Did Enoch and Elijah Go to Heaven?

This is one of the most provocative questions in the Bible. However, the Bible does not clearly answer this question, so we can only ponder it and reason about its possible answer. 

Starting with what we know: 

The only way to Heaven is to be cleansed of sin by the atoning blood of Jesus. When we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, He forgives our sins, washes us clean (Rev 1:5), and imputes to us His righteousness, thereby making us perfect in the eyes of God (Read about Imputed Righteousness).

Before Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, no one went to Heaven — that is, into the presence of God in the third Heaven ((Read: Where is the Third Heaven?).   Old Testament saints went to a place Jesus called Abraham’s Bosom (Luke 16:23) and paradise (Luke 23:43).  It was a place of rest and comfort, and also where Jesus’ soul went for three days and three nights (Read: Did Jesus Descend into Hell?).

NOW – Regarding Where Elijah and Enoch Went

This is simply reasoning from what the Scriptures tell us.  As already stated, the Bible does not give a definitive answer.  Again, let’s start with what we know:

Enoch:
Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

This tells us that God took Enoch before death.  We can only reason that his soul went to Abraham’s Bosom, as did the bodies of all Old Testament saints (Read: Where did OT Saints go at death? Abraham’s Bosom? Where was that?).  But where did his body go? Did God bury his bones as he did with Moses?  We simply do not know.

Elijah:
2 Ki 2:1 And it came to pass when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Ki 2:11 And 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. 

Understanding where Elijah went is more difficult because it says he was taken up into heaven. Yet, the Bible is clear that the only way to the Father and into the Third Heaven is through Jesus’s atonement. 

Beginning again with what we know:  Elijah’s sins were not fully atoned for. His sins were not washed away by the blood of Jesus because Jesus had not come to earth and lived and died to pay for our sins.  Therefore, Elijah could not have gone to the Third Heaven.

So Why Does It Say Heaven?

Now, this is my reasoning. It could be wrong, but I share it with you for your consideration. 

The Bible says that Satan came before the LORD, who is in the Third Heaven (Job 1:6, 2:1). But it does not say he entered the Third Heaven—simply, he came before God. In Revelation 4:6, we are told the throne sits on a glassy sea and that “sea” would separate the Third Heaven from the Second Heaven, creating a boundary that can only be crossed by those who belong to Jesus.

We know the first heaven is our sky, where birds and airplanes fly, and the second heaven is our universe and the dwelling place of spiritual beings. It seems reasonable that the highest realm of the second heaven would be adjacent to the glassy sea, which is described in Rev 4:6. Since this sea is described as “glass,” it seems reasonable that it is clear and enables one to see through into the Third Heaven and even converse with the One who sits on the throne (as the Book of Job records Satan having done). 

So I consider and think it is possible that Elijah experienced the same. The text of 2 Kings 2 tells that Elijah was taken into heaven. I reason that he was likely taken into the highest realm of the second heaven and brought before the LORD at the glassy sea.  But he did not enter into the Third Heaven. Rather, Elijah was sent to Abraham’s Bosom, a place of comfort and rest. And just like all the Old Testament saints, he waited for God’s fulfillment of sending the Rescuer who was promised in the Garden (Gen 3:15). 

Disclaimer

Again, what I have written is only based on reasoning from Scripture; there is no concrete biblical support for it. I find it reasonable, but I could be wrong. I share my thoughts for your consideration and welcome any insights you might have. Someday, we will enter into God’s presence in the Third Heaven, and we can ask Him.  Or, we can ask Enoch and Elijah!!! 

We do know for certain that today is the day of salvation, and no one will enter Heaven without being forgiven of sins and washed in the atoning blood of Jesus. Tell everyone of His saving grace, for Heaven rejoices when a sinner is saved (Luke 15:7).

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