LIFE IN HEAVEN – PART FIFTEEN
Saturday – August 4, 2018, Av 23, 5778
TIME FRAME FOUR
Genesis 3:6 to Hebrews 1:3
Welcome back to this wonderful study of “Life in Heaven”. We are currently studying the fourth of eight time periods God showed to me. Wow, we are such a privileged people to receive such Truth, such revelation of the things of God straight from Heaven’s Throne. God is unsealing what have been considered unknowable in the past. I for one do not believe that now in the time of the end God is hiding anything from us. What we know is directly proportional to our willingness to visit with Him. As we have seen from the account of Enoch it appears that God showed him the full panorama of time. Enoch was not even saved, or was he? Before I answer that question let’s turn our attention to another Old Covenant person who went into Heaven intact.
2 Kings 2:11 (KJV)
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
The “they” in the preceding verse is referring to Elijah and Elisha. As we see clearly in the verse Elijah is taken whole up into Heaven. This account is a type and shadow of Christ and the Church. I am not dealing with that in this teaching but we are considering that this man Elijah was taken alive into Heaven. Like Enoch there is no suggestion that Elijah died physically and his spirit man, or Enoch’s spirit man were taken into Heaven apart from their physical bodies. So now, we have two natural men taken intact into Heaven by God. All others in this time period were dying physically and their spirit man was being gathered into the Bosom of Abraham until Jesus could come and lead them into Heaven. Enoch and Elijah are thought to be the two witnesses mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 11:3 (KJV)
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
I believe that the assumption that these two witnesses are Enoch and Elijah is likely correct however we are never told that directly. The following Scripture is commonly used to back up this assumption.
Hebrews 9:26-28 (KJV)
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Since it is appointed unto men to die so the argument goes it is necessary for Enoch and Elijah to come back and die. That of course overlooks the millions of people that were just Caught Away to Heaven alive with instantaneous transformation of their physical bodies to be immortal. It seems to me that the reference to people being “appointed” “once to die” is to preclude all of the myths of reincarnation. It is also given as the event marker before judgment whether it be the saints to the Judgment Seat of Christ or the lost to the White Throne Judgment. Most importantly the author of Hebrews is pointing to the death of Jesus (spirit [but not mind] and body) and the judgment that followed. The judgment that followed the death of Jesus was that sin was taken away, He is coming back for us, and when He comes it is not for sin but to fulfil all of the promise of salvation. Although I believe that Enoch and Elijah are the two witnesses I do not believe that the Hebrews Scripture supports that or is even necessary. So, what about these two men who were taken into Heaven whole and apparently not born again? Let’s consider the following Scripture as we look to the answer.
Revelation 13:8 (KJV)
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
From the prospective of God (Triune) the price of sin was paid if men sinned from before the creation of Adam and before the sacrifice played out in time, in the natural at Calvary. We know that Enoch was given a wonderful panoramic view of all of time so there is no reason to think God has not done so for others including but not exclusive to Elijah. Could it be that by faith they pulled salvation into their timeframe? Absolutely! Consider the following passage.
Matthew 15:24-28 (KJV)
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Jesus was sent to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” however by faith thousands of gentiles (dogs to the Jews) were healed as was this woman’s (a gentile) daughter. By faith Enoch and Elijah were born again however their bodies were not changed. Many have been caught up to Heaven whole and have returned to testify and so it was for them. Let us not fear to reach with faith where ever we need to further the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 19:26 (KJV)
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Bold added)
Until our next publication, confess the following passage and walk before Whom we have to do with great rejoicing and thanksgiving. This physical body is our humiliation but soon it will be no more for the glory of God and our eternal benefit.
Philippians 3:20-21 (MSG)
20 But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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