Elijah wasn’t subjected to mortal demise. In an astounding act, God swept him off to heaven in a swirling whirlwind.
There are many accounts from the Bible that are difficult to imagine. Elijah’s escape from physical death is one of them. Can you imagine being carried up to Heaven in a whirlwind? That was just one of the miracles that occurred during Elijah’s life.
Let’s take a closer look at this man of faith, His extraordinary God, and what his unique “death” means for us.
Who Was Elijah?
Elijah was a faithful prophet of God. He served God at a time when Israel had turned away from faithfully worshiping the LORD and were worshiping idols instead. Through Elijah, God revealed His Word (they didn’t have the complete Bible like today) and proclaimed judgment on His people.
Through the grace and power of God, Elijah accomplished incredible miracles in his life.
- Elijah predicted a drought and was fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:1-6)
- The miracle of the widow’s never-empty flour pot or jug of oil (1 Kings 17:14-15)
- Raising the widow’s dead son to life (1 Kings 17:22)
- Winning against the false prophets of Baal with fire from Heaven (1 Kings 18:38-39)
- Elijah predicted rain (1 Kings 18:41)
- Elijah ran faster than a chariot (1 Kings 18:46)
- Elijah was cared for by an angel (1 Kings 19:5)
- Elijah experienced the physical presence of God (1 Kings 19:13)
- Elijah predicted the wicked king Ahaziah’s death (2 Kings 1:4)
- Fire from Heaven consumed the evil King Ahaziah’s military men twice! (2 Kings 1:10-12)
- Elijah parted the waters (2 Kings 2:8)
Elijah wasn’t perfect. Once, fear overwhelmed Him and he longed for death (1 Kings 19:4). But God is faithful and completed the good work He started in Elijah.
Did Elijah Die?
Elijah and Enoch were the two men God spared from physical death in the Bible. The Lord took them straight into Heaven—they simply ceased to exist on Earth. The Bible doesn’t explain why this special departure took place for these two men—it’s a mystery.
Genesis 5:25 (ESV) Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
On Elijah’s last day on Earth, he was walking with Elisha, the man who had been learning from him and would go on to serve the Lord as Elijah had.
2 Kings 2:11-12 (ESV) And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.
It’s fitting that Elijah’s ministry on Earth should end with a display of God’s mighty power. Chariots and horses were a symbol of the power and strength of the nation. This Heavenly military display would remind the nation of Israel of God’s power; the same power that He had displayed through the life, miracles, and service of Elijah. It would also remind the nation of God’s faithful protection over His people.
Through this miracle, we remember that God is omnipotent (all-powerful). He is not limited by the laws of nature, the physical bounds of this Earth—or even life and death! The Creator God works in mysterious ways (Is 55:8)!
What Does Elijah’s Life and “Death” Mean for Us?
Elijah was a man of faith who served an extraordinary God! While we may never part the waters or raise the dead, Elijah’s faith in God’s Word should encourage and inspire us to keep walking closely to God.
- Elijah exhibited an uncompromising faith in God, even when things weren’t going his way.
- Elijah never stopped serving God, despite the nation around him being distracted by false teachers.
- He never took credit for the miracles that took place. He understood that it was all of God, and that he was just an instrument in God’s plan.
- Elijah lived out his faith in whatever circumstance he found himself—from a widow’s home to a cave all alone.
It was Elijah’s faith in God that allowed him to enter Heaven. The miracle of how he got there fades in comparison to the glory and splendor of entering into the presence of The King of Kings forever and hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matt 25:23)
You too can know the joy of forever with The King! If you believe that Jesus’ death on the cross is sufficient to pay for your sins and you’re trusting in Him alone for eternal life, death loses its sting (Rom 10:9). In fact, death is the start of a pretty amazing adventure—with or without the chariots of fire!
