I believe Enoch was taken away to heaven alive. This is not in contrary to what Jesus said "And no man hath ascended up to heaven".
On the first place Enoch did not ascend he was taken up only Jesus can ascend that is why God took Enoch.
Enoch himself cant ascend but God can took Enoch to heaven.
Yari, magkakontra na naman kami ni kapatid na dpogs...
Nakapagbigay na ako ng tatlong argumento, suporta sa aking paniniwala na: si Enoch ay namatay din (Heb. 11:13); hindi siya nakarating sa langit (John 3:13); at wala pa siya sa langit kasi sabay-sabay tayong pupunta doon (Heb. 11:39-40).
Tutol ka sir sa interpretation ko sa John 3:13, kasi ayon sa iyo, ang "ascend" to heaven ay hindi pareho ng "taken up" to heaven.
Sasagutin ko muna yan, tapos bibigyan kita ng 4th argument. Ang 4th argument na yan ay tungkol sa violation of biblical principle.
===================================
Ayon sa iyo, "ascend" means to go to heaven using your own power. To "take up" means to go to heaven using the power of God.
There is no such distinction in the dictionary or in the bible.
According to the Oxford dictionary, ascend means "to go up; climb or rise." No specification that you should do it using your own power.
The bible uses the original Greek "anabebēken":
http://biblehub.com/interlinear/john/3.htmThe root word is "anabainó," which under Strong's Number 305 means "to go up, ascend."
http://biblehub.com/greek/305.htmNo specification either that it must be through your own power. As in fact, the English word "ascend" contains no specification as to whose power the ascension was made possible.
I am aware that in Catholic doctrine, there is a difference between "ascend" and "assume."
Catholics believe that Jesus "
ascended into heaven," but the Virgin Mary was "
assumed into heaven;" with Jesus ascending into heaven through His own power, and Mary being assumed into heaven by the power of God. Kaya nga meron silang
feast of the assumption on Aug. 15, at meron ding Assumption college, both referring to Mary's assumption, not ascension. However, this is not biblical.
===================================
So now, here's my argument #4:
In the bible, the principle is that Jesus Christ is always first; he cannot be second to anyone except the Father.
If we say Enoch reached heaven during Old Testament times, then he was the first man to reach heaven, even before Jesus. This cannot be correct, because this would violate the principle that Jesus should always be first.
1 Corinthians calls Jesus Christ the "firstfruits" --- a very important biblical principle:
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. (1 Cor. 15:20-24)"Those who have fallen asleep" means those who died. Christ is the
firstfruits of those who died. He is also called the "
firstborn from the dead" (Rev. 1:5).
In Adam, all died. In Christ, all will resurrect.
"But each in turn." --- What is the proper sequence of events?
1. First, Christ --- because Christ is always first. Hindi puwedeng una si Enoch kay Kristo.
2. Then, when Christ returns, those who belong to Christ --- Sabay-sabay tayo, hindi puwedeng una si Enoch sa atin.
==================================
What does "firstfruits" mean? It means the first harvest of the season. It was a commandment to the Israelites in the Old Testament, a ceremonial offering of the first harvest of grain:
9 The Lord said to Moses, 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. (Lev. 2:9-10)What was the commandment for? It was a prefiguration --- A symbolic representation of what is to come. That is why the bible says the law of Moses is only a "
shadow of good things to come" (Heb. 10:1).
Therefore, Jesus Christ became flesh, then after His death, ascended to heaven. He was the first who died, resurrected, then went to heaven --- He is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
Correct sequence: First, Jesus Christ --- the first of the harvest --- not Enoch. Then, those who attained salvation --- we will be the rest of God's harvest of souls --- sabay-sabay tayo, including Enoch.
