Aurel Gheorghe Supporter

What happened to Elijah? The bible says that he was taken to heaven. Some have argued that he was only translated to some other place on earth. But the Bible is clear: Elijah was taken to heaven. 

The verb “to take” is used in the Bible only two times to refer to a person being removed from earth to the heavenly realm. The first was the experience of Enoch, whom “God took away” (Gen 5:24; Heb. 11:5). The other is Elijah. 

The description of the event could hardly leave any doubts about what happen to Elijah: “Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind” (2 Kings 2:11 NIV). 

Moreover, to eliminate any doubts about Elijah whereabouts, the Bible describes the insistence of some of the sons of the prophets to be allowed to go look for him (2 Kings 2:16). Knowing the truth, Elisha discouraged them, but finally let them search for Elijah. They didn’t find him.

Finally, in the last chapter of the OT, Malachi 4:4,5 we read: “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet.”

Then in the NT, Mark 9:2-4, Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus, Peter, James and John. From Jude 9 we know that Michael the Archangel resurrected Moses - thus we can be certain that Elijah and Moses are in Heaven and they came down to earth to encourage Jesus, who within days would taste death, and also strengthen the disciples who after Jesus' arrest and crucifixion would be tempted to doubt that He was the Christ. In that very day Peter, James and John saw the Kingdom of God in the persons of Moses and Elijah (Mark 9:1).

March 24 2019 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

I strongly believe that Elijah was taken up into HEAVEN as 2 Kings 2:11 says, "As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses appeared. They went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm." (Net Bible). The King James Version (KJV) of 2 Kings 2:11 has “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.” 

See also Nave's Topical Bible relating references to HEAVEN: 2 Kings 2:11; Christ calls it His Father’s House” (John 14:2)-- The believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (John 14:2).; the "eternal inheritance" (1 Pet. 1:4), a Heavenly Country, Heb. 11:16 or the "better country" (Heb. 11:14, 16); and the blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22; Matt. 8:11).

March 24 2019 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

No statement in the Bible proves Elijah was taken to heaven or to another place. There are hints that suggest he was not taken into heaven. 

The word “heaven” in Hebrew is “shemayim,” which is used not just for the dwelling place of God, 1 Kings 8:30, but also for where the stars are, Genesis 1:15, and where the birds fly and rains descend from, Genesis 1:26, 7:11. The word is the same form for all of these definitions, so no emphatic conclusion can be determined that it has to mean the dwelling place of God.

The language of 2 Kings 2:1, 11, does seem to describe a fiery chariot going in a whirlwind directly into God’s heaven. But it is not definitely stated that the fiery chariot went into the presence of God. With the understanding that heaven could mean sky, it could just as well mean the chariot went upward into the atmospheric heaven.

Therefore, it is possible that Elijah’s departure could have been to another place on earth. If he had gone into the presence of God, the sons of the prophets would not have needed to search for him at all. In 2 Kings 2:16 they urged a search party of fifty strong men be sent. It is not that they ignorantly believed Elijah did not go into heaven. By the words they spoke, they likely thought the Spirit transported Elijah, placing or setting him in another location. Elisha did not command them to not send anyone because Elijah was in heaven, but that the location was out of reach.

It would not be the only time God moved someone physically. Ezekiel was transported by the Spirit, Ezekiel 3:12, 11:24, and Philip was caught away to another location by the Spirit, Acts 8:39-40. Likewise, God could have transported Elijah, using the chariot in a vivid way to show a change in ministry for Elisha to replace him. 

Theologically, things do not add up for Elijah going directly into God’s presence. The physical being or mortals cannot inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Corinthians 15:50. There are no exceptions to the rule that all men die, except at the special future blessed event of the rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. Only Jesus has immortality, 1 Timothy 6:15-16, and He is the only one that has been in heaven, John 3:13. The later appearance of Elijah (and Moses) to Jesus and three disciples, Mark 9:2-4, does not necessarily prove Elijah escaped death and was in heaven.

Then there is the situation of Elijah sending a letter to Jehoram, after this event, 2 Chronicles 21:12-14. This demonstrates he was still on earth. Some try to work around this difficulty by rearranging the chronology or suggesting Elijah previously wrote out this prophecy and Elisha or someone else delivered the letter. These explanations rely on too much conjecture. Elijah was likely somewhere on earth.

The alternative explanation of Elijah being taken to another location is very plausible enough to be considered.

21 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report