Religion

NO MAN ASCENDED TO HEAVEN – PST Abel Damina

Published

1 year ago

May 13, 2024

*JOHN 3:13*
*And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (KJV)*

In accurate bible interpretation, we must be silent where the bible is silent and loud where the bible is loud. This means that we cannot be louder than what the bible says. The emphasis of the bible should be our emphasis. We explained that interpreting the translation of Enoch and not seeing death because Good took him as rapture to heaven is an error. This is because the bible was loud in this same chapter contextually that all the elders mentioned including Enoch all died without seeing the promise
fulfilled. Jesus is the first fruit of our resurrection. Before his resurrection, it was impossible for anybody to achieve immortality. Mortality cannot go to heaven and for that matter, the experience of Enoch was not rapture, even though the bible was silent on the exact experience of Enoch. The question many will be asking at this moment will be about Elijah, which was recorded in the book of 2Kings that he went up in a whirlwind to heaven.

From our opening text, Jesus emphatically said that no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven. This appears to contradict what was written by the prophets in 2Kings 2:11, “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 asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven”. Jesus is the message of the scriptures. He is the interpretation of the words of the prophets. His interpretation of the scriptures supersedes any other interpretation. According to Hebrews 1: 1-2, the prophets spoke to our Fathers in portions of the truth but in these last days, God has spoken to us in his son, Jesus. This means that the prophets didn’t have all the truth, they had partial knowledge. Christ is the complete knowledge or revelation of God or the truth.

This means that whatever the prophets said must be put under the lens of Christ. The miraculous disappearance of Elijah was interpreted by the prophets as the rapture of Elijah to heaven. Even though Elijah was taken away in a whirlwind, the bible is silent on the details of his location. However, the bible is loud on the fact that Elijah did not ascend up to heaven. Jesus said nobody ever ascended to heaven. The author of the book of Hebrews also said that all the elders of the Old Testament died in faith. The epistles also teach that Christ is the first fruit of the resurrection. This means that till Christ was resurrected, no one could become immortal to be raptured. Therefore, concluding that Enoch and Elijah were raptured to heaven will be our own thought being infused into the scriptures. Though the bible is silent on the details of their
experiences, the bible is loud on the fact that none of them went to heaven in their mortal bodies.

*Hebrews 1: 1-2, 2Kings 2:1-11, Hebrews 11:30-40*

Religion

Hardship: Pastor Adeboye plans prayer for economic restoration

Published

9 hours ago

June 28, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, is set to lead a national prayer session for the restoration of Nigeria’s economy.

This comes amid worsening economic hardship in the country.

The prayer session will be held during the RCCG’s July 2025 thanksgiving service, themed “Divine Intervention,” at the church’s national headquarters in Oyingbo, Lagos.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Administration, Pastor Dele Balogun, Adeboye said the current challenges facing Nigeria and other nations are surmountable through faith and positive action.

“Our nation, Nigeria, as well as other nations of the world, are going through a challenging time. However, the good news is that these challenges are surmountable by faith, if we do not entertain doubt,” he said.

Adeboye called on Nigerians to move away from negative confessions and embrace faith-based thinking as a pathway to progress, expressing confidence that God could reverse the country’s economic decline.

He said the prayer initiative is intended to spark national transformation and open up “divine opportunities” for the country.

Also speaking, the Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province 1, RCCG, Pastor Olusegun Macaulay, noted that divine opportunities are often activated by God and benefit those who are spiritually connected.

Macaulay added that a dedicated team is already praying for the nation throughout the second half of the year, focusing on key areas such as the economy, environment, and national stability.

Religion

Second batch of Kwara pilgrims for 2025 Hajj return from Saudi Arabia

Published

4 days ago

June 24, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The second batch of 548 pilgrims from Kwara State has returned to Ilorin, the state capital, after successfully performing the 2025 Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims, along with one participant from Ondo State and three accompanying officials, were conveyed by Max Airline and arrived at the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, at precisely 7:01 p.m.

Leading the group were three state officials; Alhaja Khadijat Kuburat Abtawiy, Alhaji Abdullahi Kawu-Shuaib, and Hajia Sanni Ramat from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Ekwutosblog had earlier reported the return of the first batch of 558 pilgrims on Saturday, bringing the total number of Kwara pilgrims who have returned from the Holy Land to 1,106.

Meanwhile, the Max Airline aircraft that transported the pilgrims back to Nigeria departed the Tunde Idiagbon International Airport at approximately 8:52 p.m.

Religion

Widows are not property to be inherited – CAN Chairman

Published

4 days ago

June 24, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Niger State, Bulus Yohanna, has condemned the practice of treating widows as property to be shared among relatives of their deceased husbands.

Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, made the remarks on Monday in Minna during the 2025 International Widows’ Day celebration, organised by the Women Wing of CAN in the state.

He was represented at the event by his deputy, Rev. Joshua Marcus.

According to him, widows are human beings who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not as assets to be inherited.

“It saddens my heart when I hear of cases where relatives share not only the property of deceased individuals but also their wives.

“Widows are not property to be shared by the relatives of their husbands but human beings who should be treated with dignity, ” he said.

He urged family members of the deceased to desist from actions that further traumatise widows, and instead seek ways to support and uplift them.

The CAN chairman also encouraged widows to embrace self-reliance and focus on raising their children with purpose.

“I urge our widows to be productive, self-reliant and to engage in meaningful businesses if they are not employed. They should focus on the children God has blessed them with,” he added.

Earlier in her address, the State Chairperson of the CAN Women Wing, Mrs Ladi Nuhu, called on widows to remain resilient and intentional about building better lives for themselves and their families.

Speaking on the theme, “Empowering Widows: Building Resilience, Restoring Dignity”, Nuhu advised widows to anchor their hope in God and embrace self-reliance.

“We understand that you need support for your children, but this is the time to stand strong and not give up.

“I appeal to you to draw strength from Isaiah 54:5–6, which reminds us that widows have a special place in the heart of God, “ she said.