The Ascensions of Enoch, Elijah, and Yeshua

In the Gospel of John, when Yeshua speaks to Nicodemus in chapter 3, He makes a significant statement: “No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man” (John 3:13). At first glance, this statement seems to contradict the accounts of both Enoch and Elijah, who are said to have been taken up to heaven in dramatic ways. So, how do we understand this in light of the Old Testament stories of Enoch and Elijah and the context of the New Testament?

Yeshua's words are part of a deeper conversation about His divine mission and the necessity of spiritual rebirth. Yeshua is emphasizing that He is uniquely qualified to speak about matters of heaven and salvation because He is the Son of God. His point is that only He, the one who has descended from heaven, has the authority to ascend to heaven. This statement underscores His unique relationship with God the Father and His role in bringing humanity back into a right relationship with God. The focus is on Yeshua’s role in salvation and the opening of heaven to all believers, which He accomplishes through His death and resurrection.

When we look at the Old Testament stories, the cases of Enoch and Elijah stand out as exceptions to the usual pattern of death. These two figures, while they didn’t experience death in the traditional sense, are not seen in the Bible as opening heaven’s gates to others. They were taken by God for reasons unique to them. In the case of Enoch, Genesis 5:24 tells us, “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” The text doesn’t provide further details about where Enoch went, but it clearly states that God took him away. The phrase “walking with God” implies a deep relationship with God, marked by righteousness and devotion. Enoch’s life was pleasing to God, and as a result, God took him from this world. Hebrews 11:5 also affirms that Enoch “was taken up so that he should not see death,” indicating that Enoch’s experience was special, and he was spared the physical experience of death.

The lack of more detailed information regarding where Enoch went has led to different interpretations, but it’s most commonly believed that Enoch was taken into God’s presence, though not in the same sense as Yeshua. This is where John 3:13 can help us. Yeshua’s declaration that no one has ascended into heaven except the Son of Man suggests that Yeshua’s ascension is unique in its significance. Enoch being “taken” doesn’t offer a direct means for others to follow into heaven as Yeshua’s ascension will later make possible. This is an essential distinction—while God took Enoch, it wasn’t part of the process that would later allow all believers to enter heaven, which only Yeshua could bring about.

As for Elijah, his story is told in 2 Kings 2:11, where he is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, accompanied by a chariot and horses of fire. Elijah’s departure is even more dramatic than Enoch’s, and it emphasizes the prophetic and miraculous nature of his life. Elijah’s story is significant because it portrays God’s direct action in removing a faithful servant from the earth, but it also does not suggest that Elijah’s departure made heaven accessible to others. Elijah, too, is not the one who opened the gates of heaven for humanity. His being taken into heaven was a miraculous event, demonstrating the power of God, but like Enoch, it did not establish the means by which all people could reach heaven. Some folks believe that God simply took them to another part of the world, and that all humans eventually die, but this theory does not explain the extraordinary nature of their departures.

In the New Testament, particularly in Hebrews 11:5, we see Enoch mentioned as an example of faith. It is written, "By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him." This passage emphasizes the importance of faith in Enoch’s life and how God’s actions toward him were a result of that faith. However, it also speaks to the larger context of God’s power and sovereignty in choosing whom He will take into His presence. It demonstrates that God alone has the power to decide who can be taken into heaven, a power that is not available to any human being unless God Himself grants it.

The significance of Yeshua’s ascension becomes clearer when compared to these Old Testament examples. Yeshua is the firstfruits of the resurrection, and His ascension into heaven marks the beginning of a new era. In Acts 1:9-11, when Yeshua ascends into heaven before His disciples, this event is presented as the climax of His earthly ministry and the beginning of the new way for humanity to enter heaven. Unlike Enoch and Elijah, who were taken into heaven without the death and resurrection that Yeshua would later undergo, Yeshua’s ascension makes the way to eternal life possible for all believers.

While Enoch and Elijah were taken by God in miraculous ways, their ascensions were not the means by which heaven was opened to humanity. Yeshua's death and resurrection are the foundational acts that allow heaven to be accessible to all who believe in Him. The New Testament consistently teaches that only through Yeshua can anyone enter heaven, as He is the one who bridges the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity.

The New Testament also speaks of the rapture, a future event where believers will be taken up to meet the Lord in the air. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul writes, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” This event has some parallels to the ascensions of Enoch and Elijah, but it is made possible by Yeshua’s death and resurrection and is distinct from the unique acts that occurred with Enoch and Elijah.

Yeshua, through His ascension, is the only one who can open the door to heaven for all believers. His statement in John 3:13 is meant to emphasize His role as the one who has the authority to bring humanity into the presence of God. While others may have been taken up by God in extraordinary ways, Yeshua’s ascension is different in that it is the means of salvation for all people. It is through Yeshua’s sacrifice, His victory over death, and His ascension that all believers can have the hope of entering heaven.

The ascension of Yeshua is what sets Him apart as the only one who can truly say He has opened the way to heaven. As He says in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The stories of Enoch and Elijah show God’s miraculous power, but they are not the foundation for salvation. It is through Yeshua alone that the way to heaven is made possible for all who believe. The taking of Enoch and Elijah points to God’s power and His ability to act beyond the ordinary, but Yeshua is the one who opens the way for us to follow Him into heaven.

So, while it might seem at first that John 3:13 contradicts the stories of Enoch and Elijah, it actually underscores the unique and essential role of Yeshua. His ascension is the key event that opens the door to eternal life, whereas the stories of Enoch and Elijah highlight God’s power and sovereignty but do not provide a path for others to follow into heaven.

Yet, despite these powerful and miraculous events, there is the prophetic connection that both Enoch and Elijah could return in the future, as is suggested in the Book of Revelation. In Revelation 11, we read about two witnesses who prophesy during a time of great tribulation, performing signs, calling down plagues, and bringing judgment. After being killed, they lie dead for three days and are then resurrected and taken up to heaven. Many believe that these two witnesses could very well be Enoch and Elijah, given their unique experiences of being taken up without dying in the past and their strong prophetic roles in Scripture. Enoch, with his faith and his life of righteousness, and Elijah, with his powerful signs and miracles, both fit the description of the two witnesses who will announce God’s judgment before the end of the age.

Elijah, known for calling down fire from heaven and bringing drought upon the earth (1 Kings 17:1), mirrors the powers of the two witnesses described in Revelation. His return would fulfill the prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6, which predicts his return before the "great and dreadful day of the Lord." Enoch, likewise, with his prophetic warnings of judgment and his unique departure from this earth, could serve as one of the two witnesses, reinforcing the idea of God’s judgment and His power to take righteous individuals into His presence.

While some interpret these witnesses as symbolic of broader spiritual truths or represent the law and the prophets, the literal return of Enoch and Elijah offers a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to work beyond human understanding. The concept of these two figures returning in the last days to prepare the way for the Messiah further emphasizes their significant roles in God's unfolding plan of redemption and judgment.

I hope you have been blessed with this message. If so, Please leave a comment! I would love to hear from you.

Anna M. C. Hazen 2025