Probably a decade or so passed between when Elijah first pleaded with the Lord to take his life, a prayer offered while on the run from a death-threat by Queen Jezebel, to the day when God finally answered his prayer. As Elijah walked with and instructed his divinely appointed mentee and replacement, the prophet Elisha, God answered Elijah in a mighty and unique way.
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.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 2 Kings 2:11-13 (NKJV)
Elijah’s prayer was answered in a way that nobody could have possibly imagined – a chariot of fire came down to earth to lift him up to heaven in a whirlwind, without his death being required first.
This was a most unusual occurrence in another way. Besides being the first appearance of the “Chariot of Israel”, the only other person in the Bible who apparently went to be with the Lord in heaven without first experiencing death, was Enoch, back in the book of Genesis.
24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:24 (NKJV)
Even the great prophet and leader of Israel, Moses, experienced death in Moab before entering the Promised Land of Israel. Faithful King David, despite God’s promise of having an eternal throne, also died before entering heaven.
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven after first being resurrected from His own death, a crucifixion He suffered voluntarily in our place, for our eternal redemption. Jesus was the first, and thus far, is the only one to enter heaven with a new and glorified, eternal body rather than His former and badly disfigured human one. According to the apostle Paul, the spirits of the rest of Christ’s believers will one day inherit a renewed and rejuvenated eternal body, upon Christ’s return.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NKJV)
It seems that all of the prophets surrounding Elijah, including Elisha, knew that this would be Elijah’s last day on earth. God made sure that those who followed him knew about it in advance. They may have known that this was the day, but no one could have foreseen the method.
Before he went up to heaven, Elijah asked his mentee, Elisha, what he could pass along to him before he left. Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Though it was not actually in Elijah’s power to give, he told Elisha that if the Lord permitted him to see Elijah’s exit, that meant his request had been granted by God.
In the final book of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi writes that Elijah will come again to prepare God’s people for the coming of the Lord’s kingdom on earth (Malachi 4). The future restoration of God’s kingdom is, to this day, celebrated in the Jewish Passover seder, with an extra glass of wine being set at an empty place at the table, in hope for and expectation of the prophet’s arrival.
Later, Jesus told his disciples that John the Baptist, who had been killed by King Herod, had come in the spirit of Elijah. Jesus also implied that Elijah will come once again in the future. He said this after being transfigured in glory on a mountain before them, where they witnessed Jesus speaking with both Elijah and Moses. These two prophets were likely speaking encouraging words to Jesus about His approaching hour of suffering, crucifixion and death.
As Jesus’ answered his disciples’ question afterwards:
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist. Matthew 17:11-13 (NKJV)
Many believe that Elijah will also be one of the two end-times witnesses prophesied about in Revelation 11. These two faithful prophets will come to prepare for the imminent return of Jesus Christ, to establish His global kingdom on earth. Their divine powers will include sending down fire and drying up the earth with a drought, two miracles that Elijah had already performed in King Ahab’s time. The spirit of Elijah was also with John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Christ’s first coming.
There is much speculation as to the identity of the other end-times witness. Many believe that he will be Enoch, as Enoch was the only other person recorded in the Bible to faithfully walk with God and apparently not yet experience death. The Bible tells us that, for the rest of us, death is an appointment that comes once to each person, followed by our judgment. (Hebrews 9:27). Scripture tells us that both end times witnesses will, at that time, experience death.
Others believe that the second witness will be Moses, as he has already come back once with Elijah to encourage Jesus at the Transfiguration. One day, all these details will be revealed to us. But in the meantime, God wants us to grow through His word, prayer, and fellowship, joyfully knowing and encouraging others that, one day, Christ will return for all believers. Let us all be there, together with faith, as demonstrated by the spirit of Elijah.
Reflection
The prophet Elisha grieved when his mentor, Elijah, was taken up to heaven. He had followed very close to his teacher for years, soaking up all that he could about God’s ways and teachings, and had become extremely attached to Elijah in the process. He also wondered if the close relationship he had with God would continue after his mentor and rabbi was gone. In fact, it did, and their relationship grew closer than ever. The double portion of Elijah’s spirit was manifested though his performance of many miracles – the Bible records that Elisha performed twice as many miracles than his teacher, Elijah, performed.
Who is a spiritual teacher or mentor in your life? May the Lord provide us all with at least one.
Father God, I ask that You place holy people in my life for me to follow, to better learn Your ways, and to accurately instruct me in Your word. Help me to make it a priority to listen, learn, and to pray as we all earnestly seek to walk closer with You. Make me a fruitful mentor, as well, for those you might choose to have me serve. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 