Enoch and Elijah

[Andrew]

What? Where did you read that Elijah was incarnated into John the Baptist?

Jesus said that John was Elijah, Malachi predicted Elijah's return before the coming of the Messiah.

Not sure if it's incarnation but how else do we explain it?

 

[Faith]

3 heavens

1rst. Sky
2nd. Space
3rd. Throne of God

The 3rd heaven is Heaven (capital H), its not located in space/universe (thats the 2nd heaven)

So it’s like in a different realm or dimension? Like beyond space and the universe?

 

[Faith]

Jesus said that John was Elijah, Malachi predicted Elijah's return before the coming of the Messiah.

Not sure if it's incarnation but how else do we explain it?

I dunno, this is way over my head.

 

[Andrew]

So it’s like in a different realm or dimension?

Probably, we are grounded here on Earth and see through a glass darkly.. I couldn't tell you where the sky ends and the heavens begin, all I know is that everything will become new, a brand new universe so to speak

 

[Lamb]

Jesus said that John was Elijah, Malachi predicted Elijah's return before the coming of the Messiah.

Not sure if it's incarnation but how else do we explain it?

You're taking something literal that wasn't meant to be. John isn't the literal return of Elijah!

 

[Andrew]

You're taking something literal that wasn't meant to be. John isn't the literal return of Elijah!

The Spirit of Elijah? a literal spirit in a person or metaphorical spirit in a person?

 

[Lamb]

The Spirit of Elijah? a literal spirit in a person or metaphorical spirit in a person?

What was meant is that what Elijah preached about repentance is where John picked up in his ministry.

 

[Faith]

You're taking something literal that wasn't meant to be. John isn't the literal return of Elijah!

I didn’t think so.

 

[Lamb]

I didn’t think so.

Exactly because Christians don't believe in reincarnation!

 

[Faith]

Exactly because Christians don't believe in reincarnation!

Good point

 

[Andrew]

I said incarnation as in the Spirit of Elijah being incarnated through John, I never said anything about reincarnation

 

[Lamb]

I said incarnation as in the Spirit of Elijah being incarnated through John, I never said anything about reincarnation

John did not have the actual Spirit of Elijah within him. John even answered that he was NOT Elijah:
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

 

[Andrew]

John did not have the actual Spirit of Elijah within him. John even answered that he was NOT Elijah:
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

I know that, I even mentioned it earlier, I only meant that according to Jesus He refers to Elijah as John the Baptist.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:10-13

 

[Lamb]

I know that, I even mentioned it earlier, I only meant that according to Jesus He refers to Elijah as John the Baptist.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:10-13

He refers to him as that because John's ministry was about repentance.

 

[Joshua1Eight]

The spirt of Elijah could be compared to the mantle of Elijah.

 

[Pedrito]

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This being a Lutheran thread, I will share no thoughts here on the subject being discussed.

However, I suggest that the Bible itself may have something to say directly, as well as something to offer people who follow the 'weaned from milk' principle (Isaiah 28:9,10), regarding what actually happened to Enoch and Elijah.

If anyone would like to pursue that possibility (as opposed to continuing the metaphysical rumination on the whereabouts of Heaven), they could start an appropriately named thread in the Christian Theology section.

I will be happy to table information for general review in such a thread.

I do not intend to start a thread myself. But I will present that information if someone else is interested enough to so request it.

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