ENOCH AND ELIJAH

According to the Word of God, these are the only men who passed into eternity without dying. 

Enoch was a seventh-generation descendant of Adam through Seth, the father of Methuselah and great-grandfather of Noah ... Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (Genesis 5:24)

He is listed among those in chapter eleven of Hebrews (faith's 'hall of fame') ... By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: He could not be found, because God had taken him away. (Hebrews 11:5)

By faith, a remarkable event had taken place.

Spurgeon - If any man, who had not been a believer, had been translated as Enoch was, we should have been able to point to a great feat accomplished apart from faith. It has never been so; for this, which was one of the greatest things that was ever done - to leap from this life into another, and to overleap the grave altogether - was only achieved 'by faith'.

Several centuries later the prophet Elijah came on the scene. He was powerfully used by God and when his time on earth was done, Elijah's understudy (Elisha) witnessed his amazing departure ... As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. (2 Kings 2:11)

Like Enoch, Elijah was taken out of this world by God. The ascension of these two men did not come from their own will or power to do so ... No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. (John 3:13)

So, why were they taken? 

Enoch and Elijah had one primary trait in common - Scripture records that they were exceptionally faithful in serving and obeying the Lord. Perhaps it was for this reason alone that God spared them from experiencing death.

Some hypothesize that Enoch and Elijah have a strategic role in end-time events ... the 'two witnesses' used by God during the great tribulation ... And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3) 

One reason this seems plausible is because Hebrews 9:27 says 'it is appointed unto men once to die' and since they had never tasted death ... the killing of the two witnesses at the hands of evil men brings that truth to bear. 

Others claim Moses and Elijah are the likely duo (based on Scripture which details their appearance at Christ's transfiguration) ... And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with Him. (Matthew 17:3) 

Whatever the reason, God had His purpose for taking Enoch and Elijah to heaven without their dying. Someday soon we will know everything concerning these two stalwarts of the faith.