And when You Die Your 1st Stop Ain't Heaven I don't care what you Believe, or What they told You. you are going to the grave

[Hekuran]

Consider these words please:

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Joh_17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

In other words, when Jesus returns in the second coming, the great first resurrection occurs, and those alive still are "caught up together" "in the clouds" to "meet the Lord (Jesus) in "the air", and "God" (the Father) will "bring with" Jesus all those persons back to Heaven (3rd), where Jesus came from. He had already taken some to Heaven in His resurrection and ascension:

Psa_68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Persons like Moses, Enoch and Elijah were already in Heaven (3rd), long before that.

Jesus had promised the thief on the cross next to Him, that he (the thief) would be "with" Jesus in "paradise" (3rd Heaven) after the first great resurrection at Jesus second coming.

Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Luk_23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day, shalt thou be with me in paradise.

You've added your own words (3rd heaven) to these passages. The texts do not mention heaven.

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

No man has ascended to Heaven.

But that is a misquotation of the text. It is taken out of context, and ignores the previous sentences, along with the connecting "kai" (and), and the fact that there is no period after"Heaven", but instead a continuing thought that connects to the previous verses. Look again please.

Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Here is the koine Greek, as needful:

Joh 3:12 ει τα επιγεια ειπον υμιν και ου πιστευετε πως εαν ειπω υμιν τα επουρανια πιστευσετε
Joh 3:13 και ουδεις αναβεβηκεν εις τον ουρανον ει μη ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας ο υιος του ανθρωπου ο ων εν τω ουρανω

The "kai" completes the thought from vs 12, which continued from vss 1-11, for instance, "no man can do these miracles (which originate from Heaven" (vs 2), "born again", "kingdom of God" (vs 3), "born again", "Spirit", "kingdom of God" (vs 5), "born of the Spirit" (vs 6), "born again" (vs 7), "the wind", "born of the Spirit" (vs 8), "How can these things be?" (vs 9), "these things" (vs 10), "we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness (of Heavenly things)" (vs 11), "heavenly things" (vs 12), "eternal life" (vs 15) and further on into vss 16-21.

The entire context is not about anyone not simply entering Heaven. The entire context is about Heavenly "things", and that no man (no one) went up to heaven to obtain those things, but rather, God (the Father, vs 16) sent the Son from Heaven, and He descended with those things for mankind who needed them, and could obtain them no other way.

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

You've added your own words (3rd heaven) to these passages. The texts do not mention heaven.

The word "paradise" refers to the "third heaven", in classic scriptural parallelism:

2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

I have a lot more, from the original languages themselves, as well as the English (KJB) also, as needful.

 

[Butch5]

But that is a misquotation of the text. It is taken out of context, and ignores the previous sentences, along with the connecting "kai" (and), and the fact that there is no period after"Heaven", but instead a continuing thought that connects to the previous verses. Look again please.

Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Here is the koine Greek, as needful:

Joh 3:12 ει τα επιγεια ειπον υμιν και ου πιστευετε πως εαν ειπω υμιν τα επουρανια πιστευσετε
Joh 3:13 και ουδεις αναβεβηκεν εις τον ουρανον ει μη ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας ο υιος του ανθρωπου ο ων εν τω ουρανω

The "kai" completes the thought from vs 12, which continued from vss 1-11, for instance, "no man can do these miracles (which originate from Heaven" (vs 2), "born again", "kingdom of God" (vs 3), "born again", "Spirit", "kingdom of God" (vs 5), "born of the Spirit" (vs 6), "born again" (vs 7), "the wind", "born of the Spirit" (vs 8), "How can these things be?" (vs 9), "these things" (vs 10), "we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness (of Heavenly things)" (vs 11), "heavenly things" (vs 12), "eternal life" (vs 15) and further on into vss 16-21.

The entire context is not about anyone not simply entering Heaven. The entire context is about Heavenly "things", and that no man (no one) went up to heaven to obtain those things, but rather, God (the Father, vs 16) sent the Son from Heaven, and He descended with those things for mankind who needed them, and could obtain them no other way.

The context is Heavenly things, yes. But, He didn't say no one has ascended to get those heavenly things. He said no man except Jesus has ascended. The fact that there isn't a single passage of Scripture that says people go to Heaven makes your interpretation highly unlikely.

 

[PloughBoy]

But that is a misquotation of the text. It is taken out of context, and ignores the previous sentences, along with the connecting "kai" (and), and the fact that there is no period after"Heaven", but instead a continuing thought that connects to the previous verses. Look again please.

Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Here is the koine Greek, as needful:

Joh 3:12 ει τα επιγεια ειπον υμιν και ου πιστευετε πως εαν ειπω υμιν τα επουρανια πιστευσετε
Joh 3:13 και ουδεις αναβεβηκεν εις τον ουρανον ει μη ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας ο υιος του ανθρωπου ο ων εν τω ουρανω

The "kai" completes the thought from vs 12, which continued from vss 1-11, for instance, "no man can do these miracles (which originate from Heaven" (vs 2), "born again", "kingdom of God" (vs 3), "born again", "Spirit", "kingdom of God" (vs 5), "born of the Spirit" (vs 6), "born again" (vs 7), "the wind", "born of the Spirit" (vs 8), "How can these things be?" (vs 9), "these things" (vs 10), "we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness (of Heavenly things)" (vs 11), "heavenly things" (vs 12), "eternal life" (vs 15) and further on into vss 16-21.

The entire context is not about anyone not simply entering Heaven. The entire context is about Heavenly "things", and that no man (no one) went up to heaven to obtain those things, but rather, God (the Father, vs 16) sent the Son from Heaven, and He descended with those things for mankind who needed them, and could obtain them no other way.

You act like you can speak Koine Greek, how many year did it take you to speak it?

 

[Butch5]

The word "paradise" refers to the "third heaven", in classic scriptural parallelism:

2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

I have a lot more, from the original languages themselves, as well as the English (KJB) also, as needful.

So Paul saw a vision he called the 3rd heaven and paradise. Paradise is a garden. That paradise will be on earth. The garden of Eden was also a paradise. Jesus said He would give to eat from the Tree of life which is in the Paradise of God. That's the garden of Eden when the earth is restored.

 

[Hekuran]

The word "paradise" refers to the "third heaven", in classic scriptural parallelism:

2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

I have a lot more, from the original languages themselves, as well as the English (KJB) also, as needful.

I'm a Bible guy, so youd need to show me from the Bible what the Bible says. Classical scriptural parallelism won't do.

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

He said no man except Jesus has ascended.

Think about what you just said. Jesus was sitting on earth right then and wouldn't ascend until after His resurrection. See Ephesians 4:9-10.

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

I'm a Bible guy, so youd need to show me from the Bible what the Bible says. Classical scriptural parallelism won't do.

Isaiah 28:10,13. Parallelism is how scripture works even at a fundamental level. In essence, it is the structure of the 'bones' of scripture. Chiasmus, epanados, etc abound from Genesis to Revelation.

 

[Butch5]

Think about what you just said. Jesus was sitting on earth right then and wouldn't ascend until after His resurrection. See Ephesians 4:9-10.

Did Jesus say that or is it John's commentary? If it's John commentary then it fits nicely because when John wrote Jesus had ascended.

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

I'm a Bible guy, so youd need to show me from the Bible what the Bible says. Classical scriptural parallelism won't do.

I gave the scripture, and it was in plain English. Notice again please:

2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Notice, the same words which exist alongside the words under consideration.

[1a] such an one
[2a] caught up
[3a] to
[4a] the third heaven

[1b] he was
[2b] caught up
[3b] into
[4b] paradise

Paul did not suddenly start speaking of a differing location, he simply used another word (as like in a thesaurus) to describe the same place. This takes place all through scripture.

For instance:

Isaiah 24 and Revelation 19-22 parallelism (short notes):

World Destroyed - Isaiah 24:1-20
High Ones on High - Isaiah 24:21
Kings of the Earth - Isaiah 24:21
Prisoners in the Pit - Isaiah 24:22
Many Days - Isaiah 24:22
New Jerusalem/Zion - Isaiah 24:23
Reign Gloriously - Isaiah 24:23
Sun and Moon Ashamed - Isaiah 24:23
Remnant - Isaiah 4:3
Ancients - Isaiah 24:23

World Destroyed - Revelation 19:11-21; 16:18-21
Satan - Revelation 20:1-2
Kings - Revelation 19:19
Prison/Pit - Revelation 20:1-2
The Thousand Years - Revelation 20:1,2,3,4,5,6,7
New Jerusalem/Zion - Revelation 21:2
King of Kings - Revelation 19:11,16
No Need of Sun or Moon - Revelation 21:23
Remnant - Revelation 22:14
Heavenly Elders Council - Job 1-2; Revelation 4:4,10, 5:5,6,8,11,14, 7:11,13, 11:16,14:3, 19:4

Thus the "Ancients" are the "Elders" of Revelation, and the word "Ancient" simply means one who is Elder.

Another example:

1Jn_1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

[A] which we have seen with our eyes
which we have looked upon

There is even a greater parallelism in the text itself, as it mirrors itself from beginning to end.

Another example:

Isa_43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

[A.] I have created him,
[B.] I have formed him,
[C.] I have made him.

Another example:

1Jn_1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

[A.] God is light
[B.] in him is no darkness at all

Another example:

1Pe_3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
1Pe_3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

[A.] let him refrain his tongue from evil
[B.] let him eschew evil

[A.] let him seek peace
[B.] ensue it

What does "eschew" mean? What does "ensue" mean?

Another, more complex:

Jdg_9:2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
Jdg_9:4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
Jdg_9:5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
Jdg_9:18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother
Jdg_9:24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
Jdg_9:56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

[A.] threescore and ten sons
[B.] his sons, threescore and ten persons
[C.] threescore and ten sons
[D.] seventy brethren

With this, we can even see how the Bible defines “score”, as twenty. Consider:

threescore and ten = seventy (by parallelism)

subtract, “take away” [Proverbs 25:4], “ten” from both sides; for the “ways of the LORD are equal” [Ezekiel 18:25] and “my [the LORD's] ways equal” [Ezekiel 18:29].

threescore and ten “take away” ten = seventy “take away” ten

threescore = sixty

then “rightly divide” [2 Timothy 2:15] both sides by “three”, keeping them in equality.

threescore divided by three = sixty divided by three

score = twenty

Didn't even need a dictionary, nor Abraham Lincoln [fourscore and seven years ago...]

[A.] slew his brethren
[B.] slain his sons
[C.] the cruelty done to … sons
[D.] slew them … in the killing of his brethren
[E.] the wickedness … in slaying … brethren

A different example, one about “meter”, a musical sound, or cadence, movement, accenting upon certain portions of words, which make for easier memorization:

Psa_73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

[A] 'Iambic' meter [there are many types of 'meter', this is one example]

But as … … for me, … …
my feet … … were al … … most gone:
my steps … … had well … … nigh slipped.

The accent is on the second words. In fact, raise your hand in a chopping motion and follow along, raising the hand on the first word, lowering on the second word, and see how it 'bounces' along, making for easy memorization.

This works really well in the psalms, since they are written for music, but it is also found in many other places in scripture. Notice, also the syllable locations and notice their parallels:

[A.] my feet
[B.] my steps

[A.] were almost gone
[B.] had well nigh slipped.

Try some other ones, like Isaiah 14:12; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 2:22, etc. One will find Rhythm, Cadence, Meter, Parallels, Syllable matching, Repetition, etc.

Parallelism is how God defines His own words in scripture. The scripture it it's own expositor, thesaurus, dictionary, math tables, alphabet, etc.

I have many more examples in both parallelism, as well as meter, etc.

For instance, I can show that Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 are speaking of the same things by their parallel language use. I can show the parallelism in Daniel and Revelation, and Daniel with Revelation. Would you like to see this?

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

Did Jesus say that or is it John's commentary? If it's John commentary then it fits nicely because when John wrote Jesus had ascended.

If you do not believe Jesus said it, in the midst of the conversation with Nicodemus, and have to resort to this type of faulty reasoning (as if it were an interpolation by John), I can not present any further evidence to you, for no matter what is presented, this same type of reasoning will discard all evidence contrary to your own a priori belief. In other words, you make up differing rules to suit your argument, which always are adjusted as needed to keep your a priori in tact, though when compared in every place that you do and do not do this, contradiction will be found.

 

[PloughBoy]

The word "paradise" refers to the "third heaven", in classic scriptural parallelism:

2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

I have a lot more, from the original languages themselves, as well as the English (KJB) also, as needful.

" classic scriptural parallelism:" really LOL! Here we go! Paradise:= third heaven< LOL, i can't stop, LOL, Please so one help me. Forgive me please!
"Holy Scripture" concerning "The Original Copied Manuscript" ["The WORD of GOD"] is without error, "He was a mighty man of valor, But, Namaan was a Leper".

 

[Butch5]

If you do not believe Jesus said it, in the midst of the conversation with Nicodemus, and have to resort to this type of faulty reasoning (as if it were an interpolation by John), I can not present any further evidence to you, for no matter what is presented, this same type of reasoning will discard all evidence contrary to your own a priori belief. In other words, you make up differing rules to suit your argument, which always are adjusted as needed to keep your a priori in tact, though when compared in every place that you do and do not do this, contradiction will be found.

That's a bunch of nonsense. You can ask anyone on this board, I'm all about logic and reason. I give well formed and logical arguments that are based in Scripture. I find it kind of funny that you simply dismissed my question without any address. Could it be maybe that you don't have an argument? Why couldn't the statement be John's commentary? Obviously, as you pointed out, Jesus was on earth and not in Heaven. How could He say He was in Heaven when He was on earth? Even if we accept your heavenly things interpretation, you still have the same problem, Jesus hadn't ascended.

Also, your premise hasn't been established either. Can you show me where people go to Heaven?

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

So Paul saw a vision he called the 3rd heaven and paradise. Paradise is a garden. That paradise will be on earth. The garden of Eden was also a paradise. Jesus said He would give to eat from the Tree of life which is in the Paradise of God. That's the garden of Eden when the earth is restored.

"caught up" is not "caught into". Up is directional. See also 1 Thessalonians 4:17, "caught up", "air", "clouds"; Revelation 12:5, "caught up", "to his (God's, the Father) throne" .

Paradise/Eden is in the Third Heaven at the moment, since it began there (Ezekiel 28:13), and the one on earth (Genesis 2) was "planted" from that original one in Heaven. In fact, God took that one on earth back into Heaven just before the flood, and thus is seen in the Third Heaven in Revelation.

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

I give well formed and logical arguments that are based in Scripture.

Presently you just gave an option (interpolation of John in John 3), of your own making, based on evidenceless conjecture.

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

How could He say He was in Heaven when He was on earth?

Read the context. He was talking about his spirit/mind/heart and where it always dwelled in (heavenly things, see vs 11), not His physical body/person, which was sitting right there with Nicodemus. It was a contrast of the carnal (Nicodemus) mind (vs 4) to Jesus' own mind (which is always dwelling on His Father in Heaven, always dwelling upon doing His Father's will in Heaven).

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Thus the "we" speak. This refers to Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the context.

See also:

Php_3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Eph_2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom_8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

 

[Butch5]

Read the context. He was talking about his spirit/mind/heart and where it always dwelled in (heavenly things, see vs 11), not His physical body/person, which was sitting right there with Nicodemus. It was a contrast of the carnal (Nicodemus) mind (vs 4) to Jesus' own mind (which is always dwelling on His Father in Heaven, always dwelling upon doing His Father's will in Heaven).

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Thus the "we" speak. This refers to Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the context.

See also:

Php_3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Eph_2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom_8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

You're talking about context yet jumping all over the Bible. So, are you saying Jesus was metaphorically in Heaven? If so, that's an interpretation. Why is your interpretation allowed but mine not?

 

[Butch5]

Read the context. He was talking about his spirit/mind/heart and where it always dwelled in (heavenly things, see vs 11), not His physical body/person, which was sitting right there with Nicodemus. It was a contrast of the carnal (Nicodemus) mind (vs 4) to Jesus' own mind (which is always dwelling on His Father in Heaven, always dwelling upon doing His Father's will in Heaven).

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Thus the "we" speak. This refers to Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the context.

See also:

Php_3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Eph_2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom_8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Another question. If it's as you say and His heart/mind were in Heaven, how did He ascend? Are you saying He descended then His heart and mind ascended and are now in Heaven, but His body remained on earth. If His heart/mind is in Heaven metaphorically, what ascended?

It seems to me much easier to understand as John's commentary. He came down, went back up, and is there now. We can take the statement at face value rather than having to try to come up with something to make the statement work.

 

[Matthew ten Verseight]

He said no man except Jesus has ascended.

The Jews, who kept the "oracles of God", believed that Elijah was in Heaven (along with Enoch and Moses).

Mat_27:49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Mar 15:35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
Mar 15:36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

The disciples believed that Elijah and Moses were in Heaven, in glory:

Luk_9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Luk 9:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

2Pe_1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Elisha knew that Elijah could never be found on earth again (and didn't even want the sons of the prophets to go look for him on earth), after being "taken (caught) him up" (2 Kings 2:16), "went up", into heaven" (2 Kings 2:11), "taken from thee" (2 Kings 2:10), "taken away from thee" (2 Kings 2:9), "take away" (2 Kings 2:5), "take away" (2 Kings 2:3), "take up", "into Heaven" (2 Kings 2:1):

Consider the same words:

Act_1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
Act_1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.