Time Prophecy Series - The Antediluvian Flood
Methuselah and the One-Hundred and Twenty (120) Year Prophecy.
Introduction
In the series, “Time Prophecies”, we desire to take a look at past Bible prophecies connected with time throughout Scripture. Prophecy is part of God’s agencies to awaken and prepare His people to stand in the soon coming prophetic events. But for us to understand the future, we must “remember the former things of old”. True prophecy is designed to lead us to “hearken unto God” and be brought near His righteousness and hence salvation.
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. Isaiah 46
The apostle Peter confirms this understanding, when we “take heed” of the more sure word of prophecy, the “Day Star” will arise in our hearts. This is an experience described as “Christ in us the hope of glory” and reminds also of the “Sun of Righteousness” arising with healing in His wings.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2 Peter 1
Bring our introduction closer to our subject of the antediluvians, let the reader note how Noah gained victory in his time.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11
Noah moved by faith in God’s warnings of a flood to come, and physically prepared for the prophesied event thus becoming an heir of righteousness by faith. True prophecy has a moral and physical purpose and is scripturally blended with righteousness by faith.
The Flood
When mankind became wicked and evil continually, God declared a 120 year period before judgment by a flood.
3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twentyyears. Genesis 6
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, 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. 14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. Genesis 6
Methuselah
The patriarch Methuselah was a son of Enoch, father to Lamuel and grandfather to Noah. His name in the Hebrew language is translated as “a man of the dart” and in the Greek is translated, “when he dies there shall be an emission”.
37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. Luke 3
A man of the dart
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: Hebrews 12
14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. 2 Samuel 18
The dart is a symbol of judgment hence Methuselah’s name is tied to judgment.
A man of an emmission
Methuselah’s death marked a certain event referred to as an “emission”. Combining both symbols we understand that when Methuselah dies, there should be judgment in the form of an emission.
Fulfillment
Methuselah is recorded to have lived the longest of all men - 969 years. Let’s confirm that he died the same year that God judged the earth with a flood.
25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: 26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: 27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. 28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: 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
5 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. 6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Genesis 7
When Methuselah was 187 years he had a son Lamech, who lived 182 years and bore Noah. At that point it means Methuselah had 187 + 182 years. Noah was 600 years of age when the Flood arrived. Hence at that time Methuselah was 187 years + 182 years + 600 years which makes 969 years as per Genesis 5:27. Methuselah died the same year that the Flood came when his grandson Noah was 600 years of age.
Timeline Summary
0 - Methuselah is born 187 - Lamech is born. 182 - Noah is born. 600 - The year of the flood [0+187+182+600 = 969 years]
Conclusion
Methuselah, a man of the “judgment” and one who “when he dies, there shall be an emission”, died the same year Antediluvian flood came. This was in line with his prophetic name and also as God had declared to Noah.
Surely, God’s counsel shall stand and He shall do His pleasure. As He says,“I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. “