"The Enoch Generation" - Pastor Stephen Bohr

Sohrab are heads for prayer our Father and I God what a privilege it is to come together to open your holy word inspired by the holy spirit to discover what your will is for us in these last days we ask that as we study the story of Enoch that your Holy Spirit will be with us and teach us the lessons which will be useful and profitable as we live in this slide these last days of human history we thank you Lord for the promise of your presence and father we just ask we plead that you will be with us in Jesus name Amen we want to begin our study today by turning in our Bibles to Revelation chapter 12 and verse 17 as we've studied before in this seminar this verse is actually a pickup on genesis 3:15 and it's actually speaking about the end time remnant of god on planet earth the remnant that will go through the final tribulation and will actually be in this world when Jesus comes it says here in Revelation 12 verse 17 and the dragon that is the devil was enraged with the woman the woman represents the church and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring or the remnant of her seed the remnant is the last portion of God's people and now notice that this remnant has two characteristics it says who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ notice that the endtime remnant will keep the commandments of God and will have the testimony of Jesus Christ now the question is what is the testimony of Jesus Christ we know that the commandments of God means the ten commandments but the testimony of Jesus we need to take a look at what the Bible has to say about that what is the testimony of Jesus well let's turn in our Bibles to Revelation chapter 19 and verse 10 Revelation chapter 19 and verse 10 here we have a clear explanation as to what the testimony of Jesus is which will which the remnant will possess in the end of time it says there by the way a majestic being appears to John who's the writer of the book of Revelation and we find these words about the encounter and I fell at his feet to worship him but he said to me that is the angel says to John see that you do not do that I am your fellow servant and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus what do the brethren of John have they have the testimony of Jesus and then it says worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy so here we have a definition of what the testimony of Jesus is it is the spirit of prophecy which means that the endtime remnant is going to keep the commandments of God the Ten Commandments and they are going to have the testimony of Jesus which is the gift of prophecy or the spirit of prophecy now there's a third characteristic that this endtime remnant is going to have and that characteristic is found in Revelation chapter 14 and verse 12 Revelation chapter 14 and verse 12 and by the way this verse repeats one detail which we already read in Revelation 12:17 it says here speaking about the endtime remnant here is the patience of the Saints here are those who keep the commandments of God we've already seen that in 1217 who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus so the endtime remnant has faith not any old kind of faith but the faith of Jesus the faith that Jesus had and so we find three characteristics in these verses about the end time remnant they keep the commandments of God they have the testimony of Jesus which is the gift of prophecy or the spirit of prophecy and they also have an unbreakable faith the faith of Jesus now in order to understand fully this endtime generation we have to go to the time before the flood and I'd like you to invite you to go with me to Genesis chapter 6 and verse 5 we're actually going to talk about one of the most spectacular events recorded in the Old Testament now allow me to give you just a little bit of a chronology about this event it took place nine hundred and eighty seven years after creation that means that it took place 669 years before the flood and actually it would further mean that it happened five hundred and forty nine years before Noah began preaching one hundred and twenty years before the flood now we're going to talk about this event in our study tonight it's really spectacular and let's take a look once again at Genesis chapter 6 and verse 5 and read about the condition of the world before the flood it says there then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually so the condition of the world before the flood was in in a dire situation the world had become almost totally corrupted according to this now we find in Matthew chapter 24 and verses 37 to 39 that the condition of the world before the flood is actually symbolic or representative of the condition of the world before the second of Christ notice Matthew chapter 24 and verses 37 to 39 it says but as the days of Noah were so also will the coming of the Son of Man be now did you notice here that there's a comparison between the days of Noah and the coming of the Son of Man be continued same for as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered the Ark and did not know until the flood came and took them all away so also will the coming of the Son of Man be not what I want you to notice is that the world was in a condition in the days of Noah similar to the condition it will be in shortly before the second coming of Christ now with this in mind we want to study the story about a very special hero that we find recorded in Genesis chapter 5 his name is Enoch now before we take a look at anak we need to notice some very interesting details that we find in Genesis chapter 5 we're going to discover that before the flood there were two different types of faithful people to different types of righteous people and you're saying I thought there was only one kind of righteous person well in a certain sense there is but in the sense that we're noticing tonight we're going to see that there were two categories of righteous people the first category of righteous person are those who died before the coming of the flood which represents by the way the second coming of Jesus as we read in Matthew chapter 24 let's go on our Bibles to Genesis chapter 5 and let's read several verses in this chapter about what happened with many of these heroes that are mentioned here actually the genealogy which eventually will end up with Jesus Christ will begin at verse five we're gonna jump to several verses here it says so all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years and he died let's go to verse eight all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years and he died verse 11 all the days of Enosh were 905 years and he died let's go to verse 14 all the days of canaan were 910 years and he died verse 17 all the days of Mahalaleel were 895 years and he died verse 20 all the days of Jared were 962 years and he died verse 27 all the days of Methuselah were 969 years and he died verse 31 all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy seven years and he died and then we jumped to Genesis chapter 9 and verse 29 it says all the days of Noah were 950 years and he died so you'll notice that before the flood one category of believer was the believer that died before the coming of the flood but I want you to notice that there is a second kind of believer before the flood notice Genesis chapter 5 and verse 24 I skipped over one individual in this genealogy of Genesis chapter five Genesis chapter 5 and verse 24 the second category of believer it says here in Genesis 5 verse 24 and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him now did you notice that and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him and somebody might say well when it says that God took him it means that he died and God took him to heaven with him because you know we speak today about when a person dies God took him now is that exactly what the Bible is trying to teach here absolutely not you say how do we know that because there's a text in Hebrews 11 and verse 5 which explains Genesis 5:24 go with me to Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 5 here it is explicit it says here by faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death now is that clear he didn't die and then was taken here it says very clearly by faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death and was not found because God had taken him for before he was taken he had this testimony that he what that he pleased God and so you have two different types of believers before the flood you have those who die and go to the grave before the flood and then you have those represented by Enoch who actually is taken to heaven without seeing death now obviously Enoch is in a special category because he is the lone exception in this list all of the rest died but Enoch was transported to heaven without sin death what made anak so special well before we answer that question allow me to tell you that the Bible has very little to say about Enoch there are actually only four passages or verses in scripture that mention Enoch allow me to mention those for you the first is Genesis chapter 5 verses 21 to 24 we just read from there the second place where Enoch is mentioned is in Luke 337 this is the genealogy of Jesus only his name is mentioned there and then you have Hebrews 11 and verse 5 which is the verse that we just read where it says that he didn't see death that God actually took him and finally a very significant verse is found in Jude verse 14 and also verse 15 and so we have four passages that speak about Enoch Genesis 521 to 24 Luke 337 Hebrews 11:5 and Jude 14 and 15 and so you might say how can you preach a whole sermon on Enoch if the Bible has so little to say about him well even though we only have four verses that mention Enoch those four verses are filled with information and with meaning and so we're going to take a look at the characteristics that distinguished Enoch in a special way from the other people who are mentioned as dying before the flood there are four specific things which are mentioned in these verses about Enoch who was transported to heaven from among the living those four things that are mentioned are number one he walked with God number two he pleased God number three he had faith in God and number four he had the testimony of Jesus or the gift of prophecy now we we get these details from the texts from the four texts that are mentioned in Scripture and so we want to take a look at these characteristics notice Genesis chapter 5 and verse 24 once again we read this verse before to show that God took Enoch but now let's notice the first part of this verse it says and Enoch did what and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him now I might mention a very important detail and that is that in Genesis 5 we are told that Enoch walked with God after he had Methuselah for 300 years that's significant because Enoch lived to be 365 before he was taken to heaven by God it doesn't say that the first 65 years he walked with God although undoubtedly he walked with God but there was a special sense in which Enoch walked with God from the 65th year of his life through the 360 fifth year of his life and you say what was that well in our second textbook the book patriarchs and prophets Ellen White explains that when Enoch had Methuselah he understood better than ever before how God feels for his children because now enoch had a son and he could understand the father-son relationship so much better in the light of having a son he knew what it was like for God to feel for his earthly children and so we're told here that in a special sense he walked with God after he had Methuselah now notice also Hebrews 11 and verse 5 not only did he walk with God but we're told that he did something else actually it's the same thing as walking with God but a different expression is used it says in Hebrews 11 verse 5 by faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death and was not found because God had taken him and now notice this for before he was taken he had this testimony that he pleased God what does it mean to walk with God it means to what to please God in other words Enoch walked with God Enoch please God but do you know that Enoch also had faith in God notice what we find in Hebrews 11 and verse 6 Hebrews 11 and verse 6 after saying that Enoch pleased God notice what we find in this verse but without faith it is impossible to what to please him for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him so Enoch please God and without faith it is impossible to what to please him so you'll notice three characteristics so far and we're gonna notice that they're very closely related first of all he walked with God secondly he pleased God in the third place he had faith because without faith it is impossible to please God now the fourth characteristic is found in Jude verses 14 and 15 this is that little book right before the book of Revelation Jude 14 and 15 it says here about Enoch now Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied about these men also saying now let's stop there just for a moment what did anak do he prophesied do you know who he was prophesying about actually he was prophesying about two groups the first group of wicked people that he was prophesying about was the pre-flood race that we've already read about in Genesis 6 verse 5 that every intent of the hearts and their their imaginations was only evil continually he was prophesying about them but he was also prophesying about a wicked generation shortly before the second coming of Jesus because as it was before the flood so also will it be at the coming of the Son of Man so he's looking at both of these groups and so it says now Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied about these men also saying behold the Lord comes with ten thousand of his Saints to execute what judgment and all to execute what judgment on all did Enoch preach the judgment he most certainly did he was a prophecy that announced the judgment and so it says to execute judgment on all now let's stop there was a knock a prophet yes he was did he then have the testimony of Jesus did he rebuke iniquity did he announce that God was going to come in judgment absolutely and so we know as for characteristics about Enoch first of all he walked with God secondly he please God in the third place he had faith because without faith it is impossible to please God and in the fourth place he was a prophet and so he had the testimony of Jesus but now we need to take a look at what all of these things mean what does it mean to walk with God what does it mean to please God what does it mean when the Bible says that Enoch had faith and let's understand a little bit better what the testimony of Jesus is what the gift of prophecy is and so first of all we want to notice what it means to walk with God because Enoch is a symbol of the end time generation now notice Amos chapter 3 and verse 3 the Book of Amos chapter 3 and verse 3 what does it mean to walk with God it says here can two walk together unless they are what unless they are agreed must you be of one mind with God in order to walk with God according to this verse can you be at odds with God and be walking with God absolutely not now there's a very very interesting characteristic about the expression walking in the Old Testament as well as in the new almost every time that the expression walk is used in this sense of walking with God it has to do with keeping God's commandments I want to read several verses from Scripture that illustrate this point go with me to Deuteronomy chapter 10 and verses 12 and 13 Deuteronomy chapter 10 and verses 12 and 13 walking with God is linked with keeping God's commandments it says there in Deuteronomy chapter 10 verse 12 and now Israel what does the Lord God require of you but to fear the Lord your God and to walk in all his ways and to love him to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes which I command you today for your good do you notice all the parallel expressions in this verse you have for example to fear the Lord your God to walk in all his ways to love him to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul and to complete the commandments of the Lord so let me ask you what does it mean to walk with God it means to fear Him it means to walk in his Commandments it means to love him that was true of inna that was the experience of Enoch walking with God now let's notice two or three other texts notice Deuteronomy chapter 13 and verse 4 Deuteronomy chapter 13 and verse 4 here God is speaking to his people and he says you shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and do what and keep his Commandments that's expression we found in Revelation 12:17 and keep his Commandments and then what does it say and obey his voice and you shall serve Him and hold fast to him what does it mean to walk with the Lord it means to keep his Commandments to obey his voice to serve him and to hold fast to him would that be what Enoch did if he walked with God you see you let scripture explain scripture when you find the expression walk with God you have to see what it means to walk with God in the light of all of Scripture notice Psalm 78 and verse 10 here it's even more explicit what it means to walk with God it says in Psalm 78 and verse 10 speaking about Israel they did not keep the Covenant of God they refused to what they refused to walk in his law what do you walk in you walk in God's law according to this let me ask you did anak walk in God's law did he keep God's commandments did he obey the voice of the Lord yes if you compare these scriptures with Genesis 5 you'll notice that he did you see when you only have that expression he walked with God you have to go to other places in scripture to explain what it means to walk with God notice also psalm 119 and verse 1 psalm 119 and verse 1 it says here by the way this is David the psalmist was writing blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord blessed are those who walk how to walk in the law of the Lord was Enoch a law keeper was he obedient to God's commandments he mostly he wants by the way does this remind us of Revelation 12:17 the people who keep the commandments of God in the end time generation now known as first John 2 3 to 6 because somebody might say well this was just Israel in the Old Testament so let's notice a text from the New Testament first John chapter 2 and verses 3 to 6 it says here by this we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments how do we know that we know God if we what if we keep his Commandments by the way this is the same author of Revelation 12:17 the same writer not the same author cos not God is the author but the same writer now notice this he who says I know him and does not keep his Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him but whoever keeps his word truly the love of God is perfected in him by this we know that we are in him he who says he abides in him ought himself also to what to walk just as he walked he is walking with God linked here with keeping God's commandments it most certainly is so in Genesis tells us that Enoch walked with God it's another way of saying that Enoch obeyed God and kept his what and kept his Commandments is that one of the characteristics of the end time generation that will live before the second coming like Enoch lived before the flood absolutely but now we need to take a look at what it means to please God and by the way walk with God and please God are synonymous I don't know whether you caught that in Genesis were told that Enoch walked with God in Hebrews were told that before Enoch was translated he pleased God so to walk with God is the same as what it's the same as to please God now what does the Bible mean when it says that a person pleases God notice first John chapter 3 and verse 22 first John chapter 3 and verse 22 it says here and whatever we ask we receive from him because we what because we keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight what is pleasing in the Lord's sight keeping his wet His commandments does that square with what it means to walk with God absolutely and so it says here that God answers our prayers because we keep his Commandments and we do those things that are pleasing in his sight by the way this is the way Jesus lived notice John chapter 8 and verse 29 John chapter 8 and verse 29 it says here Jesus is speaking and he who sent me is with me the father has not left me alone now why hasn't the father left him alone for I always what I always do those things that please him is pleasing God or rather that's pleasing God have anything to do with obeying God and doing what God expects us to do absolutely Jesus himself says so he says the father has not left me alone for I always do those things that please him by the way the Apostle Paul tells us that those who are in the flesh cannot please God the expression to live in the flesh means that you haven't been converted it means that that you have a fleshly existence you have a selfish nature that is dictating your behavior let's notice Romans chapter 8 Romans chapter 8 and verses 7 and 8 Romans chapter 8 and verses 7 and 8 it says here because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law law of God nor indeed can be is the fleshly nature in conflict with the law of God absolutely and then notice so then those who are in the flesh cannot please God are you catching the connection here between the fleshly person and keeping the commandments of God the fleshly person cannot keep the commandments of God which means that they cannot do what they cannot please God according to this and by the way if you go to Galatians chapter 5 you're gonna notice what the works of the flesh are they are actually violations of the Ten Commandments notice the list that the Apostle Paul gives and I'm reading from the NIV because there's some words in the New King James that are difficult to understand this is the list sexual immorality impurity debauchery idolatry witchcraft hatred discord jealousy fits of Rage selfish ambition dissensions factions envy drunkenness orgies and then he says and the like those are the works of the flesh let me ask you are all of those violations of God's Ten Commandments those people who practice these things are they really pleasing God no because they're living according to the flesh and living according to the flesh brings as a result the works of the flesh and so we find that Enoch walked with God he pleased God which basically means that Enoch obeyed God's commandments it means that that Enoch followed the will of God he feared the Lord he loved the Lord he obeyed the Lord he keep this kept his Commandments he walked with him in other words allow me to read you a very interesting statement from our second textbook pay traction prophets page 85 on Enoch it says here enacts walk with God was not in a trance or vision but in all the duties of his daily life he did not become a hermit shutting himself entirely from the world for he had a work to do for God in the world and now notice this in the family and in his intercourse with men as a husband and father a friend a citizen he was steadfast I'm wavering servant of the Lord in other words walking with God meant that he walked with God in all the areas of life and in all of his relationships and of course when we remember that the law of God is a law of relationships because basically it means to love God and to love our neighbor we understand that Enoch loved God and his neighbor and it was manifested in obedience to the commandments of God now we also have found that Enoch had faith because without faith it is impossible to please God now what kind of faith did Enoch have and where was his faith focused it says by faith Enoch okay that's fine but you know where was his faith focused well in order to understand this we need to understand what faith is go with me to Hebrews 11 and verse 1 Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 1 this is the standard definition for faith it says here now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen what is faith the substance of things that you want that you hope for the evidence of things that you have not what seem so must Enoch have hoped for something that he didn't have you of course must they have desired to see something that at that point he did not see of course and the question is where was his faith focused oh there's this beautiful statement that's found in patriarchs and prophets page 87 I want to read it to you it's beautiful it says here but enix heart was upon eternal treasure he had looked upon the celestial City did you notice that he had looked upon the celestial City he had seen the king in his glory in the midst of Zion his mind his heart his conversation were in heaven where was this faith focused was he hoping for heaven yes could he actually see heaven with his physical eyes no but did he see heaven with the eye of faith he most certainly did he longed for heaven she continued saying the greater the existing iniquity the more earnest was his longing for the home of God while still on earth he dwelt by faith in the realms of light in other words his faith was a hope that Sunday he could live with God in heaven which he could not see with his physical eyes but which he grasped by faith have you ever heard the expression he's so heavenly minded he's no earthly good you know I like to change that around it I like to say he's so earthly minded he's no heavenly good and the fact is that Enoch he was heavenly minded but that did not keep him from fulfilling his daily duties of love to God and love to his fellow human beings but he knew that this world was not his home his faith was focused on eternal realities not the Phantom's of this world so we've noticed three characteristics number one Enoch walked with God that means keeping his Commandments Enoch please God that means that you don't walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit it means that you're not at enmity with the love law of God but you're in love with the law of God Enoch had faith his faith was focused on heavenly realities even though he was on earth he was walking with the king in the New Jerusalem by fadeth by the way are these the very three characteristics that we started our study with what is the endtime generation going to have they are going to keep what the commandments of God are they going to have the faith of Jesus absolutely are they going to be the Enoch generation of course but there's one more characteristic and that is in Jude 14 and 15 let's read this passage again it says here now Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied about these men also say behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of his Saints by the way this is after the Millennium I won't get into that to execute judgment and all the execution of the judgment against the weak in his win not at the second coming but after the Millennium to execute judgment on all to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds if I could just make a parenthesis there is there gonna be a huge panorama above the holy city where the wicked are going to be convicted of their unrighteousness yes you see usually we apply this to the second coming of Christ but technically in context it's applying to events after the Millennium and so verse 15 says to execute judgment on all to convict all who are ungodly among them of their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him did anak warn the of a coming judgment and the need that people had of committing their lives to the Lord absolutely would you expect that in the end time the Enoch generation would also have in their midst a prophet who would announce the judgment and the need to prepare for that judgment so that we're on the right side of course now allow me to read you some interesting statements about this aspect of Enoch patriarchs and prophets page 85 I just love this chapter about Enoch there's so much wonderful light in it about Enoch it says here through now notice this through holy angels God revealed to Enoch his purpose to destroy the world by a flood and he also opened more fully to him the plan of redemption he did it through the holy way through the holy angels and now notice this by the spirit of prophecy he carried him down through the generations that should live after the flood and showed him the great events connected with the second coming of Christ and the end of the world what did enik have according to this by the what by the spirit of prophecy is that the identical expression that we found about the endtime remnant in Revelation chapter 12 and verse 17 in Revelation 19 verse 10 absolutely by the way was Enoch a fearless rebuke er of sin he most certainly was allow me to read you this statement patriarchs and prophets page 86 see today we live in a world of political correctness where nobody wants to call sin by it's right name but Enoch did not get caught up in that game Enoch told things in love like they were and he rebuked sin and he called sinners to allow the holy spirit to change their lives so that they would be found on the right side in the coming judgment we find this day he was a fearless reprove er of sin while he preached the love of God in Christ to the people of his time and pleaded with them to forsake their evil ways he rebuked the prevailing iniquity and warned the men of his generation that judgment would surely be visited upon the transgressor it was the Spirit of Christ that spoke through in ik what was it it was the Spirit of Christ that spoke through Enoch that spirit is manifested not alone in utter insane and entreaty it is not smooth things only that are spoken by holy men God puts into the hearts and lips of his messengers truths to utter that are keen and cutting as a two-edged sword in this way Enoch was similar to Noah who also condemned the world as it says in the book of Hebrews and he became the heir of the righteousness that is by faith one further statement from Beit direction prophets page 87 talks about the holiness of Enoch it says blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God for three hundred years Enoch had been seeking purity of soul that he might be in harmony with heaven what was he seeking purity of soul that he might be what in harmony with heaven for three centuries he had walked with God day by day he had longed for a closer union nearer and nearer had grown the communion until God took him to himself he had stood at the threshold of the eternal world only a step between him and the land of the Blessed and now the portals opened the walk with God so long pursued on earth continued as he passed through the gates of the holy city the first from among men to enter there Wow do you know that the same author of patriarchs and prophets elright says this in the journal signs of the times April 8 1899 notice if we could have but one view of the celestial City we would never wish to dwell on earth again that was the experience of Enoch he became totally disconnected in his affections and ISM and in his mind with this world he loved God so much he wanted to please God so much he wanted to keep God's commandments so much he had so much faith in what he could not see and what he hoped for that God finally said to Enoch Enoch you're not a citizen of Earth anymore you're only a citizen of heaven come up here and we'll continue walking on the street of gold throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity the Enoch generation will be just like that they will walk with God they will please God they will have the faith of Jesus and they will have the testimony of Jesus which they will proclaim to a world that is living in rebellion now do you remember that at the beginning of our study we noticed that there were two different categories of believers before the flood there were those who died and there was the individual who was translated to heaven from among the living do you know that Enoch represents those who in the end time will be translated to heaven without seeing death you know it reclined of reminds me of that scene on the Mount of Transfiguration you've read that where Jesus is at the top of this high mountain and suddenly down from heaven come two individuals Moses any lines let's pick up the story as its found in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 17 and verses 1 to 3 it says now after six days Jesus took Peter James and John his brother led them up on a high mountain by themselves and he was transfigured before them his face shone like the Sun by the way you can read that in Revelation 1 the glorified Christ his face shines as the Sun Jesus here was glorified in a preliminary way and so it says his face shone like the Sun and his clothes became as white as the light and behold Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him not why Moses and Elijah well if you go to the Old Testament you'll notice that Moses at the end of his life because of his sin died and he was resurrected and he was taken to heaven you can find that by carefully reading Deuteronomy 34 verses 5 and 6 and also Jude 9 where it says that there was a battle over the body of Moses because Michael the Archangel had come to resurrect Moses and so you have Moses who died and resurrected and ascended to heaven but then you have that other individual Elijah where we're told in 2nd Kings chapter 2 that Elijah are a chariot of fire came down and it picked up Elijah and it took him to heaven without experiencing death in these two individuals you have represented the two groups of people that will be in this world of the righteous people that will be in this world when Jesus comes you have those who died in Christ and will resurrect and you that have those who are alive and remain in fact let's notice what the Apostle Paul has to say about this 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 and verses 16 through 18 first thessalonians chapter 4 and verses 16 through 18 it says here for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout by the way that Lord Himself is the same Lord that was transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration with a shout with the voice of an archangel ah what's the name of that Archangel Michael the same one who fought over the body of Moses and so it says with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God and now notice and the dead in Christ will rise first there you have represented by those who died before the flood and you have those represented by Moses and then notice verse 17 then we who are alive and remain those are represented by whom by Enoch and who else and Elijah and those who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air and thus we shall always be with the Lord is there going to be an emic generation at the end of time who will bear the same characteristics as the original Enoch before the flood absolutely in fact allow me to read you a statement from patriarchs and prophets pages 88 and 89 corroborating what we just studied from Scripture this is a very significant statement notice what it says the godly character of this prophet that is Enoch represents the state of holiness which must be attained by those who shall be redeemed from the earth at the time of Christ's second Advent did you catch that the state of holiness which must be attained by those who shall be redeemed from the earth by the way do you know if there's only one type of person who's gonna be alive when Jesus comes 144,000 and they will have gained the total reboot total victory over sin now notice what this continues saying then at the second coming shortly before the second coming as in the world before the flood iniquity will prevail following the promptings of their corrupt hearts and the teach of a deceptive philosophy men will rebel against the authority of heaven but like Enoch God's people will seek for purity of heart and conformity to his will until they shall reflect the likeness of Christ like Enoch they will warn the world of the Lord's second coming and of the judgments to be visited upon transgression and by their holy conversation an example they will condemn the sins of the ungodly is there gonna be whole generation like Enoch who are going to warn the world through the gift of prophecy who are going to obey God manifest this pure character not live according to the flesh but according to the spirit absolutely she could do the same as Enoch was translated to heaven before the destruction of the world by water so the living righteous will be translated from the earth before its destruction by fire this is the generation that Jesus is waiting for with a longing desire now you say how in the world do we ever reach this state well it's actually not as complicated as many people think you see the way that we reach this state is by that which we listen to and watch you know if our eyes are focused on earthly things we will be earthly minded if our eyes are focused on heavenly things we will be heavenly minded we all know that little that little song turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in his wonderful face and what will be the consequence and the things of Earth will grow what will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace not a second Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 18 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 18 here it's speaking about the secret it's such a simple secret but we find so difficult to follow the counsel of God it says here but we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord what do we behold the glory of the Lord do you know what the glory of the Lord is the glory of the Lord is his character it's his character you can read that in in Exodus when Moses went to the top of the Mount Exodus chapter 32 by the way is the glory of God contagious you know when Moses went up there and spent 40 days with the Lord he came down from the mountain and what was happening with his face his face was shining or glowing because he had been with the Lord if we want our faces to shine and to glow what do we have to do we have to spend time with the Lord because his glory is contagious now notice but we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord our being what transformed that's the word metamorphosis in Greek it's a total and radical change we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as by the Spirit of the Lord we are what we watch and what we hear if what we watch and hear is spiritually in tune with God we will reveal the character of God if what we watch and hear is focused upon the things of this world we will be worldly minded we will be carnally minded it is a psychological principle of life we are composed of what we eat physically and we are composed of what we eat spiritually through our eyes and through our ears and Enoch had his focus in the right place his focus was on heaven once again I read that statement that I read before from signs of the times you know do you long for heaven be long for Jesus to come there's nothing in this world that is where hanging onto folks it's all gonna burn when Jesus comes I want you to notice that statement as we close if we could have but one view of the celestial City just one view just a glimpse we would never wish to dwell on earth again [Music]

Channel: Aaron

Views: 38,225

Rating: 4.7973857 out of 5

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Id: kRA4nSYlEbQ

Length: 56min 11sec (3371 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 21 2019