Learn from the last moments of Elijah the prophet
According to 2nd Kings 2:1-18, “And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. The same thing happened between Elijah and Elisha at Jericho and at Jordan. And the sons of the prophets that were in Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today? And he said, Yea I know it; hold ye your peace. Also the sons of the prophet that were at Jericho, said the same thing to Elisha about Elijah being taken away that same day and Elisha gave them the same answer he gave to the sons of the prophets in Bethel.
First lesson was the fact that Elijah tried Elisha to see how determined he was to follow him. Today we go through different test and trials before the translation. God always tries his people to find out their faithfulness to his word. Elisha was not prepared to fail any tests or trials. He continued his famous response, “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” He showed determination, focus and persistence; every time Elijah played the wait for me here trial card. What kind of tests and trials are you going through? Many sons of the prophets of today know of the rapture but do not act.
Elijah tried one last time to leave Elisha at Jordan, but Elisha persisted, saying the same thing each time; As the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they both went together to river Jordan. Also fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and Elijah and Elisha stood by Jordan. The unusual will happen at translation time Elijah crossing Jordan by the miraculous.
The second lesson was the awareness of Elijah’s departure. At Bethel and Jericho, the sons of the prophets were aware that God was going to take away Elijah, even knew it was that day. They even asked Elisha, if he knew that. Elisha answered confidently and said, “Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” Fifty men of the sons of the prophet went and stood afar off to see what would happen. Today many people even some doubters in churches know the translation is coming. They know those who are seriously looking for it. But there is unbelief, among the sons of the prophets of our day that know the scriptures. They can identify the nearness, but refuse to be committed in their personal expectation of the rapture. They seem not fully persuaded like the sons of the prophets.
In verse 8, Elijah took his mantle and wrapped it together, and smote the water and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry land. The water of course returned after they crossed. Elijah just performed a departure miracle and Elisha witnessed it. Also the sons of the prophet who stood afar off saw them cross Jordan on dry land, but could not come to join in the private revival because of unbelief, doubt and fear. Many do not want to hear the true word of God, these days.
The third lesson, if any of them had summoned the courage to run down when they saw the two men of God crossing Jordan; they may have received a blessing. But they did not. Today many do not go to real men of God who have the true word of God. By so doing they can never enjoy the real move of the spirit of truth. Today many preachers have dampened the expectation of many about the translation. This is so, because of their messages that have ensnared their congregations and blindfolded the unsaved. These days it is difficult to hear many preachers talking about repentance, salvation, deliverance and worst of all they remain silent on the issue of translation or postponing the translation by many years of their choice. Thereby lulling the masses to sleep. Some of the sons of the prophets among them, in preaching or in Sunday school trivialize or make fun of the translation or tell their listeners that since the father slept all things remain the same, (2nd Peter 3:4). They preach about prosperity, riches and pleasures and confirmation of the goodness of God in your life. Many fall for it and are deceived and many never recover nor return to the cross of Christ for real mercy. Many bow to Baal and are headed for total separation from God.
Both Elijah and Elisha knew that the moment for Elijah’s translation was very near. According to 1st Thess. 5:1-8, the translation period calls for faith, soberness, not a time to sleep and watchfulness. Verse 4 reads, “But ye, brethren are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” The sons of the prophets were watching, may be sober and not sleeping, all in a physical sense but spiritually they were doing the opposite and had not faith to their deeds. The translation demands faith.
In verse 9 of 2nd Kings 2, When they crossed Jordan Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I should do for thee, before I be taken away (translation) from thee.” Elijah knew either by vision or inner voice of the spirit that his departure was imminent. He was ready, had no family, riches or property to worry about. He lived on earth as a pilgrim or stranger. He kept his focus on return to God and the Lord sent him transportation. We are getting ready too, because the Lord in John 14:1-3 promised to come for the believer. Elisha replied by saying to him, “I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.”
The fourth lesson; those who are looking for the translation like Elijah (will the Lord appear unto, – Heb. 9:28) must be sensitive to the spirit, be watchful, put away the love of this world, must know you are a pilgrim, and must believe you can return home any moment. Especially with the signs of the end-time all around us. You must be expectant. You must work with all urgency. Keep your focus and do not be distracted by the likes of the sons of the prophets. Elijah was so certain about the nearness of his departure that he told Elisha to ask what he wanted before he is taken away. Elisha did not ask for anything in the natural; because he knew the power over everything was in the spiritual. Let us be careful what we ask from God at this moment of our near departure. Material or spiritual things. What will go back with you to heaven is virtue or character. Even Elijah’s mantle did not make it. As the translation is imminent think and act spiritual, for Rom. 8:14 reads, “For, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Imagine the spirit leading the sons of the prophet, and that leading Elijah and Elisha at the translation moment of the prophet.
Elijah in verse 10, said unto Elisha, what you have asked is a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not it shall not be so. To get spiritual answers require perseverance, faith, watchfulness and love. And in verse 11, “As they still went on and talked, that (behold one was taken and the other left) 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.” Can you ever imagine how determined Elisha was and how close to Elijah; they were both walking and talking: but Elijah was ready in spirit and in body, Elisha was not on the same frequency with Elijah. The translation is approaching and many Christians will be operating at different frequencies. That is why you have the bride frequency and the tribulation saints frequency. Those that will make the translation will hear the Lord himself with a shout and the voice of the archangel and the trump of God (1st Thess. 4:16).
The fifth lesson, the translation is a separation time that could be final for those that are left behind. Elijah’s translation was only a preview. It is for our learning that we should act correctly and not left behind. We read how fast, sudden and sharp the separation of both men, by the chariot and horses of fire. It was the same thing Paul saw and described as, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” (1st Cor. 15:52). You must be ready for this one time privilege; great tribulation is the only next alternative left. This may require your physical death at the hands of the beast (anti-Christ) system. Elijah was sensitive to the spirit for his departure, so must we be very sensitive also to hear when the Lord calls; if we were chosen from the foundation of the world. Elisha saw him taken. He saw the fast chariot of fire disappearing into heaven at a glimpse.
Elisha saw it, and he cried, my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more. Soon the elect will suddenly be separated from different people like Elijah and we shall be seen no more. God came for a ready believer, prophet; who was expecting his departure, synchronizing his time with the heavenly clock. He knew how close it was that he asked Elisha to ask what he would before he was taken. He was taken shortly after Elisha replied back, while they were still walking. And the chariot sudden whisked Elijah to heaven. You cannot talk about how he got into the chariot. If the chariot stopped, Elisha may have made one more effort to follow Elijah into the chariot. But Elijah was operating on a supernatural frequency that defied gravity. He was in a different dimension from Elisha even though they were walking side by side. So shall our soon to occur, translation be. Our departure is near, let us make our calling and election sure. This is time to flee from every appearance of evil, repent, be converted and hold fast the promises of God; including the promise of the translation. If you find yourself left behind when people are reported missing soon, worldwide; don’t take the mark of the beast.
129 – Learn from the last moments of Elijah the prophet