23rd May 2026

23rd May 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (2 Kings 2v11-12) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


The first heaven is the sky, the second heaven is space and the third heaven is Heaven itself and that's where we go after death. But how does our soul make it's way to Jesus? I think we are carried there by the angels.


I know that sounds incredibly dramatic but I believe it is supported by Scripture. I don't know how long this journey will take but I don't expect it will last terribly long. But when we die our souls are immediately made perfect and they go to be with Jesus. I'm fairly certain that the soul of a Christian doesn't just float off into the ether but instead we are carried and brought to Glory by the messengers of Christ Himself.


We're told very little about Enoch's departure to Heaven, just that he was no more because God took him (Genesis 5v24). Elijah on the other hand was much different. When the great Prophet had reached the end of his time on earth we are told "As Elijah and Elisha still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, 'My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!' And he saw him no more." (2 Kings 2v11-12). Elijah didn't just disappear but he was taken up to Heaven by chariots and horses of fire in a whirlwind with Elisha able to see him until the Prophet disappeared from view.


Now you might read today's passage and say "I don't see any angels!" But in Isaiah 66v15 we are told that when the Lord comes in judgement, He will come in fire with His chariots like the whirlwind. This is a description of the angels and it matches what Elisha saw in 2 Kings 2v11-12. Additionally, some angels are called the seraphim which means "the burning ones" and other angels are described as having an appearance of burning coals of fire (Ezekiel 1v13) and wheels within wheels (Ezekiel 1v16). Therefore, we can say that Elijah was carried to heaven by the angels. Later in the New Testament the same is said for Lazarus who Jesus described as being carried to Abraham's side by the angels (Luke 16v22).


I am a huge fan of the late Johnny Cash and many years ago I read his autobiography. In his book he spoke of the tragic death of his brother Jack saying “My dad came into the room I was in at 6:44 am, May 12th, 1944. And I heard him praying, and crying. He said, ‘Let’s go gather around the bed, he’s dying.’ We went in there. Jack would come out of the coma, and he was so lucid. And he told every one of us goodbye. Then he closed his eyes and said, ‘Mama, can you hear the singing? Do you see the angels?’ She said, ‘No, I can’t.’ He said, ‘Oh, I do. How beautiful.’ And then he died.” 


I'm not going to stake my life on a story like this one but I think the Bible gives us enough evidence to suggest that when death comes it will be the angels who carry us to Jesus. Maybe we'll catch a glimpse of them before we go, perhaps we'll hear their song but absolutely they will take us to Heaven and there we will gaze upon Jesus.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q75 What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbor’s, wealth, or outward estate.
​