The Questions People Ask: 2

QUESTION 2: Will Enoch and Elijah who escaped death by being caught up to heaven, along with Moses who appeared with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration be also resurrected? –Dr. M. Marshall

ANSWER: This is no doubt a difficult question to answer in an absolute manner, for the Bible does not give us an exact word for word commentary on this subject. However, I will share what I believe to be the best Biblical answer to this puzzling question.

It is clear from the Old Testament Scriptures that Enoch and Elijah are the only two types that foreshadow the truth of the rapture (see Gen. 5: 24; 2 Kings 2: 11-12). The theological word “rapture” simply means to “catch away” or to be “caught up” (see 1 Thess. 4: 17).[1]

Since God is consistent in His character and in the truths He presents to us from His Word, I believe the same instantaneous change that will occur on the day of the Resurrection, when our body will be transformed into a new resurrected, glorified body (see 1 Cor. 15: 51-54) was the same immediate change that also occurred in the bodies of Enoch and Elijah, when they were taken up to heaven. Just as our body will be resurrected and glorified, even so, was Enoch and Elijah’s body resurrected and glorified.

Now in regards to Moses and Elijah on the Mount where Christ was transfigured[2] (see Matt. 17: 2; Luke 9: 27-36). I believe Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration in two differing levels of Glory:[3] Moses in a pre-resurrected body,[4] not a resurrected, glorified body, because God had personally “buried” his corruptible body of flesh “in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor…” (Deut. 34: 6, NKJV).[5] His body still awaits the resurrection. Now Elijah on the other hand, appeared on the Mount in a resurrected, glorified body, for he “went up” into heaven on a chariot and horses of fire (see 2 Kings 2: 11); hence, escaping the natural process of death that man is subject to due to his sin.

Noted commentator, John Heading has this interesting insight on Moses and Elijah on the Mount of transfiguration:

“On the mountain top, Moses, although no one knew of his grave (Deut. 34: 5-6), was typical of any man who had died. Later, Michael the archangel disputed with the devil about his body (not soul), see Jude 9, but this body remained safe until required, since this archangel was associated with resurrection to eternal life (Deut. 12: 2). Elijah (2 Kings 2: 11) was typical of those who, being translated at the rapture of the Church will not die.”[6]

Another well known commentator, by the name of William MacDonald believes that:

“Moses, who went to heaven by way of death, depicts all who will be raised from the dead to enter the Millenium, while Elijah, who was translated to heaven, pictures those who will reach the kingdom by the route of translation.”[7]

To conclude, as one can see from taking the time to read and study the Scriptures that answers to such questions as posed in this article can be given. As we saw in this study, both Enoch and Elijah did not experience death as we do, for God took them. We can conclude from this that they did not go up into heaven in spirit form, while leaving their physical bodies behind. (see Gen. 5: 24; 2 Kings 2: 11). There is nothing in Scripture to hint at that notion. However, with Moses the Bible is clear that he died and his body was buried, while his spirit went to be with the Lord in heaven (see Deut. 34: 5-6).

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[1] The key words “took him” (Gen. 5: 24), “taken away” (Heb. 11: 5), and “went up” (2 Kings 2: 11) all carry the same meaning as the phrase “caught up” as noted in 1 Thessalonians 4: 17. (NOTE: At present, I no longer hold to the doctrine of the “rapture” as my dispensational brethren do).

[2] “To change into another form,” this is a glimpse of the glory of Christ’s deity revealed from the veil of His flesh. This exclusively refers only to Christ’s transfiguration  and never to the glory of Moses and Elijah on the Mount.

[3] The Greek word here for “glory” (Luke 9: 31) is “doxa” which denotes an inward glory that manifests itself in an outward appearance which attracts attention, namely, splendor, glory, brightness, adornment.

[4] “Pre-resurrected body:” Before the incarnation of Christ as seen in the New Testament, He appeared on various occasions throughout the Old Testament in a pre-incarnate form (see Gen. 18: 1-15; 32: 22-32); since we have no trouble accepting the fact that Christ appeared in a pre-incarnate state before His incarnation, then we really should have no problem accepting the possibility of Moses appearing on the Mount in a pre-resurrected bodily form.

[5] Deuteronomy 34: 6 is the only Scripture text in the entire Bible where we read that God personally and privately attended to the “burial” of one of His prophets.

[6] John Heading, What the Bible Teaches: Vol. 2, Matthew, (John Ritchie Ltd., 1995), pg. 234.

[7] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, N. T., (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), pg. 86.