There’s also a couple of things that your husband might find interesting, Sue. First, if Enoch is translated into Heaven, then what is the problem in accepting the Assumtion of Mary?In the Old Testament, we have Enoch, Elijah, and Moses who are believed to have been taken bodily into Heaven. Moses’ body was fought over by the Archangel Micheal and Satan. This comes from another apocryphal book called “The assumption of Moses”.
In Catholic teachings, there is the belief that two people went into Heaven with their bodies…Jesus and Mary, as well as a possible third, John, the apostle.
In my opinion, there seems to be a corrolation between such people. In Genesis 5:24, it reads
" Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
In the letter according to the Hebrews, it reads
“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.” Hebrews 11:5
Just as Enoch pleased God and and was translated so that he would not taste death, so was John, the apostle, as he is being described as “the apostle Jesus loved” and at the end of his Gosple (John), it reads
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
It seems possible that both, Enoch and John pleased God, did not taste death,and wrote an apocalyptic book.
Elijah was taken into heaven bodily as well, and is to return to prepare the way for the coming of Christ, being the reason as to why John the Baptist was asked if he was himself the return of Elijah. In the book of Malchi, it reads
But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise," (3:20, 4:2)
“Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.” (3:23, 4:5)
The same can be seen in the person of Mary, who is believed to have assumed into the Heavens bodily, and through her apparitions, is preparing the coming of her Son.In Revation it reads
And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars; 12:2and she was the child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered. 12:3And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. 12:4And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child. 12:5And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. 12:6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Here, the woman is led in the desert and is fed for a period of three and one half years. The same is found in Elijah when he is led in the desert and is fed by ravens until the end of the drought, which lasted three and one half years, according to Jesus.Also notice that Elijah and Mary are both viewed alongside the “Sun of Rightiousness”.
The connection between Moses and Jesus is self explanatory since both are seen as being mediators between God and man.
Remember, Jesus did also say to them,
** “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come in power.” (Mark 9:1 **
Andre
