"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven" (John 3:13).
By taking this text and lifting it completely out of its context, the Jehovah's Witnesses claim that neither Elijah nor Moses are now in heaven, for "no man hath ascended up to heaven." This is not the point that Christ is trying to prove. He is not referring to either Elijah or Moses, nor is He trying to teach Nicodemus a truth as to who is in heaven. He is, however, referring to His authority to speak of heavenly truths, for He has been there and has come to earth to reveal the way to heaven.
To further prove their theory that Elijah is not in heaven, 2 Chronicles, chapter 21, is cited by the Jehovah's Witnesses to call attention to the letter which Elijah wrote to Jehoram, king of Judah (verse 12). This letter, according to the Witnesses, was writ ten several years after Elijah is supposed to have been taken to heaven. If 2 Chronicles 21 were written in precise chronological sequence, it would appear that they are correct. However, there is ample proof that it is not written in an exact chronological order and that the happenings of 2 Chronicles 21 cannot and do not follow in a true sequence of events.
In 2 Chronicles 21:5 it is stated that Jehoram of Judah came to the throne when he was thirty-two years of age. This would be about the year 848 B.C. at the death of his father, and also the fifth year of the reign of Jehoram of Israel. This is quite some time after the ascension of Elijah to heaven. Verse 12 of chapter 21 tells of the letter written by Elijah to Jehoram, king of Judah, which appears to cast doubt as to the whereabouts of Elijah. If Jehoram of Judah did receive the letter from Elijah at that time, then the prophet could not have been in heaven as alleged in the Witnesses' theory.
Before we accept such a conclusion concerning Elijah there are several other texts we must consider. One is 2 Kings 1:17. This text reveals that Jehoram of Israel began his reign during the second year of that of Jehoram of Judah. In comparing 2 Chronicles 21:5 with 2 Kings 1:17, we find what appears to be a conflict and also a difference of five years as to when Jehoram of Judah actually began to rule.
A careful study of the chronology of this period of history reveals the true picture of what happened and the time when Jehoram of Judah received from Elijah the letter of condemnation.
The accompanying chart shows that Jehoshaphat ruled the kingdom of Judah for twenty-five years, from 872 to 848 B.C., part of which was ruled jointly with his father, Asa (1 Kings 22:42).
Turning to 2 Kings 3:1 we find that Jehoram of Israel began his reign in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, about the year 852 B.C. Considering this text with 2 Kings 1:17 we find that this was also the second year of the reign of Jehoram of Judah, which places the beginning of the reign of Jehoram of Judah at approximately 854 B.C.
Thus the chart shows that Jehoram of Judah reigned with his father from 854 B.C. to the death of Jehoshaphat in 848 B.C.
Returning to 2 Chronicles 21 we can piece together the picture of what actually took place concerning Jehoram of Judah and the letter he received from Elijah.
2 Chronicles 21:1 tells of the death of Jehoshaphat and of his son coming into full power over Judah. Verse 3 tells what his father did before his death, revealing to us that all that is in the chapter is not re corded in chronological order. The father gave gifts of gold and silver to his sons, but to Jehoram he gave the kingdom. This was in the year 854 B.C. (See chart.)
2 Chronicles 21:4 tells of Jehoram's killing his brothers and also the princes of Israel in order to secure his rulership. The Jehovah's Witnesses think that this took place after the death of Jehoshaphat in 848 B.C. However, the Bible does not tell us exactly when he slew his brothers.
Jehoram of Judah could have killed his brothers through hired killers even while his father lived to make it look as though they were assassinated by an enemy, thus diverting the blame from himself.
What may not be seen by men is seen by God. He saw the cruel acts of Jehoram and revealed them to Elijah who had not yet ascended to heaven.
Elijah, under the influence of God, wrote to Jehoram the letter mentioned in 2 Chronicles 21:12 somewhere between 854 and 851 B.C. to reprove his crime and reveal the reward he was to reap.
Thus what seems to be proof that Elijah did not ascend to heaven, and a conflicting record of the reign of kings, proves to be only a chronological question easily answered by means of a chart.
The Bible speaks of those who wrest the Scriptures and here is an example of it. Let us be careful as students of God's Word that we ever rightly divide the word of truth.
