Why did God take Enoch and Elijah to heaven without them dying?
There is a common quote that says nothing is certain in this world except death and taxes. The Bible even says it is appointed unto each person once to die (Hebrews 9:27). As for Enoch and Elijah from the Old Testament, death never came for these two gentlemen.
Enoch Was No More
It appears that is was Enoch’s great faith that saved him from experiencing death. Genesis describes him as a man who walked faithfully with God, while Hebrews says by faith he was taken from this life. There’s no doubt this faith had much to do with him being also described as one who pleased God.
(Genesis 5:22-24) After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
(Hebrews 11:5) By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Elijah Went To Heaven In A Whirlwind
The Bible doesn’t give us a specific reason for God taking Elijah, but he certainly caused Elijah to make an exit that Elisha would never forget. First a chariot of fire and horses appeared, and then Elijah went up in a whirlwind. Elijah appears again in the New Testament, along with Moses at the transfiguration of Jesus (Mathew 17:1-4).
(2 Kings 2:1) When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. (2 Kings 2:11-12) As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more.
The Two Witnesses
Many people believe Enoch and Elijah to be the two witnesses in (Revelation 11). After the two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days, the Bible says they will be killed by the beast and then resurrected by God after three and a half days. The thinking is that God spared Enoch and Elijah from experiencing death for the purpose of them later being these two witnesses who die.
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