At a church prayer group I was at the other night a Deacon who was there said that Elijah is not dead. He lives in an earthly Paradise, which is were the Garden of Eden was. It is gaurded by an Angel. Enoch lives there with him, they can see God there but they are not dead. They will appear at the end of the world that is when they will be killed and will then enter Heaven. He said this was part of God’s mystery that is difficult for us humans to understand, Is he right?
***Hi, Nordar!
Not according to Scriptures…
The problem lies in our human intellect… since Jesus speaks of the resurrection as something in the future and since most of what is written speaks of a mass resurrection at the end of times… some, sometimes well intended, people believe that they must place Enoch and Elijah in some limbo state.
This is what Scriptures tell us:
23 And all the days of Henoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And he walked with God, and was seen no more: because God took him.*** (Genesis 5:23-24)
While this particular passage does not tell us that Yahweh God took Enoch (Henoch) into Heaven… why would you suppose that Yahweh would take this man, who is His faithful servant, away from all of his family and friends just to place him in the middle of Paradise with none as his companion for hundreds and hundreds of years? What God of Love would condemn a loyal servant to such a massive solitude?
By faith Henoch was translated that he should not see death: and he was not found because God had translated him. For before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5–compare with 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54)
Hebrews tells us that Enoch was taken alive by God so there is no way that anyone can read some sort of sleep-state or some dreamscape: Enoch was completely sentient when Yahweh God took him! But as 1Thes and 1Cor, above, tell us, there will be a change as we come into God’s presence–that is what happened to Enoch and Elijah.
9 And when they were gone over, Elias said to Eliseus: Ask what thou wilt have me to do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Eliseus said: I beseech thee, that in me may be thy double spirit. 10 And he answered: Thou hast asked a hard thing; nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt have what thou hast asked: but if thou see me not, thou shalt not have it. 11 And as they went on, walking and talking together, behold, a fiery chariot and fiery horses parted them both asunder: and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:9-11)
Some attempt to imply that Elijah (Elias) is not really in Heaven because of the text preceding this passage; yet, they fail to see the finality of this particular time when Elijah will be taken into Heaven, never to return. There is a final closure and Elijah wishes to impart some of his abilities to his disciple, Elisas (Eliseus).
…and those two witnessess… when did Enoch witness Christ? Could they not be jumping into conclusion? Would it not be more probable that the witnesses be John the Baptist and Stephen?
…or Moses and Elijah (Transfiguration)?
Now, if they are in Paradise, here’s what Scriptures say:
He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of my God. (Apocalypse 2:7)
This passage tells us that the tree of life is in Paradise and that Paradise belongs to God.
1 And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street thereof, and on both sides of the river, was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruits every month: the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations. (Apocalypse 22:1-2)
This passage gives us the location of Paradise: the tree of life is located smack in the middle where the river of water of life flows, which procedes from the Throne of God, Yahweh, and the Lamb.
…so even if Enoch and Elijah were in Paradise, Scriptures tell us that they are in Heaven since Paradise is found in the Presence of God’s Throne!
Maran atha!
Angel
