Where did Elijah go?

[robycop3]

2 Kings 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Now, did 'heaven' here mean the sky?
John 3:13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
Acts 2:34“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,
So, was Elijah excepted from "no one"?

Or, was Elijah transported somewhere else on earth?

2 Chron. 21:
2 And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,
Thus says the Lord God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father’s household, who were better than yourself, 14 behold, the Lord will strike your people with a serious affliction—your children, your wives, and all your possessions; 15 and you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day.

So, where did Elijah go? If he'd been taken to heaven, how could he have sent a letter to Jehoram some 10 years later?

 

[JonC]

There are a few possibilities.

First (and I believe foremost) is that the Bible was not written as we would record history today. They were less concerned with chronological order than they were with events themselves.

Another is that Elijah could have been relocated, but then there is the issue of "heaven".

Elijah could have prophesized before he departed.

 

[AustinC]

Everyone knows that Elijah went to the North Pole, retrofitted his chariot into a sleigh, and is now calling himself Santa Claus.

 

[robycop3]

There are a few possibilities.

First (and I believe foremost) is that the Bible was not written as we would record history today. They were less concerned with chronological order than they were with events themselves.

Another is that Elijah could have been relocated, but then there is the issue of "heaven".

Elijah could have prophesized before he departed.

Some confusion is caused by kings of both Israel & Judah being named Jehoram. But we see that the one who received Elijah's letter was the king of Judah, & it was some time after the chariot took Elijah away. Elisha, who succeeded him, died while Joash was king of Judah. Jehoram of Judah didn't become king til years after Elijah had been taken away. Do you really think Elijah wrote to Jehoram while he was still a lad?

As for 'heaven', the sky was called heaven by the Israelis, as well as God's home was.

 

[robycop3]

Everyone knows that Elijah went to the North Pole, retrofitted his chariot into a sleigh, and is now calling himself Santa Claus.

Apparently he got his mantle back from Elisha.

 

[canadyjd]

Some confusion is caused by kings of both Israel & Judah being named Jehoram. But we see that the one who received Elijah's letter was the king of Judah, & it was some time after the chariot took Elijah away. Elisha, who succeeded him, died while Joash was king of Judah. Jehoram of Judah didn't become king til years after Elijah had been taken away. Do you really think Elijah wrote to Jehoram while he was still a lad?

As for 'heaven', the sky was called heaven by the Israelis, as well as God's home was.

Sometimes kings “co-ruled” with their sons for many years before they died. Sort of “on the job training”. Perhaps something like that can explain it.

Elijah went to heaven with God.

peace to you

 

[Darrell C]

2 Kings 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Now, did 'heaven' here mean the sky?
John 3:13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
Acts 2:34“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,
So, was Elijah excepted from "no one"?

Or, was Elijah transported somewhere else on earth?

2 Chron. 21:
2 And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,
Thus says the Lord God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father’s household, who were better than yourself, 14 behold, the Lord will strike your people with a serious affliction—your children, your wives, and all your possessions; 15 and you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day.

So, where did Elijah go? If he'd been taken to heaven, how could he have sent a letter to Jehoram some 10 years later?

I think we can trust Scripture and take it as it is given to us: Elijah was translated, rather than caught up. Relocated, rather than being taken into Heaven alive. How one might conclude on this matter will be determined largely by whether they believe men were going into Heaven at that time. I don't take that position, but view men as going into Hades until their Eternal Redemption was secured by the Cross of Christ.

We see another instance of someone being translated that didn't involve death:

Acts 8:35-40

King James Version

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.


It is interesting to note that there is a chariot in this passage, too.

God bless

 

[37818]

Elijah was take up by a whirlwind. So he did not merely ascend. 2 Kings 2:1, 2 Kings 2:11.