In II Kings, Elijah ascended in a chariot of fire. Where was he going?

Question

If heaven isn't in the sky, why did he ascend in a chariot of fire? Was god giving him a tour of the solar system before heading off into heaven?

Answer 1

I think this may be a figure of speech or possibly a metaphor. Not sure-does any of the text around this statement form any answers or clues?
Should it be read as it is stated literally?

Answer 2

At 2 Kings 2:11, 12 the prophet Elijah is defined as “ascending interior the windstorm to the heavens.” The heavens right here observed are the atmospheric heavens wherein windstorms happen, not the religious heavens of God’s presence. Elijah did not die on the time of such ascension, yet he endured to stay for countless years after his heavenly transportation faraway from his successor Elisha. Nor did Elijah upon loss of life ascend to the religious heavens, considering the fact that Jesus, at the same time as in the international, for sure mentioned that “no guy has ascended into heaven.” (Joh 3:13; At Pentecost, Peter likewise mentioned of David that he “did not ascend to the heavens.” (Ac 2:34) in fact, there isn't something interior the Scriptures to instruct that a heavenly desire grow to be held out to God’s servants purely before the arriving of Christ Jesus. Such desire first looks in Jesus’ expressions to his disciples (Mt 19:21, 23-28; Lu 12:32; Joh 14:2, 3) and grow to be completely comprehended by potential of them purely after Pentecost of 33 C.E.—Ac a million:6-8; 2:a million-4, 29-36; Ro 8:sixteen, 17.

Answer 3

Did Elijah go to heaven?

First of all; we know he didn't go to heaven because the Bible tells us in JOHN 3:13 "NO MAN HATH ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN, BUT HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, EVEN THE SON OF MAN WHICH IS IN HEAVEN."

So to determine where he went to; we have to find out a few things. First we have to know the three heavens from our Bible.

THE THREE HEAVENS

First Heaven = This is also called the firmament or expanse of heaven. It is the heaven where the birds fly and where the clouds give rain. (Gen.1:26; 2:20; 8:2 & 1Kings 18:45)

Second Heaven = This refers to outerspace where the sun, moon and stars can be found. (Gen.22:17 & Exodus 32:13 & Joshua 10:13)

Third Heaven = The Apostle Paul tells us that the heaven of God's abode is the "third heaven." In the Old Testament this is often designated by the phrase "the heaven of heavens." (Joshua 2:11 & Psalms 11:4 & 2Corinthians 12:2 equated with v.4 = paradise)

****Was Elijah taken up by a whirlwind? 2KINGS 2:11. Wind would only lift him up in the atmosphere, or the first heaven. Did his disciples think he had been taken to the heaven of God, or did they want to go look for him thinking he may have been sit down nearby? 2KINGS 2:16. Several years after Elijah's miraculous removal , did he write a letter to King Jehoram of Judah, thus showing he was still living somewhere on earth? 2CHRON.21:1,5,6,12-15. (2KINGS 3:1 Elijah had been taken up by a whirlwind before King Jehoram ascended to the throne in 18th year of King Jehosophat's 25 year reign.)

Answer 4

This is a spiky one, my friend. I've heard some people actually saying he was pulled up by some alien spaceship; imagine! But going back to the words of Jesus on John the Baptist, He clearly made the implication that Elijah has returned, and "they" (the Jews), did not listen to him.
It has been believed since ancient times that this great biblical figure would return in a greater role than the one he played during his Old Testament ministry, and it is largely believed, John the Baptist, was the returning Elijah. Another largely held belief is that Elijah will return at the end of time to battle against the antichrist, who will kill him before this latter is cast in chains in the bottomless pit. Religion, my friend, is the richest source of fiction, as of fact, where everything besides Jesus is concerned.
If we're to believe he was taken for a tour around the solar system, then hard luck for the Americans and Russians; someone did beat them to it!

Answer 5

Elijah did not ascend in a chariot of fire. Here is what it actually says.

9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

The chariot of fire was sent as a distraction, and Elijah actually went to heaven in a whirlwind.

Come on spamandham, how long were you a Christian before you left the church? That's a beginner's mistake.

Answer 6

He was translated to heaven by God without having to die. Enoch is the only other person in the Bible that this happened to. I do not know why God provided him with a chariot of fire, but it wasn't as a touring vehicle.

Answer 7

When one takes a trip from point A to point B, one does not consider the sights in between the two to be a "tour". Regardless, when I get to heaven, I'll ask Elijah.

Answer 8

spamandham,
Hey, what's up?

I think that there are several things that point to a physical heaven. I am not sure about the substance of the claims, but I think that it is the Pleiades.

If God wanted to give him a tour, I'll bet it was fantastic and wonderful.

I would want that tour, wouldn't you?

Answer 9

He did go to heaven. Just like the ascension of Christ...He went up before men into the clouds. Now, whether that is the final location of heaven or not is not known. But, ascension is always looked upon as good, where down, such as 'down to Sheol [grave], the pits of darkness, thrown down into the lake of fire, is always not good.

Answer 10

2 Kings 1
Elijah's ministry resumed in Israel
If God has shewn that He took notice of His servant's fault, and did not pass it lightly over, He did not fail towards him in either tenderness or faithfulness. He acted towards him as towards a beloved and faithful servant, even at the moment in which He made him sensible of his failure in the energy of faith; for He did not make others aware of it, although He has communicated it to us for our instruction.
I said failure in the energy of faith; for, with respect to the mass of the people, Elijah's judgment was just. God reveals His thoughts and His intentions to him, and even points out to him the agents He will employ; and, while definitely replacing the prophet by Elisha, God nevertheless makes him publicly re-enter His service, by commanding him to call Elisha to accompany him in his work. Thus Elijah resumes his ministry in the midst of Israel.

Ahaziah's sin and its reproof in power
Now Ahaziah walked in the way of his father, and openly confessed Baal to be his god by sending to consult Baal-zebub at Ekron. Sent to meet the king's messengers, Elijah pronounces his sentence from the Lord. Incensed at being opposed in his iniquity, Ahaziah sends men of his army to take him.
We find again here the same judicial character in Elijah's miracles which was spoken of before—a character pointed out by Jehovah Himself. He calls down fire from heaven to consume these men. The last of those sent by the king, owning the authority and power of Elijah, has his life spared. Elijah goes down with him to the king, to declare again to him in person Jehovah's judgment which awaited him.