...from filthy rags to righteous fruit


Elijah Did Not Ascend to Shamayim Elijah Chariot

Who is Elijah And Is He in Heaven?

This article first published 01/01/20

[pw = pagan word]

Rumour Has It

Rumour has it that Elijah ascended to shamayim (pw heaven) and thus was immortal. Some claim that he was an angel even and will return. These assumptions have huge doctrinal implications and even contradict what Yahushua ( pw Jesus) himself said.

No Man Has Ascended To Shamayim (pw heaven) Except...

Joh 3:13  And no man hath ascended up to shamyim (pw heaven), but he that came down from shamyim (pw heaven), even the Son of man which is in shamayim (pw heaven).

These are the words of Yahushua himself. He is the only man that has ascended up to shamayim. When we use this clear proof that Elijah did not ascend to shamayim some will try to argue and say but Elijah was an "angel". This makes their doctrine even more scary and contradictory.

Elijah Not A Malak (pw Angel)

IF Elijah were a Malak (pw Angel)

1) Why did he run in fear from Jezebel in 1 King 19? Malakim (pw angels) spirit beings of Yahuah are not afraid of mortal man in the flesh.

2) Why, when he had run away, did he ask to die? Malakim don't die and the whole argument by these people is that Elijah did not die because he was an "angel". 

1Ki 19:4 (a) But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die...

    Yahuah's (pw God's) malakim (pw angels) don't die.

3) Why did he admit that he was a man, and felt to be no better than his fathers?

1Ki 19:4 (b)  ...saying, “It is enough; now, O Yahuah, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.

    Malakim (pw angels ) don't have fathers.

The Spirit of Elijah And John The Baptist

Erroneous teaching with reference to Elijah can even go as far as claiming that the scripture says the spirit of Elijah also lived in John the Baptist and that the spirit of Elijah would return to human form again at the end. Where do they get these ideas from.

As we have already proved Elijah was not a malak (pw angel). So, let's address the next question first.

What is the Spirit of Yahuah?

Isa 11:1  There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
Isa 11:2  And the Spirit of YAHUAH shall rest upon him (Yahushua), the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of YAHUAH.

The above verse refers to Yahushua and the details of the spirit of Yahuah upon Yahushua. The spirit upon him is nothing less than the Spirit of Yahuah himself.

What is the Spirit of Elijah?

Elijah miraclesWhile most of us accept Elijah as a great prophet the reason for this greatness is usually attributed to the spirit that he had, his prophetic ministry as well as other miraculous things that happened in his life.

Q1 -  Now where did this Spirit come from?

Answer:  Well, it can only be either from Satan or Yahuah and we know Elijah received it from Yahuah of course.

Q2 - So is this the "Spirit of Elijah" or the spirit of Yahuah in or upon Elijah?

Answer: Well, yes the spirit of Yahuah in or upon Elijah. Even Saul had the Spirit of Yahuah come upon him so that he prophesied yet he was not considered a prophet.

1Sa 10:10  And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of Elohim came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

Q3 - Did Elijah have a full portion of the Spirit of Yahuah?

Answer: No, because Elisha asked for a double portion of the Spirit (of Yahuah) resting upon Elijah and he received it so it could not be the full Spirit of Yahuah as then Elisha would have had twice as much power as Yahuah himself. Although it was a big request it was granted to Elisha and he became Elijah's successor.

2Ki 2:9  And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

This was nothing unique really. Micah another prophet declared:

Mic 3:8  But truly I am full of power by the spirit of YAHUAH, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his Torah transgression.

Elijah And Rabbinic Judaism

So Elijah has gained more attention through rabbinic tradition as if he were still alive and immortal as described here by this yearly rabbinic practice (square brackets mine)

Elijah ghost"After the conclusion of the Seder’s Grace After Meals, there is a universally accepted custom to pour a cup of wine (the “Cup of Elijah”), open the front door of the home, and recite several verses (mostly from Psalms) wherein we beseech G‑d to pour His wrath upon our persecutors and oppressors.

According to tradition, at this moment our homes are graced by the presence of Elijah the prophet.

Opening the Door for Elijah
1) The Torah describes the night of Passover ... G‑d protected the Jews from the plague... Opening the door expresses our trust in G‑d’s protection.

2) When opening the door, we take the opportunity to invite in the prophet Elijah. Elijah is the one who visits the circumcision ceremony of every Jewish child, and testifies that the Jewish people are scrupulous regarding the mitzvah of circumcision... Elijah comes to the Seder to “testify” that all present are indeed circumcised.

Cup of Elijah


The four cups [drunk at Seder] correspond to the four “expressions of redemption” promised by G‑d: ...The fifth cup corresponds to the... future messianic redemption, which will be announced by Elijah...After heralding the coming of the Messiah, one of Elijah’s tasks will be to resolve all hitherto unanswered halachic questions. Thus, this fifth cup whose status is in doubt is dubbed “Elijah’s Cup,” in anticipation of the insight he will shed on the matter."

ref https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/504495/jewish/Why-Is-Elijah-the-Prophet-Invited-to-the-Seder.htm

None of these traditions with this so-called Elijah come from the scriptures or Torah. These are all vain traditions and as the web page shows ,with the image above,  very scary and ghost like, something like that straight out of Scrooges Christmas as practiced by pagan Christian traditions  or a Santa (Satan) figure who "visits every home to see if you have been naughty or nice."

Yes Christianity has its share of pagan traditions. Here is a horrendous clip from the Christian church, Jesus Dome in South Africa (Benny Hinn's so-called Apostle Church). It is a Christmas play about Scrooge, full of necromancy - talking to the dead which is forbidden and punishable by death in the scriptures. Their church burnt down not so long ago ( no wonder).



Kabbalistic Judaism in general believes that men such as Enoch have ascended and this is where the heresy of the unbiblical book of Enoch comes in - Metatron a so-called "angel" form of Enoch. This is all hocus pocus angel worship and the same corruption has been applied to Elijah to muddy the waters of the true scriptures.

In addition a modern practice has been added to the yearly Seder in some Jewish homes - Miriam's Cup said to honor Miriam (Moses's wife) and the spirit of all women, who nurture their families just as Miriam helped sustain the Israelites.  Legend  (not scripture) says that a well of water followed Miriam. Whether this is a step in the direction of Ecumenism towards sharing the real cup of the harlot of Babylon who is none other than the Miriam of the Catholic church - Mary ( Isis) is yet to be seen in the future. But, this is what you get when you add vain traditions to the scriptures and corrupt the truth.

YahuahSide note

Recently  I was told that I had been corrupted by the Hebrew Roots movement because I used the Yahudath (Hebrew language) name of Yahushua, refusing to use Jesus (J-Zeus). This was while commenting against the teaching of Elijah having "gone to heaven". I was told that Hebrew Roots is a recruiting tool for Judaism.  I subscribe to neither of these two and this is clearly set out in our Homepage.





It is ironic because as we can see it is clear that the tradition of an Elijah ghost / angel / man coming and going is actually a corruption from Judaism. Using the correct name of Yahushua and his Father are not based, or dependent on, any movement whether Hebrew Roots, Judaism or otherwise. We are simply told to BY SCRIPTURE to use Yahuah's name and proclaim it and Yahushua's name bears his Father's name while Jesus(J-Zeus) does not. See His Name. Further irony is that Elijah's name in Yahudath is Eliyahu, which means the mighty one (pw God)  of Yahuah. Anyone can look that up in a KJV+ with Hebrew Strong's concordance. Yahushua's name means Yahuah redeems, saves delivers... Jesus on the other hand does not mean anything except an attempt to corrupt him into a Graeco-Roman JZeus.

EliYahu (Elijah) Elevated Above Mashiak?

As we have already proved Elijah was a man, a spirit filled man, nothing else. If Elijah did not die and went straight to shamayim (pw heaven) as claimed it means he escaped the appointed judgment by Yahushua which has been appointed to every man since Yahushua had not died yet and been raised and therefore Yahushua could not judge him as mandated by Elohim.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28  So Mashiak (pw Christ) was once offered to bear the torah transgressions (pw sins) of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without torah transgression unto salvation.

Act 17:31  Because he (Yahuah) hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man (Yahushua) whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

It would suggest that Elijah is being made greater than Yahushua even, not needing any judgement. He would appear to be made above the law of Yahuah even. This is further contradictory to scripture.
Yahushua...

Php 2:7  ... made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men*:
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the stake (pw cross).
Php 2:9  Wherefore Elohim (pw God) also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name (*of men):
Php 2:10  That at the name of Yahushua (pw Jesus) every knee should bow, of things in shamayim (pw heaven), and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Yahushua the Anointed is Master (pw Jesus Christ is Lord)  to the honor (pw glory) of Elohim (pw God) the Father.

It would appear that Elijah has been fashioned into some sort of idol by pagan tradition or turned into an antiMashiak (pw anti Christ) a false Mashiak that is supposed to return.

Why Must EliYahu(Elijah) Return Before The End Times?

 Malachi 4:5-6 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of Yahuah (pw the Lord) comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

 "To this day, Jewish Seders include an empty chair at the table in anticipation that Elijah will return to herald the Messiah in fulfillment of Malachi’s word."
ref (6)
   
Once again those who follow the erroneous doctrine that Elijah himself will still return in the future are simply following the traditions of Rabbinic Judaism which is pure ignorance or rejection of  the teachings of our Saviour and Mashiak (Anointed) Yahushua.

Mat 17:10  And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah (pw Elias) must first come?
Mat 17:11  And Yahushua (pw Jesus) answered and said unto them, Elijah (pw Elias) truly shall first come, and restore all things.
Mat 17:12  But I say unto you, That Elijah (pw Elias) is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Mat 17:13  Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Immerser (Baptist ).

Note the disciples are referring to the scribes who would have been immersed in rabbinic tradition rather than being immersed by John the Immerser.

 Many first-century rabbis taught that Elijah was still alive and would reappear before the Messiah’s arrival.
ref (6)

The scribes had made their own interpretation but Yahushua makes sure to  lay out the truth to his disciples. So anyone who continues in this error is clearly rejecting Yahushua whom Moses said we are to listen to. (See  Salvation Without Messiah Not Possible). They are calling Yahushua a liar.

John Is Elijah By Same Spirit (Mind and Mandate)

  1. Yahuah prophesies John’s work as being like that of Elijah (Luke 1:17).

  2. John dresses like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8 and Matthew 3:4).

  3. John preached in the wilderness (Matthew 3:1).

  4. John and Elijah both preach repentance.

  5. John and Elijah both withstand kings and have high-profile enemies (1 Kings 18:17 and Matthew 14:3).

John Denies Being Of The Spirit of Elijah

Even after this clear explanation from Yahushua some will say but John did not even claim to be Elijah. It would seem that John's humble subjective opinion of himself at the time outweighs what Yahuah had declared through malak (pw angel ) Gabriel as mentioned in (1) in the previous chapter:

Luk 1:17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for Yahuah (pw the Lord).

It further means that what Yahushua says is of no validity as well according to those who support this heresy. It means that both Yahuah and his Son are made to be liars and a cult is made to appear more true that follows a so-called immortal Elijah man god / angel or whatever their fanciful minds would conjure up. No prophet is self appointed.

Jer 23:21  I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

John simply would not accept himself as a prophet by his own opinion, let alone being of the standard of Elijah. Furthermore he had not yet accomplished his full mandate which ultimately cost him his life.  His greatest task which unlike Elijah was to stand up to Herod in relation to the Torah and be beheaded. Unlike Elijah fleeing from Jezebel, John did not or could not  run away.

Apostle Paul Misses Elijah Opportunity

Apostle Shaul (Paul) had the perfect opportunity to refer to Elijah right here when he discusses Yahushua being raised to life:

Act 13:34  And as concerning that he raised him  (Yahushua) up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure kindesses (pw mercies) of David.
Act 13:35  Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine kodesh/morally pure (pw Holy) One to see corruption.
Act 13:36  For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of Elohim (pw God), fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
Act 13:37  But he, whom Elohim (pw God) raised again, saw no corruption.

Here would have been the perfect opportunity to refer to an Elijah that supposedly did not see corruption at all because he supposedly ascended straight to Elohim. But Shaul is silent on the matter and chooses to refer to David who like any man, even if a melek ( pw king) had to die and see corruption. Elijah's so-called immortality (non-corrupted body) does not feature here because it does not exist. It has no place in the scriptures, neither in the mind of Shaul, Yahuah or his Son Yahushua whom Shaul follows.

Yahushua - Greater Witness than John And Elijah

Since John has the Spirit of Elijah then from the following verse we can assume that Yahushua's witness is greater than Elijah's as well and that this witness is completed by Yahushua and not later carried on by Elijah as claimed.

Joh 5:36  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Greater Works By the Spirit Of Yahuah, Not Elijah.

Yahushua says every believer together will do greater works than he did.

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Greater here means greater only in number since the body of Mashiak can accomplish more by number and over time but this is only possible if they are truly believers with the Spirit of Yahuah in them. Thus if we can do a greater number of works than Yahushua, the Anointed man or Son of Elohim filled with Yahuah's Spirit, then it follows  that the same applies to Elijah as a single man filled with the Spirit of Yahuah. His presence is not needed on earth, neither is Yahushua. Yahuah has sent his Spirit which dwells in every true believer.

Elijah Not A Normal Man - Really?

Claim made on Youtube:

"Elijah’s spirit is not like the spirit of normal men, GOD sends him when times call for him."

This statement is rather silly. What is a normal spirit / man versus a  (??)supernatural spirit/ man or an (??)abnormal spirit /man? There are only normal men with either the spirit of Yahuah or the spirit of Satan, the amount of Yahuah' spirit resting upon a man is what varies according to the will of Yahuah. There is no god-man or man-god. Not even Yahushua is or was a man god. That is only in pagan religions like Hinduism. Yahushua came in the flesh and the Spirit of Yahuah rested fully upon him. See Why Jesus is Not God. Does Elohim need a dead Elijah? No.

Did Elijah Ascend Into Shamayim?

The following is adapted from ref (8):

"The sons of the prophets knew that Elijah had not been taken up  to shamayim (made immortal)where Yahuah dwells . They knew the whirlwind had simply removed Elijah to another location on earth. They exclaimed to Elisha:

2Ki 2:16  And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of Yah'uah (pw the LORD) hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

Concerned for Elijah's safety, they sent out 50 men to search for him. (2 Kings 2:17). After three days they were unsuccessful.

Another passage proves conclusively that Elijah was not taken up to live in shamayim (pw heaven). The scripture records that Elijah wrote a letter to Jehoram, the king of Judah, several years after he was removed in the whirlwind.

Notice the sequence of events recorded for us in the scripture. Elijah's last recorded and dated act occurred during the reign of the Israelite king Ahaziah when Elijah told the king he would die for his sins (2 Kings 1:3-17). Ahaziah's reign lasted only about a year, ca. 850 B.C.

Elijah's removal and replacement by Elisha is then recorded in the next chapter, 2 Kings 2. The story continues with incidents from Elisha's life, including an encounter with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah (2 Kings 3:11-14). Several years later Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, succeeded his father as king of Judah, ca. 845 B.C. (2 Kings 8:16).

Jehoram proved to be a wicked king, leading the nation of Judah in rebellion against Elohim”s (pw God's) commandments. A few years into Jehoram's reign, and several years after Elijah's removal, Jehoram received a letter from Elijah warning the king of dire consequences because of his torah transgressions (pw sins). This letter is recorded in 2 Chronicles 21:12-15.

This letter proves that the prophet was still alive and on earth some years after he was removed by the whirlwind and replaced by Elisha. Elohim (pw God) had chosen Elisha to succeed Elijah as His prophet, so He bodily removed Elijah to another place, where he continued to live for at least several more years—as his letter to Jehoram demonstrates."

No Promise Of Immortality

Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Here in Hebrews a list of many men and women of "Good Report"  in the tanak (pw Old Testament) with strong moral conviction did not receive the promise of incorruptibles bodies ( immortality). Yahushua had to be the first to be raised to life and then only could the promise of resurrection be made which will allow us to put on immortality when we ascend to shamayim by the power of Yahushua.

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (be dead), but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we (who are living) shall be changed.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

To give Elijah ascension and immortality renders the need for Yahushua to have died and be resurrected. All men are mortal until the resurrection. Only Yahuhsua is immortal since only Yahushua has ascended.

Yahuah (pw the LORD) Said Only His Son Ascended

Yahuah prophesies in Proverbs 100s of years after Elijah's death (Kings written 100s of years prior) that only his Son Yahushua has (or will ascend) into shamayim.


Pro 30:4  Who hath ascended up into shamayim (pw heaven), or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?


Yahushua revealed the answer to this prophecy when once again we quote him saying:


Joh 3:13  And no man hath ascended up to shamyim (pw heaven), but he that came down from shamyim (pw heaven), even the Son of man which is in shamayim (pw heaven).

He thus reveals the name of Yahuah' Son is himself. the Son of Man Yahushua, and confirms that Elijah did not ascend to shamayim.

Translated Versus Ascended

So Elijah was translated, picked up into the sky and carried to another place, not ascended to where Yahuah dwells . Enoch had the same experience.

Heb 11:5  By moral conviction ( pw faith) Enoch was *translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because Elohim (pw God) had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased Elohim (pw God).

Strong's Greek 

metatithēmi
met-at-ith'-ay-mee
From G3326 and G5087; to transfer, that is, (literally) transport, (by implication) exchange, (reflexively) change sides, or (figuratively) pervert: - carry over, change, remove, translate, turn

Philip_Ethiopian

So what does it mean - "did not see death" . He simply escaped  ( by being translated) a situation which could have resulted in his death. 

Enoch certainly did not see the promise of immortality fulfilled and died as we discussed in the Chapter - No Promise of Immortality.

Philip had the same experience as Enoch and Elijah of being transported after immersing the Ethiopian eunuch.

Act 8:39  And when they (Philip and Ethiopian eunuch) were come up out of the water, the Spirit of Yahuah caught away* Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Act 8:40  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

*String's Greek ἁρπάζω
harpazō
har-pad'-zo
From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

References:

1) https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-the-difference-between-elijah-and-elisha.html
2)https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/504495/jewish/Why-Is-Elijah-the-Prophet-Invited-to-the-Seder.htm
3)https://www.gotquestions.org/Elisha-double-portion.html
4)https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-the-difference-between-elijah-and-elisha.html
5)https://www.learnreligions.com/elijahs-cup-and-miriams-cup-2076419
6)https://www.gotquestions.org/Elijah-end-times.html
7)https://prophecytoday.uk/study/teaching-articles/item/89-the-calling-of-a-prophet.html
8)https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/heaven-and-hell-what-does-the-bible-really-teach/did-elijah-go-to-heaven



Make a free website with Yola