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“...the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by whirlwind,....” 2 Kings 2:1

Well, even if you place Elijah in the lowest form of heaven, he’s defying gravity.

But take look two verses earlier, at 2Kings 1:17....
“So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.”

The writing that you speak of was not very many years after Elijah departure. The Jehoram that received the letter was a king of Judah, and just a few years earlier, became king while his father, king Jehoshaphat was still king of the same tribe (so say some researchers that compared all the chronological data of the OT kings). So, Elijah already knew how evil Jehoram of Judah was, even before his being taken up from this earth.

That said, keep in mind that Elijah was a prophet, and was given words of prophecy, such as his instructions from God to anoint Hazael to be king of Syria, and Jehu to be king of Israel, and Elisha “to be prophet in thy room”. (1Kings 19:15,16).

Well, Elijah personally anointed Elisha, but Elijah didn’t personally anoint Hazael or Jehu; Elisha did, after his mentor’s departure (in Elijah’s stead, or “room”).

Same with any writing of prophecy from Elijah. Elisha was his right hand man, possibly his record keeper. He held that assistant status for several years, it would seem. It may have been the last prophecy given by God to Elijah.

So, I tend to think that when Elijah went up out sight, he was loooonnngg gone.

“Well, even if you place Elijah in the lowest form of heaven, he’s defying gravity.”

Without question, the defying of gravity of course being an act of God. We also saw God defying gravity with the parting of the Red Sea along with many other examples of God acting to protect his children. The reason I believe “the lowest form, transported to a safe place on earth “ is because it’s consistent with clear scripture “John 3:13” with no contradiction. It should also be noted that similar incidents to Elijah’s took place in other parts of the bible, Acts 8:39,40 where Phillip was transported to another location, and Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:12.

Well, even if you place Elijah in the lowest form of heaven, he’s defying gravity.

This sounds mighty MORMON!!

HEAVEN-The Mormon church teaches there are three levels of heaven (three "degrees of glory"):

Celestial - for Mormons who have kept ALL of the laws and ordinances of their church.

Terrestrial - for religious people who aren't Mormons and for Mormons who have not met the requirements of the Church.

Telestial - where unbelievers go

HELL: A place of torment from which the worst of sinners are resurrected (if they repent) into the Telestial kingdom; only a limited number remain in hell forever, - the devil and the demons and apostates who consciously reject and work against Mormonism.

SALVATION: A word that Mormons qualify in one of three ways: unconditional or general salvation is simply resurrection from the dead, granted to all through Christ's atonement; conditional or individual salvation involves entering the celestial kingdom through works of Mormonism; full salvation means exaltation to become a God as a result of temple ceremonies and other works. The word 'salvation' can have a two-fold meaning: a) forgiveness of sins and b) universal resurrection:

"There will be a General Salvation for all in the sense in which that term is generally used, but salvation, meaning resurrection, is not exaltation" (Stephen L. Richards, Contributions of Joseph Smith, LDS tract, p.5).
"All men are saved by grace alone without any act on their part, meaning they are resurrected" (Bruce McConkie, What Mormons Think of Christ", LDS tract, p.28).

The Mormons have several different levels of "salvation".

General salvation- in Mormon theology, the death of Christ ransoms men from the effects of the fall (Mormon Doctrine, p.62), except for a few sons of perdition who fell with Lucifer. Thus, all mankind will eventually receive general salvation because all men will be resurrected.
Individual salvation - to obtain individual salvation, the standards set forth by the Mormon church must be met. This comes by grace plus baptism plus works.
Exaltation - different degrees of exaltation
Eternal life on the other hand is reserved for the elite few who qualify and are found worthy of this "honor" or "reward" and who will move on to be "exalted." This salvation is in fact the personal "exaltation" or the fast track of the "eternal progression" process in attaining your own self-made status of godhood in order to people your own planet.