More Methuselah

(This is the second in a series. See above.)

So just exactly when did Methuselah die? We saw last time that there were three “classes” of people in relation to the flood. Aside from those who were judged and perished, three groups were not the target of the judgment and were “delivered.” Lamech and Methuselah died before the actual event. It was as if the Lord were waiting for Methuselah to die and then he opened the flood gates.

The chaplain at LeTourneau College, where I matriculated, liked to walk outdoors and look up. He often commented, “Good, clouds today. The Lord can come.” With a twinkle in his eye he would continue. “It says He 'will come in the clouds.'” (Acts 1:9-11)

Then he would often continue to talk about someone who was witnessing to a friend. “Some day the last person to be saved will accept Jesus. Imagine that your friend has decided to accept Jesus, but has not even said it yet. Wouldn’t it be great to be the one to do that? Just as soon as he (or she) decides, Jesus will exclaim, ‘Grab your trumpet, Gabriel. It is time to go get My bride!’” He continued with, “I can’t wait.” That was also why he kept telling others about Jesus.

Imagine the Lord back then. “Methuselah just died. Let’s go, Noah. Hop in the boat” (They called it that during the construction. It was the Ark after it rained.) “because it’s beginning to rain.” Granted the results are different, judgment and reward, but we again see God’s mercy. He waited to see if anyone else, besides Noah, would “find grace.”

So Methuselah represents those who die before the Lord comes back. He also had a role like the Holy Spirit as defined in 2 Thessalonians 2. The man of sin (anti-Christ) cannot be openly revealed until the Holy Spirit, the “one who restrains” will be removed or “taken out of the way.” When Methuselah was “taken out of the way” by death, the man of judgment was revealed.

Enoch is the second group and represents the people who will be supernaturally removed before the judgment is executed. But what if they have already died? Paul addressed that specifically in the 1 Thessalonians (chapters 4 and 5) passages. They were afraid that those who had died would miss the return. Paul assured them that even death cannot thwart the results that God has decreed.

Finally, we see Noah. He represents those who go “through” and survive the judgment. Even those who are saved after the tribulation judgment has begun, will be saved. The picture here is not the same. Noah could only allow people onto the Ark before the rain started. Jesus is a better ark.

Now if you want to extend that, it gets more complicated, but the picture is beautiful. The Lord is “preparing a place for us” and soon the Bridegroom will return to claim His bride. Methuselah was a prototype that portrays an aspect of the end times. Noah was too. But Enoch had the best “ride.”

When did Methuselah die? “In the fullness of time....” As John put it, “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”