“As they were walking and conversing, behold! – a chariot of fire and horses of fire [appeared] and separated between the two of them, and Elijah ascended to Heaven in the whirlwind. (2 Kings 2:11)”
The prophet Elijah was taken to Heaven without experiencing death. HASHEM sometimes performs wonders beyond our comprehension. This ascension to Heaven occurred before with Enoch, “And Enoch walked with G-d; then he was no more, for G-d had taken him. (Genesis 5:24)”
Many Christians believe Elijah and Enoch’s experience foretells both the death and subsequent purported ascension of the man they worship. There are major difficulties that arise with this claim. According to the Christian bible, their deity suffered death, while Enoch and Elijah did not. They were taken to Heaven and never endured death.
Also, Christians believe that the alleged resurrection and ascension of their deity proves his divinity. If either resurrection or ascension made one divine however, then Enoch and Elijah would also be divine, along with the boy Elijah resurrected and any other resurrected person. Resurrection and ascension are acts of G-d performed on a created being, and the Jewish people are forbidden to worship the created world.
“But you shall greatly beware for your souls, for you did not see any likeness on the day HASHEM spoke to you at Horeb, from the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image, a likeness of any shape; a form of a male or a female; a form of any animal that is on the earth; a form of any winged bird that flies in the heaven; a form of anything that creeps on the ground; a form of any fish that is in the water under the earth; and lest you raise your eyes to the heaven and you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars – the entire legion of heaven – and you be drawn astray and bow to them and worship them, which HASHEM, your G-d, has apportioned to all the peoples under the entire heaven! (Deuteronomy 4:15-19)”
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