ELIJAH ASCENDS TO HEAVEN – 2 Kings 2:1-14 (NKJV)
1. And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
3. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
4. Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.
5. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
6. Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on.
7. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
8. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10. So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
11. Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
13. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
14. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
Elijah takes Elisha on a journey through Gilgal, to Bethel, to Jericho, and finally over the Jordan River.
Spiritually, we must venture through a similar journey to be “caught up or to access spiritual realms”
Gilgal
Bethel
Jericho
Jordan River
1. GILGAL — OVERCOMING DESIRES OF THE FLESH
Gilgal means “rolled away or taken away”. The shame of Egyptian slavery was rolled away from the children of Israel (Joshua 5:9).
According to the law or principle of first mention, Biblical foundational truth is obtained by studying a passage in which a scripture is mentioned for the first time in the Bible.
Gilgal is first mentioned in Joshua 5:2-9 when Israelites born in the wilderness had to be circumcised before entering Canaan. During circumcision, the foreskin was cut and removed, symbolizing a blood covenant of purity (Gen 17:10)
Importantly, circumcision was an outward sign for transformation of the heart, or purification from defilements of Egypt (Deuteronomy 30:6 and Jeremiah 4:3&4)
Galatians 5:16-18 says, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
As believers, we must deliberately overcome the flesh, not by might nor by power, but by the Lord’s Spirit (Zachariah 4:6). This is the beginning of our spiritual journey. John 4:24 says God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
ILLUSTRATION: THE CONCEPT OF SPIRITUAL BREATHING
Bill Bright, Co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ came up with the concept of “Spiritual Breathing”. Bright says Spiritual Breathing, like physical breathing, is a process of exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure. By faith, the exercise enables you to experience God’s love and forgiveness. It allows you to walk in the Spirit as a way of life.
Exhale by confession
God’s Word promises in John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Now inhale by appropriating the fullness of God’s Spirit by faith.
Trust him to control and empower you according to his command to “be filled with the Spirit” which actually means to be constantly and continually controlled and empowered with the Holy Spirit.
2. BETHEL — OVERCOMING THE WORLD
Bethel means “House of God”. In Genesis 28:20-21, Jacob asks for God’s protection and providence, yet God promises His presence.
It is for this reason Bethel also means “House of Bread” denoting fellowship with God. Note – showbread
Bethel is mentioned many times in the Bible, but one of the most memorable accounts is found in Genesis 28:11-22. Isaac blesses Jacob, declaring he would be fruitful and inherit the land. Jacob was heading to Padan Aram to his maternal uncle Laban.
In Genesis 28:11, Jacob sets a stone as his pillow and lays down to sleep. He dreams of a ladder, set on the earth but ascending to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. Above it, Jacob sees the God of Abraham, who promises to give him the land and to multiply his seed – all the families of the earth would be blessed through Jacob’s seed. Importantly, God declares Jacob would abide in God’s presence.
When Jacob woke up from the dream, he was afraid. “How dreadful is this place”, he declared. He was concerned that he had been unaware of the Lord’s presence in the place.
At Bethel, Jacob receives promises of fruitfulness, multiplication, protection, providence and God’s presence. In Genesis 28:20-21, Jacob vows a vow, he makes a promise to look to God as His God. He then builds an altar, and promises to tithe a tenth of all his blessings to God.
Jacob the deceiver, who stole Esau’s birthright and firstborn blessing
As Jacob flees from his brother’s wrath (Genesis 27:43-46), he decides to rest at Bethel, located near the place his grandfather built an altar and called on the name of the Lord (Genesis 12:8).
He rests and dreams of a heavenly portal. The deceiver, discerns the right place to rest, encounters God, and commits to worship God
Jacob worked for his uncle Laban for twenty years, during which his wages were changed ten times (Genesis 31:41). He was not swayed by his uncle’s idol worship. In Genesis 31:13 the God of Bethel instructs Jacob to return to the land of his father.
In essence, Jacob had to overcome Laban’s slavery, reminiscent of Egypt to obey God and return to his father’s land in Shalem, a city of Shechem in the land of Canaan (Genesis 33:18).
On his way back, Jacob met the angels of God at Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1) and in Genesis 32:24-30, Jacob wrestled with God and prevailed (verse 28). As a result, God blessed Him and changed his name to Israel. This (Peniel encounter) marked Jacobs consecration, while Jacob’s encounter at Bethel was his conversion.
We must overcome the world and its idols, and fellowship with God, focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. JERICHO (V.4) — DEALING WITH SATAN
Jericho was known as the city of palm trees and springs. In Hebrew, the word Yeriho was derived from the word REAH which means FRAGRANT. Hence Jericho was also associated with the “Place of fragrance”.
The Hebrew word YAREAH means MOON. YERIHO was also associated with the LUNAR DEITY YARIKH that’s why Jericho was known as the centre for moon worship.
Joshua 6 gives an account of the destruction of Jericho. In Joshua 6:26, Joshua declares that anyone who would rebuild the city of Jericho after its destruction would be cursed.
Some theologians therefore believe Jericho means being cursed. The residents of Canaan spiritually represent demonic agents of the devil.
These can be likened to the spiritual hosts of wickedness in high places in Ephesians 6:12. They are the enemies Christian believers fight today.
4. THE RIVER JORDAN (VV. 6-14) — DEALING WITH DEATH
The river Jordan highlights the power of resurrection over death; crossing the Jordan River symbolizes overcoming death.
Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan; going down into the waters of baptism signifies death while coming out of the water symbolizes resurrection.
The greatest power of Satan is death (1 Corinthians 15:26). Some people today refuse to cross the river Jordan; they do not seek after the resurrection power.
But Paul pursued it diligently (Philippians 3:10-12). All God’s children have been resurrected with the Lord but many have not experienced the Lord’s resurrection power.
We should not assume that as long as we are regenerated we will be caught up.
God only raptures those who are ready (those who hunger and thirst for righteousness). Like Elijah, we must go through Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho and the Jordan River.