The Rapture is when God transforms the living to eternal life without dying. Harpazo (Greek), rapturo (Latin) is caught up. Enoch and Elijah went from temporary life to eternal life. As a butterfly has a metamorphosis from caterpillar to cocoon to flight, Christians transform from mortal to immortal (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Believers are given the Spirit at salvation and rescued from impending disaster for a world of unbelievers (Isaiah 26:19-20, 21, 2 Peter 3:3-4, 7). Enoch & Elijah's raptures give hope for us in the Church living in the end of the End Times.

Enoch

Enoch lives before the flood (1656 AM/~2321 BC). He is the 7th generation from creation and Adam. His father is Jared and son is Methuselah (Genesis 5:18, 21-24, Luke 3:37). Noah (10th) and Abraham (20th) are his great-grandchildren. He lives from 622 to 987 AM (~3355-2990 BC).

Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him (Genesis 5:24).

In the Genesis genealogy, there is a verse about Enoch's rapture. At the turn of the first millennium, population and evil keep increasing until the great flood. Despite worldly pressure, Enoch is faithful and walks with God. Hebrews faith chapter says Enoch pleased God so he was raptured without dying. Jesus Christ was sacrificed for sin, returns a second time for salvation, delivering his people from judgment (Hebrews 9:28).

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:5-6).

Jude, brother of Jesus Christ and James, says Enoch describes the Second Coming judgment of the ungodly. Enoch misses death and the flood as the living are raptured and miss the Tribulation.

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him (Jude 1:14-15).

Elijah

In ~906 BC (3071 AM), Ahab rules in the northern kingdom of Israel. He marries Jezebel of Sidon who brings idol worship to Israel (1 Kings 16:29-30, 31-32). Elijah the prophet ministers in Israel and in ~893 BC, he confronts Ahab about idolatry and stops the rain (1 Kings 17:1).

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit (James 5:17-18).

After 3½ years, God tells Elijah to go back to Ahab. There is a contest between the 450 priests of Baal and Elijah (1 Kings 18:19-20, 21, 24). Each would prepare a sacrifice on alters but not add fire. The one who brings fire from heaven is the true God.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou are the Lord God, and that thou have turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God (1 Kings 18:37-39).

After God gave the great victory and 450 priests of Baal were killed, Elijah ends the drought (1 Kings 18:41-43, 44-45). Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah. He runs over a hundred-twenty miles from Mt. Carmel to Barsheba in southern Judah. He was fearful, hungry, tired, lonely and depressed. God provides food and water then meets him at Mt. Horeb to give him an assistant, Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-20, 21)

After six years, God tells Elijah that he will rapture without dying (2 Kings 2:1). Three times, Elijah tells Elisha to stay but he was loyal and would not leave. The sons of the prophets in Gilgal and Jerico knew Elijah was about be raptured (2 Kings 2:3, 5). They knew the day but not the hour.

Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you; for the Lord has sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you (1 Kings 2:1-2).

Later, Elijah asks Elisha what he wants for a final request. Elisha asks for a double portion of the Spirit. Elijah says if you see me taken up, then you will receive double.

It came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken away from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. And he said, You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so unto you; but if not, it shall not be so (2 Kings 2:9-10).

There appears horses and chariot of fire. Elijah when up by a whirlwind into heaven and Elisha saw him rise and disappear. Then Elisha tore his clothes and put on the coat of Elijah. The Bible records eight miracles for Elijah and sixteen miracles for Elijah.

It came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen. And he saw him no more (2 Kings 2:11-12).

The disciples of Elijah taught: The world will continue for six thousand years, the first two thousand of which were a chaos, the second two thousand were of Torah, and the third two thousand are the days of the Messiah, and because of our sins many years of these have elapsed, still he has not come.
----Babylonian Talmud, Book 9, Chapter 1, 8th Century10

Elijah is the lead prophet in Israel history. Jesus Christ went to a mountain with Peter, James and John to reveal His divine glory. Moses and Elijah appear, representing the law and prophets (Matthew 17:1-3, 5). Jewish tradition at the Passover meal is to leave a seat for Elijah. John the Baptist begins his ministry in the spring to fulfill the prophecy as forerunner of Jesus Christ (Malachi 4:5-6). There are two witnesses in Revelation. Some scholars say they will be Enoch and Elijah or Moses and Elijah (Revelation 11:5).

The Rapture is when God transforms the living to eternal life. Enoch & Elijah are promises for Christians today. Those alive in Christ will be caught up to meet Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).

Miracles of Elijah and Elisha

Rapture vs Second Coming

Scripture describes the Rapture and Second Coming as two separate events. The following is a comprehensive list comparing what occurs before, during and after the beginning and end of the seven years of Tribulation.

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars & End Wars - Chapter 3: The Throne of God, Chapter 6: Symbols Revealed, Chapter 10: Seven Days of God, Chapter 11: The Feast of Trumpets, Chapter 12: Fall Jewish Feasts, Jewish Calendar, Revelation Outline, Covenant, Tribulation, Revelation, 21st Century View, Daniel, America, Cities, Resurrection, Timeline of the Tribulation