An Angel Highway?

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by Aquila

jfrog,

I'm willing to wager that you believe in a popular myth that is among us.

Do you believe that Enoch and Elijah were actually translated without dying?

I've heard a few explanations. I'm really not sure what happened to them. I do know that Elijah appeared to a few of the apostles... maybe that was his angel to huh? Or maybe it was just a vision? Who knows?

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Aquila

jfrog,

I'm willing to wager that you believe in a popular myth that is among us.

Do you believe that Enoch and Elijah were actually translated without dying?

Enoch died... the other... is unclear...

[jfrog]

Heres a fun question for you Aquila. Was Elijah reincarnated as John the Baptist? I mean Jesus himself said that John the Baptist was Elijah...

One can get into all kinds of mystical questions if one wants. The simple truth is that reincarnation does not appear to be taught anywhere in the bible. Neither are angels that look like us taught in the bible. Maybe both of these things exist and are real though. Who knows?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Hmm. Wonder what my angel's been up to, lately?

No doubt solving crimes!

Timmy - "Good afternoon angels"

Chorus - "Good afternoon Timmy!"

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by jfrog

I've heard a few explanations. I'm really not sure what happened to them. I do know that Elijah appeared to a few of the apostles... maybe that was his angel to huh? Or maybe it was just a vision? Who knows?

Originally Posted by Bryan

Enoch died... the other... is unclear...

Amen Bryon!

Let's look at both of these stories closely and dispel the common myth.

Of Enoch it is written,

Genesis 5:24
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

It's often believed that Enoch walked so close to God that suddenly he wasn't to be found, because God "took him" or translated him to Heaven.

Now, if you study the Septuagint the literal Greek would imply that Enoch "was not present" because "God took him".

However, the literal approach doesn't allow for Hebrew idioms. The Hebrew idiom of "God took" means that God took someone in death. So if we translate this according to idiom the text is saying, "Enoch walked with God: and couldn't be found; because he died." Implication is that the prophet Enoch went off to die alone.

So do we take it literally or according to idiom? Sometimes there's a problem with taking something literally. For example, I might say that something, "Cost me an arm and a leg." If taken literally you'd think I bartered body parts for it. But if you understand the idiom you'll know that it cost me a lot of money.

When it comes to Elijah we read that Elijah was taken away from Elisha in a fiery chariot under the reign of Ahaziah in II Kings chapter 2. But years later Jehoram receives a letter of rebuke from Elijah (2 Chronicles 21:12-15).

So it's evident that the chariot just took Elijah away from Elisha to another location on earth. Elijah wasn't translated.

Jesus said,

John 3:13
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

And the writer of Hebrews, believed to be Paul, wrote,

Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Both ended up dying like every mortal man.

Believing that either was translated and didn't face death is believing in a popular myth rooted in ancient mysticism.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by jfrog

Heres a fun question for you Aquila. Was Elijah reincarnated as John the Baptist? I mean Jesus himself said that John the Baptist was Elijah...

The answer is yes. Elijah was reincarnated in John the Baptist. The Bible says,

Malachi 4:5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Jesus said,

Matthew 11:14
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Matthew 17:12
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

Mark 9:13
But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

Now, the LORD said in Malachi, "I will send you Elijah the prophet". Either God indeed sent Elijah the prophet reincarnated in John the Baptist, as Jesus attests, or God lied. This is another place where you can believe traditional Zondervan publishing Christianity, or believe the Scriptures. We have to admit that reincarnation happened at least on this one occasion.

Please remember, reincarnation wasn't something unknown among the Jews. Their concept was known as "Gilgul", or the "Rolling of the Soul".

At any rate, on this one, you either believe the Scriptures or you don't.

One can get into all kinds of mystical questions if one wants. The simple truth is that reincarnation does not appear to be taught anywhere in the bible. Neither are angels that look like us taught in the bible. Maybe both of these things exist and are real though. Who knows?

Are these things not taught or revealed in Scripture? .... Or are we just unlearned regarding the fact that they are?

[Aquila]

Where did everyone go? lol

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Where did everyone go? lol

Finishing some downloads. (Yes, I purchased them) /then off to bed. hav 2 b up in 6.5 hrs.

[Aquila]

On that note I guess I should lay down and get some sleep too. Work comes early.

God bless.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

The true heretic (in my very humble opinion) is the person who receives a vision, aka Joseph Smith, and proceeds to preach it as truth.

I would have NO problem with LS having personal opinions on angels -I have opinions too, (and HMH for that matter) and would in fact love to discuss it around a dinner table or in a living room but I do have a HUGE issue with him weaving doctrine around said beliefs. This is how men like Joseph Smith, Jim Jones, and other infamous "leaders" get their start.

Exactly.