Elijah

=== Ascension into the heavens ===
Elijah's name typically occurs in [[Entering heaven alive#Judaism|Jewish lists of those who have entered heaven alive]].

In the [[Gospel of John]], Jesus says: "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [''even''] the Son of man which is in heaven."<ref>{{bibleverse||John|3|13}}</ref> Traditionally Christianity interprets the [[Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament#Son of man|"Son of Man"]] as a title of Jesus, but this has never been an article of faith and there are other interpretations. Further interpreting this quote, some Christians believe that Elijah was not assumed into heaven but simply transferred to another assignment either in heaven<ref name="djytel">{{cite web |last=Coram |first=James |series=biblical studies |title=The Fate of Enoch and Elijah |publisher=Concordant Publishing Concern |url=http://www.concordant.org/expohtml/GeneralExpositions/EnochAndElijah.html |access-date=4 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522142440/http://www.concordant.org/expohtml/GeneralExpositions/EnochAndElijah.html |archive-date=22 May 2013}}</ref> or with [[Jehoram of Judah|King Jehoram of Judah]].<ref name = "djytel"/>

The question of whether Elijah was in heaven or elsewhere on earth depends partly on the view of the letter Jehoram received from Elijah in 2 Chronicles 21:12 after Elijah had ascended. Some have suggested that the letter was written before Elijah ascended, but only delivered later.<ref>Bromiley ''International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: E–J'' p. 55</ref> The rabbinical [[Seder Olam Rabbah|Seder Olam]] explains that the letter was delivered seven years after his ascension.<ref>Aryeh Kaplan ''The handbook of Jewish thought'', Volume 1 1992 p. 116 "This was seven years after Elijah's death; [[Seder Olam Rabbah]] 17.25"</ref> This is also a possible explanation for some variation in manuscripts of [[Josephus]]' ''[[Antiquities of the Jews]]'' when dealing with this issue.<ref>Begg C. ''Josephus' story of the later monarchy: (AJ 9, 1–10, 185)'' Section "Elijah's Letter" p.119</ref> Others have argued that Elijah was only "caught away" such as Philip in Acts 8{{efn|"There is evidence that Elijah was back on earth after he was taken away in the whirlwind: It can be shown that a letter was received by Jehoram, King of Judah, from Elijah, after Elijah was taken to heaven. Either the letter was written before he went to heaven and delivered by a messenger on earth (unlikely), or Elijah was "caught away" as was Philip from the Gaza Road to Azotas, (about 17&nbsp;miles,<ref>{{bibleverse| |Acts|8|39,40}}</ref>) for an unspecified purpose and returned to the earth. Consider the evidence:<br/>1. Elijah had been taken to heaven in a whirlwind.<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Kings|2|11}}</ref><br/>2. Elisha had taken over the duties of Elijah in the reign of Jehoshaphat.<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Kings|3|10,11}}</ref><br/>3. Jehoram received a letter from Elijah, the prophet.<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Chron|21|1,9–12}}</ref> King Jehoram reigned after Jehoshaphat.<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Chron|21|1}})</ref><ref>Ron Abel ''Wrested Scriptures'' {{full citation needed|date=July 2020}}</ref>}} [[John Lightfoot]] reasoned that it must have been a different Elijah.<ref>Barrett Richard A.F. ''A synopsis of criticisms upon those passages'', Volume 3, Part 1, p. 234 1847 "But our Dr. Lightfoot is of opinion, that it is not meant of that Elijah, who was carried up to heaven, but of another of his name, who sent this letter"</ref>