“So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Genesis 5:23-24 NKJV
“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, “to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” Jude 1:14-15 NKJV
“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 pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5 NKJV
The subject of typology is something I personally am convinced is a wonderful tool in studying scripture. Typology is the term used to describe the study of past events as a picture revealing the truth of a future event. In essence what this means is that many of the events in the Old Testament were actually pictures of what was to occur in the future. Many scholars see the rapture of Enoch, which occurred just before the flood of Noah, as a type or pattern of the rapture of the Church, which will also happen just before the start of the final period of God’s judgment of an unbelieving world.
Other examples would be the story of Abraham being told to sacrifice his only son Isaac, and God providing a lamb as a substitute. Or Joseph, sent by his father to visit his brothers and being “killed” in a sense by his imprisonment in Egypt only to reappear as second only to Pharaoh as ruler in Egypt. Also, there is Jonah, being thrown overboard allowing the others to survive while he suffers the punishment of God's wrath in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights. There are many more, but hopefully these are enough for you to begin to see what is meant by the study of typology.
Many believers are aware that Enoch was the first person to experience what is described as a “rapture” event because he never died, but rather was taken by God into His presence before he could “see death”. Yet I believe many are unaware of exactly why God chose to do that for him, or what it was that made Enoch deserving of such a reward. If you look closely at what is written about Enoch in the passage from Jude, I believe it becomes quite clear why God viewed Enoch as deserving of being raptured and how it was that Enoch “pleased God”. Simply put, Enoch pleased God and was rewarded by being raptured because he prophesied about the Second Coming!
Many scholars see the rapture of Enoch, which occurred just before the flood of Noah, as a type or pattern of the rapture of the Church, which will also happen just before the start of the final period of God’s judgment of an unbelieving world. If this is the case, I would also like to suggest there might be more to the story of Enoch that we might find interesting, especially as it might relate to the rapture of the Church.
The passage from Jude tells us that Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam, a fact that we could discern from the genealogy given in the book of Genesis. Yet Jude makes a point to mention it when he talks about Enoch and that makes me wonder why? We know that the number seven in scripture means perfection in regards to completeness, so is it significant the Enoch was the seventh from Adam? If we view Enoch as a type or pattern in relation to the Church, is it also significant that the book of Revelation lists seven church types, and many now believe we are living in the last or seventh type?
Of course, if that were not enough, there is also something else we can consider about Enoch and his rapture. There is a Jewish rabbinical tradition that Enoch was not only born on the sixth of Sivan, but was taken on his birthday as well. Why might that be significant, especially in light of the Church? Simply because the sixth of Sivan is also the date of the Feast of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit was given to the Church, and also the day many consider to be the birthday of the Church.
Pentecost is the fourth of Israel’s seven feast days, and generally occurs in our month of May or June. This year it will be celebrated in Israel at sunset on June 1st, and many are wondering if this just might be a good time to be watching, especially considering all that we see going on in the world today. By now I am sure you know I am not in the habit of selecting dates, or making predictions about when the rapture will occur, yet I certainly believe we are about as close as we can get to that blessed event without actually hearing the trumpet sound.
The relationship between the Church and Jesus has often been described as a relationship between a bride and her groom. If we consider that picture, and apply the study of typology, what we then could do is look for stories of weddings in the Old Testament and examine them closely to see if there might be an application to the future wedding of Jesus to His bride, the Church. Using that perspective, the story many have found most applicable is the one we find revealed in the book of Ruth. Many believe that the story it tells, especially in light of typology and the Church, reveals some amazing truths that say much about our future, and quite possibly even the timing of the wedding.
Why is that? Consider just a few of pictures we find in this little book. Naomi, (as a picture of the nation Israel), Ruth, (as a picture of a Gentile bride, the Church), and Boaz, (the kinsman redeemer who restores Naomi’s land and then marries Ruth the Gentile bride). If we look closer at the wedding between Boaz and Ruth, many believe we can also discover clues concerning the future rapture of the Church. The wedding occurs after the harvest season, specifically the wheat harvest, which in Israel would usually be at the very beginning of summer.
“So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.” Ruth 2:23 NKJV
It by now should come as no surprise that coincidently, in Israel, it is believed and taught that this wedding occurred on the sixth of Sivan as well. It is also a Jewish tradition that the book of Ruth be read on the Feast of Shavuot, the sixth of Sivan, as they stay up all night. Is it any coincidence that the Church is admonished to wait and watch, using illustrations like the “thief in the night”?
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
Looking at Enoch as a type of the rapture, is it possible the Church could be raptured, taken to Heaven as a bride for her wedding, and the Holy Spirit (restrainer) removed on its birthday, the Feast of Pentecost, just as Enoch was? Whether or not this proves to be true, the book of Ruth is not only a wonderful love story but also beautiful picture of Jesus redeeming His Gentile bride, the Church. He is our kinsman redeemer who chose to give His own life as a sacrifice to pay for our sins.
There is, however, one fact that bears mention in the case of the story of Enoch. I believe there is a very important point that many miss when considering the typology between Enoch’s rapture and the rapture of the Church. By studying the account it becomes readily apparent that God chose to take him home quite some time before the flood actually occured. This could be the best news of all that we as believers could hope for as we see the preparations for the coming tribulation period happening at an ever increasing rate. As Chuck Missler was fond of saying, when you see the Christmas decorations going up you know Thanksgiving is near.
Considering all of this, it would seem apparent that the window of opportunity for mankind to make a decision on its eternal destiny is closing rapidly. If you have never accepted the gift of eternal life offered to all by God the Father, I urge you to do it today. Jesus paid the price for His bride, and the Church could disappear at any time. Simply pray this prayer or put it in your own words but tell God you believe He sent His Son to pay the price for your sin, and that you will turn control of your life to Him.
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."
Keep watching.
