What Happened To Enoch?
By Jonathan Mitchell
Enoch comes on the scene in Gen. 5:18, amidst the genealogy that began with Adam and carried on unto Noah. This chapter begins:
"This [is] the scroll of generation (or: of offspring; or: of, or from, a family) of human beings, in the day God made (produced) Adam. According to (or: Corresponding to; Following the Pattern of) God's image, He made (produced) him" (Gen. 5:1, LXX, JM).
In 5:22, we read:
"Now Enoch gave good pleasure to God (or: fully delighted in God)..."
Then, in 5:24, we are told:
"And so Enoch gave good pleasure to God (or: fully delighted in God), and then he was not found, because God transported (transferred; translated; changed to be in another place; changed, altered and placed differently 'in company among') him" (LXX, JM).
What does verse 24 mean? In this essay, we will investigate Enoch by observing the NT contexts that speak of him, and focus on the theme of a "City" which runs from the city which Cain built (Gen. 4:17) on through the final chapters of the book of Revelation.
The last phrase in Gen. 5:24 is identical to the same Greek phrase found in Heb. 11:5. In neither text are we told the location to where God transported him. Christian theology has often made the assumption that God took him to "heaven," but this cannot be proved, since the texts do not give any definite support for this conclusion... it has to be "read into" the texts. Some scholars see God as simply shifting Enoch to some other region of that area, or to a completely different territory. To shed light on what happened to him, we need first to unpack the semantic range of the verb that is used in both Gen. 5:24 and Heb. 11:5 in order to better understand what happened to Enoch. Let us begin by looking at its uses in other texts, and then observe the context of Heb. 11, where the event, cited above, is referenced by the author of the book of Hebrews.
Heb. 7:12 instructs us about the "place-change" and "transposition" of both the priesthood and the law which resulted from the Christ event:
"For it follows that with the priesthood being presently completely-place-changed (or: progressively after-placed, transposed, shifted and transferred), out of necessity (or: compulsion) even a complete place-change of law [= Torah] is being born (or: also an after-placement transference of custom, and a transposition of the norm is coming into existence)."
We also find the same verb in Acts 7:
15. "Thus Jacob walked down into Egypt. Later he came to his end - he and our fathers -
16. "and they were transferred into Shechem, then they were placed within the memorial tomb which Abraham [in the person of Jacob] purchased for a price (or: a certain sum) - in silver - from the sons of Hamor, in Shechem."
These two passages give two different applications of the idea which the verb indicates. In the first one, it is a symbolic, theological-covenantal use of the verb concerning the law and the change of the priesthood. In the second one, we see a simple, physical and literal use: the transfer of bones from one place to another.
Now, let us consider the passage that speak of Enoch in Heb. 11, beginning with vss. 5-6:
.5. In faith, by trust, with confidence, and for loyal allegiance, Enoch was transported (transferred; translated; changed to be in another place; changed, altered and placed differently 'in company among'...; [cf 7:12, above; Acts 7:16; Gal. 1:6]), pertaining to, and from, the [situation; place] not to see death (not to behold, perceive or observe a death; or: = not to experience death), and he continued not being found, because God transported (etc.) him. You see, before his transport (or: transfer; change of location; alteration and placing differently 'in company among'...), he had received testimony - and it continues an attested repute - to have pleased God well, and this delight continues for, in, and with, God. [cf Gen. 5:22, 24]
6. Now apart from faith, trust, confidence and loyal allegiance, [a person is] powerless (or: unable) to at any point please [God] well (or: to give pleasure or delight). For it follows that it is necessary and binding - for the person habitually approaching (drawing near to, and coming face to face with) God - to believe (to be convinced and trust) that He is (or: that He exists), and that He habitually comes to be One who pays wages or what is owed (or: gives away rewards, or: recompenses) to, in, and for, those folks repeatedly seeking Him out (or: He repeatedly becomes a Rewarder, Giver of recompense, and One who pays off hired help, among those constantly seeking [this] from out of Him)
So, from Heb. 11:6, it may be that it was the
"faith, trust, confidence and loyal allegiance"
which was well pleasing to God, in Gen. 5:22 and 24. It also may be that the faith, trust and allegiance were the means by which Enoch delighted in God (see the alternate readings, above).
Now 11:7 moves on, referencing the story of Noah. In the Genesis account of this story, it was a boat (ark) that transferred him, upon the waters of the flood, and then dropped him off on a mountain as the flood began to subside. The Heb. 11 narrative moves on, in time, and picks up the story of Abraham, in, vs. 8. Still speaking of him, vs. 10 inserts an interesting piece of information:
"For you see, he continued taking with the hand from out of (or: reaching in and receiving, then taking away from within) the City continuously having the Foundations - whose Craftsman (or: Technician; Artisan) and skilled Worker for the people (or: Producer of a People; Architect of a public corporate entity) [is] God." [cf Gal. 3:7-9, 13-14]
The verb in the first clause of this verse is 'exedecheto' (imperfect tense of 'ekdechomai', whose basic meaning is,
"to receive from another") and in this verse it literally means "he continued taking with the hand from out of (or: reaching in and receiving, then taking away from within)."
Imagine that! Abraham was receiving spiritual sustenance from and insight about - and thus interacting with - God's City! If this is hard to believe, consider what Jesus said about Abraham:
"Abraham, your father (the ancestor of you folks), was exceedingly glad (or: exulted) to the end that he could see My day, and he saw (caught sight of; beheld; observed; perceived) [it], and then was graced (or: favored; or: rejoiced; was made glad)" (Jn. 8:56).
It was hard for Jesus' audience to accept this (vs. 57).
We learn what City this is, of which the author is speaking, in Heb. 12, where we are instructed that:
23. [that is] in (or: to) an assembly of an entire people (or: a festal gathering of all, in a universal convocation) and in (or: to) a summoning forth (or: a called-out and gathered community) of firstborn folks having been copied (from-written, as from a pattern; or: enrolled; registered in a list) within [the; or: various] atmospheres (or: in the sphere of heavens), and in (or: to; with) God, a Judge(an Evaluator and Decider)of all people, even (or: that is; also) among (or: to; with) spirits of just folks (or: centered in the sphere of breath-effects from people who are rightwised, fair and in right relationship within the Way pointed out) having been made complete and brought to the destined goal (perfected; finished; matured), [cf Rev. 3:12; Eph. 2:6; Phil. 3:20; Rev. 14:1-5; Ex. 4:22]
24. and in (or: to) Jesus, a Medium (or: an agency; an intervening substance; a middle state; one in a middle position; a go-between; an Umpire; a Mediator) of a new and fresh (young; recently-born) arrangement (or: covenant; settlement; a deposit throughout, in every direction; a placing through the midst; or: a will and testament), and to and in blood of sprinkling, and to One continuously speaking something superior to (or: stronger and better than) Abel. [cf 10:22, above; Mat. 17:1-5; Rev. 21:9b-22:5; Jn. 4:21; Ps. 46:4; 132:13; Isa. 28:16; 33:5]
This City is also found in Rev. 21, where we see it again:
3. And then I heard a great voice from out of the throne [other MSS: atmosphere; heaven] saying,"Consider! God's tent (the Tabernacle of God) [is] with mankind (the humans), 'and He will continue living in a tent (dwell in a Tabernacle) with them, and they will continue being (will constantly exist being) His peoples, and God Himself will continue being with them [some MSS add: their God].' [Lev. 26:11-12; Isa. 7:14; 8:8, 10; Jer. 31:33; Ezk. 37:27; 2 Chr. 6:18]
4. "And He will continue anointing (or: progressively smear or repeatedly wipe away) every tear from their eyes. And the Death will no longer continue existing (or: the death shall proceed being no more) - neither will mourning (sadness; grief), nor an outcry, nor hard work (painful toil; misery) continue existing any longer ([they] will continue being no more), because the FIRST THINGS went (or: passed) away." [cf 2 Cor. 5:1-2, 6, 8, 17]
The question confronting us is: Was the heavenly Jerusalem the City of Heb. 11:10 and 12:22? Yes.
The explanation about this City is given in Rev. 21:9, where we are instructed that it symbolically represents people: the Wife of the Lamb. This, of course, takes us back to Gal. 4:26, "Jerusalem which is above, which is the mother of us all." Then in Gal. 4:22-24 we come full circle to Abraham and Sarah.
Returning to Heb. 11, vs. 13 presents us with the attitude of those early patriarchs, of whom we are told that they "saw" the promises, even though they were far off from them:
"Down from, following the pattern of, and dominated by, faith (or: In line with confidence; Corresponding to trust; In the sphere of loyal allegiance and faithfulness), ALL these folks died off, not taking hold of (or: receiving; [other MSS: not being ones carrying off to themselves for kindly keeping]) the promises (or: pledges), but still, after SEEING them forward at a distance, hailing and drawing them to themselves, even clinging to them [cf Heb. 9:28], and then speaking alike (saying the same thing; confessing in verbal agreement) that they are, and continue being, strangers and sojourners (or: foreigners and temporary alien residents living in a foreign place) upon this Land (or: the earth)." [cf Jn. 8:56]
In Heb. 11:16 the, author returns to the theme of a City:
"yet now, on the other hand, they are continuously stretching themselves out in order to touch a Superior (stronger and better) One: this is One belonging to the Superior-heaven (or: that is, pertaining to the One upon the atmosphere; or: this exists being one from the added, superimposed heaven). Wherefore God is habitually not ashamed of, or degraded by, them, to be called upon [as] their God. You see, He prepared (has made ready) a City for (or: by; with; among) them." [cf Rev. 3:12; 21:2]
So where is Enoch in all of this? It would seem that the phrase, in vs. 13 above, "all these," would include Enoch, as well. The death that Noah observed around him was just a few generations beyond Enoch. Was the "death" that Enoch would not "see," literally the mass death which happened with the flood? Or, was Enoch simply "changed to be in another place; changed, altered and placed differently in company among" the folks who would later be designated as "the heavenly Jerusalem"? We suggest that Enoch had interacted with God's City, and that he was eventually transferred to that spiritual Realm. In the Father's House are many dwelling places (Jn. 14:2-3; cf Rev. 21:3, above).
Jude makes reference to Enoch, speaking of a coming of the Lord:
15. to form a separating (or: do evaluating and make a deciding; perform a sifting and produce a judging) which corresponds to, and falls in line with, all people (to the level of everyone), and, at some point, to try, test, prove, and discipline (or: search thoroughly, cross-examine, and expose) the irreverent and impious folks concerning all their irreverent works (impious activities; sacrilegious deeds) which they irreverently did, and concerning all the hard and harsh things which irreverent, impious outcasts (folks in error; sinners; failures; folks who make mistakes and miss the target) spoke against Him."
Is Enoch, perhaps, among God's set-apart myriads (or, in union with innumerable holy multitudes)? Of course, we cannot say for sure. But it seems likely that someone who delighted in God, and who gave God good pleasure (due to being enabled to continue walking in trust and allegiance) would have been transferred into that City from which the faithful of his day,
"continued taking with the hand from out of (or: reaching in and receiving, then taking away from within" (Heb. 11:10, above).
The faith and trust that was given to Abraham, through the Word which God spoke to him (Rom. 10:17), enabled Abraham to interact with this City. Observe the interactions between Abraham, God and agents, in Genesis chapters 12-22. Enoch also had interactions with God. Wherever God transferred him, he would have been with God. That is what happened to Enoch.
John C. Collings (Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, Second Ed, 2014) has pointed out that in the Hebrew text, the verb used, which is rendered "took" (referring to God taking Enoch) in Gen. 5:24, is the same verb that is used in Ps. 49:15,
"But God will redeem (or: ransom) my soul out of the hand of hades (Heb. "sheol," the unseen, or, the grave), for He will take me" (Rotherham; parentheses added). [cf Mat. 16:18]
This is a fascinating connection to ponder.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures record accounts of God interacting with humanity. John Gavazzoni has pointed us to Paul's statement in 2 Cor. 12:2,
"I have known, and am acquainted with, a person (or: a man; a human being) in Christ (or: within the midst of Christ; in union with [the] Anointed) more than fourteen years ago - whether in body (or: in a body), I am not aware; whether outside of the body, I am not aware; God has seen and knows (is aware) - being snatched away (dragged off; seized and taken) as such, as far as [the; or: a] third heaven (or: atmosphere)." [cf 5:17, above; 1 Thes. 4:17]
Also, recall what is described in Rev. 4:
2. And then, immediately, I, in myself, came to exist within spirit (or: in myself I came to be within [the] Spirit; I birthed myself in union with a Breath-effect) - and now consider this! - A throne being laid down and lying within the atmosphere (or: heaven; sky), and upon the throne [was] One continuously sitting (or: as well as [One] being permanently seated on the throne). [cf Isa. 6:1; Jer. 17:12; Ezk. 1:26-28; 10:1; Dan. 7:9]
We, likewise, have access to the third level of the spiritual "temple complex" (Heb. 10:19-22). The picture in Rev. 21:10 tells us about the City DESCENDING out of heaven (the realm of spirit), and this is what WE do, as we bring Life, Light, Love, Healing and Deliverance to the world from Mount Zion (Heb. 12:22-24). John shared with us that Harry Robert Fox defined "City" as "Community." And that is what we are.
As we close this investigation, let us ponder some NT verses that link Jesus with agents and His immediate atmosphere:
Jesus instructed Nathaniel, and those with him, about what they would see:
"I am presently laying it out, saying to you folks, you will proceed seeing the heaven (or: sky; atmosphere) being one that is opened back up again, and 'God's agents (the folks with a message from God) repeatedly ascending (continuously and progressively stepping back up again) and then habitually descending (repeatedly and progressively stepping down)' [cf Gen. 28:12] upon the Son of the Man" (Jn. 1:51).
In Mat. 4:11, we read that Jesus had access to agents, following His ordeal and testing in the wilderness:
"At that point, the opponent (the adversary; the one who had been thrusting [Him] through) progressively flowed away from Him (or: proceeded to divorce Him; presently abandoned Him) - and, note and consider this! - agents (messengers) approached (came forward) and began giving attending service to (or: continued rendering ministering service and provision for) Him."On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus had visitors:
"Also - look, and consider this! - two adult men (male human beings), who were and continued being Moses and Elijah, continued speaking with Him" (Lu. 9:30).
Luke 22:43 instructs us that Jesus once again received assistance from the heavenly realm, during His internal wrestling, when in Gethsemane:
"Now an agent from the atmosphere (or: But a messenger - someone with a message from heaven), continuously strengthening Him, was seen by Him."
This informs Jesus' statement in Gethsemane, In Mat. 26:53,
"Or, are you continually imagining or supposing that I am not constantly able (or: that I do not habitually have power) to at once call My Father to My side for assistance, and He will right now place by Me (or: furnish for Me; put at My disposal) more than twelve legions of agents?"
So where was Enoch, in reference to these passages, or when Jesus was being tested? Was he still giving good pleasure to God, in some specific way, like Moses and Elijah did?
Jonathan
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