by Gary T. Panell
Did people really live for long periods of time before the flood, and for a time afterward? Yes, you may have heard of Methuselah, in Genesis 5:27 it says that Methuselah lived to be 969 years old. Then the question comes, “How could someone live to be almost a 1000 years old?” I believe that first and foremost God allowed people to live this long. If you believe the Bible, it talks about in the future how people will again live for about a 1000 years.
Look at Isaiah 65:20, 22 “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old.They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of my people, and my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”
It is also interesting that even after the flood, for awhile, people lived around 200 years. Examples of this are Noah’s children, and Job. The age, however, went down slowly until you get to, David, about 1000 years before Christ came to this earth. No doubt, people were beginning to wonder how short man’s life would be eventually, since people were dying younger and younger-so God told David by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years.” Psalm 90:10a
So the “average” age of man now, is about 70 years (with the exception of those for one reason or another that can live a little longer). Sometimes it is a little different in various places in the world, it may be a little more or a little less, but it is about 70 years, the Bible says. There is also a promise given for living to an older age. That is for those who obey, respect, and honor their parents. Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”
The most important thing is not so much how long we live on this earth, but that we are going to heaven. There we will live for trillions of years, and it will never end! Someone has said Christians, “Have a dynamite life insurance plan.” The Bible says about heaven: “But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3,4
Wouldn’t you rather live in this environment than here on this earth? Give me Jesus, and heaven any day, instead of this earth. If you are not sure you are going to heaven, here is the way: Repent of your sins, and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart and life. You could pray this prayer if your not sure how to pray, “Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner, thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. I believe that Jesus of the Bible was born of the Virgin Mary. I believe that Jesus died and rose again to take away my sin. Right now I invite Jesus to come into me by His Holy Spirit. Thank you for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen.
Adam lived 930 years
Seth lived 912 years
Enosh lived 905 years
Cainan lived 910 years
Mahalalel lived 895 years
Jared lived 962 years
Enoch lived 365 years (because he walked with God, and God took him)
Methuselah 969 years
Lamech lived 777 years
Noah lived 950 years
Shem lived 600 years
Arphaxad lived 438 years
Salah lived 433 years
Eber lived 464 years
Peleg lived 239 years
Reu lived 239 years
Serug lived 230 years
Nahor lived 148 years
Terah lived 205 years
Abraham lived 175 years
Isaac lived 180 years
Jacob lived 147 years
Joseph lived 110 years
David lived 70 years
For more information on this topic, visit Answers in Genesis at www.answersinGenesis.org or the Institute for Creation Research at: www.icr.org
by Gary T. Panell
Download this article as a PDF: Did Methuselah Really Live To Be 969 Years Old?
You’re so cool! I don’t suppose I’ve read something like this before. So nice to search out someone with some unique thoughts on this subject. I really thank you for bringing this up. This website is one thing that is needed on the internet, someone with a bit of originality. It is a useful job for bringing something new to the web!
Thank you Timothy for your nice comments. Gary
At the time when God sent the flood He said ” My Spirit will no longer strive so long with mankind …… his days shall be 120 years.” Obviously people alive at the time of that declaration by God were living longer life spans. The same writer attests to that many times. To those born after the flood their length of age is after several generations reduced to 205 as seen with Terah who was the father of the legendary Abraham. Abraham ” died in a good old age, an old man full of years at 175 (Gen 25:7,8) and eventually we see Gods declaration come to pass and so now we see old age as 120 = really old and 70 to 80 years as a good old age
” if by reason of strength ” (Psalm 90 : 10).
Hi Kevin, What you say is true and from the Bible, except the 120 years is about how many years until the flood would take place. Noah preached for 120 years, until the flood came. Thanks for your comments. Brother Gary
Perhaps there was less ionizing radiation back then. The radiation that disrupts our gene’s telomeres may have not existed in the extent it does now. If the telomeres are undisturbed, the result is long life span.
Hi Paul, thanks for your comment, maybe you are right. At least it was something like that. God bless you! Brother Gary