Answer: We have positive proof that Elijah did not ascend into heaven because several hundred years later our Lord stated, “No man hath ascended up to heaven” (John 3: 13). Although the word heaven often means the place of God’s abode, it can also mean “the air.” The Lord evidently transported Elijah to another place by means of the whirlwind, for several years later Elijah wrote a letter to Jehoram, king of Judah (2 Chronicles 21: 12-15). The Scriptures give no record of Elijah’s death, but perhaps the Lord buried him somewhere secretly, as He did with Moses (Deuteronomy 34: 5, 6).

But this verse also has a deeper significance, for Elijah is typical of the Christ class (Jesus the Head, and the Church, His body) while in the flesh. A “whirlwind” is uniformly used in the Scriptures to represent great confusion, strife, trouble, fiery trials, severe persecutions, ecclesiastical commotions and anarchy. This would indicate that the last members of the Church in the flesh would be taken from the present life in the midst of severe trouble.  

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