My dear friend, this is a very interesting question, and I’m not certain that the Scriptures are specific on anything more than that these men were both taken to be with the Lord, and neither experienced death. But it is my belief that Christ was the “first fruits” as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” Thus, I believe then that Christ has a glorified body, and the glorified bodies of OT and NT believers come after Him, whether alive or dead. So, let’s look to the Scriptures. Regarding Elijah, we read in 2 Kings 2:11, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” We hear more of Elijah at the account of the Mount of Transfiguration where he appears with the Lord and Moses. This scene was for the transfiguration of our Lord, showing the glory of the Son of Man which He would have upon the earth when He returns to set up His millennial kingdom. This scene clearly demonstrated the deity of Christ, and the Word of His Father to hear Him. Now Elijah and Moses are clearly recognizable in this vision with Christ’s glory, but I don’t know that you could say that either Elijah or Moses have their glorified bodies now until Christ returns to the clouds. Going on, we read of Enoch in Genesis 5:24: “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” We learn more about the departure of Enoch in Hebrews 11:5 where we read: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” We read that Enoch was taken to heaven without dying, and I would note that this will be the case of the living saints at the coming of the Lord Jesus to the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

What we can know from the Scriptures is that we all are waiting to receive our resurrected bodies when our Lord Jesus Christ returns to the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). At that time, He will, in the wink of an eye, raise up the dead in Christ first, then we who are yet alive at His coming, and we will all be changed. In Philippians 3:20-21 we read: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” We know from John 14:1-3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 that when the Lord Jesus returns to the clouds, He will call forth those true believers who are in the grave and as well, those who are yet alive at His coming, and we will be changed and will be caught up to be forever with the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). In 1 Corinthians 15:53 we read that “For this corruptible must put on incorruption…” I believe we see a similar thought in 2 Corinthians 5:1. This clearly indicates that our current bodies which are made of earthly stuff and quite mortal, will be fashioned like the Lord’s glorified body in that we will no longer be subject to sickness, death or decay.

I can only conclude from the Scriptures that Enoch and Elijah, though both were translated into heaven, they will actually receive their “changed” or glorified bodies when Christ returns. The spirits of all saints, OT and NT are with the Lord as we conclude from Luke 16:19-31 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-8.

In summary my dear friend, in 1 John 3:2 we read: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” We discover here that what the bodies of OT and NT saints will be like when we are resurrected is not specifically revealed, but we know that we will be like the Lord Jesus in His glorified body. I believe that when Christ shall return, we will be conformed at that time to the likeness of Christ, purified without any vestiges of the old nature which was in our earthly bodies, and we will have glorious new bodies which are incorruptible and suited for heaven as our permanent abode.  (SF)  (717.2)