Volume 7
Translation
J. Taylor
Page: 501
1Thessalonians:4:1
Hebrews:11:5
Genesis:5:21
I want to say a word as to translation. Enoch comes before us as an example. The testimony of the Spirit is that before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God, @Hebrews:11:5. I feel sure he had it afterwards, for there could be nothing to displease God when He had translated him. He was a self-judged man before. As you know, he was the seventh man from Adam, through Seth, not Cain.
I venture to connect the first epistle to the Thessalonians with this passage, because it shows what the apostle had in his mind. He shows them how to walk. That is a most important thing. Mothers always become especially interested in their children at that period. Paul addressed them: "The assembly of Thessalonians in God the Father" @1Thessalonians:1:1 and it was in connection with their walk. "The assembly ... in God the Father". This is very striking.
Enoch learnt how to walk with God, to keep step with God. How can two walk together unless they be agreed? We are living in a day in the direct period before translation, so the apostle's word should bring about a state suitable for that.
@Genesis 4 is largely taken up with Cain, chapter 5 is the death chapter. Adam is found at the beginning of chapter 4 and Seth at the end. Seth called his son's name Enos, acknowledging the weakness of mortal man. The Lord is bent on bringing about self-judgment in us. When you discover the utter worthlessness of the flesh, the incorrigibleness and wretchedness of it, then you call on the name of the Lord. "O wretched man that I am!" @Romans 7:24. "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord". @Romans 7:25. The giving of thanks is the beginning of the history of God's work in the soul. It is in thanksgiving that the
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thing is laid hold of. Depend upon it, to be unthankful is to be unholy. We read at the end of Genesis 4, that "then began men to call upon the name of the Lord". @Genesis:4:26.
In chapter 5 after each long life you get "and he died;" six times this is said and then comes Enoch -- he lived! The seventh man does not die. The testimony is that he pleased God; that is the generation of life by the Spirit. If Christ be in you, the Spirit is life. Mere orthodoxy speaks in past and future tenses, but what about the present? Enoch represents that. He "that liveth and believeth in me shall never die". @John:11:26. If you begin with giving thanks you will end with it. The Spirit says, "If Christ be in you ... the Spirit is life, because of righteousness" @Romans:8:10; you are for God's pleasure.
God is looking for righteousness. If there is anything I delight in, it is that I may walk about here for the pleasure of God and for His will.
The gospels are intended to show us how to walk. No one learns how till he understands the gospels. There we see One walking here for God, and who could say, "I do always those things that please him". @John:8:29. A Man moving about for God's pleasure; that was the life of Jesus. So the apostle Paul was leading the Thessalonians on so that they should know better how to walk for God's pleasure. Is it irksome? No! the more you taste it the more you abound in it. Enoch lived and walked with God, and begat Methuselah. He felt the responsibility of walking with God, in bringing up a generation to follow after him. I should not like to see this earth without faith; it never has been, nor shall it ever be. Whilst there is faith there is pleasure for God.
I know the assembly is to be translated, but what about the earth? As of the assembly we are more exercised about His coming than about our going. Nevertheless, we are going to be translated. One
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loves the thought of it. We see in @Revelation:11 that the "beast" slew the two witnesses and left their bodies in the streets of the city where the Lord was crucified. They were allowed to be left in the streets of the city, they were not buried, but the next thing is that they go up.
It is our privilege to walk here for God's pleasure all the days of the life of our pilgrimage, and to walk in the consciousness of victory. "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory by our Lord Jesus Christ". @1Corinthians:15:57. There is nothing to be cast down about except our own crooked ways. We need to go on day by day. That thought is emphasised in Scripture. We read in @Matthew:20 of those who were hired by the day, and we are given "day by day" our needed bread, @Luke:11:3. We are to encourage ourselves "each day", @Hebrews:3:13. The two witnesses of whom I have spoken witnessed every day. Then after their time of suffering, the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and fear possessed their enemies. The Lord said, "Come up hither". @Revelation:11:12. They were energised by the Spirit of life from God, and able to stand in the place where they had laid dead.
It is in Christ Jesus that we have all this. If it is a question of life, or our position here, it is all there. Hence we walk about in this world in the dignity of that blessed One. The two witnesses go up to heaven in the sight of their enemies, but we shall go up privately.
The apostle first teaches us how we should walk so as to please God, and afterwards he shows us how the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and take us to be with Him. He will not entrust us to any one else, He will come Himself. The triumph of God is there. "The dead in Christ shall rise first". @1Thessalonians:4:16. "The dead in Christ!" It is a remarkable expression, and "we which are alive
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and remain shall be caught up together with them ... to meet the Lord in the air". @1Thessalonians:4:17.
Now, how are we going up? Do you believe in the Lord's coming? People who are not converted do that, but Enoch went up by faith, consciously suited to the place. Are you going up in that way? If so, we must please God now and abound in it.
God thinks of you. He cares for you all the days of your pilgrimage. Happily, we have no misgivings. We shall go to meet the Lord in the air. There can be nothing, after we are translated, to displease Him, so may we move about down here for His pleasure as long as we are on earth. We can please Him in our bodies here.
May the Lord further the work in our souls by the present condition of things, and bring about that which pleases God, that we may always do those things that please Him, so that we abound more and more in these critical times. He is faithful, and we thank Him. Blessed be His name!