Some find a stumbling block to believing the Book of Enoch in the saying of Jesus translated “Nobody has ascended into heaven except he who has come from heaven.” Jesus knew that Elijah had ascended into heaven. Enoch too. He was not denying this. He even used the tradition of Elijah being still alive in heaven several times, once when explaining that the coming of John the Baptist as a messenger to prepare the Messiah’s way is that foretold as the coming of Elijah (metaphorical prophecy). And Jesus used the cup of Passover traditionally left undrunk to be drunk by a returned Elijah, used by Jesus in His cup of the new covenant in His own blood. The memorial of His own eternal life living in heaven and someday return would replace the similar memorial of Elijah being alive in heaven. So Jesus accepted the ascending of Elijah. What I believe Jesus meant is that there had been ascensions into heaven but only of those who had come with the full authority of heaven as prophets, as templates of heavenly example. Ascension is such a major commendation from heaven. Enoch and Elijah were truly from above in their lives and ministries, primary templates for their times, so their ascension was in keeping with this principle Jesus was pointing out that only such people ever ascended into heaven. This meant that by ascending, He too would show that His life and ministry as messenger from heaven was indeed truly from heaven, heaven-sent. So Jesus’ words are simply misunderstood.
