Edited 12/15/23
Was Elijah taken into heaven, or was he taken to another place on earth to die?
The answer can be found in II Kings 2:11-12. Elisha saw what happened, and Scripture’s report, “As they (Elisha and Elijah) went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. —- and He (Elisha) saw Elijah no more.” So, this eliminates any idea that he was taken to another place on earth.
Verse 10, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire. It sounds as if Elijah was about to get the ride of his life, A ride due a prince.
Angels in Scripture are called cherubim, and seraphim. Seraphim signifies “burning ones,” said to be a flame of fire.
Psalms 104:4, “Who maketh His (God’s) angels spirits; his ministers (servants) a flaming fire.”
Cherubim signifies chariots, and are called the chariots of God,
Psalms 58:7, “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels:”
Both the horses and chariots appear as fire, for brightness, to be seen. This to give all who saw Elijah’s ascension as remarkable, and eminent, and so was his ride into heaven. Elijah burned with a zeal for God, and was now to be refined, and translated to the throne room of the Father.
He was taken up as if by a whirlwind, the 1st heaven. He most likely passed through outer space, the second heaven. Then taken into the third heaven, where God dwells.
I don’t believe anyone can possibly understand what happened. Every law of nature was broken, but this is the reason, God is God, and there is no other.
Part 2.
Someone responded who still had doubt, “Let’s assume for a moment that Elijah did, in fact go to the dwelling place of the Lord; the third heaven.”
Phil replies, “This is one of your problems with resolving this issue correctly. You are assuming that Elijah did not go to be with the Lord.”
Reader wrote, “Now if that was the case that would mean he must be a spirit creature.”
Phil replies, “I have two issues with this line of thinking. First you seem to be limiting what God can do, or cant do, in this case, God having the power to care for a mortal man in heaven.
Secondly, from my understanding, Jesus Christ at this very moment is still in the flesh. He underscored this when He was with the apostles. Thomas touched the Lord’s wounds. He told the apostles
Luke 24:39, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hat not flesh and bones, as ye see me Have.”
Conclusion, Jesus was flesh and bone, glorified yes, but still a man.
1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” note, “The man, Christ Jesus!”
Now that’s out of the way, let’s hit on your concern about Elijah.
You wrote, “Why would a spirit being, with a fiery chariot as transportation, have to send writing to a king to communicate with him? Does that make any sense?”
Phil replied, “Elijah is still a man, cared for by God in heaven. How does God do it? who knows! Men can keep other men alive in outer space, as in the space shuttle, space suits, so are you doubting that God can? Many understand that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11. These two men, whoever they are in Revelation are mortal, because at the end of their ministry, they are killed.
Phil replies, “If you had read an earlier post you would have seen that, Angels in Scripture are called Cherubim, and Seraphim, Seraphim signifies fiery, and God is said to make them a flame of fire.
Psalms 104:4, “Who maketh His (God’s) angels spirits; his ministers (servants) a flaming fire (the Seraphim.)”
Cherubim signifies chariots, and are called the chariots of God,
Psalms 58:7, “The chariots (Cherubim) of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels:”
How they are described by the writer of Psalms is not important, what, and who they are, Seraphim, and Cherubim is important.
Reader replied, “Would it make sense that a spirit being, taken up to heaven in a chariot, would have to resort to the following as far as communications with men? I believe Elijah is dead, and Enoch has been transformed! Neither has received their spirit bodies yet and are immaterial dwelling in the 3rd heaven with the Father and Son.”
Phil replies, “Again you ask a question, then before you get an answer, you deny what the Scriptures teach, and give your own opinion. You seem to be looking for Scriptural flaws, but I can tell you, after 30 plus years of researching this Bible, there are none.
The reader questions the idea that Jehoram received a letter from Elisha, proving he was not taken into heaven.
Concerning, 2 Chronicles 21:12:
A warning came from God, and was sent to Jehoram by writing from Elijah the prophet. Jehoram came to the throne, and showed himself for what he truly was. Apparently the time of Elijah’s departure was at hand, so he could not go in person to Jehoram. But hearing of the murder of his brethren, Elijah left this writing with Elisha, to be sent to Jehoram at the first opportunity.
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com