Very confused about Methuselah

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Jakob

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2014
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18
#1
So, apparently it says that Methuselah died at the age of 969... Has this been mistranslated? Or can anyone give me a logical explanation? lol
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,706
3,650
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#2
No, it's for real. Adam lived I believe 930 years. Is there a prticular point that makes it a ...?
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,943
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#3
No, in the days before the flood, people lived much longer. Methuselah lived the longest of any person.

The explanation which always satisfied me is the following. Adam and Eve were created to live forever, in perfect conditions. But when they sinned, death entered the world, although not immediately. Adam finally died when he was 930 years old, in Genesis 5. Many of the ancients before the flood lived for centuries, read Genesis 5 to see the people and their ages. Longevity was the rule, not the exception!

So in chapter 6 of Genesis, God becomes angry with human beings for various reasons. He picked Noah, a righteous man to build the ark. It was not just a flood from the sky, but also the "waters of the deep" Gen. 7:11, opened up. So this was a BIG flood. Plus, if there had been a protective canopy over the earth, as some postulate, by dumping that canopy on the earth, all people, plants and animals were open to the excessive radiation from the sun, and the mutations caused by it. I think other things also entered the environments of people, as the first mention of alcohol is after the flood. Perhaps the yeast needed to make alcohol came from the rain or the juvenile water??

So you have totally new conditions in the earth. A these conditions accelerated, people began to suffer more and more under a genetic load - that is mutations which favoured diseases and resulted in shorter living times. This continued up to the time of Abraham, who died at the "ripe old age" of 175 years (Genesis 25:7), Isaac who lived 180 years (Gen. 35:28), Jacob who lived 147 years (Gen. 47:28), his son Joseph at 110. (Gen. 50:26)

There is a real downward trend from Adam and Methuselah to the end of Genesis, after the flood in length of life. Moses is recorded to have died at age 120 in Deut. 34:7. So things level off. Yet as we know today, the person who lives to 120 is the exception to the rule, not the rule.

I also believe God's prohibition to the Jews against marrying sisters and cousins, which begins in Lev. 18:6-18, is because of the genetic load which narrowed the genome considerably, especially considering Abraham married his half sister, and his sons also married relatives from Haran. In fact, this prohibition continues today, because of the possibility of interbreeding producing bad mutations. I once worked teaching handicapped students, and there was a family whose parents were cousins. Four out of the five children had facial deformities and were mentally handicapped, as a recessive trait was expressed in the children.

So the perfection created in Eden, allowed those early inhabitants of the earth to live much longer than we live today, and Methuselah lived the longest of them all.
 

Jakob

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2014
298
4
18
#4
But if Gods "punishment" was them not to live longer on earth. That wouldnt make sense like why would that be a punishment as in they get to heaven faster?
Also, where does the animal kingdom play in this role? Why do dogs live up to 15 years. while Turtles can live over 200 years?
 
2

2Thewaters

Guest
#5
So, apparently it says that Methuselah died at the age of 969... Has this been mistranslated? Or can anyone give me a logical explanation? lol
He wa 969 years old
each generation lost vigoer
ad when they started eating meat it dropped drammatically in Noahs day

Bible is true it isnt confusing
 
2

2Thewaters

Guest
#6
Angels live longer than 969 yars
Adam wa made to live forever

The scientific finding of the TERMINATOR gene shows it is passed on and added to with each generation


the DEVILS SACRED MOUNTAIN made the TERMINATOR FINAL gene segment part of everyones diet

even scientists understand the TERMINATOR GENE and how it works

they have three segments form the last
so they can have a parent generation which allows a productive generation and then no production




The Bible says God created mankind with potential for 1000 generations from adam
disease and random mutation doubles that once in a while and it has come down to us the last generations

and DEVIL SACRED MOUNTAIN has put the terminator in mankinds diet and roundup in their children
and ourgeneration is the last, they become infirtile

it all fits, and we just have a short time of it now
 
Dec 18, 2013
6,733
45
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#7
He wa 969 years old
each generation lost vigoer
ad when they started eating meat it dropped drammatically in Noahs day

Bible is true it isnt confusing
Are you sure they weren't eating meat well before this considerring Abel was a herdsman?

The reason why the lifespan was cut short is very logical and very clear that because man is also flesh and the flesh became corrupted thus God will not strive with man forever. Especially after the fallen angels incident the whole world was in such a state of corruption that it was necessary it be destroyed with water that through God's blessing many would be saved through Noah by Jesus.

So if Methuselah in those days of wickedness was righteous enough to be blessed by God with an advanced age, that is good indeed.
 
Nov 30, 2012
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#8
Well technically the two oldest people in History are Enoch and Elijah.
 
May 15, 2013
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#9
So, apparently it says that Methuselah died at the age of 969... Has this been mistranslated? Or can anyone give me a logical explanation? lol
When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Matthew 24:24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.


 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
764
113
39
Australia
#10
But if Gods "punishment" was them not to live longer on earth. That wouldnt make sense like why would that be a punishment as in they get to heaven faster?
Also, where does the animal kingdom play in this role? Why do dogs live up to 15 years. while Turtles can live over 200 years?
This is just my thinking, no evidence just an opinion: Things lived longer before the flood, now look at the decrease in longevity after the flood according to genealogies recorded. The flood caused some atmospheric shift (whatever it was) where things no longer live as long as they used too. Now, dinosaurs for one are lizards, lizards grow their entire life, imagine how big lizards would grow if they lived 10 times as long and in environment that helps them grow faster and stronger too.. As I said, just my theory.
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,048
1,490
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#11
A little change of pace. Many scientists believe that the first modern person to live more than 150 years has already been born. A lot of them are predicting that number is more like 200 years, with some even predicting that the first to reach 1000 years old will be alive in 2050. Just a thought, at 200 years there would be 10 generations of a family alive at the same time. At 1000 the number jumps to 50.

I was thinking about that when reading Genesis, and one thing stood out. Today the average generational birth is about 20. When we go to Genesis, the average is around 100. What was man's gestation period in Genesis? Did any of the men have a firstborn that was not a male? Your thoughts!
 
K

Kerry

Guest
#12
Adam was created live forever. The Word of God said that the day you eat of it you shall surely die.

Did he die? no he died spiritually although he lived for some 900 years and there is no record that he repented.

Methuselah was the child of Enoch and is the oldest man recorded that died before his father did.

This longevity throws out many doctrines as Adam was still alive when Noah's grandfather was born. This throws out that the Word handed down from generation to generation was changed and muddled with.
 

Jakob

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2014
298
4
18
#13
Thank you for all the kind answers. I do understand better now, but anyone care to answer on my previous comment?
"But if Gods "punishment" was them not to live longer on earth. That wouldnt make sense like why would that be a punishment as in they get to heaven faster?
Also, where does the animal kingdom PLAY in this role? Why do dogs live up to 15 years. while Turtles can live over 200 years?"
 
K

Kerry

Guest
#14
Thank you for all the kind answers. I do understand better now, but anyone care to answer on my previous comment?
"But if Gods "punishment" was them not to live longer on earth. That wouldnt make sense like why would that be a punishment as in they get to heaven faster?
Also, where does the animal kingdom PLAY in this role? Why do dogs live up to 15 years. while Turtles can live over 200 years?"
Because the punishment is hell fire and God gave them long life for a chance to repent. A short life is less time to repent and you will not find that Adam repented. Then you see in noah's day that God said "My Spirit shall not strive with men forever. His day's shall be 120 years"
 
Dec 18, 2013
6,733
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#15
Thank you for all the kind answers. I do understand better now, but anyone care to answer on my previous comment?
"But if Gods "punishment" was them not to live longer on earth. That wouldnt make sense like why would that be a punishment as in they get to heaven faster?
Also, where does the animal kingdom PLAY in this role? Why do dogs live up to 15 years. while Turtles can live over 200 years?"

On the first part, consider how wicked this generation is, that if they had life spans of 900-1000 years just what evil they would do. So for the sake of the righteous, God will not allow such a thing.

On the second part, animals are just animals, each Kind was created for its specific purpose. People should not be too hung up on animals. God made animals for His pleasure and for Man's use.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,943
113
#16
I don't like this idea about science extending lives. At my age, I have already discovered just how well science and medicine do NOT work to save the body from disease and death. God is in control, and this is meddling. Sounds like Genetically Modified Organisms in humans!

Some days, the pain is so bad in my body, I beg God to take me home. But I guess God is not finished with me. A little more time to share the gospel, and lead others to Christ? I hope that is the purpose of living in such a pain filled and diseased body!

I do believe that these people were also called of God to share what God's plan is on this earth, and they lived longer. Sometimes it is not about us, but about the lives we touch with the good news!
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#18
But if Gods "punishment" was them not to live longer on earth. That wouldnt make sense like why would that be a punishment as in they get to heaven faster?
Also, where does the animal kingdom play in this role? Why do dogs live up to 15 years. while Turtles can live over 200 years?
Honestly, I don't know but I'll speculate a little based on what I've read. Mankind could have lived forever, if they hadn't rebelled against God. But as Angela mentioned earlier, the effects of sin and its consequences took time. In Adam and Eve's time, there was the fall into sin, a cursed world, but DNA mutations would've been few, if existent at all.
In regards to the animal kingdom, I imagine it's a similar thing. Dogs etc. have had many more DNA mutations down through the ages due to selective breeding (either natural or governed by mankind). Animals like turtles on the other hand, don't have the disadvantage of many DNA mutations. There are far more dog species than turtle species. After all, all canines are descendants of a wolf-kind. Finally, God may just have made some creatures last longer than others.
 
Oct 31, 2011
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#19
This is just my thinking, no evidence just an opinion: Things lived longer before the flood, now look at the decrease in longevity after the flood according to genealogies recorded. The flood caused some atmospheric shift (whatever it was) where things no longer live as long as they used too. Now, dinosaurs for one are lizards, lizards grow their entire life, imagine how big lizards would grow if they lived 10 times as long and in environment that helps them grow faster and stronger too.. As I said, just my theory.
I lost the book, so I don't have the name any more, but I had a book that explored this theory. The world was covered in mist before the flood, and atmosphere was much different, the oxygen level on the earth was different. The sun shone through the mist, never directly. The book stated that some of that air from long ago had been captured in sealed caves, and some was tested. The book stated that when air was made to duplicate this atmosphere and sun to the glass enclosure was filtered, plants inside grew to enormous size. He gave many other ways our world shows his theory is right.

Out of this research came the idea of adapting air and trapping it in airtight chambers. Wounds put in these chambers heals sores. We have hyperbaric oxygen tanks where patience stay for a time each day and healing happens. I had an ulcer 2 1/8" around and to the bone, so amputation of my leg was suggested as it would not heal. Two hours a day for 45 days in one of these chambers healed it.

When the flood came, these atmospheric condition stopped. God uses something physical as a part of his miracles, for instance form mud on the eye for a blind man, or "get up and walk" for a crippled man. It doesn't mean it isn't the miracle that does the healing, just that something physical is used.
 
K

kennethcadwell

Guest
#20
Titus 3:9

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.