WHERE DID ELIJAH AND ENOCH GO?
“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” – (II Kings 2:11).
In John 3:13 we read an emphatic The Third Heaven statement by Jesus which cannot be contradicted
“And no man hath ascended up to Heaven; but He that came down from Heaven, (even) the Son of man who is in Heaven”
Did Jesus forget about Enoch and Elijah? I think not! Was He referring to a different Heaven?
Much confusion can result from not distinguishing between the three different heavens mentioned in Scripture. In Hebrew, some words are singular, some words are dual, and some are plural (ie., referring to three or more). This applies to the term “heaven” also, for we notice in Genesis chapter one the frequent use of the word heaven in the dual sense – two heavens. These two, by the context, obviously mean primarily the atmospheric belt around the earth where birds fly (Genesis 1:20, see also Revelation 19:17); and secondarily the starry space beyond it (Genesis 1:15). A fair translation of heavens (dual) in our language would the “skies.” In Daniel, we find this same dual heaven(s) occurring often, in such places as 2:44; 4:11-12,23, 34-35, 37; 7:2, 27, etc. Psalm 19:1-6 is praising God for His visible heavens, our skies that we admire.
THE THIRD HEAVEN
In II Corinthians 12:2-4 we find Paul speaking about a third Heaven which he calls Paradise. Although called third, it is not three itself, but one, for it is a singular word (Compare Hebrews 11:16, 13:14, Galatians 4:26). Returning to our earlier text, John 3:13, the Heaven Jesus speaks of here is singular, and in the original Greek is preceded by the definite article, “the” which is very significant.
Such is true in every case in this chapter, three times in verse 13, and again in verses 12,27,31. Clearly, by its use, “the Heaven” means the indestructible spiritual dimension, the powerhouse of the universe, which is difficult for us to imagine, for we cannot see it unless God grants us a special favour in vision (e.g., John 1:51). In II Corinthians 4:18, we read a reference to this indestructible spiritual dimension contrasted with our physical world, “for the things which are seen {are} temporal, but the things which are not seen {are} eternal.”
By contrast, where Elijah is taken up in a fiery chariot “into Heaven” the word heaven is a dual (heavens) and refers to our local skies or atmosphere. Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible reads, “to the heavens” notice the plural. The Newberry (KJV) indicates, with its clever system of marking, that this heaven is dual, exactly the same as Genesis Chapter one. Many of us have ascended into these heavens by aeroplane, balloon, glider, and a privileged few astronauts by rocket, but never to God’s throne, the Heaven singular.
RETIREMENT
Evidently, it was then (BC 896 by Ussher’s dating) God’s time for Elijah to retire, to allow for Elisha to take over full responsibility. But not time for him to die, so he was given aerial transport to a nearby country where he lived for some years and received news about happenings in Israel.
About seven years later good King Jehoshaphat died, and bad King Jehoram replaced him (II Chronicles 21: 1-11). Then verses 12-15 recount a remarkable incident a letter was brought to Jehoram, written by Elijah condemning Jehoram’s sinful activities and prophesying a great sickness to the king’s bowels, which caused his death a few years later.
Notice the timing, seven years after Elijah took his aerial departure, he wrote a letter to Jehoram. Jesus said no man (not even Elijah) “has ascended up in Heaven”(singular).
To assume Elijah was bodily transported to Heaven itself is making Scripture say more than it actually does and to even contradict itself. Physical bodies are designed only for this planet, and the universe around it is extremely hostile, with no air to breathe, and temperatures which destroy human life instantly. Only an immortal body could survive. But of course Elijah does not have immortality, because only One has immortality (according to I Timothy 6:16), and that is our dear Lord Himself, who dwells in the Heavenly light that no one can see or approach, not even Elijah or Enoch.
LOYALTY AND PRIORITIES
Why should it be necessary for God to separate Elijah and Elisha in this supernatural way?
It appears that Elisha was very loyal and devoted to his teacher, which is a good thing.
“And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and {then). I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again; for what have I done to thee? And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him” (I Kings 19:20-21).
“And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.” (II Kings 2:2).
Danger comes when a good thing exceeds love for the best.
If a Christian’s devotion to another person is so excessive that it crowds out God, so devotion to Him is secondary, idolatry is present. The first commandment is broken. Consequently our lesson has to be learned by a forced removal of the object of our great devotion, even by death. Some of us know of such cases.
Elisha’s admiration and loyalty knew no bounds; his possessiveness was very determined indeed, “As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee,” was repeated thrice in three locations, a daring oath involving God’s name! (see II Kings 2:2, 4, 6)
Realising that God could and would separate them, Elisha, still full of admiration for his teacher, daringly begged for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, instead of asking for God’s spirit. Elisha was leaning on his teacher so heavily he had to be parted from him, learn to be a “loner” and to lean directly upon God instead; and this did happen. God blessed His enthusiastic servant with wisdom, and his priorities began sorting out in verse 14 of II Kings Chapter two. “And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where {is) the LORD God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither; and Elisha went over,” then more so in verse 21. “And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren {land).” So he rapidly leamed to adjust his loyalty correctly.
It was not God’s time for Elijah to die but to retire, but because of Elisha’s intense devotion it took a fiery chariot to “part them both asunder” permanently!
WHAT HAPPENED TO ENOCH?
Genesis 5:23 states: “All the days of Enoch were 365 years.” When this expression is used of other patriarchs, such as for Jared in verse 20, or Methuselah in verse 27, it is followed by, “and he died.”
However, Enoch is unique because in verse 24, instead of and he died, it says, “and Enoch walked with God, and he {was) not; for God took him.” What does God mean by “took him”? According to Hebrews 11:5, it means translation and this word occurs three times in the one verse!
Translation means to “change sides,” “transfer” and “transport.” Have you and I “changed sides” to follow the Saviour? Have we “transferred” our allegiance from our own selfish rights to follow Him? Has God “transported” you into the spiritual bliss and knowledge of His Kingdom?
The other place where “translated” occurs is Colossians 1:13, which describes a New Covenant experience of repentance and conversion where God “hath delivered us out of the authority of darkness and hath TRANSLATED us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.” This is a very real spiritual experience. Evidently, Enoch was the very first real Christian of the high, New Testament calibre, the first of Adam’s race who” walked with God” spiritually as true disciples of today should also walk (see III John 4; II John 4,6; I John 1:7 and 2:6).
It is our great privilege to walk with God spiritually (not literally), as Enoch did, “in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).Then we can know and experience what translation and eternal life is, here and now!
NEVER SEE DEATH?
When we read: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death,” we naturally think God whisked him away bodily to a geographical heaven, and he escaped dying, so must be immortal. But the passage does not mention heaven and does not mention immortality.
Jesus said no one has ascended up into “the Heaven” not even Enoch. Paul said Jesus is the only One to have immortality (I Timothy 6:16 which is an incorruptible, deathless body). So are we going to cling to religious tradition or believe the plain statements of Holy Writ which must he allowed to interpret itself? Let us be honest.
There remains the question, what is the death that Enoch did not see? Before considering this, let us remind ourselves concerning translation by faith. Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was translated.” Where? “Translated into the Kingdom of His (God’s) dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).
Today, like Enoch, if we walk with God. He takes us as He took him. He translates us as he translated Enoch into his spiritual Kingdom. And “he was not, for God took him,” can be said about us also. Where is the old nature, the old man of sin after true conversion? It is “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20), for it is only fit to be put to death and destroyed, being replaced by the new nature. So you see that the old carnal nature “was not, and was not found, because God translated him” (into His kingdom), in other words, Enoch graduated as an overcomer. This can apply to us, too, providing we walk with God as truly devoted disciples walking in the light (I John 1:7), walking in the truth (III John 1:3), walking in love (Ephesians 5:2), walking after His commandments (II John 1:6), thus walking as Jesus walked (I John 2:6).
So the old nature of sin was spiritually put to death in Enoch, and he enjoyed the New Testament experience of eternal life, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and a very close walk with his Saviour.
You will see, no doubt, that we have to discern carefully what sort of death. God is talking about in His text book, for there is a physical death and a spiritual death.
We have already seen that according to I Timothy 6:16, not even Enoch’s physical body has yet been given immortality. If such is the case, why doesn’t the Bible say “and he died” after it records, “ALL his days were 365 years?” Because, praise God, Enoch was a type of the New Testament disciple. According to Jesus, the footstep-follower and true disciple shall never, never die! Read it for yourself in John 8:51-53, 10:28 and 11:26.
If the disciple of Jesus “shall never taste of death,” this has to be understood in a spiritual sense, of course it is not a denial of physical death. There is for the righteous a special blessedness associated with their decease: “Precious in the sight of the Lord [is) the death of His saints” (Psalms 116:15). “Blessed (are) the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
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Just as Jesus’ statement was not a denial of a Christian physically dying when He said: “Whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die” (John 11:26), so the same applies to Enoch; it is not a denial of his physical demise, but a declaration of his advanced state. He walked in the light, the Truth and the Way of God, being spiritually translated into God’s Kingdom.
Reading further into Hebrews chapter two, at verse 13 we see “These all died in faith…” As Enoch is second in this list of ancient worthies, he is therefore included here as one who died in faith. He had no need to “see (spiritual) death” because he had already “passed from death into life” (translation), John 5:24; I John 3:14. His relationship with God was a perfect one as in I John 1:7, walking in the Light and being cleansed from all sin.
THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION
In the light of our study, how is it that Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on this mountain (see Matthew 17:9) Some think their presence was literal, but these
prophets were both dead, and certainly they could not be in glorified immortal bodies yet because of the statement in I Timothy 6:16. Moreover, Jesus actually said it was simply a vision: “Tell the vision to no man …” (Matthew 17:9).
By the agency of films and television, we can see people we have never met, even after they have died we see them in our own homes, alive and moving and talking. Can’t God produce His own superior television? Certainly He can, and produce visions not only of the past, but of the future; for both the past and the future are all in the present for Him! §
Courtesy: Look Up…
