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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 [Elijah and Elisha] asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.6 (102:2) Enoch would also have an equal station, for he, too, as is related in both Genesis and Hebrews, was taken up by God with his physical body "that he should not see death". (102:3) Durant, in Caesar and Christ, writes that the idea of such a translation "into the sky in body and in life was familiar to the Jews; they tell it of Moses, Enoch, Elijah and Isaiah."7 (102:4) Such an ascent is also described before the time of Christ, concerning Mithra, of whom it is said, "...in the end, his earthly mission fulfilled, Mithra after a Last Supper ascended into heaven, where he has never ceased to succour his own."8 (102:5) Clearly these ascents, including that of Christ, are to be understood symbolically. (102:6) If Christ’s greatness were based upon His resurrection from the tomb with a physical body, then there are many saints who should be considered equally as great, for they, too, were resurrected by God. It is recorded that they came out of their graves with their physical bodies, just as Christ had done. Perhaps their resurrection is even more meritorious, since they were resurrected not three days after their deaths, but after far longer periods of time. (102:7) It is written in Matthew that Christ gave up the ghost: (102:8) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
(102:9)
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