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Did Enoch and Elijah die? – Question from a reader

October 16, 2017 by CJ Counts Leave a Comment

Q) Did Enoch and Elijah die like everybody else?

 

A) This is a good question. In fact these two men are the only two men believed to be raptured to heaven alive with out dieing so far. 

 
In Genesis 5:24 the Bible says Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Many believe this to mean that Enoch was taken to heaven alive. 
 
In 2 Kings chapter 2 we read the story of how Elijah was carried up to heaven in a whirlwind. 
 
As a result of these two stories, many have postulated some inferences. For example, we read about the two witnesses in the book of Revelation who minister in opposition to the anti Christ during the great tribulation (Revelation 11:1-14)
 
These two men are supposed by some to be Enoch and Elijah because the powers demonstrated by these two resemble that of Elijah’s ministry. 
 
Also, Hebrews 9:27 says that it is appointed once for everyone to die. And since these two men are supposed to have not yet died, and the two witnesses die at the end of their ministry, scholars reconcile the matter of their need to die by assuming they may be the two witnesses. 
 
However it is also expected that there will be a rapture of the entire church of those alive on earth when the second coming of Christ happens, so that means an entire generation of believers who will not die, but instead be ushered into heaven without dying like Elijah did. And this can not be reconciled with Hebrews 9:27. So other scholars see the comment in Hebrews 9:27 to be a general statement, and not a literal statement. 
 
Therefor either Hebrews 9:27 is not literal and is general, meaning the two witnesses could be anybody. Or Hebrews 9:27 is literal and we do not understand the theology of the rapture of the church at the second coming. 
 
All I have done in my answer to you today is express what scholars think, and what theologians have determined based on implications. None of these statements are clearly made in scripture except for what I quoted exactly, meaning that nobody really knows for certain. I say this because it is important to note the difference between a sound doctrine, and a theology that may or may not be close to certain. We can be certain of nothing that is inferred from scripture, and can only be certain about the things the scriptures are clear on. But one thing is for sure. If God thought we needed to be clear on these details, He would have made the statements direct to remove any doubt, as He has done with essential doctrines such as how we are saved from sin. 

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