WHERE DID ELIJAH AND ENOCH GO...

[halifaxchristian]

Doesn't the Bible say that Jesus is the first One who ascended or decended into heaven??? Doesn't the Bible also say that no one could enter heaven before the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross as atonement??? Where did elijah and enoch go? Heaven or paradise (like abraham)??? Are they the two witnesses and does this have anything to do with "it is appointed unto men once to die"? Is the 2 witnesses deaths enoch and elijah's appointed death? Just wondering your thoughts here. Thanks!!!

[Scarletprayers]

halifax, don't really have a reply but I would like to hear some of the others thoughts on this, I find your question very interesting!

[Atalyah]

Doesn't the Bible say that Jesus is the first One who ascended or decended into heaven???  Doesn't the Bible also say that no one could enter heaven before the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross as atonement???  Where did elijah and enoch go?  Heaven or paradise (like abraham)???  Are they the two witnesses and does this have anything to do with "it is appointed unto men once to die"?  Is the 2 witnesses deaths enoch and elijah's appointed death?  Just wondering your thoughts here.  Thanks!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi I think Enoch died.

"And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5:21-24)

Genesis 5 tells us that the days of Enoch were 365, if he did not die, his days would be indefinate. Romans 5 tells us that all man die. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned"

So, since the event of the fall in Eden, all are subject to death. The way to the tree of life was guarded, so men did not have access to eternal life. Even Christ was subject to death, being a mortal man, and through his death and resurrection the way to the tree of life was opened. To suggest that a man could enter into eternal life without Christ's sacrifice is to suggest that eternal life was possible without the redeeming sacrifice of Christ.

Hebrews 11:5 reads "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."

The word "translated" means 'to transport' or carry over. But where was he translated to? Let's take a look at another passage that uses this same terminology...

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Colossians. 1: 12-13)

That Enoch was "translated that he should not see death" leaves many to believe that this process was immediate and complete. However, the ref. from Col. 1 helps us to put the expression into perspective. That is, when we are in Christ, though we are still subject to death, though not a death without redemption at the resurrection of Christ. If we are faithful, and "walk with God", this outcome is of such certaintly that those things which are not can be spoken of "as though the were"

When we are baptized into Christ, believing the one true gospel of salvation, we are no longer in the family of Adam and Eve and subject to a perishing death. We are translated (carried over) into the family of Christ, now having hope for a place in God's coming Kingdom.

Finally, we see that Enoch is included in the list of the faithful which "all died in faith", therefore, according to this passage, he must have died!

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

As to Elijah, again "no man hath ascended up to heaven", that is, not to the dwelling place of God (heavens can refer to the place where the birds fly ) As the above scriptures dealing with enoch have shown, mortal men must die and wait for the resurrection as Christ opened the way to eternal life. (Unless of course we're alive upon his return!)

To boot, after Elijah had been taken away by the whirlwind, it would seem he came back because it looks like he wrote a letter to Jehoram, king of Judah.

Elisha had taken over the duties of Elijah in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (2 Kings 3:10,11).,

Jehoram received a letter from Elijah, the prophet. (2 Chron. 21:1, 9-12). King Jehoram reigned after Jehoshaphat. (2 Chron. 21:1).

[followerofjesus]

The book of Enoch is an interesting read from the lost scrolls.

[sail2awe]

That's a good question, I'll take the Enoch part for some Biblical clarification, as it isn't what we are taught, so don't be suprized if you are reading this for the first time, and on the other hand, some already can see that Enoch died:

The garden of God, the Tree of Life, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the expulsion from the garden,

[halifaxchristian]

Great answers guys. Not sure what to make of it. Would like to see others post their ideas. I will pray over it for sure. However, I see that the enoch issue has been well addressed. But what about elijah??? He was obviously taken up to heaven...or the heavens...???? What do we make of this?

[yomotalking]

No. The scriptures don't say that. They say.

Joh 3

13  No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought there must be something squiffy there.

Sorry, "squiffy" is Botz's term!

[halifaxchristian]

Sail2awe...you had me in the beginning of your last thread there. You lost me by the end when you hit your jude and "end of the world" rant. Can you please clarify. Also, I am always sceptical when people go into the greek to prove or disprove a doctrine. If someone cannot prove a doctrine by means of reference to God's Word as presented in the common understanding...I put my guard up heavily. I believe that God has provided a reliable translation for this generation in the KJV. Although it is not a perfect translation, I maintain that it contains all that we need for continuous sound doctrine. Looking forward to your next reply.

God bless.

[halifaxchristian]

I believe that the Bible is clear that at least elijah was raptured to heaven. My question is how this could have happened previous to Jesus' sacrifice.

Edited August 8, 2005 by Saved by Grace

[halifaxchristian]

Super Jew...I respect your opinions...what do you think about this???

Was enoch raptured to heaven? Was elijah?

What do you make of all this?