The 3 Men in the Bible that Never Died

 

Many people know the saying, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” However, the Bible mentions a few individuals who never experienced death. While some might think of Jesus, Christianity teaches that Jesus did die before his resurrection. The Bible actually names three people who never died, and the third person remains a mystery.

In the Bible, Enoch was the first man said to have never died. He was a descendant of Adam and Eve’s third son and Noah’s great-grandfather. Unlike most people of his time, Enoch walked faithfully with God. He became a father at 65 and lived to be 365 years old. Genesis 5:22 and 24 tells us that “Enoch walked with God, and he was no more, for God took him,” meaning God brought him to heaven without experiencing death. Enoch is also mentioned in Luke 3:37 as an ancestor of Jesus and in Hebrews 11:5-6 for his great faith.

The phrase “God took him” is often used when referring to Enoch. The Book of Hebrews clarifies that this phrase isn’t merely symbolic; it signifies that Enoch did not experience death as we typically do. Hebrews 11:5 states, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”

Enoch was also blessed with the gift of prophecy, foretelling the coming of Jesus Christ. This is depicted in Jude 1:14-15, which reads, “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Enoch’s legacy did not end with him. His great-grandson, Noah, also walked faithfully with God. Due to his righteousness, only Noah and his family were spared during the catastrophic Great Flood. Enoch’s life is a powerful testament to faith, obedience, and truthfulness, which pleased God to such an extent that He chose to take Enoch from this earthly realm.

Another notable figure who did not die is Elijah. Elijah was a prophet during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel in Israel. Known for his boldness in speaking out against idols and false gods, Elijah performed many miracles, such as bringing fire down from heaven to prove that the God of Israel was the true God (2 Kings).

In 1 Kings 10-12, Elijah was used by God to bring about repentance and reform in Israel. During this time, the Israelites strayed from the faith of their forefathers, forsaking God to worship pagan idols. This shift towards idolatry was instigated by the wicked King Jeroboam. Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, was particularly devoted to idol worship and influenced her husband to build a temple for the pagan god Baal. This move led many Israelites astray from the worship of the true God.

Witnessing the spiritual decline of his nation, the prophet Elijah took a stand against King Ahab’s impiety, urging him to repent and return to the God of Israel. However, the king remained obstinate and unwilling to heed Elijah’s counsel. In response, Elijah prophesied a severe drought as punishment, with no rain or dew falling upon the land until he prayed for its end. For three and a half years, the heavens remained closed, causing widespread drought and famine throughout the land.

The story of Elijah not dying and going straight to heaven is even clearer and more dramatic than Enoch’s. Elisha, Elijah’s assistant, was forewarned of his departure in 2 Kings 2:3, which reads, “Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?’”

On the day chosen by God, Elijah departed from Gilgal, accompanied by Elisha. They arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, followed by 50 young prophets from Jericho who stood at a distance observing. Elijah took his cloak, folded it like a staff, and struck the water, causing it to part. The prophets crossed the river on dry ground, walking alongside Elisha through the divided waters. Elijah inquired if there was anything Elisha desired before God took him away. Elisha expressed his wish for a double portion of his master’s divine spirit. Elijah assured him that while it was a significant request, it would be granted if Elisha witnessed his master’s ascent to heaven.

As they continued their conversation, a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses suddenly appeared, separating them. Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind, as depicted in 2 Kings 2:11.

Another intriguing figure is Melchizedek. Few mysteries of the Bible have attracted more interest than the enigma of Melchizedek’s identity. This is widely considered to be one of the biggest mysteries in the Bible. In Hebrews 6:19-20, you’ll find that Jesus Christ, following His resurrection, holds the position of a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. The Moffatt translation puts it more straightforwardly, stating that Jesus is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

The Moffet translation simplifies the comparison, stating that Jesus holds a status equivalent to Melchizedek, described as having the rank of a high priest. But who is Melchizedek?

First, it’s important to note from both the Old and New Testaments that Melchizedek is an enigmatic figure who served as a priest of the Most High God, as detailed in Genesis 14. During this time, a war broke out among several ancient city-states in Canaan and Mesopotamia. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family were captured. When one of Lot’s people escaped and informed Abraham, he armed 318 of his own servants and pursued the invaders. Abraham successfully rescued Lot and his family, returning them safely to the Canaanite cities.

Upon Abraham’s return from this daring rescue mission, a mysterious figure, Melchizedek, appeared to minister to him. Here is the account from Genesis 14:18-20:

“And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High. And Melchizedek blessed Abraham, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

1.Melchizedek was the king of Salem, which is the city of Jerusalem. The name “Salem” comes from the Hebrew word meaning “peace,” making Melchizedek the king of peace.

2.The Hebrew name Melchizedek itself means “king of righteousness.”

3.Melchizedek is mentioned in Psalm 110:4, speaking prophetically of Christ.

David declared, “The Eternal has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’” This verse is quoted again in Hebrews 5:6-10 and Hebrews 7:3, which states that Melchizedek had no father or mother and no record of his ancestry. He was never born and never died, but his life is like that of the Son of God—a priest forever. This suggests that Melchizedek never died, but it still leaves us with the mystery of his identity.

Many believe that Melchizedek was Jesus Christ. Let’s explore this narrative further. In Hebrews 7:20-21, God took an oath that Christ would always be a priest forever: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’” The name “King of Righteousness” is one reason many support this claim. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 19:17, “There is none good but one, that is God.” Human self-righteousness is like filthy rags before God; only God can be truly righteous. Therefore, Melchizedek’s name, meaning “King of Righteousness,” adds weight to this narrative.

In Hebrews 7, Melchizedek is also called the King of Peace. Salem, from which Jerusalem is named, means peace. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, implying that no human could be the King of Peace. Romans 3:10-17 tells us that there is none righteous and that humans do not know the way of peace. So, how can a man be both the King of Righteousness and Peace?

Furthermore, Melchizedek was without father, mother, or descent, as the Philips translation puts it: “He had no father or mother and no family tree,” meaning he was not born as humans are. This does not mean that Melchizedek’s birth records were lost; without such records, human priests could not serve, as depicted in Ezra 2:62. Scripture also reveals that Melchizedek is continually a priest. We know that God took an oath that Christ would always be a priest, and His priesthood is in the order of Melchizedek. Could they be the same person?

This narrative becomes complex when considering that in the New Testament, Jesus has a father and mother, dies, and resurrects. So, could Melchizedek really be Jesus, even though Jesus had earthly parents and died? Some argue that the author of Hebrews was speaking figuratively, suggesting that Melchizedek was like Jesus or resembled Him.

They argue that in nearly all other instances of God’s appearances in the Bible, the person encountering God is aware of being in the Divine presence. However, in the story of Melchizedek, there is no indication that Abraham recognizes he is in God’s presence. While Melchizedek does appear and disappear abruptly, Genesis 14 does not explicitly state that God Himself is present.

Additionally, they point out that Hebrews 5:1 states that every priest is chosen from among men. The essence of the priesthood is that a chosen and anointed human stands before God as our representative. Jesus, being fully man and fully God in the New Testament, could serve as our perfect priest. Before Jesus, the Bible clearly teaches that priests were humans serving in a representative role.

Despite these differing opinions, they should not distract or divide us. Ultimately, what matters most is that we have a great high priest in Jesus, who has paid for our sins and intercedes for us.