The Bible records how others are taken to heaven just as John was taken to heaven.
1. Enoch – Genesis 5:23-24, Hebrews 11:5
Enoch was a descendant of Seth, the third son of Adam.
Genesis 5:3
When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
Genesis 5:1-32 lists the generations from Adam to Noah, and from this list we see that Enoch was born in the seventh generation after Adam.
From the word of God, we see that Enoch gave birth to his son Methuselah at the age of 65, and after that he walked with God for another 300 years. (Genesis 5:21-22) Then God took him to Himself.
Genesis 5:23
Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
2. Elijah the prophet
2 Kings 2:11-12
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
3. Paul
2 Corinthians 12:1-4
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
4. Jesus Christ
Acts 12:1-4
It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5. The two witnesses
Revelation 11:11-12
11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
6. Christian Church (Children of God)
1 Thessalonians 4:17
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
We talked about seven occasions when we were thus taken to heaven. Five of them have happened. What remains are the last two mentioned in the above list, and we believe that they are going to happen in the near future at this time when the second coming of Jesus is very close.
In the next chapter, we will talk about the rapture of the church.