I have read the account of Enoch and often wondered at the statement "he was not"
Moses wrote that "Enoch walked with God: and >>>he was not; for God took him" <<<<(Genesis 5:24). Paul records the same event by saying that he "was not found, because God had translated him" (Hebrews 11:5).
Eventually you stumble upon more similar phrases such as Mt.2:18
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because >>>they are not.<<<
Where did he go? Was he immediately taken to heaven? No! Because Jesus Himself said: "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man" (John 3:13). Here are Jesus' own words that no man, except Himself, had ascended into heaven!
"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3.)
Enoch had to have faith, for in Hebrews 11:6 the apostle said, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe the He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." So Enoch walked with God. He obeyed God, and followed Him in His paths by faith
So in his generation Enoch was the only recorded person who followed the ways of God—even though it took him >>>sixty-five years<<<< to learn to walk with God! (David...look how long it took Enoch! )
This expression "all his days" is used in the same fifth chapter of Genesis about a dozen times and always it means that the person lived for that length of time only "and he died." So Enoch lived no more than three hundred and sixty-five years because "all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years." As he lived only for this length of time then he must have died!
The original Greek word for "translate" is metatithemi. According to Arndt-Gingrich's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1969 edition, the primary meaning is to "convey to another place . . . transfer" (p. 514).
The same Greek word is rendered "carried over" in Acts 7:16. Here we read that after Jacob died his body was "carried over"—transported, translated—to Sychem where he was buried! That's what your Bible says! Jacob was transported or translated to the place of burial!
So Enoch was not made immortal after all! He was taken away and was not found. All his days were three hundred and sixty-five! That's as long as Enoch lived.
Paul tells us: Abel, Enoch, Noah, and the patriarchs and their wives. Hebrews 11:1-12 lists those who had faith and Enoch is included among them. Then in verse 13 Paul proved that they had not inherited the promises by saying: "These all [including Enoch] died in faith."
So Enoch therefore is one of "these all" who have not yet obtained the promise of eternal life and inheritance. Enoch and all the worthies of old will receive the promise of eternal life at the return of Christ
Colossians 1:13. The Father "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."
This is a figurative translation—a figurative removal or transference from the spiritual darkness of this world to the light of the family or Kingdom of God and Christ. In verse 10 Paul shows that to abide in this Kingdom we must "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing." This is exactly what Enoch did. He walked with God, and pleased God.
Notice another proof that "translate" does not mean to make immortal. It is found in Colossians 1:13: the Father "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." Here the Bible says that Christians are already translated—but Christians still die! We are not immortal bodies, but mortal flesh and blood. Although we were once part of the darkness of this world, now we are translated, removed from darkness in to the light of the Kingdom of God.
What about Elijah?
He was mortal, subject to death, and after being lifted into the atmospheric heavens, spent the remaining years of his life at some unidentified location on the earth, living as every human being, before he naturally died.
How do we know?
After this wicked rule by the Jewish king, God chose Elijah to write a letter and have it sent to the king!
The contents of the letter are found in II Chronicles 21:12-15. In part it reads: "Because thou hast not walked in the ways of . . . thy father . . . but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel . . . and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better that thyself . . . thou shalt have great sickness by disease."
So why do mainstream churches say that when we all die now, we go to be with Jesus when they also claim Jesus has not come back yet and there is no resurrection of the righteous until he does? Are they looking for a bodily resurrection like SDA's? Inquiring minds want to know!
Hmmmmm ...
Houston, we have a problem!
So looks like they subscribe to a bit of fulfillment eschatology afterall?