If no one but the Son of Man has gone to heaven, how could Enoch have gone to heaven?

Scripture: John 3:13
If no one but the Son of Man has gone to heaven, how could Enoch have gone to heaven? You need to look at the context of John 3 where it speaks of Christ as the only One who has been to heaven and back and can explain these spiritual things.
When you post, you agree to the terms and conditions of our comments policy.
If you have a Bible question for Pastor Doug Batchelor or the Amazing Facts Bible answer team, please submit it by clicking here. Due to staff size, we are unable to answer Bible questions posted in the comments.
To help maintain a Christian environment, we closely moderate all comments.

  1. Please be patient. We strive to approve comments the day they are made, but please allow at least 24 hours for your comment to appear. Comments made on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday may not be approved until the following Monday.

  2. Comments that include name-calling, profanity, harassment, ridicule, etc. will be automatically deleted and the invitation to participate revoked.

  3. Comments containing URLs outside the family of Amazing Facts websites will not be approved.

  4. Comments containing telephone numbers or email addresses will not be approved.

  5. Comments off topic may be deleted.

  6. Please do not comment in languages other than English.

Please note: Approved comments do not constitute an endorsement by the ministry of Amazing Facts or by Pastor Doug Batchelor. This website allows dissenting comments and beliefs, but our comment sections are not a forum for ongoing debate.

Caller: Was Enoch really taken into Heaven?

Pastor Doug: Was Enoch taken into Heaven?

Caller: Yes.

Pastor Doug: Well the Bible says, ‘he was not, for God took him’ and we have reason to believe that yes he was taken up into Paradise.

Caller: But, oh what’s confusing for me is that in the Gospel of John 3:13, Jesus said that no one has ever gone into Heaven except the one who came from Heaven, the Son of man.

Pastor Doug: Ok.

Caller: And so my question is how could Enoch be in Heaven, when Jesus said no one has ever gone into Heaven except the Son of man?

Pastor Doug: Well you need to read it in the context. He’s talking to Nicodemus and He’s chiding Nicodemus. He’s saying, ‘Are you a master in Israel, and you know not these things?’ speaking of the New Birth. And then when Christ goes on to say no one has ascended up into Heaven except Him who came down from Heaven, Christ is saying that He is the only One who has come from Heaven to teach the Truth of God. There have been people – not only Enoch – you’ve got Elijah who went to Heaven in a fiery chariot. You’ve got Moses who was up in Heaven because he appeared to Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration so we don’t need to limit this to an anomaly with Enoch.

But Jesus is emphasizing here, I’m the only One who’s been to Heaven and back, who has been in the presence of the Father and who can explain these things. The Bible tells us some things that are the norm – unless there’s an exception – an example of this would be when it says, ‘All that are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth’ you’ve read that Scripture?

Caller: Yes.

Pastor Doug: Well obviously it’s not the ones who are already in Heaven, but generally speaking, all that are in the graves. The 99.9% of the people have died and are waiting for the Resurrection. If you wanted to try and torture this Scripture you could say, ‘Well it says all, but what about Enoch and Elijah?’ The exceptions in the Bible are mentioned as exceptions. See what I’m saying?

Caller: Yes.

Pastor Doug: Generally speaking. No one else has been up to Heaven and back down again. Even Lazarus made no claims during his four days of death about being in Heaven. Ok?

Caller: All right.

Pastor Doug: And incidentally, Moses, Enoch, Elijah, who were taken to Heaven the Bible says, they never came back and talked to men. The only time any man has come back down and talked, it was when Moses and Elijah came and talked to Jesus. So Christ is saying He is the only bridge between Heaven and earth.

Caller: Right.

Pastor Doug: Ok?

Caller: Right.

Pastor Doug: I hope that helps.

Caller: Thanks.

Amazing Facts’ Resource Number: 800-835-6747

Share a Prayer Request
 | 
Ask a Bible Question

Name:

Email:

Prayer Request:


Share a Prayer Request
Name:

Email:

Bible Question:


Ask a Bible Question