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Did the prophet Elijah go to Heaven? If he did, did he remain there?

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Yes, until he appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration that is.

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So where was his next stop?

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Can anyone explain why Elijah was still prophesying doom on Earth YEARS after he was carried away to Heaven?

10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
12 And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver th
14 And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
2 Kings 3:1-15

Here we begin an important timeline. While Jehoshaphat was king of Judah Elisha was the recognized Prophet in Israel.

1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.
2 Chron. 21:1-6
Now we see that Jehoshaphat dies. His son Jehoram follows him as king and reigns for 8 years. Now keep in mind that ELISHA was Prophet before Jehoram even began to reign.

6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.
7 Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.
9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.
10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers.
11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
12 And there came a writing to him from ELIJAH the prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
13 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself:
14 Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
15 And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day. 2 Chron. 21:6-15

According to verse 12 who sent this word of judgment to Jehoram? ELIJAH! Now ELISHA became the main Prophet of Israel while Jehoshaphat was alive. Then Jehoram reigns 8 years. So it has been AT LEAST 8 YEARS since ELIJAH went to heaven! But now we see he is still ministering and prophesying doom! How can this be?

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no he didn't go to heaven.

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I think I saw him at a bus station in San Francisco once, about 30 years ago.

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We have several in Brazil...

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Where'd he go?

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:) turn over the other placard.


Actually, I think some would say souls enter a period of "sleep" awaiting the ressurection/judgement.

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So why was he caught away? Why didn't he just fall over dead? ;)

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Clouds hide a lot of things. Sun, moon, stars, are hid on a cloudy day. Maybe that's
God's way of saying, "It's none of your business what I am doing behind these
clouds. He might be changing "clothes".

When Jesus was finished teaching his disciples for many days after his resurrection,
he gave instuctions telling them what to do next. "Now prepare yourselves and get
on down to Jerusalem", "Wait in that upper room, you know which one", and WAIT!
You will grieve but the world will rejoice. I've walked WITH you but I am going to
walk IN you." "I AM not going to leave you orphans, no way! I WILL come to you".
Then you will rejoice". You shall receive POWER AFTER I AM in you! Brethren,
just take my name with you!


Take the Name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe,
It will joy and comfort give you;
Take it then, wherever you go

Refrain
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heaven.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of heaven.

2
Take the Name of Jesus ever,
As a shield from every snare;
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy Name in prayer.

3
O the precious Name of Jesus!
How it thrills our souls with joy,
When His loving arms receive us,
And His songs our tongues employ!

4
At the Name of Jesus bowing,
Falling prostrate at His feet,
King of kings in heaven we'll crown Him,
When our journey is complete.

Just some thoughts! Don't know if it will satisfy those wanting a hot topic or not!!

Falla39

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:thumbsup

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Elijahs?... in Brazil?

Well, "Jesus Christ" :rolleyes: lives in Houston, TX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-SC_...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_dUj...eature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%...C3%BAs_Miranda

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Where did all OT saints go? Thr grave

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"The grave" in the clouds for Elijah? And Moses did die and had a grave of some sort in that "God buried him..." But Moses and Elijah were seen together on the Mount with Jesus.

The passage that Mike the Diak brought up from 2 Chronicles 21:15, is one of those apparent "contradictions" that critics of the Bible like to throw around. If Elijah had left these earthly environs earlier in the story, how could he have sent "a writing" to Jehoram and Athaliah? There are many ways that this has been attempted to be worked out.

Some say that the writing was from Elisha in the name of Elijah. Since Elisha had a double portion and the the inheritance of Elijah he could speak in the name of Elijah. And since Jehoram's wife, Athaliah, was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah's old nemeses the letter would have had more of an impact in and showed that the power of Elijah and Elijah's God was still at work.

The notes in the Geneva Bible carry this explanation. Others, like Wesley attempt to play with the chronology a bit. Some say that this writing was prepared by Elijah before he ascended.

Some question after a transcription error, that a scribe mistakenly wrote "Elijah" when he had intended "Elisha." So many preachers make the same mistake that you could almost see the validity of this one, but it lacks any support from the manuscripts.

Since most people take the account from 1 Kings 2 as being literal they don't have Elijah walking around on earth and writing letters after those events. Malachi 4:4-6 tells us that Elijah would be sent by God before that great and dreadful day. For that reason no one in Rabbinic Judaism took 1 Kings 2 in any way other than literal and offered different explanations for the letter discussed in 2 Chronicles 21:12.

It is a common and almost universal practice among Jews to set aside an "Elijah cup" on the Seder table at Passover to symbolize their faith in his return.

Many thought John the Baptist was Elijah who had returned though John himself denied it (John 1:21). Jesus told His disciples that, "And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come..." (Matthew 11:14)apparently contradicting John's own testimony of himself.

This is why I tend to lean toward the "Elisha wrote the letter in the name of Elijah" explanation, though I am not certain. The spirit of a prophet like Elijah can be had by another - like Elisha and John the Baptist. In fact, this phenomena was believed to exist with such certainty that Elisha sought it out carefully.

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John the Baptist wasn't Elijah but he came in the spirit and power of Elijah or what we might call ...the same type of ministry as Elijah. A ministry to call people to repentance, to turn to God. Luke 1:17

Do we agree? :bliss

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Yes, but I have to admit that I'm not certain about my position on this one. It's just one of the many thing where I accept a bit of uncertainty as being part of life.

For example, I doubted Mizzie would ever agree with me on anything - I just learned to live with that uncertainty. http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...cons/icon7.gif

I guess the point of the thread though... do we accept the explanation that Elisha wrote the letter to Jehoram in the name of Elijah based upon such scant evidence as the "spirit of Elijah" working in another prophet like John?

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I would agree with many that you are one of the most intelligent, gifted writers on this site. :thumbsup

I looked up commentary on that verse about the "writing of Elijah" in 2 Chron 21:12 last night. It's up in the air for me but I think I will be able to sleep tonight with the uncertainty. :)

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To the grave, until Jesus paid the price of sin and death. After which they are where Jesus' resurrected and physical body is, Jesus had a physical body after his death, and so shall all that die for that time forward.

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What about Elijah's journey? And possibly Moses' as well? Certainly Enoch. They appear to have taken a different route to that Promised Land than most folks would have gone.

And - for the sake of Timmy's questions - can you really get there by traveling upward through earth's atmosphere?

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Yes, scripture certainly seems to tell us that some skipped the grave and went directly to be with the Lord.

No, I don't think you can get there in a spaceship, more like a different dimension.

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My opinion is the Spirit of YHWH took Elijah somewhere through the sky (Heaven) to another place on Earth probably to escape capture or death.

Years later he returned him to the area and he sent the letter of doom. Afterwards no doubt he died.

How do I know?

14: That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16: Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1 Tim. 6:14-16

Notice that verse 16 proclaims that ONLY JESUS HAS IMMORTALITY.

If Elijah did not die he also would be immortal. Paul knew the story of Elijah and STILL WROTE that ONLY JESUS HAS IMMORTALITY

Understanding that this is true answers many questions about the afterlife and resurrection.

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I think he went to Disney World next


:ursofunny

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But Jesus did die, and yet He is "immortal." I think the "immortality" has a different application than "never died as a human being."

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What it seems to mean is that he is the only human being with immortality.

16: Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1 Tim. 6:14-16

If he is the ONLY one then Elijah must be dead.

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Okay, I think I see what you're saying. Thanks.

You take 1 Timothy 6:14-16, to indicate that Enoch and Elijah (and everybody else) is currently dead; i.e. without consciousness? I think I remember you indicating something about the so-called "soul sleep" teaching on another thread.

How about the phrase above that I have bolded? Whoever it is that has this "immortality" is also said to have never been seen and indeed can never be seen by man. Yet Jesus Christ was seen by many men (1 John 1:1), for example.