Earburner:
2 Kings : 2-11.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
The text of the Book of Genesis says Enoch lived 365 years before he was taken by God. The text reads that Enoch "walked with God: and he was no more; for God took him" (Gen 5:21–24), which is interpreted as Enoch's entering Heaven alive in some Jewish and Christian traditions. Pomp.
Unfortunately, that "tradition" is based on an assumption that Enoch and Elijah didn't die. So then, as to being taken to heaven, that is the error in that assumption.
According to Jesus, the prophets Enoch, Elijah, or anyone else, HAVE NOT ascended (entered) into heaven!
John 3[
13] And no man hath
ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Now either Jesus doesn't know about it, or Jesus lied. I'm sure that you don't agree to either of that!
Therefore, some other situation did happen, like he was whisked away by the Spirit of God to another location on the earth. There are other scriptures that attest to that fact.
But first, consider Philip in Acts 8:26-39,
[
39] And when they were come up out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Shall we assume that Philip was caught away (ascended) into heaven? Of course not.
Well, a similar like situation happened to Elijah, which most likely is the case.
Did you know that there is a scriptural accounting, proving that Elijah was found to be in another location, after the "fiery chariot" of God whisked him away from the presence of Elisha?
896 BC- Elijah is whisked away by a fiery whirlwind (chariot?). But 6 years later, in the year of
889 BC, Jerhoram the son of Jehosaphat, recieved a writing from Elijah, saying that he had not walked in the ways of *his father, nor in the ways of Asa, king of Judah.
*Note- Jerhoram received the kingdom because his father Jehosaphat had died in 889 BC. 2 Chr. 21:1. At 32 Jerhoram began to reign in Jerusalem and did so for 8 years (21:5), and later "departed [died], without being desired" (21:20).
Within that period of 8 years, the letter of writing from Elijah came to him, probably 2 years before he died
Q. So then, when did Elijah supposedly ascend into heaven?
A. 896 BC.
Q. When did Elijah write a letter to Jerhoram?
A. In 889 BC. Jerhoram received the letter from Elijah.
So then, 896 minus 889 = 7
Therefore, 7 years later,
after Elijah was taken up to heaven by a firey whirlwind, Elijah wrote a letter to Jerhoram.
Hmmm, how did that happen??
Think on that a bit.
Q. What is the truthful conclusion, concerning Elijah?
A. He was relocated elsewhere on the earth.
Now that Elisha was wearing Elijah's "mantle", an explanation of what happened to Elijah, would've been required.
Don't you find it odd, that there was no other available witness, to authenticate what Elisha claimed to have happened to Elijah?
Is it possible that Elisha's story about his father, could have been spiritually embellished a bit? I believe so!
Again, back to Jesus' words John 3:13
So now what? Shall you point to
The Transfiguration?
I suppose after 900 years, the disciples knew what Elijah looked like??
They actually saw Elijah speaking with Jesus about His upcoming death, though they were 900 years into the future?
I don't think so.
How about simply this:
they saw two angels with Jesus, talking to Him about His death, which Jesus said would happen!
John 1[
51] And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter [by the transfiguration]
ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Again, back to John 3:13
