33 Elijah is Taken up to Heaven in a Chariot [2 Kings 2:1–12]
The Bible passage: [2 Kings 2:1–12]
The Story:
The time eventually came for Elijah to leave the earth.
Elijah and Elisha were traveling together.
Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me to Bethel.”
But Elisha replied, “I will not leave you.”
They went together to Bethel.
The prophets at Bethel came to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”
He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; the Lord is sending me to Jericho.”
But Elisha said, “I will not leave you.”
They went together to Jericho.
The prophets at Jericho came to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”
He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan.”
But Elisha replied, “I will not leave you.”
They went on together.
Fifty men came and stood facing them from a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
Elijah took his robe, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
After they had crossed over the Jordan, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.”
Elisha answered, “Please, let me have a double portion of your spirit.”
Elijah replied, “That is a difficult thing that you ask. If you see me when I am taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t.”
As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared suddenly and separated them. Then Elijah was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind.
As Elisha watched, he kept calling out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
Elisha never saw Elijah again. He tore his clothes, which is a sign of grief and mourning.
The Lessons:
- Elijah didn’t die. He was taken straight to heaven. This should give us a confidence that God controls death and that He has a place prepared for our spirit or soul to go where there is life after death. This is a foreshadowing of the ascension of Jesus after His death on the cross and His resurrection. This should also give us a confidence that there is a place for our soul or spirit to go where there is life after death.
- There is another story in the Bible, though I haven’t included it in this book, about a man named Enoch. Like Elijah, Enoch didn't die. [Genesis 5:24] says, “Enoch walked with God, and he was not there, because God took him.” (CSB)
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