Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 3/27/2006

Question
Pastor Don,
  John 3:13 says "No one has gone to heaven except the son of man who came down from heaven"
  But, What about Enoch and Elijah and the man
in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 ?
                      thanks
                       Bob

Answer
Hi Bob,

Thanks for this question.

Let us examine the context.

John 3:12-14
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 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. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Nicodemus could not get his mind around the earthly principles Jesus was trying to teach.... he would not be able to understand heavenly things.  There is only one that could give a first hand account of Heavenly things... only one who both ascended and then came to earth that is Jesus Christ.  The others you mentioned ascended but have not returned, and therefore will not be giving a first hand account like Jesus was.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don