Methuselah - When did he die and why at that particular time

[amadeus]

@Waiting on him I guess Methuselah reminds me of the idea of God's patience in withholding judgment; he was allowed to live so long...

Have any of us ever procrastinated and regretted it? We, all of us, need to not forget that this is the day, today! Tomorrow for us may never arrive... that tomorrow, or next week, or next year, when we have planned to make it all right with God!

 

[amadeus]

Good thought connection there; Nunc dimittits...Lord, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace...(Luke 2.29-32)

"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Luke 2:29-32

 

[amadeus]

...We are living in similar times according to Christ, since the world is ignoring the warnings in Scripture, and the wickedness of mankind (particularly those in leadership and government) has increased exponentially.

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen 6:5

 

[amadeus]

...One should know what Methuselah name means then it makes sense who he is and all...

A person who is truly born again is in the Kingdom of God ? ...

So one abides with God or you don't, if we don't then you are a Marked Man.

Amen!

 

[amadeus]

Methuselah - When did he die and why at that particular time.
OP ^

When did Methuselah die? I would say Before Noah entered the ark.
Which Noah entered the ark 7 days before the rain started.
- A time, not working on the completed ark...
- A time, for Noah mourning death of righteous family members?
- A time, of 7 prepared, for the lifting up off the face of the earth?
-A time parallel to the prepared, lifted up before the 7 of the trib?
-Speculation of when and why, but for sure, according to Gods will for good.

7 Seven 7!

"Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female:..." Gen 7:2

 

[BarneyFife]

Thanks for the input on this. That confirms again the when of it, but hoping some will contribute to the why according to God... or man?

There are several theories floating around in my study circles:

No man lived fully to 1000 years because:

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)

Also,
Methuselah is a Prophetic name meaning: His death shall bring, and/or: “It will come, when he is dead.”
Enoch, the man Who walked with God, was instructed to name his Son Methuselah to warn people, that after he died, the Vengeance of an Angry God would be unleashed!

The following article is from
What Was the Significance Between Methuselah and The Flood of Noah? – Proverbs1921Ministries

As you may know from scripture or possibly by word of mouth, there is a character in the Bible called Methuselah found in Genesis 5. Methuselah was and is the oldest man to ever live on this planet. According to scripture, he lived up until the ripe old age of 969. What a life!


But perhaps what’s even more significant is how God used Methuselah and his life to give an indication as to the coming judgement that was to befall the people of the time. Lets get some of the basic facts and numbers straight.


The genealogy in Genesis 5 presents Enoch as Methuselahs father. Enoch was sixty-five when he gave birth to Methuselah. Then Enoch lived another 300 years before God whisked him away. That section of scripture plus Hebrews 11:5 indicates that Enoch did not taste death but was transported directly into heaven due to the fact that he walked so closely with God. Following on, we have Methuselah who was 187 when he gave birth to Lamech who was Noah’s father. Lamech was 182 when he gave birth to Noah, and Noah was 600 years old when the Floodwaters came.


So what was the significance?


Well, we will need to translate Methuselah's name into its Hebraic meaning. It was tradition back in those days for a child’s name to mean something of value, whether negative or positive depending on certain factors around the time of the child’s birth. If you convert Methuselah to its original Hebraic meaning, it translates to, “his death shall bring Judgement.”


So what was the enormous worldwide event that took place around this time that the Bible records? The flood of Noah of course! Note that Methuselah was 187 years old when he gave birth to Lamech and Lamech was 182 when he gave birth to Noah. Add 187 with 182 and that would make Methuselah 396. Exactly at this age, Noah was born and then exactly 600 years later, Noah was 600 and the Flood came about. Add 600 to 369 and you get 969, the exact year of the flood and Methuselah's death. Remember Methuselah's name’s Hebraic meaning, “His death shall bring Judgement”? Well, that’s exactly what happened, just as God intended. God used Methuselah as a reference point in counting down the days until the first worldwide Judgement upon the evil of the world. When the appointed time was up, God released the floodwaters, and only Noah and his family who were obedient to God and accepted his grace were saved. God truly does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t He?!

 

[BarneyFife]

Also, it is believed by some that God reduced man's life expectancy in order to quell the tide of overall rebellion by giving permission (for the first time) to eat the flesh of animals to Noah after the flood as well as providing for nourishment in the absence of plant life.

 

[amadeus]

Also, it is believed by some that God reduced man's life expectancy in order to quell the tide of overall rebellion by giving permission (for the first time) to eat the flesh of animals to Noah after the flood as well as providing for nourishment in the absence of plant life.

I have long felt that man's diminishing life expectancy in the flesh was due to his continuing corruption and his continuous moving away from God. When God saved Noah and his family [8 people] He also saved unclean and clean beasts, but eventually all of the beast natures of a man, even the clean ones must die.

Adam and Eve had no such nature, but they began their journey into the ways of beasts with that first disobedience. First clean beastliness and then to unclean.

The direction of the process must be reversed before a person can ever again come together to the "face to face" encounter with God without dying.

 

[David in NJ]

There are several theories floating around in my study circles:

No man lived fully to 1000 years because:

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)

Also,
Methuselah is a Prophetic name meaning: His death shall bring, and/or: “It will come, when he is dead.”
Enoch, the man Who walked with God, was instructed to name his Son Methuselah to warn people, that after he died, the Vengeance of an Angry God would be unleashed!

The following article is from
What Was the Significance Between Methuselah and The Flood of Noah? – Proverbs1921Ministries

As you may know from scripture or possibly by word of mouth, there is a character in the Bible called Methuselah found in Genesis 5. Methuselah was and is the oldest man to ever live on this planet. According to scripture, he lived up until the ripe old age of 969. What a life!


But perhaps what’s even more significant is how God used Methuselah and his life to give an indication as to the coming judgement that was to befall the people of the time. Lets get some of the basic facts and numbers straight.


The genealogy in Genesis 5 presents Enoch as Methuselahs father. Enoch was sixty-five when he gave birth to Methuselah. Then Enoch lived another 300 years before God whisked him away. That section of scripture plus Hebrews 11:5 indicates that Enoch did not taste death but was transported directly into heaven due to the fact that he walked so closely with God. Following on, we have Methuselah who was 187 when he gave birth to Lamech who was Noah’s father. Lamech was 182 when he gave birth to Noah, and Noah was 600 years old when the Floodwaters came.


So what was the significance?


Well, we will need to translate Methuselah's name into its Hebraic meaning. It was tradition back in those days for a child’s name to mean something of value, whether negative or positive depending on certain factors around the time of the child’s birth. If you convert Methuselah to its original Hebraic meaning, it translates to, “his death shall bring Judgement.”


So what was the enormous worldwide event that took place around this time that the Bible records? The flood of Noah of course! Note that Methuselah was 187 years old when he gave birth to Lamech and Lamech was 182 when he gave birth to Noah. Add 187 with 182 and that would make Methuselah 396. Exactly at this age, Noah was born and then exactly 600 years later, Noah was 600 and the Flood came about. Add 600 to 369 and you get 969, the exact year of the flood and Methuselah's death. Remember Methuselah's name’s Hebraic meaning, “His death shall bring Judgement”? Well, that’s exactly what happened, just as God intended. God used Methuselah as a reference point in counting down the days until the first worldwide Judgement upon the evil of the world. When the appointed time was up, God released the floodwaters, and only Noah and his family who were obedient to God and accepted his grace were saved. God truly does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t He?!

i am glad you took the time to bring out this information as i just wanted to say - Methuselah did NOT die in the Flood.

 

[David in NJ]

I have long felt that man's diminishing life expectancy in the flesh was due to his continuing corruption and his continuous moving away from God. When God saved Noah and his family [8 people] He also saved unclean and clean beasts, but eventually all of the beast natures of a man, even the clean ones must die.

Adam and Eve had no such nature, but they began their journey into the ways of beasts with that first disobedience. First clean beastliness and then to unclean.

The direction of the process must be reversed before a person can ever again come together to the "face to face" encounter with God without dying.

i believe this scripture confirms your thoughts - 2 Thessalonian 2:9-12

The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, 12in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

 

[amadeus]

i believe this scripture confirms your thoughts - 2 Thessalonian 2:9-12

The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, 12in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

Amen!

The key in those verses in order to avoid the delusion is "the love of the truth". Very simply Jesus said that he himself is the Truth. Lots of people will say that much without knowing all there is to know about what and who Jesus is. They "say" they love Him! Saying it with our mouth, "I love Him!" is not meaningful if we do not do all that we can to please Him.

Lip service ultimately won't work with our spouses and it certainly will not work with God! Our spouses, like us, are fallible and may not discern our dishonesty immediately when we say that we love them while committing adultery behind their backs.

We might fool our spouse for a while, but we will never fool God! So then in exchange that 'lip service love' presented we receive in return a delusion. The delusion may simply be believing that we no longer serve a beastly nature and we are truly saved and will always be with God.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt 7:22-23

"Wisdom... She hath killed her beasts... ; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table." Prov 9:1-2

Where from comes this Wisdom?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Prov 9:10

 

[David in NJ]

Amen!

The key in those verses in order to avoid the delusion is "the love of the truth". Very simply Jesus said that he himself is the Truth. Lots of people will say that much without knowing all there is to know about what and who Jesus is. They "say" they love Him! Saying it with our mouth, "I love Him!" is not meaningful if we do not do all that we can to please Him.

Lip service ultimately won't work with our spouses and it certainly will not work with God! Our spouses, like us, are fallible and may not discern our dishonesty immediately when we say that we love them while committing adultery behind their backs.

We might fool our spouse for a while, but we will never fool God! So then in exchange that 'lip service love' presented we receive in return a delusion. The delusion may simply be believing that we no longer serve a beastly nature and we are truly saved and will always be with God.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt 7:22-23

"Wisdom... She hath killed her beasts... ; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table." Prov 9:1-2

Where from comes this Wisdom?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Prov 9:10

And this is why i love you my brother in Arms (His Word) we both love TRUTH - Thy Word is Truth

 

[Curtis]

Methuselahs life was a prophetical marker.

The name Methuselah means, “when he is dead, it shall come.” At the birth of Methuselah, Enoch had a special awareness from God that judgment was coming.

The flood was to come as soon as he died, at the natural end of his life.

Obviously there was no need to make room on the ark, since they knew from his name, he would die and initiate the flood.

Maranatha

 

[Brakelite]

"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Luke 2:29-32

Lovely.

 

[Brakelite]

Yes, such a testimony as he had... but like our own descendants who too often it seems seldom follows the best advice of some who knows better and has had more first hand experience. They have to find out the hard way.

See what happened to the natural children of Israel when Joshua and all of the elders who had seen the wonders of God were gone from them

"And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger." Judges 2:7-12

In reading the early chapters of Genesis one may quite readily discern a dividing of the ways between the various descendants of Adam. The progeny of Seth and that of Cain. A little later we see how the sons of God (the line of Seth) became attracted to the daughter's of men (the line of Cain) and intermarried and began to apostatize from the truth.
This became a sad sorry habit for mankind particularly observed in that life of Israel that you quoted. An example of which we have in the evil work of the prophet Balaam in encouraging the men of Israel to mingle with the women of Moab. Interestingly we see this being repeated in the future in Revelation where the image to the beast entices the world (including most of those who claim membership to various churches... The harlot daughters) into an adulterous relationship with the Kings of the earth.

 

[David in NJ]

In reading the early chapters of Genesis one may quite readily discern a dividing of the ways between the various descendants of Adam. The progeny of Seth and that of Cain. A little later we see how the sons of God (the line of Seth) became attracted to the daughter's of men (the line of Cain) and intermarried and began to apostatize from the truth.
This became a sad sorry habit for mankind particularly observed in that life of Israel that you quoted. An example of which we have in the evil work of the prophet Balaam in encouraging the men of Israel to mingle with the women of Moab. Interestingly we see this being repeated in the future in Revelation where the image to the beast entices the world (including most of those who claim membership to various churches... The harlot daughters) into an adulterous relationship with the Kings of the earth.

sons of God in Genesis is not the line of Seth

 

[Brakelite]

sons of God in Genesis is not the line of Seth

Enoch and Methuselah were both children of Seth. I don't think it a stretch to believe there were other faithful servants of God in that same line.

 

[Curtis]

sons of God in Genesis is not the line of Seth

Very true, that’s been a common, but wrong, teaching since the fifth century.

 

[Curtis]

Speaking of names of Noah and methuselah, etc.

Names have meanings in the OT - the first ten names from Adam to Noah have a prophetic message when written out:

"Adam to Noah: A Hidden Prophecy Revealed" Verses

The line from Adam all the way to Noah was ten generations. If you write out the Hebrew meaning of each of the names from Adam to Noah it forms a prophetic statement that summarizes all of scripture!

# Name Hebrew Meaning
1 Adam Man
2 Seth Appointed
3. Enosh Mortal
4. Kenan Sorrow
5. Mahahlalel The blessed God
6. Jared Shall come down
7. Enoch Teaching
8. Methuselah His death shall bring
9. Lamech The despairing
10. Noah Rest, comfort

If we stitch the word meanings together, it forms the following sentences:

1. Man appointed mortal sorrow (The fall of man).
2. The blessed God shall come down teaching (Torah given to Moses)
3. His death shall bring the despairing rest and comfort (death of Jesus and fulfillment of Matt 11:28-29)

 

[Curtis]

AND there’s a message in the names in the Bible, from Adam TO Jesus: