In regard to the rapture and the restoration, which has to happen first, we have two special examples: The first one with Enoch, the second one with Job. Job experienced a twofold restoration, and Enoch had the testimony that he was pleasing unto God. Job went through severe trials, unlike anyone else in his time. When the sons of God came together for a meeting before the Lord God, it came to pass that Satan was also in attendance. He asked and was granted permission to take everything Job had. Then Satan struck with full force. That was the moment when even Job’s wife said, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” (Job 2:9). Job remained true to God and received proof of God’s faithfulness toward His servants. Satan could destroy everything, but was not allowed to touch his soul. At the end of the trial came the restoration: “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, … also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (42:10).

In the New Testament James referred back to this subject and encouraged the believers to endure patiently. He also wrote about the former and the latter rain and about the Return of our Lord. Then he urges all of us, “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord …” (Jas. 5:7-11). The following Scripture applies to all those who truly believe and wish to partake in the restoration and in the rapture: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” (Heb. 10:35-39). Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Enoch, the seventh descendant from Adam, was given a special privilege. He walked with God, “… and he was not; for God took him.” (Gen. 5:21-24). He only gave one prophecy, which is not even written in the Old Testament, but can be found in the New Testament: “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 1:
14-15). About Enoch we further read in the New Testament, “… for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Heb. 11:5). That is the most important message to those who wish to be taken up to Glory. About the Son of God we read, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3:17). In like manner all sons and daughters of God must in faith and obedience go through the water baptism and also the baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby they receive their sanctification and thus become pleasing unto God, for He has “… predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” (Eph. 1:5).

The following Scripture tells us what was promised to all those who please God as Enoch did: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev. 3:21).

What a tremendous calling, to be thus chosen and to know what destination is waiting for all those who will partake in the first resurrection and in the rapture! This is the great lesson that we learn through Enoch, the seventh descendant from Adam: The walk with God leads us to the testimony that we are pleasing unto Him, which then leads us right into the rapture.

In regard to the rapture and the restoration, which has to happen first, we have two special examples: The first one with Enoch, the second one with Job. Job experienced a twofold restoration, and Enoch had the testimony that he was pleasing unto God. Job went through severe trials, unlike anyone else in his time. When the sons of God came together for a meeting before the Lord God, it came to pass that Satan was also in attendance. He asked and was granted permission to take everything Job had. Then Satan struck with full force. That was the moment when even Job’s wife said, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” (Job 2:9). Job remained true to God and received proof of God’s faithfulness toward His servants. Satan could destroy everything, but was not allowed to touch his soul. At the end of the trial came the restoration: “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, … also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (42:10).

In the New Testament James referred back to this subject and encouraged the believers to endure patiently. He also wrote about the former and the latter rain and about the Return of our Lord. Then he urges all of us, “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord …” (Jas. 5:7-11). The following Scripture applies to all those who truly believe and wish to partake in the restoration and in the rapture: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” (Heb. 10:35-39). Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Enoch, the seventh descendant from Adam, was given a special privilege. He walked with God, “… and he was not; for God took him.” (Gen. 5:21-24). He only gave one prophecy, which is not even written in the Old Testament, but can be found in the New Testament: “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 1:
14-15). About Enoch we further read in the New Testament, “… for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Heb. 11:5). That is the most important message to those who wish to be taken up to Glory. About the Son of God we read, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3:17). In like manner all sons and daughters of God must in faith and obedience go through the water baptism and also the baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby they receive their sanctification and thus become pleasing unto God, for He has “… predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” (Eph. 1:5).

The following Scripture tells us what was promised to all those who please God as Enoch did: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev. 3:21).

What a tremendous calling, to be thus chosen and to know what destination is waiting for all those who will partake in the first resurrection and in the rapture! This is the great lesson that we learn through Enoch, the seventh descendant from Adam: The walk with God leads us to the testimony that we are pleasing unto Him, which then leads us right into the rapture.