons known only to Him. Notice another proof that ‘translate’ does not mean to make immortal. Paul wrote that the Father "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). The apostle Paul says that he was already translated, even though he was still physically alive! Although he was once part of the darkness of this world, he was translated, removed from darkness, into the light of the kingdom of God while he was physically alive! At the age of 65, Enoch had a son named Methuselah. But how long did Enoch walk with God? Genesis 5:22, "And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters." So, Enoch followed God’s ways for three hundred years. Notice that the Scripture does not record that Enoch is still walking with God. It says that Enoch WALKED with God for three hundred years, and not one year more. Why? Because "all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years" (Genesis 5:23). Paul says, in Colossians 1:10, "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord." Enoch walked with God and pleased God. This is what Genesis 5:22,24 means when it says "Enoch walked with God." 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 says that all die and all shall be resurrected, but Messiah must be first in the order. Enoch could not possibly have preceded him, especially if he were still flesh and blood as it says in verses 49-52. http://www.ecclesia.org/truth/enoch.html |