I read that it is reserved a day for all to die because we have to be transformed and be given new bodies. I wondered about Elijah and Enoch who were taken without dying if they can be the two witnesses who will return and minister at that time.
Let us read Revelation 11:3 and 6, “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth…These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.”
These two witnesses who appear in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation Period are a mystery to many. In fact, we have answered several questions regarding these two witnesses.
Some have speculated that these witnesses are Elijah and Moses because they possess the same powers that these men exhibited. Elijah prayed and the Lord stopped the rain for 3 ½ years. (Read James 5:17-18). Moses turned water to blood in the sight of Pharaoh in Exodus 7:20, “And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.” Afterwards, Moses was used of the Lord to send ten different plagues upon the land of Egypt because of Pharaoh’s refusal to release the Lord’s people from their captivity and slavery.
Some have speculated that these witnesses are Elijah and Enoch because these two men never died…and everyone must die. Genesis 5:24 says, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” We also read of Enoch in Hebrews 11:5 which says, “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.” 2 Kings 2:11 says, “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.”
Without a doubt, Enoch and Elijah were taken to be with the Lord without the instrument of death. Is it true that everyone must die? Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” This is emphatic. All men (and women, boys and girls) will die…and will only die once. Does this mean that Elijah and Enoch must return to the earth to die? Not necessarily.
There is an exception! Let us read 1 Corinthians 15:51, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, but we shall all be changed.” This teaches us that when the Lord returns for His church that those who are living, will not see death, but will be taken without the instrument of death. Of that day 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says, “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.” It is important to realize that the same word translated as ‘sleep’ in 1 Corinthians 15:51 is used by the Lord Jesus in John 11:11, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” Then, because of some confusion, the Lord stated plainly, “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” (Verse 14). According to 1 Corinthians 15:51, we will not all have to die. If we are living when the Lord returns for us, we will escape death.
Both Enoch and Elijah were taken to Heaven without seeing death. As such, they were ‘types’ of the Rapture of the Church when the Lord Jesus will take living saints home (and will resurrect the saints who have died). Obviously, it is not necessary that Enoch and Elijah have to return to earth to die, no more than all the saints taken in the Rapture will have to return to the earth to die. (463.4)