Joshua Bennett
The Bible states that Elijah was a prophet of God in the ninth century B.C. who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire. However, this has led to much debate among Christians and scholars, as Jesus states in the Bible that no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man. This has brought about several questions and theories about whether Elijah went to heaven, and if so, which heaven.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Elijah's journey to heaven | Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire and horses of fire, in a whirlwind |
| Contradiction in the Bible | The Bible mentions that "no one has ascended to heaven" (John 3:13), which contradicts Elijah's journey to heaven |
| Theories | Some believe Elijah went to the first or second heaven, not the third heaven where God resides; others believe he was transported to another location on Earth |
| Elijah's immortality | Some believe Elijah was made immortal, while others believe he died and is awaiting resurrection |
| Elijah's body | If Elijah was glorified and transformed, it contradicts Christ being the first to receive a glorified body |
| Elijah's letter | Elijah wrote a letter to King Jehoram, proving he was still on Earth |
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What You'll Learn
The Bible describes three heavens
The Bible mentions three heavens in its scripture. The first heaven is the atmosphere above us, the sky, or the envelope of air that surrounds our planet. This heaven is mentioned in passages such as Genesis 7:11-12, which describes the great flood of Noah.
The second heaven is the stellar heaven, the sun, moon, and stars, or outer space. This is referenced in passages such as Genesis 1:16, which mentions "the stars of heaven".
The third heaven is where God resides, a spiritual realm above the other two regions, where His throne is located. This heaven is described as an eternal dimension beyond the physical and celestial realms. It is a place of God's presence, glory, and eternal bliss. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul speaks of being caught up to paradise and hearing "inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell".
Some believe that Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire. However, others argue that this contradicts the testimony of Jesus, who stated that "no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man". It is also noted that Elijah wrote a letter to King Jehoram several years after he was taken away, suggesting he was still on Earth. One theory is that Elijah was transported to another unknown geographic location, possibly in or near Israel.
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Elijah's body
The idea that Elijah went to heaven is a topic of debate among Christians. In 2 Kings 2:11, the Bible states that "Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven". However, this seems to contradict Jesus' statement in John 3:13, "no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man".
Some Bible scholars and readers argue that Elijah was indeed taken to heaven in his physical body, as evidenced by the account of his ascension in a chariot of fire witnessed by his successor, Elisha. They believe that Elijah was made immortal during this event and transported to the heaven where God resides.
However, there are several theories that question this interpretation. One theory suggests that Elijah was taken up into the first heaven, which refers to the earth's atmosphere, and then transported to another unknown geographic location, possibly in or near Israel. This interpretation is supported by the fact that Elijah wrote a letter to King Jehoram several years after his ascension, indicating he was still on Earth. Additionally, the Hebrew term for "heaven" in the Bible can simply convey the notion of ascending skyward, rather than specifically reaching the heavenly realm.
Another theory suggests that Elijah did not physically ascend to heaven but rather experienced a spiritual transformation. This interpretation raises questions about the fate of Elijah's physical body. Some believe that his body was never found, and it will remain unseen until the end times when it will be desecrated and mocked in the streets of a city called Sodom. This belief is based on the prophecy of the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11, who are thought to be Enoch and Elijah, the only two men in the world who have not died.
The question of Elijah's body and his ascension to heaven is a complex topic in Christian theology, and various interpretations exist to reconcile the seemingly contradictory biblical passages.
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The Tribulation period
The Tribulation is a period of time described in the Bible that will be marked by great suffering and persecution for believers. Christians disagree over whether the Tribulation will be a relatively short period of great hardship before the end of the world and the Second Coming of Christ (known as "Futurism"), or if it has already occurred, having happened in AD 70 when Roman legions laid siege to Jerusalem and destroyed its temple (known as "Preterism"). Another school of thought, "Historicism", suggests that the Tribulation began in 538 AD when papal Rome came to power, and will intensify shortly before the end of the world.
The Tribulation is thought to refer to the full seven-year period, while the "Great Tribulation" refers to the second half of this time. The Tribulation is believed to begin after the rapture of the church, when Christ will return to gather his followers from the earth, both the living and the dead. The Tribulation will then see the Lord accomplish at least two aspects of His plan: He will complete His discipline of the nation of Israel, and He will judge the unbelieving, godless inhabitants of the earth.
Midtribulationists believe that the rapture will occur halfway through the Tribulation, before the worst part, while Posttribulationists believe that Christians will not be taken up into Heaven for eternity, but will be received or gathered in the air by Christ, to descend together to establish the Kingdom of God on earth at the end of the Tribulation. Pre-tribulationists believe that those who choose to follow God will be raptured before the Tribulation, and thus escape it.
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The Hebrew term for heaven
In Jewish cosmology, "Shamayim" (שמי) is the dwelling place of God and other heavenly beings according to the Hebrew Bible. It is one of three components of biblical cosmology, alongside "Eretz" (Earth), the home of the living, and "Sheol" (the common grave), the realm of the dead. The Hebrew word "שמי" is pluralized from Proto-Semitic "*šamāy-", resulting in a plurale tantum, which can be either singular or plural. Thus, "heaven" and "heavens" are both acceptable translations, depending on the context.
In the Hebrew Bible, "Shamayim" is frequently used in conjunction with the word "ארץ" (erets), meaning "land", to represent the whole of creation and the domain of God. The Hebrew word for heaven is also used in the Bible to refer to the sky or the atmosphere. For example, the Bible describes the great flood of Noah's time as "the windows of heaven being opened" (Genesis 7:11-12).
The Hebrew word "Shamayim" is also found in the New Testament, where it is used as a euphemism for God. For example, the book of Luke uses the phrase "Kingdom of God" while Matthew, written for a Jewish audience, uses "Kingdom of Heaven".
In Jewish tradition, there are multiple heavens, with the number varying between three and seven. The first heaven is the closest to Earth and is governed by Archangel Gabriel. It is considered the abode of Adam and Eve. The second heaven is controlled by Archangel Raphael, with Archangel Zachariel also governing it. The third heaven, Shehaqim, is led by Archangel Hanniel and is considered the home of the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life. The fourth heaven, Maon, is ruled by Archangel Michael and contains the heavenly Jerusalem, the Temple, and the Altar. The fifth heaven, Makon, is administered by Samael or Archangel Hammuel and is where the Ishim and the Song-Uttering Choirs reside. The sixth heaven, Zebul, falls under the jurisdiction of Archangel Zadkiel. The seventh heaven, Araboth, led by Archangel Cassiel, is considered the holiest as it houses the Throne of God and serves as the realm in which God dwells.
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Elijah's letter to Jehoram
- Elijah, a prophet of God, anoints Elisha as his successor (1 Kings 19:16).
- Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving Elisha as the new leader (2 Kings 2).
- Jehoram becomes king of Judah, ruling initially with his father, Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 1:17, 3:11-14).
- Jehoram engages in wicked deeds, including murdering his brothers and leading Judah into rebellion against God's commandments (2 Chronicles 21:4, 11).
- Jehoram receives a letter from Elijah, delivered through Elisha or another prophet, foretelling God's judgment on him and the nation (2 Chronicles 21:12-15).
- The letter from Elijah serves as a prophetic message, condemning Jehoram's actions and predicting his downfall.
There are several interpretations regarding the timing and delivery of Elijah's letter:
- The author of 2 Kings may not have placed the account of Elijah's translation to heaven in strict chronological order. Elijah could have continued serving as a prophet during Jehoram's reign.
- Elijah might have written the letter before his departure to heaven and left it with Elisha or another prophet to deliver at the appropriate time.
- Elijah could have received prophetic insights about Jehoram's future actions and recorded them in a letter before his death.
- The letter may have been started by Elijah and completed by Elisha, who was alive during Jehoram's reign and carried Elijah's spirit (2 Kings 2:15).
- God may have sent Elijah back to earth temporarily to deliver the letter, similar to Elijah's appearance at the Transfiguration of Jesus.
These interpretations offer possible explanations for the apparent discrepancy between Elijah's heavenly ascension and his letter to Jehoram. The specific timing and delivery details of the letter remain open to interpretation within the broader biblical narrative.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bible states that Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire. However, there is debate over whether he went to the third heaven, where God is, or to the first or second heaven. Some also argue that he did not go to heaven at all, as he wrote a letter to King Jehoram years later, suggesting he was still on Earth.
The first heaven is the atmosphere of the Earth, where the clouds are. The second heaven is outer space, where the planets and stars are found. The third heaven is the dwelling place of God, where he sits on his throne.
Enoch is the only other person in the Bible said to have been taken to heaven without dying. Enoch walked faithfully with God and "was not, for God took him".
No, Jesus ascended to heaven by his own power, whereas Elijah was taken up to heaven in God's chariot.
