Names have significant meanings in the Bible and in many eastern countries. They are in a sense prophetic of a person. Jacob means "crooked." Abraham means "father of many nations." Enoch means 'dedicated.' Methuselah means "death and sent." The objection to this interpretation is that the word for death has a letter out of place. But no godly man like Enoch could put "death" into his son's name (Death at some point also became a famous god's name.) Instead, the letter was switched to make 'death' hidden and yet present. We need to ask, "Why?" We have two signficant events that confirm this. (1) Firstly, something great and tremendous was sent almost immediately upon Methuselah's death in 1656 (from Adam's birth counting). What was sent? Top

Right after Methuselah's death, a great judgment would be sent upon the world. This judgment was none other than the world-wide flood that swept the then known world into oblivion. Only eight people survived the sea of death. (2) Secondly, in further confirmation to Methuselah's significant name was the great prophecy given to his father, Enoch. We would not know of this prophecy except from Jude 14,15. "And about these also Enoch, [in] the seventh [generation] from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." Jude 14,15

sent This verb (shalach) means 'to send' or 'send out.' Also can mean weapon. death This noun (maveth) means 'death' and can also refer to the god of death. Remember that Hebrew words are read from right to left! We note here that the middle letter for death is switched so that it forms another word "and." sent and death Click here to go to time chart on Genesis 5!

"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live." (Ezekiel 18:32).

One might question whether Methuselah died before the flood or by the flood. The evidence strongly leads in favor of before the flood.

1) Methuselah was of the godly line (Lu 3:27). He was in the line of ten godly descendants that preserved the godly promise. There no doubt are others that are not mentioned. It is likely that he did not die as the world. He was not in its judgment because he chose to live God's ways.

2) Methuselah also was the oldest of all known mankind. At 969 he drew closest to the seeming ideal of 1000 years old. Long life is associated with the blessing of God. This is the way the scripture presents long life.

3) And lastly, Methuselah itself means 'sent death.' I suppose one could also argue that he died by the sending of the flood. His name would have no special signficance if he would die by the flood for that would be true for all the ungodly at that time. God instead seems to take the oldest man living and then send the flood.

A Future Judgment

We know that judgment is soon coming upon the earth too. This next time it will not be a flood but fire that closes this phase of the earth. Jesus told us to be alert. Be ready.