Question:
Can you name anyone who went to Heaven early & why they went early?
Answer:
We know of three people who were taken to heaven early. The first was Enoch, who the Bible says walked with God until he was 365 years old, and then God took him to heaven without dying, because he pleased God.
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
The second was the prophet Elijah, who was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot. No reason was given.
2 Kings 2:11 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.
The third person that God allowed to die, and then resurrected and took to heaven, was Moses. The reason we know that he is in heaven, is that he appeared with Elijah, when Jesus was transfigured. The book of Jude gives us just a glimpse of what happened when he was resurrected.
Matthew 17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Jude 9 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
We are not sure why God decided to take certain people to heaven, we’ll find that out when we get there ourselves. God bless!
