The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Where are they now?

Before the resurrection our bodies rest in the grave and our disembodied souls go to the Lord. After the resurrection we will be reunited again body and soul.

Enoch and Elijah were never...well...disembodied. They disappeared with their bodies.

Are they and Jesus the only "intact" persons there right now? Or did Enoch and Elijah go somewhere else to wait?

The Garden of Eden had no sin but was physical. Could they be waiting there? Or did they precede Jesus to heaven with their bodies even though Jesus is the first-fruits of the resurrection?


Related question: If it is appointed to every man to die once.....well....don't they gotta die? Are they the two witnesses to be killed in Revelation? Seems like they gotta die.

Any thoughts?

One of my professors teaches that the dichotomy of Man (mortal body, immortal soul) was not taught be the ancient Hebrews at all, but the hope of the Hebrew is resurrection rather than immortality of the soul. To the ancient Hebrew, a person ceased to be, in any real sense, at death, and is preserved only in the infinite mind of God until the resurrection. I would guess that since neither Enoch nor Elijah died physically, according to ancient Hebrew thought if my professor is correct, they live as Christ does, physically in heaven.

These are good and interesting questions that are asked here. If I may, in response, direct you to the teaching found in the Heidelberg Catechism questions 57 and 58 as the subject of the resurrection is presented rather well The Heidelberg Catechism together with text references and the exposition for all of the questions and answers may be found right here on the board under the section Creeds and Confessions. The section which address your questions may be found here under Heidelberg Catechism—Questions 57 and 58

I do not recall any mention of "another place" other than the physical and the spiritual realm in Scripture. In regard to the spiritual, there are only two places mentioned, that I have read; hell and heaven.

1. The Garden of Eden is no more. Sin destroyed that place as it did the beauty and harmony that existed around the globe, in whatever form it had.
2. Possible, but remember, that Enoch and Elijah were sinners who were no less worthy of damnation. By God's determinate council and foreknowledge (predestination) they no different than any other believer, received saving grace and by the power of the Spirit, repented of their sins and believed in Christ, Who was to come. Though they can be seen as 'types and shadows' in regard to the final coming of Christ when those remaining on the earth will be raised, body and soul, to be with Christ, they do not represent Christ whose death and resurrection was forensic, a substitutionary atonement for the elect.

"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." (Deut 29:29)