Genesis Five: The First Genealogy

Genesis five is the first genealogy listed in the Bible. I used to glance over the genealogies and not pay much attention to them because, to be honest, I thought they were boring. I remember asking my mother once if I had to read them and she told me that God put them in His Word for a reason, so read them and I do.
This genealogy starts with Adam and ends with Noah and his three sons. First, you notice that all three of his sons are mentioned instead of one. Usually the genealogy will cover the line that Christ descends from and this one is no exception. Jesus descends from Shem so why list Ham and Japheth? Why are they included? The reason is that they will play a vital role in the repopulation of the earth after the Great Flood.
At first
After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Genesis 5:21-24 (New International Version, Life Application Study Bible (emphasis mine)
This is a prophetic look of the Rapture and when it occurs, those who are alive in Christ will be caught up to be with Jesus, instantly changed from our corruptible bodies to our new regenerated ones. They will not experience death, just as Enoch didn’t experience death. When the Rapture occurs, the dead arise first, and those who are alive in Him will be raptured, just as Enoch was (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Enoch was taken so that he would not be here when the Great Flood occurs. The Flood is the judgment of God and it destroyed every living thing on the face of the earth except Noah and his wife, sons and daughters-in-law, along with the animals that were preserved, as well as seeds for plant life (food) (Genesis 6:19-21). Enoch did not have to endure the judgment of God, his “rapture” spared him from the flood. This is a sign that God protects those who belong to Him, whether we die or are raptured. We may endure hardship in our lives but we are always under His protection, He always provides for the needs of His
It is from these three sons of Noah, that all nations would come.
There will be good days and there will be bad days, but if you have faith and trust God He will get you through anything because He loves you, and it is by this same great love that He will save us from having to endure the Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), just as he saved Enoch and Methuselah from having to endure the Great Flood.
This is what we have learned in Genesis Chapter five:
• God used the meanings of the names of the men in the genealogy as a message;
• The message teaches us the condition of man and that there will be a coming Savior to rescue us;
• Enoch represents those taken by the Rapture;
• Methuselah represents those taken by death who will be raised up first in the Rapture;
• All of His people will be saved from the coming judgment of the Great Tribulation;
• God, in His love, is very patient with us;
• God will reward those who are obedient to His commands;
I hope this has taught you that with careful study and prayer, asking and listening to the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the things in His Word that are not so apparent.
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm