Where Is Enoch, Moses and Elijah?
The Bible tells us that Enoch did not die because “God took him” (Genesis 5:24). “Enoch was translated that he should not see death” (Hebrews 11:5). This was designed by God, not only to reward the piety of Enoch, but to demonstrate the certainty of God’s promised deliverance from sin and death. The memory of this remarkable event has survived in Jewish tradition (Ecclesiastics 44:16), in the Christian record (Hebrews 11:5; Jude 14), and even in fables.
About Elijah, the Bible says, “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). The “chariots of God” were evidently the angels (Psalm 68:17). The angels are God’s messengers, “sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14).
As for Moses, he received a special resurrection by Christ. The Scriptures tell us about the burial of Moses in Deuteronomy 34:5, 6, where it is recorded that the Lord buried His faithful servant and that his grave was not known to men. There was a dispute over the body of Moses, Satan wanted to prevent Christ from resurrecting him from the dead (Jude 9). From the fact that Moses appeared with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration, it can be concluded that the Lord triumphed in the contest with the devil and raised Moses from his grave, making him the first known subject of Christ’s resurrecting power.
In the New Testament, Elijah appeared with Moses at the transfiguration (Luke 9:28–32). At this incident, Jesus was giving a miniature demonstration of the kingdom of glory to His disciples. Peter, who was present at the Transfiguration, understood it in that way (2 Peter 1:16-18). There is theological significance behind Moses and Elijah appearing on the Mount of Transfiguration. The event represented the resurrection at the end of time. Moses represents those who will die and be resurrected and go to heaven, while Elijah represents those who will go to heaven without experiencing death.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
