2 Kings 1:3, 6 Elijah first prophecied in the kindgom of Israel and trained Elisha there. 2 Kings 1:2, 17 King Ahaziah dies and Jehoram begins to reign in his place. Jehoram of Israel begins to reign in the 2nd year of King Jehoram of Judah. Jehoram of Judah was the son of Jehosaphat. At the same time that Ahaziah was dying and Jehoram taking over kingship of Israel, Elijah left in a fiery war chariot in a whirlwind. 2 Kings 1:14, 2:15, 16. (Ahaziah sent his men in bunches of 50 to inquire of Elijah to help/cure/prophecy for him in his illness. 2 Kings chapter 1. Ahaziah died and Jehoram took over just as the last group of 50 approached Elijah. 2 Kings 2:15, 16. They helped search for Elijah as none of them believed he had gone to heaven, but somewhere else. Elisha knew that it was God's will for Elijah to do some task elsewhere so didn't want to send searchers. But he did not tell them that Elijah had gone to heaven or gone to be with God. Keep in mind this happened at the very time that Jehoram of Israel began to reign, which was the 2nd year of the reign of Jehoram of Judah. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Jehoram of Judah reigned 8 years. 2 Chron. 21:5, 20 (in old Englilsh Douay Catholic, you might have to look in 4 Kings for this scripture) in Judah all totalled. He had all his brothers killed (2 Chron. 21:4, 5), married the daughter of Ahab of Israel (2 Chron. 21:6), built centers for false worship throughout Judah and established false religion (2 Chron. 21:11). This took a lot of time. Elijah began to prophecy against Jehoram of Judah by writing to him. Elijah warned him about all his bad deeds that he had done in his reign and prophecied his death of a horrible bowel disease, etc. (2 Chron. 21:12-15). Jehoram developed this bowel disease and died of it. 2 years after Elijah wrote him the letter. 2 Chron. 21:18, 19. Since Jehoram reigned 8 years and died 2 years after Elijah wrote the letter, (8-2=6) that means that Elijah wrote to Jehoram in the 6th year of his rule. Remember the above note?? Elijah left in a whirlwind in the first year of King Jehoram of Israel which was the 2nd year of King Jehoram of Judah. Since Elijah was taken away in Jehoram's second year of rule, and he wrote the letter 6 years into Jehoram's rule, that means there were 4 years between the time Elijah was taken up in the whirlwind, and 4 years later he was living in Judah (not in heaven) and writing letters to the king of Judah. (6-2=4). Which means that Elijah was merely dropped off somewhere else on earth among God's people. It was just a long way from where Elisha and those men were (hundreds of miles). John the Baptist was symbolized by Elijah in the NT. These verses are often misused to try to prove Elijah when to heaven. Mark 9:4, 5, 11-13, Matthew chap. 17:12, 13. Matthew explains the symbolism, that Jesus meant Elijah was there among them in a symbolic sense as John the Baptist. Elijah wasn't reincarnated nor living in heaven. Jesus also said that no one had gone to heaven but himself. John 3:12, 13 KJV "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven,...but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." Side note: Israel and Judah often had kings with the same names. At this particular time, the 2 kingdoms had a king with the same name at the same time. King Jehoram of Israel was often called Joram though. He reigned in Israel for 12 years. 2 Kings 8:25. Jehoram of Israel had a son before he died and named him Ahaziah after his father. 2 Kings. 8:26. This Azahiah reigned only 1 year before he died and Elisha annointed Jehu in his place. 2 Kings 9:2, 3