What two men saw a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire?

A:

Elijah, who alone among the prophets was honoured by being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind rather than facing a normal death (2 Kings 2:11), a chariot of fire and horses of fire passing by before he was taken up. His companion, Elisha, was the only other witness to this event. The story is consistent with Elijah's association elsewhere with fire, and with the fact that in Near Eastern mythology the sun god would be taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire, pulled by horses of fire. Thus it is possible that the very earliest, pre-biblical origins of this story came from an association of Elijah with the sun god.

Answer:

The story may be read in 2 Kings 2. Elijah and Elisha were the two men seeing the firery chariot and horses. But like all mankind, Elijah did not go to Heaven - 3rd or Highest Heaven and Throne of God. He was simply removed from the land via the 1st heaven or our atmosphere to another place. The Bible is quite clear that only Jesus has qualified to ascend into the 3rd Heaven (see John 3:13). All others await His 2nd Coming and Millennial Rule ending with the Great White Throne Judgement.

This is proven by a letter sent to Israel's King more than four years post the Chariot incident. So Elijah had to be alive and on Earth - consistent with Scripture:

2 Chronicles 21:12-15New King James Version (NKJV)

12 And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,

Thus says the Lord God of your father David:

Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father's household, who werebetter than yourself, 14 behold, the Lord will strike your people with a serious affliction-your children, your wives, and all your possessions; 15 and you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day.