| EARLY WRITINGS |
| The Fall of Man |
| Holy angels often visited the garden, and gave instruction to Adam and Eve concerning their employment and also taught them concerning the rebellion and fall of Satan. The angels warned them of Satan and cautioned them not to separate from each other in their employment, for they might be brought in contact with this fallen foe. The angels also enjoined upon them to follow closely the directions God had given them, for in perfect obedience only were they safe. Then this fallen foe could have no power over them. [EW 147.1] |
| Satan commenced his work with Eve, to cause her to disobey. She first erred in wandering from her husband, next in lingering around the forbidden tree, and next in listening to the voice of the tempter, and even daring to doubt what God had said, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” She thought that perhaps the Lord did not mean just what He said, and venturing, she put forth her hand, took of the fruit and ate. It was pleasing to the eye and pleasant to the taste. Then she was jealous that God had withheld from them what was really for their good, and she offered the fruit to her husband, thereby tempting him. She related to Adam all that the serpent had said and expressed her astonishment that he had the power of speech. [EW 147.2] |
| I saw a sadness come over Adam’s countenance. He appeared afraid and astonished. A struggle seemed to be going on in his mind. He felt sure that this was the foe against whom they had been warned, and that his wife must die. They must be separated. His love for Eve was strong, and in utter discouragement he resolved to share her fate. He seized the fruit and quickly ate it. Then Satan exulted. He had rebelled in heaven, and had gained sympathizers who loved him and followed him in his rebellion. He had fallen and caused others to fall with him. And he had now tempted the woman to distrust God, to inquire into His wisdom, and to seek to penetrate His all-wise plans. Satan knew that the woman would not fall alone. Adam, through his love for Eve, disobeyed the command of God, and fell with her. [EW 148.1] |
| The news of man’s fall spread through heaven. Every harp was hushed. The angels cast their crowns from their heads in sorrow. All heaven was in agitation. A council was held to decide what must be done with the guilty pair. The angels feared that they would put forth the hand, and eat of the tree of life, and become immortal sinners. But God said that He would drive the transgressors from the garden. Angels were immediately commissioned to guard the way of the tree of life. It had been Satan’s studied plan that Adam and Eve should disobey God, receive His frown, and then partake of the tree of life, that they might live forever in sin and disobedience, and thus sin be immortalized. But holy angels were sent to drive them out of the garden, and to bar their way to the tree of life. Each of these mighty angels had in his right hand something which had the appearance of a glittering sword. [EW 148.2] |
| Then Satan triumphed. He had made others suffer by his fall. He had been shut out of heaven, they out of Paradise. [EW 149.1] |
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| The Plan of Salvation |
| Sorrow filled heaven, as it was realized that man was lost, and that world which God had created was to be filled with mortals doomed to misery, sickness, and death, and there was no way of escape for the offender. The whole family of Adam must die. I saw the lovely Jesus and beheld an expression of sympathy and sorrow upon His countenance. Soon I saw Him approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father. Said my accompanying angel, He is in close converse with His Father. The anxiety of the angels seemed to be intense while Jesus was communing with His Father. Three times He was shut in by the glorious light about the Father, and the third time He came from the Father, His person could be seen. His countenance was calm, free from all perplexity and doubt, and shone with benevolence and loveliness, such as words cannot express. He then made known to the angelic host that a way of escape had been made for lost man. He told them that He had been pleading with His Father, and had offered to give His life a ransom, to take the sentence of death upon Himself, that through Him man might find pardon; that through the merits of His blood, and obedience to the law of God, they could have the favor of God, and be brought into the beautiful garden, and eat of the fruit of the tree of life. [EW 149.2] |
| At first the angels could not rejoice; for their Commander concealed nothing from them, but opened before them the plan of salvation. Jesus told them that He would stand between the wrath of His Father and guilty man, that He would bear iniquity and scorn, and but few would receive Him as the Son of God. Nearly all would hate and reject Him. He would leave all His glory in heaven, appear upon earth as a man, humble Himself as a man, become acquainted by His own experience with the various temptations with which man would be beset, that He might know how to succor those who should be tempted; and that finally, after His mission as a teacher would be accomplished, He would be delivered into the hands of men, and endure almost every cruelty and suffering that Satan and his angels could inspire wicked men to inflict; that He would die the cruelest of deaths, hung up between the heavens and the earth as a guilty sinner; that He would suffer dreadful hours of agony, which even angels could not look upon, but would veil their faces from the sight. Not merely agony of body would He suffer, but mental agony, that with which bodily suffering could in no wise be compared. The weight of the sins of the whole world would be upon Him. He told them He would die and rise again the third day, and would ascend to His Father to intercede for wayward, guilty man. [EW 149.3] |
| The angels prostrated themselves before Him. They offered their lives. Jesus said to them that He would by His death save many, that the life of an angel could not pay the debt. His life alone could be accepted of His Father as a ransom for man. Jesus also told them that they would have a part to act, to be with Him and at different times strengthen Him; that He would take man’s fallen nature, and His strength would not be even equal with theirs; that they would be witnesses of His humiliation and great sufferings; and that as they would witness His sufferings, and the hatred of men toward Him, they would be stirred with the deepest emotion, and through their love for Him would wish to rescue and deliver Him from His murderers; but that they must not interfere to prevent anything they should behold; and that they should act a part in His resurrection; that the plan of salvation was devised, and His Father had accepted the plan. [EW 150.1] |
| With a holy sadness Jesus comforted and cheered the angels and informed them that hereafter those whom He should redeem would be with Him, and that by His death He should ransom many and destroy him who had the power of death. And His Father would give Him the kingdom and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, and He would possess it forever and ever. Satan and sinners would be destroyed, nevermore to disturb heaven or the purified new earth. Jesus bade the heavenly host be reconciled to the plan that His Father had accepted and rejoice that through His death fallen man could again be exalted to obtain favor with God and enjoy heaven. [EW 151.1] |
| Then joy, inexpressible joy, filled heaven. And the heavenly host sang a song of praise and adoration. They touched their harps and sang a note higher than they had done before, for the great mercy and condescension of God in yielding up His dearly Beloved to die for a race of rebels. Praise and adoration were poured forth for the self-denial and sacrifice of Jesus; that He would consent to leave the bosom of His Father, and choose a life of suffering and anguish, and die an ignominious death to give life to others. [EW 151.2] |
| Said the angel, “Think ye that the Father yielded up His dearly beloved Son without a struggle? No, no. It was even a struggle with the God of heaven, whether to let guilty man perish, or to give His beloved Son to die for him.” Angels were so interested for man’s salvation that there could be found among them those who would yield their glory and give their life for perishing man, “But,” said my accompanying angel, “that would avail nothing. The transgression was so great that an angel’s life would not pay the debt. Nothing but the death and intercessions of His son would pay the debt and save lost man from hopeless sorrow and misery.” [EW 151.3] |
| But the work of the angels was assigned them, to ascend and descend with strengthening balm from glory to soothe the Son of God in His sufferings, and minister unto Him. Also, their work would be to guard and keep the subjects of grace from the evil angels and the darkness constantly thrown around them by Satan. I saw that it was impossible for God to alter or change His law to save lost, perishing man; therefore He suffered His beloved Son to die for man’s transgression. [EW 152.1] |
| Satan again rejoiced with his angels that he could, by causing man’s fall, pull down the Son of God from His exalted position. He told his angels that when Jesus should take fallen man’s nature, he could overpower Him and hinder the accomplishment of the plan of salvation. [EW 152.2] |
| I was shown Satan as he once was, a happy, exalted angel. Then I was shown him as he now is. He still bears a kingly form. His features are still noble, for he is an angel fallen. But the expression of his countenance is full of anxiety, care, unhappiness, malice, hate, mischief, deceit, and every evil. That brow which was once so noble, I particularly noticed. His forehead commenced from his eyes to recede. I saw that he had so long bent himself to evil that every good quality was debased, and every evil trait was developed. His eyes were cunning, sly, and showed great penetration. His frame was large, but the flesh hung loosely about his hands and face. As I beheld him, his chin was resting upon his left hand. He appeared to be in deep thought. A smile was upon his countenance, which made me tremble, it was so full of evil and satanic slyness. This smile is the one he wears just before he makes sure of his victim, and as he fastens the victim in his snare, this smile grows horrible. [EW 152.3] |
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| OTHER TEXTS |
| The divine Son of God saw that no arm but His own could save fallen man, and He determined to help man. He left the fallen angels to perish in their rebellion, but stretched forth His hand to rescue perishing man. The angels who were rebellious were dealt with according to the light and experience they had abundantly enjoyed in heaven. Satan, the chief of the fallen angels, once had an exalted position in heaven. He was next in honor to Christ. The knowledge which he, as well as the angels who fell with him, had of the character of God, of His goodness, His mercy, wisdom, and excellent glory, made their guilt unpardonable. [Con 21.1] |
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| Fallen man, because of his guilt, could no longer come directly before God with his supplications; for his transgression of the divine law had placed an impassable barrier between the holy God and the transgressor. But a plan was devised that the sentence of death should rest upon a Substitute. In the plan of redemption there must be the shedding of blood, for death must come in consequence of man’s sin. The beasts for sacrificial offerings were to prefigure Christ. In the slain victim, man was to see the fulfillment for the time being of God’s word, “Thou shalt surely die.” And the flowing of the blood from the victim would also signify an atonement. There was no virtue in the blood of animals; but the shedding of the blood of beasts was to point forward to a Redeemer who would one day come to the world and die for the sins of men. And thus Christ would fully vindicate His Father’s law. [Con 21.3] |
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| When the plan of salvation was revealed to the angels, joy, inexpressible joy, filled heaven. The glory and blessedness of a world redeemed, out-measured even the anguish of the Prince of life. Through the celestial courts echoed the first strain of that song that angels sang above the hills of Bethlehem: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” And the lost pair in the garden of Eden, standing as criminals before the righteous Judge, waiting the sentence their transgression merited, heard the first notes of the divine promise. Before the life of toil and sorrow which sin had brought upon them was depicted before them, before the decree that the wages of sin is death was pronounced, they heard the promise of redemption. Though they must suffer from the power of their mighty foe, still through the merits of Christ they could look forward to victory. The mystery of the gospel was spoken in Eden when God said to the serpent: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” If Satan could have touched the Head with his specious temptations, the human family would be lost; but the Lord had made known the purpose and plan of the mystery of grace, declaring that Christ should bruise the serpent under his feet. [Becho, July 15, 1893 par. 1] |
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| Through the plan of salvation the justice and mercy of God are fully vindicated, and to all eternity rebellion will never again arise, affliction never again touch the universe of God. [Becho, July 15, 1893 par. 5] |
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| The plan of salvation was revealed to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. They were made to understand how the Son of God would come and bear their sin, and redeem them from the curse of the law. But when Christ came into the world how few recognized his divinity or comprehended the nature of his work! He was not acknowledged as the Prince of life. The earth was the battle-field where the Prince of light and the prince of darkness met to contend for the fallen race . Christ had laid aside his crown and his royal robe, he had stepped down from his throne, and had clothed his divinity with humanity. For our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich. He came into a world all marred and scarred by the curse. He took upon him humanity that he might know the infirmities and temptations of humanity, that he might know how to help and save men. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering. Was he not perfect before?–Yes. But he was made a perfect Saviour, learning obedience by the things which he suffered, that humanity might have a perfect character and be fitted for the society of the angels of Heaven. Man was not able, in his own behalf, to meet and overcome the prince of darkness; but Christ overcame him in man’s behalf and broke his power over the human race, so that through his merits they might be overcomers in their own behalf. [ST, May 20, 1889 par. 8] |
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| Christ the Only Remedy.–When the mind is drawn to the cross of Calvary, Christ by imperfect sight is discerned on the shameful cross. Why did He die? In consequence of sin. What is sin? The transgression of the law. Then the eyes are open to see the character of sin. The law is broken but cannot pardon the transgressor. It is our schoolmaster, condemning to punishment. Where is the remedy? The law drives us to Christ, who was hanged upon the cross that He might be able to impart His righteousness to fallen, sinful man and thus present men to His Father in His righteous character (MS 50, 1900). [6BC 1110.8] |
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| When the Father gave His Son to live and die for man, he placed all the treasure of heaven at our disposal. There is no excuse for sin. God has given us all the advantages he could possibly give, that we may have strength to withstand the temptations of the enemy. Had man, when tested and tried, followed the example of Christ, he would have given his children and his children’s children an example of steadfast purity and righteousness, and the race would not have deteriorated, but improved. [6MR 3.2] |
| God is the owner of man. He required the human family to perfect faultless characters, and leave the results to future generations. Many in this our day act as though this were a matter of small importance; but had the human family, even after the fall of Adam, worked according to the example of Christ, every father and mother would leave their children an example how to conduct themselves so as to fulfil their obligations to God. Then the world would have been as Eden. The earth, now a desert of sin, would have rejoiced and blossomed as the rose.–Letter 143, 1900, pp. 5, 6. (To N. McClure, typed November 5, 1900.) [6MR 3.3] |
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| … Christ left the royal courts, and accepted a life of shame, reproach, and suffering, and did not shrink even from the death of the cross, in order that he might unite humanity with divinity. Are you so infatuated with the love of self, with the suggestions of Satan, that these considerations do not move you to a life of humility, and of submission to God? Will not the love and compassion of him who gave in one gift all that heaven afforded, awaken a response in your heart? “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” [RH, November 21, 1912 par. 2] [Hebrews 2:3 quote] |
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| Let us change our course of action. God’s standard must be our standard, or we shall fail of everlasting life. We are still in the precious hours of probation, “and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins.” He worked out the wonderful plan of redemption, and united fallen and finite man with the holy and infinite God. The world that Satan had claimed and ruled over with cruel tyranny, the Son of God, by one vast achievement, encircled in his love, and connected again with the throne of Jehovah. Cherubim and seraphim, and the unnumbered hosts of Heaven, sang anthems of praise to God and to the Lamb, when this triumph was assured. The worlds rejoiced that the way of salvation had been opened for rebellious man, and that earth would be redeemed from the curse of sin; and shall we, who are the objects of his unmerited favor, be unappreciative of the love of God? How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? [ST, March 9, 1888 par. 14] |
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| GOD |
| Knowing that God has the following attributes: |
| ominiscience (infinite knowledge) |
| omnipresence (present everywhere) |
| benevolence (perfect goodness) |
| it comes as no surprise that He has put hidden messages within His Word. |
| Besides the obvious ones (the parables of Jesus, the meaning of numbers and certain words) there are others. |
| These “wheel in the middle of a wheel” messages may be found by prayerful study of His Word. |
| One such message lies within the Hebrew names of the first 10 generations and is to be found in Genesis chapter 5. |
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| God’s Message in the genealogy of Adam to Noah |
| Genesis 5 gives the genealogy of Adam: |
| 1 Adam > 2 Seth > 3 Enos(h) > 4 Cainan / Kenan > 5 Mahalalel > 6 Jared > 7 Enoch > 8 Methuselah > 9 Lamech > 10 Noah. |
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| Adam |
| After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own image. They had wrought together in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. And now God says to his Son, “Let us make man in our image.” As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator, he was of noble height, and of beautiful symmetry. He was more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth, and was well proportioned. His features were perfect and beautiful. His complexion was neither white, nor sallow, but ruddy, glowing with the rich tint of health. Eve was not quite as tall as Adam. Her head reached a little above his shoulders. She, too, was noble–perfect in symmetry, and very beautiful. [3SG 33.2] |
| http://www.behindthename.com/name/adam |
| This is the Hebrew word for “man”. It could be ultimately derived from Hebrew (‘adam’) meaning “to be red”, referring to the ruddy colour of human skin, or from Akkadian adamu meaning “to make”. According to Genesis in the Old Testament Adam was created from the earth by God (there is a word play on Hebrew (‘adamah’) “earth”). |
| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adamah |
| Adamah is a word, translatable as ground or earth, which occurs in the Biblical account of Creation of the Book of Genesis. The etymological link between the word adamah and the word adam is used to reinforce the teleological link between humankind and the ground, emphasising both the way in which man was created to cultivate the world, and how he originated from the “dust of the ground”. Because man is both made from the adamah and inhabits it, his duty to realise his own potential is linked to a corresponding duty to the earth. In Eden, the adamah has primarily positive connotations, although Adam’s close relationship with the adamah has been interpreted as likening him to the serpent, which crawls upon the ground, thus emphasising his animal nature. |
| Adam’s name means “man”; it can also relate to mankind. |
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| Seth |
| Adam’s son was named Seth, which means “appointed”. |
| Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, [said she], hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. |
| Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. |
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| Enos(h) |
| Seth’s son was called Enos(h), which means “mortal”, “frail”, or “miserable”. It is from the root “anash”, to be incurable, used of a wound, grief, woe, sickness, or wickedness. |
| It was in the days of Enos(h) that idolatry commenced where men began to defile the name of the Living God. |
| “To Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of Jehovah.” The faithful had worshiped God before; but as men increased, the distinction between the two classes became more marked. There was an open profession of loyalty to God on the part of one, as there was of contempt and disobedience on the part of the other. [PP 80.2] |
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| Cainan / Kenan |
| Genesis 5:9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: |
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| 1 Chronicles 1:1 Adam, Sheth, Enosh, |
| 1 Chronicles 1:2 Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, |
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| Enos(h)’s son was named Cainan / Kenan, which can mean “sorrow”, “dirge”, “elegy” or “wandering nomad”. |
| After the translation of Enoch to heaven, the sons of men that were set against the worship of God were drawing away the sons of God. There were two parties in the world then, and there always will be. The worshipers of God called themselves the sons of God. The descendants of Seth went up into the mountains and there made themselves homes separate from the sons of Cain. Here in their mountainous homes they thought to preserve themselves from the prevailing wickedness and idolatry of the descendants of Cain. But after the exhortations and the influence of Enoch were removed from them, they commenced to unite with the descendants of Cain. [CTr 39.2] |
| The name Cainan / Kenan seems to be derived from words denoting a permanent dwelling place or stronghold. |
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| Mahalalel |
| Cainan / Kenan’s son was named Mahalalel, which is from the root word “Mahalal” which means “blessed” or “praise”; and “El”, the name for God which means “might” or “power”. Mahalalel means “the Blessed God”. Hebrew names often include El, the name of God as in Daniel [God is my Judge / Judged by God]. A list of such names and their meanings may be found at: |
| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophory_in_the_Bible . |
| The number 5 symbolizes God’s grace, goodness and favour towards mankind. |
| The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called “hey” – pronounced “hey” and having the sound of “h” as in “hay”. |
| http://www.hope-of-israel.org/hay&vav.htm |
| Since this is the fifth letter, its numerical value in Hebrew is “5”. This letter represents the “power”, “Divine grace” and “goodness” of YEHOVAH God which is poured out in His works. It represents His graciousness and love – two of the pre-eminent characteristics of YEHOVAH God. |
| Mahalalel (the Blessed God) is the fifth name in Genesis chapter five and we can clearly see God’s grace flowing out from this chapter. The Hebrew letter “hey” stands for “to behold”; it also expresses thought, speech and action on behalf of the Divine. |
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| Jared |
| Mahalalel’s son was named Jared, from the verb “yaradh”, which means “shall come down”, “descent” “he who descended” and even “descendant”. |
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| Enoch |
| Jared’s son was named Enoch, which means “teaching”, or “commencement” (dedication). |
| Enoch means “initiated”, “dedicated”, or “disciplined”, from which you could get “teaching”, although it seems more like “student”. |
| This hope of redemption through the advent of the Son of God as Saviour and King has never become extinct in the hearts of men. From the beginning there have been some whose faith has reached out beyond the shadows of the present to the realities of the future. Adam, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–through these and other worthies the Lord has preserved the precious revealings of His will. And it was thus that to the children of Israel . . . God imparted a knowledge of the requirements of His law, and of the salvation to be accomplished through the atoning sacrifice of His beloved Son. (Prophets and Kings, pp. 681-683). |
| Enoch, who walked with God, received the prophecy of the Great Flood and was the first of four generations of preachers to proclaim this message of pending destruction by God to all those who disobeyed Him. |
| Enoch was the father of Methuselah and in the year that Methuselah died, the flood came. Methuselah was 187 and begat Lamech, Lamech begat Noah when he was 182 and the Flood came in Noah’s 600th year. 187+182+600=969, the lifespan of Methuselah. |
| Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. |
| God’s people will separate themselves from the unrighteous practices of those around them, and will seek for purity of thought, and holy conformity to his will, until his divine image will be reflected in them. Like Enoch they will be fitting for translation to Heaven. While they endeavor to instruct and warn the world, they will not conform to the spirit and customs of unbelievers, but will condemn them by their holy conversation and godly example. Enoch’s translation to Heaven just before the destruction of the world by a flood, represents the translation of all the living righteous from the earth previous to its destruction by fire. The saints will be glorified in the presence of those who have hated them for their loyal obedience to God’s righteous commandments. [1SP 65.1] |
| Enoch instructed his family in regard to the flood. Methuselah, the son of Enoch, listened to the preaching of his grandson, Noah, who faithfully warned the inhabitants of the old world that a flood of waters was coming upon the earth. Methuselah and his sons, and grandsons, lived in the time of the building of the ark. They, with some others, received instruction from Noah, and assisted him in building the ark. [1SP 65.2] |
| Through holy angels God revealed to Enoch His purpose to destroy the world by a flood, and He also opened more fully to him the plan of redemption. By the spirit of prophecy He carried him down through the generations that should live after the Flood, and showed him the great events connected with the second coming of Christ and the end of the world. [PP 85.5] |
| Amid the prevailing corruption, Methuselah, Noah, and many others labored to keep alive the knowledge of the true God and to stay the tide of moral evil. A hundred and twenty years before the Flood, the Lord by a holy angel declared to Noah His purpose, and directed him to build an ark. While building the ark he was to preach that God would bring a flood of water upon the earth to destroy the wicked. Those who would believe the message, and would prepare for that event by repentance and reformation, should find pardon and be saved. Enoch had repeated to his children what God had shown him in regard to the Flood, and Methuselah and his sons, who lived to hear the preaching of Noah, assisted in building the ark. [PP 92.2] |
| Enoch was a marked character. Many look upon his life as something above what the generality of mortals can ever reach. But Enoch’s life and character, which were so holy that he was translated to heaven without seeing death, represent what the lives and characters of all must be, if, like Enoch, they are to be translated when Christ shall come. His life was what the life of every individual may be if he closely connects with God. We should remember that Enoch was surrounded with influences so depraved that God brought a flood of waters on the world to destroy its inhabitants for their corruption. Were Enoch upon the earth today, his heart would be in harmony with all God’s requirements; he would walk with God, although surrounded with influences which are the most wicked and debasing. The palm tree well represents the life of a Christian. It stands upright amid the burning desert sand, and dies not; for it draws its sustenance from the springs of life beneath the surface. [RH, September 1, 1885 par. 5] |
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| Methuselah |
| Methuselah comes from “muth”, a root that means “death”; and from “shalach”, which means “to bring”, or “to send forth”. The name Methuselah means “his death shall bring”. Indeed, the year that Methuselah died, the flood came. |
| A comparison may be made between Methuselah’s longevity, the maximum in the Bible, and God’s mercy in forestalling the coming judgment of the flood. |
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| Lamech |
| Methuselah’s son was named Lamech, which means “despairing” and is from a root still evident today in our own English word, “lament” or “lamentation” |
| (This name is also linked to the Lamech in Cain’s line who inadvertently killed his son Tubal-Cain in a hunting incident.) |
| Methuselah was 187 when he had Lamech, and lived 782 years more. Lamech had Noah when he was 182. The Flood came in Noah’s 600th year. 600 + 182 = 782nd year of Lamech, the year Methuselah died. |
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| Genesis 5:25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: |
| Genesis 5:26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: |
| Genesis 5:27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. |
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| Genesis 5:28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: |
| Genesis 5:29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This [same] shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed. |
| Genesis 5:30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: |
| Genesis 5:31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died. |
| Genesis 5:32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. |
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| Genesis 7:6 And Noah [was] six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. |
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| Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. |
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| Upon receiving the curse of God, Cain had withdrawn from his father’s household. He had first chosen his occupation as a tiller of the soil, and he now founded a city, calling it after the name of his eldest son. He had gone out from the presence of the Lord, cast away the promise of the restored Eden, to seek his possessions and enjoyment in the earth under the curse of sin, thus standing at the head of that great class of men who worship the god of this world. In that which pertains to mere earthly and material progress, his descendants became distinguished. But they were regardless of God, and in opposition to His purposes for man. To the crime of murder, in which Cain had led the way, Lamech, the fifth in descent, added polygamy, and, boastfully defiant, he acknowledged God, only to draw from the avenging of Cain an assurance of his own safety. Abel had led a pastoral life, dwelling in tents or booths, and the descendants of Seth followed the same course, counting themselves “strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” seeking “a better country, that is, an heavenly.” Hebrews 11:13, 16. [PP 81.1] |
| In the beginning, God gave to Adam one wife, thus showing his order. He never designed that man should have a plurality of wives. Lamech was the first who departed in this respect from God’s wise arrangement. He had two wives, which created discord in his family. The envy and jealousy of both made Lamech unhappy. When men began to multiply upon the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, they took them wives of all which they chose. This was one of the great sins of the inhabitants of the old world, which brought the wrath of God upon them. This custom was practiced after the flood, and became so common that even righteous men fell into the practice, and had a plurality of wives. Yet it was no less sin because they became corrupted, and departed in this thing from God’s order. [1SP 93.2] |
| Genesis 4:13 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one [was] Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. |
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| Noah |
| Lamech was the father of Noah, which is derived from “nacham”, which means to bring “relief”, “comfort” or “rest”. |
| Noah is a Hebrew word meaning: Comfort; long-lived; repose; peace; rest. |
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| Genesis 5:29 And he [Lamech] called his name Noah, saying, This [same] shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed. |
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| Noah and his family were not alone in fearing and obeying God. But Noah was the most pious and holy of any upon the earth, and was the one whose life God preserved to carry out his will in building the ark and warning the world of their coming doom. Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah, lived until the very year of the flood, and there were others who believed the preaching of Noah, and aided him in building the ark, who died before the flood of waters came upon the earth. Noah, by his preaching and example in building the ark, condemned the world. God gave all an opportunity who chose to repent and turn to him. But they believed not the preaching of Noah. They mocked at his warnings, and ridiculed the building of that immense boat on dry land. Noah’s efforts to reform his fellow men did not succeed. But for more than one hundred years he persevered in his efforts to turn men to repentance and to God. Every blow struck upon the ark was preaching to the people. Noah directed, he preached, he worked, while the people looked on in amazement, and regarded him as a fanatic. [3SG 65.1] |
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| God granted them one hundred and twenty years of probation, and during that time preached to them through Methuselah, Noah, and many others of His servants. Had they listened to the testimony of these faithful witnesses, had they repented and returned to their loyalty, God would not have destroyed them. But warnings made an impression on them only for a time. Christ was their atoning sacrifice, their Mediator, but they had no faith in Him, and His intercessions in their behalf were unavailing. As the time of probation drew nearer its close, the service due to God from them passed entirely from their thoughts; and the word went forth, “The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” [RH, April 23, 1901 par. 10] [God speaking to Noah – Genesis 6:13] |
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| The message of Genesis 5 |
| By taking the meanings of the names given to Adam through to Noah we find that it tells us a message from God. |
| As various wordings of this message exist, all those found have been listed below with the most common rendering shown in Bold text. |
| Suffice to say that the overall message remains the same. |
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| Man [is] appointed [to] mortal sorrow; [but] the Blessed God shall come down teaching; His death shall bring the despairing rest, or comfort. |
| Man [is] appointed mortal sorrow, [but] the blessed God shall come down teaching. His death shall bring [the] despairing comfort and rest. |
| Man [is] appointed mortal sorrow; [but] the Blessed God shall come down teaching [that] His death shall bring [the] despairing rest. |
| Man [is] appointed mortal sorrow; [but] the Blessed God shall come down, teaching [or] dedicating, His death shall bring the despairing rest. |
| Man is appointed mortal sorrow. [The Blessed God] [shall come down], teaching. [His death shall bring] to [the despairing], [rest [or comfort]]. |
| Mankind [is] appointed mortal sorrow; [but] the Blessed God descends teaching, dedicating His death shall bring the despairing comfort. |
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| So there we have it – another example of God’s message revealed to us about His Son and the sacrifice He made for those who chose to follow Him. |
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| Summary |
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| God’s Message in the genealogy of Adam to Noah |
| Genesis 5 gives the genealogy of Adam: |
| 1 Adam > 2 Seth > 3 Enos(h) > 4 Cainan / Kenan > 5 Mahalalel > 6 Jared > 7 Enoch > 8 Methuselah > 9 Lamech > 10 Noah. |
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| Adam’s name means “man”; it can also relate to mankind. |
| Adam’s son was named Seth, which means “appointed”. |
| Seth’s son was called Enos(h), which means “mortal”, “frail”, or “miserable”. It is from the root “anash”, to be incurable, used of a wound, grief, woe, sickness, or wickedness. |
| Enos(h)’s son was named Cainan / Kenan, which can mean “sorrow”, “dirge”, “elegy” or “wandering nomad”. |
| Cainan / Kenan’s son was named Mahalalel, which is from the root word “Mahalal” which means “blessed” or “praise”; and “El”, the name for God which means “might” or “power”. Mahalalel means “the Blessed God”. |
| Mahalalel’s son was named Jared, from the verb “yaradh”, which means “shall come down”, “descent” “he who descended” and even “descendant”. |
| Jared’s son was named Enoch, which means “teaching”, or “commencement” (dedication). |
| Methuselah comes from “muth”, a root that means “death”; and from “shalach”, which means “to bring”, or “to send forth”. The name Methuselah means “his death shall bring”. Indeed, the year that Methuselah died, the flood came. |
| Methuselah’s son was named Lamech, which means “despairing” and is from a root still evident today in our own English word, “lament” or “lamentation” |
| Lamech was the father of Noah, which is derived from “nacham”, which means to bring “relief”, “comfort” or “rest”. |
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| Man [is] appointed mortal sorrow; [but] the Blessed God shall come down teaching [that] His death shall bring [the] despairing rest. |
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| FURTHER STUDY |
| 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. |
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| … Every soul must have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will and ways of God. In all who are under the training of God is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, its practice, or its experiences. Through study of the Scriptures, through earnest prayer, they may hear his message to them, “Be still, and know that I am God.” When every other voice is hushed, when every earthly interest is turned aside, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. Here rest is found in him. The peace, the joy, the life of the soul is God. [ST, August 27, 1896 par. 8] |
| When the child seeks to get nearest to his father, above every other person, he shows his love, his faith, his perfect trust. And in the father’s wisdom and strength the child rests in safety. So with the children of God. The Lord bids us, “Look unto me, and be ye saved.” “Come unto me, . . . and I will give you rest.” “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” [ST, August 27, 1896 par. 9] |
