In reference to Genesis 2 verses 10-14, where are the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates today and which countries are Havilah, Cush and Assyria?

The scholarly community is divided as to where these ancient rivers and countries are located. The following answer presents one view:

There are more than one land of Havilah and of Cush respectively mentioned in the Bible, wherein lies the confusion.  However, the verses in Genesis cited above give us a clue as to which area is delineated.  The garden of Eden, it is generally accepted, was located in the Armenia/Azerbaijan region, located in the Republic of Georgia, i.e.,the Caucasus Mountains,  north eastern Turkey and north west Iran.  The word Cush means blackness.  The black races generally inhabit southern Iraq, south India and Africa.  But Nimrod was also black, being a Cushite, and he built the city of Babel, or the city of Cush, in what is today northern Iraq.  Hence the land of Cush, translated Ethiopia in verse 13, cannot refer to Ethiopia in north east Africa, also black, but to Northern Iraq in Asia, within what was later the Assyrian empire .  Furthermore, verse 11 mentions that there is “good gold” in the area of Havilah.  The second-largest gold deposits in the world are found near the delta of the southeast Caucasus Mountain range (the first being in South Africa, far from Eden).  We can then be assured that the Bible is speaking of this region in what is the general area of the Republic of Georgia.

Since the world experienced a devastating flood which destroyed a good part of the land geography, some scholars believe it is impossible now to determine exactly which today are the four rivers mentioned in Genesis, as their source has been obliterated.  Many agree the river Hiddekel is the Tigris river that empties into the Persian Gulf and the Euphrates has a similar starting point.  A discerning look at a map of the area will reveal that the Pishon is likely the Araxes or Araks river, that “compasseth the  land of Havilah,” the gold mines in the area of the Republic of Georgia, and empties into the Caspian Sea.  A closer look may suggest that the Gihon river which “compasseth the …land of Ethiopia [Cush],” Northern Iraq and Northwest Iran, may be the Safid-Rud river, which also empties into the Caspian Sea.  It may be noted that the history of Adam and the human race parallels that of the river that arose in Eden.

Did Jesus Die a Ransom for Many or a Ransom for All?

“Who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all- this is what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times.” (1Ti 2:6 NWT_)

“Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many.”” (Mt 20:28 NWT_)

The Bible does not contradict itself.  Why did Paul say, that Jesus gave himself a ransom “for all,” but Jesus said “for many?”  The simple answer is that “many” means “all” as demonstrated in Romans.

“But it is not with the gift as it was with the trespass. For if by one man’s trespass many died, the undeserved kindness of God and his free gift with the undeserved kindness by the one man Jesus Christ abounded much more to many.” (Ro 5:15 NWT_)

In Romans 5:15, the “many” are ALL of Adam’s posterity, just like those who receive Jesus’ free gift.  Just as Adam’s posterity is ALL mankind, so those who will benefit from the free gift on Paradise Earth is ALL Mankind.  Yes, ALL Mankind will have the future opportunity of a trial for life under favorable conditions on Paradise Earth.  This is what the Society taught in the early days at the time of Pastor Russell.

Paul clearly explains what this free gift is for many (ALL) is:

“For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ro 6:23 NWT)

Who is Melchizedek in the Bible?

There is no scripture that specifically identifies Melchizedek.  However, in Psalm 110:4 (NIV)God speaks to His Son saying, "Thou art a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek." Again in Hebrews 7:1-3, Paul teaches that Melchizedek pictures Jesus, “For this Melchizedek…by translation of his name, ‘King of righteousness,’ and then he is also king of ‘Salem,’ that is, king of ‘Peace.’ He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever.”  This means that Melchizedek is a title – not a name, and that we are specifically kept unaware of both his parents and his children. 

This lack of knowledge is by God’s direction and the lesson for us is that what Melchizedek, or the “King of Righteousness” does is where we should focus our attention.  When our Lord Jesus Christ takes up his great authority as both King and Priest he will indeed be the king of “Peace” of the order of Melchizedek.

Respecting the historical figure, we read in Genesis 14:18-20, “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” From this we learn that Melchizedek was Abraham's superior, deserving of his tithes. 

Many Biblical scholars also speculate that Melchizedek may have been the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza. As leader of the peaceful Hyksos kings, he was in the area during the time period when the pyramid was built. However this thought, like nearly everything surrounding this remarkable man, is something we can not now know with certainty. 

What was the main reason Moses was not permitted into Canaan?

Deuteronomy 34:4,5: "Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord."

The story context for God’s judgment begins in Exodus 17:1-7 when the people of Israel were quarreling and wanted Moses to give them water to drink. Moses went to the Lord, and God told Moses to "'Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it that the people may drink.' And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel."

On the second occasion of the request for water (Numbers 20) God again instructed Moses saying, “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.” This was Moses' response: "So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him; and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank." However, God was displeased with Moses' response, and states, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

The Lord particularly directed that Moses should speak to the rock, and that in response to the word waters would rush forth. In the Mt. Sinai experience (Exodus 17), Moses had been instructed to smite the rock; but in this case the rock was not to be smitten. While smiting the rock on the second occasion may seem like a small deviation, we later understand that this rock pictured Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4. Hence it was important to show that Christ was not to be smitten (or sacrificed) a second time to provide life to the people.

Here Moses and Aaron sinned. Thus they were not permitted to see the Promised Land.

Why were Mary and Joseph chosen to be the parents of our Lord?

The Messiah was to be of the tribe of Judah and of the lineage of David. Both Mary and Joseph were descendants of Judah from King David’s line. Genesis 49:10, 2 Samuel 7:16, Matthew 1:1, Luke 3:31

Joseph was tenderhearted and kind.

When he heard that his betrothed was pregnant, he was willing to divorce her privately, a way to shield her from public humiliation.  Matthew 1:18-19 

He was promptly obedient to the will of God, even when obeying His will could damage his reputation.

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, that she had conceived by the holy Spirit, that she would bear a Son to be named Jesus.   His response:  “And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife.”  Matthew 1:20-24

He showed respect and Godly restraint.

“…and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son…”  Matthew 1:25

He was a law abiding citizen even when it posed personal difficulty.

He took the long trip from Nazareth to Judea with Mary who was close to bearing the child, in order to register according to the decree from Caesar Augustus.   Luke 2:1-7

Joseph was willing to uproot his life and lead his family to a foreign land because God said so.

God warned him and directed him in two dreams regarding where he should lead his family, away from Herod and into the foreign land of Egypt.  “And he arose and took the Child and his mother by night, and departed for Egypt…”  Matthew 2:12-14

Mary was favored of God.  The LORD was with her.   Luke 1:28

She trusted and surrendered to the will of God even though its fulfillment would threaten her reputation and perhaps her life in the society.   Luke 1:35-38  She believed the seemingly impossible promise that God would plant the Son of the Most High in her womb, and she was blessed because of her deep faith.  Luke 1:45

She praised God for His blessing on her.  She was familiar with the book of the Prophet Samuel, and she quoted from those writings.  Luke 1:46-55

Mary meditated on and thought deeply about the events overruled by her God. The shepherds made known the statements which had been told them about the child Jesus:  ‘Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people…’

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  “  Luke 1:8-19

As a couple, Mary and Joseph respected the Law of God and went every year to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover.  Luke 2:41

Mary had the courage to stand by the cross of Jesus.  John 19:25

She became a devout follower of Christ, and became a partaker of the Pentecostal blessing of the holy spirit.  “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers…”  Acts 1:14, 2:1-4

Joseph and Mary were descended from the line of David and were two ordinary people who loved God. They sought to do His will regardless of the consequences.

An ordinary, willing heart and life can be used by our Amazing God for extraordinary ends.

What does Proverbs 13:22 mean? "A good man leaves an inheritance for his childrens children, but a sinners wealth is stored up for the righteous."

This verse is so encouraging! It shows that a person who seeks and follows God’s ways does have a valuable inheritance to pass on to generations to come.  In contrast, the wealth of one who does not live according to principles of righteousness will not have something of value to pass on.  “Ill gotten gains do not profit…”  Proverbs 10:2; Job 27:13, 16-17.

The complete fulfillment of this verse is not now, but in a future time.  “Now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also test God and escape.”  Malachi 3:15  God’s principle that ‘we reap what we sow’ is still in place. Now, however, the full consequences of behaviors are delayed. Galatians 6:7-10  

In Christ’s Kingdom, unjust gain will be no more and all who seek righteousness will be blessed.   We have so many promises of a time when justice and accountability will be in place during the reign of Jesus and his Bride. Isaiah 11:9, “the word of the Lord will cover the earth like that waters cover the sea.”  “With righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth.”  Isaiah 11:4  It will be said in that day, “how the oppressor has ceased, and how fury has ended!  The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers which used to strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes…The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; they break forth into shouts of joy.”  Isaiah 14:4-7

The harvest of consequences can also affect future generations for good or for evil in our lifetime as well as into eternity.

Think of someone righteous and Godly, who is no longer with us in this life.  Think of the rich legacy of example and love for God they have left their family and friends for generations to come.

Sometimes there are people in our lives who are like road signs. (See Jeremiah 31:21 NIV)  Their characters over years of testing have been set firmly in the concrete foundation of faith. The message that they have lived is a message of true hope, true direction and true instruction. Their example speaks to us now, and if they were part of the Bride of Christ, their triumph in Christ will speak throughout all generations.”

“So we Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture will give thanks to Thee forever; to all generations we will tell of Thy praise.”  Psalm 79:13

O LORD, work in our lives so that we can leave a beautiful legacy for generations to come.  

Why is the Bible written in parables ?

Mark 4:10-12, “When Jesus was alone, some of those who had heard him came to him with the twelve disciples and asked him to explain the parables.  ‘You have been given the secret of the Kingdom of God,’ Jesus answered. ‘But the others, who are on the outside, hear all things by means of parables, so that, They may look and look, yet not see; they may listen and listen, yet not understand. For if they did, they would turn to God, and he would forgive them.’”

Mark 4:33-34, “Jesus preached his message to the people, using many other parables like these…but when he was alone with his disciples, he would explain everything to them.”

Mathew 13:10-16,  “Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, ‘Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?’  Jesus answered, ‘The knowledge about the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them…The reason I use parables in talking to them is that they look, but do not see, and they listen, but do not hear or understand. So the prophecy of Isaiah applies to them: ‘This people will listen and listen, but not understand; they will look and look, but not see,   because their minds are dull, and they have stopped up their ears and have closed their eyes. Otherwise, their eyes would see, their ears would hear, their minds would understand, and they would turn to me, says God, and I would heal them.’ As for you, how fortunate you are! Your eyes see and your ears hear.’”

We will break it down.

1. God’s Word as not intended to be understood by the world at large.
2. God only revealed His plan to a select few people whose minds and hearts were opened to understand.
3. Jesus did not want the whole world to be converted.

Jesus’ answer should make us want to ask a whole lot more questions.

Most Christian churches teach that you have to accept Jesus now or you will go to hell. If that were true, then why did Jesus purposely not want people to be converted? Didn’t he want people to be saved? Of course he did! So then you have to reexamine many of the main stream doctrines to see if they square with this reasoning of Jesus.

In will be during Christ’s glorious reign on earth that the whole world will taught of Jesus. Then, “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD…” Isaiah 11:9. “…I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God…and no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least…to the greatest…I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:33, 34.

Why did King Saul hate David so much?

The Bible records many accounts of Saul displaying jealousy and hatred toward David – who was his personal musician, armor-bearer, army captain, son-in-law and successor. Saul saw that David was “a man after God’s own heart”, and it made him all the more aware of his own failings and weaknesses.

Early on, Saul was described as “a man without equal” (1 Samuel 9:2). The whole book of 1 Samuel chronicles the changing character of Saul’s heart. Chapter 10:6-9 tells us that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Saul and he was given a new heart. As long as he served, feared and obeyed God, he and his kingdom would be blessed.  If he rebelled against God’s commandments, God’s judgment would be against him and the nation (12:14). In the beginning, Saul was a popular, humble, strong leader and warrior. He honored God and followed the prophet Samuel’s counsel. He did not have evil intentions, but lacked proper respect and reverence for the Lord and His provisions. While he might have been desirous of serving God, he was also desirous of serving himself. Sadly, he began to assert his own will and disobeyed God’s instructions. Saul was always a free-will agent in full control of his choices, but we know that "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways."(James 1:8)

When David was anointed, the Lord’s spirit filled David and departed from Saul. “And the Spirit of Jehovah turned aside from Saul, and a spirit of sadness from Jehovah terrified him” (16:14-Young’s Translation). This distressing spirit was permitted by the LORD. Thereafter, Saul viewed David with suspicion- rage so intense that he attempted murder. Viewing David as his enemy, he did everything he could to dishonor David (18:7-15; 20:34). Perhaps he feared David because he knew the LORD was with him.

Saul became increasingly isolated, arrogant, attention-seeking (22:8); and “spiritually blind”. Samuel was forced to advise him twice that his kingdom would not endure and that he had been replaced as King: “Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord” (13:8-14) and “…The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou…” (15:10-31).

In the meantime, David was prospering because the Lord was with him. David went wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely (18:14). Even Saul’s righteous son, “… Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself” (18:3).  Because Jonathan was surrendered to God he could see the hand of the LORD upon David and was perfectly willing to set aside his own ambition to honor the LORD's choice.  “… David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed” (18:30). Twice, David spared Saul’s life – in the cave and in the wilderness!

Saul forgot that “…to obey is better than sacrifice” (15:17-22). He did not properly receive the lessons the Lord provided and neglected his opportunity to be used in God’s service. King Saul hated David because David’s character exemplified everything Saul’s character did not.

Please explain Psalms 51.

In Acts 13:22, the Apostle Paul declares David was "a man after [God's] own heart" (Acts 13:22).

When David became Israel's reigning king, he obeyed God, "and he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him."  (2 Samuel 5:3,4,10)  However, one spring evening David saw the naked Bathsheba, wife of Uriah, and lusted after her.  David should never have acted on his lust, but he let his fleshly wishes overpower his righteous heart.  Soon he committed adultery and conceived a baby with Bathsheba. As a cover-up, he arranged for Uriah's certain death on the battlefield.

Thus David was guilty of adultery and murder. To address these sins, God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David. The confrontation is recorded in 2 Samuel 12. David suddenly felt the full horror of his deeds.

Psalm 51 records the process of David’s repentance and subsequent restoration to fellowship with God. In a broader application, this psalm was written for our benefit, as well. Psalm 51 teaches us that even when we may commit terrible sins, these verses provide comfort and instruction for how to recover our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

In verses 1-4 David confesses his sin and begs for God's mercy. He knows God is a God of forgiveness and love. By acknowledging our sins, we develop a deeper, more heartfelt appreciation of God’s righteous judgments.

In verses 5 and 6, David acknowledges he was “sinful from the time my mother conceived me."  But he also recognizes God will teach him truth and wisdom.

Verses 7, 8, 9 –  The hyssop referred to in verse 7 was used in ceremonial cleansing (Leviticus 14:4), and the plant was known to have antiseptic properties.  David saw  sin’s contamination and wanted it washed away completely.  He refers to how the realization of his sin weighed on him so much, that he felt "crushed" and now begs for God's returned favor to lift that weight and give him "joy and gladness."

Then David sees that he must reconfirm his complete devotion to God, and he cries out, "Create in me a pure heart, O God."  He asks for a renewed, steadfast spirit, and the joy of the LORD to sustain him.  (Verses 10-12)

In verses 13-15, David acknowledges that God is his only salvation, and he desires to tell others about God’s grace and love.

Verses 16 and 17 are vital to all who want to please God.  Our Father is not interested in ceremonies performed only out of duty; what God wants is "a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart."  This means we must give up trying to justify ourselves; we must realize that we can't be righteous in our own strength.  We must rely completely on God's grace (which in this age means accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf).  And then we must fully accept God's forgiveness and love, and lean on His mighty power to help us follow His Son.

On which mountain did Moses receive the Ten Commandments?

Most people are unaware that little evidence supports “Mt. Sinai” in the Sinai Peninsula as the famed mountain of Exodus. Several recent popularizations on the subject have suggested an alternate site of Jabal al-Lawz, or Mt. Musa (Moses) in Saudi Arabia. Local Arab tradition upholds this as the site for the giving of the law. Unfortunately, many of those popularizing this location offer little scholarly research to support their views. Yet, there are some excellent scholars who agree with this location and have published their findings. The eminent Orientalist, Professor James B. Pritchard writes:

“The location of Mt. Sinai, or Mt. Horeb… is a particular problem and over a dozen sites have been proposed for it.  Much of the evidence used in the discussion is insufficiently precise for the purpose (e.g. volcanic features in Exodus 19 …need not imply that Mt. Sinai was actually a volcano and therefore located in north-west Arabia) and some of it perhaps relates to a distinct “mountain of God” (Exodus 3:1; 4:27; 18:5) rather than to Sinai.  The clearest evidence is found in Deuteronomy 1:2 It is eleven days journey from Horeb by way of Mt. Seir to Kadesh-Barnea.  This points to the South of the Sinai Peninsula … or less likely to a mountain east of the gulf of Aqaba.” (Atlas of the Bible, Harper Collins ,1987)

Again from the scholarly community, Hershel Shanks, editor of the Biblical Archaeological Review says, “Jabal al-Lawz is the most likely site for Mount Sinai, but we need a serious archeological investigation.” (Religion: On the Trail of the Real Mount Sinai, Newsweek, February 23, 1998)

The Apostle Paul writes “Mt. Sinai [is] in Arabia.”  (Galatians 4:25)  But this is still very general. In the Apostle’s day, the entire Roman frontier, including most of the Sinai Peninsula, was “Arabia”. The named “Arabia” extended over the entire country, which we now call Saudi Arabia. 

But if “Arabia” is a broad term, “Midian” is much more specific. “Midian” is the area of northwest Saudi Arabia and is part of southern Jordan.  During Moses’ forty years of exile, Moses and his wife Zipporah lived in Midian and kept the flocks of Jethro his father-in-law. There he also helped Jethro’s daughters water the sheep. (Exodus 2:16-19). 

Exodus 3:1 tells the story of Moses shepherding the flock of Jethro: “so he led forth his flock behind the desert”. Then at the Burning Bush – presumably in Midian, God called Moses.  However, please observe that in Exodus 18:5,27, Jethro met with Moses in the wilderness at the mount of God, but then “went his way (returned) into his own land (Midian).”  Hence, there must have been at least some separation between Jethro’s principal residence and the sacred Mount. (See also Numbers 10:29-30,33.) 

Who made Babylon?

The city of Babylon was the capital of the ancient land of Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia.  It was situated on the Euphrates River about 50 miles south of Baghdad.  The tremendous wealth and power of this city, along with its monumental size and appearance, were considered a Biblical myth, until its foundations were unearthed and its riches substantiated during the nineteenth century. 

“Cush became the father of Nimrod….the beginning of his kingdom was Babel….in the land of Shinar (in Babylonia).”  “The Lord there confounded the language of all the earth; and from that place the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of the earth.” Genesis 10:8-10; 11:9  (Amplified)  The name of Babel in the Bible means “confused.”  Throughout the Bible, Babylon was a symbol of confusion caused by godlessness.

The earliest known inhabitants of Mesopotamia were the Sumerians.  Sargon united the people of Babylonia under his rule about 2300 B.C.  Many scholars believe that Sargon might have been the same person as Nimrod.

It was the Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar II, who destroyed Jerusalem, the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, and carried God's covenant people into captivity in 606 BC, for 70 years.

The Bible also uses Babylon symbolically as the mother of false and blasphemous systems of worship. Revelation 17:3-6, “…and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored best, full of names of blasphemy…and the woman was …decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…”

This horrible symbolic Babylon with her harlot daughters will be destroyed in the last days. “When the kings of earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her….After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting, ‘Hallelujah!  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments.  He has condemned the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her adulteries.  He has avenged on her the blood of his servants….Hallelujah!’ ”  Rev. 18:9, 19:1-3  NIV

Was Adam the first man?

Yes, Adam was the first man. Genesis 2:7,8, "And the LORD God formed man (the Hebrew word is Adam) of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed." 

Adam was a special creation because he was created in God's image. Genesis 1:26, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Adam did not look like God. He was like His wonderful Creator in that he could reason, be just, love, and exercise benevolent authority. God made man in His character likeness and put him in charge of managing the earth.

Where did Enoch and Elijah go since flesh and blood cannot enter heaven?

“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:24)  The Apostle Paul confirms this thought in Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him.” Notice, neither of these scriptures mentions that Enoch went to heaven to be with God. In fact, he could not have received a heavenly reward at that time, since Jesus had not yet come to earth to pay the price of redemption that would enable the faithful ones to enter heaven.

What, then, happened to Enoch? God took him away as a young man of 365 years (Genesis 5:23) so that he would not see death in the normal way.  He was taken in a supernatural way, as is evidenced by the word “translated.” According to Strong’s, Thayer’s and Bullinger’s Greek Lexicons, “translate” means “to put or place in another place, to transport, to transfer.”  The same Greek word is rendered “carried over” in Acts 7:16 where Jacob’s body was ‘translated’ or ‘transported’ to Shechem where he was buried. Likewise, 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 either Moses’ or Enoch’s grave is. God hid them for reasons known only to Him. It is our belief that both of these Ancient worthy ones will come forth from their graves at the time God has appointed for them.

“Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared . . . and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” (2 Kings 2:10) Yet, over nine hundred years after this event, Jesus himself said, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:13) Are these two Bible statements contradictory? If Elijah did not go to heaven, then where did he go?

The scriptures use the word “heaven” to describe three places, not just one.  The first heaven is the earth’s atmosphere where birds fly  (Genesis 1:20, Jeremiah 4:25; 34:20, Lamentations 4:19, Zephaniah 1:3). This Hebrew word shamayim is translated as “sky” in the scripture comparing Genesis 7:3, “fowls also of the air,” with Genesis 7:23, “fowl of the heaven.”  The word “sky” and “heaven” are used interchangeably from the same Hebrew word (Psalm 8:8).  So the first heaven is synonymous with “heights” or “elevations.”

The second heaven is outer space where the planets and stars exist (Genesis 1:14- 17; 15:5; 22:17; 26:4, Deuteronomy 1:10; 17:3; Psalm 8:3, Jeremiah 8:2; Matthew 24:29).

The third heaven is literally called “the third heaven” in 2 Corinthians 12:2. This third heaven is what Jesus calls his “Father’s house” (John 14:2) and both Jesus and the Apostle Paul call “paradise” (Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Revelation
2:7). This third heaven is where God and the heavenly sanctuary exist (1 Peter 3:22).

Since Elijah could not have gone to God’s heavenly throne, which “heaven” did he go to—the first or second?  We believe that he was taken  into  the earth’s  atmosphere, the  first  heaven,  because  there could be no whirlwind in any other place but in the atmosphere surrounding the earth.

Did Elijah die when God took him up into the atmosphere? We believe he did not. Almost ten years after Elijah was taken from his people, the wicked king of Judah, Jehoram, received a letter from Elijah (2 Chronicles 21:12-15). From the wording of the letter, it is clear that it was written after the events of the last decade had occurred. Elijah speaks of the events as past events and of the diseases as future. Two years after receiving the letter, the king became diseased and died. This letter proves that Elijah was alive and living someplace else. The Bible does not reveal how much longer Elijah lived after writing the letter, but we do know that when he did die, he did not go to heaven.

A similar incident to Elijah’s took place in Acts 8:39-40 where Phillip was caught up into the first heaven and was transported to another location approximately 20-30 miles away. Ezekiel also experienced God’s power of transportation when the spirit lifted him up (Ezekiel 3:12) “between the earth and heaven” and brought him “to Jerusalem, to the door of  the inner gate” (Ezekiel 8:3). Afterwards, the spirit took him up to Chaldea (Ezekiel 11:24).

What is meant by Adam and Eve eating the fruit?

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was in the Garden of Eden. This was the only tree God forbade Adam and Eve to eat. Genesis 2:17, "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'” So, eating the fruit would mean literally eating fruit. Some people attempt to attach a symbolic meaning to eating the fruit: usually interpreted as the act of sexual union. However, this would be a mistake. 

Consider Genesis 1:27-31, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth…Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day." God instructed Adam and Eve to fill the earth with children through natural means and proclaimed "it was very good." Therefore, the act of sex between a husband and wife is not a sin. It is blessed of God to enjoy and to fill the earth. 

The whole test was about obedience – even in something as little as eating fruit. God's creations, both angelic and human, were not made robotic, but were given brains to think and reason with and make their own decisions.  One of God's angels, Lucifer, fell from heaven due to his prideful ambitions.  “For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…..I will be like the most High…nevertheless you will be thrust down to sheol…”  Isaiah 14:12-15 

God would have been very happy to see Adam, Eve and their posterity live eternally in the beautiful Garden of Eden, but that had to be their decision.  His command in Genesis 2 gave Adam a choice and very explicitly stated the penalty for disobedience. Sadly, Adam chose to disobey God.

Obedience is so important to God that Jesus, Himself, was perfected through His obedient suffering. Hebrews 5:8,9, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him”.

Remember: “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.” John 4:23. Only those who want to obey God by loving Him with all of their hearts, minds, and beings will find eternal life.

Was the Gospel of Jesus preached in the Old Testament?

This is a great question because it has such a powerful answer as we will see. Yes! The gospel was preached in the Old Testament. First let’s examine the word “gospel”. The Greek word “euaggelion” means “a good message”, while the verb form “euaggelizo” means “to announce good news” and is where we get the English word "evangelize". It is referred to in scripture as “the gospel of God”, “the gospel of Christ”, “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”, “the gospel of the kingdom”. Sometimes the same Greek word has been translated using other English words. An example is in Luke 2:10.

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (KJV) The English words “good tidings” comes from the same Greek word elsewhere translated “gospel.”

This scripture in Luke points out something very important to us, that the “gospel” or “good tidings” is really good news “which shall be to all people”. Now the apostle Paul tells us some important information about this in Galatians 3:8 which says “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”(KJV) Paul is saying, this Gospel that we preach, was originally found in the promise God made to Abraham in 2045 BC, about blessing all the families of earth. (Also known as the “Abrahamic Covenant”) You can read about this in Genesis 22. Focusing on Genesis 22:16-18.

“And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (KJV)

Because Abraham trusted God so completely God rewarded that trust with the promise that thru his seed or descendant “all the nations of earth” will be blessed. Good News? Oh Yes! Or as Luke put it… “good tidings of great joy, to all people!”

Now, turning back to Galatians 3:29.  “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (KJV) This is at the heart of or purpose of the Christian calling. It is a foundation principle of our Christian hopes. That as members of the body of Christ, the Christian church, with Jesus as its head does inherit that promise that God made to Abraham long ago. It is the promise that the seed of Abraham is “the Christ” head and body, Jesus and his Church, who will dispense these blessings upon all resurrected mankind in Christ’s Kingdom. These blessings will come in large measure by teaching the resurrected world about God and how they may return to God as obedient children and gain eternal life. Isaiah 2:2-4.

Yes, the “gospel” was preached in the Old Testament. In fact Acts 3:21 states that the gospel was really contained in the words of all of God’s prophets messages. All spoke of “the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (KJV)

It becomes our privilege to search thru these messages and find these expressions of God’s love for his groaning creation. May the Lord bless you in your continued search for more of His glorious truth.