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Monday, July 29, 2013

Human Trafficking; Lucifer, the Whore, and the Beast

It was never the intent of our Creator, Elohim, for humans to be bought and sold. The subject of human trafficking has come to the forefront of social media due to movies that cover the subject and charitable organizations that focus on solving the problem.  Kidnappings, especially of children, are mentioned in the media for a day or two, while abductions of young women are hardly mentioned, unless the missing woman’s family stirs up the media.  It is a sorrowful state of humanity when people are no longer considered human but property to steal and sell.  That type of depravity is not new to God.  Someone did the same thing before the earth was re-created in Genesis 1:2. 

Our story is a story of people born into captivity, enslaved into a system that binds humans.  Jesus came to break us free from eternal death, giving us the option to have eternal life.  In doing so, he had to suffer, taking on the sin of the world, and was murdered so that we could be set free for eternity.  Yet we live bound to the world and unaware of the sinister schemes of the devil.  As we have discussed before, we are not the center of the story, instead we are a part of a bigger picture. As the orchestrator, Lucifer sets up the false religions and systems, and humans simply live it, believing that this is all there is.  The way of Cain is not God’s best plan for our lives. Cities, commerce, and sexual promiscuity came into the world before the flood, and was revived after the flood by satan. Jesus shone a light into the darkness and we now know that there is evil around us. 

Lucifer made merchandise of, or trafficked other created beings. Lucifer’s victims at his fall were not human, but angelic, the sons of God. Lucifer used the sons of God for his gain; this is in part what caused his fall.  The interesting thing is that the Bible tells us it goes on today and will not be resolved until the Lord Jesus comes back with His armies. It seems that Lucifer’s corrupt hand organizes people and nations in this act, most likely the way he did before.  When we read about Lucifer in Ezekiel and Isaiah we gain some interesting insights.

Ezek 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise [7404] they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.KJV

Because Lucifer stole rulership from Adam, his taking over kingship and spiritual leadership destabilized and bound the gentile nations.  Adam’s severed relationship with God caused the nations to not recognize God our creator. God rose up a nation from among the people of earth, but through constant pressure they did not adhere to God’s ways. What should have been a world system among the gentile nations, people having relationship with the living God, as Abraham did, was lost by the disobedience of the Israelites, and idol worship of rulers. Let me clarify this point, not all the Israelites turned their hearts from God, but when the leaders started practicing paganism, it influenced many people.  A small number of individuals survived, with their hearts connected to God, from Mary’s and Joseph’s lineage as well as some others. However, these people were not leaders, rulers, or influencers of others.  Religious practice, no matter what brand it is, is a money generator and a people suppressor.  Religions are tools to control the masses; this was not Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob’s practice. Let’s remember Lucifer had sanctuaries. This is one reason God did not want Israel to have a king, because one leader will gather supporters around himself, and then find ways to control the population.

Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken [2522] the nations! KJV
OT:2522 chalash (khaw-lash'); a primitive root; to prostrate; by implication, to overthrow, decay: KJV - discomfit, waste away, weaken.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

We will look at merchandise/trafficking from Strong’s 7404 shortly.  But first we have to look at the plight of the Israelites.  Moses gave everyone a warning before his death.  He listed many things that would happen if the people disobeyed God’s commands.  We find that list in Deuteronomy 28.  The very last verse of Deuteronomy 28 tells us the Israelites will go back into bondage, via ships, to Egypt, and they would be sold as slaves.  Unfortunately, our history lessons from our school days do not tell us who the slaves were, but we know that some of the slaves, sold around the world, were Israelites.  Many Israelite slaves who were sold to North America brought with them spiritual songs of the Bible. In other words, they had a heritage in the Yahweh even though they could not practice religious requirements. They loved God, even though they were not in their homeland any longer.   

Deut 28:68 And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.KJV

After Deuteronomy 28, chapter 30 tells us what will happen when the Lord brings his people back to the Promised Land.  We know the Lord has not brought back His people, as all the plagues that were on the Israelites will be on the enemies of Israel.  That hasn’t happened yet.  At this point in time people have not been brought back to Israel from the farthest places on earth. Instead, we see the enemies of Israel prospering, and continuing to persecute Israel. Because Deuteronomy 30:17-ff tells us that the choice was up to the people.  The protection of God would have covered the Israelites if their hearts hadn’t turned away from God.  The Israelites were a chosen group of people that were to witness to the world, which would subdue the devil’s evil ways.  This is not to say individually if one is disobedient to God they are forced into slavery, but corporately as a whole, the entire earth is enslaved to the devil.  He runs the show. The Israelites were to keep the devil at bay until the Messiah came but they didn’t. However, Jesus made a way out.

Before Lucifer’s fall, he merchandised beings, sons of God.  Let’s look at Strongs #7404

OT:7404 rekullah (rek-ool-law'); feminine passive participle of OT:7402; trade (as peddled):KJV - merchandise, traffic.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

When we look at chapter 28 of Ezekiel we see the parallel of satan to the king of Tyre. The king of Tyre is probably a veiled look at satan, and the first and second half of the chapter are very much the same.  While the king of Tyre may have been a person influenced by satan, both the king and satan claim to be God, both are killed and thrown to hell and both trafficked God’s people.  

Ezek 28:5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick [7404] hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:KJV

Ezek 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise [7404] they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.KJV

Ezek 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick [7404]; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.KJV

Using human beings for profit is truly our world system.  Slavery, migrant workers, sexual prostitution, child workers, corporate suits, blue collar, white collar, almost everyone is enslaved. But this does not happen in commerce only, but also in churches. Lucifer’s sanctuaries were defiled by trafficking. There are a small number of oppressors, but they have designed the world system to serve themselves. While satan did that to the sons of God and it sped up his downward spiral to want to be God and sit in the place of God, people do this to humans today, and also sit it the place of God, lording over the masses.  While the creator did not create us to be enslaved to overlords, we are in fact slaves in this world. Another comparison from Ezekiel 27 of the king of Tyre and satan, is in the root word of merchandising.

Ezek 27:1-3 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,2 Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;3 And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant [7402] of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord God; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.KJV

OT:7402 rakal (raw-kal'); a primitive root; to travel for trading: KJV - (spice) merchant.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

I find it interesting that merchandising, or trafficking, whether spices, foods, or people, makes one believe they are perfectly beautiful.  Their power is deceiving, as well as the material adornment. This world system will be done away with in the future.   

Rev 18:12-13 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.KJV

As we read from Revelation, the selling of slaves and the souls of men are counted among Babylon’s merchandise. Not only are people being physically sold, just like the Israelites were, people were selling themselves. This tells us that Babylon is seducing people into selling their souls, not just simply enslaving non willing participants, but deceiving people into giving away their own soul to the devil.  No one can take the soul out of a person.  No one can dissect it in a laboratory.  Only the word of God can divide soul and spirit.  (Heb 4:12) While the devil cannot have one’s spirit, the devil can be given one’s soul/life.  This is a conscious choice.  Therefore the lure of riches and beauty sway people to give their souls to the devil, for gain on earth. Yet that is such a temporal thing.

The city of Nineveh comes up in this discussion. Jonah was sent to Nineveh and as we know he jumped in a ship at Joppa and sailed to Spain.  A fish swallowed him and brought him back to Joppa.  From there Jonah went to Nineveh, an Assyrian city northeast of Damascus. Nineveh was built by Nimrod, and is located in modern day Iraq.  After Jonah went to Nineveh, the King and the people repented.  God spared them.  But one hundred years later Nahum wrote about them.  They were known for their whoredoms of idol worship and selling of nations and families.  Nineveh is about 377 miles north of Babylon so we can see a similarity in their belief system. We see in Nahum 3:4 a scripture that is loaded with information. 

Nah 3:4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.KJV

Because Nineveh had many idols, and the spirits behind the idol worship are harlots, Nineveh was selling a false religion.  “Well-favored” means pleasant and beautiful, they did not make ugly idols; they made idols that humans saw as beautiful.  Isn’t that what we do today?  We make 20 year old women the standard of beauty in movies and fashion, rather than hunched over 80 year old men?  Demonic beings, fallen angels, prostitute themselves for worship. Attach a nice looking statue to an idol name and people are deceived into worshipping false gods. Put a few attributes to the idol, good crops, fertility, etc, and now people honor that idol to gain something.  Sell statues to people to remind them of their worship and make money. Tell other nations about your pretty statues and make more money. All the while people have forgotten the Creator Yahweh. By using the leaders of Nineveh, these evil spirits inspire leaders to use witchcraft, manipulations, intimidations, and dominations on the people. They had so many merchants of idolatry they were above the stars of heaven.

Nah 3:16 Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.KJV

The Message Bible is so colorful in its translation of this section, we should look at it.

Nah 3:4-7 And whores! Whores without end! Whore City, Fatally seductive, you're the Witch of Seduction, luring nations to their ruin with your evil spells.5 "I'm your enemy, Whore Nineveh — I, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! I'll strip you of your seductive silk robes and expose you on the world stage. I'll let the nations get their fill of the ugly truth of who you really are and have been all along. 6 I'll pelt you with dog dung and place you on a pedestal: 'Slut on Exhibit.' 7 Everyone who sees you will gag and say, 'Nineveh's a pigsty: What on earth did we ever see in her? Who would give her a second look? Ugh!'" (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

We see more here in the same chapter from the Message Bible.

Nah 3:15-17 Yes, as if by locusts — a fitting fate,for you yourselves are a locust plague. 16 You've multiplied shops and shopkeepers — more buyers and sellers than stars in the sky! A plague of locusts, cleaning out the neighborhood and then flying off. 17 Your bureaucrats are locusts, your brokers and bankers are locusts. Early on, they're all at your service, full of smiles and promises, But later when you return with questions or complaints, you'll find they've flown off and are nowhere to be found. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Sounds like our politicians and shady business characters of today.  Remember Revelation 9, locusts come out of the bottomless pit. This is not just to Nineveh, but Babylon too, as we will shortly compare this to Revelation. But let’s look at this a little deeper.  This world system, really a world religion, is buying and selling people.  It is about amassing people and it will come to a head just before Jesus comes with His armies.  God will expose the “private parts” of this mystery religion.  This region was established by Nimrod, the guy who started the Babylon Mystery Religion and the tower of Babel.  You see, we are still living through that corruption.  Changing the languages made it harder for these harlotries to spread, and to come together under one world government; yet today our world has grown smaller as we have started to overcome language barriers. There is a religion behind the buying and selling of humans, and witchcraft behind the seducing of men to sell their souls.  From the Amplified let’s look at this again.

Nah 3:4-5 All because of the multitude of the harlotries [of Nineveh], the well-favored harlot, the mistress of deadly charms who betrays and sells nations through her whoredoms [idolatry] and peoples through her enchantments. 5 Behold, I am against you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will lift up your skirts over your face, and I will let the nations look on your nakedness [O Nineveh] and the kingdoms on your shame. AMP

Nah 3:16-17 You increased your merchants more than the [visible] stars of the heavens. The swarming locust spreads itself and destroys, and then flies away. 17 Your princes are like the grasshoppers and your marshals like the swarms of locusts which encamp in the hedges on a cold day — but when the sun rises, they fly away, and no one knows where they are. AMP

These people, like the sons of Belial, do things in secret, in the dark hours, and they can’t be found in the day.  We are children of the day not children of night; therefore it is hard for us to conceive of their evil deceptions. We should look at a few key words in the Hebrew.
       

Nah 3:4


4 

br)m@ 
Because of the multitude of
7230
m¢rœ»


yn}Wnz= 
the whoredoms of
2181
z®nûnê


hn`oz 
harlot,
2181
zônâ


/j@  tb^of 
the well-favoured
2580  2896
µ¢n  ‰ô»a¾


tl^u&B^ 
the mistress of
1172
ba±­la¾


<yp!v*K= 
witchcrafts,
3785
k®š¹¸îm


tr\k#M)h^ 
that selleth
4376
hammœ½ere¾



<y]oG 
nations
1471
gôyim


h*yn\Wnz=B! 
through her whoredoms,
2183
biznûneyh¹


tojP*v=m!W 
and families
4940
ûmišp¹µô¾


.h*yp#v*k=B! 
through her witchcrafts.
3785
bi½š¹¸eyh¹.



(Interlinear Transliterated Bible (TR Edition). Copyright © 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. [For more detail see the full copyright page.])


OT:2181  zanah (zaw-naw'); a primitive root [highly-fed and therefore wanton]; to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of Jehovah):  KJV - (cause to) commit fornication,  continually,  great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be, play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go a-whoring, whorish.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:3785  kesheph (keh'-shef); from OT:3784; magic: KJV - sorcery, witchcraft.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:4376  makar (maw-kar'); a primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender): KJV -  at all, sell (away, -erself,). (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:1471 gowy (go'-ee); rarely (shortened) goy (go'-ee); apparently from the same root as OT:1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts: KJV - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:2183 zanuwn (zaw-noon'); from OT:2181; adultery; figuratively, idolatry: KJV - whoredom.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:4940 mishpachah (mish-paw-khaw'); from OT:8192 [compare OT:8198]; a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extens. a tribe or people: KJV - family, kind (-red).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Since the words “whoredoms” and “harlot” are the same, it tells us something. There must be a female based world religion that commits intentional perversion and is the mistress of witchcrafts.  Lucifer, using a female figure, has perverted worship toward himself, via mother earth worship, Artemis, Diana, Mary, Cali, Semiramis, the queen of heaven etc.  In the end times, all these will merge into one dominant world view. This religion which may have started in many different varied forms but will converge into one, sells people as if they were property, in many gentile nations. Not just sex trafficking, but into its life system of working for others and being dependant on someone else. Religious leaders and Priests from every religion found ways to extort money from people, as the churches amassed riches.  Many in Egypt and Rome sold indulgences to get departed loved ones out of hell or purgatory.  Families were obligated to do what the religious leaders asked or else face social condemnation from them.  Families sold or gave away their children to “the church” for religious purposes which amounted to human sacrifice or sexual slavery.  Think of some of the modern “religious” belief systems we have today where these things still go on.  This witchcraft enslaves peoples thinking, and they are bound to following religious protocol whatever the demand is on their lives. On the flip side, there are male deities and male dominant religions. 

Lucifer destroyed his land and killed his people; his children and his workers will be sent to the lake of fire as well.  Lucifer stole the title deed of earth from Adam.  This is his land and his people.  He inspired Nimrod, as well as many others to ultimate evil with idolatry.  Lucifer knows Elohim, he had responsibilities among the sons of God, yet now he deceives earthlings into believing in, and worshipping, him via feminine deities. 

Isa 14:20-21 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. 21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.KJV

Lucifer’s seed, those who work for him, who sold their souls or lives to him, will be in the same place as Lucifer in the end. If you are toying with the idea of serving the devil, take note that eternity is a long time to reside in the lake of fire.

In Revelation 17, we see John is getting caught up on what he saw, by an angel who is telling him how the end will play out.  We have a woman who is a harlot and she rides the beast.  This religion sits on and controls the beast she rides.  She is a religion who is worldwide and has a competitor, the beast’s religion. 

Rev 17:1-6 ONE OF the seven angels who had the seven bowls then came and spoke to me, saying, Come with me! I will show you the doom (sentence, judgment) of the great harlot (idolatress) who is seated on many waters, [Jer 51:13.] 2 [She] with whom the rulers of the earth have joined in prostitution (idolatry) and with the wine of whose immorality (idolatry) the inhabitants of the earth have become intoxicated. [Jer 25:15,16.] 3 And [the angel] bore me away [rapt] in the Spirit into a desert (wilderness), and I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that was all covered with blasphemous titles (names), and he had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was robed in purple and scarlet and bedecked with gold, precious stones, and pearls, [and she was] holding in her hand a golden cup full of the accursed offenses and the filth of her lewdness and vice. [Jer 51:7.] 5 And on her forehead there was inscribed a name of mystery [with a secret symbolic meaning]: Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes (idolatresses) and of the filth and atrocities and abominations of the earth. 6 I also saw that the woman was drunk, [drunk] with the blood of the saints (God's people) and the blood of the martyrs [who witnessed] for Jesus. And when I saw her, I was utterly amazed and wondered greatly. AMP

The rulers of the earth have joined in her prostitution. The blood of saints and martyrs make this woman high. This angel is explaining to John what John has just seen. This mystery religion is hidden or cloaked today, but it is active, and our world leaders are in bed with her. Now here is something interesting. Somehow God’s people are among the whore.  At this point in Rev. 17, the church has been gathered and is preparing to come back with Jesus, so we know this is not the church. Left on earth are those who are being martyred for their allegiance to Jesus, these people come to Jesus after the gathering recognizing that He is the Messiah.  Also on earth during the tribulation are people who dominate the world system under the harlot’s system, and those who fall under the authority of the beast as well as some of God’s people who are working with the harlot.  The Israelites are God’s people who are in Babylon at this time. The harlot rides the beast, this means she is also in control of the opposing religion until Apollyon/Abaddon/Gog the locust king comes out from the Abyss. Once the evil spirit Apollyon, etc. comes out of the pit, the dynamic changes and the beast and his people kill the harlot and her people. Let’s stack up the verses that pertain to each the harlot and the beast and see what we can make of this world system of human trafficking.

Rev 17:9 …The seven heads are seven hills upon which the woman is sitting; AMP
Rev 17:15 …The waters that you observed, where the harlot is seated, are races and multitudes and nations and dialects (languages). AMP 
Rev 17:18 And the woman that you saw is herself the great city which dominates and controls the rulers and the leaders of the earth. AMP [This woman is Babylon]
Rev 18:4-5 I then heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out from her, my people, so that you may not share in her sins, neither participate in her plagues. [Isa 48:20; Jer 50:8.] 5 For her iniquities (her crimes and transgressions) are piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness and [her] crimes [and calls them up for settlement]. [Jer 51:9.] AMP
Rev 18:11-13 And earth's businessmen will weep and grieve over her because no one buys their freight (cargo) any more. [Ezek 27:36.] 12 Their merchandise is of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet [stuffs]; all kinds of scented wood, all sorts of articles of ivory, all varieties of objects of costly woods, bronze, iron, and marble; [Ezek 27:12,13,22.] 13 Of cinnamon, spices, incense, ointment and perfume, and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, fine flour and wheat; of cattle and sheep, horses and conveyances; and of slaves (the bodies) and souls of men! AMP
Rev 18:18-20 And exclaimed as they watched the smoke of her burning, What city could be compared to the great city! 19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and grieved, exclaiming, Woe and alas, for the great city, where all who had ships on the sea grew rich [through her extravagance] from her great wealth! In one single hour she has been destroyed and has become a desert! [Ezek 27:30-34.] 20 Rejoice (celebrate) over her, O heaven! O saints (people of God) and apostles and prophets, because God has executed vengeance for you upon her! [Isa 44:23; Jer 51:48.] AMP
Rev 18:23-24 And never again shall the light of a lamp shine in you, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall never be heard in you again; for your businessmen were the great and prominent men of the earth, and by your magic spells and poisonous charm all nations were led astray (seduced and deluded). 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all those who have been slain (slaughtered) on earth. [Jer 51:49.] AMP

That is a pretty clear picture of the whore who controls the beast and is responsible for the blood of the saints. The second to last battle is the harlot being destroyed.  I find it interesting that the religion satan built will be destroyed by Apollyon/Abaddon/Gog the locust king, the beast from the bottomless pit.  And then the beast will attempt to fight Jesus. Humans are caught in the middle, simply pawns in these last day’s battles.  It would be better if all humans would be saved to escape this last days’ battle of spiritual and physical forces. 

Next let’s look at the beast and his ten kings which are religious people themselves, as they hate the woman, Babylon. This is a male dominated religious view, and female deities are an abomination to them. They also have a special prophet. The beast inspires people to war against the woman, which is interesting because the woman was in control of the beast’s people until the beast came out of the abyss.  While other spiritual entities inspire the beast’s religion today, when Apollyon comes out of the pit he will look powerful and have supernatural powers which will fool humans into thinking he must be mightier than God. To fulfill God’s purposes of eliminating Babylon Mystery Religion, the one Nimrod started in Babylon and Nineveh, the beast gathers ten nations with ten kings to rise up to kill the mother of all harlots.  These people must be religious people that are different than the harlot as they hate her. The ten kings then give back their kingdoms to the beast and the beast makes war with the Lamb. People who despised the harlot will now be in control of the world. It is also interesting to note that God calls his people out from the harlot, but God’s people are not dealing with the beast. This tells us there must have been financial opportunity for God’s people, the Israelis, to work with the harlot, but not the beast. 

Rev 17:8 The beast that you saw [once] was, but [now] is no more, and he is going to come up out of the Abyss (the bottomless pit)AMP  [This is Apollyon/Abbadon/Gog the locust king.]
Rev 17:12 Also the ten horns that you observed are ten rulers (kings) who have as yet received no royal dominion, but together they are to receive power and authority as rulers for a single hour, along with the beast. [Dan 7:20-24.] AMP   
 Rev 17:14 They will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them; for He is Lord of lords and King of kings — and those with Him and on His side are chosen and called [elected] and loyal and faithful followers. [Dan 2:47.] AMP 
Rev 17:16-17 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will [be the very ones to] hate the harlot (the idolatrous woman); they will make her cheerless (bereaved, desolate), and they will strip her and eat up her flesh and utterly consume her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His own purpose by acting in harmony in surrendering their royal power and authority to the beast, until the prophetic words (intentions and promises) of God shall be fulfilled. AMP
Rev 19:19-20 Then I saw the beast and the rulers and leaders of the earth with their troops mustered to go into battle and make war against Him Who is mounted on the horse and against His troops. 20 And the beast was seized and overpowered, and with him the false prophet who in his presence had worked wonders and performed miracles by which he led astray those who had accepted or permitted to be placed upon them the stamp (mark) of the beast and those who paid homage and gave divine honors to his statue. Both of them were hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns and blazes with brimstone. AMP

The end time spiritual battle is first between the harlot, satan’s religion, and the beast’s religion and the beast. Humans are the pawns fighting these battles. Then the battle shifts to the beast and his armies fighting the Lord Jesus and His armies.   But just like the beast and the false prophet end up in the lake of fire, satan ends up there too.    

Rev 20:1-3THEN I saw an angel descending from heaven; he was holding the key of the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and a great chain was in his hand. 2 And he gripped and overpowered the dragon, that old serpent [of primeval times], who is the devil and Satan, and [securely] bound him for a thousand years. 3 Then he hurled him into the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and closed it and sealed it above him, so that he should no longer lead astray and deceive and seduce the nations until the thousand years were at an end. After that he must be liberated for a short time. AMP

Some people have tried to make the end times about one religion against God, but truly it’s two religions against each other, then regrouped going against God.  First, the dragon, satan, gives the beast (the man) his power, Rev 13:2.  (Remember the woman controls the beast).  Then the beast that comes up out of the earth in Rev 13:11 gives power to the image of the beast and fools the people into worshipping the beast (Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain – The Wizard of Oz).  At this point the beast takes over commerce with the mark. The beast and the false prophet are one religion, and satan is the other. Satan’s religion is about merchandising, think of it as a giant pyramid scheme where top leaders and rulers are really serving themselves on the backs of the people.  We live under a caste system that we don’t even know about.  The opposing religion hates the harlot, and women in general are not valued as equal in this group. This group today has different rules for banking and commerce than the harlot. Once they destroy Babylon they set up their own system of commerce.  When the false prophet comes, he will show lots of signs and wonders so that people will start aligning themselves with that religion, so that taking his mark seems reasonable to the people on earth at that time. All the while, the bowl judgments are being poured out.


Humans are pawns in this world who have a choice to serve the Heavenly Father, our Creator, and Jesus His son; or not. We are not the center of the story, but only part of the entire story. People are used by satan or those with rulership as tools to achieve a means of wealth and prosperity.  Jesus shined a light on the darkness, and the best we can do is to shine light in the darkness so others can see.  People are enslaved and sold as slaves all over the world.  Then, some chose to sell their souls to an evil world system for temporary fulfillment.  But humans are more important to God than we realize.  He is our Father who loves us, and although we were born into captivity, he sent Jesus to set the captives free. We can refuse freedom through Jesus, or we can freely receive what he made available to us.  Our time on earth, in captivity, is a short time compared to eternity.  We should set our eyes on eternity, and live with that in mind, while setting other captives free. 

Monday, July 22, 2013

Chariots of Fire, Elijah and Enoch

Sometimes we look at sections of scripture, or hear stories preached, but we don’t get the full picture.  Typically, by no fault of the one preaching, there are different points to be made rather than the deep look into the context.  Our story of Elijah being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire has some interesting points.  And when we compare Elijah’s journey to Enoch’s journey, we find that they have many similarities.  Both men were great witnesses on the earth.  Both men spent their last days testifying of a soon to come Redeemer, and instructed those around them.  During both Enoch and Elijah’s last days on earth, the people around them knew they would be taken up to heaven.  Neither one of them left their physical body behind.  People looked for both of these men after being taken up but they could not be found.

When we look at these two events, we can see a bigger picture of each Elijah and Enoch.  Let’s start with Elijah. 

2 Kings 2:1-18 WHEN THE Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel. But Elisha replied, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.

The first place to notice is Gilgal, the place where Joshua encamped with the Israelites after crossing the Jordan before the battle at Jericho.  Gilgal was eight miles from Bethel, and one mile from Jericho. Elijah was sent by the Lord to Bethel and Elisha walked with him.  They were on a mission as we shall see a bit later.

2 Kings 2:3 The prophets' sons who were at Bethel came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? He said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.

All the prophets at Bethel knew Elijah was going to be taken up in a whirlwind and chariot of fire.  Elisha also knew.  How is it that God told everyone who was important to Elijah that he was going to be taken to heaven in a whirlwind? They then walked to Jericho. 

2 Kings 2:4 Elijah said to him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? And he answered, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.

All the prophets in Jericho knew Elijah was going to be taken to heaven by God as well.  Elijah then crosses the Jordan.

2 Kings 2:6 Elijah said to him, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And the two of them went on.

Elisha is determined to stick with Elijah, and the prophets at Jericho walk with them to watch Elijah and Elisha leave.

2 Kings 2:7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood [to watch] afar off; and the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up and struck the waters, and they divided this way and that, so that the two of them went over on dry ground. 9 And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. 10 He said, You have asked a hard thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you — but if not, it shall not be so.

Elisha’s boldness to ask for double portion is a good example for us to ask God for things.  Here, the next two verses tell of Elijah going up in a chariot of fire and a whirlwind.  There are no clues from the text that will give us further insight regarding Elijah being taken alive, but we should look at the words anyway.

2 Kings 2:11 As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire parted the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Fire OT:784 'esh —a fire  a) a fire, flames   b) a supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)  c) a fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)   d) an altar-fire   e) God's anger (figurative)(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)

Whirlwind OT:5591 ca`ar or (fem.) ce`arah —a tempest, a storm, a whirlwind; a tempest(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)

Heaven OT:8064 shamayim (shaw-mah'-yim); dual of an unused singular shameh (shaw-meh'); from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve): KJV - air,  astrologer, heaven (-s).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

While this word for whirlwind is not the same as in Ezekiel, it still may be that the same whirlwind, or wheel, or Ophan that comes and goes and transports the glory of God, the very same ones that Saul made bronze statues to hold the lavers, are one in the same. Regular storms do not separate two people walking together, and take one to heaven, leaving the other behind unscathed.  The Ophanim are the ones who come like a whirlwind with the Cherubim as we have previously studied.    http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/04/ophanim-ezekiels-wheels-enochs.html

2 Kings 2:12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Chariot OT:7393 rekeb —a team, a chariot, chariotry, a millstone, riders  a) chariotry, chariots   b) a chariot (single)   c) upper millstone (as riding on a lower millstone)   d) riders, troop (of riders), horsemen, a pair of horsemen, men riding, donkey-riders, camel-riders  (from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)

Horsemen OT:6571 parash —1) a horse, a steed, a warhorse     2) a horseman  (from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)

2 Kings 2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 And he took the mantle that fell from Elijah and struck the waters and said, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? And when he had struck the waters, they parted this way and that, and Elisha went over. 15 When the sons of the prophets who were [watching] at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

The prophets were still watching; they may not have been able to see everything well, but they saw Elijah and Elisha walk away.  They saw Elijah go up, and then they saw Elisha with Elijah’s mantle cross the Jordan on dry ground.  The prophets thought maybe the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, took Elijah to another region.  They wanted to check the mountains. This tells us they may have seen the whirlwind moving over the mountains as it left.

2 Kings 2:16 And they said to him, Behold now, there are among your servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray you, and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley. And he said, You shall not send. 17 But when they urged him till he was embarrassed, he said, Send. So they sent fifty men, who sought for three days but did not find him. 18 When they returned to Elisha, who had waited at Jericho, he said to them, Did I not tell you, Do not go? AMP

The Bible tells us of Enoch going to heaven as well. Enoch walked in habitual fellowship with God.  He was translated to give repentance to the nations.  That sounds like he will be preaching repentance when he comes during the tribulation.

Gen 5:22-24 Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him]. [Heb 11:5.] AMP

Ecclus 44:16-17 Henoch [Enoch] pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he may give repentance to the nations.17 Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation.Douay-Rheims

Ecclus 49:16 No man was born upon earth like Henoch [Enoch]: for he also was taken up from the earth.Douay-Rheims

Heb 11:5 Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God. [Gen 5:21-24.] AMP

Jude 14-15 It was of these people, moreover, that Enoch in the seventh [generation] from Adam prophesied when he said, Behold, the Lord comes with His myriads of holy ones (ten thousands of His saints) 15 To execute judgment upon all and to convict all the impious (unholy ones) of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed [in such an] ungodly [way], and of all the severe (abusive, jarring) things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. AMP

Enoch did not glimpse death.  He also wrote of the future last generation. Enoch had a similar experience to Elijah, but Enoch’s experience was before the flood. Weather conditions before the flood were different compared to after the flood.

Jasher 3:23 And in some time after, when the kings and princes and the sons of men were speaking to Enoch, and Enoch was teaching them the ways of God, behold an angel of the Lord then called unto Enoch from heaven, and wished to bring him up to heaven to make him reign there over the sons of God, as he had reigned over the sons of men upon earth. 24 When at that time Enoch heard this he went and assembled all the inhabitants of the earth, and taught them wisdom and knowledge and gave them divine instructions, and he said to them, I have been required to ascend into heaven, I therefore do not know the day of my going.

The Angel of the Lord told Enoch ahead of time that he would like to take him up to heaven.  Remember, Enoch had already been to heaven. He petitioned God for the fallen angels, saw the different levels of heaven, and wrote and told everyone on earth about what he saw. Therefore this is not a “new” experience for Enoch.  This is actually a repeat experience and therefore he was not concerned.  This time Enoch was told he would be leaving and Enoch told everyone else. Enoch was from the only believing line of people on earth, and his family line was going to change with the coming flood.  For all those who died before the flood, if they believed in the coming Messiah they would have been among the redeemed. We previously looked at Enoch’s prophecies of the future Messiah.  http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/04/enoch-foretells-jesus-coming-how.html

For those who didn’t believe, they would die in the flood with no chance for redemption when the dead in Christ rise.  As we also previously studied, Jesus took the believing line from Adam out of Sheol, and into Paradise. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-mysteries-of-hell.html  http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/03/hades-gehenna-abyss-paradise.html 
Enoch was the one to witness to the world and we see next that he organized the kings and rulers of the world so that he could teach them. That so many people came to learn from Enoch is impressive. People wanted to know about God, and Enoch had the first hand experience to instruct them in their conduct on earth.

Jasher 3:25 And now therefore I will teach you wisdom and knowledge and will give you instruction before I leave you, how to act upon earth whereby you may live; and he did so. 26 And he taught them wisdom and knowledge, and gave them instruction, and he reproved them, and he placed before them statutes and judgments to do upon earth, and he made peace amongst them, and he taught them everlasting life, and dwelt with them some time teaching them all these things.

He taught them everlasting life, eternal life.  He taught them about the Messiah.  This is the way people were saved before Christ came to earth; they had to believe in the Redeemer.  Remember how Job testified of Him?  Job 19:25-26 For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He [the Last One] will stand upon the earth. [Isa 44:6; 48:12.] 26 And after my skin, even this body, has been destroyed, then from my flesh or without it I shall see God, AMP.  While he was speaking to the men of earth a horse came from heaven.

Jasher 3:27 And at that time the sons of men were with Enoch, and Enoch was speaking to them, and they lifted up their eyes and the likeness of a great horse descended from heaven, and the horse paced in the air; 28 And they told Enoch what they had seen, and Enoch said to them, On my account does this horse descend upon earth; the time is come when I must go from you and I shall no more be seen by you.29 And the horse descended at that time and stood before Enoch, and all the sons of men that were with Enoch saw him. 30And Enoch then again ordered a voice to be proclaimed, saying, Where is the man who delighteth to know the ways of the Lord his God, let him come this day to Enoch before he is taken from us. 31 And all the sons of men assembled and came to Enoch that day; and all the kings of the earth with their princes and counsellors remained with him that day; and Enoch then taught the sons of men wisdom and knowledge, and gave them divine instruction; and he bade them serve the Lord and walk in his ways all the days of their lives, and he continued to make peace amongst them.

As Elijah went from Gilgal to Bethel, and back to Jericho before crossing the Jordan, Enoch had to wrap up a few things as well.  The prophets in Bethel and Jericho knew Elijah was being taken up that day, we don’t know how they knew, but maybe Elijah told them before hand, just as Enoch told everyone beforehand. When Enoch wanted to leave, a lot of men followed; similarly, Elisha followed Elijah, and the fifty prophets went and watched from a distance.  

Jasher 3:32 And it was after this that he rose up and rode upon the horse; and he went forth and all the sons of men went after him, about eight hundred thousand men; and they went with him one day's journey. 33 And the second day he said to them, Return home to your tents, why will you go? perhaps you may die; and some of them went from him, and those that remained went with him six day's journey; and Enoch said to them every day, Return to your tents, lest you may die; but they were not willing to return, and they went with him. 34 And on the sixth day some of the men remained and clung to him, and they said to him, We will go with thee to the place where thou goest; as the Lord liveth, death only shall separate us. 35 And they urged so much to go with him, that he ceased speaking to them; and they went after him and would not return; 36 And when the kings returned they caused a census to be taken, in order to know the number of remaining men that went with Enoch; and it was upon the seventh day that Enoch ascended into heaven in a whirlwind, with horses and chariots of fire.

The same way Elijah went up in a whirlwind and chariots of fire, Enoch had gone up. Possibly the same Ophanim came and transported Enoch away.  In the book of Enoch, Enoch mentions the Ophanim by name in several places.

Jasher 3:37 And on the eighth day all the kings that had been with Enoch sent to bring back the number of men that were with Enoch, in that place from which he ascended into heaven. 38 And all those kings went to the place and they found the earth there filled with snow, and upon the snow were large stones of snow, and one said to the other, Come, let us break through the snow and see, perhaps the men that remained with Enoch are dead, and are now under the stones of snow, and they searched but could not find him, for he had ascended into heaven.

The men that clung to Enoch were gone, maybe under the snow, but Enoch had ascended up into heaven.  Maybe the men went with him, as they never found the missing men. Enoch traveled six days by horse to get away from as many men as possible.  On the seventh day he went up, and one day later, the eighth day, the kings sent other men to go get the men that were with Enoch. Is it possible that the kings saw them all afar off, on a mountain?

What was happening on the land that Enoch and the men left? Large stones of snow or large snow balls are different than hail. Hail is dirt and ice, large stones of snow sounds more like graupel, or large snow pellets.  Being that they are in the northern hemisphere, it is possible that this six day journey heading north was in the winter. Or did they head up into the mountains with a cooler climate due to altitude?  Remember this was before the flood; there hadn’t been any rain before the flood.  The ground was watered by dew that came up from the ground.  Is it possible that large snowballs accumulated from the ground up, not the atmosphere down?  There is however another possibility, the chariots of fire and the whirlwind could have sucked up water that was on the earth and it then fell back down to earth, it fell as large snow balls.  We don’t know for sure, but similar conditions may have also happened with Elijah, and that may have been why the prophets thought the Spirit of the Lord dropped Elijah somewhere else.  They may have seen a whirlwind or tornado move across the mountains. It is rare, but there are some tornados and water spouts that occur over mountains.  This could be why the kings of the earth sent people to find the men that went with Enoch; they saw where they had been.

From the fragments of Noah we have the account of Enoch’s translation.

LXX. The Final Translation of Enoch. CHAPTER LXX.1. And it came to pass after this that his name during his lifetime was raised aloft to that Son of Man and to the Lord of Spirits from amongst those who dwell on the earth. 2. And he was raised aloft on the chariots of the spirit and his name vanished among them. 3. And from that day I was no longer numbered amongst them: and he set me between the two winds, between the North and the West, where the angels took the cords to measure for me the place for the elect and righteous. 4. And there I saw the first fathers and the righteous who from the beginning dwell in that place.

Enoch was raised up on the chariots of the spirit to the Son of Man.

We have a bit of a clue as to what Elijah was doing before he left when he went to visit the prophets in Bethel and Jericho.  2Chronicles tells us of a letter to Jehoram that was from Elijah, but after Elijah was taken up to heaven.  It would seem that Elijah had a letter scribed and had given some of the prophets direction as to when to deliver it to Jehoram. It seems as if the Lord had something important and prophetic for Elijah to do before leaving.

2 Chron 21:7-20 But the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because He had made a covenant with David and promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever. 8 In Jehoram's days, the Edomites revolted from the rule of Judah and set up for themselves a king. 9 Then Jehoram passed over [the Jordan] with his captains and all his chariots, and rose up by night and smote the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot captains. 10 So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. Then Libnah also revolted from Jehoram's rule, because he had forsaken the Lord, the God of his fathers. 11 Moreover, he made idolatrous high places in the hill country of Judah and debauched spiritually the inhabitants of Jerusalem and led Judah astray [compelling the people's cooperation]. 12 And there came a letter to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father [forefather]: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 But have walked in the ways of Israel's kings, and made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem play the harlot like the [spiritual] harlotry of Ahab's house, and also have slain your brothers of your father's house, who were better than you, 14 Behold, the Lord will smite your people, and your children, your wives, and all your possessions with a great plague. 15 And you yourself shall have a severe illness because of an intestinal disease, until your bowels fall out because of the sickness, day after day. 16 And the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the anger of the Philistines and of the Arabs who were near the Ethiopians. 17 They came against Judah, invaded it, and carried away all the possessions found in and around the king's house, together with his sons and his wives; so there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest. 18 And after all this, the Lord smote [Jehoram] with an incurable intestinal disease. 19 In process of time, after two years, his bowels fell out because of his disease. So he died in severe distress. And his people made no funeral fire to honor him, like the fires for his fathers. 20 Thirty-two years old was Jehoram when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being wanted. Yet they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. AMP

Since Jehoram behaved like the northern kings by forsaking the Lord, there was a message sent to him from the Lord Yahweh via Elijah. Elijah’s fame would have been known in the southern kingdom as to the miracles done in the north where Elijah mostly stayed.  And how profound would it be for the southern King to receive a prophetic message from Elijah regarding his end.  Think about Ahab and Jezebel’s end. It must have been a disgusting end for Jehoram; it sounds like a severe case of dysentery. And as he would have had to have servants cleaning his pants and his pots, it probably would have infected others as well.    

Josephus tells us a bit more.

Josephus Book 9 Chapter 2:2. Accordingly the king in a very little time died, as Elijah had foretold; but Jehoram his brother succeeded him in the kingdom, for he died without children: but for this Jehoram, he was like his father Ahab in wickedness, and reigned twelve years, indulging himself in all sorts of wickedness and impiety towards God, for, leaving off his worship, he worshipped foreign gods; but in other respects he was an active man. Now at this time it was that Elijah disappeared from among men, and no one knows of his death to this very day; but he left behind him his disciple Elisha, as we have formerly declared. And indeed, as to Elijah, and as to Enoch, who was before the deluge, it is written in the sacred books that they disappeared, but so that nobody knew that they died.

As we also have previously studied the two witnesses who come back for the first three and one half years of the tribulation, we have a conclusion to Elijah’s story.  We know he will come back before the Day of the Lord, the day Jesus comes back with His armies to earth.  We know the two witnesses come to earth to witness after the dead in Christ rise, and those who are alive are caught up with them.  Once the witnesses are killed, Jesus is crowned as King and the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ’s. Malachi tells us Elijah comes back.  The reason Elijah and Enoch must be the two witnesses, as we have studied, is that these are the only two men in biblical history that still have their bodies.   http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/03/benchmarks-for-end-two-witnesses.html
 No one else who has died has a body, the bodies of the dead have corrupted, which is why the corrupted have to put on incorruption, and the mortal has to put on immortality.  Hence the need for the gathering together, so that Jesus’ armies can come back and have supernatural bodies as Joel tells us about.

Mal 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. [Matt 11:14; 17:10-13.] 6 And he shall turn and reconcile the hearts of the [estranged] fathers to the [ungodly] children, and the hearts of the [rebellious] children to [the piety of] their fathers [a reconciliation produced by repentance of the ungodly], lest I come and smite the land with a curse and a ban of utter destruction. [Luke 1:17.] AMP

Elijah and Enoch were the two greatest witnesses of the Creator of the Universe to the people of earth.  These two men had similar experiences leaving earth, going up, not down into the grave.  They are the two people that have bodies that will be killed by Apollyon/Abaddon, aka Gog the locust king. After being dead for three days and their bodies left in the streets, (probably after witnessing in the grave as Jesus did for three days and three nights) they will rise to the amazement of the entire earth. 


If these men went up in a whirlwind and a chariot of fire with fiery horses, is it possible that they will come back to earth the same way? We may not know as the saints will be in heaven, but it is something to think about.  What we do know is that it was not a surprise or a sudden event, both men knew ahead of time they were leaving as well as the others who knew them.  We also know that the whirlwind was visible to others.  From their lives on earth, they both were important witnesses to the redeeming of people, by instruction and miracles. It is no wonder God chose them to live with Him until they are to come back and witness in the last days.