Was Elijah taken to Heaven in a chariot of fire or in a whirlwind?

Question from a reader:

On page 359 of your Heaven book, you mention speaking with the saints of old: “I would like to ask Elijah about being taken away in the chariot.” Elijah and Elisha were separated by a chariot of fire, but both NIV and KJV say in II Kings 2:11 that Elijah “went up to Heaven in a whirlwind.”  

Does John the Baptist being called Elijah support reincarnation?

I have been studying the scriptures (Matthew), and have read that Jesus told the apostle “that John the Baptist was Elijah.” I have been in several disputes on the matter of reincarnation with non-believing friends, and yet the Lord has drawn my attention to this. Does this support the reincarnation perspective?

John the Baptism himself denies that he was Elijah. Is it possible that he himself did not realize he was?

As to Jesus’ statement about John the Baptist, doesn’t the angel Gabriel’s message in Luke 1: 11-17 offer the best explanation? This would also be consistent with ...

Did Enoch and Elijah receive glorified bodies?

Since Enoch and Elijah did not die, but were taken into Heaven, did they receive glorified bodies? (I’ve also recently read accounts that this is a misinterpretation of Scripture: Did they really not die?)

THE SHORT ANSWER:

Hebrews 11:5 clearly says that Enoch did not die. (“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him,’ for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”) The same Hebrew verb used in Gen. 5:24 referring to Enoch, is used in talking about ...